Live Animal Cameras

What better way to learn about God's creation than to be up close and personal with it? Sometimes that just isn't possible so what is the next best thing? Live animal cameras of course! Here is a list of live animal cams for you and your young one to enjoy:

Barn Owl Cam
Smithsonian National Zoo Cams (21 different cameras)
Africam (African water hole)
Monterey Bay Cams (Several)
Panda Cam at San Diego Zoo
Humming Bird Nest Cam

These are just a few of what I found. If you have any more great cams to add please feel free to comment and I will add them to the list!

Arlington Homeschool Book Fair

This is my absolute favorite time of the year! Ok, so I have only been once but I am so excited to be going back this year. It's time for the annual Arlington Homeschool Book Fair. Each year hundreds of vendors come and set up, along with workshops and speakers you don't want to miss it. It's a great way to be able to look in person at curriculum before purchasing and most, if not all, of the vendors offer some sort of discount for ordering at the fair. Along with curriculum there are lots of neat things from learning toys and homeschool t-shirts to good clean safe kids music.

Key Speakers this year include:
Tod Wilson from FamilyMan Ministries
Rosie Watson from Center for Home Education
Zan Tyler From Apologia Ministries
Tim and Lyndsay Lambert From Texas Homeschool Coalation
Ken Ham From Answers in Genesis


You can visit HERE to see the workshop schedule.

And last but not least here is a link for Texas Ranger discounted tickets!

Wordless Wednesday

Speak Softly but carry a big stick.

My first!



For more WW posts visit Here!

Project Postcard

I am starting a new project with the girls and am hoping that some of you will be willing to help out! We are going to collect postcards from all of the 50 US States. As we collect the cards we will notebook about that state. The problem is that I don't know someone in all 50 states (depending on the response we might expand and try for post cards from all over the world!). Thats where you come in. If you are in a state other than Texas or know someone in a state other than Texas we would love to exchange post cards with you or your child! Here is what I am hoping for:

1. One postcard from each state
2. The cards dont have to be from children but if you have a child who can send it all the better
3. After getting your card in the mail my children will send a postcard back.

If you would like to send a postcard please email me at molder.anna@gmail.com and I will send you the information you need.

We are very excited to see where all we can get postcards from!

Trying a New Reward System

I have decided to try out a new reward system for the girls. I am blessed in that they aren't particularly difficult children, but I have been looking for something that allows the to earn certain priveleges as recently they seem to take for granted the amount of TV and computer time that they have. So we are trying it.

Basically, the girls will earn chips (counting chips) for various things ranging from keeping their room clean to using good manners and finishing school work without too much complaint. They will then trade in the chips for computer time, TV time, and so on. I hesitated to do a payment system with them because I dont want them to think that they get paid for things that must be done around the house, but I think this system teaches them that when we work hard we are rewarded, but only after we have done the things that must be done can we redeem those rewards.

I am still working out chip value but I am thinking that each chip will be worth 5 min of computer or TV time with a 30 min a day max. On occassion I will allow them to watch a longer movie or play a bit longer on the computer. Other things they can redeem them for might include a treat, staying at a friends house, a small toy, and so on. I am still working on the list for that too.

After we get back from a birthday party tomorrow I am going to go get the paint for the school room and we are going to start getting that room really done up. I bought some giant clothes pegs that I am going to modpodge and use to hang up art. I am so excited!

Cat in the Hat Day at AK!

Today at AK Mesquite Homeschool Co-op our theme was Cat in the Hat. We watched the cartoon version and then read the book. Afterwards we made these very cute Cat in the Hat hats. It was a bit of a crazy day since the other teacher who is normally with me had to stay home with a sick child, but a parent graciously stayed with me (I actually have an older group while she teaches the younger ones).

Just to give you an idea of what we do at co-op here are some of our past projects

Painting with puffy paints
Sewing
recycling projects
My State Notebooks
CSI Unit Study with staged crime
Artistic Pursuits
Cake decorating
Karate

Sports of all kinds
Creation Unit Study
Weather Unit Study
Field Trips to-Zoo, Pottery Painting, Museum of Art, Dallas Children's Theatre, Mary Kay Factory

This just scratches the surface! We have so much fun!

Getting Back on Track

Yesterday I was venting to a friend about my lack of time. This lack of time has begun drain my energy and enthusiasm for HSing. Now don't get me wrong. I still want to homeschool, and we still enjoy it very much, after we have started for the day. But if things get put aside or our day isn't started with school I loose motivation and it just doesn't get done. After advising another friend to sit down and plan out her days(losely) and to write a "mission statement" I have decided to heed my own advice and do the same. I need something to remind myself of why we chose to homeschool and I need a little more organization so that we stay on track. So here it goes:


The Molder Homeschool Mission Statement:

We chose to homeschool because:

*First and foremost we seek to put our children in environments that are most likely to lead to their salvation and redemption through Christ's Blood. We believe those environments include, church, home, and the homes of friends that share our beliefs.

*We seek to bring glory to Christ by raising and educating our children at home where we are able to guide them according to Biblical standards, protecting them from as much of the world's influence as possible until such time they are spiritually equipped to handle it.

*We seek to teach our children history, science, literature, and all other subjects through a Biblical perspective. Equipping them with the tools needed to stand for their faith against worldly teachings such as evolution, humanism and other world views.

*We seek to provide our children with an individualized learning experience gathering from all resources available to us. We believe that as parents we are called to be our children's educators and that we are best equipped to handle our own children's personalities, learning styles, emotional and psychological needs and that an environment specifically designed with their personal education in mind will give them to opportunity to explore intrests and develop skills needed for their future in a way that promotes self-confidence, self-discipline and a genuine love of learning.

*We seek to hand down our own morals to our children teaching self-sacrifice, servantship, respect, Godliness, modesty, restraint and other Christian characteristics.

*We seek to control our children's peer interaction so that they are not continually exposed to world views until the foundation of their faith is laid securely.

Deuteronomy 11:19 (King James Version)

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.




Well there it is. It is surprisingly long to me! I think it is just about what I need to see to remind myself of why we chose to homeschool. I think this could be a good thing to do no matter what method of schooling you use.