Grape Juice Time

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Finally in the field to harvest our clusters.

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Working girls placing buckets throughout the field

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An interesting trivia note…
If asked what his favorite day of the year is, other than his birthday, he replies “harvest day!” He LOVES September because of this very day!
I think he likes feeling in charge, being the boss of the other two!

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They usually do whatever he says

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We haven’t given the girls the tools for removing the clusters from the vines. These two would remove the clusters from our big white buckets and put them into smaller sand buckets.
They worked twice as hard as us adults!

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As always, we were blessed to have Nana and Papaw’s hands join our efforts. All clusters were removed and loaded on the truck ready for the juice factory.

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This is always a great day!

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Papaw and Jackson took a break to visit Ras. He sent them back with some cool golf and fishing gear as a trade for grapes….

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Of course these two can find a chance to take a break!

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Harvested buckets ready to be emptied into the larger bins

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A good feeling

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Ready for delivery…

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Because we had a delivery time of early Sunday morning we missed church. We left this basket on the church steps.

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Our bins were unloaded, de-stemmed, and crushed for juice.

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Doug asked Jack Sawyer to hop in the seat and give it a try.

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Grapes go in and the process begins.

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Healthy, brightly colored, sweet juice!

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Once the crushing was complete, Jackson cleaned out all of our bins as well as the equipment.

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Afterwards, we headed to the highest peak in Tennessee to soak up the blessings of the earth and the thankfulness of a tedious year of work in the vines behind us!

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My little workers are the best!

Fun at the Fair

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I love this memory.

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The girls enjoyed every ride. Each time it came around they squealed with delight.

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Abigail thinks this is her duck that “flew away”

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Do we ever miss our ducks!

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A camel for petting

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Jackson was asked to ride with this little guy. The girls missed him.

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Isabela isn’t tall enough for the swings at Dollywood so she was completely excited to ride these for little people!

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A game of fishing for a fun prize.

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I’m not a big fan of rides but I love sharing a special moment.

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This girl is intrigued by all living things. She wants one of these!

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We had a fun evening at the fair!

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Always moments worth sharing!

2014-2015 Homeschool Class

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Another year older, another year ahead for learning!

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My second grader…I have a true second grader to teach again! Teaching second grade in the public school system was my last paying job before this young man entered my world in May of 2007.

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My kindergartener, by law she is an official student ready for everything.

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My pre-preschooler, in “tot school” following her brother and sister!

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I have my work cut out for me!

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She’s not so sure.

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I wonder myself…..

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Wish us luck!

My thoughts…

I taught in the public school system for thirteen years as a first and second grade teacher. I have been trained to support a strong foundation in educating children. Most importantly, I have always felt it was my duty to inspire a child to explore learning as a joy, thus creating a lifelong learner.

I had never intended to leave my public teaching job. After having my first child, I then found myself needing to take a one year leave to care for his very colicky needs. One year turned to two after having my second child eighteen months later. Later a third child joined our family and my soul discovered the path and goal was educating my own.

I quickly found teaching them was the biggest blessings I had ever experienced. Not only was it a blessing but a responsibility. Many things pertaining to the pace and expectations from the public schools, as well as the lack of guidance spiritually, helped me finalize my plans to educate at home. My children have been homeschooled for their whole life. Connecting a knowledge of God to our learning and everyday life skills has been the guidance I needed for each of their lives. Starting with life skills, moving on to preschool skills, and now the complete process of education, we are learning and truly enjoying our choices. In our home I am able to maintain high expectations, yet exercise flexibility to each of their unique needs and learning styles. Educating at home also allows me to guard their innocence. Each of my children are thriving at home, in social settings with others, in church, and most importantly in their hearts.

My husband and I feel completely blessed to facilitate the joy of learning for our three children. The connection they are having to the world around them and for the love of their family is priceless. Leading them to love God, learning, and one another has brought our family full circle.

Our schedule for homeschooling is primarily year round, continuing throughout the summer. However for the 2014-2015 school year, we officially began on August 4. We homeschool five days a week for about five hours spread throughout the day. We meet monthly with the Kodak Homeschool group for field trips and socialization as well as attend weekly readings at our local library.

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We realize our blessings all around us and know we are living the dream.

Question Me Please…9/2014

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My silly birds that I love so much.
We completed our fun little interview that we do at the start of each new school year. Isabela didn’t answer some of them so I left them blank or answered a couple with my thoughts. Jackson and Abigail’s answers are evolving a bit more as they mature. I love adding this insight into the story I am trying to tell of their history.

“My name is…”

J- Jackson Sawyer
A- Abigail Julienne
I- Isabela Jolie Hall (Isa-belwa)

“I am…”
J- 7 years old
A- a girl that is 5
I- a baby

“My favorite color is…”
J- dark tree green
A- pink
I- purple

“The best thing about school is…”
J- Math
A- Reading
I- crayons

“My favorite book/s is/are…”
J- “Sports Illustrated Big Book of Who Football” and “Magic Tree House”
A- “The Little Duck”
I- “Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See”

“Something that frustrates me is…”
J- the girls walking over my cars when I am playing with them
A- Jackson being mean to me
I- (mommy says) not getting my way/being tired

“My favorite thing to do is…”
J- ride in the truck to church
A- play with puppy and ride my bike
I- play baby dolls

“The best place to go is…”
J- swimming at deep pools
A- the beach
I- Target

“My favorite foods are…”
J- pizza and carrots
A- peaches and bananas
I- green beans and frozen fruit

“I don’t enjoy eating…”
J- quinoa or mushrooms
A- mushrooms or Bojangle’s spicy chicken
I- meat

“My favorite TV show is…”
J- “Wild Krats”
A- “Peter Rabbit”
I- “Daniel Tiger”

“Something special for me to do is…”
J- kayak on the lake
A- play with my ducks
I- water flowers

“I am really good at…”
J- throwing a football and cooking
A- hoola-hooping and singing Bible songs
I- flipping and playing

“When I was little I used to…”
J- ride on my battery powered four wheeler
A- suck on my pink tiger binkey
I- ………..

“My best friend is…”
J- my sisters and Elijah
A- Isabela
I- daddy

“What makes me the happiest is…”
J- playing Stack the States and Countries on IPAD
A- playing with Mommy
I- holding my blankie

“What makes me the saddest is…”
J- losing privileges
A- not having my ducks anymore
I- not getting my binkie

“My favorite song is…”
J- “Am I Wrong”
A- “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
I- “Fancy”

“Something that scares me is…”
J- tornados
A- bears and other wild animals
I- thunder

“My favorite animals are…”
J- ducks and horses
A- ducks, puppies, and kitties
I- all kinds

“Jesus…”
J- helps me when I’m bad or sad
A- loves me!
I- was a baby

“Three words that tell about me are…”
J- wild, silly, smart
A- funny, happy, and loving
I- (mommy says) sweet, spunky, fearless

“Someplace I hope to visit one day is…”
J- Alaska
A- The Bahamas
I- the beach

“When I grow up I want to be a…”
J- logger and a football player
A- vet doctor and a photographer
I- a mommy that is a mam

“This year I hope to learn about…”
J- multiplication
A- playing the piano
I- (mommy says) being patient and writing an “s”

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I can’t believe how fast they are growing!

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Football time in Tennessee!
I love to watch them play, giggle, and talk.

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True happiness and excitement leading into a new year for learning!

2014-2015 School Curriculum

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We are starting another year of educating at home. This year will take some trial and error as I decide what each needs. Also it will take a bit of manipulation, teaching, as well as keeping three occupied with substance for learning all that we can.

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A second grader, a kindergartener, and a tot/preschooler

Jackson will be registered as a second grader. Since much of last year I exposed him to second grade work, I will start the year out reviewing many of our units in both math and reading before starting third grade level skills. I do not feel as a seven year old he is fully ready for the independence required for all third grade work just yet, however he will need challenged as we go along and I will learn to be more flexible with him.

SPELLING, daily
Scott Foresman Everyday Spelling, Grade 3

READING, daily
All About Reading, level 3
ABEKA levels 2-3
Continue with Magic Tree House Series

PHONICS, daily
Continue Steck-Vaughn level C

ENGLISH, Monday, Wednesday, Friday
First Language Lessons, level 2
DOL

MATH, daily
Harcourt math, units 4-6 grade 2
We will review and finish up Geometry, Time, Money, Measurement, Fractions, and an Introduction to Multiplication Concepts.

SCIENCE, twice weekly
Continue with Biology for the Grammar Stage- Study of the Life of Plants
Harcourt Science-continue with level 2
Little Scientists Hands On Activities
We will continue to observe the life around us where we live and in the vineyard and recognize what things share this space with us.
Jackson will also work to complete portions of the Junior Ranger Program of the Great Smoky Mountains National park ages 7-8

SOCIAL STUDIES/GEOGRAPHY, twice weekly
Investigate the Biographies of Famous Americans
Study Native Americans
Study where things come from. Explore the concept that things we use must be grown or manufactured.
Continue to name, identify, and locate the 50 states and their capitals.

BIBLE, daily
90 Devotions for Kids
100 Bible Stories by Stephen Elkins
We will continue with our character study using We Choose Virtues. Lessons and Vocabulary will consist of PERSEVERANT, PATIENT, SELF-CONTROLLED, OBEDIENT, CONTENT, FORGIVING, ATTENTIVE, DILIGENT, KIND, GENTLE, HELPFUL, and HONEST.

We will be working with Literature Pockets Aesop’s Fables grades 2-3. Fables included will be The Tortoise and the Hare, The Lion and the Mouse, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Milkmaid and Her Pail, The Miller, His Son, and Their Donkey, The Fox and the Goat, The Fox and the Stork, The Cat, the Rooster, and the Mouse.

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Abigail will be registered as a Kindergartener. Since she began reading this past winter, some of our educational plan will not be the typical kindergarten study. Although we will continue with cutting, coloring, better letter formations, sharing, socializing five year old skills, we will be working ahead in some first grade areas as she needs the challenges.

SPELLING, daily
We will start the year using Zaner Bloser Spelling Connections. There are 35 units I will mix in some of the ABEKA list as well as some sight words from her weekly readings.

READING, daily
Continue using ABEKA K as well as completing All About Reading Level 1

PHONICS, daily
Scott Foresman grade 1 workbook.
Also, finish the second half of the year using The Complete Book of Phonics Ages 4-8 by American Educating Publishing.

ENGLISH, Monday, Wednesday, Friday
First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind, Level 1
DOL determined by me

Math, daily
Combination of grade 1 Harcourt and Scott Foresman workbooks
Math fact drills numbers to 10 and numbers to 20. Abigail will complete writing her numbers to 1,000 by Christmas and then begin writing backwards to one in the Spring. We will work on patterns, comparing numbers, and simple addition and subtraction.

SCIENCE, twice weekly
Elemental Science Level 1 Exploring Science with Science Play Beginning Discoveries. We will observe the life around us where we live and in the vineyard and recognize what things share this space with us.
This year Abigail will also work to complete portions of the Junior Ranger Program of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ages 5-6.

SOCIAL STUDIES/GEOGRAPHY, twice weekly
ABEKA K
We will also study the various American holidays and celebrations, as well as start exposure to locate and name some of the fifty states in the USA.

BIBLE, daily
My First hands-On Bible
Playful Songs & Bible Stories for Preschoolers
The Beginner’s Bible for Toddlers
Memorizing The Lord’s Prayer, The Ten Commandments, and other bible verses.
We will also be working on character using We Choose Virtues. Lessons will cover perseverant, patient,self-controlled, obedient, content, forgiving, attentive, diligent, kind, gentle helpful and honest.

HANDWRITING, daily
Determined by me including copy work, dictation, and creative writing.

We will be working with Literature Pockets Nursery Rhymes. Weekly, we will learn a rhyme as well as complete activities with each rhyme. The first 12 rhymes will be A Little Bird, Little Miss Muffet, My Black Hen, Jack and Jill, Little Bo Peep, I Caught a Fish Alive, Pease Porridge, Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Sing a Song of Sixpence, To Market, To Market, One, Two, Buckle my Shoe, and Diddle Diddle Dumpling.

We will complete Draw-Write-Now, A Drawing and Handwriting Course for Kids, Book 1, On the Farm, Kids and Critters, and Storybook Characters

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Sweetness here will hopefully continue learning to recognize her alphabet, at least the letters in her full name, as well as her numbers to 5. We will finish writing her first name, work on address and phone number, and continue with life skills. Isabela will join our Science, Art, Nursery Rhymes, Character study, and Bible lessons. She will mostly just learn through playing and watching, experiencing life’s blessings all around her.

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