Mom - have you ever been inundated with questions from three or more children at once?
Have you been innocently sitting at the kitchen table, helping one child with her multiplication tables, another one with English, when suddenly another child needs you to check her History workbook and the 8th grader needs immediate help with his math?
Have you ever given 5 separate spelling tests in one day and get annoyed with the fact that children even need to learn how to spell?
Have you ever realized at 4:30 in the afternoon that you completely forgot to "do" Science with your 3rd grader?
Yeah, me too.
No advice - just feeling your pain.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
For Those Considering Homeschooling
When you are considering homeschooling, you are most likely approaching friends and family who have been homeschooling for quite some time. You are visiting homeschool blogs, reading books about the best methods, looking through piles of curriculum, and reading magazines geared toward homeschoolers. Each of these materials will have pictures of a serene mother sitting with her children as they happily soak up the knowledge being poured into them. Homeschoolers don't want to discourage you from this wonderful option, so you will rarely find the down-side of homeschooling presented. A homeschool article is much like a sitcom - challenges & situations are placed before you in a lighthearted way and quickly solved in a matter of paragraphs.
You are happy in your bubble. Well, I'm armed with my pin.
10 Realities of Homeschooling
1) The ABCs are downright terrifying.
2) Your children will be excited with their new books for a total of 2.5 days. No matter how relaxed your atmosphere, how colorful the workbooks are, or how many REAL books you read, kids have a natural school-detector and they can smell school no matter how well-disguised it may be.
3) Your children will take the first opportunity they can to get to run around, play with toys, wrestle, or pull each other's hair. Even after 3 bowls of cereal, they will be starving by 9:30 am and start rummaging the cupboards. There will be phone calls you WILL have to answer. You cannot leave the stranger at your door standing in the cold. Even if you turn off the phone and bar your door, you WILL have to use the bathroom. It will then take you another 10-15 minutes to reduce the chaos. I say "reduce" because once chaos ensues, it's almost impossible to regain total order.
4) The only reason those mothers in the magazines are able to smile WHILE homeschooling is because they have no pre-school children. The mothers of pre-schoolers are always posed in a family photo...on a Saturday...in the summertime...while dad is home.
5) Some days, your favorite color is school-bus yellow. You will dream about it. All. Day. Long.
6) No matter how bright your child appears to be at your kitchen table, he will forget everything he's ever learned as soon as he is among his peers. Of course, other mothers will beam with pride as their 3rd graders list all of the elements on the periodic table while drool begins to come out the side of your child's mouth. You will see the looks of pity on parent's faces as they realize how severely mentally challenged your child must be.
7) Homeschoolers still argue with their siblings. Often.
8) Tests scare you more now than when you were in college. You will fear "academic probation" for decades.
9) Some days, your children will finish school in three hours and you will question if you are giving them an adequate education.
10) Some days, your children will finish school in 10 hours and you will question if you are being too hard on them.
If you are a homeschool mom and have no idea what I am talking about, you are either, 1) a mom with 1 or 2 children who are not beyond the 1st grade or, 2) a mom whose last child is in their last year of school and you have been able to block out all of the trauma and now remember everything with sweet nostalgia.
No doubt, there are some wonderful aspects of homeschooling. I see it as the ONLY option for our family. But, I'm living it...day by day...in the trenches.
If you come to me with your questions and ask me for my opinion, I will encourage you to homeschool your child. I will suggest curricula, help with paperwork, and tell you that you are indeed qualified. I will also tell you that there are days you will not want to get out of bed, but then there are days that you will know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this is the BEST decision you ever made.
You are happy in your bubble. Well, I'm armed with my pin.
10 Realities of Homeschooling
1) The ABCs are downright terrifying.
2) Your children will be excited with their new books for a total of 2.5 days. No matter how relaxed your atmosphere, how colorful the workbooks are, or how many REAL books you read, kids have a natural school-detector and they can smell school no matter how well-disguised it may be.
3) Your children will take the first opportunity they can to get to run around, play with toys, wrestle, or pull each other's hair. Even after 3 bowls of cereal, they will be starving by 9:30 am and start rummaging the cupboards. There will be phone calls you WILL have to answer. You cannot leave the stranger at your door standing in the cold. Even if you turn off the phone and bar your door, you WILL have to use the bathroom. It will then take you another 10-15 minutes to reduce the chaos. I say "reduce" because once chaos ensues, it's almost impossible to regain total order.
4) The only reason those mothers in the magazines are able to smile WHILE homeschooling is because they have no pre-school children. The mothers of pre-schoolers are always posed in a family photo...on a Saturday...in the summertime...while dad is home.
5) Some days, your favorite color is school-bus yellow. You will dream about it. All. Day. Long.
6) No matter how bright your child appears to be at your kitchen table, he will forget everything he's ever learned as soon as he is among his peers. Of course, other mothers will beam with pride as their 3rd graders list all of the elements on the periodic table while drool begins to come out the side of your child's mouth. You will see the looks of pity on parent's faces as they realize how severely mentally challenged your child must be.
7) Homeschoolers still argue with their siblings. Often.
8) Tests scare you more now than when you were in college. You will fear "academic probation" for decades.
9) Some days, your children will finish school in three hours and you will question if you are giving them an adequate education.
10) Some days, your children will finish school in 10 hours and you will question if you are being too hard on them.
If you are a homeschool mom and have no idea what I am talking about, you are either, 1) a mom with 1 or 2 children who are not beyond the 1st grade or, 2) a mom whose last child is in their last year of school and you have been able to block out all of the trauma and now remember everything with sweet nostalgia.
No doubt, there are some wonderful aspects of homeschooling. I see it as the ONLY option for our family. But, I'm living it...day by day...in the trenches.
If you come to me with your questions and ask me for my opinion, I will encourage you to homeschool your child. I will suggest curricula, help with paperwork, and tell you that you are indeed qualified. I will also tell you that there are days you will not want to get out of bed, but then there are days that you will know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this is the BEST decision you ever made.
Monday, February 7, 2011
A Beloved Author's Birthday
Laura Ingalls Wilder was born February 7, 1867. Through her writings, children today are able to witness the settling of the American frontier as her family travels from Wisconsin to Minnesota and finally to the Dakota Territory. Several years ago, I read the Little House series to my 3 oldest children. During that time, we had a Laura Ingalls Day on February 7. They have talked about that day ever since.
This year, I have begun the series all over again with my youngest four. We thought it would be a good idea to have another Laura Ingalls Day and they have enjoyed it immensely, as have I.
We had stacked pancakes for breakfast, just as described in Farmer Boy. They were delicious, but incredibly filling!
After cleaning up, we did school the one-room schoolhouse way. I listened to spelling lessons aloud, quizzed them on grammar skills, they each did "figures" on a slate or pad of paper and we had a good old fashioned Spelling Bee!
As I read to them their history (a chapter from the book, "Little House on the Prairie" of course!), the children worked on clove oranges. These are wonderful gifts that are quite easy to make.
First, you tape around the center of the orange - where the ribbon will eventually be placed.
Then, using a nail, holes are punched on either side of both pieces of tape.
Next, place whole cloves in the holes just created.
Once the cloves are placed, make more holes with the nail and fill with a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. Then, place in a cool, dark place for a week until dried and put a ribbon around it for hanging. It will last for years!
We made egg-nog for lunch according to the directions found in the Little House Cookbook. While Seth & I enjoyed it, the others voted they like my recipe better!
Of course, a Laura Ingalls Day would not be complete without picking up some Little House on the Prairie DVDs. While the children watched a couple of episodes, they shook cream in quart jars and made butter. The buttermilk is being used in tonight's biscuits which, of course, will be topped by that delicious butter!
What have you been doing to break up the monotony of school?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Snow Day
One of the negative consequences of homeschooling is the fact that my kids miss out on the ever-anticipated "snow days" in the school system. Growing up, I loved listening to the radio on a snowy morning to find out if there were any closings. When they started reading the list, I'd sit down and listen very carefully and jump for joy when my school was named. Fact is, I still listen to that list for the name of my alma mater!
A few years ago, I began to give my children a modified version of the Snow Day. The first good snowfall resulting in most of the ground being covered with snow gives us a reason to take a bit of a break. In recent years, the snow has come at night and we've been surprised with both the winter wonderland and the treat of a snow day. This year, however, the accumulation didn't begin until late morning when school was already well underway. That was yesterday. So, the plan was that if the snow stuck around (ha ha) until today, we would have our day off.
So, as the snow is still here, the children have been throwing snowballs, making snow angels & snowmen, and sliding down the hill with their sleds. They've warmed up with cups of hot chocolate accompanied by a peanut butter cookie. I had the time to make mac & cheese (a favorite around here) for lunch, as well. Most of them are inside now playing quietly, reading books, or making Christmas presents while one of them is outside helping her daddy.
You know what? I still love snow days!
A few years ago, I began to give my children a modified version of the Snow Day. The first good snowfall resulting in most of the ground being covered with snow gives us a reason to take a bit of a break. In recent years, the snow has come at night and we've been surprised with both the winter wonderland and the treat of a snow day. This year, however, the accumulation didn't begin until late morning when school was already well underway. That was yesterday. So, the plan was that if the snow stuck around (ha ha) until today, we would have our day off.
So, as the snow is still here, the children have been throwing snowballs, making snow angels & snowmen, and sliding down the hill with their sleds. They've warmed up with cups of hot chocolate accompanied by a peanut butter cookie. I had the time to make mac & cheese (a favorite around here) for lunch, as well. Most of them are inside now playing quietly, reading books, or making Christmas presents while one of them is outside helping her daddy.
You know what? I still love snow days!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Blood
My girls have been learning about the components of blood this past week. Today, they made a blood model. I love activities that they can do on their own!
I labeled the first picture with the ingredients, but I fear it may be a bit small for many of you to see.
Red Blood Cells: cinnamon candies White Blood Cell: white jelly bean Platelets: candy sprinkles
Plasma: light corn syrup
Though it was "edible" the "blood" was awfully sweet, so we have to discard it in the "Hazardous Waste" bin!
Great way to visualize the substance which gives us life. Try it with your children and then discuss how Christ gave His blood to save us!
I labeled the first picture with the ingredients, but I fear it may be a bit small for many of you to see.
Red Blood Cells: cinnamon candies White Blood Cell: white jelly bean Platelets: candy sprinkles
Plasma: light corn syrup
Though it was "edible" the "blood" was awfully sweet, so we have to discard it in the "Hazardous Waste" bin!
Great way to visualize the substance which gives us life. Try it with your children and then discuss how Christ gave His blood to save us!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
MidWest Homeschool Convention
If any of you are looking for a homeschool convention that is worth going to, you may want to check out the MidWest Homeschool Convention taking place at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH
March 31-April 2, 2011. In recent year's, the convention in our area has become exorbitantly priced with very few good speakers and fewer vendors.
Though we will have to pay gas and hotel, my husband and I think the MidWest Conference will be worth going to this year. If you register by November 18, the cost for a FAMILY to attend all three days of the conference is ONLY $40! There are over 300 workshops with such speakers as Ken Ham, Ted Tripp, Carol Barnier, Todd Wilson, etc. Saturday night will cap off the weekend with a presentation by the Duggar family ($1 reservation for family). A bonus is that the convention is not far away from the Creation Museum.
For more info (there is a lot of it!), follow this link. To find out the prices after the early-bird deadline, be sure to check out the registration pricing page. The earlier you sign up, the more you save, but the prices are reasonable for the next month or so. Be sure to book your hotel early as they will sell out early.
March 31-April 2, 2011. In recent year's, the convention in our area has become exorbitantly priced with very few good speakers and fewer vendors.
Though we will have to pay gas and hotel, my husband and I think the MidWest Conference will be worth going to this year. If you register by November 18, the cost for a FAMILY to attend all three days of the conference is ONLY $40! There are over 300 workshops with such speakers as Ken Ham, Ted Tripp, Carol Barnier, Todd Wilson, etc. Saturday night will cap off the weekend with a presentation by the Duggar family ($1 reservation for family). A bonus is that the convention is not far away from the Creation Museum.
For more info (there is a lot of it!), follow this link. To find out the prices after the early-bird deadline, be sure to check out the registration pricing page. The earlier you sign up, the more you save, but the prices are reasonable for the next month or so. Be sure to book your hotel early as they will sell out early.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Not for the Easily Nauseated
Tuesday's science lesson with Katrina involved dung beetles, flies, & maggots. You think I'm kidding. Seriously, a whole 3 paragraphs on the dung beetle. Do you know there are parts of this world where people will special order dung beetles to help clean up the excess...well, you know...dung...in their areas?
Then there was the interesting tidbit about flies vs. cockroaches. Did you know that one fly landing on one part of a slice of bread will leave more bacteria behind (and, yes, they did inform us from where!) than a whole troop of cockroaches marching over the same slice of bread? I live on a farm, people. This is NOT what I need to know!
And, what about those maggots? I finally learned how dogs and cats go about getting worms. Worms, which, apparently like to feast on Rover & Fluffy's insides.
I need to learn to do science AFTER lunch. Way after lunch.
Then there was the interesting tidbit about flies vs. cockroaches. Did you know that one fly landing on one part of a slice of bread will leave more bacteria behind (and, yes, they did inform us from where!) than a whole troop of cockroaches marching over the same slice of bread? I live on a farm, people. This is NOT what I need to know!
And, what about those maggots? I finally learned how dogs and cats go about getting worms. Worms, which, apparently like to feast on Rover & Fluffy's insides.
I need to learn to do science AFTER lunch. Way after lunch.
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