Mar. 2, 2007
Blogger Friend Assignments #19 & #20
Ok, I'm a little behind! So, I'll start with #19. For this one, you are suppose to post a picture of a craft your child(ren) has done. One problem, I can't post pictures so I'll just have to describe one. One of my favorite crafts to do with the kids is have them make cards for their daddy for his birthday and holidays. I provide them with a blank card, stickers, markers, crayons, glitter pens, ect and let them go to town. This give them a chance to be creative and also practice their writing skills. My littliest one wrote his name by himself for the first time on daddy's valentine card. How special is that?!? My oldest one uses the opportunity to practice his poetry. The kids just absolutely love it and they are learning that it's the little things in life that you do for others that are the most rewarding.
Now, to Assignment #20. For this assignment you are suppose to tell from your heart why you homeschool and tell more about it. When my oldest son was little I realized he was very special intellectually. He said his first word at 5 months old. By the time he was 12 months old he had a vocabuary of 20 words and by 18 months old he was carrying on conversations and singing the ABC song. Right after he turned 2, John Glenn went back into space. My little boy went around telling everyone when he grew up, He and John Glenn were going to fly in a spaceship to Jupiter together. At night, this same little two year old would search the night sky looking for Jupiter (any many times finding it!!!) He was obsessed with spaced. At three, he because obsessed with dinosaurs and could name quite a few of them. He knew names that most adults have never heard of. When we were at a natural history musuem he pointed out a parasauralophus (sp?), I didn't believe him until I looked down at the name plate and sure enough, that was what it was. About this time, I started hearing about how poor the American educational system is and how we are falling rapidly behind the other countries. I became very concerned about whether the schools could challenge my son. Well, that is how it started. But now the reasons have evolved into so much more. As a Christian, I am deeply concern about the things they teach in government schools. I absolutely do not want my children indoctrinated in humanistic philosophies. I became concerned about the social atmosphere at the government schools. The more I saw of just how mean kids can be and at such a young age, the less I wanted my children to be apart of that. As we have moved along in our schooling, my son has encounter many challenges. Eventhough he is very intelligent, he has learning callenges. With his ADHD, he has trouble focusing and trouble retaining things like grammer rules and spelling words. Many nights around here are sleepless. My son, usually at least once a week wakes up around 2 or 3 in the morning and can't get back to sleep. There is no way he could do his best in government school. As we homeschool, the reasons become so much more varied. It has become a way of life. I am so use to having my children at home with me, I can't imagine not having them here. I want them here. Most of our friends homeschool, so that is our social outlet. That is just what we do. It's our life. That's why I homeschool.
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Comments
Mar. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by Sheri
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Awesome reasons for staying home, it's amazing isn't it, how our reasons change so much over time.
If you care to check mine our you'll need to scroll a bit on my page (I think I have two posts since then)
Sheri (http://mikeandsheri4.blogspot.com)
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Mar. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by debbiecorley
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I don't have time right now to respond to the assignments...I'll come back later. But, I wanted to tell you that I've been reading your blog and have now started to make Lapbooks with my 5 year old. We are having so much fun! Thanks for sharing your ideas in such depth...I'm always looking for new, creative ways to DO school.
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Mar. 3, 2007 - homeschool
Posted by Fringey
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Hi- I love your reasons! They all ring so true for us...mostly it has become a lifestyle..one we really like...have a blessed day!
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Mar. 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by brooke
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I love hearing how other families started out their homeschooling journey. I agree with all of your concerns and what I have told many who have asked questions, (mostly with ill feelings with hs) that I am responsible for their upbringing and I have been accused of sheltering them too much. You know what, maybe so sometimes, but I can-I am their mommy!!! That is my right! Right! Blessings to you all!!!
Brooke
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Mar. 4, 2007 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by Angelheart
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Thanks for the comment about adhd. I hope you find something that works for your child. Mine does the excessive talking thing to no end. Keep in touch. The support would be helpful for me at least.
Nikki
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Mar. 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by DanielleW
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That is wonderful taht they can make cards, especially for their father!
Your son is amazing. And that is a wonderful, wonderful reason to HS. He would not be flourishing in that environment. Not at all. Praise God for your descion.
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Mar. 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment
 Posted by bethanyrae
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Sound like you're doing everything right, for all kinds of right reasons.....and will have lots of fun in the process.
Thanks for your comment! Try not to think about dreading it.... be surprised at nothing and try to enjoy it?
bethanyrae
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Mar. 8, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by brooke
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I completely understand wondering if they p.s. would be able to challenge your son. While my oldest son was not as smart as yours, he missed the cut off for kindergarten by 8 days but was too smart for the local head start program. They literally wouldn't let him go. Their target is the children who really need it. I completely understood and agreed. So, I then took that opporotunity to do what I could at home and he loved to learn. He would want to do workbooks, read, all of the time. I was thrilled. By the time he did start K he was so bored. Not challenged enough. Do you know what happened, he now has lost the love of reading. It makes me really sad. It is like he sort of lost interest. He still reads for fun some but not like he used to. He is now in the 4th/5th gifted program at a school here . Only because his father doesn't agree with homeschooling at all. (different father than my younger 2-who are homeschooled) He is definetly more challenged.
Now, my younger son who is kindergarten age, is on the high end of the autism spectrum. I know that if he was in school he would get lost in the shuffle. Be pushed tooooo fast and it would be a disaster. So either way the ps would lose my boys and they would hate school in the process. I am so glad to be homeschooling my other 2!!!
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Mar. 19, 2007 - Well said!!!!!!
 Posted by withHim4ever
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I feel the same way, it has become a lifestyle. We started hs out of an academic reason, and now I say we hs for religious reasons.
Blessings,
WithHim4ever
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