I am starting to get use to the constant interruptions that come from the kids. I am actually finding alot of humor in them. We were in the middle of a discussion last week about divorce when Abby said, "Hey, did you know that you can't lick your elbow? No one can."
There have been several statements made during these "heavier" discussions that have led me to believe that, "Kids really only want the ONE question that they are asking to be answered."
If you are in the middle of a discussion about The Punic War and your child wants to talk about how "some animals eat their first born" I say "Go with it." I mean this lets you know for sure that they have heard nothing that you have said about The Punic War -other than the word "Punic"....the one word that they will probably misuse, in public, at a very inappropriate time.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
It's been 10 days...
It's been 10 days since my last post but I feel like it has been 100. Greg took the laptop with him to Waco for 2 days and the other 8 have just been extremely busy. To start with, LG did start an all day pre-school. She is going 3 days a week and in all honesty, I can tell a HUGE difference since she has begun. She is truly being stimulated and the schedule is great for her. Abby is still swinging away at Golf. I think she is doing great. However, she LOVES swimming. That is her all time favorite past-time.
I have been looking this week at different home school curriculum for the fall. I will have a 2nd grader and a kindergartener this next year and I need help scheduling. My friend and I met with another home school mom this week and she brought all of her books down and walked us through her "stuff". She uses A Beka .
Now, not to offend anyone...I have always said that I would never use this material. I'm not really sure why. I think that for a long time it was the only thing on the market...so everytime I talked with who was home schooled they would say, "Oh, we use A Beka." I'm not sure why I walked away from it...because I really like it. I think maybe it's because some of the students that I encountered, who were home schooled as kids, did not seem to know how to "interact with ideas" well. I honestly think that it has more to do with the family than the curriculum. It's like a friend of mine says, "If the parents are weird, than the kids are going to be weird."
Anyway, I will continue to do the history that we are doing now, probably 3 days a week. And, I will continue with Latin...probably 2 days a week. I really liked the workbooks, teacher's guides, etc....But the selling point was that it has the daily lesson plans already done for you- and it has a joint schedule for a Kindergartner and 2nd grader- if you are school for both of them. I am so pumped about that!!! I am finishing this year feeling like I have left something out. I know from talking to a couple of teachers around here that that is normal even if you are teaching in the classroom.
I am really enjoying the time that I am getting to spend with the kids while we are reading, doing math...etc. I feel like I am making an investment in them that is more than money can buy. It is really hard when we have a "battle of the wills"...and I have thought, "If she were in the classroom, she would not be talking to her teacher this way." The good thing is that - when she does lash out at me or want to be defiant, I can deal with her heart immediately. If her heart is not dealt with...she has gained nothing.
Plus the fact that I have to take a difficult look at my own heart when I find myself being easily angered, wanting things done to suit me rather than an alternate "just as correct" way or impatient.
I have some funny stories to write as soon as I can block off a chunk of time to write them. Here's a preview:
1. "No sir, I want the DYSON and you can either come out to my van and get my credit card to pay for it or I will buy one online today." ( I bought it...and love it....but the ladybug bean bag did not survive.)
2. "Mommy,why are wedding dresses white?"
"Well," I said, "Because it stands for purity."
"Mommy, What is purity?" she ask while looking at a "princess" dressed in a white wedding gown.
"It means that you're not out kissing alot of boys before you get married." (maybe not the exhaustive definition.)
"Well...." "I...um...."- "What does pink stand for?"
more to come-
I have been looking this week at different home school curriculum for the fall. I will have a 2nd grader and a kindergartener this next year and I need help scheduling. My friend and I met with another home school mom this week and she brought all of her books down and walked us through her "stuff". She uses A Beka .
Now, not to offend anyone...I have always said that I would never use this material. I'm not really sure why. I think that for a long time it was the only thing on the market...so everytime I talked with who was home schooled they would say, "Oh, we use A Beka." I'm not sure why I walked away from it...because I really like it. I think maybe it's because some of the students that I encountered, who were home schooled as kids, did not seem to know how to "interact with ideas" well. I honestly think that it has more to do with the family than the curriculum. It's like a friend of mine says, "If the parents are weird, than the kids are going to be weird."
Anyway, I will continue to do the history that we are doing now, probably 3 days a week. And, I will continue with Latin...probably 2 days a week. I really liked the workbooks, teacher's guides, etc....But the selling point was that it has the daily lesson plans already done for you- and it has a joint schedule for a Kindergartner and 2nd grader- if you are school for both of them. I am so pumped about that!!! I am finishing this year feeling like I have left something out. I know from talking to a couple of teachers around here that that is normal even if you are teaching in the classroom.
I am really enjoying the time that I am getting to spend with the kids while we are reading, doing math...etc. I feel like I am making an investment in them that is more than money can buy. It is really hard when we have a "battle of the wills"...and I have thought, "If she were in the classroom, she would not be talking to her teacher this way." The good thing is that - when she does lash out at me or want to be defiant, I can deal with her heart immediately. If her heart is not dealt with...she has gained nothing.
Plus the fact that I have to take a difficult look at my own heart when I find myself being easily angered, wanting things done to suit me rather than an alternate "just as correct" way or impatient.
I have some funny stories to write as soon as I can block off a chunk of time to write them. Here's a preview:
1. "No sir, I want the DYSON and you can either come out to my van and get my credit card to pay for it or I will buy one online today." ( I bought it...and love it....but the ladybug bean bag did not survive.)
2. "Mommy,why are wedding dresses white?"
"Well," I said, "Because it stands for purity."
"Mommy, What is purity?" she ask while looking at a "princess" dressed in a white wedding gown.
"It means that you're not out kissing alot of boys before you get married." (maybe not the exhaustive definition.)
"Well...." "I...um...."- "What does pink stand for?"
more to come-
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Golf!
I don't think that I have ever posted about my motivation for starting Abby in Golf lessons. I had a girl's coach tell me that it was "like the #1 under used female athletic scholarship at universities" across the nation. Now, I did not research her statement...but it "felt right". :) I mean, how many girls were you in college with who were on a golf scholarship? Let's see...for me, that would be NONE. The second reason is because her former teacher had mentioned to me, and I agree with her, that Abby tends to give up easy. If she sees other kids turning their papers in, even if she isn't finished she will turn hers in. She has a tendency to not want to persevere and learn new things. Some of this is her personality...some of it laziness. Reminds me of myself. So I thought a sport that takes patience to learn and causes you to compete against, well, yourself...would be a good thing.
So, I called a golf pro at our local country club...which is a whole other story...because it's in a town smaller than the one I live in...and she started last week. Greg and I do NOT know how to play golf. I tried to hit a ball once...and well, I missed. We told Abby, "Look, you don't have to like golf, you don't have to play it everyday...but you have to stay in it for a couple of years and develop this skill." I'm thinking $. I mean, we have 4 daughters. We are paying not just for college -but also for weddings. So, we are having to "plan ahead".
Because she is home schooled, we had our lesson at 9 a.m. last Thursday morning. This was great because their were only a couple of guys and some senior citizens out there. Let me be honest..I wasn't expecting much. She's 7...and has never held a golf club, a bat, or anything resembling a "club". Mel, her instructor, Abby and myself, got into the golf cart and headed out. It was freezing by the way. He showed her how to position her feet, her arms, hold the club...just a regular introductory lesson. I am not kidding when I say this....She hit the first 3 out of 4 balls that he put down, and remembered her form...and they were really good hits. He said that in 8 years of teaching there- he had never had an adult or child hit the ball on their first try after his instruction. She loved it...she wants to go everyday. He said that she could really develop into a good player with time.
Let's all pray that this happens...and mommy gets a new car.
So, I called a golf pro at our local country club...which is a whole other story...because it's in a town smaller than the one I live in...and she started last week. Greg and I do NOT know how to play golf. I tried to hit a ball once...and well, I missed. We told Abby, "Look, you don't have to like golf, you don't have to play it everyday...but you have to stay in it for a couple of years and develop this skill." I'm thinking $. I mean, we have 4 daughters. We are paying not just for college -but also for weddings. So, we are having to "plan ahead".
Because she is home schooled, we had our lesson at 9 a.m. last Thursday morning. This was great because their were only a couple of guys and some senior citizens out there. Let me be honest..I wasn't expecting much. She's 7...and has never held a golf club, a bat, or anything resembling a "club". Mel, her instructor, Abby and myself, got into the golf cart and headed out. It was freezing by the way. He showed her how to position her feet, her arms, hold the club...just a regular introductory lesson. I am not kidding when I say this....She hit the first 3 out of 4 balls that he put down, and remembered her form...and they were really good hits. He said that in 8 years of teaching there- he had never had an adult or child hit the ball on their first try after his instruction. She loved it...she wants to go everyday. He said that she could really develop into a good player with time.
Let's all pray that this happens...and mommy gets a new car.
Monday, April 9, 2007
It's time to start thinking about next year!
It is a little hard for me to believe that we have almost finished an entire semester. I mean, it is April 9th...school is out for the summer in May! I was talking to a friend of mine after dinner tonight and we were discussing the fact that it is time to start purchasing our curriculum for next year. I really need to research this. I mean, there is an ungodly amount of "stuff" out there to choose from. I am thinking, from what I have previewed, that the strength of any material comes from how we interact with it. If we use the material as a "jumping off" point for discussion then it will be a success.
A really neat thing happened today. I was talking with Abby about the start of the Roman Empire. I was reading to her about this one tribe that was north of Rome and how they were greatly influenced by the Greeks. I was explaining how the Romans didn't like monarchy, rather they wanted a democracy. I was not paying any attention to Ellie, who is 5, because she usually just sits and colors in a coloring book or practices writing numbers...etc. I asked, directing the question toward Abby, "What city in Greece felt very strong about democracy, voting and education?" Abby stared at me as if to say, "Get real. I have no idea what you just asked me." but Ellie said, "Athens!" I was so excited. It really goes to show that they are listening and that we do not need to "dumb it down".
As I said earlier today, my #3, L.G., will be starting preschool this week. I really feel like this is an answered prayer for our family. I think that this will be an orderly, structured time that she really needs. It goes to show that some kiddos need different opportunities. Our Early Childhood worker told us in one of our initial visits that she felt like our home was too unstructured during the day for L.G.. I can see now, and definitely agree with her, that it is. She will be 3 in the fall. It is really interesting...but I had to talk myself through this whole idea of putting her in this school. I truly want to do what's best for her and our family as a whole. I feel like we are moving in the right direction.
A really neat thing happened today. I was talking with Abby about the start of the Roman Empire. I was reading to her about this one tribe that was north of Rome and how they were greatly influenced by the Greeks. I was explaining how the Romans didn't like monarchy, rather they wanted a democracy. I was not paying any attention to Ellie, who is 5, because she usually just sits and colors in a coloring book or practices writing numbers...etc. I asked, directing the question toward Abby, "What city in Greece felt very strong about democracy, voting and education?" Abby stared at me as if to say, "Get real. I have no idea what you just asked me." but Ellie said, "Athens!" I was so excited. It really goes to show that they are listening and that we do not need to "dumb it down".
As I said earlier today, my #3, L.G., will be starting preschool this week. I really feel like this is an answered prayer for our family. I think that this will be an orderly, structured time that she really needs. It goes to show that some kiddos need different opportunities. Our Early Childhood worker told us in one of our initial visits that she felt like our home was too unstructured during the day for L.G.. I can see now, and definitely agree with her, that it is. She will be 3 in the fall. It is really interesting...but I had to talk myself through this whole idea of putting her in this school. I truly want to do what's best for her and our family as a whole. I feel like we are moving in the right direction.
I will post tonight!
I am a loser for not posting sooner...been busy. we are starting our 3rd child in a pre-school program this next week. we had a good visit with Headstart, however, we decided to go with a small pre-school in our community. we felt like it was a better fit for her and for us. anyway- i have to do this if i am going to home school effectively. i am way too distracted right now. the ages that i am trying to manage are very difficult along with homeschooling. I really need help. at this point i feel like i am doing a sucky job all the way around because i am spread thin trying to keep the 2 1/2 year old contained and off of the top of the dresser!
Well, I feel very relieved that this option IS becoming a reality. Like I said, " I need help". I think that our home schooling is going well when I am not distracted! that is the key in my opinion...so far. I have more to write and plan too this evening. We promised the girls that we would play LIFE with them...which feels like it takes a lifetime to play. Tomorrow we are going to the Zoo with A's first grade"class".
We have alot to do today.
Well, I feel very relieved that this option IS becoming a reality. Like I said, " I need help". I think that our home schooling is going well when I am not distracted! that is the key in my opinion...so far. I have more to write and plan too this evening. We promised the girls that we would play LIFE with them...which feels like it takes a lifetime to play. Tomorrow we are going to the Zoo with A's first grade"class".
We have alot to do today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
