Category Archives: EDUCATION

Apr 9 2012

Positive Jars

I once heard Michelle Duggar say we should encourage our children 10 times more than we correct them.  At first I thought that sounded insane, who really does that?  Children will be children, and many times they need correcting.  I don’t think Michelle was saying stop correcting your kids, rather she was explaining it’s better to focus on the positive behavior more than the negative!

How do we promote positive behavior, so there is less negative behavior?

In our home, we use Positive Jars!

What’s a Positive Jar?

Simple.  Let me explain!

Each child has their own “jar”, this can be anything from a mason jar, a small decorative box, a special glass or in our case, a cleaned out soup can.

The jar is decorated and has each childs’ name on it.  The stickers and sequences were bought from the dollar bins at Target!

Every time we catch the kids behaving positively they get rewarded by putting a pom-pom in their jar.  These pom-poms and the box they are in were also found in the dollar bins at Target.

They can get pom-poms for saying, “ok” when we ask them to do something.  Or if they put their shoes, clothes or toys away without being asked.  When we over hear them sharing or being polite they get a pom-pom.  You get the point!

Okay, then what?

After their jar is full of pom-poms they get to pull a stick!  Again, all items found at Target.

…who me, addicted to the dollar bin at Target…whatever gave you that idea?…

The sticks are simple and fun things they get to buy or do!

Dinner with mom
Dinner with dad
Sleep in the living room
Jamba Juice treat (surprisingly, our kids love this one)
Ice cream treat
$5 at the dollar store (ha!)
$.99 app for the iPad (upon parent approval)

The sticks can say anything you’d like, but I suggest they are things your children enjoy!  Since our little ones are six years old and under, these rewards work out great.

This system has been in place now for a few months and it’s working out wonderfully.  There is still negative behavior, there always will be, but this has helped give our little punks the attention they need for the positive behavior we expect of them!

Original inspiration for this system was found here!

Apr 2 2012

Vinegar and Sin

How do you teach your children the story of Easter?

Sin.
An innocent Man.
A Savior who came to Redeem us.
Resurrection.
LIFE!

http://www.deebrestin.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/rugged-cross.jpg

In order to explain the message of the Cross to my little punks I use vinegar, salt and very dirty pennies.

I begin explaining to my littles that sin is anything we do that keeps us from being friends with God.  “Sin” is the bad and yucky things we do. (I realize that’s a very basic statement, but my kids are little)

Then I bring out some very dirty pennies and tell them the dirt on the penny is like their sin.

In a small bowl, I mix ¼ cup of white vinegar and 1 Tablespoon of salt.

Stir.

Place the pennies in the vinegar mixture for about five minutes.

I suggest you try this alone first, so you can gauge how long it will take the penny to become shinny, you may need to adjust the time up or down by a few minutes.

They will come out shiny and clean!

I explain that Jesus can make our hearts shiny and clean if we ask Him to forgive us.

We celebrate Good Friday because Jesus died on the cross for our sins!

I end by having them repeat a little prayer of forgiveness and thankfulness for what Jesus did on the cross!

Mar 10 2012

3-2-1-Blast Off

We made rockets this morning, they were fun and quite simple.

MATERIALS:

TP Roll
Glue
Foil
Construction paper (or cardstock)
Paint
Markers

Here’s how we made it!

  1. Paint your TP roll.
  2. Cut out a circle from your cardstock and paint it (or use colored construction paper).
  3. Cut two long strips out of foil.
  4. Make a small slit in circle and gently fold it around so it looks like the top of a cone.  Tape or glue sides together.
  5. Glue top of rocket onto TP roll.
  6. Glue the strips of foil on the bottom.
  7. Color long oval-type shapes for the flames and cut out.
  8. Glue onto the bottom of rocket on the inside of the TP roll.
  9. Now SMILE and say that was easy!

Original inspiration for this craft was found here.

Aug 23 2011

Homemaking Binder

What is a Homemaking Binder?
Maintaining a home is a full time job.  It takes time and energy to run a peaceable home; whether you’re a full time mommy or you work outside the home, being organized is crucial.  A Homemaking Binder is a place to keep your menu plans, to-do lists, schedules, important papers, etc.  It’s a way to organize your life so everything is in ONE place!

Start Simple
When putting together your Homemaking Binder remember to keep it simple.  It needs to be functional and fit YOUR style and needs.

  1. Think of why you need a Homemaking Binder.
  2. Make a list of your contents or ideas.
  3. Begin.
Materials
  • 3-ring binder
  • Sheet Dividers
  • Planning Lists and papers
  • 3-Ring Velcro Pockets, similar to these.
  • Sheet Protectors (optional)
Inspiration
A Homemaking Binder is for YOU – make it unique to your needs and wants.  Here are a few ideas of Tabs you could compile.
  • To-do Lists
  • Meal Planning
  • Goals
  • Schedule
  • Schooling
  • Holidays
  • Hospitality
  • Finances
  • Gardening
  • Contacts
  • Resources
  • Family Journal
  • Home Inventory
Resources
There is so many free resources out there for you to use when putting together your Homemaking Binder.  These are a few I turn to and use regularly.



Examples

Here are some great blog posts on Homemaking Bindersfrom people I love!

A video post of my own binder will follow shortly!  For now, Happy Planning :)

Aug 19 2011

Getting Ready for School – Morning Routine

Teaching Responsibility
I’m always looking for a way to teach personal responsibility to my children.  ”But your kids are so little” – YES, all the more reason to start developing this habit.  If I make it fun early on, little do they know they’re developing life-long skills that will help them all throughout their lives!

Explain it
In teaching responsibility, I find it helps if my kids know what is expected of them.  I can’t expect them to know what to do if I haven’t taken the time to explain what to do, how to do it, and what Mommy expects of them.

Keep it Simple
As we’re preparing for school to start very soon, I’ve been using the very basic Morning Routing Cards from Living Locurto to teach responsibility.  Aren’t they oh so cute?!  Plus they’re so simple! My kids cannot read yet but they can understand these adorable cards!

Free Printable Morning Flash Cards

Use Daily
After breakfast, I will usually tell my 5 and 3 year old, “Go do your morning cards!”  And they know what this means because I’ve explained it and we’ve practiced it.  Since I have a boy and a girl, I printed out both sets of cards, laminated them and have hung them in our bathroom.

Print your free Morning Cards from Living Locurto HERE.

Aug 17 2011

Getting Ready for School – The Pinteresting Way

As we’re gearing up for school to start, I find myself more and more these days turning to Pinterest for great inspiration!  This post is linked to TheVintageApple.com and So I Married a Mennonite.  To read more about Pinterest go here. 


google

And away we go…


Star Wars Tags

Source: Living Locurto via Pinterest

Cupcake Tags

Source: Living Locurto via Pinterest


Skip Hop Zoo Lunch Bag
Source: Amazon from OhAmanda via Pinterest


First Day of School Printable Sign
Source: Chickabug Blog from OhAmanda via Pinterest


20 Back to School Crafts
Source: Family Fun via Pinterest

School Note Printable
Source: MommyPalooza via Pinterest


Back to School Printables
Source: We Love to Illustrate via Pinterest



To view my Pinterest Board, go here.

Aug 15 2011

Getting Ready for School – Which option is best?

School is quickly approaching and with it brings many plans and preparations. While my son is just starting Kindergarden, I have the experience of being in the classroom as I taught 1st & 2nd grade for five years before I became a Mom.

Which leads me to a question for you:

Are you homeschooling or
sending your kids to school?

We’ve been discussing all our options concerning Education.

Here are three PROS we see in Homeschooling:
  • YOU are the teacher!
  • YOU decide the pace at which your child learns and progresses.
  • Your kids get to be at home with you longer.
Here are three CONS we see in Homeschooling:
  • Time commitments – is there enough time in your day to educate your children successfully?
  • Financial Obligations – do you have enough to buy and pay for schooling extras?
  • You may not be cut out to be your child’s teacher.  It takes a certain personality to be a successful mom and teacher 24:7.

Here are three PROS we see in outside Schooling:
  • Many social interactions during the day
  • Extracurricular programs available: band, sports, clubs
  • Certified and Credentialed Teachers
Here are three CONS we see in outside Schooling:
  • Too much emphasis on State Testing
  • Not enough one-on-one teacher-student time
  • Negative influences prevail
When it comes to educating our children, it’s been God’s Grace leading us in this decision, we are confident in HIM.  He is helping us see what matters and what is best for our children at the moment. 
After much prayer and thought we’ve decided to send our kids to school - yes public school.  We aren’t intimidated by the shortcomings in the school system, although there are many.  We feel that this is the best option at the moment for our kids.

If I’m not afraid of what’s out there, it’s going to be a lot easier for my kids to thrive.  I know we are giving them the tools they need to be successful mentally and spiritually this coming year!

Feb 24 2011

Homemade Playdough

http://churchfun.com/images/wp/playdough/1.jpg
Here are two fun Playdough recipes I use.

Nature’s Playdough

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 pkg of Kool-Aid (any flavor)
Food coloring

  • Mix flour, salt, tartar, Kool-Aid and oil, and slowly add the water.
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring until dough becomes stiff.
  • Turn out onto wax paper and let cool.
  • Knead the playdough with your hands until of proper consistency. Use as is, or divide into balls and add a few drops of food coloring.

Store in an air-tight container.  Will generally last 4 – 6 weeks.

Tip: Use a few tsp of pumpkin spice or nutmeg when making playdough in the winter months for festive smelling dough!
Sep 30 2010

Scary Spider Fun

Why did the spider buy a car?

So he could take it out for a spin!
Haha

Spiders are really fun to study for boys and girls; okay well maybe more for boys, but my daughter seems to be more than okay with spiders, so she loved learning all about them!

Craft: Itsy Bitsy Spider Craft  (this one is cute!)

Spiders by Gail Gibbons

Online Game: Super Hyper Spider Typer

Giant Hairy Spider Craft


Printing Practice: Letter “S” Spider 

Song: Little Spider sing to the tune, Are you Sleeping? 
Little spider,
Little spider,
Spin your web,
Spin your web,
Watch her spinning up and down,
In and out and all around,
Hard at work.
Hard at work.
Words: B.Sarah Froehlich


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