Simplifying......

Hey all!
Or should I say few.................I think I have about two readers...:) Probably because it has been too much for me to keep up with 2 blogs.
I will no longer be keeping this blog. I have decided to simplify and just blog about our homeschooling on our private blog. I will keep this blog up just for reference.
If you would like an invite just leave me your email address.
Thanks!

Summertime-Take it all in

AAAAhhhhh........the warm summer evenings where play, work and learning go hand in hand
Breathe it in.....


And build a clubhouse or two.....

Schooling, how serious does it need to be?

Since my blog is private to some readers, I decided to post this on here too:

I just read my good friend Becky's blog. She is the mother of 8 children and is a wonderful homeschool mom. I have had the privilege of watching her example. She has some great insights on this topic.
This topic has been heavy on my mind lately. Occasionally, I have friends, family, or acquaintances come to my door during "school hours". I know the look all too well. The "why aren't your kids at the table doing 'school work' look.
Does education have to be all that? Does it require homework, multiple choice and fill in the blanks? Just the other day, me and my kids enjoyed going for a walk down our road and played 'I Spy' with a twist: I would spy something, spell out the word and have them tell me what word it was I just spelled. It was fun!
I love watching my boys invent their own machines with scraps of wood and cardboard boxes, contraptions, and experiments in the kitchen. This is education in it's prime!
When I first began homeschooling I set it up just like public school complete with snack time, recess, and PE. I was very adamant about timing assignments and making my curriculum as rigorous as possible. I realized very quickly that this did NOT work. After some time on knees and much pondering on the matter, I realized that these were all the reasons why I decided not to send my child to the public schools. I was missing the mark completely! My first year of homeschooling was the greatest learning curb in my life! I realized very quickly that I wanted something more for my children and myself. I want a lifestyle of learning. I re-found this quote a little while ago:

" We're not trying to do "School at Home." We're trying to do homeschool. These are two entirely different propositions. We're not trying to replicate the time, style or content of the classroom. Rather we're trying to cultivate a lifestyle of learning in which learning takes place from morning until bedtime 7 days each week. The "formal" portion of each teaching day is just the tip of the iceburg. "
--Steve and Jane Lambert ( Five In A Row )

Here is a WONDERFUL article on homework called Kindergarten Cram. If you have a few minutes, it is a great article to read.

Home is the center of learning

I found this quote the other day and thought I would share:

"The Lord organized the family unit in the beginning. He intended that the home be the center of learning-that the father and mother be teachers. . . As prophetic events unfold, one thing is certain: we will all need to teach more within the walls of our own homes. In the Book of Mormon we find some models: 'I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father'(1 Nephi 1"). No doubt Nephi was taught the things of the Spirit-his writings reveal that. He probably was taught practical matters as well, for he was a very resourceful man. Today that son is fortunate whose father teaches him somewhat in all his learning."
A. Theodore Tuttle
(Ensign, Nov. 1979, 27)

Good idea for homeschool groups

We have a homeschool group that meets once a week. Each mom takes a turn teaching ( or being in charge). We rotate turns and it's not too strenuous because there are about 8 families that get together. This has been a wonderful asset to our homeschooling. It provides a "social" day for the kids. Actually, I have to admit, as would all us moms, It serves as a "social" day for us too. :)
We mostly go on field trips to the nature center, the museums, the local factories and fire departments, bakeries, etc. Sometimes we have lessons at one another's' homes. Some of the funnest ones have been the most simple ones. For instance, one mom taught us all about rocks. This was very cool and educational. Also, very inexpensive.
In the past we have emailed or called to let each mom know what was going on that week. As of recently, we started a private blog for our group. This has been great! I wish I could give you a link to see what we do on there, but it's Private, so I will just have to explain. We have a blog roll of all the families who have blogs. We also have links to some of our favorite educational/homeschool websites. We post on there regularly to keep us all updated on the latest homeschool group activity or local happenings. It's also a great way to know about things that are going on at our local college, theaters, museums and libraries.

Highly Recommended

Have you ever NOT known someone personally but felt a deep connection with them from something they have written or said? Gene R. Cook is this to me. I love all of his talks I have heard and all of his books I have read.
This book is especially my favorite. I have read it now about 3 times over and listened to the audio CD's about 4. (I know, I'm a repetition girl. I like to watch my same favorite movies over and over again too. :) And read my favorite books time and time again.)
I recommend this book to everyone! Whether you have little ones or teens. I want to say this without sounding too dramatic, but this book has really played a major part in how I parent.
This is a MUST READ for every LDS parent.

Not trying to do 'school at home'....

I found this quote shoved in the back of my journal the other day. I thought I would share.

" We're not trying to do "School at Home." We're trying to do homeschool. These are two entirely different propositions. We're not trying to replicate the time, style or content of the classroom. Rather we're trying to cultivate a lifestyle of learning in which learning takes place from morning until bedtime 7 days each week. The "formal" portion of each teaching day is just the tip of the iceburg. "
--Steve and Jane Lambert ( Five In A Row )

My first year of homeschooling was the greatest learning year of my life! I tried my hardest to keep a rigorous curriculum for my kindergarten-age child. I tried so hard to make our homeschool day like a regular school day complete with recess, and PE. I learned very quickly that this was exactly what DID NOT WORK at home. It seemed so stressful and those nights I would go to bed feeling overwhelmed and I'm sure my child felt the same way. This lasted for only a week or so, before I had to really re-evaluate. the question came to my mind, "Isn't this part of the reason why you are homeschooling?, because you want something different for your children?" It was so simple! I'm not trying to mimic school at home! I don't want that! I instantly realized that homeschool was an entirely different thing. I wanted a lifestyle of learning!

Keeping Mom Organized

I recently made me this binder to keep myself a bit more organized when it comes to homeschooling. And, with it being a new year, it is the perfect time to re-organize and re-evaluate. This is kind of a modge podge of ideas all squished together. Some of the ideas I got from homeschool mom, Diane Hopkins, home organization tips, calendars that work , and fly lady . But I found what works best for me. And so I will share my version of "Mom's planner"....

First:
I got a three ring binder and used some craft paper to make it recognizable amidst all of my kids' other three-ring binders. (This is where you can get creative and color-coordinate according to your style. I probably would have gone with a more fresh look, but since I am on bed-rest with this pregnancy and can't get out much, I just used what I had in our homeschool closet.)
Second:
I made a section for Mom's goals. This is where I keep a record of my thoughts and plans throughout each day.
I found this cool goal organizer in the back of one of my homeschool books by Diane Hopkins. I think it was either Happy Homeschooling, or I Love Homeschooling. Here is a link to her site if you would like to purchase her book. ldfr.com
Third:
I made a section for my calendar. This is a must for me! We meet twice a year as moms to plan out our homeschool group activities and each mom needs a calendar to keep track of who is in charge that week. I also include the other families ' phone numbers , addresses, kids ages, etc. in this section.
Fourth:
My favorite section! I have an idividual section for each of my children. This is where I write down ideas and inspiration for each one. I include what we are working on and also their goals. For example:
My oldest has a more vigorous agenda each day unlike my 4 yr. old. So, I have to keep better track of his progression and where he is either progressing or staying stagnant. My youngest is learning how to write all kinds of short words. I have a list in there of all the words he is learning to spell so we can work on them and help ingrain them in his memory.
I also include a Book of Mormon reading chart in each of their sections. We read from the illustrated Book of Mormon reader and also the Old and New testament readers as well as the D&C illustrated reader. The boys love looking at the pictures ! (this does not include the family scripture study. We do that later with Daddy.) I think that this is an essential part of any LDS homeschool family. After all, isn't this part of why we homeschool in the first place? Because study of the scriptures is not included in the public school systems curriculum. Fifth:
The infamous misc. section. This section could get crazy if you let it. (if you're anything like me :) ).
I try to just include my favorite articles that I like to re-read.

And Viola!!!! There you have it! A planner for mom!