We school year round so we can take a lot of time off from school during the fall and spring when the weather is much more tolerable. Now that it's hotter outside, we have a few subjects remaining, but should be done by noon every day. We'll have plenty of time to scratch some things off of our summer bucket list. Here's what we came up with.

1. Go swimming a couple of times a week
2. Sleepovers with the cousins
3. Try out every board game we have at least once. We started with Ticked to Ride and they loved it!
4. Family movie night using this list.
5. Watch some nature documentaries
6. Build something giant out of Lego
7. Build a fairy garden
8. Use up some of our kits I'be sitting on forever. We have a crystal growing kit, a robotic arm, Snap Circuits, and a bunch of Magic School Bus science kits they always enjoy.
9. Make some no-bake pies
10. Make ice cream in a baggie
11. Read.
12. Bowling

Sequential Spelling (SS) - I have been shopping around for a spelling curriculum that works for both of my soon-to-be 3rd graders. I wanted to love All About Spelling after hearing so many good reviews, but it just wasn't for us. Sequential Spelling is a super efficient program that has helped both of my kids with spelling, handwriting and decoding larger words all without taking a ton of time. We are on Day 31 and so far, it's a keeper!

JJ needs to work on spelling as well as reading larger words. This looks like it will help him practice seeing where he needs to break words into parts. It's also good handwriting practice for him.

Sequential Spelling is also a good fit for my terrified-of-making-mistakes girl. She definitely had a period of adjustment where she would melt down because of a mistake. The part of the program that I love is that the kids get to correct their own spelling immediately which takes a ton of pressure off. She's finally able to relax and focus not just on spelling, but on making her handwriting pretty.

I bought the Original AVKO versions through Rainbow Resource. The only thing you need is the book. The student response books are optional. I just Pro-Clicked some writing paper for them.

My Educational Entertainment Pinterest Board has links to many of my favorite Netflix, YouTube, Prime and any other site I may come across that has educational shows I might want to use for homeschooling.

My 7th grader received a Bronze Medal for the 2013 Exam.

For those that haven't participated, here's some information about it.


The Medusa Exam is open to public, private, and homeschool students. Every year has a different theme. They are always based on the classics, The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, The Metamorphosis. Both Greek and Roman names are in the test. This is really a high school level test that is available to middle grade students who have read the classics. It is more difficult than the National Mythology Exam.

This year's theme is "Mythology Masquerade." All questions will involve a god, goddess, or other immortal who changes shape to achieve his/her/its objective.

Age/Grade Requirements: Public or private school students must be in 6th grade or higher. Homeschool students must be 11 years old.

Test Format: 40-minute multiple-choice format.

Fees: Standard registration fee is $3 with a school registration fee of $15.

Registration Due: February 10 - Standard registration fee

Late Registration:
February 10-15 - +$15 late fee
February 17-22 - +$25 late fee
February 24 - March 1 - +$35 late fee
March 3 - 8 - +$45 late fee

Rewards:
Certificates and Medals for those who receive high enough scores. Click here to see how they are distributed.
Gold medal award winners may apply for achievement awards; prizes range from $100 to $750.
Awards are available to teachers and homeschool parents whose students took the exam by writing an essay. The prize is $250.