My Thanksgiving Day Book for Kids

I was in the mood to see what I could create with my InDesign and here it is!!

My Thanksgiving Day Book.   It is a cute book that your loves can write down what their Thanksgiving was for them using their 5 senses and an extra page to write about their emotions.   They draw a picture of what they smelled, felt, tasted, heard, saw, and their emotion, in the box.   Then on the lines they can write about, or have someone write it for them.    You can either print the pages out front/back and staple in the middle, or you can print the pages, cut them out, and staple together.  Your choice! 

or

I hope you and your loves will enjoy this fun booklet in B/W or Color versions. located at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

One of THOSE Friends.

I have a friend...one of THOSE friends.   You know the ones I mean...well I guess you don't yet!  

Her Facebook wall is full of encouraging pictures.   God uses her to "speak" such truth to many on her friend's list.  She recently decided to take a break from Facebook.   Oh how I missed her and the encouraging picture posts.  Every day I am encouraged not only in my walk with God, but in being a mom and being a woman.  

I wanted to share some of the great pictures she posts.  I know you will be encouraged.  

I pray that each one of you, Mommas, will be blessed by... one of THOSE friends.

Literate and Create - The Runaway Pumpkin

During my Literate and Create class a few weeks ago in our co-op, I chose this fun language, action packed, silly book: The Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis.

It was so much fun to read and hear the kids giggling as this pumpkin came :
'round and 'round across the ground makin' a thumpin' bumpin' sound came that thumpety, bumpety thumpin' bumpin' round and rolly runaway pumpkin!
For the craft, we made yarn pumpkins.

The idea for this came from Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's blog.

These were easy to make, but pretty messy.   BubbyDooDoo Bear's and Mr. Man's did not come out as they had NO patience to wait until the yarn dried completely.  I found the key was to make sure to "squeeze" out the glue from the yarn as much as you could, so that they will dry quicker.   Enchanted Homeschooling Mom has step by step directions.  Thank goodness!!!  

As I was looking for images for The Runaway Pumpkin book, I found a mini science, math and ELA unit based on the book.  I DID NOT USE IT, but it looks very cute...and it is FREE!   Check it out at First Grade W.O.W blog. 

Next Great Baker

Mr. Man is 14, so he is at that age where he is starting to think about THE question.  You know what one that is - "What am I going to do when I grow up?" question.  

One of the MANY reasons I love homeschooling is because I have the opportunity to give my loves "tastes" of the different careers they are interested in.  

With Pumpkin Pie, who now is in her last semester of community college,  was able to r experience what she as interested in.   She loved horses and thought she wanted to maybe be a vet, or horse trainer, etc.  She went away to camp for a week during Equine week.  As much as she loved/loves horses, that was not for her.   She loved to bake and thought she would like to be a cake decorator.   That was fun... for awhile.   She has always loved to draw, always!  Before she could even write, she drew stories and then would "read" them to us.   I found courses for her to take in different areas of  the Art Spectrum.   She also loved to write.  I found a one-year creative writing curriculum that walked her through writing a novel during the year.   She really liked these last two things.  By the time she went to college, she KNEW what she was going for ~ Graphic Design.  Many of the freshmen were still "lost".  Many took "General Studies".  I was so glad she had answered THE question before she went.  She still has to transfer to another college as Graphic Design firms require at LEAST 3 years of education.   While she was in college, she did so well in her graphic design classes, her teacher asked her to be a teacher's aide for this last semester.   She now is thinking she might want to teach Graphic Design because she loves teaching and helping the students learn the programs. 

It is now Mr. Man's turn.  He is interested in cooking and baking.   I let him cook as much as he wants to.  I allow him to experiment with spices and herbs.   It is a treat to not have to cook dinner, too!   

Sunday I was totally spoiled.  Pumpkin Pie came for a weekend visit.  She wanted Andes Candies brownies. We picked up some chips and MY favorite Reese's PB chips to make peanut butter brownies.   So after dinner, Mr. Man made THREE batches of brownies!!!!    Andes, Reeses', and regular.   Oh soooooooo good!!!    

(Fudge brownies + Reese's PB chips) + (Fudge brownies + Andes chips) + (Fudge Brownies) = 

He even sprinkled some chopped up  PB chips on top! 

Minty delight!

Yummmy fudge goodness. 

Oh how I am so blessed! 

  

Why Do Boys Hate Writing???

Sometimes trying to get Mr. Man and BubbyDooDoo Bear to write anything is like pulling teeth.  Can anyone relate??  

BubbyDooDoo Bear seems to have issues with coming up with the sentence on his own.  I help get him started, but then he HAS to have his own sentence.  He refuses to use mine, which is great!  Just getting him started is the problem.  He needs something to "spark" that imagination.  

Mr. Man's problem is grammar and the "just want to get it done" attitude.   "Proof Reading" is NOT in his vocabulary.  

You can get this great poster for free  HERE.  I got this from Creative Teaching blog. 

I created a worksheet for BubbyDooDoo Bear that is colorful and helps him with his "spark". 

You can get this sheet here.

If you do, please leave me a comment and share what YOU use as a "spark".