Sep. 2, 2008
Blogger Friend School Assignment #100
Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling. Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back. Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.
This is my 5th year homeschooling. I can't believe it! It has all happened so fast! Especially since moving to Colorado.
I've shared recently what got us started homeschooling, so I will just share my feelings about it. I was pretty nervous about not making the right decisions as to what curriculum to use my first year. I was so overwhelmed when I went to my first homeschooling conference that I just came home and cried! I'm pretty happy with our overall experience, and I can't imagine ever sending the children to school. I am trying to stay open to that option if the Lord would direct it, but it would be very difficult for me.
My first year was challenging in that I had one child who had writing challenges - she still does - that I had to learn to work with. I've appreciated having a sister who has a degree in early childhood education, and many years' experience teaching kindergarten and directing a private school's early childhood department. She has given me lots of suggestions and help. I did try to send this daughter to Montessori school after her first year, but it ended up being just three months before we had to take her out to move to Colorado. I'm not sure that it was really a good fit for her anyway, as she didn't get the one on one help with her special needs that she really needed. I'm happy to say that this year she is writing much more than she ever did, and I'm not having quite the struggle with her to do her work as in years past. This year is a new challenge in that I've added a third child into the mix.
My schooling experience was public school in a small town. I had some great teachers and even some that I still keep in contact with. Socially though, I had a really difficult time. I never really felt liked. My children now don't get much opportunity for social interaction as we live so far away from other children and activities. They are learning to relate to people of all ages, and are also growing up close to each other and to their parents, which is very important to me.
The following are some pics of where we homeschool. These are some of our books stored close to the dining room where we do most of our schooling. The window is actually closed in now with a wipe board/bulletin board on one side and shelves on this side.
This is the dining room where we do our written stuff. For the reading we do a lot of it on the blue couch here.
This is the storage closet upstairs where I store other goodies that aren't currently being used.
It is getting late, so I will have to save the scripture thought for another day.
Thanks for your commennt, whenever advice is given by way of written word and without facial interaction, you never know how the other person is going to take it.
I'm glad you've had time to talk and the tension has eased.
I only have 4 weeks to go til my due date! I'm getting a little freaked out because we don't even have the baby's bed set up yet!! My babies have never some early though!
I just wanted to tell you - don't read my last comment about the second Elsie Dinsmore! DO NOT READ IT!!!! The first 3rd of it was glad and happy, but then... oh Elsie is so sad and nearly dies! Don't read it, I cried....... it is so sad. It has a happy ending, and so far, the third book is ok, all happy, Christian. :) I will let you know about that.
Oh, and before I go, my blog has been updated. You can read my post at this link -
Homeschool Memoirs - Agendas
http://dixonhomestead.com/rachel/?p=129
I do hope you will come by!
Hope you have a wonderful and blessed day, and may you be in the Palm of His Hand. :) God Bless you!
Love,
Rachel
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Philippians 4:13 “You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!”
Hi Carol,
I've enjoyed reading your assignment post! It's so neat to see how everyone came about their homeschool journey. My first few years seemed overwhelming, and I've done the tears myself. This year I share some of the ::tears:: again, but more because I want to do more than I can.
Thank you again for your continued prayers. I also have your family in our prayers.
Hi Carol. Yea, do we really want to be normal? Nah...... :))
You asked about curriculum. I use that term loosely. I make up everything for science and history -- at least for now. Lots of reading and narration for sure. Math, we do use MCP, but like I said, very loosely, I use it when needed and never make them do everything in the book. I still haven't gotten the Living Math thing down yet -- however I ran across a delightful blog today with some help for just that! We use Queen Homeschool for language & copywork -- if you aren't familiar with Queen, they are wonderful and everything is based on the Charlotte Mason philosophy. That's really about it -- the rest I make up or go with what they are interested or what the Lord brings us that week......thats the beauty of learning through life! And again, reading, reading and more reading.....we read a lot together.
I am glad you are embracing homeschooling. I know what you mean about feeling liked. The few years I did go to public school I never fit in, and I still didn't later on, but I am learning that it isn't a bad thing. God has saved me from some really bad decisions.
This is Rachel. I am leaving you a comment as the HSB Literary Club because you are on the friends list at the HSB Club. I just wanted to let you know that we will be starting our next book tomorrow. Sorry this is such short notice. :)
We will be reading Enoch Roden's Training by Hesba Stretton. There is a post up at the Club if you want to sign the linky to join us. Posting about it on your blog would be a great way to let others know about the book we are reading and ask them to join us!
Hope to see your name on the Linky!
For the HSB Lit Club,
Rachel
I enjoyed reading about your homeschooling journey thus far. I just wanted to quickly answer your questions... My daughter is 9.
I made all of the booklets for the Farmer Boy lapbook myself. They will be available for free at homeschoolshare as soon as Ami is able to get them posted. I also shared lapbooks for the rest of the Little House series there. The links directly to the lapbook files are in the posts. I will add the link for Farmer Boy as soon as it's posted.
One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty, the beauty of the Lord. To inquire in His temple, the temple of the Lord.
This is my everyday thoughts about being a mother to three little ladies (11, 9 and 4) and a two year old son. We serve God full-time, and I am a physician assistant. I have the most awesome husband in the world. I am trying to seek and serve God with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength.
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