My First Try at Chalkboard Art (Pinned it/Did it)

One of my Pinterest boards is Bulletin Boards and Chalkboards.  I recently gave this pin a try:

 

Here is my attempt: 

 (I used a different translation, the NIV.)

I had a lot of fun...and I think making art out of scripture helps with the memory part.

 I have a chalkboard in the laundry room. In the past I have used it as a place to keep notes and a To Do List.  I decided that since I spend a lot of time in there either washing clothes or ironing, the chalkboard would be put to better use as a place to write scripture that I wanted to memorize.  I have found that it works great!  Why haven't I thought of this before? 

My Little White Church

Last year while on vacation I saw a decorative "church house" in a gift shop that I just loved.  I just wasn't willing to pay $200 for it.  It was also very colorful, and the color palette in my home is a little more toned down.  So, on that same vacation I started hunting for antique pieces to incorporate into my "church house."  My plan was to collect interesting pieces over time, and then have my very handy dad make the church for me.  (He's sweet that way!)

I found two old door plates at an antique store.  I immediately knew these would be the doors to my church.  My dad just happened to have some knobs that fit inside of them perfectly!

The round metal piece was also found at the same antique store.  It is from an old Victorian lamp.  I had no idea how to use it, but bought it because I just liked it. 

 The finial on top is extra-special.  It took a year to come across the perfect piece for the steeple of my church.  This past May my family went "picking" (yes, we love watching American Pickers!) in some old buildings on the farm.  My sweet husband looked for 2 or 3 days. (He loves "picking!")  He would bring things out that looked like they might work.  Nothing really suited me until he brought out this piece.  I knew immediately it was the "piece de resistance."  It was made by my great-grandfather.  I knew because he always had a floating ring on his pieces.  I also really loved the dark color of the wood.  

The white bell was from a wedding my parents attended.

Don't you just love the roof?  My dad cut all of those pieces. Yes he did.  (Thanks, Dad!!)

The inside lights up, just like the one at the gift shop.  

 I couldn't decide about the windows until I was sitting in church one day.  (Still listening to my preacher-husband's sermon, I promise!)  I noticed the shape of the windows of our church.  I thought, "That's it!"  How special to have that incorporated into my little church.

This key was also a find the day we went "picking."  My dad says it's the "Key to the Kingdom!"

I just love my little white church.  I have it in my living room near my "wall of crosses."  I love that I didn't just buy it in a gift shop.  Each piece has a story and meaning to me.  It took over a year to bring it all together, but it was worth it.  I look forward to getting creative with it during the upcoming seasons.  Any ideas for what I could do, blog peeps?

Preschool Sunday School: Jesus and the Children (Mark 10:13-16)

Art Center: Drawing self portraits

Puzzle Center: Matching Children

Puzzle Center: Jesus and the Children Puzzle 

 

Nature Center: Making Fingerprint  Designs

Adding Details

We looked through the magnifying glass at our fingerprints.  God made our fingerprints special!

"Jesus loved people and helped them." 
Matthew 14:14

Free Digital "The Old Schoolhouse" Magazine~~~September/October Issue

Check out the

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine: September/October Issue.

I enjoyed reading Preparing Healthy Foods on a Budget  and Choosing the Best Electives.  

Preschool Sunday School: Treat Others Right

     Sunday our lesson was on Jesus and the Woman at the Well. (John 4: 1-30)  We focused on the truth that Jesus loves everyone.  Our Life Verse was: "Love others as I have loved you."  John 15: 12.

Block Center: Building a well (See the picture of the well on the wall?)

Art Table: Using colored pencils

Dramatic Play Center: Pouring water (The curriculum suggested sipping water, but I thought this would be more fun and last longer!)  Note to self: buy more funnels!  That is a favorite tool for this activity!

TOS Review: PeopleKeys (The Perceptual Learning Style Notebook)

      The concept of "learning styles" is very familiar to me.  I've heard about the importance of teaching to each child's learning style at every Sunday School Conference I have attended, and I've mentioned them in every children's conference I've ever taught.   Why, then, as a homeschooling mom of 7 years have I never tried to figure out my own children's learning styles?   I don't think I've heard "learning styles" and "homeschooling" in the same sentence very often, if ever.  Maybe I haven't been paying attention,  but now I am, thanks to PeopleKeys!

     Our family received  The Perceptual Learning Style Workbook .  This short (19 pages total) and easy-to-use resource helped us to discover how we prefer to receive (or perceive...thus the term "perceptual") our information as learners. The learning styles covered in this workbook are the three main ones: auditory, visual and kinesthetic.
     The first step was to take the 20 question profile (quiz).  It was easy to tally the results.  My 15-year-old took the quiz in just a few minutes and discovered his learning style was "auditory."  This got me curious as to what my 12-year-old was, so I gave him the quiz orally.  We discovered that he is a visual learner.  Well, it got me curious, so I took the quiz too!  I found our that I am a kinesthetic learner. Wow.  All of us have a different learning style!  This was pretty enlightening to discover.  I know from experience we tend to teach to what our learning style is, so I'm going to be more cognizant of this fact moving forward.  I want to make sure my sons are getting lots of opportunities to learn in the way that best suits them, not just the way I prefer to teach. 

 

     After we all took our "learning style profile" I read short articles included in the workbook on each of our learning styles.  For example, to my 15-year-old I read the pages about what an auditory learner is and tips for studying, etc. for an auditory learner.  

     As I read through the descriptions for each learning style, we all said, "Yes, That's me!" and "Yes,  That's you!"  I definitely believe the "quiz" was very accurate...even at only 20 questions. 

     Next, there was a page called "Learner's Toolbox."  I spent quite a bit of time reading this one page.  Under each learning style it gave a list of "tools" to help make the most of your learning style.  I liked how simply it was laid out and how practical it was.  For example, I found out my auditory learner could benefit from using verbal instruction, public speaking and ear phones.  (This tells me that I need to do more verbal instruction, that it's a good thing we signed him up for Speech and Debate this year, and that it's okay when he wants to listen to classical music on his earphones while studying!)

     At the end of the workbook, there were a few written exercises/worksheets to be filled out.  I let my 15-year-old do this part.  This activity helped to solidify the process and what he has learned about his learning style, as well as learning styles in general.  

     We found this whole process to be very helpful.  It will help us now as we homeschool.  I believe that putting this knowledge into practice now will follow my son(s) as they enter college.  They will have a better understanding of themselves, will know the best methods by which to study, the best study environment for themselves and they'll hopefully be able to recognize and adapt to different teaching styles.

     Just two days after completing this workbook, I found it very interesting that my auditory learner spent the afternoon at Speech and Debate Club, while my visual learner chose to spend his afternoon at the art museum.  Both were doing exactly what they enjoyed!  (And mama was pleased that they were learning the way they learn best!)

Cost of Product

$13.00 

Similar Products

The Perceptual Learning Style Workbook can also be purchased as part of the Student Binder.

Student Strengths Report

Personality Style Report

DISC Career Style Report

Cognitive Thinking Style Report

Personality Style Workbook

Values Style Workbook

The Children's Profile

Go HERE to read more reviews from the CREW on the products listed above.

Age Ranges 

All products listed above are for ages 13-adult, except the Children's Profile which is for ages 9-14.



 

Recipe: Summer Garden Pasta with Chicken Sausage



 

 

 

 

 

 

A year or so ago I discovered this delicious product:

 

 

 

With a little trial and error, I have created a simple recipe that has become one of our family's favorites.  I'd love to share it with you! 

 

Ingredients:

1 Package Al Fresco Sundried Tomato Chicken Sausage with Basil and tomatoes, chopped. (NOT Italian sausage!  I made that mistake once...it's good sausage, it just does not work well with this particular recipe!)

1 package Bow tie pasta (You can use whatever you have on hand...but this shape/size works well.)

2 small yellow squash

2 small zucchini (I've used spinach before, too.)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fresh Garlic

Fresh Parmesan Cheese

 

Directions:

     Cook pasta in a large pot according to package directions.  While the water is coming to a boil, chop up the squash and zucchini into small chunks.  Saute the squash/zucchini in a pan with olive oil until it is cooked/slightly browned.  Add 2 cloves of fresh garlic to the squash/zucchini during the last few minutes of cooking.  When the pasta is cooked, drain and put back into the pot with a generous amount of olive oil.  Add the squash/zucchini/garlic to the pasta pot and stir.  In the same pan, add a little more olive oil and cook the sausage until heated through/browned.  Stir all together.  Place a generous amount on each person's plate and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese.   

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preschool Sunday School~~~Do Not Worry

Sunday our lesson continued with the "Sermon on the Mount."  Boys and girls learned how Jesus taught the people not to worry about food, clothing or tomorrow.  He told them to look at the birds of the air and the flowers of the field.  He told them that he takes care of the birds and the flowers-- how much more he will take care of us!

 

In the Art Center we cut and pasted pictures of flowers and birds.

 

In the Puzzle Center, we played a concentration game and matched things that God provides for us.

 

 

 

Jesus loved people and helped them.

---Matthew 14:14

 

 

And my God will meet all your needs.

---Philippians 4:19a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Blog Post Find of the Day~~~Modesty, Mtv and Who's Really Dressing Your Daughter?

Check out this great article on modesty by Ryan Visconti at churchleaders.com.

My two favorite quotes from his article:
"I wish more men had seen my wife in a bikini before we got married," said no Christian man ever.

Is a bikini modest? I don't know, but I do know that you can't legally wear any less clothing in public.

 



Pinned it/Did it! (Dust Ruffle Alternative)

     I pinned THIS IDEA to my "Home Decor" board awhile back.  I was (and still am) in the process of updating the Master Bedroom, and thought I might use this idea from Martha Stewart.  The idea is to use a sheet to cover the box spring.  Martha matched her box spring to her mattress, but I like a little more contrast/interest.

 

 

     As it turned out, my new comforter/new mattress was not working out.   The new box spring was taller than our previous one, and my comforter shorter than the one I had before.  (Sorry...I didn't take a "before" picture.)  You could clearly see the box springs.  It bugged me for weeks. 

 

     I was so excited to find a queen sheet set for just $20 at TJMaxx.  I just love the Damask pattern.  I used the fitted sheet to cover the box springs.  And...wah-lah...no need to make or purchase a dust ruffle!  (I like dust ruffles...I just really didn't want to cover up the pretty wood of our bed.  If I didn't have such pretty wood...using a dust ruffle would probably have been my 1st choice.)



Preschool Sunday School~~~Good Attitudes (The Beatitudes)

Sunday our lesson focused on part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes.  (Matthew 5:1-12)

We talked about how Jesus went up on a mountain to teach the people.  We talked about the many things he taught them.

Our Life Verse for the day was: "Jesus loved people and helped them."  Matthew 14:14

We transitioned to a new curriculum, "Bible Studies for Life."  I'm enjoying it.  The changes are not obvious...but there are several.  One of my favorite changes is called, "One Conversation."  Each week on the child's take-home page there are discussion questions to help parents talk with their kids about the things they are learning in Sunday School. 

Block Center: Building the mountain
(SO much fun to use tape!)

Art Center: Painting our "coloring picture."  You can see in the upper right hand corner how the teaching picture and the coloring page match exactly.  I like how the new curriculum uses it as a "Bonus Activity" and never considers it essential.  I also like how it goes along exactly with the teaching picture.  (The kids loved paintng while we talked about Jesus teaching the people.)

Making playdough people in the nature center.  Jesus loved the people and taught them.

Our book center does not get a lot of traffic, so I was happy to see this little girl reading a book Sunday!  I just had to snap a quick photo.