2011 Homeschool

We are getting ready to come to our 3 year anniversary of Homeschooling.  WOW!!  Still I pray and ask the Lord if this is His will.  He continues to minister regarding this. 

We have grown in many ways with our homeschooling.  I think that #1 our focus is RESPONSIBILITY.  We have incorporated chores into our schooling.  I think this is HUGE.  I have many friends whose children are in public school and they don't show initiative nor responsibility at home.  Their things are strewn everywhere with the expectation that poor mother is going to take care of it.  They don't know how to run the washing machine, would NEVER think to do a dish by hand and have no clue how to start the washer let alone how to sort clothes.  This could be a HUGE disservice to this child when they reach adulthood.  I know from experience that it can be a GIANT stumbling block.  I had no skills, no responsibility when I went to college.  I did not instantly learn them when I had my first apartment.  My poor husband had NOT idea what he was getting when he married me.  I knew how to make 5 dishes.  I NEVER took out the trash.  Laundry - NEVER.  I shrunk all his very expensive shirts - ALL OF THEM - within the first 3 months of our marriage. It is funny now - it was NOT then.  I was once told that my house looked like a crack house.  It wasn't that bad - but it was pretty bad.  He worked.  I worked.  Our house couldn't care for itself.

So - this year - we have focused upon the PRACTICAL first in our home.  It takes time to train our children to do this.  Just as it takes time to teach them the multiplication tables.  They've learned both!!!  We have also begun to work on working INDEPENDENTLY.  That is huge for me.  That is hard for me and for all of them.  When you know your teacher is at your beck and call - it is stretching to be told to try and work it out independently first.  We are still walking this out.  They each have workbooks that they use for math.  We LOVE Singapore Math.  We also have workbooks to help each of them on their weakest areas of study.  For one - it is science and history.  For another  - it is spelling and writing.  For the last - it is reading and writing.  Then we have Grammar Workbook that we all share.  The rest is still based upon Charlotte Mason Living books.  It is just that now they read to themselves.  I rarely read aloud now as a group.  Our 9 year old is the only one really interested in read-alouds.  However, we do our Devotionals aloud.

We are expecting another baby in the Spring.  That has altered how we are doing school alot.  I will be busy with the little one - and will need them to have the confidence and discipline to work and complete their studies responsibly.  It is a very exciting and very stretching time!!

Fall 2010!!

Praise the Lord.

We began our fall 2010 in August.  With the new season, came a new math curriculum.  We are now doing Singapore Math.  We did start them off a little behind - so that they could acclimate to the teaching method.  I LOVE that they are being equipped to do math in their head.  And the change in curriculum also showed us some essential basics that they were missing.  My oldest, who is now in 6th grade was struggling a great deal with long division.  As a result, we have begun an intense relearning of subtraction.  While she'd passed it with flying colors in public school - I am seeing that she just memorized the answers.  And that when she was presented with subtraction in a different context - as part of division - it showed up.

I love this aspect of homeschooling.  We saw some weaknesses and can now take the time to address them without making her stressed or worrying to much about our schedule!

We continue on our journey to learning via Living Books and REAL LIFE.  Charlotte Mason continues to be a big influence on how I teach.  We are part of a growing homeschool group, Charlotte Mason Northland.  This year we as a group are doing monthly service projects, nature studies, recitation and art projects.  My children are thrilled that there are learning adventures planned each week.  I'm thrilled at the content and quality of the programs as well as the dedication of the other mothers/parents.

I've also taken the time to create a complete curriculum/goal plan for this 2010-2011 year.  There is an awesome web site that facilitated the goal segment for us:  http://www.design-your-homeschool.com/.  Everything we used to create our curriculum is free.  Totally easy to go step by step and works hand in hand with my desire to use Living Books.  It even has amazing resources.

I'd love to share our curriculum for this year - but instead - I'm going to share our goals.  Although, it does get somewhat altered when I upload it - and ends up being a lengthy list.  Here it is:

OUR HOME EDUCATING GOALS - 2010 through 2011

1. JESUS is Lord of our life!

• Obedience
• Listen
• Follow Directions
• LOVE one another

Everything is learning - academia based upon Charlotte Mason techniques

RELATIONSHIP GOALS

1.  Relationship with God

• Learning to pray on our own - Keeping Prayer Journal
• Learn to Study the Bible
• Scripture Memorization
• Learn Bible Stories & Books of the Bible
• Learn how to be a Godly Man/Woman

2.  Relationship with Others

• Giftings - Gift of Service, Gift of Hospitality, Gift of natural obedience to all authority, Gift of Listening - not interrupting but waiting for appropriate time to speak or share, Gift of Giving/Sharing, Gift of Thanksgiving.
• Communication - Conversation Skills, Phone Etiquette, Letters/Emails, Discussions - Dinner, Greeting others

3.  Relationship with Myself

• Obedience to God and Parents
• Fruits of the Spirits evidenced in my life
• Take care of ALL God gave me
• Clean room
• Clean clothes
• Help with the house - we all do our part
• Time Management
• Good Study Habits
• Learning to WORK independently and with diligence
• Humility

4.  Relationship with Creation

• Maintaining the land God created for us  - Our House and Yard - Mowing Lawn, Keeping Weeds out of yard, Gardening, Composting, Planting seeds and nurturing garden, Harvest, Knowing Names of Plants, Knowing Names of Animals/Birds, Recycling
• Create - Building Projects

PRACTICAL GOALS

1.  Recreation - Sports/Physical Fitness/Health
2.  Cooking

• Teach how to prepare and cook ten meals per semester
• Teach dietary knowledge and healthy living
• Food Journal - understanding food
• Teach ways to be economical – in shopping, in planning, in storing food…

3.  Music

• Teach competence in piano/organ - 1st Year
• Reading Music - Basics

4. Cleaning

• Teach how to maintain a clean home
• Keep your room clean each day
• Beds made first thing
• Help with laundry
• Load Dishwasher/Unload Dishwasher
• Keep Schoolroom clean - things put away
• Vacuum
• Mow the Lawn/Pull Weeds/Plant Garden/Clean Garage
• Clean the Garage
• Make own cleaning products

5.  Money Management

• Teach biblical principles of money management
• Dave Ramsey
• Word
• Mom and Dad
• Teach how to begin a small business (babysitting, labor, and lemonade stand)

ACADEMIC GOALS 

1. Math

• Singapore Math Textbook & Workbook
  11 YR OLD - focus on fractions, division, measurements, problem solving -
  10 YR OLD - focus on fractions, multiplication, division, measurements and problem solving
  8 YR OLD - focus on subtraction, time, measurement, money

•  Living Math - Everyday life

2.  Language Arts:

1. Literature - Oral Reading / Read Alone Chapter Books / Book Reports - Oral and Written Narration
2. Writing - Teach writing skills from words-sentences-paragraphs-essays/ Teach writing techniques/ Teach writing forms- narratives, poetry, plays
3. Speech - Articulation/ Speech Techniques / Oral Narration / Memorization and Delivery
4. Copy Work - Handwriting, Spelling, Grammar
5. Vocabulary - Spelling, Grammar
6. Grammar - Understanding sentence structure & make-up
7. Bible - Bible Devotions/ Scripture Memorization/  See Relationship Goals

3.  History/Geography (these are taught at the same time as Literature based upon the lesson & reading plan) - focus on American History/Geography predominantly except in Biblical Studies

4.  Science:

1. Teach God’s power in Creation and the natural world
2. Observation and Love of nature- nature studies
3. Division of Sciences:
4. Life Science (animals, human beings, plants)
5. StoryBook of Science
6. Earth Science and Astronomy
7. Unit Studies

5.  Computer Literacy:

1. Teach how to use a computer
2. Typing CD
3. Internet Research
4. Journal/Blog
5. Writing final papers
6. Spanish

6.  Art

1. Drawing Skills
2. Art Studies

Testing - The Joy of Being A Homeschool

Well... Today one of my sons was having a tough time focusing.  I did the dreaded threat:  "You can always go back to public school...you just might have to repeat a grade to be on their schedule."  Is this bad I wonder to myself?  He did focus after that.  But then I got to wondering 'where are they according to another standard?'  Not that I want the public school to be our standard.  I don't.  We homeschool so that they can have Jesus as our standard. 

My sister has her children in a local public school.  I see the amount of homework her children have.  They excel in their classes for the most part.  They are being educated to take part in the MAP test.  Those test scores are vital for school funding.  And they are a gauge for learning.  The thing is - that will not be our gauge. 

A friend sent me the link to Texas' TAKS assessment.  So - I decided today to see where we are by having the two older children (4th and 5th grade) take the TAKS.  Builder is doing the math segment now.  Princess will begin this afternoon.  Already Builder came and showed me his work to make sure he was answering properly.  He was!!! Big breath of relief!!!

Our youngest, Power, is only in 1st grade.  But I'd purchased a new math 1st Grade worksheet book for him.  He just did 8 pages.  He informed me it was too easy!!  I'm thinking that we might be doing okay here too!!

I am discovering another aspect to the JOY of homeschooling!  The joy of homeschooling is that we don't have to take a week out of our schedule to test.  The joy of homeschooling is that we can assess their progress by so many means and not solely on the basis of a standardized test.  The joy of homeschooling means that I have the benefit of seeing their progress daily.  The joy of homeschooling is revealing I can be humble enough to make a mistake, go to them and apologize explaining why mommy is going to STOP using the threat of public school to encourage correct behavior!!

I'm glad we took some time to do the test today.  I have a greater peace that we are progressing!  I think I'd been having waffling moments - thus the dreaded threat erupted forth from my mouth!!!

Of course there are areas that are stronger for each of them.  And there are areas that are a challenge!!  I am learning right along with them and am actually excited to face each challenge.  Especially, I just realized I now have a greater calmness in me when I look at the mountain of some subjects and think - we can rise above?!?!?  It might take some extra time, effort and work - but yes - we will scale that mountain/hill to successfully learning!  And how beautiful it will look from up on top - looking at where we have come from to where we are when finished!!!

I thank God for His ways are not our ways.  I thank God that today He gave me a boost of confidence that we are winning this race of homeschooling!!!  Thank You Lord God Almighty!!!  I thank God that Texas allows their standardized test to be made available for free online!!  And I thank God that His standard, His gauge is equipping our children for learning and testing well!!

2010 Welcomes Homeschool Redefined!

Woohoo!!  We have now officially been homeschooling for 1 year!  Our journey began last January.  I cannot believe how time went by so quickly.  Looking back, I stand and think...what did we learn this last year?  I think #1 is how to be a family.  #2 the children have a firm grasp that we are homeschooling and it is TOTALLY different then public school.  That took some adjustment.  That took some serious committment on all of our parts.  #3 We began to see WHAT curriculum we needed!

Our journey in this last year covered much!  We began by - unschooling.  We did this so that they could be de-programmed, if you will, from public school.  Then we did unit studies.  While this is wonderful and we will continue to use a type of unit study - I do not have enough discipline, time, nor creativity to focus on creating and/or searching out quality unit studies.  Then we discovered Charlotte Mason.  Wow - a gold mine of like thinking, solid teaching and Biblical understanding surrounding RELATIONSHIPS.  I found what I was looking for in teaching styles.

The problem I saw was HOW to incorporate this into a realistic plan for the school year.  I was pointed to Ambleside Online.  What a wonderful resource.  However, I have 3 children of varying ages and a very LIMITED budget for homeschooling (ie - no funding at present!!).  The book lists are wonderful and exactly what I wanted.  But the work is intense for each student.  And I saw that we'd end up with over 50 books at any given time and one mommy/teacher to read aloud each of them.  And mommy/teacher - she has a couple of other jobs outside of homeschooling and homesteading!

Thankfully the Lord allowed me to meet with some wonderful women locally who are part of a Charlotte Mason Homeschool group.  What amazing support that has been.  A blessing to hear the very thoughts I've had spoken aloud - and especially out of the mouths of veteran homeschool parents!!  And their resource lists and teaching ideas have been amazing!

Then the Holidays presented themselves.  Out of town for a couple of days at the end of October.  Break for Thanksgiving.  Break for Christmas and Break for New Years... wow...how habits disintegrate when not enforced.  So we began January a tad shakely.  My work schedule had picked up considerably with the down-time of the Holidays.  My priorities were a little out of wack!

And then, God...He is so faithful...He graciously directs me to a couple of AWESOME resources.  In the meantime, He works on some personal things within our home to get things prioritized and in-line with His will for ALL of us.  What a blessing! 

The websites He led me to are now wonderfully intertwined in our learning.  The most profound is Old Fashion Education.  She takes Charlotte Mason, Ambleside Online, other resources, and her own testimony/walk and provides a 40 week curriculum...all for free.  Total God-send!! 

One thing I've certainly learned in the last couple of years is HOW to tweak things to make them work.  Especially with school.  Thus, we will be using the following from the 5th grade OFE history, biographies, literature and fiction.  Out of 4th grade OFE we will be utilizing science and Bible Study.  Our geography is from 3rd grade OFE.  Our grammar, writing and copy work is from a great resource recommended by OFE, http://www.sfreading.com/resources/ghb.html. 

The only purchased part of our curriculum is our current math.  We use Spectrum Math.  However, I am prayerfully considering changing that as it is better used as a supplemental math program - as it is just worksheets and doesn't really provided explanations.  The children will be learning together every subject except math, writing, grammar homework, and independent reading.

Thus, for more concise references I've listed them to the right of my blog post as well as our resource links.  The most amazing part is that this is ALL free. 

I look forward to all that God is going to do in this new season of our life!  May He be glorified in all!!

First off - I don't speak spanish...yet

Okay - if you "happened" upon this blog - let me take a moment to explain the Blog Title: Quieren la tierra, hogar y escuela. It loosely translates want land, home and school. The name of the blog derives from all that we are: Wantland is the family name. It represents the LAND that God has given us. We want said land to be glorifying to God, set apart for God and increased for His plans and purposes. This blog is a branch off of my other blog and is solely a log of our walk in homeschooling AND creating a glorifying homestead.

For now - that's all I've got to say on that matter. As my next post will be defining our school year this year!!!

Que Dios bendiga a nuestra tierra, el hogar y la escuela. Que todos nuestros deseos se para la gloria de Dios! (Google translator is amazing!!)