Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - Schedule

Posted by Anonymous

I love your schedule! Do you use a program to make the schedule? If you do can you please post it so we can look it up.

• Permanent Link

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Dell

Hi, Anon. ;) Thanks! I used Microsoft Excel. I like Excel so much I even wrote a "Taming the Chaos" post about it here: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HSBCompanyBlog/661753/

• Permanent Link

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 - Music & Schedules

Posted by basketflat

Are you a family of musicians? Do you go to music lessons or do you just teach them? I really enjoy reading others schedules. That really must be a challenge right now with two little boys running around, but I'm sure your big girls are a big help. I like how you listen to Suzuki during your lunch. What a great idea. I came up with a schedule for us this year, but I'm sure I will keep changing it. Better to have a goal and not make it - than to not have a clear goal at all :). Cathy

• Permanent Link

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Dell

My husband and I aren't musicians, so we were surprised at how much the children have enjoyed their music. We began piano lessons, partly for the music experience and partly for character building and discipline of meaningful "work" because we don't have a farm or home business the children can get a work ethic and fulfillment, so we wanted something that they could work at, build on, and gain confidence through. They've really enjoyed it, and have wanted to add in other instruments, and have pulled us along for the ride. *laugh* They aren't prodigies, but are just learning at a steady walk, and enjoying each step. It is fun to watch interests unfold in our children we never could have anticipated.

• Permanent Link

Thursday, September 3, 2009 - Music

Posted by basketflat

Do they all have lessons or have you figured out how to teach them yourselves? Cathy

• Permanent Link

Thursday, September 3, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Dell

Ken's moved them out of recorder lessons and is just home teaching for that, but for piano and harp I'm grateful for the teachers. We are blessed that the teachers really value having the parent home-teach between lessons, and make sure I'm up to speed at every lesson so that I'm equipped to assist at home. Especially on piano it is parent intensive, but I think that's part of the beauty and success of the Suzuki style. A few of mine would lose the joy quickly if they were sent off in isolation to serve time sitting at an instrument every day, so I sit with them and help them with the trouble spots. (Especially for the younger children.) Kieran is getting near the age where they usually start lessons, but he's absolutely not there in his attention span, so I need to grow that. I think I may do his first year or two of lessons here at home with me, and possibly with one of the two oldest "guest teaching" him on occasion. Maybe now that I've been through it with four others, I can do at least the beginning home-taught! I know several moms who home-teach the music lessons and do a great job! The die-hard homeschooler in me admires that! Instead we do lessons but they are family-style with the teacher teaching the parent along with the children. Hope that helps answer how we do it!

• Permanent Link

Thursday, September 3, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Dell

Yikes, that was a long, rambly answer. I think I'll get another cup of coffee...

• Permanent Link