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I just wanted to let anyone who is interested know that I also have a blog on homesteadblogger.com as melaniedawn and have been posting a lot more entries on there lately than on this blog. Melanie |
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I thought I would blog a bit before the day really starts for us and so Michelle won't worry about me I am worried about government intrusion on our children's lives and homeschooling if we end up with a democratic majority. I know there are already government programs in place to "help" parents because they can't wipe there childrens' noses without the governments help, or so the gov has made them think, I am afraid the dems want even more of that. I also fear for our religious freedoms if we have a majority of liberal judges. I'm not obsessed with fear, these are just some of the things on my mind. Things we homeschooling parents need to be aware of and ready to stand against. Meghan crawled into bed with us last night. As I was telling her she has her own bed to sleep in, I thought how blessed we are as a family--each child has their own bed. How many families in the world don't have that luxury, and how many children don't even have families? Yes, she ended up sleeping with us. Melanie |
. I worked yesterday; it was actually fun. Another cashier and I got silly and it lasted all throughout our shift. I wanted Meghan to get busy on spelling when I got home, but her next-door-neighbor friend ran over to the house as soon as she saw our van in the driveway and asked if Meghan could play. Since it was such a pretty day and I knew cold and rain were coming later in the week, I let her. We can make it up today. Today we need to do school, go to the library, roast a chicken, and bake a cake. Rachel's birthday party is Sunday. I am glad Meghan has informed me that she wants a "small family party" for her birthday.|
Two things have hit me right between the eyes this past week. One, if I am not loving what I am teaching my kids, why am I bothering? I mean sure, some subjects are tedious, maybe math and phonics, but it is within my power to make all subjects exciting in some small way and show my children WHY we are learning these things and teach them in such a way that they will benefit my children all the rest of their lives. Two, my Lil'est is always approaching me with little things she has found outside in nature. Yesterday, she showed me a little stick she had found and was very intrigued with the marks on the stick and was speculating what might have made the marks. And it struck me, I should still be doing something like "Exploring Creation With Botany" with her instead of the more textbookish science curriculum I chose this year because it was easier on me. My eyes are being opened to what my children really need and I pray this trend continues. Melanie |
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Did anyone go to "Homeschool Day" at the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, yesterday? We were too late to register for any of the classes, but went anyway as a field trip for the children. Truth be told, we went for my husband--he was like a kid in a candy store with all those planes. He says he thinks he took about 90 photos! If you are within driving distance, they have homeschool days in the spring and fall and admission is free. It makes for a great fieldtrip. Today it's back to business as usual. Yesterday was the last day of vacation for both my husband and I. He just left for work and I leave for my part-time job around 1:30. And it will be back to normal school day for the children after five days in a row of no schoolwork. All this Halloween hype kinda bugs me. We can't go into a store without seeing something gruesome. I am trying to keep silent on the whole issue of the "holiday" with the children, but my Lil'est is so excited about it. She loves Halloween. Of course, I started this by raising them to expect Trick-or-Treat and costumes and all so it will take some time to back out of it. I read something written by a man whom I deeply respect as far as childraising goes that small gestures have a more profound effect than huge changes. Well, time to start making some pumpkin/banana bread and setting up for homeschool. Fall is here!!! Melanie |
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Oldest Daughter finally got to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Youngest Son and I went with her to see it. Pretty exciting but a lot of alien stuff. It was set in 1957 during the Area 51-Atomic Bomb-Cold War era. Daughter was just interested in the adventure aspect. We went Aldi shopping after the movie. While we were gone, Lil'est and Daddy, who has some vacation days this week, went to look at trains and to the park where the creek is to check out the crab and clam shells. I'm talking small crabs and clams; we are in east central Indiana. She kept a clam shell and thinks it is a live clam so now it is her new pet. She just informed me a minute ago that he is sleeping. They had also gone to Kroger, Wal-Mart, and the local ice-cream joint. And through it all, we actually had a regular school day. I have checked all work except for 15-year-old son's. We are going on a day trip to Nashville, Indiana, today, but I figure he can do anything he has left undone tomorrow. Nashville has nice scenery and lots of cute shops I love it that it is fall!!! Pumpkin bread! Spices! Colored leaves! Cool breezes! I am in a Thanksgiving mood and have been anxious for this season to start! As far as I"m concerned, we can skip Halloween! Time to get ready to go to Nashville! Melanie |
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Well, it happened. Yesterday, I asked Lil'est to tell something Christopher Columbus did, and she said "invented the car?". Kind of funny, she just got him confused with Henry Ford, although he didn't invent the car, just designed the Model T and the first assembly line. I have seen that I need to be more relaxed at read-aloud time. Funny, that should be one of the most relaxing times during homeschool, but I guess I get uptight that the children might not really listen and not learn something. I need to stop being such an uptight mother. Time to switch back to decaff. Melanie |
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I feel that I threw a lot at the children yesterday. We started the Christopher Columbus read-aloud and reading News Current magazine, back to back. We also started a new Bible lesson. I hope that this isn't too much for there minds to take in and they forget what is current and what is history and who did what. I have the day off tomorrow, so I would like for us to go to the apple orchard, we always enjoy that. Next week is my husband's vacation time and we need to determine on what day we want to take our day trip so that I may plan for school accordingly. I love it that our time off and trips don't have to revolve around when the public school system says we can do things. Monday the 29th will be the field trip to the Museum of the Air Force. All the chilren are up so it's time for read-alouds; have a good week! Melanie |
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I saw the suggestion to blog about our homeschooling struggles, so here is one of mine. I struggle between getting all of the homeschool activities I plan accomplished and getting the house organized. For example, today is the day my daughters and I work on their bedroom closet---and it has been an overwhelming task!! I mean this closet needs an entire overhaul and I just wasn't prepared to get it all finished and do the "current events class" with the children I had planned. Then I realized that as long as I am teaching them what God wants them to learn, everything else will fall into place. I mean, do you really think my girls care if their closet is organized? I have settled in my mind that the closet task will eventually get done and I can also do current events and Bible with the children. But that settling of my mind didn't happpen until after the big stress came on and tried to overpower me. Silly me. I need to remember the saying "You tell me, what matters more, happy kids or a well-cleaned floor?" Melanie |
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Since I didn't have to work at the store today, I got out of bed late and took it easy; it was a lazy morning. We didn't get out of the house to do running around until about 1:00. We did our Wal-Mart and Aldi (deep discount grocery) shopping and on the way back, I got a cell phone call from my oldest saying he was waiting for us at the house. I rushed home, put perishables away, grabbed oldest son, and headed for the hair salon where I treated myself to a haircut (something I haven't had done in at least 2 years), and now we are at the library. I didn't do any "school" with my lil'est daughter yet, but biggest daughter has all hers done (typical) and youngest son has done a little bit. My oldest son doesn't homeschool, he attends a public high school and this is his last year. He is in the Army National Guard and does his monthly weekends and will be leaving for training next June and yes, I am a pround momma. Lil'est One and I can sit on the loveseat together and get some schooling done this evening; I love lap time with her. Tonight will be busy with getting school done, dinner, laundry, housecleaning, etc. The library will be closing in 15 minutes so I will wrap this up. Melanie |
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It seems today is the day for sharing our homeschool agendas and plans so here is some of what we intend to do this year. All three of my children are doing Science (insert grade level here) for Christian Schools by BJU Press. I like it because it compares Creationist to evolutionist theories and encourages the students to think for themselves. We will do science for six weeks and then switch to History. We will be doing Early American History, which I will loosely base on the Beautiful Feet curriculum. I intend to alternate science and history every six weeks. It is more difficult for us to try to do science and history at the same time due to my working part time. Oh, who am I kidding, it would be difficult for us if I didn't work outside the home; I'm not organized enough to handle it. When we receive our first issue of God's World magazine, we will begin a Current Events course, perhaps a few days a week, which will fall into the realm of Social Studies. For math, my sixth grade son is doing Keys to Decimals and will do introductory algebra later in the year. My fourth grade daughter is working in a textbook by SRA published for public schools, some of it I skip because it includes some of the public school type "unnecessariness". My second grade daughter is working in a "vintage" SRA math book from the 70's I found at a used homeschool curriculum sale. My son is in Learning Language Arts Through Literature, the tan book, and is currently doing a book study on Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. I am also counting this for his history. Both my daughters are in LIFEPAC by Alpha Omega for Language Arts. My 2nd grade daughter tested out of the first six booklets and is currently working on the 7th of ten. We are using Purposeful Design Spelling for all three children at their grade levels and I really like it because it has many language arts components to it, which my son especially needs. For Bible, each child is reading daily in Every Day With God, a children's devontional book, which is okay, but I would rather them be involved in something deeper such as the Lambert House Bible studies for children. Have I missed anything? My 4th grade daughter is writing a series of adventure stories, my son is working on designing a video game on paper, and my youngest daughter always has her nose in a book or is picking up leaves, seeds, or little creatures from outside. I hope to have an educational Snow Party around late Jan/early Feb and invite fellow homeschoolers. My intentions are mainly to help us appreciate the snowy weather and give us something to look forward to in the middle of "hibernation time" here in central Indiana. My husband's grandfather is coming for a visit this Sunday and Monday. He is 82 years old and always has interesting stories to tell and some interesting object(s) for the kids to study. He is from Dallas, Texas. I purchased a used book about his area and hope he can look through it with the children and elaborate on some of the articles and photos. We also have art books and a few recorders, so I am hoping to eventually fit music and art into our school year. I also like to use carefully chosen educational DVD's from the library for the kids to watch as a supplement to their curriculum (usually science). Well, unless our plans change, this our 2008-2009 homeschool agenda. Melanie |
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I have a question about using a spelling curriculum without giving spelling tests. My son is doing Purposeful Design Spelling Grade Six and he is a very poor speller. And although we have gone through Alpha-Phonics twice, he is poor at identifying letter sounds. I really like his spelling curriculum for the fact that it gives him exercises in the many ways to use his list words and other language arts aspects. I am wondering if I should, at the end of each week, just have him read each word to me and use it in a sentence rather than testing him on the spellings. Spelling tests seem to do him no good as far as actually learning something; when helping him get ready, I feel like I'm just "teaching him the test" as done in many public schools. Any suggestions? Thanks! Melanie |
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I have already spent too much time online, but want to blog a few lines. I have been reserching homemade shampoo and conditioner recipes and am going to try 1 TB baking soda mixed with hot water for cleansing and a little lemon juice for rinsing. Has anyone else ever tried homemade or natural hair care? My 7-year-old daughter was the first of the children to awaken this morning. She spent some time playing with her toy dogs and reading. We then made homemade pancakes and my 9-year-old daughter woke up just in time to help us eat them. This is our third morning in a row making pancakes and my daughters love to participate. We haven't done any school yet and chores are just barely done, but I am going to take it easy today because it feels so good knowing I don't have to leave for work. However, this is spelling test day and my son needs to research and report on an earthquake of his choosing from history. We need to do our bi-weekly Wal-Mart run today and there is also the library. So it sounds like I need to be off the computer and getting myself busy, doesn't it? Everyone have a great weekend! Melanie |
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Homeschool is still going well, although the thought of having to leave home and go to work today is irritating me and I am letting that make me a little crabby with the children. Yesterday and today, we watched our little next-door neighbor get on the school bus. The children inside looked out at us through the windows and seemed to be thinking "Why can't I stay home?" I would like to have had them all get off the bus and play with my children. We are so blessed to be able to stay home and spend quality AND quantity time together; I pray our situation is alway thus. We are using BJU Press for science and I really like the way it gets the students thinking for themselves. It will give facts, then an evolutionist theory, and then ask, " Does this sound reasonable to you?" Usually, after learning the facts, the theory sounds almost ridiculous. We are using Purposeful Design Publications for Spelling and I like that it has a lot of Language Arts supplementation (which my son needs!!) within the lessons. Well, time to be getting ready for work. If anyone can recommend good shoes for standing in on the job, I would appreciate it. I am going to check out Dr. Scholl's insoles and shoes on our Wal-Mart trip tomorrow. Have a wonderful day with your children! melanie |
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Today was a great homeschool day!!!!! We got all academics accomplished and had time to run to the library and grocery store. The girls even had plans to make cookies when we returned, but decided to play together instead. The girls (ages 7 and 9) colaborated(sp?) on little projects and pretend play ideas and it was wonderful to see them getting along so well. I love it when they are "sisterfriends", which they often are due to homeschooling. All chores were done and I got 2 loads of laundry done. Hubby cut up the watermelon when he got home and we had it before dinner. I decided to subscribe to God's World News magazine for the children for current events which can be counted as Social Studies for school. And with all that is going on in the world, I think they need to be aware of it on their level. Matthew spent a few hours over at a friends and then took a long bike ride. Prayers have just been said and we are herding the children toward bed. Melanie |
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We have completed our first week of homeschool and it has given me a chance to evaluate somewhat what is working and what needs to be changed. I need to do more one-on-one work with Matthew on science. I realized I hadn't even started our attendance record yet! I have the forms copied, just nothing written on them yet. That's something I should do today or it won't happen 'til November. I don't go back to work until Tuesday I had better get off the computer as I have been on for about 2 hours now reading the interesting blogs on this site. Have a great weekend! melanie |
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OUCH! I just viewed my last entry and that green on orange really hurt my eyes!! Sorry!!! I won't use that color again! Everyone have a good weekend! melanie |
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I slept until about nine and got a call from work; they wanted to know if I could come in because someone had called in sick. So, after 2 weeks of not working, I said yes, I would come in (we need the money). It was okay, but what I don't like about it is not feeling like doing anything when I get home. I didn't feel like checking on the kids' homeschool assignments, cooking, or anything--I was pooped. I feel like working outside the home is an infringement on my life and I can't wait until we get out of debt so I can be home FULL TIME again. Okay, enough of me complaining about work. Unless work calls me, I have tomorrow off and it will be library day. We always enjoy that. It will be nice to "relax" by catching up on housework and doing homeschool and checking out books. If you are reading this, have a nice weekend!! melanie |
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My father passed away just two hours after my last blog entry. My uncle called me on my cell as I was putting groceries in the van to let me know my dad had lost consciousness, and then an hour later, I got another call with the worst news. My uncle is taking this just as hard as my sister and I; my dad was 14 when he was born and basically raised him to help out my grandmother (their dad was emotionally absent). We did begin school yesterday. My personal theme for this year is "Take it easy and don't let things stress you out". I have gotten so uptight in past homeschooling years when things didn't go as expected and have decided this year to be kinder to my children and myself. I am not ready to start Beautiful Feet History, so we are not doing it yet. I am planning on easing into it. Matthew's lanuage arts assignment is a historical fiction book study anyway and I might just read some historical literature with the girls. I forgot to take "first day" photos yesterday, so I am taking them today, we will just have to call them "first week" photos. Melanie |
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Only one and a half weeks left until the beginning of school. I am trudging towards being ready for it; I wanted to be ready for it sooner than this. My father is in basically the same condition; refusing dialysis, 20% heart rate, terribly bloated from the fluid and toxins his failing kidneys are producing. His siblings are hoping one of his brothers, who is on dialysis, can arrive from out of state to try to talk him into trying dialysis. He has pneumonia in various parts of his body, and the doctors are giving him a pill to keep him from getting it in his lungs. I am free from my part-time job for 5 days in a row, beginning today Melanie |
. I love being home and available for the kids!! The girls and I are at the library right now, each of us doing our own computer thing. Matthew spent the night with a neighborhood friend and is still there hanging out. It is wonderful to know you don't have to rush through the day to get to work on time!|
After almost a year, I have returned to homeschoolblogger! We will be starting school 2 weeks from today. I am looking forwarding to logging in this blog what we are doing and reading about your homeschooling adventures also. Hard to believe how fast summer is flying by! I had a terrible winter with hormonal changes but think I have found the right combo of supplements and food avoidances (is that a word?) to keep me balanced. My father has had his good days and bad days this past year but is now at his worst. His kidneys are failing and his heart only working at 20%. He is refusing dialysis after being told there is a chance it could give him a heart attack. So I think now it is just a matter of the hospital staff keeping him comfortable. Here is what our curriculum looks like for this year: All Three Children: Beautiful Feet Early American History Grade-level appropriate BJU Science for Christian Schools "Every Day With God" devotional book for Bible Meghan: SRA Mathematics combined with CSI Math Reading the Pathway Readers Abeka Cursive Purposeful Spelling LIFEPAC Language Arts Rachel: Abeka Cursive Purposeful Spelling LIFEPAC Language Arts SRA Math Matthew: Learning Language Arts Through Literature Purposeful Spelling Easy Grammer Key to Decimals Key to Percents (Introduction to Algebra mid-year) Hope I didn't bore you too much with the details! I am looking forward to getting back in the school grove! I am also now working part-time, which I have never done with homeschooling, so we will see how that goes! Good to be back! Melanie |