Wednesday, February 13, 2008
WFMW: Valentine's Fun
You know what Works For Me? Having something fun for my kids to do for Valentine's Day!
We may not get to do the large-class Valentine exchange thing, but we can still do fun things. I can give them a
search-a-word puzzle instead of English work, perhaps.
We could cut out paper heart chains and decorate them, or write Valentine's cards to Daddy, to thank him for all that he does for us.
I could write them notes on special
Valentine's Day paper, or they could write notes on them to distant relatives.
We can bake cookies instead of doing math, or if they were younger, we could do math with those silly little conversation hearts. Hey, that could count for reading, too!
Show your kids that you love them, and do something unexpected with them - that
Works For Me!
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Labels: Works For Me Wednesday
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
WFMW: Taking magnetic turns
I have just two kids. Those of you with more must surely laugh at those of us with just a couple who still can't seem to juggle them well. But, we live and learn.
My two are notoriously bad at taking turns. Either they don't want to go first at something (like brushing teeth or taking baths) or they always want to be the one to do the fun things (like computer time or checking the coin returns on all the machines at stores). This is absolutely crazy making for me. And while I refuse to help them keep track of who did what when for every little thing, we did get in the habit of keeping track of whose turn it was to go first in the bath for the week.
We used to write initials on the calendar. However, after we moved, I got one of those nifty white board/magnetic/perpetual calendar doohickeys that comes with a bunch of magnetic clips and fancy magnets. Two of the magnets are small photo frames, and of course I put my two sweeties in the frames. One of them piped up and asked, "Are we going to put our pictures on the weeks that are our turn to go first in the bath?" AHA! Why, yes we are, darlin'!
And so we do. As one week ends, that person's picture gets leapfrogged down to two weeks following. We just keep swapping them back and forth, easy peasy.
And that
Works For Me!
Labels: Works For Me Wednesday
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
WFMW: Forming New Habits
It's been a long time since I've done a "Works For Me Wednesday" post! I thought I'd share with you what we're doing this year to form some new habits.
I decided that the new year in a new home was a good time to start forming some new habits with the kids, but I don't want to overwhelm them. So, starting last week, I've begun putting up a very short list on each of their doors with the new habit that we are tackling that week, along with the previous week's habit. So last week, we had:
Week #1: Habit A
on a piece of paper. This week, we have:
Week #2: Habit A and Habit B
While next week, we'll have a total of three things. As the weeks go by and they form permanent habits, I can drop off the older stuff, so that no list should ever be really long and complicated, which could be discouraging.
It's not rocket science, but it's
Working For Me!
Labels: Works For Me Wednesday
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Works For Me Wednesday: Free Clip Art and Notebooking Printables
I didn't realize that this was going to be another "Backwards Day" at WFMW when I wrote this last night. So I guess I'll ask - what are YOUR favorite sites for totally free clip art and/or printables? I'm especially looking for ones that are completely, totally, free with no strings attached, and can be used commercially as well as personally. If you know of any such places, that is!
********************
My original post:
We've been working hard behind the scenes here at the Help Web to make your experience better. And I've been working to create more new pages to help you on your own homeschool journeys. I've begun a series of notebooking pages; I hope by this time next year to have a huge collection of everyday pages as well as seasonal pages.
Of course, one needs pictures for notebooking pages. My favorite clipart site so far is this
one: WPClipart.com They offer a huge collection of really *nice* clip art that is public domain, free for EVERYONE to use, even commercially. I love their work, I really do.
And with that in mind, here are my notebooking pages for the month so far:
Fall, Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving notebooking pagesYou might want to bop around the site and look for our other great Thanksgiving and fall projects, too!
Be sure to check out Shannon's blog for lots more great WFMW posts!
Labels: free printables, Works For Me Wednesday
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Works For Me Wednesday: Free books from Barnes and Noble
I've posted about this before, but I thought a timely reminder was in order. Barnes and Noble sponsors their own summer reading program each year. Your child can earn up to 2 FREE books from their store, from a set list of books. All they have to do is fill out the form with books that they have read from anywhere (library, home, borrowed, etc.) and then turn them in at the store. You can even go here:B&N Summer Reading Programand print out the forms instead of having to pick them up at the store. I like their reading program because the books can be from anywhere, not just from the library. And FREE books definitely "Work For Me"!Be sure to check out Works For Me Wednesday for more great tips. Labels: books, Works For Me Wednesday
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Works For Me Wednesday: Birthday Edition
It's time for another themed edition of Shannon's "Works For Me Wednesday"! This month the theme is birthdays.One thing that I do for my kids is make a special birthday cake for them each year. I could go to the store and buy some fancy character cake, but A)I've never really had the money for that and B)I want to do something special myself. I have the time and some basic creativity, so I choose to make cakes for them. Sometimes fairly simple, sometimes a little elaborate. I've made cakes that look like pizzas, Arthur, a Pooh picnic scene, a construction cone, a butterfly, a princess crown, and even a Microsoft Bob, among others. Yes, they usually take some time and effort, but since I have the time, I do it. I hope that their cakes will be fond memories for them in years to come. Three of my cakes are online at a fellow Help Web-bers's site, Cooking Help Web. You can find them here:Arthur cakeBalloon cakePizza cakesDon't forget to check Shannon's Blog for more wonderful birthday tips and ideas!Labels: Works For Me Wednesday
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Works For Me Wednesday AND your homeschool freebie!
This week is the "Kitchen Edition" of Works For Me Wednesday, so we're supposed to share kitchen tips. Here's a simple one that's taken me a long time to learn. (Yeah, I'm slow that way! LOL) If you use a dish, cup, spoon, etc. for something that is easily rinsed off, GO AHEAD AND DO IT. Don't throw it in the sink to wash later. If you just measured some salt in that spoon, there' s no need for a full soap and water wash. Just rinse it off and stick it in the drainer! Those two or three seconds you take now (even if you're busy) will save you considerably more seconds later, not to mention space in the sink, effort of fully cleaning the item (after it's been in the sink and hit with who-knows-what from other actually dirty dishes) and the soap water you have to expend on a totally dirty item. It's a simple idea, but hard-learned for me!Go check out Shannon's blog for lots more kitcheny ideas this week!~~~~~~~~~~And here is this week's Homeschool eStore freebie: an audio book called "Little Is Big", set in an ocean environment. Sounds really cute for the younger kids! Be sure to get it at Homeschool eStore, this week only.Labels: freebie, Works For Me Wednesday
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Works For Me Wednesday
What works for me this week? I found a new way of storing my sugar! We went shopping on Saturday, and when loading the bag, DH managed to punch fingers through the bag on one of my sugars. Since he did it, he didn't feel right about returning it and asking to exchange, of course. So when we got home, I had to find something to put the sugar in. Normally, I just snip off some of the top and use it like that, just rolling down the top when I'm finished. I hunted around and found one of my 2 Qt/2 Lt drink pitchers, whose lid was actually clean at the same time as the pitcher itself. Eyeballing it, it looked like it should fit, so I started pouring. Almost, but not quite. Luckily, I needed to make a pitcher of Kool-Aid right then, too, so I got out one cup for that, and all of the rest of it fit in the pitcher!This is one of the pitchers that has a pop-up/down lid - just pop one side, and the pouring hole is exposed. Now I can just pour my sugar out in a thinner, more manageable stream, and close it up with just a little tap. The only two problems? One, the pitcher doesn't fit in the cabinet where I've stored the sugar for years and two, now I need another drink pitcher!Be sure to check out all the rest of Works For Me Wednesday!Labels: Works For Me Wednesday
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Works For Me Wednesday
This week, Shannon has asked for Valentine's ideas. Romance, kids, friends, whatever "works for you" in the Valentine's department. So I thought I'd share what we do some years for Valentines for the kids.Being homeschooled, they don't have 30 kids each to give out Valentines too, and we attend a small church, so there aren't many kids there to give them out to. Also, I've never been a big fan of the cheap boxed Valentines because they require no thought, really. So one thing I've tried to do is buy things off-season before Valentine's Day and save them up. The first time we did this, I bought items at Target's after-Christmas clearance that were not actually "Christmas" items. For my son, I found some chocolate "coins" that were made up like tires instead of coins, in little blue mesh bags, and were Hot Wheels branded - for NINE CENTS each. For my daughter, I found some Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker chapstick packs, three different flavors in a cute little zip-up pouch shaped like a jeans pocket, with beaded trim and a little heart-shaped zipper pull. How much did those cost? Target actually PAID ME to take them, between the clearance price and the in-store coupon that they had on their site at the time. When Valentine's Day rolled around, we took construction paper and made heart tags to go with the Lip Smackers and attached them to the tags. For the Hot Wheels Chocolates, we cut out little rectangles of paper, inked up the wheels of one of the Kiddo's toy cars, and ran the wheels over the paper a few times in random directions, then wrote a Valentine's message on each one and attached them to the tags of the chocolate bags.I've also bought yo-yo's and keychain Cabbage Patch dolls, just wrapping them in tissue with a little ribbon, then attaching a message.If you're really ambitious and organized, you could buy actual Valentine items on clearance after the big day, and save them up for a whole year - but I would probably lose them all before the next one rolled around!Go check out Shannon's Blog for even more Valentine's ideas!Labels: Works For Me Wednesday
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Works For Me Wednesday AND your homeschool freebie!
Today's Wednesday, so it's time for a WFMW tip. This week, I'm picking my yummy sourdough bread. I've made 3 batches so far, and the 4th one is currently on its final rise right now as I type. It's so yummy, and very, very easy - but it DOES take a day and a half all total to make it! Here's the recipe:
Sourdough RecipeIn addition, I'd like to post this week's freebie at Homeschool eStore, which by the way, also "works for me", ha ha. This week's freebie is a set of notebooking pages with a pioneer theme. So if you are studying pioneers, or are about to, download this free set and you'll have a great addition to your study!
http://www.homeschoolestore.comHave a great Wednesday, y'all! Be sure to check all of the other great WFMW tips over at
Shannon's blog!
Labels: Works For Me Wednesday
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Works For Me Wednesday
Today's WFMW is about child safety. We live in a neighborhood that, while not totally unsafe, is starting to go downhill a bit and occasionally makes me uneasy. Add to that the fact that I grew up in what I call the "Adam Walsh era" (I was in Jr. High when the Adam Walsh story happened, and suddenly there was an explosion in screaming about child abductions.) and I've always been kind of protective with my children when it comes to going out of my sight outside. But we can't raise them in bubbles, can we? I also try not to be over-protective because we homeschool and I don't want to totally keep them at my side, never getting to venture out - I want them to have *some* freedom.
We live 3 blocks from the neighborhood elementary school, and have recently found out that it is all right for children to play on the playground after school hours. My kids have made friends with some of the children around, and from time to time they like to go to the playground. So, how do I give them freedom while at the same time safety? With a set of these:
Kiddo takes one with him when they leave, and I keep the other one at home. We double check our channel before he leaves, and he must keep it on the whole time he's gone, at least until they get back to the next block over. It's simple, easy to carry in a pocket, and no hovering Mama who really needs to get home and start dinner, not watch kids.
So, there's today's WFMW tip. Go check out the rest of
today's posts!
Labels: Works For Me Wednesday
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Works For Me Wednesday
Today, easy fleece hats. Minimal sewing! But yes, some sewing. Only some straight lines, though.
First, measure the head of the person you're making it for. Add about an inch for seam allowance and wiggle room. This will be your width, which should go along the stretchiest portion of the fleece. (Tug gently in both directions. One way will stretch more than the other.) The height will be approximately 2/3 the width measurement.
Sew the short ends together.
Flatten out your tube on a smooth surface, and mark a line 2-4" inches from one end. I just put a piece of tape all the way across, I don't make marks on the outside. Cut fringes down to your mark, whatever width you want. I usually cut down close to the seam, then visually divide the remainder into half, then halves again, etc.
Roll a brim outward, and sew if desired. One roll fits in the sewing machine best, but a double roll will hide the edge. Your call based on what your machine can handle.
Using a strip of leftover fleece (matching or coordinating), tie the hat tightly just below the bottom edge of the fringes. Tie it partially first, then gently straighten as you go so it's evenly gathered all around the top. Finish tying it tightly and double-knot. Make sure your knot is on the opposite side from the seam.
It can be finished here, or you can do what I do - I turn it inside out and go around the underside of the gathered portion a couple of times to make sure the fringes and gathers don't slip out of the tied part.
Decorate as desired. These can be done start to finish in less than 30 minutes if you have all your tools and know what you're doing. These "work for me" because they are so quick and easy - I whipped one up two months ago when the kids were headed to a hayride and I suddenly remembered that the Munchkin's coat didn't have a hood!
Sorry I don't have pictures, I can't find them right now!
This post is part of
Shannon's "Works For Me Wednesday". Go check out all the other great ideas!
Labels: Works For Me Wednesday
