Mom vs. the Dot: Making it COUNT!

Some of you may wonder what we really do in homeschool.  My first post didn't give you much indication, except that I've tried to instill a good ethic in our kids. Usually, we do 3 or more subjects.  Math, reading, writing (the 3 R's). Singapore math and computer games for review. The Reading Lesson (for Hulk Boy grade 1) Pick something interesting to read (everyone else) Picture journal entries (this is a big hit!)  We try to do an art project each month.   Here are some self-portraits I think   turned out well. We also have workbooks for grammar (Daily Grammar), Bible (A Reason for), and spelling (A Reason For).  We do those on alternating days so as not to burn out the kids or me!  We are also trying out Life of Fred books.  We made it through Apples together and are now working on Australia. Everything else is bonus. We watch JellyTelly for devotions. We sing all sorts of songs - from goofy to worship....

Do anyone else's group shots look like this?  This is as good as it gets with us.   Not perfect, but better. This is my motto.  At one time in my life, I considered myself a perfectionist.  That was when I was the only person in my life.  I ate a healthy diet, I was in good physical shape, I had a super-healthy devotional life, and enjoyed my work.  I shared an apartment with a college friend, it was always perfectly clean.  My laundry was always done in one or two loads.  I bought a small bag full of groceries and it would last me a whole week.  I went on bike rides and joined a fitness club - I thought that was perfection.  But there was something I didn't know.   I didn't know how empty and lonely life could be when I was by myself.   And how quiet. I may have been teaching a classroom full of kids, but none of them were my own . I lived close to my family, but I didn't have one of my own.  Most of ...

It has been a long time since I've updated you on Art Girl's progress, so it's time! Actually, we had sort of a breakthrough day this past week.  It's all about Raising the Bar. After testing last spring , I decided to just buy the next level of homeschool books and proceed along the same path we had been taking. I was unsatisfied post-testing because we had no diagnosis, but I still knew there were some things about the way she learns that were not addressed.  They were not even a concern on the educational psychologist's radar.  She said to practice writing more and work on spelling.  Well...DUH! (Can I say that?  Is that too 90's?  Well, I was a teen in the 90's, so I'm owning it. I may even throw in a "Holy Cow!") There were also concerns about math, not being able to memorize, not understanding directions, shutting down in the middle of lessons...my list went on and on, but they were not convinced there was a serious enoug...

In the last month or so, everything spun wildly out of control.  Crazy-fast, extremely crammed, not a moment to think of anything except completing the next task.  The kids, on the other hand, had a great time! I'm not exactly sure how that happens.  We homeschool, so I set our schedule.  We keep our "out of home" activities pretty limited - two evening activities a week, and church activities on Sundays. All the extra Christmas shopping, baking, present coordinating, buying, wrapping and hiding might have done it.  We only baked one batch of cookies.  I sent only a few Christmas cards.  We went to only one Christmas party...but it all adds up.  Every time I sat down with the thought of writing a blog, there was something else that would come up. Things like Shop Girl's hair being caught on the water spout of the tub during bath time.  Shrieks of "Cut it off!  Cut it off!" could be heard throughout the house.   (...

Every year we homeschool, I struggle.  I mentally fight for and against educating our children at home.  Whenever someone asks about why we homeschool, my default answer is that my husband decided we are going to homeschool, so we do.  He has always been fully convinced that this is the right educational choice for our family.  And I waffle back and forth.  I can't seem to make up my mind.  Most of the time, I'm glad we homeschool.  I struggle because I was trained as an educator.  I love teaching - it is one of my passions, and it brings me joy in whatever format I teach.  Almost any age, any subject.  Bring it on! Because I am an educator, I want to know I am "doing it right," and there is no "right way" in homeschooling.  I have nothing to measure our progress against.  No comparisons.  No benchmarks. No previous students.  Last spring, I told a new homeschooling mama, "Don't worry - your homeschool won't l...

Hi Friends! I decided to share our goings-on today because this is just how it goes when homeschooling. Some days, I wake up early and make a plan.  I was very pleased with my plan this morning. And then kittens showed up on our porch.  5 puffy, cute, mewing kittens. It was then that I realized my plans were flying out the window. Gone with the wind. Down the drain. It became an all-out nature viewing spectacle.  It began with this little guy last week, then we had another kitten show up yesterday.  When we peeked out the window this morning, we spotted 3 more kittens and the mama.  We were hooked. National Geographic on our front porch. Okay...I could either give up on homeschooling for the day (very tempting)   --or--   Switch gears and turn this into a learning experience that still counts as a homeschool day. That sounded like more work for me, but then I wouldn't have the homeschool mom guilt of missing anot...

Just in time for Halloween, we have a new addition!! Here are some clues: He is plastic, 2 1/2 feet high, and came from the library.  And he has to go back in two weeks. Any guesses?  Our very own borrowed plastic take-apart human, of course!   We are going to study human anatomy, so I spotted this guy in the resource room and knew we had to take him home with us.  A homeschool mom's dream!   I mentally patted myself on the back for being so ingenious and thrifty. Little did I know the vehement and terrified reactions his presence would bring! When my kids saw me carrying the model to the checkout desk, Shop Girl was terrified. Art Girl turned pale and looked like she was going to lose her lunch. Hulk Boy said with only what I can describe as glee, "Cool!  Can we take him apart? Can we take him home?  I want to see his insides!!"   I have to add that the librarian said, "That's the difference between ...

Every year, I start out with high hopes for our homeschool year.  You may recall this pic from my school supply bargain-shopping post . I order curriculum, wait for it in the mail, and with bated breath, open the orange bubble mailers that arrive at my house one at a time.  I organize each child's workbooks and school supplies, then stack them on the homeschool shelves and wait. While counting down the days 'til school, I hop on the internet to find more resources.  I find a couple new websites to use to further learning without mom's help.  www.abcya.com, www.pbskids.com, and www.starfall.com are our three favorites. After that, I sashay over to YouTube, saving interesting videos and subscribing to new channels I think the kids will like.  Music, science videos, How Things Are Made, history videos - you name it!  YouTube may be my favorite free homeschool resource.  Netflix also has some great videos - my girls like to watch the Bob Ross vid...

                  (Here my family and I are on a nature walk together - my hubby took the picture) I have been looking forward to this week.  Our kids were all signed up to go to VBS at our former church, bursting at the seams with volunteers and children.  I was ready for a week of free mornings, doing whatever I felt like doing. Tra-la-la! And that's exactly what I've  had: mornings by myself. I've tried to accomplish a few things, but mostly I've had a lot of thinking time.  Not a common occurrence in the land of children.  It's a question-a-minute all day long here. The house was so quiet - it felt peaceful, but not right.  I began to wonder if this is the way moms feel when they've sent their last child off to the first day of school.  The house is suddenly empty. Sure, there are piles of laundry to be folded, mail to be sorted through and phone calls to make, but I missed the interruption...

(Here my hubby is mowing the lawn, with the kids in tow, just for fun!  They love it!)   As I scroll through Facebook, I see many families who, as soon as their children are out of school, whisk their children off to magical places, awesome vacations, camping trips - you name it. We are just finishing our school year tomorrow. Do you know what I have planned? Absolutely nothing. Although I'd love to respond to this thought by putting my feel up, grabbing a book and letting out a long "Ahhhh" (sigh), I can't. I am experiencing a tremendous letdown. A total BLAH. Why? I don't completely know.  Part of it has to do with being in high gear for 9 months, spending half of every week day schooling the kids or planning fun, educational outings.  Many of my after-we-put-them-to-bed thoughts have to do with what we're going to be learning the next day, the next week, the next month and the next year.  My thoughts are consumed with how to make learn...