HMJ: Free Curriculum, Bratty Kids, and Brave

What have I been up to? (because I didn't get much blogging done this week, that's for sure!) So here is what's kept me so busy...
Well, my favorite thing this week was… seeing the movie Brave with my daughters.  Did you see this great Brave themed sensory bin project from Counting Coconuts? How super cute is that!? This one looks to contain small pieces so parental caution with the wee ones, but I plan on making this for my 5 year old who is Brave Crazy and in love with her new Merida doll...

                                                   photo credit: Counting Coconuts Blog

In our homeschool this week…we homeschool year round and are in the final stretch of this current homeschool year. Seems every week now finds us wrapping up a book or subject. Now I am getting excited about starting to plan for the new school year. We are using the free curriculum available from Wee Folk Art for my 5 year old daughter this fall. Yep, you read that right...Free. In fact, Wee Folk Arts blog is full of freebies!
What’s working/not working for us…I am still doing the One Good Deed a Day Project. Look for my newest update this week on the blog!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing… We are headed to New York in August to see the broadway play Wicked. Pretty excited about that. We are going to stay at the Waldorf -Astoria, where Mr. Darcy's great aunt was married in 1929.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…Don't forget the STEM subjects! Especially if homeschooling girls: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math! If you aren't confident in your own math/science skills then seek out tutors, supplemental help, or even consider regular school for that one subject, but do make sure Math and Science are getting their fair due. I see so many fellow homeschoolers loading up on the literature and history but kids need to experience science: indoors, outdoors and through fun experiments. This is a great book if you need some simple experiments:

 

Things I’m working on…free printables for the blog--which is one reason I was a tad absent this week! And, starting this week, you can expect 4-5 posts a week here at Brighton Park..and just in time...for we will be offering some fabulous giveaways in July!

Questions/thoughts I have…This week I have really been amazed at how rude and misbehaved some children are and all their parents offer are excuses. Let's call this what it is...lazy parenting. What I saw this week out in our community (kids behaving terribly and parents not caring to even notice, let alone intervene or discipline (a word that means "to teach"), was, in my opinion, a sad commentary on American families and society

Well...Brighton Park, was voted in the Circle of Moms top Homeschooling Blogs list! The list is for the top 25 homeschooling blogs as voted on by peers and Brighton park was voted #8 out of over 200 blogs! So exciting and I am so appreciative. I strive to bring good information backed by real credentials, something that I do see so many blogs sorely lack. It's great to be entertaining, but if you are informing, you need experience, education or both in that subject area!


I’m reading… Getting ready to start Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. The new musical comes to theatres in December and I thought now would be as good a time to read it as any, as it has been on my "list" for awhile! I hope you all have said no, as I have, to reading the "Fifty shades of Gray" series. Sadly, it has enamoured so many of my married friends, but all it offers is disrespect to your own marriage union. Just say no to this one, my friends. Respect your husband and save your fantasies for him!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…We charted the caboose of the Verde Canyon Railroad last week and I will be sharing that adventure in a blog post soon...In the meantime, here's a sneakpeak:

This post is linked to the Homeschool Mother's Journal, hosted by IhomeschoolNetwork.com. Join me there to post your own journal entry or meet other iencouraging and insightful homeschool families.

Blessings,