homeschool

Beyond Book Smarts

November 18, 2011

Education is about so much more than book smarts. I’ve known this for awhile and believed it to my core. In fact, this fact alone has dictated so many decisions we make in raising our children, especially since we home school and want to make sure that they are learning more than just “reading, writing, and arithmetic.”

Yesterday and today our school time was “interrupted” so that I could spend time one on one disciplining a child for behavior. Each time it was a different child. Each time the issue was about much more than their behavior but the character issue underlining it. And as you can imagine, each time it took way more time and energy than I truthfully wanted it to. But, I plowed through. As I did I recalled a nugget I took from the parenting DVD I watched last spring in SS. The speaker said we need to view these situations as “moments of ministry” and GIVE THANKS for the opportunity God has given us to work on this character issue now… while they are young. I am so grateful for that perspective change b/c I realize as I home school I am given a unique gift (though I don’t always view it as that in the moment) of extra time with my child to work out these issues. And I promise you I don’t think a home school day goes by where we don’t have to stop and work on our hearts. It isn’t quick, it is definitely not painless and I too often wonder when or if we’ll see the end result. It is my prayer though that through these battles and through these discussions, God will use them to mold and shape our hearts to be like His.

I know that these battles wouldn’t have arisen had they been in a regular classroom this morning. And yet, that doesn’t mean that those underlining character issues wouldn’t still be there. And so, in a strange way I am grateful for those outbursts and the opportunity they provide for us to work on character. I am hopeful that God will use them to draw each of us closer to Him and I am thankful for His grace despite my many, many shortcomings as Mom and Teacher.

I left today’s battle in need of some chocolate… I didn’t have time to mix up those cookies yet but after we got some more school work done and broke for lunch I was blessed with some time to blare some praise music on Pandora while making mac and cheese… it was just what my soul needed. It’s quiet/nap time now and I think I’m going to mix up those cookies (or at least eat some cookie dough) before we hit the books again this afternoon.

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Life With 2

September 14, 2011

in Darndest Things,home school,homeschool,Keeping it Real,library,Motherhood

Now that my oldest 2 are at their tutorial two days a week, I find myself with just 2 children at home on those mornings. It is a truly odd feeling and a dynamic I am not yet used to. Though I am sure it is nothing compared to the strangeness I’ll feel next year when I am left with only my lil man two days a week.

I am hoping to use this time to

1. take care of errands

2. stay on top of housework/laundry

3. enjoy some quality time with my youngest two

I was thrilled when I learned our library will be hosting story time a few times a month on the same mornings as our tutorial. When I told my 4 yr old that we’d be going to story time this week she responded, “Story time, what’s story time?” meanwhile simultaneously, my oldest child said, “Awh, story time… I remember story time… I loved story time!”

And there ya have it folks…evidence that you truly don’t parent the same way each time around.

I remember with my oldest and even when his little sister came around, we went to story time… all the time… we were regulars…even hitting up more than one library. Then number 3 came along and we went for a bit.. as I sat nursing her in the back row, trying to keep my toddler sitting quiet and encouraging my 3 and 1/2 yr old to go ahead and sit up front without Mommy… you can easily see with that beautiful picture how story time slowly became a think of the past… that and the fact that for awhile I banished myself from the library as a way of keeping my overdue fines in check. Topped off with the fact that I couldn’t really go to story time on days we were schooling at home, b/c we had school work to do.. and then number 4 came along and he needed a nap in the morning, plus the girls played so nicely together when there brother was gone, why not take advantage of that time to catch up at home….yada, yada, yada… you end up with a 4 yr old who doesn’t even know what story time is.

I am happy to report that story time was a huge success this morning and we plan to return next month for more stories, songs, and crafts!

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Another New School Year

September 12, 2011

in fall,home school,homeschool

While we’ve been “doing school” at home for the past few weeks for the purpose of reviewing and getting used to the routine, today was the first official start of our new school year.

We homeschool, but also use a tutorial. The kids attend the tutorial twice a week and study at home with me three days a week. So far, I feel it provides the balance our family needs between homeschooling and traditional schooling.

My 5 year old was beyond ready for her first day of kindergarten. She has been telling anyone who will listen (as in strangers in the aisle at the grocery store, clerks at Target, people passing in the street… literally EVERYONE) that she starts Kindergarten this year. Excited would be an understatement! This girl is ready…

I am not sure I was ready for how grown up she’d look when she put on her uniform this morning. What happened to my little girl?

And speaking of growing up… enter my second grader! (wasn’t it just yesterday that we were taking him to kindergarten?) Doesn’t he look ready for a trip on first class? I think his “book bag” is the size of one of his sisters! There are a lot of books to cart around in second grade.

I am really excited about this year. It’s my first year officially teaching two of them. As I looked over the curriculum for second grade, I am a mixture of excited and intimidated. We have A LOT of material to cover this year and the pace is going to be a fast one. But, I think at the end of the year, we’re going to be so proud of all that we learned this year. And that has me excited.

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Banner Day at the Circus

January 21, 2011

in growing up,homeschool,Motherhood

Dishes piled in the sink, pjs on till 2:00 in the afternoon, laundry waiting to be folded, counter cluttered…

But today, it doesn’t bother me. (ok, it doesn’t bother me too much anyway)…

because…

Today, I finally took the time to snuggle on the couch with my almost 5 year old and work with her on reading… and today that precious light bulb went off as she first went up and down the blend ladders and then graduated to three letter words.

Today I watched her sound out h-a-t, c-a-t, m-a-t, f-a-t, r-a-t, p-o-p… I saw her face light up as she got it. As she read her first word and then her second and then her third. She couldn’t get enough. She went to quiet time with words in hand and I could hear her reading the words over and over in her room, then writing them down and reading them again.

She’s been ready and eager for this and finally, we made it happen. And I couldn’t be more proud. It was such a precious moment and I am thankful I got to be a part of it.

That alone would be cause for celebration at the circus.

But, it’s not all… because she wasn’t the only circus member to have a first with words this week.

Our littlest cast member warmed his Momma’s heart by calling out “mumm-uh, mumm-uh”. I know your probably skeptical, but I really think he said it. It’s happened 3 times now and each time someone else heard it too. He was trying to get my attention and in the midst of his grunting and yelling, I promise you he said, “Momma!”

Two momentous occasions here at the circus. A big day with words. Reading and speaking. And this Momma is going to bed, dishes still piled in the sink, counter still piled with papers, but as my head hits the pillow, my heart is bursting with my pride.

My girl can read!

My boy said his first word!

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You take the good, you take the bad…

March 4, 2010

in homeschool,Keeping it Real

“You take the good, you take the bad,
you take them both and there you have
The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life.”

Blogging is funny, as many of you bloggers know, because when you write a post, you’re really writing a snapshot of a moment in time. And as as the author (or photographer, if you will) you get to choose which moment in time you post and thus you can largely shape the perception of your self and your family life that you present to the world.

And I struggle with this.

Because, I love my life. I really do. I love being married to Scott. I love being Mom to my 4 kids, and I love being able to stay home with them full time. And so at the end of the day, I often choose to reflect on those good moments throughout the day. Because every day has them. And I don’t want to be one of those negative people who complains and rants and dwells on the bad. (because oh, by the way, each day has plenty of those moments too).

And here lies the struggle for me, because I long to keep it real, to not put on a facade of having it more together than I do. I honestly do not enjoy being around “perfect people” or those that appear to be juggling their many roles without every dropping a ball or getting hit on the head. I get hit on the head quite often and I want to show my real self, but I want to do it without whining.

As I sat down to write a post for today, I thought about reflecting on our week of homeschooling. Here lies a perfect example of the inner struggle.

We’ve had some great moments this week. I could tell you more about our field trip to the butterfly tunnel on Tuesday and how the kids had a blast riding the Metro into DC and how the day ended so well with dinner at Chick-Fil-A on a family fun night (wahoo— kids eat free with adult combo meal and awesome face paint lady was there too). It was a great day! And not only did we have fun, but I really think the kids learned about the stages of butterfly development and had a good time seeing the butterflies fly up close and personal, instead of just reading about it in a book.

I love field trips! (hence the good)

But, life is not all field trips. And I could also look back on this week and tell you about the day my son spent 45 minutes, yes 45 minutes doing his handwriting… not b/c he was working so painstakingly slow to get it right and do a good job, but b/c he didn’t feel like working and so he piddled around and whined and complained… and I prompted…. and got frustrated…. and pleaded…. and raised my voice…. as we were trying to get our work done so that we could go on this really awesome field trip! (the bad)

Or I could write about today…. we spent a good deal of time at the dry erase board reviewing blends and special sounds and reading words that “break the rules” and he was doing it. He was reading! (sometime I often lose sight of the magnificence of in my shortsighted focus of today’s task). And he wasn’t giving up. And the girls were playing nicely in the other room so we could focus. (the good)

Of course fast forward a few hours and we have multiple children in time out for disobedience, tantrums from everyone and a hastily colored page in his book. (the bad)

The facts of life are, much like the jingle from the 80s show theme song state, you gotta take the good with the bad. We’ve got both. And I long to present the full picture without negativity. (not exactly sure how to do that, but it is my goal)

This afternoon we’re going to bake scones and have high tea as an extension of our study of England in Social Studies earlier this week. If I post pictures tomorrow of the kids all dressed up, eating their tiny sandwiches and smiling at the camera, don’t assume this is how we looked all day. It’s a moment, an activity, I’ve been looking forward to all week and will want to cherish and remember it, and yet I also know that between now and high tea, we have to go to the grocery store for those special ingredients, and swing by the post office to mail a package and buy stamps… and since I’ve been a mom for almost 6 yrs now, I know we’ll have many of those moments before (or IF) we get to our Kodak moment.

I’m just banking on the fact that 20 years from now, when the kids are grown and gone, and I look back on today’s snap shot…I’ll probably only remember the good. It’s just the facts of life.

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So Big and Yet So Small

September 15, 2009

in Circus Shots,homeschool

After months of deliberating, praying, waiting, and a little second guessing, the first day of school finally arrived this week. As you may recall we decided to home school, but with a twist. We’ve enrolled our son in a home school tutorial that he attends two days a week. So he has school at home with me three days a week, and at his tutorial 2 days a week. In a lot of ways, it’s the best of both worlds. Here’s a glimpse his first week at school.

Doesn’t he look so grown up?

The “Mom, really do you have to take this many pictures?” face

Here he is waiting for us to pick him up at the end of the day in the “dismissal room” Doesn’t he look so little here? Who took my baby and put him in this big kid room?