November 6, 2007 - Scheduling our ACT test...
Today is another busy day. Among the things that need to get done, I am scheduling my daughter's ACT exam. Beings, we do not test on Saturday, I have to schedule it with the local college. We call them up, and they have to find a test administrator and once that is done, we arrange a date that works for both of us. After that, I need to drive in to the college and fill out the ACT registration form, sign it and my daughter signs it and I pay the $30 fee. Not too bad.
The first time, however, it seemed a bit more confusing and frustrating. I was checking with ACT and calling our local school district and even stopped in to talk with the guidance counselor who assured me she'd check into it and get back to me, which they never got back to me, so I ended up calling our local college. They were glad to help, but they hadn't done it before, so they called ACT themselves to get the information they needed to proceed. Once we figured it out, it went smoothly.... Although still nerve wracking since neither party had "done" it before so we were both cautiously stepping into the ring.
One thing I learned about taking the ACT is that you don't HAVE to take it your junior year of high school. You can take it anytime! Really!!! By anytime, I mean after your graduated, or during your senior year... anytime. The only advantage to taking it the year prior to college is to get your numbers in when you are applying for financial aid... a good score can me good scholarships. My daughter has graduated and we are taking her tests this fall. We hope to apply for financial aid this winter for college next spring. Currently she is working and saving up some money... and still trying to decide what it is she wants to do.
And you can keep retaking it every 60 days, if needed or wanted. Why would one want to do that? Well, the higher your ACT score, the higher the scholarship at many colleges. And for some colleges they want homeschoolers to have a certain ACT or SAT score to be admitted. Many colleges take your highest score, whether it was your first or your last test. The college we were looking at my daughter met the composite score, but she was one point too low on her math (we didn't take geometry). So, we are retaking it in hopes of raising that math score.
There are also lots of ACT study options. If you go to the ACT website, they will suggest their own study book. We found this book at the library and borrowed it for 6 weeks (we renewed it) and it was FREE! We also checked out older books just to give my daughter more practice on math and english type problems. We also got a ACT program for our palm pilot which we had found for $1 at the local office supply store. Lots of the resources are cheap. If you go to the bookstore and find a book you like, check to see if your library has it or can get it on interlibrary loan and save yourself some funds!
So, don't be scared of the ACT test. It is a nice test to take for college entrance. It does not ding you for missed answers, so you can guess on questions you do not know. My daughter struggled with the timing a bit, and she feels that she didn't get through the entire test, so has been working on her speed a bit. Knowing that she just filled in circles for 15 or more problems on each test because she ran out of time, gives her hope that her next test will go more smoothly. We always said... taking the test, there is a learning curve. Don't be afraid to take it twice or be disappointed if the first score isn't as you desired. It sure doesn't mean you are stupid... the score reflects alot of things more than knowledge... (nerves, timing, getting over sitting in a room by yourself with a complete stranger, etc.!)
Warmly, ~Melissa
October 15, 2007 - Sweet Bargain...
I am so excited. After sitting in the dentist's office for an hour today, I headed home, needing to stop at the grocery store. Just before the grocery store, I see the second hand store in our town. I stop quickly just to browse, but tell my daughter, NO CLOTHES.
We go in and I skim the adult books, then quickly check the children's books. I found the Foot Book by Dr. Suess. We had this summer lost our copy due to it being left outside during a rainstorm. I found two true to life history books, Anne Frank and another one from a Danish/Dutch version of this same war. Then, I spy two Rod and Staff Spelling books. Grade 6 and Grade 7. Neither one is written in. The covers show some shelf wear, but really good shape. I was so excited. I had been looking for these for some time and have bid on several on ebay, but I just can't afford much so always got outbid.
My total cost for the quick stop... was $1.50. And the $1 was for my daughter's blouse (remember I said NO CLOTHES... I am such a push over... can't pass a half price very nice white blouse up!) But the books were 50 cents... 10 cents each! God is so good! My husband tells me I should sell the spelling books on ebay, now, considering I always got outbid... we both laughed. Maybe, after I am done with them!
Warmly,
Melissa
September 10, 2007 - First visit of the year with our Supervising Teacher...
Tonight we had our first of eight visits with our homeschool Supervising teacher. This is one option of following the law in Iowa. We choose to work with a supervising teacher because for me it is the least stressful route and the cheapest route of keeping accountability.
Our visit went well. I was about 10 minutes late. Just alot to do today. I had gone to an orthodontist appointment with my 12yo and run to the grocery store, run home, prepared supper and out the door I had to run. Other than being late, it was a good meeting. We set a date for our next visit (phone visit). I paid my fees. And then we just discussed school plans for the coming year.
To make it easier, I handed her my form that I handed in to the local school district. She jotted a couple more notes about the extras that we are not required to submit to the school district. We discussed goals, our summer projects and exchanged some sharing about mission trips.
I have a better plan with time management for this year and so far it is working a bit better than in past years. I made some priorities about our extras in life and simply put... they come last!
My two current projects that are on the forefront of "my" list are decluttering and finding a way to organize school record keeping that is easier to use for me! The decluttering process is slow going, but it is working. I have been selling some stuff on ebay and had a garage sale this summer and hope to have another in a couple weeks during the city wide garage sale. The record keeping has been trial and error for the past 8-9 years and I am hoping to come up with a better way this year. I want something that works for ME, that works for making a transcript, that works for easy planning, I've tried other homeschool programs and record keeping planners and they work to a point, but not totally for me. I will probably make my own Homeschool Record Book with all the things "I" feel are necessary, instead of things that don't apply. You know each state has their own things that must be kept track of, each college has their own standards... and it just would be nice to have one that fits my needs. Instead of keeping track of the stuff others think is important... I will keep track of the things I have found that ARE important. Having one that is graduating in a month or two... I have found out MANY things that are important... that NO ONE told me about! And it is really hard to try and think back... so I want to have it recorded from the start with my next couple of kiddos.
So, that was all discussed at our meeting as well. We went a bit over on time, but we have been friends for years and it is good to have a chance to catch up, too.
Now, that first meeting is officially over... it is time to hit the books and set some goals for this year and really make it happen. (I have big goals, but I find little goals are easier to meet and great boosters to keep us actively accomplishing the bigger goals!)
Warmly,
Melissa
August 6, 2007 - Today was registration day at the local school.
It was registration day for our school district. This is the day I pop in to gather my registration forms for homeschooling. Almost every year, I seem to cause great confusion. This year was no different.
On needing more than just registration forms, I decided to make use of my visit and get more information about the enrolling, so that my daughter could get free use of college courses for a year. In Iowa, if you are dual enrolled, you can have your child start college (with class limitations) and these classes will count for high school AND college. And the best thing is that the school district pays for the classes.
Dh has been asking me to get more information about this "deal". Well, I asked about it today and for now, we will be passing on the deal. It will be hard if not darn tricky to get it worked out for this year. I would need to bring in all data from my daughters schooling and the school would then determine which credits they would accept. She then would have to graduate with the graduating class, take testing... and more classes if they felt she hadn't progressed with classes they approved of. I just love (grimace) the tone they give me... you know we may not accept all your credits... we just cannot take her on and not evaluate her, beings we have NO IDEA how or IF she has learned anything at all. Why do they feel they must put me down before accepting to do something that is state mandated? Were you under a licensed teacher at all for any of this teaching that you did? was the next question posed to me. Yes... the guidance counselor then calms down... well, then... you should be fine.... trying to correct herself as she now realizes how she has talked to me...
Well, that's gone far enough! We don't WANT your free money! *sigh*. Really we do, but we aren't prepared to jump through the hoops being this is our first child to go through high school. I should be better prepared for my next daughter and perhaps they (the school) will maybe have learned some courtesy by then. I say that as this isn't the first time I've been talked to this way... it's probably the 3rd or 4th time. (the only times I have opened my mouth and uttered something other than can I get my registration forms, please?)
On the plus side, our county has a developing agency that is now trying to dispurse funds in positive ways. This is casino taxes. Is it wrong to use this stuff? I hope not, cuz it is sure going to help. Each student in our county was given a $50 gift card for school supplies, which meant... school supplies, then backpack or shoes, and if you still had money left over... then you could use it on underwear and socks. Hee, hee. That kind of tickled me a bit. Well, I got my gift cards today and while I was there, I asked about the scholarship funds I had heard about... last year each child graduating got $3600 to put towards the college of their choice. They expect that figure to be around $4000 from here on out. I asked if homeschoolers could get it and she said, yes, yes, yes. And I asked what I needed to do (since most of the others get the information through the schools... as I missed out basically last year from late information... but in the end that was OK. My daughter didn't finish her senior year by May... she still has a couple months to go and then she will be done... still a 2007 graduate, just a fall graduate instead of a spring graduate! I explained my situation and she assured me that all was fine. It was too late for last year, but they will gladly put her on this coming year's list. AND they didn't care that we were only schooling for 2 months this year... WOW, NO HOOPS! To get the scholarship, they need an acceptance letter from the college of choice (this to be done by all getting the scholarship). She asked what proof our college gets for us schooling and I said, some just accept the ACT scores and others want a transcript and she says, whatever the college wants, just give us a copy of that and that will be proof enough. Woo HOO! AGAIN! I was beginning to love this lady... she radiated warmth and a genuine desire to get these funds into all kids in the county... not just the "schooled" kids.
Well, I headed home and shared the news with Dh and the kids. The kids finished their schoolwork and then said... Mom are you ready to go? I said, go where? They said, to WalMart...that's where the gift cards are good for, right? Ahhh, school supplies... no matter that we would be in town tomorrow for farmer's market... they wanted to go tonight... so we did! LOL. The girls each got a backpack as their old ones are pretty kiddish...they even have spots for their MP3 players to ride along. Going to the nature center will be so much more easier on them, now that they aren't dragging their pooh backpacks along with. Hee, hee. They also got a pair of tennis shoes and the rest was used on school supplies. Actually Chelsea did not pick out her shoes yet, she wants to do that on a different visit as she wants to get a more expensive pair and she will pay the difference... she forgot her money tonight.
Well, a day full of adventures. I now have two weeks to fill out my forms and return them to the school. I guess that means I should figure out what we will be learning about this year so I can fill out the forms properly. We actually started school today in a sense. The girls have some half day assignments until I get the rest of it figured out. We're a bit behind from last year, so this will just help them catch up until the new books arrive.
Warmly,
Melissa
August 2, 2007 - Homeschool Meme from Jacque
I am doing the homeschool Meme from Jacque's blog. Beings I homeschool and am on Homestead blogger, I guess I qualify for adding my thoughts to this.
I started homeschooling (years ago or year)
in 1999. Kate was in 5th grade. Chelsea was in 2nd grade. Megan was still a little lamb. We pulled the older two from church school.
I homeschool __ of my children
2. ? LOL. I guess 3 is correct until Kate is officially graduated, which will be soon. But next year it will be just two... that will be different for me.... I guess more time for me to spend with baby, decluttering, etc! We have 4 children however in all different stages of learning... even if one is about to graduate, she is still needing guidance.
I teach my children to read at age(specific age or not?)
No specific age. There is always room for introducing it, but I found pushing it doesn't work. My 2nd daughter learned to read up to a second grade level during 2nd-third grade... she didn't proceed much further in skill until she was almost 13yo... when she went from 2nd grade to 7th grade skills in a matter of months. (and yes we checked her eyes and tried ALL kinds of reading programs). I worked with her on and off throughout the years, but tears and inability caused me to take breaks from the pressure of reading. In 6th grade, we worked hard and we got progress... so we continued to work hard and she was able to read even above her grade level. My youngest read around 6-7yo and continued with yearly growth.
A few of my most favorite homeschool teaching resources are:
The Bible
Moore Formula Manual
A Home Designed Form-U-La
Internet
Any scope and sequence book.
The library.
Do you write out goals for school each year?
Yes, I guess. I don't consider them school goals, but just growth type goals. I am totally about the " BIG PICTURE"... and school is such a small part of that... it doesn't even begin to include the character training, the biblical training, the life skill training, etc... I write goals to keep me focused... if I get lost or frustrated during the year with a child, I read my goals and sometimes that is enough to say to me... back off on math... this character issue is a MUCH bigger problem and worthy of the time needed to fix the problem. It keeps me sane when I think we're not accomplishing anything. It encourages me when I see that we are making progress. It also keeps me on track when I get very busy with farmer's market, lambing season, gardening, etc.
What time do you start school each day? Do you have a specific schedule?
Hmmmm, Last year it was between 9 and 10 am. I am hoping to start earlier this year. We will be trying a new schedule. Before we did farm chores first and by the time we were finished and cleaned up it was almost always 10am.
I have used ___ math programs. My favorite is:
Math-It
Saxon 54-Algebra 1/2
Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1
Rod and Staff grade 1-4
Miquon Math
Horizons Math
Holt Algebra 1
Wow! I didn't know how fickle we were! Actually it wasn't fickleness at all, it was finding something that worked for each child. Miquon worked for one daughter... Rod and Staff for the next. All use Saxon 54-87. And my favorite so far has to be Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1, even with a few goofs in the CD's. I'm still looking for the perfect, (within budget) elementary math.
I have used ___ science programs. My favorite is:
Bob Jones University (grade 2 or 3... a gift from a friend... OK, but not the greatest).
Milliken Unit Studies. Two of my daughters really enjoyed some of these.
Rod and Staff: We like the old 5th/6th grade science books...God's Marvelous World
Unit studies (our own and Weaver)
Apologia High School Courses.
Creation Magazine. Nature Friend Magazine. Ranger Rick Magazine. Birds and Blooms Magazine.
My favorite for high school would be Apologia. I have looked at Apologias younger ones and they look real nice as well, but I haven't used them. With the younger grades... we enjoy unit studies... so anything that serves that purpose is great. We then end our unit study with Rod and Staff's God's Marvelous World and all three girls have used it and found the second book especially quite informative... the first book has more nature items that boys would like! LOL. After these books, we use Milliken's unit studies and then to APologia. We love the magazines.
I have used ___ grammar/english programs. My favorite is:
Simply Grammar
Easy Grammar
Winston Grammar
Wisdom Words by Weaver
Understanding Writing
Developing Communication by CLP
BJU - American Literature
Suggestions from Moore Formula Manual, Ruth Beechick 3R's, and unit studies.
Rod and Staff.
Understanding Christian Literature
My favorite... I guess favorites would be what light your kids' eyes up, eh? They like Easy Grammar. They usually will not balk at an unit study assignment of writing. But Rod and Staff's simple approach is what has gained the best writing skills from my girls. That and alot of reading.
I have used ___ history programs. My favorite is:
Rod and Staff 4th and 5th
Unit studies - Milliken and Beautiful Feet, Prairie PRimer
CLP - Streams of Civilizations
BJU or A Beka (I forget which one it was) - United States History
CLP - Fair Play
CLP - Aaaack... can't remember the name... About the constitution! LOL
Books of interest/ biographies, bibliographies, etc.
Current events: News, internet news, God's World publications.
Our favorite text... is Streams of Civilizations. Two girls now have enjoyed it and will often times share what they've read with details and excitement. But our favorite way to learn history is through biographies.
What months do you homeschool during?
We homeschool all year. Not always the same methods all year, but all year, none the less. We tend to school all day when it is a mom day. When Dad is home... tv usually is on at 7pm and all are on the couch with Dad. By schooling all day, I mean the environment is richer for learning. I don't consider the tv that Dad watches to be enriching as far as learning goes. LOL... it's usually comedies, mysteries, or reality shows... Once in a while they will watch a history documentary... but that isn't very often. LOL. Mom's the party pooper... usually no tv at all, unless an approved educational program. We live two different sets of schedules depending on when Dad is at work and when he is at home.
Favorite homeschool method?
Hmmm... I hodge podge it... but I fall back on the Moore Formula. I like the balance of work, study and service and try to keep that balance as we live our days. Keeps me from overloading on school... or work... or service even... I've had a couple years when I've done TOO much. But I pull from alot of different resources and methods. Age of my children and personality just seem to give in to different methods. It works for us even though it is mighty hard to explain!
Do you/plan to homeschool all the way through high school?
Yes. Kate is our first soon to be graduate. But we didn't plan it from the beginning... we took each year as it came. Once we felt comfortable with homeschooling, we decided to continue until God led us elsewhere... that hasn't happened yet... so we try to do our best each year.
Have you noticed specific learning styles in each child?
Yes. And these change as they grow. Very interesting to study and knowing these will help find better resources to match your child's learning. Although we never limit them to just one style... that may be their best/easiest way to learn... but not the ONLY way they learn.
Do you keep specific or general records? Or none, really?
I have records. But they are a bit muddled at the moment. I am trying to compile them so I can reduce my paper storage. That is my NEXT project... after the declutter/garage sale. The records consist of schoolwork, planners, and my journalings and assorted homeschool record programs that I have tried through the years... I find I prefer paper records... they are more portable and I can catch up at the dentist or where ever.
Do you teach Bible, art, journaling, phys. ed.?
Yes. Phys. ed is my weakest link in our schooling. We have become more attentive with exercise, but not "education" in general as far as doing the natl. PE program, teaching specifics about sports. We try to vary each year with allowing a new experience if we have the funds to try say... gymnastics or tennis... that sort of thing. But usually it consists of general family exercise and group games. Art is a close second in my weakest link... but we do alot of crafts and I find these worthier as they are Blessing others for the most part. My kids enjoy journaling... and Bible is our first 1/2 hour to hour of our day... and we stop if questions come up during the day and dig into our Bibles... it is always a priority to learn God's Word in our home.
Where do you like to shop for homeschool books and resources?
Hmmm... vegsource.com was a favorite for a long time. Homeschool Classifieds has been more successful as of lately, however. Ebay and Half.com are resources I check for good buys when I know what I am looking for. I look for specials on swap boards/email groups as well.
As for companies... we like Rod and Staff Publications, Moore Foundation, Christian Light and Christian Liberty Press. I love the Lacelle Family's website as well. I like to browse when I have time. Rock Solid has good prices at times.
There are so many more... but I don't have my favorites on this computer... so I can't really share more.
What have you been itching to try?
Hmmmm... that is a hard one. I make lists... actually post it notes on my computer screen of things I would like to try. I search for them occasionally and usually find them at a good price. The more spendy options however... I'd love to try, but I don't even dwell on them, cuz it just won't happen. I am too cheap and we really don't want to go into debt buying curriculums.
*Do you use and/or like to use E-books?*
I just started. I found the Homeschool eStore and have been downloading some ebooks. We will see how that goes. We do however like to download audio books. The girls will put them on their computers or MP3's and listen to them.
Do you have anything to add?
I hope that you will leave me a comment and let me know if you do this tag. I really love to glean what others know and are doing, because I think that is one of the best things about blogging in the homeschool community! (this is Jacque's note, but I agree, please let me know if you posted so I can read up on yours as well!)
Warmly, ~Melissa
July 2, 2007 - Mom's Summer Reading...
I decided this summer I would take time for me and read a bit. I haven't done that in a while. I needed some refreshing from a homeschool standpoint. We've homeschooled 8 years now and coupled with a busier lifestyle, I needed refreshing. I am reminding myself why we choose to do this. I am getting ideas of what I like to do and what I really don't like to do. I am also getting new ideas for coming months ahead.
I've read two books so far this summer. I just got a pile of old homeschool magazines. Our budget doesn't allow for new subscriptions, so I watch for them on ebay or homeschool classifieds. I just got a pile of 18 homeschooling magazines to thumb through over the next couple months. We'll see if they last that long. I was surprised to see them already as I just paid for them a couple days ago.
Well, I just had to share my excitement. I love reading... and I haven't had much of a chance for mom type reading in a long time.
Warmly, ~Melissa
July 2, 2007 - My homeschool blog...
Since homestead blogger is down, I decided I would spend a wee bit of my spare time here... although my garden does need tending, I also need some rest breaks. So, I hope to spend some time figuring out what it is I opened this blog for! LOL. I wanted to record our school adventures and just share some thoughts on homeschooling to encourage others. So, I will be doing some cleaning up and rearranging.
Perhaps later this winter I will delve into doing some template work, but not yet. Dh is frustrated with our farm web page, so I may try to learn some web lingo and try to make it on our own, without the help of the website program. Seems that is where the trouble lies, once uploaded it never looks the same. As I spend time learning on that, I will practice on my blogs! LOL. Sounds fun! ...but the garden and farmer's market will keep me too busy to start until after October.
Anyways, Just thought I would check in and say... I'm still here.
Warmly, ~Melissa
June 27, 2007 - So happy!.. plus some musings on homeschooling.
I just checked in and finally was able to get on and the "friends" link works! I am sooo happy. This makes it so much easier to catch up. I just didn't have all the time to go blog hopping.
Farmer's market is well under way and we are in full swing for summer. Market sure makes life busy. I used to feel guilty that we get behind on the bookwork, but after having some refreshing time... I am feeling much better. My girls all have wonderful home life skills under their belt. They all know the ins and outs of raising sheep and chickens and a few other birds/pets. And they all know how to work at the market. Ok, doesn't sound like much... but oh what is included in that.
My oldest two are running their own booth together this year. They are learning the cost more directly this year as they have to pay me for the ingredients and the packaging of the items they bake. They are learning salesmanship as they are working on their presentation.. not to be just sitting in the chair and looking around, but smiling and approaching customers and welcoming them to their booth. They give out samples and that has brought on more sales. (all this stuff my dh learned in college in his retail management degree). They also work on their booth "look". And labels are made with their own style and design.
Today, my oldest is down in Missouri at a national sheep sale. On Monday she helped her dad show the sheep and they got judged. The sale is today and they will be headed home. She's gone before to this sale and enjoyed taking classes with her Dad. She went to a class to be a certified inspector of hair coats, one year, although they deemed her too young to get the "paperwork". Another year, she learned about parasites and worms and how to identify that in sheep and the different stages of infestation by their symptoms. This alone is a great asset to a farmer in being able to reduce the regular rounds of worming, because you are on top of the situation, instead of just worming to worm... just in case. Very few regular active sheep farmers know that information. Our last lambing season Kate was very involved taking shifts that alternated with mine. I worked nights and she kept it going early in the am until I was rested to take over and she also kept an eye out when I was busy with household duties as well. We had a selenium deficiency this year due to different feed and wow did we learn alot. Kate also had to pull soooo many little lambs this year. She is even better than I in that department. She said she could get a job hiring out for pulling lambs with a chuckle. Too bad there aren't very many openings for that. LOL. She did pull some for a friend of ours... though she didn't get paid. Some of our bottle lambs also tend to get festers. We think it is an allergy to the dry milk. So treatment of that was done as well. She was our main sore cleaner.
In addition to knowing that, the girls have attended sheep sales at local sale barns and watched what people look for in sheep. Their dad is active in the registry and in the national sheep improvement program and the volunteer scrapie program, so they have learned alot about genetics, codon testing, and learning how to breed to get better characteristics in your animals. As his only help, the girls are also included in on sales pitches and selling the sheep. They give tours of the farm when Dad is delayed. They even have taken over selling the sheep when Dad got called away. They are quite able to converse with customers and do not bring down the sales, but often bring them up. You know, this includes skills such as speech, sales pitches, social skills, and so much more!
I will not allow myself to feel that we aren't doing enough. Why should I? What other high school students walk out ready to tackle their world. My kids are able to run their own home with chores, baking and cooking skills, family management and can cook for large quantities. They all volunteer at church willingly. They step in and offer help in areas they are well versed with. (Hence the reason Kate was pulling our friend's lambs). They have two job skills under their belt, selling produce/ eggs/ and baked goods at the market... or running a sheep farm. Which those skills will help them immensely with any other job they may choose to go after. No going to college to learn how to talk to customers. No going to college to learn how to give a good speech or sales pitch. They've already got it. No, I will not feel guilty...
and this isn't the half of it...they still are doing other things. Kate our oldest loves her horses and keeps them on their toes with working with them and keeping them clean and brushed. She also is headed for a mission trip this summer. Chelsea is big on style... clothes and hair. She is learning how to care for her hair and loves to try new products and "test" them out.... even homemade ones. Her sense of clothing is modest but in style... and she challenges the rest of the family with her style. She is the one that keeps us feminine. LOL. Megan is still young and still discovering what it is that makes herself tick. Currently she enjoys shopping. She maintains her budget with her sheep sales to keep money all year round. At only 12yo, that is quite the accomplishment... to always have money in the bank and budgeting on her own to keep it that way with absolutely NO help from mom or dad.
Nope, I will not feel guilty. I just need to learn how to render all this learning into credits for college. As I figure that out, perhaps I will post courses that we made up to give others some ideas.
Warmly, ~Melissa
May 21, 2007 - Mom's reading list...help needed, please.
It's been a long year and I'll be the first to admit I am headed towards burnout. Our new family dynamics have given me much to ponder and much to question about my way of doing things. *grin*
I've decided that a summer of reading will probably be the best therapy for this tired homeschool mom. I am in need of refreshing, of encouragement and of new ideas! While I have read several organizational books this year... I am still in process of integrating all that information into my life. Things are improving... I've just not ARRIVED, yet.
I am looking for thoughts on these ideas... scope and sequences, different teaching theories/strategies, high school teaching that isn't sooo complicated (lol), dealing with preschoolers and high schoolers and middle schoolers all at once, record keeping ideas, relaxed learning, incorporating learning done into high school credits, training up daughters, and just simply a good enjoyable book on homeschooling.
I also would like to learn more about fitting high school into less years... I've heard of others doing 4 years in 3 years... or others that have their oldest help homeschool the youngest... how do you do that and still your oldest is able to complete their own school work? I've heard of other families who have their senior teach the kids for one entire year... I'm just unsure of those dynamics and how that works. So much that I want to learn!... so little time! LOL.
I would really appreciate you all sharing your suggestions. Favorite books, ideas, theories, etc.
Warmly, ~Melissa
May 10, 2007 - Ever Changing...
Well, here I am, the end of another "school year". Which for us won't be, but that is OK. In reflecting the past few months, I have seen the fruits of my efforts. I have also learned quite a bit more about me than I had previously made known to myself. ...I did know it, I just chose not to acknowledge it.
With struggling to keep up with record keeping with my oldest soon to be graduate. I realized a couple things... even while trying to catch up... I would not be doing it well. There is always something else pressing to do. I live for adrenalin rushes and will often do things at the last possible moment. I almost always have no failure over doing that, but my stress level is way high. As I am getting older... this year I have noticed that my stress level is alot higher on a daily basis. I am not able to bounce back from a late evening doing some hunkering down on whatever project it is.
So is age really telling me what I've done all along is wrong? I find I jump from project to project alot. That would make sense with what DH sees. He says... what did you do all day... he's seen me busy, but not seen a "finished" project for the day. That really drives him bonkers. He is a stick to it until it is done or functional again. I am content doing stuff and if I recall an item that is more pressing, I will stop and do that... and on and on all day long. It is rather frustrating to look back and wonder why you can't seem to finish a project unless I devote a late nighter to the project. I am learning that diligence is needed on my part.
On another level, I took a seminar on spiritual gifts. While it assesses spiritual gifts, you also will reflect upon your own talents as well. Seeing things brought to light with multiple questions reworded over and over to get an accurate assessment... well, I was beginning to see my failures and my callings. I saw what I was good at (my talents)... I found my passions and my spiritual gifts. I also found many things I was horrible at.
To my husband's dismay... administration is my highest spiritual gift. Not in the fact that I can tell people what to do... I am NOT a leader. But in the fact that I LOVE to plan programs and do it quite well. I can plan out things and have done it for others trying to meet their needs and it has been quite successful. But here is what I learned.... I do not like to be the one implementing the plan. UGH.
With homeschooling that has become apparent. I plan and plan and plan and LOVE this! But when it comes to implementing the daily details of it all... it just curls my hair all the more. I hate spelling tests. There, I said it! I really do! So, I have found that in some of these putsy things of life, I either need to buckle down and do it... find someone else like DH to do it... or find a program that the kids can do it on their own. This is what I am learning...
In all of this learning about myself... much of what I have not shared... I realized that God is good. If I would have seen these failures up front... would I have attempted to home school? No, I don't think so. But God is able to do more for us than we can. He has come into our days and fixed the big blunders. When I knew not what to do, he brought the learning to us in a much calmer gentler way. I love remembering on a day when my oldest thought I was ruining her life. I wasn't a teacher and she surely was going to let me know... well I prayed all day long as I watched her glumly sitting in her chair looking out the window... and suddenly she perks up and notices that we have thousands of monarch butterflies fluttering about our property. She got to experience Monarch migration in real life... isn't God good? We go outside and it is lightly sprinkling, so they are all taking shelter among our trees. We walk out to the back pasture after the sun starts peeking out again and it is filled with clover covered with butterflies. We watched these butterflies, for the few short hours they spent with us. It was truly a wonderful day and my daughter had smiles on her face again. What we miss when we always do what is routine!
So, there... I need balance. I need structure and I need flexibility. My quandry right now is trying to find that balance as my older self is needing more stability than my young life once was capable of understanding or needing. Dh says I just need to slow down... but life is just getting faster. We have a larger farm than before, which means more chores. We are now back in Market season for Farmer's Market... which has been a wonderful opportunity for my girls, so I plunder on with that. Our days are filled with different items and I think it is more me being able to switch gears and figure out what these different directions hold for my family and for the girls' education.
I am in process of doing that. I am trying to take the evenings when Dh is home to unwind and figure all this out. Alot of plotting and scheming is going on, but don't worry... I LOVE this stuff! I also am digging into the bookshelves and really trying to discern what is necessary to accomplish it all. If I could just downsize a bit, life wouldn't be quite so overwhelming with soooo many choices. Ahh, life is a continual process of learning... not just for our little ones under our care, but for us older ones as well. May I embrace that truth with a smile.
Warmly, ~Melissa
