JewelzRamblings
• Sep. 5, 2008 - The Wheat Harvest begins!
 I hate to do this to you again, but my Show and Tell is over here: FarmLifeFarmWife.
It's a homestead Show and Tell about our wheat "harvest." Don't laugh!
I was gone all week, so I'm having a hard time catching up. I missed the Homeschool Memoirs meme on Wed. Rats. I doubt I can make it up now. I've tons to do.
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• Sep. 3, 2008 - School has Begun!
Posted By Michelle
We officially started the school year Tuesday. It didn't go great in the beginning, but got better as the day went on. It is part my fault. I get it in my head on how it's all going to go so perfectly the kids are going to love it and wait with anticipation for their next assignment, the littles are going to be perfect and then SMACK reality. I really need to lower my expectations LOL And I also need to make sure there is chocolate in the house on the first day of school.
Wednesday was much better. I am trying to be very consistent with what is allowed and not allowed. And Kiley and Carter are learning to keep busy. Kiley does have her work to do and I was able to sit with her one on one for a bit too. Carter was nice enough to wake me at 5:30AM  and then proceeded to wake everyone else by 6. So he went down for an earlier nap, which allowed me to stand over the kids more. Bailey is already used to working pretty independently, but the boys need some grooming in that area. They finished in a timely manner and saw the benefits of getting it done and ALL of us having good attitudes.
We will be adding a lapbook to our schedule soon. I am waiting until the kids are working more quickly. At this point adding a lap book would make our day a little too long. I am also still deciding which one to do.
:>Michelle
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• Aug. 29, 2008 - What is That Smell!!!
Posted By Michelle
I began smelling this terrible smell in our little room. It is a room off the family room that has shelves of books, the kids toys, art supplies, and our school supplies. I kept smelling what I thought was a bad juicy cup. I figured Carter or Kiley must have put one in one of the toy bins or something. The smell was getting worse and I couldn't find the source. I told the kids that they would have to sort through each of the containers until it was found. About 3 bins in, they insisted it was not in a bin. We all started sniffing around. One of the kids said it was by the shelves under the stairs. I started pulling out the riding toys and big toys I had hid stored under there.
And that's when I discovered this disgusting dead mouse. And some how seeing it made the smell all the more intense. I immediately called Jeff to see if he was near the house. And of course he wasn't. I talked the boys into scooping it into a shoe box.
 I had not found any droppings, so I had NO clue we had a guest or what killed him.
 The investigation of how to handle the situation.
 The boys thought this was cool and fun. As their Mom and sisters were completely grossed out!!
 As soon as I snapped the picture I was insisting that they hurry and get that STINKING (literally) rodent out of my home.
I quickly began to clean and vacuum the room and under the stairs. When I was vacuuming under the stairs I looked at our glue trap and there was a DEAD vole!! I couldn't believe it! By now I am completely grossed out and think all things need to be bleached. UUGGHHH!
My boys were my heroes for the day. And they were very proud of themselves. They just love all that man stuff.
:>Michelle
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• Aug. 29, 2008 - Two weeks have gone by...
And I have firmly accomplished homeschooling four kids, beating myself up about my inadequacies, playing in the rain, grumping at the kids, surviving my hubbie being gone for a week, lesson plans (yuck), and being overall grumpy and unlovable.
Okay, so who else?
I try to remind myself I can't do everything but the sneaky spirit continues to creep in. I want to enjoy my kids, have a grateful spirit, and find joy in my bone-tired body.
I once heard "You know you are over the target when the enemy is firing without ceasing."
That would be me.
I'm over the target all right.
The call to homeschool four? Yep, I was right on there.
Learning balance? Yep.
Learning to leave the school room whether the lesson plans are done or not? Yep.
Did I say I hate lesson plans?
Oh, yea, I think I did.
So this coming week Monday is a light day. Friday is a field trip.
School only three days! Yippee.
Grace?
Oh yea, grace.
Aren't we supposed to apply that to our own lives?
You know I thought homeschooling was about the kids.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha......ha, ha, ha.
Kids?
Yea, right!!!
I think God is a lot more concerning with my character right now than he is my kids.
Eeeek....what have I gotten myself into?? It's not supposed to be about me is it?
What about them, Lord?
You know....them!!!
The kids.
The ones who NEED the attitude heart adjustment.
Not me!
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• Aug. 28, 2008 - Singing in the Rain....
• Aug. 27, 2008 - Homeschool Memoirs #2- Our Agenda
"Oh, curriculum, curriculum! How I love to try a new curriculum!"
Perhaps that's why my shelves used to be filled to the very top with something new to keep us out of the doldrums of same-old, same-old. Well, the shelves are pretty empty now. I see the hundreds of options out there for the next generation of homeschoolers and can't help thinking, "I wish I . . ."
In spite of all the new programs, I'm going with the tried and true reading curriculum for Kevan (5) and Justan (7). Their mother, Kristel, learned to read with A.C.E. (Accelerated Christian Education) ABCs of ACE, as did her 3 brothers. I like the songs, the stories, and the simple way (AKA hardly any phonics rules to memorize!) it presents. I know there are probably some super reading programs out there, but ACE has the time-tested track record with me: all my kids can read, and it is painless.
 Big sister Kristel reading to her little brothers--1992. Now I'm teaching her boys to read.
Kristel just had Baby #6, and her oldest is 9. Justan has not been ready to read until this year, and I offered to teach the 2 younger boys. They'll come over 4 days a week for about an hour or 2. Since they live across the street, this will work well. I think Kristel is relieved, as she's been worrying about Justan getting "behind." I keep telling her, "Behind what? What's the hurry? He'll learn at his own rate and eventually be at the same level as everybody else."
For Math (K and 1), I snagged a couple of Spectrum Math (not my first choice, but they didn't have any Life Pacs to look at so I could make an intelligent decision). I used Saxon with my younger 2, and K's oldest is doing Math U See, but I'm going "easy" and we'll see how it works.
That's about it for now. KISS (Keep It Simple, Sister!) is my goal. The frills can be added later, by their mother. I'm dedicated to the basics this fall. 
My students
On Fridays, I'll be teaching a writing workshop at the co-op. I'm using the same lessons as I have here for folks to download, if you're interested: WRITING WORKSHOP
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Now, we pause for a little ad. Do you like to review books? Would you like FREE books from Crossway? Would you like a chance to win prizes? Here is an e-mail from my former marketing manager (used to work for my publisher, Kregel, but now works for Crossway). She asked me to send out feelers to homeschoolers who have blogs and would like to review books geared to homeschoolers. Read her "call" below. NOTE: if you contact her, don't worry if you get your e-mail "rejected." She really DID get your e-mail and will contact you.
Calling all homeschool bloggers!
This fall, Crossway Books and Bibles is beginning a brand new book review program open to anyone who likes to read . . . and blog! Here’s how the program is going to work:
Five times a year, Crossway will mail participating bloggers a complimentary book and newsletter. After you read the book, we welcome you to blog about it! The sky’s the limit with what you can do. Here are some ideas:
• Conduct an interview with the author (Crossway can help organize this)
• Write your own ending to the book
• Write a traditional book review
• Post the book trailer (if there is one)
• Post a picture of you reading the book in an “interesting” place
We’ll give you approximately two months to complete the book and post your review. If you finish your review by the deadline, you will be eligible to win a number of prizes (free books, gift cards, and more!). Most of the books will be for homeschooling parents, but older children are welcome to sign up, too.
If you would like to join the program, or even find out more about it, feel free to e-mail Amy at marketing@crossway.org.
Happy blogging!
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• Aug. 26, 2008 - Science and History Help.....please
For the first two weeks of school I've left off Science and History.
For one thing my oldest has so much to do right now (he's a piddler) that adding that would completely overwhelm him.
But as I've been thinking I'm not sure if it wouldn't be better to do a Unit Study and then have work for each of the three boy's (grades 4,3,1) for them to do.
What do you think?
Any help???
Any great curriculum where I can kill three birds boys with one stone??
I need help. |
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• Aug. 25, 2008 - These really made me think
Posted By Michelle
I was listening to one of my favorite pastors last week. He made a few statements and asked some questions I couldn't get out of my head.
I jotted them down in my journal. I thought I would share them with all of you.
> You really like Jesus, but if you were honest, you don't really want to become like Him.
> You admire His humility, but do you really want to be that humble?
>You think it's beautiful that the Son of God got down and washed the disciples feet, but is that the goal of your life?
> Is your life headed in that direction of servanthood?
>You are thankful Jesus was spit on and abused and that He took it, but you would never let that happen to you.
> You love that He laid down his rights, but you are going to spend the rest of your life fighting and defending yours.
>You praise Him, sing songs, and love Him, because He loved you enough to suffer the whole time He was here on earth for your sake, but you are going to make sure you will have fun while you are here on earth.
>In short you think Jesus is a great savior, but not a great role model.
>Is the desire of your heart to be like Him? Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6
>The question isn't are you a good Christian, it's are you a good Christ?
I was so gripped by these statements and questions. I began to pray, repent, and ask for Him to exchange my life for His in a deeper way. I truly want to look like Jesus to those around me. And as I start a new school year, I pray that my kids get a more accurate representation of Jesus and the power He has given to those who belong to Him.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3
:>Michelle |
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• Aug. 25, 2008 - This is the way we *do* school.... do school.... do school
Posted By teena6
School is underway here..... we started on the 12th.
Our plan was to start on the 11th. The morning of the 11th we woke and after doing our chores and breakfast Alyssa went out to check her miniature horse, Sugar. A few minutes later she came running in screaming "Sugar is down, Daddy... I can't get her up, she is down!" Needless to say........ school was postponed. She sat with Sugar.... for hours. We prayed and cried..... held each other. Prayed some more. Around 7pm Sugar died. We think it was feed related. Alyssa misses her so very much.
 This was the day we got Sugar.... such a cutie... we miss her!
Ace & Sugar ~ we miss them! 
 Sugar & Alyssa
So we started on the 12th. Our Heart of Dakota came on Wednesday (13th) and we started it on Thursday. I love it. I am using it for the boys. Alyssa wants to listen when we read the devotional and the story time.  It has everything laid out. I just check the boxes as we finish. I would really like to do this with Alyssa but I already have all her stuff for this year.
We start in different shifts here. That has always worked for us. Dakota is the first to start.... he is 10th, works on his own so he is up and going while it is quiet. Alyssa starts next around 9-9:30am. I usually start with the boys around 10am. We do come together for pledges and prayer. Alyssa & the boys have reading time together and devotional. The boys usually finish around 12-1pm. We break for lunch and then Alyssa will finish shortly after lunch. Dakota usually by 3pm. Alyssa and I read aloud A Child's Geography by Ann Voskamp.
It is not a strictly enforced schedule...... we own it .... it doesn't own us. If we need to change it up, or if we are up late watching the Olympics.... LOL then we may finish later in the day. That is the JOY of home schooling!
 Some times we even stop to look at minnows!
 Even doing school at the pond....
So are you enjoying your school year? What are you using? I appreciate the comments. It helps to know I am not talking to just cyberspace!
as always .... make memories! Teena |
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• Aug. 25, 2008 - Monday Morning Blues UPDATE
Click here for previous Monday Morning Blues post:
UPDATE
God is so good and knows just what our souls need.
As we begin to experience some of the effects of the hurricane that's been in Florida we had a wonderful and blessed soaking rain today for about an hour. We were reading when we heard what sounded like rain and looked out to see it pouring. So what does any good stressed out homeschooling mom do when it rains?
Well, we ran out in it, of course.
We jumped in puddles, splashed mud everywhere and got soaking wet.
It was wonderful and just what I needed because I've just been taking life way too seriously lately as I feel all the pressures of being a homeschooler of four and a mom.
The rain reminded me that God is in control of everything and the rain was so welcome because we're in such a drought. We haven't had rain in so long....weeks and weeks and weeks. So just like sunshine after rainy days we rejoiced in the rain and played.
I could feel my spirits lift as we played in the rain today. Any neighbor watching probably thought we'd lost our minds! But boy was it fun.
Real life struck again later as we ran errands. All three boys are on their beds for bad behavior now.
"OK Lord, I'm ready for some more rain!
......please?" |
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