This is an attempt to be held accountable for my actions and the things the Lord has shown me as it pertains to the rearing and teaching of my girls. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Sun, 13 Jan 2008 10:04:00 -0600 Sun, 13 Jan 2008 10:04:00 -0600 So TOG Co-op went well on Friday. I was nervous about the Middle Grammar students. I have only taught the Lower Grammar and was a preschool teacher for several years so that is my comfort zone. The day went great. The kids really got into the experiments with motion and the graphing and averaging the data. We made Newton's Cradles, button yo-yo's and Silhoutte Portraits. We also had a mock 18th century dinner party. The boys had to pull out the girl's chairs. They had to stand when two of the girl guests arrived late. They had to wait until the hostess took her first bite and boy, did she make them suffer. She waited a good 3 minutes to take a bite, an eternity for the hungry boys! It was too funny. Here are some pictures of the day and the things they did.   Number 3 child acting in the role of servant.   Teaching them to set a table. Only one cup was broken and thankfully by one of my children.   He was reluctant to do his mannerly duties, but in the end he was a perfect gentleman.   Cutie Patootie #5 child...the Upper Grammar did some kind of experiment w/ the skateboard.   Adorable #4 child hanging out on the skateboard. The two did a nice job taking turns.   #1 child with her Silhoutte portrait. The UG portraits turned out a little better than the MG. They must hold still better. Every time I said hold still my group of kids wiggled more.   It appears that my #2 & #3 children have posture issues.  Don't you love the eyelashes of #3...it is not exaggerated! They really are that long.   The button yo-yo's really do work and so did the Newton's cradle. I was so excited that it did what it was supposed to. Ya never know! Hope you enjoyed. I am spending today getting the week planned out. I will hopefully write it here and hold to what the Lord shows me. Thanks for looking and please leave me a comment. I love knowing that this is being read and encouraging others. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/460448/ Sun, 13 Jan 2008 10:04:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/460448/ As a child I remember my dad reading us the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy over and over. He may have only read it through once to us and it was so special that it seemed as though it was a reoccurring event. (Dad, when you read this...set me straight. How many times was it read to us?) Anyway, last year I read the 7 books of Narnia to the girls over the winter because they are amazing reads and in anticipation of the movie coming out. I didn't want them to see the movie without having read the books. (We all know that the books are always, far and beyond, better than the movies.) This winter I started our nightly reading time before bed again. I had wanted to continue all year long, but the summer nights are extremely long and the kids are happily playing in the streets until bed time and I am usually exhausted from a long day that we quickly abandoned the ritual. A few weeks ago I told the girls I wanted to start reading The Lord of the Rings. They said they weren't ready. They think they will be too scared. They have seen the covers of my Extended Versions of the movies and have seen the old cartoon version of The Hobbit. I used to love that movie as a kid. Anyway, they begged me to let them hear The Chronicles again. Since these books never get old, I had no problem saying ok. As I started the first book, (not in the order they were written, but the chronological order) The Magician's Nephew, I tried using my pathetic English accent. It wasn't pretty. Then one day I was looking on Ebay for a new set of books (we have the big monster compilation book and it is looking ragged) I saw a collection of audio books. I bid on them and won.  What a gem I found! It is incredible! The voice actors are top-caliber. Dreamy, some of them. The Magician's Nephew is voiced by Kenneth Branaugh (love him!).  We are just starting The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the voice is Michael York. The other actors are Patrick Stewart , Derek Jacobi (from Much Ado About Nothing), Jeremy Northam (from Emma), Lynn Redgrave, and Alex Jennings. To hear their beautiful English accents and the way they bring the different voices to life is the way these books were meant to be read! I highly recommend this collection. They are on sale on Amazon for $47, normally $75. Absolutely worth the money! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/458733/ Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:34:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/458733/ I get the priviledge of leading the Middle Grammar Co-op class this Friday. We are at the end of the 17th century and starting the 18th. We are at the Great Reformation and Sir Isaac Newton. I am not going to focus too much on the Reformation right now because I haven't gone too indepth with the girls this year. For co-op I am going to do a number of simple experiments on the Laws of Motion by Sir Isaac. Make a yo-yo- Using a buttons and cotton thread Make a Newton's Cradle (simplified version) Experiments and Graphing of the effect of friction on a moving object Measure and graph the time it takes for different objects to fall I am also going to discuss manners of the 17th & 18th century as it pertains to dining. As I set up for snack I am going to have a handful of servants, a host (female), and guests (male and female). How is a table set Who sits first What does a man do when a lady enters the room What does a man do when a lady is ready to sit at a table When do we start eating We will do a Silhoutte Portrait. These were typical for the average colonial child to have as a record of their appearance. We are going to discuss the book they read Boys and Girls of Colonial Days. Then we are going to do a Story Thread game. I start a story and then each child goes around and adds to the story. Pray for me...I am out of my comfort zone with the older kids. I hope this all will fill the 3 hours of time. Preschoolers are my area of expertise. I will post some pictures afterwards for you to see. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/457626/ Tue, 8 Jan 2008 12:30:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/457626/ It is a new year and the Lord has really been impressing on me the need for consistency and discipline in the little and big things in life, especially as it pertains to the rearing of my girls. Over the last year I have felt defeated and frustrated and sorrowful over the weaknesses and sins in my life. I have, more often than not, allowed myself to become lazy both in my home and in my heart. The point of complete failure and the desire to stop trying to do and be better always just before me. But that is where God wants me, right? He wants me at the end of myself so that I know that He is enough! He is sufficient! He is the ONLY ONE who can change me. He gave me the picture this morning of the hardened lump of clay on the potter's wheel. The potter must chip off the hard edges, wet the clay, push hard into it to form anything distinguishable. But as his skillful hands work the clay it becomes pliable and yields to his hands. He is able to mold definition into the piece of dirt and create a work of beauty. ("For we are God's workmanship (work of art), created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10) Am I yielded to the Potter's hand? Or do I just want to do things my own way, in my own time? Why do I try in my own strength to do better, to be better? Sometimes I am frustrated with who I am and my continual struggles because of the weaknesses I have, but then God showed me this verse...Romans 9:20-21 "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? 'Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" ' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" Isn't it in my weaknesses that His power is made perfect (2 Cor. 12:9)? Paul said, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." I am weak, but the power of Christ and His resurrection are in me. His grace is sufficient for me. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3 How as a homeschool mom do I tap into this power so that my day is ordered by His will and not my own? How do I stop failing? How do I demonstrate a life yielded to Christ to my children? I can't, but He can through me! Know His love. Know how deeply He cares for me. (Rom. 5:6&8 "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.")  Know that nothing can separate me from His love. (Romans 8:38)  Know that His power and grace are sufficient. Know that the Spirit of God is in me. (Rom. 8:26 "...the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.") Remember throughout the day that it is His life and not mine that I am living. (Col 3: 1-4)  Remember it is through His sacrifice that I can have access to the throne of God at any time during the day. (Rom 5:1-2 & Heb 4:14-16)  Remember that it is by His sacrifice that I am holy and am being made holy. (Heb 10:5-18) Remember that this life is temporary and the best is yet to come. (1Peter 1)  Remember that my children are really His children and He cares for them more than I ever could. (Isaiah 40:11) So, as I am going through my day with the girls, when I am overwhelmed and needed to breathe the air of freedom...REST! Rest in the loving arms of my Savior who knows my weaknesses and has rescued me from my sins.  Cling to the grace of God. Cry out to the Father and allow the Spirit to pray for me in my weakness. (Rom 8:14-17 & Gal 4:6-7) Submit to His loving hands that are molding me and my children to become the works of art that He has predestined me to become before the creation of time. (Eph 1:3-10) He is faithful regardless of my faithlessness. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/457548/ Tue, 8 Jan 2008 09:32:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/457548/ Week One of our experimental discipline technique has ended. We are well-pleased! It needs a little time to see how we can make it most effective. I also know that this isn't permanent and will eventually become ineffective. But for now, the girl's attitudes have remarkably changed. In the morning when we needed to get out of the house and I needed help with the "babies" I had volunteers out my ear and sometimes without even asking. It is an outward motivation, but their hearts were more cheerful and less complaining. They are each close to the hundred pebble goal for their $5 so today I am having them do extra chores to make their goal. Plus the house needs a serious overall this week and I am too tired to do it all myself. If you read this and think, "I should try this"...pray first and ask God to help you come up with something creative that will be a perfect fit for your family and that helps to foster the areas that need growth in your children. Money management was one of the big things that we needed to work on and this hits their attitude/behavior problems while also helping me to grow them in the area of time and money stewardship. I am so grateful to my Eternal Father for caring enough about the little things in my life that cause me grief and for His Spirit that gives me inspiration and motivation to do and be better. I am most thankful for the New Beginnings He offers me daily! Like Michael Card's song..."He says, 'My child, begin again.'" He knows I am a hopeless screw-up apart from Him and yet He gives me the strength, power, and desire to start again. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/455916/ Sat, 5 Jan 2008 10:59:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/455916/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/455495/ Fri, 4 Jan 2008 14:31:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/455495/ Day One at only 8:11 in the morning (with the girls being awake for only 45 minutes)- the girls are rushing around seeking to do good. They come up with a new thing to accomplish only to find that another sister already thought of it. They are very motivated-especially number 2 child! She is full of excitement. Over Christmas break she even created her own schedule to adhere to when we started school again. Tell me we don't all crave some amount of structure in our life. If only that was a strong suit of either me or the hubby. We are both very weak in the area of structure and schedule of time. As we are doing this I am trying to explain the heart behind the deed. Explaining that when they choose to help their baby sisters it is them really helping Jesus (they are "the least of these" in this household). I also am reminding them that this is an external motivator that I hope with teach them to be internally motivated to please the Only One that matters! They have really been struggling with their attitudes and bickering and I want them to begin to consider the effect (or is it affect? Please post and let me know. I always forget when to use affect instead of effect.) their attitudes and words have on the family. I feel empowered at this moment in time in regards to their discipline. Because they are excited about the Pebbles of Purity, I can use them as both a positive reinforcement and a negative reinforcement. When they are arguing, bickering, using unkind words, having a bad attitude I can simply say, "Go take a pebble out of the jar.". I can say it without anger, without condemnation. We will have to tweak some things, I am sure. Right now, they receive a pebble in their jar when they do their daily expectations (making beds, putting their dishes in the dishwasher, school work -one for each subject), when they are "caught" doing good (helping the little ones, cleaning something without being asked, encouraging each other). They also can have one removed if they make bad choices. We counted out a hundred of the pebbles and put them in a jar and made a mark on the jar. The girls decorated the jar and put a ribbon around the mark. When the pebbles reach the mark they receive $5 (This is the allowance I have wanted to give to them, but always forget to give them.). The $5 will be split into three catagories - tithe, savings, spending - so that they learn financial responsibility. This is an area I struggled with as an adult. I have always found it easy to tithe-that was ingrained in us as children, but we never learned to save. I have friends who learned to tithe 10%, save 10%, and spend the rest for whatever and it is amazing to see them now as adults tithing and saving 20% in both areas with ease b/c it is as natural as breathing for them. Ok, the money thing is for another blog. I have to go and teach at the Y. Chris will have to take over the Pebbles for this morning, but I am sure the girls will remind him of their good deeds. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/452704/ Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:11:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/452704/ I am finding as the girls get older that it is becoming harder to effectively discipline them. The issues are sometimes more subtle and a hardness of heart. We don't have to deal too much with blatant defiance in the older three, although it does occur. Most of the time, it is them treating each other with disregard or just plain meanness. Or, as is the case with one of the girls on a regular basis, the issue is a bad attitude. I have been praying for a solution because, quite frankly, I feel powerless and tend to erupt with anger. In the past, I rarely became angry, but now it is a daily thing. I hate it! It doesn't feel right. I end up apologizing for my anger while they are apologizing for the infraction. I know it doesn't have to be like this. I know that if I had a way of disciplining set out in advance with the consequences clearly stated for whatever the problem is that I could handle it without anger and with a calm and maybe even a cheerful heart. I was thinking of a reward/consequence system. One idea I might try is having a jar on the counter that they fill with pebbles (or some other small item) and as they show positive fruit: obedience, diligence, helpfulness, love towards the sisters, accomplishing chores, etc., I would reward them with a pebble. At the end of the week we would see if they filled the jar and they would be rewarded with an allowance (which we haven't really been good at remembering-which the allowance thing and money stewardship is a whole other issue that I need to work through and get started). During the week, if they display negative traits and behaviors then I would remove a pebble from their jar and give them a chore to do. This is my idea. If you read this and have any helpful suggestions or see some major problems with this...please comment! I just received the book Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel. I am excited to see if it offers any insight that I can use. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/449646/ Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:35:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/449646/ Ok...now the brass tacks. Here is a partial review of the things the girls have accomplished in the past three months. It will not be comprehensive by any stretch of the imagination because there is so much that is done that isn't written down or even quantifiable (is that a word?) I like it anyway. For example, the girls draw all the time and their work is becoming more and more complex without much guidance from me. They just love to draw and will spend hours drawing together and I am not even aware that is what they are doing. If they were in school, when would they find the time to be free to do that? Ok, I always drew in class when the teacher was talking. I made notebooks of cartoon characters during lectures. Another thing that can't be listed is how often the girls cook and bake, either alone or with me. This is something that I am thankful that they get the time to enjoy that. So, here is a list of books they have read on their own for school...don't worry, J, I won't list the endless twaddle that they choose, just strictly literature. They have read 5-6 other Colonial story books in their studies, but I neglected to write them down. I chose them from the library when they had time to read more in a two week period. They also read a ton of non-fiction books on William Penn and the founding of Pennsylvania. We were supposed to present an extensive project on Pennsylvania (the greatest state in the union, imho ) for our Unit Celebration at Co-op next week, but we are now unable to go. But, we learned a lot and my deep love for the Keystone state has deepened. The two MG (Middle Grammar) girls read: Pocahontas by D'Aulaire Pocahontas and the Stranger by Bulla Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz Homes in the Wilderness by Margaret Brown The Legend of New Amsterdam by Peter Spier William Bradford, Pilgrim Boy By Bradford Smith Galileo by Leonard Fisher The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by John Bierhorst Boys and Girls of Colonial Days by Carolyn Bailey The one, reluctant reader in UG (Upper Grammar): Pocahontas & the Stranger by Bulla Pocahontas by D'Aulaire William Bradford, Pilgrim Boy by Bradford Smith The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth Speare Galileo by Leonard Fisher A Piece of the Mountain by Joyce McPherson Diary of an Early American Boy by Noah Blake (ok, technically she still is working on this one. It is pain-staking for her. She hates it, but it is required for the co-op. She will finish it, even if it takes a month.) Some of the Books I have read to them: The World of Captain John Smith by Genevieve Foster Making Thirteen Colonies by Joy Hakim The Story of the Thirteen Colonies by H.A. Guerber If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 Stories of the Pilgrims by Margaret Pumphrey George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster (still reading) From Colonies to Country by Joy Hakim (still reading) There are a couple other "spines" that I have read to them, but I can't think of them. I really need to write these things down. Too bad you can't retain a listing of the books borrowed from the library, then I could go back through and see the ones we read and liked. Oh well, this is a good sampling of the last three months. On Tuesday afternoon I couldn't find Number 2 & 3 dd. I looked and eventually found them in secret hiding spots having "alone time". They were reading. My reader's heart filled with joy, until I asked them what they were reading....Junie B. Jones (blech!!!) I am glad that they are enjoying reading and will not throw away the twaddle...sorry J . I just wonder if in school that is the majority of what the kids read? The two of them spent over 2 hours in their hiding spots reading....this is why I homeschool! One other cool thing that is worth mentioning, in Co-op, they have Science. They know more about Chemistry than I ever have learned. We are blessed with an actual Chemistry teacher to teach them. I still don't know what they are talking about and at this point in my life I have no desire to learn. I have made it this far without knowing how or why certain elements bond or not.  I am thankful they are getting the explosure because they will have an easier time later in classes. Finally...man, am I in the mood to write today or what? Gotta go with it when the urge strikes and the three cups of java are kicked into action! I am very excited that they are half way finished with their Math and Language books. I figured out that if they stay the course, they will be finished by the first week of April. I will push for this to happen because we will have freedom on our trip to the East Coast. I want to have them make an extensive journal/scrapbook of our trip to historic landmarks. That is another blessing of homeschooling, we can start whenever we want and take breaks when we want and go on a three week trip in the middle of the school year. I had the girls start their English and Math the first week of July. It was no-pressure, short spurts of work, but it helped us get ahead. YEAH!   http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/448988/ Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:35:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/448988/ I am a big LOSER, I know! I was all hopped up and ready to go in September and yes, dear sil, you called it...you knew I was going to bail. You were nice enough not to say it in those words, but your meaning was the same. Three different new people have looked and commented on my blog this week and I feel obligated to update and get back on the "Reflective Wagon". I do love it once I sit down and make the time to do it. So sorry if you have been checking my blog for updates and you have felt the sting of disappointment. I will try to do better. I had forgotten that I had the link attached to my email. I was filled with delusions of grandure when I did that...assuming that I would finally become the diligent woman I was meant to become. One of the loftiest, yet completely bogus, things that people say when they find out that I have 5 children and I homeschool is, "You must be so busy and have no time." The sad truth is I have plenty of time and will find time to be lazy and do whatever I want, sometimes the choices not being the best choices. I am not saying that we can't have down time or time to do the things we enjoy. I just tend to go towards things that are not edifying, that have no eternal-value, that produce no fruit in my life. I just want to "veg-out", "tune-out, "zone-out" and not have to think about anything. Is this wrong? Maybe not always, but for me it is a conviction. I am convicted that it is wrong when I spend a healthy (or unhealthy, as the case may be) portion of time trying to escape this life. There is so much I am missing out on. If I have the right attitude and depend upon the Spirit of God to give me strength and let Him demonstrate His fruit in my life....oh, the things we could accomplish....the dreams we could dream....the time of blessing I would have with my family and the people in my life. I know there is more that God wants to have me experience if I would just yield and deny myself and my selfish tendencies. How much more at peace and contented I would find myself! The freedom I would experience by resting in His will for my life and my family! JOY! "Joy to the world, the Lord has come!" He has come. He is Truth!  He has come to free me from the burden of sin and from the misery of this world. I know this joy and have experienced it deeply. Why do I choose to bind myself back up in the sin and misery when the joy and freedom are already mine? God of the universe became flesh and dwelt among us (Emmanuel, aka, Jesus). Two thousand years ago, in a dirty, smelly barn...God of eternity stepped down from glory and became a slimey, wrinkled newborn and our Salvation was born. Our faith is crazy...but we also know it is absolutely true! So...that was a journey of thought...it may not be completely cohesive in this blog, but in my heart I know what I am learning and it is good. The past is the past. God's mercies are new every morning and my sin has been cast away as far as the east is from the west. I am free! This moment is new and I am thankful for it. Believe it or not, this ramble has everything to do with homeschooling! If I am in the right place in my heart and mind with the Lord, then my kids benefit and schooling goes to a whole different level. Merry Christmas! Spend time remembering why and who we celebrate. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/448960/ Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:59:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/mom25girls/448960/