Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Our Homeschooling Agenda


This week’s assignment is to share what our plan is for the 2008-2009 school year, what curriculums are we using, what ages am I teaching, etc.

I have to start of by saying that I love planning!  My very favorite part of homeschooling (other than those wonderful moments when you see that light in the children’s eyes that they get it, they learned. they’re really enjoying what they are doing) is to sit down with my computer and a stack of books and plot out subjects and pages and days and weeks.   I started with a weekly assignment sheet that I found at Titus2.com and modified it to fit our needs.  I’ve been using it, or something very like it, for several years now.  This year I’ve moved away from putting days or dates on their assignment sheets (because it was discouraging to them and to myself when we would seemingly be a day or several days behind because no school was done as a result of something that came up – an unexpected visit, a needed appointment, some work that needed doing, etc.)  So now I’ve modified our assignment sheet once again and simply put 7-10 days worth of assignments onto their sheet and they check things off as they finish them.  This is less stressful for both them and me and if they are enjoying a subject, such as science, they are free to go ahead and do the next lesson or two and stick with the concept being taught / explored; or they’ll choose to do their entire math lesson in one day instead of spread out over 3 or 4 days.  It gives all of us a little more freedom to stop when we need to or to move ahead when the desire is there — and when they’ve finished their assignments, I make a new one!

Now as far as curriculum goes, we’ve always used a little of this and a little of that.  Before I tell you what we’re using I feel a need to to share something.  A word of caution, if you will.  For years I gathered catalogs and look them over 20  times or more and made lists of wants and Need To Get!, etc.  A few years ago I finally realized that all those catalogs were doing was making me discontented and covetous!  I thought of all the time I had wasted pouring over and over those pages when I could have been making cookies for my family, or reading to my children, or kissing my husband, or studying the Word of God.  I remembered all the covetous thoughts I had about wanting this or that since it was New! and sounded like it was just what we needed to spice up our homeschooling!   I was dissatisfied with the purchases I had made, discontent that we didn’t have to money to get MORE, and generally obsessed with something I couldn’t have.  I had looked at and wanted those things for so long that it was hard to remember sometimes what I already had and what I didn’t – - because some of those things had become so real to me, after staring at them in the catalog long enough it almost seemed like I had seen it on my shelf.  Thankfully, our LORD is full of grace and mercy and he allowed me to wake up to all of this.  Now, after homeschooling for 9+ years, I know what works for us and I know the companies that carry what we need.  If I receive any catalogs in the mail, they go immediately into the garbage can.  I have now taken full control and WHEN we are in need of something new or the next level then I go to the source and get WHAT we need, nothing more.   I cannot tell you the peace that has resulted from this change.  I can now relax and focus on teaching and spending time with my children.  I can enjoy and get the most out of the curriculum that I’ve chosen.  I can rest in the LORD knowing that he provides all of my needs and that he doeth all things well.
Now, finally!! — I’ll share with you what  each of my children does:  (I should also tell you really quick that we don’t do grade levels, as in "I’m in 4th grade".  The children have always done the work that they are capable of doing whether it is a grade level behind or two grades ahead.  The only exception to this is that, for practical reasons, The Science Guy is now entering high school.)

Mr. Science Guy, soon to be 15, is obviously very interested in science. 
  • He is finishing up Apologia’s Physical Science – Module 15 –  and will be starting a Homeschool class of Apologia Biology in September. 
  • He’s on Lesson 17 of Math-U-See Algebra 1. 
  • For History, he is coming to the end of a Civil War study by Beautiful Feet – he really enjoyed reading Rifles For Watie and is now reading The Red Badge of Courage to be followed by a few books on Robert E. Lee as well as several DVD’s about the Civil War that we checked out from the library which includes Ken Burns excellent series.  He’s also doing an ongoing study of the History of Classical Music, also by Beautiful Feet.  Right now he is reading a biography on J. S. Bach.  As a group we are using Sonlight 5 Eastern Hemisphere.  We are in curently in Japan. 
  • As part of Sonlight 5 Bible, both boys are using Remembering God’s Awesome Acts
  • For spelling, he’s on list T6 in Spell To Write And Read. 
  • For handwriting practice he does journal entries on topics of his own choosing, with occasional suggestions from me. 
  • English is Shurley English 4 which Science Guy and younger brother, The Badger, are doing together.  
  • He takes piano lessons and has recently started 60 min. lessons so each day he must practice a minimum of 60 minutes, which usually isn’t  a problem because he enjoys it so much.  
  • Science Guy is also loosely using the four year curriculum Listen My Son which we are mostly using as a framework, for Scripture memorization, and as a reading list.
The Badger, 13, is interested in anything animal – but NOT insects!!  ;-)
  • For History the Badger is doing Sonlight 5 Eastern Hemisphere and all of the reading that goes along with that.
  • As part of Sonlight 5 Bible, both boys are using Remembering God’s Awesome Acts
  • The Badger also chose Sonlight for his Science this year and is doing Science 4, Electricity, Magnetism and Astronomy.
  • For reading, he usually goes back and forth between the Christian Light Publication  readers and the Pathway Readers with their accompanying Light Units/workbooks.  He was shown some summer mercy this year, though, and allowed to do his current reader without the workbook.  He is grateful for this and is having a very nice time reading Building Our Lives which he will finish before we go on vacation in October.  His next book will be either CLP‘s  Bridges Beyond or Open Windows, with the Light Unit workbooks which I just love because it covers so many different areas of not only reading comprehension, a Bible memory verse which acocmpanies the story, but vocabulary and english/parts of speech and sentence structure that helps reinforce what he’s learning or learned in Shurley English.
  • English is Shurley English 4 which The Badger and older brother Science Guy are doing together.
  • Handwriting for right now are his choice of verses copied from the Bible until I can order one of the great Copywork Booklets from Queen Homeschool Supply that he’s used before and really liked.  He also is required to write in his journal at least once a week.
  • Math is Math-U-See’s Epsilon that he recently started.
  • Spelling is Spell To Write And Read, he’s on list N5.
  • Piano lessons for the Badger are 30 minutes, which requires at least 30 minutes a day of practicing.  Sometimes this was very hit and miss so we instituted the policy that since the money to pay for lessons comes from Daddy working, then if you don’t practice you need to pay.  So for every day they don’t practice, they must put $1.50 into our savings can.
Last is my little Tipua, age 10.  She’s 10 – do I need to say more? – and loves all things DOGS!!
  • Tipua loves to read and has been reading a good selection of books lately that include short and easy dog stories along with more involved books like Little Miriam of Galilee and The King’s Daughter.
  • For History, she participates with us as we do our read-alouds and activities for Sonlight 5 Eastern Hemisphere.
  • Her handwriting Tipua is finishing the memory verses that were included in Sonlight K Bible, Sing the Word From A to Z.   She writes the verse every day for a week and when she can recite the Scripture with book/chapter/verse, then she moves on to the next one.  The songs on the tape, which usually are not the entire verse, have made it easy for her to recall the verses, which she writes and memorizes in their entirety.  She’s also started copying the book of Genesis into a composition notebook and has finished 5 chapters so far.
  • For her Science, she gets the best of all worlds.  She does her own Sonlight Science K (her brothers both enjoy watching her DVD with her) and then she watches each of them do their science and hear their explanations of why this or that happened.  The blessing of teaching many together!
  • Tipua’s only recently started Spelling, but she enjoys it and asks for it a lot!  She also uses Spell To Write and Read and is on list H1.
  • She has been whizzing through math lately and only a few months ago started Math-U-See’s Beta which she is almost finished with.  Luckily – or thanks to good planning – I already have Gamma ready and waiting for her!
  • For reading, Tipua is in the CLP reader Helping Hands that she does with the Light Units.  Now that she’s been doing it for a while, she knows what to do and almost does it herself – even going so far as to scratch out the particulars of phonics which are included at this level that we don’t do because they teach the traditional way instead of how she is learning the phonograms and sounds through SWR.
  • On her own, she is also reading through the Pathway Reader Climbing Higher  just because she wants to!  :-)
  • My Tipua also takes lessons – she actually couldn’t wait to because she so wanted to be doing what both of her brothers were! – and so needs to practice 30 minutes a day. 
In addition to this, we have a time of reading the Bible together at least once a day, sometimes two.  (Morning or Morning and Afternoon).  During this time we read a chapter or two from our current book, Acts right now, work on any memorization, recite the books of the Bible, sing some favorite hymns and occasionally learn a new one.  When we are having a particularly hard day, we also take the time to sit down in a circle and everyone has to say one thing that they really enjoy or appreciate about the others.  It really works! 

That is the basic framework of our school year.  We school almost year’round with breaks as we need them for vacations, family needs, volunteering opportunities, or just because!

My scripture for this week’s assignment is:
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:   Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.   For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.   For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.  Isaiah 55:6-12

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This post originally published @ Homeschoolblogger.com/ButterandHoney for Homeschool Memoirs 2008-2009

Thursday, August 21, 2008

All About Me!


About me?  Really?  Okay – here goes.

I’m a happy-to-be-40-something wife to DH and Mom to four incredible blessings.   I keep busy trying my best to be a Home Keeper/Manager, with everything smoothly running so that we’re able to focus on the important things and not get bogged down by a lack of socks or an empty jug of orange juice.  In my free time (LOL!!!) you’ll find me stamping cards to send or give away to friends, sewing clothing for my daughter and others, or working on my latest crochet project – which could be potholders, a baby afghan, or a blue-ribbon winning afghan for the County Fair.  I’m also slowly ridding my home of hot-spots that attract clutter like an electro-magnet, and cleaning out an overcrowded, mouse-infested garage.  Yuck!!

My DH is a busy Vice-President of his local union who is on top of all the minute details at work but can’t remember anything at home.  How does that work?  ;-)

My children are not so little children anymore.  The firstborn, the Angel, is 23 and has Angelman Syndrome, which, if you are not familiar with it, essentially makes him a 6 foot tall toddler who loves hugs and kisses and snuggles.  We made the very difficult decision 7 years ago to place him in a care home very near to us when he was taller and stronger than I and seeing to his very demanding physical needs was more than I was physically able to do.  Our second son, the Science Guy, is 14 and loves, guess?? , science!  He reads and reads and loves all the technical details of atoms and protons and how gravity works and that time moves faster in space and, and, and .  .  .  He’s currently finishing up a study on the Civil War and looking forward to starting a study on Mediaval times, as well as an ongoing reading/listening list of the history of Classical Music.  Our third son, the Badger, is 12.95/13ths and loves all things animal and is slowly working his way through the Boy Scout handbook.  He’s a fighter with a very tender side, and when he repents you can easily see that it is from the depths of his heart.   Our fourth child and only daughter, Tipua (tee-pOO-ah),  is a 10 years old and a joy.  She’s funny and quick and brightens everything.  Plus, she loves being my helper and all around side-kick.  Her nickname is just something that came to us one day as she was acting silly – and is a reflection of our enjoyment and interest in India.  We’ve homeschooled from the very beginning and can’t imagine doing anything else.  And yes, we are homeschooling through High School, and maybe even college!

We spend our days homeschooling and homeworking and training in the nurture and admonition of the LORD, which is really the hardest part, isn’t it?  Daily I must be that example of denying self, loving service, and following Christ.

Beautiful_children 

This was our 2006 Christmas photo – a favorite!

This post originally published @ Homeschoolblogger.com/ButterandHoney as an introduction for Homeschool Memoirs 2008-2009

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

End of Summer Sweetness


For_missm

Here’s a bit of summer sweetness – a dress for Miss M’s daughter, Little Miss K.

Made in a soft pink seersucker, with cap sleeves and just-right pockets.  I added a little swirl stitching to the top of the pocket edge, and finished the bottom hem with a scalloped stitch.  And once again, I altered the pattern so that the bodice is completely lined and no seams are exposed.  I also did french seams on the skirt.

This post originally published @ Homeschoolblogger.com/ButterandHoney

Sweet Apron Set


Missms_aprons

I occasionally sew for others, and this is a set of aprons ordered by Miss M for she and her daughter.  I love the little petit four fabric.  I think they turned out very well!


Missm_close

Missm_doll

They are all folded up, with the little matching doll apron on top.

I’ve also made an apron for my wonderful Sister-In-Law – but mailed it before I could take a picture.  Here’s the fabric I used, a lovely lavendar watercolor  –

Miss_ns_fabric 

This post originally published @ Homeschoolblogger.com/ButterandHoney

Friday, August 1, 2008

Frustrating

 
I’m trying to lose some weight. 

I need to lose a lot, but I just have a small goal for myself right now so that it doesn’t seem completely out of reach.  As always, the first day was hard, but the last few have been fairly easy.  I’m drinking well, not snacking at all, and have only had smaller,  regular meals.  Yet the scale stays the same,

Day.

After.

Day.

There’s one part of my brain that is rebelling (doesn’t it always!) and saying "How could you NOT be losing weight?  You were eating this, and that, and that and, oh yeah, that, too.  The numbers on the scale should be moving a lot faster!"   The logical side of my brain says that "You’re doing really well in controlling your eating and changing your focus  away from food.  Don’t worry about the numbers, you’re just at a plateau and if you keep doing what you’re doing, then soon enough the scale will show that.  Keep up the good work!"  I know that’s true.  It’s just .  .  . 

Frustrating.

This post originally published @ Homeschoolblogger.com/ButterandHoney

A Good, Productive Homeschooling Day OR Wow! Sometimes this really DOES work!!


The day started early for me, which is how all of the really good days begin. 

I read in Hebrews a bit, checked my e-mail, and then woke up my youngest son, H, who wanted to get up early and look around at the on-line Scout Shop.  While he was waking I went and got honest-to-goodness dressed!  I got H set up at the computer and then figured that since he’s up I might as well wake up his older brother, J, too.  I started the never-ending-vortex blessed chore of laundry for the day, and then made up a new school schedule for the baby girl, only daughter R, by which time her radar had gone off and she, too, was awake for the day.

Breakfast, consisting of  incredibly not healthy left-over pizza, was finished by 8:15 am and our school day was started.  They all automatically started on their math without me even saying anything, so I let them have at it!  Who am I to interrupt the flow?  Well, I did interrupt to show the boys the new style assignment sheet that I made for R and asked if they would like one.  J said sure but H said that he’d rather have the old kind.  Yep.  He’s my traditionalist!  We’re all happily sitting at the table, busily engaged in our own endeavors – me especially happy because they are working without me asking =-O and because I get to do assignment sheets!!  If I had to pick a very favorite part of homeschooling, it would hands down be planning!  I could spend days mapping out the whole year, and even if only half of it ever came to fruition, I’d still be good.

While assigning, I notice that H hasn’t been assigned any specific reading (he’s just had free reading for the last month) and so I give him the next Pathways Reader — with the bad news that since I don’t have the workbook for this, he’ll just have to settle for reading the book alone without any workbook pages.  Visibly ecstatic, delighted, Trying his hardest to control his emotions, he tells me "That’s all right, Mom."  (I really don’t have the workbook but I was also having a little bit of summertime pity on this younger son who does not enjoy workbooks – not all workbooks, mind you, just the ones that ask him really hard questions like "What do YOU think?")  He quickly finishes his math and settles on the couch almost gleefully to enjoy his new workbook-free reader. 

By  the time I finish with the assignment sheets, they are done with their math and reading, respectively, so we gather on the couch for our time together.  We read Proverbs 31, sung Saviour Like a Shepherd (chosen by R) and A Mighty Fortress (chosen by J), then they each played their favorite song that they’re currently practicing on the piano.  Afterwards, we had a discussion about what schoolwork will be brought along when we vacation at the beach in October.  If you’re interested, J will bring Biology, Math, and the books he is reading for US History and History of Classical Music;  H will bring Math, Science and his reading; R said right off "Math!" followed by her piano books, which they all will take since the house we are renting has a piano.  We’ll also bring the books that she and I are reading and projects we’re working on as part of Training Our Daughters To Be Keepers At Home.

Now that that’s all settled, for the time being anyhow, Onward Ho!  H sits down to do his science and J settles in to start a biography on J.S.Bach.  I’m on the laptop at the table deciding if I should purchase the workbooks H will need now, or wait a few weeks, and then trying to guage how quickly R will finish Beta (Math) and will need the student books for Gamma.  Meanwhile, R is next to me and has done the Before stuff in her workbook and is now reading the story.  When she’s finished reading, we go through the questions together and she is delighted to be able to tell me all the things that happened in the story.  By the way, I decided that I can wait on all the curriculum — but I really do need to get busy and order Biology for J so that he’s ready to go when the class starts in September.  During this time, J and I also have a discussion of his next, last (sob!) four years of school and the pace he wants to set for himself as far as his math and science books go.  (These are really good to have every now and then because they get him motivated to focus and see his goal.)

11:45 am means an early lunch for us.  They have 45 minutes before we sit down to read again.
After lunch, we settle on the couch again, this time to read our Eastern Hemisphere history/social studies together.  Two chapters of Born in the Year of Courage, then we watch a DVD on Japanese history.  Because of a discussion we get into, we re-watch part of yesterday’s DVD about the Samurai Swords and how they are made in order to verify a point.   R takes her turn of practicing the piano, H heads to the bedroom to do Spanish, and J sits down to write in his journal.  I crochet while R practices, and fold laundry, offering tips and a soothing voice when needed. 

The day goes by and soon it’s time for dinner.  R and I put on our aprons and head to the kitchen.  I’ve already started some Foccacia bread, on the dough cycle in the bread machine, so she starts cooking the onions and sausage while I go to the pantry for the rest of our ingredients.  She unloads  the dishwasher while I cut tomatoes into our sauce and start the water for the pasta.  Simmer, boil, stir, test, grate cheese, drain, mix, bake, and bake again.  Dinner is on the table and is delicious.  Husband says it is the best batch of Foccacia we’ve had yet!  I always use the same recipe, so maybe his tastebuds were just really hungry for it!

Dinner is all cleaned up - the boys pitched in and helped R, who is currently on dinner duty.  We decide to go for a walk.  Even Husband comes!  On the way back, J gathers some newspapers from the recycling bins that have been set out for our pick-up tomorrow.  He shreds them for worm bedding.  Yes, he’s a Vermiculturist!  After doing a last load of laundry for the day, I settle on the couch to crochet some more.  R settles in next to me and builds with the Klutz Castle cards.  J & H are busy at the table sorting the papers, then shredding them in preparation for his worms.

The call for "Bed!" is made, finally.  Everyone cleans up what they were doing, including me, and the house looks great and ready for a new day tomorrow!

Now I have to add one thing: neither of the boys practiced the piano today, which means they will each have to put $1.50 into our Evangelizing Can tomorrow.   Since Daddy works hard and pays for their lessons, it is their responsibility to practice.  If they don’t then they have to pay for the time they missed.  Also, our can used to just be for mad money, but now we’ve all agreed that we’re going to use the money we collect in it to buy tracts to hand out to people, to share with those in need, and to help support national pastors through Gospel Link.

Everyone went to bed happily, after a full day of work and plans and purpose.

What more can I ask?

He hath done all things well.  Mark 7:37

This post originally published @ Homeschoolblogger.com/ButterandHoney