I’m sitting up swatting mosquitoes and reflecting upon the topic of our Bible study tonight that my husband and I attended.  The group leader asked us if anyone is experiencing any suffering (in the context of looking at the new church in Rome during Emperor Nero’s reign) and all I could answer in my mind was “Yes, I’m teaching long division to an artistic minded third grader.  Does that count?”  If I make it through this little era I’ll definitely get to add some sort of patch to my home school mom vest.  Aren’t those invented yet?  We should get to earn them like scout badges…like “I survived teaching diagramming sentences.”  “I made it through long division with my daughter and she’s still living.”  Yes, she’s making me work, this one.    I guess I was a little spoiled with my first son.  Everything came so easily to him, I knew I was skating through without really having to teach or explain much.  He just “got it.”   But I suppose in the end, this will be rewarding, like the feeling you get climbing Mt. Everest or one of Colorado’s 14-ers or giving birth without an epidural.

Am I alone here?  Granted we’ve only been doing this a few days and the process will come with repetition, I know.  Have you been on the verge of tears (or past that verge) of frustration wanting your child to "get it?"  I remember standing nervously at a chalk board in 3^rd grade hoping desperately I’d know the next step in long division.  So as my inner anxt built up over trying to help her "get it" days ago, and my volume was getting louder, my tone more urgent,  I realized she was shrinking down in her chair looking sheepish and self conscious.  Great, I know kids can't focus on the concept at hand if they're cowering and sensing mom's about to lose it!  I gave my mind a flashback of standing in my own little shoes in my old classroom with my fearsome teacher to give me patience, understanding and gentleness!  I said earnestly, "I do remember how hard this was at first!  I know you'll get it!  I'll try to be more patient with you."  When we left the table, she hugged me and said, "I love  you, Mom." 

 I decided she and her next older brother need way more drill, so at the beginning of our math time the last few days I bark out “four times nine!” and see which child can answer it first.  As I work through the facts, I keep a tally on the white board and award m n m’s at the end.  Do you have any other good tips for me? 

In reading news, we’ve just finished Treasures of the Snow, which is just simply a jewel of a story for children with its themes of forgiveness and redemption.  It’s by Patricia St. John, and my mother read it to me when I was a girl.  Isn’t it funny how we want to repeat the things that were significant to us from our childhood?  If you haven’t read it, you must.  It makes a lovely winter read as well, since it’s set in the snowy Swiss Alps and just begs to be read sitting by a wood-stove and accompanied by steaming mugs of hot chocolate.  Granted the wood-stove is out of the question for us, but with a cool evening in the upper sixties we did manage a night with the hot chocolate!  All three of my older children (ages 11, 9, and 8) were captivated and all three caught trying to read ahead, which is absolutely TABOO.  But inwardly I am secretly thrilled that they are so hooked on the story that the “labor” of reading is worth the effort to them to quench their curiosity for what will happen next.  This, in my humble opinion, is one of the most important steps for kids in the journey of reading that many never hit on their own and it’s what helps kids become good readers and spellers and also learn reading comprehension effortlessly.   So many workbooks and texts are trying to get kids to be good at reading comprehension, when the comprehension will come as kids gain fluency in reading and being read to aloud… from compelling books! 

Time to sign off and head to bed friends! 

With warm alohas,

Christa

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I suppose we are settling back into routine in our temporary home.  I really appreciate all the prayers you friends are lifting up for us.  While there is much excitement, there are lots of emotional ups and downs in readjusting again to new territory.  That is one of the many challenges of the military life and service.  J is back at work, getting into the swing of his new duties.  I'm getting used to having him gone again during the days.  I guess I got a little spoiled having so much Daddy support around all day.  It was kind of a shocker to lose it!  Here's what our little place looks like: (See how the Banyan tree in the background dwarfs our Suburban??)

This is the Banyan tree I mentioned before.  It must be home to about--no kidding--300 birds.  Every morning at 5 AM, it seems that this bird condominium complex turns itself into a giant alarm clock and every bird call imaginable combines into one chorus of "Goodmorning Dittmars."  It is an ubelievable amount of noise, and I am learning to sleep through it.  Once again at 5 pm, or dusk, the birds reconvene here to discuss their day and bid their "goodnights."  It reminds me vaguely of some Dr. Suess story.  Seuss must have gleaned some of his inspiration here in Hawaii. 

Laundry must go on.  Believe it or not, I'm actually thankful the set is outside.  I don't think I could bear the heat the dryer would generate inside the house.  I've been a heat whimp so far, but hey, I'm also 8 months pregnant!  When the tradewinds are blowing, it is very pleasant.  But we're also in a low spot below the dunes so it heats up quite a bit during mid-day.  Evenings are cool and lovely. 

We're also getting back to a school routine again.  In addition to math, the children have been journaling the trip and their new surroundings for English/ grammar/ spelling.  I've made Hawaii spelling lists for them to incorporate into their writing. 

Suza and Jamie busy themselves catching beetles while we work.  The creepie crawlies here are blogworthy.  We've spotted two centipedes, 5 cockroaches, numerous anoles ( a tree-climbing lizard that can change color) and geckoes (tropical or subtropical nocturnal insect-eating lizard.)
These come and go inside the house at their leisure.

I like to let my eyes feast on the lush vegetation, shrubs and trees everywhere blooming. 

After schoolwork is finished, we head down the little path behind our house to the beach. 

The girls like to watch the kite-boarders racing back and forth. 

Jamie isn't that fond of getting wet and sandy.  He tries to cuddle in what's left of my lap. 

So, I guess PE consists of a little boogie boarding. 

Thanks for sharing our days...Warmly in Christ, Christa

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   I love having little preschoolers in our midst.  I wouldn't trade it one bit.  Homeschooling along with managing them, however, can be a challenge.  I was very intimidated early on at the thought of continuing homeschooling while continuing to have children!  It was "easy" to enrich the life of one little preschooler and get him launched into learning.  But what about him AND consecutive ones.  It seemed like a puzzle.  One thing that I failed to factor in, during those early fears, was the truth that my oldest would be reading fluently and learning quite independently in many areas.  So that has helped on the big kid side.  Still, my brain often feels like it's splitting in half managing both to challenge the elders and govern the youngers simultaneously. 

At one point I tried saving all of our homeschooling until their afternoon naptime so I wouldn't have to deal with homeschooling and monitoring the littles.  But I realized I relished that later time as rest for me too after a busy morning...at least some of it.  My energy usually diminishes somewhat.  So I reckoned we would continue our 9 o'clock school starting time.  We manage to get most or all done in the morning.  Usually we have some to do for the first bit during naptime, like history read-alouds etc. 

I've discovered that one key to our day working well is to begin with some special preschool time designated just for those little tykes.  Sometimes I just get to hoping they aren't disruptive without intentionally meeting them!  So, today we started off with a short Bible story from the Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes, by Kenneth Taylor. We have the 1956 edition, but this is the new one available today: 

( I so recommend this for ages 2-5.  It was around when I was a little girl and has such vivid pictures with very short questions at the end of each story.)  Then we had a little song time on the carpet in a "circle" (triangle?)  singing songs such as "I may never march in the infantry", "This Little Light of Mine," "1,2,3 Jesus Loves Me."   By now my seven year old is begging to be allowed to take a break from her handwriting and come "assist."  After songs, I led them to the kitchen table for play-dough time, and we made snaky numbers and rolled up little "eggs," the quantities of which would match each number we formed.  I kept this controlled and short and stayed there the whole 10 minutes.  Then I gave them color wonder markers and a sheet of paper for drawing.  That was our preschool half hour for today!  Easy.  At that point, they were happy to get down and play quietly in their room, with legos, or personal toys.  Spending just some dedicated time on them really helped smooth the morning as I was then able to turn my attention to helping the others with tougher subjects, while allowing them to get out activities they could do alone or with the help of a sibling. 

I'd love to glean some insights from my readers on great preschool activities that are easy to prep and would be fun to rotate in to our time. 

Here are some other favorites we have:

• Corn Meal Letters (pour a cup of yellow corn meal into a lipped cookie sheet and form letters with the finger)
• Peanut Butter play-dough (mix powdered sugar and peanut butter for an edible treat after making your alphabet letters or numbers) 
• Shape cutting. (mom draws shapes on paper and little ones cut around them with children's scissors)

What are or were some of yours?  Add to my list here, and I'll compile the complete list for a future entry that can be a resource to all of us.  Include songs and/or activities that could be done alone or with supervision or with parental involvement.  Meeting our preschoolers needs is key to the rest of our homeschooling running smoothly.  And those of you whose kids are all preschool, you'll be here before you know it! 

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House inspectors were here today.  I don't know why, but you just feel on the defensive.  It's weird.  You've got people going through your house with a fine toothed comb, so to speak.  I chose to stay around, be it good or bad, and not rearrange the naps that way.  The folks were nice, but found a number of things to bring up...not many major, but among which the garage door is one.  Having just paid the septic pumping and inspection, I dread hearing of any more demands on our tight budget. 

     On homeschool notes, the day went pretty well.  All three children are using Rod and Staff English books.  I like it more each year we use it.  It's a very comprehensive yet simple and straightforward curriculum, and instead of just filling in blanks workbook style, the children are writing sentences often, looking things up in the dictionary, and actually learning much better than in our former venues of language arts.     I can also assign what I deem a manageable portion and do some of the exercises orally.  I was an English major, so maybe it's just my grammar fetish or something.  I must be weird...I liked grammar exercises. 

     I played a math game with the kids today too.  It only takes a couple minutes to make, and this is a fun booster for memorizing the times tables.  I made a grid of lines (about 20 squares) and in each square wrote the multiples of four, and then cut a stack of cards that would fit over the squares with the numbers 1-10.    The child draws a number say 5 and then multiplies it by 4 and finds the answer on the game board.  He/She then covers it with the little 5 card and proceeds to the next until all numbers are covered.  I timed them several times seeing if they could "beat their scores."  You could also play this with your child taking turns if you had your numbers written in a different color ink or on a different colored paper.  Then the first to get three in a row wins.  I made game boards for the 9's table for C and the 4's and 5's for M & S. 

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Recently we had a neighborhood cookout.  Now we live in a rural/residential area, so the houses are quite spread out on our road.  For the last year and a half I had never even met our "next door" neighbors.  When I invited one family, the husband said, "So, you want to open pandora's box, do you?!"  That was an attention grabber.  He followed that remark with a long story involving neighbors, water, lawsuits, heart attacks and grudges.  Well, what is a good Christian neighbor to do?  Invite them all anyway!  When the day of the cookout arrived and we had a total of 3 out of the 5 neighbors come.  One family brought a bottle of the cherry wine they'd made from their little orchard.   Everyone laughed and chatted and enjoyed talking for 5 and a half hours!  It was almost midnight and I couldn't believe people were still hanging out.  It really struck me how despite the fact that these folks hardly ever go out of their way to see each other, they were all enjoying a renewed sense of community.  They relived days of 4-H animals getting loose, neighbors rallying to chase other neighbors' pigs.  No one wanted to leave! 

Towards the end, one woman asked me, "So when are you going to let your children go to school?"  The question took me back.  It was one of those that I replayed in my mind the rest of the night and all the next day.  I wish I'd been better prepared for what to say.   My response was an ameliorative conglomeration of military moving, "considering it," nothing against the school, etc.  I definitely didn't want to appear to snub their great school.  Her next line was to inform me, "I think there would be lots of benefits.  They would get a break from you and you would get a break from them!"  Wow....what a combination of statements.  There was really no way in those moments to describe to her our vision.  She wasn't asking, "So, what's homeschooling like?" Or, "How does that work for you guys?"  It was all negative ammo!  After they left, my first reaction was to think, "Man, am I that awful?"

I just couldn't help but think how funny her statement was.  The picture her assumption created in my mind was of my children holding out their arms longingly toward the school and me braced feet wide, with a furrowed brow, holding them back--barring them from the wide open inviting front doors of the benevolent institution.   It's so far from the truth it's laughable.  Our children know how fortunate they are that Mom and Dad have sacrificed time and money and more to give them the opportunity to learn in the comfort of their own home, with great books.  My neighbor implied I was depriving them and this whole homeschooling thing was somehow a way of being weirdly overprotective.  Then the next set of fallacies:  "They would get a break from you."  This mentality holds the assumption that children don't really want their parents' time or attention.  Nothing could be farther from the truth, at least in our family.  If I have to run to the store, everyone is vying for their turn for a trip with mom.  If I read a book, there are at least 3 children wriggling to compete for the 2 sides of my body and the third peering over my shoulder.  Dinner helpers get special secret "perks" while we work together.

      The picture she described conjured up in my mind an image of me hovering over my children every second of the day, ordering them about, micro-managing their every move enslaving them with my presence.  Our lives are nothing like that.  We have order and routine, some disciplined academic time, lots of free play time, time for hard family teamwork and chores and time for family singing and worship.  We don't have 8 hours to waste on chasing after buses, standing in meaningless lines, doing busywork, being poisoned by peer opinions, and then doing hours of homework to facilitate the school's attempts to improve their test scores.  How could I have put that nicely?  Hmmm...

I still wonder. 

Homeschooling is not an incubator bubble for us.  It is the means by which we can "go and make disciples" and carry the torch of faith in Christ to the next generation, how we can learn the ways of Christ in our "going out" and our "lying down" (Deut 6:10). It is the vessel for real life learning, not contrived assembly line products.  It is our training camp where we teach them how to put on the full armor of God.  And if the Lord blesses this endeavor, then when they have done everything, they will be able to stand in the world as beacons and shine like stars.

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     As I've mentioned earlier, I tend to shy away from mess-generating projects.  The thought of managing five children in a potentially destructive maneuvers stresses me right out...like painting with acrylics!  But not my husband!  He's braver than brave when it comes to creative projects.  I'm glad he's around to generate adventurous learning.  This was his latest brain-child...decorating the unfinished basement walls with kid-art.  It turned out really neat!  (despite my forebodings of dread and nightmarish messes) I think Charlotte Mason would have approved of this "masterly (in)activity." 

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     I've been re-reading my Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola, a veritable wealth of insights, inspiration, and principles for applying Charlotte Mason's educational philosophies to our everyday homeschooling lives.  One of the assertions she makes is that no matter what our curriculum choices are, everyday a well brought up child should have:  someone or something to love, something to do, and something to think about.   Here are some ways I've tried to cultivate these ideas in our lives this week. 

Something to Love

This little kitty wandered into (or was planted on) our property recently.  It has stuck around seemingly wanting to make our home his as well.  hmm....well at least it is getting some TLC and attention.

Something to Do

Yesterday I had the children peel potatoes for the creamy potato soup we had at dinner.  They so enjoy using the peelers and helping with dinner preparation.  I think it is vitally important to delegate things to children not only for their advancement in skills, but also for their growing understanding that they are a valued and useful part of the family team...this is an important source of healthy not narcissistic self-esteem.

Something to Think About

We've been delighted to watch a family of Killdeer out on the side of our yard.  They made their gravelly nest right on the ground.  If danger approaches in the form of a predator or curious mom, the parent bird "lures" her away with his famous "injured wing" display.  He tricks one into following him some distance from the nest, acting like a wounded bird, then gets up and flies away. 

These are the eggs...so well camouflaged they are difficult to find and revisit.

Only two days ago we discovered the eggs had hatched into the most adorable four fluffy chicks.  Our study on this bird family has given us lots of wondering and research inspiration.  Such a remarkable manifestation of our Maker's creativity!

    This was such a bummer though:  We took a great photo of the chicks after Mama & Papa did their luring away act.  But I accidentally formatted my camera and erased them!  We haven't seen them since (the pictures or the family!)  They disappeared alltogether.  But these babies are comparable to 2 week old robins when they are born.  They are able to run and follow the parents very soon after birth, so I don't assume the worst.  We hope they are out there somewhere all one happy family! 

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Well, at Gena's request, I've decided to share a bit on how we traipse down the homeschooling path.  Each day is different, I assure you.  But we do try to adhere to a general routine. 

     After morning chore duties have been accomplished and Queen Mommy has started a load of laundry, we all convene in our little "school room" for the Pledge of Allegiance followed by singing "My Country Tis of Thee."  A few stretches, then we settle down to listen to our Bible passage for the morning.  I found that by having everyone take turns reading our selection (We've been in 2 Samuel lately) I can accomplish some of their reading aloud for the day.  Sometimes I just read it all or have Connor read if I want to sail through quickly.  After a prayer for the day, for good learning attitudes and diligent spirits, we practice our Scripture memorization.  The littlest ones have some puzzles and activities to keep their hands busy.  Sophie loves to draw while she listens. 

Next everyone begins their seatwork...math, handwriting, spelling, and grammar as I float among them helping as needed.  I found that doing math with a 1st and 2nd grader at the same time was a little too demanding, so I make sure they are staggered for that so I can explain things to one child, while the other is accomplishing things that are easier to do without Mom's help.  My fourth grader is so independent, he wanders off to a corner and tackles his subjects quite diligently usually.  He uses Rod and Staff English Grammar and Singapore Math.  As one finishes, he or she is given toddler duty and relishes the "break" to go help take care of  little ones by playing with them. 

Mid to late morning, I like to take a break and get everyone outside for some fresh air and playtime.  Bikes, trampoline, checking out the spring bulbs, tricks with the dog...PE, right? 

 

Our trailer-rig! 

Connor likes to practice riflery with his BB gun.

After lunch, I read to Jamie (3) and Suza (1) and then put them down for their naps.  Now we can get to the MEAT and potatoes of our schooltime that we all enjoy...our read-alouds, history, and botany.  I've been a dedicated Sonlight user.  We're enjoying Apologia's new elementary science books by J. Fulbright.  Usually we pile on Mommy's four-poster bed while the afternoon sun streams in the window.  The kids draw or read along at my shoulder.  After reading botany or history, they often make a page for their notebook to record what they learned that day.  I do a little phonics with Sophie from An Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading by Wise and Buffington.  S. loves the activities in it.  I have M. read out loud to me from the Sonlight 2nd readers.  

At this point, Mom the director of events, is feeling quite drowsy and usually begins to doze on aforementioned bed while the children supposedly have "quiet read and rest."   

Finishing up their botany pages...on nonvascular plants today! 

Looking up locations of various countries from our WWI studies.
Some of this year's great books!

Our supply nook.

I have our timeline up in the dining room.  It didn't fit in the library. 

Field trips to town are always relished.  We love to get to the library and then walk down the street for ice cream at Sherer's. 

  Hope you enjoyed a peek into our homeschooling days!

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--If you're visitng for the first time...this post picks up from the previous post--

          On to London...

We arrived to the "Mother Country" in summer time with three children in tow (ages 3-1).  Upon enternig social circles, I quickly gained and was puzzled by much attention.  The Brits and American Ex-Pats alike looked at me like I had five heads, even though I'd donned my all-black outfit to a ladies' dinner..."Oh YOU'RE the one with all those children.  I've heard about you!!" someone exclaimed in her most spot-on English accent.   I'm lookin' behind me thinking "Is she talking to me?"  Having three children in London blew everyone I met away.  I guess I was something of a spectacle as I pushed one toddler in the stroller, one standing on the back of the stroller and a baby in the backpack. 

    Well, everyone in London had had their kids signed up for preschool since they'd conceived it seemed.  You had to have had them on waiting lists that long or they'd never get in.  Now I was panicking...I'll never get my kids into school here!  All my American friends had their little babes as young as 2 enrolled in the various learning centers.  And I could see why in most ways.  Living in a 3rd floor flat in Marylebone (downtown near the Embassy) with three wee ones or any wee ones, I imagine, was no cakewalk.  Taking buses with strollers and toddlers was stressful!  Getting groceries on foot with them and only carrying enough to fit in the bottom of the stroller was trying enough to make me drop.   After enjoying/struggling through downtown city life for two months, we moved to the Western outskirts of town into a precious little house, where we could actually have a "garden" or yard--and our car!  I figured that would be key to my sanity. 

      I decided to just relax for the time being about school and ignore what everyone else was doing with their four year olds--putting them in "nursery" (their kindergarten.)  I quickly realized that there were absolutely no children home in our neighborhood to be seen at any hour of the day.  I felt like we were in that scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when they go into the Bavarian town with no children.  You know?  Where are all the children??

      A Christian friend had told me about Dr. Raymond Moore's book, Better Late than Early before we left the States.  I looked up this author and ordered the book Home Grown Kids.  I felt so put at ease the minute I read it.  This book validated my gut feeling I hadn't even put into words yet:  that strong ties at home, good mothering, order and routine, hands on learning, family discipleship were developmentally best for young children. I was hungry for more.   

     Finally it was time for kindergarten.  I felt like D-day had arrived.  We had two options.  The DOD (Department of Defense) school on base or the local British schools.  Now I have to concede the initial thought of my kids coming home with the local accent tickled me.  But I had to check out the schools.  We visited the #1 school in the area.  The walls were a bleak gray.  No cheerful hallways like our typical American schools.  The class he'd be entering as a new 5 year old was a full day 9-3 sit-at-tables classroom with 30 children to one teacher and a break for lunch and PE.  They all wore tidy little uniforms that blended in with the gray walls.  As I walked through I saw one little boy asleep on his arm.  It seemed a sad place.  Small crowded classrooms.  Due to not getting on a waiting list at conception, Connor was offered a place in the lowest ranked public school in our vicinity.  We didn't even get into that "top" school I described above! 

     Next we visited the DOD American school.  Ahhh...a tee-pee in the classroom, centers, art easels, murals on the walls.  Bright windows  and big rooms.  This was more like it.  The 50-something bespectacled teacher was a veteran pro and exuded warmth and assurance.  I scooped up registration papers.  What could be the harm here, I thought?  Still, I didn't feel at peace.  I soon discovered that 80% of the class was coming straight over from the day care center.  Was all my teaching Connor right from wrong to be eroded away on the playground?  Even the 16 to one ratio that seemed so appealing couldn't fix that.  Who would wield more influence over my impressionable son?  The sweet teacher or the 14 other boys whose older siblings ran the streets on base?  And on the academic side:  Connor was already reading three letter words and beyond from the naturally teachable moments we'd shared up till now, and at this Kindergarten he'd be learning....the alphabet? 

     God seemed to have put me between a rock and a hard place...and on purpose!  I truly wanted what was best for my son, and there didn't seem to be a best out there!  I reluctantly logged onto the internet and typed in homeschooling.  It seemed my strong arm was weakening.  What honestly was my reluctance.  My "me" time?  I had to sit and think, am I willing to sacrifice myself...my me time...for what is best for my son?  But, I argued with myself, how could I be what's best for him?  I only ever taught high school students.  I really have no clue how to teach little children!  I'm not a cutesy, craftsy person!  I'd be depriving him, wouldn't I? 

     I had bought into the world's mentality on education...but as I looked back, what had proved the most significant help in learning to teach in the classroom?  Was it learning Piaget's theories?  No!  It was actually teaching...being with students that had equipped me the most.  No educational theories or textbook information had much bearing on being a great teacher in the classroom.  I learned most how to be a good classroom teacher by being with the kids, learning what turned them on, responding to them and drawing them out.  The same must be true for teaching my own children. 

      Once on line, it was as if I saw a huge army fortifying the homeschool position.  I was outgunned.  All the resources and articles and support seemed overwhelming.  Suddenly I found myself getting interested and excited.  The more I read, the more it made sense.  I saw the wisdom God had been slowly revealing bit by bit.  I saw the curricula.  I contacted my old friend from college who'd been homeschooled and asked him where to start.  He said he'd heard of Sonlight.  It was my first lead, and a wonderful first place to start.  Their good-books approach felt to me like putting on my most comfy shoes.   

            My husband and I prayed about it. He encouraged me and wholeheartedly affirmed that direction for us.   I had another line of reasoning that made sense:  why should we strap ourselves to the school system when we have this opportunity to travel around Europe?  What better launching for education could we give him?  My fallback quote:  "I can't ruin him in a year, right?" 

            One afternoon prior to starting, I took myself to the closest Starbucks and sat reading Ruth Beechick's The Three R's.  The information therein made me feel like I could do this. I had been reading my Bible and praying.  I struggled with intimidation, and a sense of loneliness.  I love community...and didn't know a soul in the vicinity who was homeschooling.  "Lord, " I prayed, "I've made this decision.  I'm just going to trust that you'll fill in the rest of the blanks here."  Suddenly a woman approached me and said with a warm smile and an American accent, "Are you homeschooling?" 

     "Well, just about to, er...yes." I replied.  She introduced herself and I discovered she and her husband were American missionaries to the Middle East based here in London and homeschooling also with Sonlight.   What a God appointed moment.  We became friends quickly and our kids loved each other. 

     She informed me that there was a support group that met out in at a small church in Seer Green every other week with activities, tea, and special topics and gym time for the kids.  It was the very thing.  The British and American homeschoolers I met there were wonderful, warm, and encouraging.  The teaching styles represented ranged all across the board.  Mums had tea and chatted, took turns setting up interactive learning tables in one room had a book sharing table.  We had an occasional special speaker.  The kids played ball games.  We took nature walks. 

    So not only did God turn my heart in his direction.  He affirmed our obedience by providing a friend, and support very quickly.  It's so good to know that TOS staff is heading over there to encourage these folks.  HSing was growing, but had nowhere near the momentum that we have in the States.  It was as "radical" there six years ago as it was here in the 80's.  All of my elderly neighbors had to be chatted-up about it extensively by me if I were to be friends with them.  It was the foremost topic on their minds always!  But I think many of their arguements faded when a precocious and articulate little six year old came to visit them with all eagerness and made them his very own personal friend. 

     After being "born" into homeschooling in the UK and then returning to the US to continue our journey, I felt completely blown away by the bigness of it here.  Moving to Virginia Beach, VA, the number of support groups in the area filled a 15 page list.  Co-ops abounded, home school sports leagues were available and there were entire stores stocking curriculum, materials, and every latest new hot item.  Attending my first convention in Richmond I felt like pauper walking into Harrod's.  Wide-eyed.  I couldn't even stay put in one seminar I was so afraid of missing what was in the next room or vendor hall.  I was truly amazed. 

     Taking things one year at a time, God has led us.  I've been inspired by those who've gone before on this road.  Holding their hand out behind to encourage others along as many do here at HSB means so much.  And my own story is unfolding like a bright tapestry woven in our transient military lives.  I cherish homeschooling even more because it is the one element of our circumstances that will remain steady.  After having attended 9 different schools myself as a military "brat," as we're affectionately called, I want my children to enjoy the continuity of a home life that reflects God's love and the adventure called learning. 

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---If you haven't read the prior post, this picks up from the end of that one---       

As I neared the end of my pregnancy with our first son, we had moved, yet again, to Jacksonville, FL.  So I applied to substitute teach in some of the area schools.  This gave me the new opportunity to experience elementary classroom teaching.  Now granted, things are always harder for a sub, since a sub doesn't have the relationship and advantage of continuity with her class generally.  But during those occasions I couldn't help but feel how lamentably difficult it was to do anything but keep them "occupied" and quiet and "busy,"  usually with worksheets that had been left by the teacher.  An inordinate amount of time was spent taking the class to the bathroom, lining up for lunch, lining up for water fountain, passing and collecting papers and waiting for everyone to finish.  I had been accustomed to having my high schoolers for 45 minute periods, not having a group for an entire day.  I definitely came away with a new respect for El-ed teachers and especially for their endurance!

    At any rate...all such work became suspended when I gave birth to our first little pride and joy, Connor.  I'll fast forward here up to the time when everyone starts looking at preschools.  Now I'd been faithful to build our little home routine for Connor from the start.  We'd read books while he was finishing his breakfast in his high chair, then he'd have "room time" in which I would set up different activities for him to play with....a puzzle corner, food set up on a table, books, trucks.  Then I'd come back and help him pick everything up, doing ABC's together, reading some of the books till all was tidy.

   During our walks together we'd watch the schoolbus go by and I hesitated to proclaim what jumped to my lips, "Someday when YOU'RE a big boy, you'll ride the big yellow bus!"  I didn't.  There was a pang of puzzlement already.  All of my careful ordering of his day was suddenly going to be signed off to the institution up the hill? 

         Then one day a sign popped up in the yard of this quaint little Victorian home in our town of Bath, Maine.  A new Montessori school was to open.  Ahhh...here was something I could get behind!  I'd attended a Montessori school for two years as a preschooler, and had vivid recollections of the pink tower, singing in French, and all the other fascinating little hands on activities.  Upon touring the little white "home" school, I was charmed in every way.  The teachers played Mozart while children worked, had a beautifully prepared environment...an impressive and stimulating science room and were very dedicated to the purest Montessori methodology.  On and on.  I racked my brain and the budget to figure out how we could afford the astronomical tuition.  Finally, I offered to teach French for a half hour each week to the children so I could get a break.  He was in. 

     Well, all seemed well until it several things seemed to be telling me this wasn't going to work.  First off, already I could tell we were having to address and retrain attitudes and actions Connor came home with even as a 3 year old.  Well, of course as a three year old, I think in retrospect.  Their little attitudes are in the prime of self and mimic mode!  But another thing:  sitting still on "the line" for over half an hour at a time seemed to be a struggle for Connor (as it would be for most healthy three year old boys.)  Then one day I observed a little boy sitting in the "time out" chair when I came in to teach French.  On my way out the door almost an hour later, that poor child was still sitting in the chair!  To top it all off, we'd overdrawn our bank account two months in a row!  All of a sudden it just seemed clear to me... 

     Bring him home.  I thought "what in the world are they doing in this place that I can't do with him at home?  Nothing at all!  He doesn't need to learn to sit on a line right now!"  So I bought Teaching Montessori in the Home: the Preschool Years, by Elizabeth Hainstock and discovered in its pages ways to make many of the materials, how to present them and the age appropriate activities.  It was a treasure trove for me.  And I was so excited. 

     Before long, the Navy had orders for us to move to London, England. 

                      Part 3 to come....On to England

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    I thought I'd take a blog or two to retrace our journery into homeschooling and the ups and downs we've faced within.  We all have a story to tell.  So this is mine: 

    I remember an old prospective "suitor" once asking me during some car ride sometime around 1994, "Would you ever consider homeschooling?"  I inwardly scoffed and rolled my eyes.  "Ha!" I thought, "NOT LIKELY!"  And the Lord was probably sitting in heaven chuckling with an amused twinkle in his eye right at that moment. 

      Some people know from the outset these days that they're going to homeschool.  I was wary and God seemed to put little things in my path all along the way that would slowly get me geared and primed for it.

     I guess I've always loved children.  Back when I at age 16 had entertained lofty dreams of becoming the Amelia Earhardt of missions aviation, my father reeled me in by saying, "Let's go work on the car engine together." 

     "Huh?"  I looked at him like he was crazy.  I had two brothers.  So why on earth was he asking ME?  Oil?  Grease?  The Car??  He continued:  "Well, you know, missionary aviators can't rely on someone else to fix their planes in the bush.  You have to be your own mechanic.  Don't you like to work on engines?"  Now, my father knew me.  I'd never once expressed interest in that.  I was his flute and piano playing, twinkle toeing daughter who loved art, drawing, music and, way back, my dolls.  Sure I could play war with my brothers and get muddy as a kid, play baseball.  But I was sure no thoroughbred tomboy.

     "What is it that you really love doing?"  I glanced forlornly at my catalogs on LeTourneau and Moody's flying programs.  He wisely could tell I was riding the wave of my boyfriend's vision for MAF.  "Well...I love children, writing stories, reading great books...you know."

    "Well, honey, why don't you list all those you really love and find a field that combines those things?"  Hmm!  What a novel idea.  So the seed was planted for a future in education. 

     While at Wheaton, I became aquainted with a friend who had been homeschooled.  There was automatic intrique.  This person knew all about chivalry, jousting, knighthood, making chainmail and had read more books than I'd ever heard of.  I respected him as one of the keenest thinkers and articulate writers I knew throughout my college years.   Anyway, at the time he was the only homeschooler I'd ever known (though my mother tried homeschooling for a year in the 80's with my brother--Virginia's law was pretty tough at the time...) and it seemed quite radical to me that he had been home/self taught up to college! 

       I took all the educational classes at school to earn a degree in Education and in English lit/writing as well.  Those were followed by student teaching in an Illinois public high school.  Finally I graduated at age 21 and was offered a job at a Christian School in Annapolis.  I loved the community there.  I totally enjoyed being in front of a class diagramming sentences on the overhead projector and taking my students to Shakespeare plays in DC. 

     But after meeting the man of my dreams,  I felt that I'd "been there and done that" in the classroom quite enough for the time being.  I'd gotten to be a single working gal in a fun town, sharing a cute condo with the kindergarten teacher.  But I felt ready to leave and cleave...my restless spirit eager for a new chapter in life. 

     After we married I worked for a short time for Xerox corp.  A little glimpse into corporate business world was fascinating for a while.  I had fun with the "glamour" of wearing business suits.  (I could only afford one at the time!  They're expensive!!)  But it didn't take long to feel some of the shortcomings of the lucrative sales world.  By the time I left, pregnant with our first child, I came to the conclusion that that world didn't hold a candle to the rewards of teaching.  Not by a longshot.   It's still one of my big beefs that teacher's salaries are the lowest on the totem pole in the professional world.  But that's another topic for another blog...

                      Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Journey into Home Education....

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          I think I'm going to convert to unschooling for a week. 

            Try as we may to muster the interest in our books, it seems that spring has chosen to make his annual debut today.  And how inhospitable it would seem if we didn't greet this beautiful weather as one greets a long awaited guest who has come from afar.   Wouldn't it be a snub to stay indoors? 

         Our first 70 degree day is upon us.  The kids are making trains with bungee cords out of their tricycles, wagon and scooter.  Shamgar rolled in an exciting new "perfume" which merited the first outdoor dog-bath of the year.  We're basking and frolicking with jovial smiles and reaching our arms out as if to seize the glorious sunshine and balmy breezes and exclaim, "Are you REAL??" 

     So, I've never been an unschooler, but I figure that's the beauty of homeschooling...you can FLEX.  Connor took his Brushko book out under the big Spruce in the front yard.  That counts, right?   Even as a young schoolteacher at the Christian school I took my classes outside with our poetry books on those first yearned-for pretty days.  I remember all my little 9th graders chanting  The Bells, by Edgar Allen Poe on a hillside outside Annapolis under a tree's canopy of spring blossoms. 

    No.  You just can't ignore spring's arrival.  Too rude, too inhuman. 

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