2013/2014 Taffy Academy

During my blogging sabbatical, I spent a lot to time rearranging and reorganizing our school room.  Being as I lost two of my students, three actually when I take into account that Strawberry does most of her studies in her room… where it’s quiet, eh hem. I figured it was time for a good old rearrange!

The view looking right.

The view looking left.

I love it.  All the books make me happy.  I would still like to replace my plastic table with a conference table.  Our plastic table wiggles when somebody uses their eraser.  That’s kind of annoying.  Mr. Taffy is also on the look out for a cheap wall TV with a built in DVD player so I can show the kids education movies from time to time without them huddling around the lap top.

My Sonlight Books  and educational DVD’s.

Here’s the fall line up for the children starting with the oldest.

Strawberry Taffy-11th Grade

• Chemistry-Apologia
• Geometry-Teaching Textbooks
• English 3 (American Literature)-Excellence in Literature
• History-Constitution 101 & 102 (Hillsdale College)
• Graphic and Web Design- Team Tree House on-line program (She’s already started this because she’s VERY interested in it.)

I put links in the text if you are interested in learning more about each of her subjects.  I’ve also got an elective planned for her called:  Training in Biblical Womanhood.  I bought her several books that she is going to slowly read and journal her way through.

I found this awesome book holder at a garage sale.  This was on my list to find for our school room!

Blue-Raspberry Taffy- 5th Grade

• 5th Grade Math-Teaching Textbooks
• History-Sonlight Core D & E (combined American History)
• Latin- Song School Latin 2
• Science- Considering God’s Creation
• Language Arts: Sonlight Core D & E (Reading), Easy Grammar, All About Reading Level 4

Strawberry Taffy-3rd Grade

• 3rd Grade Math-Teaching Textbooks
• History-Sonlight Core D & E (American History)
• Latin-Song School Latin 2
• Science-Considering God’s Creation
• Language Arts: Sonlight Core D & E (reading), Easy Grammar & All about Spelling Level 4

You can see Blue-Raspberry and Bubble Gum are pretty much doing the same curriculum, I just have different expectations for each of them.  Bubble Gum read’s terrifically and won’t have any trouble with the reading, Blue-Raspberry reads terrifically too, he just doesn’t enjoy it as much.  (smile)

Laffy Taffy- 1st Grade

I did things differently with Laffy than I did with my other children.  I couldn’t stomach another round of Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons.  It’s a great book, but it’s SO boring and I’ve been through it 5 times already…ugh.  So I used All About Reading PreReading with him.  Usually my children are reading by the end of Kindergarten, granted he just turned 5 toward the end of kindergarten but still, he’ll be starting 1st grade and he doesn’t know how to read yet.  Though he knows all the letter sounds and how to write them on demand.  This year we’ll put all the pieces together and he’ll be reading like a champ before I know it!

• Reading-All About Reading Level 1
• Spelling- All About Spelling Level 1
• Math-Miquon Math Starting in the Orange book and working our way through them all, I’m not sure how long it will take, might take a couple years, might only take 1.
• History/Literature/Science-Sonlight Core A or K depending on what you’re used too.  I primarily wanted a list of age appropriate reading material, to read to him and to have him start reading to me. 
• Handwriting-Just a work book I got from a friend.

I’m using workboxes for him this year so he can visually see how much he needs to do and consequently know when he’s almost done. 

I read on the Duggar’s Blog that during school hours the children aren’t allowed to talk about anything non-school related.  I am totally considering copying this amazing idea.  So much chatter and so many uninteresting questions and too much redundancy, it really makes me crazy sometimes!

The Tot School Area.

We are starting up August 5th, with a four day a week schedule so we can still enjoy the summer weather and meet our friends at the beach once a week.  Until we start up, I have a BIG issue I have to pray through.  I’ll share that next time.  Here’s a hint:

The Battle is the Lord’s,

Mrs. Taffy

School’s Out!

We have officially completed the 2012/2013 home school year!  What a great accomplishment.  Can I just say that this is probably the first year that I feel like I have been completely faithful to my plan, completed everything and didn’t burn out.  It’s taken 15 years to feel this way.  I wonder how next year will go.

My two oldest sons are graduating.  The oldest is off to a Bible College in Southern Florida come August, the other one is off to the University of Nebraska come fall 2014.  Granted both need to still be accepted into the colleges of their choice, but I’m confident that God will bless their efforts or else lead them elsewhere. 

Our plans for the summer include a summer reading program, beach days, garage sales, gardening, and regrouping for the next school year.

Our family is going to the Teach Them Diligently Conference in Omaha, NE at the end of May.  We’ll visit Chocolate’s school during that time as well.  We’ve got a formal graduation coming up, visits from family, our 20 year anniversary…so many amazing things to look forward too.

May’s Joy Dare:

1) 3 gifts tasted: coffee, tuna with tomatoes and pickles, Salmon on lettuce with lemon juice.

2) 3 gifts flat: garage sale money, curriculum catalogs, toilet paper.

3) 3 gifts found in difficult people: The opportunity to bank grace, practicing humility, lessons in how NOT to be.

Redeeming the time,

Mrs. Taffy

2013/2014 Homeschool Proposal

It’s that time of year for me.  The time when I purpose to put my ideas and plans to paper, to create a proposal for our next homeschool year so we can take the money out of our tax return.  So without further ado, here it is. 

Strawberry Taffy (Non-PSEO Version)-11^th Grade

1. Language Arts

a. American Literature: A Survey Course - $27.00

b. We own all the books or can get them from the library.

2. Math

a. Teaching Textbooks: Geometry

3. Science

a. Apologia Chemistry

4. Foreign Language

a. Rosetta Stone: Irish 1 & 2 -$299.00

b. This will last for 2 years unless she really gets into it then we may have to purchase another year.

5. History

a. History 101: Hillsdale College

b. Constitution 101: Hillsdale College

6. Electives

a. Preparing to be a HelpMeet by Debi Pearl-$14.00

b. Joyfully at Home by Jasmine Baucham- $17.00

c. It’s (not that) Complicated by Botkin- $15.00

d. One Thousand Gifts by Ann VosKamp-$10.00

Blue-Raspberry Taffy-5th Grade

1. Language Arts

a. Daily Grams (Grammar)

b. *Sonlight Core 2 & 3 (Reading)

c. All About Spelling Level 4 & 5- $39.95+shipping level 4 (Spelling)

2. Math

a. Teaching Textbooks: Grade 5

3. Science

a. Considering God’s Creation

4. History

a. Sonlight Core 2 & 3

5. Geography

a. United States

b. Galloping the Globe

c. Sonlight

*A friend of mine has retired from homeschooling and she has graciously given me 4 years worth of Sonlight.  I am so blessed by her generosity, I have always wanted to try Sonlight but have never been able to spend the money.  I have buckets of books in our school room that I have to find a place for now…that’s a small inconvenience though!  Wow!

Bubble Gum Taffy (3rd Grade)

1. Language Arts

a. Daily Grams (Grammar)

b. Sonlight Core 2 & 3 (Reading)

c. All About Spelling Level 4 & 5 (See Blue-Raspberry)

d. Startwrite (Handwriting)

2. Math

a. Teaching Textbooks 3

3. Science

a. Considering God’s Creation

4. History

a. Sonlight Core 2 & 3

5. Geography

a. United States

b. Galloping the Globe

c. Sonlight Core 2 & 3

Laffy Taffy-1st Grade

1. Language Arts

a. All About Spelling Level 1 (Spelling)

b. All About Reading Level 1 & 2-$99.95 + shipping (Reading)

c. Startwrite (Writing)

2. Math

a. Haven’t totally decided what to use here, I have plenty in my school room to supplement him though.

3. Science

a.Considering God’s Creation

4. Geography

a. United States

5. Thinking Skills

a. Learning Resources Creative Color Cubes-$20.00

Marshmallow Taffy-Tot School

· Do-a-dot paints-$14.99

· Learning Resources Smart Snacks Alpha Pops-$14.99

· Magnatab Lowercase-$20.00

There you have it.  I have two graduating this year so I won’t be buying any more curriculum for them.  Only the items with prices next to them are things I need to buy.  I’m feeling pretty good about my proposal.  I was very committed to using what I already had and that has helped to keep expenses down.  I will also be adding several CLEP tests to my proposal and various expenses for the Teach them Diligently Conference that we are attending in Omaha, NE come May. EXCITING!!

Have you made a plan for the next school year?

The Battle is the Lord’s,

Mrs. Taffy

Weekly Wrap-up 16

I didn’t make a collage of all the food I cooked this  week, I didn’t really make anything note worthy.  But I did some special cooking with the children, you’ll see that in a bit.

This week we wrapped up our Thanksgiving Unit.  We had a such a great time, all of us!

They had a lot of fun gluing in the all the lapbooks and decorating the cover.

The Fronts.

The insides!

Along with finishing up their lapbooks we also did lots of reading.  I read them most of the books I got from the library.  One book, An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott, had a recipe in the back.  In a moment of inspiration I suggested we make the recipe.  Wow, you should have heard the squeals of delight!

It was delicious, they did a GREAT job!

My original plan was to let them make soft pretzels as a closing activity for our Thanksgiving study.  Pretzels hold no significance, I just thought it would be fun.  And thankfully it WAS fun!

On the highschool front…

Banana Taffy and Chocolate Taffy got fitted for their graduation cap and gowns this week.  So exciting!

Strawberry was supposed to take the PLAN test this week.  I totally screwed that up.  I had the time down wrong…we were a half hour late, the test already started.  I’m out the money, which is disappointing but not tragic. I’m more frustrated with myself for getting the timing wrong.  I tried so hard to make that happen.  Ah well…can’t do anything about it now. I guess I just have to find another test for her to take.  On a happier note, she is so excited to have 2 weeks off from school.  She was pretty much giddy all day!

Are you taking next week off?  Enjoy the time you’ve dedicated to being Thankful!

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

Weekly Wrap-up Week 14

I just decided to keep this running theme of showcasing some of the different things we ate this week.  It really does help me in some strange way.  The pictures aren’t brilliant because I just took them with my phone, but I think they look pretty tasty still, even if my tortillas aren’t round, I am getting better at being consistent with their shape though.  (grin)

Okay, on to the children…

Tot School~

     

Coloring and Stamping.  She’s claimed this seat at the little table for her own.  All of Bubble Gum’s papers have little baby scribbles on them, at least it’s peaceful this way!

Watching an intense game of Chess.  She climbed up on the table all by herself and just sat down and watched like she knew what was going on.  It’s amazing watching her transition from being a baby to being an active member of the family, participating in things, expressing her opinion, wanting to be involved, clearly communicating.  She is approaching my favorite age (2) and I find myself delighting in her more every day!

Kindergarten~

A little Cowboy joined us one day…working on his Song School Latin Coloring Pages…

    

Matching up Lowercase and Capital Letters in his pocket chart and showing off his final page of this Linking Cubes book.  He finished it this week and was VERY pleased with himself.  I’ve had this book for years, since Banana Taffy was 4, love it!

2nd & 4th Grade~

     

Blue-Raspberry wrote a poem about the weather in his Write Shop book and illustrated it .  He did such a nice job that we thought it deserved a special piece of paper and his best cursive handwriting.  We made a copy of it and sent it to Grandma Judy.  Surprise Mom! 

Bubble Gum finished level 2 of All about Spelling.  So proud of her!!  We hung her certificate up in the school room so she can feel good about her accomplishment.

Okay, so this was really fun.  Erica provided the skeleton printable, I laminated the different bones and stuck magnets on the back, the kids worked on putting the bones in the correct places.  They really enjoyed this activity. 

Highschool~

This is my daily view of Strawberry Taffy.  She’s such a focused student.  She worked extra hard this week so she could take Friday off.  She’s about to finish her first history book and has finished her first logic book.  I’m giving her a break from both subjects until after Christmas break.  She’ll read the second history book then and start the second half of logic.  She’s taking the Plan test in a couple weeks to get ready for PSEO. She’s also studying to take the Biology CLEP.

She got inspired to make sugar cookies, she was so ambitious that she made a double batch including fall and Christmas cut-outs!  Yay Strawberry!

We had a big week for my high school seniors.  It started out with me making their official transcripts and getting a plan in place for their final semester of high school and their 4th semester of college.

My planning mess…

The all important file box that holds every important piece of paper for their education. 

Here they are, I actually got a picture of them this week.  Here we are waiting for an appointment with a Guidance Counselor at a University that they boys will (if they get accepted) be taking their final semester at.  This is the school that Banana will be able to get his Law Enforcement Degree from and it’s the school that has the science classes that Chocolate needs for his Mechanical Engineering Degree.  I had to take the two littlest ones with me, but they were very good and this was a very proactive and out-of-my-comfort zone thing to do!  lol  I’m experiencing a HUGE learning curve here.  Phew.  Good thing my sons are so patient with me. 

Another big thing week was the meeting regarding graduation.  They have to apply to graduate with the group that hosts their PSEO classes.  We went to a informational meeting and turned in applications.  We’ll find out next week if they get to graduate with their friends.  I hope they do, I’m so excited for them to have this experience!

I could say more, we had a pretty big week, but I have limited space left for photos on blogger, so I’ll stop now. 

Thanking God for the ability to homeschool and be involved in all these little details!

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

Weekly Wrap-Up~Week 12

Yeah.  The last time I did this was week two.  10 weeks have passed since then.  10 weeks that were gone in a blink. 

Blink.

If I’m not careful another 10 weeks are going to be gone too.

Blink.

I’ve got to get some of these school days on my blog, proof to my children and myself that our home education was a rich and satisfying, if not a hectic and bizarre experience!

Blink.

Tot School~

See the cool chair that I bought for my sanity.  It holds a child up to 40 pounds, Marshmallow is tall but really skinny and only weighs about 22 pounds so I have lots of time with this beautiful chair.  She loves sitting at the table with us, though she has the ability to get the whole table moving with the swinging of her feet.

I gave her the hot dot pen and some picture cards to play with.  She loved hearing the pen cheer for her and she loved turning the pages in the little picture book.

My mom got Marshmallow this awesome learning toy!  She loves it! It holds her attention and even though she’s not real interested in matching up the colors, she will put them where I tell her too. 

Kindergarten~

I got these alphabet pages from Confessions of a Homeschooler, her printables continue to bless me more than I can express.  I’m so thankful for these young Moms who are computer savvy and share their creativity with the rest of us.  I’m also amazed at how well and thoroughly Laffy Taffy understands and writes his letters.  He can write any letter I tell him too.  I don’t think my other children were doing that at four.

Linking cube activity’s.

This is new thing I added to our schoolroom this week.  They are beautiful and the children think they are great fun!

2nd Grade & 4th Grade~

Homeschool Bowling!

Team:  Bubble Gum Blast

Team: Warrior of Valor

I’ve also had them doing All About Spelling together.  I didn’t plan to do it this way, but it’s working out really well.  We are almost done with Level 2, I have us doing 4 lessons a week.  We’ll be done before Thanksgiving Break.  I’ll get the next level during that time.

10th Grade~

Strawberry is a little more elusive during school time.  She’s often sitting at her desk or up in her room, so I don’t get many photos of her.  She is taking the PSAT on Saturday.  Exciting!  She’s also working on developing a new blog that will encourage other teenage girls to be courageous for Christ in everything they do, including how they dress.  She and her friends are working on it together, it’s such a great concept and I pray the Lord will bless it!

My older sons are plugging along through their senior year of PSEO/Highschool.  Chocolate Taffy had an Ethics presentation at school this week, 45 minutes long!  It was a group project and I heard they did fantastic! He wore a suit coat and everything!  Banana Taffy’s presentation is in two weeks.  Chocolate’s speech was on lethal force used by Law Enforcement Officers and Banana’s is about Stem Cell Research. They are being stretched and challenged in their PreCalculus class and they are both enjoying having their best friends join them at PSEO this year! 

Blink.

Before I know it they will be graduated and I’ll be planning an open house, helping them with college applications and taking their senior pictures. 

Blink.

Somebody tape my eyes open, I don’t want to miss anything!

Joyfully,

Mrs. Taffy

P.S. I’ve been updating my “Meet the Taffy Flavors” Page.  If you want to read the new bio’s and see what’s on everybody’s mind this year click here.  Blessings!