I read this and found it encouraging.

(click here) Homeschooling Heresies

We do the best we can! 

This (click here) made me laugh……

We are still alive here at Clover Hill Schoolhouse!   The picture above is a typical table-scene from a morning of schooling…including a bowl that someone cleaned out from a batch of cookies!

I am trying to keep everyone on task as far as studies go.  We still have about 5 weeks remaining.  I plan to order new curriculum soon. 

I’ve been doing something different lately…I’ve been printing the children each their own schedule for the week, and I have them cross of what they have completed each day.  It keeps us focused and gives more direction for the day.  We keep the schedule papers on the fridge so they don’t get lost overnight.  (it’s amazing how that happens!)

Yesterday, the children played one of their favorite games.  It’s called “Information Station” and it involves pretend phone calls put in to the children, and they have to find the information that the caller wants.  They make up the questions like these: 

What do you know about charcoal?

What do you know about blackberries and raspberries?

Labrador Retrievers?

The speed of army airplanes?

Apples and pears?

Rome?

Violets?  Guns?  Fort Ticondaroga?  Shepherds?  Igloos?  Fish?  Cats?

They try to answer the best they can from what they already know, and they also look the information up in Eyewitness books, and the dictionary.

They make up phone numbers to “call back” the person wanting the information.

They use 2 old phones and they set up work areas at their desks downstairs, to make it as official as possible.  It’s part imagination and part learning!  I love it….and, they came up with it all on their own.

In other news:

I am going to a homeschool conference on Friday and Saturday!  I am hoping that my friend Tammy is coming, too…(are you, Tammy?)….I am taking Jacob with me, and also Seth.  I can’t wait to go, and I will certainly take lots of notes so that I can share them here.  Have any of you been to a conference?  Any advice, tips, or comments about the experience?

How’s school going in your home? 

One of my favorite things to do is read to my children.  From the time Jacob was a baby (and we read the same books over and over) to now (12 years later), I’ve been reading to them all.  One of my favorite memories is when I read Winnie the Pooh to just my David, every day at naptime.  It was such a special cozy time for the two of us.

The books we’ve shared have become part of our family.  When I think back to the various titles, I can almost feel the little warm bodies of my children leaning into me as they listened to my voice, reading.

Lately, I’ve been frustrated because we just haven’t been able to get those special reading times in. 

That’s why I am so thankful for……….my IPOD!

Last week, I bought two unabridged books for my Ipod, read beautifully by two different men. 

Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls

Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates, by Mary Mapes Dodge.

These two books are excellently written, quality books that will make you child’s mind GROW. 

I hear just enough of the stories so that I can ask all kinds of questions to fill in the missing parts.  It’s so good for the children to really think about what they’ve heard, and to tell it back to me.  (official word for this is “NARRATION”) 

Today is a slow day for Mama Schoolteacher, so my lovelies are currently outside enjoying the day.   They’ve already gone on a walk and came back to tell me they saw 8 Jack-in-the-Pulpits, raccoon tracks, and yellow roots.   They also reported that Ethan kept walking into spider webs.   

Yesterday there was no fiber in my body that wanted to “do school”.  So, the children ran wild as I tore apart the kitchen, rearranging and washing out cupboards, throwing things away, and moving furniture. 

The children spent most of the day outside, checking on the toad babies in the pond, making a fort in some bushes…complete with a front entrance, a back entrance, and a stump for a table.  They jumped on the trampoline, walked the dog, played baseball, and who knows what else.

Sometimes I feel guilty when we take a day off from our normal schedule.  I forget that even in “real life” the children are learning.  And I think that maybe they learn just as much on those days. 

I found this quote recently and liked it a lot:

“The phantom home-school mom keeps your expectations unrealistically high–orderly home, schedule under control, children who do all their work, lots of field trips, baking bread, keeping a garden, ministry with the children, and able to leisurely read all the home-schooling magazines.  But she doesn’t exist!  In reality, all you can do is accept each day from the Lord, live it as wisely as possible, and stay flexible.  Learn to expect inconvenient interruptions, incomplete goals, and time-eating bouts of immaturity in your children.  Don’t expect more from yourself than God does—faithfulness.”  (quote from book linked)

Enjoy your day today!

I ordered Our Island Story this winter for the children and we all love it.  It was originally published in 1905, so it is not a complete history, but the book is well-written and a wonderful way to introduce early British history to your children.  The pages are thick and smooth, and with 460 pages, it is a heavy exciting book full of short interesting chapters and full page illustrations.

From the author:  “I must tell you, though, that this is not a history lesson, but a story-book.  There are many facts in school histories that seem to children to belong to lessons only.  Some of these you will not find here.  But you will find some stories that are not to be found in your school books–stories which wise people say are only fairytales and not history.  But it seems to me that they are part of Our Island Story, and ought not to be forgotten, any more than those stories about which there is no doubt.  So, although I hope you will not put this book beside your school books, but quite at the other end of the shelf, beside Robinson Crusoe and A Noah’s Ark Geography, I hope, too, that it will help you like your school history books better than ever, and that, when you grow up, you will want to read for yourselves the beautiful big histories which have helped me to write this little book for little people.  Then, when you find out how much has been left untold in this little book, do not be cross, but remember that, when you were very small, you would not have been able to understand things that seem quite simple and very interesting to you as you grow older.  Remember, too, that I was not trying to teach you, but only to tell a story.”

H.E. Marshall

From the back cover:  “One of the most influential works of history of the 20th century” ~Times Educational Supplement  and, “It was a direct inspiration for me in my career as a historian…It is extraordinarily evocative to a child’s imagination.” ~ Antonia Fraser, Daily Telegraph

First of all, thank you to those who took the time to write such thoughtful comments on the last post.  I liked what each of you said, and learned new things and was reminded of old truths as well.  I will be going back to those comments often, I’m sure.

Today I wanted to share a story that Grace is writing.  Grace loves animals and I can picture her working with animals someday..perhaps in a zoo or vet office.  Or maybe even owning a kennel.  She has innocent curiosity about every part of animal life, as you will read in her story.  One of my favorite recent memories of her was when a friend of mine came over one day to help me with the children.  My friend is a very prim and proper woman, but when Grace found out that her family owned rabbits while she was growing up, she immediately asked “Can you tell if a rabbit is a boy or girl?”  My poor friend, not knowing what would happen next, said, “Yes!”  Well….Grace went right out to the garage to get her bunny.  Never will I forget the embarrassment I felt when I saw Grace tip CC bottom up for my friend “to check”…….oh, I was red, I am sure of it!  (CC is a girl!)

This story is a work in progress, and it’s about turtles.

Chapter 1  “Kada”

It was a clear summer night.  Kada was swimming to some sand by the road.  She had mated a few weeks ago with Bob.  She lay three eggs and left.  A month later the eggs hatched and the three baby turtles crawled to the pond.  At the pond the turtles met Bob and Kada.  Kada gave them names.  The oldest was a boy named Sam.  The second was another boy named Fred.  And last of all, the youngest was a girl named Kisha.  Kada led her young family to a pipe for sleep for the night.

Chapter 2 “Lessons”

Kada had a lot to teach the young turtles.  She swam off calling the young turtles to follow.  Same went eagerly and Fred followed.  Kisha swam ahead of Fred and Sam and dived down deep.  She turned to laugh at Sam and Fred but then she sunk shell deep in mud.  Now it was Sam and Fred’s turn to laugh.

That is all that she has written so far.  I was happy with her work, and can tell that she has been influenced a great deal by all the animal storybooks she and Ethan like to check out from the library.  She also likes to watch a show on the Animal Planet channel called “Growing up…lion”  (or, whatever animal the show features for that day).

In writing, I try to encourage the children to imagine themselves TELLING a story out loud to someone, and to just write the words that they would use to make story interesting if they told it.  And the other thing I’ve noticed, is like most things, the more you do it (write)…the better and easier it is.

Jacob, Ethan, and Grace all attended a private Christian school for their first years of schooling.  The school was located at our church.  After a few years, our church went through a split and when all was said and done, there were not enough students anymore to keep the school open.

The Lord led us to this new house at that same time, and being in the country really opened up a whole new way of living for us.  We were together more in every way.  It just seemed as though the choice to homeschool really fit into our new life.

Of course the Lord had to move in my own heart.  I had always said that I would never homeschool.  I thought it sounded like way too much responsibility for one person to handle on their own.  I just did not want to put all that time and effort into educating my children, I did not feel that I could give them what they needed academically.

But, the Lord did change my heart.  Rich and I decided to homeschool, and when we did, Jacob was in 4th grade, Ethan was in 3rd, and Grace was in 2nd.

The first year that I homeschooled I used all A Beka.

I have a friend who homeschools her children, she lives in PA, and she highly recommended that I look into using “My Father’s World” curriculum.  This curriculum works well for me because Jacob, Ethan, and Grace are so close together in age.  I can combine classes for all but Math and Language Arts.  However, I do not know yet how I will be able to teach David and Caleb later on (in a few more years).  I have J, E, and G in one group, and I imagine I will then have D and C in yet another group, defeating the purpose of using MFW in the first place (to make it easier on me by combining their studies).  Time will tell.  Perhaps one of the older children would be interested in teaching the younger ones some of their classes. 

In the fall, I will be beginning my 4th year as a “Mama Schoolteacher”, and yet, I do believe that EVERY mother is a teacher from the very moment her firstborn baby is placed in her arms.  We are constantly teaching and training, often without even realizing it.  “More is caught than taught”.  Even if I didn’t technically homeschool my children, I would still be, along with my husband, the number one teacher and influence in my children’s lives. 

I am curious if any of your husbands teach your children in their formal studies?  At one point, I had asked Rich to take over Math with the children, and he agreed, but with his busy work schedule it just did not work out.  At times I have him do the Bible reading of the day.  It only takes about 15 minutes, so it is easy for him to do that once in a while.  Rich never checks to see how I am doing with the children’s school.  He asks me what we got done for the day, and that’s about it.  It’s not that he doesn’t care….he just is confident that I’m doing what I am supposed to do.  I am thankful that he does not worry! 

However, Rich has told me lately that he would like the children to go to a “real” school when they enter High School.  He has a friend who was homeschooled all the way and his friend told him that we should put them in H.S. so that they can learn what it’s like to be with all kinds of people, rather than be sheltered so much in the home.  Any input on that?  I’m not asking because I am against my husband…..I’m just curious about the pros and cons of keeping a child in the home for ALL of their grade-school learning.  Would it be unfair to keep them away from “the world” and then send them off to college, or a job?

I have my own opinion about that…..I already find my children confident in their interactions with people..at the doctor’s, at the grocery store, library, music lessons, etc.  I think they are much more social than I was at their age, and they seem to be able to talk to any age person…adult or child.  But, maybe that’s just them.  David, who has attended a year of Kindergarten at a public school, has seemed to thrive in a classroom setting, and has learned many life lessons from the experience.  I also think that the first years of J, E, and G’s schooling (at a private school) did a lot to teach them how to behave and learn in a classroom, with other students.  They are not shy at all. 

When I ask the children, they all agree that they would rather be homeschooled. 

I find my biggest challenge in homeschooling is my own self.  Balancing all the work, being realistic, and staying positive are my main problems.

But the moments of pride keep me going…not pride in a bad way, but pride in a job well done.  The children ARE learning, despite my inadequacies, praise the Lord!

Well, I had more to write about but I can’t think anymore…I’ve got the children coming in and out talking to me and now the baby is awake, too.  I hope all this made sense!  LOL

Hello!  Things were a little crazy this morning (maids were here) but I did manage to read the Bible to the children.  We read about Naaman’s greedy servant, in 11 Kings.   Then, they all wrote stories at the kitchen table.  Grace is working on a turtle story, Jacob did a “Story Starter” page (see attached link), and Ethan wrote about getting a new Webkinz.  Next, Jacob and Ethan did math papers.  I had to teach Ethan how to convert temperature from C to F.  The boys still need to do LA and Grace has to do Math, but right now they are all resting and reading.  (Mama Schoolteacher needed a break).  I also plan on reading Homer later, too.

I found out today that Ethan has been skipping work in his math book instead of asking me for help.  I had to talk to him about that.   He had to do two lessons today to catch up.

How’s your homeschool day going?

Grace memorized a poem this week in Language Arts and I thought it would be fun to videotape her.  As an added bonus, I put Seth in her lap!  I thought Grace did a good job.  I hope you like it!

Here are the words so you can follow along:

Don’t Give Up

If you’ve tried and have not won,
Never stop for crying;
All that’s great and good is done
Just by patient trying.

Though young birds, in flying, fall,
Still their wings grow stronger;
And the next time they can keep
Up a little longer.

Though the sturdy oak has known
Many a blast that bowed her,
She has risen again, and grown
Loftier and prouder.

If by easy work you beat,
Who the more will prize you?
Gaining victory from defeat,
That’s the test that tries you!

~Phoebe Cary

(edit, now it’s 7pm) I actually followed through and got the kids all finished up for today and they did good work.  We never did read anything from Homer but that’s okay. . . .

After having Seth 3 months ago, I feel like my interest and desire to homeschool has finally returned.  I looked through our books yesterday and realized we have a good month and a half or more until we are done with this “year’s” work….however, today is day 2 of good, satisfying schooling and I am pleased and hopeful that things will continue to go well.

We do our reading together.  I like to read the assigned passages out loud, while Jacob, Ethan, and Grace listen. 

We all enjoy Homer, (see link attached to post).  We are reading a version that is for children.  The children say that “I greek” because after a chapter or two I find myself talking to the children like the book is written.  “Mom, you’re greeking!”  I get frustrated when I cannot for the life of me pronounce the names of the characters in the book.  This morning I found a pronounciation guide online, I printed it out, and I am so thankful!

In the Bible we read about Elisha and his miracles.  Once again, like the words in Homer, the words in the King James Version also make us laugh.  The account of the “death in the pot” made us all giggle.

Grace is using “Teaching Textbooks Math” now, and it is much easier on me compared with A Beka.  The boys will finish their A Beka books this year and I will buy them “Teaching Textbooks” to use for next year.

I decided to continue with My Father’s World next school year.  We are finishing up “Creation to the Greeks” and we are looking forward to continuing with our History studies in, “Rome to the Reformation”.  We all enjoy History so much that we might start the reading assignments as soon as the books get here.  Do any of you do formal teaching throughout the summer?

I wish there was a way to keep David home next year.  Rich wants him to go back to public school for first grade but I miss him when he is away and I feel like he is missing out on something special when he is not here for home school.

The outdoors supplies so much to think about and study.  We had the toads all return for another weekend of mating and laying eggs in the pond.  The children are experts at this event by now, after seeing it happen for the last 3 springs.  This weekend I found Ethan looking up information in our Handbook to Nature Study book, all on his own.  I was so pleased.  He figured out what turtles like to eat, and we discovered that the turtles sometimes eat each other’s tails!  Yesterday I heard a turkey gobble and Jacob went searching for it in the woods.  When he came home he wrote a short essay about finding it, what it looked like, and what it did when it saw him.

~Mama Schoolteacher