Thursday, December 1, 2011
Milestones
I think this is where having a teaching degree & knowing the public school scope & sequence has hurt me in teaching my kids. Both had reached the point we were told they should be able to do this work & were behind compared to public school.
Finally, in September we started school. We usually started in July, but none of us were ready for that. After a few weeks of frustration over math, something clicked in David's head & he started flying through it. Tomorrow he will finish his Math U See Alpha book! I'm so proud of him & his excitement to finish it & start Beta.
When we started phonics with Jessica this year, it just clicked. We started doing 4 lessons a day. She was so excited to read more & more words. Tomorrow, Jessica will finish her phonics book. I'm so proud of her. She was just beaming today when she read 2 syllable words like picnic & number.
I share this with you all not just because I'm proud of my kids. I am sharing it so you will know that sometimes kids don't follow the timetable public education has set up. Sometimes it takes them longer. But they will learn! God has made each child unique & when their brain is ready, they will amaze you with how fast they pick up what they were previously struggling with. So please don't let it get you or your kids down. Focus on something else for awhile & then come back occasionally to the problem area to see if they are ready for it.
Homeschooling is hard enough with all the pressures from the outside world. Don't put even more pressure on yourself. Remember why you are doing this! God created each child unique & just because some government says "this is where your child should be" doesn't mean that's where they should be! Work at your child's level! And remember 1 child may be a whiz at math & then the next may struggle. Don't compare them. Remind them they are unique & maybe point out other areas that the struggling child outshines his sibling.
I hope this helps someone as you walk this homeschool journey! God bless you all!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thanksgiving
On Saturday, the kids planned our meal. Our meal would consist of Turkey, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, rolls, fresh veggies & noodles. We then went to the store. The kids found a turkey, rolls, veggies & stuff to make noodles. We tried to get them to pay for it but conveniently they had left their money at home. ;-)
On Tuesday, we put the turkey in the sink to defrost. Jessica liked playing in the water. After lunch, we put the turkey in a bag to roast. Then the kids got busy peeling potatoes while Dad boiled noodles. Jamie lasted the longest at peeling potatoes. David helped Dad put beef in with the noodles.
Soon the food was all done & while Dad & I plated the food, the kids set the table. Our "family" prepared meal was delicious & it was fun working together.
Sorry I don't have pictures but we were having such a great time that I didn't even think about pulling out the camera.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Socialization
I've watched my kids as they grow up & truly see nothing wrong with my kids in the social area. My kids are polite. They have no fear of speaking with others. They know how to properly talk to adults. Although they do slip up from time to time as we all do.
I've seen them make friends with any child they see, even the child other kids ignore. It doesn't matter to my kids if the child is their age, younger or older. If you are a kid, they are going to try to engage you. I see so many kids who go to public school that will only "socialize" with kids their age. I've seen them ignore my kids because they are younger.
I've also seen how any child who is different is treated by public school kids. These kids are either shunned or made fun of. I've never seen my kids do this to anyone. I've only seen them treat others kindly.
As I sit here at a public playground watching my kids play, I see them engaging others, playing & having fun with any & every child who will play with them. I have seen them shunned by kids their own age because they are playing with kids younger than them. I've also seen my kids shunned because they refuse to be mean or hateful to others or break the rules.
I've also had my kids upset because some other child is getting teased or picked on. I've seen them step up and tell the teaser to back off & act right. I've seen them befriend the teased child. I'm not trying to brag on my children or make it seem like my kids always do the right thing. They don't, they're kids. But most of the time they do.
What makes the difference? I truly believe it is because most of their time is NOT spent with their peers. Most of their time is spent with family. They are learning to interact with all people, just not those few in their age range. They are getting to see on a daily basis how adults & older children interact. They see examples of love and kindness. They are being taught the right ways to interact & not seeing the wrong way to act every day.
I'm so blessed to be able to "socialize" my children the correct, godly way at home.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Apple Works
Jessica was the only one who would pose in the cut-outs they had.
Here's my Dad & the kids checking out the water. I don't think they saw any fish.
Here's a close up of them. I think Jamie looks a lot like my Dad here.
Here's Mom, Jessica & David on the little deck they had over the water.
David & Jessica enjoyed seeing the bee-hive. Jamie would not go anywhere near it.
They had a learning center all about the bees and the Apple trees.
They also had a learning center about the trees & how they need the bees.
The kids enjoyed the large slide made from field drainage tile.
Here Jamie is trying to find her way out of the bamboo maze.
Here the kids are swinging on the rope swings inside the barn.
Next the kids fed the goats & the pony.
Jamie even enjoyed feeding the goats.
This was a beautiful area of the pond. I love the fall colors & the reflection in the water.
Here's David right before we left with his honey! He was so excited to get fresh Honey! Hope you enjoyed spying on us as we enjoyed our field trip.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
More than Academics
Jessica helped blow the pine needles off Mamaw & Papaw's driveway so we wouldn't track them into the house.
Here David is helping Papaw tear out a closet. David is unscrewing a board from the wall. My parents were tearing out a little closet so they could have a bigger one built.
Jessica is helping Mamaw by sweeping up trash in the garage.
Now Jamie is blowing the pine needles off the driveway.
David is removing nails from boards so they can be put on the burn pile at the barn.
Jamie is checking all the boards in the wall to make sure all the nails have been pulled.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Quick Update
One exciting update is that yesterday David asked to do math first! After that lesson, he said that he was ready for his test. Today he took his test & zoomed through it & got a B!!! He has been answering math fact questions all day. I finally figured out that he needs to have the problems put into a "word problem" not just a fact. If he sees 9 - 7 = ____ he just stares. But if I (or he) says "You have 9 cookies & you give 7 to Jamison, how many do you have left?" Then he can answer it quickly. I'm not sure what learning style that is, but I am so thrilled that we are getting math to click for him.
Other than that, things are going ok with school. Hopefully we will get a new podcast up soon. It has been crazy with Hubby traveling so much lately.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Another Crazy Week
This week is another crazy week. Hubby doesn't leave for the airport until 4pm. Knowing how disruptive it is until he leaves, we have NOT started school yet today. School will start after 4pm today. I'm hoping they will focus & get done quickly. Probably not...
Rest of the week should be fairly normal days in that we can get school done in the morning. But, we start Word of Life this week so that always adds an interesting dynamic to our week. I'd also like to go visit my Mamaw one afternoon this week.
Towards the end of the week, I need to start prepping 7 days of school work for the kids. David will be going to Hubby's parents & the girls so my parents next week. So comes the challenge of giving them work they can do that won't need too much "teaching" from me. The kids will be at their grandparents for 9 days as I travel with Hubby.
Just another crazy week in our unique homeschool! How's your week looking??
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Laid Back Homeschooling
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
First weeks of homeschool
Last week we painted planets & put them together for our solar system project that we didn't get finished in the spring. The kids really enjoyed that which was a good reminder to me that I need to have them do more hands on projects.
Here Jessica is working on the computer. She loves doing Jump Start First grade along with other computer programs.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Why am I even homeschooling?
Thursday, July 14, 2011
School?? What's that??
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Begging for comments from you!
We really appreciate your feedback!
Jeff & Lea
1. Why do you homeschool? Bad public school, religious reasons, health issues, etc...
2. What does your typical day look like? We know that each of our school days are unique. We'd like to share examples from you all on what your day is like.
3. What are some "stereotypes" about homeschooling that you have encountered? We've had some unusual ones mentioned to us recently so we'd like to know what ones you've heard.
4. Are you part of a co-op or homeschool group? Do you find it beneficial or over-rated?
5. What are the pros & cons of homeschooling in your eyes? Do you try to convince others that homeschooling is the way to go?
6. What kind of curriculum do you use? Do you use traditional, unit studies, all-in-one or mix & match, computer, dvd, none, etc.... What homeschool method do you use? Classical, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, unschooling, a mix??
7. Is there anything else you'd like for us to do an episode on?
Thanks so much for listening to our podcasts & for taking the time to give us some feedback about the above topics!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Podcast #11
http://uniquelyushomeschool.blogspot.com/2011/03/feeling-inadequate-as-homeschool.html - comparing ourselves to other homeschoolers. Is there a typical homeschooler? Is there a typical homeschool? Being Unique! And why do I always feel inadequate?
homeschoolers & technology & convention - lack of technology? Why?
Skip maybe - Hospital adventure - Jamie’s virus that settle in her lungs. Nurses/Dr’s told her she should be nurse b/c she was so interested in everything they did to her & had to know details about everything.
Math/school struggles with the boy. thinks he can’t do it & freezes up but he can. Does it with reading too. Convention - between math sessions & sessions with Hal & Melanie Young, we’ve decided to stop “formal math” & go with Time, money & measuring until his brain is ready for addition/subtraction.
Homeschool in News
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/86633/ The homeschooling movement continues to gain momentum as home-educated students and graduates demonstrate success academically and socially.
http://dailycaller.com/2011/03/16/fed-instructs-teachers-to-facebook-creep-students/ - Education Department officials are threatening school principals with lawsuits if they fail to monitor and curb students’ lunchtime chat and evening Facebook time for expressing ideas and words that are deemed by Washington special-interest groups to be harassment of some students.
http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/julieingersoll/4430/republicans_tell_iowa_homeschoolers_education_not_government's_role_/ Presidental canidates told homeschooler’s government need to not interfere with education.
Homeschool Conventions
http://www.homeschoolconventions.com/ list of homeschool conventions
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/HomeschoolConventions.php another list of homeschool conventions
How to contact us
Website - www.uniquelyuspodcast.com
New blog - http://uniquelyushomeschool.blogspot.com
Email - uniquelyuspodcast@gmail.com
Twitter - www.twitter.com/uniquelyus
Phone - (661) SCH-OOLH - (that's (661) 724-6654)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Teacher Appreciation Week
I know some of you don't have that kind of support, so I just want to tell all of you homeschool teachers that I appreciate you & so do your kids. You are doing one of the hardest jobs in the world. Not only are you parenting your kids, you are also their teachers!
As a homeschool teacher, you give up a lot of things. You give up any time off. You give up having a neat house. You give up a 2nd income. You give up "me" time.
But, you gain so much more. You gain the satisfaction of knowing your kids are getting the best education for them. You gain getting to "know" your kids. You gain getting to see your kids succeed & follow their passions without being interrupted by "school". You gain family time.
So, to all you homeschool teachers, I say thank you! You are training up the future leaders of our communities, our country & our world! Thank you for taking the time to make a difference. Thank you for investing in your own children! You are making a difference! You are the BEST teachers your children could have!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Podcast Input from you!
1. Why do you homeschool? Bad public school, religious reasons, health issues, etc...
2. What does your typical day look like? We know that each of our school days are unique. We'd like to share examples from you all on what your day is like.
3. What are some "stereotypes" about homeschooling that you have encountered? We've had some unusual ones mentioned to us recently so we'd like to know what ones you've heard.
4. Are you part of a co-op or homeschool group? Do you find it beneficial or over-rated?
5. What are the pros & cons of homeschooling in your eyes? Do you try to convince others that homeschooling is the way to go?
6. What kind of curriculum do you use? Do you use traditional, unit studies, all-in-one or mix & match, computer, dvd, none, etc.... What homeschool method do you use? Classical, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, unschooling, a mix??
7. Is there anything else you'd like for us to do an episode on?
Thanks so much for listening to our podcasts & for taking the time to give us some feedback about the above topics!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Podcast #10 - Midwest Homeschool Convention - The Good, the Bad & the Ugly
The Ugly
-Ken Ham fiasco. Executed poorly
http://www.apologia.com/news.php?item=75
http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-times/article.php?articleid=7001
http://www.facebook.com/notes/ken-ham/warning-all-homeschoolers/186020768110064
http://www.cincinnatihomeschoolconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Ken-Ham-Issue-Public-Statement.pdf
The Bad
-Choices of sessions - over 300 sessions to choose from
-More food options (But $$$$$$)
-sessions that are encouragement & confirmation of what we need to do.
-Delaying formal math - study by L. P. Benezet - http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/sanjoy/benezet/1.html#description
-Hal & Melanie Young - http://www.raisingrealmen.com/
http://www.soulsurferthemovie.com/ - homeschooled, Christian surfer who lost arm in shark attack. Movie out April 8.
-Coolest ad: inside a book. - Inheritance Publications - http://www.telusplanet.net/public/inhpubl/webip/ip.htm
WE ARE TIRED!!!!!! and broke
Jamie
-http://ciacyberops.com/
How to contact us
Website - www.uniquelyuspodcast.com
New blog - http://uniquelyushomeschool.blogspot.com
Email - uniquelyuspodcast@gmail.com
Twitter - www.twitter.com/uniquelyus
Phone - (661) SCH-OOLH - (that's (661) 724-6654)