School....Already?

I’ve got some school-year planning to do, but I’m really putting it off. I think I’m trying to get the most out of summertime.

I have a few more things I want to do before I have to think too much about the next academic year.

How about you?

1. When do your kids begin school?
2. What do you need to prepare to be ready?
3. What are you going to do with the time you have left?

I’ll go first.

1. We never begin school until the Tuesday after Labor Day (I’m just rebellious like that) ;)

2. I need to do some Algebra 2 review, plan some science and World History and get together some Bible teachings and memory work. I also plan to do a book study on dating (or not dating) with the boys.

3. Get Theresa’s room ready
Swim
Have lunch with my girls, sister and mom
Have a few more family get-togethers
Go to Wichita Wildlife Refuge and climb Eagle Mountain
Go on some more motorcycle rides
Replace the window covering in my living room

Your turn.

Am I Doing Enough? (Part 1)

A Summer Re-run (originally posted 7/22/07)


This question has been resounding in my spirit for a few weeks now. In separate conversations with home educating moms, this question was a heart-cry of three different people.

“Every night when I lay down to sleep, I just worry."
‘Today, have I done everything I could to direct and teach my children?’”
“How do I know I’ve covered everything that needs to be covered?”
“Am I doing enough or requiring too much?”

These are legitimate questions, but also ones that can bind us up in frustration and insecurities that will only pull us and our children down. Most of us are concerned that we’ll forget to teach some subject or an area that will end up being a hindrance to our children’s future. We feel that deep responsibility to make sure we’re “covering it all”.

Guess what? We won’t cover it all. We’ll leave gaps. There will be things we forget, don’t know to teach, or don’t do a very good job teaching. And if we’re fearful and concerned at night or at the end of a school year that we somehow failed, maybe our focus is on the wrong thing.

Is our real goal as home educating moms to raise superior academics; straight A students; cum Laude college grads?

Or has God called us to raise children whose hearts are completely turned toward Him? To guide them into a heritage of love and godliness that will continue long after we’re gone?

At the end of the day, or the end of 12th grade, my goal is to have poured my love into my children’s hearts. To have shown them the importance of choosing for themselves a life dedicated to a relationship with Jesus. To make opportunities for their character to be challenged to become the men and women that God has called them to be.

I’ve seen the fruit of that goal lived out in the lives of my five oldest children. What a blessing!

Did we leave gaps in teaching our children? Of course. Plenty. But God is faithful to teach them everything we didn't or couldn't. After all, He loves them even more than we do!

EVERYTHING that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. 2 Peter 1:3 NLT

But he said to me, "My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak."
2 Cor. 12:9 NIRV

You May Be a Home Educator if.....

A re-run, but one I want you, my readers to understand: what I believe about home education.

Add to my list. What makes a parent a “home educator”?

You may be a home educator if…..

*You teach your children to love God

*You teach your children to love and respect others

*You teach your children manners

*You teach your children how to do chores

*You teach your children to give

*You read to your child

*Building family relationships is very important to you

You are a home educator if you are intentional in your efforts to “teach a child in the way he should go”.

Somehow, we get caught up in thinking it's all about academics.

Are you a home educator?

Teaching Ideas #3

Addition Through 20

There are a few tricks that are helpful when teaching addition to 20. Here are a few that helped all my children.

*When adding 9’s to a number up to 10, go back one from that number and say “teen”.

Example: 9 + 4 (go back one number --say "three-teen", or 13"

*When adding 8’s to a number up to 10, go back two from that number and say “teen”.

Example: 8 + 6 (go back to 5, go back to 4, say "four-teen", 14)

*Memorize the doubles

*Learn “doubles plus one” (ex. 6 + 7 is the same as 6 + 6 + 1)

Start slow, work on one trick at a time and master it before moving on to another. Soon, your child will have addition up to 20 memorized.

Have any additional tricks for addition through 20?

Teaching Ideas #2

Report Night

A fun thing we did for a few years when the kids were young was to have a weekly “report night”. This was an evening that we looked forward to and prepared for. Each child was responsible to bring a book report, a chart from a science lesson they had learned, a poem they had memorized, or even a skit or song they had rehearsed together.

They were very creative in their ideas. We shared many laughs.

This gave them opportunity to stand alone in front of an “audience” and to also learn respect for the “performer”.

Let me know if you try this, or do something similar in your own family. It is a fun memory!

A Left Turn....

It was “one of those days” ---again. Maybe because it’s Monday. Maybe because we worked hard this weekend and we’re tired. Maybe it’s because I’m still not feeling well. Maybe it’s because of all those things.

It seems to always begin with math. Ugh! Actually, I really enjoy math…but my boys don’t exactly share the same excitement. Possibly, it’s a mix-up in communicating the method, the principle, the concept. Or, it’s tired boys with raging teen hormones. It’s being 13 and 15 with all the boy stuff that accompanies that. Or, it’s because I’m the mom…and the teacher.

Here’s the deal. I know I’m not supposed to take their reaction and less than eager responses personal….I just do. Again. And as good moms are supposed to do, I have another attitude discussion with my boys. Number 5384, or something like that. Again.

So, ….tomorrow will be a new day. Tuesday. Another day of math---yes. But, I’ll try to remember that I’m not 15…..or 13. I’m the mom. I shouldn’t take things so personally….again.

Some days are just hard.

Teaching Ideas #1

Newspaper School

One year I had the Daily Oklahoman deliver a newspaper for each child in our family every weekday morning. The Oklahoman offered a school-rate and honored that rate for our Meadows Lifeschool. While this project required quite a lot of quick, daily preparation on my part, it was a great learning time for us all.

I would go over the newspaper while the children were doing other activities. Since I was teaching five levels of academics at the time, I would decide what we would read together, and then assign varying projects according to each child’s ability. For the youngest, I might have them circle a certain alphabet “letter of the day” or find all the verbs, nouns, etc.. For others, an editorial, with instructions to look up any words they didn’t understand and tell, in writing, whether they agreed or disagreed with the writer’s point of view.

I remember one of my upper level kids doing a report on Iraq (a country just becoming more news-worthy at that time). We followed the stock market, (with Dirk's help) each child having a small portfolio of his own. We would read the paper for 30-45 minutes, then meet together to share our discoveries.

Some days, I was overwhelmed and the newspapers would remain tightly wrapped in a rubberband. Most days, we enjoyed keeping up with current events and sharing funny or touching stories we would read.

It was a fun time. Maybe I need to try it again with my two boys.

What are some fun teaching activities you do with your children?

It Was One of Those Days......#2

So, we started school work again today after returning from our vacation. The boys were left with instructions to get some work done while we were gone, and they did pretty well. But, 7:30 am came suddenly this morning. My boys were NOT very excited about math, vocabulary, or even Bible memory work…not that they ever are, really. But we trudged on, with the usual mom-rhetoric, “We all have to do things we don’t like”, “Come on,” “Get goin’!” “Pay attention”. Some attitude started showing: the slam of a book, a sigh, a groan….and then the boys started having attitudes too! :-)

So, I’m just telling you…some days are plain H-A-R-D hard.

But, guess what! Tomorrow’s a new day. I think I can have a better attitude tomorrow, and I’ll bet my boys will too.

Thank God-------

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

It Was One of Those Days #1

Back to School

We started back with our academics today. Before we began, we averaged the math scores from last semester. This is necessary for Kody, since he is a 9th grader this year and we need to begin keeping a transcript. Math is the one thing that actually has a score for us. The other subjects are, well, subjective. I grade according to effort more than an actual testing score, for now. This seems to motivate my boys into trying a little harder. By next year I will begin to give more tests and keep scores, preparing them for college classes. (Jacob is a 7th grader)

Today I assigned a report, due next week, on the Electoral College. This election season will be a great time to learn all we can about the election process and our American Government. I’ve done this in previous election years with my older kids. I’ll share more on what we cover later.

We also started studying I Corinthians 13 going word by word (ex: Love is patient). We’ll discuss patience for a few days until we move on to “kind”. We used specific relational examples to help remind us when we might be a little more patient.

What about you? Are you re-gearing to start the next session of schooling?

You may be a home educator if.......

*You teach your children to love God
*You teach your children obedience
*You teach your children to love and respect others
*You teach your children manners
*You teach your children how to do chores
*You teach your children to give
*You read to your child
*Building family relationships is very important to you

You are a home educator if you are intentional in your efforts to “teach a child in the way he should go”.

Somehow, we get caught up in thinking it's all about academics.

Are you a home educator?

Drill, Drill, Drill

Addition to 10

Recently, I’ve talked with some people who are teaching their children reading and math, but didn’t understand the importance of speed and accuracy. One of the best ways to build speed is with flash cards. Get your flash cards out, purchase a set, or make your own. We’re going to drill!

Flash cards should probably be used around a 1st grade level, once your child understands the concept of addition. Begin with the 1’s plus another number. Sometimes, doubles up through 5’s are an easy concept for younger children. Then, begin adding in the 2’s. Counting by 2’s is one way to teach this concept. Don’t be tempted to add in new facts until the first ones are mastered and memorized. They should be quick with the correct answer without having to think about it. A card with the wrong answer, or a slow answer, gets moved to the back of the pack for another try. Add in other numbers until your child knows all addition through 10 quickly and accurately. Keep this activity positive and upbeat, not berating for wrong answers, but praising right ones.

Another method is to use timed tests. Produce your own tests using 20 problems and set the timer or your cell phone stopwatch for one minute (or 10 for 30 seconds). If your child is not able to do the 20 problems you’ve chosen that quickly, get the flash cards out again, drilling some more. Write down the time encouraging them to see if they can beat it next time. Keep the papers, letting them see their improvement over time. Timing puts a little more pressure on your child, but helps them see the importance of knowing the right answer, not guessing.

Generate your own timed tests here.
Or download a free speed test generator here.


Share your methods of teaching addition. Do you think speed is important?

Tears don't stream down your face in space

In December, former New York Yankee great and fellow Oklahoman, Bobby Murcer, a neighbor of my husband’s dad, underwent surgery in Houston. The mother of NASA astronaut, Army Col. Doug Wheelock, informed her son that his childhood baseball hero was in Houston. The Murcers were invited to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and a friendship began.

So, last week, when the spaceshuttle went up in space a series of e-mails began between Col. Wheelock, and the Murcers. (Isn’t technology amazing?) These e-mails were forwarded to my husband’s father and he shared them with us. I think Bobby now has a hero of his own!

Here is an excerpt from one of Col. Doug Wheelock’s e-mails:


“It is an incredible experience out here in space and it quite frankly takes my breath away and brings me to tears when I look out the window at the Earth just hanging there in space! It’s almost as if my mind has such a difficult time comprehending the sight, that it doesn’t seem real. Last night, while Scott (Parazynski) and Dan (Tani ) were in the airlock, I took just a few minutes, by myself, and just looked out the window at the Earth. I figured out that tears don’t stream down your face in space, they just combine into one big tear-ball! I just can’t believe I am here! I just keep singing to myself, “How Great Thou Art”, when I look at the power and majesty of God’s beautiful creation!”

What an amazing and poignant accounting of God’s majestic creation!

Watch and pray for the seven astronauts as the shuttle lands on Wednesday, November 7.

It Was One of Those Days......

It was one of “those” days. It started off okay, but from there everything just went downhill. There seemed to be interruption, after interruption. Neither of the boys seemed to be able to focus on their schoolwork. I was getting a headache. One that
starts in your shoulders and keeps moving up until your head is pounding. Stress! But, we kept pressing on. Must get that schoolwork done!

Next, it was time to go over the science the boys had just read. Fun stuff about genetics, chromosomes, and heridity. I try to make it interesting, but….., well, sometimes it’s just not. My headache was getting worse. Must press on! So, I began asking review questions from what we had just read about genetics.

“What is a fraternal twin?” I ask in my most upbeat “teacher” voice.

Jacob, 13, answers with a grin, “It’s a twin that goes to college and joins a fraternity!”

That broke the monotony for the day! We laughed a lot, tried to get back on track and my headache even lessened a bit. And then we reviewed the correct meaning of a fraternal twin.

A friend told me the other day that you retain information seven times better when you laugh!

I’ll bet my boys never forget what a fraternal twin is.

Now, if I could just think of some great spelling and grammar jokes….

It's Not All About Academics

Last week I experienced again what it was like trying to teach older children while caring for young ones at the same time. My grandsons, Kaden, 4 and Will, 2 aren’t ready to sit at the table quietly while we work! So, we tried several things to occupy them while I worked with my boys on their lessons.

· We had special “school time only” toys. A favorite was a box of wooden clothes pins that my grandsons like to clip together to make outlines of roads for their cars.
· We had to work for shorter periods of time, speak a little more loudly, and concentrate harder.
· We had to accept the fact that relationships are more important than anything (even academics) and we just didn’t get everything done that we might have otherwise.

There were a few times I remember Kaden standing on the same chair seat right behind Kody while he was reading. Will was sitting on top of the table while we finished up some science.

It wasn’t a perfect scenario for learning, but we still got most of our work done. And we traded what didn’t get accomplished for lots and lots of hugs!

The take away? I think my boys, 13 and almost 15 learned more by caring for their nephews this week than anything they could have learned from reading a book.

How do you occupy your younger children while teaching your older ones?

Time Out!

Sometimes we all just need a “time out”. Things escalate to a point that is so overwhelming that we just need to stop what we’re doing and regroup. That’s when I usually say, “OK, everyone outside!” Even when it’s cold! Maybe the “time out” is for only a few minutes. Other times we need 30 minutes or more!

If we have to stay in because of weather, “time out” is a time to turn off all noise. No music playing softly in the background, no music practice. Think, QUIET! Even if it only lasts 10 minutes, it’s worth it. It’s a refocusing time. A time for me to gather my thoughts, to send up a quick plea for sanity! And it usually works. (If you don’t have older children to watch the younger ones outdoors, go outside with them. It will refresh you all).

The kids come back in a bit refreshed, ready to get busy. They know Mom means business! Time to get back to work!

What do you do to refocus when things get out of control?

Adjustments

So, I’m just now getting around to posting again because it’s been a little busy around here.

Last week our two grandsons, Kaden, 4 and Will, 2 stayed with us while their mother, Erin was visiting her husband and their father, Jon before he leaves for Iraq on September 24.

There wasn’t much time for anything else besides caring for them! And they’re really easy children to care for.

But it did remind me of some things I had forgotten from my children’s younger days when I really was “overwhelmed by my blessings”. And I had to make some adjustments to my usual routine:

· often the “boundaries” had to be pulled in tighter
· we had to have “time out” for all of us
· teaching time had to be for shorter periods
· we ALL had to work harder and longer

I’ll expand on these thoughts in following blogs.

What adjustments might make your days easier?

“There is no higher calling in life than the task of bearing and raising the children whom God has trusted to our care.” ~ Dr. James Dobson

Ready......Aim.....

You’ve heard it before, “if you aim at nothing, you’ll probably hit it”. That’s the reasoning behind having a schedule. It’s a plan for my day. And it’s an important element to keep me focused on what I need to accomplish each day. Here’s how I came up with mine:

Questions to ask yourself:

What are the most important things I need/want to accomplish daily?
What seems to be my “weak” area?
What time do we want to start our day?
How much time would it actually take to do our academics?

I think the easiest way to make a schedule is to start from your “beginning school” time. From there count back to a time when you need to be up to do things for yourself before everyone else is up. Give yourself enough time to get your Bible reading done and have your day planned.

Continue to fill in the time slots with priority items: breakfast, lunch, chores, phonics, workout, etc. (the “needs”)

Maybe you even need to schedule a play time or a reading time with your children. (those “weak” areas that you might let slide if it’s not written down)

Make it as detailed as necessary to help keep you moving and accomplishing what you desire to do each day.

After making your schedule, try it out for a day or two. You may need to make adjustments. Remember, this should be something to help you, not overwhelm you. It’s a starting place, a guide, something to help you stay focused and on track.

Let me know if it works for you and share your schedule with the rest of us!

Our First Day of School Went Really Well……Except for……

Today was our first day of school. It went really well, except for:

An interruption to help my husband figure out the cell phone bill

Sending a son outdoors to run laps because he was frustrated over missing 3 problems on a multiplication speed drill test

Having same son write a paragraph on why he should do extra work on his multiplication facts since he didn’t respond respectfully when I made the “suggestion”.

Getting volume of a cylinder confused with surface area when helping my other son with his math

See---even a “veteran” homeschooler has daily issues to deal with. Maybe tomorrow will run a little more normal? Oh wait! That IS normal!!

When They Were Younger

5:30 am – get up, COFFEE or hot tea, Bible reading, personal reading
6:30 nurse a baby, put back to bed (hopefully)
6:50 get dressed (if I was lucky)
7:00 start laundry, begin making breakfast,
7:30 wake up children (only the ones learning academics)
7:30 – 8:00 breakfast, morning chores, more laundry
8:00 Bible reading – together
8:20 Begin math with one of the children

Yes, I had to get up at 5:30 if I wanted personal quiet time. (It may work for you to stay up late!) Many times, though, an early riser would join me and I encouraged them to sit quietly with me. Did it always work? No!

The remainder of the morning is used trying to spend one-on-one time with each child on math and reading, dealing with constant issues, and continuing with laundry (which the children helped me fold and put away after lunch).

11:30 EVERYONE OUTSIDE! (while I make lunch)

12:00 Lunch

12:30 lunch clean-up
1:00 – rest of day This time was used for piano practice, personal reading, chores, etc.

We always had a “rest time”. That was no less than 30 min of QUIET. This was for me, more than for my children. They didn’t have to sleep, but they did have to be on their beds with no talking. During this time I would determine what I needed the most. A nap? More cleaning? More planning? And many times, the time was spent just getting children to be quiet! And 30 minutes goes by VERY quickly!

For several years when I was teaching 4 or more children at once, I would prepare weekly worksheets for each child. This would take approximately 3 hours each Sunday. It was a difficult process, but necessary to the success of the following week, in regard to academics. This worksheet would list the various subjects each child was learning, and would include reading and writing assignments for each day. This enabled me to work individually with each child without so many interruptions or more time spent telling them what needed to be done next. When each assignment was completed the work was to be given to me to be checked. After I checked the work, it was given back to be corrected on that same day, even if it had to be finished after our normal “school hours”.

For my very young children, ages up to 4, I tried to keep them busy with something while working with an older child. This takes constant effort to teach them to give you a few minutes of time for another child, but it can be done.

For 4-5 year olds, I try to begin teaching numbers, letters, beginning phonics, etc. This is done in short time intervals, maybe 2-3 times within a day. And many times, an older child helps with this.

6-8 year olds are able to do math flash cards alone. We used Math-It (a speed drill using small flash cards). They can also do a few worksheets on their own.

9 and up should be able to begin doing more and more independent work, working with and helping care for younger children and taking more responsibility for the housework.

Again, this schedule was a daily goal. It was a time-frame we would aim for together. We worked hard at it everyday. I would say we were consistently less successful with hitting the times than we were successful! But that is life, right?

If you don’t already have one, I recommend a schedule.

We’ll work on it tomorrow.

My Schoolyear Schedule

My daily schedule has gone through many changes over the years. Mine is so easy now, I hate to even share it with you.

6:00-6:30 am Arise
COFFEE!!
6:30-7:30 Bible reading, e-mail, personal reading, daily planning, start one load of laundry
7:30 shower, make bed, get dressed (boys are getting up and starting their day)
8:00 make breakfast and clean up kitchen
8:30 begin schoolwork with boys
between 8:30 and noon I:

try to get in some weight lifting
continue to work on laundry
clean around the house
check work that the boys have done

Our school time:
8:30-8:45 work with one son on math
8:45-9:00 work with other son on math
9:00-9:20 read a book together (we’ve read “A Young Man After God’s Own Heart”, “A Case for Christ”, and others
9:30-10:00 language (writing, grammar, etc.)
10:15-10:30 OUTSIDE!!
10:30- 11:00 science or history discussion over previous day's assignment
11:00-11:30 individual reading
11:30-? Independent work (finish math lesson, writing, music practice, chores

By noon I am finished with schoolwork. I’m still available to answer questions, but my “sit down” time is over. The boys usually still have writing and reading to do on their own. This is also drum and guitar practice time for them.

Afternoon: pre-make dinner (everything that can be done ahead)
Garden, read, more housecleaning chores, mending, etc.)

Two days a week we have music lessons, library and grocery store. I have tried to limit my getting out to only 2 days a week.

Our boys are encouraged to head to bed by 9:00 pm. They are allowed to read until they go to sleep.

Again, this is only a guide. It doesn’t always run smoothly or even on time. But, it’s what I aim for.
This is so easy now, compared to the time when we still had seven children at home! I’ll talk more about that schedule next.