Writing the right way

While talking to my mom last night she let me know that I don't post enough. Not that she is being critical, she's right. I don't.

In my defense, it is winter, and we don't do much. Well... I don't to much. I should blog. And I will. It's my Feb 13th resolution.

Anyway, I have been doing curriculum research, getting my order ready for next year. I have been looking for a decent writing program and looked through one at a friends house yesterday. Then I went home and looked on Homeschool Reviews to see what other parents had to say about using this curriculum. And then I ran into this review that made me giggle...

i, personally, LOVE this curriculum. we r doing level 3.i like that it teaches so many different kinds of writing (descriptive,informitive,etc.) i love that it is so detail-oriented. My son's writing has improved alot in the past 6 months:) We STRONGLY encourage this curriculum.

It sounds like a good curriculum, but seriously... don't you think you should form correct sentences when you are talking about how you taught a WRITING curriculum? At least she gave me something to giggle about while doing research.

Back to Life... Back to Reality

We are now back into the routine of life... well, if you can consider our controlled chaos routine anyway. I have to admit that it does feel great!

Most of the Christmas gifts are now out of the boxes. We have used the quasedilla maker a couple times, I have cleaned the juicer nearly every day, and today I loaded pictures into the digital frame.

I even tried out the Wii Fit (stupid video game called me overweight, just cause I was standing on it! HUMPH!!!)

We had a great Christmas with the families. It's always nice to spend time with those we love but don't get much time with. I do wish we could see them more, but already my calendar is filling up. I even have something written in Feb already. I guess there is no rest for the weary!

If you are looking for me, I am basking in the fact that we are back to school and work.

Ahhh, routine.

Great quote

I found a great quote through one of the blogs I read. It was on a completely different blog than that but I found it.

"People say public schools are bad, but that isn't true. They're very good at what they were designed for -- to create people who could work in factories. They teach you to arrive at a bell, go to lunch at a bell and leave at a bell. You learn to sit at a desk and do the same work everyone else is. These things don't really have anything to do with education.
People don't realize that these things aren't inborn. In the old days, people regulated their lives by the schedules of agriculture. It took public schools to teach people to show up to the factory on time."

I know this may offend some people. But one of the arguments I have thrown at me as a reason not to home school is that my kids need to live by a schedule so they will know how to get up and go to work on time everyday.

Maybe my kids won't want to punch a clock. My husband doesn't. Very few people that I know (that enjoy what they do) actually punch a clock. I know they will have to at some point in their life, but that is why I'm teaching them responsibility.

And for the record, I'm not against public schools. I know their are some benefits. But they are not for us at this point in our lives.

Ok, I'm done now. :)

College soapbox

**Warning, you may want to click off the blog now, as I am about to vent frustrations.**


*climbing onto my soapbox*


I am finishing my first class at the college and I will admit that I couldn't be happier. I have been frustrated at the lack of challenge this class has provided. I had expected it to be harder, something I would have to work at. The set up is each student has to post an answer to some questions each week. Then we have to reply to at least 2 other students during the week. This week is the last week and the subject is how you have improved your writing skills. A fellow classmate posted this...(copied without any editing)




"Improvin Writing Style
I need to work on all those areas my self , but u can do it we all can
i have determination and my 12 yr old son cheerin me on. I need to do well in
this class hopefully to get a better job that is were the typing skills come in
handy cause i am an administrative assistant ( office assistant) where most of
my job is typing.. The studin and note takin are an important part too because u
need to know how to wrtie note like for a letter.. Small brakes helps in
concentration u can learn more if everyhing is not so jumbled in my head, it
also give u time to rest and think about the next subject or topic.."

I just wanted to reply..."Seriously???"

I'm sorry but for 5 weeks I have listened to the professor ask the students not to use "u" for you, "i" for I, etc. I know I am less patient today, but each week it gets harder and harder to respond to posts like this.



And it bothers me that she will get full credit for it.



GRRR!



Ok, I'm done.



*climbs back off the soapbox*

It's official...

I am a home school student.

Ok, school at home, not home school.

Classes start for me today with Ashford University.

One day down... four years left.

Spring break no more

Spring break is over. We took last week off of school and spent the time going through the house. Each room got cleaned up and I spent the majority of my time in the classroom. I did this for a couple reasons.

This winter the classroom has been used as a catch all. It was unorganized and cluttered. This is where the computers are in our house and therefore we spend a lot of time in this room. With six people living in the house this can be a big indicator of what rooms are the messiest.

Also I am ordering next years curriculum this week. In fact, tomorrow I am getting 5 boxes of stuff and I should have all or nearly all of it by the end of next week. Since I need to be ready to receive, organize, and make available these items, I needed to make sure the classroom was clean.

It's better than Christmas to me. All the new materials, the new ways to get my kids thinking for themselves. I LOVE getting new school supplies! And it's even better when I will be reimbursed for it.

I really am alive....

I have had a couple people ask me if I'm ok lately. I know it is my fault. I have not been keeping up with my blog, I have not been on facebook, myspace, on the phone. I have basically disappeared from society.

And with good reason.

I just don't wanna! Just kidding.

Open enrollment ended today and that means that I have been getting my school curriculum list together for next year. I have money to spend and product to figure out. Since we are technically public school kids I have to stick to their budget that they give me. With 4 kids I only have $4700 to spend on curriculum.

As any home schooler knows, that is more money than most of us budget, but since it is available, I am going to use it and get my kids a quality education. So that is taking up some time.


We also have been talking to a contractor and all that comes with him. We are going to start a remodeling project in our home. And not just any remodeling project. We are gutting our main floor and starting from scratch. Well, almost from scratch. We are keeping our hardwood floors.

So, I have been staring at house plans for days. Not a variety of house plans, the same ones. Anyone that knows me knows that I firmly believe that it is cheaper to do something right the first time instead of fixing it later.

It's a great way to live. Except it puts enormous pressure to make sure you are doing it right the first time.

Right now I'm not even bogged down with the appearance of the whole thing. I'm still stuck in the functionality of the kitchen. What cupboard do I want where? How do I want that cupboard to function? Is this enough counter space? Is it too little cupboard space? Where am I going to want to store my pans?

So many cabinet magazines only deal with what cupboard doors do you want and what color do you want them.

So, if your wondering where I am, I'm still here. Just overwhelmed.

On one more note, Cyn, my longest term face friend started a blog last night. If you want to show her some love and encourage her to keep going head on over to Seventy Six ways from Sunday.

Tapestry of Grace

For our main curriculum, we have chosen to use Tapestry of Grace. I am able to teach my kids all at the same time, and yet make it interesting and challenging for all levels. I have found it to be easily outlined, well organized, and very useful. I also like it that it is easy to personalize for our family.





That being said, I have also recently become somewhat of an affiliate. They have a program that if you share and tell your friends you can earn money off of your products you order. So that means that I'm not actually making money at this, but I can earn maybe some new books or materials. If you or someone you know is ordering, please use my code if you don't already have a code you are currently using.





By the way...if you are ordering the redesigned years, the price is going up $45 on February 1st. The current price is $180. It will be going up to $225. Now is a great time to order.

Tapestry of Grace Year 1 Redesigned

Tapestry of Grace Year 2 Redesigned

Tapestry of Grace Year 3 Redesigned

Go To Egypt

Sail to the New World



My affiliate code is TOGDEW. You can type this in at the Save and Share code are at the bottom of the bookstore page. Any questions, just ask.

Fresh Starts

As the new year has started, there is a feeling of a fresh start here at home. We went back to our schedule today...school, work, chores. You know, life.

Are you thinking "Why start a new year off working?"

Are you kidding?

Knight has been barely working since the 23rd. We have had nearly 10 days off schedule. Church services have been limited since they have canceled Sunday evening and Wednesday services.

I feel as if I have been floating aimlessly.

Not a good feeling for me.

So today, J-bell looks at me and says "I can't remember where we are supposed to be in math."

I tell her to look at where she left off.

She then informs me that she has not been keeping up with my schedule.

Then I look at Desti's. She's behind too.

Same with Rara.

J-bird is the only one caught up.

So for now, we are buckling down, getting caught up on school and chores. Therefore, I am shutting off the house phone. Cell is on for emergencies. Call if you must. I am happy to be there for you in an emergency. Otherwise, please give us a week.

On another note, did you notice the change in the sidebar?

I now have all the family able to contribute to the blog. I am hoping to get the kids writing more, and Knight at times has something to share. If it doesn't "sound" like me talking, take note of who the post is by.

Happy 2008. Here's to another fresh start

Homeschooling is Yummy!

The best thing about homeschooling is you get to learn as you teach the kids. Today was no exception. Not only did I learn a sort of different way to multiply decimals (thank you Mr Demme!) but we finished up with our Mesopotamia unit, have already been to Egypt, and now we are following Moses out of Egypt into the promised land and are going to take the next 3 weeks studying different things about Judaism.

I am so fascinated! I have never thought of Judaism as a completely different religion from Christianity. A lot of the stories are the same, and never really gave much thought into the differences. But boy, are there differences!

We are learning about all the ritual, from Shabbat (the Sabbath) to Rosh Hashannah (the Jewish new year). So, as we were reading and learning about Shabbat today, the book mentioned Challah (braided egg bread). I have only had Challah once before when I decided to make it for Thanksgiving (why? Who knows. That was YEARS ago.) I did remember that I loved it, and it tasted like pretzel bread to me.

So today, we made Challah for supper. The kids loved it. I hope they didn't REALLY love it. I would hate to have to make it all the time. That's work!

These next few weeks are going to be so great!

I love the English language. Just ask anyone that happens to email, text, or IM with me. No text talk, except an occasional lol or smiley. I do my best to spell correctly. It is just what I do, who I am. And to be honest, if you are a blog that comes here, I do try to visit you if you leave a comment, but if your blog is filled with misspellings and horrible grammar, I will give you the benefit of the doubt once or twice, but unless I REALLY like you, I don't keep coming back. I just have trouble enjoying reading when things are butchered. Sorry, I am an English snob, of sorts. Not that you won't find a dangling participle here and there around these parts!

Today in my email inbox was an email from a fellow Freecycler. Now, I don't know this person. But this is the email put out to everyone...

i am trying to do a good thing i am bilding computers for som handecap kids and
i am out of parts if aneone has som pc parts or hole computers let me know so u
know i try to bild 3 pc's and donat atlest 1 to menteley chalanged and aney
money i get off other 2 gose to keping it going but latley ive ben to softharted
and ran out of parts completley and i have 4 kids wating for free ones so i am
looking for aney parts

That is totally copy and pasted. I was not making it worse in any way. This is some of the reasons I struggle to read what others put on the web. If this is you-- I am sorry if you are offended, and I offer my free service of teaching you where your spell check is, or I will edit your freecycle emails anytime.

Ok, off my soapbox.

In other news I am officially announcing that I have started a blog just to chronicle our schooling. This will just be a home school blog. Since it is the first day of school, I am going to start writing in it regularly. Probably not every day, but hopefully a couple times a week.

Paradise is back to routine. Can you feel the collective sigh of relief from all???

Thanks you all for your prayers for Gina. I know it means a lot to all of the family. I saw her yesterday and she seemed to be healing will and accepting this new change to her lifestyle. She had Ileostomy surgery and she had known that she may need this eventually because of her health but what started as a test became emergency surgery. A shock to us all. As one of my other sisters put our feelings into words so well, "We are going to get ulcers from all this hospital stuff." This is the 4th hospitalization in the last 16 months for my family. We are hoping to be done talking to hospital staff for a long time.

J-Bird got done with school today. That makes it 2 down and 2 more to go. We should be done with school some time next week. I have heard so many moms dread the end of the school year because that means the kids come home. I look forward to it, so I have more time to actually have fun with them. I have some fun stuff planned this summer and I hope to get a jump start on science.

Now I am off the the library. I need to make copies. Fun, fun. Kids are at the park so I need to pick them up. I promise I will be better and blogging soon and the my post will be a whole lot more interesting than this.

Friday 14?
14 positive things we have seen with homeschooling

1. For the most part, my kids are friends. They do get on each others nerves, but they also care deeply for each other and are involved in each others lives. I see them consider each other a lot more than I see them dismiss each other.

2. They are pretty self motivated with their school work. They go in and tackle it so it does not take all day. I have heard a couple times, "can you get me up at ___ so I can start school early. I want to be done by ____"

3. They have learned to love research. They choose what to learn about each week and are learning how to write reports. The blogs have helped since they want something to blog about. This is only for 1 subject this year but I have seen great progress in their writing, reading, spelling, and love of learning.

4. J-Bell isn't afraid to be who she wants to be. If other kids her age are into things she is not (boys, makeup) she will just go play with the little ones. I have seen her enjoy playing dolls with an 8 year old because the 13 year old sister was into makeovers.

5. None of my kids know what the name brands are. They have seen our budget, know that we do our best to provide with needs and wants, and know if they really want something they should save and watch Goodwill. It is not an embarrassment.

6. Teaching has become habit. Shopping, paying bills, cleaning, gardening, cooking, ANYTHING can be a teaching moment. Gardening can become a lesson on the importance of what roots you let grow in your heart, bills become math/budget lesson.

7. Other homeschoolers who's kids are friends with my kids talk to each other. If we are going to teach something big (like THE talk) we tell each other first, so that the other families are aware of what they may be talking to each other about. We also let each other know if there is something we notice.

8. Homeschoolers help other homeschoolers. We share ideas, field trips, books, advice. There is a common bond that I have seen. Normally we share a faith also, but we can normally talk learning styles, curriculum, joys and hardships. And those who have homeschooled through high school are invaluable with their wisdom.

9. It is touching those times when a lesson leads to more lessons. A history lesson led us to talk about salvation, a reading of Aesop's fables led us to talk about the dangers of credit cards, and a lesson on Hitler led us to talk about the importance of choosing the right curriculum's. I love those days

10. I love the fact that my kids are free to be who they are. They can be artistic, serious, love learning, and they are not getting picked on every day because of who they are. They know that they are loved by this family and the Lord. I truly believe this will make them more independent. They will be able to grow and become who the Lord intended them to be.

11. As busy as I am, it forces me to stay involved with my kids. I notice bad attitudes, loving gestures, right and wrong choices. I think if my kids were in school all day I wouldn't be real involved with what they are learning, and probably wouldn't ask tons of questions about school friendships. This is something in my personality, not a reflection on parents who send their kids. I know lots of people that send their kids and they are GREAT parents.

12. My kids are learning what it takes to run a small business. They see that it is a job that is 7 days a week, and really appreciate the days that we take some time away. They also know that trucks don't come loaded with product, and someone sells this all to the stores, stocks the shelves, collects the money. I have a vague idea of what my dad used to do in the military, but my kids KNOW what Knight does. They have gone with him and have learned how to do it.

13. Being with my kids all the time, they know the real me. They know the good, the bad, and the ugly so it reminds me that I can't be a hypocrite. They know that I struggle but they also see my heart. I am their mom, not their friend but yet they seem to think I'm ok (My screen saver says "Mom is cool" and they typed it!)

14. I am learning tons of stuff. This information would have been great to know when I was in school. Did you know that their is more than one way to do long division? And there are spelling/reading rules for almost everything. So nice to know!