Luv'N Lambert Life

Mental Health, Homeschooling, Epilepsy and More

Computer Science for Kids {Crew Review}

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When I was a kid in Middle and High school we were given computer classes to learn to type and also the basic functions of old-school computers.  The mouse was a relatively new thing and many computers still require users to use programming codes to run them.  The control and shift keys were important every day factors in computer usage for me.
I learned a lot from my computer classes that has helped me with my interest in computers and even blogging today.  My basic knowledge of programming and codes has greatly helped me and I want my children to learn the same things.  They all take a great interest in using the computer for schoolwork and games so I knew that computer programming through Computer Science would be a great elective program for us helping them to further gaming interests, hopefully leading them into a career in this field.
Computer Science for Kids is creative curriculum created to be used with students 10 to adult.  Beginning Microsoft Small Basic was written completely with the beginner programmer in mind.  It is self-paced, easy to use complete program.
Through Beginning Microsoft Small Basic students learn basic programming skills and key elements of Small Basic that will stick with them for life.  Provided examples demonstrate key steps throughout the program, allowing students time to absorb the process as they learn new things.  While working through Beginning Microsoft Small Basic students learn to create programs like a savings calculator, card games, Tic-Tac-Toe, drawing programs, logic and video games.
This program was a great review of Microsoft Small Basic programming for me and a great introduction for both of my older children.  We worked together over the past few weeks to learn about these key factors in computer design and usage.  We completed around a chapter a week, some chapters took a week and a half due to circumstance and other curriculum we were involved in but the program was easily adaptable to fit our life.  The program does take several hours to complete so it needs to be broken down to several days in the week to complete.
My children and I really enjoyed the lessons provided through this program.  It will not be something we continue working with at this time due to the time it takes to complete the lessons but it will be something we use independently in the future.  As I mentioned above, both of my older children enjoyed working through this program and each took away different aspects.  My son wishes to expand further as this program will be a good start for his career field.
Beginning Microsoft Small Basic from Computer Science for Kids is available online for $59.95 with current free shipping.  The digital e-book edition is on sale for $34.95 through July 4, 2013.  It is normally priced $59.95.  You can also purchase an Annual “UNLIMITED USER” School Site License Digital E-book Teacher Edition for a sale price of $199.95.  
For more reviews of  Computer Science for Kids, please visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog!

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Trials Bring Gifts {Thoughts From Me}

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It’s been a heck of a week in Lambert Life.  I was sick for most of this week and well, like most people, I despise being sick.  There is little that I hate more.
Then to top it off, Emma had her casting and botox scheduled for the beginning of the week.  Let me just say that traveling almost 2 hours while you are sick to your stomach is NOT FUN!  Then we finally got there, only to find that Emma had consumed milk at some point that morning so we were not able to have her procedure done at all.  Trip back home.
Wednesday brought a phone call from Winston’s GI requesting an appointment for the next day.  Umm NO… not when I was just getting over this whatever I had.  So that appointment was scheduled for next week.  
Thursday brought it’s own surprises but we muddled through them to finally make it to the weekend.  I must say that by this point I was (am?) feeling pretty worn out, exhausted and overwhelmed.  I am just thankful to have made it through all of the week’s trials and I am so ready for a new week to come about.  
Some good friends and I, found a little break in our week as we rode to the hunting club as a free way to get out of the house with no kids and no worries.  And on our little adventure I was reminded just how sweet life is, how awesome God is, and how he is still there even when I don’t expect to find him.  These trials may follow me today, this past week and more to come in my future but I’m not alone.  I have God leading me and lending me a hand.  He’s glorious beyond words and so are the many blessings he gives to us.
Here’s one from today to share:  A black bear we saw at the hunting club while we were riding around.
What glorious things did God show you today???

A Journey Through Learning {Crew Review}

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A Journey Through Learning creates the most amazing lapbooks for your use.  There are 100’s of lapbooks to choose from on many varied subjects.  From educational to fun, you can find the perfect lapbook at A Journey Through Learning.
What’s a lapbook?  A lapbook is a hands-on, creative activity using mini-books featuring a topic you are learning about to create a sort of journal in a folder.  The finished folder can be viewed on the lap of your child, therefore being termed a “lapbook”.  This is a fun method of learning for almost anyone.
Lapbooks are something that we enjoy using in our homeschooling.  For this review, I chose to use two different lapbooks: Letters, Numbers and Shapes with Laycie, and Astronomy and Space with Winston, Emmalee and some of it also with Laycie.
This lapbook contains 51 color-filled pages.  The first 5 pages are a lapbook introductory showing the key elements of lapbook how-to’s: creation, storage, purpose.  Page 6 provides a guide to putting this particular lapbook together, followed by the Table of Contents on page 7.
The next 34 pages are jam-packed with activities teaching letters, numbers and shapes to the early learner.  Every letter of the alphabet is covered, basic shapes and numbers 1-10.  The activities make a great introduction to any preschooler or review for a child who may just need a little extra lesson review.
At the end of the lapbook, the teacher can find suggestions for things to teach letters.  Listed are several suggestions for every letter of the alphabet and are a great guide for teaching or just getting ideas to expand the lessons you may already have in mind.  There are also suggestions for learning about shapes with food, fun activities and games, fingerplays for shapes and numbers, printing poems, and a suggested book list to use with this lapbook.
Astronomy and Space is a full color-filled 70 page unit study.  The first two pages of this lapbook provide a brief explanation of a unit study.  A supplies sheet is also included in the beginning of the lapbook so that the educator can prepare ahead, followed by a thorough Table of Contents.  
This particular study begins with Creation in Genesis 1.  Other things covered in this study are where you live, particulars of the solar system, day and night, and so very much more.  There are planet information cards for the student to fill out in detail.
Near the end of this study is an included Bibliography with websites used to create the study.  These websites are also a great source of additional information that can be used to expand upon this particular study.  A set of enrichment pages can also be found towards the back of the study which includes additional reading suggestions, a NICK list, a reading tracking sheet, planet book report, and narration forms.  
We used these lapbooks in our homeschooling over the past few weeks as a center of learning for our daily lessons.  I used the Letters, Numbers and Shapes lapbook with my soon-to-be five year old and she had no problems completing it.  She enjoyed pasting the shapes into place, practicing her letter and number writing, and creating her mini-books.  This particular lapbook was a little more of a review for her than it was a challenge as she already knew much of what it provided but it will be a perfect lesson for her brother when it comes time for him to learn the same things in the future.  I suggest it used with an early preschooler over an almost Kindergartener.
We used the Astronomy and Space unit study as a family study.  I read all of the inclusive materials, as well as took the kids on a quick tour of the websites listed in the Bibliography to expand our lessons.  Each child found a different planet that interested them and we learned many strange and specific details for each.   The kids shared in filling out the worksheets and answering the questions provided in the study.  We did not use the suggested reading selections since we did this study quickly but we did track our reading of books already in our libraries as an addition to our lessons using the sheet provided in the study itself.  We also used the planet reports to research more about each planet we learned about.
Overall, we all enjoyed these studies.  Both are wonderfully thorough and exceptionally made.  They are easily implemented and can be used to create a full lesson on their intended subjects.  Colorful, fun and challenging the student to learn more.
You can purchase A Journey Through Learning Lapbooks through their website.  Letters, Numbers and Shapes Lapbook is available as a download for $13, on CD for $14, printed for $20 or assembled for $29.  Astronomy and Space Unit Study is available as a download for $13, on CD for $14 or printed for $21.
For more reviews of A Journey Through Learning, please visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog!

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Overwhelmed and Still Going {Epilepsy Awareness}

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Are there times in you life when you just feel totally overwhelmed?  This is how I’m feeling nowadays.  So much is going on that some days I just want to crawl back into bed because I do not feel that I can keep up.

This year has been FILLED to the brim with appointments.  I guess that is to be expected when you have four children and all four of them have separate special needs.  Every week it seems another child has another appointment and that makes it seem like we are never home.

Thank goodness we don’t practice formal schooling at home but instead practice relaxed homeschooling.  And thank goodness we have good friends who can babysit on a whim when I have a last minute call to head to Charleston where most of our medical needs are met.

Being a Mom is hard.  Being a Mom to children who each have a different issue is even harder.  And times like this I don’t feel like a Super Mom but I keep going because I know my children need me to.  There is no one else who can love them like I do, who can give them things they need like I am able to provide.  God knew what he was doing when he chose me as their Mother and he guides me in their care every day.  Even when I am exhausted and weary.  Even when I’m unsure if I can make another appointment or meet another of their special needs.

I am overwhelmed but I keep going because God leads me to where He needs me to be and I keep following along as long as I can.

Enjoying The Days Together At Home {Homeschooling}

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As a homeschooling parent, I spend my days at home with my children.  This can be a demanding task but at the same time it’s the most rewarding way to spend every day.  My children enjoy their time with me, and at home and I also enjoy that time with them.

We do everything together: read books, watch movies, play games, complete chores, lessons, enjoy nature and on and on.  Of course, we also do many things apart: read alone, build towers, ride bikes, nap, etc.  The lists on both sides goes on and on.

There are definitely days when we get on each other nerves and there are days when we can not enjoy enough time together.  One thing I personally never wish is that my children were enrolled in public school and I can honestly say they tell me they feel the exact same way.  We would miss out on so much of each other’s lives if we were not together daily as we are and not one of us wants that.

We greatly enjoy our times together, the memories and the love.  The kids love knowing that I have seen their biggest moments, that I was there for them and not a strange person who leads them in class.  They enjoy seeing those big moments between each other too.  They will never forget the day Laycie learned to roll over, crawl, walk or talk.  They will never forget those moments of Jackson’s life either.  They don’t take those little things for granted at all.

Even through the ups and downs of life while homeschooling, these are times I would never change.  I’m blessed in my life and my children.  I am happy and in love with these moments we share and I couldn’t ask for better days than these right now in our lives.

Inspiration… Really?! More like Imperfection {Thoughts From Me}

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I’m an inspiration… Really?!  Most days I truly don’t feel like it but I know that I am.  Especially to the littles in my home daily.  And they are here, watching and listening to their Momma every single day.

Most days I do NOT lead by the best example.  I’m NOT perfect and I don’t even try to be.  I don’t want my children to grow up with a vision of perfection leading their paths, but with the image of their imperfect Momma having shown them the way.  I curse too much, I yell, I laugh, I smile, I’m sad, I’m happy.  I am ME and they know that, and they are free to be themselves too.

Lately, I’ve been having writers block.  Nothing I want to say comes out when it’s time to write.  Nothing feels important enough to even talk about.  I look at my babies and I see them growing up way to fast before my eyes and I don’t want to miss a moment or waste a moment of the time I could spend with them.  Blogging is not what’s important, being a Momma is.

Winston turned 12 in December, Emmalee 10 in February.  Jackson turns 7 months in just a few days and Laycie will be 5 on April 11th.  Time is going way to fast for me.  Some days I feel like I barely have time to breathe.

But I inspire them and I lead them and I try to show them happiness and goodness in their days.  Just as I have been shown by my Mother and God before me.  I want them to remember the times with their Momma, to have those moments to hold onto when I’m gone to wait on them on the other side.  I pray they have good memories of me, good moments to pass on to their own children of their childhood and life, just as I’ve been able to share and pass on to them.

These four are my world.  They hold and make up my heart.  I’d change nothing in my life, for every moment has lead me to these moments with them.  And nothing is a greater blessing than these days we have and live together in my mind.

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