|
I've become a bird fanatic. We live in an older neighborhood with a large, one-acre yard with lots of trees. It's our own little wildlife refuge. We've got several species of birds, billions of squirrels (I kid you not), snakes, and I'm sure some other nocturnal wildlife we don't see. This year we're really taking advantage of it. We've planted a butterfly garden which will also attract hummingbirds, we've hung several bird feeders and a hummingbird feeder. So far this year we've seen chickadees, titmouses, brown thrashers, robins, bluebirds, house finches, goldfinches, mockingbirds, nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, cardinals, and some others I have yet to identify. What was really fascinating was seeing a huge turkey vulture in our front yard. There was a dead squirrel on the side of the road, and amazingly the vulture found that one little squirrel and decided to snack on it in our front yard. It was awesome to watch. Of course, as we approached, he took off, and we got to see his tremendous wingspan. It was so cool! We have yet to see any hummingbirds, but it's been a little chilly, so I'm sure once it warms up we'll see them coming into the yard. If you're interested in birding at all, try these websites: ebird.com, allaboutbirds.com. I also took advantage of the teacher's discount card at Barnes & Noble and got the National Audubon Society's Field Guide to North American Birds - Eastern Edition. We've been so blessed having the opportunity to learn more about God's creation right here in our own backyard! |
|
Clearly, I am not very good at blogging. In fact, I think my last entry was about consistency... in December 2006. Bahahahah! Have I been consistent about blogging. Uh, NO. This year has gone reasonably well. I had both my son (16) and daughter (7) signed up in a supplemental program, but I pulled my daughter out halfway through. I don't know if I was dropping the ball or what, but she just wasn't progressing. After bringing her home, she has blossomed. She's reading and spelling, and she's a whiz at math. My son is still there taking chemistry and writing (thank God, cuz I couldn't teach chem), and he goes to a math tutor once a week. I've kinda dropped the ball with history, so he'll be doing that over the summer. :) What I'm really loving about this year is that my daughter and I have planted a butterfly garden, a vegetable garden, and we've put out bird feeders and are enjoying "bird watching." We've seen thrashers, chickadees, robins, nuthatches, titmouses (titmice?), bluebirds, and more. We even had a HUGE vulture in the front yard yesterday snacking on a dead squirrel. It was AMAZING. I'm enjoying the teachable moments and the spontaneity that homeschooling allows. I can't imagine any other way. |
|
I have a problem. I lack consistency. I go head strong into something, then the fire turns to a small flame, and the project, behavior, rule, whatever, goes by the wayside. I know people exist like this every day, but sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one.
Like in our homeschooling life... one year I made a calendar with magnets for chores, bed times, school tasks and projects, etc. We stuck with it several months, but then it just became another decoration on the refrigerator.
Daily scheduling... I was so good about it when we started in August, but now I'm not nearly as consistent.
House Cleaning... oh, I don't even want to go there. The whole family goes through phases on that one. There are some weeks that the house remains neat and reasonably organized, and others where I just want to run away from the clutter. Most times, though, I'm embarrassed to let anyone come through my doors!
Is there any hope for an almost 42-year-old lacking consistency and discipline??? |
|
It's been a while since I've posted. Things are moving along, especially with our 14-year-old. We can pretty much just assign his work and he'll do it. We've got to get him a geometry tutor, though. I just can't get into that. It's been too many years, and geometry was never a strong suit of mine. With Katie, who's 6, I'm having fun teaching her the basics of phonics and reading some simple two-letter words. I was shocked when a friend of mine told me her 3 year old was reading... but I'm not worried. Katie will grasp it here shortly, and then I think she'll be a reading fool! I can't wait until SHE can read to ME!
I'm looking out my window at the beautifully changing leaves. It's amazing how quickly they've transformed from bright green to yellows, oranges, reds and browns. This is my absolute favorite time of year. Crisp air, sweaters, pumpkins, bon fires, shorter days... this is heaven to me! Just give me a big ol' mug filled with something hot & comforting, a big, comfy sweater, a book and a hammock... < |
|
Our homeschooling group met for the first time for the new school year. We have FOUR new moms joining us. So awesome. These are all women who go to our church. It's gonna be fun getting to know these women better. As homeschoolers, we all share a bond that many others can't understand.
One of the things we were chatting about before the meeting go started was how other moms wonder how we do what we do. For instance, we've probably all heard, "I don't understand how you can be with your kids all day long." What? Wait a minute. They ARE your kids, aren't they? A part of you? The children that, by either bringing them into this world, adopting them or fostering them, you have vowed to love and care for? To nurture? So, I guess what they're saying is that someone else is better off to raise their children. I mean, that's often what parents are doing when they send their children off to public school.
Sure, my kids get on my nerves sometimes. Sure, sometimes I feel like I could go running out of the house screaming running for the nearest insance asylum, padded room and all. But now that I've home schooled for two years, I can't imagine doing anything else. And I've never questioned my decision. I know that I know that I know that this is what God wants us to be doing.
Most of all, I enjoy my kids. I love that I can experience everyday, all day with my kids. I'm the one who gets to answer their silly questions and their serious questions. I'm the one who gets to be there when an idea they've been pondering for months is finally understood (the light goes on!).
Yesterday we went to the store and got Uno Attack. We sat on the floor and played the game for two hours. It was fun, funny, silly... the 5-year-old kept wanting to press the buttons so she could have ALL the cards. Could we have done this in the middle of the day if they were in school? Nope. And I would have missed this wonderful memory.
I love homeschooling. I love my kids. I love my life. |
|
Oh my goodness! I always loved this thing. A little freaky, but intriguing!
|
|
OK, so I sat down last night to start scheduling. One of the best tips I got was to NOT plan out an entire semester or year at once - which is what I did last year. Last year, I got so messed up whenever we got behind. This year, I'm doing 2 to 4 weeks at a time. I'm still messed up, though. I'm trying to figure out just HOW much to assign each day. With the 5 year old (Katie), that's easy. With the 14 year old (Josh)? Not sure. Should I just take it one week at a time until we get into the groove?
My husband, who is Josh's step dad, is going to be taking a more active role this year since we're now both working from home. It will be totally awesome since he is SO knowledgeable about the Bible and history. I told my son last night that Keith will be teaching Bible. Needless to say, he was not thrilled. I think Josh wants to be more on his own because it allows him to be lazy. WELL, we're not allowing that to happen this year! I've learned my lesson! I figured because I was good at self-directed study that he might be, too. NOT!
I'm taking the kids to the pool today, and I will also be bringing curriculum to continue planning. I'd better get a move on since we're starting in FIVE DAYS!!! |
|
Katie on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Beach
Katie posing on the backyard slide. Can you tell Katie likes the water? Josh too. But he's a little more camera shy. He is NOT happy that I'm including pictures of him. He's 14. What can I say? |
|
This is Katie and Josh (trying to look cool). |
|
This is me and Katie on what we called "Katie's Big Adventure Day." Keith (my husband) and I had been so busy getting our business going, that we hadn't spent a whole lot of time with either of the kids. Josh was with his dad this weekend, so we took Katie off on a picnic and fishing adventure. But that's not all. After that we went to the YMCA to swim. It was an awesome day and was some much needed family time! |
|
We got more books, today! I'm most excited about the Italian curriculum. We've decided to learn it as a "family" - meaning, me and the kids (I'm sure my husband will pick some of it up by default). I've got items for both the 9th grader and the kindergartener, plus a special feature for the kitchen since my son loves to cook. We're even going to do special Italian days where we **attempt** to cook some authentic Italian cuisine.
I guess this helps to curb my desire to go back to school. I never did finish college, and at this point in my life, honestly, I don't see the need. Having our own business, home schooling the kids and serving in the children's ministry in our church - that's enough. I've gained enough knowledge over the years to know that it's the eternal things in life that matter. I'll be fine learning (and in some cases re-learning) right alongside my kids!
By the way - very exciting news here in Virginia. A few months ago a new law was passed that allowed parents with only high school diplomas to homeschool their children without jumping through a million hoops. Yippee! This year I just had to submit two pieces of paper - test scores and our letter of intent. So nice!!
Anyone else from Virginia in these blogs?? |
|
I am the mother to two. A boy, Josh, who is 14 and getting ready to start his high school years; and a girl, Katie, who is 5 and just starting her learning adventures. This will be my third year of home schooling, and I think I finally have a grasp of what I'm doing. More importantly, I think I have a grasp of what God wants me to be teaching my kids.
I was VERY reluctant to begin the home school experience. I actually had two neighbors in my block who were home schooling, and my son, who played with their children, was convinced he wanted to be home schooled. I wasn't so easily convinced. It took a couple years, and finally the agreement of my husband (who is my son's step dad), we began.
The first year was a struggle. I had no clue what I was doing. I purchased a computer-based curriculum, scheduled it and let my son go to it. I have to admit I didn't keep up on my end as I should have. Luckily, I have a bright son, and despite his laziness, he did OK. He was tested, passed, and we moved on.
Year two went a little more smoothly. We moved to a variety of book/workbook curricula, and I had more of a hand in how it went. Still, I didn't feel like I was doing as well as I should have in keeping up. Still, Josh is bright, he absorbed the information easily, and again, he tested well.
Now, I have to mention that I did all this in conjunction with working at home. I had a business where I served as the executive director for a trade association. I did some traveling and spent some time out at meetings and coordinating tradeshows, but mostly I was home. Still, it took my focus off the kids, and I really felt like I spread myself too thin.
Although I still have my own business, my husband has now joined me and works out of the home as well. We've also switched gears, and we're now in the promotional marketing business. Our understanding is that when we begin school again, I will be using the morning hours to spend with the kids while he's working, and the afternoons I will use to do some work. I'm feeling MUCH better about the upcoming year... in fact, I'm actually a little excited.
Does anyone else get excited when the new books come in? I know I can't be the only one.
We're getting started again in August. I know I'm looking forward to it a lot more than my kids are!!! |