Favorite Back To School Helpers!

My blog, The Homeschool Messenger, came about last year because friends (not all kids were homeschooled) would ask me where to find math sheets, spelling help, science help,etc online. I would email them the links gladly! My kids would also ask me where to find links during the day. So to help me and them I found that it was easier to just post all the links in one location so the blog was born!

Here are the categories I have listed on my blog sidebar and a few of my favorite links in each catagory!

ART- Incredible Art Department

* Art Lesson plans for PreK- College age

* Art Activities and Games

* Incredible Resources

* Art Career and Jobs

* Teachers Toolbox

* Art room and more!

GEOGRAPHY- US Geography

*Capitals, States and Landscapes of the USA

- National Geographic

*Videos, Activites, Games and Stories

HISTORY- The Story of our World Series

*Best history books that we use.

-Dear America

*Great books and Scholastic has a great kid and parent friendly website!

LANGUAGE- Caught Ya Book Series

*Fun and interactive books for learning grammar!

- Grammar Girl

* I love the podcast lessons!!

MATH- Homeschool Math

*Not just for homeschoolers!

*Worksheets

*Very full of everything you need related to Math!

-Timez Attack

*Best ever multiplication game online for free and also available to purchase a full version

READING- Reading is Fundamental

*Best interactive reading site!

*For kids, parents and educators!

-Katie and Kimble Blog

*Cute book series

*Interactive website with the books!

*Kid friend author with videos on website

-Carole Marsh Mysteries

*Great mystery reading books.

*Very kid friendly author (you can also get your name as a character in one of her mysteries)

SCIENCE- Every day Mysteries

*Fun science facts from the Library of Congress from A to Z!

-Windows to the Universe

*Science gem that I found last year!

* Our Planet and Solar System

*Great information and super graphics

Government- CIA for kids

*For parents, educators and kids

*FUN online games!

Best overall Interactive Kid site - BrainPop

Please check out the other links in the catogories I have listed in the sidebar! If you have some to recommend please leave the link for me in the comments! I'm always looking for more.

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PARENTS of school aged children check out these too:

We posted an article, "100 Best Blogs for Homeschooling Moms" (http://www.onlineeducation.net/2009/08/16/100-best-blogs-for-homeschooling-moms/). I am happy to tell you know that my site has been included in this list.

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About This Post

It’s back-to-school time, and this year Sprite and TwitterMoms have
partnered with bloggers like me to share back-to-school tips and
tricks, advice, stories and more! http://spritebts.twittermoms.com">Visit Sprite's back-to-school
channel on TwitterMoms to get helpful ideas, learn how to survive
the back to school rush, seek out advice from other TwitterMoms and
join the conversation. You can bit.ly/UW2GJ">learn more about
donating your My Coke Rewards Points to support your local school, how
to enter for a chance to win some Back to School cash, check out
recipes, or even play some fun games. Here's to a successful and
stress-free back to school season from Sprite and TwitterMoms!

Back To School 4 Homeschool High School

This is the year we've been waiting for! The beginning of High School! For our School that just means you will be working harder, concentrating on classes you really want to take and taking some classes maybe you aren't quite sure you want to take.

(Picture from Momlogic: Homeschool or High School)

My twins will be 15 next month. This is their 4th year to be homeschooled. If you ask them they will tell you that they love homeschooling. They love starting school at 9am. They love snack time whenever they need a snack. They love hour long lunches doing whatever they want to do. They love learning what THEY want to learn. They love all their homeschool friends. They also love all their other friends who go to school all over the place.

I think that it is very important to recognize that each child has a different level and a different style of learning. That is why they do not have the same exact curriculum. Quite of few subject they have the same material but both will receive individual attention in planning how they go about tackling their courses. Most likely they will not be working the courses at the same time.

I like to plan school up to Christmas break. Together they will be working on:(click to explore the titles as most of them link to another site)

Chemistry AP via Thinkwell

American Government via Thinkwell

Lingua Latina year 4

The Story of the World V. 2: The Middle Ages

(Enjoying ART at Southern Illinois University with other Homeschoolers)

ART

Catechism

Giggles in the Middle: Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for Middle School

(Made her first dress this past school year and wore it for Easter and Homeschool Prom)

Home Economics- Taking care of yourself so you can serve your neighbor

Literature-TBA

As individuals one will be doing:

Algebra 1 Brightstorm

Drama/Theatre

Soccer

(Drama Girl)

And the other:

Pre-Algebra review with Kiss My Math

Music lessons

Community College Band

(Jr High School band)

If you have any questions about what we are studying or need any help at all related to Homescholing feel free to leave a comment below! If you want to talk in email please leave your email address and I'll email you. You can also tweet me at @susieqtpie

Feel free to explore the subject links on my side bar. I keep our favorite school links listed for easy access to me and friends who ask about resources. The links are for all ages and for all levels of schooling. If you have some favorite links please share!

Click the link to take you to The Homeschool Lounge! You will find a lot of information there too! Super place to share, learn, connect and have a bit of fun!

Feel free to check out 2 other recent post on Back to School Food: Snack Time and Back to School Food: Healthier Snack

About This Post

It’s back-to-school time, and this year Sprite and TwitterMoms have
partnered with bloggers like me to share back-to-school tips and
tricks, advice, stories and more! http://spritebts.twittermoms.com">Visit Sprite's back-to-school
channel on TwitterMoms to get helpful ideas, learn how to survive
the back to school rush, seek out advice from other TwitterMoms and
join the conversation. You can bit.ly/UW2GJ">learn more about
donating your My Coke Rewards Points to support your local school, how
to enter for a chance to win some Back to School cash, check out
recipes, or even play some fun games. Here's to a successful and
stress-free back to school season from Sprite and TwitterMoms!

Back to School Food: Healthier Snack Time part 2

Update on my Snack Time part 1 post!

Several of the snacks that I listed was a link to The Healthy Pantry. I sent them a copy of my post because I wanted them to know that I was giving them a blog shout out! I have reviewed their products and love all of them that I have reviewed.

In Snack Time, part 1 I listed my granola recipe and mentioned that my daughters and I will work on trying other recipes as part of our homeschool program this school year.

Many thanks to The Healthy Pantry Chef and Nutritional expert! He reworked my recipe to make it more like I was wanting for my daughters Snack Time! Here it is:

HEALTHIER CRUNCHY GRANOLA

2/3 cup chopped dates
1/3 cup chopped dried fig
1 cup water
8 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup almonds, raw-whole or slightly chopped
1/2 cup juice-sweetened cranberries
1/2 cup juice-sweetened blueberries
3/4 cup oat bran
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup sunflower seeds (roasted and salted is good)
1/2 cup raw-slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed
craisins (they added this for us because we love craisins)

Preheat oven to 350. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine dates, water, canola and apple juice concentrate. Cook stirring occasionally until the mixture forms a thick paste. Remove from heat-set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together remaining ingredients minus the craisins. Spread out onto thin layer on a baking sheet. (1 full sheet or 2 half sheets). Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly toasted. Transfer to a large bowl and mix in date paste mixture. Bake an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until lightly browned.
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This looks like a winner! I can't wait to try it! I guess the butter and brown sugar mixture in my recipe was really a down fall for a healthy granola. This new recipe relies on natural fruit
sweetness! You too can make this recipe for your kiddos that are headed back to school! This would be a great class snack too!

My post made them hungry and inspired them to put together a snack kit in time for Back to School! A poll was posted to see what people would choose for a Back To School Snack!

Please click and take the ONE QUESTION poll! It will take you 3 seconds!!! Thanks friends!

Happy Back to school planning! CLICK HERE FOR THE HEALTHY PANTRY POLL!

You too can get a recipe makeover! Check out The Healthy Pantry and submit a recipe that you want to be made tasty and healthy for your family!
About This Post

It’s back-to-school time, and this year Sprite and TwitterMoms have
partnered with bloggers like me to share back-to-school tips and
tricks, advice, stories and more!
href="http://spritebts.twittermoms.com">Visit Sprite's back-to-school
channel on TwitterMoms to get helpful ideas, learn how to survive
the back to school rush, seek out advice from other TwitterMoms and
join the conversation. You can bit.ly/UW2GJ">learn more about
donating your My Coke Rewards Points to support your local school, how
to enter for a chance to win some Back to School cash, check out
recipes, or even play some fun games. Here's to a successful and
stress-free back to school season from Sprite and TwitterMoms!

Back To School Food: SNACK TIME

We are a homeschool family! It is our 4th year to homeschool. Lately I've had on my "Back to School" thinking cap! (Bet you all have one of these! LOL)
We usually do not start school until after Labor Day. So I use the month of August to work out what we will be doing up to Christmas Break.

For some reason I've been thinking a lot about FOOD! Teaching at home also means eating at home- ALL DAY! I've always thought that it was important to have easy to grab snacks. A wise mom told me that she has a list on her fridge of snacks that her kids could have anytime. I haven't done this but plan on starting it this year. We do not have a scheduled snack break. When you get hungry and if it is not meal time then you can grab a snack.What snacks are great to have around for a quick grab?

I am the shopper so it is up to me to keep the snack stock full. Each girl gets to pick out one special snack at the store. This helps me with making the decision on what to buy.

I've created 4 weeks of snacks. We can rotate snacks in and out of the schedule. This will allow us to incorporate seasonal recipes. The fruits and veggies will change depending on the season. The schedule will allow some variety and easier for me as I head off to the store!

I want to make sure that my daughters are following recipes and preparing the snacks too! This is a very important to me. I want my daughters to be able to cook for themselves and others.

This year I'm going to work on teaching them how to make something from what you have in your pantry. I love doing this. It takes practice for some!

Here is the first 4 weeks of snacks. Some have links. Others need recipes. I will post recipes in September.

Week 1 Snack options

• Pencils
• Granola bars
• Cheese sticks
• Sea Salt Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• Fruit snacks
• Bugles
• Apples, Pears & Banana Kabobs

Week 2 Snack options

• Granola (1/2 c each: butter, honey, wheat germ, brown sugar, raisins, 3 cups oats, 1 c each sunflower seeds and other nuts. Melt together butter, honey, sugar. Add all other ingredients. Microwave on high for 4 min. Spread out on baking sheet to cool. Store in covered container or Ziploc bag.) *We are going to try some new granola recipes which are lower in sugar. I will post those recipes results in September.
  
• Apples, Pears and Grape Kabobs
• Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies
  
• Yogurt
  
• Cheese and crackers
• Fruit snacks

Week 3 Snack options

• Sticks and Stones
• Pretzels
• Apples
• Yogurt
• Pudding cups
  
• Rice Krispy bars (make according to box directions)
  
• Soft Pretzels (We will try out a few recipes and post in September)
  

Week 4 Snack Options

• Craisins
• Nuts
• Fruit Leather (Never made it but want to. I have several recipes. We will do these and report back in September!
• Cheese
• Snack crackers
• Yam n Jam Muffins
• Spiders (share recipe later)

What isn't on the list are carrots, celery, ranch dressing and peanut butter. They are staples around our house because the kids love to eat them.

If you have any snack recipes to share please include them in the comments. If you have a blog and want to share your snacks or Back To School Ideas please add your link in the above Back To School MckLinky! That way my visitors and I can come visit you too!

Stay tuned for more Back To School Food ideas featuring those other meals!

About This Post
It’s back-to-school time, and this year Sprite and TwitterMoms have
partnered with bloggers like me to share back-to-school tips and
tricks, advice, stories and more! href="http://spritebts.twittermoms.com">Visit Sprite's back-to-school
channel on TwitterMoms to get helpful ideas, learn how to survive
the back to school rush, seek out advice from other TwitterMoms and
join the conversation. You can bit.ly/UW2GJ">learn more about
donating your My Coke Rewards Points to support your local school, how
to enter for a chance to win some Back to School cash, check out
recipes, or even play some fun games. Here's to a successful and
stress-free back to school season from Sprite and TwitterMoms!

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