This summer our womens ministry leader is doing a summer series for moms of daughters based on the book: Five Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter. This is so special, because she has raised three faithful daughters, who are all married with daughters of their own. We are learning so much from her and I appreciate her desire to share her wisdom with us.
Another whirlwind week, by Saturday it is such a stretch to remember all that happened.
Continued studying the human body, we focused on reproduction this week. We read several books on how living things reproduce; plants, chickens, dogs, and people. We talked in detail about human reproduction. How glad I am to be the teacher and teach God's design for sex.
Kyle learned how to swallow pills this week. Wow! Just one more reminder how big he is getting. He also took his Grade 3 end of year test. He took the California Achievement Test. I was shocked at the content of the test. It is very basic, and I feel not representative of everything he learned in 3rd grade, but it is one of the tests the state accepts. This is our first year testing, so it was a good and gentle introduction to testing. We practiced, by taking the VA SOL tests in English and Math. He also took the California Standards Test for practice. Ironically while he was taking his test I was reading blogs and came across this post: Are We Slaves to the Test?
Kendal became an expert crawler and learned how to pull up on things this week. He is so sweet and soft and cuddly. He makes us melt like butter, everytime we look at him.
The twins learned to read a new Bob Book this week. I think they read book six and seven from the level 1 readers. I plan on trying Alpha Phonics with them this week to see how they like that.
This week I officially finished Level 1 Worship Guitar Class DVD. She is a phenomenal teacher! I love this DVD! I have actually learned how to play guitar in my home for a fraction of the cost of taking lessons. I inquired about lessons last year and it is more than $100 a month at the cheapest. When I put the kids to bed, many nights I pull out my guitar and practice. I also practice a lot in between lessons. Worship guitar has been a very peaceful addition to my day.
I've also been listening to the Duggars new book on audio: A Love that Multiplies You can download it free, with a trial subscription to Audible. Wonderful, wonderful, book. I'll probaby get the book in print as well. The first part of the book was mostly information from what I'd already seen on their show, but the second part of the book really gets into the nuts and bolts of how they homeschool, how they implement their faith, how they train their children, etc. It is very refreshing and inspiring. I am learning a lot from Mrs. Duggar and I am gaining helpful hints and insights for next year.
The kids did Bible School all week and it was great!! They had so much fun and the program was really nice. I thought I might have a "break" for 3 hours each day, but the time was quickly eaten with shopping, bible-studies, discipling/mentoring, cleaning, and laundry. It was a neat feeling to clean in the morning and have it stay clean.
I signed all the kids up for the library's summer reading program and we began reading our books. I'm excited for the twins they're slowly getting through their "Bob Books". I'm definitely learning to loosen up in regards to my expectations for them. It really has taken me all year to come to peace with their academic "time-table". I don't think Kyle has read as much has he has in previous years. Now that he is reading chapter books, they take longer so his Reading Log isn't as long as previous years. I should have had him read more non-fiction books as well. Currently he's finishing up Pilgrims Progress, Hardy Boys, and Little House on the Prairie. For the summer reading program, every five books, he gets a prize. It would be too discouraging to have him wait to read 5 chapter books, so I'm letting him read any non-fiction books and books in Spanish.
After church Wed. night I caught fireflies with my daughter. We put them in a jar and she named them and they slept in bed with her.
My wonderful mother exerts herculean effort to make my life easier. Her latest conquest: Mt. Laundry. And her weapon is called the Flip fold.
Who knew laundry could be so much fun?
Who knew laundry could be so much fun?
This week we're working on the human body. Everyone drew a torso and cut and pasted organs to it.The heart couldn't go in between the lungs b/c of how the page printed. Oh well.
We focused on recognizing and learning the brain, heart, lungs, stomach, large and small intestines, pancreas and spleen. We did lots of coloring pages and read library books. We've also been working on our human body model.
Unfortunately my grandmother had a pacemaker and heart defibulator put in this week. We've spent time helping her, and used it as a teaching lesson for the kids. We went over Kason's heart disease and the device that is in his heart as well.
We had a bible study with friends this week. The kids all played well. I ended the week yesterday with a trip to the ER for a UTI. So today I'm resting and drinking a lot of cranberry juice and water. My husband has so lovingly served me yesterday and today, taking care of all of my and the children's needs.
The kids had an award banquet and got their first trophies for playing soccer. It has been fun watching them play and enjoying the fresh air together.
I signed them up for vacation bible school, which I am insanely nervous about. Our church has a camp, but its 6+ hours away, but we know a lot of other homeschoolers from different churches so we signed them up. The whole feeling of dropping them off for three hours is unnerving. But I've been praying a lot and I may end up staying there the whole time, or not, we'll see.
I'm reading the book of Jeremiah. I started the read the Bible in 90 days. This is the second or third time that I've started it, and fell off after about 6 or 7 weeks. I have read the bible cover to cover, but I've yet to stick to the 90 day regimine. Anyway this week, I picked up where I left off. I'm also reading Your Boy, Family Driven Faith, and the Excellent Wife.
Mondays are easily my favorite day of the week. After the weekend, I am ready to get back to routines and I am quite energized. Not because I rested all weekend, but just because I'm ready to get back in the swing of things.
We all woke up late this morning, around 9:30. We ate breakfast. We're studying anatomy this summer. We're doing a human body lapbook from homeschool share, listening to Lyrical Life Science Human Body, and building the human body using a model. We have lots of library books. We'll also be covering reproduction, puberty, and purity. Nana gave them life-sized paper so they drew themselves; tomorrow they'll be putting in the organs. After our group study, Kyle started math: mixed fractions, converting decimals to fractions, reducing fractions, elapsed time, and testing practice. I'll do a review soon on IXL math. It's the best math tool we've ever used. The twins read two Bob books; an extraordinary feat for them!!!! They're also working through Kindergarten homework packets. I googled Kindergarten homework packets and found a whole years worth online. We babysat a little friend today and taught him how to color. Then they all read in bed for an hour and a half while I visited my grandmother.
I then made dinner and most everyone was cranky. We started devotions. We're listening to Douglas Bond read Thoughts for Young Men on YouTube. We discussed it. Peyton and Kason fell asleep. I illustrated the point about how when a tree is a sapling a child can easily bend it, but when it is a full grown tree; a hundred men can't move. We talked about the importance of the formation of Godly habits when young. I took the kids outside to show them a tree that grew crooked because it wasn't properly staked when it was a young tree. I explained that mommy and daddy are stakes for all our young children, and we will guide them so that they grow up straight and not crooked. While outside I noticed my neighbor cutting the yard, so I decided I better cut the yard too. My oldest and I tackled that. Then we all ate dinner, did showers, folded laundry, watched the Jesus movie, and went to bed.It was a good day of learning, working, serving, worshiping, and playing together. We are more blessed than we deserve to be.
I saw this at a friends house...
1 Corinthians 13 for Homeschool Moms
Though I teach my children how to multiply, divide, and diagram a
sentence, but fail to show them love, I have taught them nothing.
And though I take them on numerous field trips, to basketball practice
and flute lessons; and though I involve them in every church activity
but fail to give them love, I profit nothing.
And though I scrub my house relentlessly, run countless errands, and
serve three nutritious meals every day but fail to be an example of
love, I have done nothing.
Love is patient with misspelled words and is kind to three-year-old
interrupters. Love does not envy the high SAT scores of other
homeschool families. Love does not claim to have better teaching
methods than anyone else, is not rude to the fourth telephone caller
during a science lesson, does not seek perfectly behaved geniuses,
does not turn into a drill sergeant, thinks no evil about friends'
educational choices.
Love bears all my children's challenges, believes all my children are
God's precious gifts, hopes all my children establish permanent
relationships with Christ, and endures all things to demonstrate God's
love.
Love never fails. Where there are college degrees, they will fail;
where there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and
we teach in part. But when the trials of life come to our children,
the history, math, and science will be done away and faith, hope, and
love will remain; but the greatest of these is love.
author unknown(to me anyway)
1 Corinthians 13 for Homeschool Moms
Though I teach my children how to multiply, divide, and diagram a
sentence, but fail to show them love, I have taught them nothing.
And though I take them on numerous field trips, to basketball practice
and flute lessons; and though I involve them in every church activity
but fail to give them love, I profit nothing.
And though I scrub my house relentlessly, run countless errands, and
serve three nutritious meals every day but fail to be an example of
love, I have done nothing.
Love is patient with misspelled words and is kind to three-year-old
interrupters. Love does not envy the high SAT scores of other
homeschool families. Love does not claim to have better teaching
methods than anyone else, is not rude to the fourth telephone caller
during a science lesson, does not seek perfectly behaved geniuses,
does not turn into a drill sergeant, thinks no evil about friends'
educational choices.
Love bears all my children's challenges, believes all my children are
God's precious gifts, hopes all my children establish permanent
relationships with Christ, and endures all things to demonstrate God's
love.
Love never fails. Where there are college degrees, they will fail;
where there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and
we teach in part. But when the trials of life come to our children,
the history, math, and science will be done away and faith, hope, and
love will remain; but the greatest of these is love.
author unknown(to me anyway)
What a perfect model!!
Recently made with love in every stitch. I took my sweet girl to the fabric store with me to pick out fabric. Being the lone sister amidst 4 brothers she naturally gravitated toward Batman fabric. She begged me to make Baby Sharlie(her baby) a batman diaper. It was actually easier to make a dress than a diaper. So when she went to sleep that night, I sewed a batman dress for Baby Sharlie, it was better than Christmas morning when she woke up with her baby next to her wearing a Batman dress!! I forgot to take a picture of it though.
Two year old's aren't as cooperative when it comes to modeling their cute tushies. I LOVE two year old's, I'll put up a video soon of an interview I did my 2 year old. Love him to pieces!!
I take June, July, and August of every year to immerse myself in preparing for the next homeschool year. We generally homeschool year-round, but we take the month of August completely off. I'm counting down till August. I love homeschooling, but I also love that break and the enjoyment of missing it. I spend the summer reading and re-reading books, researching, evaluating, praying, learning, re-learning, and un-learning.
Here is my current syllabus for the summer, I haven't thought it entirely through so it's subject to change, but here's what I've got so far:
Must-reads every summer:
The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach: Bible Based Homeschooling
What Your Child Needs to Know When: According to the Bible, According to the State: with Evaluation Check Lists for Grades K-8
Educating the Whole Hearted Child
The Well Trained Mind
*************************
I take my job as educator of my children very seriously, and am in many ways indebted to the state for allowing me to educate my own children, remember many countries don't have that choice, privilege, and right! I have a responsibility to the state to do what I promised to do. Although my educational goals are loftier than the No Child Left Behind Act, or our state's Standards of Learnings; I do research and refer to these when setting benchmarks for my children.
It's been fascinating to read the 2009 PISA results. PISA (Program for International Assessment) is an test given to 15 year olds in about 65 countries. The results have been very interesting, and quite informative. I am currently reading Lessons from PISA for the US. amd gaining meaninful insights into international educational reforms, all of which will be useful over the duration of my years as an instructor.
So the tooth fairy announced that due to the recession, she would no longer be leaving money but candy instead. My daughter lost her first tooth a couple of months ago, and candy was a big hit. Last week she literally lost her tooth, we didn't see it come out, she didn't feel it; in fact I have strong feeling that she actually swallowed it! Nevertheless I assured her that the tooth fairy knew that she lost her tooth and she was sure to get some candy come morning. Except...not only is this tooth fairy broke, she's forgetful. How pitiful. My daughter woke up so disappointed, she came into my room and announced that the tooth fairy, did in fact need her tooth in exchange for the candy, and she was sad that she really lost her tooth. The tooth fairy felt awful I assure you, but she's a quick thinker. I assured my daughter that tooth fairy's have impeccable memories, but poor eyesight. Perhaps she thought the covers, or the stuffed lion was the pillow and put the candy under there instead. Oh, how delighted she was to come back with a fistful full of candy. Priceless!! I am somewhat glad and a little disturbed to know that there is more than one unreliable tooth fairy in the world. Michelle over at My Blessed Home understands. 
We had soccer this morning. For the first time I didn't bring the baby because he had just fallen asleep, so he stayed home with daddy. Kaden woke up wanting to invite his soccer coach to church. He begged me for an invitation. Why did the thought cross my mind, "these people are going to think we're lunatics?". Kids don't care what people think about them. Perhaps that's one of the many reasons Christ exhorts us to "become like little children." I pray for ever-increasing boldness to please God and not man.
I hosted a baby shower at my house. I was thankful to do it, but boy I was NOT expecting everyone to bring their children. There was about 20 kids at a baby shower. Imagine that.
Kason is potty-training. None of my other kids every got potty-treats. I was that mom, that didn't want to bribe my kids with candy. Not anymore, I'd bribe him with money if I'd thought it would send his tushy to the toilet. So when you walk in my bathroom and see a bottle full of candy, you know the deal.
We ate baby shower food for dinner. I tried to convince the kids, "wouldn't it be fun to eat Cheetos for dinner?" Didn't have any takers, so I had to actually feed them. My amazing mother did however by me a pressure cooker recently. She's fantastic like that, everyone should have one of her. However, the manual is a little lengthy so I haven't read it yet, and still don't really know what a pressure cooker actually is. Stay tuned... I may read the manual this week, and use it, and have something to report.
I played video games with my oldest son tonight to encourage him. I'm not really a video game fanatic, but I'm trying to become "all things to all people". I had fun with him, and I try to pick games that I like and won't give me a headache.
I hosted a baby shower at my house. I was thankful to do it, but boy I was NOT expecting everyone to bring their children. There was about 20 kids at a baby shower. Imagine that.
Kason is potty-training. None of my other kids every got potty-treats. I was that mom, that didn't want to bribe my kids with candy. Not anymore, I'd bribe him with money if I'd thought it would send his tushy to the toilet. So when you walk in my bathroom and see a bottle full of candy, you know the deal.
We ate baby shower food for dinner. I tried to convince the kids, "wouldn't it be fun to eat Cheetos for dinner?" Didn't have any takers, so I had to actually feed them. My amazing mother did however by me a pressure cooker recently. She's fantastic like that, everyone should have one of her. However, the manual is a little lengthy so I haven't read it yet, and still don't really know what a pressure cooker actually is. Stay tuned... I may read the manual this week, and use it, and have something to report.
I played video games with my oldest son tonight to encourage him. I'm not really a video game fanatic, but I'm trying to become "all things to all people". I had fun with him, and I try to pick games that I like and won't give me a headache.
How happy and blessed I am to be able to spend my days loving, learning, and laughing with these wonderful people. I don't take my life for granted. I am hourly aware how drastically things could change. Disability, death, poverty, and myriad of other things could easily change our circumstance. Yet, God in his providence, has looked at our little family and blessed us far more than we deserve, and we can never be thankful enough. we and some other families went to the Pirate Festival tonight to share our faith/evangelize/soul-win or whatever you want to call it. It has been a challenging day for me today, impatience crept in the back door as usual,(I hate when people say how patient I am or must be) but in the car I was so humbled to think that God has entrusted His message with me. What a privilege I have to share His love, His son with a world living under judgement!
I'm back...I am recommitting myself to my blog. I do like and enjoy blogging, however I feel a philanthropic compulsion to blog...like I need to give back. I've learned sooo much from blogs, it has in fact help fortify the person that I am today. Sounds corny, but true. Long before I ever met homeschooling, cloth diapering, Little-house loving, Ladies Against Feminism real-life women; I found solace and camaraderie in my e-friends. What right have I not to give back some of what I've been given, in the hope that it might bless others. But secretly, or maybe not so secretly, I doubt my ability and validity to help others. Who am I to, what right have I to, when will I, why will I, how will I, but they do it better than I, etc. etc. etc. flood my mind and talk me right out of blogging each and everyday. But I guess more and more I'm finding comfort in my weaknesses and imperfections. Not so comfortable, that I'm complacent; but comfortable in the sense that I'm not perfect and never will be. That's fine, because I have a perfect Savior who has redeemed me, and I am living my life for Him.
St. Peter Denying Christ, by Paul Gustav Doré (1832-1883)
Speaking of living for him, I found this great article whilst helping my son with his assignment. My wonderful mother advised me to integrate current events into our school day. So my oldest has started reading Scholastic.com and I let him write two paragraphs reviewing an article of his choosing. His favorite writing assignment is the Sticky Situations. He has to find one applicable scripture for the situation, which has been a great research exercise as well as a practical approach to teaching how the scriptures are useful for all things. Well I was helping him find a scripture about pleasing God and not men and came across The Folly of Trying to Please Man by Richard Baxter-I do love Puritan sermons! Oh this one cut me deep. I would do well to memorize this entire treastie.
Richard Baxter:
1. Remember what a multitude you have to please;
and when you have pleased some, how many more will be still unpleased, and how many displeased when you have done your best. Alas! we are insufficient at once to observe all those that observe us and would be pleased by us. You are like one that hath but twelve pence in his purse, and a thousand beggars come about him for it, and every one will be displeased if he have it not all. If you resolve to give all that you have to the poor, if you do it to please God, you may attain your end, but if you do it to please them, when you have pleased those few that you gave it to, perhaps twice as many will revile or curse you, because they had nothing. The beggar that speeds well will proclaim you liberal, and the beggar that speeds ill will proclaim you niggardly and unmerciful; and so you will have more to offend and dishonour you, than to comfort you by their praise, if that must be your comfort.
2. Remember that all men are so selfish, that their expectations will be higher than you are able to satisfy.
They will not consider your hinderances, or avocations, or what you do for others, but most of them look to have as much to themselves, as if you had nobody else to mind but them. Many and many a time, when I have had an hour or a day to spend, a multitude have every one expected that I should have spent it with them. When I visit one, there are ten offended that I am not visiting them at the same hour: when I am discoursing with one, many more are offended that I am not speaking to them all at once: if those that I speak to account me courteous, and humble, and respectful, those that I could not speak to, or but in a word, account me discourteous and morose. How many have censured me, because I have not allowed them the time, which God and conscience commanded me to spend upon greater and more necessary work! If you have any office to give, or benefit to bestow which one only can have, every one thinketh himself the fittest; and when you have pleased one that hath it, you have displeased all that went without it, and missed of their desires.
READ the entire 22 reasons why it is foolish to try to please others.
The complete sermon on Man-pleasing by Richard Baxter can be found here
St. Peter Denying Christ, by Paul Gustav Doré (1832-1883)
Speaking of living for him, I found this great article whilst helping my son with his assignment. My wonderful mother advised me to integrate current events into our school day. So my oldest has started reading Scholastic.com and I let him write two paragraphs reviewing an article of his choosing. His favorite writing assignment is the Sticky Situations. He has to find one applicable scripture for the situation, which has been a great research exercise as well as a practical approach to teaching how the scriptures are useful for all things. Well I was helping him find a scripture about pleasing God and not men and came across The Folly of Trying to Please Man by Richard Baxter-I do love Puritan sermons! Oh this one cut me deep. I would do well to memorize this entire treastie.
Richard Baxter:
1. Remember what a multitude you have to please;
and when you have pleased some, how many more will be still unpleased, and how many displeased when you have done your best. Alas! we are insufficient at once to observe all those that observe us and would be pleased by us. You are like one that hath but twelve pence in his purse, and a thousand beggars come about him for it, and every one will be displeased if he have it not all. If you resolve to give all that you have to the poor, if you do it to please God, you may attain your end, but if you do it to please them, when you have pleased those few that you gave it to, perhaps twice as many will revile or curse you, because they had nothing. The beggar that speeds well will proclaim you liberal, and the beggar that speeds ill will proclaim you niggardly and unmerciful; and so you will have more to offend and dishonour you, than to comfort you by their praise, if that must be your comfort.
2. Remember that all men are so selfish, that their expectations will be higher than you are able to satisfy.
They will not consider your hinderances, or avocations, or what you do for others, but most of them look to have as much to themselves, as if you had nobody else to mind but them. Many and many a time, when I have had an hour or a day to spend, a multitude have every one expected that I should have spent it with them. When I visit one, there are ten offended that I am not visiting them at the same hour: when I am discoursing with one, many more are offended that I am not speaking to them all at once: if those that I speak to account me courteous, and humble, and respectful, those that I could not speak to, or but in a word, account me discourteous and morose. How many have censured me, because I have not allowed them the time, which God and conscience commanded me to spend upon greater and more necessary work! If you have any office to give, or benefit to bestow which one only can have, every one thinketh himself the fittest; and when you have pleased one that hath it, you have displeased all that went without it, and missed of their desires.
READ the entire 22 reasons why it is foolish to try to please others.
The complete sermon on Man-pleasing by Richard Baxter can be found here
9 years ago when we decided to homeschool I bought Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Homeschooling and several other homeschool books and magazines. But what I wanted more than anything else was to be a fly on somebody's homeschool wall. I joined a co-op of sorts, but didn't really fit in there. What I needed was somebody to take me to there house and show me how it's done. So these videos are just a tiny sampling of how we learn. My favorite homeschool blog is Tristan over at Our Busy Homeschool
