Our Homeschool

I have had several people ask me about homeschooling and let me start by saying "I AM NOT AN EXPERT." Even though we have completed a pre-k program, kindergarten, and first grade at home, I still feel like I am just starting out.

Anyway, for those of you who are interested, this is how we homeschool.

We are very traditional. For the most part, we follow a traditional school calendar. We also follow a pretty traditional school day. We start at 9:00, eat lunch at noon, and wrap up our school day around 2:00. (I won't go into all of the details of our day but, if you REALLY want to know what we do every day at, say, 1:23, email me and I'll let you know.)

As far as our course of study, we are pretty traditional in that aspect also. I do not feel like I am completely qualified to write my own curriculum (although I know some homeschool moms who are able to do this brilliantly.) I have always purchased our curriculum. I acquire the Texas State Education Standards every year. When shopping for curriculum, I make sure it meets (and most of the time it exceeds) the Texas State standards. This year we are studying math, phonics, spelling, grammar, literature, map skills, art appreciation, music appreciation, handwriting, health, science, social studies, Bible, creative writing, Korean, and art.

On top of the basics, I asked Bailey and Zack to decide what "special topics" they wanted to study. This is where the fun comes in. These are things they are really interested in. I love the fact that I can teach them what they want to know. This is one of the reasons I think homeschool is a good idea. So, I put together units on Robotics, Nocturnal Animals, Veterinary Science, Hot Air Balloons, Colonies, NASA, Korea, Dog Breeds, Human Anatomy, and Christmas. As the year progresses, we will add to this list of special topics.

For those of you who are concerned about socialization - Bailey and Zack also participate in several extra-curricular activities. We are not isolated homebodies. We are an "on-the-go" kind of family. We have an outside activity to attend every weekday, sports on Saturday, and church on Sunday.

Zack is playing football in the fall and will start basketball in January. He is also in a Lego Club and takes piano lessons from Nanny. He would also like to learn some woodworking. I haven't talked to my dad about it yet so, Pa Pa, if you are reading this, give me a call!

Bailey is taking violin lessons. She is in a girls club called "Keepers of the Faith" and she is taking ballet at The LanDance Conservatory. She is "thinking about soccer." I think we may let her give it a try, but she is about as athletic as I am!

Field trips are another important part of our homeschool. As I said, we do not like to sit at home. We LOVE day trips! We are always looking for an excuse to slip out of town to learn something new. Of course, you can find us at museums and community events in Amarillo, too!

So, this is how we homeschool. It's pretty basic. We are simple people.

One of these days, I'll get around to posting photos of our school room. But right I now, I have to go outside and teach the kids how to make paper from recycled materials. I have a feeling this is going to get messy!

What I Did Last Summer

Wow. Summer is almost over. School starts tomorrow. Looking back on our summer, I don't see how we fit it all into 3 short months, but somehow we managed to pack it all in!

We have had an amazing summer.

We've been to the Royal Gorge, The Denver Museum of Natural History, Rocky Mountain National Park (long story - no photos), Bishops's Castle (strange, but fun), Oklahoma City Zoo, OKC Science Museum, Camp Bond (church camp), and countless trips to the pool.

Zack lost 3 teeth and invented a solar oven.

Bailey played in her first Fiddle Contest and trained Clifford to be on "America's Got Talent".

They ate lunch in their tree house and dug holes in the yard.

Zacky caught fireflies in Oklahoma and slept with a jar full of little flickering bugs.

Bailey learned to roller skate and they both learned to swim.

We've had 2 great evenings at Wonderland, we went to the parade in Canyon, set off fireworks in the front yard, made s'mores in the firepit, ate fresh, homegrown cucumbers and apricots from Pa Pa's yard, had a blast at Bug Camp and Hillside Live, enjoyed a couple of fiddle contests, made homemade ice cream, went to Toy Story 3, Jump-N-Jive . . . . it has been NON-STOP summer fun!

Ah, but school starts tomorrow. That's OK, really. Our little family tries to have fun, not matter the season. So hold on for a little while and I'll be posting photos of our super-great, awesomely fun FALL!

Yes, I Am A (gasp!) Homeschool Mom

I have a confession to make.

I didn't want to homeschool because I thought homeschoolers were weird.

There. I said it.

(I know, I know, my husband was homeschooled. But you know as well as I do that Kris is a rebel. He enjoys breaking the rules. So he doesn't count. He is not your stereo-typical homeschooler.)

I didn't want to homeschool because I didn't think I could ever be "that" kind of mom. Come on, you know what I'm talking about - the classic "homeschool mom".

I just don't fit the mold. I don't wear denim jumpers. I don't know how to milk a goat. I don't have any sister-wives. I don't think public school is evil. I have two children - not seventeen. I wear make-up. I like tight jeans and black high heels. I would rather listen to Train, Hootie, and Better Than Ezra than KLOVE. I am pretty worldy, by comparison.

When Bailey and Zack were getting close to school age, I changed my mind. There wasn't just one thing that changed my mind, but rather a combination of things. I decided I COULD be a homeschool mom. Maybe not the jumper-wearing, goat-milking, sister-wife kind of homeschool mom, but I could be my own kind of homeschool mom.

Over that past couple of years, I've met several other homeschool families. You can imagine how surprised I was to discover that most homeschool moms around here don't fit the mold, either. They are just normal moms with normal families who have chosen to educate their children at home. No goats, no sister-wives. (OK, well, there WAS that one family in Oklahoma City with one husband, three wives, and lots of babies, but that's another blog post....)

So, don't get me wrong. I have met my fair share of weird homeschool families, but I have also met quiet a few weird public school families. Yup. Anybody can be weird.

What's funny is that they probably think I'm pretty weird, too, with my hip-hugger jeans, hot pink tennis shoes, glittery sunglasses, and loud music.

My Battle Plan

I am a "sticker mom." I love charts and stickers.

I also love lists and schedules......and my label maker. I LOVE my label maker.

I love my household management notebook that I put together last year. It is a handy place to keep all of my neatly labeled charts, schedules, and lists.

I have come to realize, however, that my love of organization is a trait that I did not pass down to my son. He is a messy, unorganized, pack-rat. This has caused a lot of strife in our household. We are constantly butting heads over the state of his room.

Bailey, on the other hand, is just like me. She loves order. She enjoys organizing. I won't let her use my beloved label maker, so she uses construction paper and tape to make her own labels. She likes schedules and lists even more than I do.

In spite of all of my charts and labels, chores are still a bit of a problem at our house.

I think a HUGE mistake I made was the sticker chart. I generously gave out stickers for chores that were then traded for allowance - allowance that was spent on more toys to "clutter up" the kids rooms.

So, today, after I spent the morning gathering up toys to give away, we had a family meeting. We are making some changes.

Kris and I have been trying to come up with a plan and I think we finally put one together that might work.

First of all - the sticker chart is headed out the door. To be perfectly honest, I was tired of trying to keep up it with anyway.

Second, we are not giving allowance anymore. Kris and I don't get paid to wash the dishes. Why should we pay the kids to clean their rooms? We buy them whatever they need and most of what they want anyway. Allowance is just a novelty.

Third, they are going continue to help out around the house. Cleaning up and taking care of the house is just what has to be done. It's part of life and part of being in a family. They will still be helping with washing dishes, folding laundry, feeding the dog, dusting furniture, sweeping floors, wiping down bathroom counters (with chemical-free cleaning spray) - things they were being paid to do.

Fourth, I AM NOT GIVING UP MY LABEL MAKER. I will continue to label the shelves and baskets in the kids' rooms. I will continue to expect them to put their toys back exactly where they belong. Organizationally challenged or not (Zack) this is what has to be done.

And finally, NO MORE JUNK TOYS. You know what I am talking about - Happy Meal Toys, Dollar Tree Toys, Tourist Trap Toys. I am tired of little pieces of nothing that break and get scattered everywhere. From now on, we are only buying QUALITY TOYS.

We had a family meeting to discuss the changes being made and you know what? The kids are fine with it. I think they are actually delighted with the simplicity of it all. No more stickers, no more charts. They will clean their rooms every evening, and be ready to do other jobs as the need arises.

So this is my battle plan. I will let you know how it works out.........

Politics

So in the past, I have just used this blog to update family and friends on the life and times of our little family. Sometimes I am able to keep it up to date and sometimes I simply do not have time to post pictures and updates. That's just the way life is.

I am sure I will keep trying to keep it updated with photos and stories. In fact, I am going to try to post some summer highlights soon. But, today my blog is going to take a break from it's original purpose and it is going to turn political.

Yes, I said political.

I tend to keep quiet about my political views. I am not outspoken or boisterous about current political issues. I read and I vote, but I am not comfortable discussing politics. I have some very strong opinions about things, but I keep them to myself. That's just the way I am.

However, there have been some things happening lately that have just made me want to say, "OK. Enough is enough." There have been times in the past few months that I have wanted to make my opinion known, but then I have talked myself out of it. I am not confrontational. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I don't want to rock the boat.

But today, I am in a "boat-rocking mood". Maybe it is the rain. Maybe it is exhaustion. I don't know. But today I am finally going to say it -

Enough is enough.

I know that most people in our part of the country are republican. I know that most people strongly disagree with president Obama. We are all entitled to our opinions and I am grateful that we are blessed with freedom of speech.

But, I am angry.

I am angry that there are so many republicans who disrespect the office of the president of the United States of America by comparing our president to a monkey. I am angry that there are so many Christians who have so little respect for a living soul, created by God.

I am tired of people reserving places in hell for politicians. Really? God gave you that job? Really? YOU are the eternal travel agent? I had no idea. That is amazing. I thought we were to love, not judge. Disagree with others, debate issues, vote the way we feel we should vote, make our opinions known .... but not damn others. That is not our job. We are not God. We are not given the right to proclaim who is going to hell. I am appalled at the arrogance. Sickened and disgusted.

I am angry that people who are offended by "democrat haters" allow themselves to become "republican haters". I am tired of hearing people say they want respect and tolerance to be shown to them and in the next breath, rip apart the other "side".

I am angry and I have had enough. So the next time you want to forward an offensive email or post your hate in facebook, think. That's all. Just think. We are called to love, not condemn.

My sweet 7 year old little girl has been so blessed with a Godly wisdom. Every night, before bed time, she bows her head, folds her hands, and prays, earnestly, for President Obama. There is no hate. There is no condemnation. There is only love and a strong desire for our nation and our President to follow God. Shouldn't you, in all of your "adult wisdom", be doing the same?






And you know what?

I am republican. I disagree with Obama.