• Feb. 13, 2008
Remolding
Things around here have been noisy.
We have guys in here remolding the bathroom. They took everything, including the drywall and subfloor, out. We are 9 days now without a bathroom and hot water. We stayed in a motel room for 3 days in the middle of all this. The kids thought that was the best thing ever. This whole time we are not getting a lot of school done. Sheyanne will sit and work for little while then is ready to move because of all the noise. Kody, who has Asperger's Syndrome, is getting too distracted. He can't concentrate with all the noise. I have let him get up and spend most of the day watching the guys work or helping them. He has watched them demolish everything, put wiring in, plumbing, tiling, and putting everything back together. Very little school work is getting done for these 2 weeks. Hopefully we will be back in gear next week. 
I started Kody in 8th grade math and he still struggled. I talked with a friend that homeschools in Tennesse and she suggested that I take him back done to the basics. I'm going to Sam's tomorrow and buying a 6th grade curriculum book that has math, spelling, language, and reading in one. I hope this way I can test him to find out where he is. We did go to the library last week and I picked out some books on the human body. I thought we could get away from the text books and do a little something different. I have ben working on picking out the things that should interest him. Since he wants to be a doctor, I thought this should interest him.
Comments
• Feb. 18, 2008
Untitled Comment
Posted by Queenbrownshuga
Hey! Thanks for wishing me a haappy birthday! I had a great day...very relaxing. I will post pictures later tonight or tomorrow.
• Feb. 23, 2008
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Posted by 18matthew5
Hey, this is Kari's sister. I got your comment in my blog. We just started homeschooling this year too. It was very difficult in the beginning. The best advice I can give is - Don't give up! It is really rough getting started, especially when you are working with older children that have grown up in a school setting. My kids where not real happy about our decision to homeschool in the beginning. Although they handeled it very well, it was clear some where not pleased, at all. Another homeschool mom told me to write down all the reasons I decided to homeschool (Not other peoples reasons, my reason - what I wanted out of this.) and everyday go through my list to remind myself what this was for. I didn't write it down, but I did memorize it. When things got rough and I was discouraged, I would go over my list and reminded myself why I was doing this. It really helped me to stay focused on what I really wanted and to not get side tracked with things that where waying me down, but not as important.
We too ran into proplems with math. All of my children have struggled with homeschool math. I have had to start 4 out of the 5 over in their books at least one time this year. A couple I had to back up more then once. One of my children I had to place back into the same math they took in the public school last year. This was very discouraging, especially since she is in high school. I worried about weather or not this would set her back with her credits, but she just wasn't making it. I am glad now that I did. It has been A LOT of work, but she is starting to grasp it! And, she told me she feels more confident in math now then she ever has!! I think most of our struggles came from the public school allowing the use of calculators. I don't. We use Saxon and it is designed so that kids should not need a calculator to finish their problems. At least until we get into higher levels.
Even though it has been a challenging start I will say this - It has been worth it!!!!!!!! We have become so close as a family! This is saying A LOT since 3 of the 5 where foster children that we adopted!! (They have only been adopted since August.) Deciding to homeschool was the best decision I could have ever made for them! I am able to spend more time with each of them individually and because of this, they have grown emotionally and spiritually. They are more confident in themselves and seem much happier. Now, if I where to ask them if they wanted to go back to the public school, would they all choose to homeschool? I don't know. But I have seen the results in them and so they will not be given that choice.
My goal was not just for the education, it was to blend this family and heal the hurts. I can honeslty say that we are accomplishing!! So, don't give up! It could take the better part of a year, but it is worth it.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, I will answer what I can. I don't know all the ends and outs of homeschooling a high schooler but maybe we could figure it out together. You can get my phone number or e-mail address from Kari if you ever just need to talk.
• Feb. 27, 2008
Untitled Comment
Posted by ilovemy3angelbabies
My kids always loved going to a hotel. There is just something so intrigueing to them.
I hope that you all have not been too distracted for too long with al the work being done at your home. I know what you mean about just letting Kody go and watch the men work. Sometimes there is no pulling Kiddo back in once we lose that work momentum. My son also has Asperger's, and he wants to be a video game deigner. We have started to find things along those lines for him. How nice it would be to have a doctor in the family! : > )
How much more work do you still need to have completed?
Blessings~
Laura
