I haven't been able to post anything new for a week or so. My hubby has been out of town. I have been home, alone, with 4 kids  (gasp)  :)      I am still alive and doing well.....and I promise to update you on the goings on in our life soon. We are planning a big history trip around our state over the next 2 weeks...so I will have a lot to share with you.


I thought I would leave you with this hilarious comedy about parenting. See you soon!:

Why Homeschool?

Homeschooling means different things to different people.  I think that these videos (of different educational ideas and methods) gives a good overview of what it is. Of course, not every homeschooling parent agrees with every single idea stated in these videos....it's about what works for you


(being updated regularly)

 

Not Just a Box

I sat there, staring at this big cardboard box. I could just imagine all the fun things we could do with it. Michael and Daelynn were inside the box, sitting side-by-side opening and closing the flaps. I could see there imaginations running away as well. 

Then it came to me. I remembered how much fun we had all had with the puppets we had recently purchased at a local arts and crafts festival.....I could see that box, not as a cardboard box that had been put together to carry a small table, but as a magnificent theater for wild plays and prose! Oh what fun it could be! I brought up my idea to my husband, knowing that he doesn't too much like puppets, but he does enjoy building things. I looked up some pictures for inspiration. 

Then my mind really started going. I remembered the wallpaper boarder I still had left over from my daughters room makeover. Then I remembered the old curtains I had in the linen closet. All I had to do was get my hubby involved for the schematics of it all.

Let me tell you, we worked on this theater for over 3 hours. But it was so fun and SO worth it! And, even if I say so myself, I think it turned out great!!! 

So next time you see a box, don't just see a box...........

Dancers and Monsters

"Oh, Mom! Look at this book! Isn't it so wonderful? Look at her pretty dress".

 Daelynn moves the open book so that I can see the illustrations. Sitting on the library floor with books all around us, Daelynn says with squinted eyes, "Don't you just love books? I love em'. I just get lost in them. Don't you, Mom?"

I smile back and excitedly reply, "Me too! I love them so much."

"I know. Don't you just love the library?"

"Yeah I do. Could you imagine being a librarian?"

"Oh my gosh, Mom. I would check out all the good books!"

"I would get fired", I said with raised eyebrows. We both started laughing quietly.

We hadn't intended on checking out any books today. In fact we were only there for the Lego-build activity they have on Saturdays. Daelynn had walked around to find some books to read while her brother was creating Lego monsters. I found a comfy chair to relax in while I worked on my crochet.

 When she brought the books over and sat down on the floor, she was so excited about the dancing book she found. Daelynn has been interested in teaching herself how to dance. I looked through the pages. What a great book for her to explore all the different types of dance there are.

               

She got even more inspired by this book. She decided to look through the DVD section. Not much time passed when Dalynn came running back to where I was sitting.

"Look Mom! A dancing movie!"

She showed me the DVD. It was an instructional video on ballet. What a great choice! I'm amazed how this un-schooling way of doing things is working! My child made 2 great choices for learning material, in the library, ON A SATURDAY, and was EXCITED about it. Wow!


If you have a hard time getting your children excited about reading, I would recommend a trip to the local library.....but not to look through books. You might need to be a little more creative. Check out all your branch has to offer. There are usually crafts, play-dates, tutorials, and other non-reading activities scheduled in the children's department.  You can sneak in a book or two with whatever your child gets interested in......

For example, my son built a Lego monster that he was very proud of. I could say something like, "Hey, wanna get a book with more Lego ideas?" or something like, "Man, you are really good at making monsters! I found this book about monsters....pretty cool huh?"

I guess a Lego trip can turn into a lot of unexpected things.

Embracing Your Inner Nerd

When I was in middle and high school I had a major problem: I was smart. When I looked around, I realized that the "brains" were not part of the "cool" crowd.......you were either cool, or you were a brain. So I decided to not try and show out in class by answering all the questions, and I made sure to keep my grades at As and Bs. I would joke around a lot and make it look like I didn't care about school.....but the big secret was that I loved to learn. I liked being smart. 

When I was older I went to nursing school through the Army. I realized that being smart as adult is completely different than being smart as an adolescent! Being smart was a good thing. Slowly, over many years, I have embraced my inner nerd. I don't fit all perimeters of the definition, but close enough I guess.

Nerd:  1)      a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious.
       2)    a person who behaves awkwardly around other people and usually has unstylish clothes, hair, etc
       3)    a person who is very interested in technical subjects, computers, etc.

Last night I realized how much of a nerd I really am. I was reading a good book, and I just couldn't put it down. It was pretty good in size as well, but I was gobbling it up. It had so much good information that I just couldn't stop myself! .......I ended up staying up on the couch reading that book until it was finished. I finally closed the cover around 5am. With a big smile on my face, I proudly told my hubby about my accomplishment. I think that this might be the largest book that I have read in  just under 24 hrs. He wan't as excited as I was, though. He simply remarked, "Really? You stayed up all night reading a book? You are such a nerd". I smiled. I knew he was just joking with me. I call myself a nerd all the time. And looking at that definition above, I'd say I have something to be proud of!

Let Go and Let Learn: Wise Words

" I am a homeschooling mom, I have a gifted child who struggles in one area, and I am also a special education consultant and social psychologist.

1. First, your child is unique. Please don't compare your child to another child. Your critical eye will never allow your child to measure up to your perception of another's skills.

2. Second, EVERY child has strengths and weaknesses. It is the nature of who he or she is. Piirto says that for every deficit a child has, he or she ALSO has a strength. Find the strength and use it to improve the weakness. This is called "Strength Based Learning" and can do miracles for your child's self esteem and your peace of mind.

3. Your child WANTS to learn and learns vicariously every second that he or she is awake. This means that he or she watches you and others, copies and applies skills, and learns by natural consequences and experience. Yes, you will have to help him or her with the basics, and share skills as he or she is interested, but you are a teacher for every second that they are a learner.

4. On the subject of Standards and Curricula... oyyy. Do you all even know what curriculum is? It is someone's interpretation of sharing knowledge that may or may not be correct and stardards are a collective opinion of when curricula should be taught. Essentially it is a marginalized education for the masses that is taught to the level of average. So it may not "fit" the uniqueness of your child. Don't be pressured into buying a curriculum if you think that you can do better. Trust your instincts, you can. Curriculum is to convenience as pre-packed foods is to quick suppers. They are fast and easy but one has to wonder about the nutritional content of both.

5. So your child doesn't (read, do math, etc.) by a certain age and you are worried that he or she is not learning. See 1-3 above, then realize that your child's mind is developing just as individually as his or her body is. Your child may not have the synaptic development yet to learn to your expectations. Children's brains are unique and develop at different paces. This means that your child may not be developmentally ready to learn something. Seriously, step back, do some Brain Gym and focus on what your child can do. The learning will come in time. If you are still worried after a year or two, then contact a professional and have an assessment done to see what his or her cognitive devlopment is. AND recognize that your child will be who he or she becomes. Do not limit him or her based on your hopes and dreams. He or she will make her own dreams. Case in point, I work with a 15 year old who can not read beyond a second grade level. He has a processing disorder. But he is a brilliant young man who can take apart an engine and fix it before you can type a term paper. He is also an empathic soul who can understand your feelings and speak to you with a college vocabulary. He could be a great psychologist and uses dragon dictation to write his papers. Where there is a will, there is a way! Shine the light on the path for your child and they will walk it if there is enough illumination.

And so, this is my professional mom speak to all of you moms and dads who burden yourselves and your children about homeschooling. Remember, public schools were developed as a tool to educate the masses to a minimum standard so they could be productive citizens and good laborers in their societies. We as homeschool parents want something different for our children... we want them to be educated in away that best meets THEIR needs."

-R Amy Daley Moore

The Giving Tree Short Movie

I found this on YouTube tonight while telling my daughter about my favorite childhood book, The Giving Tree. (Must-Reads for children) What a wonderful story. This video is a great narration of the classic. Nostalgic. ENJOY!