Is it Much Farther?

When I was a child, one of my favorite cartoons was The Smurfs. I just loved it when the smurfs were going on a trip and the younger smurfs and Papa Smurf would have the following exchange:

Smurfs: "Is it much farther?"
Papa Smurf: "Not that much farther."

Smurfs: "Is it much farther?"
Papa Smurf: "Not that much farther."

Smurfs: "Is it much farther?"
Papa Smurf: "Not that much farther."

Smurfs: "Is it much farther?"
Papa Smurf: "YES IT IS!"

Now, I'm Papa Smurf and my children are the ones asking me how much longer, how much father, etc. And I finally found a way to answer them without losing my cool.

If my children ask me how much longer I'll be on the treadmill and the answer is 18 minutes, I'll say, "Only 18 hours." They'll giggle and say, "No it isn't, Mom. How much is it really?" I'll answer, "Okay, you're right 18 hours is too long. It's only 18 days." Then we'll move to seconds, weeks, years, months, decades, and so on.

My preschooler will say things like, "Mom, if it's only 18 seconds, you'll only have time to blink your eyes." My oldest will try to figure out how to translate hours into minutes, decades into years, etc. This game has been a fun way for me to make sure my children understand the concept of time, and teach a few facts along the way.

Workbooks, tests and grades aren't the only tools we can use to find out how much our children know. Think outside the box and have a little fun. Here are some additional ideas for homeschooling math.

Children's Theater

We went to our local children's theater again this Sunday to see the play Click Clack Moo. It was funny watching the animals work themselves into a frenzy over Farmer Brown's "tyranny"!

My youngest children just enjoyed the music and dancing, but my oldest learned about strikes, picket lines, negotiations and neutral parties.

Our children don't have to learn everything from the pages of boring textbooks. Children's books and plays provide us with wonderful teaching opportunities.

We learned a great deal about the election process by reading Click Clack Moo's sequel, Duck for President. Here are some additional ideas for homeschooling history.

Witnessing History

Yesterday was a fun day for our family. We started it by learning about history at the King Tut exhibit at a local art museum. We ended it by watching Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech, then watching President Obama take the oath of office.

We talked about the importance of having a vision that's larger than yourself and being willing to work towards something that you may not live to see. We also talked about the great change that has happened in this country since my parents and grandparents were children. I love living in a country where great change is possible. I love knowing that great change can happen again!

There was one member of our family who was not impressed with my history lesson:

He found a comfy spot on the couch, covered his face with a pillow and promptly went to sleep!

So much for making history interesting.

Now, These are "Learning Activities"

Teen Builds Her Reputation as a Competitive Birder

Homeschooled Students Learn about Science with LEGOS

Carnival of Homeschooling

The Carnival of Homeschooling - The Mystery Hat is up on Beverly's blog.

We are definitely going to try this edible map project shared by Kris at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Enjoy!

Define "Learning Activity"

Last week, I heard a news station report that local schools had decided not to show footage of tomorrow's inauguration because they didn't want to take children away from important "learning activities".

Hmmm.... I'd really like know how the school system defines learning activities. Do learning activities have to come from cookie cutter lesson plans handed down from the district? Do learning activities have to include worksheets and quizzes? Is it only a learning activity if it contributes to performance on standardized tests? Can our school system's poor performance be attributed to its narrow definition of learning activities?

Watching any presidential inauguration presents abundant opportunities for learning. Even more so when a country with a history like ours is inaugurating its first African-American president.

In a country as politically divided as ours, I could respect a decision to let parents decide whether or not they want their children to watch the inauguration. However, I'd still like the schools to rethink their definition of learning activities.

The world is a wonderful classroom, and current events are great teaching tools. There are many learning activities that don't come from the pages of a textbook. That's another reason we home school.

Homeschool Character Lessons

Last week, my 8 year old learned that cheaters never prosper.

We were reviewing addition and subtraction flashcards and I congratulated him on how well he answered. He laughed and said, "Mom, I could see through the cards."

I said, "You could? Andrew! Why didn't you tell me?" And he said, "I'm sorry, Mom." And started crying.

The tears surprised me for two reasons. One, I was not planning to punish him in any way. And two, I was not upset about him having peeked through the cards.

I don't think he could have helped seeing the answers as I was sitting with my back to a sunny window, and I was glad he had confessed instead of letting me think he'd answered the cards on his own.

I asked him why he was crying and he said, "Because I cheated." I told him to remember that feeling and let it motivate him not to cheat again.

This is another reason I'm glad we homeschool. I'm glad my son is still pure enough at heart to confess wrongdoing and feel genuine remorse about it.

Is Reading Overrated?

Let me start this post by saying I am a book worm. When we first married, my husband was shocked to find out how much time I spent reading. One of my favorite ways to spend an evening out is browsing at Barnes and Noble. I am almost always reading something. If I don't have a book or magazine nearby, I'll read a cereal box label.

My husband, on the other hand, rarely picks up a magazine and reads 2-4 books per year on average. Last year, he read two books that were assigned to the church by our pastor, a short book about grief and the biography Cooked . For the past 2 months, he's been working on the book called Becoming a Millionaire God's Way. I'm thinking, "Finish it, already!"

When we first married, I was shocked to find out how little time my husband spends reading. He would rather spend his free time watching football or playing golf.

I think it's safe to say reading is important. Every adult in this country should be able to read signs, warnings, instructions, contracts, magazines, books, etc. However, I think some of us are under the impression that every child must love reading and have a taste for great literature. I see this quite a bit with people who are making themselves miserable by using literature-based programs that their children hate.

While I absolutely love programs like Sonlight and Winter Promise, I think it is sad that some parents force these programs on children when they're not a good fit. Even the publishers themselves will admit that literature-rich programs are not right for every family.

As a bookworm, I obviously don't think reading is something to be discouraged. I just don't think we have to turn kids who don't love reading into kids who love classic literature.

Children are individuals who will have their own likes and dislikes. Once we are sure they can read well, comprehend what they are reading and apply what they've read to real life, I think it is okay to let them decide how much or little they read in their free time. In the book, How Children Learn, John Holt tells story of child who loved to build and learned how to read on a college level by reading instructions.

Is reading overrated? In some instances - yes. By all means, I don't think we should replace reading with extra Wii or TV time, but reading is not the only productive activity available. There are times I will tell my oldest (a bookworm) to stop reading and *gasp* go do some chores.

Homeschooling - Who's in the Driver's Seat? Parent or Child?

I will admit that, just like any other mom, I care whether or not my children are happy. I want them to look back on their years at home with fond memories, and I welcome their thoughts and opinions about things we do in our home.

However, it has never occurred to me that my children should be able to decide whether or not we continue homeschooling. As parents, that decision and its related consequences, belong to myself and my husband. That's why it baffles me to read about experiences like the one shared in this article.

In it, the author states,

"The first day of school came without having a structured social network in place. While everyone still expressed commitment to the homeschooling arrangement, I secretly experienced pangs of guilt as we watched other children walk the streets with their new lunch bags and backpacks. Were we depriving Isabel of an important cultural experience?

Since Izzy maintained homeschooling was what she wanted, we proceeded as planned."

I can relate to the author's feelings of doubt when everyone else was leaving for kindergarten and her child was still at home. I had similar feelings as a new homeschooler. However, I would never place the weight of the decision to proceed with homeschooling on a 5-year-old. As a parent, that's my burden to bear.

The author goes on to say,

"Two weeks into the school year, Izzy, being 5, naturally lost some of her gusto and began protesting. One particular day, I said, "If you were in regular school, you'd have to listen to your teacher. If you won't do the work for me, you're going to have to go to school."

I don't believe it's wise to use public school as a bargaining tool. If you've decided to homeschool, committ to stay the course for a pre-determined time period. Focus on working through the challenges you are facing instead of holding public school up as a threat or bribe, or worse, using it as an out.

More from the article,

"Perhaps if we were truly committed, we would have pulled rank and kept Isabel home. Over the course of a year, odds are we would have ironed things out. But because we desperately wanted Izzy's experience to be enjoyable, it seemed foolish to fight what she wanted, especially when it was the less complicated, traditional way." (emphasis added)

For me, this statement displays the author's true motives. I have unfortunately encountered this mindset on more than one occasion. This parent did not want to deal with the inherent challenges and doubts that come with homeschooling, and instead of owning up to those feelings, she blamed her decision to change course on her child's wants.

I have absolutely no problem when parents decide public school is best for their children. However, I think it's unfair to burden young children with adult decisions because we as parents are afraid to make them.

Stereotypes, anyone?

I find it funny that a librarian of a "very large public library" asked the following question in a School Library Journal advice column:

"What do I tell homeschooling parents who object to us having books on certain topics, such as human reproduction...?" (emphasis added)

If that isn't enough to make you chuckle, the response was even more funny:

"Let those parents know that you're thrilled they use your library for their children's educational needs. Then, explain that the library's mission is to serve the learning and recreational reading needs of the entire community. Most public and many private schools teach human reproduction in science and health classes. And many parents turn to the library for materials to help them engage in good conversations about sex and sexuality with their children. The library is all about giving people choices. Although homeschooling parents can determine what their kids read and learn, they can't impose their views on others."

You mean, some parents talk to their children about sex? I can't pick and choose what other parents read to their children? What is happening to our society???

Apparently this woman didn't get the memo. Homeschool parents aren't only paranoid, controlling and wild about censorship, we keep our kids in the know about reproduction by getting pregnant annually, giving birth at home and raising farm animals.

Carnival of Homeschooling

The 3rd Anniversary Edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Why Homeschool. Check it out!

Public School Sports - Can Homeschoolers Have Their Cake and Eat It, Too?

Youth basketball season is here, and we're all looking forward to Andrew's first practice. We're a sports family. We love watching our son practice and play in games, and we love getting to know his teammates and their families.

My husband's fondest childhood memories involve sports, and one of his main concerns about homeschooling was that our children would not be able to play sports on a competitive level. So when I read this article about homeschoolers who want to play sports on public school teams, I was sympathetic to their concerns.

Home school sports leagues have not been in operation as long as public school programs, and may not provide the same level of competitiveness or exposure. In addition, homeschoolers pay school taxes that support public school sports programs and may feel entitled to play on athletic teams and participate in other school activities.

However, despite the obvious benefits, my concerns about participation in public school programs mirror my concerns about use of virtual schools. When homeschoolers begin demanding services from the government, what will the government begin demanding of us? By participating in public school activities, are we inviting government intervention into our homes?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you think widespread participation in public school programs could jeopardize our autonomy? Can we as homeschoolers can have our cake and eat it, too?

Call for Submissions to the Carnival of Homeschooling

This week marks the 3rd anniversary of the Carnival of Homeschooling. Blog carnivals are a great way to share your blog with others and find new blogs to enjoy.

Pick a favorite post from your blog and find rules about submitting it here. Submissions are due today at 6:00 PM.