Wednesday, March 24, 2010

WFMW: The Jump to Chapter Books

I don't know about you, but I have an almost 8 year old that really hates to read chapter books.  I mean she'll start to read them, but will burn out before she finishes them.  I'm guessing it's a maturity thing.  It drives me crazy.  I couldn't imagine not finishing a book I have started.  Sorry, it's just that compulsive bit about me.

So my job is to pass my sickness on to my children...right?

This is what I've done...and it seems to be working....so far.

I gave her a book we purchased to read (The Little House in the Big Woods), a comfy pillow, some time, and a highlighter.  I asked her to read a chapter.  While she read it, I asked her to highlight the words she didn't immediately understand.  When she was done, she brought me the book and we discussed the words (venison, churn, etc), which inevitably led to talking about the chapter.

We're not quite done with the book, but I have high hopes that she will actually finish this one without too much complaint.  She enjoys the task of highlighting and I think it gives her a better focus when trudging through those pages of words.  I'll keep you posted!

To find out what works for others, pop over to We Are That Family  and check out Works For Me Wednesdays!

ps:  I heard a librarian, who knew how I would trudge through a book (whether I enjoyed or not!), suggest to me that I should give a book as many pages as I am old.  If I don't love it by then, put it down; there's plenty of other books to read AND enjoy.   I have yet to try it...but it sounds good, right?!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: Posted Finally on Thursday


All three of my girls in the first swim of the year.  I'll miss this house.  Am I allowed to pray for a big, giant financial miracle?

Share your own photo, with or without words, at Wordless Wednesday and 5 Minutes for Mom.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Bile is Our Friend

We are pretty much done with the district's science offering that covered all of those awesome State standards, so we've decided to see what else is out there science-wise.

We stumbled across The Lab of Mister Q.  Oh, the fun you can have!!  We have been going through his free Lab Notes.  His labs haven't been too taxing for me, but loads of fun for T.  For this latest lab, we used whole milk, food coloring, and some soap to demonstrate how bile breaks down the fat in your diet.
Plus, it was just fun to play with the colors!  

I'm wondering if I can get over my check-listing self and try out his books for science next year.  Perhaps!

WFMW: Acne Solution

In our little corner of the world it seems as though all of the teenagers have beautiful, clear complexions.  Not the case for my little ones.  We've done the dermatologist route, etc.  Their problem is that their acne isn't bad enough for the doctor's big guns, but it's enough to be annoyed by it.  Plus, it really did seem as though the doctor's choices of treatment just irritated their skin even more.

It's hard to just accept that season of your life when your hormones are out of whack and your growing like a toddler (both mentally and physically!).  I happened upon a little trick from some crazy website (I wish I could remember to give them credit, but it really was years ago!).  I think it may be a common thing.  Maybe?

It's Apple Cider Vinegar.

Yeah.  Instead of the hundreds of dollars spent on medicines and doctor visits....you spend, I don't know, $5 for half a year's supply!  Now, the site, as I remember, recommended drinking a shot of the ACV (that's what the apple cider vinegar veterans call it).  I haven't gone that far.

Here's what we do:  we make a toner out of ACV, witch hazel, and water.  Use it twice (or more) times a day.  My girls just soak a cotton ball and swipe their whole faces.  It's a bit stinky at first and don't get it in your eyes (ouch!).  Seriously, in a couple of days their skin will be clear.

Here's the "recipe:"

1 part ACV
1 part witch hazel
3 parts filtered water

* The key is to use ORGANIC Apple Cider Vinegar.  It's got to have those stringy, goobery things it in.  You just shake it up before you use it.  I know, sounds gross...but, really...it works!

I hope this works for some of you.  Find out what works for everyone else at Rocks in My Dryer.  Don't forget to say a prayer for Kristen and the other bloggers in Kenya with Compassion International!  What a life changing trip for them!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Homeschool Headache

Is this an acceptable means of homeschooling?  Good grief!  I woke up with such a horrendous headache that it hurt to have a thought.  I took my drugs and plugged my poor kid in.  She is listening to The Mysterious Benedict Society...again.

I think I may be in the running for "Mom of the Year!"  Seriously, that is pretty much all she did today.  By the time my headache was under control (thank God) it was the afternoon and I was too wimpy to proceed with school.  Ugh.