It Couldn't Just Happen Book Review: My New Science Curriculum

I just found my son's new science curriculum for the year!  It came unexpectedly, in the form of a book I was sent to review; and fell in love with.  It Couldn't Just Happen Knowing the Truth about God's Awesome Creation, by Lawrence O. Richards, is incredibly written and perfect for my middle-school aged boy.  The book is published by Tommy Nelson and was provided to me, for my review, from the Book Sneeze program.  My review is 100% my opinion.

The author, who is a retired seminary professor, uses a creation-based approach to answer scientific questions associated with creation vs. evolution.  The book begins with questions of the universe, planets, and how the earth couldn't have just happened by chance.  Using the Bible as a source, the author explains that it was designed by a creator.  It, then, progresses to answer questions about human life - all the time explaining how science in the lab works.  It continues on by presenting evidence provided by living things. The book continues in a scientific progression, unabashedly proving creation to be fact. The conclusion of the book explains the Gospel that is presented in the Bible as truth.  When you have finished the book, you will have a complete set of apologetic-style notes that back up creation from a scientific view.

Including the Index and Notes, the book is 248 pages of a complete year's worth of what can be used as science curriculum for the creation science teacher.  With 20 units, broken down into 5 main sections; the book can easily be used to delve into science lessons from a creationist perspective.

Homeschooling Kindergarten

Do you homeschool kindergarten?  Some do, some don't.  You may or may not be aware of this, but most states do not require kindergarten - even for public-schooled children.  The state where I live does not require a child to be formally educated at all until the year they turn 7.  So, Kindergarten is not a requirement.

In 1840, the first Kindergarten was opened in Germany.  In the states, the first Kindergarten classroom provided was in 1856, in Wisconsin.  My city, and Susan Blow, are known for opening the first publicly financed Kindergarten in the US, in 1873. Regardless of who is credited for its start, Kindergarten is just a gentle way of making schooling appealing to children, and easing them into their next 12 years behind a desk.

So, is it important to homeschool Kindergarten?  The answer really depends on your personal preference, and your state's requirements.  If your state requires it, then you will need to provide this for your child.  If your state does not require education until after the child's Kindergarten year, then Kindergarten is completely up to you.

If you decide to homeschool Kindergarten, it is one of the most fun years.  The curriculum really mostly just covers a really good, sound letters and numbers foundation.  Other than that, you can throw in some basic social studies and science learning, some physical education, and some art.

Everything with Kindergarten teaching/learning is fun and exciting.  Everything is so bright and colorful, and friendly looking.  If you decide to homeschool your Kindergartner, enjoy the process!  Provide tons of coloring pages, and hands-on crafts that tie into all learning.

Make letter shapes out of:

• Play-Dough
• Craft Sticks
• Masking Tape on the floor
• Sandpaper sheets
• Crayons with paint overtop, to reveal secret letter

Do the same with forming numbers, and writing number words.  With numbers, also be sure to include plenty of manipulatives, such as:

• Plastic animals
• Large buttons
• Recycled lids
• M&Ms

Have some fun making number cards with your child.  Cut out a picture of objects, and glue them to a recipe card.  Above the number, write the number and the number word.  Or, play matching games with one side showing the number, and the other showing the number word.

Science is fun at this stage, as well.  Do tons of hands-on experiments, such as planting bean seeds in a wet paper towel, inside a zip-lock bag.  Go to a petting zoo.  Anything your child can see and touch indents the learning experience into their memory.

Social Studies involves learning basic cultural facts, manners, and maps.

Art is so much fun for Kindergartners, as they can get their "hands dirty".  Provide tons of finger paints and other paints, clay, Play-Dough, pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, and glue.  Learning basic hand-eye coordination, and other skills, such as cutting, is the important underlying skills you want to teach during all lessons, including art.

Just enjoy!  They don't stay little for long, and as their studies progress, they get more and more in depth and less and less colorful and fun.  Now is your chance to make learning exciting, and introduce your child to a life filled with learning.

Wright Brothers Memorial, Amelia Earhart Flight Anniversary, and Lessons for Students

When my family was in North Carolina, on the Outer Banks, we were fascinated and excited to get to visit the Wright Brothers Memorial. Though, the actual statue on top of the big hill, that I climbed pushing a stroller, wasn't the highlight for us; the informational lectures and the sculpture that the kids were allowed to climb and play on were the best. On top of that, the kids got a Junior Ranger patch for their efforts. If you're ever in Nags Head/Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina, be sure to schedule time for the Wright Brothers Memorial.

The history of flight is fascinating, and holds tons of possibilities for teaching so much more than just learning about airplanes and pilots. Amelia Earhart was the first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean solo. She has other accomplishments as well. During her lifetime, she is said to have been fascinated with women who had gone before her to make a mark in society as lawyers, and other professionals otherwise noted to be a man's profession. This following article has tons of links to lesson plans, coloring pages, and museum information about flight, and women in history:

July marks anniversary of last flight for Amelia Earhart and women in history - St. Louis Homeschooling | Examiner.com

When you're done reading and researching the links, come up with your own study plan for your homeschoolers. If your kids are very young, this can include coloring pages, or dot-to-dots of an airplane picture. If your children are older, you could get quite detailed and even controversial by discussing possible scenarios as to what happened to Amelia Earhart during her last flight.

What does 19 years of marriage look like?

Today is my 19th wedding anniversary (and, my 200th blog post)! So, how do you think I'm spending it?

I woke up early, started work (as usual) and then woke up the kids to take them to swim lessons. My youngest bounced out of bed and immediately announced: "It's a happy anniversary day!" She then ran into her room and proceeded to hand me drawing after drawing that she had prepared for the big day. When my next oldest daughter awoke, she did the same. She had prepared two necklaces for my husband and I - each one half of a heart that joins together like a Mizpah coin. My son, drew a comic and wrote a poem. And, my husband and I exchanged cards and a small gift.

What else did we do?

I took the kids to swim class, sat out in the shade on a 95 degree day (thankfully, not yet this hot in the morning). I then, came home and prepared an omelet and went back to work. My husband left for work as well.

Sound unromantic? I'm ok with that. Why? Because my husband is a die-hard romantic, and it's bugging him tremendously that he had to work on our anniversary. We, have by the way, planned a dinner out this coming Friday night. Also, we are planning a very long trip to two of our favorite states soon, and it will be costly, even though my husband will be working the entire trip by performing musical gigs along the way.

You may think this is a pathetic way to spend an anniversary, especially one just 6 years away from Silver. But, it's not because we lack romance that we chose to spend it this way. It's not because our love is dead - It has simply matured enough to be happy regardless of whether our big day is super romantic and luxurious or practical and sweet.

Happy Anniversary, honey! Here's to 19 more and counting!

ELD Memory Foam Cushion and Travel Bag Make Sitting and Traveling Comfortably Convenient

Do you spend a lot of time sitting? Do you travel many hours for work or pleasure? Maybe you're a student who sits at a desk for hours. ELD Living Goods is here to help by providing quality ELD Posture correction cushion and ELD Travel bags that come in a variety of styles. Their name stands for Economical Living Design, and their products are true to the name for your lifestyle. They provide amazing products that make life more comfortable and convenient. Pair their High-Elasticity Memory Foam Posture Correction Cushion with their back cushion, and you have a comfortable time sitting to get your work done.
Read a complete review of the Hip-Up cushion product here!


The ELD Ergonomically correct, highly-elasticity hip-up seat cushion offers amazing comfort by aligning the hips and spine to pull legs together and create less strain on the body while sitting.

This is an amazingly comfortable product that I would recommend to anyone who ever has to sit to get work done. Following is my video review of the hip-up cushion:



To find out more, visit their website or find them on Facebook.

As if the memory foam cushion in the form of posture correction cushion were not enough, ELD makes hard-back travel cases too.

With their many colorful patterns, and convenient wheel and handle design, these travel bags are not just pretty, but durable too. They would make a wonderful gift to a person leaving on a long-awaited trip, or for any business traveler or college student leaving home for the first time.

With all the colors to choose from in the travel bags, you're sure to find one you like:

7 Eleven Day and My Kids' First Slurpee - Really!

When I grabbed my camera on the way out the door to document the big event, I realized perhaps it was time to get a real life. But, that message hit home when I saw the look on the girl's face in the car parked next to me, with every flash of the camera. Her eyes sunk into me as if to ask - Why? Why would you take pictures of children drinking Slurpees? Here's why: It was their first, and I have documented most every other of my children's firsts in photos.

The other day was 7 Eleven Day.  We learned that the convenient store/gas station is named after the day they opened for business 84 years ago.  So, on behalf of the the big celebration, they gave away free Slurpees.  Well, to be real about this, it was more like a free Slurpee sample.  But, it was larger than a medicine cup taste-test size, so we did not complain.  The weather being super, blazing hot, helped to add to our satisfaction once we began tasting the ice cold treat.

I left the house knowing full well that I could expect to have 3 children bouncing off the walls from all the sugar when we returned. But, it didn't happen. See, this was my kids' first experience with a Slurpee. And, they really haven't even had much in the way of soda. It's not because I shelter them from the world by forbidding all forms of carbonated sugar. It's not because I'm so good at providing them with healthy foods that they never needed Slurpees. It's just because we simply never go to 7 Eleven unless I'm filling up with gas on the way home, and it's on the way. And, it's because I'm just not a fan of soda. So, I forget to buy it. It's true. If we host a family gathering at my house, I will forget to buy the drinks. I'm just a lover of iced tea, coffee and water. All other choices don't even cross my mind as an option.

So, we left with my children enjoying a brief history of how 7 Eleven got its start, and a new experience to their tastebuds. They all enjoyed it, with the exception of my 4 year old's slight brain freeze from drinking the cold too quickly. But, it will probably be next 7-11 (July 11) before we have another.

Using Art To Teach Math, History, English, Science: The Core and More

If you have an artist bent, you're gonna love these two amazing books out from Freddie Levin. One gives step by step instructions as to how to draw princesses and princess-related items, such as a horse and a carriage, or a castle. The other book actually teaches math by using drawing.

How can you use these in homeschool?

Draw Plus Math Enhance Math Learning Trough Art Activities by Freddie Levin is a book that does exactly what the title says. Imagine teaching/learning math without the struggles. The author takes you through a series of drawing activities which contain a math lesson.

The book starts out by teaching basic shapes, colors, and patterns using fish in a tank. It progresses to teach odd and even numbers by drawing odd-numbered eyes on an adorable alien creature, or birthday candles on a cake; learn fractions by drawing pizza slices. There are twenty lessons throughout the book. You can even learn to draw a frog, who helps you add, and then make him a special addition to your princess drawings (next book).

(The above set of 3 drawings is from my 4 year old)

The next book is a 1-2-3 Draw Princesses by Freddie Levin. This book walks you through all the steps necessary for drawing a complete princess from head to toe. But, that's not all. You can learn to draw a tiara, a horse, a carriage and a castle to go with your princess. And, there are not just your commonly-known "Disney" princesses. These princesses also include great warriors such as Nzinga, and scholars such as Eleanor or Aquitane.

Practical Lessons from the Princess book:

Let's face it, Disney does not have the market on all princesses. The author explains that a princess can be thought of in a positive light, or as a spoiled brat. A princess simply means - a daughter of a king, or a queen. In addition, there are many options to use this book, and apply it to your core lessons.

History - There are obvious history-teaching elements in this book.  The Middle Ages was the time of knights and castles. The author has included historical princesses from various countries. With each princess, there is a brief description of who she was and how she served her country. Don't see the one you want to learn about? Choose one or more princesses in history and draw elements of that princess into the princesses you choose to draw from the book. Some of the princesses included in the book are:

Eleanor of Aquitane - Princess of France
Nes Amun - Princess of Ancient Egype
Jahanara - Princess of india
Nzinga - Princess of Africa

(The above drawing is from my 9 year old)

Literature/English Skills - Begin with these fun Knights and Castles worksheets.  Then, read a story about royalty. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a good choice for starters. As you read, allow your children to select princess-like pictures from the 1-2-3 Draw Princesses book and draw along. Often, if you can keep little hands busy, while you read, the child's mind is undistracted and open to focus on the story. If what they are doing to keep their hands busy happens to also fit with what you are reading, all the better for peaceful, connected learning.

There is also a princess reading list included with the "Reading Princess" toward the back of the book.

Spelling - Use the book to pull vocabulary words for spelling, such as:

princess
queen
king
castle
tiara
carriage
horse
ballet
opera


Science -There are some fun science lessons to be learned from frogs to the physics involved in a moat.  Here's a great site to get you started with science and castles.

Math - Math involves more than the numbers 0 through 9. It also involves the use of shapes and patterns. Your child will learn shapes such as circle, triangle, square, and more complicated names and shapes, like a trapezoid. The very first thing the book explains is what these shapes are called, and what they look like. This is important, because this is the foundation of the ability to create the pictures in the book. It also lists out each drawing in a series of steps. These need to be followed in a seuential order, while the child is counting - 1, 2, 3...

Religious Studies - As a homeschooler who does so from a Christian perspective, I'm always trying to weave into my curriculum how it applies to our family's faith. This book is no different. When I read the description of why the author created this book, and what a princess is: a daughter of a king or queen", I immediately thought of how, in the Christian faith, we believe that we are all children of the king. As girls, we are princesses and our boys are princes. There is a prince, by the way, in the book for your son to draw. This description led me to remember a book that is so very helpful in teaching your little girls how to handle the world they are about to walk into as they leave childhood and grow into adolescence. It teaches her how to determine if a "prince" is really a "prince" or just someone who wants to come and "steal her goodness". The book is called "the Princess and the Kiss".

Taking the princess one step farther, you could conduct a unit study on Queen Esther. This is a Bible account that is taught during Purim. But, you could learn about her any time of the year.

I'm sure there are more learning/teaching tips within the covers of these two books. However you choose to use your 1-2-3 Draw Princesses book, or your Draw Plus Math Enhance Math Learning Through Art Activities is up to you, but the both hold tons of possibilities for learning.

Art - And, of course, you can always use the books for simply teaching art alone.  But, with so much more to learn from them, other learning is bound to happen naturally.

Using LEGO Vignettes in education

I recently discovered a new phenomena - LEGO Vignettes! If you have heard of this, I'm sue you are jumping up and down with excitement to realize that I finally became aware, as LEGO Vignettes hold a host of potential in the education and parenting realm.

What is a Vignette: Well, generally speaking it is used in literature or entertainment to refer to a short sketch of the story - Or a snippet, as if frozen in time, for one scene. The term comes from the French word "vigne" which in English means "vine". Books used to have fancy decorative designs along their borders that looked like the tendrils of a vine. The two concepts somehow merged together over the years to form the word - "Vignette".

Now, where do LEGOs fit into this nice description? People who work with LEGOS figured out that these short sketches, or scenes from a book or movie, could be created using the popular child's brick-building toy. And, LEGO Vignettes were born. A LEGO Vignette is basically creating a scene, or shadow box style artwork, out of LEGOS.

Check out this blog dedicated solely to LEGO's and how to use them!


Great! So, what does this have to do with education?

It has a ton of benefit in teaching and learning, and not just for kids. There are grown ups who enjoy this art form. The potential use of LEGO Vignettes is limitless. Here's some ways to get you started:

1. Read a story to your child. At the end of a chapter, or at the point you see our child's eyes light up - Stop! Ask your child what they are picturing in their head. How do they think this scene, described in the book, would look? Now, go to town creating that scene out of LEGOS.

2. Instead of notebooking or lapbooking, or in addition to this, have your child build a LEGO Vignette of a historical moment. Using LEGO bricks can even be done by children too young to write. This could be a war scene, or a scene of Betsy Ross sewing the flag of the United States. It could be a church picnic, or a scene of Martin Luther King, Jr. or Abraham Lincoln giving their famous speeches. Anything historical.

3. Use the LEGO Vignettes with special needs kids. Depending on the learning challenge, or special need, sometimes a child can express himself through pictures or sculpture art, like a Vignette, when they struggle using words. By having them create Vignettes, you will get a glimpse into your child's world that he may find difficult to express otherwise. It's also a wonderful hand-eye coordination tool. For kids who struggle with physically picking up a LEGO, Or can communicate well but cannot physically maneuver the pieces, try the larger Duplo blocks or have them tell you how the design should look while you create it.

4. These LEGO Vignettes can work well in working through emotional struggles too. In play therapy, children are often asked to play with toys. As they play, the therapist can determine areas of concern in the child's life. Even if you're not a licensed therapist, a lot of communication can open up by using toys like this at home. LEGO Vignettes can be used in this kind of mode with a parent-child. Ask your child to build a scene of the happiest day they remember, or the saddest day. Use their creation to ask questions and learn how your child views life.

5. Since LEGO Vignettes typically include using LEGO figures, you can act out a lot of common social etiquette situations with your child by creating a Vignette and then making it "come to life" by using the figures to act out positive and negative social interactions with each other. The next time your child is in one of these situations, he will know how to act.

I'm sure I've just touched the surface of how LEGO Vignettes can be used. Check out this report on using LEGOs and some pictures of what others have done with LEGOS in their Vignettes - Pics from Flickr - Pics from Google Search. Then, think about it - How will you use LEGO Vignettes with your children?

Top 25 Homeschool Blogs

The votes have been cast. The results tallied, and now Circle of Moms is featuring the Top 25 homeschool Blogs. And, Teachable Scotts Tots Homeschool made the list, coming in at #23.

Read the full review at Circle of Moms here!

Please take the time to read my top 3 favorite blog posts which you can get to through the links provided in the featured article. If you only have time for one, choose #1, which explains how I became a homeschooling mom of 3. Within the blog post, make sure you click on the pink letters "Child #3" as you will be taken to the 700 Club site where you can watch a video about the miracle of my third baby's birth.

My deepest appreciation to all of you who took the time to care enough to cast a vote!

God's Love Letters to You Review

A personal love note from your creator sounds like an amazing idea, especially for the hopeless romantic. But, it's true! God hid love letters inside every book of the Holy Bible. Author Larry Crabb draws them out of 20 Old Testament books and 20 New Testament books for you to explore, reflect upon and change your life. Everyone needs a boost. Have you ever received a love letter from someone you also admire? If not, how were you left feeling after receiving a nice compliment from someone you respect? Best-selling author, Larry Crabb, shares a 40-Day Devotional Experience of Gods Love Letters to You.

The book, God's Love Letters to You is a book that should grace the book shelves of every Christian. It's written in the form of a devotional. The chapters are brief, yet deeply spiritually moving. The author covers an encouraging, "love letter" scripture form books in the Bible. I received this book as part of the Book Sneeze review program, but my review is 100% my own.

The author selects 40 days worth of devotions pulling from his book, 66 Love Letters, where he elaborates upon love notes from each of the books in the Bible. The devotional starts with a scripture from one of the books of the Bible, followed by a brief devotion and then offers points for you to reflect upon, and ends with a prayer. By the end of 40 days, you will fall deeply in love with your Savior.

With 40 days of love-filled devotions, you're sure to discover at least one that speaks directly to you and your life situation. The book selects 20 Old Testament and 20 New Testament books from which it pulls God's message of deep love toward a variety of situations. Each devotion takes only a few minutes to read, and then as long as you choose to reflect and pray. It's a very small investment of your time for such a great return of love filling your heart.

The book would make an excellent gift for any occasion, especially a wedding, anniversary, or purity ring ceremony.

Why do we celebrate 4th of July?: Best 4th of July videos

It's almost time for another 4th of July. Over the years, I've celebrated several - as a child, as an engaged female, as a wife, as a mother and now as a home educating mother. I've gone from enjoying being a part of the vast amount of people at our city's downtown Fair St. Louis to having an air-conditioned picnic with KFC in front of a television showing fireworks with the Boston Pops music in the background. I've run the gamut. I even remember the 1976 bi-centennial 4th of July - Yes, that makes me old I guess, as some of my homeschooling and parenting friends were not even born yet at that time. I have written articles on lapbook lessons and 4th of July crafts, and enjoyed the freebie crafts that the library has offered over the years to help our family celebrate in style.

I know the date goes far beyond fireworks and backyard BBQs. I know that many have died to bring me the freedoms I enjoy. I appreciate the pioneers of the homeschooling movement who went before me. But, while some spent time under the gun with the law, I do not believe any died for this freedom (I could be wrong). But, people did die to bring about the freedoms America enjoys. For this, I am forever grateful. But, repaying this act is an impossible and daunting task. So, we celebrate instead of mourn the loss because their loss brought about great gain to our country and the freedoms we enjoy. And, the best I can do is say: "Thank You!" And, to live my life in a way that brings honor to my God and to those who lost their life to give me the freedom to do so.

The fireworks we watch is to remind us of the guns firing in wars that brought about freedoms. The parades are to honor those who went before us. The red, white and blue crafts are in honor of our flag - whom I proudly pledge allegiance to, under God. The red represents the blood that was shed. The celebration is because our freedoms were not defeated, but despite the incredible loss of lives, we were ultimately victorious.

Shifting gears is a bit awkward, but I wanted to find and share some of the best 4th of July videos I have found. Enjoy your freedom to watch:










I tried to screen every video with a scrutinizing eye. In this one, there is bikini-clad females and mention of beer and one interviewer that slips a curse word. But, the overall meaning of the video was so important, that I have decided to include it (it just may be for adult eyes and not for necessarily for children - use your own judgment):