Adventures in Homeschooling

I am so glad we decided to go with Ambleside Online because of the ease of working it into our lives.  I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me.  Not only does it completely embody the philosophy of education that I relate to, but it is free, and it's laid out in a manageable way. 

We are also using My Father's World along with the Ambleside, because of the Biblical truths.  It's like a supplement really.

I love homeschooling now.  No guilt, no fuss, less stress, high quality education, and just enjoying life together.  That's what it's all about, right??

The summer has come and gone leaving our family starting a new chapter. 

Eliza Lily joined our family on July 22nd, seven years after we were married.  Giving birth to her marked a triumphant end to my childbearing.  I feel our family is whole, and I have the satisfaction of giving birth completely and totally on my own terms for the first time. 

My dear husband was hired for part-time work just as the postpartum period was ending.  He also started going to school full-time.

We started a school routine on the day my husband returned for full-time schooling.  Kyler finished up last year's work, and so did Suzanne.  This week, we started a new school program.

Now I'm facing facts and thinking on where to go from here.

I believe a CM education would provide my children (and me!) with the most challenging and truthful lessons while building moral character and honing real life coping skills.  I bought My Father's World curriculum and mix-matched resources to give them a CM education because I believed that Ambleside Online would be much too difficult for me to bring to fruition. 

My Father's World kindergarten lessons are not challenging at all for Suzanne.  I think they might have been challenging for her last year.  She is totally breezing right through them although she is having fun.  I do not like Kyler's workbooks.  I do not like having him even doing workbooks as this goes against part of the attraction I have for a CM education.  I feel silly that I spent so much money on a program that I decided to only use as supplementary.  It's frustrating. 

When I looked at Ambleside Online again, I was less threatened.  It looked a lot more simple than what I am trying to do with the kids right now.  I have to start from square one gathering things and figure out if we will start at Year 1 or Year 2. 

Another breakdown alerts me to the need for a change in our household.  The weather is getting hot and sticky.  The mosquitos have come out to feast upon our healthy blood.  The third trimester of this pregnancy is actually feeling like the third trimester at 29wks gestation.  The remaining projects are either delegated to my dear husband or so easy and small that I don't need much time to finish them.  Gymnastics has one last class, and Baseball will be over in a couple of weeks.  I can't believe how the time has flown by.  I was surprised when we all started getting restless, and the children started really misbehaving, until I realized it was about that time when we all need to change the flow of the house.

Now our schedule looks like this again: 

• Morning routine and breakfast
• Kids' activities
• Lunch and put Gideon down for a nap
• Kids' activities
• Chores/housework/making dinner
• Dinner and bedtime routine

No longer will I be spending the day working on my own projects and allowing them to learn freely.  I already had lessons that I can use, so it has not been difficult placing them into our calendar. 

We did not do any Math U See, Come and Look With Me, Nature journaling, or Chemistry with his set.  We got so into all the projects I was doing and playing outside in different areas that those things were neglected.  So, I have that.  Plus, I have Top Secret Mystery Packets that I have been receiving from Highlights magazine once a month.  Those are packed full of history, geography, and problem-solving skills.  Along with those things, I am teaching them to tie their shoes with laces.  We had our first lesson today, and it went fairly well.  We are writing Nana back, since she sent the children letters.  I made Suzanne a book out of some copies of preschool workbooks that my cousin used in her classroom years ago.  We're finishing up Charlotte's Web.  I am spending part of Gideon's nap each week working with Kyler through the workbooks in his room.  I also want to get in the habit of reading the Bible with the kids a little each day.  That should be the first thing on my list, really.

The rest of May, June, and July should be focused on engaging with the kids, preferably indoors away from this heat.  Our one outting of the week will be with the Happy Homeschool Co-op.  I'm sure as the months go by, I will be doing more of my work with them from the couch, but that's okay.  It will give us something to do to keep everyone from going stir-crazy.  It's exactly what I had planned from the beginning of this year. 

Oh, and thank God for National Geographic channel, Animal Planet, and the Weather Channel for keeping the children's attention when I need to sleep!  

All of the issues that my oldest son and I have stem from my expectations vs. his follow through or rebellious attitude.  I find myself coming back to the idea of sending him to elementary school when things get very difficult with him.  He has been thriving in the educational environment he is in, at home.  So, my struggle is between a sacrifice of his academic success and a sacrifice of having a more chaotic home with his behavior requiring more of my attention than the other children.  I just don't think it's fair to them OR him.

I talked to him recently because I really had become just so fed up that I was willing to put him in school for a year to try it out.  I was convincing myself that maybe it would be better for him.  Maybe it really wouldn't be that damaging to his academic success, and maybe it would end up being better for the whole family.  Through our conversation though, I discovered from Kyler that he likes having school at home, that he likes having me as a teacher, and that he wouldn't change anything about his school.  I explained to him that no matter if he went to school at an elementary school or here, there would still be someone expecting things out of him.  He could choose Homeschool, where I let him mostly navigate his own education on his own time and in his own way, but he has to be more helpful with family chores and taking care of little ones.  He could choose Elementary School, where he won't have to help with family chores during the week as much or help me take care of the littler ones, but his teacher will demand much more schoolwork to be done, asking to go to the bathroom and get a drink, waiting for everyone else when he's already done, and then homework when he gets home.  He chose Homeschool hands-down. 

Since that conversation, it has been easier to gain his cooperation.  I think it's helpful as a foundation for referring back to when he falls off course.  I'm not trying to bribe him or punish him.  The truth is, I won't be able to manage the younger two children we will have this summer if he doesn't get onboard.  Suzanne is helpful and takes care of her own responsibilities.  It's just Kyler that I'm having trouble with.  He's not a helpless infant or toddler requiring extra patience for tantrums.  He's growing up, and he can be responsible.  I'm very glad that he made this choice.

I would have a hard time sending him to school.  My conscious would get in the way.  I would get a break from him and be able to maintain the kids at home more easily.  I just completely disagree with all the schoolwork and tests that are really set up to prove their knowlege to someone else.  It's not about learning because something is interesting and exciting.  It's not set up to help them improve their skills, really.  It's set up to keep everyone in this little box that doesn't allow them flexibility.  It's set up to be competitive.  "I'm smarter than you" is not something I'm interested in my child getting wrapped up in.  That's not the real world at all.  I don't want my child to learn that his worth is measured by a grade that he gets or by getting promoted.  I want him to learn that his worth is measured by growth, his focus, and his passion.  It's not what anyone else thinks about you that counts, it's what God does.  It's what you choose to think about you.

Due to the interest expressed in the Greater Houston Attachment Parenting Playgroup, we've been slowly planning a summer co-op.  If it takes off really well, then I guess we'll have a long-term homeschool cooperative group.  I'm excited about being part of the planning stages because I really believe helping to plan a co-op gives a homeschooling parent more say in the structure and layout of the group.  Obviously there are many different opinions and philosophies of homeschooling parents, but at least your voice can be heard from the beginning.

Today we had a planning session that went wonderfully. 

I hope that the children enjoy the activities as much as we think they will.  I think that's the real test. 

#4- Ultrasound pic!

The tech was unable to determine gender, but she was able to find the baby growing healthily and happy.  According to the four-year-old artist, the baby has much to say, hence the open mouth.

We also were blessed with a family picture.  It's rare to catch us all smiling and facing the same way, but this was a very talented artist. 

Jones Family 2009

 L-R: Gideon, Mom w/baby, Dad, Kyler, and Suzanne

I started this nightgown when I was pregnant with my firstborn.  I didn't have a sewing machine then, so I never did finish it.  I had been borrowing a friend's, and she moved before I could get it done.  I just never was motivated to finish it, but I decided to make baby clothes this time around. 

So, this was my first project, since it was already started.  The only thing it is missing is the ribbon to loop through the opening at the bottom of the gown in order to scrunch it up like a potato sack.  I have the ribbon, just haven't threaded it in yet. 

I did feel a bit odd working on this project at all, since I realy think it's a girl.  I'm making both boy and girl baby clothes because I have tons of different types of fabric, and I figure I can give away the unused clothing for a baby shower gift.  I'm around moms getting pregnant all the time: Moms who DO find out the sex of their babies. 

After spending the whole night up with my respiratory infected two-year-old, I'm so glad it was one of those nice rainy days that just invites us all to stay in jammies.  It was exactly what I needed.  The kids have been making art, playing chess, and using their imagination with barbies and action figures after they spent a couple of hours vegging in front of PBS Kids.  I got a great phone conversation in.  Mr. G is sleeping peacefully through his nap, which he so desperately needed.  This is just one of the many times when I am so glad we can be as flexible as we need to accomodate the weather and the situations in our life that are unplanned.

• The YMCA swimming lessons have gone fairly well.  S already enjoyed swimming but is becoming more confident.  K is finally overcoming some of his fear of the water and was even floating on his back holding onto a floating board without becoming hysterical.  This Saturday is going to be our last lesson for both of them.  On Monday, S will start gymnastics.  This will be through March, April, and May.  K will be on a coach-pitched baseball team starting in April and running through the first week of June.
• I have been off and on with my salsa dancing and yoga.  I'm really interested in finally getting that jogging stroller and hitting Meyer Park for some fresh air and exercise with my kids.  I'm continuing the exercise video, but my sights are on outside exercise right now.
• The gardening is going to be started this week.  We have planned it, but just not started digging yet.  It promises to be a great project.
• We have been continuing our Library Days every two weeks.  The kids have been getting a wide variety of books to learn from.
• I started knitting.  So far, I don't like it.  It hurts my wrists, and I don't like NOT having a finished project soon enough.  It seems like it takes FOREVER to see something.  I did get the craft basket started, but I'm not sure when to even knit during the day.  I need to figure out when is a good time for us all to be working on crafts.  G probably needs a box of goodies to explore so he doesn't mess with the kids' crafts.
• 

  Come Look with Me: Enjoying Art with Children (Come Look with Me)
  We have been doing Come and Look With Me, but not every week.  We've done it probably every other week.  We haven't even touched Math U See.  We were reading AA Milne until we lost the first book, but Gramma found it in the grill!  So, we can get back to Winnie the Pooh.
  

  Winnie-the-Pooh (Pooh Original Edition)
   
• A new goal is to get S her own room fixed up and get K his own room fixed up. 
• I'm spending quality time most days with S helping her learn to read. 
• I taught K how to play chess, and we are practicing from time to time. 
• I want to get him started with his Chemistry set so he can do it on his own when he wants to.  
• I also need to take time to teach some shoe-tying in this house.
• I want for us to put together a family tree.
• K has learned to do the laundry completely now.  He can responsibly run a load in the washer and dryer on his own.  
• Both K and S can make PB and J sandwhiches or cereal for themselves and G.  I'm not sure what I should add next to their easy meal preparation lessons.
• We haven't been on any field trips.  We're planning on going to a Nature Day with our group this Friday though, so that should be fun. 

My son was obviously Logical-Mathematic and Intrapersonal.  I knew about the Logical-Mathematic, but I was neglecting the Intrapersonal to some degree.  I am giving him his own room.  His sister is moving out as soon as we can get her room put together.  He needs privacy.  He's getting his privacy, a lock on his door, a small desk with school supplies and some interesting supplemental workbooks, and table space for any projects.  I'm going to get him something to tack his bugs up on and labeling strips so that he can keep them classified and organized.  I'm setting aside time most days for him to be alone for a good hour with no interruptions from any siblings or parents.  I also got some really good ideas on teaching times tables to children who are logical-mathematic, so probably next year, I'll give him the project of putting his own times table together. 

My daughter is caught between three styles: Spatial (design and imagery), Musical, and Interpersonal.  Where her brother is more 'introspective', she thrives in group dynamics and interactive learning environments.  So, I am taking the time to sit with her and learn to read together, something I didn't have to do with her brother since he prefers to connect the dots himself.  We are making notecards for every word that she learns well, and we are doing one book at a time out of the group of Usborne books.  I'm also going to find songbooks with music tapes or CD's for her to have in her new room.  I'm going to make an effort to find community activities for us to become a part of since she thrives in a group setting.  A co-op that is starting up near us is becoming more attractive in that way.  I also have some great ideas now for teaching times tables to her when she is older.

Time will tell how the little toddler ends up fitting in, but I'm feeling more confident in meeting the different needs they both have.  I felt a little pressure to have one child do some of the same things as the other child.  I almost felt like I would be neglecting one if the other got more time with me or was involved in a co-op, but the truth is that different folks have different strokes, and it's okay.