Thank You Notes

It's the time of year to write thank you notes. Actually, any time of year is a good time to write letters or short notes to people who have blessed you.
Three years ago I wrote a post for Real Life at Home (formerly called The Homeschool Classroom when I wrote for them).  Here is a link to it.  It describes how to teach your children to write thank you notes.

A perfect activity for January.

Enjoy.

The link.

Scripture Memory Box

I first blogged about my Scripture memory box about three or four years ago.  We are still using the box, and it has proved to be a successful tool for Scripture memorization for our family.

I found directions for making my box by conducting an online search.  At first I had my verses and card stock dividers inside a little plastic basket, but later I purchased a filing box, some 4 x 6 printable index cards, and tabbed dividers.  I used to print the Bible verses onto the card stock (which is perforated into four 4 x 6 cards), but now I just print the verse out on regular paper using a small font, and then I tape them onto the index cards.

Each week I choose and print out a new Bible verse for us to learn.  I alternate short verses with long passages which we learn 2-3 verses at a time.  Some of the longer passages my children have learned include Psalm 103, Psalm 91, Psalm 1, the Beatitudes, and Proverbs 31:10-31.  I print two copies of the week's verse:  one on regular sized paper to hang on the window beside our kitchen table and one smaller copy for the Scripture memory box.

We recite the verse 5 times each morning as we begin our Bible study time.  Since the verse hangs beside our kitchen table, it is is plain view to be read throughout the day.  On Fridays, the children copy the verse into their Bible memory notebook, which is just an inexpensive spiral bound notebook.  When my children were younger, I copied the verses for them.

When Olivia went to college last fall, I presented her with a journal that I had copied inside every single verse that she had memorized since she was in kindergarten. It took me a couple of months to copy all of those Scriptures!  I wanted her to have a copy of the verses that she had hidden in her heart for 13 years--and I wanted her to be able to review them from time to time so that she would not forget them.

Ok.  Here is the procedure for setting up your own Scripture memory box.  If my directions are not clear, then you can Google instructions.

Supplies Needed:
1 filing box (mine holds 4 x 6 inch index cards)
1 set of blank tabbed dividers (you need 39-41 total)
4 x 6 inch index cards

Procedure:

1. Choose verses for you and your children to memorize.  
2. Copy the verses you already have learned onto the index cards, one per card.  You can print onto the cards, print the verses on paper and then tape them on the cards, or just hand write them onto the cards.
3. Label the tabbed dividers in this manner: 1-31, Daily, Even, Odd, and the days of the week--either Monday-Friday or you can include Saturday and Sunday too if you plan to drill on those days.  I just drill the Scriptures on Monday-Friday.
4. Place the card with the Scripture that you are learning this week behind the Daily tab.
5. Put last week's Scripture behind the Even tab.
6. Place any other Scriptures that you have learned behind the Odd tab and the days of the week tabs.  If you have even more Scriptures already learned, begin placing them behind the days of the months tabs. (1-31).  For Daily, Even, Odd, and the Days of the Week tabs, just put one care per tab. 
7. Each week create a new card for that week's Scripture.  Place the new card behind the Daily tab, and then move each card one tab back, until you get through the Friday tab.  Then take the card that is behind Friday, and put in behind the next blank numbered tab.  When all 31 tabs have a card behind them, begin putting the cards behind 1, 2, 3, etc. again.  Just keep distributing the cards evenly as the years go by.  

Daily Drilling:

Pick a time of day that is convenient for you, and drill your Scriptures daily.  Each day you will practice the Scriptures behind the following tabs:  Daily, Even or Odd (depending on whether the date is an even number or an odd number), the day of the week it is (Monday-Friday), and then the date (1-31) of the day.  So, you will be reciting at least 4 Scriptures a day when your box gets full.  As you learn more and more verses, you will have more cards behind the numbered tabs.  

This system really works.

My children can recall over 100 Bible passages--some short and some fairly long-- with very little prompting, just by using this simple system day in and day out.  I am so glad that I took the time to create my Scripture memory box a few years ago.  It takes me less than five minutes once a week to type up the week's memory verse, tape one copy to the window and the other smaller copy on an index card and put it in the box.  Then I take about 10 seconds and move the cards one tab back, and then we are ready to go!  It's really that simple.

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:11

Homeschooling Home Economics

As I have mentioned before, this year I am teaching my two oldest girls a fairly comprehensive Home Economics course, that I created specifically for them.  I have been pleased with how it has gone.  I still need to take pictures of the long tiered skirts they finished back in January.

Today, I have a post at The Homeschool Classroom that describes how I taught budgeting money to my girls.  I plan to write a series of posts for The Homeschool Classroom that will describe other aspects of our Home Ec course this year.

We had a congregational singing at our church service last night, and I was reminded of God's promises to love and take care of us through all situations as I really listened to the words of the songs. One song we sang is called There's a Rainbow in the Cloud.  I do believe that.  I am looking for the rainbow right now.  I know that the outpouring of love, support, promises of prayers, and words of encouragement from my family and friends have been to me a rainbow in my clouds of fear and anxiety concerning my surgery and recovery.  I also know that God has a purpose and possibly a bigger rainbow!  I am still thankful.  I am still scared.  But I am trusting in the Lord to help me these upcoming days.

There's a Rainbow in the Cloud

Alton Howard, P. West

As I journey here mid the toil and tears,

There's a rainbow in the cloud

He will safely lead, I must have no fear,

There's a rainbow in the cloud.

After storm and rain, fields of golden grain,

There's a rainbow in the cloud,

Winter's cold and pain, summer's harvest grain,

There's a rainbow in the cloud,

When the storms all pass, comes a brighter day,

There's a rainbow in the cloud,

In that City fair, there's a crown to wear,

There's a rainbow in the cloud,

There's a rainbow that is shining,

There's a rainbow in the cloud;

When life's race is run, and the victory's won,

There's a rainbow in the cloud.

My ABC Book Post

Today, I have a post over at The Homeschool Classroom all about the ABC book that Sam and I are making as part of his Kindergarten.  I have included some pictures of our actual book, so you can hopefully get some ideas, but also see that the book is actually Sam's book.  While I used a scrapbook and some scrapbooking supplies, I let Sam create the items that are put into the scrapbook, and I allowed him to place the pictures and stickers wherever he would like.  You can tell!

We are drawing near to our 100th Day of School mark.  We are on day ninety-something, but we will be taking a short break from school (I plan to blog all about it soon....very soon) before we actually get to Day 100.  We have about five or six letters left to learn, and the the whole alphabet will be covered.  Wow! This year has flown by in some ways.

You can click here to read the ABC Book post.  Happy reading!

5 Days of Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make

Today I shared my post about the Domino Christmas Ornaments at The Homeschool Classroom.  The children and I made these cute and easy ornaments last year.  The Homeschool Classroom is featuring gifts that your children can make all this week.  Be sure to check out their site each day for fun ideas.

Olivia and Julie are hosting a Christmas Tea Party this afternoon for Leah and her friends.  This tea party is part of their Home Ec curriculum.  They have planned and prepared the entire party.  I will post pictures and details hopefully tomorrow!

Kool Aid Playdough

I have been trying to do at least one "art or craftsy" thing with Leah and Sam each week. Of course all five of the children want to participate, and that is fine! This week, we made homemade Kool Aid Playdough.

Here is the recipe:

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup salt

2 Tbs. oil

1 package unsweetened Kool Aid

1 cup boiling water.

Mix all ingredients except the water in a bowl. I made three batches: one red, one blue, and one yellow. I bought lemonade Kool Aid for the yellow, but it turned out to be a yukky color. So we added a package of orange. Microwave the 1 cup water until it is boiling, and then add it to the mixture. Stir until combined, and then knead it as soon as it is cool enough to do so. This dough is not sticky, and is really easy to knead.

The Red

The Yellow

The Blue

Julie divided each color of dough into five balls, one ball for each child.

Each child got a ball of red, yellow, and blue.

Then they divided their balls into three smaller balls, and mixed red and yellow to make orange, red and blue to make purple, and yellow and blue to make green.

Leah with her dough

The finished product!

Colorful balls

A rainbow of colored playdough.

When the children were through playing, we put all of the balls of each color into separate zip-lock bags. I am not sure how long this playdough will last--but I plan to get it out a couple of times a week. The next time they play with it, I plan to give them cookie cutters.