I used to say that homeschooling was our lifestyle but now I say our lifestyle is our homeschool!
Lifestyle Homeschool is about discipling our children; about character training, about everyday life giving learning opportunities, about Bible study and practical skills. Your lifestyle will provide the experiences that will give your children a rich education.
Here are some links that I’ve enjoyed over the last week
Australia’s day of Thanksgiving is earlier in the year but I have enjoyed reading Heart of the Matter’s weekly Meme where different bloggers have shared what they are thankful for.It is always good to have a refocus on gratefulness.
I have been excited to find this Art curriculum.I have ordered it for Nomi’s lessons next year.Though she will continue to do FIAR this will be a delight study for her, which will also incorporate some discipleship opportunities.
This week the movie, Australia, was premiered in town.There was quite a buzz.More so in our family than we expected because Nomi helped out some friends in a fancy dress competition and they ended up winning two double passes to that nights premiere.They gave one set away.The other set went to the two dads – so off they went to the Premiere showing – red carpet and all!
I spent a bit of time looking at this Alternative Calendar.I like the idea of being more aware of various church/Christian celebrations.I have earmarked a selection onto my 2009 diary – not all of them, but the ones that fit our family.I envisage using these dates at least for dinner time conversation.When we discuss a variety of issues around the table we have the opportunity to speak into our children’s lives in a variety of ways!
We all need a tree…. This came through my email and it was certainly timely.I am sure we all need reminding of this life lesson at some time.
I followed a link from a discussion on the Homeshool Lounge that led me to Letter of the Week.I was particularly interested in the Journal Ideas.I am going to go through these and write a slightly expanded list as an ideas list for my children’s blogging. For example, one of the January Journal ideas is “How many brothers and sisters do you have, names and ages”I will suggest that they “Introduce your brothers and sisters, and tell us what makes them special.”Next year I would like to see the younger ones update their blogs more often and an ideas sheet will help them get into the habit of writing.
Last weekend we listened to Barack Obama’s Victory speech. Nothing unusual in that you may think – except we are Australian! We watched it, not because of the politics, but because he is a great orator and we wanted our children to watch how he used words, his expressions, his tone, his body to get his message across. I don’t have the link to that but it was a very worthwhile activity.
I have quoted from Susan’s post, What are you sharing, several times in the last few weeks. Oh, how important it is not to fill our days with things that robs us of the time to share our heart with our children.
Another blog I have been enjoying, is my friend who has moved to Thailand.He is blogging as often as he can, considering very interesting internet connections but when he gets to write he is sharing real life stuff from village living.
Sadly, Australians have not been taught that we have Christian heroes that have helped develop our country. It is something that is coming to the surface in these days, something that I want our family to become aware of. I was interested to find this page of links to inspiring stories. This will be added to our Australian History studies, next year.
I’m using Internet4Classrooms quiet often with Daniel now – for both Math and Language lessons.He is enjoying the computer based lessons (and they are free!)
This was interesting for the kids to see – The Brick Testament – the Bible illustrated by Lego.
This week I’ve started thinking about our plans for next year. December is busy with Christmas and we are going on a family holiday in January and I don’t want to be thinking about it then. I want to be ready to go when we come back in February. I start with a calendar – which I print from online – for free.
I check term dates for next year from the Education Department site (WA).I’m sure you can find a similar site if you want dates for your State.
I have been reading The Rebelution blog for a while now. My heart beats so much with what these kids are doing. I am reading the book too, Do Hard Things.Wow – but that is another post!I encourage you to read this blog – don’t think their message is just for teens – we all need to get this type of vision and passion for the things God has for us.
Recently we have been praying for a Bill going through in the VictorianState parliament re abortion.I appreciated this blog article for its clear thoughts, especially how society has changed language so things don’t seem so bad – we need to see things for what they really are.
Here’s an idea I’d like to give a try; making a photo into a poster. I can envisage one of Peter’s outback photos done like this.
This week my newsletter, Live life with your Kids, was on the topic of Forgiveness.Here is an article I found in doing my research.I am bookmarking this one for keeps!
This week has been super busy. I had four different workshops all happening this week:
parenting support group
scrapbooking workshop
lapbooking made easy with homeschool mums
homeschool network meeting
Then I had two social visits and one prayer group time.A week full of people – I love it.
But it does mean that I haven’t had my evenings to blog and I haven’t done much browsing either. Here are a few links though to the things I’ve been reading and thinking about.
Making Mind Maps using Excel - I love this idea.I have used Kidspiration and it didn’t really click with my children, maybe I tried it too young. I’m going to teach myself this method (I love playing around with Excel for different purposes) and then encourage my kids to do likewise. I think mind mapping is very important skill – it doesn’t really matter how you do it but to organize and categorise your thinking is important.
Feeling a bit drab lately so 3 steps to naturally beautiful nails was nice reminder. ..I came across this article on Escaping a Style Rut - that pretty much describes me! Though I quite like my style in many ways, there were a few things that I gleaned here that could spruce me up a bit!
Resources I used for Lapbooking made easy –
Dinah Zikes books – I love these books – they make lapbooking easy.She takes a piece of paper and folds it into a book, possibly using a few cuts here and there. That is so much easier than cutting around templates and stapling together.
Jimmie’s Lapbooking Lens – I love Jimmie’s resource list. She has a very real and do-able approach to lapbooking.
Yesterday I started listening to the mp3 version of Do Hard Things. Love it! Can't wait to read this book to my children. We are going to have it as a family read aloud so we can discuss it together. I am so itching to start now but we are going to hold back till Peter's work load slows down a bit so he can be involved in the discussions too. In the mean time Josh and Jess are reading the blog and we often discuss that over the dinner table.
This is WACKY WEEK here at Blogger Friend School! Everything is wacky fun! This week YOU, the student, get to share something of your choice that is little “Wacky”!!!
Have you done something crazy in your homeschool? Do you fingerpaint with your toes? Do you let your children do your hair? Do you wear your pajamas during homeschool? Oh, the list is endless, but it’s up to you and how much fun you want to have.
To make it even “wackier” (not sure if it’s really a word, but hey, we don’t check spelling this week at BFS either!!!…..try and type some or all of your post sdrawkcab. (backwards!)
!keew gnixaler dna nuf a siht ekaM
(…and forwards…Make this a fun and relaxing week!)
YKCAW – ha!I tried to type this backwards and my fingers are so used to just typing on their own so to speak they converted it into wacky – involuntarily!!! I had to really really concentrate to get it backwards.
Which may be in keeping with me – I’m not particularly wacky. Though get me with my Dad and things change a bit.I think we spark off each other!
I started thinking about YKCAW things that may happen around here:
My kids think that being weird, being a geek is cool
My kids do “car – watches” – they wait out on the road, watching/waiting for our visitors to arrive.This seems whacky at first but it has now become a part of our family identity – it is what we do!
The kids go wacky with the first rains for the season – they dance, they build cubbies, they read a book – all out in the rain in celebration!
I decorate my house with naïve country decorating, with lots of chickens and I am terrified of chickens – my kids think that is plain weird!
I think the TSEIKCAHW (whackiest) thing we do is when we clean the freezer. We have such fun.I get the job of prizing the ice off the walls of the chest freezer and then I throw it at the kids. It is their closest experience of winter.They love it.
I have been enjoying the Simple Mom blog lately.I have adapted her Daily Docket for my own daily needs.I have been using a digital to-do list for several years now, though I find myself better committed to my day if I actually hand write out a to-do list.So I use my computer as my mind – everything is stored there, and daily I write a list, focusing on my priorities and weeding out what isn’t really that important.A daily docket covers all areas of my life.
3 steps to beautiful nails encouraged me to look after myself a little bit – I dug deep into my drawer to find some cuticle cream – so long since I’ve done more than snip my nails when they got too long!It is about time I had a foot soak too I think – maybe I’ll treat myself to that tonight.
I’ve wanted to know how to watermark my photos so was pleased to find this lesson.
In looking up some information for a friend I came across this site on hidden disabilities.I appreciated the list for Dyspraxia (which Daniel has).When I see a list like this it resonates so much with what I see in Daniel though I couldn’t list them all myself. It brings these areas to the fore of my mind and I am reminded that these are the areas that I need to be working on, finding strategies for and being gracious with! This list had a strengths list which is so encouraging (and also in keeping with what I see in Daniel). Daniel is making such big inroads in the things that he struggles with and I am sure that is because we have identified the things that he being taught from a different perspective, he is on a different path.
Assignment:How do you keep energized so you can get it all done? bouncy music? treat it like a workout? Do you use a schedule?, a housekeeping binder system? luck of the draw system?.. or is this an area where you need encouragement? Do you need God’s help to keep order and beauty in your dwelling place? Take this week to tell us how You diligently keep going with your housekeeping chores.
Day by day I keep myself going purely by routine, habit and a desire to train my children to be competent at these tasks.
When we have a particularly big task, or unpleasant task ahead of us we turn up the music – loud and bouncy.
Lists, lists, lists help me keep focused.I have an
overall list that covers everything to be done in the week, month, quarter.It includes the kid’s chore routine and my morning/afternoon routines.I refer to this Master Sheet everyday to write up my daily-to-do, which includes housework, homeschooling lessons, office work, and personal concerns.
The age of my children has certainly affected how we keep house. When they were younger a lot simply didn’t get done. I had to accept that my focus on was being with my littlies and training them to do the task. I don’t believe in going behind the kids and fixing everything that they do. If they have done a chore to the best of their ability it stays that way. I have had to come to the place where the atmosphere in my home is more important than the image.
My favourite verse that helps me keep this goal:
Where there are no oxen
The manger is empty,
But from the strength of an ox
comes an abundant harvest.
Prov 14:4
My house is a house where we are producing a family, its gunna be messy!
As my children grow older, the training starts to pay off and they start to share the load of household responsibilities. Their daily chore roster has them responsible for a particular area of the house; Kitchen (dishes after Breakfast and Lunch, and cooks helper for dinner), Laundry (washing, hanging, folding), Outside (potplants, rubbish, scraps, chickens and the veranda) and Bathroom/Family Room.The older two can maintain the house without supervision, including cooking simple meals and the laundry.Nomi at 11yo is in training and Daniel is still in the instruction stage.
The children’s help is a big part of our family.There are several benefits:
They are being trained to manage their possessions, their time, and developing a work ethic
They are a part of our family ministry to the wider community as they recognize the need to keep the house ready for hospitality, welcoming friends or people in need.
They also see that they can release me into other aspects of our family life while they look after areas of responsibility where they are able.
Tips for staying on top of it:
Have daily tidy up spots – ours is 5.00pm though when they were younger we had a clean up time just before lunch as well.Anything that is still out of place by this time gets dealt with.The ideal is of course is that people put things away when they finish with them, but…
Learn to let it go.I plan for things to be done on a weekly or monthly rotation.This means if circumstances pile up and I don’t get to it, I can leave it till next week, or next month and things will still be okay.I don’t try and squeeze everything into tomorrow.A chore has its day and if it doesn’t happen, the day will come around again!
Have a catch up day.This is on a needs only basis. I go through the house and write a list of the tasks that are hindering us or bugging me, and they are the only ones that we deal with.Soon the house is back on track and we start again with our routine.
A few things to guide us on a catch up day:
The kids and I all work in one area of the house – eg, the kitchen.The youngest does the easiest jobs, the oldest the more difficult.All working together increases energy and we see quick improvements where we are working.If necessary we move onto another area of the house when the first area is done.
Plan who can do what tasks ahead of time.The children like having their own list though because we are in this together they are encouraged to offer to help someone else if they finish quickly.
Catch up day is not my training time.The time for that is during our daily tasks. When I had younger ones I did keep them close by though, you don’t want them to be making a mess somewhere else! They often play the role of “gopher” – go get this or put this away.
Work for short bursts of time, racing against the timer.We each have our own task, we work like fury for 10-15minutes and then move onto the next task. We repeat this 4 times.After 4 bursts we have 15 minutes off and then we head in for another round of 10-15 minute tasks.
Enjoy the labour of our hands – after a big catch up session, the house is tidy and clean we generally take the afternoon pretty casually. More often than not we all pull out a creative project.It is as if a tidy space turns on our creative juices.
We have simple simple food after a big cleaning day – frozen pizza, meat pies, or nachos.Something we can eat with plastic plates in front of a movie, with hardly any cleaning up.This is a part of our reward for working hard and as a team.
This afternoon a few HS mums were talking about this very issue.One mum said the bottom line is that the family has to be functioning and if things (either things undone, or an unrealistic standards/expectations) are hindering us from being a functioning family (not just scrapping through type functioning but functioning in life and joy) then we need to look at it.
The only problem with me sharing these things with you online is that it is hard for any reader to really see what goes on in our house.I had a dear friend say to me the other day, “I wish I could let things go as you do.”Now, isn’t that something that only a friend could say!!But she has a point.There is definitely a lived in look happening in my house. Each room is not spotlessly clean, there are aspects that have been let go, according to the standards in how-to-clean books and lifestyle magazines.My house isn’t terribly orderly, this is our constant goal and something we are working on.But we are a functioning family. The children are being trained, relationships are being built and there is always a welcome for someone who knocks on the door.These are the things that help me keep perspective with the endless tasks of keeping home.
I have been working on getting my office organised and functioning.
This was taken before the make-over.
The whole office was rearranged, new furniture, and space for systems.
As you can see there are still some piles to be worked on
but little by little we'll get there.
This photo is posted in the family room -
it sets the standard for what a clean desk is to look like.
Having a photo posted works as a constant reminder of this standard.
We use baskets to pick up and tidy up a room.
This day Daniel decided his reading shelf needed extra attention.
May as well laugh – painted a picture ofcontentment and thankfulness regardless of the circumstances.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary – this dictionary takes us back to the times when our language was closely connected to the Bible.It is a good reference to use to dig into the meanings of words.
My top read was....
Blogger Friend School entry from Training Tons of Sons was very insightful – encouraging us to dig into the meaning of education as we discover for ourselves what our philosophy of education. I encourage you to check out her study outline she shares at the end of her post.I appreciated the study outline being shared instead of all the answers. Sometimes it is just easier to read what someone else has discovered rather than study it for ourselves.
Assignment:This would be a good week to tell about your worst struggles with a lifestyle of homeschooling. Tell about something you’ve struggled with and how God’s mercies gave us the strength to get past it.
Also, share any curriculum/homeschool methods that have been a relief to you, i.e., a particular Teacher’s Manual or Homeschooling method that’s been easier for your family. Talk about how you felt when the burden was lifted and Oh, What a Relief it is!
I actually find this assignment quite hard – it has been sitting on my desktop for a couple of days. What have been my worst struggles?It isn’t that I haven’t had hard times but I tend to forget them and move on pretty quickly.Very much the optimist!That being so, I know there have been many times that I have taken concerns to God in prayer and the next day something comes across my path – the answer for my problem!
One difficulty that has been seemed slower and harder to find answers to has been my youngest son’s learning difficulty. He had been diagnosed with Dyspraxia – a motor organization difficulty that primarily affects his oral skills – he finds it hard to make continuous sounds (and therefore pronounce words). By the time he was 8 we started to realize that there were other implications of Dyspraxia which meant things were harder for Daniel all round – orally, physically, emotionally and how he processes information.
He is a bright cookie and it is clear to all that he is itching to learn and yet the teaching style that had developed in our home did not always matching his needs. The hardest thing is to see you child, regardless of the methods you employ, not reach his potential.
A few things are working for us
1.Making his instruction a priority so that it is more likely to happen before the daily interruptions happen. It is important for his routine to be as consistent and regular as we can make it.
2.Many of Ruth Beechicks / Charlotte Mason techniques have worked for him – lots of read alouds (he listens to a lot of audio books too), hands on discovery, narrations, copy work (kept to very minimum)
The biggest relief has been when I found a Speech Therapist who was willing to give me support, even across the country; to overview my phonics programme and to be a sounding board. It was weighing heavily on me that I was the person that was observing difficulties, finding solutions, and helping him apply those solutions; having someone else to refer to has been a relief.
Every mother wants her little ones to reach their full potential and when I see him struggling with something it catches at my heart.But… I know that he has the best, and I mean the best, learning environment, the best opportunities, and the best support system. He has been sheltered from bullying and comparisons and is free to work towards being the best he can be, being all that God intends for him.
Memory Verse: Psalms 55:22 - Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee; He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
There have been many times that I have cast a burden upon the Lord – Daniel’s learning is certainly one of my burdens,My daughter has pain from surgery as a baby and when she asks me, in tears “Why me Mummy” what can I say. We cast that onto the Lord.I feel inadequate as my oldest son talks about things that I just cannot comprehend. I cast my care upon the Lord and I am reminded that I have been equipped for every good work! When I have personality conflicts with one of my daughters – I commit our relationship to the Lord and watch it florish into a beautiful friendship. When my children go through temptation (and succumb) my heart cries out to God, to reach their hearts. Yes, there are many burdens that I carry to the Lord in prayer!
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Sep. 12, 2008 - Story behind the Photo - Isolation
Most of my photos have to do with the kids and our family activity. I just downloaded photos from Pete's camera and thought to blog about his week - well one day of it.
He landed on these mud flats. Someone had marked out a landing area by doing doughnuts at the beginning and end so he could see a safe place to land. He drove a 4wheel drive to the cattle yards, worked with a mob of cattle (about 600 head) and flew out again. This is a part of this country that we don't normally see - after all who goes visiting on the mud flats? Who can envisage cattle being anywhere near here for that matter!
Though I have shared our routine many times over the years, along with the times of tweaking and changing with new visitors coming by all the time I thought my Mommy Homework may as well be posted here too. This is my assignment….
First, tell us a brief bit about your family (that makes a world of difference in helping others who may need some ideas for their own schedules–they can find a family with children the same age, etc). Ages, any details that you want to add (it was very different when my hubby was a State Trooper, working 2nd shift….or, now that we balance two family businesses and teens).
Then, share what your day looks like. If there is something “different” that you do (like I call my afternoon time when everyone works on projects/business/etc by PRODUCTIVE FREE TIME), then just explain what that means briefly.
We live in the north of Australia and like most places where you live it affects your lifestyle.Sun is up early, so are we.My husband is a vet (large animals) and flies around the various Cattle Stations working with cattle and horses.I am a stay at home mum, who homeschools her kids as well as involved in several support type ministries locally, one for Mums and one for Homeschoolers.Recently I have started my own website for the support of homeschoolers and I enjoy blogging, scrapbooking and naive country crafts.
My children are 15.5ds, 14dd, 11.5dd, 9.5ds.My older two are independent learners and my younger two are still dependent.This affects our daily routine.
What is our day like?
I divide our day into blocks of time
From when we wake up (which is 4.30ish for me and anywhere before 6.00am for the kids)till 8.00am we have our personal responsibilities.This includes Devotions/Quiet Time, Exercise, getting dressed, doing our bedrooms, and household chores.Most of the housework is divided up between the kids and myself and is done throughout the day in little bursts.
8.00am – 12.30 is our study time.The older children work through their studies in whatever order and time frame they desire.They have their goals and are responsible for maintaining regular study.The younger two are still dependent learners, meaning they need my instruction and/or supervision.Any family or learning activity that comes our way just slips into this time block if necessary.The idea is that I keep this block of time, every morning, for our children’s education.This can be planned lessons/study or it could be a lifestyle experience or opportunity.
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays are our straight study days
Thursday is a little disrupted as Jessica is involved in an outreach programme every Thursday morning, I do our grocery shop while in town.The younger children come with me or stay home and work on independent activities, play together, or do a sporting activity with big brother.Josh has Thursday as a full study day.
For the younger children our study time is broken up loosely like this
½ hour misc studies dependent on the need - independent activity, reading, Auslan – sign language, Nature, Writing lessons, public speaking,
12.30-1.30pm – we take a break for lunch and a few quick chores.
1.30-5.00 pm- Is our Productive Time.They can work on any project of their choice – it can be academic, it can be creative, or even relational.Our afternoons are full of all sorts of activity – from blogging, creative projects, strategy war games, chess, gardening, computer lessons, and social opportunities.They have to be intentional with how they spend this time, as opposed to wafting around.The younger two are still “in training” so to speak and have different boundaries than the older two.One such boundary is that they both have “Room Time” regularly.They both have to read for ½ hour and then they can have free time, but in their room for the next ½ hour; Nomi often writes, Daniel plays.Room time helps them focus as their choices are limited. The older two often spend an hour or so reading during this time in order to finish their study goals.
I also use this Productive time to guide my activities – I have housework, office work, writing, creative projects or catch up with friends, and of course I am still supervising, encouraging and training my kids!
We get together with other families occasionally in the afternoon, for extra activities such as Keepers and Contenders of the Faith (a lifeskills / club-like programme), Speak up (a public speaking programme we are using this year) or just for the fun of being with friends.
The older kids also have paid work a couple of afternoons a week.
5.00pm we start to prepare for our Family Time with household chores and personal responsibilities, this includes showers.Dinner is at 6.00pm and we have our read aloud over dessert.Dishes are done all together (while I blog on my laptop nearby).We then meet in the lounge room for prayer.The kids then get ready for bed, and read in their beds till lights out at 8.00pm.I head to bed around 9.30pm (if I am being disciplined) 10.30 if I'm not!
Fridays are a little different.I have a four week rotation for our Friday mornings; Study day, Co-op, Study day, Excursion/Nature day.Friday afternoons are free time unless we have a family commitment.Friday night is always pizza in front of a movie!
Saturdays – the kids help with a little extra housework, or we have sport or town commitments. Otherwise the day is mostly their own.If they are not focusing I get them to do “table time” for one hour in the morning and the younger two still have Room time after lunch.We stop our activities at 4.00pm and get ready for Sunday – tidy the house, iron clothes, check food.We have a family dinner (with or without other folk joining us) where we sit and enjoy each other a little more.
Sundays – Our tradition for Sunday morning is that Peter cook breakfast on the BBQ for us – bacon, eggs, tomato, onion, mushrooms.Then off to Church – we are always the last to leave so that means home for lunch, which is more often than not help yourself to whatever you can find.Sunday afternoon is just relaxation for everyone though Pete and I often go out for Coffee together (without the kids)Peter and I spend Sunday evening preparing for our coming week.
As we educate and train our children I believe we have to address each aspect of our lives – spiritual, moral, emotional, social, intellectual, and practical.Dividing our day into these bigger blocks of time helps me see these 6 aspects being covered in our day over the course of a week.
Jena, at Yarns of the Heart, has been playing around with a computer graded essays.I didn’t know a computer could do such a thing.Neither did Jena!I have loved the way Jena and her eldest son have played with this programme and discovered it’s shortfalls.
I rediscovered Terri Camp’s Ignite the Firewebsite this week. When I first found this websiteI read every page. It is still an inspiring read.
Cindy Rushton’s websites have had a make over. They are well organized with heaps of information. I am sure you will find something to encourage you where you are at today – an article, or a free podcast, or a webinar.Check out her blog
Susan passed on a link to her Teaching Reading, this week. As always, I appreciated her experience and wisdom
It has been a long while since we have lapbooked anything but this week we finished our Story about Ping lapbook.My eyes picked up Jimmie’s article about Lapbooking controlling our Curriculum, it sure is a trap.
This week I joined in an online Bible Study on Prov 31 over at The Homeschool Lounge.
Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling. Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back. Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.
Living in Australia we aren’t starting afresh at the moment – kind of the contrary – we are heading into our last quarter shortly. I like this time of the year though as we have just come through a very busy season, and as the weather heats up we tend to stay indoors and hit the books unless we are looking for a swimming pool for a swim.Routine is a little more routine!
What do I feel about homeschooling?Homeschooling has become a way of life for us – not just the routine of doing lessons, but a lifestyle of living together, sharing experiences and talking about things all the time. It would be very strange indeed not to have my children around me day in and day out.
My first contact with homeschooling was when my Dad traveled to the States in 1978 for a Ministry Study tour. He apparently went to a homeschool seminar and came home feeling that we should be homeschooled. We lived in an isolated area, there was no such thing as homeschool support groups or internet; actually homeschooling itself was a much unknown concept in Australia. In the end my parents sent me to a church school for just over one year, where I lived in a church run boarding house. Many years later my younger brother was homeschooled for one year in Yr.10.
When Peter and I got married we talked about homeschooling our children-to-be and probably expected that to happen. By the time I had a toddler running around I knew that the programmes that we had earmarked where not to be for my children, they didn’t suit my parenting style at all. So we tossed around and decided upon public school.While our eldest, Josh was in preschool I came across some other homeschool curriculum – this was more like it! Seeing a wider array of options available as far as curriculum goes opened up the discussion again. Then we were challenged with the idea of being the biggest influence in our children’s lives. If this were to be the case, we needed to spend the most time with them. Homeschooling was back on the agenda!
I just love our lifestyle.Sure, there are challenges.I look and see what mums who send their kids to school can achieve in their days and I must admit at times there is a twinge of wishfulness, but reality is, that I wouldn’t have it any other way. Those things that seem desirable for that flash of time, don’t count against the benefits of having our children live beside me.
One of my favourite scriptures is in Deut 6 and you all know it – v6 – And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.You shall teach them diligenty to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Though the talking when we sit, walk and lie down are truly the methodology we use to train our children the real challenge of this scripture for me is the first part – these words … shall be in my heart. I must have the Word of God in my heart before I can talk about them to the children.
Peter and I are very aware and thankful for the spiritual heritage we have built our family on.Both set of our parents are Christians whose desire was to bring their children up to love and serve the Lord.I don’t necessarily wish we were homeschooled as kids – the experiences that I had as a child and as a young adult are the things that have shaped me to be the person that I am today. The same as homeschooling will shape and mould our children into the adults they will be one day.
I completed my education at a Church school, who didn’t graduate their students with a State recognized exam based score. I remember my parents saying that they had the faith to send us to such a school, but they prayed that by the time we (the kids) had to walk in the repercussions of their decision (further education and careers) that we too would have the faith to continue to trust God for opportunities. This is the same prayer I have for my children.I have the faith that what we are doing is right, but I also pray that as my children grow older they too will have the faith to walk as an adult in the repercussions of our decision to homeschool them.The faith journey never really ends.
Cindy Rushton has a weekly Mommy Assignment encouraging mums to think and share.
This week’s assignment …
What ONE thing could you do that could change EVERYTHING
Simple – get off the computer in the morning. So here I sit, on the computer, in the morning and yet I know that if I would just walk away from it my mornings will be so much more productive!So I’m going to click “send” and then make this Mommy Assignment work for me today – and walk away!
A local homeschool mum had passed this link to me a long time ago and I visited this week. Wow!!It is full of links for every subject for primary school. Check it out, Internet4Classrooms. I browsed the Math section, and used it to confirm a lesson on geometry / moving words (flip, slide, rotate)
Aussie Homeschool Online Community.If you are an Aussie homeschooler – check this out. This version of this community has been operating for a little over a month or so, so it is still a baby but lots of promise for the Australian Homeschool Community.
My teens continue to read and we, as a family, continue to discuss articles on The Rebelution.This week I’ve been thinking of the name – to rebel against low expectation on teens.Challenging!What do I expect of my young people - My thoughts led to Good, Better, Best. I want to challenge my children to be the best they can, don’t settle for “it’ll do” a common attitude these days!
I've read a few articles at Home Education Magazineon highschool and beyond. I also passed these articles onto my son, who wants to go to Uni. One in particular was written by a homeschool student, reflecting on her first few weeks at College.
Here are some of the links (websites and blogs) that I have read, enjoyed and/or drawn from over the last week.May you find something helpful in amongst the list.
Aussie Homeschooling
I have started to get involved with this Online Community – Aussie Homeschooling
If you are an Aussie – I invite you to join in.
Lapbooking – I’ve decided to give lapbooking a go again with my younger two children.I’ve revived my page at Lapbook Lessons online community to help me be motivated and connect with those mums who are experienced.Lots of ideas, motivations, templates etc.If you are interested in lapbooking – it is simple to join.
China / Olympics
I got some thoughts for our Geography/China scrapbook from Clickschooling
My Subscription to Laines Letters bounced (as per last week’s link)
So I have just book marked Laines Letters to remind myself to come back every so often for an encouragement.
Math drill sheets
Josh used these website to print out practice/drill sheets for a math concept he was struggling with.
I have given myself a new challenge – to learn digital scrapbooking.I’d like to encourage my girls to learn and I do wonder if it won’t be something Daniel enjoys but I think I have to have a model in front of them first.My goal is to scrap a few homeschool quotes from books that I am reading – not sure what photos I’ll use but I just want to play around for a bit.
Scrapbook to Learn got me going(this group also covers lapbooks and notebooks so there is lots of creativity flying around)
Though I know putting Bible first is important, and we make this a practice, it is always good to be reminded of the importance, and to check how things are really going on in your home.
Though I have done with this blending activity with Daniel I sure wished I had seen this idea several months ago.So if you are starting to blend, starting learning to read lessons check out this idea..
Through one of the homeschool mums at The Homeschool Lounge I rediscovered Laine's Letters.Many years I was regularly encouraged by these emails.I have subscribed again and look forward to the regular encouragement.You can view back issues online.
Talking of The Homeschool Lounge – this is the place for Homeschool Mums!To date there are 4000 mums, all involved in forums and discussion groups. There is also the opportunity to create your own little Nook, a place to jot notes about your thoughts, your day, your learning ... whatever! The Homeschool Lounge is especially designed for Homeschool Mums to find support and encouragement – so why don’t you head on over and check us out.You’ll find me here..
This week I’ve started thinking about Christmas.I’ve bought a few gifts and when I came across this ideaI earmarked it immediately!My children have started their gift giving list so they can start making gifts for their family and friends.
I have been reminded of The Rebelution through a few different friends this week, online and IRL, so I re-visited their blog and was reminded how powerful this blog is.These boys have a mission!
I have been working on getting my office organised and functioning. 
The whole office was rearranged, new furniture, and space for systems. 
This photo is posted in the family room - 
We use baskets to pick up and tidy up a room.
a recent photo of me, taken while we were camping