I just had to post a link here - if for no other reason than so I could find it later when I need a good laugh.  If you're a homeschooler, you'll probably appreciate this little ditty.

Our Homeschool Family

Every year we typically look forward to summer break.  We take several months off and have pretty much no structure to our day.  Unfortunately, when it comes time to get back into a groove it's met with much resistance and can take weeks to reestablish.  With my first grader quickly moving through her studies at a break-neck pace and my third grader not far behind her, summer break will be upon us in a matter of weeks.  So, this year I'm devising a plan to "keep our groove on" and still have a bit of "down time".

Since my four year old isn't catching onto reading as quickly as the older two, she is going to need some focused attention over the summer to get her up to speed for 5K this fall.  I decided that our traditional approach wasn't working too well for her so we are going with Hooked on Phonics for kindergarten as something different (and hopefully fun) to do this summer.  I plan to include my three year old on this just to give her more exposure to letters and sounds.

I needed something a little more independent for my older two so I could work more with the younger two, so I've decided that they will do keyboarding (learning to type correctly) and Spanish this summer.  These are two things we rarely have time for during the year so I thought that the summer would be the perfect time for this.  I'm going with The Typing Instructor program for Keyboarding and Rosetta Stone for Spanish.  I was considering Rosetta Stone back in 2006 but couldn't justify the cost....then we ended up on our wild adventure, life turned upside-down and it's a good thing I didn't purchase it back then.  I will be going through the Spanish program also in my "free-time" so this is helping me justify the cost a bit more.

In addition to all of this, we will be reading The Bridge to Terabithia together and going through the Meet the Masters art program.  I'm excited about the summer and I think the kids are too.  I'm hoping it will feel enough like school to maintain some order but yet feel enough like summer that they don't get burned out.

I've been so busy beyond the blogosphere that I didn't see this announcement until today....sigh.  Spunky of SpunkyHomeschool is ending her blog.  Many will grieve the loss of her daily encouragement and fight for the homeschooling community.  I've learned so much from Spunky and greatly respect her.  Homeschoolers everywhere have looked to her for advice and straight-talk.  She's been (and will likely continue to be) a strong, articulate voice for us.  While it's a hard pill to swallow, I do respect her decision to close the book on her blog.  I've been in this position myself a few times and it's always bitter/sweet.  Maybe we could see this as the proverbial “passing of the baton“ in the blogosphere.  Maybe the other home educators out there will step up to the challenge and take on the cause on their blog.

I wish her all the very best as she follows the Lord's calling on her life.

As some already know, we are a text-book using homeschooling family.  No, I'm not rigid about doing every worksheet, game, activity in the curriculum but I do like having it as a guideline.  I tweak and add and eliminate as I feel the need but overall we do follow a structured plan.  I have learned though, that sometimes it's good to break away from the books and focus on other important tasks as well.

So, we took the entire last week off from our formal studies to do some hands on labor around the condo.  I know most people go all out for "spring cleaning" but I much prefer to do the bulk of it in the autumn.  We spent the first half of the week investing our time and energy into freezer cooking.  The kids helped where they could with this.  As they get bigger they'll be able to help with more but for now, I think it is good exposure for several reasons.  Freezer cooking teaches arithmetic, measurements, following directions, patience and the beauty of planning ahead.  I like the practicality and life application of including kids in family-life tasks.  Of course with most projects that take focused attention for several days, during the work time the rest of the place became a ghastly mess.

After spending Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday on the cooking session, we then took Thursday and Friday to do a major overhaul of a good portion of this place.  We sorted and purged the kids' clothes changing out the summer attire for warmer clothing.  This meant doing laundry and lots of it.  In addition to this, we pulled out every toy from the kids' room and sorted/purged those as well.  These two activities allowed them to practice folding clothes....over and over...and taught them the benefit of keeping our things organized, clean and put away.  Once all of the clothes and toys were in order, the older kids sorted through their art bins to clean them out while I scrubbed, vacuumed and straightened the living/dining, bathroom and kitchen areas (normally not that big of a deal but my normal cleaning routines were interrupted for the cooking and it doesn't take long for things to get out of hand).

Now they go into their room and comment that they know where everything is.  We probably ought to do this sort of cleaning up and clearing out more often as everyone's mood seems improved for it.  One last thing that comes from this is that we typically end up with a large pile of items to donate.  I think this is the kids' favorite part, knowing that someone who needs their gently used things will benefit from all the work we've done the last week.  This may be the most important lesson of all, teaching our kids to give and not horde.  These aren't things they will learn from books, these are things that must be put into practice.  It is one of the reasons I think homeschooling is so wonderful - we can deviate from the books and dive into real-life stuff as often as we need to.

I think back to the times when kids weren't required at school during harvest and other jobs that required them to help their families.  When we all pitch in for the greater good of our family unit, it binds us together all the more.

I was sitting here during “snack time” working on setting up our egradebooks for the upcoming school year.  I can't believe it's already August!  Could the summer have flown by any faster?

Our books arrived yesterday and the kids had a blast looking through them last night.

“I just love Arithmetic!” exclaimed Lee (8) as I pulled his Math book from the box.

“Is this mine?” asked Ann(4) when I handed her a 4K writing tablet.  When I nodded yes, she giggled with delight and hugged the book.

Kate(6) actually didn't have much to say, she was sprawled out on the floor amidst her texts looking through them intently.  I heard “oh cool” several times though lol.

Of course Jewel(2) just made her self right at home with everyone's books.

The plan is to begin August 14th.  I have a bit of planning to do before then and I'm sure it will take us a few weeks to establish a routine.  I am in the market for a table though.  The card table we brought with us is inadequate.  We didn't bring their desks (space reasons) or our big chalkboard (which I'd gotten used to using).  But hey, this is an adventure right - we'll adapt.  Hopefully I'll post more “Days at RPA” this year.

At the beginning of January, Spunky asked the question “Why do we educate?”  I’ve never really put my thoughts to a formal testing ground prior to her post.  As I read what she had to say I was nodding in agreement.  I could probably say without a doubt that most parents don't consider enough “why” their child should be educated.  For me, I saw “education” as very one dimensional.  You go to learn “book stuff”…four plus four, the freezing point of water, the Alamo….etc.  Why?  So you can land a good job and have normal conversations with others….right?

So what does a “well-educated” High School grad look like?  Do we look at their high school transcript to determine that?  Some colleges do.  What do most parents feel a “well-educated” child will be?  Does that stump you?  I’m sure it does for most.  It did me when Spunky first asked the question.  I pondered for a bit before reading on.  It occurred to me that I wasn’t seeking a “well-educated” child; I was seeking a “well-rounded” one.  One who is wise about far more than “book learnin’”.  One who has a firm grasp on the spiritual as well as the mental and physical.  It’s why we chose the following mission statement for our school:  “At RPA we strive for physical, mental and spiritual excellence.”

Spunky has her own answer to the question:

"My children's success is not determined by a degree or a dollar. That a well educated child is one who knows and loves the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, and loves their neighbor as themselves."

I agree with that whole-heartedly.  Yes, kids do need some “skills” and “knowledge” to function in the world today but more important to me than those, is their relationship with God Almighty.  Spunky says it is her “desire to have wise and not just ‘academically successful’ children.”  I also agree with this statement.  That is our desire as well.

If you haven’t thought about this, it might be a good idea to ponder it some.  What do you consider a “well-educated” child?  Like Spunky, I think once we’ve established that, we are better equipped for making the best, most informed decision regarding the education of our children.

Yesterday I visited with some other moms and while it was supposed to be relaxing, I felt far from relaxed….more like taxed lol.  I was at a table with a gal I’ve known for a long time but haven’t really conversed with in about a year.  Nothing personal, just our paths haven’t crossed much since our old MOPS group closed its doors and I changed churches.  Anyway, she’s a good hearted woman who can come across rather abrasive at times.  Suddenly she asks, “so you still home schooling all your kids?”  There was a negative tone to her voice and I wondered what kind of a ride we were in for.  She wasn’t “pro-home schooling” when I announced I was going to do it to begin with.  Little did I know I was in for an interrogation like I’ve never had about our “choice to home school”.

I should point out that she used to be a kindergarten teacher.  Well, I kept defending our position with one answer after another to her onslaught of questions.  It could be that she was truly curious and wanted information but she has a way of being snappy when she speaks that makes it hard to read anything other than disdain into her reasoning.  A mutual friend of ours was on the other side of me and while she doesn’t home school, found herself defending me as well lol.  They were just small comments here and there backing up what I was saying, but I was thankful for them.

Finally and out of the blue she says thoughtfully, “Well, I see home schooling in a whole new light now.”  Her voice was actually pleasant and cheerful even.  She seemed satisfied that we weren’t somehow short-changing our kids but I was exhausted after it all lol.  I told Erik that I need to keep a list of resources and statistics with me so I can just hand people like this a pamphlet on the who, what, where, when, why & how.

Our kids know a bit of Spanish.  Not enough to carry on a conversation mind you, but I have noticed that they seem to pick it up rather quickly.  I considered doing some formal “Spanish Lessons” this school year but decided to wait until next.  My son (8) really wants to learn Spanish and my daughter (6) would like to take up French.  I took 2 years of Spanish in High School and my sister majored in Spanish in college.  Sadly, neither of us speak it very well lol.

I’ve been looking into foreign language curriculum and have come across a program called Rosetta Stone.  They have many languages to choose from, including of course, Spanish and French.  It appears to match what I’m looking for.  The price tag however, has me wincing.  Still, it will go on my list of prospects for consideration in the fall.

I’ve posted on this topic before(“social skills”) but after reading a recent post, I thought I’d revisit it for a bit.

Created for HIS Glory, brought the whole “socially challenged” subject back to the forefront of my mind recently by directing her readership to a post by Kim C at Life in a Shoe (cute blog name by the way).  While I do not believe the whole notion that homeschoolers are “socially challenged”, I realize the need for awareness in this area.  This is a pretty good post on socialization and I recommend giving it a read.  I find it hilarious when I’m talking with public school parents and they say, “well, little Suzie is such a social butterfly.”  Or, some other “social” comment.  It’s hard to determine if the comment is directed at their belief that homeschoolers are “socially challenged” or if that’s just a way to ease any guilt or whatever they’re feeling.

I have a friend who says she’d be in jail if she homeschooled because she’d kill her kid being around him that much.  It’s a joke of course (not wildly funny in my opinion).  She wouldn’t harm her kid but that’s her “reasoning” for not homeschooling.  There are dozens more, most of which have nothing to do with a parent lacking the ability to actually teach their child.  What I have noticed is that a vast majority of the reasons parents chose not to homeschool fall in the “social” category.

Since I see the issue of socialization as something I need not be convinced of, my thoughts settled on other aspects of the above mentioned post.  Aspects, which to me warrant more research and prayer on my part before I can determine my belief system.  Obviously I’m “pro-homeschooling”.  This stance isn’t met with warm fuzzies from some, but that’s life right?  Not everyone will agree with your decisions.

It’s going to take me a bit to mull over and research what is running through my brain right now.

Thursday I posted about our “Ice Day” (or lack thereof).  So, I go in and hand the kids pages I’d printed off the net of a Paper Nativity (thanks Lauren).  All four of them begin coloring a page and are having a good time with it I might add.  After they’ve completed it they walk me to the kitchen to unveil the surprise.  “Oh my goodness!  This is beautiful!” I exclaim.  They smile proudly and all begin to talk at once telling me who did what.  “Let me get the camera guys!”  And I go looking for it.  Camera in hand, I return to the kitchen and position myself in front of their art.  Power on….nothing.  “Um, the camera won’t come on,” I say in frustration.  I couldn’t get it to power on no matter what I did (not a big surprise).  That was how that entire day went.  Anything I set out to accomplish seemed to be foiled in some way.  Even trying to post the blog entries I did that day was a fiasco!  ( No need to go into all that lol).

So, I have no photo of their sweet nativity but we did order a new camera today.  Hopefully we’ll be able to actually take pictures on Christmas.  After the nativity project was Quiet Time and then after that I found Lee working in the front room on his school work.  “What are you doing son?” I wanted to know. 

“My work,” he replied simply. 

“Why?”

“Because I want to start Christmas break,” he answered. 

I paused for a moment….”You know what?  We’re starting our break right now.  No more school till January.” 

He stared at me, “Really?” 

“Really.”

“Cool!”  And with that he put away his pencil box and ran from the room.

So, it’s official, well, as official as it can be when you homeschool lol.  School’s out till the New Year!  We’ll be about one week behind my original schedule.  Not a big deal really.