I went to the store today and saw something in the parking lot that I thought was pretty neat.  When I pulled into the parking space, I saw a little, brown bird hopping along the front bumpers of the cars, pecking at all the bugs stuck in the grills.  It was quite the buffet for a little birdy.  I don't think I've ever seen that before - very resourceful!! 

Today was one of those summer "preview" days.  That is, it was pretty hot outside.  So, the kids spent some of their lunch break sitting out on the patio (newly swept and decluttered) with homemade popcicles.  Later, we pulled out the kiddie pool for my 2 girls who sat side-by-side playing their little games in the water.  It's the sort of thing that I just have to take a moment to smile and be thankful.  

Anyway, tomorrow is my birthday and, with my oldest running a fever, I've declared it a school holiday.  So, if anyone else out there needs an excuse for a day-off..

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Although our mini-pond is fascinating to observe, it's getting a little smelly.  One of the tadpoles died - the biggest one with legs - but the other two are doing well.  The snails are thriving and it turns out we have 2 planarians (and they eat rotting tadpoles).

Apparently, you can slice planarians in half and they'll just regenerate whatever is missing within a day or two (on the list of experiments to do).  They are carnivores and can go months without food - they simply digest their own organs.  Once they find food again, they conveniently grow back their organs.  WOW!  It's amazing to think that God planned each and every little detail of each of these tiny creatures. 

The water is a little cloudier and there aren't as many tiny wiggly things.  I'm sure that a lot of the little microscopic organisms have died.  And no - nothing in that bustling organism "soup" managed to evolve into an intelligent being walking erect (although I guess some would say there just wasn't enough time).  Wouldn't that be a shocker if we woke up one morning and found some a guy crawling out of the container.

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Finally - a productive day!  It seems like I never have time to do the things around the house that need to be done.  I was so distressed about it the other night that, when I sat down to blog about it, I couldn't even come up with the words. 

I knew that when I went to bed last night, I was going to get up and do whatever I could to get rid of the clutter and do some home improvement.  It seems like I didn't cover much ground - only working in the kitchen, dining nook, and living room (really one big area).  But, there were so many toys, papers, etc. in those busy living spaces, so I do see the difference. 

I spent most of the afternoon putting shelf paper in all of my kitchen drawers and cabinets.  I had spent something like $5 per roll on the thick, rubbery, non-adhesive stuff ("guarenteed" not to slip) when we moved in.  But, the stuff slides all over the place!  The other day I found the good, old-fashioned adhesive kind that perfectly matches the style I'm going for at the dollar store for 99 cent per roll!  Of course, I had to clean out and organize as I went along, so I guess I DID do a lot.

I'm trying to get my kids to take more responsibility for their actions - behavior and cleanliness.  This is Pass-the-Buck Central.  My very artsy-craftsy middle child is a huge mess maker, but they all have the habit of dropping whatever they were using and leaving it instead of putting it back.  And, it's always "someone else's" fault.  I feel like a drill sargeant all the time - nag, nag, nag - but it doesn't seem to do any good. 

So, the other day I picked up some poker chips.  Whenever my kids do something immediately after I ask, without my asking, share and behave unselfishly, or any other good character habit that I want to encourage, then I give them a chip or two.  They can cash in their chips if they want to get a treat, have a little extra time before bed, have extra computer or tv time, or do a special family outing like a bowling night, etc.  I've also warned them that if I find a toy left out or witness some negative behavior, then I can take a chip or two back.  We've only been doing it for a couple of days, but so far they are responding wonderfully.

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For Memorial Day, our family went out to the Santa Ynez River to enjoy God's creation.  I brought along my "outdoor kit" that I usually bring on picnics and park days.  It has your basic mini first-aid kit, hand sanitizer, emergency roll of toilet paper, and walkie-talkies for when the kids want to play beyond my sight.  But, it also has assorted containers for collecting specimans, junior field guides, and even a small microscope set.  I knew this was the perfect time of year to find all sorts of neat things in the water.

Now, I'll admit that I probably get more excited about the idea of collecting tadpoles and things like that than my kids do.  I've always been into hiking and exploring.  My kids don't seem to have as much patience to wander and study the bushes or water for movement like I do.  But, my son was the first to discover a small pool separated from the river - a stockpile of fertile pond life!

Everyone busied themselves for quite a while, scooping up all kinds of things.  Mainly, there were dozens and dozens (and dozens) of tadpoles.  There was some sort of swimming beetle, pond snails, and a lot more that was difficult to see with the naked eye.  We found something that I thought might be a baby dragonfly - it had the same body type with no wings, but it had what looked like 3 or 4 long tail "fins" (?).  It was a bright green color that matched the pond algae.  Then there were these tiny round, red dots with legs.  I have no idea what they were (note to self: "junior" field guides don't tell you much of anything - get a comprehensive, regional guide).

In the end, we brought home a large container with a mini pond inside.  We took a small, medium, and large tadpole, and a pond snail or two.  Of course, with each scoop we got a huge supply of things that we can't see, and we'll study them under the microscope this week.  We also got some sort of worm that I think might be a planarian.  Once the tadpoles become frogs, we'll take the container back and release them.

Before signing off, I have to recommend a good book for this sort of thing.  It's called "Pets In a Jar: Collecting and Caring for Small Wild Animals" by Seymour Simon.  It has a lot more information and instructions than any of our field guides.  Not only does it tell about all of the pond critters, but it also discusses butterflies, earthworms, hermit crabs, and more.  A must for anyone who likes to take advantage of the "science" all around us.

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This was the last week of my son's Indoor Soccer season and for the last practice, we had a parents vs. kids game (only outdoors on the grass).  I have to admit that I was a little "ho-hum" about playing.  I used to love playing soccer at recess as a child, but I'm not quite that energetic and flexible these days.  The thought of going up against a bunch of 10 and 11 year old boys wasn't my first choice of things to do after a long day.  My husband is the soccer star, having grown up playing Club soccer.  But, on this day his chronic back problems kept him off the field.

Well, it was such a blast!!  We held them off pretty well - the score was only 2-0.  I think the kids started off by playing to win.  But, once they realized we weren't much of a threat, the game disintigrated into silliness.  First, the goal markers that we were defending "mysteriously" came closer...and closer together.  By the end of the game, they were just a foot apart with just enough room for our goalie to stand in between and no room to score.  At some point, "hand balls," normally a foul, became legal.  In the final minutes, one of the boys picked up the soccer ball and started running for a "touchdown" as if he was playing American Football.  His father, the Coach, was all too happy to tackle him.  After that he declared:  "Days like these were made for Ibuprofen."

Now, a couple days later - I know what he meant.  Ouch!  But, it was worth the follow-up stiff soreness to laugh like we did.  A wonderful memory to add to the files.

Blessings

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I was just scanning through a previous post when something caught my eye.  I hadn't noticed it when I wrote it before, but today, it was accompanied by the blaring of trumpets.

In the post I wrote about finding a quiet moment and made the statement that "I was up before my kids" for a change.  I had a momentary flashback to my childhood, with my wonderful stay-at-home mom gently waking me (again and again) for a hot meal before school.  She was (and is still) a beautiful example of motherhood - the house was always clean, our meals were always planned out, and she actually ironed clothes BEFORE we needed to wear them.

Me - I've never been a morning person (thus the need for my mom to wake me several times).  It is late at night that I write and have "my time" - time without interruption. I work a few nights a week until midnight at Barnes & Noble (out of financial need - but I also enjoy it).  Then, I drive 40 minutes home, add in wind-down time...well, you get the picture (2:00 a.m. comes quickly).  Also, it's not uncommon for me to lie awake thinking of all of the things that I can't do anything about in the middle of the night. 

Anyway, my kids have learned to get their own bowl of cereal or throw an English muffin in the toaster before I've even dragged myself out of bed and lumbered over for a cup of coffee (ready and waiting thanks to a coffee machine with a timer).  They know that they're required to do at least a few of their daily responsibilities first thing (usually making their beds and getting their quiet reading out of the way). I'm ready to join them for instruction by about 9:30...or 10:00.

Sometimes I think that maybe I could be a better homemaker and wife if I was a  at home mom while my kids were gone to school all day and I didn't have my night job.  But, the reality is that I find routines tedious and have trouble sticking to them no matter how much time I have.  I actually enjoy organizing and making plans, but carrying them out is another story.  I always have creative project ideas that distract me from my regular duties.

Part of me wishes I could give to my kids the beautifully consistant life that my mom provided for me, and it sometimes makes me sad to think that I've fallen so far short.  How are my kids going to remember me when they are grown? 

On the other hand, my circumstances are different and so is my personality (I hope I'm not just making excuses).  I haven't done a very good job of "dying to the self." But then I also wonder why, then, did God give me gifts and strengths that turn my attention away from duties of the home?  Are they really meant as gifts - or as selfish distractions that I need to overcome? 

Oh well...just the meandering thoughts of a night owl after the kids have gone to bed (when it's too late to do anything about anything).  I'd better go and set my coffee-maker for the morning Cup-o-Joe.  I'll be needing it.

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I am happy to announce the arrival of a bouncing, baby...puppy.    Well, technically she's 14 months old, and her name is Basha (it's the name she came with, but she doesn't seem to know it).  She's still young and energetic, but she's past the distructive puppy stage.  No one can exactly agree on her breed - she has the fur type and color of a German Shepherd, and the body type of a Welsh Corgi or Dachsund (short legs, long body).  Her previous owner is moving and could not take her along.

We've wanted to add a pet to the family for a long time.  We weren't allowed to have animals at our old house, but now we're the homeowners.  If it were up to me, I'd have a couple acres with all kinds of animals.  Unfortunately, my husband doesn't share that dream.  Anyway, we moved here last July and my kids left behind many friends that they grew up with.  Basha has filled our home with renewed joy! 

Animals are such a wonderful thing for kids!  I am so happy with how my kids have responded to her.  My oldest has really taken to trying to train her.  She's really sweet and well-behaved, but she doesn't know even simple commands.  My son is really taking on that responsibility, teaching her to sit and stay.

I'll try to post a picture soon.

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You'll never believe this, but I was up before my kids this morning.  There were lots of things to do - a few leftover dishes, vacuuming, laundry.  But, instead, I chose to do something I've never done before.  I sat down with my Bible, opened it to Matthew 1:1, and began studying.

For many practicing Christians, this is a common thing.  But, if you read my introduction, I was not raised a practicing Christian.  Certain things like praying regularly or reading the Bible were not part of my training.  I still have to make a conscious effort to do those things.  This was the first time that I sat down to study the Bible on my own.

Anyway, I only did one chapter, but it was so nice.  I haven't put the Lord first in our homeschooling experience in recent years as I should.  I've been criticized for academic reasons, so I've turned much of my attention toward that aspect of it.  But, God has gently reminded me that He is most important.  That's what I need to teach my kids and the example I need to set.  Everything else will fall into place (as a wise homeschooler once said:  "You can't possibly teach a child EVERYTHING, so get over it."

For next years history, I'm planning on leaving North America behind (finally) and stepping back in time and place to ancient civilizations.  I'm looking forward to studying the Old Testament along with it, putting things in a perspective I've never really thought of before (light, Biblical, activity-based unit study ideas would be helpful - I don't have strong readers).

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 Yesterday, during my shift at Barnes & Noble, I came to some conclusions about "educational” materials marketed for teachers.

I’m sure you remember the reproducible worksheets (dittos) from your own days in school.  These are the materials offered up as “teaching aids.”  They are the typical look-at-the-map and fill-in-the-blank, select a word from the box and fill-in-the-blank, look at the timeline and fill-in-the-blank…read the passage and fill-in-the-blank…color the picture and cut it out…and then glue it onto another piece of paper.  I learned early that my son could robotically fill-in-the-blanks and not know anymore than he did before he started.  I think a lot of us got through school doing the very same thing.

One thing I’ve always noticed is the inflated cost associated with materials deemed “educational.”  We’ve all heard of outrageously expensive “government” items – triple-digit ashtrays on Capitol Hill, etc.  Many of the workbooks are $15.00 to $25.00.  Yet, just a stone’s throw away on the other end of the children’s department are the juvenile workbooks – Spectrum, Master Skills, FlashKids, Learning Zone etc. – in every subject.  These are often much better organized, easier to use with a lot less blah-blah-blah, and much cheaper (ranging from $2.50 to $8.95)!  

Now, I’ll guess that some of the cost comes from the fact that the pages of these workbooks are reproducible, where the cheaper workbooks are consumable.  Also, educational curriculum (Christian publishers as well) requires the services of “experts” in their development.

   (Although, I'm sure they didn't hire monkeys to create the less expensive juvenile workbooks). 

I have to admit that I do like a lot of the Evan-Moor reproducible workbooks (Daily Reviews and the like).  Still, as a homeschooling family with a limited income, I turn away from anything with a high price tag.  A cheaper – often FREE alternative – is always available…and it’s usually a more interesting. 

The titles of educational materials often include phrases likes “Fun and Engaging” or “Kids Will Love”- Really?  Most of the time, they simply take a math problem and put it on an animal picture or a car.  Somehow, professional educators presume that if a page has a child-like cartoon character, a picture to color, or a shape to cut and glue, then it’s guaranteed “fun” for kids.  Mary Poppins comes to mind - "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down..."  Kids still know it's medicine  . 

Finally, I have noticed that “educational” materials can have outrageously long titles and subtitles.  For example, you might come across the teaching aid titled -

12 Real-life Math Projects Kids Will Love:

Easy and Engaging Math Projects That Help Kids

Apply Standards-based Math Skills

to Real-life Situations

(actual title).

I came across several like this in a variety of subjects.  Of course, homeschoolers are able to translate that title and reveal it’s real meaning –

12 Simulated Math Activities Kids Will Endure:

Cutely Illustrated Math Problems the Government Thinks

Will Prepare Kids for a World They Won’t Experience

for 12 or More Years

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Today was one of those heavenly days that homeschoolers envision but turn out to be few and far between.  Everyone got their work done with pleasant attitudes overall.  I guess it was worth all of the time off and light days that we've had since Easter Vacation.

My oldest has always been a challenge - he was slow to learn to read and write, unmotivated in spite of my best efforts, and a chronic complainer (that glass is always half empty).  I don't pay much attention to grade levels - they serve no real purpose for homeschoolers - but age-wise he would be in 5th grade this year.  This is the first year that things have really come together.  He reads comfortably, he actually enjoys writing in a journal (so long as it's short), his spelling skills have improved dramatically, and he has even said that language arts is his favorite subject.

(Pause while I pick myself up off the floor.) 

He loves anything military, so today I pulled a book off the shelf to see if there was any interest.  I had actually bought it two years ago, but he was not reading well and he ignored it - more words than pictures.  The book is called "The Encyclopedia of the United States at War" published by Scholastic - a great survey of all of the wars that we have been involved in, timelines, key battles, conditions leading up to and the aftermath of each crisis, personal profiles, etc.  It's current through the beginning of the Iraq War.  Anyway, when I showed it to him today, he just ate it up.  He spent his entire breaktime reading a little bit about each war!  I certainly wasn't going to interrupt him. 

It's amazing what can happen when kids are finally ready - it's nothing you can force.  There are many of you out there who know what I'm talking about, and the answer is simple:  just wait.  Everyone is ready when they're ready - for some that's sooner, for others it's later.  And, they're not "behind?"  We don't follow the governement school model, so it is no basis for comparison.  My son is right where he needs to be and has been all along. 

Of course, the answer is simple, but waiting can be a difficult practice.  We've taken a lot of heat from family members who were "concerned" about his inability to read and do a few other things (when quizzed outside of my sight).

Well, today was just a good day - hopefully many will follow. 

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After homeschooling almost 6 years, I’ve started thinking about what we really we need to teach vs. what we think need to teach (speaking about academics - God's Word goes without saying). 

I’ve come to the conclusion that government education is horribly cluttered.  After all, the schools claim to need your child at least 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, 9 months of the year! Of course, this is not a new discovery, but I don’t think I really considered the scale of it until I had to start planning for more than one child. 

So, what should be taught?

 The 3R’s.  That’s plenty to keep kids busy for the first several years of education.  Once the kids can read and write, then all of the other subjects open wide, and they’re much better able to understand it.

What about the other subjects?

I’ve found that a lot of history and science in the early years comes from the exploration and curiosity of the world that the kids are involved in and stories we read.  Much of what they see and hear leads to questions and general conversation.  However, I must say that I am a big fan of science and history co-ops at any age – interesting and fun! 

Subjects that we don’t always think about –

Research, study, and note-taking skills are important.  If they can find and extract information from resources, then “sky’s the limit.”  They can learn anything.

Just some thoughts...

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Today was one of those days where I allowed little doubts to creep into my mind.  It was frustration after frustration.  My oldest whined about...well, everything (he's a die-hard pessimist). Therefore, we didn't get a few things accomplished - not the worst thing.  But, I also lost my patience with him - probably the worst thing.  I also wasn't able to give much attention to the younger two.  Later, I couldn't find some of my most favorite family photos that I'd "set aside" to frame (I obviously put them in a REALLY safe place).  There were several other things that I couldn't seem to find today (sigh).

There is one thing that is weighing a bit heavy on my heart  .  That is, although my kids have all been raised in a Christian household, homeschooling from the beginning, and attending church and AWANA regularly, I am very concerned that they (my oldest - almost 11 yrs - in particular) does not have much of a relationship with God.  He believes, and he does fall back on the things WE'VE taught him, but I don't feel that he's personally conncecting with God.  So far, he has not expressed an interest in being baptized.  And, he told me today that he wanted to stop going to AWANA because he's bored - he also hangs out with a boy there (a nice boy from a Christian family) who has expressed his disinterest in AWANA. My son is a bit more of an indian than a Chief, and I'm concerned that he will have trouble keeping on the straight and narrow in the future.  My oldest daughter (7 yrs) has more of a reasonable head about her, but she's got an eye for the world (particularly issues of "style" and modesty - or lack thereof).

Then, I started to think about myself.  There were things that I wouldn't accept until I hit a wall and was broken before God.  Those difficult experiences resulted in a clear understanding and relationship with God that I wasn't getting any other way.  I just hate to think that any one of my kids could end up straying off the path, in spite of my efforts.  But, I also know that I can't stop the trials that the Lord might be planning to use to shape their lives.

I don't know, maybe I'm expecting too much maturity from kids who are still young.  I sure don't feel like I've been a shining Christian example...but I'm trying.  I guess I should just focus on trying to better myself by doing what the Lord commands ME to do, and then give it over to God - not an easy thing for a mom .

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This is a new forum for me, so I thought I’d take a minute to introduce myself.  My true identity is Diane Smith, wife to Steve (a.k.a. “Smitty”), and mother of three beautiful children.  My son is almost 11 years old, my first daughter is 7, and my youngest daughter is 3 ½.  We’ve homeschooled from the beginning.  It’s been a wild journey full of amazing joys, hard lessons, and awesome revelations about God, family, and our revered education system.

While growing up I had knowledge of God, but there was no relationship.  My family considered themselves Christian, but did not practice it beyond Santa and the Easter Bunny - well, I think my mom tried a little.  But, I refused to hear His call as it was much more entertaining to follow my own path than it was to follow His.  It was easier to give in to the temptations of the moment, in spite of the disastrous results that often followed. 

I managed to stretch 4 years of college into 7 – evidence of the meandering path I was on at the time.  But, I did get a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting.  However, I dropped the minor in creative writing just a few credits shy.  I couldn’t stand another day of school. Instead, I just went to my last day of classes and ran, never attending graduation ceremonies, and never returning to pick up my diploma.  Of course, no one has ever asked to see it.

Following college, I developed and conducted several art workshops for kids and teachers, and I taught art in a secular private school for a few years.  The view was not much better from the other side of the desk, and that turned out to be the final nail in the “traditional education” coffin for me.  Access to the teacher’s lounge is not all it’s cracked up to be (ha ha).  By then, I had met and married the man who had led me to Christ, my first child was a toddler, and homeschooling was becoming a very attractive option.

Now, in addition to homeschooling, carting kids to soccer practice, etc., I am a part-time bookseller at Barnes & Noble.  The company has been very homeschool friendly, granting me space to display books that I know would appeal to homeschoolers.  They welcomed the opportunity for me to start a monthly Homespun Education Discussion Group where the many homeschoolers in the area can get together to share ideas, ask questions, offer advice, and browse resources.  Working at Barnes & Noble has inspired me to take up writing again.  I have written a couple of children’s books – now for the next step.  But, I’ll discuss that at another time.

So, I am in awe of how my life has changed over the years – proof that God can change hearts.  Of course, our lives are constantly being shaped and refined from birth to our last days on earth.    That is why I’ve named my page “Works in Progress” – this is the perfect outlet for me to share some of those works: relationships with family and God, homeschooling ideas and experiences, insights on education and learning, stories and poems that I’ve written, and Lord knows what else.

Thanks for visiting.

Blessings

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