My Homeschooling Tree of Knowledge (A very small but growing tree)

You know, there IS a reason I never write on this blog any more - and it's the same reason I quit photography a few months back.  And that reason is that everything has caught up with me and I no longer have any time.  I don't know how but I don't feel like I am doing things differently that I did six months ago but somehow everything has swollen up and filled every nook and cranny in my day.  I find I can barely keep my eyes open after ten o'clock at night and that Mike and I are only able to catch a movie on the couch on rare occasions.  It's really kind of mystifying how instantaneous the change was, but needless to say things like this blog have fallen very low on the totem pole.

One of the things that has taken huge amounts of my limited brain capacity of late is HOMESCHOOLING.   After the move, just about everything that was running smoothly in our normal school day in Utah fell apart.  Andrew hated school and everyday it was such a struggle to get him to continue - and while I was in that struggle Elijah would slip out and find something better to do than school.  I felt like I was herding cats trying to get those two boys to stay at their studies at the same time.  Not to mention the toddlers that were sneaking away to pour dried beans all over the kitchen floor or nibbling on 5 pound blocks of cheese.   And so, I too, hated school.  It all came to a head in January when after a few phone "counseling" conversations with friends I decided I was done and was enrolling them in public school the coming Monday.  (If your heart just leaped within you because you thought I'd finally come to my senses - shame on you!)  I did come to my senses - later that night at a church activity, while I was pasting together valentines and dipping Oreos in chocolate I realized it wasn't time to give in but to get going! 

So I did the same thing I do whenever I am at a loss.  I started reading.  A lot.  I started with The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias.  Somehow I got this far in the game without REALLY knowing my own learning style or my children's.  I began to understand that a good deal of the frustration that Andrew was feeling was that the methods I use on Elijah don't necessarily work on him.  Meanwhile I was doing some soul searching and making lists of why I homeschool and what I really want out of it.  What would my perfect homeschooling day look like anyhow?


Next I met with the seriously knowledgeable owner of The Homeschool Bookshop  , Amber, for a one on one homeschooling consultation.  I took my lists, my dream day, and my troubles and she began to help me sort it all out.  But what really made a difference was the books she recommended.  First she had me read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  I had heard the ideas presented in this book a million times over.  I was also pretty sure I knew my and Michael's love language.  But since when does hearsay ever really tell you anything?  Reading this book as well as this one has been the perfect pairing with my first read.  I now feel so much better equipped to love and understand my husband and children.

And then came this recommendation.  It's been a long time since a book has energized me as much as this one has.  It has not only given me the hope that I can run my home beautifully well but also given me the practical tools to make that hope a reality.  It's a lovely lovely gift Amber gave me.  It's called Managers of Their Homes by Steven and Teri Maxwell.  Not only do they teach you how to run your home - they spend a good deal on the why - with MANY references to the Bible.  It was like the balm of Gilead for me - reminding me that the Lord will qualify me for the "ministry" he has called me to - motherhood, marriage, etc.  While you can get the other books I've suggested from the library this one is a must buy.  See, it's not just a book but more of a workbook - with lots of things to fill out - all culminating in a big detailed schedule.  I love it.   Seriously - I love it.

Another thing we've been focusing on is getting our house in order.  I am not one of those woman who is gifted in the art of housekeeping - yet.  In the last ten years Michael, who is gifted in that respect, has been patiently teaching me how to run a house.  And as I've matured and as my children's abilities to participate in the cleaning and not just the messing has grown - we've begun to get a slight handle on it.  One thing that has been AWESOME is the app that goes with this site.  It is soo helpful.  Suddenly I don't have to have a myriad of answers to questions about treats, game time, staying up late, watching movies, etc.  I have one answer, "Do you have the points for it?"  And it's out of my hands.   They earn these points doing their chores, eating their dinners, clearing their dishes from the table, etc.  And they love it as much as I do.  We have lower rewards on their game time and treats and then big rewards like camping trips and iPods.  It's taken away the idea that they are entitled to candy and movies just for breathing and has helped them remember to do what is asked of them.

And for their chores I bought some plastic name card holders with lanyards and put cards with their chores on them in it. Each tag is labeled with their name and so they grab it at chore time and take it with them.  The cards are detailed with information like this:

Laundry:
1. Gather dirty laundry from baskets around the house.
2. Sort into piles of white/colored.
3. Wash and Dry
4. Fold and put away(with Mom)

That way they know exactly what is required with that chore instead of just saying Laundry on that card.  And they can take it with them as they do it.  When they are done with a task they move it to the back and work on the next card in their pouch.  Some cards have notes for different days of the week - for chores that only need to be done once a week.  It's awesome.  I even have one for myself.

I have soo many other things I have discovered that are helping in my schooling but I'm pretty sure I've already bored you to tears - so I'll save that for another post. AND I hope that the scheduling and the chore helps will enable me to start to write on here a little more often!  So, until then...

p.s.  Here is Amber's list of books she believes every homeschooler should read:


The Five Love Languages of Children
Manager's of Their Homes
The Well-trained Mind

Dear Santa...

Today was the first day that I finally felt like school worked in this house.  It's been a long time coming with a lot of stress, some tears, and a lot of books on homeschooling leafed through.  And in the end, all that needed to happen was a little reorganizing, some more patience on mom's part, and some loving kindness.  Anyhow, today we worked on our letters to Santa which is ALWAYS fun. 

Also, instead of filling our Advent calendar boxes with candy like usual we took some cues from Sheree and filled them with Christmas activities, like writing letters to Santa or ice skating or making gingerbread houses.  To my surprise the boys didn't protest and they are still as excited to open them up each morning - at least so far! 

p.s.  I've had a lot on mind lately on "doing it all" and have a lot to say and a few life changes to make so pretty soon I'll fill you all in.  I'm sure you're dying to know, aren't you?

School house rock.

Today was our first day in the nearly finished school room and already we all feel so cozy and happy in it.  It isn't completely finished yet - we still have to paint the table, put in a shelf, frame the home-made blackboard, and add the art; but it's finished enough for us to use it. Once it's completely done I'll post before and after pictures and what not.   But I still wanted to post and say what a difference it makes to have a large space dedicated to school.  A room without a television or even within earshot of one.  A room where we don't mind making a mess.  A room with space for everyone to be working at once and not bother each other.  I love it.

School-room Art.

Since our house(and yes, it's ours - she's accepted the offer) has a perfect room to use for school my wheels have been turning in how to make it THE most amazing school room ever.  I decided I needed some art to go on the walls and I wanted it to be in the colors of a vintage globe and to be themed appropriately for a school room.  I love the song, "Swinging on a Star" that Bing Crosby made famous all about how going to school will open up all sorts of good things.  Anyhow, I took the three main lines from the chorus and made three matching prints.

Aren't they adorable?  I'm going to print them 16x20 size and hang them up together.  I can't wait.  And if you too gotta have them, you can mosey on over to my etsy store and get yourself some - 8x10 size or 16x20.

p.s.  I also got this mid-century lounger at D.I. a couple days ago.  It will be perfect for reading books and just plain looking cute in the school room.  AND it matches my prints...

Why I homeschool...

"Whatever education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which would be your road map through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important: how to live and how to die."

-John Taylor Gotto

A large part of why I homeschool is out of the hope that my children will find themselves as they study and learn.  That instead of heading to college without any clue what they are good at or what they like, they will have spent their adolescence unearthing their talents and skills.  And that in that process they will discover the world.  That they will feel a part of the community - that they will know what contribution they can make - and are able to make one even before they are adults.  I hope that they will learn how to live.  I love being a part of that miraculous process.  A process that may happen in a public school, but in my opinion, in spite of it not because of it.  

Even Weird Homeschoolers Have Field Day...

I have to say that in elementary school field day was MY FAVORITE day of the year.  Snow cones(which I never had money for but usually bummed off of a friend), hot dirt, the 100 yard dash (which I often won), and no desks.  Memories like that make me wonder if homeschooling is a mean thing to do to my kids(only for a moment).  But this year we attended our first homeschooling field day and it was great.

I love my double the trouble babies.

And I was just snapping here - irresponsible photography - and caught this cute little hug.  Brothers gotta hug!  Elijah won first place overall for the sack race.  We're really hoping some day he can get a sack racing scholarship to one of the top schools in that sport. 

Meghie came with her darling kids since she is planning on homeschooling with K12 too...it was a good time.  And yes, Andrew and Flynn dominated the tug-of-war.

I love my K12 program.  I love the teachers, the programs, the free stuff, and the fact that I get to be with my boys so much.  I love them all immensely and they all make me so proud to call myself their mother.  I don't deserve them - really, I don't.  I love you, boys.

The hens have left the building...

Well, even though it has snowed twice in the last three days, it is spring.  And since our pullets are all about 5 weeks old - it was time for them to move on outside.   And thank heavens it was time because by day two I was sick of them being inside.    Don't judge me too harshly for the yard...it was snowing!  ...  Ok, it's time to mow and weed.

Their coop looks ginormous right now but these ladies are going to grow grow grow over the next few months until this place is quite cozy.  At that point this coop will be used mostly for sleeping and laying eggs - and they'll have a run to roam around in.  They're just so young and vulnerable right now that I think I'll just keep them inside for a couple months.

Already I can't help but just stare at them.  Gosh, I need a farm.  Peter feels the same way too.

In garden happenings, I 've got some good news and bad news.

The good news is that my oregano and sage are coming back on their own and are growing really well.  In fact, I think tonight we'll have some homemade pasta with sage and oregano, butter, and parmesan.  So tasty.

The bad news is that I was so frustrated that my 12 month old kept digging in my starters that I put them out too quickly and most of them haven't made it.  Hmpf.  Oh well, we'll see if I can't being a few of them back and buy the rest at the nursery.

I still have to get the rest of my starters out there but I've got way too much going on right now.  Welcome to the rest of my life, eh?

And, in other news, today we home-schoolers took a book run to the thrift store.  I love buying books.  New and old.  In fact, old books excite me even more than new ones.  And it doesn't hurt that they cost between fifty cents to a couple of bucks.

So, all in all, it was a good day.

Teach 'em to read and invite their friends along...

In the past, the most intimidating part of homeschooling was teaching my kids to read.  I just didn't know where to start or how to do it.  With my oldest I didn't start schooling at home until his second grade year so he was already a pretty good reader.  But things have changed and I am totally confident we can do it since we got this book:

  My second son is turning 5 in a few weeks and we started with this book a little while back.  I am always amazed when I see my children learn things but especially with this book.  And for extra practice we have printed out the letters and hung them up on the fridge.

I'll add more letters as the book introduces them.  You should really check it out.

Also here are A's birthday invites:

Simple but cute.  I designed them on photoshop and got them printed at a local print shop and the price was about the same as a pack of cheap cards so I was happy.  A couple years ago I sent out this card for my oldest, E's birthday.  I love this one - especially the crossword:

I really try not to get too stressed about birthdays and I keep everything simple except these invites.  They were easy to make and they made me happy.