April 22, 2007 - Today's... let's finish school talk...
Today I had a chat with the girls about finishing up school... or so they thought that was it. It was really a chat about where we are at with their education and how can we make school more enjoyable?
We are relaxed homeschoolers and our relaxed methods are fine for the most part and have allowed us to take breaks and have wreckless schedules at times because I have known where we are at and when we need to get things done. Well, this spring threw MOM for a loop. We have been having troubles with our sheep. If you'd like to know more about that, check the side bar for my homesteadblogger blog. Anyways, we literally did not touch a book for over a month. We couldn't, we didn't have the time, nor the energy. I tried to console myself that back in the old days... THIS was the reason they didn't have their kids in school when you were busy with the farm. The kids definately learned alot! I have no doubt about that, but it wasn't the traditional school work that our supervising teacher expects us to accomplish for the school year.
So, here we are a month and a half before the end of the school year and we're about half way through our school year... there just is no way we will get it all done... no way. I had already talked to our supervising teacher about schooling year round... which we've done before when they were younger, but not since they've all gotten older and can somewhat guage their own schedule. They had chosen to work harder during the traditional school year to have a summer break. Well, this year they had no control over this unexpected happenstance, so there is nothing to do but keep plugging away.
The girls were already OK with doing summer school. They just asked that MOM didn't spread the word to the "locals" as they got chided about how cruel mom is and how awful homeschooling is and on and on and on. Not realizing that by doing some summer school, they can take a month off at Christmas... or maybe that's why we take 3 weeks off every fall when everyone is in school... or that is why we have 4 day school weeks instead of 5... or whatever reason we have chosen for that particular year. Well, I knew that we'd have to go back to our school year round schedule, which really isn't so bad... we enjoy it and the girls usually have plenty of time from noon on til dusk to play outside... we normally don't get to leave any earlier for a town outing or swimming anyways, so it doesn't affect the summer schedule as far as "enjoying summer" goes.
My concern this time, however, was that my girls were no longer elementary age... they were high schoolers (or very close to that) and how could I schedule this paced out schedule and still accomplish all the credits that need to be covered? Well, after some figuring, we set a goal of 22 credit hours a week. This means the girls can partially make up their own schedule by adjusting when they want to pursue those 22 lessons during the week. By doing the schooling year round, we can have a day of 2 lessons, when we go to town... we can have 5 days with 4 lessons ... or they can do 6 on Monday and Tuesday and 5 on Wednesday and Thursday...
Well, my girls groaned, but then when they started working on what schedule they wanted... I could see excitement. They chose to do school 6 days a week... some days have 2 or 3 lessons, some have more...up to 6 (that was my limit) and some have less... But all in all they figured up 22 credit hours worth a week. (My youngest has less hours to schedule since she still is considered late elementary/middle school...she however was included with the similar style of scheduling to keep the peace). The schedule allows for our regular vacations and times off. If they want to work ahead on a dreary day... they just get done with school early on another day... or they can bank that time for a vacation mid year.
I am using a daily subject planner and marking out the required lessons needed to accomplish throughout the year (one to two weeks at a time), but when they hit the marked page, they know their required time is complete. They have some stipulations... like if they begin a unit... they work on it each day until the unit is over (at least 4 days a week)... no long breaks like 3-4 days between lessons. This will keep their math skills building on each other; this will keep their science learning building on the previous lesson until the unit is finished, etc. They also need to have so many hours accomplished by a point in the week, so that they are not left with 15 hours to do in two days. I will need to monitor this, but they are also getting older and desiring to be able to manipulate their schedules to fit their own needs as well. This scheduling will allow it for the time being. We will see how it goes. If it is abused... they will need to follow a stricter schedule set down by Mom. I do like to let them try to work on their own scheduling some as I feel it is good for them to plan their days to accomplish things and find a way to accomplish it during the week.
I will be making some forms to keep track of things easier. (at a glance trackers!) Somehow our life looks less relaxed. It is HARD to be relaxed in high school, you know? So much to do, so much required, and the guilt if your child doesn't get it all done.... Well, I've gotten over that for the most part. My oldest is the one who drags her feet the most. She is adventurous in real life, but not in school work. So, accepting an "average" education for a homeschooled child... well... that's OK.... it's OK if my child only desires to do what others her age are similarly doing. It's ok if they want to do more, as well. But knowing my daughter's lifelong ambitions... I have agreed with her course choices and her academic success. She is a busy girl, full of life and full of learning... just not normal school learning. She could run a farm on her own raising sheep if she had the opportunity... she does it at home. She can take care of a household full of children and feed and love and nurture them... she gets practice all the time at home. She can be a good wife someday to a husband, having many homemaking skills that took me years into my own marriage to learn. Guess what her life long dream is to be? To be a wife, a stay at home mom to many, and live on a farm with her horse and her sheep.
And yes, she has the skills to get a job. She did Farmer's Market last year with us, she cleans our church, and she has worked doing inventory and packing with a gal at a healthfood store. And she knows chickens and sheep and a bit about horses. We talked about all that and she says she really doesn't want to go to college, yet. And at this point, doesn't want to do a four year degree, but she may be agreeable to do a one year tech course, just to have skills for a backup job if needed.
Ah, each child has their own challenges. I am challenged as a mom to know if I am pushing enough, but not too much. I am challenged to know what course of life is the one to encourage. I am challenged to individualize learning for each child, yet get the required learning done as well. At least I am not doing it alone. I pray that I am following God's leading for my children, that He will be glorified in the daily choices that we make. I know that not each day is a success; I know many days I fail at my choices. However, overall when I look at their education, I can only praise God that He can use someone like me to help Him make someone so special as my girls. What an awesome responsibility!
Praising God today! For His goodness, for His patience, for His leadings, for allowing me such a task that I gain so many blessings from! The challenges of homeschooling, the ever changing schedules, the keeping on top of the educational goals, all of it... it is worth it in the long run. Days like today remind me of that.
Warmly, ~Melissa
December 7, 2006 - Morning comes too early some days...
Brrrrr.... It's cold out today. I woke up with frost on all the porch windows, we couldn't see out at all. The house was 62, degrees... better than the last couple days (58). I stoked the wood fire, turned on some Christmas music and hopped into the shower.
Got up a little late today... 8 am. It was so warm in bed that I just didn't want to get out. The girls a bit disappointed in me as I rushed their morning schedule, but seemed to get going with some alterations. We started a new rule that school starts at 9:00 am. With the farm, that can be a bit of a challenge some days. Especially in the winter.
So, getting up late, caused us to alter a bit, but we got on track soon enough. We started worship before breakfast. Then the girls started math and I started breakfast (yes, some days we eat a late breakfast... we're working on that... *grin*). They finished their math by the time breakfast was done. Dishes were cleaned up and we were back on track with the schedule.
New schedules seem to challenge me until the entire family understands what is expected. But I am blessed that they cheerily let mom try something new every so often... sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This change seems to work for us... (school at 9 AM).
Warmly,
~Melissa
December 6, 2006 - Introducing...
Hello,
I finally decided to try out blogging. To begin, I thought I'd share a little bit about myself and my family.
I am Melissa. I am married to Steven, a fireman. Together we live on a farm in Iowa. On our farm, we have an assortment of animals... Katahdin Hair sheep is dh's specialty, a horse named Ruthie, a pony named Tonno, peacocks, chickens, a dog, and cats.
We, also, have kids... 4 daughters who keep us quite busy. Katie is 17yo and is in her senior year of high school. Chelsea is 14yo and in her freshman year of high school. Megan is 12yo and in her 6th grade year of school, she being our first daughter totally homeschooled. And Paige is our newest addition, who has also brought some new challenges to our days,... she is currently 21 months. This is our eighth year of homeschooling. Eight years and I've taught all grades... 12th grade being the newest one for me.
Homeschooling seems to consume a majority of my time... training little ones is a full-time job. I can hardly believe my oldest is almost ready to be on her own. I just pray that we have raised her up to be a glory to her Father in heaven.
Well, that's a short introduction. I'm sure you'll get to know us better as you read more about our days.
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