Homeschooling and Learning To Read

 

I have tried many, many methods of teaching my 4 year old how to read.  He has refused to cooperate with any of these methods/ curriculum.  In November I decided to shelf everything.  He was just not ready.  

I decided to just focus on to reading to him as much as possible.  I started slipping in how to sound words out while we were reading since he wanted to repeat all the words that I read to him.  He already knew his letters and sounds, mostly in part to the Caterpillar alphabet game that he loved.  We also used bits and pieces of curriculum from workbooks as he tolerated doing them.  

He has been memorizing stories that are read to him for over a year now.  A few months ago he decided he was going to "read" to me.  He was "reading" his memorized books to me.  I had to slow him down and encourage him to look at the words and run his finger along as he "read".  When he would miss a word in the story I would tell him the word and then sound it out.  This worked here and there, he usually wasn't patient enough for this.  

Every once in a while I pull out some of the Bob phonics books and would read with him through them.  About a week ago he started, on his own, to try to read books to me that he didn't have memorized.  To see if he was actually reading the words, I pulled out a few phonics readers we hadn't used yet.  He read me more than 75% of the words.  

He is very proud of himself.  He is a stubborn and determined boy.  The way our homeschooling journey is going, it isn't happening unless it is his idea.  I have been trying to just toss all age expectations out.  

I am trying to embrace unschooling.  The problem I am running into though, is family and acquaintances.  Everyone seems to think it is ok to ask him if he is able to do something, or quiz him on stuff they think he should be doing.  It's very frustrating.  This is his journey and he is naturally curious about everything.  

I recently purchased a field guide for rock identification as well as a book on tree, plant and flower identification.  He always wants to know what everything we see is, I figured he could learn to look things up.  He was excited and already going through the book.  They will be a nice companion to our warm weather trail and nature walks.  

I have been trying to focus on teaching him how to learn.  So many things fascinate him and learning how to research his interests and questions will be an important skill for life.

The Start of our Homeschooling Journey

 

Our homeschooling journey has begun for my 4 year old son.  

Up until this point I have been following his interests and supporting them with materials as needed.  At the beginning of September I decided to switch things up a bit with him.  He currently has an intense desire to know what every word he sees says.  I have started working with phonics and increased our reading together.  He loves books and has his favorites.  Granted, those favorites periodically change.  He has started memorizing these books and reads them with me.  He has the desire to know what each printed word says.  I was really worried about my ability to teach him to read, though at this point I think he has taken the reigns in that department.  All I need to do is support and guide him right now.

He is a very active and squirrely boy.  It appears that he may not need as much pushing and heavy guidance as I thought.  He is really interested in learning many skills.   

As I tend to do with a lot  of things, I may have went overboard in trying to figure out what to use with him.  I have multiple different methods of teaching to read in various forms.  I have flash cards, electronic phonics and books, BOB Books, workbooks, a teach your child to read book,  and Montessori tools and books.  So far I have been using all of them in one manner or another.  

I am still testing out to see what type of learning method works for him.  We tried the hooked on phonics program this summer for a few months as well.  The idea of it was good.  It started out really well.  However he got bored of the lessons pretty quickly.  There are only a few different formats of lessons.  He realized pretty quickly how the lessons were set up and got tired of them.  I also realized I wanted to combine learning to write the letters with learning to read.  

We worked consistently all summer on getting a good pencil grip and confident movement of said pencil.  I realized that he tends to only want to do physical activities and that I needed to push him into writing, painting, etc. in a relaxed and fun manner. We are getting there.  He is still struggling with tracing letters and numbers.  However, he does know how to count to 20 and understands the value of the numbers.   He is a negotiator of the quantity of things.  We have been using a Monkey scale balance game to reinforce numbers, quantity of the number and the names of numbers.  He really enjoys this  method.  It is hands on with no writing.  I'm hoping he learns to enjoy writing, drawing, etc.  But for some reason he tends to try to get out of it.  

When it comes to using scissors, we have been practicing holding them correctly and cutting things out.  He is quickly improving in this area and really enjoys it.  I have also introduced glue.  That has become an obsession of his.  The little goof ball wants to glue everything.

Nature walks are a frequent additions to our days.  He loves running down trails and exploring.  Creeks and rivers hold great fascination.  He asks many many questions about everything he hears and sees.

With endless curiosity, boundless energy, and a thirst that absorbs everything around him, he is plowing his way into learning.  It is amazing to see everything he is learning and picking up by just following his lead.

Frugal Adventures

 Frugal Adventures

One of my favorite things to do is to explore and enjoy trails.  My youngest really enjoys the outdoors.  He spends a lot of his time playing outside.  He has become my walking buddy.  

There are quite a few trails in my area.  Free or frugal, depending on which trails I use.  Some require a pass.  Those trails that require a pass I will purchase a year long pass and then plan to use it as much as possible.  I don't do those every year.  The majority of the time I pick a free trail to enjoy.  Once my son is older we may switch things up and do more of the other trails.  

It was a beautiful day, so we stopped at one of the trails that follows a river.  He had a blast.  He ran and explored, full of joy.  Rock throwing into the river was a fun activity.  Inspecting trees and rocks.  Asking many, many questions.  The boy loves rocks and sticks.  He collects both. This turned into a good activity for him to burn off some energy.  

Watching him explore his environment gives me joy.  He absorbs everything around him.  A good homeschooling activity even if he is just a toddler.  Playing in the sand, running through the woods, exploring, inspecting rocks, sticks, etc may seem like play to us, but for him it is hands on learning.  It may not be measurable, but he is learning about everything around him, in his way. 

Now that warmer weather is here we will be hitting up trails as much as possible.  It brightens his mood while physically wearing him out.  

Easy Egg Roll in a Bowl Recipe

 Easy Egg Roll in a Bowl is a simple, quick and frugal dish.  It only has a few ingredients and can easily being adjusted to fit different tastes or flavor profiles.

In my family everyone has a different taste preference.  Toppings or add ins can completely change this dish up to fit everyone.

Easy Egg Roll in a Bowl

1 lb. ground beef

12 oz bag of coleslaw mix or chopped cabbage

1 Tbs.  butter

1/2 finely diced onion

2 cloves minced garlic

1/2 diced pepper (or more if desired)

1/2 c. beef or chicken broth

1 tsp.  each salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder

Optional toppings or add ins: sriracha, orange ginger sauce, sour cream, soy sauce, liquid aminos, etc

In a large skillet pan melt the butter and saute the onions, garlic and peppers until tender.  Add the ground beef cooking until done.  Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder mixing well.  Add the broth and the cabbage.  Stir well until well mixed.  Cover and cook over medium to low heat, stirring occasionally until cabbage is to the desired texture.  We prefer very tender.  Taste and add more seasoning if needed.

At this point you could add a variety of sauces or other seasonings to the dish.  We prefer to serve it and then each person adds whatever they like to top it.  Another option, though probably unusual, is to top with shredded cheese and let it melt.  Sour cream is also chosen on occasion.

A New Homeschooling Journey

 Now that my toddler, Raf,  is closing in on 4 years old I am starting to aim him toward homeschooling.  For me, this will be a dive back into homeschooling.  I am looking forward to encouraging his curious and inquisitive nature.

 I homeschooled my oldest kids, now adults, from 4th grade until graduation.  Starting out with preschool will be an adjustment for me.   With my other two kids I started with a regular curriculum and slowly changed things up as we went along.  With my daughter we ended up mostly led by her interests, with required subjects added in.  By the end she was doing mostly part time work and life skills.  

I have a lot of regrets, in the fact that I was working full time, limiting what and how I could educate them.  Now, I face another challenge.  Trying to figure out where to start with a strong willed toddler, a full time remote job, part time in person job, a disabled adult child that requires full time care, a house to take care of, along with a myriad of other things that I am responsible for.  

Due to everything in my life right now, I have decided to mish mash a few methods together.  He is naturally picking things up on his own.  He knows numbers, letters,  shapes, colors, and recognizes a few words all on his own without pushing him.  Our main style is going to be unschooling focused with as much play and outdoor time as possible.  As he draws interest in things I will bring supports in to help him learn.  I refuse to push him through anything.  I want him to learn and not just memorize.  

Life skills are already a big part of our day.  Giving him as much independence as possible to continue to build confidence in himself and learn naturally.  To let him explore his interests and delve into them as much as he desires.  

Now that Spring is upon us we are spending a ton of time outdoors.  He is exploring the woods, our back yard, anything and everything that he is drawn to.  He has discovered bugs underneath rocks and logs.  Raf wants to know about everything he sees and hears, asking many, many questions throughout the day.  

The world is changing and I would like him to have the ability to apply himself in any direction he desires.  Raf is a determined, strong willed child that sees something he wants and goes after it. As frustrating as this may be at times, these traits will take him far in the world.

Easy Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

After experimenting with a few different Keto Chocolate chip cookie recipes I ended up merging a few of them together.  That is where this recipe comes from.  This has become my favorite keto cookie for both texture and flavor.

For me a mixture of coconut flour, almond flour and xanthan gum produce the best texture.  If I use just coconut flour it produces a cookie that is just too dry for my taste.  When using just almond flour you get a very crumbly cookie.  Xanthan gum helps bring the two together to a better texture.

Cookies made with just butter as the fat are good.  But I love the taste of cream cheese sugar cookies.  This recipe gives the best of both in one cookie.

These cookies hold up well.  They last for about a week in an airtight container on the counter before starting to get dry.

Easy Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c. Coconut flour

1/2 c. Sweetener ( I prefer Monkfruit)

1/2 tsp. Baking soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

2 Tbs. Almond flour

1/2 tsp.  Xanthan Gum

3 Eggs

1/4 c. Butter, softened

3 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract 

1/2 c.  Sugar Free Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 350° F.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl combine the coconut flour, almond flour, baking soda, salt and xanthan gum.  Set aside.

In a separate bowl combine the butter and cream cheese.  Mix until smooth and well combined.  Add the eggs and vanilla, one at a time, mixing well after each.  Add the sweetener, mixing until well combined.  

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.  Mix until smooth.

Fold in the chocolate chips.  Let the batter sit for about 10 minutes.

Spoon by the tablespoon onto the baking sheets.  Bake for 12 -14 minutes.  Cool before removing from the sheets.

Store in an airtight container.

  Baby Led Weaning Keto Style

With myself living a meat based keto lifestyle my goal was to continue this with my son.  He was about 4.5 months old when I started.  He was sitting up on his own and showing an intense interest in the food being eaten around him.

I wanted to minimize the risk of choking on food, but I also didn't want him eating purees.  I started with steamed veggies such as broccoli and carrots.  I gave him large strips of cooked steak and let him gum on it and suck on it.  He loved this the most.  He absolutely loved cheese sticks as well.  He would suck on them and gum them forever.  As he got better at moving food around in his mouth I moved on to berries.  Mushed blueberries and raspberries.  Eventually I gave him blackberries.  He wanted to try everything he saw me eating.  I let him taste almost everything.  He usually just wanted to lick it and taste it.

Now that he is 3 he eats or at least tries almost everything.  He has no qualms to going up to anyone eating and asking for a bite.  He prefers food with flavor.  He will stick his nose up at bland food.  

A short list of foods he started out with:

    1.  Steamed veggies

    2.  Cheese Sticks

    3.  Large pieces of cooked meat

    4.  Avocado slices

    5.  Keto Ratio yogurt

As he was more and more able to move food around and mash it in his mouth I added in:

    1.  Mushed berries

    2.  Steamed and seasoned squash cubes

    3.  Scrambled eggs

    4.  Sausage sticks

   

Once he mastered chewing and swallowing his food I added in:

    1.  Small bite size pieces of tender meat

    2.  Small pieces of cheese

    3.  Keto Ratio yogurt with berries and granola

    4.  Shredded chicken

    5.  Pulled Pork

As he continued to master chewing, swallowing, and using utensils I started to offer him everything I was eating.  He has developed his own taste preferences.  To this day he seems to prefer his food either cold or room temperature.

With drinking in mind I started him on a small shot glass size cup with a tiny amount of water in it.  It took him a lot of practice to actually get it to his mouth and drink it.  He preferred to dump it, stick his hands in it, and splash in the spilled water.  It was well worth the mess.  At 3 years old now, he uses a regular cup easily.  Uses the water dispenser on the refrigerator to fill it.

I had a huge fear of him choking when I started out.  I quickly learned that he was capable of knowing his limits.  He had a few times of gagging on food, but coughed it out all on his own.  He seemed to learn from these incidents.  Food was played with more than eaten for a long time.  That is ok.  He was learning from this through feeling and manipulating the food.  He was engaging all his senses and thoroughly enjoying himself.

Frugally Preparing for Baby

 When I found out I was pregnant my brain immediately started calculating the cost of preparing for this baby.  They need a lot of stuff, and I'm not talking extras... I'm talking basic essentials.  My youngest was going to be turning 18 shortly after this little one was born.  I had nothing other than a few special things I kept back from my other kids.  I had to start over.  I also knew that I wouldn't be having anymore after this either.  The challenge to do this as frugally as possible began.

I decided to start figuring out what I would absolutely need once the baby was here.  I made lists of essentials and wants.  From this I decided I would need a plan.  I decided I would start as soon as possible, even though I was high risk for a variety of reasons.  

My search slowly began. I knew this would give me time to gradually spread the cost over a longer time.  I also knew that it was unlikely that I would have a baby shower.  I decided to figure out a way or ways to collect everything I needed without having to rely on gifts from others. This was a multi-step process that required patience and work.

First of all I started stopping at local thrift stores.  Babies outgrow things really fast.  Buying inexpensive used clothing was my goal for almost all of the clothing I needed.  In my area there are only a couple of thrift stores with baby stuff that is inexpensive.  I checked in these stores repeatedly, only buying what I found was a good price for the item and its condition.  Also, calculating about the sizes the baby would need based on the seasons.

Another good resource was creating online gift registries.  Even though I had not planned to have a baby shower, I discovered that some retailers give you a free gift box or bag once you complete your registry.  Some places charge for delivery.  Those I avoided.  I ended up doing Amazon, Walmart, and Target.  The gifts had samples, full size bottles, onesies, a blanket, etc in them.  

I signed up for rewards programs for different baby companies.  I received free formula from similac and enfamil in the mail along with large value coupons.  Granted, I planned on breastfeeding until I went back to work, but I knew I would need to wean to a formula after a month or two.  This came in handy recently with a baby that was having breastfeeding issues.  I was able to try formula out without purchasing a full size container.  

Watching weekly sales at local stores saved me a lot of money.  I purchased a pack and play when a store ran a 30% off as well as a promotional credit off your next store purchase if you spent a certain amount.  I signed up for a rewards program for a store that has in store coupons every week.  There are regularly coupons for baby products in this program.  

For new stuff I checked the clearance racks of Kohl's, Meijer, Target and Walmart.  For Kohl's I was able to stack offers.  I have their credit card, receiving percentages off my purchases.  Sometimes they will send you additional coupons.  These can all be used on the clearanced items.  I was able to get some really nice new clothes at really really cheap prices.  Meijer, Target and Walmart were hit and miss.  I just regularly checked their baby departments clearance areas.  I was able to purchase quite a few items steeply reduced.

As for Amazon, I managed to save a bunch of money.  Purchasing items through the baby registry eventually earned me an additional discount.  You are able to add things to your registry and then move it to your cart from there.  This counts as a registry purchase.  I waited until I unlocked my extra discount and found a crib and mattress that I wanted for about the same price as found locally.  With the extra discount it was a lot cheaper and free shipping.  No figuring out how to haul it through a store and home.  Win win in my book.  Especially being pregnant. 

Finding a New Normal

 It's been a while.  I've been trying to find a new normal for my life.  I have had some major life changes since I was on here last.

I gave birth to a wonderful baby boy on August 1st.  He has been a blessing and a life changer.  Throughout my pregnancy I struggled to find a new normal.  Between my already challenging day to day life, life's demands, Covid, and being pregnant it was difficult.  Before I knew it he was here.  

Rafael's arrival has brought about more challenges than I anticipated.  I'm still learning how to balance taking care of a newborn following a c-section, taking care of my disabled adult son, getting my daughter back and forth to work, as well as keeping up a household.

For being only a month old, this little guy is challenging me in ways I don't remember with my other kids.  I started out exclusively breast feeding, and he was doing wonderfully.  This past week I have been supplementing with formula.  We have had several weeks of his constant hunger, and wanting to eat around the clock with short naps.  When I supplement he sleeps better and is a happy little guy.  I was really hoping to breast feed him as long as possible.  I am trying to come to terms with the fact that my milk is just not enough for him.  I want him to be as happy and healthy as possible, even if that means he ends up on just formula.  

Life has been so busy, even during my pregnancy, that I have come to rely on food prep.  I plan on sharing my version of food prep for my family that seems to work for us.

I struggled throughout my entire pregnancy about gaining weight.  It was hard on my mental health after having finally reached a weight I was content with.  I am still struggling with this as I still need to lose 20 pounds to get back to where I was before this pregnancy.  

The plan is to share here not just my frugality, but also my struggle to find a new normal.  I will share my journey as a new parent with 2 adult children, the good, the bad and the frugal.  The challenges are there, but that doesn't mean frugality has to take a hit.  Frugal living will remain a focus of our journey.

Simple and Frugal Chili

It is now comfort food season around here.  Chili is a go to meal for our family on a cold day.

When I make Chili I always do it in the crock pot.  It makes enough for about 3 or so meals for us.  I use a 6 quart crock pot.

Chili Recipe

3 15 oz. cans black beans
3 15 oz. cans kidney beans
2 15 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
2 c. water
3 peppers, diced
1 onion, diced
2-4 Tbs. chili seasoning
1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. pork loin, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced

To start with, brown your ground beef, seasoning with 1 Tbs. chili seasoning mix.  Add to the crock pot.  Dice the pork, and add to the pot.  Dice the onion and peppers.  Add to the pot.  Add the garlic and 2 Tbs. chili seasoning.

Drain and rinse the beans.  Add to the pot.  Add the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and water.  Stir everything together until well mixed.  Put the lid on and turn on high.  Let cook for 4 or 5 hours.  Stir well.  Add more seasoning if desired.  Turn down to low and let cook for 2 more hours.  Serve.

Crochet Dishcloth

An easy crochet project for the home or to be used as a gift is the dishcloth or washcloth.  This is simple to make, even for the beginner, is inexpensive as well comes together quickly.  You can easily adjust it to the size you want without any issues.

To start with I am currently making a set of dishcloths for a family member.  They needed to be thin enough to be easily wrung out when wet.  For this I am using Lion Brand's Impeccable yarn with a size G hook.

Chain 41

Row 1:  sc in the 2nd chain from the hook, (ch 1, skip the next chain), sc in the next stitch.  Repeat this all the way to the end of your chain, ending in a sc.  Turn.

Row 2:  Chain 1.  Sc in the first sc, ch 1,  sc in the ch 1 space.  Continue across with a sc in a ch 1 space and a ch 1 over the sc of the previous row.

Row 3-36:  Ch 1 and sc in the first stitch of the row, sc in every ch 1 space, and ch 1 over every sc of the previous row.

To finish, evenly sc around the outside of the square, placing 3 sc in every corner.  Slip Stitch and weave in your ends.

This pattern can be done with any type of yarn.  Keep in mind that the thickness of the yarn may require a different size of hook.  A larger hook will yield a larger dishcloth with bigger holes.  A smaller hook will yield a smaller dishcloth with tighter holes.

Frugal Homemade Gift ideas

Gifting homemade items is a more personalized way to give gifts, at least in my eye.  It is also a way to save money during the holiday season.

Some homemade ideas to consider are:

Crochet or knit blankets, scarves, hats, mittens, slippers, sweaters, dish cloths, dish towels, pot holders, coasters, etc.

If you sew, make quilts, clothing items, bags, etc.

For those that can bake or enjoy making things in the kitchen, consider: Muffins, cookies, cake, bread, jams, applesauce, granola, etc.

If you enjoy making things but are short on time you may want to consider making nut clusters, sea foam, peanut brittle, cocoa mix, mug cake mixes, trail mix, mason jar mixes, etc

If you draw or paint:  Personally made cards, or a framed piece of artwork you have created.

Think about your skills and hobbies, the odds are pretty good there is something that you could utilize toward gift giving.

You could create a small cookbook for the budding cook in the family.  Pass on family favorite recipes this way.  There are so many ways you could do this.  You could type and print it all out, use a binder, notebook, index cards, photo copy your own recipes, etc.  

For the book worm in the family there is always the used bookstore.  Although this one should be done only if you know they wouldn't mind used books, and if you know what they read.

15 Christmas Gift Basket Ideas

For Christmas I usually put together gift baskets for those that I give to.  I like being able to customize the gift to the person receiving it.  Affordability is also a key component.  Doing these, I am able to give to more than just immediate family.  I also give to a few friends as well as a couple of businesses that I frequent.

There are a variety of types of gift boxes you can do.  Some themes are:

1.  Coffee lover:  Bag of coffee, creamer, mug or travel mug, cookies, snacks, etc

2.  Young Child:  Coloring books, colored pencils, markers, crayons, stickers, erasers, pencil sharpener, paint set, paint brushes, candy, etc.

3.  Play Dough Child:  Variety of play dough colors, form shapers, etc.

4.  Older Kid or Young Adult:  Coffee mug, mug cake packages, hot chocolate packets, cookies, candy, etc.

5.  Mom or Food lover:  Homemade jams, applesauce, food items, flavored oils, etc.

6.  Alcohol:  Flavored moonshine, shot glasses, snacks.

7.  Beauty #1:  Shampoo, conditioner, face wash, face mask, lotion, hair accessories, etc.

8:  Beauty #2:  Manicure set, lotion, nail polish, nail stickers, etc.

9.  Beauty #3: makeup, nail polish, makeup removing cloths, etc.

10.  Artist:  Sketchpad, pencils, eraser, markers, colored pencils, charcoal pencils, paint, paint brushes, etc.

11.  Movie Lover:  Movie, microwave popcorn, hot chocolate packets, snacks, etc.

12.  Food Lover #2:  Homemade breads, muffins, cookies, trail mix, hot cocoa packages, etc.

13.  Single Young Adult:  Coffee, hot cocoa single serve packages, single serve mug cake packages, mug or travel mug, snacks, et.

14.  Budding Baker:  Measuring cups, measuring spoons, spatulas, whisk, baking pans, cookie cutters, rolling pin, etc.

15.  Chocolate Lover:  Specialty or home made chocolate bars, chocolate nut clusters, brownies or brownie mix, homemade hot cocoa mix, chocolate covered pretzels,etc.

All of these gift basket ideas can be customizes to the person you are creating it for.  It can be as inexpensive or expensive as you want. 

If you have the time or inclination, a lot of gift basket items can be made.  this cuts down on the cost and enables you to customize the basket even easier to the person you are giving it to.

The dollar stores are a great place to look for gift basket items.  This is my go to place after I have made the gifts for the baskets.  It is a good place to round out your baskets.

Another good idea is to keep an eye out for sales throughout the year.  For those people you buy for every year, you have a good opportunity to find something at a steal of a deal.