Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

With homeschooling it is easy for others to casually think that we can take off at any time since we are home and all. The idea is that we can simply put school on hold for a few hours or even a few days to comply with new plans and this is acceptable in some cases but not always. I have taken school on the road before and in Walmart but when the whole day is going to be sabotaged what do you do? We live out of town and so I want to try and allow both visitors and school to co-exist. Trying to compile all of our subjects into a very small amount of time can be to stressful on all of us and can take away from the in "depth" learning of each subject when we have to do this but it is do-able. I sometimes wish we had our own building that we could run out to and that way we are not "home". This would help with a lot of things such as daily distractions such as phone, cleaning, computers, toys, and cooking and it would take away the casual idea of school because you must actually "go" to school which gives the illusion somehow that it is more important and can't be interrupted. Maybe not but it seems like that is the way it would work.

When considering the daily distractions I am realizing these things:

1. That I need to commit a designated amount s of time strictly to homeschooling.  During that time if the phone rings then it will just have to ring, it is not vital that I answer every call in case of an emergency. There is such thing as a message that I can check just for that reason.

2. Cleaning must take a back row seat in our classroom even though the classroom is it's domain. In order to help relieve the temptation of picking up the broom or vacuum I must have a cleaning routine that allows me to have a clean house before we begin school. And then if I allow it to slip and not follow it then I must be disciplined in putting homeschooling as an absolute first. 

3. Cooking again needs to have a specific time of its own so that it does not call me away from my priority of teaching my children.

4. The computer and tv. These 2 distractions need to be highly supervised and restricted during any and all school hours.  The computer can become a major distraction for me personally and the tv can play a big hindrance in the obtaining of and enjoyment of learning. I hope to give myself an open pass to "play" on the computer or blog at a specific time in the morning only with absolutely no exceptions can my time run over, a bodyguard would be nice to escort me out if I do decide to resist. The tv is restricted until Friday in which they are given 2 hours of time to watch either individual cartoons or 1 select movie.

5. Always start directly on time otherwise the clock can cause havoc.  

6. Self can really get in the way to if she is aloud to rein the emotional pool. Let's face it we don't always "feel" like enforcing school on our children because it drains a lot from us and causes us to pour all of the energy that we have out just to get through it all.  She is always with you and she is hard to silence sometimes but there is another that is gently guiding you… But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16  

Homeschooling is a major responsibility that we have taken on, the education of our children is in our hands and we will be held accountable for what they know and what they do not know. I don’t know about you but I need to take this a little more seriously and be more disciplined at times, there is NO room for a any relaxed learning.

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas is approaching quickly, a little more quickly than I would like it too. We jumped back into our school week rather easily. You know there are so many days that I doubt my ability to do this sufficiently. The truth is that I am NOT capable to do this sufficiently... not with out Christ and there are so many days that I try to do it with out Him present. It is evitable, I fail.

Homeschooling is not easy and I often struggle. I struggle with mastering the ability to do it "all" and come out sane in the end. Is it just me I wonder? I know it isn't but some times it feels like it is. I enjoy being a homeschooling mother and enjoy watching my children learn new things, it is very rewarding and worth all of the agony that I go through on a weekly basis.

Today we were forced to take school along with us on our grocery shopping venture. It was interesting. Superman when told to bring it in Walmart asked wouldn't that be weird? Nobody brings their work in Walmart. True but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to get it done :0). It went well until he dropped his pencil along the way and it got lost, hmmm accident? I think not.

We are dealing with a lot of whining and brotherly antagonizing with Superman who is 7. I have decided to do 2 things. 1. write lines when he can not control his voice and 2. silence when he feels the need to stir up trouble with T-Rex. After his punishment we discuss the verses that apply to his behavior and then encourage the opposite behavior. He is a good kid and I love him so much.

Have a great day and visit me at Embracing the Journey.

JOYfully in Him,

Kelli

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

We are so behind in our schedule and in my plans for this year. I have fallen under the bread of idleness and let myself become less enthusiastic about our daily school time. I have wandered away from my intitial  excitement about teaching and learning and have began rushing thruogh each day instead of dwelling in the knowledge. The last 2 weeks have consumed my mind with other things and left our search and thirst for knowledge dry and weary. Teacher has become less encouraging and more demanding, less gracious and more legalistic and teacher has seen her faults and is repenting.

How often, I think, have I gotten on my knees these weeks and asked the Father the creator of the universe to look down on our little school and guide us, show us His wisdom and strengthen our hearts and minds in the faith through our journey in the subjects and in our attitudes towards them?

Lord grant your students... a mind of wisdom... a heart of gratitude... a new attitude of enthusiasm for Your creation and our studies each day. Guide us through each lesson revealing more of Your self through them and giving us a mind that is able to see Your majestic ways and set our hearts to understand Your almighty power as You take us by the hand and lead us.

There is a new week heading our way and God is given me a new mind and attitude to face it. Lets enjoy the weekend and begin new next week fresh in His paths and not our own.

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

There are mornings that we just get off to a late start. There can be many a reasons this happens but it is really beside the point and not worth dwelling on right now. When this happens it is so tempting and I am guilty of it, to skip the morning devotional, time with the Lord, to get to the "more important things". I was tempted to do this this morning after I realized the time and all of the things that were on my to do list for the day but I realized that I was being tempted to skip over the truly most important lesson  of them all... he was very subtle this morning when he suggested I get straight to our First Language Lessons, Horizons and Spelling Workout... his poisen was almost injected into our day diminishing God's presence.

Here is what we didn't skip over this morning:

Romans 12:9-10 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Psalm 119:103  How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Oh, how he would have loved for us to miss these wonderful reflections on God's word! Abhor what is evil... we forget sometimes that there is a spiritual battle going on constantly even in the little things such as how we begin our day or our homeschool lessons. I truly enjoy our morning devotionals, where we sit in the presence of our King and are reminded of our purpose and how we are to live our lives for His glory, to worship Him and give Him all the praise that He so deserves, to remember His grace and His steadfast love, hmm good stuff... don't skip it. His words are sweeter than honey...

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

What lead to your decision to homeschool?

I myself have pondered this question many times and been asked it many times as well. Let me start at the begining. 6 years ago my first born son was almost 1 and I was just begining my walk with Christ. Our preacher and his family whom we looked up to a great deal had 4 children and homeschooled. I remember visiting with them at there home and being intrigued by their little school room and the idea of homeschooling, at this point I wasn't really thinking it was for me. Later down the road I began to feel convicted to keep my little Superman at home with me even though I had no idea what to do and had so many fears and insecurities about this possibility. I began talking to my preachers wife who for a little more info is now my good friend now. Interestingly they moved from where we all lived in Natchitoches Louisiana to be missionaries in Mexico and then moved to Dallas where there family is right after we moved to Dallas and now we all worship and work at the same church! Providence. They have been such an inspiration in both my husbands and my life. Anyway, back to what lead to my decision to homeschool... well when I mentioned it to my husband... it was a huge no with out any consideration. I still remember where we were exactly, I felt like a dream I had had just been shot down and murdered. I was very upset but you see I was convicted and knew that he was not and that I would need to fully explain myself and my convictions to him. Soon enough he came around and we decided together to teach our child now children at home. So what lead to our decision was the Holy Spirit guiding my heart in what I needed to do for my family. He spoke deeply, and it had to be deeply because homeschooling would not be an easy task and it meant giving up a lot of free time that I would have had while my child went to school, and lead me to keep my children from the wolves who roam in the public school system desiring nothing more than to devour my little sheep. I just want to say though, that I do not judge anyone who does send their children to PS, this is just my personal conviction and thoughts for my family. I have friends whose children are in school and older friends whose children have come out of the schools. Having been a public school child and experienced the journey myself  I am SO thankful that my littles will not have to experience it and go through all of the drama and pressures.

I can not imagine dropping my Littles off every day for 8 hours and let someone else, a stranger, raise them. It breaks my heart to even consider it. I had a week of camp for only 3 hours a day that tugs at me each time I told him good bye. Praise God for opening my heart to teaching my kids at home and for putting godly influences in my life.

If you enjoyed listening to my heart speak about what lead to my decision to homeschool you will love listening to all of the other mother's hearts as well speak about their decision to homeschool. Rhandi is the wonderful host that you can thank for this encouragement. Have a great day!

JOYfully in Him,

Kelli 

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

I have been greatly encouraged by MotherJoy to share my homeschool planning journey for my 2007-2008 homeschooling year where we are re-doing first grade (6) and implementing some toddler time learning(3) and 4 month old time. I have A.LOT. of ideas swishing around in my head that I want to organize onto some sort of visible parchment or screen. Here is a wonderful place. I am so excited about this year because my Expresso is joining me in the AWESOME journey of teaching our children at home. We have together (yeah), been gathering our materials and looking at the calendar.

 

JOYfully in Him,

Kelli

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

I dont' know if there is a deadline to when you can sign up for this but it starts tomorrow and looks amazing. It is a Classical Christian Online Homeschooling Conference with known speakers such as Susan Wise Bauer from The Well Trained Mind  and Laurie Detweiler from Veritas Press. I signed up today but do not know if I will be able to attend, I am hoping and patiently waiting for my email. Check it out.

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

A week of homeschool planning, thoughts, curriculum and more! Sounds like fun to me, I am looking forward to it. I have to say... is the brilliant mind who is hosting this and it begins on Monday, August 6th. Really don't miss this, it is going to be GOOD and ENCOURAGING.

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

I am in need of  a good Science curiculi for 1st/2nd grade.  Jeannie Fulbright's Exploring Creation with Astronomy appeals to me in the sense that it looks like it would be extensive on the subject of Astronomy and hold my little Superman's attention. Another that I have seen that looks interesting is  Bob Jones Science 1 looks  pretty good to, the only thing that I tend to not like about it is that it cover a lot in one semester and I am not sure that is how I want to present this year for Superman. God's Design for Heaven and Earth series by Debbie and Richard Lawerence looks good begining with Our Planet Earth   and then Our Universe   ending with Our Weather and Water . Superman just saw it and his eyes just lit up with excitement and said "Oh, yeah I want to learn about that!". :0) Well as if these were not enough the brillant mind of Jessica over at Trivium Academy has made her own Science Lesson Plans (which you can find on right side of her sidebar) for her little 2nd grader and after looking at them I am in awe and just a tad bit jealous of her ability to create such amazing and extensive lesson plans.

I am allowing the Lord to guide me in this decision. I am not sure which of these is correct for our family right now but I am sure that it will be revealed to us very soon. If you have used any of these sciences that I listed above, oh please do not be shy and tell me your experience with them! And if you have been considering one of these again please share your much appreciated thoughts. Or if you just have a lingering thought after sitting in my mind today please do leave it here for me to read it!

Thanks for your time! Enjoy your God given day.

JOYfully in Him,

Kelli

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

Wow it has been awhile since I have posted here... time it truly flies! Our school year for 2007/2008 is begining to bloom. I just totally re-organized and re-arranged our playroom and in the process I had the pleasure of demolishing an entertainment center that we found on the side of the road. We thought it would be a good addition to our playroom but with time I realized it was taking up to much needed space in the room, so I began explaining to hubby but he revealed its all to heaviness. I would have to wait until we could get some one over to help with it... well, I couldn't wait and didn't want to. So, I grabbed and hammer and released my power on it!! It was FUN. Sorry, I totally went off on a little side road there back on track. I am currently debating on whether to order Handwriting with out Tears, deciding on which books will be in our read aloud library, throwing around the idea of doing Latin and then I am also planning my 3 year olds year into the circle.

I am excited about this coming school year. I plan on doing a lot more hands on and active learning.  At the moment until the end of August we, Superman and I, are continueing Horizons Math, Spelling Workout, Copywork and reading.

Superman will be 1st/2nd grade level and T-Rex will be Pre-pre-school :0).

Happy Homeschooling,

Kelli

Posted in Homeschool Thoughts

I went to a book sale on Tuesday and found many treasures for our next school year. First Language Lessons with CD by Jessie Wise ($15), Handbook of Nature Study ($8), Drawing with Children ($15) and some Dover Coloring books ($5) and Superman found some Frog and Toad reader for $3. Starting in September we will begin a regularly scheduled day of homeschool. The days right now are so unpredictable and chaotic that we are doing school when the moment allows. Superman is doing really well and I am excited to get into some other things this coming school year. Little T-rex will also begin doing a little bit with us to begin building a good foundation.

Here is a good site that I enjoy, beautiful illustrations and a lot of printables and activities: Jan Brett