• Oct. 15, 2007
Rembering not to stress out
I love having more experienced moms in my support group. They are great. I tend to stress out on the little things and get obsessed they are so great to point me back to the more important things.
This year is going really well. It is a more fun year than last year. We are still finding our groove in somethings but things other things are really working. I wont make as many curiculium changes next year as we are really finding what we like and what works for us. Apologia science is still our absolute favorite. I am looking forward to trying Story of the World. I finally found a bible program that I like called Positive Action. I still find myself at times stressing out, which is why my support group and the good friends I have made are so important. All in all this is turning into a great school year lots of science experiments, lots of learning and most important lots of fun memories with the kids.
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• Aug. 20, 2007
Today!
School starts today. Well in a few hours since I have insomnia and can't sleep.
It was so nice to have the kids so excited last night that they couldn't fall asleep. I love that they are looking so forward to it.
The desks are cleaned out, new supplies, schedules ready, books and notebooks out and ready to go!
Here we go officially starting year 2!
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• Aug. 9, 2007
Homeschool Open House
This is my second year to homeschool. There were several reasons that led us to homeschool. Some of those reasons included our daughter who reads well above grade level and wasn't being challenged, and our son who needed more help, and was not getting that help and we were afraid he was going to fall farther and farther behind. Also I love knowing that I am the one influencing their lives those hours each day. Nothing is more important to me than my kids and by keeping them home and educating them I am getting to nurture and grow parts of them that I wouldn't if I sent them off 8 hours a day. It is a very personal choice and I do feel that it is not right for everyone to do, and I do not like it when others try to say that homeschooling is the only way. It just happens to be the way that my husband and i feel best fits our family.
My kids are great to get up and around so we usually start a few minutes before 8 or right at 8. I do have a schedule but it is not a timed schedule more in order of things I would like done, so we don't get off track. The first year the abeka guy could have told me I needed to buy a rock for homeschool and I would have done it....needless to say I spent way too much and bought so much I didn't really need or use in the long run. This year I am more sensible and I have branched off from straight abeka. Our fav fav fav is the Apologia science - Astronomy. We use Abeka for Math, English, Writing and Reading. We use the above mentioned science. We are doing US Geography, states, capitals, etc this year. Spelling Power is new for us this year and so far I really like it, even though I don't do it exactly like she says too. We are using Abeka Bible program this year, but I am really not liking it and I know I will be changing that next year. Basically I am learning to look more, and not just take the first thing someone tells me, especially not a paid person for the company! I love listening to practiced homeschoolers and I couldn't survive without my homeschool group!
At this time we do not have a designated school room, we keep all our books on a large shelf in my husband's office and we use the dining room table and the living room for class time.
I love to make it fun, we do crafts, we play games, do puzzles. The science we are having so much fun with because we have several puzzles, games, etc. I am trying to learn not to stress out so much, that is a big issue for me. I tend to overdue and I am learning that my kids don't necessarily need or benefit from that. I seem to get a little of that message each time I go to a homeschool group meeting. I ahve enjoyed it so far and I see us definetly continuing with this as it is a lifestyle that we enjoy.
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• Aug. 6, 2007
Schedules
We have been doing 2-3 mornings a week this summer but on the 20th we will start back full force. We are leaving town on Friday for almost a week so this weekend I got started on my planning.
I did about half the subjects scheduled through October 4 week. This summer I had tried to do a simpler schedule but it just didn't work for us. I need the boxes to check off and so do the kids.
We are still in love with our Apologia science. Still put Mystery of History back until next year. Going to do US States and presidents instead of World History. Let Brae get another year of age on him.
I have decided I really don't like abeka's bible program, but I paid for it so I will use it this year, but next year I will be searching for a new program. I will still stick with abeka for reading, and English, and maybe Math (even though I think it is pretty advanced).
So far the spelling power is going well, even though I am not using it exactly like she says, whoa if I did that would be a lot, and I think the way I have modified it will work well for us.
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• Jul. 23, 2007
Making changes
I thought I was all set for the new year. We have been doing three mornings a week. Most things are going great, Science I couldn't ask for better, but the World History that I was so excited about....just not sparking with my kiddos. Brittney is doing okay with it, Braden is just totally zoning out. So at 3 am this morning I decided to make a change. Why suffer all year. I will put up the Mystery of History and all the extras I had bought to go with it and save it for next year. We aren't very far into it and haven't even started the time line, but I just think we need another year especially Braden. So I dug out the state books, presidents and American History and we will use those this year. I think the kids will get into it more, especially the states since we have done a lot of traveling. I don't want to force something that isn't fitting right just because I think it should fit.
I was talking to my friend whose daughters are in the same public school where mine would attend and she said they don't even do any history till 9th grade, so we are still ahead of the game just laying the foundation and I think they will really get into learning the states and capitals, as well as presidents.
Now if I could have only made this decision at a decent time instead of being up since 2 am worrying!
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• Jul. 6, 2007
Loving Astronomy.
As I said before we are loving this new science course. Today we built a Planetarium, I had bought a kit instead of doing it with the balloons, the kids LOVED it. Both kids are so far thinking this is going to be their favorite subject.
We started Astronomy first, but now we have added in the rest of the subjects. I think we will like the Mystery of History too. I think it will be more fun to them once they start the projects. My kiddos like projects! We are going to do a timeline with History and I think that will make them get into it more, but for now they talk non stop about Astronomy.
Hubby is proud of the kids knowing their planets in order already. Definetly a good swtich from last year.
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• Jun. 27, 2007
Apologia Science
We started in our science book Apologia "Exploring Creation with Astronomy"...oh wow I think this will be both the kids and my favorite this year. So easy to understand, broke down in small lessons, fun projects. I am really pleased so far with this.
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• May. 19, 2007
Ready to go
I have my curriculium all ready to start 2nd and 4th grade. More changes than I had first anticipated making. The first year I did all abeka I was too scared to branch out, I guess I am getting braver. Here is what I am using.
Bible: Abeka
Math: Abeka (I think I may change this after this year)
English: Abeka
History: Mystery of History
Science: Apologia
Spelling: Spelling Power
Art: various
Also going to do some presidents studies and state studies out of various books.
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• May. 14, 2007
Spelling Power
Last year I used abeka spelling, and I wasn't happy with it.
This year someone recommended Spelling Power. I am just really getting into it. At first I was a little overwhelmed but now i think I will really like it. I can use it for both kids even though they are on different grade levels. I wont have to buy a new program every year this one just continues and continues.
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• May. 5, 2007
Scholastic Book Sale
Scholastic is having it's $1.00 teacher book sale. Go to http://www.scholastic.com and then go to the teacher store. Lots of really good teaching books for $1.00 each and shipping was VERY inexpensive. It is reproducible books.
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• Apr. 12, 2007
A poem I liked
"To Be Educated" By: Carolyn Caines
If I learn my ABC's, can read 600 words per minute, and write with perfect penmanship, but have not been shown how to communicate with the Designer of all language, I have not been educated.
If I can deliver an eloquent speech and persuade you with my stunning logic, but have not been instructed in God's wisdom, I have not been educated.
If I have read Shakespeare and John Locke and can discuss their writings with keen insight, but have not read the greatest of all books - the Bible - and have no knowledge of its personal importance, I have not been educated.
If I can explain the law of gravity and Einstein's theroy of relativity, but have never been instructed in the unchangeable laws of the One Who orders our universe, I have not been educated.
If I can classify animals by their famuly, genus, and species,l and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins and award, but have not been introduced to the Maker's purpose for all creation, I have not been educated.
If I graduate with a perfect 4.0 and am accepted at the best university with a full scholarship, but have not been guided into a career of God's choosing for me, I have not been educated.
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• Feb. 28, 2007
Sorely neglected
This poor blog has really been neglected. When I get busy blogging is the first thing that goes. I keep up my main blog the best I can but even it has been neglected.
The kids are finishing up 1st and 3rd grade. I think we will be completely done with both grades first of April. I will then do a few review weeks, take a two week break. I am going to go ahead and start 2nd and 4th in June but only 3 days a week. That way the kids will get a nice two week break then start back but not 5 days a week until August.
I ordered all abeka again. I will supplement my Oklahoma history, etc. I have everything sitting on shelves in the office awaiting me to start going through it but it just hasnt happened yet and I dont know when it will for sure.
I will try to remember to come back and post more often and post the new games I have come up with for Math and Spelling.
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• Jan. 24, 2007
Abeka - my list of pros and cons
It was our first year of homeschooling and I was scared to death so I did the whole thing the abeka dvd set, the extra for them to keep the records, plus all the books.
Pros:
I liked having everything from one place, knowing I had all the books, etc. I bought the prepacked science kits from homescience that goes with the abeka stuff so I knew I had all the stuff I needed for experiences. It was very organize friendly.
The Christian aspect is filtered into every subject which I loved. You could be doing a math paper and it have a verse or mention on it. Personally I really liked that.
The site to look at the kids grades is nice.
Both a Pro and a Con:
How fast it moves, this isn't a big of problem if you are not doing the program 2 with the record keeping. One day you will be introduced to fraction and two days later you have to know how to add and subtract them. Very fast paced. We didn't have a problem too bad with keeping up but sometimes I felt that I was pushing harder and faster than I wanted too.
Depending on your child abeka is very advance. I would say it is almost an entire grade level higher than whatever public school grade your child is in. Especially their math curriculium. But if you really get in there and get into it and the kids excell then of course this is a pro. But if your kid has some problem then they will get behind really fast in abeka.
Con:
The program 2 staff that keeps the records, assistant principal and all I found very hard to work with, the rules seem to change often on how things have to be sent in (you send in all tests). They would tell me to send in a letter regarding my son's speech because they couldn't understand the reading hotline, then someone else would call and tell me that they couldn't do anything with that letter. Very frustrating.
DVD programs, boring, this is from both my kids, basically it is a stationary camera in a classroom everyonce in awhile they will say boys and girls watching but not very often, part of the time the camera is on the other kids working nothing from the teacher is being said.
Their ordering website if you try to order individually is not the most user friendly.
If you are using the record keeping their grade system is tougher than a public school anything under a 96 is a B you can get an 80 and that is a C. So it was quite a change for me to get used to.
The cost of the dvd program is pretty high, the record keeping I thought was reasonable, but that was before I had to deal with the people in that department, now I think they should have to pay me for how much trouble I have had.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
I like abeka, but as for the dvd and keeping records not for my kids at this time. I anticipate using the DVD's again about the time Britt (now 3rd) enters into 6th or 7th grade. I will do the same with Braden (now 1st). I also do not think I will do them keeping my records again until 9th grade. I can see it being more important then but now it was just too much of a headache. The plan for next year is to use abeka curriculium because I did like it but not the dvd or record keeping.
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• Jan. 14, 2007
Looking toward next year
We will soon be done with our abeka curriculium I am thinking mid March.
I dont think I am going to take the whole summer off.
I think when we finish abeka, I will just get some regular workbooks to work on a little bit each day and then add Oklahoma history and do this for a few weeks.
I have to make a decision soon about next curriculium, I am thinking abeka because I mostly liked it. But there were a few things I wasnt thrilled with. I know we wont be doing the dvd's again because I felt they were a waste and I was not happy with some of the things with the plan we were on through abeka. If I don't do abeka I am not sure what we will do. I am wanting to go to Mardel's and look at bible curriculium because I figure that is something I can meet in the middle with and teach them both at the same time.
I think we will do maybe 2 to 3 days a week through the summer and then go back to 4 and 5 days in early August.
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• Jan. 8, 2007
Practicing Spelling Words
My kids love to practic their spelling words! Love it! I should say now they love it, back when I was just trying to get them to write them and recite them we got no where fast.
Some of the things we now do to learn our spelling words:
Write them, but not just on paper we use Brittney's doodle bear and Braden has a doodle monster that are often covered in new words (just throw them in the washer for the next weeks words).We use windo markers by crayola and they can write on the glass door front or back (it just takes a windex wipe to clean it off quickly). They can write them on their bedroom windows.
Play hangman on a big white board alternating Britt's words then Braden's.
Play Mother May I spelling. I stand at one end of the hall they start at the other. They only get to take a step forward if they spell the word I give them correctly.
Spelling baseball, set up bases in the living room and to get to each base they have to spell their word correctly.
We do also write them on paper and do word searches and things like that but I always try to put a fun activitiy with it. They may write their words 4 times and then we play baseball. Sometimes they will write their words on the front door or doodle bear then sit and do a word search.
Repetitiveness helps them learn but adding in the fun helps them enjoy the learning.
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• Jan. 4, 2007
Response
The post below explains the experience I had regarding a cashier and a rude comment towards homeschooling. I had went ahead and wrote the manager and put the details of what occured, cashier's name, etc. Got a response and Woohoo $50.00 gift card an official apology
"Mrs., it is regrettable as a manager to have had this incident occur in my store. The complaint has went into the employee file of (cashiers name). I attach for you a $50.00 gift card good at any location."
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• Jan. 1, 2007
Should I be mad?
Ok anyone who knows me knows that I put a lot into the homeschooling of the kids. Schedules, activities, etc.
Anyway today we ran to WalMart on my way to parents house.
I had bought some white boards, and a ton of markers for a new project. Also picked up some things here and there.
I load the stuff on the conveyer belt and the cashier says: "Are you loading up on school supplies". I reply "No we homeschool and this is for a special project".
While we were in line there is a bin that says "Christmas cd's 50% off". I had already picked up some regular Christmas items for 75% off but thought 50% off was good for Music cd's. I grab two and load it on with the other things. The kids are standing on the side by me. The cashier picks up the 2 Christmas cd's and says "You know these are not 75% off they are only 50% off?" I said "Yes, no problem I saw the sign". (I figured people had tried to argue saying the other stuff was 75% off so I was really friendly about it).
Then she says and I quoute word for word "Well you said you homeschool so I wasnt sure about you reading the sign"
OKAY...At the time she said it I just looked at her and I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to say, so I just kinda stood there, those were the last two items she rang up so I paid and headed out. Brittney asked what she meant about homeschooling. I told her not everyone understands about homeschooling. My brother's girlfriend thought the whole thing was hilarious and I fielded reading jokes from her all day. But it ticked me off. Enough that I wrote down her name, but I didn't write it up....yet. She was an older cashier, and I think that comment was out of line and rude. My mom says I am taking it to personally. I think anyone in contact with the public should make an effort to be polite and I don't think that was polite. So am I too sensitive? Should I write it up and mail it to the manager? Should I have blasted her attitude?
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• Dec. 17, 2006
Twas the Night Before Christmas Homeschool Style
Twas the Night Before Christmas Homeschool Style
(Author Unknown)
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the home,
Children were still studying for their test on Rome.
Mom was planning, she had just an hour,
To teach 'one more lesson' before their night shower.
A whole week of vacation, the children were thrilled,
But Mom saw the lesson plans, and the blocks were still filled.
"Can I stop for a day, much less a whole week?"
Just the thought of time off made me shudder and shriek!
Would they remember anything, would they fall behind?
"Lord, I need your help, just give me a sign!!!"
Then out on the sidewalk, I saw my four boys,
And I heard them say, "it's not about toys."
To the neighborhood kids, they explained Jesus' birth,
And how through Jesus, not toys, we gain our worth.
At that point, math and spelling and learning to write,
Meant little to me as I had lost the sight
Of what teaching at home was truly about.
Then I sat at my desk and began to pout.
The pouts turned to sobs, "Lord what have I done?
It's not about grades, but to follow your Son!"
"Please guide me and show me my job is to teach,
and turn them to you, and of Jesus I'll preach."
Now we'll put away books and not open them 'til later,
We'll focus on Jesus, our Lord and Creator.
It's His day and so we will all celebrate,
I'll never mention the words "behind" or "we're late".
So, Thank You, Lord, for blessing me,
With such a great husband and family.
Now homeschooling moms, TURN OUT THE SCHOOL LIGHT!
And, "Happy Christmas To All And To All A Good Night!"
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• Dec. 15, 2006
The 14 days of Homeschooling...LOVE IT!
On the first day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Can you homeschool legally?”
On the second day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?”
On the third day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?”
On the fourth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?”
On the fifth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “YOU ARE SO STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?”
On the sixth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “How long will you homeschool, YOU ARE S0 STRANGE, what about P.E. , do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?”
On the seventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Look at what they’re missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?”
On the eighth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Why do you do this, look at what they’re missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, what about P.E. do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?”
On the ninth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “They’ll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they’re missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E. do you give them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?”
On the tenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “What about graduation, they’ll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they’re missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?”
On the eleventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “I could never do that, what about graduation, they’ll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they’re missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?”
On the twelfth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “Can they go to college, I could never do that, what about graduation, they’ll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they’re missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?”
On the thirteenth day of homeschool I thoughtfully replied: “They Can go to college, yes you can do this, they can have graduation, we don’t like the prom, we do it cuz we like it, they are missing nothing, we’ll homeschool forever, WE ARE NOT STRANGE!, We give them P.E., and we give them tests, they are socialized, AND WE HOMESCHOOL LEGALLY!
On the fourteenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, “How can I get started, why didn’t you tell me, where do I buy curriculum, when is the next conference, WILL PEOPLE THINK WE’RE STRANGE? I think we can do this, if you will help us, we’ll join a sports team, and we’ll homeschool legally.
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• Dec. 3, 2006
Our decision
I wish more people (my family) knew more about homeschooling and realized the awesome results we are getting. This weekend I had to defend our decision to my aunt who has been a teacher for 24 years. I shouldn't say defend because that isn't the right word but I felt like I had to explain how well we were doing, and put her mind to ease on how I was doing it.
Frankly I get tired of doing that, I really want to say not your decision not your problem and I don't care what you think....of course anyone who knows me at all knows I wont ever do that I will just grin bear it and tell how good it is going.
Because all in all it is so wonderful homeschooling and even constant questions it does not take away from how wonderful the results are.
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