This is me! - Homeschool Blogger

Curriculum Slave Indeed!

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:30:00 -0600

Well, I am sad when I read the "curriculum slave" blog I posted a long time ago. My husband finally got into the game of homeschool decisions last fall. Together, we decided to use Switched on Schoolhouse curriculum. This decision came from our son needing to develop some independence and responsibility, and me needing a break from being totally responsible for everything we did each day and having to hover over him while he worked.

A few words about the curriculum: Alpha Omega's Switched On Schoolhouse curriculum is a wonderful program. It is a software program that lets the parent set certain options and it does the rest. My son has learned soooo much!

I will just say that I miss my son. There never seems to be time for the cuddling, the picnics, the reading to each other. I really miss it! My husband is bent on following the computer's calender of when lessons are due. I guess I did more homeschooling than even I realized, because now I miss certain aspects. I am going to have to recover what I lost here. I just can't stand it!

Just venting!

Curriculum Slave

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:09:00 -0500

When I first started homeschooling, I thought I could buy curriculum for Spelling, Math, and Grammar, and just read good books for Science and History. Even after reading every book my local library had on homeschooling, this was my first instinct. Boy, was I wrong!!

My first year of homeschooling, I purchased an "all in one" curriculum package from a company my friend used. I did this, mainly, because as a new homeschooler, I really just didn't know what to get. Let's see, the math and spelling in the package was too difficult for my son, but the grammar seemed to work. I absolutely hated the science! The history was ok, but not what I thought it should be. By the first half of the first year, I was making up math pages on the computer, using our curriculum grammar book, and had ditched everything else.

The summer before my second year of homeschooling, my friends and I attended a homeschool convention. A very, very dangerous event!!!! WOW! This convention had everything under the sun: computer curriculum, all-in-one, a different way of teaching math on every corner. Everything was beautiful, colorful, exciting, unbelievable! It was the mother load, and I felt like Dorothy when she finally made it to Oz and the whole world became Technicolor! I became obsessed with finding "the almighty perfect curriculum" for my son!

During this same time period, I also discovered "The Rainbow Resource Catalog"! It was like a convention at home, though not as colorful. I read it. I actually read it all the way through-several times! (I know, it's sick!) If anyone was asking about particular curriculum, I would jump in and almost quote the description from the catalog. People asked if I had used that curriculum, and they were surprised when I said, "no". Soon, I developed "Compulsive Curriculum Purchasing Disorder". (a phrase I, personally coined!) I began buying science kits through the mail, "perfect" history curriculums, books, books, and more books! I did end up spending a lot of money, but I really didn't have that much curriculum, in my opinion. For the next 2 years, I continued like this.

Our fourth year of homeschooling began in 2006. I was sick of catalogs! Sick of it all! By this time, I had a math and a spelling curriculum that worked for us. That is all I can say. I have a history that has already been revised due to mistakes! I have a science that is way over my son's head. What to do? What to do?

All my studying, obsessing, and shopping has gotten me no where! I think I will keep the math and spelling. We have a grammar workbook from a bookstore we are using. For everything else, we shall read!

Do any of us actually remember the timeline of historical facts? Dates? The Battles and Wars of everything and everywhere? Probably not! My first interest and recall of retention of anything historic, besides Bible stories, came in college. What details do we remember about science? I remember my mom reading books about flowers and trees. I remember that a diamond is the hardest mineral and if it is "real", it will cut glass. I remember a few other things, too, but not a whole lot!

I guess what I am saying is that I am trying to recover from my disorder, and, finally, follow my instincts. My son will not remember the details about everything we read, but he will remember that his mom read to him, and wasn't too busy obsessing with bloodshot eyes over catalogs. He will remember being cuddled up under a blanket in winter. He will remember that his "teddy bear" liked the story. He will remember having lunch on a blanket in the yard in fall, with a mom, a sandwich, and a book about dragons. He will remember what counts!! And I will know that, in the beginning, I was not wrong. Time well spent, good books, and love is the best education that I, personally, can give my son. From now on, I am going to try and follow my insticts!

Merry Christmas?

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 10:00:00 -0600

Merry Christmas?

Well, the holidays are upon us again. Christmas is supposed to be a time of giving, kindness, joy, and love for others. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't.

I ask you, at this wonderful, magical time of year, is it really neccessary to try and race me to the door of the store, nearly knocking me down, so that you can enter before I do? Is it too much to ask for you to simply return the smile that I have given you? How is it "Christmas-y" to trample people and begin slugging one another at the "day after Thanksgiving" sales?

A couple of days ago, I hurried to the grocery store for a few items. After pulling into the parking spot, I realized that a car had been coming down the isle for the very spot I parked in. Oh my gosh! I stole that lady's spot! I hurried out of my car, so that I could enter the store the same time she did, so I could apologize and tell her that I didn't realize she was going for that spot. She wasn't angry, but she was in a hurry. She told me that it was "ok", but I felt horrible! Why doesn't anyone else seem to feel horrible about behaving badly at this time of year?

I guess it really is better to give than to receive. I will continue to to be kind, to smile, to hold the door for people, to apologize if I have stolen someone's parking spot, whether it is appreciated or not. True joy comes from within. Joy is a gift from God for doing what He has asked us to do.

In this day in time, our lives are designed to be overly busy, over scheduled, and always in a hurry. Our focus is moslty on what we have to get done today for our jobs and our families. There are people who donate their time to feed the homeless, donate toys for needy children, and money to various charities and none of that is small. However, I am going to try and focus on small things. You never know how much impact a small gesture can make. Your smile may be the only nice thing that happens to someone today. Holding the door for an older person may give them new hope in the younger generation.

No matter how busy we are, I hope we will all take a little time to focus on small kindnesses and make each day a little merrier for someone else who may need it.

What Is Art?

Tue, 9 Aug 2005 18:13:00 -0500

What Is Art??

Ok. So about a year ago, I am moved to this strange planet. I am still unsure of the intelligence of many of the lifeforms here.

One day we went to some of the museums around town, one of which was an "art" museum. Now, I admit that I do not have a degree in Art Appreciation, so don't be too hard on me. The museum did have some really beautiful and interesting items and I do remember those that really struck me. However, the collection by one particular artist has had the biggest impact, thus far. Photos of roadkill...I will let you think about that for a few minutes..............................yes, there were guts hanging out.................yes, smushed heads, also................flattened turtles?...yes. Have you had enough time? Ok, then, I ask you this: is this art? I mean, I get it. I get the message that the more we build, the more we encroach on the wildlife and they have no where to go. I really really get the message, but does it belong in an art museum?

Ok, artistic education class number 2. A friend invited me out for a "girls night out". We went to dinner and then met one of her friends at a local art museum. The museums were having an "admission free" night. We walk into this old house, you know, with the wooden porch and wooden floors inside. The "greeter" woman welcomes us in and begins telling us about the different local artists that they are displaying tonight. She is just about done when she reminds us not to miss the photographs in the far right room. "They were all done by a 15 year old artist," she says exitedly, "and they are all of industrial waste!" Need I say more? I am really glad that this photographer has such a passion for environmental causes. I really am not trying to put down either artist, but is industrial waste art? My friend, knowing of my previous "roadkill art experience", just gave me a look, and I had to quickly walk into another room. I was about to have hysterics, just as the "artist's" father came into the museum.

I think that this kind of "art" belongs in one of the numerous "Save the Planet" magazines. How about a newspaper article to accompany the photos. I think the messages would reach more people.

Roadkill? Industrial waste? Art? Don't ask me. I think I just may be too uncultured for this planet!