Aug. 20, 2008 - Homeschool Memoirs Assignment: All About Me
I joined a meme here on Homeschool Blogger. Every Wednesday there will be a new theme,
"to not only keep a 'memoir' (posts) of your homeschool year, but to make a way for homeschoolers to get to know each other." Today's them is All About Me, "the author behind the words. The Momma behind all the homeschooling kiddos. Just write up something about you, your family, and your home. How long you’ve been homeschooling and why you decided to homeschool." Here it goes...
My name is Stacie. I'm 31 and I've been married to Audie for 11 years. We have a 9-year old son Levi, and we're starting our third year of homeschooling.
Levi went to public school for kindergarten and first grade. By the middle of first grade he was very bored, and started dreading school. It was his idea to homeschool. I was apprehensive at first - could I really teach him everything he needs to know? How could I continue to pursue my writing? Would he be even more bored at home? Would I go crazy having to keep him entertained all day? We jumped in with two feet, and I've managed to keep my head above water. Levi is thriving and tells me very often why he's happy to be homeschooled.
We are very eclectic. At first we tried a school-at-home approach, which was terrible. Then we relaxed a lot. Over the summer we take sort of an "unschool" approach, learning by doing and living life. (There's so much real-life learning to be had on the homestead in the summer). This year we're going to try some Charlotte Mason strategies, like lapbooking and narration.
We live in a little house with a big yard, a pond and many acres of woods. We love working and playing around the homestead. A lot of Levi's learning does come from living in the country. We cut wood from our woods, stack it in the woodshed, and then use it to heat our house all winter long. We hike in the woods, swim in our pond, garden, and compost. In the spring we hope to get chickens.
I struggle with homeschooling. It's difficult being Levi's only playmate most of the time. Since he was a baby, he has always required a lot of stimulation - so I'm always trying to figure out how to keep him interested. I do know that it is what God wants for us, so I give it up to Him daily.
I like to be outside, especially in the woods. I like studying the Bible, seeking God, and writing. I enjoy learning about homesteading, simple living, nature and wildlife. I love good conversation with interesting people.
It's not the best picture, but it's the most recent one we have of all of us. It was taken a couple days ago.
Comments
Aug. 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 3FoldChord
that is a LOT of wood!
Lapbooks are fun! we enjoyed them. they were great for that one school year, but then we were ready to move on,but someone might do one again- who knows.
Aug. 20, 2008 - Loved your intro
Posted by paulamharper
It's nice to meet you :-) I have to say I am jealous--I would love to homestead, but for now we're urbanites. I lived on a farm as a kid and it saddens me that my kids don't have that experience.
Aug. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Michelle122161
Hi Stacie,
This is a wonderful idea. I would like to get involved. I went to their site and copied their link. However, when I tried to paste it in my template everything else disappears. Any ideas? It's something I'm doing wrong, because it happened before.
BTW, I Love your intro.
Blessings,
Michelle
Aug. 21, 2008 - That's a LOT of wood!
Posted by neverathomemom
Hi Stacie! That's a lot of wood. Will that last you all winter?
We started raising chickens last year as one of our projects. And we have 3 hen hatched chicks right now. (Their pic is in my avatar on my blog) We enjoy the "farm fresh eggs" but we don't eat the chickens.
Aug. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Thank you for visiting my blog. It's nice to meet you! We love doing lapbooks here to!
Aug. 21, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
oops sorry, I forgot sign that last comment LOL.
Kim from www.homesteadblogger.com/homesteadacres
Aug. 21, 2008 - WoodPile
Posted by Audie
Im thinking that that woodpile is bulging a bit there to the left ... Maybe we should doctor that photo up a bit ... :)
Aug. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by aiminghigh
Your home sounds very comfortable...in a good way. You give knew meaning to the "child-directed" approach...even to the point the child directs you to bring him home. :>) He is wise beyond his years.
Many Blessings,
Holly@aiminghigh
Aug. 22, 2008 - hi
Posted by Anonymous
Great to learn more about you! :D
I'm a new homeschooler, so I enjoy getting to learn how people homeschool.
have a great year!
Sherry
http://lampuntomyfeetandalightuntomypath.blogspot.com/
Aug. 23, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Dana @ Cherry Soup
Wow! That is a huge stack of firewood. It reminds me of my childhood home. I grew up in the middle of Golden Gate State Park in the Colorado mountains. We cut would like that every year and had a wood burning stove to heat the house. I do miss those days. Thanks for sharing about your family!
Here's my link: www.cherry-soup.blogspot.com
Aug. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by journeymomma
Hi! It's nice to meet you and your lovely family. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better throughout the year!
Aug. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Haflingerhorses
I enjoyed reading your post. I meandered down and read more...I enjoyed all of it.
Come by and visit our ranch :)
Antoinette
