It's a New Day...

I have made some changes to how I am going to be homeschooling. I have taken some time to think about this and feel very confident that they are the right options for my family. I am very excited to see how things are going to work out. I don't have any doubts, but I do have some people in my life that are questioning my decisions. That just makes me more determined to show them that we can do this. I have filed with the state to be our own private school. I will be able to issue diplomas when the time comes.  I will be in total control of what they are learning by the end of this school year. I just am not comfortable with the restrictions the charter has placed on the families this year. We will also be doing school all year... no 3 month break for the summer. they will get Friday's off. That will equal to 3 months off over the course of a year. A school year will be from August 1 to July 20.

 I have already made a few changes with our curriculum and so far it is working. Math will be a very strict subject... about 2 to 2 1/2 hours a day (four days a week). We are doing 3 different levels of math in  books, workbooks, and on-line. I am trying to catch them up where they need to be and introduce new concepts. Reading is going to be the next big change... my children are not that fond of reading and I am hoping to change this. I am going to get them a Kindle, we will be visiting the library weekly, and they will have a required reading book, one level above their reading level, with book report due. These are the only 2 subjects that will be a strict daily requirement.  What about science and history?? Those I believe will be better learned hands on right now... until high school. This is our next step.... field trips. I am so excited to be able to do these now. I know it is going to take more planning and money on my part, but I am ready for the challenge. 

 I want to enrich my children's lives... not just throw a book at them. My daughter made so proud when we were at the library last week. She wanted to volunteer, so she asked... but you have to be 14. So she has 2 years before she can do that. I want my kids to be involved with the community. I feel they will learn a lot more valuable things with this new approach to school, this is what I had envisioned for us at the beginning, but had no idea where to start. So here is to A New Day... 

Time for a change...

School... I think I might be changing a few things in the next coming year in regards to going through a charter school or doing it on my own.  When I started homeschooling 5 years ago, I had no clue what I was doing, what I was in for, or where to start. A charter school seemed like the right place to begin. They gave me funding, guidelines, an Education Specialist, and testing. A very good place to start, for someone who didn't have a clue.  Now, that I know what I am doing, I know what the kids should be learning and by when, I know where to get inexpensive or even free materials... Do I really need to be involved with a charter anymore?  I have been going round and round with this for the past week. 

After my last post, I went to the library to check out a few materials on homeschooling. I like to read the books that ask you the important questions... why do you want to homeschool? I came home and started reading and to my amazement I found that I really didn't like the charter school anymore, I was just doing what they (the state) want me to. Not what I wanted to do for my children, which was why I started homeschooling in the first place. I didn't want the government telling what to teach my children... I think I know better than them what my childrens' needs are. I am with them 24 hours out of the day. So now I find myself in this kinda debate with myself... what should I do? Give up the almost $4000 a year in funding? Put it all in God's hands... have faith that he will provide everything that I will be giving up to not be a follower but a LEADER?

 I think I have answered my own question.

Did I make a mistake???

 We have been doing school for a month now and starting to get into the grove of things. Met with my education specialist and I think I am going to like her, even though she is tough. She will keep me on track and target with the kids' education. 

I struggle all the time with.. am I teaching them enough? Am I really doing what is right for them? Where can I improve and what do I not need to do?  All questions I ask myself every day. I know my kids need to improve on certain things, but what is the best way to do this? I am forever reading books about home school and organizing. I also try the things I have read about and put them to use. Try it for 2 weeks and if it is not working... move on and try something else.

What I am trying to say is... EVERYONE ... Yes everyone has fears about trying or doing something they have never done before. But don't let your fears take over and stop you from doing it. For the thing you are hesitant on just might change your life... and for the better. Think back to a time in your life that has made the most impact... what decisions did you make? What would be different if you had made a different decision? Now, not every decision is going to lead to glorious results... but don't be afraid of the negative.

I love that I have my children here everyday. I know for a fact that me bringing them home to teach them was the right thing to do. I know I still question myself, but I don't think we as a family would be in a good place if we had not decided to bring them home. Some people might say I am sheltering my children... what is wrong with that? My kids know about all the struggles and the peer pressure out there. They do have friends, they do socialize with others... and if you were to ask ANY of my children "would you like to go back to regular school?" ... they would answer you with a big fat "NO".My fear is .... I don't want my children to grow up and be a burden on society. I want them to be upstanding, respectable, knowledgeable, and men and women of God.  I know that with the decision to bring them home, we are one step closer to making them those people. It might get very tough some days... but TOTALLY worth it.

Wanting kids to learn...

Wanting kids to learn is different than them wanting to learn. I keep telling myself this on a daily basis, it never seems to set in though. So, I am trying to get my kids to understand that they should want to learn new things and not just the bare minimum. Don't just remember it for the test, but truly learn it.  They just look at me like I am from outer space. My thoughts are, maybe... JUST MAYBE if I try more hands on approach they might retain a little bit more information on certain subjects.

I would really love all the blank stares to go away and the light bulb to go on ... Don't get me wrong, the light is on... it is just on a dimmer switch, on the low setting. The problem is I KNOW how intelligent they are and they try to hide it, like it is a bad thing. Since when was it bad to be smart.

Maybe.... hmm... I should look at them with blank stares when they ask what's for dinner, why are all the clothes still dirty?  That would be fun.  Just think I might do that for a couple of days so they can see how frustrating it can be. 

Been a Busy Few Months

It has been a crazy few months. We have moved about an hour from where we  all have lived our entire lives. It is a big change for the family. Even our grown children decided to move with us, which was awesome. I don't know if I would have been able to move without them.  It was a fun but VERY hot summer and now with summer over and Autumn setting in... that means school is back in session. 

I have one graduating this year, one in 8th grade, one in 7th grade, and one in the third grade. It is going to be an awesome year. I have high expectations for the kids and I think they are doing great so far. This school year I am going to work on getting lesson plans done, some art projects (no matter how messy it will be), field trips, and some library time. Hopefully I can get accomplished the things I need to for my children. 

I know I have been away for awhile, I plan on writing more now that I have managed my time better lately. I hope to hear from some of you. I would love to know your thoughts on Home Schooling and raising a family in this day in age.

Starting ANEW...

I know it's been quite awhile since I last wrote. It have been pretty busy around our household these last few months. With the start of school I have had another child become an adult.  So that is two adult children... I feel like I am getting old. My oldest graduates high school in a couple months and then wants to join the Navy.  I am very proud of him that he wants to serve his country and that he is thinking of his future.  Now, if I could get my next adult child to start thinking of the future.  We are just getting into second semester with school and trying to make sure that the kids are staying on track can be challenging some days.  Only 4 months until school is over officially.  We will still be working on a few things, with 2 kids going into 7th grade, they will need to make sure they really know a few things.  I will be back on a regular basis again. So glad to be back.

School Starting...

School started last week and I couldn't wait for it to start. My summer was very relaxing, but I was starting to get bored and I think the kids were also. I am really excited about our new schedule and some of the new classes (new curriculum) I am teaching this year to the elementary. The kids are taking a little time to get used to the new schedule and getting used to being in one spot for a couple hours at a time. I have to keep reminding myself that, when I am getting frustrated with them.  We did take the whole summer off... so I can't expect them to just be ready to sit here and WANT to learn.  They have been doing GREAT and I do appreciate them trying their hardest on concentrating during class time.  I know they are thinking about the pool just outside our classroom window, I know that is torture to a kid and with it only being up for 2 weeks now... it's so new.  Just might have to let them in it today...