May 21, 2007 - I'm Moving...
...My blog that is. You can find me now at http://homeskool-R-Us.blogspot.com/ - I have had so much trouble with this site - it is VERY slow and cumbersome to use - so I have moved.
Please follow me there and check out my new entry!
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May 14, 2007 - I have been a bad blogger...
I know, I know, I haven't updated this blog lately...well, actually nothing that interesting has happened recently. We have just been going about our day to day routine, doing school, going to t-ball games, taking care of the house, etc. Our last day of co-op was last Friday. In the preschool room, where I help teach, we had a big bash! There is talk of some big changes for co-op next year. I for one am very happy to hear that! If everything goes as proposed it should be a really fun year. I think the kids will learn a little, but more importantly they will have more time to build relationships. We are planning more time for the kids to be with each other and just have fun. There is talk of more field trips and some guest speakers. I have heard there will be more focus on activites that are not easily done at home. And I have also heard we will have the opportunity to celebrate some holidays together as well! I really enjoyed the first couple of years that we were involved in our co-op, but I have been disappointed with this past year. It started off great, but after the fall term, things seemed to be planned at the last minute and there was really no time set aside for the kids to get together and have fun. The first year I was involved in the co-op we had a wonderful Christmas party and a Valentines party and a end of year program - it was great! I really hope to see more of that next year. We had a meeting at the end of the summer last year where people came up with some great ideas and I was really excited about the willingness of people to teach different things to our kids, but after that meeting I never heard anymore about the ideas. I had offered a few ideas, but no one ever approached me after that meeting to see if I would be willing to teach what I had offered. I know this is the case with many others that had offered suggestions that day. That was disappointing. The fact that the great ideas that were offered were never heard from again was diappointing as well. I really hope the ideas that have been proposed will be followed through. I have always been willing to do whatever it takes to make things happen and have always done whatever asked when asked. I think committees where everyone is assigned a specific job would be helpful - that way you would know what you are expected to do. Although this year is just coming to a close, I can't wait for next year! It sounds like we are going to have fun!
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April 30, 2007 - Cub Scout Family Fun Fest
Saturday night we had the pleasure of attending the Cub Scout Family Fun Fest. I have to admit...I was tired and I really wasn't looking forward to going, but we got it together and we all went. They rented out the local rec center and took the place over. It all started around 7:00. The kids got to swim from 7:00-9:00. The pool had a really cool slide. I think Carter spent 99% of the time on the slide or climbing the stairs to the slide. Here is a picture on his first trip down...
Cooper and I had a blast playing in the "baby" pool...here are a couple pictures - we even got one of him "smiling". He particularly like the turtle!
Here is a picture of Carter and his best buddy Camon...
After all the swimming, everyone ate pizza. Then they had games going in one gym and a movie (Night at the Museum) showing in the other gym. We all went to watch the movie and really enjoyed it. When the movie was over it was about 11:30pm and time to go home.
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April 24, 2007 - Homeschooling Article...from the Credit Union?
For the past few months, the credit union we bank with has had an article concerning the cost of homeschooling on their home page. I read it a while back thinking it would go away, but it is still there. It is surprisingly a very positive, supportive article.
Here is an excerpt I particularly like...
"The goal in homeschooling is to help your children become self-directed learners," says Diane Flynn Keith, editor of Homefires.com, Redwood City, Calif. "So while you may occasionally work side-by-side with your kids, in other instances you simply facilitate their learning. You empower them by showing them where and how to find resources and mentors to further their learning."
While they want to make sure their children learn at least as much as their public school colleagues, parents who homeschool are less likely to be tied to a schedule that dictates learning a particular concept on a particular date. That leaves them free to pick the study methods and pursue the opportunities that are right for them, regardless of the schedule followed by public or private schools.
"Most people don't re-create school at home when they homeschool," says Flynn Keith, the parent of two grown sons who were educated at home. "Children learn by virtue of being exposed to all kinds of things and by modeling what the adults in their lives are doing."
"Discovery Learning" is what it is called by many. That is what we are planning to do - we tried to recreate school at home and that was no fun. Children learn, and more importantly, remember what they learn when they do and discover on their own. I think the hardest part will be sitting back and "letting" them discover on their own. The temptation is to make it so easy and directed for them so that you can check it off of some list. Here do this worksheet - OK - check, covered that, done! It is going to take time and patience (which I am some what short on), but maybe we will all discover different things together.
One of my main goals for homeschooling - not the first, but near the top - is for my children to learn how to learn and to love learning. I think homeschooling (scratch that) home "learning" is a good way to achieve that!
Stepping down off of soap box... 
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April 22, 2007 - Parades and Roller Skates
After returning from a fun week visiting my cousin and aunt, we had a jam packed weekend. First, Carter marched in the parade with the Cub Scouts at the local festival. The Scouts had a "float" with a canoe and some pinewood derby cars and kids on the side fishing. Carter was one of the fishermen.
We just made it back from out trip about 1/2 hour before Carter had to be at the staging area for the parade. We had to dress and quickly get down there. Dad had his uniform ready and everything we needed to go to the parade. We got in the car and made it there just in time. The weather was beautiful and there were a lot of people at the parade.
Dad and Cooper watched the parade go by and collected LOTS of candy!
After the parade, Carter had a birthday party to go to at the local skating rink. This was his first time on skates. He did really well for his first try. Here is a picture of him after he had had the skates on for about 10 minutes. Smart kid, holding on to the wall. He quickly found out that it is much harder than it looks!
Today we took it easy and rested - it looks like we have another full week ahead!
Good Night!
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April 11, 2007 - The Boys and Their Dog!
Here are some pictures of the boys with Luna...
She is loved...maybe a little too much!
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April 10, 2007 - Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin D
After school and Carter's art class, we headed outside to soak up some vitamin D. It has been unseasonably cold lately so we have not been able to enjoy the great outdoors. We had a good time swinging and blowing bubbles. Here are some pictures...
Good Night!
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April 9, 2007 - It's not all fun and games...
I really enjoy homeschooling Carter...but we have our days...and today was one of them!
Everything was great until I said, "It's time to start school!" - that is when the whining began. Nothing goes through me like whining - especially whan I don't feel good. I am on the third day of a cold in which I absolutely cannot breathe in our out of my nose. I can't smell, I can't taste (which takes all the fun out of eatting my son's Easter candy). It is driving me crazy - so when the whining started, my blood boiled. With gritted teeth, I sent Carter to his room until he could come back and do school without whining. It only took about 10 minutes until he came out and we were able to talk and get on with school. During our school time, we had a few more tense moments, but we got through.
Homeschooling is wonderful and it is such a blessing to be able to teach my boys at home, but it is more challenging at times than I ever expected. Now don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. But I figure if I report the good days on this blog, I need to be honest and report the challenging ones as well.
Here's hoping for no teeth gritting tomorrow!
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April 7, 2007 - Easter Eggs!
Well, last night we colored Easter eggs and watched a few Easter shows. Dad has to play at church all weekend so we kind of celebrated last night. He has 4 services to play today and 5 or 6 tomorrow! We even gave the kids their Easter baskets today since Dad will be gone early in the morning and I figured they wouldn't want to wait until he got home. Carter got a "force action" light saber and Cooper got a Mr. Potato Head. Both are very happy! Here are some pictures from our Easter egg coloring extravagana!
Dad seems a little too excited!
Cooper was there, but he didn't have time to stick around for any pictures!
HAPPY EASTER!
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April 3, 2007 - Hop-A-Long Carter
Carter has discovered "Hop-A-Long Cassidy" and he loves it. Dad got some episodes on DVD and Carter loves to watch them. Here he is as "Hop-A-Long Carter"...
Now Dad is even getting into the act...
Good Night!
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