We are a homeschooling family of seven children. We use a variety of homeschooling methods and mix-match them together to develop what works best for each one of our precious ones. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 4 Mar 2009 23:20:00 -0600 Wed, 4 Mar 2009 23:20:00 -0600 We are in need of spring! Not sure if anyone else out there is, but we know we are. Wanted to come on here and update a bit, as it's been since December since last posting. Have had some unexpected events and some illnesses floating around, everyone is well and recovered now thankfully. We've been cooped up like chickens inside for the winter. We love the outdoors , so winter is not our favorite season.  Games, puzzles, family movies, art projects glore, read several books and the good ones twice. I know we are ready to see signs of spring, vibrant flowers budding, green grass growing in the fields, blue skys and longer days. We always have a difficult time the last two weeks of winter. Seems the days drag along. I've been combating the fatigue by pulling out toys I have had stowed away, we've had pizza / popcorn party, started reading Charolette's Web and when finished we will watch the old cartoon and the new animated one, so we can compare and contrast the three. So for now this is where we are- inside, keeping warm and cozy but hopeful not too much longer. Ready to break out the kites, picnic basket, frizbee, sports equipment, swimming gear and anything else warm weather related. I will try and blogg again within next couple weeks.   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/665437/ Wed, 4 Mar 2009 23:20:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/665437/ Someone I know recently went to a training on SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) they shared with me a task they were asked to do: Take a piece of paper, in a vertical line number paper 1 through 10 Then turn the paper, so that numbers are able to be read away from you (appear upside down to you) Now place pencil in the hand you normally do NOT write with Now while moving your feet in a clock wise circle motion, spell words upside down, given verbally by someone It's almost impossible...... but the lasting impact on those doing it is they can have some feeling what it is like to concentrate, to have emotions of a person with SPD or PDD maybe not total insight but for my children it has opened eyes as to what their sibling goes through on a daily basis. After having them complete this task I asked how did you feel..... remarks I received where "I was  very fustrated"  "I felt helpless" " aggitated and  I became increasingly angry at how simple writing should be but it wasn't" "It just made me so mad!" This caused all of them to stop and think about how blessed they are. It also caused them to think about their sibling and others who have a disability, it caused them to actually feel a little of what it is like to be in their skin and not being comfortable, not understanding things . I thought I would share this so that others may use it to help educate family and friends on what its like for our children with special needs. Something simple but can have big impact.  http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/665433/ Wed, 4 Mar 2009 23:09:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/665433/ Hi all!  We have been brainstorming how we can celebrate our homeschool, how we can include our family and friends in our homeschool, etc. In the process of this several suggestions came up here are two of the best ones that we are thinking seriously of committing to next year: What if we had a homeschool holiday? A day of celebrating each other. A  day specificially set aside to pray for one another, to stand up and say something wonderfully positive about the others in our lives. To create homeschool crafts, bake cookies or cake and have a wonderful celebration of being a homeschool family. Playing board games, reading a long story together. Of course this is life for most of us homeschoolers we do these things but never a full complete day usually - so why not take off, schedule a holiday specifically designed and created for our children and school.  This was a suggestion of one of our dear ones. Another thing that was suggested was hosting  an open house that would include light refreshments and homemade snacks. Inviting grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins,  and close friends. Have on display  big projects, special writing assignments, art projects, field trip and homeschool class photo's, have a short skit, song, dance  or play instruments for guests.   A evening of getting together but also of educating others (who may or may not support homeschooling) of all the wonderful things our homeschooling offers.  We have discovered several of our extended family and friends who were not pro-homeschooling have become lead to favoring or at least supporting us in our homeschooling efforts after simply knowing we have the children in curriculum. Some people just do not realize that they offer books and a variety of educational opportunities geared just to homeschooled children. The open house idea has made a big splash with all our children. The children want to design invitations and decorate. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity for the children to showcase some individual talents. Our extended  family all attend public or private schools so their children have a host of events that grandparents and other family attend. Our children do not really have any of these special events, with the exception of dance and soccer for some. So this would include all the children and the whole family. Any other suggestions would be appreciated - fill free to leave suggestive entries. We are up for suggestions in putting in more fun, celebrating and educating others into the new year. Have a wonderful day! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/630171/ Tue, 9 Dec 2008 18:32:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/630171/ Have you ever noticed how Christmas comes in stores earlier every year? Or how people don't seem to stop and think about the true meaning of CHRISTmas anymore.... the most important and signifigant event has been turned into a retail marketing holiday. How sad that is. We decided to take back some of the meaning this year. To focus on why we have Christmas. Sure we still put up a tree and we will have presents underneath. But we added some new traditions to help us keep focus on what is the true meaning. Here are some things we are doing, perhaps your families may find them useful or come up with your own creative ways to add to this season. (1) Before puting the tree up we read about Jesus birth and talked with the children about why we celebrate Christmas. This was especially important for the younger wee ones.  We had purchased a very special cross and placed it in the top center of our tree for all to see. After placing this ornament we read about Jesus death and resurrection. (2) We are purchasing gifts for several children who are in need, allowing the children to help with this. (3) The children are donating some/ all of their allowance to a local homeless shelter. (4) The children are doing extra chores to earn money and purchasing blankets for the homeless and will be donating them the week of Christmas. (5) We are planning a family activity every other evening. This has included watching special Christmas family shows, reading chapter book, playing board games, putting together puzzles, and even playing the wii. Sometimes even homeschooling families need to take a break from the hustle and bustle, kick back and enjoy one another. (6) We have a large family so we are doing a family play. We plan to video tape it and make copies. We are going to send copies to people we know are homebound. The play is about thirty minutes long, then we are singing Christmas carols at the end. (7) We are making some Christmas cards for local hospital ER staff, and patients for Christmas Eve and Christmas. These are things we've decided to do this year. At our home we have seen major changes in our children's thinking and most importantly their hearts. They have received a gift of having a heart of  compassion and love. As a parent I felt lead to do things differntly, to show my children a differnt way. I think year by year the meaning of this truly special event has been lost and in it less of a celebration. People are depressed during the holidays because they are lost and do not understand the true meaning. This is truly sad. So we want to encourage other families to do the same. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/628636/ Fri, 5 Dec 2008 23:48:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/628636/  My husband & I have seven precious children.  A little about us and who we are. We have been married for fourteen years. We have four sons and three daughters.  We are entering our sixth  year of homeschooling. We believe we are blessed to be  able to homeschool our children. We are excited about our journey over the next year and decided we would like to share with others our day to day accomplishments and struggles. We also want to use this blogg and website to assist us in learning from others about their homeschooling and perhaps gain insight and prospective from others knowledge.     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/613466/ Sun, 2 Nov 2008 13:18:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/blessedmommaof7/613466/