The Magic of Education

Isn't it wonderful that we live in a country that gives us the freedom to choose how our children will be educated?

From Public school to Public Charter school,
From Private school to Home school,
the options are endless!

When we made the decision to homeschool last year it was for many reasons...
I frequently tell friends that the reasons were like grains of sand.
Some bigger than others yet all making up the sculpture of our decision.

In the process of homeschooling #1, I've felt a bond between us cement outside of our emotional interactions... a trust that transcends discussion and I have gotten to know my daughter in a way that has gone beyond the reactionary way we all live with each other...

She has friends - some of them are friends from her old school that she still sees on a regular basis... the quantity of time is not the same that's for sure, but the Quality of the time they spend together? Not a bad trade-off. Other friends she has met through the numerous activities she has been involved in through our home school co-op!

I'm not saying there aren't days where I'm like, she could be in school? All day? And I could finish a sentence without being interrupted and questioned? But that's the rub... She's learning - and willing to learn from me and from others. A little different than last year when she would cry not to go to school 3 out of 5 days of the week...

This does not mean that we were against the school! It means that she was having non-academic difficulties that they did not have the time or resources to get to the bottom of - and I do! After all, she is ours!

And just for the record: there have been probably 4 times this whole school year that she has wished for her old school... 4 days out of the last 40 weeks is really saying something to my heart...

....Already looking forward to September! (For a few reasons....)

Not 75% Nervous Anymore!!!

I'm on my husband's computer so I don't have any pictures today, but I wanted to drop a quick line and tell everyone that we are doing GREAT! I believe in what we're doing and #1 is responding so well and appreciates the attention she is getting. Fortunately because she is older I really only need to start her on something and then just be available for questions etc. She had academy yesterday - she made butter, made a scrapbook and just had fun with a bunch of girls her age! One day of the week for 8 weeks she is doing a program called Swim & Gym at our local community center. LOVE IT! Both her and #2 participate and are receiving Red Cross swim lessons for an hour and focused fitness gym time for the other hour!

So this is a quick update, no pics, but now that my computer is working I should be able to post some up soon!

Love and Blessings,
Aubrey

Rain and Messy Basements

Today it rained....all day long.

Today my 3 girls and I cleaned the play area of the basement.

Today I couldn't stop thinking about homeschooling and the small details left to tie into a pretty bow.

See?? Teething, rubbing, pressing on her gums...whimpering, "Hodejoo." (Hold You)

Some days it just has to rain and kids just need to be held.

Love,

Aubrey

Brett Favre????

That's right folks...nothing to do with homeschooling (again)...but seriously.

This can only end one of two ways - let's just leave it at that.

In other news, I have become organized!
Here is 'My Binder' (sung to the tune of 'My Buddy')
It is pretty and happy and holds 13 wks worth of scheduling.
I've decided that 13 weeks is about all I can handle in one place.

Ta-Da!

'My Planner' (second verse same as the first)

August has been much busier than this, but 'my planner' isn't really for those things, right?

September is starting to get a little bulky...

Woah! Aaaand BEGIN!

Even the dividers are pretty! And in numeric order too!

(Proof that the buck stops at 13)

One last thing:

This stack of books is my praise report for today!

Because of the Christian Homeschooling Support Group my family and I have become members of and their wonderful (free) library, and because of a special woman's time and effort, my 'readers needed' list went from this:

To This:

All in just 15 minutes!

Hallelujah I'm almost there!

PS #3 is teething and has been teething her eye teeth for, oh, about 3 years (even though she's just 21.5 months old - small detail.) Someone help her!

The End

In Which I Convince Myself I Can Do It

(It = Homeschooling)

"It's O.K. to Be Smart!" (Does anyone else think that that statement is as funny as I do?)

I happen to think #1 is bright...and bold...and beautiful - as any parent should, right?
(Has anyone ever seen Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken? Right????)


This used to be my coat closet.....(I'm sorry, truly I am... Books are probably the least exciting thing to look at when you happen upon a blog... but this is the ugly truth...)




This pile of books rest on top of our family roll-top desk. One is a catelog. One is a binder for MACHE - Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators. (They keep on top of the MN Homeschool laws and information and then make it available to us in laymans terms. I've been to one of their conferences and the amount of info and support is beyond incredible. I'm excited to do the full conference this year with John!) The colorful binder is #1's 'back to school' gear that she helped pick out. (It helped her to feel more in control of her future. No, Really - it did)Spelling Power is a spelling curriculum from 8yrs to adult. The list goes on...and on...

I am excited! I have peace in my heart and am resolved in my mind. I'm nervous and thrilled and putting together a schedule that seems packed yet possible. But until September 14th, I'm going to do as much of this as I can:

#3

#2 - with 'muscles'

#1, #3, #2

Blessings,

Aubrey

"The Best Laid Plans....

....of mice and men, often go awry..."

Isn't it just so?

The day was meant for playing. We planned, we waited...we anticipated and then: It just didn't work. I looked around my clean house today a little deflated but very happy that I had accomplished so much. I swept the basement! (unfinished basement that is)

Seems like that happens in life. We plan, we execute, we wait and wonder yet the result is completely out of our hands. God knows our dreams and hears our desires and while we use a lot of energy relying on our own strength He is holding in His hands the best outcome.

Speaking of plans...I have more plans....Plans to homeschool...(But By The Grace Of God)

(that sound you just heard was me - gnashing my teeth in fear and uncertainty)

Not really - I refuse to operate from a spirit of fear or uncertainty. That is just where my enemy wants me and I will not give him the foothold. Without further ado, the start of my plans:

Today was #1's last day of second grade! We've moved ahead with the science portion of our Sonlight Core 3 curriculum: Introduction to Biology. We're kind of starting at week 4 because it just so happens we put in a garden and started some radishes! Radishes are yummy with a little salt by the way. But really, I knew that we needed to plant radishes because I had planned ahead!

Here are the beginnings of radishes:

Would you like to see the rest of said garden? Of course you would!

We have in the two corners roma tomatoes and pink brandywine heirloom tomatoes. Between the two is a marigold plant. Not my favorite, but they are said to discourage tomato eating bugs...

The next row from left to right, from lower to upper is a singular marigold, followed by the next row being 3 marigolds! (Isn't this exciting!?) The next row is cherry tomato, marigold and cilantro; final row: chives, basil, chives. The radishes were planted from seed in the other half of the box garden. There is a row of radishes, a row of green onions, a row of bush-snap green beans and along the edges are flat leaf parsley and curly parsley. Whew! I'm exhausted! (not really - it's a very small garden)

By the way, here is #1:

She is wonderful...

Intentional

I'd like to take a moment to talk about the title of this blog.
I am and will be 'schooled' in my home throughout this process.
I'm going to be wrung out and hung to dry,
I'm going to try my hardest and sometimes fail but in some kind of poetic justice
I will be homeschooled right in front of my daughters.

The title is intentional - and I do (boy do I) need a little taming.

TMI

In attempting to make the best possible decision without having any promise on the outcome, I have taken to overloading my mind with all things Homeschool. I am excited to report that on top of a mountain of books that painstakingly outline success and failure are a few really encouraging ideas. There are whole groups for this sort of thing! One in my area boasts somewhere in the vicinity of 85 homeschooling families that count themselves in their number! They have their own library full of curriculum among other things and a bi-weekly acadamy on Fridays!

Let's back up a moment, shall we?

My daughter has been described by her 2nd grade teacher as an 'out of the box' thinker. I beg to agree - she comes from a couple of families with a few 'special' people in them.

Anyway, before she leaps off into the great unknown possibly hating education as her parents did before her (we've since been rehabilitated but the effort was no small feat), we will make an attempt to show her and teach her a love of learning by challenging her in her weaknesses and strengths.

Among the reasons for this adventure:

Teaching and Learning; I'd really like to see some learning followed by teaching rather than the opposite.

Has anyone seen the last vestige of morality? I could have sworn I saw some 10 years ago....

I really don't like the way she hates her face after a rough day of not fitting in intellectually at school....

I suppose you know that there are many, many, many more such reasons that my husband and I have discussed ad nauseam. Do not think we make this decision lightly, it is one of the best feelings to have each others support while we travel this road and our many reasons for it will be revealed as we go along together.

In the meantime: please take comfort in the idea that I look forward to relearning World History, American History, Pre-Algebraic concepts and Spanish!