Homeschooling Archives - By Quiet Waters

Favorite Board Books

April 22, 2015 By Michelle

Books are among my favorite things, so it makes sense that with a grand child, I have some favorite board books, right?! It is a habit of mine at the library, to check out the board book shelf and the picture book shelves to bring home a stack of “new” stories and old favorites. That is how I discovered Global Baby Girls. Readers of By Quiet Waters probably know, I am an all girl mom, and am starting out as an all girl Nana!

My granddaughter is definitely taken in by the beautiful photographs of baby girl faces, children from all over the world. The photographs are beautiful, for sure. What I also like is the message of this little book. Baby girls are beautiful, strong, capable, smart and can change the world! I love reading this book to Joyness, and I get tickled when her aunties are also in the room to hear the true words. Usually one or two or three “big girls” will gather around and the spirit of affirmation grows!

After I returned this book to the library, I promptly placed an order for our own copy. We keep stacks of books for sweet baby girl in a couple different rooms and I often find Global Baby Girls on the top of the stack! If you have baby girls in your life, I encourage you to take a look at this book! Global Baby Girls is also available in Spanish at Amazon!

for my Nature Girl

November 18, 2014 By Michelle

Homeschooling has been a wonderful journey for my family. One of my favorite things about the journey is having a more intimate connection with each of my kids as they discover who they are. We have also enjoyed many many hours of nature study and exploration.

Now that the homeschooling journey is coming to a close, new exciting adventures are before us. But that doesn’t mean I will let those connections go. And the hours of nature study and exploration will give way to maybe an afternoon here or there, but I’ll still get us out there.

Especially with my youngest, my math science nature girl.

So I jumped at the chance to review Nature Girl A Guide to Caring for God’s Creation By Karen Whiting and Rebecca White.

Nature Girl A Guide to Caring for God’s Creation By Karen Whiting and Rebecca White.

Being a “green girl” for God means more than just caring for our planet. It also means appreciating God’s creations and understanding our responsibility in caring for the earth.

Each chapter covers different topics like water, air, energy, recycling, and renewing the earth, and includes crafts, Scripture verses, games, quizzes, interviews with real people and quotes from real girls. The book also contains science-based activities, career ideas, plus resources for more information.

Part of the bestselling Faithgirlz brand, Nature Girl: A Guide to Going Green is a fun read for any girl who enjoys science or the outdoors and a great resource for parents, homeschoolers, and educators.

This book is a wonderful tool for nature minded sweet girls. I can imagine handing this book to one such young lady in a basket with a few tools and supplies so that she can get right to work exploring, experimenting, learning!

I am thankful to BookLookBloggers for the opportunity to review this book.

Summer Volunteer Work

July 23, 2014 By Michelle

Our youngest 3 daughters’ summer volunteer work includes acting as historical interpreters at Rock Ledge Ranch. The ranch has 4 historical sites, with junior docents working each site.

Summer Volunteer Uniforms, period appropriate clothing

The ranch allows guests to visit the different time periods of our area and learn about the people who lived there, and what life was like at that time. The historic buildings have been restored as close to their original state as possible. The National Register of Historic Places added the ranch in 1979.

One benefit to my kids through their volunteering at the Ranch has been their deeper understanding of our local and state history. Anything they now read about Colorado history, or even western US history, is greatly enhanced by their experience working at ranch. They also apply what they learn outside the ranch to their conversations at the ranch.

It has been a rich experience and one our kids look forward to each January when they complete the application for the following summer.

Ticket Booth, TB Hut

If you are visiting the Colorado Front Range think about adding Rock Ledge Ranch to your plans. Maybe you’ll get a tour led by some sweet junior docents and enjoy a peak into Colorado History.

Springtime brings the birds

April 27, 2010 By Michelle

Last week a friend and I were discussing the “leaf out” and she explained to me some of the signs of spring in the area. Nearer to town the leaf out had begun and someone reported seeing a robin.

We live about 12 miles north of town, and appear to be about a week or more behind in the appearance of the stages of spring.

During this past weekend we spent quite a bit of time in the forest and around the ponds that are all around. As we drove by the Mill Pond I snapped a few blurry pictures of the swans…and just missed the “heart”.

The next day we wandered by foot to the Mill Pond, late in the afternoon. While Builder Man took the lovely ladies for a paddle boat ride, I took the delightful opportunity to bird watch.

I saw the first robin of the season…

A melodic quick red wing blackbird escaped my camera’s grasp.

And this morning, darting past several windows and lighting upon the railing just outside the window directly in front of me, a blue jay. Of course, he flitted away before I could get the camera ready.

Later, as we sat on the deck working on our school lessons these song birds gave us lovely music…

Lovely!

Need Ink?