Quarter-Acre Academy...

Our Summer has been whizzing by and making the time to blog very elusive! Things have been fast pace since we returned from our vacation, we had some church activities, then a week at camp, and upon the return home from camp...computer issues - ugh! I'm thankful the desktop computer is almost back up to full function...just running a little slow and one more program left to reinstall [and it is a less used program :)]!

Amid the computer issues..I am very thankful that during the almost full week of the desktop not working, I still had the laptop to use - yeah! So, I was still able to get things around so we could begin our new school year last week.

Welcome to...

~ Pen ~

Personal side note...this pen drawing is nicer, but I like the look of it in color too!

~ Pen & Colored pencil ~

I had been reading some different homeschooling posts on FB that suggested naming your home-school (and in NC they actually require you too...interesting). I thought it would be cool to name ours even if it's not required here...so, Quarter-Acre Academy is what Chad and I agreed on. I also drew a logo (which was included among the suggestions on FB) and then got carried away and did the coordinating banner too :)

(Even though we didn't pick a name till this year, I put the est. date for the year when Liz started her Kindergarten work.)

So, back to our beginning last week... we are doing school at the dining room table, so I wanted to put her school books in the dining room, but not take up too much space and still look nice. I looked briefly at the back-to-school organizing bins at Dollar General and found them not really what I needed...and cost more that I necessarily wanted to pay...even for it being the dollar store!

Brainstorm! I decided to fix-up a box instead! The diaper box was to small, so, I opted for the paper case box...it worked out perfectly!

 I cut out the front, then glued on scrapbook paper, and covered it with Mod-Podge.

The outside of the lid got a coat of paint and it is now housing the school supplies (on the floor in this picture)...

We have been doing school now for a week and have already rearranged from these pictures! The work board has been moved closer to the table and the supplies are up off the floor on Liz's small desk (which she is not using, lol). The set-up seems to be working well.

First day of school!

Amber is very active, and likes to sit at the table with us...but can be a little distracting at times! After some browsing of Pinterest, I put together some new toddler activities this morning - hopefully I can show a couple of those tomorrow :) (But don't hold your breath waiting for the post, lol!)

So we are off and running with school for this year and had a really great day today!
Quarter-Acre Academy school verse...

And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good,

and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2

School Time...

Last week ended with another trip to the county fair... the girls really enjoy going!

This finished out our summer, as we started our first year of homeschooling on Monday. Liz was very excited and is eager to do her PACE's. Amber joined in on some coloring sheets and sometimes tries very hard to 'help' Liz with her work.

We've gotten through four days and she's still excited :)

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; 

and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 51:12

We covered the 51st Psalm in Sunday school this week. It is the Psalm of David when he was confessing his sin with Bathsheba. In verse 12, it talks about restoring the joy of salvation. This is a request we should request after we have confessed sin and been out of fellowship with God... However, it still moved me that we may need to even ask this request at other times. Better still, it would be good to keep this on our hearts always... continually wanting to remember the joy that salvation brings from remembering what Christ did for us on the cross. This could be especially helpful even in those times when we just get bogged down and tired out! 

Christ died a horrible death and rose again to offer us the greatest gift... eternal life with Him in Heaven. All we have to do is receive it. May the joy of that continue always in our lives!

School Days...

Yesterday was the first day of school here...and it was a pretty good one!

Liz had her first day of K4 (preschool). She gets to do her work on the two days I go to school to help and teach science. I love school/office supplies...but I think I love fabric MORE! But we did get Liz a few things and I was able to make her a backpack.

 She really liked it...played with it most of the day Tuesday...and this is what we had to fill her bag with...
Folder, colored pencils, ruler, pencils, a pen, eraser, pencil sharpener, glue sticks, a refurbished "puff's" container from Amber into a pencil case, and a crayon roll...

I saw the crayon roll on Hopeful Threads a few months back, an thought it was a cute idea...then on Stitched in Color, Rachel showed her adorable ones with color matching holders...then I knew I need to make on for Liz. I thought it would be a good way of teaching her a couple of things

 1) putting things back where they belong...

2) matching (which she's already pretty good at)...

3) and neatness, because unlike a crayon box

that preschoolers would have a tendency to dump out...

this lays neatly with all the crayons showing...

 I may make a few more of these for some other kids, but those will probably be the 'generic' ones with one fabric for the holders, rather that the individual colors...well maybe, because I really like Liz's color coded one!

Here is the main school room the day before classes...just waiting for the kids to arrive!

Then on the first day...filled and 'buzzing' with school sounds and activities.  They work on their ACE PACE's in this main classroom, but for the taught classes they divide up and go somewhere else in the church...The first graders (and Liz) went to their own classroom for the morning. When it was time for science, we went to the auditorium so we can utilize the A/V equipment for PowerPoint presentations, that is also where the history classes meet on opposite days from science.

Last year on the bulletin board the kids had an opportunity to put up a item (that corresponded to the theme of the board) when they received a 100% on a test...

However, this year we are doing interactive bulletin boards. Now they will have questions to answer to be able to move things around...

Here is the first one for this year...

They are filling up the teacher's desk.

Each day, one child gets an opportunity to 'play'. Once all of them have gone twice...I'll put up a new one. One of the other teachers gave me a book on these types of board...it helped get ideas going! (This one is my own design...the book just showed me about interactive bulletin boards...I don't remember ever having any in school.) The one for October will have something to do with leaves...I LOVE FALL!

I am so glad we have a Christian school at our church where I know I can send my girls and not worry about what kind of things they are learning. At one time, I thought I would like to homeschool...but now I KNOW that homeschooling would not be for me (unless for some reason there is no good christian school available). Especial with the beginning years of learning...I'm not good with the younger levels, but our school has a range of volunteer teachers that are good at all the different ages. I'm glad to be a part of this school!

As usual, I'll be joining some linky parties...so, check out the right side bar if you want to join them too.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,

do it with thy might:

Ecclesiastes 9:10a

We started our class out with this verse...to remind the kids to take their school work seriously. But sometimes I need to remind myself of this on some thing that I have to do...but might not really care to do. Because in reality, everything we do is to be done to bring glory to God...so shouldn't we do it all to the best of our ability?

Thanks for stopping by today!
Amanda

Quick Cover...

Things are gearing up for school and I wanted a smaller binder to carry back and forth... I had a nice 1/2 inch cranberry one...except it has print stains, making it look bad!

So, I decided to remedy the situation with some fabric (after I decide not to just buy a new one)...This was a fast project that took about an hour this morning and is ready to get filled with science lessons!

Now onto a crayon holder for Liz... well, at least before school starts!

Remember to check out the crafty linky party buttons on the right side bar...pass the fun along!

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,

and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Proverbs 22:1

Sometimes I can be a grump... I need to remember that the girls see me more than anyone and I need to have a good name with them as well as others.

I love when just flipping through the Bible leads to the verse you need!

Amanda