What's going on around here?
We're healthy. Thank you, Lord! I got really sick 2 weeks ago and was expecting the kids to go down like ninepins. Sarah got sick one day but other than that, we had a few complaints of hurting tummies but mostly everyone was fine.
This is a busy week with eye appointments, picking up eye glasses, and the last homeschool skating party of the academic year.
Friday night the older 4 girls are making cookies for Kairos, a prison ministry, as part of an American Heritage Girls project. It'll be fun!
Daniel is climbing stairs, bless his heart. And he still shoves small objects in his mouth with monotonous regularily. He especially likes paper!
I am wondering if Daniel will walk soon. He likes to cruise by holding onto couches and chairs. He pulls up on everything.
Sarah has maybe been a bit calmer lately? She is a full blown 2 year old, though. She changes her mind frequently, and gets irritable (Ok, more than irritable) when I don't allow her to change her mind multiple times. Sorry honey, I've had 6 kids before you and I know ALL the toddler games.
Our kids have been playing outside a great deal. Temps have been lovely and they enjoy riding bikes and scooters up and down our long driveway.
There don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do all the chores, complete all the schoolwork, read all the great books, and play outside for hours and hours. That's Ok.
In a month or so, we can open up the pool!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Friday, April 12, 2013
One of the Hardest Things about Homeschooling...
One of the hardest things about homeschooling (for me) is that the path to the future is so foggy.
Most of us did what I did. We went to public school. We attended classes. We did more or less well. We got grades. We decided whether or not to go to college. I realize that schools have different philosophies, but as far as I can tell there is not a ton of variation between typical public schools. In fact, probably less so now as "Common Core" has become prevalent and testing is forcing many a teacher to focus on teaching to the test.
Homeschooling is different. Homeschooling varies tremendously depending on the parents and the children. Some families largely "unschool" and encourage the children to pursue areas of interest. Some families are fairly regimented, using textbooks and tests like "normal" schools. We're probably in the middle. I certainly assign worksheets and require the children to complete their work in a set period of time. However, I very much alter my teaching and requirements depending on the child.
I also have very limited tolerance for "checking the box" teaching. If my kid reads through an American History text, passes some tests, and doesn't remember a thing a few months later, then I have failed as a teacher and my child has failed as a student. I want the children to really LEARN about the things they are studying.
Let me put it this way. I would far rather that we spent an entire year learning about the Revolutionary War (or the Civil War, or the Civil Rights movement, or the Vietnam War) and really LEARN about it, learn about the people and the politics and the background realities and the worldview, than to spend a year on American History and just hit numerous vague highlights.
That puts me in a dilemma, of course. It is good for the children to learn American History, the grand scope and sweep, not just a few specifics. So how do I manage that? I'm thinking we'll use a basic textbook as a spine, and then we'll delve into specific interesting topics in more depth.
That question of what curricula to use is not an easy one. Back in the early days of homeschooling, most publishers wouldn't even sell to homeschoolers. Homeschool parents either cobbled something together themselves, or they found something at a 2nd hand shop.
But with 2 million homeschoolers in this country, we now represent a decent wedge of economic pie. The companies are out in force with wonderful curricula that can make my head spin. Really, there are too many options :-). I say that with a smile, but it can be overwhelming.
One of my best friends in the world, and a homeschooling mentor, advised me not to stress too much about specific curricula. Pick something that looks like it'll work, and don't obsess about getting 'the perfect curricula'. That is wonderful advice and I need to repeat it to myself often.
I find myself leaning more and more on the Lord as I teach our kids. They have different abilities, personalities, weaknesses, and areas of interest. It is beyond me to teach them well without the Lord's help. I depend on Him for wisdom to see this through to the end of our homeschooling journey.
Most of us did what I did. We went to public school. We attended classes. We did more or less well. We got grades. We decided whether or not to go to college. I realize that schools have different philosophies, but as far as I can tell there is not a ton of variation between typical public schools. In fact, probably less so now as "Common Core" has become prevalent and testing is forcing many a teacher to focus on teaching to the test.
Homeschooling is different. Homeschooling varies tremendously depending on the parents and the children. Some families largely "unschool" and encourage the children to pursue areas of interest. Some families are fairly regimented, using textbooks and tests like "normal" schools. We're probably in the middle. I certainly assign worksheets and require the children to complete their work in a set period of time. However, I very much alter my teaching and requirements depending on the child.
I also have very limited tolerance for "checking the box" teaching. If my kid reads through an American History text, passes some tests, and doesn't remember a thing a few months later, then I have failed as a teacher and my child has failed as a student. I want the children to really LEARN about the things they are studying.
Let me put it this way. I would far rather that we spent an entire year learning about the Revolutionary War (or the Civil War, or the Civil Rights movement, or the Vietnam War) and really LEARN about it, learn about the people and the politics and the background realities and the worldview, than to spend a year on American History and just hit numerous vague highlights.
That puts me in a dilemma, of course. It is good for the children to learn American History, the grand scope and sweep, not just a few specifics. So how do I manage that? I'm thinking we'll use a basic textbook as a spine, and then we'll delve into specific interesting topics in more depth.
That question of what curricula to use is not an easy one. Back in the early days of homeschooling, most publishers wouldn't even sell to homeschoolers. Homeschool parents either cobbled something together themselves, or they found something at a 2nd hand shop.
But with 2 million homeschoolers in this country, we now represent a decent wedge of economic pie. The companies are out in force with wonderful curricula that can make my head spin. Really, there are too many options :-). I say that with a smile, but it can be overwhelming.
One of my best friends in the world, and a homeschooling mentor, advised me not to stress too much about specific curricula. Pick something that looks like it'll work, and don't obsess about getting 'the perfect curricula'. That is wonderful advice and I need to repeat it to myself often.
I find myself leaning more and more on the Lord as I teach our kids. They have different abilities, personalities, weaknesses, and areas of interest. It is beyond me to teach them well without the Lord's help. I depend on Him for wisdom to see this through to the end of our homeschooling journey.
James 1:5-6
New International Version (NIV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
The Last Week in Pictures
I know this is a bit late but... better late than never.
I guess this was a couple of days earlier...Kevin planted a bunch of asparagus. We love asparagus (most of us, anyway) and we have a large family. So now we have 60+ asparagus plants over by the barn.
Sarah got sick one day. You know she's sick when she just lies quietly on the couch in the middle of the day. She is close to normal again, thankfully.
Kevin spent hours and hours this weekend working on our tractor. He welded something together and now is painting various accessories. What is this? It's... an S shaped doohicky. It will be used to get rid of weeds.
Last, but not least, is a shot of the latest candy exchange. Not surprisingly, the children have favorites in the candy department. Since they just got Easter candy, their candy bags are bulging. One day this week, they transformed our table into a pit at the stock exchange. There was much yelling of "2 little rabbits, what can I get for 2 candy rabbits?" and that kind of thing. It was cute and everyone seemed pleased with their exchanges when I called a halt.
We had 3 separate egg hunts on Easter afternoon -- one for Sarah alone (with Daniel crawling around interestedly), one for Miriam and Angela, and then one for the older 4 children. We filled plastic eggs and then Kevin's mom brought a big bag full of more eggs so the kids got a lot of candy. They didn't mind too much.
Have you ever tried to do stretching exercises with 3 little girls "helping"? It's an interesting experience.
Little plants coming up...
Last, but not least, is a shot of the latest candy exchange. Not surprisingly, the children have favorites in the candy department. Since they just got Easter candy, their candy bags are bulging. One day this week, they transformed our table into a pit at the stock exchange. There was much yelling of "2 little rabbits, what can I get for 2 candy rabbits?" and that kind of thing. It was cute and everyone seemed pleased with their exchanges when I called a halt.
Los Pollos
We obviously still have them. They are revelling in the change of weather. You can see in the picture above that they LOVE being out in their yard, pecking at dirt and any bugs daring enough to poke their snouts out.
During February and March, their egg production was down. They were probably tired of the weather and of not having quite as much light as they wanted (though we do have an artificial light in their coop that goes on every morning while it is still night.)
The last couple of weeks have seen a substantial increase in egg production. We were getting 7 or 8 a day, and now get a dozen or more. Hooray!
I'm thinking about raising more chicks this summer. One option would be to raise 15 chickens for meat, and another 6 or 7 laying hens. The latter could be introduced into the main flock in the fall. By that time, they'd be close to laying and hopefully WOULD lay in the winter to increase our egg production during the cold, dark months.
We'll see. It's something to think about.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Lemme Out!
Daniel. Behind a baby gate. Poor little guy -- sometimes we just won't let him crawl around eating all the bits of paper and other strange things he finds on the floor. Sometimes we do, but not always :-).
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Sick!
The lowlight of this week was that I got really sick on Tuesday evening. Stomach flu. It hit me like a ton of BRICKS! I was fine at 2 p.m., had a bad headache by 4 p.m., and was throwing up by 6 p.m. Fortunately, the really bad spell was only 2 hours long. Yesterday I was tired and had a headache, but didn't feel nauseous. Thank you, Lord.
When I was feeling really awful, I was struck anew with how much courage cancer patients must have. I know many are terribly nauseous when undergoing treatment.
I know of women who spend most of their pregnancy feeling very ill. That takes courage.
I still don't feel 100%, but I feel SO much better than Tuesday afternoon!
No one else has gotten violently ill...so far. Naomi and Lydia have both had illnesses but not stomach flu. Lord, please protect everyone else.
When I was feeling really awful, I was struck anew with how much courage cancer patients must have. I know many are terribly nauseous when undergoing treatment.
I know of women who spend most of their pregnancy feeling very ill. That takes courage.
I still don't feel 100%, but I feel SO much better than Tuesday afternoon!
No one else has gotten violently ill...so far. Naomi and Lydia have both had illnesses but not stomach flu. Lord, please protect everyone else.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Kids in Easter finery
We just got the younger 6 as Naomi and Lydia were still in bed when I grabbed the camera.
I love the expression on Daniel's face. He looks as sweet as he is. And Sarah is being the "big sister" by taking care of her baby brother.
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