Peek into my crazy life. I married crazy and fun Jeff. I am homeschooling four very energetic kids. I definitely don't have all the answers, but I will keep trying. As long as I grow closer to Jesus and show my kids the way there too, it will all be worth it! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:39:00 -0600 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:39:00 -0600 As we have approached the middle of our "school year", it is time to evaluate what we are doing, what is working, what is not.  My first instinct is to panic as we are halfway through but have not learned nearly enough!  But then I remind myself that learning continues whether the calendar says we are in school or not.  Technically there is no real end to our learning.  As long as progress is being made, then we are successful.  Now for the details:  Bethany (12) I have seen great improvement in Bethany's work ethic this year.  She knows what is expected and gets most of her assignments done on her own.  She has become more responsible with her cleaning and pet care chores.  She has also become a big helper in caring for her sisters.  Academically, she is flying through 7th grade math, a grade level ahead.  She has spent many hours reading and researching information on small animals.  While there has been significant improvement in her spelling, we could definitely focus on getting it even better.  She still needs to learn to spell many of her sight words.  Andrew (8) Andrew has shown a softened spirit this year as he has begun to understand how his actions affect those around him.  He is adjusting this year to being "in school" while the younger kids play.  He is an avid reader, so for Science we have been reading Magic School Bus books.  This is a double bonus as we get to snuggle up with some great books AND we are learning some great science.  He has been slow to write and still has plenty work to do, but has shown some improvement.    I will start teaching him to type and practice his letters and numbers with free printable Kindergarten handwriting sheets I found online.  Shhh... he doesn't have to know that.  It is all about progress, not grade levels. Emily (6) I did not start formal lessons so early with Andrew, but she is ready.  She showed no interest in learning to read early in the year but would follow along in our hymnal at church each Sunday.  Now she is reading everything she sees except for books not written by Dr. Seuss.  Emily is my child that will do it when she sees fit to do it.  She has taken a liking to clipboards, so I am able to put a couple worksheets with writing or math on one and she works diligently.  I think it makes her feel important!  One thing I need to work on with Emily is her independence.  She still wants me to do absolutely everything for her, and nobody else's help with do.  Lily (4) Lily has been the easiest preschooler I have had.  She has always been very good about entertaining herself or lying down across my lap and falling asleep during our school time.  She is only four, but has recently decided she wants to do "her school".  She doesn't come every day, but when she does, she joins in, does her worksheets that I give her, and proudly displays her work afterward.  She is beginning to read letter sounds and put together matching words.  Lily is the opposite of Emily in that she wants to do EVERYTHING by herself and adamantly refuses any help.  This makes for lots of messes, but she is making the effort to grow up.  That wraps up my mid year evaluation. Surely it is easier to guide their learning after looking at where they have come from, what they have accomplished, and where they need to go.  It is time to press forward and let the learning continue! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/746035/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:39:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/746035/ November is NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).   The goal is 50,000 words.  My husband will probably meet this goal.  I will probably write about 2,000 words.  I am okay with this.  To me, it is just motivation to put my ideas to paper.  I don't have much time to work with, but am enjoying the process anyway. My 12 year old daughter, Bethany, has always been a terrible speller.  A year ago her spelling was consistent with dyslexia.  She has made much progress.  We did a year of Sequential Spelling and now use prepared dictation.  Her spelling is sill not good but at least it is starting to make sense now.  Progress is a good thing. I see her really trying to spell phonetically now.  Her phonics based reading is starting to show flaws as she reads harder material, so that is something we are working on this year. My 8 year old son, Andy, really resists writing all together.  At best I get him to write one sentence a day, and that takes a good 30 minutes between the whining and the actual writing.  His copywork is done with light strokes, and his letters, though legible, are typically formed in reverse (example:  lower case a is drawn from bottom of stick to top and then clockwise around the circle). I have tried correcting his handwriting technique, but this only frustrates him.   His free hand writing is somewhat shakey, hard pressing on the page, all capital letters, and seldom a finger space.  He completely shuts down if I ask him to write a sentence without telling him exactly what to write.  He has never liked coloring, and just this year started drawing a little bit.  He does not like cutting with scissors.  He complains that it is hard.  He gets silly during the assignment time.  He loves the computer and does not mind typing in small quantities.  He loves reading, science, math (only if it is done orally),  building with k-nex.   I really don't know what to do.  I need to know if he is resisting because it is truly hard or because he just rathers do something else.  I need to know how far to push him and when or if to make accomodations.  Any ideas?? http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/743247/ Mon, 9 Nov 2009 08:14:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/743247/ Sometimes chasing rabbits makes for the best learning. Last week we finished the first Narnia book, The Magician's Nephew and then watched the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie.  The opening scene of the movie takes place in London during World War II.  My kids asked questions about what was happening as the children were being evacuated.  This week we are exploring some of life during WWII.  We are reading Anne Frank, Attack on Pearl Harbor-an Interactive History Adventure (the kind of book where you choose what action to take and turn to the designated page), Growing up in World War II.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/741760/ Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:56:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/741760/ I know it is merely a cycle, one that I go through a few times a year, but I am again lonely and bored at home.  While I enjoy my kids, they are not my friends.  I rarely talk to adults anymore.  My husband is my best friend, but with the stress of work, he is not always available to be my company.  Times like these I think about going back to work.  Times like these I don't feel valued, needed  or even noticed at home.   Homeschooling is a wonderful blessing, but often a lonely road.  Do you find yourself lonely at times?  What do you do about it?  How do you make sure you are getting adult fellowship regularly?  These are things I need to work on.  I know deep down that God is sufficient;  May this truth sink in and be real to me. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/740528/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:18:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/740528/ I have not been in a blogging sort of mood lately, but I have decided that I NEED to exercise the mental disciple of writing more often.  Once our school day is over I guess I am mentally tired.  It has been a welcomed change to be home all day this year instead of rushing off to gymnastics every afternoon after school.  I think it has been good for the whole family being home and together more often.  It is definitely less stressful.  The financial crunch of not having the extra spending money from my part time work at the gym has gotten to us a bit.  It is hard to not be able to go out and do things.  But I know that my God provides and am resting in that truth.   We joined a homeschool group for the first time.  The kids have already made some friends and are loving the free / almost free activities. We started our school year July 13th and are in our 14th week of school.  The year has been pretty smooth so far.This week I will be testing reading and math levels.  Testing week makes me nervous.  It is like MY report card. A couple weeks ago we moved our school day to fit in between lunch and dinner.   It seems to be working well.  The kids are more alert.  I am not trying to get chores and school done at the same time, since I can easily get all of my chores done in the morning hours.  Everyone has a few chores and then free time to follow their desires in the morning.  I am seeing improvements in the weak subjects of each of the children. We are currently reading:  Bible stories, King Arthur, The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia),  Folktales like Paul Bunyan, Magic School Bus Goes Upstream, and various library books for bedtime.  The kids are narrating back to me for most of these books.  For some of them I am asking for written summaries or the like.  I have really been impressed by the retention and understanding that the kids are displaying.   I personally am reading The Edison Trait, The Gift of Dyslexia, and together with my husband Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makover and Financial Peace. Enough randomness for tonight.  Maybe this will get me to start writing again.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/739205/ Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:37:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/739205/ Okay, having babies before my friends didn't bother me so much, but having a preteen first is a bit trickier.  Things are changing, and I am learning as I go.  I am sure I am making lots of mistakes along the way.  How I am to really reach this girl that is growing up before me is not so easy.   She mostly wants to hang out in her own room alone by day, yet at night she wants to sleep on my floor because she is afraid to be alone.  This I don't really understand, but I remember having the same fears when I was around her age.    I am trying to motivate her to really live life, but she currently is unmotivated.  I know this is a time of transition for her as well.  Oh how I wish this part of life came with a manual! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/724542/ Sun, 6 Sep 2009 22:16:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/724542/ Many times when I am frustrated with homeschooling I wish I were back in a classroom teaching.... Teaching kids that will sit and listen while I stand and the front of the class and teach.  But I am learning something here.   Classrooms are typically teacher centered out of necessity.  Homeschools can be, and in my opinion, should be child centered.  Am I saying that children should run the home or the school?  No.  I am saying that it is my job now to set up learning experiences for them and then watch them learn.  Active learning is real learning.  I still plan their lessons, but once they are planned I must step back and let them learn.  I closely oversee the basics: math, reading, writing.  I carefully plan these lessons to be as efficient as possible in order to make time for them to follow their own interests.  My son is a born scientist.  I  don't plan science lessons for him (yet) because he is always learning science on his own.  My daughter is crazy about animals.  I don't plan lessons for her to learn about animals.  She does that on her own time reading book after book and spending time with her animals.  I believe the best thing I can do for my kids' education (aside from the basics) is to study them, see what makes them tick, enable them to follow those passions, and fill in the gaps that are left.  This is real education.  I write this as I see the school bus driving down my street at 3:30 in the afternoon.  I am so thankful that my children have the time and opportunities that homeschooling provides. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/721673/ Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:12:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/721673/                       Lily painted some pictures. She, like her brother, will be slow to write. I was very impressed today at how well she painted in the lines of the picture. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/720979/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:48:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/720979/              Andy chose to build cars with Knex and later designed something with Pearler beads that he explained to be an electrical circuit with lights telling when the room was occupied. Yep, He is a science fanatic! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/720978/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:46:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/720978/ Beth designed and sewed herself a wallet. She loves fashion, and learning to sew is a big help. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/720977/ Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:45:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JeffandDebbieplus4/720977/