As we wind down to the end of another school year, I can't help but feel discouraged. Some home ed years just DON'T go as planned. At the beginning of the year, I write down goals for me and the kids...for school, for character building and discipline issues, and for our spiritual growth. I order curriculum, books, games, or whatever else I think I might need. I organize and replenish my supplies, then step back and think..."This is gonna be a great year!"
The school year begins and the kids and I are feeling great and getting loads done. Then it hits...I can't exactly put my finger on it, but it happens...the point at which I'm discouraged and it rubs off onto the kids.
Let's recap, shall we?
Did it begin when I realized that Emily stopped watching her Algebra dvds and doing ANY math work because it was too hard? And she didn't tell me about her troubles? Maybe it was when I discovered Zachary was only doing half his work in the week because the dvds were boring? Or when he stopped doing math, spelling, history and science because it didn't interest him, like reading did? Or maybe it was when I realized that Jacob DID have a learning problem, possibly dislexia? Or possibly realizing that for some reason Felicity knows all her letters, sounds, and numbers on one day and the very next day knows nothing?
Insert scream here...
Yes, Stephen is my academic and does all his work and gets very good marks on everything he does, but I find him lying on the couch with his DS or playing with the dog, being unkind to his siblings and then having to constantly remind him to do his chores and make his bed EVERY day!!
Frustration is at peak for me. Since all I can see is what I HAVEN'T accomplished this year. So here's a list of what we HAVE accomplished TODAY:
*The littles have learned lots of scripture (hopefully it will move from their minds to their hearts).
*I have taught the littles the Bible from Genesis to Judges and taught the birth, life, death, burial and ressurrection of Jesus.
*We read aloud most every day.
*We've made Wednesday our "baking day". Emily, Jacob and Felicity are becoming quite the bakers and I rarely buy sweets for them anymore.
*Jacob is to be tested for dislexia next week and is now reading (but he still hates it). He reads his Bible nearly every day and does chores without being asked (His favourites are cleaning the car and the back garden).
*Emily has a tutor for math and Steve is checking her assignment book daily. She is doing well with the piano and continues to "inhale" books. She is looking into joining the RAF and has really grown a lot spiritually this year.
*Zachary has forgone most of the dvd's but has agreed to try read the history and science books at least. He has become a wonderful pianist, wood-worker and is excelling in athletics.
*Stephen is starting to do things without being reminded twenty times, being kinder to his siblings and is consistantly reading his Bible. He continues to do well in school and becoming more accomplished in karate.
*Felicity is enjoying being read to and we have less days of her acting like I've taught her nothing in the last nine months. She has a fantastic memory and has learned all kinds of poems and scripture and is doing well in ballet.
At the end of the day, I have to keep reminding myself of this verse: "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galations 6:9
Showing posts with label Home Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home Education. Show all posts
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Mom v. Teacher
When it comes to home educating I'm torn. The mom in me wants to run her "school" by the seat of her pants! I want to see fun projects, to bake and cook, to work together around the house, to sit and the couch with hot drinks and read for hours, to go the the park on every sunny day, work in the garden (hey, PLANT a garden), travel here and abroad, and the list goes on and on!!!
And...then there's the teacher in me. The one who worked her rear off for 5 years to get her degree, the one who loves chalkboards, bulletin boards, workbooks, and ALL school supplies (I still sniff new packs of crayons and playdoh as if they were roses), who loves charts and schedules, lesson plans (but I still HATE grading papers!) The teacher in me loves science experiments, math "short-cuts" and diagraming sentences! I love watching kids get excited about learning and am thrilled to see that "ah-ha!" moment!
So...the conflict! Do you see it? Home educators are either known as unschoolers (listening to their mommy side, I'm sure) or traditional "home schoolers" or school at home. Somewhere in the middle is me! I crave to tick the boxes when book work is done, but want to say yes to "Hey, Mom, can we make a volcano?!" I want them to pursue their interests, but I want them to have all the classes to put on their transcript for university! Oh, the turmoil that rages within me!
Funny, though, I think this year we have finally found the happy medium. Yes, I have been home educating for nearly 12 years. But each year I grow. I become less absorbed with getting 170 lessons done and more inclined to see that everyone has the "basics" and yet has time to draw, paint, write, read, and learn the piano. We still cook and bake and travel...probably not as much as I'd like, but it's getting done. I see progress in Bible studying and reading, knowing grammar rules and math facts, and I see character developing from hard work. So, it's working for us! Find what works for you!
And...then there's the teacher in me. The one who worked her rear off for 5 years to get her degree, the one who loves chalkboards, bulletin boards, workbooks, and ALL school supplies (I still sniff new packs of crayons and playdoh as if they were roses), who loves charts and schedules, lesson plans (but I still HATE grading papers!) The teacher in me loves science experiments, math "short-cuts" and diagraming sentences! I love watching kids get excited about learning and am thrilled to see that "ah-ha!" moment!
So...the conflict! Do you see it? Home educators are either known as unschoolers (listening to their mommy side, I'm sure) or traditional "home schoolers" or school at home. Somewhere in the middle is me! I crave to tick the boxes when book work is done, but want to say yes to "Hey, Mom, can we make a volcano?!" I want them to pursue their interests, but I want them to have all the classes to put on their transcript for university! Oh, the turmoil that rages within me!
Funny, though, I think this year we have finally found the happy medium. Yes, I have been home educating for nearly 12 years. But each year I grow. I become less absorbed with getting 170 lessons done and more inclined to see that everyone has the "basics" and yet has time to draw, paint, write, read, and learn the piano. We still cook and bake and travel...probably not as much as I'd like, but it's getting done. I see progress in Bible studying and reading, knowing grammar rules and math facts, and I see character developing from hard work. So, it's working for us! Find what works for you!
Saturday, 7 January 2012
A "Typical" Day
I get asked many times about what we do all day and how I get it all done. My first response is usually, one, the Lord helps me A LOT, and two, I have to schedule and plan EVERY THING! Now don't get me wrong, if you asked me to describe myself, being scheduled is not one of the top ten characteristics! I'm a huge procrastinator...my big weakness!
That being said, I have been thinking a lot about what I do in a day, especially when I don't get everything done. Before I begin though, I'm a huge believer in planners (mine is a paper journal, but many opt for digital-doesn't matter, as long as you have one!) and to-do lists (even if its jotting things down on scraps of paper).
So, a "typical" day:
I wake up around 7am, read my Bible, study, and pray. If the kiddos are still asleep, I exercise then shower. Since Micah is usually awake by the time I'm done praying, my exercise usually has to wait till the afternoon or evening and I throw on some clothes, wash my face and get to the kitchen to throw in the first of 4 to 5 loads of laundry that I do a day and start breakfast. Breakfast used to consist of cereal and toast, but have lately been convicted of actually cooking a hot meal. I've always hesitated cooking hot breakfast (my excuse was that it took too long), but now love doing it!
The kids are usually up by 8 or so and the big kids read their Bibles and start on their morning chore lists. Usually everyone is finished and down at the breakfast table by 9, and we eat breakfast together and Daddy reads the Bible to us or has a short devotion for us. Everyone does their table chores and I take the littles up to wash up.
The big kids start on their school work and I work with the littles for a couple of hours. By noon most schoolwork is finished and I start another load of laundry and then make lunch (been trying to do more than just sammies then, too!) The kids tidy up their school books and toys while listening to music or turn on "Dogs 101" on the computer. After lunch, table chores get done and story/activity time commences for the littles. Then the big kids finish up their work, read, or work on a hobby, while the littles nap for a couple hours. Mommy ususally grades papers, works on her Avon orders, cleans a bathroom, throws in more laundry, has a cup of coffee and views FB on her phone. Sometimes I use this time to Zumba and take a shower, depending on how the AM went (I try to workout 3-4 times a week).
In the late afternoon we do "4 o'clock chores". Each kid has a room they are in charge of to clean (the goal is to have the house ready by the time Daddy comes home at about half 4). The littles each have a buddy and they help the big kids. If dinner isn't in the crockpot, I start dinner.
After dinner, table chores again, baths and some family time, sometimes a board game, reading aloud, or a little tv. Little kids in bed by 8 and big kids at 8(theoretically...obviously on Wednesday nights we have Bible study at church and bed time is very late and so is wake up time the next day). Mommy works on lesson plans, menu planning, orders Avon, studies for the ladies Bible study or exerices and showers and then collapses on the couch with hubby for an hour before bed time!
Variations of our day include, karate on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings for the big boys, ballet for Felicity on Tuesday afternoons, piano lessons for Emily and Zachary on Thursday mornings and Bible study on Wednesday nights. Thursday evening is reserved for either a Ladies Bible study (once a month), a Family Feast night (to reward the kids for their hard work, also once a month) or to have a family from our church over for dinner. Friday is usually a field trip or a family day, Saturday we prepare for church, and Sunday we are at church, ususally all day.
So, that's it! How it gets done through careful planning and lots of hard work! Spending time in God's Word and in prayer before I start each day is essential! Without putting the Lord first, there is no way I could do what I do everyday. He is a constant source of strength in my life. Everyday HAS to start with Him first!
Until next time....
That being said, I have been thinking a lot about what I do in a day, especially when I don't get everything done. Before I begin though, I'm a huge believer in planners (mine is a paper journal, but many opt for digital-doesn't matter, as long as you have one!) and to-do lists (even if its jotting things down on scraps of paper).
So, a "typical" day:
I wake up around 7am, read my Bible, study, and pray. If the kiddos are still asleep, I exercise then shower. Since Micah is usually awake by the time I'm done praying, my exercise usually has to wait till the afternoon or evening and I throw on some clothes, wash my face and get to the kitchen to throw in the first of 4 to 5 loads of laundry that I do a day and start breakfast. Breakfast used to consist of cereal and toast, but have lately been convicted of actually cooking a hot meal. I've always hesitated cooking hot breakfast (my excuse was that it took too long), but now love doing it!
The kids are usually up by 8 or so and the big kids read their Bibles and start on their morning chore lists. Usually everyone is finished and down at the breakfast table by 9, and we eat breakfast together and Daddy reads the Bible to us or has a short devotion for us. Everyone does their table chores and I take the littles up to wash up.
The big kids start on their school work and I work with the littles for a couple of hours. By noon most schoolwork is finished and I start another load of laundry and then make lunch (been trying to do more than just sammies then, too!) The kids tidy up their school books and toys while listening to music or turn on "Dogs 101" on the computer. After lunch, table chores get done and story/activity time commences for the littles. Then the big kids finish up their work, read, or work on a hobby, while the littles nap for a couple hours. Mommy ususally grades papers, works on her Avon orders, cleans a bathroom, throws in more laundry, has a cup of coffee and views FB on her phone. Sometimes I use this time to Zumba and take a shower, depending on how the AM went (I try to workout 3-4 times a week).
In the late afternoon we do "4 o'clock chores". Each kid has a room they are in charge of to clean (the goal is to have the house ready by the time Daddy comes home at about half 4). The littles each have a buddy and they help the big kids. If dinner isn't in the crockpot, I start dinner.
After dinner, table chores again, baths and some family time, sometimes a board game, reading aloud, or a little tv. Little kids in bed by 8 and big kids at 8(theoretically...obviously on Wednesday nights we have Bible study at church and bed time is very late and so is wake up time the next day). Mommy works on lesson plans, menu planning, orders Avon, studies for the ladies Bible study or exerices and showers and then collapses on the couch with hubby for an hour before bed time!
Variations of our day include, karate on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings for the big boys, ballet for Felicity on Tuesday afternoons, piano lessons for Emily and Zachary on Thursday mornings and Bible study on Wednesday nights. Thursday evening is reserved for either a Ladies Bible study (once a month), a Family Feast night (to reward the kids for their hard work, also once a month) or to have a family from our church over for dinner. Friday is usually a field trip or a family day, Saturday we prepare for church, and Sunday we are at church, ususally all day.
So, that's it! How it gets done through careful planning and lots of hard work! Spending time in God's Word and in prayer before I start each day is essential! Without putting the Lord first, there is no way I could do what I do everyday. He is a constant source of strength in my life. Everyday HAS to start with Him first!
Until next time....
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