Aug. 29, 2007 - Reason #3,462 why I love homeschooling

Here in Texas, public school kids headed back to school on Monday.  I thought of the frantic moms scurrying to get their kids up, dressed, fed and out the door to begin the new year.  That moment made me grateful our family homeschools.  My kids slept in and woke up slowly.  I didn't have to worry about what they were going to wear.  In fact, they wore their swimsuits!  I didn't have to hurry them out the door.  Nope.  They were home, hanging out with mom and dad.  Is there any wonder we love homeschooling?

To celebrate the beginning of ps, we made a day of it.  Mike got up early and surprised us by taking the day off.  After a huge breakfast by candlelight, we headed to the pool for three hours.  Except for another hs family, we had the place to ourselves.  As a fellow homeschool mom and I sat cooling ourselves in the water, we decided this was yet another reason why we love homeschooling.  FREEDOM!  Freedom from other people's schedules.  Freedom to play hooky if we want.  Freedom to insert fun into our lives at any given moment.  Freedom to just be.

Yes, homeschooling calls for sacrifice and honestly, there are some days I wish that big yellow school bus would haul them away for a few hours.  Thankfully, those days are few and far between.  We play together, learn together, grow together, and sometimes drive each other crazy.  I wouldn't trade that for all the coffee at Starbucks!

Better run.  The kids are waiting to go to the pool.



 

Aug. 16, 2007 - Back to school parenting tips

For the past several years I have subscribed to a wonderful little e-zine written by a homeschooling mom from Pennsylvania.  She often includes children's book reviews, recipes and sweet encouragement.  This month's tidbit was worth passing on as we look to a fresh start and a new school year.  If you'd like to subscribe to Julie's newsletter, simply drop her a line at the e-mail listed below.

GOD’S GUIDANCE – Some Thoughts on Training Children

Jan. 31, 2007 - Public schools and wasted time

I was talking yesterday with a friend whose children are in public school.  She shared many of her frustrations and asked my opinion.  “Oh, don’t get me started!” I was thinking, but I held my tongue and tempered my opinion. 

One of her frustrations was with the amount of down time in her daughter’s first grade classroom…time when the kids did nothing but wander the room, looking for something to fill their time.  Here is an example she relayed from her last visit to help in the classroom. The children started the day looking at three sentences.  The teacher told them that each sentence had three mistakes.  They were to find the problems and write the sentences correctly.  After finishing the assignment, they would have free time until recess.  The assignment took most kids a total of 10 minutes, leaving them about an hour and ten minutes until recess.  Think of all the learning that could have taken place during this time.  What a waste!  And we wonder why the kids have so much homework and are still not doing well? 

One of the arguments against homeschooling I have often heard discussed is the length of our school day. Well meaning relatives have often asked how we can possibly teach them all they need to know before lunch.  Looking at the above example, I think the answer is obvious.  We give our children one on one attention, making good use of our time.  We are not plagued by interruptions such as lunch count, fire drills, students who lag behind, discipline problems, assemblies or any myriad of other time wasting events.  The only interruptions we face are real life and yes, those do happen frequently.  The difference is taking those interruptions and turning them into life lessons.  The only life lesson my friend’s daughter is learning is how to fill her time until recess.  I wonder how that will serve her later on?

Jan. 25, 2007 - Heard on the homefront

This is what you would have overheard during our science lesson this morning.

Mom:  What are the three different forms a substance can take?

Ds #1: Solid, liquid and...(long pause)...plastic???

Laughter truly is the best medicine.

Jan. 10, 2007 - The perfect afternoon at home

I really should start a category keeping track of the myriad of reasons we homeschool.  Here is another to add to the ever-growing list.

The three boys are cozied up on our bed under warm blankets listening to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe on cd.  We found the entire Narnia collection from Focus on the Family for an incredible price at Costco.  The whole family is enjoying the stories.  They are so well done.

My children are home...where they belong...enjoying classic literature and the joy of being together.  What a perfect afternoon.

Nov. 29, 2006 - One more reason I love homeschooling

We had a meeting at our house last night that lasted quite late.  The other parents where concerned about having to get their kids up early for school this morning. 

So here I sit this morning with my coffee and a quite house...my kids are sleeping in.  No jarring them out of bed while it is still dark and sending them out into the cold.  My munchkins are snug in their beds, getting all the sleep they need.  School will be there waiting when they wake up.  School doesn't schedule us, we schedule school.

Oct. 25, 2006 - Condemnation, comparisons and other silly things we do

OK ladies...fess up.  How many of you can relate to the cartoon?  I must admit I can.  I just finished reading Grace4Gayle’s recent entry on condemnation and homeschooling.  It was a good one and really got me thinking.  Why do we, as homeschool moms, carry such a weight of condemnation?  Why do we constantly compare ourselves to what others are doing?  The condemnation is usually coming from self.  I have never had another hs mom look down on me (at least to my face) for something I did or did not do.  No, we are our own worst critics.  Lest you doubt, here are some of my own personal (allbeit shallow) examples.

We've all been there.  You run into Mrs. Jones at Mom's Night Out and find out that little Suzie (who just happens to be the same age as your son) is taking Spanish and French immersion classes.  Just for a moment (however fleeting), you consider whether you should add that to your curriculum.  Don't deny it...we've all been there.  We hold on to those lingering doubts and needling questions...am I doing enough?  Am I doing all God wants me to be doing?  The enemy knows our insecurities and will nail us to the wall every time if we allow him to.

Here's another one.  I’ve tried my hand at gardening several times.  This past summer I finally admitted to myself that I just don’t like it.  I’d rather go to the Farmer’s Market and buy the homegrown stuff from someone who enjoys growing it and then sells it to me.  Why did I keep doing it for so long?  Here comes the transparent me…because I thought all good homeschooling families were suppose to have a garden and more importantly, were suppose to enjoy it.  Yikes!  Oh my goodness…just typing that makes me realize how silly it sounds.  Here I am doing something I don’t even enjoy simply because somewhere in the recesses of my mind I think this is what a good homeschool mom should be doing.  What is the matter with me??? 

There are so many “hot topics” within the homeschool circles.  We see the quiverful, dress wearing homeschool mom on the cover of the magazine who makes all her kids’ clothes, grinds her own wheat, and bakes all her own bread, her children never watch TV or eat sugar and they all study Greek and Latin.  Please hear me out.  If you do any (or all!) of these things, then kudos to you!   My point is that we hold this “homeschool mom” ideal before us and more often than not we fail to measure up to the standards we have set.  Therein lies the problem.  We are looking to man’s standards and not to God’s.  I have to ask myself, “What does God want OUR family to look like?”  A verse comes to mind that my little brother learned to quote when he was two.  (read with a slight two-year old lisp) “And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8.  That can look like many different things, depending on who God created us to be.  We need to stop the comparison games.  I would love to do some of the above-mentioned things and actually enjoy them, but I am who God created me to be.  I am a Starbucks lovin’, recovering shop-a-holic, city girl who has no desire to live in the country and own animals, shops at Old Navy and couldn’t sew a straight stitch to save my life, loves Jesus and my family with all my heart, hates gardening, buys bread from the store and wouldn’t know a wheat berry if it hit me in the face kinda gal!  I am a work in progress and I will not try to be someone I am not.

Wow…that felt really good!

Oct. 17, 2006 - Homeschool survey

The term homeschool is a relatively new one.  Spell check separates the term into two words, but "homeschooling" is shown as one.  Today I noticed a notation in Spelling Power about the differing opinions on the spelling.  They gave the examples of "public school" and "private school" being two words as their justification for separating the two.  I have always spelled it as one. 

I would like to know your opinion.  Is it "homeschool" or "home school"?

Sep. 6, 2006 - Challenging our children

I am struggling a bit wondering if I am challenging our oldest son enough in his studies.  We are doing many of the same things with all three boys and I am beginning to recognize that I need to require more of him.  He is finishing his work in record time, very rarely coming up against something he must struggle through.  I need to find ways to offer him areas and opportunities to struggle a bit.  Through those struggles, he will be challenged.  Better to face them now, in the safety of home than to leave home having never failed.

For those of you with 10-year-old sons, how do you find ways to challenge them?  What sorts of things are you teaching them this year?

Aug. 29, 2006 - Homeschooling in the lion's den

**WARNING: This blog entry is being written while standing on a very tall soapbox.**

When the Lord called our family to homeschool there was no directive given on exactly how it was to be done.  He didn't send down a lesson plan or endow me with visions of what we were to do.  He called...we're following...and He is graciously leading day by day.

We're on a journey.  My path doesn't look like your path and your path doesn't look like Suzie's path.  Why then are so many Christian homeschoolers convinced that everyone's path must look like theirs? 

One of our local hs groups has decided that there are some in our community who have chosen to homeschool in a way that is not acceptable.  It doesn't fit their idea of how parents should be educating their children and therefore it is a threat to homeschoolers everywhere.  They have gone so far as to call a boycott of a local Christian homeschool store that is supporting this "renegade" group.  Unfounded fear is a powerful and destructive force.

How we choose to homeschool our children is OUR business.  We will answer to the Lord for how we have traveled this road.  The manner in which we choose to homeschool our children is not the issue.  The problem is allowing these non-salvation issues to cause division among Christians.  That is nothing short of sin.  Scripture repeatedly exhorts us to encourage and build one another up...to avoid divisiveness.  Division is a powerful enemy among Christians.  It weakens our testimony, making us ineffective for Christ.

OreoSouza made an awesome point in her entry today.  In the days of the early church, persecuted Christians faced lions for their faith.  Now the tables have turned and we have become the lions.  Where there should be encouragement for the journey, there is anger and fear.  Do I need to fear the way you're doing things because it's different from mine?  Must I ostracize you because you aren't doing it my way?  Heaven help us all.  We need to stop tearing each other up...stop being so afraid and recognize that though our journeys are all different, our destination is the same.

Aug. 28, 2006 - Shouldn't you be in school?

I gathered up the kids this morning and headed for the grocery store.  Schooling in the afternoon leaves our mornings free to get things done while the toddler is still happy. 

Once we arrived at the store it dawned on me that today was the first day of school for our local public system...hence the many stares we received.  One woman was bold enough to ask my oldest why he wasn't in school today.  When she heard his reply she said, "Well, shouldn't you still be doing school this morning?"  Sigh...

Later, while bagging the groceries, my sons were guessing how many items we had purchased.  One of them said, "My hypothesis is..."  Yes, we're homeschooled and proud of it!

Aug. 25, 2006 - Handwriting curriculum

It occurred to me that in all my months of blogging I have never written anything about what sort of curriculum we use.  I've given up hope of ever determining what "style" of homeschoolers we are.  Eclectic is probably the best summation...at least it sounds better than "completely confused and undecided".

My friend Michelle introduced me to the Startwrite handwriting program a few years ago.  I would have to say it is the single best purchase I have made for our homeschool.  Using the computer program, you customize your child's handwriting/copywork sheets.  Because of its flexibility, it is the only handwriting tool you will ever need.  Startwrite can either be downloaded directly from the internet, or ordered on CD.  I am able to customize the kid's copywork depending on what we are studying.  Just today, I printed out my oldest son's spelling list for him to practice his newly learned cursive lettering.  Talk about double duty!

Thanks for the great recommendation Michelle.  It was worth every penny.

Aug. 23, 2006 - NBC's TODAY show encourages homeschooling

Surprised?  Don't be.  I sometimes tune in to the TODAY show while on the treadmill.  Each time I do, it never fails to send me running for my list of "100 reasons why we homeschool". Whether peer pressure, body image, teen sex or the latest fashions, the media sends numerous messages...the very messages that encourage us to homeschool.

Tuning in yesterday I watched a fashion show for five to nine year olds.  Excuse me?  That right there should send up red flags.  According to the "experts", I should be dressing my young children in $200 outfits each day to send them off to school so they will fit in with their peers.  That's right...$200!  I doubt I spend that much on their entire wardrobe. What sort of message are we sending our children?  "Image is everything."  "Do whatever it takes to fit in." 

Price aside, the "fashions" (I use that term loosely) themselves where merely miniaturized adult duds.  One five year old little girl sported long, baggy shorts with leggings underneath, a baggy overcoat and sparkly, red shoes...very reminiscent of Cindy Lauper and the 80's.  I thought it was ugly then.  Why on earth would I want to dress my sweet Emma that way now????  And the boys stuff...don't even get me started!

So the next time you see one of these eye-opening stories, just look at it as "one more reason why we choose to homeschool".  Puts a much more positive spin on things don't you think?

Aug. 20, 2006 - Adaptability

I’ve written before about our routine.  It may not look like yours, and that’s OK.  I tried for a long time to make our little homeschool match my perceived idea.  You know, the ones we see in some homeschool magazines…the ones with the smiling family on the front cover all dressed in matching outfits presumably made by mom.  Then I woke up and smelled the Starbucks.  Our school is unique because our family is unique.  Frustrations abounded as I attempted to put a square peg in a round hole.  No matter how I tried, we only ended up with bruised edges.

The beauty of homeschooling is adaptability.  I came to realize we didn’t have to be sitting at the kitchen table promptly at 8:00 a.m. with bright shining faces and matching shirts.  It wasn’t working and I hate to admit, it took me too long to concede the point.  We found that 10:00 a.m. seemed to work better for our family.  Lessons were finished and learning was taking place, regardless of when we began…and with noticeably less bruised edges.

Enter Princess Emma.  This wonderful addition to our family has forced us to adapt once again.  Vain attempts to continue with school as before were repeatedly met with frustration.  One of my favorite sites is Preschoolers and Peace…anyone found Toddlers and Peace?  If so, please send me the link!  Now we take the mornings for waking up a bit more slowly, chores, extra projects, computer time and play.  After lunch, Princess Emma goes down for a nap and we hit the books. Rather than continue to work against the rhythm of our current family situation, we’re flowing with it…and it’s working! 

I’m sure the future of our homeschool will contain many more adjustments.  I pray I will become more adept at recognizing the need for change a bit more quickly.

Jul. 17, 2006 - The magnitude of the small things

Fellow HSBer Texas Raisin's has had to make an incredibly difficult decision for her family.  She posted her thoughts today at putting her children back in public school and the things she will miss about having them home with her. 

As I read the post, it hit me how much I take our homeschooling life for granted.   The busyness, the noise, the questions, the hugs, the stories, the laughter...the moments of life...sometimes the very things that drive me batty...are the very things she will now miss each day.  What a sobering thought.  I pray the Lord reminds me of the magnitude of the small things the next time I'm ready to run and hide in the bathroom.

Please keep her in your prayers as they make this difficult transition. 

Jul. 10, 2006 - Having a ball

Just had to share this great idea from Jamin over at HSBCompanyblog.  Using a beach ball from the dollar store, write the states and capitals all over the ball.  Tossing the ball around, each person catches the ball and names the state and capital under their left thumb. 

The possibilities for this game are endless...multiplication facts, sight words, root words, foreign language, history or science facts.  Use your imagination and have a ball!

Jun. 20, 2006 - The "perfect" homeschool day

The kids and I just spent a lovely afternoon flying kites.  We relished the warmth of the sunshine and the breezes blowing gently on our face.  We talked about wind speeds, aerodynamics and the first man in flight.  Yeah, right!  If you believed what you just read, you might want to go read someone else's blog!

The part about flying kites is true.  It was warm and windy.  And the thought did cross my mind about some of the lessons we could have learned along the way.  What a nice story it all made.  I guess it's all in how you look at it.

In fact, the afternoon was a lesson in perseverance, patience and self-control...and those were just the lessons Mommy learned!  We spent the entire hour running up and down the street with our little kites, trying desperately to get them up in the air.  The only thing we succeeded in getting them into was the trees.  I was able to praise my four year old for his stick-to-itiveness...he never gave up, but worked for a long time untangling his string.  I was able to help my oldest laugh at himself a little...something he has trouble doing.   We laughed a lot and chose to look at the humor rather than giving full vent to our frustrations.

So no, it wasn't the "perfect" homeschool day, but it was a good day nonetheless.  A day spent making a few more crazy memories.

Jun. 5, 2006 - Math thoughts...

I am probably even more ready than the kids to be finished with school for the summer.  We will continue with math and reading, but everything else is put away for a couple of months.  I am welcoming the break.

Having said that, it seems there is no rest for the weary.  Curriculum selection and planning is all the talk around the blogosphere lately.  The only major change I am considering (or have had a spare moment to think about!) is math.  We have used Horizons since K and have been happy with the outcome.   The boys just naturally get it...must come from their dad! 

I am finding as we progress however that there is little in the way of extra explanations for the new topics being introduced.   I am considering switching to Math U See.  It seems to build a strong foundation, offering understanding on an entirely different level than other curriculums.  The testimonials on their web site build a strong case for making the switch.  I also think the DVD portion would fit well with my oldest son’s learning style.

I would love to hear your experiences with Math U See...the good, the bad and the ugly. 

Apr. 6, 2006 - Preschoolers and homeschooling

If you homeschool with little ones around, you know what a challenge it can be.  I recently found a wonderful new site filled with great ideas for turning the challenge into a workable solution for every family.  Preschoolers and Peace is written by a creative mom of six who shares the secrets from her homeschool journey.

She also has blog here at HSB.  Pop over and say hello!

Mar. 29, 2006 - Best blogging entry I've read in a long time

OK, obviously I'm spending too much time on the computer today, but I just had to share about a fantastic article I read over at Dad's Corner.   Steve's ficticious story will leave you speechless.  He has taken the very real fears we face as homeschoolers and given them a bit of a sci-fi twist.  I won't give away the ending, but it's a good one!  Now go!  Read!