Sagerat Scribbles

• Aug. 2, 2007 - Homeschool Open House - Welcome!

Posted in HomesCool Mom

Hello and welcome to my homeschool! You may be here because of Tiany's tour of Homeschool Open Houses or you may have just stumbled across this blog. Either way I'm glad you're here.

I have four wonderful blessings, Eyebright, Bluejane, Kekoa, and Happy Camper. We have been academically homeschooling for 12 years now. We LOVE it!

A typical homeschool day for us starts out at around 8 a.m. We get up, get dressed, do chores, eat, and then school starts. Each year has looked a little different but this is what I am hoping will happen for this year. We will meet together for prayer and Bible study, then everyone heads their separate ways for school.

We have tried to do unit studies where everyone is learning the same thing at the same time but my children became frustrated rather quickly when one child was ready to get on in history and leave Egypt in the dust while another desparately wanted to know every detail about mummification and so on. I didn't see any reason why everyone had to stay on the same page, so everyone studies at their own pace taking more time in the areas they like best and less time in the areas they wish they didn't have to study at all.

I have trained my two oldest children to study independently, I'm still working on child number three and child number four will probably need some special guidance for quite awhile to come. He is developmentally delayed.

You will find Eyebright and Bluejane studying at their desks, which they love, or on their beds, which they love more. Kekoa studies where I can see that he is actually doing something so that might be the kitchen counter, the table or a chair in the living room. Happy Camper studies with me on the couch where we can snuggle up and share chocolate chips when he pronounces the "k" sound correctly.

In between teaching Happy Camper or helping Kekoa and all through out the day, I will be checking my e-mail and doing work stuff on my computer which, if you don't know is being the Senior Editor here at HSB and many other exciting tasks that the TOS staff dreams up for me.

School is almost always done before lunch. If not then anything not finished must be finished. We use a whole bunch of different things for curriculum.

History - Diana Waring, Greenleaf guides, The Mystery of History, The Story of the World, and History for Little Pilgrims.
Science - Apologia I've tried other curriculum but this is the best. You can read my review HERE.
Language Arts - This year we are going to try Progeny Press. I also give my children one word for the week and they have to write something about that word. It can be anything, a story, an advertisement, a song or poem, anything.
Math - Math-U-See
Bible - Last but not least, Studying God's Word series, Egermeier's Bible Story Book and we are still exploring what to use for Eyebright this year.
Spanish - Rosetta Stone. We have used this off and on depending on how our computer is acting up.

My favorite tip is to not stress and let your children enjoy learning! I'll have to remember that one myself. I don't have any questions or concerns. Some of you may wonder what we are doing to prepare my oldest for graduation. Quite frankly, zilch. She already knows more then I did when I graduated and she's certainly more mature. Basically if I see an area that I think she should learn something about then I say, "Study that."

Sorry for the short tour but I really do think it's time you went. It's after midnight now and I need to get some sleep. Thanks for stopping by!

• Aug. 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by westward

Hi Tia! I enjoyed getting a peak into your homeschool. :)

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• Aug. 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by ElCloud

I'm so glad you shared. Thank you for letting us peek into your homeschool. :-)

April

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• Aug. 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by drewsfamilytx

Hola my friend!

It is hard to have homeschool harmony when they work at different paces on different subjects. Plus, it makes for a long day if they each decide to dawdle on a different subject!

Being independent learners is definitely my goal. I hope to work myself out of a teaching job eventually. ;-) Tutor, yes. Learning task master, no.

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• Aug. 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by MotherJoy

I've always wondered how unit studies for everyone would work. I only "officially" homeschool one, but I'll have three littles doing school together soon. Thanks for sharing!

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• Aug. 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Kristi

I agree that kids need to enjoy learning. Once you lose that love of learning, the rest is downhill! Recently our ds told our entire church that he didn't do school. We just "played" all day long!!

Hugs!
Kristi

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• Aug. 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by homeschoolingmommaof4

Thanks for giving us a glimpse into your homeschool. I always find it interesting to see what others do in their homeschool.

Have a great year!
JoAnn

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• Aug. 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by nsremom

Hi Tia, I loved the little peek into your homeschool. And your thoughts on preparing your daughter for college? Love 'em. My 6th grader knows more history that I do now. They just learn what they love so much quicker.

Still trying to get some science bookish things into my kids though. I'm not sold on Apologia, but in the upper grades, what else is there?

Have a great weekend.

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• Aug. 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by 3boyz

What a great post! Thanks for sharing!!

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• Aug. 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by writmm

I enjoyed the peek into your homeschool...sorry I stayed so late, but it was so much fun! I have both of my kids doing a fair amount of self-study, I want them to have a good foundation in teaching themselves for later in life.

Have a great year!

Melissa
www.melissaomarkham.com

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• Aug. 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by momofseven

I found the door still open at 2 a.m. when I couldn't sleep. ;-) Sounds like you have it very together and are quite experienced, knowledgeable homeschool mom. Have a great year!

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• Aug. 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Sawickis

Thanks for showing us your homeschool. I use Apologia too and my daughter has learned so much from it. I was looking at using the Studying God's Word series with my son this year.

*Kristie*

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• Aug. 9, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

Thanks for sharing!
Happy Homeschooling!
Blessings,
Theresa #14

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• Aug. 11, 2007 - Hey!

Posted by Kekoa

Hey mom I like my desk to!

Tiki

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The politically incorrect ramblings of a sage rat den mother. As well as thoughts on adoption, special needs children, and My Lord and Savior.

About the turtle: Tia Turtle is a character in a new book by Gena Suarez, "And Then Mama Said...It Takes Time to Learn to Read." Kevin Collier is the illustrator and he made me my special avatar, because yes, Tia Turtle is named after Me! (Okay, so I'm bragging. Leave me a correctional comment in love.)