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Finishing Strong – Homeschool Link Up Party {Homeschooling Middle & High School Years} #8. 04/23/2014

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Welcome! Finishing Strong  Homeschool Link Up Party

Thank you for joining us this week at Finishing Strong – the link-up that focuses on middle & high school students.

 

Finishing Strong Link Up Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

 

Our favorite posts from last week:

Heidi from Starts at Eight enjoyed reading Poetry Happens from unSocialized.

Finishing Strong Week 8

The title definitely captured her attention. She said, “I don’t love poetry studies, because I am a black and white, tell it like is person, and all the reading between the lines of poetry tires me.”

She liked how poetry just happened at the dinner table for this family and they each seemed to know some poetry all on their own. You can also visit Magnetic Poetry, where magnetic tiles with words on them are given to you and you arrange them to make a poem!

Her other favorite post was Do More Than Just Enough from Livin’ in a Glass House.

Finishing Strong Week 8

Heidi shared, “I really appreciate Lynda’s thoughts on not just scraping by.” Lynda says about her son, “It makes perfect sense in his young mind to use the technology provided to take short cuts.” But then she reminds us all to do more than that. Do more than just the bare minimum, get your hands dirty and participate in life.

“This is a great reminder to remember to be grounded and be where you are, striving to live each day to its fullest,” said Heidi.

Megan from Education Possible loved the Homeschool Middle School Acrostic Poem from 7 Sisters Homeschool.

Finishing Strong Week 8

She said, “It was perfect for Poetry Month. I love working with acrostics with my kids. Plus it just made me laugh!”

She also enjoyed all of the FREE Online Curriculum Options for High School from Homeschool Gameschool.

Finishing Strong Week 8

“I love that we have so many options available for our teens. It’s easier than ever to help them be successful. The fact that these are all free is a huge bonus!” Megan said.

 

 

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Easy Details to Remember & Even Easier Guidelines.

      • The link up party goes live at 5:00 a.m. CST each Wednesday and stays open until the following Tuesday at 11:55 p.m.
      • Each week we will pick our favorite links as features and share them.
      • You can link up to 3 posts. Please do not link up advertising posts, or other link ups, or parties. I will remove them. Homeschool related reviews are permitted and of course all topics related to homeschooling middle to high school students.
      • Grab a button to add to your post after you link up and if you were featured, grab an “I was featured” button.
      • By linking up with us, you agree for us to share your images and give you credit of course.
      • That’s it! Glad to have you here and let’s party!
Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

How To Make An Easy Ink pot & Quill Pen with Berry Ink

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

If I do start a series called hodgepodge homeschooling it would include how to make an easy ink pot and quill pen with berry ink that Tiny did today. This is such an easy and fun hands-on activity that can go along with any topic on westward expansion, Lewis & Clark or just the life of a pioneer.

Howtomakeaneasyinkpotandquillpenandberryink

While I worked in the kitchen pricing my items for the moving sale this weekend, Tiny could do most of this on his own.  Plus, this easy activity went along with the Free Westward Ho History cards he is memorizing right now.

How to Make an Easy Ink pot

The first thing we did was to make an easy ink pot so that the paint could dry while we made the berry ink.

Here is the list of what we ended up needing:

  • 1 empty plastic bottle.
  • sharp craft knife.
  • 1 small piece of cardboard.
  • masking tape.
  • black acrylic paint/paintbrush.
  • one sharpie.
1inkpot2inkpot
3inkpot4inkpot

Cut the top off the plastic bottle because the top is the perfect size for an ink pot.  I actually did the cutting because the knife was just too sharp to let Tiny do it by himself.

Then place the cut lid on the cardboard and trace a circle or template out of the cardboard with the sharpie.  The cardboard circle is the bottom of the ink pot.  Using the craft knife, cut the circle out.  Then start wrapping masking tape around the ink pot and taping the bottom round cardboard piece to the ink pot.  We ended up not using the cap that is for the lid.

5inkpot

Then Tiny painted the ink pot with the black acrylic paint and set it aside to dry.  How easy was that?

Easy Berry Ink and Quill Pen

The next thing Tiny did was grab some ingredients he thought he would need for the berry ink and quill pen. He was pretty close.

Look at this list for making the berry ink and quill pen.

  • 1/2 to 1 cup berries.  We actually had mixed blackberries, blueberries and some raspberries that were overripe in the refrigerator.
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt depending on how much ink you make.  We used a full one teaspoon because he used a whole cup of berries.  So about 1/2 teaspoon of salt for 1/2 cup of berries is the measurement.
  • 1/2 to 1 teaspoons of vinegar depending too on how much ink you make.  Again, we used a full one teaspoon because we used a full cup of berries.
  • 1 feather. A contour feather is better.  We had feathers laying around the house from some Native American head dress we had, but you could easily buy one or better yet, send your kids outside to find a couple of feathers.
  • 1 small bowl for mixing.
1 quillpen4quill pen
2 QuillPen3quillpen

First, he tried to smash the berries because I knew they needed to be strained and the pulp taken out.  It wasn’t too easy and that seemed like too much work to me.

So I pulled out the hand held lemon squeezer and it worked much better.  No need to mash, then strain because it’s all done at one time in the hand held lemon squeezer.  So we added berries, squeezed and out came the juice and we threw away the pulp.  The squeezer took a little bit more time, but I think that process helped Tiny to understand the effort the early pioneers had to put forth to produce ink.

Add the salt and vinegar and stir.  That’s it.  If it’s too thick, add a wee bit more vinegar.   Our concoction came out just right the first time.

6inkpot17quillpen
7inkquill8 ink quill

The feather required some kitchen shears to cut it to a point.

You probably have most of this stuff laying around your house like we did.  It was a fun way for Tiny to spend the morning learning about the early pioneers and Lewis and Clark.  He had to try his hand at writing a bit more like Lewis and Clark did.  It makes you appreciate how fond Lewis and Clark must have been of journaling because of the sheer effort it took to make ink and then to preserve their writings for generations to come.

GRAB THESE OTHER RESOURCES AND HANDS-ON IDEAS

If hodgepodge homeschooling tastes like this today, we might add it a bit more.  No complaints from Tiny or his mom on the fun we had today.

Hugs and love ya,

If you want some other activities to go with an early American history unit study, then grab these other ones too. Free Printable History Board Game – Learning American History Through the Life of Wyatt Earp, make soap and make hardtack.

Check out some other fun resources for studying about Westward Ho, Lewis & Clark and Pioneer Life

Curriculum Planner – 2 Pages Per Month At A Glance Academic Calendar. New Beginnings Color

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

Another choice for the 2 page per month at a glance academic calendar for the 2014-2015 school year is ready!  You ask for this color scheme called New Beginnings and I heard ya.  It has five color shades in the notes section before it repeats.  I just wanted to be sure you had a second color choice for this coming school year.  I love this one too.  It is oh so soothing.  I am having a hard time deciding between this one and the Rainbow Notions Calendar. I think I may put them both in my planner.

2 Page Month At A Glance Academic Calendars New Beginnings Collage

2 Page Month At A Glance Academic Calendar

Like the Rainbow Notion Calendar, I added a few more boxes to help track points in our homeschool day and an extra place for notes too.  It too is very colorful.  I’m super excited to share it with you.

Guess what? You can get it for only $.99 cents.  Instant Download.

 

Or, if you like the Rainbow Notions Calendar or both.You decide.

2 Page Month At A Glance Academic Calendars

 

Because I am not sure if my email readers will get the fancy store button, I am also linking this post to my blog.  If you do not get the button on the email feed, come to this blog post by clicking here and you can get it in my store too.

Hope you luv it!

Hugs and love ya,

2012Tinasignature 2 Pages Per Month At A Glance Academic Calendar is Ready! Rainbow Notions.

Linking up @ these fabulous places

Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop | Hip Homeschool Hop | One Project At A Time |The Mommy Club |

Finishing Strong – Homeschool Link Up Party {Homeschooling Middle & High School Years} #7. 04/16/2014

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

We are excited you are joining us for another link-up, full of posts written specifically to encourage those families homeschooling older students.

Finishing Strong Homeschool Link Up

Hopefully you’ve been learning as much as we have from the amazing posts being shared!

 

Finishing Strong Link Up Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

 

Here are our favorites from last week:

Heather from Blog She Wrote loved fellow co-host Heidi’s post on Preparing your High School Student for the PSAT.

Finishing Strong ~ Homeschooling the Middle & High School Years #7

She said, “Heidi does a thorough job of preparing parents for the world of college testing. As a homeschooling parent of a 10th grader this year, we’ve already gone through one testing period and we are gearing up for another round. I appreciate the information on the breakdown of the tests as well as the timeline and prep tips.”

Heather also suggests checking with your local school system on the PSAT before getting too far. Her school system does not allow 10th graders to take the exam, so it’s best to make sure in May that a test will be set aside for them in the fall. Many schools order the tests in May.

Also, remember that the PSAT is taken during normal school hours while the SAT and ACT are take on weekends.

She also enjoyed Homeschooling High School – A Plethora of Resources from Sweetness and Light

Finishing Strong ~ Homeschooling the Middle & High School Years #7

Heather loved the way Meredith pulled together many resources for high schooling parents. There are some faith oriented items, along with online partners to help you with high school.

“I enjoy reading about all the ways parents can offer up a unique high school experience for their teens. Thanks for the list!” says Heather.

Do you want to connect with other parents homeschooling older kids? Join our Finishing Strong Community on Google+!

Tina from Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus loved To Sow A Seed from Roots and Wings.

Finishing Strong ~ Homeschooling the Middle & High School Years #7

Tina said, “As I reflected on graduating my first son last year, the words written in To Sow a Seed, echoed how true it is that as parents, we face a daunting task in raising our teens.”

“Gaining independence is a gradual process and the time comes soon enough for our teens to take charge of their life. Roots and wings matter.”

She also enjoyed reading Review: The Camp X Series by Eric Walters from Tea Time with Annie Kate.
Finishing Strong ~ Homeschooling the Middle & High School Years
As a history loving person, Tina was intrigued by this well-researched World War II series for middleschoolers. “I can’t wait to take a look at them,” she said.

 

Follow Me Linky Party Finishing Strong

Blog Button Link Up Pinterest Button Link Up Google Plus Link Up

Twitter Link Up You Tube Link Up

Follow Group Boards Linky Party Finishing Strong

Pinterest Button Link Up-1 Google Plus Group Link Up

Easy Details to Remember & Even Easier Guidelines.

    • The link up party goes live at 5:00 a.m. CST each Wednesday and stays open until the following Tuesday at 11:55 p.m.
    • Each week we will pick our favorite links as features and share them.
    • You can link up to 3 posts. Please do not link up advertising posts, or other link ups, or parties. I will remove them. Homeschool related reviews are permitted and of course all topics related to homeschooling middle to high school students.
    • Grab a button to add to your post after you link up and if you were featured, grab an “I was featured” button.
    • By linking up with us, you agree for us to share your images and give you credit of course.
    • That’s it! Glad to have you here and let’s party!
Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus
Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus


Curriculum Planner Must-Haves

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

Whether you choose to call it a curriculum planner or homeschool planner, it is a necessary organizing tool when you homeschool.  Oh sure, I have tried spread sheets, online trackers and all kinds of techie things, but I always come back to plain paper and pencil.

Every since I created my first curriculum planner and stopped trying to be something I am not by using the latest technology or gadget that is out because I thought it would be more “convenient”,  my must-haves for a curriculum planner became very clear.

I have always claimed that there is something about the physical act of writing out our day that helps me to remember where I am going and what we are doing.  I don’t have to wait for something to charge or boot up before I use it and for me my curriculum planner feels real personal when I add pictures of our past field trips and other activities we have been involved in.  It becomes a journal of our journey.

Basics, but Essentials of a Curriculum Planner

So I thought I would share a few of my must-haves because as you can see from the picture below, I kind of poke fun at myself for things that I missed each year.  And too you will notice that I don’t have every year here because it took me a few years to figure some stuff out.

Curriculum Planner Must-Haves 1

As far as the basics or essentials, here is my list:

  • I need the school year someplace on it.  You will see in picture number 1, I was so impressed that I could do a calendar over a picture that I forget the school year.
  • Talking about calendar, I know that I want multiple calendar years in my curriculum planner AND I also want a place to plan my year.  Those are two very different calendars.  One is for noting dates and the other one gives you room to plan.
  • I need undated pages.  It took me several years to figure that one out.  Did I tell you one year I wrote out EVERY lesson plan for the whole year? It took me months to do and guess what? In the first week of school, the boys got sick and I was behind already. I created stress by dating each page before I got to it.  Talk about tears.  Now, all my planner pages are numbered for organization, but not dated.  In homeschool, we have the flexibility to skip a day or two and then pick back up with our curriculum planner.  I hope you learn from my mistakes.
  • My last basic essential is that I need multiple sections to add to my planner depending on the season of homeschooling that I am in.  I need one that has objectives and one that has more tracking if I want to hold myself more accountable one year and I needed forms for both preschool and high school depending on where I was in my journey.

Curriculum Planner

But I know too that is not all I want in my curriculum planner.  The other set of must-haves has to do with design.

Once I figured that I wanted the function to stay flexible and for it to not just be a generic blank planner, I focused on the beauty of it.

Look at what I have now in my must-haves for design.

  • I want something unique each year that is NOT one huge download where all the pages are the same.  Where is the fun and creativity in that?   I must have it with a twist each year or eclectic looking so that each year it retains a unique quality.   That is why I create new curriculum planner covers each year.
  • This next one is a biggie for me and that is it has to have color.  If I spend a couple of hundred dollars on curriculum for my kids, I think I can splurge pay a few extra cents and have my curriculum planner in a color that I like looking at each day.
  • Then of course coil binding is the way to go so that it lays completely flat so I can write on it and adding a sturdy front and back cover keeps it durable during the whole year.

Curriculum Planner Organized - Copy

Then of course I always keep a bag of pretties handy when I need them.

Figuring out my list of must-haves didn’t take one year or even just a couple.  It has taken years to fine tune a tool so that it becomes something I cannot possible school without.

You would think some of these things would be just a given that I  would have it in my planner, but it’s easier said than done once you start designing.

I love my pictures of my old planners so I can laugh at myself, but it also reminds me of why I love my planner and more special to me is the fact that I can share what I love with you too.

Hugs and love ya,

2012Tinasignature Homeschooling Through the Summer with My Highschooler