This is a group of families living in the the Snoqualmie Valley of Washington state with children ranging from a few months to seven years old. We enjoy sharing our homeschool experiences with each other, encouraging one another and getting together for field trips and other various social activities. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:00 -0600 Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:00 -0600 STRUCTURE When we are on our 'A' game, and there is a plan in place, and the boys know exactly what we are doing and what is expected of them, they thrive.  They love to help with chores when they know ahead of time that we will be doing that.  If I just pull them from an activity to help, I get resistance.  So, I try to provide them with a plan for the day and we suffer if there isn't one. Also, I  make sure that we read stories that build character and provide opportunities to talk about virtues and character.  We also role-model appropriate behavior and it is very endearing to see the kids play on their own mimicking what I am hoping to teach them. I also try for every negative thing I say to counter with at least two positives in a reasonable timeframe.  You can see their chests swell when they are acknowledged for a job well done, or an appropriate behavior witnessed. It's such a balancing act on so many levels, but so worth it. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/642588/ Wed, 7 Jan 2009 18:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/642588/ Happy New Year everyone! I hope your year is off to a great start! As another new year begins, I find myself evaluating many areas of my life and trying to prioritize, organize and yearn to enjoy Peace and Joy in every day. Today was one of those really good days with my boys...so in addition to being thankful for the peace and joy in my home today, I also had to ask myself...."what made it such a great day? Why were the kids much more cooperative today than on many other days?" And this led me to our Topic of the Week discussion.... What motivates your kids? Each child is unique and will be motivated accordingly. I'm guessing that there are also different motivators according to what you are trying to motivate them to do. I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say. I would love to hear how you motivate your children to cooperate and be helpful, what helps them have better attitudes and how they are motivated to learn. (this could probably be several discussions....don't let this keep you from jumping in on the discussion ). By the way....welcome home Mills Family!! Glad you're back! -Megan http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/641819/ Tue, 6 Jan 2009 01:09:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/641819/ Well, I'd like to say that I've mastered homeschooling with a new baby... but I'd be lying! Things are getting better as I'm learning to lay little L (age 3 months) down for naps. I've just reread "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." It's my favorite sleep book for all ages, but especially babies. The author says to focus on nap cycles for best sleep at night. I've noticed that when she naps, I can teach the other children best. My first priority is usually J (age 5) reading to me. Right now I'm using the Hooked on Phonics 1st grade books.  They are 30 pages, so we just read a few pages at a time.  He loves the pictures and plot (which are better than many other early reader books).  Then, I read to both kids. My kids love science books as well as fiction. Then, A (age 3) and I practice the alphabet. We either use flashcards or her handwriting book. J also has a handwriting book and both kids have cutting and pasting books (for fine motor development). I am using Kumon workbooks.  Both kids are also in Awanas. J memorizes two or three verses per week. A memorizes one verse. We also read the Bible before naps and bedtime. This evening I read to J out of my Bible instead of his children's Bible (the Jesus Storybook Bible) for the first time. It was actually very fun. We read about Simeon and Anna meeting Jesus in the temple after he was born. It really inspired me to try again.  We talked about the Trinity because the Holy Spirit was upon Simeon.  I love discussing theology with J.  His childhood faith is such a blessing!   My prayer is that he will continue to grow in faith and wisdom throughout his life!   Lately, A and I have been discussing Jesus' birthday and why He came down to earth. Finally, J and I squeeze in some math. Right now we are working on coin values (counting and sorting) and addition facts. He really loves math when I take the handwriting out of the subject :) I'm trying to be more creative by giving him games and oral responses to promote his math development and not discourage him with too much handwriting. I get my ideas from the Abeka math workbook.  So, that's my lack for routine for the moment... as L gets more predictable, we'll have a better schedule. For now, I squeeze in as much as I can throughout the day! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/635244/ Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/635244/ Hi all, I had posted about our homeschooling journey and included my favorite resources. For some reason, the links didn't work....they do now! Also, we have had some technical difficulties with my husbands laptop recently, which is why I haven't posted any new topics. I will post the next one after the holidays. Hope everyone is enjoying the snow and embracing the Hope and Peace of Christ during this time of the year. In Him, Megan http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/634179/ Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:31:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/634179/ In trying to figure out what our homeschooling looks like this past year, we've tried a few different things. One thing I know for sure is that homeschooling is SO MUCH more than what curriculum you plan to use...at least it can be. Over the past year (or longer) I've been slowly making my way through the very long list of amazing books included in my Homeschooling Course and many additional titles found at the library. Two things I now know are that we really want the way we homeschool to be more of a 'lifestyle of learning' approach. And I've realized that we like to work with Unit Studies. I love to collect resources for current and future use. It's actually a bit of an addiction, I think. It is just incredible to me how much is available to those who want to educate their children at home. And so I find it hard not to collect a gazillion bookmarks because 'you just never know when you might need that bit of information'. I am so thankful for all of the many free homeshooling resources online. This can actually be a bit overwhelming to me if I am not careful, because there is SO MUCH out there, but when I narrow my focus a bit....I am able to find peace and enjoy the journey. Because our boys are still so young (soon to be 5,3 and 1) we still do alot of playing and reading. This is something I know we'll do for years to come. I had put together a years worth of unit studies based mostly on seasons, holidays and Godly character traits. This, for us, works very well. I feel much more focused when we're working with themes. And it will be a great way to include all three boys in the same studies with adaptation for each one instead of needing to use different curriculum with different age levels. Now with that being said...my year's worth of unit studies have gone mostly unused since September when I realized how difficult it was to stick to much of a routine with a little baby. We've touched on some of the lessons, but barely. I also began thinking that I was maybe pushing the academics a little too much. They're still so young. And I know they are learning every single day no matter what we do. I am a big believer in play time being a child's work...it's a natural process for them to learn so many things and a great way for siblings to learn communication and Godly character. I also learn alot about their interests and what delights them (or doesn't) by how they play and what they play with. With C's hearing loss the boys and I focus much of our days on the art of good communication, both with speech and ASL. Now that life is feeling a bit more balanced and I am starting to get a bit more sleep, I am feeling more ready to jump back in to some academic work. Now... when I say academics I mean more activities, using the unit studies I've collected and created and playing fun educational/learning games. O has also expressed more interest lately in "doing more homeschooling". So, I think we're ready to begin again. What's great is that I can just reused the same lesson plans I've mapped out for the year over and over again but go more in depth each year....and adjust as we go along. I LOVE the flexibility of homeschooling this way. Although we don't have a set schedule yet, our best time of the day for focused learning happens in the morning and when T is sleeping. Each day, for now, is different...and I'm learning to let that go. For us this creates more of the lifestyle of learning approach that we desire anyway. I do need to start having a daily plan though...I find that when I do, our days at least have a direction. And if we get sidetracked, again, they're still learning and there's always tomorrow. Here are some of my favorite resources: Letter of the Week  This site also includes "story of the week", "sound of the week", "science of the week" and some great library book lists. We're now moving on to Sound of the. Very exciting!!  I pull alot of ideas from Child Fun to compliment Letter of the Week.  Homeschool Share This site has a WEALTH of information on unit studies. Some are theme based and others are children's literature based. I am really excited about this site because it is just loaded with great ideas. We started having a Family Night each week using these books. They're designed to bring the family together to learn more about who Jesus is and that He loves us....like a family bible study. They're geared for kids ages 4-10 and they're awesome. Our boys look forward to Family Night each week and just love the fun biblical activities. They are very "object lesson" oriented which seems to work well for us.  Another great resource for me is Heart of the Matter Online. Many great articles, tips, lesson ideas, and lots of encouragement. I also love  Homeschool Helper Online. There are great unit studies at this site as well. But the thing I love the most are the Godly character lessons. And last but not least Signing Time. We will continue using Signing Time videos/DVDs and CDs to learn ASL (all of which we can find at the library). C's ASL teacher continues to visit with us each week and provides us with so many great resources and gives us "homework" to do throughout the week. And his Speech Therapist, Lauren, is helping him to communicate verbally which is helping us all learn how to communicate better with C. I do consider this and our time with our ASL teacher, Karen, to be a big part of our weekly education as it greatly affects our family communication as a whole. It's good for all of us!!! We've been very fortunate in that they both come to our home, which is wonderful because they help us to use our surroundings in unique and creative ways as well. After about a year of constant prayer and learning from so many different sources, I think I understand why you really just need to take homeschooling one day at a time. What works this year may not work as well next year...or visa versa...and sometimes this is the case from one day to the next. It helps me to remember that we need to remain open to however God leads and enjoy the journey. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/633267/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:16:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/633267/ Well, I have a plan, but I don't always adhere to it...  This is my schedule I strive to follow: 6:00-6:30am Quiet Time 6:30-8:30am Work for Electric Arrow 8:30-9:00am Boys up, breakfast, get dresses, teeth brushed, vitamins 9:00-10:00am Morning Chores (I do 'Motivated Moms') 10:00-11:00am Homeschool (I use Sonlight Core K and have modified their lesson plans to suit our needs) Bible, Memory Verse, History/Geography, Language Arts/Reading, Read Aloud, Character 11:00-11:30am Lunch 11:30-noon Computer Time-(We each have our own computer.  It's the bonus of being married to a software company owner!) Noon - 2:00pm Homeschool (Science, Spanish, Art/Art Appreciation) 2:00-3:00pm Active Play (ideally outside) 3:00-4:00pm PM Chores/Errands 4:00-5:00pm Dinner Prep 5:00-5:30pm Dinner 5:30-8:30pm Family Time 8:30-9:30pm Bedtime for boys 10:00pm Bedtime for mom and dad I adjust this schedule regularly, and we often do not get every subject in.  But, I try to get in every day: Bible, Memory Verse, Reading. Read Aloud.  The items I will first sacrifice are Science, Spanish, and Art, but we still have them 1-2 a week. I believe in the practice of a "Lifestyle of Learning".  There is something presented to the boys every day in some capacity.  I want learning to be such a part of our natural routine that the boys learn always, regardless of where we are. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/627655/ Wed, 3 Dec 2008 16:18:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/627655/ This week's topic is something I am always doing research on. This leaves me wondering....how are you homeschooling your children? I know this is a very basic question, so let me break it down. Many of us have very young children, some of us have "school age" children and most of us have a mix of both. Describe the best way you can what you do in an average day, what curriculum you are using, if any, and how you plan your "lessons". Basically, what works for you right now?   I am really looking forward to reading your answers and am hoping we can start some conversations here about our approaches and ideas for homeschooling our little ones.   Also, if you have any ideas for future topics of the week...please let me know. This blog is for us to share ideas and encourage one another. And don't forget to add your name at the end of your post so we know who has posted each entry.   Hope everyone has a great week! Love Megan     http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/626825/ Mon, 1 Dec 2008 23:43:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/626825/ When I think about what I am thankful for, the first thing that comes to my mind and overwhelms my heart is Jesus. He is so faithful to me even when I am not. As I thought about all of the blessings in my life today, I realized that I could write forever on this topic. So, I'm thankful for this season and the reminder that we all have so much to be thankful for. Here is the list of things I thought of just today that I am especially thankful to God for: My relationship that keeps growing with Jesus. I am thankful for the husband and 3 wonderfully made boys that He has blessed me with. I am thankful for the loving and playful Daddy that Jeff is to O, C and T. The women in my life who lift me up, encourage me and love me. I am thankful for the Beth Moore bible study on the Fruit of the Spirit that I am doing at the exact time in my life when I need it most. (and therein lies a whole 'nother list of things to be thankful for) I am thankful for my mom whom I love very much. I'm also thankful for the fun Family Nights that our family is now enjoying every week. I am thankful to the 3 women (Dorothy, Lauren and Karen) who have been vital in the life of our family in teaching us how to use ASL and communicate with one another...a gift that will last our lifetime. I am thankful for my husband's job and how hard he works to provide for our family. I am thankful for our little home and of course, the new playroom we now have. I am thankful for my Dad and how our relationship has grown in the last year. I am thankful for my brother, Matt! He is so special to me. My family is a huge blessing to me!!! I am thankful for unexpected park dates and time spent with the ones I love most. I am thankful for pizza cutters (I know...wierd) because they make my life so much easier...I use them to cut almost any kind of food for the kids. I am thankful to be able to stay home full time and be with my kids. Each day is a gift. I am thankful that God placed it on our hearts to homeschool and that we get to do that. I am even thankful (after the fact) for crazy days that don't ever seem to end because then I appreciate the good days even more. I am thankful for our library and that my boys love books. I am very thankful we live in a place where we are so close to an amazing Children's Hospital. I am thankful that we get to spend Christmas with my husband's Dad and step mom this year...what a blessing! I am thankful for those who keep me accountable in my walk and in my life. COFFEE...need I say more!?! (although I do have a new love for Chai Tea as well) And I am thankful for quiet mornings where I can spend time alone with God before the business of the day begins. As you can see, like most of you, my list could go on and on forever. It's truly amazing how blessed we are if we just stop and think about it. We will be spending Thanksgiving at home this year. Our newest tradition (as of last year) is to spend it with my Dad, who comes over and we make a BIG breakfast together and enjoy the rest of the day relaxing. So much fun and easier on all of us in the evening without the big Turkey dinner and ALL the dishes to do. To help our kids be thankful year round, we thank God in our prayers with them for all of the people we love and who love us and take time to thank Him for how He has blessed us. This week, we've decided to make thank you cards for people we are thankful to. O gets really excited about it and it helps him to focus on why we are thankful. Happy Thanksgiving to all you! -Megan http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/624439/ Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:44:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/624439/ (Great idea, Megan!) What are you thankful for and how are you celebrating Thanksgiving Day this year? I am thankful for my walk with our Lord, for the blessing of our family and health, for fantastic friends.  We are hosting Thanksgiving this year.  It will just be us, my inlaws, and DH's sister.  This will be my first turkey!  (I am surprised to see myself write that...)  If the weather cooperates, we will probably go up to Rattlesnake Lake or maybe Twin Falls. How are you incorporating thankfulness into the lives of your children this week and/or year round? Prayers of thanksgiving daily.  Sponsoring children and discussing the different lifestyles and how God blesses them as well as us.  Are you doing anything this week in particular to help your kids focus more on Thanksgiving? We will make Thanksgiving chains on Thanksgiving.  They will also grocery shop with me and help prep dinner. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/624041/ Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:25:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/624041/ Because Thanksgiving is this week, I find myself thinking about what I am most thankful for. So, our question for this week is: What are you thankful for and how are you celebrating Thanksgiving Day this year? Also, how are you incorporating thankfulness into the lives of your children this week and/or year round? Are you doing anything this week in particular to help your kids focus more on Thanksgiving? If so, tell us about it. Looking forward to reading your thoughts and answers! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! (when posting your answers, please login and post a separate post rather than "comment" on this entry. That way we can all enjoy your answers. THANKS!!) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/623875/ Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:30:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/rootsandwings/623875/