What a week! We had an awesome Facebook party and still have the giveaways open if you have not entered. I’ve been to the doctor for a tummy bug and thyroid check. Our van died. Cranky kids. I am ready for the weekend!

Wow. Last week was a super-tremendous party and it was almost too difficult to pick favorites, but we tried…

The recipe with the most clicks was ~

Banana Pudding Cheese Cake by Recipes for Divine Living

Recipes that caught our attention ~

Chicken Crescent Roll Casserole by Simply You & Me

Strawberry Cream Dessert by The Big Green Bowl

And, a personal favorite ~

Mini Turkey Meatballs by I Thee Cook

If you were featured today, please feel free to grab the red “featured” button from my sidebar.

Your hosts ~

• Meet Penny ~ Tabitha
• The Better Baker ~ Marsha
• Sunflower Supper Club ~ Kim & Julie
• 4 Little Fergusons~ Tonya
• The Country Cook~ Brandie

Remember that when you link up, it shows on all FIVE blogs. Plus…

We TWEET. We PIN. We LIKE.

When you are kind enough to follow our guidelines, we work hard to get you as much exposure as possible so that your time here is well invested.

Linky Guidelines: If you wish for us to promote your recipe or want to be a featured recipe, you must follow these instructions. Please link up to your exact post and not the main page to your blog. Also, LINK BACK HERE from your post so that others can find the fun. (Need help linking back? Read this.) You can use the button or a direct link within your post. If you have a recipe to share, please be sure that you are following ALL co-hosts (The Country Cook, 4 Little Fergusons, The Better Baker, Sunflower Supper Club, AND Meet Penny) by either RSS feed, Daily Email Digest, Facebook or Twitter. Thanks so much for participating!

<a href="http://www.meetpenny.com" ><img border="0" src="http://www.meetpenny.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/weekend-potluck-buttong.jpg" width="150"/></a>

Weekend Potluck: May 18th ~ May 20th is a post from: Meet Penny

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Daily Saver ~ May 17th is a post from: Meet Penny

I wish I could take the credit for this healthy, kid-friendly recipe but I can’t because I owe all the credit to Abby Cadabby! I adapted it from her recipe in Sesame Street “C” is for Cooking, 40th Anniversary Edition.

This is an easy lunch or dinner that my children always enjoy and now that they are old enough, the kids can even help me prepare some of it.

The hardest part is scoring the baby carrots and then slicing them so they look like flowers.

Kid-Friendly Recipe: Butterflies & Trees Pasta is a post from: Meet Penny

Previously, I shared our picks for 3rd grade curriculum, and today, I wanted to share our choices for 1st grade.

HomeEd Expert’s recommendations were a tremendous help but I also had some curriculum tucked away from when Lira was in 1st grade.

About my 1st grader ~ If Franc were in publish school, he would be entering kindergarten, but since he is already reading, adding, and more, I have decided to test the waters of 1st grade. I am perfectly willing to slam on the brakes if it becomes too difficult or if he shows signs of struggle.

1st Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks

Math

Lira used the Horizons Math from Alpha & Omega Publishing when she was in the 1st grade. I loved the spiral approach where the concepts build upon one another as new concepts are introduced.

Horizons Math, Grade 1, Complete Set by Alpha Omega Publications

No more hours of boring, endless repetition – your kids will actually thank you for this interactive math curriculum! Each level has two student workbooks, but the teacher handbook is the main component of the program. All instruction is provided through one-on-one teacher instruction, which is the biggest difference between Horizons and the self-guided Lifepacs.

Another big focus in Horizons is hands-on learning using a variety of manipulatives, which can mostly be found around the house: pencils, pipe cleaners, play or real money, thread, a timer, clock, yardstick, etc.

Novice home-educators should not be intimidated by the amount of teacher involvement as it is carefully layed out in the beginning of each year’s teacher handbook. The teacher handbook also provides a variety of teaching suggestions and supplemental activities for additional practice.

The concepts covered in Horizons 1 include:

• Counting by 2′s, 5′s, 10′s
• Ordinal and Cardinal Numbers
• Addition Facts
• Place Value

This means that a solid foundation in number recognition and other kindergarten concepts is imperative.

Spelling & Phonics

I purchased a Reason for Spelling last year, thinking that it would be a good place to start Franc, but I quickly realized that he needed a fundamental understanding of sight words and word families first. So, I am pulling it back out this year to see if he is ready.

A Reason for Spelling, Level A, Teacher Guidebook and Student Worktext by A Beginning Advantage

How do children best learn to spell? Research says it takes more than just rote memorization and drill. Activities with a purposeare the key! And what better purpose than learning Scripture values.

Recommended for Grade 1. Every weekly lesson begins with a story – a contemporary theme story that develops key principles found in that week’s Scripture verse. Daily lessons continue to build on this theme and help make learning to spell FUN! In addition, A Reason For Spelling encourages regular personal writing activities in a values-based setting. This gives children a meaningful context for focusing on correct spelling.

A Reason For Spelling combines the latest research on how children learn to spell with all the strengths of traditional programs. It integrates spelling with reading, writing, and language arts, while teaching children all the high-frequency base words, plus hundreds of other word forms as well!

A Reason For Spelling incorporates a variety of successful teaching techniques: daily practice, self-correction, visual imaging, detailed student feedback, learning games, the test/study/test sequence, and much more. It also includes special activities in every lesson to help motivate visual, auditory, tactile, and multi-faceted learners.

Bible & History

The Ancient Civilizations curriculum by Answers in Genesis is a great fit for our family. Tracing history from creation to Christ, the children will be able to learn based on the Bible as their outline. The curriculum is completely adaptable for multiple ages and addresses how to personalize lessons to different learning styles.

Ancient Civilizations & the Bible: Full Family Curriculum Pack by Diana Waring / Answers In Genesis

Explore events, civilizations, and personalities from creation to the time of Christ in this redesign of Diana Waring’s exciting one-year curriculum! Featuring dynamic new illustrations, the kit includes teacher’s guide, student manual, and test pack (grades 6 and up); elementary activity book (grades K to 4); and 10 CDs—True Tales, Digging Deeper, and What in the World?

Science

Our science will also be studied as a family unless we can gather some friends for a co-op. I knew without a doubt that the Junior Anatomy Notebooking Journal was going to be a necessity for the 1st grade level.

Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology by Jeannie K. Fulbright / Apologia Educational Ministries

All creation is awe-inspiring, but the work of the human body, created in the very image of God, is especially jaw-dropping! This study of anatomy and physiology showcases the intricacy and design of the human body, from DNA and cell creation to the skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous/endocrine, immune, and intergumentary systems. Integrated with health and nutrition information, as well as plenty of scripture and biblical application, this complete guide to the human body is written in an enjoyable, conversational tone that will keep kids engaged. Experiments, notebooking assignments, narration, and a “personal person project” provide interaction with concepts outside of reading, and help to solidify understanding. 265 pages, hardcover. Index and answers to the narrative questions are included.

Junior Notebooking Journal for Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology by Jeannie Fulbright / Apologia Educational Ministries

Love the regular Apologia notebooking journals, but find the writing a bit too advanced for your student? The Human Anatomy & Physiology Notebooking Journal will remove your concern with activities specifically geared towards students who aren’t as advanced in their writing abilities. Almost the same length as the regular journal, the notebooking pages aren’t designed to just suit lower grades–only writing ability is considered. Perfect for younger students or older, struggling students! Coloring pages, scripture copywork, vocabulary flip-cards, puzzle pieces, “more to explore” ideas, diagrams to label, and other fun lapbooking pages are included, as well as full-color minibooks and two overhead transparencies. 230 pages plus full-color section. Spiral bound, softcover.

Our 1st Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2012-2013 is a post from: Meet Penny

1. Have Fun Teaching provides us with free worksheets, coloring pages, activities, and lots of other goodies.
2. My local library’s website is also a favorite spot since I can browse the catalog online and place items on hold for Bill to pick up on his way home.
3. CurrClick has a new freebie available each week and they are GOOD freebies!
4. Amazon.com gives me tons of free educational apps and children’s ebooks for my Kindle Fire, and I must add that having supplies delivered to my door is awesome.
5. Education.com is probably where I spend the most time looking for printables because they have free worksheets, activities, and more!
6. Pinterest helps me keep all the amazing ideas I find for homeschooling organized.
7. NotebookingPages.com makes creating notebooking pages super easy and that is a huge time-saver. (Don’t miss their Facebook Party on May 22nd for a chance to win tons of prizes!)
8. Swagbucks, which I use for searching the internet, allows me to earn gift cards to Amazon.com where I can buy books and other classroom supplies.
9. Apples4theTeacher has a unique variety of resources, including a worksheet generator, a dice generator, online coloring, and a ton of other stuff for all subjects and holidays.
10. Scholastic Teacher Express often has ebooks for $1 and also has freebies available for download.

What are your favorite websites?

10 in 10: Ten Favorite Websites for Homeschooling is a post from: Meet Penny

Before Christmas, Celestron very generously sent me a Handheld Digital Microscope to use with my children. Unfortunately, the first thing I noticed is that the microscope is best suited for teenagers.

So, I had a dilemma… I could hang on to the microscope for several years or pass it along to a lucky reader. Guess what I decided?

The Celestron Handheld Digital Microscope features:

• 10x to 40x and 150x Digital Power
• 1.3mp digital camera for snapshots and video
• LED illuminator
• Photo management software
• Powered by USB 2.0 cable
• Metal stand to hold the microscope steady
• Size – 4.25″ (108 mm) x 1.25″ (32 mm)
• Weight – 4oz (113g)
• Compatible with PC and MAC

Buy It

To view more about this microscope or to purchase it, you can see it on Amazon.com.

Win It

To enter to win the Handheld Digital Microscope, use the entry form below ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Celestron Handheld Digital Microscope Giveaway is a post from: Meet Penny

Hot Deals

Modern Alternative Momma is having a sale on ALL her books and bundles! Through Wednesday, 5/16, use coupon code MOTHERSDAY30 to save 30% off   on everything including book bundles, which are already up to 20% off the price of buying books individually!

Freebies

Money Saving Mom has a HOT coupon code where you can get a free copy of Right-Brained Multiplication & Division from CurrClick.

New Coupons

• $1.35 off when you buy any FIVE Gerber® SmartNourish 2nd Foods Baby Food
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The following offers are NEW from Cellfire. CLICK HERE to load your card.

Latest Coupon Cycle!
The offers below are available from 5/15 – 5/28 and they expire on 6/11. These offers are valid at Kroger and Kroger subsidiaries, Carrs, Genuardi’s, Randall’s, Tom Thumb, Shop ‘n Save, Foodtown, and Harps.

Fiber One Cereal Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy any ONE BOX Fiber One cereal listed, Fiber One Original, Fiber One Honey Clusters, Fiber One Raisin Bran Clusters, Fiber One Caramel Delight(TM), Fiber One Frosted Shredded Wheat, Fiber One 80 Calories.

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Mountain High Yogurt Save $.50
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Contests

Enter to win a $100 gift card from All About Learning Press.

Daily Saver ~ May 15th is a post from: Meet Penny

Well… due to circumstances beyond my control, the Well Planned Day planner from Home Educating Family did not arrive in time for me to offer a comprehensive review for this year. However, you can trust that the newest edition of the planner will be just as amazing as the one last year.

I also wanted to tell you about something else Home Educating Family has created that is equally exciting.

Have you visited HomeschoolConvention.com?

Open every day and at all hours, this no-cost online homeschool convention created by Home Educating Family offers an interactive conference experience from the comfort of your home.

Finding the actual convention can be a little bit of a maze. Visit HomeschoolConvention.com and then click on “convention” in the menu which takes you to a page about the program. Click to create and account (top right sidebar) and launch the convention.

The loading time is probably longer than you are used to with a normal blog or website but this is not your typical webpage. Occasionally, the page will not load completely. The avatar will begin speaking and the background will remain blank or gray. Just go ahead and use the navigational menu at the top to choose where you want to go.

Explore Homeschool Curriculum

Click to “Explore Curriculum” and you are taken to a library cataloging the different subjects available. Sometimes, you can click on the bookcase but other times, you need to click directly on the subject title at the top of the bookcase. (I’m sure this is a bug they are working out.)

When you select a subject, you can then browse the various curriculum reviews available.

Connect with Great Companies

Browse through the various exhibit halls to get an in-depth look at the various homeschool companies. Click on a booth to get even closer and look through all the great products that they have available.

Booths are highly interactive and offer a variety of media including videos and downloadables. You can view the scope and sequence of various curriculum and even find coupon codes.

Check Your Totebag

Just like attending a real homeschool conference, you are given a virtual totebag filled with information from the convention’s sponsors. Inside, you will find printable brochures, samples, and other freebies. The contents of your totebag will change frequently so check back often.

Load Up on Encouragement

HomeschoolConvention.com is not just a place to shop. You can also find a great deal of encouragement. Videos offer advice on a wide variety of homeschool and parenting topics as well as additional reviews.

Home Educating Family also has other amazing resources:

• Home Educating Family Magazine ~ A gorgeous, high-quality magazine geared directly to homeschooling families
• Home Educating Family Blog ~ Daily encouragement and resources from experts and other homeschooling parents as well as a weekly giveaway
• Reviews ~ Comprehensive reviews from real people
• Planners ~ Amazing planners in every format you could possibly need

Win It

Home Educating Family is giving one reader a Well Planned Day planner. Please come back during the Mommy Time Facebook Party to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HomeschoolConvention.com Review (& Well Planned Day Giveaway) is a post from: Meet Penny

When you are a busy mom, you need a one-stop resource for the issues that come up in everyday family life. Sure, you could spend time searching the internet for answers but your journey through cyberspace can lead to a ton of wasted time and major frustrations.

The Busy Mom’s Guide Series is designed to give you the topical information you need in one handbook. Each book in the series is extremely comprehensive and filled with facts. In a simple question and answer style and with thorough indexes, you can easily find the information you need. Written by Dr. Paul C. Reisser, you know the material is trustworthy.

Parenting Young Children

Instead of needing several different books, the Busy Mom’s Guide to Parenting Young Children encompasses all of young childhood: the first three months, three to six months, six to twelve months, twelve to twenty-four months, two-year-olds, and three- and four-year-olds.

Each chapter details development, feeding, sleeping, as well as the other prevalent questions of the different age groups, but the book does not ignore the needs of the parents. Some of the questions include:

 * How can I handle the stress of trying to comfort a baby who always seems to be crying?

 * How can I encourage my husband to step up and provide the help I need with our two-year-old?

 * Any advice on handling my own fatigue, relationships and general outlook on life?

 * How can I avoid “toddler-care burnout”?

Family Nutrition

The Busy Mom’s Guide to Family Nutrition is set up differently but offers the same quality of comprehensive information. The chapters include:

* Nutritional Basics ~ covers everything from simple definitions of various nutrients to hot-button topics like if artificial sweeteners are safe

* How to Make Healthy Food Choices ~ discusses family mealtimes, healthy fats, and much more

* Vitamins and Minerals ~ educates the reader about the different vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy life and the best way to get them

* A Weighty Problem ~ breaks down the composition of the body and even addresses medical conditions that can trigger obesity

* What about Diets, Medications, or Surgery? ~ defines the various diets and procedures available for treatment of obesity

* Help for the Overweight Child or Teenager ~ offers practical suggestions for helping a child maintain a healthy weight

Buy It

Currently, the best prices for these editions of the Busy Mom’s Guide Series are available at Christian Book Distributors:

• Busy Mom’s Guide to Family Nutrition $9.99
• Busy Mom’s Guide to Parenting Young Children $9.99

The books are available in paperback or Kindle editions at Amazon.com.

Win It

Tyndale House has generously offered one copy of each book to be given away! Please come back during the Mommy Time Facebook Party to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Busy Mom’s Guide to Family Nutrition Review (& Giveaway) is a post from: Meet Penny

A long time ago, the Daily Saver would be posted in the evenings to help keep you up to date with the different deals and freebies I had found around the internet and posted to Facebook and Twitter during the day. I think the series lived a week.

When Facebook changed the style of our community page to the timeline, finding the previous posts became difficult. So, I am thinking about bringing the Daily Saver back, but I REALLY need to know if you like it. If you find it useful, please say so. Otherwise… it might disappear forever.

Hot Deals

• Scholastic Teacher Express is having a Dollar Deals sale! Tons of books are available for downloading at only $1 each.
• At Amazon.com, save 20% when you buy 2 or more select personal toiletries and first aid products by using promotional code MOMCLAIM at checkout.

New Coupons

Free for Kindle

Please verify the price as $0.00 before clicking to purchase. These offers can change quickly.

• Gourmet Ice Pops for Kids and Adults
• The Messenger
• The God Who Sees You: Look to Him When You Feel Discouraged, Forgotten, or Invisible
• RV Cooking Cookbook
• Ruby

Other News

• Egglands Best is looking for a few good recipes. You could win $10,000.
• Get Diabetic Connect’s FREE Recipes for the Grill book now and have one great cookout after another!

Daily Saver ~ May 14th is a post from: Meet Penny