Summer flew by and school is about to start once again. We are no longer "new" to homeschooling, our first year is behind us. So I thought I would list the things I have learned and encountered in the last year or so; about myself, my kids, and everyone else we know.
1) Homeschooling is NOT easy.
Some people believe homeschooling families choose this path out of laziness. The thought is laughable at best. All your household chores are still there, and now you have your child's education to focus on. You may never catch up with your sleep, your laundry, or the rest of the chores. There are field trips to be taken, lessons to be covered, and guess what? There are no sick days.
Kids don't play video games all day; and eat junk food while you watch soap operas. That's a myth.
2) Kids dread the first day of school, even those who are homeschooled.
This is a sentiment I cannot relate to because I loved school. Literally. I was the kid who could not sleep the night before due to the excitement. It wasn't about seeing my friends again; it was all about what I was going to learn.
I have heard my kids say "ugh, I'm not ready to start school again". They sound like any of the regular school kids, don't they? You know why they feel that way? See #1 above.
3) Just because you homeschool in your PJs, doesn't mean you are lazy or unable to function in the "normal" world.
Forgive me for a second here, because I'm about to vent and the following is MY personal opinion. You don't have to agree with it; but you don't get to badger me about it either.
On most days, the kids will do their work in their PJs. We are in our house and I don't want any more laundry than a household of 5 can produce. I don't make them get up and change clothes in order to do school work because we are NOT recreating school at home; we are homeschooling. There is a huge difference. If they want to change clothes, fine. If they don't, that's fine too.
My children function just fine in the "real world". The fact they do their work in their PJs doesn't hinder them from joining the "real" world. When it's time to join the rest of the human population, my kids know to dress appropriately. They understand that PJs are not acceptable attire for church, piano lessons, or museum trips.
I am still trying to figure out why anyone would think the attire you wear while doing schoolwork makes you a "better functioning" human. I see plenty of people dressed in professional attire every day who can't function in normal society. I rest my case.
4) How do I know what to teach, and how do I know my kids are learning?
Well how did I know that they were learning while in regular school? Truthfully, some things they weren't learning. They memorized it for a test; and it was out of their mind once the test was done. I know they are learning because my kids have taught my husband and I more about animals in the last year than we even realized they knew; just from watching educational shows about it. They have read more encyclopedias than most people do in a lifetime. They have a need to tell me all about something they read in a book at the library; and they are excited about exploring the backyard and looking for "new" species of bugs. That's how I know they are learning.
As to what to teach, how did I know my kids were learning what they were supposed to learn while in school? I honestly didn't, I just trusted the school. Well, I follow the same guidelines the schools do to make sure they learn what they need. Simple as that.
5) People from the "good school districts", who live in the nice subdivisions, homeschool too.
Most people know I live in a very crappy school district. My kids attended private school for a long time; and we now homeschool them. I hear often how I need to move to x,y,z town because the school is better; and you guessed it, the kids can go to school there.
Turns out there are families who live in the elite school districts who homeschool. So I am ok staying in the crappy district and homeschooling too.
6) All kids are not created equal.
Well duh. Everyone knows that, right? I knew my kids were different from each other from day one. What I didn't realize was how differently they learn. They process information in a way unique to them. While textbooks and worksheets work for one, the other needs a more auditory/visual environment. I don't force them to sit still at a table while we do school. Yes there are things that have to be done while sitting down, like writing for example. But they don't sit through every single lesson. Some lessons are on the computer, science experiments may take you outside into the woods or into the kitchen.
7) Dads can homeschool too
Here is a big one for us. When we made the decision to homeschool; the very first question people had was "are you going to quit your job?". Imagine the shock when I said no.
You don't have to stop working to homeschool, there are plenty of moms who work from home and outside the home who do it. I'm one of the lucky ones who has a husband who is willing to do most of the schooling while I'm in the office.
Most people seem shocked, some ask if I double check after him to make sure the kids are learning. When did we decide men can't teach? There are plenty of male teachers in schools right now; and all my professors in engineering school were males. So why the double standards?
8) Everyone is an expert about what you should be doing; specially those who have never homeschooled.
Everyone. I've been told what curriculum I should use, how I should teach; etc. By people who have never done it.
9) Everyone has a horror story about someone who homeschooled and did a horrible job.
I don't know every homeschooling family in the world. The ones I know are committed to providing the best education for their kids. Period. I'm sure there are lazy people out there who use the term homeschooling to allow the kids to run wild while they watch soap operas. And if you come across one of them, report them. That's not homeschooling. I'm not entirely sure what's the point of those stories.
10) I have my kids' best interest at heart.
Don't assume that I don't care about the future my kids will have because I homeschool. That's the reason I do it; because I want the best for them.
I know plenty of graduates from "good" schools who have done zero with their lives. Going to a regular school doesn't guarantee success in college or anywhere else.
Homeschooling is a journey. You will come across people who will support you and some who will do what they can to put you down. Just remind yourself of the reasons you made the decision and keep going.
Besides, why worry about what people say? You were made to be different.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
4 miles? No problem. That one time I thought I was a Kenyan
Once upon a time, I was a runner. I laced up my shoes early every morning and logged in my miles; and I even trained for a marathon.
Then last week I decided it was time to get back to racing and signed up for a 4 mile race. Piece of cake, right? I mean, I have logged up to 30+ miles per week; how hard can 4 miles be?
What I seemed to have forgotten is that I had not run in a YEAR. That's right. A WHOLE YEAR. And those 30+ miles per week were logged 7 years ago.
Somewhere inside this crazy brain, I convinced myself that I was part Kenyan; and since my body has logged that many miles before, it would remember how to do 4 miles easily. Insane idea? Absolutely.
I signed up for the race; and told myself even if I didn't finish, the fee went to a worthy cause. Besides getting on my elliptical machine at home; and taking the stairs at work; I have done no other form of exercise in a whole year. I know what you are thinking. She is either crazy; or she certifiably insane.
I got up early on July 4th and headed out to meet destiny. I had one goal: to finish. I didn't care if I was slower than "a stampede of turtles running through peanut butter" (Gotta love that phrase!); I was determined to finish all 4 miles. Pace was simply not important, just survival.
So the race began. First half mile and my legs were burning and my shins hurting. I know the feeling all too well since this is what it feels like every time I get on the elliptical so I pressed on. I got this, that's what I told myself.
Then I came to the first hill of many and became certain I was either going to die; or going to hurt for a while. Who knew there were these many hills in our town? I certainly didn't.
First mile was over; and I had gone uphill twice. Someone was playing a practical joke on me; this was supposed to be an easy 'get back to running' race!
Mile 2 took me to the lake in town. Nice setting; how can you not enjoy running around such a placid place? Let me tell you how: HILLS. All around the lake. At this point, I'm considering calling it quits, calling my husband to come get me, and doing the walk of shame out of there.
This was the point where I began to talk to myself. Part was motivational, the other half was "what the heck were you thinking, you crazy woman" speech. I reminded myself of all things I had accomplished in life, including surviving twins; so this was a piece of cake, right?
The struggle continued in my head and soon I had made it to Mile 3. Can't quit now, I told myself. You just have one mile left. Quitting now would really be embarrassing. That was until I realized this last mile would be UPHILL. Who designed this course? Someone who was trying to make a quitter out of me? I was not quitting, I told myself. I was finishing even if they had to pick me off the ground at the finish line!
Then I saw the most beautiful sight closer to the finish line, my husband and kids cheering me on. I smiled, almost cried, and kept on because I really couldn't quit now that they were watching, right?
In the end, I finished all 4 miles, and my time was better than I had anticipated. I crossed the finish line, found my car, and headed home before I got stiff and couldn't drive. ha!
I learned a few lessons that day. Sometimes you can't prepare for what life brings. All you have is willpower; and the desire to overcome your obstacles. Keep your eyes on the prize and keep on going. If you are believer, as I am, then you pray for the endurance to finish the race laid out before you. As I did.
Now I'm ready for the next race. Because apparently the insanity stayed, even after the sore muscles. I'm ready to run again!
Then last week I decided it was time to get back to racing and signed up for a 4 mile race. Piece of cake, right? I mean, I have logged up to 30+ miles per week; how hard can 4 miles be?
What I seemed to have forgotten is that I had not run in a YEAR. That's right. A WHOLE YEAR. And those 30+ miles per week were logged 7 years ago.
Somewhere inside this crazy brain, I convinced myself that I was part Kenyan; and since my body has logged that many miles before, it would remember how to do 4 miles easily. Insane idea? Absolutely.
I signed up for the race; and told myself even if I didn't finish, the fee went to a worthy cause. Besides getting on my elliptical machine at home; and taking the stairs at work; I have done no other form of exercise in a whole year. I know what you are thinking. She is either crazy; or she certifiably insane.
I got up early on July 4th and headed out to meet destiny. I had one goal: to finish. I didn't care if I was slower than "a stampede of turtles running through peanut butter" (Gotta love that phrase!); I was determined to finish all 4 miles. Pace was simply not important, just survival.
So the race began. First half mile and my legs were burning and my shins hurting. I know the feeling all too well since this is what it feels like every time I get on the elliptical so I pressed on. I got this, that's what I told myself.
Then I came to the first hill of many and became certain I was either going to die; or going to hurt for a while. Who knew there were these many hills in our town? I certainly didn't.
First mile was over; and I had gone uphill twice. Someone was playing a practical joke on me; this was supposed to be an easy 'get back to running' race!
Mile 2 took me to the lake in town. Nice setting; how can you not enjoy running around such a placid place? Let me tell you how: HILLS. All around the lake. At this point, I'm considering calling it quits, calling my husband to come get me, and doing the walk of shame out of there.
This was the point where I began to talk to myself. Part was motivational, the other half was "what the heck were you thinking, you crazy woman" speech. I reminded myself of all things I had accomplished in life, including surviving twins; so this was a piece of cake, right?
The struggle continued in my head and soon I had made it to Mile 3. Can't quit now, I told myself. You just have one mile left. Quitting now would really be embarrassing. That was until I realized this last mile would be UPHILL. Who designed this course? Someone who was trying to make a quitter out of me? I was not quitting, I told myself. I was finishing even if they had to pick me off the ground at the finish line!
Then I saw the most beautiful sight closer to the finish line, my husband and kids cheering me on. I smiled, almost cried, and kept on because I really couldn't quit now that they were watching, right?
In the end, I finished all 4 miles, and my time was better than I had anticipated. I crossed the finish line, found my car, and headed home before I got stiff and couldn't drive. ha!
I learned a few lessons that day. Sometimes you can't prepare for what life brings. All you have is willpower; and the desire to overcome your obstacles. Keep your eyes on the prize and keep on going. If you are believer, as I am, then you pray for the endurance to finish the race laid out before you. As I did.
Now I'm ready for the next race. Because apparently the insanity stayed, even after the sore muscles. I'm ready to run again!
Monday, April 28, 2014
Mama said there be days like this...
Ever had one of those days when you feel you got it all under control : the laundry, housework, homeschool, work? Yeah, me either.
Just when I start to think "I've got this", that nagging voice creeps into my head and it says "no you don't!. You haven't (insert whatever I haven't done here).
Today was a state holiday so I didn't have to work. I've been home playing catch up with the laundry all day. I've lost count of how many loads I've managed to fold and put away. The size of the mountain has finally been reduced to a molehill.
A few months ago, I started reading about Charlotte Mason and her philosophy on educating the kids. I hadn't implemented anything yet, because I've been preoccupied with "finishing" the year. I'm not sure why I'm doing this to myself, when we have decided to do year round homeschooling. Maybe because I'm trying to drive myself crazy.
Anyway, back to CM and her philosophies. I've also been looking for a writing curriculum/program to get my oldest to write. I looked into Brave Writer and have started reading The Writer's Jungle . Today we started incorporating some of the things in the first chapters. I really like this book, because it nurtures the kids' natural desire to tell their stories.
So we did copywork today. Basically the kids get to copy paragraphs from real books, not textbooks. One is copying form 2,000 leagues under the sea; the other is copying from Robinson Crusoe; and the oldest is doing copywork from my one of my favorite books To Kill a Mockingbird.
It's a small step in the journey but it's a step. I was glad there was no complaining about doing this work! I'm going to assign reading from the same books; so they can start picking out the paragraph they want to copy.
We had plenty of whining when it was time for math. Why can't they do math without complaining? Must their torture their engineer mother like this? We got thru that with a few more gray hairs (mine) and tears (theirs).
Then I sent them outside to observe nature and writer about it in their nature journal. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much they wanted to write. I think we will definitely do this as often as the weather permits.
In history we are learning about India and the beginning of Hinduism. I have to admit, this really brings me back to my childhood. My father had books about Hinduism around the house and I recall reading about it as a kid. We discussed their main gods; watched a video and then talked about Ganesha (god of success, destroyer of obstacles) which I have tattooed on my leg; and also about Indra (king of the gods) because my youngest sister bears its name.
Still need to finish the workboxes; still need to put together the boys' science lesson plans for next year; get the Spanish curriculum, etc, etc, etc.
Thankful for a day at home to spend with the kids though; talking to them about some of the things I learned as kid.
Just when I start to think "I've got this", that nagging voice creeps into my head and it says "no you don't!. You haven't (insert whatever I haven't done here).
Today was a state holiday so I didn't have to work. I've been home playing catch up with the laundry all day. I've lost count of how many loads I've managed to fold and put away. The size of the mountain has finally been reduced to a molehill.
A few months ago, I started reading about Charlotte Mason and her philosophy on educating the kids. I hadn't implemented anything yet, because I've been preoccupied with "finishing" the year. I'm not sure why I'm doing this to myself, when we have decided to do year round homeschooling. Maybe because I'm trying to drive myself crazy.
Anyway, back to CM and her philosophies. I've also been looking for a writing curriculum/program to get my oldest to write. I looked into Brave Writer and have started reading The Writer's Jungle . Today we started incorporating some of the things in the first chapters. I really like this book, because it nurtures the kids' natural desire to tell their stories.
So we did copywork today. Basically the kids get to copy paragraphs from real books, not textbooks. One is copying form 2,000 leagues under the sea; the other is copying from Robinson Crusoe; and the oldest is doing copywork from my one of my favorite books To Kill a Mockingbird.
It's a small step in the journey but it's a step. I was glad there was no complaining about doing this work! I'm going to assign reading from the same books; so they can start picking out the paragraph they want to copy.
We had plenty of whining when it was time for math. Why can't they do math without complaining? Must their torture their engineer mother like this? We got thru that with a few more gray hairs (mine) and tears (theirs).
Then I sent them outside to observe nature and writer about it in their nature journal. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much they wanted to write. I think we will definitely do this as often as the weather permits.
In history we are learning about India and the beginning of Hinduism. I have to admit, this really brings me back to my childhood. My father had books about Hinduism around the house and I recall reading about it as a kid. We discussed their main gods; watched a video and then talked about Ganesha (god of success, destroyer of obstacles) which I have tattooed on my leg; and also about Indra (king of the gods) because my youngest sister bears its name.
Still need to finish the workboxes; still need to put together the boys' science lesson plans for next year; get the Spanish curriculum, etc, etc, etc.
Thankful for a day at home to spend with the kids though; talking to them about some of the things I learned as kid.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Chopsticks, Geocaching, Smithsonian Exhibit. Our week in review
This was an unusual week for us. By us, I mean me.
Husband just had a birthday last week. His birthday wish was a fishing trip, so I took time off from work while he went fishing. Or as we called it "teacher development days".
I had great plans for the two days I'd be home with the kids. We would get up early, have a big breakfast, get our school work done. You know, it all sounded possible and great. In theory. What I didn't anticipate was that I would be the one dragging herself out of bed at 8:30am. Ooops. I guess my body was trying to tell me it is ok to sleep passed my normal 5am wake up time.
On day one, there was lots of whining because, instead of going outside to explore, they had to do English. Oh the horror! Are they always this whiny? Husband says yes. I just don't know how he handles it daily, because, after 30 minutes, I had enough of the complaining. I think we are going to get a timer and see how that works. None of these assignments they are working on should take longer than 30 minutes.
But we did manage to do a lot of things in the two days we were home alone.
Spent time watching my karate kid do his thing in class. He is a natural. I'm convinced he has some Korean blood in him (probably from my father's side of the family) because he has taken to Han Mu Do as a fish to water!
I made some fried rice one night and the kids decided they wanted to learn how to use chopsticks. So they pulled them out and gave it a try. I tried to tell them it would be easier to learn if they had something like veggies or meat to grab rather than rice but they wanted to try. After a few minutes; everyone went back to the western utensils.
We also started geocaching. Until recently, I hadn't heard about it. I asked the kids if they wanted to give it a try, and off we went. I do think we need to involve dad in our adventures, because some of the caches may be in areas this city girl is hesitant to explore (ie any area where a snake may be).
After piano lessons, we went to the Smithsonian Traveling exhibit The way we worked. It was very informative, and the kids were surprised to learn, once upon a time, kids their age actually had jobs! Talk about realizing how spoiled they truly are.
I finally realized that creating my own homeschool planner probably wasn't going to work for me. As much as I wanted to do it, I wasn't really sure where to start, not to mention all that printing! So I order the Simple Plan by Mardel. I'm excited to start using it and have one location to keep up with all the kids are doing.
I also started working on their "workboxes". I didn't read the book. I found several ideas on Pinterest and decided to try and implement my own version. We really don't have room for individual boxes for each kid; so I just bought a big box with folders for each subject. I'm sure there will be tweaking involved to get them working for us, but isn't that what homeschooling is about? Adjusting and changing to suit our needs?
Planning and choosing curriculum is quite challenging. I thought laying it all out for my husband was the hardest part of homeschooling. I now realize, after staying home for a couple of days, how difficult it can be to implement it.
So, hats off to my husband, who stays home and tries to get the kids motivated every day to learn and do their work. Thank you!
Husband just had a birthday last week. His birthday wish was a fishing trip, so I took time off from work while he went fishing. Or as we called it "teacher development days".
I had great plans for the two days I'd be home with the kids. We would get up early, have a big breakfast, get our school work done. You know, it all sounded possible and great. In theory. What I didn't anticipate was that I would be the one dragging herself out of bed at 8:30am. Ooops. I guess my body was trying to tell me it is ok to sleep passed my normal 5am wake up time.
On day one, there was lots of whining because, instead of going outside to explore, they had to do English. Oh the horror! Are they always this whiny? Husband says yes. I just don't know how he handles it daily, because, after 30 minutes, I had enough of the complaining. I think we are going to get a timer and see how that works. None of these assignments they are working on should take longer than 30 minutes.
But we did manage to do a lot of things in the two days we were home alone.
Spent time watching my karate kid do his thing in class. He is a natural. I'm convinced he has some Korean blood in him (probably from my father's side of the family) because he has taken to Han Mu Do as a fish to water!
I made some fried rice one night and the kids decided they wanted to learn how to use chopsticks. So they pulled them out and gave it a try. I tried to tell them it would be easier to learn if they had something like veggies or meat to grab rather than rice but they wanted to try. After a few minutes; everyone went back to the western utensils.
We also started geocaching. Until recently, I hadn't heard about it. I asked the kids if they wanted to give it a try, and off we went. I do think we need to involve dad in our adventures, because some of the caches may be in areas this city girl is hesitant to explore (ie any area where a snake may be).
After piano lessons, we went to the Smithsonian Traveling exhibit The way we worked. It was very informative, and the kids were surprised to learn, once upon a time, kids their age actually had jobs! Talk about realizing how spoiled they truly are.
I finally realized that creating my own homeschool planner probably wasn't going to work for me. As much as I wanted to do it, I wasn't really sure where to start, not to mention all that printing! So I order the Simple Plan by Mardel. I'm excited to start using it and have one location to keep up with all the kids are doing.
I also started working on their "workboxes". I didn't read the book. I found several ideas on Pinterest and decided to try and implement my own version. We really don't have room for individual boxes for each kid; so I just bought a big box with folders for each subject. I'm sure there will be tweaking involved to get them working for us, but isn't that what homeschooling is about? Adjusting and changing to suit our needs?
Planning and choosing curriculum is quite challenging. I thought laying it all out for my husband was the hardest part of homeschooling. I now realize, after staying home for a couple of days, how difficult it can be to implement it.
So, hats off to my husband, who stays home and tries to get the kids motivated every day to learn and do their work. Thank you!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
What I've learned this first year of homeschooling
Our first official "year" of homeschooling is fast approaching. I'm happy to report we have all survived; both C and I are still fairly sane (most of the time) and the kids are thriving and learning.
What have I learn during this year of homeschooling?
1) No two homeschooling families are alike
We all have different reasons why we chose this path. There is no "one size fits all"; and that's the best part about it.
2) Even when the boys are hanging upside down on the couch, they are listening
I used to believe, in order for learning to happen, kids needed to be sitting at a desk, attentively looking at the person teaching the lesson. A few months into our journey, I discovered this would never be the case at our house. Making them sit at the table for every single lesson was torture for them. Eventually we discovered they are actually listening when they are hanging upside, or playing with their cars on the floor. Their brains are like sponges and they are absorbing everything. And yes, I do ask questions just to make sure their brains haven't wander off into the land of gigantic spiders and Captain America.
3) My house will never be clean again
At least not while all three of the kids are still under my roof. There will always be books out of place, pencils will mysteriously disappear (only to be found in the craziest of places); and the laundry will multiply in a matter of seconds.
4) Learning just happens
While at the playground, one of the boys asked me if one of the ladders was shaped like the DNA strand. Did I mention this is the kid who likes to stand on his head? I was quite proud that my 7 year old announced to all the other parents he knew what DNA was and what it looked like.
5) Kids want to learn
We have been talking about the Greeks and the Romans in our history lessons. They were so eager to hear more about the Spartans, and the Gladiators. Even more so when I found a documentary about ancient Rome. Who knew kids would watch educational television without being forced?
6) Everyone has an opinion. Pay no attention
Everyone has an opinion about homeschooling; specially those closest to you. Listen to no one. You are doing what's best for you and your family. You have to please no one. Yes, their comments (no matter how well intended) will sting but keep reminding yourself you are responsible for your kids; and you know what's best for them.
7) There is no need to socialize the kids
This was the #1 question we received: what about socialization. Unless you are a hermit, you will encounter more people than just those under your roof. My kids make friends at the playground, at church, at the grocery store; anywhere they encounter another human. Their social calendar is busier than mine.
8) No curriculum will ever completely satisfy me
Don't get me wrong, there are some great resources out there. But even the best ones are going to require some adaptation. My kids are unique (as are everyone else's) so I may have to get creative in order to get the information to them in a manner they can process it and absorb it.
9) There are days you will wonder if your kids would be better served at school
Those days will come and will take you by surprise. I have doubted my decision, stayed up at night feeling like the worst mother in the world. But after the clouds have passed, the sky is always brighter. The kids will sit on the couch happily reading an encyclopedia; or they will be outside looking for bugs they can later match with the pictures in their bug book, or my daughter will be in the kitchen happily cooking. Then I realize they are fine; and this is where we need to be. Right in this moment.
10) My kids are amazing human beings
I watched my kids smile at the homeless man we encountered last weekend. They were worried he had no food; and that no one was stopping. We gave him some money; and they asked that we put together more "care bags" so next time we could give more. Their hearts are big and filled with love and compassion for other humans, regardless of their stage in life. I have been able to see their caring hearts at work more often now that our life has slowed down some and we can spend more time doing the things that count.
Linked to weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers
What have I learn during this year of homeschooling?
1) No two homeschooling families are alike
We all have different reasons why we chose this path. There is no "one size fits all"; and that's the best part about it.
2) Even when the boys are hanging upside down on the couch, they are listening
I used to believe, in order for learning to happen, kids needed to be sitting at a desk, attentively looking at the person teaching the lesson. A few months into our journey, I discovered this would never be the case at our house. Making them sit at the table for every single lesson was torture for them. Eventually we discovered they are actually listening when they are hanging upside, or playing with their cars on the floor. Their brains are like sponges and they are absorbing everything. And yes, I do ask questions just to make sure their brains haven't wander off into the land of gigantic spiders and Captain America.
3) My house will never be clean again
At least not while all three of the kids are still under my roof. There will always be books out of place, pencils will mysteriously disappear (only to be found in the craziest of places); and the laundry will multiply in a matter of seconds.
4) Learning just happens
While at the playground, one of the boys asked me if one of the ladders was shaped like the DNA strand. Did I mention this is the kid who likes to stand on his head? I was quite proud that my 7 year old announced to all the other parents he knew what DNA was and what it looked like.
5) Kids want to learn
We have been talking about the Greeks and the Romans in our history lessons. They were so eager to hear more about the Spartans, and the Gladiators. Even more so when I found a documentary about ancient Rome. Who knew kids would watch educational television without being forced?
6) Everyone has an opinion. Pay no attention
Everyone has an opinion about homeschooling; specially those closest to you. Listen to no one. You are doing what's best for you and your family. You have to please no one. Yes, their comments (no matter how well intended) will sting but keep reminding yourself you are responsible for your kids; and you know what's best for them.
7) There is no need to socialize the kids
This was the #1 question we received: what about socialization. Unless you are a hermit, you will encounter more people than just those under your roof. My kids make friends at the playground, at church, at the grocery store; anywhere they encounter another human. Their social calendar is busier than mine.
8) No curriculum will ever completely satisfy me
Don't get me wrong, there are some great resources out there. But even the best ones are going to require some adaptation. My kids are unique (as are everyone else's) so I may have to get creative in order to get the information to them in a manner they can process it and absorb it.
9) There are days you will wonder if your kids would be better served at school
Those days will come and will take you by surprise. I have doubted my decision, stayed up at night feeling like the worst mother in the world. But after the clouds have passed, the sky is always brighter. The kids will sit on the couch happily reading an encyclopedia; or they will be outside looking for bugs they can later match with the pictures in their bug book, or my daughter will be in the kitchen happily cooking. Then I realize they are fine; and this is where we need to be. Right in this moment.
10) My kids are amazing human beings
I watched my kids smile at the homeless man we encountered last weekend. They were worried he had no food; and that no one was stopping. We gave him some money; and they asked that we put together more "care bags" so next time we could give more. Their hearts are big and filled with love and compassion for other humans, regardless of their stage in life. I have been able to see their caring hearts at work more often now that our life has slowed down some and we can spend more time doing the things that count.
Linked to weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Living to tell about it, our week in review
This was one busy week at our house. Actually it was close to a typical week. I guess all our weeks these days are busy.
Hubby had a birthday at the beginning of the week. We went out to eat at a local steakhouse. This is a fairly new restaurant and we had no idea there was karaoke there; and on the night we decided to visit.
Towards the end of our meal, my daughter decided to serenade her dad by singing Happy Birthday to him in front of everyone! He was quite touched (I may have cried a little too ;-) ). It was the perfect ending to a birthday, if you asked me.
My favorite author died this week. Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I discovered his most famous book One Hundred Years of Solitude as a teenager. My sister had to read it for school and I decided I wanted to read it too. I was immediately drawn into the life of the Buendias and the town of Macondo. I was captivated by the sounds and hardships of the jungle, and the melancholy of the protagonists in the story. I was hooked for life.
I've read many more of his books; both in our native tongue; and also in English. I'm pretty certain I've read One Hundred Years at least five times in the span of my life in both languages. I am not sure what drew me to his work; but I know the world has lost a literary giant.
We had a chance to visit with some of our homeschool group. So thankful for these families! They have been so supportive of our journey; and they may not know how grateful I am for this group.
I have narrowed down the curriculum we are using for my oldest who will be starting 7th grade. The more I research, the more confused I get with the multiple choices. I have finally decided to use R.E.A.L Science Odyssey Biology 2. I like the lab components; science without labs is just reading, in my opinion.
Also going to use Brave Writer to get her writing jump started again this year. I like what I've read so far, and I think it will work for both of us.
Spelling Power will be our spelling curriculum; gotta get those kids spelling right!
Still making decisions on other curriculum but we are getting there!
Hubby had a birthday at the beginning of the week. We went out to eat at a local steakhouse. This is a fairly new restaurant and we had no idea there was karaoke there; and on the night we decided to visit.
Towards the end of our meal, my daughter decided to serenade her dad by singing Happy Birthday to him in front of everyone! He was quite touched (I may have cried a little too ;-) ). It was the perfect ending to a birthday, if you asked me.
My favorite author died this week. Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I discovered his most famous book One Hundred Years of Solitude as a teenager. My sister had to read it for school and I decided I wanted to read it too. I was immediately drawn into the life of the Buendias and the town of Macondo. I was captivated by the sounds and hardships of the jungle, and the melancholy of the protagonists in the story. I was hooked for life.
I've read many more of his books; both in our native tongue; and also in English. I'm pretty certain I've read One Hundred Years at least five times in the span of my life in both languages. I am not sure what drew me to his work; but I know the world has lost a literary giant.
We had a chance to visit with some of our homeschool group. So thankful for these families! They have been so supportive of our journey; and they may not know how grateful I am for this group.
I have narrowed down the curriculum we are using for my oldest who will be starting 7th grade. The more I research, the more confused I get with the multiple choices. I have finally decided to use R.E.A.L Science Odyssey Biology 2. I like the lab components; science without labs is just reading, in my opinion.
Also going to use Brave Writer to get her writing jump started again this year. I like what I've read so far, and I think it will work for both of us.
Spelling Power will be our spelling curriculum; gotta get those kids spelling right!
Still making decisions on other curriculum but we are getting there!
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Of plants and worms?
Why are weekends never long enough? It seems time speeds up during the weekends and creeps along during the week.
Saturday the kids had a chance to help their uncle K build a swing set. They love visiting because he lets them help out in whatever project he is working on around the house. They had shovels, and drills and left numerous holes in my sister's yard, much to their delight (and her horror!). They dug for worms, they made mud; and learn how to build something. Who said learning only happens inside?
They now have a new project at home. Mimi has given each of them a potted plant to take care of. I guess I should confess I do not have a green thumb. Many of the women in my family (abuela, mom, sisters) have been blessed with the ability to grow anything. A plant may be brown and almost dead and these women will resuscitate it and bring it back to life! I, on the other hand, have been known for killing a cactus (or two) in my life.
So the kids have to depend on my mom to learn all about taking care of plants. She gave each of them plant they are to take care of from now on. Let's hope their thumbs are greener than mine! They are so excited to watch these plants grow and I'm excited for them. What better way to learn about plants, photosynthesis, etc? I can't think of one.
We have set the plants by the window, on a bench my uncle built for me when I was 3 years old. This bench has traveled thousand miles or more to be here today. For many years, Abuelo (my mom's dad) kept it at his house, while my family moved to two different countries. A few years back, before he passed, he sent it to me. He said I should have it so one day I could pass it on the kids. It holds such a special place in my heart. It ties me to my childhood, to my roots back in Panama, to my grandfather, and my uncle and all those who had such an important place in my life as a kid.
Now the kids get to use to watch their plants grown. I am sure Abuelo is smiling down on them.
Saturday the kids had a chance to help their uncle K build a swing set. They love visiting because he lets them help out in whatever project he is working on around the house. They had shovels, and drills and left numerous holes in my sister's yard, much to their delight (and her horror!). They dug for worms, they made mud; and learn how to build something. Who said learning only happens inside?
They now have a new project at home. Mimi has given each of them a potted plant to take care of. I guess I should confess I do not have a green thumb. Many of the women in my family (abuela, mom, sisters) have been blessed with the ability to grow anything. A plant may be brown and almost dead and these women will resuscitate it and bring it back to life! I, on the other hand, have been known for killing a cactus (or two) in my life.
So the kids have to depend on my mom to learn all about taking care of plants. She gave each of them plant they are to take care of from now on. Let's hope their thumbs are greener than mine! They are so excited to watch these plants grow and I'm excited for them. What better way to learn about plants, photosynthesis, etc? I can't think of one.
We have set the plants by the window, on a bench my uncle built for me when I was 3 years old. This bench has traveled thousand miles or more to be here today. For many years, Abuelo (my mom's dad) kept it at his house, while my family moved to two different countries. A few years back, before he passed, he sent it to me. He said I should have it so one day I could pass it on the kids. It holds such a special place in my heart. It ties me to my childhood, to my roots back in Panama, to my grandfather, and my uncle and all those who had such an important place in my life as a kid.
Now the kids get to use to watch their plants grown. I am sure Abuelo is smiling down on them.
Friday, April 11, 2014
A week of planning and learning
The end of our very first year of homeschooling is fast approaching. This has been quite the ride! I have learned a lot about the kids, not to mention about myself.
I've learned that old habits die hard. I've had to let go of the "do school at home" idea I had in my head and learn to be FLEXIBLE. If you know me, you are probably laughing. Engineers don't do flexible well; at least this one doesn't.
I've found myself thinking outside the box; finding new ways to engage the kids in learning without them actually knowing that's what I'm doing. I am a "stay in the box" person; but making sure the kids don't get discouraged when they don't grasp something has catapulted me outside the box and into a realm I am not very familiar with.
With our first year coming to an end it is time to plan for the upcoming year. Planning is something I do well. As my poor husband will tell you (and my friends will attest) I can research anything ad nauseum. I have been evaluating what we used this year, determining what worked, what didn't and looking at new curriculum for the upcoming year.
Instead of paper/pen; I have a spreadsheet with a tab for each of the kids; with all the subjects I want to cover in the upcoming year and the materials that can possibly work for us; where to purchase it, how much it will cost. Have I mentioned I'm a planner?
During the endless hours I've spent researching while the laundry tumbles in the dryer; I've come to realize there is no curriculum that will ever fully satisfy me. Even the ones we bought that I was certain I could just pull out of the box and implement, I have tweaked to fit us. I'm guessing most homeschool families do the tweaking because that's the whole point of homeschooling. Being able to customize the material to fit your needs is one of the reasons we do this.
I have narrowed down math, language arts and history and found materials I'm happy with. I'm sure there will be tweaking; and adding other sources to make it more complete. Art and Music is one I'm going to venture out and plan on my own. Shouldn't be that hard, right? I'm going to try and follow our history curriculum and discuss art/music from that period; so at least I have a road map.
However, when it comes to science; the engineer in me simply isn't satisfied with what I've found. Either it is outrageously expensive; too simplistic in its approach, too boring. I want the kids to be excited about science as I was when I was their age. Science has to be experienced. Yes, there are terms to learn, and plenty of reading; but it has to be fun! That is the only way they will want to stick with it (and I'm secretly hoping to be raising future scientists but that's a post for another day).
So I think I will be putting together this year's curriculum for the boys at least. They want to learn about animals/bugs (I'm guessing this is universal for boys?). I've found a few books to help me piece together something fun and still complete for them.
As for my girl, 7th grade is tough (in all possible ways). I have found a few resources I'm still researching. I want to build a foundation for the high school science and still make it fun. This is my artsy child (dance and piano are her passions) so I have a bigger challenge selling her to science and math.
So that's what's been happening in my world. We have been schooling at home, schooling on the road, going to the movies, attending concerts, breathing tons of pollen while enjoying some time at the park. It seems we are endlessly on the road, even more so now that when the kids were in regular school! They have been making new friends, spending time with old ones; and adjusting beautifully to this homeschooling adventure.
I've learned that old habits die hard. I've had to let go of the "do school at home" idea I had in my head and learn to be FLEXIBLE. If you know me, you are probably laughing. Engineers don't do flexible well; at least this one doesn't.
I've found myself thinking outside the box; finding new ways to engage the kids in learning without them actually knowing that's what I'm doing. I am a "stay in the box" person; but making sure the kids don't get discouraged when they don't grasp something has catapulted me outside the box and into a realm I am not very familiar with.
With our first year coming to an end it is time to plan for the upcoming year. Planning is something I do well. As my poor husband will tell you (and my friends will attest) I can research anything ad nauseum. I have been evaluating what we used this year, determining what worked, what didn't and looking at new curriculum for the upcoming year.
Instead of paper/pen; I have a spreadsheet with a tab for each of the kids; with all the subjects I want to cover in the upcoming year and the materials that can possibly work for us; where to purchase it, how much it will cost. Have I mentioned I'm a planner?
During the endless hours I've spent researching while the laundry tumbles in the dryer; I've come to realize there is no curriculum that will ever fully satisfy me. Even the ones we bought that I was certain I could just pull out of the box and implement, I have tweaked to fit us. I'm guessing most homeschool families do the tweaking because that's the whole point of homeschooling. Being able to customize the material to fit your needs is one of the reasons we do this.
I have narrowed down math, language arts and history and found materials I'm happy with. I'm sure there will be tweaking; and adding other sources to make it more complete. Art and Music is one I'm going to venture out and plan on my own. Shouldn't be that hard, right? I'm going to try and follow our history curriculum and discuss art/music from that period; so at least I have a road map.
However, when it comes to science; the engineer in me simply isn't satisfied with what I've found. Either it is outrageously expensive; too simplistic in its approach, too boring. I want the kids to be excited about science as I was when I was their age. Science has to be experienced. Yes, there are terms to learn, and plenty of reading; but it has to be fun! That is the only way they will want to stick with it (and I'm secretly hoping to be raising future scientists but that's a post for another day).
So I think I will be putting together this year's curriculum for the boys at least. They want to learn about animals/bugs (I'm guessing this is universal for boys?). I've found a few books to help me piece together something fun and still complete for them.
As for my girl, 7th grade is tough (in all possible ways). I have found a few resources I'm still researching. I want to build a foundation for the high school science and still make it fun. This is my artsy child (dance and piano are her passions) so I have a bigger challenge selling her to science and math.
So that's what's been happening in my world. We have been schooling at home, schooling on the road, going to the movies, attending concerts, breathing tons of pollen while enjoying some time at the park. It seems we are endlessly on the road, even more so now that when the kids were in regular school! They have been making new friends, spending time with old ones; and adjusting beautifully to this homeschooling adventure.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Six months into our homeschooling journey
We've only been homeschooling for six months? Really? It seems like we've been doing this a lot longer.
I've been asked often how things are going for us. I'm never quite sure how to answer this. Do they really want to know about our struggles, are they hoping we'll answer something like "not going so well" so they can convince me I need to send the kids back to "real school"?
My answer is simply "things are going well" unless I'm talking to another homeschool mom and then I just feel the need to confess all of my worries and concerns. Notice I said "my worries".
Truth is, things are going better than I would have guessed. My family seems to have adapted to this new chapter in our lives a lot better than I. They have learned to do lessons in the car, to use Netflix documentaries to supplement curriculum; to research topics they like on their own, and to adjust learning times during full moons (when my boys seem to turn into banshees).
Me, on the other hand, I'm plagued with doubt every single week. Are they learning enough? Did I pick the right curriculum? Are they being motivated to learn? Are they retaining what they are learning? Are we doing enough? The list goes on and on.
It has been six months and I can now honestly say Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. Unless you believe you are truly doing what's best for your family, it's best not to attempt this journey. Because you are going to have to remind yourself often that this is meant to be, and that no one, no school and no teacher, will ever love and understand your kids better than you.
In these six months, I've had to change some of the curriculum we had picked. I had read all about other families changing theirs, I was even told by some homeschool veterans that it happens. Naive as I was, I figured I would pick the right curriculum the first time and wouldn't have to change a thing. Go ahead, laugh.
The fact is my kids just hate some of the curriculum I chose. It is boring to them. It doesn't excite them, or inspire them to learn more. The twins asked me to please get them another science book because they were tired of coloring pages and boring books. They wanted to do experiments and collect bugs, and all the other things that are not on this 2nd grade book.
My husband has done a great job finding a way to do the lessons using what we have at hand. I didn't run off and buy more stuff because, well, I'm not made of money, and I wasn't sure what to buy this time around.
Mind you, I did my research. My husband will tell you how many countless hours I spent looking and researching and comparing before I chose this curriculum. I didn't want a boxed set, so I pieced together what I thought would be best for my kids. Turns out, I picked the curriculum with the correct content and the wrong delivery method.
Textbooks/worksheets/assignments/tests is how I was educated. One of my earliest memories of school comes from reading all my 1st grade textbooks before the first day of school (back in the school I attended in Panama, parents had to purchase the books). I couldn't wait for the day my parents went to buy the textbooks, so I could read them! So I ended up getting that type of material for my kids. Don't get me wrong, the curriculum is good, and very complete, but it's not for my kids.
So I'm starting over. I bought a book 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. I probably should have invested in this book before we started but it's never too late. I finally figured out that my children learn very differently from me, so the curriculum I love and would thrive using would frustrate them beyond belief (lesson learned!).
Still, six months into this journey, I'm more confident in my decision to homeschool. I've watched my kids truly enjoy learning. We have stumbled, we have had moments when we wondered "what in the world have we done?", we have gotten on each others' nerves and wished we could just send them back to school so we could get a break.
But we have not regret it. We have watched our kids be happy, learning at home. We have become closer as a family. No more sitting at the table, while someone cries because they are exhausted and do not want to do any more homework. No more mom crying because the kids are crying and frustrated.
So we march on with the rest of this school year, doing the best we can with the materials we have; while I search and research for new materials for next year. And those new ones do not work; I won't feel like I've failed the kids. Because the beauty of homeschooling is we can make changes and adjust as we need to do. And as principal of this school, what I say usually goes.
I've been asked often how things are going for us. I'm never quite sure how to answer this. Do they really want to know about our struggles, are they hoping we'll answer something like "not going so well" so they can convince me I need to send the kids back to "real school"?
My answer is simply "things are going well" unless I'm talking to another homeschool mom and then I just feel the need to confess all of my worries and concerns. Notice I said "my worries".
Truth is, things are going better than I would have guessed. My family seems to have adapted to this new chapter in our lives a lot better than I. They have learned to do lessons in the car, to use Netflix documentaries to supplement curriculum; to research topics they like on their own, and to adjust learning times during full moons (when my boys seem to turn into banshees).
Me, on the other hand, I'm plagued with doubt every single week. Are they learning enough? Did I pick the right curriculum? Are they being motivated to learn? Are they retaining what they are learning? Are we doing enough? The list goes on and on.
It has been six months and I can now honestly say Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart. Unless you believe you are truly doing what's best for your family, it's best not to attempt this journey. Because you are going to have to remind yourself often that this is meant to be, and that no one, no school and no teacher, will ever love and understand your kids better than you.
In these six months, I've had to change some of the curriculum we had picked. I had read all about other families changing theirs, I was even told by some homeschool veterans that it happens. Naive as I was, I figured I would pick the right curriculum the first time and wouldn't have to change a thing. Go ahead, laugh.
The fact is my kids just hate some of the curriculum I chose. It is boring to them. It doesn't excite them, or inspire them to learn more. The twins asked me to please get them another science book because they were tired of coloring pages and boring books. They wanted to do experiments and collect bugs, and all the other things that are not on this 2nd grade book.
My husband has done a great job finding a way to do the lessons using what we have at hand. I didn't run off and buy more stuff because, well, I'm not made of money, and I wasn't sure what to buy this time around.
Mind you, I did my research. My husband will tell you how many countless hours I spent looking and researching and comparing before I chose this curriculum. I didn't want a boxed set, so I pieced together what I thought would be best for my kids. Turns out, I picked the curriculum with the correct content and the wrong delivery method.
Textbooks/worksheets/assignments/tests is how I was educated. One of my earliest memories of school comes from reading all my 1st grade textbooks before the first day of school (back in the school I attended in Panama, parents had to purchase the books). I couldn't wait for the day my parents went to buy the textbooks, so I could read them! So I ended up getting that type of material for my kids. Don't get me wrong, the curriculum is good, and very complete, but it's not for my kids.
So I'm starting over. I bought a book 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. I probably should have invested in this book before we started but it's never too late. I finally figured out that my children learn very differently from me, so the curriculum I love and would thrive using would frustrate them beyond belief (lesson learned!).
Still, six months into this journey, I'm more confident in my decision to homeschool. I've watched my kids truly enjoy learning. We have stumbled, we have had moments when we wondered "what in the world have we done?", we have gotten on each others' nerves and wished we could just send them back to school so we could get a break.
But we have not regret it. We have watched our kids be happy, learning at home. We have become closer as a family. No more sitting at the table, while someone cries because they are exhausted and do not want to do any more homework. No more mom crying because the kids are crying and frustrated.
So we march on with the rest of this school year, doing the best we can with the materials we have; while I search and research for new materials for next year. And those new ones do not work; I won't feel like I've failed the kids. Because the beauty of homeschooling is we can make changes and adjust as we need to do. And as principal of this school, what I say usually goes.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
A Bucket List- In reverse
Today is the big day. The big 40. As I looked around my office (tastefully decorated with items from my Bucket List); it occurred to me that the list of things I've done in 40 years is a lot longer than the list of things I have yet to do.
So here is my Bucket list in reverse, a list of things I've done/accomplished in 40 years: Actually it's a list of things I remember I've done.
1) Lived in Panama for 15 years.
2) Won an award in Oratory in 5th grade. I was quite proud.
3) Have seen the Hallie comet (remember that?)
4) Took my first trip abroad in 6th grade: to San Jose, Costa Rica.
5) Two years later, I moved to San Jose, Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
6) Attended my first symphony concert at the Teatro Nacional in Costa Rica.
7) Moved to the USA a month shy of 17
9) A year and few months later, I moved 3 hours away to attend College (Hotty Toddy!)
10) Graduated college with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
11) Got my first job a month later
12) Decided to enroll in graduate school (at night) while working full time
13) Got married (after swearing I would never marry)
14) Had my beautiful daughter (after saying I'd never have kids).
15) Passed the Professional Engineer exam, with a 6 month old baby at home. I wasn't sleeping much, might as well study, right?
16) Moved to Oak Ridge TN.
17) Finally finished my Master's degree. My daughter was 1 the day of graduation and ran around the Grove at Ole Miss while I got my diploma.
18) Moved back to MS
19) Found out we were having twins.
20) Became the mother of two gorgeous boys, and life has never been the same.
21) Decided that training for a marathon while the twins were babies was a great idea.
22) Made it to the Chicago Marathon in 2007. Wonderful experience.
23) Thought I could be an artist. Started painting in watercolors.
24) Somewhere along these times, started this blog.
25) Places I've visited: Denver, Colorado; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin TX; New Orleans, LA; Memphis TN, Knoxville TN, Chattanooga TN, Chicago, IL, Cincinnati, OH; Louisville, KY; Tallahasee FL, Charleston, SC; Navarre Beach, FL; Pensacola, FL; Orlando, FL, Kennedy Space Center, FL; Washington DC; Niagara Falls; Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
26) Became a homeschool mom
27) Learned to drive a manual transmission car.
28) Flown in a helicopter. Rode on a boat in the MS Gulf.
29) Been to Disney World (Senior Year trip).
30) Got a TATTOO!
The first 40 have been great. Looking forward to the next 40.
So here is my Bucket list in reverse, a list of things I've done/accomplished in 40 years: Actually it's a list of things I remember I've done.
1) Lived in Panama for 15 years.
2) Won an award in Oratory in 5th grade. I was quite proud.
3) Have seen the Hallie comet (remember that?)
4) Took my first trip abroad in 6th grade: to San Jose, Costa Rica.
5) Two years later, I moved to San Jose, Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
6) Attended my first symphony concert at the Teatro Nacional in Costa Rica.
7) Moved to the USA a month shy of 17
9) A year and few months later, I moved 3 hours away to attend College (Hotty Toddy!)
10) Graduated college with a degree in Chemical Engineering.
11) Got my first job a month later
12) Decided to enroll in graduate school (at night) while working full time
13) Got married (after swearing I would never marry)
14) Had my beautiful daughter (after saying I'd never have kids).
15) Passed the Professional Engineer exam, with a 6 month old baby at home. I wasn't sleeping much, might as well study, right?
16) Moved to Oak Ridge TN.
17) Finally finished my Master's degree. My daughter was 1 the day of graduation and ran around the Grove at Ole Miss while I got my diploma.
18) Moved back to MS
19) Found out we were having twins.
20) Became the mother of two gorgeous boys, and life has never been the same.
21) Decided that training for a marathon while the twins were babies was a great idea.
22) Made it to the Chicago Marathon in 2007. Wonderful experience.
23) Thought I could be an artist. Started painting in watercolors.
24) Somewhere along these times, started this blog.
25) Places I've visited: Denver, Colorado; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin TX; New Orleans, LA; Memphis TN, Knoxville TN, Chattanooga TN, Chicago, IL, Cincinnati, OH; Louisville, KY; Tallahasee FL, Charleston, SC; Navarre Beach, FL; Pensacola, FL; Orlando, FL, Kennedy Space Center, FL; Washington DC; Niagara Falls; Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
26) Became a homeschool mom
27) Learned to drive a manual transmission car.
28) Flown in a helicopter. Rode on a boat in the MS Gulf.
29) Been to Disney World (Senior Year trip).
30) Got a TATTOO!
The first 40 have been great. Looking forward to the next 40.
Friday, January 17, 2014
It's a wonderful life
As my 40th birthday approaches, I've found myself wondering what pearls of wisdom I'd like to share with my kids, and nieces and nephews.
Then I realized that wisdom is relative. I think it is wise to study engineering and most people would consider major surgery without anesthesia a lot more appealing. So wisdom, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.
So, instead of imparting wisdom, I thought I just share the things I've learned, and discovered in the last four decades. There may be some wisdom in these life experiences, maybe there will be a good story or two, but there are absolutely lots of life lessons wrapped up in 40 years.
These are the things I'd probably tell my younger self if I could travel back in time. Or maybe not. Life is an adventure.
1) Dream the impossible dream. No matter how absurd it may sound to others. Dreams are what life is made of.
2) You are beautiful, simply because you exist. No one needs blue eyes and blond hair to be beautiful.
3) Don't tell your mom you will never study anything that has to do with math. You will.
4) Hard times will come. That's how character is built. You will survive the storms. Keep your eyes on the horizon.
5) There is nothing your sisters won't do for you. Even when you've pulled their hair and fought with them; and thought you couldn't wait to get away from them, you love them and will forever want them near.
6) 1989 will bring heartache. Don't shy from it. It will make you stronger. It will teach you compassion, and will show you God is never far away when we need him.
7) You don't have all the answers. Not at 15, not at 18, not even at 40. You may think you do, but really, you have no idea what your life is going to look like tomorrow, much less a few years down the road.
8) Reconsider that hairdo for the prom, I beg of you. One day your kids will see the pictures and wonder why there is a poodle on your head.
9) Reconsider that prom date. You probably won't (see #7 above) but you should.
10) Go to Ole Miss. Don't even bother looking at any other school. You will forever think of those years as the best of your young adult life. And you will make friends that will last a lifetime.
11) Don't tell people you will never marry or have kids. You will. See #7 again.
12) You will have your heart broken more than once. You are going to think you'll never get over it. You will.
13) The right guy will come along, and in 6 weeks time, you will know he is the one. And everyone who thought you were never getting married will think you've lost your mind. Refer to #11 again.
14) You will eventually get that Latina body you wanted growing up. It may come after 3 kids but it will come. Embrace it.
15) Niagara Falls will take your breath away. And standing there, you will call your mom and tell her how one of your childhood dreams has come true.
15) Travel every time you get the chance. See the world.
16) Join that wedding planning board online. You will find lifetime friends there. And yes, people are going to think you are crazy when you talk about these friends you've met online, but who cares what people think?
17) Wear a bikini every time you get a chance before kids. Because one day you will have to work hard for a bikini worthy body. Trust me on this.
18) Remember as a kid, how you used to sit at the table for hours because you didn't want to eat your vegetables? Your kids will do the same thing, if you try to implement that method of persuasion.
19) No matter what you say, you will tell your kids "because I said so". One cannot reason with 4 year old kids, don't even try.
20) You will get a tattoo one day. Your younger self may be horrified at the idea, but your older self will embrace it.
21) You don't need to diet. Ever. Just eat in moderation and stay active.
22) Your body at 39 will look very different from your body at 25. It's called growing up. Embrace it, and love it. Your daughter will learn to love her body by watching you love yours.
23) Always, always be proud of your roots, and your heritage. Teach your kids to be proud of their heritage too.
24) There is more good than evil in the world. There will be times it will seem the opposite is true. But if you ever need a reminder, look at those around you: family, friends, church. It will make you see the good in the world.
25) Have NO regrets. Zero. None. Even the hard times bring lessons. Learn the lesson, and move on. You will make mistakes; you are only human. Learn from the mistakes and grow from them. There is no point in spending life regretting the decisions you've made. Move on.
I can see 40 shining brightly from here. I'm not dreading it, I'm ready to embrace it. So many people don't make it to 40, I owe to all of them to be happy I made it this far. And in the words of my grandfather, age is just a number. Your attitude towards life is what counts Make yours count.
Then I realized that wisdom is relative. I think it is wise to study engineering and most people would consider major surgery without anesthesia a lot more appealing. So wisdom, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.
So, instead of imparting wisdom, I thought I just share the things I've learned, and discovered in the last four decades. There may be some wisdom in these life experiences, maybe there will be a good story or two, but there are absolutely lots of life lessons wrapped up in 40 years.
These are the things I'd probably tell my younger self if I could travel back in time. Or maybe not. Life is an adventure.
1) Dream the impossible dream. No matter how absurd it may sound to others. Dreams are what life is made of.
2) You are beautiful, simply because you exist. No one needs blue eyes and blond hair to be beautiful.
3) Don't tell your mom you will never study anything that has to do with math. You will.
4) Hard times will come. That's how character is built. You will survive the storms. Keep your eyes on the horizon.
5) There is nothing your sisters won't do for you. Even when you've pulled their hair and fought with them; and thought you couldn't wait to get away from them, you love them and will forever want them near.
6) 1989 will bring heartache. Don't shy from it. It will make you stronger. It will teach you compassion, and will show you God is never far away when we need him.
7) You don't have all the answers. Not at 15, not at 18, not even at 40. You may think you do, but really, you have no idea what your life is going to look like tomorrow, much less a few years down the road.
8) Reconsider that hairdo for the prom, I beg of you. One day your kids will see the pictures and wonder why there is a poodle on your head.
9) Reconsider that prom date. You probably won't (see #7 above) but you should.
10) Go to Ole Miss. Don't even bother looking at any other school. You will forever think of those years as the best of your young adult life. And you will make friends that will last a lifetime.
11) Don't tell people you will never marry or have kids. You will. See #7 again.
12) You will have your heart broken more than once. You are going to think you'll never get over it. You will.
13) The right guy will come along, and in 6 weeks time, you will know he is the one. And everyone who thought you were never getting married will think you've lost your mind. Refer to #11 again.
14) You will eventually get that Latina body you wanted growing up. It may come after 3 kids but it will come. Embrace it.
15) Niagara Falls will take your breath away. And standing there, you will call your mom and tell her how one of your childhood dreams has come true.
15) Travel every time you get the chance. See the world.
16) Join that wedding planning board online. You will find lifetime friends there. And yes, people are going to think you are crazy when you talk about these friends you've met online, but who cares what people think?
17) Wear a bikini every time you get a chance before kids. Because one day you will have to work hard for a bikini worthy body. Trust me on this.
18) Remember as a kid, how you used to sit at the table for hours because you didn't want to eat your vegetables? Your kids will do the same thing, if you try to implement that method of persuasion.
19) No matter what you say, you will tell your kids "because I said so". One cannot reason with 4 year old kids, don't even try.
20) You will get a tattoo one day. Your younger self may be horrified at the idea, but your older self will embrace it.
21) You don't need to diet. Ever. Just eat in moderation and stay active.
22) Your body at 39 will look very different from your body at 25. It's called growing up. Embrace it, and love it. Your daughter will learn to love her body by watching you love yours.
23) Always, always be proud of your roots, and your heritage. Teach your kids to be proud of their heritage too.
24) There is more good than evil in the world. There will be times it will seem the opposite is true. But if you ever need a reminder, look at those around you: family, friends, church. It will make you see the good in the world.
25) Have NO regrets. Zero. None. Even the hard times bring lessons. Learn the lesson, and move on. You will make mistakes; you are only human. Learn from the mistakes and grow from them. There is no point in spending life regretting the decisions you've made. Move on.
I can see 40 shining brightly from here. I'm not dreading it, I'm ready to embrace it. So many people don't make it to 40, I owe to all of them to be happy I made it this far. And in the words of my grandfather, age is just a number. Your attitude towards life is what counts Make yours count.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Thank you 2013
Thank you 2013 for the lessons you brought our family this year. Some have been painful, some have been easier to accept; but overall we have grown together as individuals and as a family.
Here is a recap of some of the lessons you've brought us:
1) No todo lo que brilla es oro : Abuelo used to say that. Not everything that's shiny is gold.
2) Not everyone who smiles at you is your friend. Your true friends accept you and love you, without conditions.
3) Let go, and let God. Repeat as often as necessary.
4) When in doubt, see #3.
5) Homeschooling is quite an adventure. It can work for you. You will get what you put in. No excuses.
6) No matter how much the kids fight, they love each other fiercely. Even when they have each other on a headlock.
7) Homeschooling = more dirty clothes, more dirty dishes, HAPPIER kids.
8) My husband is a very good teacher. No one knows my kids better than him.
9) Work is challenging but no job is harder than being a parent. Period.
10) You will have to live with the decisions you make. Choose what is best for you and those you love, and forget about everyone else. If they are your friends, they will support you. If they were fake, they will phase their way out of your life. In the end, those who stay were meant to be in your life.
Looking forward to the lessons 2014 will bring.
Here is a recap of some of the lessons you've brought us:
1) No todo lo que brilla es oro : Abuelo used to say that. Not everything that's shiny is gold.
2) Not everyone who smiles at you is your friend. Your true friends accept you and love you, without conditions.
3) Let go, and let God. Repeat as often as necessary.
4) When in doubt, see #3.
5) Homeschooling is quite an adventure. It can work for you. You will get what you put in. No excuses.
6) No matter how much the kids fight, they love each other fiercely. Even when they have each other on a headlock.
7) Homeschooling = more dirty clothes, more dirty dishes, HAPPIER kids.
8) My husband is a very good teacher. No one knows my kids better than him.
9) Work is challenging but no job is harder than being a parent. Period.
10) You will have to live with the decisions you make. Choose what is best for you and those you love, and forget about everyone else. If they are your friends, they will support you. If they were fake, they will phase their way out of your life. In the end, those who stay were meant to be in your life.
Looking forward to the lessons 2014 will bring.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
This is how we rock and roll!
It has been three weeks since we took this picture on our first day of homeschool. We have learned so much since then, and most of the lessons didn't come out of any of the books we are using.
We were called to homeschool. The circumstances that brought us here do not really matter, the fact is we were meant to do this. From the moment we became parents, homeschooling our kids was part of our lives' plan and we had no idea.
Our boys are thriving with the one on one attention they are receiving. They are happy as 7 year old boys should be. Last year while attending regular school, Cade had a lot of problems learning to read early in the year; while his brother was reading very well since kindergarten (thank you Mrs. C!). This caused lots of doubts and self esteem issues for Cade. We eventually got over that hump (after many nights reading and crying together) but his self esteem has taken longer to rebuild.
These past three weeks I have seen him blossom. His self esteem has come back in full once he realized he is as smart as his twin brother and so very good at math. Would he have reached his point in regular school? I'll never know for sure, but I'm glad to see he is learning more than just academics now. He is learning he was made to be great!
For Braden, last year was a struggle because of discipline. Academically he was doing wonderfully but he would finish his work early and would start to play. Or talk to someone else in class. We would get notes every other day about how he was "interrupting class" by playing, or talking. His grades were great, his behavior was the issue. He simply got bored waiting on the other kids to finish their work.
Needless to say, he no longer has to wait for anyone else. He can finish his work and move on to things that matter to a 7 yr old, like PE and looking for bugs outside. Even his handwriting (which was a huge issue for us last year) has improved considerably, just in three weeks of homeschool!
As for my sweet Candace, she has always been a great student. It has taken her (and me!) more time to get used to the more relaxed approach that comes with being homeschooled. The first thing I've noticed is her piano playing skills have improved tremendously. She is was a good player already, but now she has more time to practice, but most importantly, she wants to practice. I no longer have to remind her (over and over) to take time to practice.
She is also feeling more comfortable debating different subjects with me, and doesn't get flustered now when I ask her questions that are not in the textbook. She now goes and finds the answers and knows it is ok to know things that are not in the books.
My kids are learning from more than just books. They are watching documentaries and using their computer to find videos on the educational websites. They are going outside to explore and looking forward to field trips.
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord". I believe homeschool was part of that plan for our family.
Friday, August 23, 2013
We made it thru week 2!
We survived our second week of homeschooling without any casualties. No one has ran away from home in a screaming fit, no one has asked to go back to "regular school", no one has locked themselves in the bathroom and refused to come out. And that's just the adults!
The truth is, we have settled into this a lot easier than I anticipated. The kids are slowly finding their own rhythm. The twins have adjusted really well, they are ready and eager to get their work done in the morning so they can get to the important stuff, like PE lessons and terrorizing their sister. My girl is taking her time finding her rhythm. Slowly, she is taking more and more ownership of her school work; and feeling more and more confident about structuring her daily schedule.
Every day brings a lesson, at least in my opinion. So here are a few of the lessons/realizations/thoughts for our 2nd week of homeschooling. (Disclaimer: These are not all my own. My husband is the one who does the teaching, but he doesn't blog and many of these are his thoughts. The others are the kids, a few are mine. I'm simply the crazy lady with the laptop and a blog)
Starting every "school day" with a prayer makes it go easier. We are a Christian family. Even though we did not choose homeschooling for religious reasons, we are raising our kids in the ways of our faith. Every week, I write our weekly Bible verse and place it on our bulletin board. Every morning, my husband prays before everyone begins to tackle their assignments. Wednesday, he mentioned how well things were going, and said "Starting every day with a prayer really does help me get thru the lessons".
We are all teachers, even my husband. If anyone had told my husband he would one day homeschool his children, he probably would have called them crazy (among other things). I'm not sure anyone would expect my Harley ridding husband to have the patience to teach. Yet here he is, educating his children. And he is so good at it! He finds ways to engage them, and keep their interest, and even quiz them without them realizing it.
The cleaning fairy does exist. Really, she does. I'm not sure how it happened, but now that we are homeschooling, our house is cleaner than when the kids were attending regular school. Mind you, it is NOT spotless. There are still shoes they forget to pick up, and dishes they forget to take off the table. But I can actually see the floors! All the school books and notebooks are always in its place and I don't have to wonder where the pencils are when it's time to work on something. Maybe the kids like to have things in their place? Nah, I'm pretty sure the cleaning fairy is real.
The laundry fairy, however, does not exist. Laundry multiplies, no matter where your kids attend school. I had this idea that once we started to homeschool, the amount of laundry would diminished. I mean, the kids could do their school work in their pajamas. Rather than wearing 3 outfits each day (school clothes, home clothes, then pajamas); they would wear maybe 2. Nope, apparently my kids like to look their best no matter the occasion.
Kids are highly adaptable creatures. I have been amazed to see how easily they have become homeschoolers. I know every week won't be easy. I'm sure there will be whiny days, and sick days, and days we will all reconsider this choice. But the kids do understand that, even though we have a flexible schedule now, school work is still required. They don't need a classroom, a chalkboard, to understand that school work is important.
We are a team, all five of us. I knew we were a family. I married the boy, we had the kids, we became a family. But now we are a team. The success of our homeschool depends on all of us; not just the adults. The kids have taken their place on the team and are doing their part. Our girl will help dad with a lesson if the boys are just not "getting it" the way he is explain it. They don't fuss when she does, they simply listen to her. The boys do their assignments without issues, always ready to get done and move to the next thing. And my husband, the tough guy who many doubted could do this, is doing an amazing job at engaging and teaching the kids.
I'm doing my part too, I guess. I do the planning and make sure their weekly schedules are ready for them. As my friend Terri said, I'm just managing the team, they are doing the real work.
And they are doing a beautiful job.
The truth is, we have settled into this a lot easier than I anticipated. The kids are slowly finding their own rhythm. The twins have adjusted really well, they are ready and eager to get their work done in the morning so they can get to the important stuff, like PE lessons and terrorizing their sister. My girl is taking her time finding her rhythm. Slowly, she is taking more and more ownership of her school work; and feeling more and more confident about structuring her daily schedule.
Every day brings a lesson, at least in my opinion. So here are a few of the lessons/realizations/thoughts for our 2nd week of homeschooling. (Disclaimer: These are not all my own. My husband is the one who does the teaching, but he doesn't blog and many of these are his thoughts. The others are the kids, a few are mine. I'm simply the crazy lady with the laptop and a blog)
Starting every "school day" with a prayer makes it go easier. We are a Christian family. Even though we did not choose homeschooling for religious reasons, we are raising our kids in the ways of our faith. Every week, I write our weekly Bible verse and place it on our bulletin board. Every morning, my husband prays before everyone begins to tackle their assignments. Wednesday, he mentioned how well things were going, and said "Starting every day with a prayer really does help me get thru the lessons".
We are all teachers, even my husband. If anyone had told my husband he would one day homeschool his children, he probably would have called them crazy (among other things). I'm not sure anyone would expect my Harley ridding husband to have the patience to teach. Yet here he is, educating his children. And he is so good at it! He finds ways to engage them, and keep their interest, and even quiz them without them realizing it.
The cleaning fairy does exist. Really, she does. I'm not sure how it happened, but now that we are homeschooling, our house is cleaner than when the kids were attending regular school. Mind you, it is NOT spotless. There are still shoes they forget to pick up, and dishes they forget to take off the table. But I can actually see the floors! All the school books and notebooks are always in its place and I don't have to wonder where the pencils are when it's time to work on something. Maybe the kids like to have things in their place? Nah, I'm pretty sure the cleaning fairy is real.
The laundry fairy, however, does not exist. Laundry multiplies, no matter where your kids attend school. I had this idea that once we started to homeschool, the amount of laundry would diminished. I mean, the kids could do their school work in their pajamas. Rather than wearing 3 outfits each day (school clothes, home clothes, then pajamas); they would wear maybe 2. Nope, apparently my kids like to look their best no matter the occasion.
Kids are highly adaptable creatures. I have been amazed to see how easily they have become homeschoolers. I know every week won't be easy. I'm sure there will be whiny days, and sick days, and days we will all reconsider this choice. But the kids do understand that, even though we have a flexible schedule now, school work is still required. They don't need a classroom, a chalkboard, to understand that school work is important.
We are a team, all five of us. I knew we were a family. I married the boy, we had the kids, we became a family. But now we are a team. The success of our homeschool depends on all of us; not just the adults. The kids have taken their place on the team and are doing their part. Our girl will help dad with a lesson if the boys are just not "getting it" the way he is explain it. They don't fuss when she does, they simply listen to her. The boys do their assignments without issues, always ready to get done and move to the next thing. And my husband, the tough guy who many doubted could do this, is doing an amazing job at engaging and teaching the kids.
I'm doing my part too, I guess. I do the planning and make sure their weekly schedules are ready for them. As my friend Terri said, I'm just managing the team, they are doing the real work.
And they are doing a beautiful job.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
For the love of Learning
I would be lying if I said I knew I wanted to homeschool the minute I held my daughter in my arms almost 12 years ago. How we came to this decision is a long story for another time.
As I did my research (have I mention how much I research stuff?), the more it seemed homeschool kids simply love to learn. That's not to say that children who attend regular school don't, I guess what I'm trying to say is there are more opportunities for homeschool kids to explore a topic they are interested in, research it, enjoy it. Again, not bashing schools or teachers. I attended private school, public school and I loved to learn and still do.
It is hard to explain what I mean when I say I want my kids to have a love of learning. As I was driving home the other day, a memory came to mind of my 6th grade science class. Yes, I can remember that far back. It was almost *gasp* 30 years ago but I still remember it. I think that memory summarizes what I wish all children, not just mine, would get to experience in a school setting.
My 6th grade teacher's name was Carmen de Esquivel. How impressed are you that I remember her full name? I surprise myself sometimes. She had a reputation for being very strict, so going into her class I had some apprehension. I remember our lesson on cloud formation, which was part of the whole unit about the water cycle. My science book had this pretty picture that depicted all these different shaped clouds, and the name scientists gave those clouds. We sat in the classroom and listened to the lesson, and tried not to stare out the window into the big blue sky.
Until Ms. Esquivel told us to line up by the door; and guide us outside. Into the playground area. And told us to look up at the clouds. If I close my eyes, I can still feel the sun on my skin, and the wind on my hair as I stood there looking at the clouds on the beautiful blue sky. She asked us the names for the different shaped clouds, and share some more information while we were seating outside on that playground.
I have never looked at the sky in the same way again. I'm sure that's not the only lesson that took place outside but that's the one I remember when I think about my love of learning. I want that for my kids. I want them to never look at anything the same way again. I want that one lesson to spark their curiosity and make them thirst for knowledge.
So yes, homeschooling affords me that opportunity. They can spend time learning about volcanoes, or Egyptians mummies; passed the allotted time they would have at school.
I know there are more teachers out there like Ms. Esquivel who try to spark that love of learning in the kids they teach. I'm thankful for her and for them.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Homeschooling. The least conventional way
After much anticipation and what seems like years of preparation, we have finally joined the ranks of homeschoolers.
In the months prior to our joining, I have spent countless hours reading blogs from other homeschooling families, researching curriculum, looking at pictures of "school rooms" in Pinterest; and finally I've come to the conclusion that we are like no other homeschooling family. At least none I've found.
For starters, I am not the one doing the teaching. I'm the one who gets up in the wee hours of the morning, yells at unsuspecting drivers on the way to work, and puts in 9 hours each day in a downtown office. Where most homeschooling families have a mom doing the teaching, ours has a dad (wonderful dad!) who is willing to take on the task of educating the kids to my ridiculously high expectations.
And yes, while I'm at it, I know sometimes I have unrealistic expectations, and that I expect my kids to be smarter than most children, but that's just me. I figure if we aim high and not achieve it, we'll still achieve our goal.
As I was saying, I spent countless hours looking for blogs about families like ours: families where dad did the schooling, mom went to the office every day, and they both had a significant role in their children's education. I'm pretty certain there are homeschool dads out there, we can't be the only family with one. I came across a few blogs that had not been updated in several years, which made me wonder: did the dads call it quits, did they get too busy and no longer had time to update their blogs? I guess I'll never know.
I have been very surprised to be asked "are you quitting your job?" every time we've mentioned homeschooling. Are we conditioned to think men are not capable of teaching? Because every professor I had in college was male, and there are many male teachers in elementary and high school. Is it because mom usually stays home? I'm never sure why the question come, but it is usually accompanied by a look of disapproval.
What most of these people never bother to ask is what my role is in this homeschooling adventure. I wonder if they think simply because I'm not doing the teaching, I'm not involved in the schooling.
Truth be told, I'm the mastermind of this whole operation. *insert evil laugh* . Once we made the decision (it was a joint decision, not just mine); I knew the researching, learning, finding curriculum, getting organized, keep up with records, etc, would fall on me. That's just the roles we have in our family, I'm the one who does the planning, even if my husband does the execution of the plan. Homeschooling is no different. I put the lesson plans together, I keep their schedules straight, I run the operation behind the scenes.
We are just on week two of homeschooling, but I can see already it will only work if all parties (parents and kids) communicate. The kids let me know if they don't like something in a lesson. Dad will tell me if he notices the kids listen better if read to, rather than having to do the reading, or if the material in a textbook is boring. Homeschooling is more than just school at home, it's a family endeavour.
So here we are. Homeschoolers. I can add that to the list of things I never thought I would be. But I'm certainly glad we are on this path.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Tic Toc, Tic Toc
Time is ticking away and soon we will be starting our school year. Our first as a homeschooling family. I have moments when I'm super excited and confident; and moments of cheer panic and doubts. I sure hope this is normal.
Right now, while most of my friends with school age kids are buying school supplies, I'm looking over the curriculum I chose, and starting to plan our lessons, but most importantly trying to figure when to start and end the school year so we can cover all the material I want them to learn; and still have fun learning. Not an easy task, let me tell you.
Some families choose box curriculums, every subject published by the same company, and everything is ready for day one. Needless to say, I didn't go this route. All three of my kids have very distinct learning styles, one size does not fit all in this house. I decided to be an "ecletic homeschooler". Sounds fancy, doesn't it? That's just a nice way to say I'm a rebel (hotty toddy!) and I don't like being put inside a "box". Not even a curriculum box that would have made all this planning a whole lot easier.
So, I have pieced together the curriculum for the kids. I have chosen math from one company, english and science from another, history from another. You get the idea.
Without further ado, I present to you our game plan. I reserved the right to change my mind any time during the implementation of said plan, and to drop something if it just isn't working. And to keep the tearing of my hair to a minimum.
Math of course, because this is a must. Picking a curriculum wasn't exactly easy. Did you know there is a spiral method of teaching math? I didn't til I started looking for a curriculum. Ruled out the spiral method because that's what the kids used in school last year and I did not care for it; specially for the boys.
Science is another "must". There is an unspoken rule (not sure the kids are aware yet ha!), they must like science. It's fascinating, it's fun, it's alive. How can you not like it? I was so excited when I got the teacher's guide for 6th grade and saw there is a whole unit of chemistry in the book! How cool is that? (if you had nightmares related to chemistry in school, I'm sorry. My nightmares were biology related)
English and all it entails. This one really confused me because I kept finding "language arts" curriculum; and I had no idea what the heck that entailed. So, I have a curriculum that covers grammar, reading, writing. And we'll use a website they used last year for spelling. That should cover it. To be honest, of all the courses I'm planning for this year, this one is the scariest.
History also made the list. My girl asked to do ancient history this year, so that's what we are doing for her. For the boys, will probably do US History. Simply an intro to history. I love history, but didn't like having to read it for class and memorize stuff. So we are definitely going to try and make it as much fun as possible.
Geography because, in my opinion, there are too many people who don't have a clue there is more than Mexico south of the US border. Sorry, that's a huge pet peeve of mine. If I had a dime for every time someone asked me if Panama was a) part of Mexico or b) in Florida; I would have enough to retire now. Anyway, so all three of the kids will be doing geography this year. Didn't buy a curriculum for this one; I'm going to use a map and focus this year on the American continent. So far they know where Mississippi and Panama are located.
Spanish is also on the list. This one is right up there with math, english, and science. Rule numero uno, Spanish only when talking to me. We'll start slow but they will have to practice it to learn it. I'm hoping by the end of the year, they'll be able to at least understand when their grandmother asked them if they are hungry.
Bible was a request from my girl. She wants to read more of the Old Testament so that's what we are going to do.
Life Skills or home economics because everyone should know how to cook, sew,and iron including my boys. I learned to cook when I was 12, so I know my girl is ready, and it's not too early for the boys to help mix pancakes, and make cookies. We have discussed sewing before but hadn't done anything about it yet. Again, no curriculum just teaching her the things I learned as a child. And teaching her to iron clothes. Maybe I need to recruit my mom to help with that one. I'm not a fan of ironing.
Art because at some point they are going to have to color, right? I'm not an artist, and the artistic genes skipped me. I think we'll visit the museum of art, learn about a few famous artist, and let the natural artists in them come out.
I sure hope we can fit all that into a schedule without overwhelming everyone. We still have dance, and piano for the girl, martial arts for one of the boys, and soccer for the other.
Now comes the fun part. Put it all together, in a cohesive manner, so everyone knows what we are doing ahead of time. Sometimes I find myself hoping for a clone, so I can spend more time planning, and planning.
Wish us luck, will you? My goal for this year is to make learning FUN. I want the kids to realize they can learn everywhere, not just inside a classroom and not just from a textbook. Let the fun begin!
Right now, while most of my friends with school age kids are buying school supplies, I'm looking over the curriculum I chose, and starting to plan our lessons, but most importantly trying to figure when to start and end the school year so we can cover all the material I want them to learn; and still have fun learning. Not an easy task, let me tell you.
Some families choose box curriculums, every subject published by the same company, and everything is ready for day one. Needless to say, I didn't go this route. All three of my kids have very distinct learning styles, one size does not fit all in this house. I decided to be an "ecletic homeschooler". Sounds fancy, doesn't it? That's just a nice way to say I'm a rebel (hotty toddy!) and I don't like being put inside a "box". Not even a curriculum box that would have made all this planning a whole lot easier.
So, I have pieced together the curriculum for the kids. I have chosen math from one company, english and science from another, history from another. You get the idea.
Without further ado, I present to you our game plan. I reserved the right to change my mind any time during the implementation of said plan, and to drop something if it just isn't working. And to keep the tearing of my hair to a minimum.
Math of course, because this is a must. Picking a curriculum wasn't exactly easy. Did you know there is a spiral method of teaching math? I didn't til I started looking for a curriculum. Ruled out the spiral method because that's what the kids used in school last year and I did not care for it; specially for the boys.
Science is another "must". There is an unspoken rule (not sure the kids are aware yet ha!), they must like science. It's fascinating, it's fun, it's alive. How can you not like it? I was so excited when I got the teacher's guide for 6th grade and saw there is a whole unit of chemistry in the book! How cool is that? (if you had nightmares related to chemistry in school, I'm sorry. My nightmares were biology related)
English and all it entails. This one really confused me because I kept finding "language arts" curriculum; and I had no idea what the heck that entailed. So, I have a curriculum that covers grammar, reading, writing. And we'll use a website they used last year for spelling. That should cover it. To be honest, of all the courses I'm planning for this year, this one is the scariest.
History also made the list. My girl asked to do ancient history this year, so that's what we are doing for her. For the boys, will probably do US History. Simply an intro to history. I love history, but didn't like having to read it for class and memorize stuff. So we are definitely going to try and make it as much fun as possible.
Geography because, in my opinion, there are too many people who don't have a clue there is more than Mexico south of the US border. Sorry, that's a huge pet peeve of mine. If I had a dime for every time someone asked me if Panama was a) part of Mexico or b) in Florida; I would have enough to retire now. Anyway, so all three of the kids will be doing geography this year. Didn't buy a curriculum for this one; I'm going to use a map and focus this year on the American continent. So far they know where Mississippi and Panama are located.
Spanish is also on the list. This one is right up there with math, english, and science. Rule numero uno, Spanish only when talking to me. We'll start slow but they will have to practice it to learn it. I'm hoping by the end of the year, they'll be able to at least understand when their grandmother asked them if they are hungry.
Bible was a request from my girl. She wants to read more of the Old Testament so that's what we are going to do.
Life Skills or home economics because everyone should know how to cook, sew,and iron including my boys. I learned to cook when I was 12, so I know my girl is ready, and it's not too early for the boys to help mix pancakes, and make cookies. We have discussed sewing before but hadn't done anything about it yet. Again, no curriculum just teaching her the things I learned as a child. And teaching her to iron clothes. Maybe I need to recruit my mom to help with that one. I'm not a fan of ironing.
Art because at some point they are going to have to color, right? I'm not an artist, and the artistic genes skipped me. I think we'll visit the museum of art, learn about a few famous artist, and let the natural artists in them come out.
I sure hope we can fit all that into a schedule without overwhelming everyone. We still have dance, and piano for the girl, martial arts for one of the boys, and soccer for the other.
Now comes the fun part. Put it all together, in a cohesive manner, so everyone knows what we are doing ahead of time. Sometimes I find myself hoping for a clone, so I can spend more time planning, and planning.
Wish us luck, will you? My goal for this year is to make learning FUN. I want the kids to realize they can learn everywhere, not just inside a classroom and not just from a textbook. Let the fun begin!
Monday, July 8, 2013
I'm just me and that's good enough
Since we decided to homeschool earlier this year, I've been doing research. I've read blog after blog, I've researched methods, looked at curriculums, read reviews for both methods and curriculums. I've had a full homeschool overload.
It seems the more I read, the more I researched, the more my insecurities grew. I had a few nights where I couldn't go to sleep, overwhelmed with the numerous decisions we had to make. What curriculum is the best? What method should I use? What if my kids hate me for homeschooling them?
I came across a blog the other day (posted by another homeschool mom) that made me realize I'm not alone. It's ok to be afraid, as long as you don't let the fears take over.
Bottom line is we are not like all other families. We haven't ever fit the "mold" that most families fit in. Why start now?
Our homeschool is going to be a reflection of who we are, of our family. It's not going to be like anyone elses'. We are unique individuals, and a unique family, so our choices for homeschooling will be unique too.
Talk about having an epiphany!
We may not have a "homeschool room" that resembles a classroom, but we are still going to learn. We may not use the curriculum the majority of the people we know use, but we will use what works for us. After all, this "school" doesn't have to fit inside any mold, we can make what we want to fit our needs.
I'm not a perfect mother but I love my kids more than anything in this world. I want them to love to learn, to be fascinated by all the things that surround them, to discover the beauty of this world. There is not curriculum that will teach that. That can only come from us, and how much fun we make this adventure.
So I've come to terms with the fact I'm just me. A very analytical, scientific mother who does endless research before making a decision. I may choose engineering based math for my kids and expect them to learn Spanish this next year, and add home economics to our curriculum. But the bottom line is, I won't set them up for failure.
I'm their mother, and I know them better than anyone. And as long as I let my love for them guide the decisions we make, that will be good enough.
It seems the more I read, the more I researched, the more my insecurities grew. I had a few nights where I couldn't go to sleep, overwhelmed with the numerous decisions we had to make. What curriculum is the best? What method should I use? What if my kids hate me for homeschooling them?
I came across a blog the other day (posted by another homeschool mom) that made me realize I'm not alone. It's ok to be afraid, as long as you don't let the fears take over.
Bottom line is we are not like all other families. We haven't ever fit the "mold" that most families fit in. Why start now?
Our homeschool is going to be a reflection of who we are, of our family. It's not going to be like anyone elses'. We are unique individuals, and a unique family, so our choices for homeschooling will be unique too.
Talk about having an epiphany!
We may not have a "homeschool room" that resembles a classroom, but we are still going to learn. We may not use the curriculum the majority of the people we know use, but we will use what works for us. After all, this "school" doesn't have to fit inside any mold, we can make what we want to fit our needs.
I'm not a perfect mother but I love my kids more than anything in this world. I want them to love to learn, to be fascinated by all the things that surround them, to discover the beauty of this world. There is not curriculum that will teach that. That can only come from us, and how much fun we make this adventure.
So I've come to terms with the fact I'm just me. A very analytical, scientific mother who does endless research before making a decision. I may choose engineering based math for my kids and expect them to learn Spanish this next year, and add home economics to our curriculum. But the bottom line is, I won't set them up for failure.
I'm their mother, and I know them better than anyone. And as long as I let my love for them guide the decisions we make, that will be good enough.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Yes I'm scared!
Truth be told, I'm scared. That's not something I readily admit because I like to think I am fearless. I guess when it comes to my kids, I'm not.
We decided earlier this year to homeschool. We know it's the right thing for our family, the kids are excited, we are excited. We've found a great support system, friends to encourage us along the way, and we are ready to embark on this journey.
But I'm scared. There. I said it. I am scared. Not afraid. Scared.
As my good friend Terri said (she is a lot better with words than I), it's ok to be scared because keeps moving you forward. Being afraid paralizes you.
So I am scared. We are going to homeschool, and I know it's going to be a great adventure for all us. But I'm still scared. There are so many decisions to be made. I have yet to narrow down my curriculum because I keep thinking "is this the best one for my kids?". I worry that my children will hate me for making this decision for them. I worry that I'll be hindering their learning by teaching them at home.
Then I remember that we are their first teachers. No one, no teacher in the world, no matter how dedicated, loves them more than we do. I know what they like and what they dislike. I know how they learn, what excites them and what bores them. I know one loves dinosaurs and will watch documentaries about them without ever saying "this is boring". I know the other loves learning about animals, and insects. He will start a collection of bugs if I let him bring them in the house. And my girl loves music. All music. Not just the pop music kids listen to these days. She knows about Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart and has her favorites. She loves the Beatles, and has taught herself to play several of their songs on the piano.
I can build a curriculum around their likes and dislikes or I can buy a curriculum that comes in a box. The choice is mine. It all depends on whether I am going to be scared or afraid.
I guess I will chose to be scared and move forward; praying along the way that fear doesn't get in the way.
We decided earlier this year to homeschool. We know it's the right thing for our family, the kids are excited, we are excited. We've found a great support system, friends to encourage us along the way, and we are ready to embark on this journey.
But I'm scared. There. I said it. I am scared. Not afraid. Scared.
As my good friend Terri said (she is a lot better with words than I), it's ok to be scared because keeps moving you forward. Being afraid paralizes you.
So I am scared. We are going to homeschool, and I know it's going to be a great adventure for all us. But I'm still scared. There are so many decisions to be made. I have yet to narrow down my curriculum because I keep thinking "is this the best one for my kids?". I worry that my children will hate me for making this decision for them. I worry that I'll be hindering their learning by teaching them at home.
Then I remember that we are their first teachers. No one, no teacher in the world, no matter how dedicated, loves them more than we do. I know what they like and what they dislike. I know how they learn, what excites them and what bores them. I know one loves dinosaurs and will watch documentaries about them without ever saying "this is boring". I know the other loves learning about animals, and insects. He will start a collection of bugs if I let him bring them in the house. And my girl loves music. All music. Not just the pop music kids listen to these days. She knows about Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart and has her favorites. She loves the Beatles, and has taught herself to play several of their songs on the piano.
I can build a curriculum around their likes and dislikes or I can buy a curriculum that comes in a box. The choice is mine. It all depends on whether I am going to be scared or afraid.
I guess I will chose to be scared and move forward; praying along the way that fear doesn't get in the way.
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