Jun. 29, 2008 - welsh corgi sitting

This week we are dog sitting for a friend.  It is a cute welsh corgi.  She is old and has cataracts in one eye.  Poor thing also has arthritis in her hips.  It is a good test to see how my children will do with a dog. I'm usually a big dog person but now I think smaller might be better. My seven year old can walk her without being pulled out of the yard - I know she's an old dog but a younger one still wouldn't be as strong as bigger dogs - I assume.  My youngest is three and trying to give the dog "high fives" since we do that all the time in his autism spectrum RDI therapy, but the dog tries to nip from her hip pain. So we'll wait a few years but it is nice to see them talk about the dog, feed and walk her.  I was thinking my oldest could research other small dogs and we could do that as a homeschool project as we look into a dog to get - plus going to the local shelter.

I'm thinking of one of those mini-colies.  Does anyone know what they are called and if they are good with kids?

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Jun. 12, 2008 - best for your child

In our area they have just built a new middle school. They've decided that 5th graders now have to leave elem school and go to the middle school through 8th grade.

It got me thinking - schools never really do what is best for your child. It's what is convient to them - for the buildings, textbook purchases, for the masses.  Politicians demand "progress" and want to see the most number of kids passing tests (standardized which benefit those companies that produce and grade them).  What if your child "falls behind"?  What if your child has special needs?

When I taught, I clearly saw how it was so hard not to just teach to the middle!  I'm so thankful I found homeschooling and can do what is best for my child!

On another note, I just started writing a devotions for homeschoolers. I know there are some but I still want to write one just to re-assure myself (when family attacks!)  Does anyone want to see the rough draft and tell me what they think?  If so, email me at tuscanspeak@yahoo.com

Gracias!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 29, 2008 - Grandma on the attack

I think I have posted before that my mother hates homeschooling. Ever since I simply left my job (as a public school teacher) and started staying home with my eldest son did she get nervous because I didn't put him in preschool and said the homeschooling word. I agreed to let her pay for him to go two days a week to preschool (for two years). That wasn't so bad except they got all the kids excited for school so the first few months of kindergarten he kept asking about school. 
Then she agreed he could go part time to a democratic "unschooling" type of school.  That worked fine till she learned more about unschooling and was terrified that some kids (in general) don't master reading until they are , gasp, twelve. Somehow all 7 year olds must be fluent readers or we are all doomed somehow.  Are they signing leases and bank documents that I am unaware of?
Anyways, last time she was in town (she's seasonal with a winter home) she said she was cutting me off - never talking to me unless I put him in the public school that week.  It was horrible. I felt abandonned, manipulated, and like that wasn't possible under those circumstances (I hope never to put him in public school but if my husband and I decide to do that it's on our terms, not hers).  Well after not talking for a few weeks we talked with a therapist and agreed to disagree.
Now she's back in town and the new tactic is - she'll pay for him to go to a secular private school. Actually a few years ago I would have said yes but now I know too much about homeschooling and was amazed that they do better than in private school on academics and how it makes the family strong and well I love most everything I hear (that's why I make the videos and still try to present all sides for others deciding like I did).  One negative I can say - parenting pressure.
Anyways, to be a good sport I agreed to take my son to see the school before it got out for the summer. Big mistake. He liked what he saw, of course. Nice playground, that wonderful bus that all kids want to ride, and pretty art work. Who wouldn't like that?  So he's back to thinking/wanting to go to a traditional school.
When I told her I still don't want him to go to that school or any school full time, she said she'd have to do some serious thinking. So I have no idea what that means? I"m trying not to worry, just give it all to God but I'm afraid it'll be some other not talking to you or worse, financially squeezing us since we owe some money. I can deal with responsibility and paying back our loans but I just hate it for manipulative reasons.
Any advice?  prayers welcome.
Thanks!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 16, 2008 - girls and school

I know I like to rant about people leaving homeschooling but I guess every family has to make their own decisions. I'm trying to set up some interviews with parents whose children are now or will be going to schools and in the meantime I was talking to someone who knew them. She said that in one family the girl was doing well in the public school elementary level, but the boy was struggling. We agreed that girls usually do better since they like to sit and do workbooks and follow the rules. Whereas boys show signs right away that traditional schools don't fit them = they wiggle, and want to run around and look out the window - in general. I know that I tend to want to buy workbooks and my son hates them. I'm learning to save my money. But then I was thinking - what happens to all these "good" girls? After years in school do they really learn what they need and want to have a fulfilling life? I know that I was quiet and good and followed the rules but now I'm not as good an entreprenuer as I could be and in some jobs trying to follow the rules hurt me (especially when other people didn't follow the rules and try to blame the institutions problems on me!) And I never learned how to run a household or even figure out that working outside or inside the home you still have to clean, cook, and take care of the cars! I wonder how much I could have learned if I was homeschooled? I wonder how much more confidence I would have had and would've figured out earlier what I really wanted out of life instead of an extended adolescence way into my 20s. At a cafe where I use the wireless they sell crafts by local people. Some of the jewlry is made by a 12 year old homeschooler who figured out to sell it at the cafe and to make nice information signs to go with each piece and a write up about herself. How many more girls could find their way like her?

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 6, 2008 - sad for those leaving homeschooling

Yesterday I found out about two families who have children that will go to school next year. One whose son is choosing to go to high school, the other is a little boy who will start first grade (kinda a do-over).  It makes me sad. I think the young boy will be eaten alive. He's a very sweet sensitive boy and from what I remember, boys like that were tortured int he playground.  His family is very quiet and of a pacifist religion so I don't quite understand.

The other is a family I don't really know but were one of the first homeschoolers I ever met. I know other families who let their older kids choose to go to high school but since that's where I taught I kinda felt like that would be horrible for my kids. The peer pressure was so anti academic and to be rude to adults.

i just feel sad that they're leaving homeschooling. i'm too sensitive

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

May. 1, 2008 - not perfect for any homeschooler, I'm normal!

I just read: A pracitcal guide Homeschooling the Challenging Child by Christine M. Field Finally, some honesty!  I love homeschooling and even if my kids never win a spelling bee, I think it's the best choice for us.  I wish no one would send thier kids to a traditional school after working in the public schools and seeing what really goes on - plus the sense of being always told what to do so that the class can be "managed" whereas in homeschool the students learn a love for learning and exploring. But, when deciding to homeschool I had a hard time finding anything about some of the negative feelings and hardships involved. Nothing is perfect so that's why I try to interview people (see www.youtube.com/homeschoolvideo) and find out the good, the bad, and the ugly.   In this book, there was great advice on learning disabilities and how to deal with the public school system and your choices in homeschooling. But I was delighted to find some nuggets of gold on frustrations sometimes felt as a homeschooler.  (I'm still at the idealistic stage).  I guess it shows how sometimes we tell everyone how wonderful everything is (esp. to prove to those who don't homeschool) but honesty might be best since some of us may feel like failures if we aren't "measuring up" Here is what she said in the book: In the begining I believed that if I invested myself in this process my children would 1) flourish acadmically, 2) be spiritual giants, and 3) never rebel against our authority...... But God knows better...He gifted to us these exclusive children and allowed the fruit we are seeing or not seeing. The "success" we may have been led to expect by our homeschool daydreaming may forever elude us. Perhaps God has other lessons we are supposed to be learning. (after she realized she used to have more interests and time for herself and homeschooling was only one interest) When the role of homeschooler takes a downturn - when homeschooling is hard, our sense of self takes a downturn. WE feel like a filure because the only thing that filled our basket has rolled out onto the ground. We feel vulnerable and emotionally at risk as we gaze into that empty basket. This causes some of us to excessively focus on what we cannot control, specifically the challenging kid. For learning delays and disabilities: In the Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Sharon Hensely, author of Home Schooling Children with Special Need said: "You cannot fix your child's learning disablity by homeschooling him/her, but you can give them a more approriate learning experience.

• 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Apr. 17, 2008 - short bus and dangers of public school

I just read two great books. One was called Short Bus about a young man who was put in special ed classes. He buys a little bus that is used for transportation for special education students and travels the country interviewing lots of people who were put in special education programs. The fascinating thing about the book is how he talks about the evolution of special education programs, schools, and the definition of "normal". It was just another confirmation to keep my kids far from the schools - they have to label and in general, the student has to fit the school and not the other way around. The kids in these programs call themselves "tards" and basically know they don't belong and their self-esteem suffers. It makes me think that eventhough in the education programs like I went through to become a teacher they tell you to boast kids self-esteem but the system does just the opposite. You don't read at the right "grade" level. You don't get picked for the team. I was never put in the right math class - always too hard or too slow. So most people come out of the school system with hurt self esteems, especially from the social life of middle and high school. Yet, homeschoolers do great because mom never labels them and puts them in a "special" room. Mom can adjust the curriculm to fit the child's needs. The other book I read is the Harsh Truth of the Public Schools. Most of it was not new information to me since I worked in the schools. He has a lot of facts and figures which doesn't get me in the gut like the personal stories of Short Bus, but they are good to have. Some of his facts are a bit tweaked by his opinions but if you can get past that the numbers are good to use. What surprised me the most was the facts on homeschooling. In the schools, they talk about poverty and how those kids never seem to do well. The last school, and the worst, that I worked at was full of racial problems, but according to his statistics, kids from poverty and minority races do just as well as the other kids with homeschooling. I wondered about that. I want to encourage everyone to get their kids out of the school. In a loving environment, anyone can learn. Minority kids are given a message loud and clear that they do not belong in the middle class schools, I saw it first hand. But at home they can learn with their family and about history and culture that they won't learn in the schools. I even heard a report last summer that African American kids do better over the summer with their reading scores, than all year in school. Hmm, makes you think. What do other people think about these books?

• 2 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Mar. 27, 2008 - giving up homeschooling?

I only caught the end of the wife swap show last night. It seemed to be a carnival family who unschooled that switched with a super organized overscheduling family. Yet at the end I was upset that the carnival people decided to send their children to school. it makes me sad when people give up on homeschooling even though I know it's not for everyone and for their family it seemed like their children were just wandering around the carnival and were out of control and had no friends since they moved around a lot. I guess I just hear so many good things about homeschooling and how it keeps the family together and I have a lot of pressure from my extended family to not homeschool that I want to be sure in my decision. And now the public school wants my three year old for five days a week 7 hours a day since he has a speech delay. i don't want him away from home so much and what I've been learning about children on the autism spectrum is there is a great "intervention: called RDI where they learn from home in a caring environment and learn all the gestures and non-verbal communication which most people on the spectrum don't usually get. i like what other people say in their blogs, to forget what other people say and be strong in our decisions for our families. Even for that carnival family, they are making a decison that works for their family at that time.

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 22, 2008 - Back to work - a glimpse

My glimpse at back to work full time was actually short lived and interesting. I was surprised that I actually loved it. It reminded me how much I love to teach Spanish and I have had great experience in the past few years teaching homeschoolers – now I was able to merge both experiences into a classroom setting. I had a feeling that the students would like me because the teacher uses a very grammar intense teaching method. In all my college studies for the past ten years, they have told second language teachers to use more natural and communicative approaches (like Rosetta Stone uses, but for foreign language, I would recommend the video series Fluency Fast at tprs.com by Blaine Ray – his teaching methods are awesome and I learned German from the three workshops that I went to). It made me think, if the teachers are not listening to what they were taught in college about what are the “best proven” methods to teach, why do we trust our kids to the professionals? Well, one answer is bureaucracy; I worked for a district that told me I couldn’t teach in the best way because I had to control the kids. It’s true, that you do need to have classroom management and even though these students loved me as a sub, in a month or two they’d start to hate me since that is my personal weakness. Yet, there are ways to teach in the best way and control the class, yet usually teachers are told to follow the exact textbook (lots of money for those companies) and even to follow a “script” and pacing guide especially now with the tests. So, I don’t blame all the teachers, but more the pressure they receive, and yes, some teachers still use the tired and old type of lessons (at least in Second Language teaching). I didn’t realize until later that this teacher is close to retirement so she may have had a different experience in her college method’s class. Plus, teaching a second language through grammar is a nice quantative way to grade and “see the learning”. You just put the verbs in the correct form, you spell the words, etc. The problem is that there are so many words that break the rules. And language is about communicating. They aren’t neat and orderly. It made me think about how all of “schooling” in traditional schools is about quantative learning and putting facts into neat paragraphs and multiple choice tests, but real life and true long-term learning does not work out that way. When I traveled to Spain they did not ask me Como estas? (how are you?) a) yo esta bien b) yo estoy bien c) el esta bien The correct answer is b, by the way. So, again, I’m glad to homeschool. The other thing I noticed is that even when I was home, I kept thinking about work – what happened, what I have to plan for the next day, what I have to prepare to get everyone where they are going the next day. Wow, what an eye opener – I want to get back on track, thinking about my family and faith first. My prayers were answered. She doesn’t need a sub after some fluke of the hospital not being able to give the surgery they planned. So, I may try again or maybe I’ll just say no when they reschedule. Either way, I think I’ll stick to home schooling, and let the teachers battle it out with classroom management.

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 15, 2008 - cheap public schools

Money! It’s such a worry for me. Sometimes I feel I should just let go and let God cause we are always provided for and survive but the college education got a work mentality still gots me. So today I was running around, dropping one child at the coop for awhile as I ran to get the other from a preschool (so I don’t have to run around after him and for other reasons at the moment), then we had to run to meet a teacher I am substitute teaching for the next two weeks. All the running around reminded me why I hated working. And the cost of daycare and finding a place for my school age son will take most of the money I will earn. In fact, I’ll be left with only $15 dollars a day, and that doesn’t include taxes! Again, I’m reminded of one of the reasons we decided I should stay at home. Then I thought, well, it’d be cheaper and I’d make money if my son was in public school. A bus would bring him to school, or they have after and before school care that I’d have to pay for but the rest of the day I wouldn’t have to pay for. So, maybe that’s why public school is so popular. It works for working parents. But if I’m running around to work, trying to figure out what we’re going to eat, my kids and I barely seeing each other, and I’m not making any money, why should I go to work? I’ll just have to breathe and remind myself it’s only for two weeks and it’s a good lesson to just stay home and put the home back in homeschool. (P.S. God does provide and a homeschool mom offered to take my school age son for the whole two weeks – so he’ll have fun and we can pay off some of our bills!)

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 15, 2008 - Valentine's Day Bah-Humbug

My youngest son, three, has now started pre-school – two days a week, for three hours each. Not too bad as far as school and away from home time. But this week was valentines and there was too much competition – candies, gifts, everything from all the other kids. I felt so poor and stupid – we only put a card (nothing else) in the boxes. And they were leftover cards from years past to boot! Only one other classmate just gave out cards. It reminded me when I worked full time and my eldest went to pre-school full time and how competitive and crazy the parents were there – expensive gifts and tons of candy. Then today we had a homeschool co-op and we had to do valentine’s day cards there. It wasn’t as bad – lots of homemade cards and I didn’t feel that competitive edge. Yet this reminds me of a possible problem with choosing to homeschool – not gelling with a particular homeschool co-operative group. I love all the parents in the group which we belong, but some of the kids have grown up and the teens want to hang together and it’s hard to get anyone to participate in the activities. It’s just not working for us and even one of the leaders is looking for some other sort of option as far as classes. It’s more of a play group which is fine but I don’t think we can afford it next year and the way this one is set up, it’s hard to watch my younger son in their rental space. So, for homeschoolers, a possible problem could be searching for a co-op that works for you, at that time. I assume our needs will keep changing. Every family has to find what works for them.

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Feb. 7, 2008 - commerical on youtube

Hi all! I made a comercail for my video on three families - a day in the life of their homeschooling. It's on youtube. my name on there is homeschoolvideo but you can also search and type in home school tv episode one. Episode two will be available later this month. Every month I plan to interview families and post it - just short 10 minute videos. later, I'll make more day in the life videos. That way we can get more people into homeschooling - with video information to go along with the blogs, books, and seminars. Check the youtube out and tell me what you think, or what type of questions and interviews you'd like in the future.

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Jan. 31, 2008 - feminine mistake?

My sister has been reading a book with the title The Feminine Mistake. I just read some while I was at her house and she says it changes attitudes, or becomes more hopeful as it goes on, but what I read I didn't agree with, at least not from my personal experience. She worries that women are leaving the workplace with high education degrees and returning home to raise their children because then women lose income as far as pay raises and social security, and will be devastated if their husband leaves them or dies. She makes being home seem like drudgery and not intellectually stimulating. For me, work was drudgery and I worked in various places and none were intellectually stimulating. I didn’t want to raise children and continue in my dream work (which ended up still being “work”) because I knew the sacrifices were too big – too many hours and people I saw that did have kids were treating them poorly or neglecting them. Now I love being home (and yes, I work part time at a job a few hours a week so that I can be most of the time at home). Especially with homeschooling, I meet lots of interesting parents and have lots of interesting and intellectual conversations. I love not being in an office or some bureaucratic driven school where I never did connect with people, at least not once I was a parent and wanted to spend every hour not working back at home. I think our cultural has a huge problem. We only value “work” which is out of the home and making money and NOT caring for others. But most of the real world is caring for other people and that should be respected more than Donald Trump’s millions. Children need to be taken care of (and in this book they think that is only a worthy job if you are being paid for it but I feel the opposite, some people being paid for it may do a worse job and I know when I was a nanny I didn’t have any long term goals or ideas how to raise a child, I just worked for the moment and who knows what values I passed on that were the same or different than the parents). Elders need to be taken care of and we are about to go into crisis mode as baby boomers grow older and we don’t have enough people to care for them. I’ll keep posting as I read more, and react more to this book.

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Jan. 17, 2008 - schools on film

I just saw the independent film Chalk. It was okay. At first it seemed realistic - the teachers struggling to control a class who doesn't care and prefers to sing and dance than to do the history lessons, a vice-principal breaking up a fight, etc. Then it just became a regular teacher movie where we are supposed to think it is funny that teachers can fall in love. But what I think was most interesting is that the new teacher who could not control his class started to earn thier respect by learning slang and rap songs and acting more like teens. I know as a former teacher that getting to know your students is great for classroom management and hopefully motivating them to do their classwork but now that I've looked into and started homeschooling I think too much of school is about pop culture. Schools become a social scene for kids and academics are secondary. The message in this movie is that teachers can only survive by becoming like teenagers. Reality is that teens will have to one day be in the real world. The real world is a lot kinder than high school and real world challenges are very different than the social conflicts and classroom dramas at school. I just think it is sad that we think pop culture is so worthy whereas many homeschool teenagers adapt better to the real world and accept responsibility at a much younger age. At least that's what I've read about and seen first hand.

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Jan. 4, 2008 - how the "mainstream" sees us

A friend called last month to say that the late night show Jimmy Kimmel was going to perform a skit called "home school musical".  I couldn't stay up that late but I went to youtube.com and typed in home school musical Jimmy Kimmel and I got to see it. It is meant to be funny and I got that. But the interesting thing is not only are they spoofing the Disney Channel hit movie high school musical but they showed some interesting ways that the world sees homeschoolers.

They have one boy sitting at a school room desk in the middle of the living room.  He wants to go to prom and since he is "home" schooled he asks his mother but she says she's going with his brother. Then a fairy guidance counselor appears and makes his dad wear a dress and be his date.  The interesting part is that they see home school through high school eyes.  They think of homeschool kids as "nerds", "losers", can't find a date type of thing. Also that you only stay at home and recreate school, hence the desk.  I know they are trying to be funny so not much thought went into it but it's amazing how hollywood and many people have no idea that for most homeschoolers popularity and the games of high school are not an issue.

Then, also on ABC, they had wifeswap this week. I admit that I love this show because they take two totally different families and put them together.  This week was tempting because it was a homeschool family and they usually take some hard core people, which is fine, but again the show doesn't know enough to really portray things.  This week it was a Quaker family and quakers are into simplicity. They had the mothers switch with a family that has an only child and spend 100,000 dollars a year for her to be in beauty pageants, do her homework for her, and give her a "Christmas" gift every year. 

The beauty pageant mother couldn't believe that the homeschool student wanted to read, study science, and not dress in the latest fashions and be popular. (they said that they want their daughter to be popular in the local school).  She even called the girl a "geek" and that it was bad that she studies in her room a lot.  Isn't that the point of school? an education?  Obviously not. Popularity and fitting in seem to be important to some parents. It's sad that "education" has been taken out of school and being studious is a bad thing. For her credit, the homeschool student didn't pay attention to the woman and said she didn't see much value in anything she tried to teach them that week.

I just found it interesting that we are portrayed as nerds and outcasts. The pageant family (I'm just calling them that, but I don't have anything against pageants just how they thought of education and spoiling their daughter - she couldn't even handle any chores or responsibilities on the way they raised her) also said that the popular people make it in the world. Funny since most interviews of "succesful" people say that they were outcasts, or felt that way, in school.  Bill Gates was a nerd. 

I could go on forever but lastly I'd like to say that I want my children to learn in an anxiety less environment. Not so concerned about fitting in that they can't learn because it's not cool, or only doing the minimum so they can pass and go on to something else in the future. I saw students pressured to get good grades from parents but not caring about the learning or even real meaningful projects I had assigned (like interviewing thier families, most said they never see their parents).  Or I had kids who it was way too uncool to study so they didn't even if their parents wanted them to.  Plus, I'm not the most in shape person but my dream was to do a triatholon. If I had tried in high school everyone would have laughed at me and teased me. Yet, most adults, once out of the crazy "popularity" contest, are supportive and nice. EVeryone cheered for me, I was one of the last competitors, and yelled go "515".  That is real life. Not high school!

I'd love to hear others comments!  And P.S,, look for homeschool TV show on youtube.com  I"m going to start making and producing our own very informative TV interviews and shows (only 5 - 10 minutes) so the world can see who we really are - diverse and real!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Dec. 31, 2007 - reasons I homeschool from being a public school teacher

Reasons I home school, As a public school teacher I saw: 1. Second grade teacher who resented a student who was reading at the Kindergarten level. 2. Other students teasing him because of that (like it really matters to the kids what reading level another kid is) 3. Administrators throwing anyone (like a teacher not certified for that grade or subject) into certain classes – but now as a homeschooler I know that ‘certification” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be but as a teacher it’s hard to teach out of your expert area to twenty or more kids! 4. Over emphasis on “control”, “behave”, “classroom management”, to fit into “our” system, the school system. The school should fit the student’s needs, not the other way around. 5. “Diversity” isn’t working how we think. Kids form stereotypes like when I heard one boy say “she used to be a good student until she started hanging out with the black kids.” I don’t want my children to learn prejudice. 6. Some minority students “fight” the system that they deem racist (and from what I saw and heard – I confirm their opinions) 7. Apathy, apathy, apathy. Being told what, when and how to “learn” makes kids turn off their real interests and natural curiosity. In my education program they warned us of apathy but told us we had to make our classes fun and engaging, not realizing that usually it’s beyond help by middle school. 8. Kids asleep, frustrated, and very bored, even in my class which started off engaging and fun until I got burned by parents, administrators, and some kids for not being serious or “controlled” even if they were really learning the actual subject. 9. Kids not allowed to play “rough” at recess 10. Kids not allowed to sing at lunch 11. Pre-K children being pulled and yanked to get into “line”. 12. Kids being disappointed in their elementary class room that their “science” lesson meant a book about weather whereas they wanted to look through a microscope or do experiments, which my son does all the time. 13. Kids being told they are wrong for their moral values by their elementary teacher. 14. Kids yelling, screaming, kicking throwing desks, fighting – all while the rest of the class have to watch or be victimized. 15. I remember being horrified seeing fights in the hall when I was in junior high. 16. As a teacher being on high alert when the school had a bomb threat. 17. Hearing kids saying they want to kill a teacher or the principal and not knowing if they meant or it not. 18. Remembering sexual harassment – comments and unwanted touches in junior high hallway when I was too young to know how to speak up – just thought it was “normal” WHAT I’VE SEEN FROM VISITING, INTERVIEWING, FILMING, TEACHING, AND OBSERVING HOMESCHOOLERS: 1. Time and small numbers to do interesting fun and creative activities (not just classroom management quiet worksheets so the principal will be pleased with the “control”) 2. Able to follow the child’s natural curiosity and interests and then they learn other things they need that compliment their interests. 3. A 16-year-old teenager who already knows what she wants to do with her life (took me until I was 30) 4. Families that are close – siblings play and are friends. Mothers who give lots of time to and know their children. Fathers happy that their family is together. 5. Kids together with other kids in play groups, learning groups, field trips, and sports. Lots of peer interaction. 6. Homeschool kids acting “normal” in my class which I taught them – passing notes, whispering, just like “normal” teens. 7. Homeschool kids acting like other children 8. Families who can teach their morals and not have to “fight” the opinions of specific teachers or schools. 9. My own child being able to study science and Greek myths which usually is taught in middle school even though he’s a first grader and we’ve never been told “we don’t study that until later”. 10. Watching kids listen to their mother read a story and being able to wiggle. 11. Watching kids cuddle on the couch with their mom as she lovingly teaches them.

• 1 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Dec. 19, 2007 - Quirky Home Schoolers

My son had a birthday party last week. There were mostly home school kids there from age six to eight.  One child's mom stayed with him and they took a long time in the bathroom. Then she told me he has trouble with constipation and accidents. It made me think, if this child was in school he would be teased and miserable for a physical problem.  Another boy didn't want to do some activities with us, would he be punished in school for not doing all the activities that the teacher wants?  I know as a former teacher that yes, he would. 

In the schools, the students have to fit the system but at home they are already loved and not punished for things out of their control like physical problems.  When I was a student teacher I was surprised how mean the teachers were to the kids and I had known most of them as "people" outside of school and in the community with their parents. I thought I would never be like that but a few years later I had kids that I found irksome because they wouldn't listen to me and get me in trouble with the administrators who wanted every child on task at the exact same time.  What if that child who I maybe wasn't so nice to was mine?  Why is it normal to think kids should be ostracized and punished in schools?

Just my thought after spending a birthday party with lots of kids of different personalities. What a great world this would be if we were all taught in a loving environment and could blossom at our own pace.

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Dec. 17, 2007 - fun christmas gift

Since we never have enough money and it's hard to buy for my husband, two years ago I thought of a fun gift. The twelve days of Christmas - I started before Christmas but really they are from Dec 25th to Jan 6th which we celebrate the Three Kings Day. Someone said, maybe it was wikipedia, that the song originally came when people were hiding their Christian religion. Anyways, I thought I'd pass this along to anyone who needs ideas for their husband or wife. We gave him the gifts when he came home every night - around dinnertime. He liked guessing what we would do next. First day - a partridge in a pair tree - we put a stuffed bird toy in one of our winter bare trees and put some pears up too, which we enjoyed eating. Second day - two turtledoves - we ate some of those turtle chocolate candies Third day - three French hens - I made French toast, but you could make French toast or even cook up some Cornish hens. Third day - three French hens - I made French toast, but you could make French toast or even cook up some Cornish hens. Fourth day - four calling birds - four calling cards which my husband loves to have Fifth day - five golden rings - onion rings Sixth day - six geese a laying - six eggs that we cooked up for everyone for dinner Seventh day - seven swans a swimming - I put my kids in the tub with a bunch of rubber duckies so we'd total seven (the kids included as swans/ducks) Eighth day - eight maids a milking - I think I put on an apron and put some on the kids and served up some milk Ninth day - nine ladies dancing - I videotaped an aerobics class from TV and it happened to be a dance routine with exactly eight women so when I danced in front of it we made nine. Ten day - ten lords a leaping - well me and the kids just jumped around singing the song Eleventh day - eleven pipers piping - me and the kids played recorders and flutes - sounded horrible Twelfth day - twelve drummers drumming - me and the kids banged on some drums and pots and pans. Well I hope someone may find this useful. It was fun and made my husband feel loved which is the best gift. Now, what to get him this year?

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Dec. 4, 2007 - problems with Grandma

A few weeks ago my mother said I had to stop homeschooling, send my son to public school or she wouldn't talk to me anymore. That crisis blew over when we sat, with a mediator, and talked. Nothing was really resolved but now she comes in once a week and teaches reading with my son.

The other day she started worrying again saying he wasn't learning enough - after only three lessons. I tried to just listen. She has a lot of anxieties and later this week I told her to just let go and let God. I know that would help but I can't control other people. I know I've given it up to God.

It's just hard to try to fit into someone else's goals. I like how we homeschool. I like that we homeschool. I love being home with my school age son and my pre-school age son.  I want to be a strong family and I know they will learn the "essentials". 

How do other people deal with doubters?

• 3 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Nov. 25, 2007 - doorpost questions

Has anyone used "A Day of Delight" by doorposts. Someone from the homeschool support group recommended it. What type of activites does it have? I'm thinking of ordering it. Just trying to make Christmas more meaninful this year. Already it is since last year we were moving and I was stressed! We also have two birthdays so this time of year is hectic!

• 0 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link