Just a wonderful ride

September 20, 2007

practice!

Posted in Family

The kids!

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September 20, 2007

"The old school house" mag. topic Socialization Myth!

Posted in Homeschool

I recieved this email from the old school house and loved it!!!

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Home Where They Belong

September 19, 2007

Dear Sue,

Socialization - we all have to answer that question don't we? Someone recently asked me about it on my blog with concerns that if some homeschoolers over-shelter their kids (ugh) that their kids will be like sheep being fed to the wolves once they got into the "real world".

I couldn't let that one go, so here's how I responded:

"I really think the socialization concern stems more from the fact that most of us in our generation didn't grow up with homeschoolers or if we heard of a few of them, they were considered backwards or something. Now as more and more families are homeschooling, I think more people personally know homeschoolers and are seeing how wonderfully they are able to handle themselves. The Old Schoolhouse Magazine recently did an article showing some actual research.

Instead of thinking about how homeschoolers may be over-sheltering their children, you might consider that they are actually spending more time preparing and strengthening them for what lies ahead.

Parental involvement in their children's lives is directly related to their well-being and character development - that's why schools are always trying so hard to get parents involved.

Homeschooled children are thriving beyond high school.They are contributing citizens in their communitites and dedicated to their families. Don't necessarily think of them as sheep being fed to the wolves. After all that time with their families, they might be more like shepherds leading and protecting the sheep from the wolves."

So that's my 2 cents on socialization. Here's another great article that someone posted on my homeschool group's website.

THM Editor

PS - We have another great contest going on at HomeschoolBlogger. Enter here for a chance to win a set of the Terrestria Chronicles series!

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September 15, 2007

free contest!

Do you like cool drawlings? Do you like pictures of your loved ones? Are you up for a contest where you could win a free pencil drawling of your loved one? check this out....

http://carrielouise.wordpress.com/

sue

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September 13, 2007

so much to choose from

Posted in Homeschool

I have begun my journey as so many do trying to decide which method to use for home schooling. I have been reading a book 101 top picks for home school curriculumn... and it is great but just as everything else gives you so much good advice and suggestions. I love to talk about home schooling. What has worked/not worked for your family? what kind of learner is your child? I am trying to get out of the "classroom" typical teaching lessons from a book like in school type attitude, but it is hard.. It is after all what we know. I went to school that way (p/s), Shelby went to p/s that way till just this past Jan., My husband all my family and his they all did the regular public school way so how do you break the habit that is the only thing you know...

When i listen or read what others do i am amazed.. wow, your child learns like that? You really get stuff done and learn? wow, my daughter would love that... she wouldnt go for that... where is the middle ground? I want to have fun, but truly feel she is learning.. If something were to happen and she would have to go back into p/s will she be up with them?? How do i undo what the public school has done? I am already playing catch up since they put her behind to begin with... the reason we started this journey is because we had a chance to help her catch up they were saying although she isnt ready for 3rd grade we are going to promote her as long as you understand she will probably be held back in 3rd next yr... What you want to set my child up for faliure? and you want me to say sure why not ok?!

Just wanted to vent, things are hard starting out. It is an adventure that we will travel on together and that part we love and we are learning to appreciate each other. We spend more time together than ever before and she.. and I love it..

Sue

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September 13, 2007

Shelby's 1st writing assignment!

Posted in Homeschool

Here is her completed work:

MY chocolate world

I would throw a chocolate party and the only rule is you eat what you see. I would plant huge

Lollipops in place of trees. I would make a castle and everything in it would be made of chocolate,

including the castle itself. From the books to the lights to the dog would all be made of chocolate. I

would make clothes and wear them. Then change several times a day so I can eat them. I would make

a chocolate fountain that would flow like a river. Don’t you wish you could swim in it?

The end!

this was an assignment i gave her after reading the 1st 5 chapters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... More papers to follow!!

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September 9, 2007

Started a great year!

Posted in Homeschool

As in my last post i wanted to say again shelby has done great this 1st week of school. I think I may have rushed her math a bit after checking her work from last week i see i need to go back over it a bit slower and just give it time to sink in. We are currently reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and so far she loves it... we will see if she still loves it after tomorrow's writting assignment:) I need to go for the night but plan to catch everyone up on her progress shortly. I plan to allow her to type her final draft of her paper i am having her write on here!! She will enjoy that and many family and friends can see it and maybe add a nice comment about it to her:) **HINT HINT lol***

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September 9, 2007

Transfer from another site....

Posted in Homeschool

A great start to the school year!

Tuesday we started and it was a great day. Although the math we worked so hard on was missing we are managing to get it back. We have to go over multiplication again but what kid doesnt after being off for the last few months. We also managed to do several new lessons in both language arts and math and even in science. We were able to do this while attending two "back to school" picnics with two different home school groups we belong to. L.I.F.E (through our church) and CHSC (Christian Homeschoolers of Solano County).

We have started strong to finish up our math from last yr. We still enjoy and get the most from Saxon so we have decided to stick with them and we have the next on for her grade level. I have since learned Saxon is actually a head of most schools so I am encouraged about the fact we are not done with our 3rd grade book but it is also on a begining fourth grade level. Our next book will take her till 5th grade (if compared to p/s children). We did get the results of her star (ca standard test) and she didnt do very well, was barely below basic level and she needs to be at least basic... however to me she did much better than i thought. we started with her not able to count money, tell time on an analog clock, and no concepts of multiplication or division. When she took the test it was April and we still hadnt gotten into Multiplication much and no division at all so i know by April this yr she will do well. This year we will also work alot on her Writing. Writing isnt something she likes to do but i think it is because at this point she finds it hard.... I am hoping she will learn to love it like she loves books!!

The books we decided to go with are The guide to Literature (stories we will read for this book and do writing and stuff with are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlotte's Web, Henry Huggins, James and the Giant Peach, Little House in the Big Woods, Sarah Plain and Tall, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, Soup and Me, Sign of the Beaver) We have already begun with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and she is loven it.

I will try to post some pics to this to show the fun from the picnics we went to and had fun with!

Sue

I copied and pasted this from another blog I was using. this one seems more user friendly so i want to start posting more here!!

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