5 Money Tips

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June 5, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 4 Comments

We all want to be considered wise and knowledgeable.

Sometimes, we can’t think straight when it comes to managing our money.

Are you good stewards of what the Lord provides you? Are you training your children to be good stewards? Are you leaving them a legacy?

Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],
And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Proverbs 24:3-4 AMP

Debt is a harsh master.

Are you a victim of our culture’s lies about money?

More, more, more.

Are you trying to fill a hole in your soul with more stuff?

Only God can fill you up and teach you to be content. And help you achieve freedom from debt.

5 Money Tips

1. Pay Cash.

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s really hard.

We have credit cards. We have a debit card. We have ATM fees. We have a spending plan. I use an Excel spreadsheet. We have debt. Back to square one.

We just need to quit buying stuff. Just quit charging! Cut up those cards or put them in a big bag of water in the freezer. By the time it takes to unfreeze, you’ll have thought better of that purchase.

Don’t store your card numbers on websites – like Amazon. It’s too convenient.

Studies show that paying cash makes you really think about those purchases rather than swiping that plastic.

Live within your means. It might be shocking at first and there’s a steep learning curve, but you’ll get used to it.

Are you a debt slave?

Are you trying to fill a hole in your soul with more stuff? Only God can fill you up and teach you to be content. And help you achieve debt freedom.

The Bible says you’re a slave if you have debt.

Now, I know most of us don’t consider car loans and mortgages debt. Not many can pay cash for cars or houses.

Set your own goals. Our goals are to use no credit cards nor have any unsecured debt.

I know some people who forbid debt in their lives in totality. What freedom that must be!

The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
are slaves of moneylenders.
Proverbs 22:7 CEV
Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.
Roman 13:8 ASV

2. Evaluate where you can save money.

Do you need to add energy savers to your home? Paying a little upfront to seal door cracks or upgrade windows or add insulation could save you lots in the future.

Can you bike to work? Can you live with one vehicle? Can you combine errands to only go out once a week to save on fuel?

Keep your cars maintained so they don’t end up costing more when things break.

Buy second hand items when you need something.

Can you grow a garden to save on groceries? Can you get paid to recycle in your state? Get a water filter and reusable bottles instead of purchasing plastic bottles of water.

Can you make your own cleaners? Can you replace paper and single use plastic products with reusable ones?

Set up a healthy menu and plan meals at home (we love eMeals!) instead of eating out.

Cancel those catalog and magazine subscriptions. Unsubscribe to store emails and alerts and texts. If the temptation isn’t there…

Subscribe to emails that list free apps and Kindle eBooks. Use your local library instead of purchasing the latest novel. The list is endless and it all depends on your comfort level.

If you’re a homeschooler, there are oodles of options for free and frugal curriculum.

Are you one of those pampered people who buys a latte at the coffee shop every day? Do you get mani pedis regularly? I’m not saying to stop caring for yourself, but you must set priorities. Treat yourself less frequently perhaps. I wish I had all that money back from when I wasted so much!

Do you go out for happy hour with friends periodically?

You can do all that at home for so much cheaper. Make life more meaningful and save money. Rotate homes every week or month. It’s easier for parents too.

The Bible says that God will provide all our needs.

Make sure you evaluate your needs vs. your wants.

I know. Sometimes I need chocolate too. Don’t starve yourself of treats or you’ll binge. Just be careful and frugal and set priorities. Communicate with your family.

3. Rethink gift giving.

Simplify.

We don’t throw huge birthday parties for our kids. We celebrate at home with a special meal and decorate frugally.

For Christmas and birthdays and other gift-giving holidays, we prefer experiential gifts to more stuff.

If you have family members who don’t understand or agree, look into group giving exchanges like a charity or memberships to museums.

Cards are pretty and thoughtful, but they’re just expensive clutter. Send eCards instead.

Shop thrift stores. Make your own decorations and invite the kids to help to make it more festive!

Teach a spirit of giving to others. You can give services or time instead of things.

If you give stuff, check out this shopping schedule and plan accordingly.

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
Mark 8:36 NIV

4. Educate yourself.

My husband and I come from very different money backgrounds.

His parents didn’t discuss money with their kids. At all. When they passed on during our first year of marriage, it was confusing and stressful to work out their affairs.

My parents were always very open with me about money. They are very organized. They have file folders for each account in a strong box with all the info so it’s easy to access in an emergency. My name is on the accounts to make my life easier when they pass so I won’t have to pay unnecessary taxes. They explained the process of banking and loans to me all my life. I attended their professional financial meetings so I could listen and ask questions. I so appreciate that practical education. They helped me buy cars – and my first house when I was in my 20s. I know what they’re worth and how they got there. They are very conservative, but they live very comfortably in retirement.

It’s an uncomfortable conversation for many.

Do you know how much you’re worth? Do you have investments? Are you utilizing the best options for saving towards retirement? Do you have enough insurance? What would happen in an emergency? Do you have enough in savings? Do you understand interest rates, CDs, money markets, savings bonds? Do you have parents or loved ones with whom you need to discuss finances? Will you or your siblings be responsible for caring for elderly parents? Are there funds in place for that?

Are you planning for your and your kids’ futures?

Read the Parable of the Talents. Which son do you relate to and why?

5. Be proactive.

Have a family notebook or protected computer file with all your information in case of an emergency.

We have IRAs. We have mutual funds.

We have 529s and CDs for our four kids. All the kids have life insurance and savings accounts.

We educate the kids about money and where it comes from and how banks work. I explain the dangers of credit cards. I want them to know the differences between debit and credit.

My teen has a checking account and a check card through USAA.

We know we receive an inheritance from Aaron’s aunt at certain intervals, dividends from Aaron’s mom’s IRA every September, when my parents pass on.

Consider your financial goals.

Are you prepared for your kids’ higher education? What is your vision for that?

Are you planning for retirement? What do you want retirement to look like?

Do you have extended medical needs? Look into flexible spending or separate savings accounts for that. Check into alternative medicine. Prevention is better than treatment sometimes.

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
for riches do not endure forever…
Proverbs 27: 23-24a NIV

Money Resources:

Courtship Topics. These discussion topics (especially about money!) are great to discuss, even years after you’ve married. We weren’t on the same page at all in many areas nor did we even know! If you and your spouse don’t have the same financial goals, it will be almost impossible to get anywhere together. Finances are always an area of conflict in marriage.

Crown Ministries. I used to teach a Sunday school class for single moms on finances using these materials. They have some great tools for families.

The Money Couple. Take a money personality quiz to find out what you really think about money use. Discuss with your spouse.

Dave Ramsey. You either love him or hate him. I actually refuse to purchase his materials or pay for his course on principle. I know many who have achieved financial freedom through his teachings. I just think he capitalizes and profits off people’s ignorance and weakness. Judge for yourself.

USAA. Or your local bank or credit union. They have great teen resources to get your kids started out right in the financial world. We like our one stop shopping since we move around so frequently with the military.

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Homeschool Frugally:

Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
Proverbs 20:18 NIV

Wage war on that debt!

Resources:

Debt-Proof Living: How to Get Out of Debt & Stay That Way by Mary Hunt
31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses: Less Stress. More Savings by Kalyn Brooke
Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After by Cherie Lowe
31 Days of Living Well and Spending Zero: Freeze Your Spending. Change Your Life. by Ruth Soukup
Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul by Ruth Soukup
Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space by Kathi Lipp
The Spender’s Guide to Debt-Free Living: How a Spending Fast Helped Me Get from Broke to Badass in Record Time by Anna Newell Jones
The Year without a Purchase: One Family’s Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting by Scott Dannemiller
The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying by Melissa Michaels

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Our Camping Trip

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June 3, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 3 Comments

For Memorial Day weekend, we rented a camping trailer and went to Starvation Reservoir with friends. It was so much fun!

It took no time at all for the kids to get in their swimsuits and head to the beach!

I bought some new sand toys just for this trip, and you can see they’re a hit!

Look at that amazing sunset with the mountains!

gorgeous sunset at Starvation State Park

One of our friends brought their new canoe and kayak. The kids had a blast trying those out! Kate did really well paddling!

Liz and Kate took Alex out in the canoe. I’m pretty sure he thinks he’s a Hawaiian king or something.

Liz took Alex out in the kayak. He asked me when we got home and unloaded where his yellow boat was! He didn’t understand that it was our friend’s. He thought it was ours. I guess we should look into getting one!

Kate blew bubbles while waiting on dinner.

There was a great little hill the kids enjoyed hiking and exploring. We saw deer prints, lizards, and a rabbit!

Stay tuned for our nature study post about all the great plants and moss we saw on our hike! The flowers in the first picture were from my kids on their hikes.

Here’s the view of our campsites from the top of the hill. We have the white truck. The truck camper and green tent on the left belonged to our canoe and kayak friends. The RV with the blue awning belongs to our other friends. We had 5 couples and 10 kids!

Our friends also had 2 fishing boats. The kids (and Aaron) loved that!

Alex’s first fishing trip. Look at that fish!

Tori’s an old pro. She loves fishing and went whenever she could.

Alex didn’t stay awake to tell me about it.

I took the kayak to the other side of the reservoir to explore the rock formations and a couple of the guys (with Tori and two other girls) “rescued” me with the fishing boat. Apparently, telling Kate where I was going wasn’t good enough since no one knew where I or the kayak were. They brought me back to the dock. and I earned my call sign: “Kayak.” My husband and the other guys were in the other fishing boat until much later that day and that was the funny story of the weekend.

We’re already planning more camping trips over the summer. The kids had so much fun!
We love camping!

Check out my camping Pinterest board.

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Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

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May 30, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

Beware. This is the aftermath. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Paint might be messy.

I mixed equal parts cornstarch and water and added food coloring.

Then they dove in like vultures.

They covered our walk and driveway with lovely pastel paintings.

And drizzled and dripped and slung the paint all over.

Tori was dainty and delicate with her yellow.

Apparently, Alex liked blue…

Ya think?

He even came in to change his pants. And then he bathed in chalk.

Here are Smurf footprints.

Frugal fun and only a bath needed. I threw the bowl and muffin pan and paintbrushes in the dishwasher. I like it.

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A Parent’s Playbook for Learning Review

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May 30, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

Find out how to teach your child effective learning strategies. (Plus when and how to use them!

Did you miss my post on learning styles?

The Kidzmet company is near and dear to my love of learning and the study of how humans learn. What is your child meant to become? How can you help him or her achieve his or her potential?

Because every child deserves to feel inspired, admired, motivated, engaged and enriched. Let us help you nurture your child’s unique spirit

I received A Parent’s Playbook for Learning to review.

Here are samples from A Parent’s Playbook for Learning.

This general TOC lists the chapters covering all learners.

Here’s the TOC from my Personal Playbook for Victoria.

Most of us assume extraverts are social and introverts are wallflowers, but it’s more complex than that.

There are the personality types listed in the Kidzmet books.

Judgers are not negative (our Christian beliefs and society would like us to think so!), but they tend to weigh pros and cons of situations and how people react to certain environments. They need to know options to feel comfortable.

Perceivers are more aware of themselves and others and the motivations that make us act certain ways.

Here is Victoria’s personal profile from the website. You can see the three sections it’s broken into: learning style, preferred teaching approach, and intelligences.

Obviously, I’m her teacher since we homeschool and the program is adaptable to work with parent-teacher relationships. For homeschoolers, this is successful to help explain to the other parent who may not interact in a main teaching capacity, or other family members or tutors, co-op instructors, and other extra-curricular leaders.

8 types of kids–8 types of learners. Which one is your child?

Free personality quiz for kids!

Since Tori is my most different child, I want to make sure I accommodate her needs. I have the whole kit for her. She learns differently from myself and her siblings. She is extremely sensitive and I don’t want her to get frustrated and hate learning. I am so thankful for my different child who makes me think and rethink how to teach her. Her gentle heart makes me slow down and reevaluate why I do anything. I trust she will grow up to do radical things for God’s glory!

How to teach your child effective learning strategies. (Plus how and when to use them!)

Want your own Personal Playbook? Or A Parent’s Playbook for Learning?

Help your child excel and develop confidence in their abilities.
Understand what makes your new students tick…before you even meet!

Join the Kidzmet community and get monthly suggestions of ways to nurture your kids’ unique spirits in a way that celebrates their personality type, learning style and innate talents.

But, I also have purchased all the playbooks for my own personal use. ‘Cuz they’re that awesome.

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Reading Achievement Awards

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May 29, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 4 Comments

My girls have officially completed All About Reading Level 2.

Kate loved the fun paper activities that accompanied the lessons.

Tori struggles with reading confidence, so this was a really big deal for her.

What to do next for reading?

I need to find another reading program ASAP for the interval since All About Reading Level 3 isn’t due out for months yet.

Considering using All About Spelling since Tori knows the rules well. She just needs practice. Kate could use practice too, if it’s similar to the games and activities of AAR.

I reviewed Logic of English a while back and we placed it on the shelf since the girls got a little overwhelmed, so we may utilize those resources more fully, along with journaling and notebooking.

The girls are reviewing Prima Latina and love it.

They like the methods of IEW but most of their writing activities are silly to me. They still need something more formal for reading.

I didn’t use a reading program with Elizabeth since she was a very fluent reader very young. She learned with A Beka 4K and ran along after that. We jumped right in with recommendations with A Well-Trained Mind, but I don’t know what will fit these girls best yet.

At least I have a couple months to take a break before we fully get back in the swing of things.

What are your favorite reading programs?

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A Week’s Worth of Groceries

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May 29, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 6 Comments

So, I really hate to shop. If I can get out of it, I will. I certainly don’t want to drag my four younguns to a store with me.

I dropped 3 kids off at gymnastics and rushed to Sam’s Club, right across the street.

I’ve always loved Costco, but they’d gotten so expensive to have a membership. When I got wind of a discounted Sam’s membership, I asked my husband to look into it and compare. He just signed up, so here we are. I still prefer the quality and selection of Costco.

What Does A Week’s Worth of Groceries Cost?

We buy our meat from a local butcher. It is ah-may-zing! So, that’s not in this post. We buy meat as needed to fill our freezer or for special occasions. Usually about every other month or so.

I do buy dairy. We just didn’t need any this trip. We use milk, cream, and half and half, usually in cooking. The kids drink milk. I don’t know of any local legal sources for dairy right now. And my kids love those Danimals yogurt drinks. They’re really not that bad. We’re running low on those, but I have to get those at Wal-Mart.

Our new next-door neighbor raises chickens and when our garden begins producing, we’re trading veggies for eggs!

So, here is my cart for a two weeks’ period. My husband gets paid twice a month and that’s about when we do our shopping, except for milk and eggs and incidentals. I keep a well-stocked pantry. It takes a lot of food to feed 6 people 3 meals a day plus snacks. We try to eat out rarely.

As you can see, most of my cart is fruits and vegetables.

If I don’t buy junk, they don’t eat junk.

No cookies, no candy, no prepared food.

I do like Annie’s products and will buy those on sale.

I do have chocolate chips and peanuts. I buy lemon juice to make our own lemonade. Almonds are a staple. And that bread beside my purse? It tastes like homemade and it’s only got 5 ingredients! Cuz I’ve been lazy making it lately.

Yes, my girls LOVE Brussels sprouts and asparagus…and we all love spinach and green beans and snap peas…and various children love the different fruits.

I am right pleased with this trip.

Cost, you’re wondering?

And, I’m terrible at budgeting and menu planning. I’m moody.
We really like eMeals for helping us with meal planning.

My meat for the world’s greatest meatloaf didn’t thaw out so we had breakfast for dinner.

How do we compare to the rest of the world?

Using Rakuten, Honey, iBotta, and Checkout 51 helps save money while shopping in store and online!

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2nd Grade Curriculum

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May 29, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

I’m revisiting what worked for Big Sister our second year and changing up some things I’ve found since for 2nd grade curricula with the girls and my son.

Second grade is such an exciting time.

Reading, writing, exploring. Kids are so curious and excited.

I don’t want to ever kill that love for learning.

I highly recommend the books by Louise Bates Ames. A good guide to follow is What Your Second Grader Needs to Know: Fundamentals of a Good Second-Grade Education by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.

My girls were 7 and 6, respectively, in 2nd grade:

Bible – The Dig Volume 2, Studying God’s Word B, and Grapevine Bible Studies. The girls love to do all these every day! I try to mix it up a little.
ELA – First Language Lessons (1-2), Spelling Workout B, Logic of English. We don’t do all of this every day.
Math – Life of Fred Butterflies and Singapore Math 2. We alternate days with these. Tori prefers LOF and Kate prefers Singapore. Compromise!
Science – Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and notebooking journals. Katie especially loves experiments.
History/Geography – Tapestry of Grace Year 3 with Story of the World, years 3&4. The girls are finally enjoying history and the read alouds, notebooking, maps, narration, projects.
Electives – Prima Latina, Song School Spanish, Children’s Music Journey 2 online piano, Harmony Fine Arts w/ ARTistic Pursuits. We do these once a week.

My son for second grade:

Journey Through the Bible New Testament
All About Reading
Life of Fred and Singapore Math 2
Apologia Science – animals and plants
Tapestry of Grace for humanities

While I have my little checklist of facts and concepts I want my kids to know, I don’t drill or make it boring. It’s about exposure at this point, so when we cycle back through, they will recognize and add to their knowledge base.

I don’t focus on a lot of writing yet.

They have lots of free time to play indoors and outside. We go on nature hikes and explore our backyard.

We cook together and do chores together. I naturally include them so they learn. They beg to help!

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Dinosaur Unit Study

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May 27, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

This month’s theme is dinosaurs!

We’ve had lots of fun playing and learning about dinosaurs this month.

Alex’s Dinosaur work

D is for Dinosaur and preK Letter D

Alex (and Dad and the girls) loved this little dino book made like Brown Bear What Do You See?

Dino letter and number assessments from Making Learning Fun.

Matching dinos with cards and facts. Get these great dino cards at Montessori Print Shop!

Alex (and Dad) had fun with this printable dinosaur coloring book. And look at the cool crayons I found!

Discussing and coloring with Dad!

~Our dinosaur sensory bins~

The kids had fun brushing away the moon sand for these dino skulls. Kate was in charge of the card.

We gathered all our dinosaur toys and some pinto beans and moss pieces to play. Rawr

Tori and Kate’s Dinosaur activities:

We read and discussed dinosaur articles.

We read and notebooked out way through the wonderful chapter about dinosaurs in our science book: Land Animals of the Sixth Day by Apologia.

Our awesome field trip: Ogden Dinosaur Park! And we got a discount for being homeschoolers. They counted us as a school field trip. I love it.

We met a T-Rex (and info plaque) at the trailhead.

I love this dinosaur.

PARASAUROLOPHUS
“Beside Saurolophus (Crested Lizard)”

babies!

We got a live one here! This little snake darted across our path. cool.

mammals

Trikey

We ain’t skeered.

I love how real this picture looks.

foot print plaques

going into the “tomb”…

a fossilized allosaur

BIG dinosaur

a big sandbox fossil dig area

Liz being goofy. I hope she didn’t steal those brushes from a baby.

watching real paleontologists at work!

a wooly rhino!

A fun new corner made to look like Jurassic Park the movie.

Check out this interesting article about dinosaur skin!

And of course, the Dinosaur on a Spaceship Doctor Who episode!

Liz is reading Jurassic Park for fun and we watched the movie.

We enjoyed many books from our shelves and the library.

We had an amazing month studying dinosaurs!

Linking up: Kids Activities Blog

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Determine Teaching Method and Kids’ Learning Styles

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May 23, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 12 Comments

Welcome back to the How to Begin Homeschooling series!

Did you miss Part 1: Getting started with homeschool?

Here’s Part 2: Determine your teaching method and your kids’ learning styles.

Coming up:

Part 3: Curriculum planning with multiple kids

Part 4: Homeschooling as a lifestyle

Teaching method is important. If you don’t have a background in teaching, then this will require some prayer, thought, perhaps research.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but a jumping off point for you in researching your direction for your family’s homeschool journey.

So, How do You Determine Teaching Method and Kids’ Learning Styles?

First, consider your purpose and vision for homeschooling.

Is your purpose primarily for

academics? {our first reason was academics. Liz has an October birthday and couldn’t start Kindergarten. I was worried she’d be teaching the class or in the office for behavior problems every day that next year!}
religion? {Homeschooling allows us to educate our children in the Word and not in the worldly values that diminish God.}
health? {I know many families who have health issues or special needs and homeschooling is flexible and makes their lives easier.}
some other reason? {being military and homeschooling makes transferring during the school year less stressful.}

Parents are vision casters.

You set the stage for success for your children and your homeschool. Set the vision and go after those goals. Win that race.
What are your goals? {Set a goal and think backwards to determine how to get there.}
Think positive. {For example, if you’re pulling your kid out of public school due to bullying or poor performance, then don’t make your child feel guilty or put him or her in a social bubble. I’ve noticed that it’s seldom his or her fault.}
Have a firm foundation. {Pray for direction. Enlist your husband’s support. Find a local or online homeschool support groups.}
Who gets credit or blame? {You? Jesus? Your children? Your husband? For years, I was still stuck in the school mindset and anxious about my kids’ progress, grades, accomplishments. But you know what? God fills in the gaps and leads us where He wants us – and it’s so much more peaceful giving Him the control and glory.}

Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.
Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.
Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.
But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].
~1 Corinthians 9:24-27 AMP

Tori persevered in her 5K and won a medal! She wanted to quit halfway through, but she’s been trained to always try her best. Character development at its finest. She just turned 7 in March.

What methods are you comfortable teaching?

Your teaching style may change over time or with each child or during certain seasons of life.

More info about teaching styles:

What are the learning styles of each of your children?

It’s important that you understand how your kids learn so you can best teach them.

And there are multiple intelligences to consider (very similar to learning styles) – based on Howard Gardner’s theories.

Most kids have a blend of learning styles and multiple intelligences with a prominence. For instance, my four kids are all different – to keep me on my toes all the time. God is laughing, I’m sure. I am fascinated and horrified at different times.

Elizabeth is an Extrovert, iNuitive, Perceiver (ENP) . She’s an Auditory (aural) learner. Her intelligences: music, verbal, visual. She loves to read and discuss history and she’s highly social (interpersonal). She is very aware of others.

Victoria is an Introvert, Sensor, Judger (ISJ). She’s a Visual learner. Her intelligences: numbers (logic-math), nature, music. She would like nothing more than to sit quietly and do puzzles – with others nearby for comfort. She is painfully shy and always wants everything to be fair.

Katherine is an Extravert, iNtuitive, Perceiver (ENP). She is a Kinesthetic (physical) learner. Her intelligences: self (intrapersonal), nature, body (kinesthetic). She’s always moving and loves to do her own thing. She is very self-aware and meta-cognitive.

Alexander is an Introvert, Thinker, Perceiver (ITP). He’s a Kinesthetic (physical) learner. His intelligences: numbers (logic-math), body (kinesthetic), pictures (visual-spatial). He has a mind of his own and loves to play games. He is aware of others (interpersonal) and naturally empathetic.

Understanding my children’s personalities and intelligences help me to teach them most effectively. I know that math rules will be easier for Tori and Alex. I can’t get angry with Liz for not “getting” algebra. I shouldn’t get upset with Tori for not enjoying reading. And Kate and Alex both need to move around a lot to keep their brains stimulated. Tori, Katie, and Liz all love music and it can help them learn other subjects. I know that one of the best things I can do for Tori, Katie, and Alex is send them to nature camp in the summer.

Focus on your children’s strengths and pray about the weaknesses that they won’t hinder your child or your relationship with them. {TWEET THIS}

Don’t allow your children to get lazy though. They do need to learn basic math and reading skills and life skills to function in society. They must be able to interact politely with other people no matter how shy they feel. There are many activities I don’t particularly enjoy, but character development is more important. You have to make the call. And there are always appropriate seasons to teach these skills. Don’t traumatize your child because she won’t learn something right now. Pray for God to open your child’s heart and mind and give you peace to know when the time is right.

note: extravert and introvert have nothing to do with being comfortable socially. It’s how you recharge your batteries. For introverts (me, Tori, and Alex), being in a social environment is exhausting and I have to be alone to refresh my spirit. For extraverts (my husband, Liz, and Kate), being in a social setting is exhilarating and they get irritable being alone.

Resources

Personality types play into learning styles. For older kids and adults, you can go here to take a free quiz to learn your Meyers Briggs letters. I am an Introvert, iNtuitive, Thinker, Judger (INTJ).

For detailed explanations of personality types, visit this The Personality Page site.

Knowing your and your children’s spiritual gifts is important too. This can help identify strengths to focus resources. My gifts are teaching and exhortation.

Take the Multiple Intelligences quiz to find strengths and weaknesses. Great explanations here.

Find your child’s learning styles with free quizzes. Kidzmet offers personalized books for your child so you can assist him or her best in individualized learning. There’s even a picture quiz for non-readers. I think they’re amazingly accurate.

A great homeschool site for all things legal, and here’s a great article about learning styles: HSLDA

Stay tuned for next week’s post: Curriculum Planning with Multiple Kids – multiple age groups.

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Spelling Work

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May 22, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 2 Comments

We’re reviewing a fun unit study that comes with a spelling component and I thought we’d see how we do with this new thang.

I never had any large respect for good spelling. That is my feeling yet. Before the spelling-book came with its arbitrary forms, men unconsciously revealed shades of their characters and also added enlightening shades of expression to what they wrote by their spelling, and so it is possible that the spelling-book has been a doubtful benevolence to us.
– Mark Twain

They love the idea.

So, here we begin some new spelling work.

Liz and I are naturally good spellers and drills are just fun for us. I wonder how Tori and Kate will react.

We’ve about conquered reading with Kate. She’s on chapter books now! She still doesn’t write or spell well though yet.

They have a sheet each day to complete, but I realize that they need extra help in between since this is so new and they have no experience with spelling.

Tori still needs practice reading.

I chose ten words from the recommended list and they wrote them five times each and wrote them each in a sentence. I wrote what they said on the board for the sentences and they copied them.

It’s just not enough for such a new concept. Their pretest was 3/10. But I loved how excited and optimistic Tori was that she got 3 right! That’s the way we should think, eh? Not focusing on getting 7 wrong, but 3 right!

So we multi-tasked on the deck this afternoon. Liz quizzed the girls while they prepped juice for lemonade and limeade. I think the sun was in her eyes or she was mad at me. Not sure what I did! {whatever}

Tori and Kate loved the squeezing of the limes.

I printed these spelling cards on fun sherbet-colored paper and laminated them.

We will practice a few more and re-quiz on Friday.

Download your own Spelling Command Cards linked on this page. I love Montessori spelling.

One of our favorite apps is Montessori Crosswords. I just need to be more intentional about having my girls play it.

Looking to add Spelling City to our repertoire. and other apps and games to make spelling fun…

Alex loves Starfall and apparently, they have an advanced app: Learn to Read.

We’re using All About Reading Level 2 (we’re on the home stretch!) and I’ve heard rave reviews for All About Spelling. Probably a purchase in our future. It’s recommended by IEW.

Liz used Spelling Workout (recommended in The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home) and she liked it well enough. I’m hesitant to go the workbook route right now with Tori and Kate.

I like the idea of notebooking spelling and want to do something more creative and kinesthetic than just workbooks, but if Tori and Kate like workbooks, I’ll get them.

A new adventure with both girls mandated to be in school this coming year.

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