We are enjoying our mini vacation - relaxing in the Smoky Mountains.
Today (actually yesterday - it's almost 2 am) is Isaac's birthday. He just turned the ripe old age of six. As he was going through the terrible twos (and threes) I refered to him as my fireball. He was challenging to say the least. While he still has occasions where he shows his inner strong will, he has transformed from my fireball to my sunshine.
Sep. 5, 2008 - The State of Education: Change That Works
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that hard as it may be to change myself, it’s a whole lot easier than changing other people – and more fruitful, too.
And yet… it’s a lesson that doesn’t seem to stick nearly as good as it should.
How many times have I persisted in trying to change an attitude in a child when the better route would have been to change my own attitude?
I once tutored a boy who on a Challenging Scale of 1-10 rated a 25. We spent the first 30-60 minutes of many tutoring sessions getting past attitude problems so we could get on to learning a thing or two. I sometimes felt I had done my fair share by spending ten minutes in relaxed mode – general chit-chat, joking around, etc. So when I announced it was time to buckle down and he dug in his heals, it made me angry. I’d given in, I’d made allowances, I’d tried to do it his way, and this was my reward. Why bother at all?
But this boy was going through a lot in his young life. He needed a very long warm-up period. He was often belligerent during that time, no matter how nice or relaxed I was. My job was to change my own attitude and approach. It was utterly useless to try to push change on him, and doing so was no more than willfulness – even self-righteousness -- on my part.
When he consistently saw that I was willing to be patient and that I would respect what he was going through – and yes, that I was not going to go away but that I was also not going to act like him – he started to improve. By changing myself, I helped him change himself.
It works in so many situations and relationships – by changing ourselves, we help others change themselves. I imagine I’ll be learning that lesson over and over for the rest of my life.
With the new school year starting I can use some fast and easy casserole recipes to help get dinner on the table. HERE is a free E-Book that is loaded with casserole recipes!
I am looking forward to trying out Taco Quiche, Spinach and Cream, Broccoli and Cheese and Florentine Casserole just to name a few. I hope you enjoy it too!
Sep. 5, 2008 - Homeschooling Only One ~ “I COULD *NEVER* HOMESCHOOL!”
Donna asked for something wise and encouraging for this week’s column.Instead I thought I’d share with you my rambling thoughts about one of my pet peeves.I don’t know how wise they are, and as to encouraging … well, I’ll leave that up to you to decide.
Occasionally someone, upon hearing that I homeschool our son, replies with the comment, “Oh, I could never do that.”On at least two occasions this sentiment was uttered by professionals with four-year college degrees in the subject of education.So.Here I am with my measly two years of college.What is my response to this supposed to be?
One of two lines of thinking comes to mind.The first is that this person thinks I am either deluded or simply full of myself if I think I can do something that they, with a four-year degree in education, cannot.The other is that they are in awe of me as some sort of super-mom since I am endowed with such skills that they lack.Neither of which, of course, is true.
What these people usually mean is not that they lack the knowledge or intelligence to educate their own children.They usually mean something along the lines of either not having the patience or temperament (like I do … yeah, right), or (if they do already have children) that their children would not do well in such an environment.Fine.I can live with those things.But then I wish they would say rather that they would not choose to homeschool, or that homeschooling would not be a good fit for their family instead of making the ludicrous comment that they “could not” homeschool.
The fact is that none of us, in and of ourselves, are able to educate our children the way they ought to be educated.We all fall sadly short.There are so many things that are needed for us to be successful in this adventure.
First we need resources.Curriculum, how-to books, libraries, the internet, teachers’ stores, etc.The quantity and variety of what is available can be overwhelming at times, but once we learn to navigate the jungle of information, the help we can receive from these sources can be immense.
Second, we need other parents who have made this journey before and can help us find our way.Or at least fellow travelers to help bear the burden and just make the trip a lot more fun!That’s where local homeschool groups, blogs like this one, and online forums like the HOO community that Donna has started, come in.My prayer is that we will be those things to each other.
Lastly, and most importantly, we need Divine guidance.Not only to navigate the curriculum jungle.Not only to make the right kinds of friends that my child and I both need for support and encouragement.But to fill in the gaps in so many ways where I lack patience, organizational skills, patience, the insight to see what my son needs and how to provide it, and … did I mention patience?It’s called grace.I don’t deserve it, but God gives it nonetheless.
This has become my standard answer to this kind of comment:“I can’t either on my own.But if I feel that this is what God wants me to do, and if this is what is best for MY child, then He will help me.Where God guides, He always provides.”
May God bless all of us as we live this adventure together!
Ellen is a member of "HOOville" and graciously lent a helping hand this week with the column.
Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completes his homeschooling this year. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One five years ago, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can visit her website at http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC
I almost didn't want to post on this one since we cannot follow a schedule - at least not a specific time slot schedule. We've tried it before and the children didn't like it, couldn't understand why they had to stop in the middle of something and move on to the next thing, and it all reminded me a bit too much like the conditioning ring of the school bell. I visited a few other HM members, though, and saw that they didn't have schedules either. So, okay, maybe I can do this.
Our Homeschooling Routine is as follows: (Very Loosely!)
I try to get up an hour or two before the children do so that I can have my quiet time in the morning
Between 7 and 8 a.m. I wake up the children. They usually have 30-45 minutes to wake up, shower/dress, and have breakfast before I call them to the table to get started on their work.
During the course of the day they work on Math, Handwriting, Science, Reading, & Bible.
At some point during the morning, we'll all sit on the couch together and do our Bible reading, memorization, & singing followed by our History read-alouds.
Break for lunch and chores
In the afternoon, continue with their schooling
Sometimes we'll have more reading in the afternoons, but not too often because I tend to fall asleep if I sit on the couch after lunch!!
One day a week I'll do spelling with each child (2s+1d), and an English lesson with my sons
When they've done work in each area of their assignment sheet for the day, then they are free to do what they like, get started on afternoon pick-up (before Dad gets home), or work on something extra.
This is all how it has been. Starting next week everything will be different and I'm not sure what we're going to do about it.
Can I take a moment to whine? Just a little? I'll do it softly, I promise. See, here's how it all works out:
For the summer, friends and I started gathering for a P.E. day for our older sons. Since we were meeting anyway, we decided to go ahead and do a Bible study together. I thought it was only going to be for the summer, but now it isn't and so that is one afternoon of my week not at home. Tuesday.
Older son is taking a Biology class this year and for some reason it is meeting twice a week for an hour and half. Can't it meet once a week for three hours?? Two afternoons of my week not at home. Monday/Wednesday.
Because of Biology, we had to chage the day of our piano lessons. I guess I was not clear with the teacher and when she was making up her fall schedule, she scheduled us for Thursday. Now a fourth afternoon that I am not at home.
I've been wanting to do something with daughter for some time now, even trying over a year ago to get a small needleworking group together for mothers and daughters. Well, guess what? Another mom is getting one together, and it looks like it is actually going to happen. It IS only an hour, and it IS fairly close to home, but it IS on Friday - the last day of the week that I had free.
So, if this is what our year is actually going to look like, then we will be doing schoolwork only in the morning hours. (just had a dramatic demonstration of this on the chalkboard - Monday after 12:00 - GONE. Tuesday after 12:00 - GONE. Wednesday after 12:00 - GONE. Thursday after 12:00 - GONE. Friday after 12:00 GONE.)
If anyone wants to offer some advice, hints, tips, suggestions, sanity savers, etc. please DO!!
Otherwise it looks like we'll all be starting our day EARLY!
I recently received TWO wonderful bloggy awards! Shanna from Learning at His Feet has passed on the Smile Award to me. Life is so much happier with smiles, and I'm very glad to know that I've made at least one person smile through this blog! :o) And just for the record, Shanna's blog makes me smile, too!
(The award was created by The Babblings of Mere and you can find the rules and such for the award here.)
And Michele of My Blessings From Above passed on the I Love Your Blog Award. Well, who doesn't like hearing that?? I think she already knows that I love her blog just as much!
Thanks so much both of you sweet gals! For both awards, I'm supposed to pass them on to others. I may find the time to do that very soon, but for the time being, I'm - um - swamped (again!) Imagine, me being overloaded! Farm life, a toddler, homeschooling, a toddler, a couple of speaking engagements, a toddler, church responsibilities and.... a toddler are keeping me busy. Farming is slowing down (thank you, Lord!), so hubby will hopefully be around more to help out with things like....the toddler! :o)
Please pray for Sarah Palin's "destiny" in how it is to unfold within the USA right now.
Lord in the Name of Jesus, we bless Sarah Palin and ask that You will protect she and her loved ones for such a time as this. We bind and break off any demonic assignment against her and loose to her 7 fold blessings in replacement. We cover her in the blood of Jesus Christ. We loose the angels of God to go with her and carry her into her destiny created before she was born. Thank You Lord for Your hidden servants and all that You do to raise them up. Thank You Lord that she honors You with her life. Now we ask that You will honor her, in a job well done. Open the double doors and release her into Your chosen destiny in Jesus Name we pray, amen.
Job 38:22-23 NKJV
"Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?
I have been homeschooling for 2 years now, and it is the best decision that I have ever made. I have been blessed with a supportive husband and family. A is 9 and C is 7, we love every minute that the Lord gives us, and now we are blessed to have my mom and dad living with us.
