The Home Schooler's Wish List

http://www.momisteaching.com/the-homeschoolers-wishlist/

My friend, Kristen, sent me this link. It is really funny. True and funny. My favorite are:

4. Don’t assume that every homeschooler you meet is homeschooling for the same reasons and in the same way as that one homeschooler you know.

5. If that homeschooler you know is actually someone you saw on TV, either on the news or on a “reality” show, the above goes double.


That's really good.

Things I like.

I have been thinking about this for a while. The reason that I started this blog was because I had a very difficult time finding anything on the "personal process" of homeschooling. I want to tell you about a couple of things that have really helped ME in teaching...and surviving this first year.

1. The iPod has been my greatest discovery. Greg bought this for me...and little did I know that it would be put to such great use. I down loaded a multiplication cd, all of their poetry memorization, Aesop's Fables, iTunes has numerous kids audio books for free, Abby's Latin Cd, etc. They take turns listening, practicing & reviewing with this at least once a day. This has been a great investment. They think that the iPod is cool. They know that it is a privilege to use my iPod so they look forward to this time.

2. iTunes - as I referenced above, iTunes is loaded with numerous resources. Free audio books, educational songs, etc. I know that you can purchase most of these fun, learning songs at the teacher's store, however, I can not always get to the teacher's store. This has been a great tool.

3. The Rod & Staff "Stories About God's People" - I LOVE THIS! There have been several parents tell me that they do not like this reader because it is all Bible. The stories are just that...stories. They take the Biblical passage and put it in an age appropriate "reader" form. It has been great for us. The reading workbook has the student interacting with the vocabulary, phonetic pronunciation symbols, inferences...etc., before and after the story. I have noticed that since we have started this curriculum, Abby's ability to stay focused on one subject has increased significantly. She is also learning "the Story" of the Bible. Since I do not want her to view the Bible as only a "subject" that we "do"...I like to "do" reading, using the Bible. We also go to the library and stock up on books, on anything she wants to read, every two weeks at least. We, of coarse, read to Ellie...and Abby, too.

4. Story of The World- This history curriculum is my all time favorite! This combines reading, story-telling, map work, narration, coloring pages & projects. In all honesty, if we do history, I feel like I have accomplished enough. This truly facilitates discussion and subject integration.

'Hope these are helpful. If you have a good resource or link - post it as a comment.

Another First...

Zoe had to have tubes put in her ears and her adenoids taken out yesterday. This was a first for me. I had heard several of my friends talk about their kiddos having to have this done and how emotional they became when it was time to "have them wheeled away". I guess i never really thought that it was that big of a deal. It was, however, really difficult. I guess just knowing that they were being placed in someone else's hands. We all survived and hopefully we will all sleep better now that Zoe is out of pain and can breath.

By the way, she was the cutest kid there.

While we were there, Lucy Grace was at her school and Abby & Ellie went over to Christy's. Since she homeschools her children, I just sent their books and assignments and they were good to go. Abby's free writing prompt said, "One person can make a difference. The difference can lead to changes in the world! If you could change one thing to make the world a better place what would it be?"
So...Abby writes, "I would make everybody believe in Jesus. It would make the world a better place. It would be better because everybody would go to church. Everybody would be a Christian. There would be peace."
Christy said that Luke looked up and said, "You can't make everyone believe in Jesus...that would be a dictatorship!".
Yes, he is in 2nd grade and he is brilliant.

I am feeling restful. We have become more settled in our home schooling and I feel at this point that it will be long term. The more that I read and the longer that I am with the girls I am feeling like we are "gelling". I feel like we are starting to get in our groove and are starting to enjoy the "process" and the experiences. I do think that I am going to continue school even through the summer. I am going to get a couple more supplements that will "firm up" some of the second grade skills that we are a little shaky on. My plan is to take a week off at the beginning of summer and a week off when we are at the beach, and continue the rest of the time. We had to spend so much time going back over what we had learned last year, at the beginning of this year, that I just don't see the benefit in breaking.

I love that I am running into more and more people, that i feel like we connect with, who are homeschooling. We need these connections. We are so social and it helps to meet people who we all enjoy spending time with.

I just realized...

I have just began reading this book. I am really loving it already! One of the stats that I was truly "feeling" about a year ago is from Christian Smith and his research team at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
"Our research suggest that religious congregations are losing out to school and the media for the time and attention of youth. When it comes to the formation of the lives of youth, viewed sociologically, faith communities typically get a very small seat at the end of the table for a very limited period of time. The youth-formation table is dominated structurally by more powerful and vocal actors. Hence most teens know details about television characters and pop stars, but many are quite vague about Moses and Jesus. Most youth are well versed about the dangers of drunk driving, AIDS, and drugs, but many haven't a clue about their own tradition's core ideas. Many parents also clearly prioritize homework and sports over church or youth group attendance."

As a result, "The majority of American teenagers appear to espouse rather inclusive, pluralistic, and individualistic views about religious truth, identity boundaries, and the need for religious congregation."

"According to researchers, between 70-88% of Christian teens are leaving the church by their second year in college." (T.C. Pinkney, Report to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, 9-2001; & Report of the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life, 2002)

Greg and I were talking last night and he basically said, "If a house is collapsing- you don't slow everyone down and say, "Let's take our time getting out."

There is a problem with American Christianity and the lives of "Christian" families. Obviously, I am not saying that we abandon our faith...because it is our life...our bloodline. What I am saying, and what I feel like Dr.Baucham is going to lay out in his book is- We have abandoned our faith...We must RETURN. We must indoctrinate our children. We must use our time, the time that He has given them to us, our "going out & our coming in", our eating, our walking, our drinking, our days and our nights- to teach them that He is all of life. In everything- that He is.

All of our "subjects" should find their place in Him. All of eating and drinking should find its place in Him. All of our laughter, our dreaming, our arguing and our resolution should sit securely in Him.

I was reflecting tonight. I dropped Ellie off at dance, ran to Blockbuster and Super One...and then jetted back to dance- all in 40 minutes! I thought of how quickly time flies. In fact, the Bible says that our lives are like a vapor. Woody used to say that "it amazed him how someone could die- and the world would just kept going."
It's so quick. I was thinking about the last 3 years of my life. We adopted two babies, finished a Master's Degree, moved to a new town and a new congregation, had surgery, started a school, withdrew from a school- and started home schooling. I could not believe that it had been almost a year since I began home schooling.
I am so glad that I am here today.

I am happy when I look back over the year.

I do not have a degree in Chemistry, English or Art. I struggle with Science and Fractions. I am not the most disciplined person in the World. But I love my kids more than anyone on the Planet loves them. For some reason, The God of the Universe created me to have them. I am clumsy and unorganized. I cannot skip and I have arthritis. I am horrible at planning experiments and I hate interactive games...but I care more about the souls of my children than Billy Graham could on his best day.

I know that I am fallible and human. I am deeply aware of my sin and misery. I fear that I am not enough...but I love them so stinkin' much that if I am going to fail at something I don't want it to be this- That I did not try with all of my energy, with every hour of my day, to point them continually to the place where True life is found- Christ.

I will never do it perfectly- but I must strive, and work and labor to point them always to Him. To teach them about our heritage and traditions. To show them that our lives are part of the bigger Story.

What a challenge!

What a joy!