I realize that to the vast majority of you this won't make a hill of beans difference and, in fact, this post might make you want to gouge your own eyes out. But, part of my purpose (and justification) for keeping up this blog is so that I will remember the things of our children's childhoods that I would otherwise forget. This post will fall into the "only Mom cares about those memories" section. Sorry if you came to read something riveting. Today's post is hardly that.
Homeschooling.
Just like everything else in the world it comes with it's own misconceptions and stereotypes. Yes, our family probably supports some of those stereotypes (big family, conservative, lovers of Jesus, living frugally, incredibly witty and charming), so when I really felt like Homeschooling was for us I have to admit that I didn't want to be one of those freaks who homeschool. I really didn't want our kids to wear denim prairie skirts everyday or have long hair continually tied into buns. I also didn't want them to be anti-social. I mean, I used to be a public school teacher for crying out loud, clearly, clearly I knew I could teach our kids but as for the rest of the stuff that public (or private) school offers, I was feeling a little overwhelmed. But then I realized, maybe I don't want all that extra that traditional schools offer. Thus, we settled on homeschooling.
Now I'll admit that homeschooling isn't for everyone. (Although I think it's pretty cool to sit and watch your own kids finally "get" something they've been struggling with. I remember how excited I used to feel when one of my students finally grasped a tough concept. Well, if you're a teacher and you know that feeling, multiply it by about a bazillion when it's your own kid. That right there is reason enough to consider homeschooling.) But what I've found that has already made the 6 days of our schooling for this year MUCH easier than all of our combined days last year is that my perception of school had to drastically change. My expectations of what school at home looks like is much different today that it was this time last year. No more busy work in their seats (Remember, I used to be a public school teacher. I thought completed worksheets were a product of how much we had learned that day. Um..notsomuch.), no more expectations of a time-focused schedule, no more expectations of how fast or how slowly we should work through a concept.
Truly I could write post upon post of each of these topics but I won't. At least not now. This year, Elizabeth's FIRST GRADE year (holy smokes when did she become old enough to be a first grader?) we are using the following resources/curriculums.
We start our days off with a Morning Meeting. This includes changing the calendar, adding numbers to our 100 chart, graphing the weather, writing and singing the days of the week and memorizing a Bible Verse. You can read more about our Morning Meetings by clicking here and reading my BFF's post on their Morning routine. I totally stole every bit of it from her.
Spell to Write and Read: We tried this spelling, reading and writing curriculum last year and it flopped like a stinky, dead fish. This was totally my fault since I thought I could pick and choose what I wanted to do with this method of teaching reading. And, with most curriculums you can pick and choose. But not with SWR. SWR is pretty systematic in it's teaching and if you leave out one of the components it makes the whole kit and caboodle fall apart. So, we went back to square 1, regrouped and began again. What I love about this program is that it's not leveled by grade. Instead, it's leveled by ability and progresses as the child learns. We are 6 days in and Elizabeth remembered the first set of spelling words from last year so well that I'm sure this week will be a breeze.
Handwriting Without Tears: We've done HWT since Elizabeth was 4 and I still love it. I love that it is created by Occupational Therapists and adapted so that the students learn to print on levels that are age appropriate. Lucas and Ashlee are doing the "Get Set for School" workbooks and Elizabeth is doing the 1st grade level workbook. They are fun and the kids really enjoy them along with the songs and fun rhymes that come along with the program. Elizabeth won't do this everyday but most likely 2 to 3 days a week. Lucas and Ashlee will be using this program for number and letter recognition and to practice their handwriting.
Math-U-See: Oh how I wish I'd known about this curriculum when I taught 6th grade Math! Seriously, this is a math lovers dream. I'd guess it's also a Math haters dream. Our kids just love playing with the blocks and creating all kinds of things. And, I let them. Because I figure if they associate playing with the block as being fun, then when it's time to work with them they'll think it's equally as fun. Elizabeth is finishing up her Kindergarten Primer and will be moving into the Alpha book soon. She's already reading and almost adding 3 digit numbers. Math is, by far, her favorite subject. Just like her Momma. ;)
Bible: As I said above, the kids are memorizing a verse per week. We are using a workbook that a friend gave me that has a verse for every letter of the alphabet. I incorporate hand motions and the oldest 3 have really picked up on them quite quickly. All 3 of the oldest kids can recite Matthew 7:7 and Galatians 5:22-23 from memory now. I love watching them recite it with their little hand motions. They are so proud of themselves too! I've been introducing 1 verse a week, but as they catch on more quickly I'll probably move to 2 verses a week. After we finish that we will move to our Picture Smart Bibles. My Mom purchased this for us at Homeschool Convention this year and I can hardly wait for us to start! It looks like it will be excessively cool and a fun way for our family to read through the Bible together and still keep the attention of the kids. We've still been using our Jesus Storybook Bible for our family Bible reading time but we've read through it about 4 times already and I think the kids are ready to move onto something a little more detailed.
Art: The older 3 are taking art lessons once a week for an hour each Friday. Elizabeth took them last year and this year Lucas and Ashlee were old enough to join her. So far, it's working out well. Ashlee is all about art. That girl could color until the cows come home. Elizabeth loves it equally so, and I've been exceedingly proud of Lucas the last two week since he's lasted for 50 minutes of the 60 minute art lesson. Only during the last 10 minutes does he begin to lose interest and ask if it's time to go home. I really only expected him to last 15-20 minutes but he's proven me wrong...in a good way...finally.
As for being physically active, well, I don't think lack of physical activity is a problem around here. But as for organized physical activity, all 3 older kids will be playing Upward Soccer in the fall and Upward Basketball/Cheerleading in the Spring.
My Mom is awesome about supplementing their education when the kids go to MeMe's house. She is teaching Elizabeth to sew on the sewing machine and they've already made several outfits. Not really any that are especially detailed and they're all mostly for dress up but Ashlee has sported a skirt made at MeMe's to church and Elizabeth has worn her dress out in public as well. But if you've read here for any amount of time you know that I don't really care what my kids wear as long as they are clothed modestly and they won't get heat stroke or frostbite.
And that about sums it up. I already look forward to our school days much more this year and I'm so thankful that I've found a way to make it work for us and that God finally altered my view of what school at home should look like.
Do you homeschool? Why or why not? And if you do, what curriculums do you use and why?
Homeschooling.
Just like everything else in the world it comes with it's own misconceptions and stereotypes. Yes, our family probably supports some of those stereotypes (big family, conservative, lovers of Jesus, living frugally, incredibly witty and charming), so when I really felt like Homeschooling was for us I have to admit that I didn't want to be one of those freaks who homeschool. I really didn't want our kids to wear denim prairie skirts everyday or have long hair continually tied into buns. I also didn't want them to be anti-social. I mean, I used to be a public school teacher for crying out loud, clearly, clearly I knew I could teach our kids but as for the rest of the stuff that public (or private) school offers, I was feeling a little overwhelmed. But then I realized, maybe I don't want all that extra that traditional schools offer. Thus, we settled on homeschooling.
Now I'll admit that homeschooling isn't for everyone. (Although I think it's pretty cool to sit and watch your own kids finally "get" something they've been struggling with. I remember how excited I used to feel when one of my students finally grasped a tough concept. Well, if you're a teacher and you know that feeling, multiply it by about a bazillion when it's your own kid. That right there is reason enough to consider homeschooling.) But what I've found that has already made the 6 days of our schooling for this year MUCH easier than all of our combined days last year is that my perception of school had to drastically change. My expectations of what school at home looks like is much different today that it was this time last year. No more busy work in their seats (Remember, I used to be a public school teacher. I thought completed worksheets were a product of how much we had learned that day. Um..notsomuch.), no more expectations of a time-focused schedule, no more expectations of how fast or how slowly we should work through a concept.
Truly I could write post upon post of each of these topics but I won't. At least not now. This year, Elizabeth's FIRST GRADE year (holy smokes when did she become old enough to be a first grader?) we are using the following resources/curriculums.
We start our days off with a Morning Meeting. This includes changing the calendar, adding numbers to our 100 chart, graphing the weather, writing and singing the days of the week and memorizing a Bible Verse. You can read more about our Morning Meetings by clicking here and reading my BFF's post on their Morning routine. I totally stole every bit of it from her.
Spell to Write and Read: We tried this spelling, reading and writing curriculum last year and it flopped like a stinky, dead fish. This was totally my fault since I thought I could pick and choose what I wanted to do with this method of teaching reading. And, with most curriculums you can pick and choose. But not with SWR. SWR is pretty systematic in it's teaching and if you leave out one of the components it makes the whole kit and caboodle fall apart. So, we went back to square 1, regrouped and began again. What I love about this program is that it's not leveled by grade. Instead, it's leveled by ability and progresses as the child learns. We are 6 days in and Elizabeth remembered the first set of spelling words from last year so well that I'm sure this week will be a breeze.
Handwriting Without Tears: We've done HWT since Elizabeth was 4 and I still love it. I love that it is created by Occupational Therapists and adapted so that the students learn to print on levels that are age appropriate. Lucas and Ashlee are doing the "Get Set for School" workbooks and Elizabeth is doing the 1st grade level workbook. They are fun and the kids really enjoy them along with the songs and fun rhymes that come along with the program. Elizabeth won't do this everyday but most likely 2 to 3 days a week. Lucas and Ashlee will be using this program for number and letter recognition and to practice their handwriting.
Math-U-See: Oh how I wish I'd known about this curriculum when I taught 6th grade Math! Seriously, this is a math lovers dream. I'd guess it's also a Math haters dream. Our kids just love playing with the blocks and creating all kinds of things. And, I let them. Because I figure if they associate playing with the block as being fun, then when it's time to work with them they'll think it's equally as fun. Elizabeth is finishing up her Kindergarten Primer and will be moving into the Alpha book soon. She's already reading and almost adding 3 digit numbers. Math is, by far, her favorite subject. Just like her Momma. ;)
Bible: As I said above, the kids are memorizing a verse per week. We are using a workbook that a friend gave me that has a verse for every letter of the alphabet. I incorporate hand motions and the oldest 3 have really picked up on them quite quickly. All 3 of the oldest kids can recite Matthew 7:7 and Galatians 5:22-23 from memory now. I love watching them recite it with their little hand motions. They are so proud of themselves too! I've been introducing 1 verse a week, but as they catch on more quickly I'll probably move to 2 verses a week. After we finish that we will move to our Picture Smart Bibles. My Mom purchased this for us at Homeschool Convention this year and I can hardly wait for us to start! It looks like it will be excessively cool and a fun way for our family to read through the Bible together and still keep the attention of the kids. We've still been using our Jesus Storybook Bible for our family Bible reading time but we've read through it about 4 times already and I think the kids are ready to move onto something a little more detailed.
Routine: One thing I've found out about myself is that I really don't like schedules. I love routine, I loathe schedules. For me, doing things in a certain order rather than being dictated by the time on the clock makes much more sense for our family. So, I've written down an outline and order of how I'd like our day to go. Rather than doing a schedule where our activities are based around the time on the clock, we flow through our day based on "what's next" and it is so much less stressful for me. On days like today where I had to take Ella to get some shots early this morning, I could still pull out our routine and start with the first thing on the list. We were still done with school by 3:30 and we accomplished everything I had on our lesson plan. I feel accomplished when I check something off the list rather than defeated because I'm an hour "behind schedule."
Art: The older 3 are taking art lessons once a week for an hour each Friday. Elizabeth took them last year and this year Lucas and Ashlee were old enough to join her. So far, it's working out well. Ashlee is all about art. That girl could color until the cows come home. Elizabeth loves it equally so, and I've been exceedingly proud of Lucas the last two week since he's lasted for 50 minutes of the 60 minute art lesson. Only during the last 10 minutes does he begin to lose interest and ask if it's time to go home. I really only expected him to last 15-20 minutes but he's proven me wrong...in a good way...finally.
As for being physically active, well, I don't think lack of physical activity is a problem around here. But as for organized physical activity, all 3 older kids will be playing Upward Soccer in the fall and Upward Basketball/Cheerleading in the Spring.
My Mom is awesome about supplementing their education when the kids go to MeMe's house. She is teaching Elizabeth to sew on the sewing machine and they've already made several outfits. Not really any that are especially detailed and they're all mostly for dress up but Ashlee has sported a skirt made at MeMe's to church and Elizabeth has worn her dress out in public as well. But if you've read here for any amount of time you know that I don't really care what my kids wear as long as they are clothed modestly and they won't get heat stroke or frostbite.
And that about sums it up. I already look forward to our school days much more this year and I'm so thankful that I've found a way to make it work for us and that God finally altered my view of what school at home should look like.
Do you homeschool? Why or why not? And if you do, what curriculums do you use and why?