Homemaker's Challenge - 31 Days To Clean - Week 2 Overview

This was the week that I knew I needed the most.  When I saw Chapter 9 - Confronting Laziness - I knew this was for me!  I find it so easy to sit back and look at things and procrastinate over doing them rather than just get up and go do them!  Honestly, I spend more time procrastinating over the project than the project itself.  I'm slowly learning to just get up and do.  S-L-O-W-L-Y!


This week, I found it ironically funny that my motivation was at an all time low.  If you have ever watched the show The Biggest Loser, you know that week 2 is notorious for a low weight loss.  Well, I find that week 2 of anything I do is the hardest week for me!  Week 1, I'm all excited and can take on the world.  Week 2, I'm ready to crawl in a hole and call it quitsville!  I know this is the case for me so I tried to be a prepared as I could.  Some steps I took to help.

• had my quiet time every morning no matter the time I got up
• limited my computer time - too often a big time killer for me
• focused on just doing the next thing.  No, I didn't get it all done.  I didn't even get to a single cabinet or clean out my pantry but I did get some challenges complete (mainly the Mary one's this week - go figure!).  
• prayed - usually a downward spiral of look at that pile of mess I just cleaned and why bother thoughts would creep in and I'd sulk a little longer before just getting back up and starting! But this time, I prayed first asking God to forgive me for my laziness and to help my attitude to change.  Day 6's Mary challenge was so helpful to me this week along with chanting Colossians 3:23 -  "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. "

So, you will not see any before or after pictures of cabinets, pantries, or drawers from me this week.  However, earlier in the week I divided my Mother's Day flowers up and spread them around the house and every time I passed them by they motivated me to just keep going!

I did get my shoes cleaned out and purged too!

Before/During

After

TOS Review: IEW Student Writing Intensive B

Today’s review product is one that I am very excited about.  We have had this program for most of the school year so we have had ample time to thoroughly go through the program.  Last year, after testing my children both of my boys scored low in writing.  I expected they would because writing is not a strong area for myself so I honestly had no idea where to begin to teach it!  Our tester recommended that we look into purchasing IEW which is short for Institute of Excellence in Writing.  So, my research began. I looked first at Teaching Writing: Structure and Style DVD seminar to gain some insight for myself.   

It looked awesome but the price kept me away.  I wasn't sure it was what I wanted or that it would work and didn't really want to spend that much money on something I didn't know much about!


So, when this opportunity came around I was so excited!!  We reviewed the Student Writing Intensive Level B.  I have a 4th grader and a 7th grader who both used this curriculum. 

Here's how it breaks down.....


You begin the program by watching Andrew Pudewa explain the week’s lesson on DVD.  He makes it so simple and fun.  The whole program is broken down in steps and each week you build upon those steps.  Honestly, I am learning right along beside my children.  That is one of my favorite parts of homeschooling!  After watching the DVD, we spend the rest of the week working on the writing assignment given and explained on the DVD.  Some lessons we extended to two weeks.  The program is very flexible to use!  There is a suggested course schedule included that will spread the course out over 30 weeks.  Also included are all the handouts and teacher notes for each lesson.  To extend the program further you could include the reinforcement exercises also included.


Our schedule looked like this.


Monday - watch DVD - and don't be surprised when you and your student start talking to back to the TV!  It's normal - I think. :)
Tuesday - write key word outline on the source text provided
Wednesday - write rough draft and edit with mom
Thursday - type the corrected final draft including elements on composition checklist provided
Friday - any extra practice that might be needed including grammar skills brush up, spelling, and new vocabulary.  This would also be a great time for you to watch the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style DVD seminar for the upcoming week.  Each lesson tells you exactly which disk to watch.

Doesn't that sound simple?  Really, it is! I love the step by step process.  We started with one paragraph and have built our way up to three so far.  

Here is a sample of SWI-B.

Here is a great introduction video for you to watch on the levels of the Student Writing Intensive.

The Student Writing Intensive comes in three levels - A, B, and C.  You can purchase them individually for $99 each or you can purchase the Student Writing Intensive level of your choice + the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style for $239.


Also available for a very affordable price of $10 is the Structure and Style Overview DVD.  In case you can't purchase the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style DVD's right away, this DVD gives you a brief overview of the nine units of structure and gives you an introduction several of the stylistic techniques as well.  

We also had the opportunity to use the new portable walls available now.  These are awesome!  It is really like a big cheat sheet for writing.  Each concept is there for the student to look at in a glance including lists of –ly words, strong verbs, prepositions, and so many more of the elements taught in IEW.

Would our family purchase this?  Absolutely!!  I can say that in the area of writing we have found the curriculum that works for us.  We will be using this and the other levels and products as our only writing curriculum from here on out.  I love it!  The kids love it!  No matter the price, we will do our best to make this one fit in our budget! Some of the products at first glance seem very expensive BUT if you factor in the fact that you can use them again with each child the cost goes down.  Plus, the fact that sometimes products are worth every penny when they work so well for your family.  My husband continuously reminds me that he doesn't want cost to hinder our children's education.  I love that man!


Another thing to keep in mind is IEW will offer you a 100% money back guarantee so really and truly you have nothing to lose!


The Institute of Excellence in Writing website is a valuable resource in and of itself.  They provide articles, a where to start page, downloads, and so much more! There are also yahoo groups to help answer your questions.

Don't forget to check out what my fellow crewmates thought of this and other products from Institute of Excellence In Writing.  


**Disclaimer:  I received a free copy of this curriculum in exchange for my review.  The opinions here are my honest and true evaluation!

And the winner is......

Thank you all so much for following along with the Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series. I pray you laughed, cried and were touched by the translucent stories of real life written by new moms, stepmoms, grandmoms, adoptive moms, and moms without moms. Iridescent reality. And how poignant that the translucent nacre which coats the sand stuck inside an oyster’s shell is called Mother of Pearl. Mothers surround children with their love and with God’s love so they can grow in grace. I hope you'll join us this December for the third annual 12 Pearls of Christmas series.



AND ... thanks too, to all of you who entered to win the beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. I'm thrilled to announce that the winner is ...





Jennifer (heavensent1)!





Jennifer, please email amy@pearlgirls.info with your mailing address.



If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. The purpose of Pearl Girls is to connect women so that together, we can make a difference in the world.  All proceeds of the Pearl Girls book go in full to two charities: Wings (women in need growing stronger) to help fund a safe house in the Chicago suburbs and to Hands of Hope to help build wells for schoolchildren in Uganda. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products to help support Pearl Girls.

Please stop by the Pearl Girls blog and connect with us there.

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - 16

In my life this week...

The busy month of May begins!  We started back to our normal routine after taking a week off for spring break.  I am enjoying the homemaker's challenge that I have joined for May too!

In our homeschool this week...

We got back to routine and we actually had a smooth week even with added chores!  

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

This week will not be too busy.  The main thing going on is Youth Sunday where both of my boys will be speaking!  They have worked hard on their sermons.

My favorite thing this week was...

Enjoying the weather!!  Although, we had rain one day, the rest of the week has been beautiful.  We've rode our bikes many miles this week and enjoyed being outdoors!  Sarah has taught herself to ride without training wheels in one week and she's hard to keep up with!  Here she is with her "new" bike that we picked up at the flea market for $20. She loves it!

What's working/not working for us...

Everything is still going well praise God!

Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...

We are almost done for the school year!  I'll soon have a 8th, 5th, and 3rd grader!!!  They grow so fast!!

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

We set our five butterflies free this week......

I love this one!  In case you can't tell - that is a butterfly in front of Jonathan!

Sarah tried so hard but never could get one on her finger!  Well, I think it did touch her and she freaked so it stayed away, lol.

And where is my head??  Camera men these days :)

Stop by The Homeschool Chick for more Homeschool Mothers' Journals.

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - Current Promotion

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Homemaker's Challenge - 31 Days To Clean - Week 1 thoughts

I survived week 1 of the Homemaker's Challenge!  I must say that I am really enjoying the daily steps written in 31 Days To Clean.  They are not overwhelming at all although I don't always get them done.  :)  


My biggest struggle this week was from Day 4 - inviting a friend over to prop up their feet.   And my easiest challenge was from Day 3 - cleaning the top of the fridge and cabinets.  


I knew the Mary challenges were going to be harder for me than the Martha challenges but I am persevering through - I even made the dreaded mission statement on Day 1!


It's not too late for you join if you would like!  I don't think I've said it much this week so here goes.  Accountability works for me :)!


You can visit my daily thoughts of the challenge below.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5 - I didn't get to the Martha challenge but the Mary challenge I had to complete in Day 1 in order to write my mission statement.  I couldn't do that without having my priorities in order!

TOS Review: Kregel Publications - Andi's Scary School Days

Today's review product is from Kregel Publications. They have a line of books called Circle C Beginnings and we received the book called Andi's Scary School Days. The Circle C Beginnings books are recommended for ages 6-8. Sarah is 7, so she falls right in the age recommendation.

These books are paperback and have approximately 80 pages of fun and beautiful illustrations all through out.  Sarah enjoyed reading this book greatly and it was just the right reading level for her - a simple beginning chapter book.

Although the book was about Andi being scared of going to school and not really relevant for Sarah, she still enjoyed reading it very much.  She did mention that she thought Andi made many wrong choices so we also were able to have little discussions on the choices we make and how our outcomes may have been different. 

There are also several other books available in the Circle C Beginnings series along with books for older children.  This book can be purchased here for only $3.49 by using code HOME11 from now until August 31, 2011.  The books regularly cost $4.99 each!

You can read an excerpt of the book.  At this website, you will find free activity packs, online puzzles, and coloring pages to go along with each book as well as lapbooks for sale.  

Would our family purchase this book?  Yes!  These are fun books to read and we think they are very reasonably priced!

Don't forget to check out what my fellow crewmates thought of this and other products from Kregel Publications.  

**Disclaimer:  I received a free copy this book in exchange for my review.  The opinions here are my honest and true evaluation!