Successful Homeschooling

We've Moved!

2010-11-22T23:16:00.001-06:00

Please join us at our new location - www.successful-homeschooling-blog.com.

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Happy Birthday to Us!

2010-11-16T05:00:00.002-06:00

When I shared my new time-management strategies in Homeschooling and the 4-Hour Workweek, I had no idea that it would be my last post for 9 months. I guess I took myself way too seriously!

I have really missed blogging, and I have crafted at least 100 posts that I never had time to transfer from my brain to Blogger, but I have a good excuse. Someone has been keeping me really busy. I mean, seriously, who can resist a face like this:

Yes, he's in a bucket. At my house, there's nothing more fun than activities that make mom simultaneously freak out and run for the camera. And no, my 3-year-old wasn't frightened. That scary face always happens to appear whenever mom grabs the camera and says "smile!"

I can hardly believe my baby is already 10-months-old.

And my little baby website, Successful-Homeschooling, is 3-years-old as of Sunday!

Thankfully, my website continued growing without me, and it now features one of the largest online collections of homeschool curriculum reviews written by parents just like you. What's even more amazing is that our 375 pages of original content are now being viewed by over 1,000 unique visitors per day! (Thank you SBI!)

Now that little Elijah is literally jumping out of my lap to go play with his older siblings, I plan to return to providing you with information, ideas and inspiration via my blog and website.

But today, I just want to thank you for understanding my need to put family first. May God bless you and your family during this wonderful season of Thanksgiving!

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Homeschooling and The 4-Hour Workweek

2010-02-24T05:00:00.006-06:00

In my last post, I promised to share more about how the The 4-Hour Workweek revolutionized my approach to time management. Instead of finding ways to cram more into my day, I now look for ways to simply do less using the following principles:

1. I Make Myself Unavailable

I only check e-mail twice a day, and I do not read any jokes, political forwards, warnings about potential calamity or encouraging e-mails that must be forwarded to 10 people lest I succumb to calamity.

I do not answer my telephone without checking caller ID. I generally only answer the phone when it's my husband. Otherwise, I let the call go to voice mail. I respond to most messages that aren't from family members or very close friends via e-mail.

I lost my cell phone six months ago, and I never purchased a new one. In the six months I've been without a phone (even while out during labor with my 4th child), I've only needed to make a phone call twice. Both times, I've simply asked store clerks if I could use their phones, and they were happy to let me do so.

I do not go to meetings. Period.

As a result of these changes, I now have time to answer e-mail from visitors to my website. I can sit on the couch and read to my children without interruption. I can listen to music and pay attention while I drive instead of fumbling with a cell phone. I can invite friends over for dinner instead of sitting in meetings arguing about every little detail of the next church ladies' luncheon.

2. I'm on a Low-Information Diet

I no longer watch the news or listen to talk radio, and I've unsubscribed to most blogs, newsletters, e-mail lists and RSS feeds I used to follow. Despite the low-information diet, I've still managed to learn everything I need to know about current events, although with much less stress and heartache.

For example, I heard more than enough about the recent earthquake in Haiti without watching any news coverage, and I didn't have to process any of the disturbing images I've had to process during other tragedies.

The low-information diet has not only provided me with more time, but also with more peace.

3. I Delegate

A few years ago, my husband told me that if I was having trouble accomplishing all that I needed to accomplish, I should pay someone to help me. I was highly insulted!

Now, before I take on a task, I ask myself, "Am I the best person to do this? Is this the best use of my time?"

Do I really need to spend time searching for and printing my own handwriting pages, or can I just purchase a workbook? Do I really need to create my own menus and grocery lists or can I just print the ones from this blog?

Another question I ask myself is, "Is this activity worth the time and energy it requires?"

As a result of having asked myself this question, I gave myself permission to stop clipping coupons and washing my husband's dress shirts at home. (Or, more honestly, to stop feeling guilty about not clipping coupons and washing my husband's dress shirts.)

At this point in our lives, the extra savings just aren't worth the effort. My husband would rather spend an extra $100-200 and have a relaxed, happy wife.

4. I Give Myself Time Limits

The amount of time it takes to complete a task will expand to fill whatever time period we allot for it, so I set time limits on specific tasks to keep them from taking over our days.

For example, I could get on my computer to check e-mail, and easily spend half a day crafting responses, checking stats on my website, reading blogs, chatting on forums, etc.

However, if I allow myself only one hour per day of free time on the computer, I am much more efficient about managing e-mail, and I don't have time to get into the time-wasting, energy-draining debates that can come from excess blog and forum involvement.

Flylady is also a big fan of setting time limits. A main tenet of her program is using a timer to clean in 5 to 15 minute increments so you don't get overwhelmed or carried away, and end up cleaning all day.

5. I Don't Work for Work's Sake

I don't create work for myself just for the sake of keeping myself busy, and I don't give my children assignments just for the sake of giving them schoolwork.

When I hear someone say they clean for 6 hours per day, I think, "What on earth are you cleaning?"

When I hear someone say they teach kindergarten for 6 hours per day, I think, "What on earth are you teaching?"

When I hear someone say they fill 12 workboxes for each of their 4 kids every night, I can't help but think they are doing school for school's sake (aka busy work). I'm glad the workbox system has been helpful for so many. However, it saddens me to see moms beating themselves up about not having filled their boxes every night. And if they need to actively search for ideas on how to fill up the workboxes, perhaps 12 boxes are unnecessary.

Anyway, now that I am no longer doing things I don't value, I have more time to do the things I think are important in life. I get to sit down and eat with my children instead of standing over the counter stuffing food into my mouth. I get to color with my daughter. I get to take naps with my preschooler. I get to spend time making faces at my baby until he smiles, and I get to look at him. Really look at him. And even then, he still grows too quickly.

I don't want you to think I execute all of this perfectly, because I do not. But the changes I've made are serving us well, and I wanted to share them with you.

I loosely follow Tim Ferris' 4-Hour Workweek blog, and on it I found this video from homeschooler Chuck Holton in which he mentions using 4HWW principles in his home school:

I e-mailed Chuck for more information, and he gave me permission to share the following:

"We try to include lessons from the 4hww in our holistic approach to homeschooling. I'm trying to raise creators and owners, not worker bees. Plus, the concept of maintaining 'margin' is very important - we teach our kids that work will expand to fill whatever timespace it is given - therefore it's important to compress timeframes by setting deadlines, even in their daily schooling. As such, they usually try to finish with school by lunch time, which gives them lots of time to pursue other activities and just be kids..."

"We use a computerized curriculum called 'Switched on Schoolhouse.' Quite possibly the worst written code on the planet, but it works once you invest about 100 hours on the phone with tech support. I wish there were another computerized curriculum that would work for us, but so far we haven't found one.

We went to the computerized model after my wife realized she was spending 4+ hours per day correcting papers. Now it's much less of her time - automate, delegate, eliminate!"

Follow this link to learn more about The 4-Hour Workweek.

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How Do You Do It All?

2010-02-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

A question I've been asked quite frequently as a blogger is, "How do you do it all?" While I'd love to live up to the image of being a supermom, the truth is - I can't do it all and doing it all is not the goal. Here's how I overcame supermom syndrome:

I learned to be really selective about how I spend my time.

I don't teach my children for 6 hours per day. We use a simple workbook curriculum and focus on reading, writing and arithmetic. We don't do any formal art, science or history at the moment, other than what we study for co-op. And since we're in a co-op, we're not doing play dates and park days and field trips and church activities.

Because I can't do it all, my children won't learn it all and they can't do it all. I prioritize and I make choices knowing that something, somewhere has to give.

I've learned that I don't have to do everything to the best of my ability.

Sometimes good enough is enough. All of my meals aren't made from scratch, but they're nutritious enough. My house isn't spotless, but it's clean enough. My kids aren't doing schoolwork all day, but they know enough.

I recently posted tips for homeschooling with a newborn, but I want to make it clear that if I am ever too tired or overwhelmed to teach, we take the day off. I'd rather skip a day of school then force myself to teach and yell at or frustrate my children.

As an aside, I am always shocked when I hear someone ask if it would be okay to take a birthday or holiday off from homeschooling.

I'm the teacher and my husband is the principal, and we take days off whenever we feel the need. One of the benefits of homeschooling is being in control of our schedule. I'm not afraid to take advantage of the freedom and flexibility it provides.

I've learned not to compare myself to others.

I love reading about what other families are doing, and I also love knowing that I don't have to do things the way other families do things. I love learning about fun projects, ideas and activities, and I also love knowing that I can choose to try them or not try them.

I know myself. There are things I'm not good at and things I don't enjoy, and that's okay. I focus on my strengths, and I teach my children from my areas of strength.

I probably won't ever teach my children to identify 20 different types of trees, leaves and flowers, and that's okay. They can learn it on their own if they find it to be something of value.

My mom didn't teach me to use the internet, but she always encouraged me to pursue my interests and try new things. Sometimes being a cheerleader is good enough.

In addition to what I've shared above, I've also learned quite a bit from the book, The 4-Hour Work Week. I know I've mentioned the book before, and on the surface it can appear to be about being lazy and getting rich. But the book was life-changing for me in terms of my approach to time management, and I plan to share more about how I use 4HWW principles in my home in coming weeks.

In the meantime, you can read more of my thoughts about doing it all and comparing ourselves to others in my article on homeschool encouragement.

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Homeschooling with a Newborn

2010-02-03T07:00:00.002-06:00

I can't believe our new baby is 6 weeks old already! Between taking care of him, teaching the older children, washing clothes, washing dishes, keeping everyone fed and getting back to our outside activities, it seems like time has just flown by.

Here are my tips for homeschooling with a newborn:

1. Bouncy Seat and Sling - I absolutely love holding my babies, but there are times I need two hands to get things done. My babies always seemed to startle when placed in a swing, but I love using the bouncy seat for short periods of time, and my Maya Wrap sling really comes in handy when we're out and I need to keep my hands free.

2. Older Siblings - My oldest two children are 9 and almost 6, and they love holding and entertaining the baby. They thankfully also like helping me with chores, so I have them do things like make their beds, fold and put away their own clothes, clean the playroom/schoolroom, clear the table, unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, etc. We haven't implemented a system of rewards or allowance at this point. Right now, we just focus on working as a team.

3. Quiet Time - Every day, I give myself the gift of one to two hours of quiet time. During the baby's afternoon nap, my 3-year-old and I also nap, and my older two children can either read or draw quietly. This little break gives me something to look forward to if we're having a rough morning, and the boost of energy I need to make it through the evening.

4. Simple Routines - In addition to our daily quiet time, I have simple daily routines that help me stay on top of household tasks. The routines keep me running on autopilot if we've had a rough night, and they also prevent me from being overwhelmed because I know exactly what I need to accomplish in any given day. Flylady's simple system of routines saved us from CHAOS over 6 years ago, and we've been flying ever since. You can learn more about Flylady here.

5. Meal Plan - Before the baby was born, I froze a few of our favorite casseroles and made a 3 month menu. I also ordered a few pre-made mixes from Homemade Gourmet that I can use when we're in a pinch. Once we're out of meals, I plan to go back to using pre-made meal plans that come with recipes and grocery lists. I found the Eat at Home Cooks blog a few months ago, and we've absolutely loved Tiffany's recipes.

Here's the menu I made that we're using for January thru March. (I'm sorry it took me so long to post this.) I made a six week plan, then repeated it for another six weeks. Most of the soups and casseroles were made and frozen during the weeks before Elijah was born, and the other meals are made in the crock pot or are really simple to prepare.

I'm normally a big fan of taking a break from school when you have a new baby in the house, but my oldest is not as far along as I'd like him to be, and I wanted to keep going. Here's a video with tips for Homeschooling with Little Ones.

Choosing Yes!

2010-01-05T06:00:00.002-06:00

Last week, I planned to follow up my blog post about laying down our lives for our children with a post about saying yes to our children. The bad news is, I was just too sleepy to write that post. The good news is, somebody forwarded me The Year of Yes, and it was exactly what I had in mind.

This year, two women on one of my favorite forums passed away. Several more were diagnosed with illness and are fighting for their lives. Watching their struggle reminds me of what my mother-in-law said when my father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer, "We all have to go that way one day."

How will I spend my years here before I go that way? Will I grumpily get up and feed the baby or treasure the quiet moments I have alone with him? Will I nurture past hurts or nurture budding relationships? Will I focus on what's wrong in my life or on what's right about it?

What will my children remember about me when I go that way? Will they remember me saying no, hold on, wait or will they remember me saying yes? Will they remember a mom who had to homeschool, cook and clean all day or a mom got to spend all day caring for those who meant the most to her?

Last fall, I had the pleasure of interviewing unschooler Sandra Dodd for my e-book, 7 Secrets to Finding the Best Homeschool Curriculum.

She also mailed me a copy of her book, Sandra Dodd's Big Book of Unschooling, a collection of mindful parenting and unschooling articles based on her popular website. I put the book in my bathroom which is where I get most of my reading time, and I have to admit it has been nothing short of life-changing.

Here are some of Sandra's thought on Have To.

As we enter the new year, many of us make resolutions that involve can'ts, don'ts and have tos. This year, I want to embrace the choice I have to say yes to that which I value and no to that which I don't. I want to embrace the choice I made to marry, have children, homeschool and care for my home without grumbling, without complaining and without fear.

Several years ago, I listened to a sermon from Focus on the Family called Choosing to Cheat. The premise of the sermon was that we can be and do many great things in life, but we may not be able to do them all at once.

I can be a great mom, a loving wife, a successful entrepreneur, a perfect size 6, a gourmet chef, a fun online buddy, an active homeschool group member, volunteer of the year, church member of the year, and keeper of a spotless home, but I may not be able to be all of these things at the same time. Saying yes to my husband and children may mean cheating in the areas of business, socializing or housekeeping.

Where will I choose to cheat?

I think the article by Sandra Dodd that touched me the most is the article in which she answers the question, How many hours should I spend with my child? At the end of the article, she says:

"If you want to measure, measure generously. If you want to give, give generously. If you want to unschool, or be a mindful parent, give, give, give. You'll find after a few years that you still have everything you thought you had given away, and more."

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Would You Lay Down Your Life for Your Children?

2009-12-31T06:00:00.002-06:00

Would you lay down your life for your children?

I don't know a single homeschool mom or dad who wouldn't answer "yes," if asked. But how do we answer that question when it crops up in day to day life?

Do we lay down our blogs? Our favorite forums? Our Facebook and Twitter applications?

Do we lay down our books? Our meetings and activities? Our "me" time?

Do we lay down anger, frustration, impatience and irritability?

Will we really lay down our lives for our children? Let's take an honest look at what needs to go...

Our Interests

Many of us have given up careers and other pursuits in order to homeschool our children. We are vibrant, intelligent individuals and we feel entitled to have hobbies and interests of our own.

But how many times will we tell our children to wait so we can read one more blog or answer one more forum post? How often will we tune out our children in order to tune in to talk radio or TV?

Now, I'm not suggesting we give up all of our interests, but I am suggesting that we take an honest look at the amount of time we spend pursuing those interests at our children's expense.

For me, excessive computer use is a major temptation, and I've found LeechBlock to be a useful tool in helping me monitor and limit my time on the computer.

Our Ideals

I'm fairly opinionated, and I entered the world of motherhood and homeschooling with specific goals and expectations of my children. When things didn't go as planned, it was humbling to discover that there was nothing wrong with my children - my goals and expectations were seriously flawed.

While it is great to have a vision for our families, we have to know when to set our ideals aside and embrace the children we have in front of us. What are their needs, wants, talents and dreams?

Instead of becoming frustrated because our children don't fit into our ready-made molds, we can spend time getting to know them and helping them grow into the unique individuals they were created to be.

Our Image

One of the most difficult things I've had to lay down is my desire to please and impress others. Several years ago, I realized that saying yes to those outside our home often meant saying no to those within our home, and I decided to start saying yes to those who mean the most to me.

One of my favorite reads last year was The 4-Hour Workweek, and I recently came across The Best Decline Letter of All-Time on author Tim Ferris' blog.

Yes, the letter is worded rather rudely, but if you focus on the tone of the letter, you miss the overall message. Edmund Wilson decided to say no to those who would use him so he would have time to say yes to the things that really mattered to him.

We would be wise to say no to the users in our lives - even if those users are extended family members, longtime friends, homeschool group members or *gasp* even church leaders.

1 John 3:18 says "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

In 2010, let's not just tell our children we love them, let's resolve to lay down our lives for our children.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T13:00:00.000-06:00

This year we received the best Christmas gift ever.

Elijah James was born on December 18th at 8:30 PM. He weighed 7 lbs, 1 oz and was 19 inches long.

We are home and doing well, and having a very Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!

Judgmental Secular Homeschoolers

2009-12-15T05:00:00.000-06:00

I was only (mostly) kidding when I mentioned Christmas at the end of my last post. I do find it mildly irritating that some people are afraid to say the word Christmas, but I've found that the Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays debate plays out mostly online and in the media and not in real life.

I wish I could say the same for the division between Christian and secular homeschoolers.

My husband and I have always had non Christian friends. In fact, his best friend of 15 is years not a Christian. So when I was invited to an "inclusive" homeschool group meeting as a new homeschooler, I did not think twice about attending - especially when I found out they had a weekly ladies night out for dinner without the kids.

After attending several group meetings and events, I found that conversations often veered in the direction of ridiculing creationism, scripture, prayer and curricula that incorporate Bible verses and promote Christian beliefs. I heard a great deal of talk about Christian groups and their "scary" requirements, such as statements of faith. I heard comments that would not have been tolerated were they about Buddhists or Wiccans or any other religious group.

The ladies in the group were smart, kind and funny. But as a Christian, I was also in the group for support and encouragement, and I grew weary of hearing my faith ridiculed week after week. In my opinion, in a group that is truly inclusive, Christian beliefs would receive the same respect as any other belief.

The homeschool group that I'm now a part of is full of smart, kind and funny women who are also mostly Christian. In order to join, I was required to sign a statement saying I understood the group's beliefs and standards for behavior. Though we pray at meetings and openly discuss Christianity, I do not recall ever hearing other religions mocked or ridiculed.

Which group sounds more inclusive?

Please know that I am not basing my statements here on my experience with one group. I've seen Christian homeschoolers mocked and ridiculed just as frequently in the many discussion groups I've participated in online.

I know that some in the secular homeschool community have been hurt by Christians, and as a result, feel defensive. I think it's important to remember that Christians are imperfect people who make mistakes and hurt people. I have been hurt by Christians. As a Christian, I have hurt others.

I can also imagine that some secular homeschoolers find it difficult to be minorities among minorities, without access to a wide variety of support groups, legal organizations and curriculum providers. However, I feel the venom toward Christian organizations and companies is misplaced.

Yes, a Christian curriculum may contain Bible verses and *gasp* even teach creationism. Yes, a Christian support group may ask members to affirm their understanding of the group's practices and beliefs. Christian curriculum providers, home school groups and legal organizations do not exist to condemn, nor persecute secular homeschoolers - they exist to meet the needs of Christians. As secular homeschoolers grow in number, more resources will arise to meet their needs.

My advice to judgmental secular homeschoolers - forgive the Christians who have hurt you, and extend Christians the same respect you extend members of other faiths. Remember that Christian homeschoolers once had little access to support groups and quality curricula, but they formed companies and organizations to meet those needs, and you can do the same.

I honestly find it ridiculous that there is so much division between two groups who have so many common interests and goals.

Can't we all just get along?

Judgmental Christian Homeschoolers

2009-12-09T07:15:00.006-06:00

Last weekend I went with my family to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It's a really fun story about an unchurched family - The Herdman's - who shows up at Sunday School for the free food, takes over the annual Christmas play (which everyone is sure will be ruined), and ends up learning the true meaning of Christmas and making the play the best one ever.

The play really helped me think through some of the feelings I have about the division between Christian and secular homeschoolers. There is a reason we Christians have somewhat of a poor reputation. Some of us are just plain judgmental!

Instead of focusing on ways we can share Christ's love with others, we focus on condemning lifestyles we've deemed ungodly. Instead of spending our time ministering to those in need, we spend our time debating subjects like modest clothing, sheltering, Halloween, Santa, Harry Potter, Twilight, and the list goes on and on.

Now I am not saying it's wrong to have opinions about those things, but are these debates the best use of our time? Could that hour you spent crafting a blog post about biblical discipline have been spent praying for or mentoring a struggling homeschool mom?

Although I love even the most conservative among my fellow Christian homeschoolers, I've had to pull myself back from the brink. In the name of sheltering my children from ungodliness, I was beginning to find a reason not to fellowship with nearly every family we encountered.

Yes, every family we encountered was sinning. My family is also full of sinners. In fact, it is a sin for me to spend time looking for the splinter in my brother's eye while neglecting the log in my own.

My neighbors went through a messy divorce over the past year, and when my neighbor called and asked me to babysit her kids for a few months, it was honestly the last thing I wanted to do. But I prayed about it and sought wise counsel, and although my flesh wanted nothing more than to send her away with a little cash and a promise that I would pray, I knew this woman badly needed a safe haven for her children that I was in a position to provide. Instead of simply praying for her, I could be an answer to her prayer.

So instead of continuing to shelter my children from the messiness of life, we brought the mess right into our shelter. We had some difficult, yet honest conversations about the realities of marriage and divorce, and the ways divorce hurts children. We had some difficult, yet honest conversations about the consequences of sin. And we had the difficult, yet humbling experience of walking through tough times with a family who needed us, realizing that one day we may also be in need.

During the process, my children lost some of their innocence, but they learned a tangible lesson about sharing the love of Christ.

Are you teaching your children to simply pray for others or showing them how to be an answer to prayer? Are you teaching your children to avoid the lost or minister to the lost? Are you teaching your children that others are unworthy to be in their presence or that they are worthy of being loved?

Consider Mark 2:15-17:

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

As we enter the Christmas season, let us remember to love on, not avoid and condemn, The Herdman's in our lives.

Don't miss my post next week about judgmental secular homeschoolers.

Yes, my curriculum contains Bible verses and I like it that way, thankyouverymuch. And by the way, Merry Christmas! Yes, I said Christmas. That's the actual name of the holiday! (smile)

Homeschool Holidays - Fun and Easy Ways to Celebrate Christmas

2009-12-02T07:30:00.000-06:00

Christmas really is my favorite time of year! Our new baby is due in a few weeks, so we won't go on as many outings as we usually do, but I'm still looking forward to having fun and learning with the kids.

In addition to decorating the house, baking cookies, viewing Christmas lights and going to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, we're going to work on this Symbols of Christmas Lapbook and read Christmas stories.

Some of our favorite Christmas books are Michael Hague's Family Christmas Treasury and The Family Read Aloud Christmas Treasury. I purchased the books this year to avoid library fines, but you should be able to find them at your local library.

We've been a bit slow pulling out the Christmas items this year, and my oldest is already asking me to start playing Christmas music. Here are some of our favorite sounds of the season.

You can find additional ideas for celebrating Christmas in our December 2008 newsletter, 5 Fun and Easy Christmas Activities.

Yesterday, we sent out our December 2009 newsletter which contains last minute gift ideas for those of you who are Still Shopping for Christmas Gifts...

If you're not a subscriber, you can follow this link to sign up for our free, monthly homeschool newsletter.

Merry Christmas!

The Best Homeschool Curriculum!

2009-11-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

This week marks Successful Homeschooling's 2nd Anniversary! As a gift to you, we are releasing another FREE e-book - 7 Secrets to Finding the Best Homeschool Curriculum.

This e-book details a step-by-step process for finding the best home school curriculum, and contains information about homeschooling high school and teaching gifted and special needs students. The book also features interviews with the following homeschool experts:

Valerie Bendt of Unit Studies Made Easy,
Lee Binz of The Home Scholar,
unschooler Sandra Dodd,
Corin Barsily Goodwin of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum,
Dennis Gunderson of Grace and Truth Books,
Sarita Holzmann of Sonlight,
Mary Hood of The Relaxed Home School,
Catherine Levison of A Charlotte Mason Education,
Jessica Parnell of Bridgeway Academy,
C.J. Rezak of Little Giant Steps, and
Larry Shiller of ShillerMath!

Follow this link to download 7 Secrets to Finding the Best Homeschool Curriculum. Enjoy!

Homeschooling Families: Getting Ready for a New Baby, Part 2

2009-11-06T08:15:00.002-06:00

Our remodel isn't done yet, and right now our house is in total chaos. If a room doesn't look like this:

It looks like this:

For the past few nights we've been sleeping like this:

I used pregnancy as an excuse to have my husband give me a mattress on the floor one night, and last night I got my bed back. (Yes!)

My oldest is not big on change, and he keeps asking if I think all of these changes will be worth it. I told him I think it will. He also wants to know if it will be fun having a new baby around. I told him I'm sure it will. We talked about how fun it was adding his little sister, and then his baby brother. He agreed, and wants five more babies after this one.

Our hospital offers classes for older siblings that the children have enjoyed with each pregnancy. The class lasts 2-3 hours, and the children learn what babies look like inside their mommies, how babies get food before they are born, what newborns are like, how to help take care of babies, etc. They also get to tour the hospital, and take a peek inside the nursery.

These classes are totally unnecessary, but they're fun and they seem to make the kids feel special. With our last pregnancy, the instructor took pictures of the kids that we could put in the baby's hospital bassinet. The kids were so excited when they came to visit and saw those pictures.

Another one of our traditions is to get t-shirts for the older siblings to wear when they visit us in the hospital. This year I ordered shirts from Em Tanner Designs. These shirts were on the expensive side so I looked for a coupon code before ordering.

I was so tickled by this "Lil Bro" onesie that I had to order it. My husband was not amused.

Someone gave my oldest a Big Brother Journal when our daughter was born, and since then I've ordered them for the big sibs with each pregnancy.

They are pre-printed journals that ask the kids questions like, "What do you like to do with the baby?" - very simple questions that get hilarious answers from the 2 to 5-year-old set. It also gives them places to put photos or draw pictures. I LOVE re-reading these journals.

When we brought our last child home, I had a little cake in the freezer that we defrosted and decorated. We had a party for the baby where my older kids gave him small presents they'd wrapped themselves, and their brother gave them small presents for being such great older siblings. That was fun, and I plan to do that again.

Like I said, all of this is totally unnecessary, but it has been fun for us and we look forward to doing it. If it seems overwhelming, one simple thing to do is pull out the older kids' baby books and talk about your favorite memories of them.

That will be really difficult for us this time as my middle child's baby book is only half finished and my toddler's baby book does not exist. I keep telling my oldest that there are benefits to being the first born.

Homeschool Families: Getting Ready for a New Baby

2009-10-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

It seems like I just found out I was pregnant, but every time I look at the calendar I am reminded that we only have two short months to go!

I've spent the past couple of weeks getting bids from contractors to help us do things like get rid of old, nasty carpet, paint our grubby walls and organize our closets. Now they're actually here working, and I can't wait until they're done so our house can go back to being a home.

Whenever I announce a new pregnancy, I am always asked if I'll put my older kids in school. I say I couldn't imagine getting rid of all my helpers! Beyond that, school comes with burdens of its own - rushing through breakfast to get everyone dressed and out of the house on time, packing lunches and backpacks, keeping up with assignments and notices from the teacher - homeschooling is so much easier.

Days with a new baby are also great learning experiences for children. Diane Hopkins' article, The Baby is the Lesson, explains this perfectly. Even if academic work does take the back seat for a moment, my children will learn so much more at home than they would in school. They also love new babies and I don't think they'd leave home if they could!

In addition to getting our house ready for the baby, I'm also making preparations that will keep the house running more smoothly once the baby arrives. I am at my worst when sleep deprived, so I've learned to set things up so I can run on autopilot.

I keep meals really simple. Breakfast is either cereal or something from the freezer that can be quickly defrosted and heated up. Lunch is sandwiches or leftovers. Dinner is defrosted and reheated from the freezer, or made in the crock pot.

Before my last child was born, I made a 3-month meal calendar, including grocery lists and breakfast/lunch/dinner menus. I also packed our freezer to almost overflowing with pancakes, muffins, breakfast sandwiches, soups, casseroles and other make ahead meals. This made it really easy for my mom and husband to help when they were around, and for me to keep everyone fed when they weren't.

I doubt I'll have time to stock the freezer before this baby is born, but I am making menus and getting my recipes in order. I recently found out about the Eat at Home blog, and I'm planning on trying some of her free weekly menus and recipes.

I also keep housework to the bare minimum when we have a new baby. I know it's not eco-friendly, but we use plastic cups and utensils, and paper plates. My kids reduce my workload by helping with chores - making their beds, folding their laundry, taking out trash, picking up toys, etc.

My 8-year-old can prepare cereal and juice when everyone's too hungry to wait on me to get moving in the mornings. He also unloads the dishwasher, and I'm working on teaching him to straighten up their bathroom. It's slow going, but I think we'll make progress before the baby is born. I am blessed to have children who actually LIKE doing chores!

One other thing I do when getting ready for a new baby is simplify our schedule as much as possible. I have no problem saying no to outside obligations, and I make sure we are home every day for ~~mom's naptime~~ our daily quiet time.

So this is how I keep everyone sane during those crazy post-partum months. Next week, I'll share the traditions we have that make having a new baby fun!

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Homeschooling: Should Learning Be Fun?

2009-10-20T07:00:00.008-05:00

"Love of learning" is a big catch phrase in homeschooling circles, and often implies that parents should make learning fun through the use of elaborate games, projects and activities.

While I do think it's important to raise children who enjoy learning, I often wonder if we aren't overemphasizing "fun" in our pursuit of that goal. It seems some of us are in danger of raising fun addicts - children who are in need of constant entertainment, who will only work when bribed with generous incentives and rewards.

One problem with placing too much emphasis on fun is that can be a recipe for burnout. Parents can become slaves to their children's whims and desires, always looking for something fresh and exciting to grab their interest. This is often not only time-consuming, but downright exhausting.

In some homes, parents work under the ever-looming threat of hearing, "I want to go to public school!" I encourage parents not to place themselves in competition with public school teachers. We don't home school because I've convinced my children homeschooling is better for them. We home school because I know homeschooling is better for them. If there's a competition, I'm the judge.

Another problem with overemphasizing fun is that it creates unrealistic expectations. Sometimes there's nothing fun about the process of learning. Fun is often a result of the joy and satisfaction that comes from having learned new information, even if the pursuit of that information wasn't fun.

There was nothing fun about reading the volumes of material I had to read in order to build my website. However, I did enjoy taking that information and using it to achieve a worthwhile goal.

Am I suggesting that we stop doing fun projects and activities? Absolutely not! But I do believe in balance. And I also believe that some of the pressure many homeschool moms feel could be relieved if we put fun in proper perspective.

In our home, fun is a part of every single day. We smile, laugh, skip, hum and sing. We tell jokes and we play games. We're not a fun family because I've stressed myself to the breaking point in an attempt to provide constant entertainment. We're a fun family because we enjoy each other.

Homeschooling Textbooks - Why we love them!

2009-10-13T06:00:00.003-05:00

Homeschooling textbooks have a bad reputation among homeschoolers. They're boring! They don't inspire creativity and impart a love of learning! They bring school into the home!

I'm outing myself as a huge fan of textbooks who has been homeschooling with A Beka math and language arts workbooks for the past 4 years. Here's why we love homeschool textbooks:

My kids are part of the rare group of children who actually like completing workbook pages. Perhaps it's genetic. I also enjoyed using workbooks as a child. For my children, fun doesn't come from fancy projects and activities. Fun is the feeling of accomplishment they get from learning something new, and having their afternoons free to pursue projects on their own.

No lesson planning! I love not having to plan or prepare lessons. Every morning, I simply open up the teacher's manual, skim the day's lesson and start talking. I don't have to scour the internet to find exciting, creative ways to present new concepts. The work has been done for me. The teacher's guide tells me exactly what to teach and what to say.

Textbooks help us remain consistent. We have a fairly relaxed schedule, and workbooks provide us with the consistency we need. If we skip a few days here and there, I know exactly where we left off and where we should begin again. Our school time follows a predictable routine so my children know what to expect. In our home, parent/child conflicts about schoolwork are extremely rare.

Textbooks make us more efficient. As our family grows, it is becoming essential for my older children to work independently at times. I love being able to start my oldest on an assignment that he can finish on his own while I work with a younger sibling. I still find plenty of time to interact with and disciple him, and we still have many opportunities to create great memories. Our special memories just happen to revolve around activities other than school.

No projects! I am not a peppy, get your hands dirty, let's do an activity kinda gal. Honestly, I have an anxiety attack at the mere thought of running from store to store for supplies that will end up as a mess on my kitchen floor. Although we don't do crafts and projects as part of our official school time, my children find ways to express what they're learning through play, and they plan their own activities. That's creativity!

And now for the disclaimer: My love of homeschooling with textbooks doesn't mean that you should use them or that they will work well in your home. I wrote this post mainly to encourage you to keep an open mind - a program that's a disaster in one home may be a perfect fit in yours, and a program that works great for your best friend may be entirely wrong for you.

I'm currently working on an e-book about choosing homeschool curriculum for which I've interviewed experts in various home school philosophies. It has been amazing to hear individuals like Catherine Levison, Sandra Dodd and Sarita Holzmann share the benefits of their chosen home school method. In working with these experts, I've learned that there's not one right way to home school.

The right way to homeschool is the way that works best for you - even if that involves textbooks!

Classical Homeschooling - The Benefits of Rote Memorization

2009-10-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

When I first heard about classical homeschooling and it's emphasis on rote memorization, I assumed it wouldn't be for us. I've made it through life just fine not having memorized the names of the U.S. Presidents, so why should I force my children to memorize them. After all, rote memorization is boring and learning should be fun.

Last year, a friend introduced me to a program called Classical Conversations. I took my oldest to an open house, and I was really impressed with the public speaking portion of the program. My son said he wanted to learn the information that the children in the class were learning, and I thought the public speaking practice would help him build confidence, so we decided to give it a try.

Far from being boring, practicing memory work is my children's favorite part of the day. Here's some of what they're learning.

Based on our experiences, here are some of the benefits of rote memorization:

My kids are learning how to memorize large volumes of information, and it gets easier for them as the weeks go by. Classical Conversations uses songs, hand movements and games to make memorization fun. My son is a visual learner, and has found that it is helpful to write out some of the information he is trying to memorize. He's learning techniques he can use when he's older.

Memorization is much easier for my kids than it is for me and my husband. From birth to age 10 or 12, children are in what's known as the grammar stage of the trivium. This phase of classical homeschooling takes advantage of a child's natural ability to memorize.

My children are storing factual information they can use in the future. They do not fully understand everything they are learning, but the facts will be available for recall when they need them. We sing the alphabet song to our babies years before they understand what the letters mean. As my kids sing about the parts of the cell, they are tucking the information away for the days when they'll study biology.

As we memorize information together, we grow stronger as a family. If you watch the video closely, you'll notice that my 2-year-old often sings along with his older siblings. He is usually with us when we practice, soaking up information like a sponge. This is one of the benefits of learning in a multi-age environment.

Learning is fun, and the ability to recall information on demand is a huge confidence builder. I am learning facts that I didn't learn as a child. And my husband, who was a bit skeptical about the need for an extensive memorization program, has asked me to get him a copy of our memory work audio CD.

We are mostly relaxed homeschoolers, so we don't strictly adhere to the classical model of education, but I can definitely see it's benefits. Follow this link to learn more about classical homeschooling and the 3 stages of the trivium.

Enjoy the journey,

Homeschooling - To Everything There is a Season

2009-09-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

One thing I am learning about homeschooling, and life in general, is that nothing is static - we are always in a state of change. Last fall, we were mourning the death of a loved one. This fall, we're preparing to welcome new life.

Our fourth baby (and third boy!) is due on December 26th.

I spent the summer fighting morning sickness and feeling sorry for myself, and spent most of August and September making up for the months I spent lying around feeling sorry for myself. But now we're back on track. Well, we're never totally on track, but we're closer to the track...

We've also made some changes in our schooling.

Instead of taking a dip in the pool or going out for pizza on the first day of school, we were up at an obscene hour (I'm not a morning person), digging through piles of laundry (I'm rarely caught up on laundry), scarfing down breakfast (Cereal, anyone?) so we could fight traffic (DRIVE, people!) and arrive on time for our weekly Classical Conversations co-op. (Now you know why I homeschool.)

Instead of spending Monday mornings bouncing around in their pajamas until further notice, my kids look like this:

We've also made some changes at Successful Homeschooling.

We just wrapped up our 2nd Annual Curriculum Review Contest, which resulted in over 350 new homeschool curriculum reviews on our website!

We also have several new projects in the works, including YouTube videos, an e-course, and another FREE e-book that will feature interviews with prominent homeschoolers like Catherine Levison, Mary Hood, Sandra Dodd and Sarita Holzmann. These interviews turned out even better than I imagined they would, and I can't wait to share them with you!

In addition to subscribing to this blog using the subscription box in the upper left corner, you can keep up with all of our changes by becoming a fan on Facebook, following us on Twitter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, or signing up for our free homeschool newsletter.

Ecclesiasties 3:1 states - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

Our goal at Successful Homeschooling is to walk with you, giving you the tools you need to survive and thrive during life's many seasons.

Enjoy the journey!

Carnival of Homeschooling

2009-04-29T06:35:00.000-05:00

The Carnival of Homeschooling: No Child Left Inside is up on Susan's blog Corn and Oil.

Catherine Levison's guest post about Charlotte Mason education is a must read from Kris' blog. If you're thinking about adding elements of Charlotte Mason to your homeschool, you should also check out Amy's post about Starting a Nature Journal.

Enjoy!

Nature Friend

2009-04-28T06:45:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, we received the March issue of Nature Friend magazine, and even I was excited when I caught a glimpse of the cover in our mailbox. The monthly magazine teaches children about nature from a creation perspective, and features articles, puzzles, word games, hidden pictures and reader submissions.

Our favorite part of the magazine is the You Can Draw section. In it, Nature Friend provides step by step instructions for drawing an item in nature. Children can follow the instructions, and submit their completed artwork for possible publication in a future issue.

The magazine publishes artwork from children of all ages and skill levels. It has been a huge confidence booster for my children to see how different all of the published drawings look. They know that even though we're following the same instructions, our drawings won't look alike.

Here's our favorite drawing so far:

My 8 year old's drawing is at the top, and my daughter and I worked on the one at the bottom together.

Follow this link to learn more about Nature Friend.

The Plug-In Drug

2009-04-24T07:00:00.003-05:00

We're on day 5 of TV Turnoff Week, and I am not looking forward to the day when we can turn the television on again.

I've been reading the book The Plug-In Drug: Television, Computer and Family Life, and in it, Marie Winn makes a wonderful case for greatly restricting or eliminating television viewing. Ms. Winn discusses television's appeal to both children and parents, and examines the negative behavioral, physical and social consequences of excessive television viewing.

She also shares ideas for "natural controls" we can use to make TV less appealing and convenient. Among those ideas are:

Place your TV set in a room where it is out of sight and inconvenient to use.
Use a small television set that has poor reception, sound or picture.
Reduce the number of TV sets you own.
Don't place television sets in children's bedrooms.
Cancel cable to limit the number of channels and shows available.
Participate in a turnoff event or stage one for your family.

Closing the doors to our TV cabinet has gone a long way towards keeping television off of our minds. From now on, we're planning to keep those doors closed Monday through Friday.

Follow this link to learn more about the The Plug-In Drug.

Has Television Robbed Your Kids of Free Time?

2009-04-23T07:25:00.001-05:00

For the past few weeks, I've been babysitting my neighbor's children when they're not in school. One of the most striking differences I've noticed between public school students and homeschoolers, is the children's lack of free time.

Children who attend public schools are committed to an outside schedule from the hours of 8:15 to 3:45. After that, they have homework, special projects, sports practices, games and church activities. Weekends are filled with birthday parties and other outside commitments. The children have very little time to" just be".

On the other hand, some would likely say my children have too much free time. Formal lessons for my kindergartner and second grader take 1-2 hours per day, and scheduled activities outside of our home consume less than 5 hours per week. If there's one thing we have enough of, it's free time. I'll admit that I often feel pressure to fill that time with "something productive".

We're beginning our 4th day without television, and now that TV and video games are not an option, learning fills up the free space in my children's day. Instead of watching TV, asking me if they can watch TV, and wondering when they'll be able to watch again, my children are filling that space with productive activities.

The science and history books on our shelves are being read and enjoyed. Games are being played. Art is being created, and the piano is being practiced. Only my 2-year-old has shown signs of missing the television. Yesterday he grabbed my hand, walked me to the family room, pointed at the TV cabinet and gave me a look that asked, "What happened to that thing?"

This week, I realized that despite my commitment to leave unscheduled space in my children's day, I let TV and video games rob them of the time they needed to "just be". Because I now realize the value of that time, I'll be all the more vigilant about protecting it.

Are You Addicted to the Internet?

2009-04-22T06:45:00.001-05:00

I'll admit that in my home, overuse of electronic media is just as much of a problem for me as it is for my children.

Since I've been talking about television, and trying to reduce the role it plays in our lives, I wanted to share this article about internet addiction that I found at Why Homeschool:

Why moms are at risk for Internet addiction

Do you use the web as a means of stress-relief? Would you find it hard to stay away from the computer for a few days? Have you ever tried to downplay your amount of computer use to your loved ones?

If any of the above is a problem for you, consider the author's suggestion:

Try keeping a journal of how often you go online for a week. Then assess what you're missing out on when you do it -- sleep, family time, work?

Also note in your journal what was going on each time you decided to sit down at the computer. Was it right after a fight with your husband? Were you bored? By figuring out the triggers that send you seeking refuge online, Moore says, you can come up with alternative activities that help you deal.

I won't say my internet usage has crossed the line and become an addiction, but I know message boards, blogs and social networking have replaced activities that are more important to me.

When my children grow up and leave home, I want them to remember a mom who chats with them - not her online buddies, and I am taking steps to make that a reality.

South Korea: The Most Wired Place on Earth

2009-04-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

This video from Frontline shows the effects of video game and computer addiction. It's only 14 minutes long, and the end is definitely worth watching.

South Korea: The Most Wired Place on Earth

Is this where we're headed?

5 Ways to Stay Sane During TV Turnoff Week

2009-04-20T07:15:00.000-05:00

This week, my family is participating in National TV Turnoff Week, which means no television for us from today through Sunday, April 26th. We're hoping to reduce our addiction to the screen, and free up time to do things we value.

Here are some ways to stay sane if you decide to join us this week:

1. Go outside! - Don't just sit around staring at a blank screen, wishing you weren't missing John and Kate Plus 8. Go on a walk, a bike ride or just hang out in the back yard. Eat lunch or dinner outside for a change of pace.

2. Music - Play music instead of using the TV for background noise, or listen to books on tape. This week, my family is listening to a Jim Weiss recording of The Swiss Family Robinson. You can find audio books at your local library or download them here for free.

3. Games - Games are both entertaining and educational, and unlike television, they promote interaction and conversation. Set aside the Wii, X-Box and Leapster this week and play non-electronic games with your children. Here are some tips for playing homeschool games and choosing games for your preschooler.

4. Chores - Resist the temptation to use the TV as a babysitter so you can get things done. Work together as a family to keep your home clean and organized. If you need ideas for ways your children can help, here's a list of age appropriate chores.

5. Cook - The hour before dinner is not a great time to send your children off to watch TV. Let your kids help you chop, measure, pour, stir, set the table and tidy up before dinner. Teaching your children to cook is an investment in your future. One day they'll send you out of the kitchen so they can get dinner ready!

Have fun this week!

Homeschool Art - Don't Toss those Old Projects!

2009-04-16T05:00:00.001-05:00

My children love drawing, painting and constructing things out of old boxes, toilet paper rolls, scraps of cloth, etc. As much as I love their creativity, I hate having to come up with places to store all of the things they create.

The last tip I received from my friend Jackie was to create huge folders for each one of my children where we can store all of the homeschool art projects the child creates throughout the year.

To make the folders, you need two pieces of poster board, a stapler and whatever materials you want to use to decorate the folder.

Place one piece of poster board on top of the other and staple the edges together on 3 sides, leaving one side open.

Have your child decorate the front of the folder, then place it under his or her bed. When your child creates a masterpiece, display it for a few days then slip it in the folder beneath the child's bed.

At the end of the year, choose the best projects and place them in a special keepsake box for that child.

This system will keep you from having to say things like, "How did this get here?" when your child catches a glimpse of one of his creations as he takes out the trash. I don't know what kind of parent would toss a child's artwork, but I've heard it happens in some homes...

101 Ways to Lower Your Homeschool Cost

2009-04-13T10:00:00.005-05:00

So far this year, my family has experienced a pay cut, reduced work hours, and a reduction in benefits. Like many families across the country, we've been looking for ways to cut our expenses, pay off debt and save money.

Last week, I released my first e-book - 101 Ways to Save Money on Homeschooling.

This FREE e-book can help you save hundreds of dollars by showing you what to buy, where to buy it, where to find freebies, and how to have fun on a budget.

Follow this link to download my free e-book, and find ways to lower your homeschool cost !

If you enjoy the book, please help me spread the word by posting the following link on your website or blog:

www.successful-homeschooling.com/101-ways-to-save.html

Thanks!

Homeschool Organize

2009-04-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

As promised, here are pics of my desk. I'll admit that I don't keep it perfectly clean all of the time, but it is clean most of the time. And it is now actually functional!

As much as possible, I've designated each shelf for specific types of items. The bottom shelf contains lesson plans, workbooks and books that we're using for school this year. The shelf above that contains 2 bins for library books, notes for my completed website pages and Usborne books.

The next shelf holds board games. And the shelf above that holds bins for paints, art supplies, preschool games, math manipulatives, card games, play doh and electronic games.

There's another shelf above that one that's not visible in the photos. I use it to store things I rarely need to get to, like books I'm saving for future grades and keepsakes for each member of family.

This is my desktop:

Jackie's number one tip for keeping a desk organized is to keep everything off of the desktop except for a pen/pencil holder, and a stackable inbox. One slot on the inbox should be labeled "To Be Filed" and one should be labeled "To Do." For convenience, I broke her rule and also put our school folders on top as well.

In the organizer above, I have folders labeled Monday through Friday, so my 8 year old can pull out his work for the day, complete it and put it on my desk so I can look over it with him during school time. The organizer also has a Completed Work folder in it, where I put my son's work once I have reviewed it.

I have a file cabinet under my desk where I keep paperwork for both of my businesses. In my desk drawers are office supplies, school stuff (mini dry erase boards and markers, flashcards, etc.), and art supplies (paper, markers and crayons). The drawer with the art supplies is the only one the children are allowed to access.

Next, I'll share Jackie's tips for keeping my children's pesky - I mean - wonderful art projects from turning into clutter.

Our Homeschool Schoolroom

2009-04-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are some pics of our homeschool schoolroom, along with some organizing tips I learned from my friend Jackie.

Our house has a formal dining/living room in the front. When my oldest was a baby, we converted it into a playroom, and we now use it as a playroom/office/schoolroom.

Books

The first thing Jackie said we needed was a place for everything - especially toys and books. We used to use this bookshelf for both toys and books, but I earned a shelf full of free books when I started my Usborne business, and we ran out of room. This shelf is now for books and puzzles only. Separating the toys and books has gone a long way towards keeping the books off the floor.

Toys

I moved all the toys to these 2 shelves from Ikea. These bins are inexpensive and very sturdy, and even though their labels are disappearing one by one, they've really helped the kids keep their toys organized.

We have bins for play food, Lincoln logs, wooden trains, mega blocks, dolls, toddler toys, k'nex, legos, wooden blocks, playmobile, little people, Leapster and pretend people/animals. (Just pretend like you can't see the Christmas art that's still hanging on the wall.)

Pretend Play

We keep dress up clothes, baby doll strollers, swords and other props in this big bin. It has a tendency to turn into a junk bin, so we have to sort through it periodically.

School Table

I resisted the idea of having a formal school table for some time, but this table has been great for keeping legos, playmobile and k'nex off of the floor. It also gives us a place to do art projects and play with puzzles and games, and I no longer have to cart school stuff to the kitchen table every day.

I also bought this table at Ikea. To my husband's delight, it was much cheaper than the one from Pottery Barn I had in mind.

My Desk

The last area of our schoolroom, and often the messiest, is my desk. My desk contains everything I need for my Usborne and website businesses, along with the kid's schoolbooks and supplies, arts and crafts materials and board games. In my next post, I'll share pics and strategies I've been using to keep my desk organized.

Carnival of Homeschooling

2009-04-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

This week's Carnival of Homeschooling #171 Get Your Gardens Going! is up on Miss Jocelyn's blog, A Pondering Heart.

Make sure you check out Susan's post on Backyard Memories. Don't forget to make time to paint rocks and nurture beetles!

Help Wanted! - Finding Homeschool Support

2009-03-31T04:55:00.008-05:00

Last Thursday, my husband drove me to San Antonio so I could spend the weekend with a group of ladies that I met on the Sonlight forums. When I joined the forums 4 years ago, I never imagined they would become such a huge source of homeschool support.

I chat with my Sonlight friends about everything from curriculum to potty training to presidential elections. I'm so thankful I've had them to walk with on this journey.

I've always prided myself on self-sufficiency. (Notice the ugly word there - pride.) But, a few months ago, I reached a point where self was no longer enough. Cleaning became an act of collecting clutter from every room in the house and putting it on my desk in our schoolroom. My desk would get messier and messier, and when I knew visitors were on the way, I'd slide everything from it into a box and put it behind closed doors in my husband's office. Rinse and repeat.

By the time Jackie, a new friend from church, asked if she could stop by and deliver my Tupperware order, I was too tired to bother running through the house to collect all the clutter and lock it away. I said, "Sure, girl. Come on over." And I sat on the couch and waited for her to arrive. What seems like a little thing was a huge turning point for me. When I set aside my pride and kept it real, the blessing began.

Jackie is a professional organizer, and despite my protests, she insisted on "gifting me" four hours of her time. She wrote my name on her calender, pulled out a business card, and told me to get another bookshelf and a few other items before she returned the next week.

When I told my husband (Mr. Self-Sufficient), he said, "Why do you need Jackie's help? The house normally looks great." He was right. The house normally looked great, but it hadn't looked normal in months.

Jackie helped me realized I'd outgrown my organizational system. I'd added 2 businesses and another student, and my kids were getting older. I no longer had a place for everything, and my routine didn't fit our needs. We sorted through four boxes of junk, filled the trash bin to overflowing and donated a trunk full of books and toys to Goodwill. I'll show you the amazing results later this week.

When Mr. Self-Sufficient saw the transformation, he said, "What did Jackie do that you couldn't have done?" The truth is - nothing. But Jackie came by at a time when I needed someone to walk with me. In less than 4 hours, I was back on track and life was normal again.

There's a widespread fear in the homeschool community that if you're honest about not having your act together, someone's going to judge you. Unfortunately, that fear isn't unfounded. If you really know some do-gooders, they just might pat you on the back, tell you you've done your best, and suggest you put your kids in school.

But you know what, "Who cares what they think?"

Be honest about your struggles and find someone to walk with you. Have lunch with a friend, meet up with a local support group, join an online forum, or ask grandma to sit with your sick little ones while you nap.

You don't get extra credit points for walking this road alone. Start keeping it real. Ask for the help you need.

Spring Cleaning

2009-03-24T05:00:00.002-05:00

The public schools in our area were on Spring Break last week, and we had wonderful weather and a chance to run around outside with friends for the first time in over a month.

During February and March, at least one member of our family (usually 2 or 3) was sick with the flu, the stomach virus or some other nasty bug. At one point, I had to call in reinforcements - Grandma! She came over for a few days so I could catch up on laundry (and sleep).

We did have a bit of lemonade with those lemons. My 1 and 7-year-old's turned 2 and 8!

Basketball season ended and soccer season began.

We went to see the museum exhibit King Tut and the puppet show Peter Rabbit. And my beautiful 4-year-old princess turned into a 5-year-old queen.

Now that I'm caught up on laundry, and (mostly) caught up on sleep, I can't wait to get back to blogging.

I have a good friend who is a professional organizer who "insisted" on coming over to help me get organized, and I'll share her secrets, along with pics, in the coming weeks. I'm also planning to release my first e-book next week. Guess what? It's free!

Happy Spring!

Carnival of Homeschooling

2009-02-03T08:00:00.004-06:00

This week's Carnival of Homeschooling #162: Identity Crisis Edition is up at Dewey's Treehouse.

I love Janine's post Homeschool Fantasy vs. Homeschool Reailty. Even knowing that what she's said is true, I still have to bring myself back down to earth from time to time.

Is it Much Farther?

2009-01-27T08:00:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-26T14:55:00.003-06:00

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

2009-01-21T07:00:00.001-06:00

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"

2009-01-20T05:35:00.002-06:00

Teen Builds Her Reputation as a Competitive Birder

Homeschooled Students Learn about Science with LEGOS

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Carnival of Homeschooling

2009-01-20T05:30:00.003-06:00

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!

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Define "Learning Activity"

2009-01-19T05:00:00.001-06:00

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.

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Homeschool Character Lessons

2009-01-15T09:00:00.004-06:00

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.

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Is Reading Overrated?

2009-01-12T05:00:00.002-06:00

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?

2009-01-08T09:00:00.005-06:00

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?

2009-01-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

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

2009-01-06T05:30:00.001-06:00

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?

2009-01-05T06:30:00.002-06:00

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

2009-01-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

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.

We'll Just Call Them "School Supplies"

2008-12-28T17:06:00.004-06:00

There was some "P.E. equipment" under the tree this year.

My husband bought me a treadmill, my two oldest received 2-wheeled scooters, and we all got a Wii. We've been bowling, boxing and playing tennis, go carts, baseball and golf since Christmas morning. Yesterday evening I forced everyone to change out of their PJ's so we could get out for some fresh air. My husband was the last to put down his controller!

One of our good friends had a stroke this year around Thanksgiving. She is the single mother of an 8-year-old boy, and she's not much older than my husband and I.

Until recently, we've taken our health for granted. Now we're realizing that it's getting easier to pack on the pounds and harder to lose them. We want to take better care of our bodies and model healthy habits for our children.

Once my husband goes back to work, there will be strict restrictions on the Wii. The restrictions are more for my sake than the kids'. It is all too tempting for me to get them occupied with something electronic so I can do my own thing.

Beyond that, excessive TV, computer and video game usage is fairly unhealthy for children, even when it involves educational programs. I will try to post more on that later, but a great book about the subject is The Plug-In Drug by Marie Winn.

I hope you're enjoying your holidays!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T15:00:00.006-06:00

This is the first Christmas that we've spent a lot of money on the children, and I'm really excited about watching them open their gifts on Christmas morning. They rarely ask us for anything, and we don't buy them toys throughout the year, so I'm not overly worried about materialism.

We like to give the kids an opportunity to give of themselves to help others. So for the past few weeks we've been focused on selling cookies to buy toys for a local charity.

Jazzy and Drew take turns helping me mix the batter:

This year Drew was promoted to scooping cookies from the hot cookie sheet:

Then we package up the cookies and deliver them to friends and family:

Not one to be left out, little Isaiah even did his part:

All in all, we baked 28 dozen cookies! We made the last delivery on Saturday, purchased the gifts on Sunday and dropped them off yesterday. The kids were excited to find that the agency employees remembered us from last year.

We also got in a little culture this month. A couple of weeks ago, we went to see the play Madeline's Christmas:

And on Saturday, my husband's 35th birthday, we went to see The Nutcracker. He even stayed awake the entire time:

Then on Sunday, the kids sang with children's choir at church. We've blown the theory that homeschooled children are too sheltered!

The Christmas cards have been mailed, the gifts are wrapped and under the tree, I've finished my grocery shopping, and I'm picking up our smoked turkey tomorrow.

I'll be too busy in the kitchen to blog tomorrow, and on Christmas day I'll be stuffed full and sleepy. I'll see you some time next week.

Merry Christmas!

Sounds of the Season

2008-12-16T22:30:00.003-06:00

Engaging the 5 senses is a great way to enhance your children's holiday memories. Hang colorful decorations, burn scented candles, bake goodies, light a fire, and snuggle up under warm blankets. When your children encounter these sights, smells, tastes and textures later in life, they'll think about home.

One of our favorite Christmas activities is listening to Christmas music. I don't think I'll ever listen to A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi without thinking about my husband and kids, and decorating the Christmas tree.

Here are some of our favorite Christmas CD's:

A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi
Christmas Time with Motown
Faith by Kenny G
Mariah Carey Merry Christmas
Slow Jams Christmas
The Preacher's Wife by Whitney Houston
Wishes by Kenny G

Oh, and my children wouldn't forgive me if I left A Pooh Christmas and Disney's Family Christmas Collection off of the list.

Traditional, gospel, instrumental, remix and squeaky cartoon character versions - we love it all around here. I guess I could do without the cartoon character versions, but even I'll admit Mickey Mouse can out sing me.

Here's Josh Groban singing my all time favorite Christmas song:

Carnival of Homeschooling

2008-12-16T22:00:00.001-06:00

The Carnival of Homeschooling #155: Smoky Mountain Edition is up at Small World. Check it out!

Christmas - Uncut

2008-12-15T15:00:00.001-06:00

Today, I'm going to bravely reveal another Christmas truth. There's a marked difference between Christmas in blogland and Christmas in real life.

Christmas photos in blogland looks like this:

Christmas photos in real life looks like this:

Or, after a little threatening, like this:

The scene at J.C. Penney's Portrait Studio was even worse. Toddlers... It's a good thing they're so cute.

The Truth about Christmas

2008-12-14T20:00:00.006-06:00

We finally cleared the clutter and brought out the Christmas decorations. We decorated the tree, and once my husband had rearranged the ornaments to his satisfaction, we brought out the gifts.

I know, I know... Christmas in America is too commercial. I know Jesus wasn't really born on December 25th, and I've heard all about the origins of the Christmas tree. But we don't worship Christmas trees during December or any other month. And honestly, in America, every day is a bit too commercial for my taste.

The truth about Christmas is - you decide how it affects your family. Tree or no tree, gifts or no gifts, Santa or no Santa, you can spend time debating with friends and family, or you can spend time enjoying them. You can make your loved ones miserable, or you can make memories that will warm their hearts for years to come.

At our home, we go on outings, bake goodies and raise money for charity. We burn cinnamon candles, "ooh" and "aah" over crafts from years past, and collect keepsake ornaments for our ornament tree.

We have ornaments from Our First Christmas Together, Our New Home, and Baby's First Christmas. We have ornaments that commemorate everything from a first choir performance to our children's former fascination with Barney. This year we purchased an ornament in memory of my husband's father.

Tonight we read the story of Christ's birth, and we talked about Emmanuel - God with us.

Among the many things I'm thankful for this Christmas, I'm thankful that God is with us. And I'm thankful that, as homeschoolers, we don't have to hide behind phrases like "winter holiday." We can sing Oh Holy Night and Oh Come All Ye Faithful. We can use words like Savior and Emmanuel.

Whether or not you choose to celebrate Christmas, make time this season to celebrate. God is with us. That's a reason to be merry!

Our Year in Review

2008-12-04T14:57:00.010-06:00

In the midst of the trials, there were many things that went right for us this year.

We tried lapbooking for the first time this August, and found that we really enjoy it. We completed a Thanksgiving lapbook from Hands of a Child last week, and this week we're working on a Madeline's Christmas lapbook I downloaded for $2.50 from CurrClick.

We wrapped up flag football season at the end of October, and Jasmine played organized sports for the first time ever in a P'nut basketball class at our local recreation center. She even brought home a trophy!

I haven't had time to continue posting Make it Fun Monday activities every week, but I have compiled a list of 5 fun and easy holiday activities in this month's newsletter. If you're interested, you can sign up for it here.

For school this month, we'll be reading traditional Christmas stories and enjoying our family's favorite holiday traditions. I hope to share more about them in the coming weeks. Happy Holidays!

Why I'm Still Homeschooling

2008-12-03T14:00:00.005-06:00

I'd be lying if I said I never thought about sending my children to school. In fact, there are many times this fall that I've wanted to pack everyone a lunch, load them into the van, drop them off at the nearest school building and come home to spend the day hiding under the covers.

We were at an all time high this summer, and then my husband's father died. Then I had a botched oral surgery that resulted in permanent nerve damage. Then my husband's grandfather died. There's more, but I won't bore you with the details. As for schoolwork, I'll just say we've watched more than our fair share of preschool on TV, and it's a good thing there are no record keeping requirements in Texas...

However, in spite of all that has happened this year, we've felt the Lord's presence and we've been encouraged in many ways.

It's been encouraging to talk to my aunt who is a homeschooling mother of 12, and has 6 successful home school graduates. She says, "Carletta, there were years when the babies kept coming and there was no time for school work. Your children will be fine."

It's also been encouraging to know that my Lord and Savior is no stranger to sorrow. It encourages me to know that even Jesus struggled with walking in His father's will.

I do know that, for now, it's God's will for me to homeschool, even when my flesh tells me there's a sweeter cup somewhere. But that's not why I'm still homeschooling.

My son burst into tears a few weeks ago during his spelling exercises, and we put the lessons aside. He told me how much he missed Pa Pa and how even though he knew we'd see Pa Pa again, life isn't the same without him.

I wondered how many children failed a spelling test that day because they were missing their Pa Pa. I wondered how many children couldn't concentrate on schoolwork because they were thinking about a puppy they'd left at home, a new baby sister or brother, or their parent's pending divorce.

I am a mother. And I homeschool for my children. No matter how much or how little we accomplish, for now, their place is at home with me.

There is a picture here in cyberspace of a homeschool mom who faces trials joyfully and never wants to hide under the covers. She has a neat and tidy home, perfectly executed lesson plans, and well-behaved geniuses for children. In my quest to encourage you towards Successful Homeschooling, I don't want to contribute to that false image.

A successful homeschool mom doesn't always have her act together. She's not always caught up on lessons, and sometimes her home is a wreck. (You don't want to see the photos. Really.)

A successful homeschool mom is a woman who can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'.

Many hugs to all you mothers who've had a less than perfect year.

Make it Fun Monday - Recording History!

2008-11-10T21:00:00.003-06:00

History is being made right before our eyes - from Michael Phelps' record-breaking 8 gold medals during the 2008 Summer Olympics to the election of our nation's first African-American president.

Take time to discuss the significance of historical events with your children. Collect newspaper clippings and place them in a scrapbook. Have your children write about the event, and record their feelings, whether positive or negative.

Don't forget to include family history in your scrapbook. You are creating a record your family will treasure for generations to come!

Make it Fun Monday - Vote!

2008-10-27T20:00:00.004-05:00

Last week, I took my children with me to the polls for early voting. They watched me sign in and vote, and we all got an "I voted!" sticker when I was finished.

This election season is like none other, and there is no better time than the present to teach your children about our nation's election process and system of government.

Talk to your children about the campaign process, the candidates for elected office, the qualifications for the positions they seek, and the responsibilities of those positions. Discuss the major issues that are at stake, and your family's views on those issues.

Make sure your children understand the historical significance of having a female vice presidential and an African-American presidential candidate. Talk to them about the history of voting rights in the United States and our duty as citizens to vote (or our duty as Christians to not vote - depending on how you feel about the matter).

Instead of shielding your children from current events, use current events to teach government and history, and pass along your values and beliefs. Here are some additional ideas for homeschooling history.

Make it Fun Monday - Nature Walks!

2008-10-20T15:30:00.000-05:00

Two to three days a week, I put my toddler in a stroller, and my children and I walk or bike around a local lake. We watch the squirrels, pick up sticks, look for turtles and feed the ducks. When we have time, we bring our lunch and eat outdoors. When it warms up again, we'll pull out the fishing gear.

Nature walks are a fun way to homeschool science, and they also give us an opportunity to breathe fresh air and burn off energy. Find a way to incorporate nature walks into your home school routine. Here are 5 tips for making nature walks enjoyable:

1. Wear sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, and clothing that is appropriate for the weather. Bring plenty of water, snacks, and lunch if you have time for a picnic.

2. Walk the same route frequently so you can become familiar with your surroundings and better notice differences that come with a change in seasons. Walk at different times of day and during different weather conditions. It is amazing how different a given location appears depending on the season and time of day.

3. Bring a bug jar, a magnifying glass, binoculars and a field guide. Look up the names for different types of plants and animals. Bring a sketch pad or journal to record your findings.

4. Make nature walks fun for younger children by playing I Spy or Nature Bingo, or by planning a scavenger hunt. Give your children sandwich bags and encourage them to collect rocks, leaves, sticks and other items. Keep these treasures in a shoe box at home, or use them in a collage or some other form of artwork.

5. Walk at a relaxed pace, and don't be afraid to slow down or stop if necessary. Give your children time to notice sounds and smells, and closely examine objects of interest. Plan nature walks for leisurely days when you have plenty of time to let your children explore. Nothing ruins the fun like yelling, "Put those pine needles down and keep moving!"

Don't ask me how I know...

Autistic Child Spends 3 Hours in School Time-Out Room

2008-10-17T06:00:00.002-05:00

Here's a good reason to homeschool your special needs child.

Experts Question Benefit of School Time-Out Room

A quote from the article:

"David Wilkerson, superintendent of the Waukee school district, declined to speak about the accusations because of the pending lawsuit. But he said time-out rooms are a 'pretty common practice' and that the district complies with the state's guidelines for such rooms."

I'm glad found out that such rooms are common practice. I'll add that to the list of reasons we homeschool.

Homeschool Sports

2008-10-15T08:00:00.002-05:00

One of my husbands initial concerns about homeschooling was the availability of homeschool sports. Sports were an important part of his childhood, and he didn't want his children to miss out on the many fun, character-developing experiences sports provide.

As evidenced by 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, homeschooling does not have to serve as a hindrance to even the most talented and competitive athletes. Homeschoolers can participate in sports via community organizations, city recreation leagues, competitive travel teams and, in some cases, through their local school districts. Here is an explanation of the many avenues available for homeschooling and sports.

In our home, we treat sports as a family affair. Our children take turns participating in sports and may only play one sport at a time. We attend practices and games as a family so we can cheer each other on. We limit our children to teams that focus on skill development over winning, and only require one game and one practice per week. My husband also helps coach my children's teams.

My oldest son has been playing sports for several years, and during that time I've seen him develop both physically and mentally. Andrew has learned to work with different (and sometimes difficult) personalities, how to persevere in challenging situations, and how to win and lose graciously. Sports have also given him something to look forward to and enjoy.

If you decide to enroll your child in a homeschool sports program, take a few simple steps to make the transition easier. Tell your child the rules of the game, how it is played and what is required of participants. Have your child commit to being respectful of coaches and teammates, attending all practices, and completing a full season before deciding not to continue.

Sports can be great family-building, character development activities if you choose programs that fit your family's needs and focus on having fun!

Carnival of Homeschooling

2008-10-14T16:00:00.000-05:00

The Carnival of Homeschooling: The Missing Day is up at Homeschool Buzz.

Enjoy!

Make it Fun Monday - U.S. Geography!

2008-10-13T14:23:00.004-05:00

I believe one of the best ways to teach geography is to tie it to our children's interest.

Football season is in full swing, so I printed NFL team logos and a wall map from this website, and had Andrew place the logos on the correct states.

As he watches football with his dad, he refers to his map to find out where different teams are located. We also refer to his map to locate states we hear about in news stories and find out where his dad is when he travels for work.

Here's a look at our map:

We're partial to the Cowboys!

This is a simple project you can tailor for any interest, and best of all, it's free! Here are some additional ideas for homeschooling geography.

Carnival of Homeschooling

2008-10-07T20:00:00.002-05:00

The Carnival of Homeschooling: 4-H Style is up on Susan's blog, Corn and Oil.

Enjoy!

Make it Fun Monday - Kids and Money!

2008-10-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

This week I'm starting a series called Make it Fun Monday! Every Monday, I'll post a new teaching tip or activity you can use in your home school. This week's topic - Kids and Money.

It's never to early to begin teaching your kids about money. With the current financial crisis our country is facing, now is an especially good time to teach your children the principles of sound money management and help them learn from others' mistakes.

Take your children to open a bank account (an FDIC insured one, of course). Elementary students can open a savings account and begin saving a percentage of their allowance and money that is given as gifts. Let them fill out deposit and withdrawal forms, help them set savings goals for small purchases, and teach them about interest and how money grows.

In addition to opening a savings account to save for larger purchases, middle school and high school students can open a checking account and learn to manage money for expenditures in specific areas like clothing or social activities. Be sure to show them how to maintain an accurate check ledger, read bank statements, and reconcile their accounts at the end of each month.

When choosing a bank account for your children, look for an account with no monthly or annual fees, no transaction fees and no requirements for a minimum balance. Some banks also offer prizes and other fun incentives for children who open and account and make deposits.

Don't forget to share your family's approach to money management with your children. Our family closely follows Dave Ramsey's money management advice. Larry Burkett's Crown Financial Ministries and Mary Hunt's Debt-Proof Living are based on similar financial principles.

A great book about teaching financial responsibility is Preparing Sons to Provide for a Single Income Family by Steven Maxwell. The book is written specifically for men and their sons, but I feel much of the advice is great for daughters as well.

Teaching kids about money is a great math and economics activity. Here are some additional ideas for homeschooling math. Here are some tips for choosing a homeschool math curriculum.

Our Week in Review - Penguins

2008-10-04T17:00:00.001-05:00

I'm swollen, sore, and missing 4 teeth, but we still managed to learn a little something this week.

We read Watch Me Grow: Penguins, Antarctica, and Captain Cook. We listened to the audio book version of everyone's favorite penguin story, Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. We also added a page about penguins to our animal classification notebook. I'll post pics from our notebook next week as we continue our study of birds.

The morning before I had my wisdom teeth removed, I mailed over $400 worth of Usborne books to participants in my homeschool curriculum review contest. As a result of last month's contest, you have a resource of over 400 homeschool curriculum reviews to help you choose products for your family.

Many thanks to those of you who took time to share your opinions with other homeschoolers! Please continue to submit your reviews and help me build a resource we can all rely on when choosing curriculum.

Homeschooling while Sick - 5 Sanity Savers

2008-10-02T22:00:00.004-05:00

I've homeschooled while sick, while pregnant and while recovering from childbirth. As of last week I can add "while recovering from oral surgery" to that list. Unfortunately, life doesn't stop so we can teach our children. Here are 5 ways to homeschool when just the thought of getting out of bed seems overwhelming.

1. Stick to the basics - reading, writing and arithmetic - and save those complicated science and history projects for another time. Read to your child and listen to your child read aloud. Have your child write in a journal to build writing skills, and use flash cards, worksheets or computer games to keep math skills sharp. A simple program like this one will keep your child fluent in the the 3 Rs in as little as 30 minutes to an hour per day. If that still seems like more than you can handle, just read to your child daily.

2. Use audio books and educational videos as supplemental teaching tools. You can find free, downloadable audio books at LibriVox. Here are some additional free homeschooling resources.

3. Stock your shelves with quiet activities that your children can use independently. Puzzles, coloring books, drawing books, legos, k'nex, playdoh, modeling clay, sticker books and board games are inexpensive activities that can keep your children occupied while you supervise from the couch. Some homeschoolers keep a supply of "emergency kits" that contain books and a related project for days when life interrupts school. Usborne Kid Kits are ready made emergency kits that contain a book and educational activity for a variety of interests and age ranges.

4. Institute a daily quiet time. At our house, my younger children nap for 1-2 hours while my oldest child reads or plays quietly. My rule for quiet time is, "If you disturb mom for any reason, you have to go take a nap!"

5. Don't be afraid to call it a day, a week or even a month. The beauty of homeschooling is that you are not tied to a school schedule. If you have to spend a month or two away from any activity that resembles "school", you can play catch up later by doubling up assignments or extending your school year into the summer.

If you are unable to teach for an extended time period, consider using a self-teaching program like the Robinson Curriculum, or a computer based program like Switched on Schoolhouse or Time4Learning. ACE Paces and Alpha Omega Lifepacs are self-teaching workbooks that your children can use independently. A Beka and Bob Jones University Press both have DVD programs that allow your children to learn from outside teachers while remaining in your home.

Keep your house running smoothly during challenging times by stocking your freezer with pre-made meals, using mixes from companies like Homemade Gourmet, using paper products to reduce clean up time, and teaching your children to help with simple chores like folding laundry and preparing breakfast.

Don't be afraid to rely on help from friends, family members and other homeschoolers. When you feel up to it, place an extra meal in your freezer that you can take to others who are facing tough times.

Our Week in Review - Children's Theater

2008-09-29T15:00:00.000-05:00

Last week we finished our study on pirates, and moved on to something that was more up my alley. We read Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, and watched the play at our local children's theater. It was big fun!

I'm having my wisdom teeth removed tomorrow. I'm don't think it will be big fun, but it will give my weight loss efforts a boost! I'll check in when I'm back on my feet again...

How to Look Good in Your Denim Jumper

2008-09-22T00:30:00.009-05:00

Last week, I shared tips for adding physical education to your family's homeschool curriculum. This week, I am focusing on fitness for homeschool moms.

As I've grown into, and out of, another pair of fat jeans, I've become even more determined to make fitness a priority in our home. If you're like me, exercise is the first thing to go when your schedule gets busy. Here are some simple ways you can add physical fitness to your routine:

If you're out of shape, begin slowly with a short morning or afternoon walk. As your fitness level increases and you pick up the pace, your toddlers can ride in a stroller or wagon, and your older children can roller blade or ride their bikes.

If you're feeling adventurous, try this Couch to 5K running plan. This free, 9 week program will get you ready to run a 5 K by training as little as 20 to 30 minutes, 3 days per week. For all you i pod users, here's the program on podcast.
Visit your local indoor pool. While you watch the kids splash around, you can walk or jog in shallow water, and do simple arm exercises with webbed gloves, a noodle or Styrofoam weights. Water boosts your workouts by providing added resistance without placing stress on the joints. It also wears the kids out, so you can come home and take a nap!
Sign up for a fitness class. I don't like leaving my children in the child care facility of our gym. So last fall, I signed up for a Baby Bootcamp that allowed me to bring my children to class. My youngest rode in his stroller, and my older children exercised or played alongside me.

These classes are also referred to by the names Mommy and Me, Stroller Fit and Strollercize. To find a course near you, run a Google search or call your local recreation center, YMCA or private gym.
Working out at home will save you time and money. Perform a simple routine of push ups, sit ups, squats and other simple resistance exercises at a set time every day. Invest in a set of arm bands, hand weights or an exercise ball, or use your favorite workout video.

We have an elliptical machine and weight bench in our garage that allows me to squeeze in a 20-30 minute workout on days when our schedule is busy. Before exercising, I back the car into the driveway so my children have room to ride their scooters or play games. To add variety, I sometimes tape paper to the floor and let them color, paint or play with play doh.

This fall, I'll be using the above strategies to whip myself into shape. For accountability's sake, I'm following Terry's lead and adding a weight loss ticker to the footer of my blog.

Wish me luck!

Our Week in Review - Pirates

2008-09-20T19:00:00.003-05:00

Last week, to commemorate International Talk Like a Pirate Day, we studied Pirates! We read Usborne's The Story of Ships, which taught us the history of sea travel, and The Usborne Official Pirate's Handbook, which taught us all the tricks of the trade.

Andrew took a fencing lesson at our local recreation center, and this weekend, I sent my little pirates on a treasure hunt. I used clip art to make picture clues for Jasmine, and I made riddles for Andrew based on this list from Scavenger Hunt Fun.

You can find pirate booty for sea lovers of all ages at Usborne Children's Books. Or create a lapbook using this free template from Homeschool Share.

To keep your youngest pirates busy, let them dig for treasure. My husband filled our sandbox a few weeks ago, and it has been a great ~~babysitter~~ educational activity for my children.

Grandma bought this plastic turtle sandbox for our children at a garage sale 5 years ago. If you don't have a sandbox, place sand in an empty plastic swimming pool, infant tub or Tupperware container.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day may be over, but the pirate fun has just begun. Aaaargh!

Homeschool Reviews

2008-09-18T06:30:00.000-05:00

I have received over 300 homeschool reviews so far, I have been blown away by the high-quality submissions! Keep them coming!!!

There are only 3 days left in this month's contest. Follow this link to tell me about your favorite curriculum and win free books!

Chess, anyone?

2008-09-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for homeschooling activities? This morning I read an article about a homeschool mom who started a chess club for her children at the local library. You can find it here:

Learning chess is no "checkmate" at library

My Favorite Things

2008-09-17T17:00:00.003-05:00

The Homeschool Memoirs Theme this week is "My Favorite Things." Here are some of my favorites:

Carnivals - Carnival of Homeschooling
Blogs - Making Home, Ornaments of Grace
Websites - Successful Homeschooling, Raising Godly Tomatoes
Homeschool News - Principled Discovery
Businesses - Usborne Books at Home

Carnival of Homeschooling

2008-09-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

A new Carnival of Homeschooling is up on Nerd Mom's blog. Enjoy!

Homeschool Physical Education

2008-09-14T09:00:00.004-05:00

Friday, I took the kids to open playtime at a local gymnastics facility. They balanced, bounced and swung from bars and ropes for almost two hours. I was exhausted just watching them.

In traditional schools, P.E. classes can be sources of frustration and embarrassment, especially for students who are not naturally athletic. As homeschoolers, we can teach P.E. without subjecting our children to humiliating experiences.

Here are 10 Ways to Get Your Kids Up and Moving:

Put balls, jump ropes, Frisbees and hula hoops in your backyard, and send your kids outside for a set amount of time every day. On days when your schedule allows it, spend the afternoon at the park.

Take walks in the neighborhood, to the store, or around a local lake or nature trail. When the weather isn't cooperative, window shop at a nearby mall. Walking doesn't require any equipment and it can be done anywhere.

Roller blading, roller skating, ice skating, and skate boarding are fun, invigorating activities. Many skating facilities have designated days where homeschoolers can skate for a reduced price of admission.

Bike riding is an activity family members of all ages can enjoy. Make sure to use safety equipment and discuss safety rules when taking family bike rides.

Swimming is a great full body exercise. During cooler months when your neighborhood pool is closed, use the indoor facilities at a local gym.

Private lessons in dance, gymnastics and karate allow your children to develop in areas that are outside your realm of expertise. To reduce the cost of these activities, take lessons designed for homeschoolers or barter with another homeschool family. Here are some additional ways to lower your homeschooling cost.

The gym at your local recreation center is a great place to exercise when it's too cold to go outside. Run laps, do calisthenics, shoot hoops, play basketball or volleyball, or join the kids in a game of tag.

Sports help children develop confidence, team work and discipline. You can play pick up games in your neighborhood or play on an organized team. Here is some additional information about homeschooling and sports.

Many YMCAs, private gyms and homeschool co-ops offer P.E. classes for homeschoolers. These classes allow your children to participate in group activities and expose them to the fun activities you remember from your school years.

The Ultimate Homeschool Physical Education Game Book by Guy Bailey contains activities that are inexpensive and designed for groups of 2-4 children. You can purchase this book from any major bookseller or look for it at your local library.

Most experts recommend at least 1 hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day for school age children. At our house, we aim for double that amount. We usually do structured activities like nature walks or bike rides in the morning, and have outdoor time in the evenings.

Physical activity helps children develop strong muscles and bones, and reduces the risk of obesity. Your homeschool physical education program should include simple, inexpensive activities that promote strength, endurance and flexibility. Most importantly, it should be fun!

Our Week In Review - Lapbooks!

2008-09-13T13:00:00.006-05:00

We finally got around to starting our school year.

I like to start off with one or two main subjects and gradually transition to our complete program. I don't think it's fair to the children (or their teacher) when we make an abrupt switch from leisurely days at the pool to a full academic schedule.

This week, Andrew started Sequential Spelling and Abeka Grade 2 Arithmetic. He's really enjoying both subjects. Jasmine is finishing up books E and F in the Rod and Staff A-B-C Series, writing her name, and learning to blend C-V-C words.

Isaiah uses the time we spend schooling to think of new ways to lower the market value of our home.

We also had time this week to finish our Olympic lapbooks. We had to take a break back in August due to a family tragedy, but this morning we read about China and added a few facts to our file folder. This weekend we'll finish reading A Grain of Rice.

The lapbooks were a fun way to get my children interested in the Olympics, and teach them a bit of history and geography. Lap books are an easy to store record of our family's activities, and they serve as proof to our principal that we're actually doing something.

Thanks to Homeschool Share, the lapbooks were easy to plan and create. The only thing I'd do differently next time is print the flap books on colored card stock, and wait until the end of the project to add them to the file folder.

In October, we're planning to do this free Presidential Election Lap Book. If you're new to lapbooking, you can find more information about lapbooks on Jimmie's Lapbooking Squidoo.

Mini Office

2008-09-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning, Jasmine and I made mini offices for her and her brother. A mini office is a variation on a lapbook that can be used as reference tool for students. I am planning to use ours as a visual for the kids use during our morning review time.

On the front cover of each mini office, I printed the child's name, birth date, address, telephone number and emergency numbers. Inside, I included printouts of our memory work for the year, which includes books of the Bible, The Ten Commandments and a scripture for each letter of the alphabet.

Jasmine's mini office also contains print outs of a hundreds chart, colors, shapes, coins, a clock, ordinal numbers, days of the week, months of the year, seasons and the alphabet.

Andrew's contains a hundreds chart, a number line, a clock, coins, Roman numerals, a place value chart, ordinal numbers, math symbols, units of measurement, months of the year, days of the week, seasons, continents, a handwriting strip, parts of speech and a writing checklist.

Jimmie's Squidoo page on Mini Offices will tell you everything you need to know to make a mini office of your own. Here's the website where I found most of the printables for our mini office.

Homeschool Health - Teaching Good Oral Hygiene!

2008-09-11T16:00:00.001-05:00

When I was in school, I remember when every child in our class was told to chew a little red tablet that was supposed to demonstrate areas missed while brushing and teach the importance of good oral hygiene. As a new homeschooler, I wondered how I'd repeat lessons like that with my children.

Our orthodontist's assistant helped me out in that regard when she told my son their office "pays" kids to take care of their teeth. Since my son heard the dental assistant mention "money" and "prizes", he has been obsessed with oral hygiene. He came home and made the following list of things he'd do to take care of his teeth:

Brush teeth
No sucking
No cady now
No cokc

As you can see, we haven't reached the words "candy" and "coke" in Sequential Spelling.

Every time I've looked around today and wondered where the kids had run off to, I've found them in the bathroom brushing their teeth. Jasmine has been begging me to let her get braces, too. She doesn't want to miss out on all the prizes.

Suffice to say, I am no longer worried teaching homeschool health. If I come across a health lesson I can't teach in everyday life, I can always resort to bribery.

Update 9/12/08: Last night, Andrew complained that his teeth were hurting, and this morning, I caught Jasmine brushing the baby's teeth. I finally had to issue an edict... No tooth brushing allowed without asking me first!

My First Award!!!

2008-09-11T15:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Robin from Raising Fisherman gave me my first blog award! The rules of the award are:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link to the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.

I am passing the "I Love Your Blog" award along to:

Kysha - Love's School
Ginger - Clark Chatter
Mom Guide - Outside the Sandbox
Christine - The Thinking Mother
Merry - Hope is My Anchor
Leslie - Joy and Pain
Mandi - Doodles' Place

Thanks Robin!

Sequential Spelling

2008-09-10T17:00:00.002-05:00

This year, my 7 year old is using Sequential Spelling, and we are both loving it.

Instead of having children memorize a list of random words, the program teaches children to spell by having them learn patterns of the English language.

Every morning, I give Andrew a spelling test. I read a word and use the word in a sentence. He writes the word on his paper as he thinks it is spelled. I then write the correct spelling on a small dry erase board, and he corrects his paper as needed. Then, I give him another word to spell.

We are 5 days into the program, and my son is already spelling words like "inner" "begin" and "winning." I am surprised at how many words Andrew spells correctly on his first try. It took him a few days to get used to writing so many words in a single sitting, but he now moves through the lessons fairly quickly.

Sequential Spelling requires no prep time and it is self-correcting. Every page contains a motivational saying like, "Mistakes are opportunities to learn!" My son can be a bit of a perfectionist, and this program has presented me with an opportunity to work on his attitude about making mistakes while learning.

The only problem we've had with the program so far, is that my son gets distracted by the sentences. When I say, "Tree. Did George Washington cut down the cherry tree?" He starts thinking about the George Washington instead of thinking about spelling the word tree. You just gotta love that 7 year old attention span!

Here are some additional reviews of Sequential Spelling. You can win free books by telling others about your favorite products by entering my Homeschool Curriculum Review Contest.

Carnival of Homeschooling

2008-09-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Carnival of Homeschooling, The Hero Edition, is up on Henry's blog, Why Homeschool. Check it out!

Homeschool Curriculum Reviews

2008-09-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

I've received over 200 homeschool curriculum reviews to date, and I have been very impressed with the high-quality submissions. Thank you for helping me create an amazing resource that we can all use when choosing curriculum for our home schools.

There are 2 weeks remaining in this contest, and there are still many FREE book prizes available! Follow this link for details on how you can participate in my homeschool curriculum review contest.

Writing a review is as easy as writing an e-mail to a friend about a product you love. For tips on writing outstanding product reviews, check out Kim Kautzer of WriteShop's 4-part series entitled, How to Write a Book Review.

Learning Styles

2008-09-05T18:00:00.003-05:00

She. won't. stop. talking. period.

Okay, I'm exaggerating. She does stop talking. But when she isn't talking, she's singing or humming or moving her lips.

One night I went to check on her after bed, and I heard sounds coming from her room. "Jazzy, what are you doing?" She joyfully replied, "I'm singing lullabies to Sydney and Teddy."

Imagine my surprise to research learning styles and find that she's an auditory learner who uses speech and sound to receive and process information. She needs to talk, sing, hum and whisper in order to learn.

On the other hand, my oldest son, who I once suspected was hard of hearing, is a visual learner who receives and processes information thorough images and print. When I inevitably ask him, "Did you just hear me say...?" He'd do well to respond, "Yes, I heard you, but could you make me a list?"

One of the best things we can do in our home schools is understand our children's learning styles. We can reduce frustration and make our lessons more efficient by instructing our children in ways they understand.

If you can, choose a homeschool method that suits your child's learning style. If you have multiple children to teach, make small adaptations to your homeschool curriculum to make it fit each child's needs. Also teach your children how to make adaptations that will make it easier for them to learn when they're out on their own, and find fun ways to strengthen their areas of weakness.

My youngest son is still a toddler, but the fact that we often chase him around screaming, "NO, Isaiah!" is a good clue that he's a kinesthetic learner who learns through touch and movement.

Here are some tips for discovering your children's learning styles, along with ideas for tailoring your curriculum to suit different types of learners.

Carnival of Homeschooling

2008-09-03T21:00:00.001-05:00

The Carnival of Homeschooling: Labor Day! is up on Carol's blog. Take a look at the Labors we Perform as Homeschoolers.

Tell Me About Your Favorite Curriculum and Win FREE Books!

2008-09-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

During the month of September, I will send you a free, hardback, Usborne book if you tell me about 5 products you have used in your home school.

Here's a list of additional ways you can earn free books:

For every product you tell me about, I'll enter your name into a drawing to win $100 in free Usborne books.

Post a link to this page on your website or blog, and your name will be entered into a drawing to win $100 in free Usborne books.

Tell me about 5 products and receive a free, hardback Usborne Mini Book of your choice. Mini books are a reduced size version of an original Usborne book. Usborne sells mini books for students of all ages!

If you come in 2nd or 3rd place for the number product reviews, I'll give you $20 in FREE Usborne books of your choice.

If you submit the most reviews, you can select any product in Usborne's catalog for FREE!

Submitting a review is as easy as typing an e-mail telling a friend about a product your family enjoys. Follow this link to submit your homeschool reviews and read the rules for this contest!

Homeschool Dads

2008-08-30T15:00:00.001-05:00

Last week, we buried my husband's father, James H. Sanders, Sr. He was a godly man and a patriarch much unlike the prideful, controlling types who are sometimes applauded in homeschooling circles. He provided for his wife and children, humbly served his church and community, and faithfully brought quarters to his grandkids.

I'm blessed to have a husband who is so much like his father. He doesn't help me teach the children or lead hour long, nightly devotions. But he loves, he serves and he provides. Friends, that is something to celebrate.

Take time today to make a list of things you love about the man in your home. Here are some other tips for honoring homeschool dads.

Homeschool Activities

2008-08-27T22:00:00.004-05:00

This Monday was the first day of school for our local public school district. To kick off the new school year, my children and I met a few homeschoolers for lunch at Chuck E. Cheese. Later that night, we went to our support group meeting to pick up this year's homeschool activities newsletter.

I love living in an area where there are so many activities to choose from.

I also hate living in an area where there are so many activities to choose from.

Over the years, I've learned the hard way not to pack our schedule too full. Activities are not fun if mom is screaming, "Hurry up and get your shoes on so we can go!" We also need to set aside time for actual HOMEschooling.

I narrow down our choices by ruling out activities that require a large time commitment. In other words, all I want to do is get dressed and show up. I also eliminate activities that will be a better fit for my children when they're older.

My husband likes to join us on field trips, so I sometimes use ideas from our homeschool group's activity newsletter to arrange outings for our family. The following activities are on our calendar so far:

Fencing - one lesson for Andrew at our local rec center
Roller Skating - once per month on homeschool day
Open Gym - once per month on homeschool day
Dallas Children's Theater - 4 plays as a family
Dallas Museum of Art - view King Tut exhibit with homeschool group
Sports - flag football for Andrew now through Oct, basketball beginning in Jan
Sports - p'nut basketball for Jasmine for the month of Nov, soccer next spring
Church - children's choir and praise dance

Sadly, ice skating, chess club, robotics club, gymnastics, ballet, and science co-op will have to wait for another year. Poor, unsocialized homeschoolers...

Here are some tips for finding homeschooling activities your family will enjoy!

A Celebration of ADHD

2008-08-24T09:00:00.002-05:00

Although the 2008 Summer Olympic games are over, we'll long remember watching swimmer Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals. Unbelievable!

During an interview, Michael's mom, Debbie Phelps, said her son was diagnosed with and treated for ADHD as a child, and was medicated on weekdays throughout the school year. Is it any wonder that a man who can train intensely for five hours per day had trouble sitting still in school for any length of time? I wonder how many Olympians faced similar struggles.

I don't judge Debbie Phelps for her choices, but I do question a system that requires children to take medication in order to succeed. God bless Ms. Phelps for having the foresight to tap into her child's unique gifts. I worry that we may lose future athletes, carpenters, police officers, firefighters and war heroes in our inability to recognize and appreciate every child's strengths.

In an interview with Guideposts, Ty Pennington of Extreme Home Makeover details his battle with ADHD. He said he felt stupid until the day he took scrap wood and built a tree house in his backyard. After finding out he could build amazing things with his hands, he no longer cared what his school teachers thought about him.

There is more to life than sitting at a desk completing worksheets and listening to lectures. I was good at it, and it has not paid off in gold medals, endorsements or television contracts.

Here is some information about identifying and catering to your child's learning style.

In my September newsletter, veteran homeschooler and author Terrie Bittner will share her tips for homeschooling gifted and special needs children. Follow this link to sign up for my homeschool newsletter.

Carnival of Homeschooling

2008-08-19T14:30:00.001-05:00

The Carnival of Homeschooling edition: There's More to School than Textbooks, is up on Janice's blog, Taking Time for Things that Matter.

Enjoy!

Homeschool Games

2008-08-15T06:00:00.003-05:00

It seems watching the Olympics has awakened our family's competitive spirit. This week, Andrew and his dad pulled out the chess board again.

We bought this chess board, along with over sized playing pieces, from a company called Championship Chess that we saw at our local home school curriculum fair. I wanted the cutesy red one, but I was overruled.

We also purchased a carrying case, a Chess Basics book and a chess timer that has really come in handy for keeping my husband from wearing me down during a game of Scrabble by taking 30-45 minutes to lay down a single word.

We used the clock a few times and I beat him senseless. He surprisingly won't play anymore.

Chess not only boosts critical thinking and math skills, it is a great tool for character development.

"No, it's not okay to pout because daddy is beating you."

"Yes, you do need to teach as you play and not just show Andrew that you're smarter than he is and you can win."

In spite of any character flaws we may have, our family loves playing games. Card games, board games, puzzles, word games and games of trivia are great ways to reinforce concepts your children are learning, while adding laughter and fun to your home.

Here are some tips for choosing homeschool games for your family. In the September issue of Successful Homeschooling, I'll share ideas for making game nights a regular part of your family's schedule. Follow this link to sign up for my homeschool newsletter.

More Homeschool Discounts!!!

2008-08-11T10:00:00.002-05:00

'Tis the season when office supply stores are hosting their Teacher Appreciation Sales. As a home educator, you can participate in these events and receive homeschool discounts on books and supplies. Check out these websites to find information about sales near you:

Office Depot

Staples

I couldn't find the details of Office Max' Educator Appreciation Event on its website, but you can find dates and times of the sale near you by calling 1-877-OFFICEMAX.

Also stay on the lookout for events at Barnes and Noble and Borders, who will likely host their Educator Savings Weeks sometime during the next few months.

Homeschool Discounts

2008-08-09T08:38:00.006-05:00

See that smile on my husband's face?

Last week, he bought me a brand new laptap and several expensive software packages. While that would normally leave him frowning, this time he saved hundreds of dollars by taking advantage of educator's discounts that are available to homeschoolers.

Here's a list of merchants that offer homeschool discounts.

We obtained everything we needed to document our status as homeschoolers through the Homeschool Buyers Coop. They sent us an official letter that we could forward to those who required one, and they also offer free, printable homeschool ID cards.

Membership in the Homeschool Buyer's Coop is FREE!

Lapbooking

2008-08-08T06:00:00.005-05:00

I'm not a fan of lapbooking for several reasons, all of which relate to the following defaults in my character:

1. Laziness - Lapbooks require much more prep work and instructional time than pulling a page from an Abeka workbook. The thought of finding, organizing and scheduling resources for lapbooks makes me feel overwhelmed and just plain tired.

2. Impatience - I'm a "time's ticking, let's get moving" kinda gal, and that mindset doesn't work well for unit studies or lapbook projects. Can you imagine? "Stop asking questions, and focus on cutting your printables!"

3. Perfectionism - Unfortunately, children learn more from projects when they are the ones who actually do the work. When we work on projects, I inevitably have to bite my tongue to keep myself from saying things like, "You're using waaay too much glue!" or "Are you sure you don't want Mommy to cut that for you."

Nevertheless, I saw Candace post about this free Summer Olympic 2008 Lapbook, and since we'd already scrapped our plans to start school this month, I thought this would be a good time to give lapbooking a try.

Yesterday, I made a loose schedule, printed some lapbook templates, and checked out some books from the library. The kids colored their lapbook covers and glued their Bible verses inside. And Drew and I took turns reading from the DK book, Going for Gold, by Drew Donkin.

Isaiah obviously didn't have enough supervision during our little project. He ate a blue marker.

This is very out of the box for us, but I can already see the benefits of lapbooking. It has forced me to slow down and spend more time interacting with my children, and it has helped them become excited about the Olympics.

I'll keep you posted about our progress over the next few weeks.

Homeschool Schedules

2008-08-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

I had plans to "start school" this Monday. Last week, I sat down and made a list of books we were going to read, and activities and projects I wanted to complete.

Then I found out my children's Pa Pa had been diagnosed with lung cancer, and the Abeka workbooks went right back into the box they arrived in. We're learning a lesson from the school of life.

The beauty of homeschooling is that we write the schedule, and we can change it. We don't have to worry about excused absences, missed work, or make up tests. We can start formal lessons next week, next month or even next year. We can carschool on long drives to visit Pa Pa or read while we lounge on the couch beside him.

We hope God blesses us with many wonderful years with our beloved father and grandfather, but we don't know what the future holds. We don't want to miss out on a single moment with the man we love. That's why we homeschool.

Here's some additional information about homeschool schedules. Please remember James, Sr. and his family in your prayers.

Homeschool Reading, Part 2

2008-08-06T10:00:00.001-05:00

Another important component of homeschool reading is teaching our children language arts skills.

I purchased this Scholastic Children's Dictionary from the company's semi-annual Warehouse Sale. When we're reading and we encounter a word my son doesn't understand, we look it up together in his dictionary. Scholastic also sells a Children's Thesaurus that we'll use when my son is older.

We build vocabulary and language skills using crossword puzzles, word searches, and similar activities. I also teach him to read rules, schedules, recipes, labels, and directions as we go about daily life.

One of our favorite language books this year was There's a Frog in My Throat by Loreen Leedy and Pat Street. It contains descriptions of 440 animal sayings, along with wacky illustrations. I didn't remember purchasing the book until my son started asking questions like, "Mom, don't you need to get your ducks in a row?"

We use a homeschool reading curriculum, but you don't have to rely on one to teach your children language skills. Find ways to incorporate language activities into everyday life. Solve Mad Libs, play Hangman or strike up a game of Scrabble, Jr.

Supplement your homeschooling curriculum with learning activities that are natural and fun!

Homeschool Reading

2008-08-05T05:00:00.004-05:00

Andrew has been inhaling books, and it's been a challenge to find worthwhile, yet entertaining reading material for him.

One resource I've turned to is Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt. The book contains tips for choosing books for children, as well as lists of recommended books for a variety of ages. Books Children Love is a similar title written by Elizabeth Laraway Wilson and Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. I also refer to book lists from popular literature based curriculum companies, like Sonlight and Five in a Row.

According to Dr. Ruth Beechick, there are 3 stages to becoming a fluent reader. Decoding is the process of learning phonics. Fluency is learning to quickly recognize words. Information moves beyond recognizing words to actually receiving value from them.

When Andrew was in the fluency stage, my goal was to choose books that made him want to read. At the Scholastic Book Fair, I found NBA Readers about his favorite basketball stars. I also used joke books, comic books, and children's magazines to draw him into reading. He told me so many jokes that one day his baby brother brought me the book and said, "Knock Knock!"

Reading is one area where I feel it's important to let the child lead. Instead of assigning reading material, I keep good books available that Andrew can read as he chooses. This relaxed style is working well for us. As a new homeschooler, I was worried that Andrew wasn't reading up to his potential. Now, I often find him choosing books that are 3 to 4 years above his grade level.

In the beginning stages of reading, it is important not to pressure children to read on grade level or discourage them from re-reading simple books they enjoy. The process of becoming a fluent reader can take weeks, months or several years depending on the child. Here are some tips for teaching homeschool reading and choosing a homeschool reading curriculum.

Libraries and Homeschoolers

2008-08-04T07:30:00.002-05:00

I recently posted about using your local library as a source of affordable homeschooling activities.

Here's a recent article from the School Library Journal entitled A Home Away from Home: Libraries and Homeschoolers. It provides suggestions to help libraries better serve the homeschool community.

Consider sharing this article with your local librarian.

Carnival of Homeschooling

2008-07-29T08:41:00.000-05:00

This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is at Judy's blog, Consent of the Governed.

Enjoy!

Our Little Businessman

2008-07-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

We don't give the kids any allowance, and Pa Pa only pays $5 per month. That leaves our kids with 1 option for obtaining money - earn it!

One of the benefits of my becoming a work at home mom is the spirit of entreprenuership that has developed in our kids. Andrew has heard my husband and I discuss business matters, and he regularly helps with projects I'm working on. Back in February, he decided he wanted to start a business of his own.

I gave him some seed money for a thermos, styrafoam cups and some hot chocolate, and he loaded up his little brother's wagon and went door to door selling hot chocolate to neighbors. He made over $10 in just an hour. Not bad!

Right now we're trying to come up with business opportunities for this summer that don't involve too much work on mom's part. He's highly allergic to grass so yard work is out, and come to think of it, I don't want to do anything that involves standing outside in the Texas sun. And I don't want to help him with anything involving pets, or other people's children, or other people's homes.

Which leaves us with... hmmm... waiting on Pa Pa to visit.

Andrew is learning an important business lesson.

Good help is hard to find.

My Little Princess

2008-07-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

When I asked Jasmine what she wanted for helping me with my Usborne business, she asked for the Horses and Ponies Kid Kit.

The book was above her level, but she loved the stamping activity. We also followed the book's internet links for some fun, horsey activities.

Jazzy had her first ballet recital back in May and I could not resist buying a few ballet books. We gave her teacher the internet-linked World of Ballet. And we gave Jasmine the Usborne beginning reader, Ballet, and the Nutcracker CD Pack.

Jazzy danced to the song Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman, and she looked just like a little princess.

Please remember to keep the Chapman family in your prayers as one of their little princesses has gone home to be with the Lord.

Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Dem Dry Bones

2008-07-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

Last month I completed my 12 week training period as an Usborne consultant. I joined Usborne in order to purchase some homeschool books we wanted at a discount, and ended up earning over $500 in free books.

Andrew and Jasmine helped me put labels on catalogs, stuff folders, and sort orders. They are becoming quite the entrepreneurs. Andrew has decided he wants to open his own business. He wants to buy a computer of his own so he can visit NBA.com.

I promised both of the kids I would buy them a kid kit, and Andrew chose the Dinosaur Excavation Kit. He read the dinosaur book, carefully remembering to subsitute the word "thousands" for "millions". Then we started digging for bones.

It's a good thing ancient dinosaur clay is non toxic!

Inside the kit was a series of questions, including one that read "What is the difference between paleontologist and archeologist? Would you like to be either?" To which Drew responded, "Well, I'm kind of into sports..." Thank you Dirk Nowitzki.

After I took this picture, I asked Drew what was up with the peace sign. He said, "I like to put a little piece of me into whatever I do." I have got to get rid of the channel ESPN.

Usborne Convention

2008-07-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

We got home from the Usborne convention yesterday. The kids were glad to be home so they could talk loudly again. At the hotel, we kept yelling at them to "SHHH!"

On our last day at the convention,

we took a tour of Usborne's facilities. My husband sells automation services, so this was his chance to tell us about what he does for a living. As we left the factory he said, "I could reduce their workforce by half!" What a lofty goal, dear...

On the way out of the building, we took a picture in the president's chair. I had Andrew take a picture in the chair alone so he could see himself as a president, not an employee. As I was explaining this to him later at lunch, he replied, "Mom, do you think I should play basketball or beatbox for a living?"

Good thing I still have 10 years to brainwash him.