Homeschool Review: Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 2

I have a Master’s Degree in Education and I have always been fearful of teaching reading. I don’t know if this is because I only had one class for teaching reading in all my years of college, but this has always stressed me out. Sweet Cheeks (4 years old) hit a wall with her reading. So when the Scaredy Cat Reading System Level 2 ($75) was offered for review, I snatched it up.

This reading system was written by Joyce Herzog. She is a teacher of elementary and learning disabled students. She is a speaker and her curriculum sets seem to be written with a Christian slant. She has other books (devotionals, parent tips, etc.) that she has written besides a teaching reading series. Be sure to click on the Review Crew link at the bottom to check out the other offers.

To Those of You Who Do Not Leave Comments on Blogs

To Those of You Who Do Not Leave Comments on Blogs~

I am a Blogger. It takes time and energy to write, edit, take pictures, and publish each article. Of course I thrive on feedback from those who read what I place out there in the wide world of websites. There are days when I catch myself checking the blog or email just to see if I heard from anyone. Sometimes I check too often and then when there is silence, I get discouraged.

I know you are out there. I have all the stats before me. I’ve asked other Bloggers what they do to improve their site, to draw in visitors and comments. I’ve read and read other blogs about “How to Increase Your Blog’s Stats in Three Easy Steps.” Some tweaks I’ve made. Others I won’t buy into.

I got to thinking.

What is the purpose of FFS? Why did I begin this blog in the first place?

Why? I want to spread the gospel. I want to encourage others on their journey of life. I want to share my struggles and blessings so I might glorify my King.

The purpose of FFS is not to bring in thousands of views a day, receive 30 comments per post, or bring income to my wallet. Believe me when I say, I’ve learned a lot about affiliate links, ads, and raising my SEO lately.

It thrills my heart when someone comes up to me, or sends me an email, to say how much a post meant to him or her. Especially if I had no idea this person was even reading my blog. At times the next words from this person will be, “I’m sorry I don’t comment any.”

If this person might be you, please do not feel entitled, guilty, or ashamed if you have not interacted on the blog. People are busy. You have a job to do, laundry to wash, food to cook, a garden to plow. The fact that you would take 5 minutes to read something I wrote is amazing. The fact that someone might actually use one of the Bible lessons with a ministry is even more humbling.

Do I want your comments? Absolutely! Do I want you to share articles that bless you? Please do! I love hearing your opinions, advice, and struggles. I try to comment back. After all, some days I’m waiting for them! “Bloggy” friends are fun and great to have!

Before I end this note to you, allow me to let you in on a secret. I don’t leave many comments either. And if you are a Subscriber to this blog and a Blogger, please know that I come to your page to check up on you. I may not get over there every day, but I do try to visit often. I happen to have a busy life, too.

Reader, you are valuable to me. Thank you for taking the time to visit.

May you be blessed by the King today,
FFS

How to Host a 6 Year Old’s Military Themed Birthday Party

It happened.

My son can no longer be considered as a preschooler, but as a young boy. I can’t believe my Miracle Baby is 6 years old! Where does the time go?

So RB wanted a Military Birthday Party. It was a fun theme.

Here is what we did:

1. We kept it simple and as cheap as possible. For past birthdays I’ve been more frivolous, so this was a good challenge for me. Simple table cloths, balloons, homemade cake with ice cream, and small goody bags. Nothing stressful.

God’s Contract

Do you ever doubt what you believe? I don’t mean little doubts that creep up sometimes, but REAL life and death doubts. For example: Have you ever doubted if there is an eternity? Have you ever doubted if God is real? Have you ever doubted that the Bible is true? Have you ever thought that maybe you have bought into a lie?

I’ve been wrestling with these questions.

WHOA! Time Out! You are a Bible Teacher, a homeschool mom teaching Bible to her kids, a professing Christian of over 27 years…how can you be throwing around questions like this?

Yes. I confess. I have been wrestling with some major questions. God feels distant from me. Sundays feel like I’m “going through the motions.” When teaching the kids at Awana I find myself asking, “Do I even believe this stuff?”

How to Live Life Before Jesus Returns ~ Romans – Revelation

Objectives:

• to describe how all the families in the world have been blessed
• to describe the purpose of the expository letters
• to list some of the events that will take place when Jesus returns

Geography: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Rome

Background:
The Holy Spirit came as a mighty rushing wind and The Old Testament, the Old Covenant, is over. Jesus began a New Covenant. The church age had begun and people were becoming believers  by the hundreds and thousands.

Guess What Happened 6 Years Ago Today?

What’s Happening at FFS?

The kids are picking strawberries. The picture doesn’t have anything to do with this post, but I thought they looked sweet!

Readers, I thought it might be time for a quick update post.

Spring has sprung and life is crazy as public school and church activities end for the summer. Awana will be ending in 2.5 weeks. We’ll be having our awards ceremony and it will be exciting to watch the kids receive their awards. Because of Awana breaking for the summer, I will not be posting any new Bible lessons, except for the one I did last week. (I’m late, I know.) I will resume posting lessons when Awana begins again in August.

A big change for me is my decision to step down from being an Awana Commander. In fact, all four of us Pink Ladies will be stepping down. Being Commander is a big job and our ministry is to the point that it needs a fantastic manager and someone with different talents than the four of us have. This is a “sad for me,” but “great for the ministry” type event. The man taking over as Awana Commander will be able to lead the ministry as God works to enlargen its territory. My leaving the Awana Leadership will allow me to focus more on being the Awana Bible Teacher. This is where my heart is and where God has equipped me to serve.

My son will be turning 6 tomorrow, so another birthday party will be taking place this weekend. If you remember last year’s, it will be quite the event.

Another event happening for our family is our taking a two week vacation to the United Kingdom. My husband and I will be taking the two kids and his mom across the ocean for some cultural expansion and history immersion. We are excited, so be sure to look out for posts from England!

Later this summer, my husband will be going on a missions trip to Nicaragua, I will have family driving up from Florida to visit and explore our state, I’ll be teaching a Ladies Bible study for 6 weeks, and the annual Messy Party will take place some time in July.

As you can see we have all kinds of fun stuff coming up during the next few months.

I appreciate all of my Readers who have stuck with me over the past year. Thank you.

~ FFS

A Little Bit of Everything: Eclectic Homeschooling

The Google dictionary defines it as: Deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

Eclectic.

I’d have to say this describes not only my homeschool philosophy and teaching style, but who I am as well. Let me back up and tell you a little about myself first so you can see how our homeschool ended up the way it did.

I guess you would classify me as a strong-willed child. Not so much when I was little, but definitely when I entered high school, college, and beyond. For the most part, and only through the grace of God, I kept my strong will in check. However, I can remember when I received my teaching materials for my first year in the classroom, I thought to myself, You want me to use these? No way. Of course I did. Yielding to authority is important. But this was the point at which I knew I enjoyed making up my own curriculum and/or finding other curriculum that I knew was fun, engaging, and worked.

FREE Open Source Websites

I had a fantastic time at the first evening of the Teach Them Diligently conference! There were SO many families there and I was not disappointed with the speakers I visited. I want to share a little with you. I’m sure I’ll have more later!

Before I dive into giving you an awesome short list of Open Source websites that I picked up from one of the sessions, I want you to take a moment and watch this video by Sir Kenneth Robinson that I was introduced to. It’ll make you think!

FREE Open Source Sites:

Kahn Academy (online classes)
Academic Earth (online classes: MS/HS)
Math.com  (homework help, practice, games: MS/HS)
Annenberg Learner  (K-college lessons)
Google Scholar  (Research for papers)
Promethean Planet  (Preschool-college lessons)
CK12 (K-HS lessons)

A Visit to the “Beauty Parlor”

It was called the “Hair and Lips Center.” I was invited by two short people to have my hair and lips “done.” All  of the supplies were spread out over the footstool and a small chair was in front for me to sit in. I had a nice pile of Little Critter books to read while “Andi and Joe” were working on my hair.

I had two colors of sparkle lip gloss put on; a comb stuck on the side of my head and hair bows all over.