Example

I made this to go with The Family School, Literature 1.16

The border is one that I drew.  You can find it here.

The Fonts I use are KB Talking Loudly

and Things We Said

Literature

We changed how we were doing The Family School.

We decided that we like to study things in units rather than start a topic, pause, do a different subject, pause, go back to the first topic, pause, start a new topic, pause...

Once we started Little House in the Big Woods, we didn't want to stop.

We are trying a unit approach for the rest of the year.

I think we are going to enjoy it.

Lucky for us, we home school, so we can change our minds if we want to.

I minored in English at B.Y.U.

One of the things I was required to do was annotate.

I loved to annotate.

Here is a small sampling of my annotating style...way back then.

As you can see, my doodling urge has always been rather strong.

My professor liked the doodles.

I was thrilled when I discovered that The Family School has an annotating method!

We get to draw in our books!

I made the kids bookmarks with the system so they can mark with ease.

I got permission to share The Family School's Literature Pen System.  If you would like to give it a try in your own reading, here are some bookmarks for you!

And  a quote.

I used my one sided borders to decorate the boomarks and the quote.  You can get them here:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/One-Side-Borders-Set-1and-2-LinedBlack-and-White-1059300

I have a few different colored options as well.  They are great for when you just need a little something to add to a project.

Each of the kids have a book that I read just with them.  

When I showed them my college books, they got so excited when I told them that they get to write in their books too.  Some of you are probably cringing right now.  Who tells their kids to write and draw in their books??  

I guess I do.

Although, I will make sure they know that I get to choose which books they get to annotate...

The Book of Aim Zing

I have put my heart and soul into this book.
It is pages and pages of sketching and doodling.

It is one of a kind.
It is bright.
It is inspiring.
It is ready!

For years and years I have put together a goal book for me and my mom.  Every year I think I have it just right.  Some how I always find a way to change it and evolve it into a "better" version.  This year I wanted to make a book that  included all of the changes that I have made through the years that have made it just a little bit closer to the "perfect" goal book.

I wanted there to be a lot of boxes.

Boxes for doodling.
Boxes for quotes.
Boxes for thoughts.
Boxes for things to do.
Boxes for things the kids say and do.

I wanted there to be a lot of color.
I wanted there to be order.
I wanted motivational words on the pages.

I wanted it to be something that others would want to use.
I want you to be inspired.
I want you to use this book to change your life.

Become a lover a life.

Introducing:

The Book of Aim Zing

Wait for it...

This book with give you a place to "Aim".  You can use as much or as little "Zing" as your heart desires.

Make your life amazing ("aimzing"...get it?  I totally rocked that title.)

I think one of my favorite parts is the Cover page.  I love how it came together.  I totally gave myself a lot of pats on the pack and air high fives.  I might have even given myself a fist bump.  Yep.  I'm a nerd.  Oh wait, I'm giving myself a thumbs up right now.  Yep.  I am truly a nerd.

The Quote at the beginning.  Because I love pretty word art.  

More pretty words.

Dividers.

Goals for the year.

Calendars.

Planner.

This planner is set up so that you make all the decisions.

I didn't put any labels on any boxes.

You decide what you want those boxes to be.

I gave this planner a lot of  "aim".

It is up to you to put your own "zing" into it.

What do you want to do with your life this year?

Do you want to have purpose?

Do you want to have aim and a place to put that aim?

If so, then this is for you.

186 pages of awesome-ness.

You can get it at my teacherspayteachers store.

HERE!!!!!

If you are not a member of TPT you should be!  It is such a fantastic resource.  It is free to sign up and you get to be a part of this great community where parents and teachers are seeking to better our children.  Parents and teachers work really hard to offer a variety of handouts and resources.  Anyone can be a part of it!  There are so many free things to choose from too.  If you make comments you get credits that can go towards any purchases you make.  Pretty cool!

O Christmas Tree

To the Christmas tree farm we go!

We picked up a lumber jack on our way there.

Oh wait.

That's the daddy.

Where did all that hair come from?

We found it!

We watched the Christmas Devotional last night.

My favorite part was when Pres. Monson Quoted "What Will I Give Him," by Christina G. Rosetti.

All of the kids gasped.

Their eyes lit up.

They started reciting it with him!

That is one of the poems we have memorized together.

I used one of my doodle frames to make it.

I hope you like it!

Do Better

Here is some more word art for you.

I used this with The Family School, Year 1, History Lesson 7

I hope you like it!

Noah

These handouts can be used for Family School, Year 1, Lesson 6.

We read some more in Moses 7.

I got to do another scripture study sheet and scripture inserts.



We read the story of Noah.
Everyone knows the story.

Noah.
Righteous.
World.
Wicked.
People.
Warned.
Ark.
Animals.
Flood.
Destroyed.

In just a few words.

Think of how much courage it must have taken Noah to obey the Lord.
Do you realize that he was warning the people and building the ark for over a hundred years?
That is some serious dedication!

"Obedience makes you spiritually strong."

Every time we obey, we are building spiritual muscles.  The more muscles we build, the easier it will be for us to obey things that are hard.  Just like Noah, we can be obedient and the Lord can protect us.

I made this for our history notebooks.

Obedience is power!

Your Good Name

Carl Linnaeus.

The man responsible for taxonomy.

The kids really enjoyed this lesson.

We briefly went over classification.  This lesson was basically an introduction.  One of the species we talked about was the wolf or dog.  We learned that the official name for the wolf and dog is lupus.  On our walk, the kids had to point out every lupus they saw.  Bryce would even use his "Brycer" voice (those who know him know what I'm talking about) and say "Oh, you cutesy wootsey lupus.  You are such a cutey lupus."  It was quite funny!

I made this handout on Carl Linnaeus.  The kids filled it out as I went through a powerpoint and as we watched a short clip about Carl Linnaeus.

The big kids wrote their findings down.

The younger kids drew pictures.

(Does Carl's picture look funny?  The color looks off.  I don't know why it is doing that.  It looks normal in word.  Does anyone know how to fix that?  I tried, and can't seem to figure it out)

Names.  Why was it so important for Carl Linnaeus to organize and find names for Gods creations?
Names are important.

We read this.



In the year 2000, I read this story and it really stuck with me.
I found this in one of my journals.

If you look closely, you can see that I added the name of the Lord, Jesus, in my name, as a reminder to me that I have taken His name upon me, and I must honor His name.

I also made one for Brian. (he was on his mission).

What have you done with your name?

That is a powerful question.

The kids loved drawing their names. Inside their name, they carefully added the Lord's name.  We promised to help each other honor His name, and do good with our name.

So...

Life's Mission

Last week we read the Fairy Tale, The Nightingale, by Hans Christian Andersen.

I love this illustration by levgen Kharuk



This fairy tale gave us a lot to talk about.

We discussed the internal and external characteristics of each bird.

We talked about how each bird, the Real Nightingale, and the Mechanical Nightingale had a purpose.  The Real Nightingale's purpose was to comfort and sooth people. The Real Nightingale brought people lasting happiness.  The Mechanical Nightingale's purpose was to look beautiful and sing the same song over and over.  Its purpose was not lasting.  It gave the people a temporary happiness.  Because it is mechanical, it doesn't have internal characteristics.

Each of us has a purpose.

The kids lit up as I told them the wonderful things that I see in each of them.  Then they had a chance to tell each other about the things they love to do and things that they would like to become better at.  We talked about how each of these gifts from the Lord, can help us find our mission.

We became "life's mission" detectives.

I asked the kids if they would rather be like the Real Nightingale or the Mechanical Nightingale.  They recognized that although the Mechanical bird was beautiful, they would rather be like the Real Nightingale and bring people joy.

We decided that we will work as a family to discover our missions.  We will help each other to focus on things that can bring lasting joy instead of temporary happiness.

2013 Family Theme

I made this word art for our family theme for the year.

We are studying the life and teachings of the Savior.

We are seeking to emulate Christ.

We are making Christ our life.

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