Homeschool Mother’s Journal

Posted:
Mar
17
2011
13 Replies

In my life this week…

We had our annual rent review due this week and I tackled SIX years worth of paperwork organizing to find everything that we needed. Thank goodness I keep everything, but I need a better system.

In our homeschool this week…

We are taking an impromptu spring break (which will continue until the end of next week – yippee!). The boys are still learning. They have been watching MythBusters, creating art, and playing with cousins.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We have visited with my sister and her kidlets and my mom and dad.

My favorite thing this week was…

Having Zion (2 year old twin) fall asleep on my shoulder while watching tv, in the middle of the afternoon.

What’s working/not working for us…

It is not working for Jonah and I to have toys in the livingroom anymore so that will be changing very soon.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…

Are you taking a spring break?

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

“Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it!” @viralmarketmom

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal is hosted by Sue over at the Homeschool Chick. Make sure you stop over there for a visit take a peak in everyone else’s journal.

Honey

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Jimmie’s Collage Spring Makeover

Posted:
Mar
17
2011
10 Replies

It was my pleasure to work with Jimmie from Jimmie’s Collage (she has an awesome blog, go take a peak). She wanted something bright and springy for her new blog makeover and we both agree that her new design has achieved that goal for her.

Her new header…

Her new blog button…

Her new social media icons…

Her new custom signature…

I also created a favicon to complete the look, but it is too small to show up nicely here.

Thanks for letting me share my creations with you.

Honey

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Learning Graphic Design

Posted:
Mar
17
2011
2 Replies

If you have been around here for any length of time, you will know that I learned graphic design about 1.5 years ago. It has been an amazing process learning how to create art with a mouse and a free computer program, Inkscape.

I feel like I have come full circle in the last year. I started out learning how to draw with the computer because I could never get my “in real life” drawings to look like how I wanted them too. This is why, until now, I have always painted abstract paintings. Now, I have come back to real life drawing (and painting) and I am able to look at my work differently and somehow make it work. My real life art is still more cartoony and fun than realistic (much like my graphic design), but I’m okay with that.

I have tried a variety of different things with my graphic design. I tried having a graphic design site with it’s own domain (Sunflower Graphic Design), I tried merging it with my other site (Marketplace Mommies), and I even considered using my new Sweet B Studio, but I have decided that I don’t really want to be running all over the place managing blogs.

Don’t get me wrong, I have tons of fun doing the blogging part of Sunflower Schoolhouse, but I want to spend my time creating. I want to create graphic design, I want to create homeschool products (free and paid), I want to help my husband create our animations (more on that in the coming weeks), and I have so many other ideas for projects that there just are not enough hours in the day, so I am bringing everything back to Sunflower Schoolhouse. Be prepared to see all kinds of new and exciting things here at Sunflower Schoolhouse.

You may have already noticed that I recently incorporated my Graphic Design into Sunflower Schoolhouse and I will be highlighting some of my designs into my posts. One of those designs is coming up in the next post.

Honey

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Top Ten Tasks For Tackling My Blog To-Do List

Posted:
Mar
15
2011
2 Replies

Today I have been tackling tasks on the blog that have been on the to do list for far too long.

Some of the things that I have been tackling might be helpful/useful to my average, everyday readers just reading my blog (making it easier for you to read and navigate) and others will be more useful to those who are bloggers themselves and wanting to make some improvements to their blogs.

I don’t know about you, but I am a very visual person, and if something isn’t in front of my face I will forget to use it.  That is the reason for a few of these tasks that I have tackled on my blog today.

Just a note: we are using WordPress self hosted.
  1. I added some white space to the sidebars because they were feeling very top heavy.
  2. I added the subscribe counters for feedburner to the sidebar so I have an easy way of checking my subscriber stats.
  3. I added the subscribe counter for twitter to the sidebar using twitter counter.
  4. I added a twitter widget to the sidebar that links to all of the tweets that I have favorited through twitter.
  5. I have been collecting tons of links and putting them in draft posts (where they sit until I get around to writing a post) and I thought it might be more useful to start using my delicious account again. In order to remind myself, I put a delicious linkroll on my sidebar.
  6. I updated my Sexy Bookmarks plugin and chose different share buttons to focus on. If something is missing that you liked or regularly used, please let me know.
  7. I added the “Add to Any” plugin to my posts (so they show up on the front page posts and all pages and posts – even in the feeds).
  8. I updated the blog button on the Sunflower Schoolhouse Facebook Page (which I haven’t used in forever, but plan on using more regularly to connect with all my amazing readers – that’s you!).
  9. I finally got up the nerve to add a few affiliate link buttons to the sidebar for products that I have actually purchased and used. I was scared to do this because I thought it would be a really difficult process (it wasn’t). Have a look and you might find something useful.
  10. And finally, I added some legal stuff to the sidebars including: Blog With Integrity, Copyscape, and My Free Copyright.

This is my Top Ten list for Tuesday. I am linking this post to Tackle It Tuesday because this was a big job that needed to be tackled. And just on the off chance that my homeschool mama friends want to do some tweaking to their own blogs, I am linking to the Hip Homeschool Hop. If you need any help with tackling your blogging to-do list, please leave us a note in the comments and we would be happy to help you.

Honey

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We Apologize!

Posted:
Mar
15
2011
4 Replies

We have had a big oops today. I want to thank one of my readers for bringing this to our attention.

Over the past couple of days I have been adding a Graphic Design section to the website and I apologize that these pages went out through the feed. We are working to correct that (pages were never meant to go out through the feed).

We are wanting to add a store to Sunflower Schoolhouse because we have been secretly developing some products for you and your families. For this reason my husband has also been testing out some store plugins through WordPress and apparently one or more of them decided to send things out through the feed all on its own.

I was NOT trying to advertise to you in anyway by purposely sending these things out through the feeds and I am sorry that this has happened. Please know that it was not my intention at all.

Please feel free to send an email through the contact form if you have any concerns or questions.

Honey

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We’ve Got A New Look

Posted:
Mar
08
2011
26 Replies

I am so excited! I have been working like a busy bee creating headers and buttons for clients and my site always sits there waiting patiently until I have some extra time, which is why I am so excited to share that we have a bold new look over here at Sunflower Schoolhouse. If you are reading by email or on another reader, please stop by for a little visit.

I have created a quirky and fun new header with a whimsical bee and a giant sunflower. I am not saying more about that. You will just have to come and have a look.

Through the graphics on the header you can get to some of your old favorites: Homeschool4Free, KidLinks, Freebies (AKA The Beehive), Workbox Blogroll, and my A Trip Across Canada. The first three of those will be changing (yet again) to make them easier to upkeep for me and more searchable and functional for you. I am sorry that I don’t have any more information on that yet because I am still thinking through it all. I do know that the Workbox Blogroll is in desperate need of updating and I will be getting to that soon too. A Trip Across Canada will be getting an overhaul and I have a big surprise there too that I can’t wait to share. All in due time.

I created a new post signature to go with this new look and I even managed to make a post divider. I have never had post dividers before.

My husband has been instrumental in the installation of the new design. He is in charge of all the tech details because he comes by it so naturally.

We are trying out some new fonts for the headers and text. I would love to know what you think of them (are they readable?). Now keep in mind that I have really bad eyes, so I was trying to choose fonts that I could actually see (I feel so old).

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that I have a new button. Check out the right hand side bar where you can grab your own button. While you are at it, you might like to subscribe by email or RSS or maybe follow on twitter or facebook.

So, what do you think of the new look?

Honey

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Sweet Finds Saturday

Posted:
Mar
05
2011
2 Replies

Sweet Finds Saturday

I have some great homeschool finds for you today. I hope you enjoy.

  1. Home Grown Learners is a new find that I thought you might enjoy.
  2. I found this awesome list for making busy bags for toddlers (and I have 2)
  3. Here is an amazing list (with photos) of sensory bins.
  4. A creative use for those old Duplo blocks.
  5. Mama May I is loaded with tons of great activities.
  6. Just in case you missed it – The 10 Days of Homeschooling Blog Hop over at Heart Of The Matter.

What sweet finds have you found this week?

Honey

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Homeschool Mother’s Journal

Posted:
Mar
03
2011
5 Replies

It is time for another edition of the Homeschool Mother’s Journal over at The Homeschool Chick.

In my life this week…

I am still sick. First they said it was tonsillitis. Second they said it was strep. Third they said it was strep again. I am on my third round of antibiotics. This time they gave me a different prescription for a longer time.

In our homeschool this week…

We have been spending time in the kitchen baking all kinds of yummy treats and the kids are having a blast.  Now, if I can just get them to clean their rooms.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We have been hanging around the house trying to get me healthy again, but the weather is nice and I think we need to go for a walk soon.

My favorite thing this week was…

snuggling with the twins this week and baking with the big boys.

What’s working/not working for us…

The new workbox setup is working very well for us.

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have…

Is there an art video series for kids? Moses loves Mister Maker and I would love to be able to find a video series like this television series for him to watch.

What are your favorite educational dvd’s?

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

I want to share a link to the Handbook of Nature Study. Now that the weather is nicer, I can’t wait to explore this inspiring site more fully.

 

Handbook Of Nature Study

I am linking up to the Homeschool Mother’s Journal.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

Honey

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Helpful Homeschool Hints – Chronicles Of Narnia Podcasts

Posted:
Mar
02
2011
3 Replies

 

I was so excited to discover the complete Chronicles of Narnia book series available as a series of podcasts online. My oldest son, Elisha, has read the series and was really excited to be able to listen to it online as he is heading to bed each night. Since my son is enjoying them, I thought I would pass along the link for your family to enjoy as well.

~ Chronicles Of Narnia Podcasts ~

I am linking up to Helpful Homeschool Hints.

Helpful Homeschool Hints

Please share any great resources that you have found in the comments below.

Honey

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Working Our Workboxes

Posted:
Mar
02
2011
2 Replies

This year we are using our workboxes for our various subjects and it is working well. We are using Bob Jones for most of our subjects and we are loving it. It is way more work than we are used to, but the layout is good and it is nice to have a stopping and starting point each day. I like having a teacher’s manual with more information (than I could ever need) and all the answers for those days when my brain is feeling old and tired.

Most of the workboxes have:

  • at least one student workbook
  • a teacher’s manual
  • answer keys (for mama)
  • and any other pieces needed

The children grab the workboxes off the shelf and bring them to me. We work on our subject and then they replace the box on the shelf. We moved the workboxes up to a bookshelf in my bedroom and we do school sitting on my bed (one child at a time). It is nice one on one time. We were doing our work in the living room, but that meant keeping everyone else out of our main living space while we were doing school, which just wasn’t practical.

I am trying to help the kids to work more independently, but they all have their issues:

  • Elisha has ADHD and autism and needs help with staying focused and also with scribing (due to muscle fatigue during printing).
  • We suspect that Moses has dysgraphia, but we know for sure that he has trouble following directions (he reads them, but can’t remember them to execute them).
  • Malachi is not reading fluently yet so all of his instructions need to be read to him.

I have been thinking about including more fun back into our homeschool day. Does anyone have any great links or ideas?

How are you organizing your workboxes these days?

workbox weekly

Honey

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