Back in School

We started school . . . good news and bad news . . . good news because we need the structure to get things done and keep this house running like a well oiled machine!!! . . . bad news because my house gets neglected and things are usually a little more hectic!!

This year I will be teaching 6th grade, 4th grade, and Kindergarten, as well as entertaining a 2 year old and her almost one year old brother!! We all take turns entertaining the Littles (the youngest 2), but the Bigs (the oldest 3) want to get their work done!!! Isn't that the dilemma of every homeschool family that has more than one child?? I am trying to enjoy our days and remember they are only little for a short while (thank goodness) and this stage will make way for a new one!!

I have switched to Singapore Math from Math U See, which I have been using for 6 years. I have had 2 math teacher friends, plus another K teacher friend who uses Singapore and highly recommends it!! My two BIGGEST Bigs are reluctant mathematicians!! So I thought we would try something new!! I am also switching to Explode The Code to teach Carter to read!! He can't wait to learn to read like the other Bigs!! I am using Wordly Wise 3000 for Vocabulary. I have never used it before but I have read rave reviews on it!! We are using IEW for Writing, Sonlight for History, and Apologia's Astronomy for Science. We have been using these for a few years now!

I am looking forward to a year filled with fun and excitement!! I hope we all survive!! I am pretty sure we will!!

**Thanks for indulging me while I referred to my children as "The Littles" and "The Bigs". Camden just read the book, "The Littles" so I couldn't resist!! It was fun and I think I have decided to do it from now on!!

I Love You Well, My Little Brother

I found this poem in Camden's Language Arts book. He is supposed to memorize it!! I like that idea!! I am making his brother memorize it too!! I think we shall walk around reciting this one all the time!! I know they love each other, but there are days . . . when love lies deep under the surface!! Maybe the poem will be a fun reminder of how we ought to treat each other!!!

I Love You Well, My Little Brother
Mother Goose Rhyme

I love you well, my little brother,
And you are fond of me;
Let us be kind to one another,
As brothers ought to be.

You shall learn to play with me.
And learn to use my toys;
And then I think that we shall be
Two happy little boys.

Famous People from the Past and Present

Name one famous person that has ever been homeschooled and has also made contributions to society?? Let's take a look at a few!!

The 14 Days of Homeschool!!

This is pretty funny . . .

How do you learn to SOCIALIZE anyway??

Those that are not familiar with homeschooling usually believe the stereotypical lie that homeschoolers don't have an opportunity to socialize. They believe that school is the place where children can learn to interact with others and learn the "social skills" that are necessary to live a complete, healthy life. They may never stop to think about the people in life that you know or have met that went to school, but who are completely unsocial or anti-social. You have seen then in your own school days; all alone in the corner of the cafeteria, the one that is so rude and has no social graces, the one that chews with his mouth open at lunch and makes a spectacle of himself. They exist as adults in the work place and in other social settings.

Most of the time, those unsocialized folks weren't homeschooled. They are people that are simply not taught at home how to interact with the world around them in a socially acceptable way.

There is one child that I know who is very unsocialized and that child has been in school/daycare since birth. The child is in "survival mode" making sure that no gets the child's stuff or takes the child's seat. The child carries stuff around all day long so no one will take it. The child yells at other children in order to get away with things or get the point across, so that someone will hear what this little one is trying to say. This child is mean. Sharing is not the norm and is very difficult. The world revolves around this child and everyone is expected to know that. I know for a fact that I have only seen the surface of what this child is capable of socially.

If parents expect the school system, public or otherwise, to teach their children how to socialize PROPERLY, there are going to be kids that are lacking in so many areas of life because this area of socializing affects so much. A teacher with 30 kids in a classroom should not be expected to teach your kids how to play nice, share nice, or talk nice. That is OUR responsibility . . . the parents of said children.

So, that is what I do . . . I teach my kids how to interact with other children of different ages, not just their own age. We actually talk about certain scenarios and how they might act or interact. When we have people over, we talk about the proper way to treat a guest. When my kids go to someone else's house we talk about acceptable social behavior. Since I have them at home with me, especially while they are young, I can be there for them when they are in a situation and need help figuring out what to do, socially. I don't call this tattling . . . . I call it teaching.

As a homeschool family, our opportunities to socialize are enormous. Sometimes I have to tell the kids, "Ok guys time to stop socializing! We need to get some school done!!"

My whole point is . . . I don't want someone else teaching my kids how to socialize. I want to do it!! I am so glad that God has given me the opportunity!! It is my life's most exciting adventure!!

our first event

I think it went well!! Last night was the first event that we have had this year and that I have had since becoming the group's president. The event last night was different than what we have had in the past, but people came and hung out and had a lot of fun!! I had many people come and tell me that I did a great job and I humbly say Thank You!! But in all honesty, I couldn't have done it without the team that I had in place to assist. You all were so amazing!! Thanks a bunch!

The homeschool group at the church, is an awesome bunch of families to be a part of!! I am very proud to be part of such a close group. Thanks to all who came out and listened to me talk!! I am looking forward to lots more fun and excitement this year!!

Random Stuff

Things seem busier than usual . . . I always say that!! It seems that as the kids get older, things are just busier!!

My kids have had play dates everyday this week!! It is so unfortunate that they are so unsocialized (because we homeschool) and have no interaction with other children their own age. (that was totally sarcastic!!) So if they are not reading a book, they are playing with other children. That has made things very busy!!

I have been planning and organizing events and meetings for our homeschool group. That is quite a task! There is a lot of "red tape" when dealing with a large church like we have. I have also been putting cards, flyers and sign up sheets together. This (and blogging) are what I spend most of my late nights doing!!

Next week our church is doing VBS and my Hunny and I volunteer. That is one of the busiest weeks of my year!! The kids look forward to it all year. We always have fun too!

The week after that I am planning some big events for the HS group and Carley, the world's best big sister, will be at kids camp. I am going to miss her like crazy!!

That means that sometimes laundry doesn't get done like I would like and floors aren't mopped as often as I'd like!! I have convinced myself that in the end, my kids are going to be happy because I poured everything in to them and their education. I hope that the details of piled laundry and finger prints on glass doors fade in the background.

We are starting school on Aug 4, so I plan to slow it down some. I am excited about what is coming up with our homeschool group and that is all I can handle!!! God is going to have to help me every step of the way . . . . as He always does!!

A Homeschool Family

Book Challenge

I am not usually into bribing my kids to do work, but I am looking at it from a new perspective. We are now "goal setting" in this house. We are hoping to get them to work . . . at anything . . . just DO something!! They would be content to play electronics or ride bikes all day long. While neither of those are "bad," I want to instill in them a sense of working in order to earn something. (That's why we all work, right?) So, here's the deal . . .

They each set a goal of 5 books to be read this month. If they reach their goal they each get $10. Any book over 5 is worth $1 each, unless they double their goal. If they double their goal they get double the cash, $20!!!

That is a lot of money for a 6 & 8 year old. They are learning the true value of money. Recently they have saved up some of their own money in order to buy something. They say, "Wow, $20 is a lot of money!!" So they know they can get some nice things with their cash.

They are now motivated to work and read. I hope they reach their goal!!

What I'm reading . . .

I am thrilled to be introduced to classical education. This is so much fun!! Can't wait to get started on Latin!! I already ordered the stuff and my munchkins are pumped!!