Encouragement for Me

I take my children into the church service with me. And usually, I enjoy it that way. Once in a while I have a discouraging Sunday. (the three year old announces he has to p**p out loud, or the 1 year old won’t fall asleep as I planned)

Here’s the encouraging part:

Joshua 8:35
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

2 Chronicles 20:13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.

I read this today and was reminded that we are a family before God and He enjoys my children more than I do. Maybe I am reading something into these verses but it was an encouragement to me to continue doing what we are doing!

Education Facts & Homeschool Report

Here is a “report” I print and pass out at our end of school party (which is mostly attended by my family…) I just thought it might be fun to read, but I can’t figure out how to get the double spacing that I used in Word to show up on my post, so it all runs together. Sorry! If you suffer through reading it More Power to YOU!

Education Facts & Homeschool Report for Huff’s Home Life Academy 2008-2009 Funding for public school comes from City taxes and Property taxes. Where does this funding get our nation in educational terms? “We’re No. 1″ honors go to Finland, Japan and Korea. Finland, Japan and Korea were the top finishers in a study that measured 265,000 15-year-olds’ literacy in reading, mathematics and science. U.S. students finished 15th in reading, 19th in math and 14th in science – and in a study that only ranked 31 nations. Smartest State? TN ranks 30th among the 50 states, with Vermont being the smartest at #1. In 2008-2009 school year, Crossville public schools spent on average $4,316 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. Vermont spends in the $7-8,000 range. Funding for homeschooling comes from the parent’s paycheck (after they pay the taxes that pay for public school student’s education). If we spent what Crossville spends per student ($4,316 x 4 = $17,264) imagine what I could do! This figure doesn’t even include the fact that I teach two preschoolers, buy books and other educational supplies for them! What we spent last year on our homeschooling: (not including preschoolers) $442 Math (text books can be re-used year to year by other students) $160 Literature, History, Geography, Science (videos and text books can be reused) $1200 Field Trips: (one week in Colonial Williamsburg, groups and socialization ;o) $28 Vocabulary, Spelling $650 Spanish Curriculum (can be used with multiple students, forever, a one time expense) $150 Filing and Registration compliance with laws $220 Renting Educational materials & (25) Out of County (Knoxville) library card $200 supplies such as ink for printer, paper, notebooks, pencils, erasers, binders… This comes to about $762.50 per student for 2008-2009. (You could say that homeschoolers get a private education for less than the cost of a public school education couldn’t you? I penny pinched, scrimped, sold stuff, and heavily utilized the Crossville and Knoxville libraries to keep my expenses this low. (Basically a lot of extra work for the teacher (me), resulting in less time for teacher to student hands on learning time.) By the way, if you transported books back and forth to Knoxville library for me last year THANKS! Projected expense for 2009-2010 $ 250 Math (need higher ed. books, Calculus, Trigonometry) $1050 Literature, History, Geography, Science, Biology, Ecology $150 Filing and Registration $300 Textiles and Clothing (high school elective for Macey) $1000 Field Trip $500 Senior Year Expenses, testing, diploma, etc. $400 Music Related Expenses $200 supplies such as ink for printer, paper, notebooks, pencils, erasers, binders… $XXX ***wish list A new Computer, if things go well This would come to $962.50 per student this year (again, not including preschoolers). This is a “projected expense” in other words, the money has not been spent, but this is what I (the teacher) would like to have to spend on homeschooling this year. This is the basics of what I feel I will need to get by this year, with the only “frills” being the Field Trips. Field trips are not only for education and socialization, but also a time when we reconnect and talk about “big” topics, such as “what am I going to do with the rest of my life???” and “what are my goals for my future?” So, I could easily spend $1500 per student this year or more, but I do try to keep my projected expense in the realm of possibility based on what we are likely to have access to, financially. I am praying that this year money will appear and we will be able to go above the standard of what we have done previously and include a few more fun/educational items to the school day. Just an extra little bit of information here, just for kicks… Things I did this year to soften the financial blow: used the library as much as possible, purchased literature from The Book Cellar and other used bookstores, used an online resource called Paperback Swap, wrote product reviews for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, sold/swapped used curriculum, purchased in bulk, made up my own lesson plans/curriculum for many subjects. School can be comprised of many things. Learning about food safety, nutrition, shopping and meal planning is considered home economics! Gardening is considered agriculture. Raising and breeding animals is educational. When educating teachers must think outside of the box, hands-on learning leaves more of a lasting impression than workbooks. Being creative is the key! Always finding a way to teach while we work makes learning natural. Field trips we have taken include many museums, studios, farms, tours and other places to see first hand “how it works” or “how it’s made.” Sometimes it’s been so much fun that “we” didn’t even realize we were in school… As for progress towards The Big Goal…graduation…Macey has earned all but 6 of her high school credits and that with a 4.0. If she continues and works this summer, she can graduate in December (that would be ½ year early)! Benton and Ivy are both a little behind in Math, so they will be having summer school, but they are also taking advanced classes like first year Spanish and typing. Since I hate to leave Haley out, she will be summer schooling too! Haley has tested out of some math levels. She is actually a year ahead of schedule and will be earning high school credits again this year. It is possible that Haley could graduate a year early, easily, and if she applies herself, she could possibly graduate even earlier. The requirement for a legal day of school is four hours, which we always surpass. It is mandatory for children to attend school for a minimum of 180 days per year. As of today, this year’s school end, the children have attended for approximately 198 days. This is even with our sporadic and often spontaneous schedule! As always, I would like to stick to a schedule, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Our plan for 2009-2010 (including summer school) is as follows: Monday School Tuesday School Wednesday Off/sometimes/Teachers In Service Day (Mimi) Thursday Off/Teacher’s In Service Day (see below) (Nana) Friday School Saturday School Sunday Off for Church/Family On school days the children will be completing formal lessons from 9:30-12:30 and finishing up from 1:30-3:30. During these hours the children will have assignments to complete as well as lecture/instruction, hands-on, etc. Occasionally, the children will need extra time during their day to complete assignments; they have quiet time and free time for this. Classes for Macey this year are as follows: English IV, Calculus, Church History, Ecology or Biology II, Textiles & Clothing, Interpersonal Communication, Family Dynamics, Visual Arts, Adult Living (6 credits) Macey will continue to study Spanish, although she has already earned the maximum credits allowed. Classes for Haley this year are as follows: English II, Literature, Algebra, Spanish II, Physical Education, Music, History, Church History, Economics, and Journalism, SAT/ACT prep class. Ben and Ivy will be continuing in Math, English/Language Arts, Literature, History/Geography, Church History, Vocabulary, Spelling, Art/Music, Computer skills and typing, and Spanish. Harmon and Shawna both have short pre-school lessons daily, either taught by the older children or myself. They both enjoy having books read to them, singing Bible songs, learning Nursery Rhymes, colors and doing their Five in a Row lessons! So, if you are hanging out with them, offer to read them a book or teach them a new song! Things I would like to do during Teacher’s In Service days this year (a new thing I am implementing) include, staying on top of grading papers, planning lessons, reserving/picking up books from the libraries, etc. Since the children usually spend at least one day per week away from home with either Mimi or Nana, I would like to start using that day as a Teacher’s In Service Day. By having one day alone (with just Shawna) at home at least every other week, I would be able to be a better teacher. Being a teacher requires a lot of work, but teaching 4-6 children on different grade levels requires even more work and planning ahead, something I didn’t always get to do this year. The children enjoyed the end of unit celebrations this year and we plan to continue them again for the upcoming school year. Because they do not go to a public school I do not often get to brag about their accomplishments, show off their grade cards, etc. Having end of unit celebrations gives us a chance to show what we are studying and have a good time at the same time. We hope you will continue to be a part of the journey…

And I Quote

I got this in my email today from a Garden website and had to share, I love the last line, by the way, cause if you know me, you know I don’t forward chain mail! Thanks George, I think you hit the nail on the head!

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete…

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.

Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don’t send this to at least 8 people….Who cares?

George Carlin

Cow Boots are made for walking

Spring Is Here

Spring is such a wonderful time of year, isn’t it? I absolutely LOVE the "new beginning" feeling, don’t you?  So much hope…

So, we’re bustling around here planting seeds, clearing orchards, mowing, getting the yard in order, playing in the greenhouse…

We are doing something all the time! I love it. Time to get outdoors and breathe in the fresh air…

SPRING IS HERE!!!