Nov. 19, 2008
Testing, Testing, 1-2-3
OK, so I have not been the most organized homeschool mom on the planet. We get up late, we stay up late. We've rented movies at midnight! We sometimes spend all day just cleaning. We have probably never finished a math or grammar book. I had eight kids in 12 years. That's a lot of hormones people!!!
We've had days where we spent a half hour just looking for a pencil! We've lost books for weeks. We've been sick for weeks on end. We've taken vacations in the middle of the school year. We've started the year late. We've ended the year early.
The kids have visited their grandparents in the middle of the school week. They've done home improvement projects and raked the neighbors' leaves. Sometimes we've taken days off just to visit friends.
I've had kids changing diapers, cooking dinners and doing laundry.
I just got back my oldest son's test scores from the MME he took last March.
He passed EVERYTHING!!! He also got a very respectable grade on his ACT.
You don't have to being doing school for ten months straight, five days a week, 7-8 hours a day.
You just don't.
~The Crazy Mom
Comments
Oct. 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
It is good to hear about another unorganized homeschooler especially one who tests well! I hope that will be my girls, the testing well part that is! We already have the unorganized down pat. :)
Lisa G
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Oct. 1, 2008 - Queen of Chaos
Posted by mamahobbit
Well, Crazy Mom knows how crazy I am, so you may want to take anything I say with a grain of salt. I, too, take a...well... relaxed approach to homeschooling. I'm really good at coming up with academic "school"-sounding names for everyday activities. Grandma needs a thank you for the birthday gift she sent? That's "Language Arts". Boy Scout merit badge work easily counts for science or social studies, or occassionally even phys ed (my nemesis!). Singing in the choir at church? Golly, that's music!
My kids get regular doses of neglect from their distracted mother, yet somehow still excel academically. What we lack in domestic organization, we make up for in creative endeavors and a love of reading. Speaking of which- gotta run! We're making leggings & moccasins for my 14 yr. old's monster feet (home ec), in preparation for a living history thing the kids & I are doing with the local historical society ("social studies") and painting fish for a local Catholic high school's homecoming decorations ("art" & "religion" & "community Service"), in the course of helping the teens in our church youth group.
Edited by TheCrazyMom on Oct. 7, 2008 at 3:04 PM
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Oct. 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by mlbainbridge
Thanks for the reminder :-)!! I've enjoyed reading your blog tonight!
Michelle...momys to David (8), Julia(6), Joshua(5), Susanna(3), Samuel(2) and Rebecca Joy (2 days old)
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Oct. 4, 2008 - Who's to say?
Posted by brite00eyes
Who's to say which things your children will remember best and why? Our house is just as crazy, though fewer kids, just special needs. They dont learn the *school* way though. That way had its turn and now it's mine. If my kids never touch a textbook again it will be too soon for me. I have some pretty bright kids, and ds took the ACT last year as a 7th grader for the JHCTY - he got some impressive results too. Fair due to me showing our way is working and we'll get to it sooner or later. Not that academics aren't important - It's just how we get there that's different. I figure that if we enjoy the ride, or even if the ride is just memorable, well then, they will have something to look back on when they move into adulthood. Now that's worth everything!
You've just been TOS crew-tagged :)
Looking forward to getting to know you better over the coming year.
Sheryl - brite00eyes
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Oct. 5, 2008 - My take on ... well everything..
Posted by Sis
My sis, she amazes me. 8 kids, and each is sweet and loving and the only problem is I don't see them enough! As for the couch story, I remember once asking what the spot was on her couch as I began to sit down. Her reply was "probably some body fluid". Oh well, I thought, as I sat, it's all in the family. In fact, perhaps next time I'm over I should pilfer through the couch cushions and see if I can find Jimmy Hoffa. At the very least, I could grab a snack.
Keep up the good work, Diane. Your humor always delights me and your kids are blessed to have you.
I don't know how you do it all.
I love you!
Carolyn
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Oct. 7, 2008 - Encouragement
Posted by Mom of 8
Thanks for letting us know how well your oldest is doing even though you don't follow all the "rules". We never seem to do what I plan on doing for a whole day and yet we are begining to have some fruit from our labors. Thank you for the encouraging word.
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Mar. 3, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
That was so encouraging!!! Thank you for sharing that, and congratulations to your son!
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