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Snack Like They Did In Ancient Greece – Make Baklava (Delicious)

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Make delicious baklava when studying about Ancient Greece @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Moving on to our next hands-on activity for our newest unit study which is Ancient Greece, we decided to look for something “delicious” to do.

We also have the book, TOOLS OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS: A Kid’s Guide to the History & Science of Life in Ancient Greece (Build It Yourself), which is fantastic for hands-on ideas.

Tiny was reading about what the Greeks snacked on and some of the foods are still with us today.

Learning that the Ancient Greeks rolled out pastry real thin and made Spanakopita (spinach pie) or Baklava, we decided to try out a new recipe.

Deciding that Baklava sounded better to make because it would give us a sugar high, we opted to make it.

Baklava is a dessert made with phyllo, walnuts and honey.

I will warn you though that if you are a foodie blogger you might cringe at our substitutions and make do ingredients.

Living here in Ecuador some ingredients like phyllo dough are not even obtainable.

I read in one place on the internet when we were looking for a simple recipe that you shouldn’t even make it if you don’t have phyllo pasty dough. I am sure I am doing some awful foodie injustice.

Good thing I am not a foodie blogger because I would be fired from the hall of foodie fame deliciousness because we did substitute and make do with what we had.

Did I mention it came out super good and we had a ton of fun in the process?

Check out the ingredient list:

■phyllo pastry dough OR make it like we did. I used this easy recipe from Living in the Pie Life
■I had about 2 cups of walnuts at the house, but we could have easily used more.■About a teaspoon of cinnamon.
■We had some local honey – a small jar.
■Couple of sticks of butter melted.
■3/4 cup of sugar.
■vanilla extract to taste.

1 Baklava  2 Baklava

We made a well for our dough and added in all the ingredients.

We were so focused on getting this dough “right” that we forgot a few pictures.

But it came out perfect for us. We allowed the dough to “rest” and while it rested, we crushed the walnuts in a ziploc bag.

Then Tiny mixed the cinnamon in with the walnuts in a bowl and set it aside.

We also melted butter in a bowl and set it aside.

3 Baklava  4 Baklava

Our dough was less than perfect, but Tiny was pleased with it and so he started rolling it out.

We buttered every layer and that gave it tons of that light feeling and sweet layers. Butter fixes everything.

5 Baklava  6 Baklava

So he rolled out one piece of the dough and brushed with butter. Then he spread some of the walnut and cinnamon mixture on top.

He did that for a couple of layers. After that I cut through and made the diagonal slits.

7 Baklava  8 Baklava

While it was baking, we warmed some local organic honey and vanilla in a sauce pot.

After our baklava was baked, we let it cool down just a minute.

9 Baklava 10 Baklava

Then Tiny spooned the delicious honey sauce over the baklava and allowed the sauce to soak through.

Tiny shocked himself because  our make do baklava was absolutely delicious with crusty and sweet layers.

It was a fun way to read some about what the Ancient Greeks ate and try a dessert too.

12 Baklava

Hugs and love ya,

Tina Signature 2015c

 

10 Books That Boost Your Homeschool Zen (When It May Be Sagging)

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

10 Books that Boost Your Homeschool Zen (When It May Be Sagging) @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool PlusWhen you lose your homeschool swagger or just need a boost, grab some of these great homeschool reads.

Especially at this time of the year when self-doubt may set in and the new look has worn off the curriculum, it is time to re-energize your enthusiasm for homeschooling.

A few of the books are just to remind you of what you left behind like compulsory schooling.

10 Books That Boost Your Homeschool

When you keep fresh in your mind what you left behind, you are not so tempted to go back and give up easily.

A few other books are gentle reminders to trust your child’s natural desire to learn and to also simplify your day.

Less can be more when homeschooling.

Real Homeschool: Letting Go of the Pinterest-Perfect and Instagram-Ideal Homeschool
Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace
Simply Homeschool: 2nd Edition: Have Less Fluff and Bear More Fruit
Simplify Your Homeschool Day: Shorten Your Day, Sweeten Your Time
Project-Based Homeschooling: Mentoring Self-Directed Learners

Free Range Learning: How Homeschooling Changes Everything
The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child’s Classroom
Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book Of Homeschooling
The Art of Strewing: Instilling the Love of Learning by Piquing your Child’s Natural Curiosity
Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling, 10th Anniversary Edition

One common theme that most of the books have which I am passionate about too is to avoid falling into the comparison trap.

Homeschooling is not about comparing our homeschool methods, children or husband with another family. But it is about supporting each other free from criticism regardless of the homeschool method another homeschooler chooses to follow.

Remember to always make time to revive your passion for homeschooling by grabbing some of my favorite reads!

What books do you read to renew your determination?

Hugs and love ya,

Tina Signature 2015c

Also boost your teacher techniques by reading these articles:

The Creative Process: 5 Ways to Cultivate Inspiration

Mustering the Courage to Face the 4 Homeschool Biggies

Free Art Notebooking Pack – Grade 1 (Other Grades too)

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have another set done of my free art notebooking pages.

I always have some long term project going on and this one turned out a bit longer with my move, but I have another set completed.

Artist Study Packet (1st grade) with 3 text - 1 sketch box

You know how I feel about art.  It is one of those subjects that should be enjoyed from K to gray.

So even though the free art curriculum guide at Concordia University Chicago – Art Lessons that I am following to create printables divides the art into grade levels, I did not create the art notebooking pages babyish.

Free Art Curriculum & Notebooking Pages

This way whatever the ages of your children are, they can use any grade level guide of their choosing along with the printables I created to have a complete art program for each year.

After all if you haven’t covered an artists or art work before, then does it matter which grade you do?

Besides, you can use the guide questions in the upper grade art if you want to cover some of lower grade art and visa versa.

I know the questions in the upper grade level hone in more on artistic design, composition and principles of design.  And though the lower grade guides provides the same framework, they do not do it as in depth.

Again, I hope this makes sense because you should be able to do any packet you choose by using the free curriculum guides from either an upper or lower grade depending on the ages of your children.

Keep in mind, that you need BOTH the free Curriculum Guide from Concordia University ALONG with my notebooking packets to have a complete art program for the year.

Today, the 1st grade set is ready.  Remember there are 8 grades now (use to be 7 Grades).

Grade 8 has been added since I started this project (yippee).

I have completed grades 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and only have grades 2 and now 8 to do before I am completed.

If you cover one artist per month, then each grade level will take you one year.  So free art for a year!

One last thing I need to remind you of because I have some new faces here is that I also create TWO SETS of the SAME art notebooking page, but each set is slightly different.

I know, I know, I like things perfect to have options and I love for you to have them too.

Look below at the graphic I created to show how each set is slightly different.

One set has ALL text boxes in case you have a kid or two like I do that doesn’t want to sketch the art.

Especially at the high school level, my oldest son just wanted to make it more about art history.

So he wasn’t interest in sketching every piece.  He just wanted to read the background information about each artist, read about the artwork and move one.  Oh yes,  I used some of these packets for high school art credit.

The second set has ONE sketch box instead of the text box because then I have another kid who wants to sketch the art that we were learning about. Too, I keep the sketch box not too big so it doesn’t become a project to sigh about.

How to Use - Art Notebooking Pages 1

So the art is the SAME for both pages.  Too, this allows you to choose from either set depending on the time you have for that month. 

For example, one piece my sons may want to write, so I would print off that page.  The next art piece they would want to sketch so I would print off that page from the other set.

Give your child options and don’t think you have to use ALL the same pages from one set.  I mixed and match depending on the mood for the day or month.

I have a more pictures from each set to show you.  This is how the pages look from the set that has sketch boxes and

3rd grade Artist Study Packet 1 with 3 text and 1 sketch box 23rd grade Artist Study Packet 1 with 3 text and 1 sketch box 3

this is how the pages look from the set that has ALL text boxes.

3rd grade Artist Study Packet 1 with 4 text boxes 13rd grade Artist Study Packet 1 with 4 text boxes 2

Again, BOTH sets have the same art and are the same except for that one box.

Choices in any subject makes learning about it more enjoyable.  We don’t feel so hemmed in.

I hope you enjoy this next grade level, which is Grade 1 according to Concordia University AND be sure to download both packets so you can decide which set best suits your needs for each art piece.

HOW TO GET THE FREE HOMESCHOOL ART CURRICULUM FOR GRADES 1 TO 8 AND NOTEBOOKING PAGES

Now, how to grab the free art curriculum. This is a subscriber freebie..

 1) Sign up on my list.
 2) Grab the freebie instantly.
 3) Glad to have you following me by email!

Also, look at more free art ideas.

MORE FREE ART IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES

I am NOT Patient Enough to Homeschool – Now What?

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Patience (not skill) is the secret to sticking to homeschooling @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Ever heard the quote by an unknown source which states, “Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow – that is patience.” They must have been a homeschooler. I am not patient enough to homeschool is a common myth about homeschooling.

Whether you are patient enough o homeschool is a valid concern whether you’re new or if you have been homeschooling for a while.

Seasoned homeschoolers would probably agree with me when I say that not many of us feel like the shining role model of patience.

It’s not because we are not great moms, it’s just that we are humbled by this process of homeschooling.

As homeschoolers we get told a lot that “I could never have the patience to homeschool.”

I am NOT Patient Enough to Homeschool

When I first started homeschooling, I felt ill equipped to answer that valid concern.

I feel differently now that I have graduated two of my sons.

Look at some ways to help moms who have that concern. Maybe, you can grab a bit of encouragement for you too.

Patience in my homeschooling journey was learned right along side teaching my sons.

It has to be developed and nurtured. Patience is just as much a skill in teaching as any other skill.

It takes patience to restrain yourself or in delay giving your children the answers.

It is NOT a virtue that you should have instantly, but it is a virtue that you want in your homeschool journey. Why? Read on, I will explain in a minute of its ability to stick through tough times.

More than anything, patience has to be modeled by YOU, the teacher, the educator.

If you either have had a preschooler or teenager one day that is misbehaving or acting up (I promise you some days you can’t tell the difference between the two) they are watching your every movement, body language and tone of speech to see if they are worth of your patience.

It is then that patience is learned by the teacher. The quality of patience teaches our children that they are worthy of our patience because you are really being a servant of them by teaching them.

Patient Enough to Homeschool

Children, even teens, are extremely sensitive to harsh criticism.

Teens are dealing with hormones and physical changes and this can add to the chaos of the house hold.

If we are constantly short on patience, then how can our children respect us as teachers? It won’t happen.

It is important to be firm, not give in and correct their behavior when you see negative attitudes or rebellion from your children.

From the time our children are babies they mimic us and it really doesn’t stop when they are teenagers.

Patience (not skill) is the secret to sticking to homeschooling.

Many new homeschoolers are on the right track though when they think of patience as a must-have in homeschooling, but not necessarily for the right reasons.

You’ll love my book!

Patience is the key to sticking to homeschooling for the right reasons. What are the right reasons?

You are not overly upset when something is not working in your homeschool. Having patience, you can sort through curriculum or teaching tips that are not working for your family.

The most rewarding of things though is that you do not lose your joy so quickly in homeschooling either. Patiently, you don’t get upset at the slightest thing that is not working right in your homeschool.

Also, you avoid making rash decisions like switching curriculum quickly. Look at my article, Stop Switching Your Curriculum, Switch Your Course of Study.

Many times it is not the curriculum that is the problem, but it can be the attitude toward a change in your lifestyle, a change in the mood of your child and just the pressure of everyday life that tug at us.

Is Your Homeschool Missing this?

The beautiful beaming quality of patience knows how to sort through all those ups and downs and doesn’t give in so easy to pressures.

When we exhibit patience and kindness in our teaching, then our children will have something to learn and worthy of imitation.

Look at my tips, What Does It Mean To Be Family Focused Instead of Curriculum Driven When Homeschooling.

Patience is more than the willingness to wait, like the very wise saying above states, patience is proactive and it is the ability to keep going on when the going is tough or slow.

I am still working on those parts. How about you? Do you feel the same way?

Ancient Greece Unit Study. Birthplace of Western Civilization Free 4 Tab Square Minibook

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Ancient Greece Unit Study. Ancient Greece Birthplace of Western Civilization free minibook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I have the second minibook ready for our Ancient Greece Unit Study.

Too, I am using the same fonts and similar style that I used in my first Ancient Greece Lapbook.

This way you can mix and match the minibooks from my first lapbook and this newest unit study to create a lapbook for your specific needs.

The minibook I have today is “Ancient Greece is The Birthplace of Western Civilization . . . .because”.

It has 4 lift tabs where information is added. You simply cut out and fold the tabs in and glue the title on the outside page.

Like most of my minibooks, I have facts for you and I created a blank minibook too with the download in case you want to add your own researched facts.

This minibook is part of the freebies that I hold back for my loyal followers and this Ancient Greece Lapbook is part of my email reader’s subscribers only.

I would love for you to follow me and give me the opportunity to help you along in your homeschool journey.

This is a Subscriber’s Only Freebie because I luv my followers.

subscribe to my blog posts

Important: IF you are already an email reader, please read this below instead of emailing me right away.

Though I love your emails, it can take a while for me to answer you.

1.) The private link to the subscriber’s only page was sent to you immediately when you joined my blog.

2.) Also, the link is sent to you at the bottom of EVERY newsletter. If you have been getting my blog posts, then check at the very bottom of one of my recent newsletters for the link.

Remember, if you are following along with us, do the minibooks and then just place in a ziploc bag until the end or close to the end of the unit study.

I normally show you a layout we do for our lapbook toward the end of the unit study.

I can’t wait to share the rest of our hands-on activities and the minibooks.

Hugs and love ya,

Tina Signature 2015c