Busy Hands Two/Too

I am not the only one in this house who has busy hands!  Curlyjo has been reading this (for FUN--I love homeschooling):

In the book, she found instructions for building a loom from cardboard.  So (naturally) she did. 

She used yarn on her loom, and was kind enough to demonstrate the weaving to her fascinated mother.

Sweet little hands. 

The finished product was a lovely little woven basket for her doll. 

Poor-quality picture of high-quality workmanship, I assure you.

I must say, the coolest part of homeschooling is watching them learn so many wonderful things that I didn't and couldn't teach them. 

What a blessing.

Giveaway!

Let me begin by saying that I have shuddered at the thought of doing a "lapbook" with my children ever since I began homeschooling.  I simply didn't think I could deal with all that detail!  Lapbooks are an awesome why to learn, just not for me.  Until Tiny Love began school.

Tiny Love cannot sit still.  During read aloud time, she must have Silly Putty to play with (or Legos, crayons, something).  She can read, but doesn't like the lack of ACTIVITY that reading entails.  If she could only figure out a way to read while riding her bike, I am sure she would do more of it.  (Someone is just the opposite.)  So, at the homeschool convention, I picked up a lapbook kit by "In The Hands of A Child."  It scared me, but I was brave and desperate to find something to appeal to Tiny.

She loved it. 

She asked to do it.

She didn't know it was school. 

*cue angels singing, clouds parting, sunlight shining on my blessed homeschool*

It totally freaked me out, what with all the cutting, pasting and lack of uniformity in the placement of items in the folder, but such are the sacrifices of a homeschool mom :)

We are all finished now, and Tiny is enjoying playing with her little project, showing it off to family and friends.  And it worked in other ways, too...she can read even better after doing the lapbook!

So, as Tiny is my last "beginning reader," I would like to pass the fun on to another family!

If you have a beginning reader and would like to have this lapbook guide to do with them, just leave me a comment below.  Make sure to include your email address, which I will not publish.  This would be a great summer project for kids who are not homeschooled also! 

 I will choose a winner tomorrow... that is if I have one or more people comment for it!  LOL

I will get an address to mail it to when I have a winner. 

Lapbook, anyone? 

I Can Make That!

I love my coupons, but I never clip the following:

• kitchen cleaners (like 409, Lysol, etc.)
• laundry boosters (like stain releasers,etc.)
• glass cleaner
• bleach spray cleaner

Why?  Because I can make these for a fraction of the cost and in very little time.  My favorite is "all purpose cleaner."  It works on so many things (thus the name?):  carpet spills, kitchen counters, sinks, toys, varnished wood surfaces, etc.  And you can make it too.

All Purpose Cleaner

Materials needed:

• Dish soap (any kind)
• white vinegar
• borax (this stuff is awesome--so many uses!)
• an empty plastic spray bottle
• warm water
• Optional:  a few drops of tea tree oil (for scent and disinfection purposes)

Into the spray bottle, pour 2 tbs. dish soap, 2 tbs. white vinegar, and 1 tsp. borax.  Add the tea tree oil if you are using it (it can be found in the supplement section at Walmart).  Swirl gently to mix.  Fill the bottle the rest of the way with warm water.  Put the spray lid on and close tightly.  Turn the bottle several times to mix.  It is ready!

I actually wrote the recipe in marker on the outside of my spray bottle, so I never have to search for it when I need to make more.  It works great and doesn't have a strong chemical smell, which I appreciate. 

Give it a try!  Let me know what you think.