Hey Mama! Planner - A Review

I was provided the Hey, Mama! Schoolhouse Planner for 2019/2020 Year to review. Created by homeschooling mom, Gena Suarez , the planner is just one of the many useful homeschooling products available from The Old Schoolhouse®.

Planners seem to be a big deal these days. Everyone is selling one. I have used a personal planner for many years, almost every year. My planner enthusiasm is, like many, highest at the beginning of each calendar year. The hopes and dreams inspired by having a place to write it all down, to organize thoughts and plans, starts the year with added motivation to achieve those dreams. Hopefully it helps facilitate a doable plan of action to make it all happen.

Come August and September the same enthusiasm hits again, only with the intention of preparing for the school year. Fall is the beginning of the academic year, as we all have come to know it. Planning for nine months of academic learning is exciting and sometimes daunting. A planner to write it down in, keep track and record activities, is more than useful, it is a necessity. A standard planner doesn't always fit the criteria of what a homeschooling parent needs for planning and record keeping. Homeschool moms have been adapting typical calendars and planners for as long as families have been homeschooling. Notebooks, wall calendars, file folders (one per student, maybe) there are as many solutions as there are families.

The Hey, Mama! Schoolhouse Planner for 2019/2020 Year is a published calendar/planner that puts it all in one place. It is designed by a homeschool mom with homeschool families in mind. The author, Gena Suarez, is an experienced homeschool mom who has put together this and other extensive resources for homeschooling families. This planner is one of many of the resources available for families at The Old Schoolhouse. (You can find all of them at The Old Schoolhouse®).

Gena provides a solution to the problems presented when trying to use a standard planner for students by creating a planner specific to homeschooling. As a homeschooling mom herself she knows the ropes. She knows what reminders and prompts are useful for a family while homeschooling.

The Hey, Mama! Planner Homeschool Planner for 2019/2020 includes a devotional at the beginning of each section. These provide welcome encouraging reminders for those in the midst of the homeschool journey. There is a curriculum planning section, attendance record pages, books read pages and semester and yearly goals pages. There are enough of these specialized pages for five homeschool students. Using this planner also provides a place for notes and info for maintaining records of completed projects, activities and curriculum. There is a transcript template as well as a useful skills acquired checklist.

For our family, this is officially the last year of homeschooling. I am about to become a homeschool veteran mom with an empty nest. We have none the less, begun to use the planner for mapping out my youngest's transition to a full time dance program and a few college courses. She will be taking over the planning and record keeping herself, as she embarks on a somewhat non-traditional pursuit of higher education. This planner will give her a wonderful head start with prompts of some of what she needs to consider as she moves into the bigger world and continuing her education.

The Hey, Mama! Homeschool Planner 2019/2020 Year has sold out of close to 98% of the this printing and they do not plan to print more until next year. Get your copy soon!

Life With Dog - A Movie Review

The opportunity to review the new movie Life With Dog from Mill Creek Entertainment for the Review Crew turned out to be an opportunity to add to an unplanned date night with my husband to our weekend. My youngest is now 17 and social plans with peers are a priority. She left us on our own Saturday night so...

I had no idea what to expect from Life With Dog.  It is a captivating story of one of life's hardest transitions, that of losing a spouse or a parent. The acting is well done and believable. Actor, Corbin Bersen (anyone else remember L.A.Law?) portrays, the main character Joe Bigler. His character presents the difficulties of the transition to being a widower as he grieves the unexpected loss of his wife. The film allows us into some of the inner emotions of Joe's process of grief. His explanations for what has happened and his journey of coming to terms with his loss is the theme of the story.

Joe, consumed by his grief is the primary focus but, there are characters orbiting around him through out. While attempting to assist Joe through the adjustment to life without his wife, Joe's daughter is struggling herself. Joe benefits from a few unusual visitors throughout the story. One of those visitors, Dog, is a constantly returning image in the film. My husband first guessed that Dog's presence would lead to some clues to resolving the mystery in the movie.

While this story deals with life's ever present difficulties of loss it is not presented in an overly heavy way. Resolution and life's continued joys are included as well. There are a couple of intense scenes that include the character Joe handling a weapon but are still acceptable viewing for most audiences. Worth the watch, the story is most likely to resonate with those who are closest to the stage of life depicted. Enjoy an at home movie night by grabbing the dvd from one of the retailers linked below.

The newly released video is available at Walmart beginning June 4th.
It is also available to purchase online at amazon:  http://bit.ly/LifeWithDogDVD

You can see a trailer on the Mill Creek Entertainment website by clicking the images here:

'Life With Dog' See the trailer.

Mill Creek Entertainment

You can read more reviews by Review Crew members by clicking the image below.

Community College as a Choice for Higher Ed

Two years of reduced tuition or no tuition = huge savings in acquiring a degree. Choosing to homeschool our children included the decision for us to remain a one income family. As a result we have had fewer financial resources to fund the college aspirations of our kids.

If this sounds like the beginning of a plug for Community Colleges, well, it is. While I continue to have some respect for the reputations of prestigious institutions of higher learning, (I do have a degree from Tufts, after all) that respect has honestly, dwindled over time. As we began to look at the options for our own college bound children, the practical and financial became a major issue in our decisions. Community College tuition in Illinois is 1/3 of the cost of even the more affordable public four year school options in state and easily 1/10 of the cost of some of the private four year institutions in our area. Two year full time study of general education requirements are also available tuition free with the required ACT or SAT test score. That's halfway done with a degree with no tuition. When looking at those financials, the local stay at home for two year opportunities became the obvious one for us as a family.

In Illinois, where we live, I have seen the wonderful supportive resources that are available through a variety of programs at Illinois Community Colleges. The resources are there to assist each and every student to be successful at the community college level and beyond. A student simply has to be willing to utilize the support available to them.

We have known homeschooling families that have taken advantage of the dual credit options enrolling high school students to receive both high school and college credit simultaneously for completing a community college class. These programs can speed the higher ed process as well as preparing a student for a smoother transition to college.


Community Colleges tend to have smaller class sizes. Even in freshman general education classes the student to instructor ratio is low compared to the huge auditorium filled classes that often encountered at big universities. Smaller class size means more available and approachable instructors. All of this makes it easier to become accustomed to attending college level classes.
For life long homeschooling students this makes for an easier transition to classroom learning in general. Community colleges in our area have pre-established transfer programs allowing associate degree earning students to transition to a four year institution with ease and guidance.

I have heard critical comments from student's peers made to community college students about their attending a community college. I remember similar sentiments expressed way back when I was a high school student myself. (Way back in the day!)

Fortunately, for homeschoolers those kind of misinformed comments may have less weight on their decisions. Many homeschooling students are usually less concerned about the opinions of their peers or even the opinions of the general population. The decision about where to begin a higher level education will include a multitude of factors. Family resources, field of study, near home, away from home, student maturity level, how much to take on moving into adult responsibilities while also attending college level classes, all of this plus has been on our a family's list of considerations.

The homeschooling parents I have met, regardless of their approach to home schooling, laid back, un-schooling, rigorous academics, arts based, etc. all have tended to have high expectations for their children. Perhaps we want to see proof of the rightness of our choice to homeschool. Like all parents we want to see our children be successful adults in whatever field the chose to work in.

Having high expectations for our young people's performance is a gift to them but it doesn't require over- priced- out of reach- mega debt- name brand- higher education to accomplish goals and live dreams!

Non homeschooling parents I meet often praise me with wows and kudos for homeschooling and comment that it must be hard to do. While of course there were difficult moments (all parents/families have some). They can't imagine how hard it must be to teach their own children. My usual response is that it isn't really as hard as they are imagining it. It is not like re-creating a classroom. In my opinion, that would be very hard and also, in my opinion, not necessarily conducive to as much learning. Barring any specific learning disabilities, most children, most humans of any age for that matter, are really learning machines, we are made to learn and given the proper supportive and rich environment we will.

Given a sensory rich and supportive environment children, teens, young adults and adults will learn. In a nurturing environment children will learn something! And new college students can learn in the a community college environment with a more palatable price tag and still become high achieving productive adults.

Always working to be and encourage life long learners!

Could it Really be True?

Gotta have art!

There are big changes coming in our family. We are in the midst of our last year of homeschooling. Late this spring, I will officially be done homeschooling my children. Hip Hip Hooray and all that jazz -  celebrations to ensue, but there will be more than just a tear or two being shed through these final months of homeschooling. Mostly, they are tears of joy, for all that has been accomplished by us as a family and by each of us individually. I will miss so very much our homeschooling lifestyle.

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Homeschooled pets are lucky creatures.

I am anticipating a major shift in my life and daily activities. We still have a couple of things to complete with our home schooled high school senior. Baring any dramatic changes, she will be given her high school diploma in June of 2019, just a few short months away. She is currently preparing for her own independent adventures as a young adult. Our two sons are also making their plans for establishing there own domestic domains. With all three leaving the nest there will be big changes in this household! 

Milestones and next steps.

As a result, there will be new blog topics for me to explore in the months to come. I hope to be posting more about my own activities, the plans I am making and the adventures I am looking forward to. Homeschooling was in part an outcome of my own interest in intentional life long learning. My own education continues, anyone interested in joining me as a life long adult un-schooler?

Technology and classical ballet meet.

For our daughter this winter and spring, the final homeschooling agenda has included her completion of some course work and taking care of some of the details of high school graduation. She will finish some language arts requirements which in our 'school' continues to require daily reading and writing. Just a few things beyond that for her to complete, including the completion of a math component and  she'll be completing the official testing required. I'll be completing her transcripts.

Acquiring a driver's licence is in the mix for her to top it off with some additional real world functioning. Add the attainment of an actual drivers licence and she's off!

For my daughter the next few years will include more dance training and auditions in hopes of participating as a dancer in an actual ballet company. She plans to begin college classes while continuing her focus on dance.

Thankful for amazing online resources.

It has been an amazing journey. A learning adventure where the adage about how the teacher learns more than the student has consistently been realized over and over in our home. in full force!  I do not regret for a moment, our choice to home school our children. I am in fact sad to see it end even as I know it's eventual ending was the ultimate goal. I can barely remember any difficulties of learning on the part of my "students" I do remember some frustrations with myself as a "teacher".  

Oh those days!

My own inadequacies were overly obvious to myself and probably my children time and again throughout all the years of homeschooling. Each display of my lack of skill whether it was simply knowledge, preparation or organization, was an opportunity to show the value of life long learning, growth and character development. The need for growth for all of us in character was and is always more imperative than any immediate need of academic requirement. 

There were moments, hours, days and sometimes, though not frequently, weeks, when I questioned what or how we were homeschooling, but never the choice overall. My children have been eager learners and good sports as we wound our way through growing together. They have been wonderful companions and I  delighted in allowing them to keep their childhood curiosity and wonder alive as they grew. As they say, the proof is in the pudding. So far each of our children have taken steps and begun to step out into the world with a solid foundation and in a positive direction. I am extremely proud of each of them.

Over our homeschooling years, one of my main go to resources has been SchoolhouseTeachers.com. It is is an online product with downloadable, printable elements as well as online classes and video components. There are online classes for homeschooling students of all ages. There are encouraging parenting resources and forums for the addition of a potential community of other online homeschooling families.

It is a valuable resource worth looking into if you haven't already.
April is a great month to do so because there is a wonderful promotion going on.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com ~ (http://www.SchoolhouseTeachers.com/) 
This is an online product with downloadable, printable elements as well as online classes and video components.

Quilt Exhibit, Homeschool Travel and Airbnb

Travel offers so many opportunities for learning. Geography, beautiful art museums, hands on science and living history museums and the simple basics of exposure to new people and places. Most of the travel we have done during our homeschooling years has been related to extra curricular activities, baseball, gymnastics and continuing now with my daughters participation in dance.

Our recent trip south to Paducah, Kentucky and to Nashville TN was no different in that regard. Due to an invitation for Adah to take a professional training class at the school of Nashville Ballet, I was delighted to get on the road and head south. (It's been a long winter in Chicagoland!)

The added bonus of The National Quilt Museum being on the way to Nashville gave us the opportunity to visit the museum that hosts an annual exhibit featuring young fabric artists, learning the process of quilting. It is an absolutely wonderful and inspiring museum worth the trip at any time of year. The exhibit featuring student work is a fantastic opportunity for inspiration for all ages. It is also, an excellent opportunity for any student to enter. All student quilt blocks entered into the School Block Challenge are included in the exhibit. Given that it was still hanging during our travels and that my daughter had entered a quilt block, we had to stop to check it out. Adah's quilt block entry for the School Block Challenge received the recognition of Honorable Mention in her age group. It was such a treat for us to see her quilt block hanging in the beautiful museum.

An annual event and opportunity for school age sewists.
Sponsored by The National Quilt Museum and Moda fabrics.

Contests are Excellent Learning Opportunities

Encouraging students to submit work to contests is a great way to explore creative opportunities. To participate in a contest; a student needs to understand the requirements of the contest, pay attention to the details and follow guidelines. The expectation of presenting work professionally and meeting a deadline elevates any piece of art to a new level. The process builds confidence and encourages students to hone the skills associated with a craft.

Watch a video about the School
Block Challenge on Youtube

Honorable Mention is a welcome confidence booster.

Travel = Real World Exploration

One of the things I love about traveling and about homeschooling is the option to view every experience as an opportunity for learning. This trip held so much of that. From the basics of  planning a travel route, seeing ones work hanging in a place of prominence like, The National Quilt Museum, participating in a setting to raise a skill to new and higher standards by taking class at the Nashville Ballet School of Ballet, discovering venues new and old for music and performance that are everywhere in Nashville or just the chance to explore new spots for dining, this trip was jam packed!  Productive and fun we had a great travel experience. With graduation looming for my youngest, I am thankful for the time together. Based on this the trip, Adah's plans for continuing her dance training in the summer and fall are coming together. More on that later!

Everywhere is a field trip.
Exploring Music City.

Everything is a part of the curriculum.
History of American Music

Beautiful Nashville

Country Icons

Finding Wonderful Accommodations

As a family, we are in the midst of assisting our kids with the expenses of higher education, so it was important to keep the cost of this visit within our current budget. One of the ways I've discovered to do that when traveling is to use Airbnb to find accommodations. Every reservation we've made through Airbnb has been chosen based on our specific needs for the trip we were planning. Every host experience we have booked through Airbnb has been positive.

I was first made aware of Airbnb by a homeschooling family living in the Chicago area who began hosting in their two flat. For them, it became a family enterprise with the benefits of real life learning for their children, meeting others, showing hospitality and sharing recommendations of Chicago-land events and activities. At the time, online sales, ride shares, etc. were somewhat new to me. Funny how that has changed! I am now an avid seller of books on ebay, write this blog and have a website I maintain for my postpartum doula biz. My husband even occasionally, drives for Uber. Our lives have changed due to online connections and commerce.

The first time I dared to try using Airbnb, I was hesitant but also a little desperate to find some better rates on travel expenses. My daughter's gymnastics participation involved traveling to state, regional and eventually national competitions. All of that travel is a significant expense so I took the plunge, to secure better rates on accommodations. I am so glad I did. We have had such good experiences using Airbnb. It has become our first choice when looking for a place to stay. The range of options is quite broad. From very basic to luxury. There is something for everyone and every type of travel experience. My personal favorite options have been the ones in which you actually stay with a host in their home as a guest.

Travel in your own style. Whether you like to go it alone or if you prefer striking up a conversation and getting recommendations from the locals, Airbnb has something for you! We have had such good experiences using Airbnb hosts in many different locations.

For The Temple - A Review of an Audio Drama by Heirloom Audio

I have been aware of Heirloom Audio productions for awhile. We have done a few listening sessions using their products quite awhile ago when my boys were younger. So I was especially pleased when I was given the opportunity to review the newly released drama For The Temple. When we were in the thick of homeschooling, read aloud time was always a part of our family activities. For myself as an elementary school student many years ago, some of my fondest school memories were in the classrooms where the teacher spent a substantial amount of time reading aloud to students.

At one time, I simply considered listening to audio theater to be comparable to a read aloud or listening to an audio book. It is, but it is also more. Listening to For the Temple as a reviewer, I have reconsidered that conclusion. Listening to audio theater ups the game. It is more involved, requires more concentration and better listening skills. It also provides a greater audience reward with a deeper understanding of the characters and the stories. Not to discourage anyone from the joy of listening to audio theater, but the effort of setting the stage for listening without distraction and developing the required listening skill takes a little more preparation (at least at our house). It is so worth it.

I attempted to listen to For the Temple while fighting off a bout of the flu. Snuggled up, ready to rest, the voices became the background to my recovery but I didn't completely hear the story. My daughter and I listened together again while doing some hand crafts and stitching. The stitching activity allowed for enough attention to really listen and hear the story.

George Alfred Henty (1832 - 1902) was an English novelist. He is our For the Temple storyteller and begins our listening adventure by telling this story to an artist in a Viennese Cafe where they have met.

The actors bring the characters to life. Listening to the first century

Cafe Landtmann in Vienna
Who wouldn't like to hang out and
hear a story or two?

story as a dramatization improved our understanding of the reality of the characters as actual historical figures. I especially enjoyed the developing relationship between John, the main character and his betrothed Mary. Hearing the voices of characters as they interact with each other makes it clear how they are real participants in history. When John meets Titus the interaction they have really drew me in with the anticipation of how that relationship will play out. (No spoiler here.) The surrounding sounds of the environment from a storm on the sea to destruction in Jerusalem engage the listener.

From the attitude, life and times of the original storyteller G.A. Henty, to the times and place of the story told and the characters involved, there is historical depth and nuance available for our understanding through the Heirloom Audio productions. The use of the accompanying study guide creates a complete learning opportunity. The questions included range from listening comprehension questions to ones that encourage deeper thinking. There are also geographical prompts and vocabulary lists by section of the drama.

In her comments about the production of Beric the Briton from Heirloom audio, cast member Cathy Sara says "Yes, it can be used as an education tool, it has message, it has meaning. Anyone would find that place in these stories." I agree with Cathy whole heartily. Listening to this adventure adds value to my crafting, knitting, textile working time, whether homeschooling kids are joining me or not!

During a recent stop at the bank the conversation with two young women tellers turned to the topic of homeschooling. Living the life of home education, I am still sometimes surprised by some of the questions I am asked about our family's choice. Mostly, I am surprised by the questions regarding educational materials, books and curriculum. When asked about materials my response is probably so emphatic as to be unbelievable. There is so much available it is hard to even fathom. There are so many resources available of such high quality, that from my point of view, as a homeschooling mom, is hard to grasp not utilizing it all. The Heirloom Audio dramas are an excellent example. Listening to these and going through the study guides could easily provide the basis for understanding a large portion of western history. Don't miss accessing these materials!

Find more reviews of For the Temple linked on the Review Crew blog, click on the banner below.