Stay at Home Mom and Lovin' It

Apr. 7, 2006

I guess I'm not a unit study chick.

I really want to be.  A friend was asking me about different unit study curriculum so I thought I'd pick the brains of a couple of seasoned homeschooling moms.  And this led to interesting, lengthy discussions about what unit studies involve, their purpose, the different "unit study" curriculum out there, etc.  I just love the idea.  But there was a nagging thought in the back of my head that unit studies may take quite a bit of creativity and quite a bit of time.  I headed to the Five in a Row website and they even had a sample from their Before Five in a Row "curriculum".  (They don't call it curriculum yet since it's ages 2-4.)  We then headed to the library to get the book for that sample (We're Going on a Bear Hunt) and let's just say my head was already spinning.    My friend does mostly unit studies and has five children so I can't use the excuse that I have too many children to do unit studies.    I thought I'd find out the definition of "unit study".  Seems it's more of the Charlotte Mason approach, which I also love!  Karen Andreola's material regarding the CM approach is fantastic.  So what is my problem?  Is this only something I can dream of doing? Unit Study Approach:  A unit study is taking a theme or topic (a unit of study) and studying it extensively over a long period of time while integrating language arts, science, social studies, math, and fine arts as they apply. The benefits are astounding to me: 1.  All ages are able to learn together, each at their own academic level. 2.  There are no time restraints. 3.  Because knowledge is interrelated, it is more readily learned and remembered longer. Please advise!

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Mar. 31, 2006

Socialization VS. Socialism

So you've decided to homeschool.  And all of sudden, friends and family aren't concerned about the souls of your children or how competent you are to educate your children....they are concerned with how your children will be able to interact with others. "OTHERS" WHO? I have not looked up the definitions of socialization or socialism.  I thought I'd give my definitions. (If you can't tell by the end of this entry that I'm a big Rick Boyer fan, read his book, The Socialization Trap.  He hits the nail on the head when it comes to the Biblical answer for "socialization".) Which should I define first? Socialism:  Spending oodles of time with others your own age.  Lots of time.  Lots and lots of time.  A majority of your day.  Being grouped together with others your own age, both at school and at church.  Interacting with others your own age in some stuffy classroom.   For hours on end.  You may not even like these people.  Some may even say things that you don't want your kids to hear until after they are married.  Or ever.  The teacher may say things you never want your kids to hear.  The teacher may even speak un-truths.  Anyway, did you get the "others your own age" theme?  Note:  I admit, this is not the actual definition of socialism but socialism will be the end result of this age-segregated format. Socialization:  Spending oodles of time with others of all different ages.  I may have Rick Boyer's suggested socialization forums confused but in my mind, these work for me!  Home and Fellowships:  with other siblings and parents and with the friends and family that are in and out of your home, not to mention spending time at others' homes. Marketplace:  I assume your children accompany you to the store or mall or bank sometimes and see you interact and may even join you in interacting as they get older. Community:  If your kids are young, the playground.  As they get older, soul winning.  (By the way, I wouldn't suggest using the playground as a way to socialize but if you do get to the playground in all your spare time, this could happen by default.)  The zoo, the museum, etc. Church:  Excellent place for interacting with others, especially if the other families are somewhat likeminded.  Whew, I'm ready to crawl into a lonely hole just THINKING about all these opportunities to socialize.  I'll keep my kids OUT of the age-segregated arena. Addendum:  Spending loads of time with people your own age does NOT happen in the real world when you are all grown up.

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Mar. 27, 2006

Is this not a great time to homeschool?

I have been pondering lately about how great it is that homeschooling has become so favorable, for lack of a better word.  With government schools sadly going down the tubes, homeschooling has flourished.  Not too many years ago, homeschooling families were looked upon with disdain and mockery and now you annouce you're homeschooling and you've got people thinking you can walk on water.  "How in the world can you spend all day, every day with your children?"  HOW IN THE WORLD COULD YOU NOT!?  I want to soak up each and every thing my precious little ones do!  I want to know what enters their eye-gates and ear-gates, which leads right to their soul.  How could I do that if they were away from me for 7+ hours a day?  Homeschooling is so prevalent that you hardly need a support group anymore!  In other words, it seems everyone has friends that are homeschooling and/or possibly half or all of the church you attend homeschools.  Therefore you have your own "natural" support group that didn't have to be forced!  This may be a little presumptuous but I say that the future of this country lies with homeschoolers.  Have you passed your local suburban high school lately around dismissal time?  (I have and was horrified but maybe it's because I'm getting to be a little old lady...I am 31 after all!)  I dare say that the future of this country looks bleak without families standing up and declaring that we, the parents, are capable of teaching our children.  And curriculum...the sky is the limit!  I almost yearn for the days (that I know existed but do not remember them, of course) where you had only a few to choose from....BJU, Abeka, and the like.  But now.....you almost need a course in choosing curriculum.  And that would be a course in each child, no doubt, since from my conversations with other homeschool moms, each child has such different needs that you end up with a plethora of different curriculums!  All this to say....I am a public school graduate.  With an ending like that, I think I'm a natural at blogging, wouldn't you say?

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Mar. 23, 2006

I'm not exactly sure what a blog is but HERE GOES!