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.
This morning I looked through my blog for some links for a friend so I thought I would share them here with you too.
Intentional Training - bootcamp - an intense period of training for a purpose.
These blog posts are simply my thinking processes. I share them on my blog not so much to be copied (as each child will have different heart attitudes) but rather to share the thought process and the intentionality that is needed if we are to help our children succeed.
I’ve had several pages open in my browser for the last little while waiting to share them with you.Since I have to shut down my computer for a while now seems like a good time to post them.
I love the idea of these Narration bookmarks. These prompts help the children to think as they are reading.Most of my children are sharing their narrations in their reading journals these days, but they go through seasons of needing prompts. This post was listed in the Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival – if you haven’t read it yet – there’s plenty to read!
I love this list of what a true friend is like – as per scripture.These are good scriptures to remember for anyone – not just us ladies!
Not sure how I came across this site though it has been open for a week or so – neoK12 – Educational videos and lessons for k-12 school kids.This will be a handy link to keep!
I’ve printed this off to keep in my Bible study folder.Not sure when I’ll get to this study but I’d like to do it myself or help my older ones to do it as their Bible Study.Getting to know God through His Names and Titles.I like the list in that it is just some prompts/scriptures – you have to do the thinking and applying.
Also need to bemore diligent with Scripture Memorisation with my younger two – not sure how I’m going to do this yet, but with AmblesideOnline’s list and this one I think we’ll have enough to work with.
I was recently asked what do we 'use' for homeschooling so I've compiled a list. It isn't a complete list as it would take me forever to walk around the house and list everything that the kids use, or have used over the years. I prefer to use resources other than curriculum (at least I make this distinction in my head). When you use a resource you are in control, you use what you want, what you find helpful and what solves your problem and then you move on. With a curriculum we tend to have this inner commitment to use it all, to be solely dedicated to it, to be honour bound to it (obviously that is a bit extreme but there is a glimmer of truth there!) So we these are some of the resources we use:
Bible - I have not used a set curriculum for Bible though I have drawn heavily from Heart of Wisdom's approach - read, discuss, research, record etc. We've done both chronological readings as well as topics. We cover a lot of our language arts in the writing/notebooking/narrations that happen in Bible. By older two (15/16) have been doing Bible independently for a year or so - they have used various studies but our main goal has been to teach them to use Bible study tools for themselves.
Character - we study one character trait a month and have done so for many years. We use primarily Character First material.
Language - We've used a variety of methods for teaching to read, but largely guided by Ruth Beechick (even if we were using a curriculum such as Jolly Phonics, or an Australian one - LEM) For writing we've used Charlotte Mason's ideas of oral narration and then written narrations. We use notebooking or Lapbooks. Once the children are comfortable with writing we've used Institute of Excellence in Writing.
Math - our core is Math U See though I supplement that with math literature, drawing on livingmath.net
Science - this is one of my weakest areas. I have largely relied upon Magic School Bus dvds, and anything Peter (dh) wants to show them. He is the scientist. We have probably focused on Creation Science in the primary/elementary ages and used magazines, dvds, audios to help the children see the importance of this aspect of science. As the children have got older we've used Noeo Science and Apologia for different children. Next year I intend to use God's Design for Life by Answers in Genesis as my spine/core guide. I also use Topscience intermittently - it also covers some math concepts.
History - Josh has used Diana Waring as a spine/outline. Jess is using Mystery of History. We read lots of historical fiction, biographies and non-fiction books. Notebooking is our primary output for history (and science)
Geography - another weak spot for me and a strong point for Pete. We do a lot of this by talking around the dinner table as well as taking notice of things in the books we read. Currently we are reading through Exploring the World around you by Gary Parker.
Each of our children pursue a variety of different interests and we've all sorts of curriculum and resources but this covers the main stuff.
-oo0oo-
If you are thinking about homeschooling I have some thoughts and ideas for you over on the homeschool section of my website, Lifestyle Homeschool
If you are looking at curriculum and wondering, then this article may help you: Choosing Curriculum
As my previous post said, I had my plans all laid out for today. We were going to have a good day. Well, we did have a good day, but it had nothing to do with my plans!
Pete had to get his plane back into town and pick up his car so that meant a trip to town for me. We got talking and it was so tempting to head out for coffee but because I'd made plans I decided to head back home and carry on with whatever we could.
I wasn't home long before we got a phone call from a friend who was able to drop in to help Nomi with a craft project she is making for my Christmas present (which is why I couldn't help her!). So there went Nomi's study.
Then Pete needed help down in the paddock and Daniel was the best kid for the job so there went Daniel's study!
Josh was processing mangoes and listening to an audio and Jess was busy with her studies. After lunch Jess took over with the mangoes and Josh took in a little study. Then there was "Bedroom Bless" the time when the kids deep clean their bedrooms, and then we headed over to a friend's house for swimming practice.
While I was in town the kids all (except Josh) worked on their independent work so their basic skills were covered today but the Bible lesson, the character lesson, and the living math lesson I had planned just didn't h\appen! But lots of good stuff did and that is what we have to remember when life happens - that if it is good stuff then we need to make the most of it, if on the other hand it is drivel that happens we need to get control of our day - but for us today, it was good stuff.
I've had a good prep time over the weekend.
I listed all the lessons I wanted to cover this week.
Collected all the books
Glanced over all the lessons so I won't be caught on the hop this week.
It feels good.
My main focus for Nomi and Daniel this week is to ask them questions - and teach them how to find answers. My goal is to help them see that to learn you need to ask questions.
Over the weekend I worked on some articles to do with Hospitality
My weekly, Live life with your Kids! newsletter. It is free to subscribe and then you can dig around in the archives. (This week's was titled "Show Hospitality")
Character Notes on Hospitality - these are just a collection of thoughts that I will be discussing with my kids over the next month.
There are two incidents that have happened around here in the last week or so that I just shake my head over – it doesn’t happen every day – thankfully!Let me tell…
The other day Pete had an early start to his day.He was filling up with fuel at the 24hour BP at 3.00am.As he was at the bowsers he felt the car drop down – he just thought the car was adjusting to the weight of the fuel but then the car started up and started to drive away on him.He looked up and there was someone in his car – driving it away. Someone was stealing his car – and he was standing right there!!He had the presence of mind to pull out the fuel hose, jump in the back seat and whack the gear stick into Park.The car stopped.He realised the woman in the car was so ‘out of it’ drunk that he got out of the back and walked around to help her get out of the car.She was very drunk, very distraught and had no idea!!Obviously she was still able to steal a car though.
I am personally very impressed with Peter's presence of mind. I would have had no idea what to do.
Second thing happening in our life is that we have acquired a Bull – he’s not a pet bull, he isn’t even really our bull but he seems to like us.Next to our farm there is a scrub block and it appears as if this bull has lived there quite happily for some time.But he has since found our place and seems to like the company.He has been right upto the house yard fence, grazes down near the chook shed, and today has been enjoying the shade of the mango trees.We would like him to be gone!He is very big.
Bull near our house yard fence
Bull grazing on old bale of hay down near chook shed and veggie garden
Nov. 1, 2009 - Going Grocery Shopping - a Training Opportunity
This week’s newsletter talked about training each of our children even though they are all at different levels of skill and understanding.One of the ways that has worked for me is by breaking down a skill or moral truth into bite size pieces.Each step is progressive and therefore each of my children can be working at a different stage and yet I keep my focus knowing that we are working on one thing at this moment in time.
An example of working with these progressive steps is going grocery shopping.We do this every week; it is a fantastic training opportunity and yet we miss that opportunity because we want it over and done with real quick!And yet the learning that goes on is huge. Here is a progressive list (it may not be exhaustive) that will move our children through grocery shopping training.
Stay in the trolley or pram
Keep voices quiet, inside voices
Hold onto the trolley, don’t leave mum
Don’t ask for things!
Greet people politely, say a big hello to the checkout lady
Be patient if mummy talks to a friend
Follow instructions, help mummy by getting things off the shelf (the right things, the things I need!)
Help unload the groceries into the car, and then into the house and pantry once we get home.
Go off by yourself and get 2-5 items (initially in the same isle, eventually in a different isle than mum)
Understand comparing prices, understand quality for money
Go off by yourself and do ½ the shopping
Understanding the family budget and nutritional needs
Go off by yourself and do the whole shopping
When I look at this progressive list I can immediately see what Daniel, my youngest, can achieve and what I can teach him next.I can also see what training needs to happen for each of my children.This means I go into my weekly task of grocery shopping ready to teach and practice and I come out knowing that each of my children have grown in this area of responsibility.
These are some character qualities that we can train towards while grocery shopping
Obedience – do what I am told with a happy attitude
Gratefulness – be thankful for the many blessings I have
Respect – the other person counts
Thriftiness – being wise with my money
Responsibility – to be dependable in all that I’m asked to do
Yes, it is true, if we train our children while we do the grocery shop it will take longer, but in the long run you will have trained your children in a very valuable life skill.But grocery shopping is just one situation in our day where we need to be training our children.
I’m still revising my list on the run. I've tweaked my plans this week so that they are in keeping with what I can in all reality achieve. That is the purpose in starting so early - not only do you do your projects in small steps but you have plenty of time to tweak and change plans rather than rush around still aiming for the impossible as you run out of time.
Reviving my Christmas Tree:
I found some decorations to make for my tree from Martha Stewarts website.I will have to tweak some of these ideas as I have a naive country decorated tree though some of these ideas will give the lift that my tree needs.
Ribbon around the tree – though I’m tempted to make the frosted fruit I know I won’t have time so I’ll just use the idea here of a ribbon threaded around the tree – I think I’ll look for a wide red ribbon with gold edges to match the rest of my tree.
Wooden shapes – vintage gold in colour.This tree is all too frosty for an Australian Christmas tree but I’m inspired!I have a lot of wooden shapes so I may just repaint a few to give a bit of a lift. Here are some instructions for painting wooden ornaments.
Beads – won’t the girls just love making these with me!
Ornament hooks – this article reminded me that I need to make more hooks this year. This will be Daniel’s job – to make a collection of hooks ready for our tree decorating day.
I’ll also need to redo the cinnamon stick bundles and raffia bows that have crumbled over the last few years.
So now I need to make another Spotlight order.It took me weeks to get around to making that first order!!
Other Ideas I came across:
I like this tree skirt but not sure I’m going to have time to make it.Usually I have a strip of hessian crumpled up under my tree.
This idea reminded me to find the basket we usually have on the table with cards.We like to share the letter together, then share our memories of these people with our kids (they don’t know the same people we do since we’ve lived here all their life) and we pray for our friends.
My kids love garlands stretched all over the place – I don’t particularly like paper chains so here is a good idea – paper star garland.A great math lesson to boot!
Checkout beads online and order some for our bead ornaments (girls also need a few beading bits and pieces for the beading they do)
Get my newsletter address list made – might enlist Jessica’s help here
Have decided no handmade gifts this year except for the two I’ve already started on and the baking I’ll do in December. Off to the shops to find something else.
I still want to make gift tags but have a Creative Memories workshop this weekend so I’ll work on them then.
I have two gifts still to organize for my family.One I know what I’m doing – the other I am still searching for that just right gift.
Though I am working on my Nativity scene quilt (which won't get finished this year) I have decided to work on a quick and easy project - 3 wise men applicqued in felt - for my Christmas project this year.
Monday we needed to spend most of our morning doing housework catch up. The weekend was busy and this just needed to be done. I also spent some time in the office while the kids worked on independent work. Int he afternoon we had people travelling around Australia drop in.We had so much to talk about – it’s like that when you meet people who are like-hearted.The kids had a ball together including swimming in the channel till sunset.
Tuseday we get together with another family for piano, math and character lessons.For Character, it was more like a devotion this time, we discussed what we do all day and the challenge of doing it for the glory of God.Math is just with the young boys and we worked on making a measuring jar (calibrated etc).After a bit of catch up time we dashed home, had lunch and then headed back into town.I had a dentist, Josh had 4-wheel-biking (I’m sure there’s a better word for this) with the boys he gets together with weekly, and the other kids had Christmas Carols Choir practice.
Wednesday we had some good lessons happen in the morning and in the afternoon we had friends around.They are planning on homeschooling next year so we had lots to talk about.We mainly talked about how discipleship homeschooling looks so different than traditional schooling.It has its own set of priorities; the challenge is are we able to let go of what we know (traditional schooling) and work with the priorities that touch our children’s hearts.
Thursdays Jessica has Mainly Music and needs to be in town around 8.15 to help set up.Joshua stayed home to study.I dropped all the kids off at the hall to help with set up and dashed around town doing a few chores.Picked up the kids and went and did the grocery shopping.I prefer to do the shopping before Mainly Music (If we leave home at7.00 it can be done by 8.00 if everyone pitches in) but that didn’t happen this week so the whole things takes a lot longer.We stayed home in the afternoon, we resisted the temptation (for the kids surely were tempted) to invite kids over to play.We needed down time, we needed together time.We had dinner with our Bible Study group and then watched Facing the Giants together.
Friday I spent the morning in the office, the kids worked on tidying up the house and then a little independent work.Then in the afternoon we headed off to a friends house for our Homeschool Network meeting, which is a once a term meeting for homeschool mums to get together, to learn from each other, and to encourage each other.This year our Network meetings have been based around listening to the Tips and Tricks DVD from Institute of Excellence in Writing which many of us are using or working towards.
Saturday – oh to stay at home!!I spent the morning in the office working on my newsletter and then finances.Early afternoon I head into the kitchen to prepare dinner (we were having guests) and Jess reminded me that they had dentist appointments.Just as we were about to rush out the door I remembered I had made an appointment for Nomi too so she quickly cleaned her teeth and off we went.The dentist took longer than usual, plus Nomi’s appointment, so that certainly jammed up getting ready for our guests.But we had a lovely evening getting to know these people who have just come to town.
Sunday I was up early cooking as I was on morning tea at Church.I talked to my mum while I worked in the kitchen – cooking the cakes and cleaning up from last night.Then Pete and I cooked breakfast which we ate together out on the veranda as a family.We love this family tradition.Church.A friend joined us for lunch but I left him and Pete to spend the afternoon talking as I worked on my planning for the week and a few other projects I’ve got happening.Sunday night we considered going to the movies but we really just needed to stay home so we pulled out a Story Keepers DVD instead.The kids have seen these stories before but I wanted Nomi and Daniel to know that these stories are based on truth.Christians did die, they did need to meet in secret and the tunnels etc they see are a real part of Rome.
Whew!What a week.Far too busy.We need to be at home.We need to have some more quiet productive time.I will have to guard my afternoon a bit better this week.I need to remember that all good activity isn’t the best activity.And though I don’t regret anything that we did last week I need to make sure that every week isn’t like that!
So often a homeschool mum, or any mum for that matter, asks – “How do you handle interruptions?”
There are many things which cause interruptions to my focus time with my children.These days it is likely to be the telephone or a household chore that needs doing but when the children were younger it was more likely to be a baby crying or nappy change.When I have to walk away from my children, leaving them with the temptation to lose focus, fool around and cause major disruptions it helps to keep control of their choices and to have options.
Control their choices:Just because you are not physically present does not mean your authority is not present (or can’t be).Before you leave the room make it very clear what you expect of them.Tell them what to do while you are away.Eventually, as they grow up, you want them to be able to make this choice wisely for themselves, but during the training phase you need to show them what a wise choice looks like.I remember studying Punctuality – which is using our time wisely, there was an aspect about using our unexpected ‘free’ time wisely.This is exactly this type of situation – the child has some unexpected ‘free’ time – how will they use it.Initially we need to direct their choices with the goal in mind that they will eventually make these choices for themselves.
Have options:What do I tell my children to do?Once again in our study of Punctuality we discussed that if they are left waiting for someone then they need to use their time wisely but still be ready to go when the person comes back.This means going outside to play while Mum takes a phone call is probably not the best choice, neither is going into another room.The best choice in this situation is to occupy yourself and yet stay in the area so you can see when things are ready to get back on track.Reading books, playing with Lego, drawing, or playing with the doll house were the favourite things that I used to direct my children towards, these days they tend to read or work on their independent studies (something that they can drop quickly when I return).The other thing I learnt was that it worked better if they all had individual, independent activities – this way WW3 didn’t break out while I was out of the room.
Over at The Homeschool Lounge I am involved in a monthly, verse by verse study on Proverbs 31. This month we are studying verse 21.
Proverbs 31:21She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
When I first read this verse I saw two things
the physical
the spiritual
The physical realm
This mother, this woman was an industrious woman and this verse gives a glimpse not only to her industry but also a glimpse into her heart.She is at peace as a consequence of her productivity.
Snow is a harsh climate; it takes its toll on life, especially when you are not prepared.This woman is prepared.Her family are ready for whatever season is ahead, their clothing will keep out the cold, and they will be okay.So too will her servants, all that live in her household.
We have learnt from other verses in this passage that this lady didn’t just pop down to Target and buy these clothes, no, it took effort, she worked hard.To get the colour scarlet was hard work – it was a process so it required effort, but it was also rare so therefore expensive.She had worked hard to be able to afford this quality.
This woman had peace in her heart because she knew her family was looked after and safe from the elements.
What can we learn from this?
It is my responsibility to provide for my family – I need to be aware of what their needs are, and ensure that things get looked after
It takes hard work to provide for my family
Though I may be able to pop down to Target I need to be diligent, and work hard, at using my money wisely.
The reward of my efforts is not only the physical care of my family but there will be peace in my heart knowing I’ve done my job well.
The Spiritual Realm
As with a lot of things we can learn a spiritual lesson from a physical application.
Just as we don’t know what type of season we have up ahead – it could be a bad winter or a mild winter – we don’t know what is up ahead for our children.We don’t know the society they will live in, we don’t know the challenges they will face.And yet we have the task to prepare them, to dress them as it were so they will be able to live out the rough times.
Just as the woman in Proverbs 31 knew what her children’s needs where if they were to face the winter ahead, we too need to know what our children’s needs are, not only their physical needs, but more importantly their spiritual needs.
Do they need salvation?
Do they need a personal relationship with Jesus?
Do they need encouragement to follow Jesus?
Do they need to become more and more like Jesus?
We have been called to be spiritual mothers to our children just as we have been called to be physical mothers.We need to see them through their spiritual birth, we need to nurture them, we need to train them in spiritual things, we need to shoot them out to be workers for Christ just as we do all those things in the physical world.
The New Testament is always making the shift between the external, the things of the flesh, and the spiritual, the things of God all the time.There are a couple of verses that talk about us putting on, or getting dressed, in the spiritual sense.
Eph 4:22-24You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Eph 4:24 And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness
Gal 3:27For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ
We are also told to ‘put on the armour of God’ – to be clothed in truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. (Eph 6:10-17)
Do our children put on the new man?Do they put on their armour every day?
Now we can’t orchestrate their salvation – that is a thing between them and God. So what can we do?
We can pray for our children’s hearts
We can ensure that nothing in our life is a stumbling block for them so that they will see Jesus
We can be their teacher and disciple them in the ways of the Lord
The woman in Proverbs 31 was not afraid of the future.What does the New Testament say to that –
Roman 8:15
For you have not received the spirit of bondages to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father.
2 Tim 1:7
For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Once again there is so much to learn from the Proverbs 31 lady.
She knew the needs around her
She knew it was her responsibility to meet those needs
She worked hard to meet those needs
She had peace in her heart because she had done her best.
There comes a time in all our lives that we are not in control – the woman in Proverbs 31 was not in control of her life.She didn’t know what the season was going to be any more than you and I know for sure what is ahead.And yet, she had done the things she was called to do – and she had peace in her heart.I too will not be afraid of the future.
Peter and I went out for breakfast together this week. It took some organising but it was nice to take that step to spend some intentional time together.
October is the time of the year where we begin to see change around here. The weather has changed (it is now muggy and hot!), most of the tourists have gone home (to where it is nice and pleasant!), life seems to slow down a bit - or at least we start to prepare for a change in the hectic pace of our life as summer (or the Wet Season as we call it) heads our way.
Pete and I have been talking about how we are going to spend January - it is a down month as far as his work goes, and we are not going away for a holiday. We have been talking for some time about how we spend our time during this month, what projects are important etc.
But during our breakfast time we talked about this from a slightly different perspective - instead of talking about what projects needed to be done we talked about what each of our children needed and specifically what they needed from their Dad. How could Peter be intentional with building relationships with his kids, how he could be intentional about spending the time he has at home. Each of our children are different and they have different needs. It was good to be able to hash this out and make a plan together.
Time slips by so fast - unless you are intentional you will end up saying "I wish I did this...."
Technically I should be working on Week 5 - but I'm not!
So here is my update on what I want to get done before this weekend - well, by the end of the weekend.
* Find a few new decorations to make (or the girls to make) for my Christmas tree - it looked a bit 'old' last year.
* Make Gift tags for those on my gift-giving list
* Go through Christmas cards from last (5 years!!!!) and make up a newsletter address list. They have probably all moved on from now but at least it is a start.
* I still need to pick up the phone and place an order with Spotlight and Lincraft for a few craft supplies. Why is it the little jobs that don't get done!
This makes me one week behind, instead of the 3 that I am at the moment!!
That being said, I have:
* bought 1/2 of our family gifts - I only have a few left for which I have no idea what to buy.
* I've picked up the nativity scene quilt I'm making and am trying to do a little every day.
Oct. 6, 2009 - Asking Questions as you Read the Bible
Here is a really good acrostic to remember while reading the Bible. These questions can help us slow down, think about what we are reading, consider our heart and respond.
S-P-A-C-E-P-E-T-S S - Sin to confess? Do I need to make any restitution? P - Promise to claim? Is there a universal promise? Have I met the conditions? A - Attitude to change? Am I willing to work on a negative attitude and begin building toward a positive one? C - Command to obey? Am I willing to do it no matter how I feel? E - Example to follow? Is it a positive example for me to copy, or a negative one to avoid? P - Prayer to pray? Is there anything I need to pray back to God? E - Error to avoid? Is there any problem that I should be alert to or beware of? T - Truth to believe? What new things can I learn about God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, or other biblical teachings? S - Something to praise God for? Is there something here I can be thankful for?
(This came from a book called - Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods)
Do you have any acrostics that help you in your time of study or devotion?
We need to watch the subtle messages that media gives us and our children. This article points out a trend in romantic comedies - the author hits the nail on the head, she is so true. Though my daughter (or son for that matter) don't watch many of these movies, not sure if they have even seen one yet, I was glad to have this trend brought to my attention as I certainly have seen plenty like this. Read The Drunk - the new female tenderness
My daughter Jessica has been enjoying Jasmine's blog. I read one of her latests posts and can see why Jess gets a lot from this young lady. I'd recommend it for your teens to put on their blog reading list too. Read A People Pleaser
Tea Tree used to be grown in this area and it has always interested me but I've never known how to use it other than a few drops in water when you want to bathe a cut. Here is a list of uses for Tea Tree oil.
Here is another link Jess found and shared with Joshua and myself: Self control in a wired world The challenge is so real - for teenagers and for mums!
As I play around with digital scrapbooking I am looking for free fonts. Though the kids also use these on their notebook pages and making cards and personal stationary.
I have just found this list of writing prompts - a free download. I have highlighted the ones that I particularly like and am going to give a copy to each of my children (in our family meeting today) for them to use as blogging prompts. They may or may not use them but it may help them to write a variety for their blogs. You could also use these prompts for daily writing exercises or journalling which we don't tend to do as we integrate our writing into as many subjects we can.
2009 is coming to a close – at least it isn’t very fair away.Are you starting to panic?Are you starting to push your children for no other reason than to get this finished?
Though we need to take stock and do all we can do to keep ourselves ‘on track’ we also need to remember a few things.
We need to stay ‘on track’ with God’s plans not our own.We need to ask ourselves why do we feel we are not where we should be?Have we been slack and therefore need the self discipline to pull up our socks, or have we simply been living life and stuff happens, learning happens but it happens differently than we planned.We need to discern are we in a different place because other good learning has happened?It would be helpful to list that other good learning to keep our focus on the right balance.
Learning happens 24/7, 12 months of the year, for life.I was saying to my daughter just last night that I feel a sense of relief because of this mindset – she doesn’t have to know everything by the time she is 18.She doesn’t have to know everything this year!If I do my job well she will be able and interested in learning new stuff for the rest of her life.I need to focus on what is the most important for the now and not be distracted with anything else.
Check my purposes – Am I pushing my child to finish just so we can tick it off as finished, just so we have something to show the moderator or grandparents, just so we can do the right grade level next year?If this is our reasoning, then we need to reconsider.Our goals should not be just to get the work done; there is no learning bonus in that.The question we need to ask of a unit study, or class, or curriculum is – “Is my child learning?”If there is learning happening then that is a great thing, if there is no learning then you need to consider your options but I doubt rushing through it will be one of them.
Interestingly, these three points have more to do with our heart as the parent than they do with the students work/study ethic.We need to do a heart check.
The one other lesson that I remind myself of at this time is that just as lessons and learning aren’t dictated by ‘school hours’ neither is the discipleship lifestyle dictated to by the calendar year.Just because the calendar changes from 2009 to 2010 there is no real cut off date that says we need to get things done by.Life rolls on just the same.Our children’s character, interests, and learning goals just roll on from one year to the next.So I need to be true to my beliefs of discipleship and ask myself, “Why have I an end of year deadline in my thinking?”
Monday night our guinea pigs arrived! Tuesday was all about guinea pigs. Wednesday was all about guinea pigs. Any guess what Thursday is going to be about!
Jess, Nomi and Daniel all have new guinea pigs. Well, Daniel's is older but it is new to him.
Jessica and Widget
Nomi and Fidget
Daniel and Rhino
Though I'm not a pet person it has been delightful to see the children enjoy these little animals.
Yesterday Nomi and Daniel spent all day making an old dog cage snake proof so the Guinea Pigs could have a home. There are a few gaps we still need to work on so they sleep indoors till that is all set. Daniel made a little 'home' for them that sits nicely at the back of the cage. It may be a bit small once they all grow but it is a nice place to start. He did a good job using left over bits of wood.
As you may well guess, our so called routine has gone out the window these last few days but that is what life is all about. The plan is for my children to spend their days purposefully and productively and if their interests take them there then that is all for the best!
A place to share the things that happen in my family. The longer I homeschool the quicker I realise that these are not just everyday family happenings - they are the experiences that are educating my children.
Learning Happens
Journal entries to remind myself that learning takes place in regular family life
Lifestyle Homeschool
Articles to encourage the why and how of discipleship education.
Be a Deliberate Parent
We need to know where we want to take our family, and how we are going to get there. We need to be very deliberate in our training of our children.
Homemaking
In amongst the parenting, the training, the homeschooling I must remember that I am also a homemaker.
Just my Thoughts
A mix-match of ideas as they come to me - covering all my hats - wife, mum, homemaker, homeschooler, friend etc...
Walking with God
The occasional devotional thought
Family
About us
Blog Carnivals & Memes
Blog Carnivals and Memes are a great way to connect with like minded, like hearted folk
Goals & Reviews
Smart Goals need to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and have a timeline.
Uncategorized
Bull near backyard play area
Jessica and Widget
Nomi and Fidget
Daniel and Rhino
