Thoughts on a Not so Perfect School
Year
Following Their Interests
Using Dual Enrollment
Works for Us
Back to the Basics
I Worried About
Socialization
Our Puppet
Theater Finances Music Workshop
Robinson
Curriculum and LDS Literacy Materials
Education as a Non-Stop
Process
Fine Tuning a
Stimulating Curriculum
Teaming Up With Co-Op
Homeschool
Father Teaches Mastery
Learning
Charlotte
Mason Method Helps Us Grow Together
Homeschooling is
Worth the Effort
Boy Scout Merit
Badges and Unit Studies.
Personal
Management Merit Badge
Co-op and
Unit Studies Shapes Our Characters
Unschooling
and Great Brain Projects Re-Awaken a Love of Learning
Truth As a Unified Whole
One-On-One
Tutoring Helps Child With Tourette's Syndrome
Homeschooling Using
4-H Project
The Importance of Balance
Learning is Natural
Part of our Lives
Educational
Program for Zion
By Linda E.
May 2002
For those of you who don't know us,
(probably many of you since we have pretty much been absent from the whole home school
scene this past year) here is our family data. Bob- works as a School Resource
Officer (Policeman) at the Junior Highs.
Linda- You know what I do. Aspen- 13, Ty-9, Bryce-5, Merrill and Anna
are the two year old twins and run the house. Just kidding. I think.
We have been home schooling 8 years. They have never been to public school.
Well, it is May already, and for those of us who divide up our school years with a summer
break, this month often finds us evaluating what we have or have not accomplished during
the school year. I hope that most of you are breathing easy and feeling
good about the progress your children have made. But many of us may have to
look real hard and step way back to see anything!
Our family has had a rather unique year and I'd like you share with you some of that
experience and what we have learned from it. It may help you. If anything you will
have to feel good about what your home school accomplished compared to mine!
A year ago we started the ultimate do-it-yourself project- building our own house.
Having never done anything remotely like this we had little idea what we were getting
ourselves into. But we wanted property out of town and the only way to afford
it was to do it ourselves. In two weeks we should be moving in. It has
been a long, hard year, one we would not like to repeat anytime soon, but we have all
learned many things.
My fairly structured school schedule completely fell apart and while we have had sporadic
periods of "real" school I can honestly say that for the most part we have not
done much. ( You know it has been awhile when your kids ask at breakfast, "Mom,
can we do school today?") But much to my amazement, my evaluation of this year has
turned up some very positive things.
First thing that comes to mind is what my children have observed. They saw their
parents make something wonderful out of a hill full of sagebrush. They saw them work
hard, physically and mentally, day in and day out. They learned that great
things can be accomplished with enough desire and courage and that obstacles can be
overcome.
We were able to put a mobile home on the property to live in while we built. It has
been a great blessing. The kids have been in on the whole project, observing and
discussing nearly every step. They leaned over Mom's desk giving opinions as she
drew up yet another house plan. They ran around in the foundation trenches and
watched the concrete being poured. We sat on the hill side for hours watching
the well driller and bugging him with our questions. They watched their Dad and
Uncles raise the first walls. They worked along side their Grandpa while he did the
electrical work, handing him tools and distracting him from his work. They picked
their room colors and saw some of their ideas become reality. They observed
how their Mom and Dad have handled stress, fatigue and disappointing set backs. They
have watched family and friends give service in time, talents and loaning of tools.
What they have learned from these observations is hard to say and we may never know
but I can't help think they are positive lessons.
I cannot list the many other things I believe they have learned but here are a few.
Our 13 year old has been the chief caretaker while Mom is on the job site. She has
always been incredibly responsible but now she is even more capable. She can cook
breakfast, lunch or dinner, do all the laundry, clean the trailer from one end to the
other and take care of the three little ones. Thankfully she loves to read a variety
of books and her learning has not suffered much at all as she consumes books at an
alarming rate and keeps a book journal and personal journal for her writing. I have
probably only corrected 3 of her math lessons the entire year but she comes to me when she
has a problem and that is not very often. I can give her a daily list of school and
chore assignments and she accomplishes them faithfully, every time. That is a
constant source of amazement to me. When I think of myself at 13?
Shudder! Don't think she has loved every minute of this year. It has been hard
for her but she has understood the role she had to play in order for our family to
accomplish this and she has been willing. She is looking forward with much
anxiousness to a carefree summer, a room of her own and NO baby-sitting responsibilities.
She has earned it!
Last year Ty was a fairly typical 8 year old I guess. He was struggling with his
reading, couldn't stay on task for longer then 5 minutes, had to go do jumping jacks or
push ups often if he was to make it through a school day and more often then not was seen
trying to balance his pencil on his nose rather then writing anything on paper.
He has had a great deal of free time this year and it has been good for him.
One of my projects was roofing. Much of the time that I was up there it was
helpful to have someone sit on the roof ridge and slide shingles from the stacked piles
down to where I was working. That was Ty's job and he loved it. There
was nothing for him to do up there but gaze at the awesome view around him and talk to me.
For once, he had my undivided attention. So I listened and commented and
answered questions that only an 9 year old can come up with. Those were precious
times and I would weigh that learning experience against a stack of workbooks any day.
Ty still has some difficulty staying on task but has improved leaps and bounds.
His reading has improved dramatically and I have no idea how. He too can be
given a list of school and chore assignments and then be left to finish them before the
end of the day and more times then not he does it. He has moved many wood piles, ran
many errands, fetched many tools and brought many lunches out to the house. He
is strong and has had plenty of time and hills to run off his 9 year old energy. I
have often wondered if this is not exactly the kind of education he needs at this time in
his life.
Bryce has not learned to read this year but he still remember his sounds and he has
had a lot of fun "working" with his Dad.
Now before you all quit your schooling and run out to build a house let me tell you that
there have been plenty of negatives. But I am not going to tell you what they are.
I believe in focusing on the positive.
This has definitely been a less then perfect school year. I am sure that in
some academic areas, if they were to be measured, our children would be lacking on
somebody's scale. And I do not want to repeat this kind of year again soon. I
long for structure, organization and a clean house. To see all our books
neatly lined up on large books shelves will be more exciting then a new kitchen. I
am already pouring over my home school catalogs and have visions of quiet children lined
up at the kitchen table, their heads bent studiously over their work and they all have a
new, sharp pencils that they easily found at the start of the day!
I hope that as you look back on this school year you will pause to see beyond the obvious.
You may never build a house but I guarantee you will have things that get in
your way while you attempt to teach your children. It may be a new baby (or two!) a
move, illness, money problems or just difficulty getting going. Don't get
discouraged. These children we have are amazing and they are learning all the
time. We have to provide materials and structure at some point but during the
times that we can't their brains do not shut off and sometimes you just may not be able to
see what they are really learning until you look back and say, "Maybe it wasn't that
bad. In fact, maybe it was wonderful."
By Jane M.
My name is Jane M. and I have been homeschooling my two sons for the past three years.
They are 5 and 7 years-old. I remember the first time I contacted Joyce R. about the issue
of homeschooling and thought that she (or someone she knew) would visit my home during the
week and teach my sons. Joyce quickly gave me an insight into what homeschooling entailed
and told me that "I" alone would be the one instructing my child. She was very
enthusiastic about my taking on the challenge to homeschool especially starting at the
Kindergarten level because kids at that age are so willing to learn. Well, she was
absolutely correct!
I began to source the material I needed to start Homeschooling and found a tremendous
amount at the bookstore, educational stores and even the various chain stores in the area.
I rely quite a bit on "Core Knowledge" along with supplements to the various
subjects we are studying and take bits and pieces of information from the school
textbooks, which are offered to us every year by the School Board.
This year my older son and I have been studying India, China, and Japan and he, as well as
I, have learned a variety of facts. I usually start our lessons with penmanship and have
him practice writing the alphabet letters in a ruled, writing ledger. I correct him when
his letters are not neatly formed and every once in a while he complains that I am
"too picky." Maybe so, but I want his handwriting to be neat and legible.
We also do the same with numbers, especially from 1 to 10. We usually do mathematics at
least four times a week and he has progressed from using dots for counting to counting
numbers in his head. He is currently memorizing the "addition facts to 12" which
should give him an advantage in adding numbers together quickly. We next have to memorize
"subtraction facts from numbers to 12."
I do much the same things with my younger son. He has the advantage in that he has
listened during our lessons and was able to identify letters and numbers at an early age.
He began writing his own name at 3 1/2 years and could recite the letters back to me. The
three of us spend five days a week doing lessons and cover the basic subjects; writing,
math, history, geography and science.
Over the past three years I have watched them learn the alphabet, sound out all the
letters and begin to read basic words using that knowledge. It has been quite exciting to
be with them everyday and see that progression. I have to give them all the credit because
they listened and learned from what I conveyed to them. Sometimes I tried to give them too
much information and did not make it interesting. During these times they would let me
know by telling me "Mom, this is boring" or their minds would wander and I knew
I wasn't doing a very good job in instructing them. I would then, and still do, reevaluate
what I am trying to have them absorb and remember and use another approach.
I enjoy having the flexibility in teaching my children any subject they are interested in
and lately we have been looking at the moon and memorizing its different phases. I don't
remember learning that in school or being the least bit interested in the moon other than
how brightly it glowed at Halloween!
I am very glad to have the opportunity to be able to teach my children without any outside
influence and hope that it remains that way for some time. Both my boys are very outgoing
and like to be amongst kids their own age. They are slightly isolated in the Homeschool
environment but my husband and I keep them busy with outside activities such as bicycling,
hiking with our golden retriever, skateboarding, skiing, gymnastics, camping, and almost
everything else.
Because of not having the constant influence of other children around them, my youngest
approached me this past summer asking if he could learn to dance like "N-Sync."
I was speechless for a second and then told him I would source a dance school for him to
learn. We found one that welcomed boys, especially younger ones, and the comment I
received from the instructor was that she wished other boys were more open to taking dance
and having fun with it. Unfortunately it isn't perceived as a "macho" sport but
it is a skill that can be very helpful in later years. After watching his brother do his
dance lessons, my older son decided he wanted to learn the basic dance steps and has been
in lessons for the past month. I hope that both of my sons continue to do what they want
to do in life without someone telling them that it isn't "the norm."
By Tammy K.
Since we began the adventure of home schooling only a year ago, we are still in the
experimental stage. I will tell you a little of why we chose to homeschool our youngest
daughter. We have four children in our family. The first three are nearly grown and all
went to public school. Our oldest daughter, Kimberly, is serving a mission for our church.
Our second daughter, Jennifer, is in her third year at BYU. and our son, Logan, is a
senior at Highland. Our youngest child, Shanda, is nine years old and in the 4th grade.
I was always interested in home schooling our three older children. The two girls were
very gifted and I felt sometimes like they were being held back at school because the
teachers teach to the average child. Our son, on the other hand, had some difficulties at
school, and it was hard for him to get all the help he needed. I thought home school would
be great because without so many children in a classroom, individual needs could be taken
care of. There were also things that I saw happening socially to my children that I was
not pleased with, especially in Jr. High. Even though I thought it would be to their
advantage to home school them, I was afraid to try. The three older kids came through
their public school experience quite well. They all excelled in music and the girls
graduated with academic scholarships.
Then we started over with our little one, Shanda. I was actually quite happy with the
public school that she was in, which was Gate City Elementary. She had great teachers and
it is a nice school. But we started to have some of the old feelings. She was feeling
frustrated that when she had a question on the work they were doing, or something she
didn't understand, she would have to wait until the teacher got through helping all of
those other students. Then, because she didn't have an assignment finished, she would have
to stay in from recess. Although she is very bright, she also found it very hard to focus
with so much going around her. We wanted to be able to do more traveling now that our
older children are almost all gone, and felt like traveling was a wonderful way to enhance
Shanda's education. But with the attendance rules at public school that was nearly
impossible. We decided that if we were ever going to give home school a try, it was now or
never.
We took Shanda out of school last January after the Christmas break. We were very careful
when we met with the principal and teacher to let them know that it was not because of
anything that they were doing wrong. We told them that we simply wanted to try some other
avenues with our youngest. By being complimentary and kind to them, they have been very
congenial to us in return.
We are taking advantage of the dual enrollment law in Idaho. I take Shanda to school one
morning a week for her library time, AR reading tests, and music or PE. I try to volunteer
at the school while she is there by helping correct papers for the teacher. Shanda is
assigned to a class as a part time student so I try to help the teacher of that class when
I can. She in return invites us to the class parties, field trips, plays, etc. This has
been a wonderful thing for us. Shanda has some very nice friends from public school who
she enjoys seeing and socializing with, and this keeps her in touch on a limited basis
with school and her friends there. She is involved in many other after school enrichment
activities that I also feel are important.
We start our school day at 8:30 am sharp. She is expected to be ready at that time,
dressed nice, hair fixed, teeth brushed and breakfast finished just as if she were in
public school. I feel like this is an important rule to keep so that she doesn't get lazy.
Then we have 15-30 minutes of scripture study, and then on with our regular studies. We
are still experimenting with different curriculum and I am really open for input on what
others have liked and had success with. For now we are using Saxon math and Abeka for
everything else. I have wondered about the Calvert school curriculum and would love to
talk to anyone who has tried it. I am a structured person and I think Shanda learns better
under that kind of environment. I have heard so many homeschool parents say that they are
all finished with their day by noon, and I would love to be, but we are usually not done
until around two-thirty. Maybe we will become more efficient as we go along.
After one year of doing this, we can say that we really are enjoying our home school
adventure. Shanda loves it and is anxious to continue this way. We love the flexibility
that it affords us. We love being able to spend more time working on subjects that are
more difficult for her and less on the ones that she is already strong in. We love having
our afternoons and evenings free for what we feel is important instead of spending hours
of frustrating time on additional homework.
I feel like she is learning so much more. But most of all we love seeing how happy and
well adjusted she is. She has a great attitude and lots of self-confidence. That in itself
is reason enough for me to want to continue with home school.
By Chris P.
I am thinking of ways I can get back to the basics with my homeschooling ventures and not
have so very many distractions. What I am doing is letting go of many committee type
things. I am finishing out until May with helping with the arts here in our area, but then
I am passing it on to someone else. I am also getting others involved in this Charlotte
Mason group I started, as I want it to be a collective idea and not the "Chris
Peterson" group. So I think looking for others to help us is very important. I also
am saying "No" more...and people don't always like it, but I must do it.
We pulled our boys out of ballet this month, which was very hard on me as they have been
dancing for 5 years! It is hard to make changes, but they can be good too. I am one who
has always believed that we need to be really involved in the arts. I do love them, but
after 5 years of intense dance, I am AMAZED that there was not ONE tear when we told them
they were not continuing! All this time I thought that it was all of us loving the
arts....hmmmmm I wonder now??? We are only having one lesson per child now, so simplifying
things is a biggy for us.
By Brenda B.
Hi! My name is Brenda B, I have 4 children. They are: Kimberly, who is 11 years old.
Sean, who is going to be 9 in March. Then there is my little Matthew who will be 5 in
February, and Erin who will be 3 in February. I won't say how old I am, but I have been 21
years for about 16 years now...! I was introduced to the concept of homeschooling when I
served a mission for my church in Oregon in 1984. I really have no recollection when I
became serious about it, though. I believe my sweet friend Carol K. introduced me
to Joyce when Kim was 2 years old and I was wondering about homeschool. Joyce was
very patient with me, inviting me to activities in the area, giving me ideas, and
answering my endless questions about that worrisome concept, "socialization"!
She finally hit home with me when she had a cartoon in her newsletter depicting the
question and answer of socialization.
She also included a list of social skills that I keep to this day. I
share it with my friends. I finally took the homeschool plunge when Kim was
in 1st grade. And to say that I was frightened would be a gross understatement!!
I decided to homeschool for 3 reason's: to give my children a
gospel-centered education, to strengthen our family, and to give Kim the accelerated
curriculum she needed. (There are no gifted programs in our district.) I can honestly say
this has been a very rewarding venture we have undertaken---and the hardest!
I spend time on Saturday's at the library getting books
for the next weeks lesson, 3 hours on Sunday evenings preparing lesson plans for the week,
not to mention the hours each day teaching and going over the children's work. I have been
using the Konos curriculum for nearly 3 years now with a bunch of friends. Boy, we've had
some good times! We've had medieval feasts, examined cow's eyeballs, and other such fun! I
also use Saxon math and the Learning Language Arts through Literature program. Both are
terrific curriculums, and I enjoy using the classics in my school
My day starts at 6:30a.m. to read my scriptures and pray, then I go for
a walk. My kids get up at 7a.m. to read there scriptures and pray, then start their chores
at 7:30. After breakfast we have a school devotional time that includes singing a hymn,
read a scripture, which always causes mom to think, "What a cool scripture"! and
go off on a tangent for the next 20 minutes which causes my poor kids to drift back to
sleep which causes mom to say, "wake up kids"! and we start all over again! I'm
only kidding---sort of! Anyway, then I attempt to do lessons with
the kid which is where my challenge is. I have two very distinct age groups in my home,
and I don't want anyone left out! We do our Konos first and I try to balance the needs of
both age groups. Then I spend 30 minutes to an hour with both Kim and Sean, going over
their Math, Language, grammar, writing and spelling assignments. While they work on those
I spend time with Matthew, teaching him to read. This is my "preschool" time
with Matthew and Erin, and I try to make it fun, reading books, painting, learning about
the calendar and counting, adding, etc. with coins. I really value this time with them.
This summer I had an "interview", goal setting time with each
of my children, asking them how they wanted to see themselves as adults--who they wanted
to be, what they wanted to be. Then we set goals for 10 years, 5 years, and this year to
get them there. We did this prayerfully, and I have tried to structure "school"
with those goals in mind. I need to organize field trips to places that involve what my
children "want to be" when they grow up.
I have also incorporated into school some of the things that are
important to me...like family history and genealogy. My children have had to
"research" their personal history, write it, and gave it to their grandparents
as Christmas gifts! It was a hit! But my greatest desire is to incorporate the gospel into
our curriculum--which isn't to hard. We've been reading "A Child's History of the
World" with both scriptures and the Dorling Kindserly history book in front of us.
This becomes VERY informative and gives us a clear picture of what happened in that time
we are studying. We use the scripture maps to map out those ancient happenings. And now we
have a complete understanding of why God told Jonah to preach to the people of
Ninevah---and why Jonah was scared and ran away! And why God was so patient and gave him a
second chance! We got this through our study of that region of the world at that time!
Homeschooling has helped my children gain stronger testimony's of their
Heavenly Father, and has helped our family be stronger, and has allowed my children to
progress at their own rate. I love to tell people I homeschool because of the reaction's I
get!
Not long ago I gave a presentation on Ireland to the homeschoolers in
our area on St. Patrick's Day. I stopped at the store to get a BRIGHT green poster board
to place pictures on, and the clerk was impressed with the poster board color. She asked
me what I was doing, and I told her. She asked if I was a teacher, and I told her that I
was a teacher to my children at home. She responded, "You HOMETEACH your KIDS?!"
I said yes, and she asked me, "How do you stand being around your children all day
long? I can't STAND having my kids around all day long, I send them to school so I can
spend time by myself without them! They drive me crazy!" I told her I loved my
children, and I loved having them around!
And this is the truth---I am passionate about my children, I ADORE
them! Yes, homeschooling is HARD and very time consuming. It is a sacrifice. But the
payoffs are certainly worth it! *
By Jane S.
We are a homeschool family of nine total. Each year that goes by, we learn more and more
about what works for us and what doesn't. Each year, we refine our goals and discover each
child's talents and learning styles. Adriane, 16, is now attending public school in
Bountiful, Utah. Noah is 9, Sophie 8, RuthAnne 6, Daniel 5, Elizabeth Jane 3, and Elijah
22 months are at home. One of the most rewarding projects that we have done as a
homeschool family came by finding a creative solution to a problem.
Three years ago we had been saving money to attend a music workshop in Aspen, Colorado.
Two months before the workshop was to start, we realized that we were almost $500 short.
The children and I brainstormed about many ideas for earning money. We were living, at the
time, at 8000 feet elevation in the Colorado mountains in a cabin. There weren't many
neighborhood opportunities to do the normal rake leaves, mow lawns type odd jobs. And with
a 13, 6, 5, 4, 2 year-old, and a 9 month-old, I am sure that our "odd jobs"
would have ended up severely "odd" indeed! With much thought and prayer we
decided we would try a Puppet Theater.
We read and re-read all of our favorite stories and selected the one we figured might be
most exciting - "Heckedy Peg" by Audrey Wood. We researched all of the different
kinds of puppets and puppet theaters. We started in on construction after postponing all
of our other activities. We dropped our academics for the month (besides our music
studies) and dove in.
We made puppets, wrote script (which wasn't too hard, we stuck mostly to the original)
painted scenery, wrote music, made props, worked out special effects, rehearsed and
rehearsed, then began to advertise. Within 1 week we had our first performance - a
birthday party! We fumbled through with success, and we were hooked!
The next month was filled with performances, sometimes twice in a day. We performed for
parties both private and company, public schools, private schools, Senior Citizens
Centers, Homeschool groups, and on Pearl Street in Boulder. We had a rigorous schedule
that month, but we filled the gallon olive-oil jug we had decorated for
"donations." And we had made our goal plus $200.00. The last performance we did
that month was on the morning of our departure to Aspen, Colorado.
Over the past three years, our Puppet Theater has evolved. We have had the opportunity to
share our experience of performing with other families. We have changed the music to
accommodate cellos in place of guitars, added a bit, deleted some and changed the name. We
started out as Cub Creek Puppet Theater (the name of the creek that flowed through our
property in Colorado) to Roots and Wings Puppet Theater, the name we chose for our
homeschool several years before.
We have gained a great deal from this experience. The children are learning about working
with others and staying open to everyone's opinions and ideas. Working toward a common
goal has taught us to value our children's contributions. We are hoping to continue to
open the way for them to explore and express their creative abilities.
It has not been all fun, and there have been some very frustrating times. We've even had
some minor calamities during performance such as our special effects apparatus set off the
fire alarms at a private school, and we participated in an unplanned fire drill. And once,
we some how forgot our mother puppet at home. We used the baby's mangled Raggedy Ann and
announced her as an understudy. In one particularly memorable performance, while I was
narrating a 3 year-old member of the audience, who was sitting on a bunch in the front
row, took off her wet underpants, walked to the front, and handed them to me!
For the children, the reward for them has been performing. For us, it has been the process
of seeing them grow. Each child's personality has come out through the characters they
have played. One of our best witches was played by our friend Kyle who was seven at the
time. He turned a mean old witch into a very funny one. Our play was transformed into a
comedy that season, and it was one of our best!
Hopefully as our children grow we will continue. Our next goal is to create another play.
We plan to hold a few workshops on puppeteering and add more fun to the repertoire! §
By Marc S.
We have six children living, and they are 8, 6, 4, 4, 2, and an infant. We started about
three years ago to teach our children at home. We had prayed about it and had received the
answer that teaching them at home was the right thing to do.
At first we started to use whatever we could get our hands on. We
were at one of the local stores when we meet a woman that told us about Joyce R. This was
another answer to our prayers. We contacted her and asked her if she would be willing to
help us with some ideas on how to teach - which she was willing to do for us.
We also know a family that told us about a really good program
that is on CD-ROM, it is called "The Robinson Curriculum. " We were told about
the price, and at first it was way out of our ability to afford. That is when another
prayer was answered. We were told about a scholarship program that helps people to get
this program at a price we could afford.
That was two years ago. Then we started to search for more ideas
to teach our children as their needs were increasing. We turned to the Internet and found
a wealth of information there, including a place where we could order books from called
"Follett Educational Services." They can be found at www.fes.follett.com or
1-800-621-4272 for those that do not have a computer. You can get a free catalog by
calling the above number. Follett is a really good place to get Abeka Books, and other
books. The reason they are so inexpensive is they are used books, but they are in very
good condition
There is so much out there for home school families to access
that it is amazing. We found free work sheets at. www.schoolexpress.com/free
We use religious material from our church, The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. This material is call "Ye Shall Have My Words." It
comes with a Teachers Manual as well was a Student Manual. It serves a two fold purpose;
it not only teaches the gospel of Jesus Christ, but it also teaches our children how to
read and write. Our family is closer to each other and we feel more love toward one
another as we have come to the knowledge that our children are important for the future of
this world as well as for the Kingdom of God.
We hold daily scripture study and prayer. Our children have
school six days a week, not five, and we require them to finish their assignments before
they can go out and play. Some days it takes longer, and some days the children finish
quite early.
The children are growing by leaps and bounds and we are so
grateful that we live in a state that we can teach at home and not have to send them
through the public school system. Our ability to teach grows as do the children, so we
tend to grow together not apart.
We, as do many of the home schooling families, do things
different ways, but the one thing we have in common is that we want our children to get
the best education they can.
Coming from a background where my wife and I were products of the
public school system, we felt we could not put our children through the same problems that
we had to face. We have been able to see the growth in each of our children and it is a
good feeling to know that we have control over what is being taught to them. ™
By C.J.
The primary purpose of home educating for our family is character training -
and the principle student is me, the teacher! A desire to transmit values to our children
was not the catalyst for our decision to homeschool, however. We initially had two
concerns: the spread of "outcome-based education" and the lack of progress our
second son made in public school. He started first grade already reading and finished the
year performing on a lower level than when he entered because there were no challenges for
him.
At present, we homeschool four of our five children, who are ages 13,
11, 7, and 5. Another son, age 16, attends Highland High School. We are in our sixth year
of homeschooling.
Like most homeschooling families, we see education as a non-stop process and understand
that we are training no matter where we are or what we are doing. So when people ask what
time I start my school day, I have to chuckle. It really begins the moment they are awake.
First, we gather them for a family prayer and time of studying God's word together. The
academic portion, or "bookwork" doesn't begin, however, until the children have
finished what I call Life Skills - personal hygiene, chores, and any instruction I may
have on day-to-day matters such as cooking, cleaning, money management, personal
relationships, manners, etc.
During seasons of high motivation, the older children begin their
bookwork before family prayer in order to get a jump start on the day. At other times, I
have to nudge them to get going. During those periods, I try to insure that we are
underway by 9 a.m. We try to be finished by lunch time. That doesn't always happen, but at
least I have answered their questions so that what remains can pretty much be done
independently. The children all have core subjects they do everyday - basically the three
R's. But I try to keep a variety of rotating subjects going as well, such as PE, art,
music, science, history, geography, typing, and languages. I keep track of their
assignments in a book that I have spiral bound for them specially each year. I type on a
single sheet of paper, each course followed by a blank space. Making about 40 copies of
this page and binding the sheets leaves me with a book in which I can record on a weekly
basis what is expected for each subject. A check mark shows that it has been completed.
Four days a week are spent on pure academics We reserve on day, however, for projects.
These may be scouting merit badges, service opportunities, yard and house maintenance,
field trips or anything else we feel like doing.
We are much more relaxed about learning now that when we began. I was
extremely uptight initially about their progress. I also had my fifth child during that
first year of homeschooling and my husband began traveling extensively for a work project
that kept him away five days a week. It was trial by fire!
But now we have settled in. My husband no longer travels and I have clearer ideas of what
I am teaching and how to go about it. Looking back, I can see the children have made
progress in the areas of obedience, respect, helpfulness, and cooperation in addition to
academic advancement. I have certainly learned to be more patient! I keep reminding myself
to keep life simple and "don't sweat the small stuff."
By Linda E.
My name is Linda and my husband is Robert. We decided to teach our children at home
when our oldest was just a baby. We now have three children, Aspen-9, Ty-6 and Bryce who
is almost 2. Although we had planned a long time, it was a little scary when the year came
that all of Aspen's little friends were going to Kindergarten, and everyone was asking her
what school she was going to. But we got over it and it just gets better and better every
year! We love home schooling and say a prayer of thanks every morning for the freedom and
opportunity to do this.
We have always had kind of a pot luck curriculum and tried many different things
over the last four years. Although I have been pleased overall with what we have done, I
do believe we have been slowly fine tuning what works best for our family.
We do our formal teaching Monday-Thursday and are always done by Noon. Our mornings
start early with a song, prayer, pledge, scripture story and memorizations. They both
practice the piano before they begin any seat work. Aspen now has many things she can work
on independently while I work with Ty on his math and reading. Sometimes she will take
Bryce out to play while I work with Ty's reading, which needs to be uninterrupted. A two
year-old certainly makes our school hours interesting! I find that if I take regular
breaks to read to him and pay him special attention, that things go much more smoothly.
Stars to all you moms of many children who are educating them at home. I admire you
greatly!
One thing that we started last year helps us get in the "extra" though
very important subjects. The last hour of our school day is spent on one of the following:
History, Geography, Science, Arts, or Foreign Language. But rather than just one day here
and there, we spend a whole week on the one subject. We call it our "History
week", etc. This gives us time to really explore an area of interest and work on a
big project to completion. By the end of the week the kids are ready to move onto
something else but still excited about what they have been doing.
Fridays, we call Life Skills day and have cooking, sewing, woodworking, typing or a
field trip with Dad, but no regular work. We also belong to a small 5 family Home School
group that meets weekly on Fridays.
Some curriculum and ideas we have found work well for us:
*The book, Reading Reflex for teaching reading
*Most of Charlotte Mason's teachings, especially Narration which we use as the main tool
of learning for History and Science. Also lots of reading aloud as a family and to them
individually from Living Books. No Twaddle!
* Dr. Glenn Kimber's materials, I Love America, etc.
*Abeka readers (Aspen still reads aloud to me daily) and Abeka Science and History texts
as resource materials.
*The Library! I love the library. Every time I leave with a box of books I feel like I
have a free treasure at my disposal.
*Penmanship and memorizations are done by copying poems, scriptures, and quotes by great
people we admire.
*Saxon Math
*Daily Grams (Language Arts Program which is quick and easy and self taught)
*Writing: daily journal plus she can select from a list of creative writing ideas. I
really like the book, Any Child Can Write.
*Spelling: No formal program. I correct her writing at times when she asks, and we are
almost through with the list of 500 most frequently used words when writing.
Just a few other hints that really make the whole thing work:
• Prayer, Scriptures and Service
• No television. We turn it on only once a week to watch a carefully selected video.
• Music: Playing an instrument and listening to good music increases their learning
abilities and brings peace and joy into our home.
• Health: We are constantly striving to better our nutrition by eating less junk and
more wholesome foods. Although not involved in any team sports, our children take private
swim lessons when we can afford it, and we bike and hike often as a family.
My support comes from my husband and friends and family (I have 4 members of my
family who also home school.) I also try to attend one conference a year and love to
browse through the many wonderful home schooling sites on the Internet. I get lots of
ideas, share some of my own and print out pages of articles!
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By Angileen S.
In March 1998, myself and two other families got together to try a
homeschooling team approach. We tried it for three months to see if we could actually make
the commitment and see it we had what it took to teach. It went quite well. Last year
being our first full year of school ended up to be quite a success. Everything went better
than planned. The kids had fun together, and they also had fun learning together.
Our local public school wanted to test my 1st grade daughter to make sure she
was on track. I agreed and she tested at 2nd grade 3rd month level. I was even surprised.
They said, "Keep up the good work!"
Our school is located in a full basement. It is set up with chalkboards,
desks, play area, and even a church and prayer area. School is held every weekday from
8:30 to 12:30. We now have five full-time students and it looks to increase.
Each parent takes their turn teaching two times per week. We all follow the
same curriculum, Abeka, so that it is easier for the teacher. This makes teaching our kids
and having time for other things possible. On Friday, we also have a wonderful lady who
comes in and teaches us Spanish, which the kids love. And of course the most important,
the kids are learning the way we want, where God is allowed in our school, and they have
lots of fun with the other kids.
We are very fortunate to have a lot of family support. We have to give a lot
of credit to our Aunt Bessie, (Rebecca Frandsen) for her help and instruction. She has
homeschooled her grandchildren with great success. . She helped us get started and
supplied us with endless materials. Our family support is awesome.
This really works well for us. This is homeschooling made easy and fun with
friends. It's easier and the kids love it. Also taking turns teaching is nice too. It does
take quite a bit of organization and a lot of communication between the parents. We hope
we can continue the success until we have high-school graduates. We cross our fingers!
This being our second year, we are still learning, discovering and exploring
ways to make our teaching abilities more competent. We look forward to reading and hearing
about other family's homeschooling experiences and suggestions.
By Jonas N.
My wife Sandy and I homeschool our fifth grade daughter and our third
and first grade sons. This is our second year. We started largely because we were
impressed with the behavior of homeschooled kids we knew.
We don't have a fancy set-up; school is held at our dining room table.
Sandy usually teaches on Monday through Thursday and I teach on Friday (since that is my
day off.)
We have little trouble motivating our kids; they are eager to learn.
Our main struggle is having the time to work with each of them. The kids are often ready
to go but then have to wait for us. We complete language and arithmetic first and then as
much of the other subjects as the day allows. On a good day we'll be done by noon. We
insist our kids complete every exercise in their books. We carefully check their work and
have them fix all mistakes before moving on. Homeschooling allows our children to master
each topic before moving on to the next.
We feel that although homeschooling takes a lot of time, for our
family, it is well worth the effort.
By Teresa N.
Four years ago, my friend, Brenda B., asked me if I had ever considered
home-schooling my children. I told her that I thought that she was crazy! Of course I
hadn’t considered it; why would you want to do that?!? I honestly couldn’t
imagine why a person would want to go through all that trouble, and besides, could you
really teach your own kids?
I sent for a Latter-day Family Resources home-school catalog. Brenda had one on her
counter that I had thumbed through and copied down the address because it looked like it
would be a great source of educational gifts. When I received the catalog, I read it all.
I simply could not put it down. It was as if I had been looking for this all along and had
just now realized it.
My children, ages nine and seven, had been going to school for only three months
that year and were already coming home with disrespectful attitudes. I would try to undo
all the bad effects that had influenced them during school, but when was there time? A
seven hour school day, home work, dinner, playtime doesn’t leave a lot of time for
influencing them.
I was frustrated and prayed about it often. I felt inspired to read “The Great
and Abominable Church of the Devil” by H. Verlin Andersen. It opened my eyes and gave
me the courage to think that maybe I had been deceived and should change some of the ways
that I was rearing my family.
Brenda said that there would be a homeschool group activity the next day at
10:00 and invited our family to go. “But there’s school tomorrow,” I said.
She replied, “So, you can still come.” I had always let the school system run my
life and I didn’t know a parent had any freedom! We toured the Idaho State Journal
the next day. I was impressed with how well the home-schooled children behaved.
We visited with Mrs. R. and she invited us to her home. She showed us her
curriculum and schedule. I was very impressed with her time line. I love history, but feel
like the only history I’ve ever learned was my own study after I was married. I loved
how peaceful her home was. There was a feeling of respect and love.
My husband and I discussed the events that had unfolded the past few weeks and felt
like our prayers were answered. We decided that it was definitely the right thing for our
family to teach our children at home. So the next day I took my children out of Public
School . Tyson was in 3rd grade and Tiffany was in 1st. It was the month of November.
Their teachers acted very concerned that I would be able to do it. I was wondering as
well.
Our home has become a place where education is a way of life and it is Christ
centered. I can’t believe the things that I didn’t learn in school! I’m
learning right along with my children and can’t imagine sending them away all day for
someone else to have the privilege of teaching them.
Our home-school has evolved over the years and our family has grown. We have five
children now, and it is wonderful. I read a lot to them. We use the Charlotte Mason method
and I am going to purchase KONOS because it goes right along with Charlotte’s method.
I hope to sent them to George Wythe College some day.
I’m not usually one for support groups, but I highly recommend forming a
home-school group. We are members of a four family home-school group. We meet once a week
for about 2 hours. We take turns doing the activities. It is wonderful to spend time with
people with the same points of view. We have developed some very close friendships because
of it.
I am so grateful that the Lord has given me the experience of being a mother.
I feel that it is a very sacred calling and that I will be held accountable for my conduct
therein. I’m glad that He is patient and forgiving. The most important things we can
give our children are our time and love. In a very real sense home schooling isn’t
just an educational option, it is actually the fulfillment of the biblical command to
raise up our children unto the Lord. I believe that you cannot reap where others have
sown. The law of the harvest holds for the raising of children too, and I am so grateful
that even now I can see the fruits of home schooling in the character and righteousness of
my children. Their lives, and my own, would be vastly less rich and full if we had stayed
in the public school system. My children are my best friends, and I enjoy their company
more with every passing day. We grow together in the gospel of Christ and learn of His
wondrous creations. What more could a mother wish for?
By Rebecca S.
I started homeschooling August of 1998. Annemarie is 6 yrs. old and Rachel is
4 yrs. old. We have had fun planning and carrying out each school day. I find it a
challenge with both girls needing some one-on-one time and there being only one of me. I
enjoy teaching my girls the values and beliefs we feel are important. I enjoy getting to
know each of them and helping them figure out why they are like they are. Every day is
challenging but rewarding for all of us.
I try to have both the children help plan activities such as cooking, art, science
projects or field trip days. I think because school is at home that the girls sometimes
feel that they can't just have a day off. So on a number of occasions Annemarie has asked
if she could have a day off, and we do.
I am excited to let the girls participate in after school music programs with the
school district when they are old enough. I guess you never know how next year will go or
what is in store because every child develops at their own pace. I suppose we will,l as
they say, "play it by ear".
I really deliberated over the questions: "Can I really do this? What will the
results be? Why would I want to Home school?" I honestly took a year to really get
all the facts, mainly because I wanted to take my time and Annemarie was in Kindergarten
at the public schools. I need to tell you how much I have appreciated and enjoyed all the
home schooled children I have talked to in the previous years. It was really they who
helped me decide if it would be a good idea. I have been working 2 days a week as a Dental
Hygienist. Every opportunity I have had I have questioned the children who were being home
schooled and also those who weren't. The children that were home schooled astounded me
with all the maturity and common sense they had. They also had a love for learning,
positively no negatives about school. Pat yourselves on the back moms and dads. You truly
have done a good job. I was so impressed with the outcome, the finished product you might
say. I really wanted my children to be like they are. So that is probably the
most important reason why I chose to home teach. Yes there were more questions I had to
answer and feel comfortable about. It just isn't the easiest thing to decide, but it sure
is worth the effort because I have seen what the results can be with dedication and love.
So to all those who get discouraged thinking "Can I do this? Is it worth it?",
find the end result. Go talk to someone who has been Home schooled; find out their views
and see for yourself what is waiting for you and your children. I can tell you from what I
have seen "It is definitely worth it."
HOMESCHOOL RESOURCE- The Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Books
By Margo C.
Boy Scouts between the ages of 11 and 18 earn badges as they learn
about trades, business, crafts, science, sports, and future careers.
To help them learn the many subjects, BSA publishes merit badge
handbooks with detailed information on each of over 100 subjects. These pamphlets are
available through most public libraries, and are available to purchase to the general
public at any boy scout service center (look under Boy Scouts of America in the white
pages of the phone book). These mini-lessons can be easily
incorporated into a homeschool curriculum. Many are natural tie-ins to academic and
extra-curricular activities. Those families with scout-age boys may wish to check with the
scoutmaster, and request that one of the parents be registered as a merit badge counselor.
This will make it possible for your son to earn the badges.
A few of the many subjects available:
American heritage, archery , architecture, bird study, chemistry,
art, astronomy, citizenship, atomic energy, auto mechanics
computers, dentistry, emergency preparedness, music, personal
management, skating, weather, Indian lore, genealogy.
and many more!
By Margo C.
We are all managers of ourselves. We are either good managers or poor
managers. Working on the personal management merit badge will give us skills that will
help us learn to be better managers of our time, money, and life.
ACTIVITIES
(Requirements for earning the merit badge)
1. Talk over with parents or guardian how family funds are spent to meet day-to-day and
long-term needs. Tell how you can help with the family budget.
2. Make a budget for yourself for 90 days. Keep a record of income and expenses for that
period. Review it and report.
3. Help to choose and buy family groceries for 1 month. Make a report on what you learned.
4.* Explain the possible use, advantages, and risks in using $100 in each of the following
ways. Tell how it might help you and others.
a) Hide it in a mattress.
b) Put it into a savings account at a bank or savings and loan association.
c) Buy a bicycle. (Use it for a paper route?)
d) Open a checking account. (Not a good way to save.)
e) Buy a US savings bond.
f) Buy a power mower or paint sprayer (Start a business??)
g) Invest in a mutual fund.
h) Start a life insurance policy. (Is that necessary at their age??)
i) Buy fishing gear. (A good use if…)
j) Buy common stock.
5. Talk about things you would like to do within the next 90 days. Tell how you plan to
get these done. After 90 days, tell what you did and how you did them
6. Tell how important credit and installment buying are to our economy, the individual,
and the family. ** Visit an officer of a bank or credit union. Find out and tell what you
must do to establish a good credit rating. Tell what it means to you now, and in the
future.
7. Check out jobs or career opportunities through interviews or reading. Tell what the
"next step" would be to prepare yourself for one of these careers.
*I changed this a bit. Instead I had the children develop a one-week, nutritionally
balanced menu (3 meals/2 snacks per day.) .Then, we did a 'dry run' shopping. They figured
out the exact costs for their menu to see if it would fit into the budget. What a surprise
that was for them! They had no idea how much food cost!
Next, I had them adjust their menus (keeping it nutritional) so that it
fit the budget, then actually purchase the food, and help prepare each meal for the 7
days.
** I would also add to this activity the hazards of credit and
installment buying. Most young people (and indeed, many adults!!) do not understand the
consequences of compounding interest. "thems' that understands interest, earns it.
Thems' that don't, pays it."
A financial planner, a bank officer or a credit counselor would be a
good resource. Learning about budgeting is vital for good management. A budget is a plan
that tells how your money will be spent. It is hard to spend money wisely without a plan.
Without a budget, many families may not even know where all their money has gone. Lucky is
the child who learns to budget money (and time!) while young!
By Tina C.
Let me introduce the C. Family. There is my husband - Jeff,
myself - Tina, Jennifer - 12 yrs., Kristen - 10 yrs., Jody - 7 yrs., and Jesse 4 yrs-old.
We have homeschooled now for 6 years. The first 3 years were in Las Vegas, NV.
We moved to Pocatello 3 years ago. We were very thankful to the
Lord for putting us into such wonderful support groups. We first started out using one
curriculum, but now we use an array of curriculum including the internet. We started this
year doing Co-Op teaching with another homeschooling family. We do workbooks 3 days a week
and Co-Op unit studies 2 days a week. We really have enjoyed getting together with the
other family and doing our unit studies.
Homeschooling has allowed us to see our children grow, mature,
and learn, to watch them look for answers to a problems, to see how not only are they
changing, but so are we as parents. Sometimes, it is like looking into the mirror and
seeing yourself. Thinking, oh Lord, help me in this situation. Homeschooling definitely
molds, shapes, and breaks our character to be more like the Lord's. We are all very
thankful for that. What a great challenge it is to homeschool! The rewards are so great in
our children's lives and in our lives.
We have been slowly building our own library. Not only do we pass
curriculum down the line, but we take advantage of free books from whomever is giving them
away. We also hit the library book sales and have found many treasures there. My wonderful
husband keeps saying, "Tina, where are we going to put more bookshelves?!"
Since we have received the internet, we have come across some
great freebies and ordered them. Our library is not only for us, but also available to
other homeschoolers. Thank-you for giving us this time to introduce ourselves to our
fellow homeschooling families. May God richly bless your homeschooling and your families.
The C. Family
By Ester V.
The V. family homeschool is probably a lot different than most
homeschools. April and Sarah have been in public school since the 1st grade. They chose to
be homeschooled last October. Sarah is in the 7th grade and April is in the 9th grade. So
we had a challenge - to get back the JOY of learning.
They both disliked reading so we started there first. A trip to the
library where they were able to choose books that interested them was our first solution.
But, that created another problem, I couldn't get them to STOP reading. For the first time
they were 'allowed' to choose what they wanted to read. April chose classics while Sarah
chose mysteries - we were on a roll.
Next we decided we wanted some field trips. So we made a list of all
the places we wanted to go. We went to the Fort Hall Museum, Potato Museum, down town
Simplot Square, photography studio, mountain drives, zoo, rock-finding expeditions,
Natural History Museum, Idaho Falls, grocery stories to price compare, etc. We were really
having fun.
Next we all sat down and decided what our goals were and what we wanted
to learn. April loves art, so we purchased a few art supplies and how-to-books for her,
she is also interested in anatomy so we got her an ISU anatomy 'coloring book.' Sarah
likes spelling, and creative writing so we take time during our day to accomplish her
goals in those areas. We work on math every day using the Saxon math books. We love
working on science and do many experiments. Juliann, our 5-year-old and Caitlin, our
3-year-old love to read and be read to. We play ABC Bingo, work on phonetics, draw, make
crafts, color, and work from our learning box: a box filled with activities, books, and
art supplies.
We all enjoy our two aquariums, a 20-gallon and a 55-gallon. We study
the individual fish, their original origin, temperaments, etc.
We don't have a 'structured curriculum' as
such, except for math; we use the library A Lot as a resource. We enjoy playing our board
games, both educational and fun.
Homeschool, to us, is a way of life: learning responsibility, joy,
service, (we go to Alterna-Care once in a while) and down-right fun. We have now taken up
the challenge to learn about the U.S. Constitution and are doing research on that. We do
'Great Brain Projects' - almost like a thesis, working on them for several months at a
time.
Our days are filled with challenges and learning opportunities. To us,
the most important thing is to become a better person, learning to serve and remembering
that learning is fun. We help each other and grow from that experience. and create
learning opportunities from life itself.
By Millie M.
The M. family began homeschooling in January of 1990. We have four
girls: Amanda, 15; Heather, 13; Margaret, almost 11; and Sarah, 8. Their Dad, the
principal, works as a research chemist. Millie, the primary teacher, has a background in
humanities. We also have a home-based business.
We began homeschooling because we desired more quality time to train
and influence our children in spiritual, social, academic, and character development. We
believe that the purpose of life is to glorify God, and we seek to honor Him as Lord in
everything we do. Although the public schools had done a good job academically with our
children, the instruction did not include a Godly perspective. Our schooling integrates
family life and experiences with facts and concepts from all subjects to present truth as
a unified whole.
We begin each school day with Bible reading. Our group time continues
then with science, geography/history, music and art on an alternating schedule. We all
take turns reading aloud during this time.
Each child has daily individual assignments in math, penmanship,
reading, spelling, and writing. For the year there are approximately 170 assignments in
each subject, and each child is expected to complete five each day. They have the option
of doing one in each subject, five in all one subject, or any combination thereof. (The
younger ones do better with one in each subject everyday, since they are still learning
the basics.)
Each child is also to complete three elective assignments each day.
Projects are defined and agreed upon individually, with a time of 15 minutes of practice
generally accepted as one assignment. The electives may include just about anything. Some
of ours this year are: crafts, piano, typing, computer, Chinese and Spanish.
Each child has a notebook to check off the completion of assignments.
In addition to schoolwork, each girl has household responsibilities, and tasks related to
our business.
Homeschooling for us is a lifestyle. The skills may be taught, but he
principles are caught. We have committed ourselves to being role models to our children,
to being around them, to working together toward meaningful goals. We are not intimidated
by what we do not know, but act on what we already have to grow further.
By Debbie C.
This fall Jeremy and I will be starting our seventh year of home
schooling. We've been doing this since his kindergarten year; he's now in the sixth grade.
I still remember the day he started reading. I had taught him phonics, and we were
beginning to put some sounds together. We had only been schooling for a few months. One
morning after finishing our lessons, I was preparing lunch, and he asked if he could look
at his readers. "Yes," I said, not expecting him to do more than attempt to
sound out a few of the small words. As he turned the pages, he started reading the
sentence!..."The black cat put on the mittens." Then he read another sentence,
and another. "Jeremy!" I almost shouted, "You're reading!" And he read
through the rest of the book! He has loved to read ever since.
We had decide to home school shortly after Jeremy was born. It just
seemed to be the best way to train our children according to the ways of the LORD as
commanded in the Bible. Although at the time I had only a vague idea of how wise a
decision it was, I can see very definitely the LORD's purpose in directing us this way.
Just one year ago we found out that Jeremy has Tourette"s Syndrome. We've always
suspected that he was "different" from other children, but we didn't know there
was a reason why. He would have been terribly picked on in a public school setting. He
also would probably not be nearly as advanced in his studies if he had had to compete with
thirty other children for the teacher's time and attention. He is a very intelligent and
quick-witted child. The one-on-one tutoring of home schooling has been the best thing for
him. While he is still somewhat immature socially (compared to the world's standards) each
year we see him making great strides in his emotional growth and social development. We
are so thankful that the LORD directed us to keep him at home!
In order to carry out this plan of staying at home to teach and train
our children, it takes a certain amount of sacrifice on the part of each family member,
but especially for me as the mom and teacher. Whatever career plans or personal goals I
have must be put on hold for awhile. Whatever dream houses, cars, furniture, toys, etc.
we"d like to purchase may not come into our possession for a very long time, if ever
at all. Our lifestyle very much revolves around the biblical principle of the wife and mom
being the "keeper of the home." ("Keeper" literally means, one who
guards and cares for.) Although it's not always easy, at this point in my life, there's no
place I'd rather be, and there's no greater fulfillment than in that which God has
designed.
Besides learning the importance of my example in front of my children
on a daily basis, the most valuable lesson I've learned is that a godly home is central to
the spiritual and emotional well-being of our children. When my children come up against a
problem, we can look in the Bible to find the solution. When Dad is a real mentor to his
kids, they get a true picture of a holy and loving God. When rules are expected to be
followed, and there are real consequences to sin, our children learn accountability and
submission.
We can see all around us the result of the deterioration of the family
as America once knew it decades ago. Satan has had centuries and centuries to sharpen his
tools and refine his skills in attempting to destroy the first divinely ordained
institution. Rebellion, covetousness, dishonesty, and self-centeredness are the norm in
our society today. And it's not getting any better. But, in keeping my children home with
me, they learn values such as respect, kindness, self-control, sharing,and responsibility.
I am trusting that they will avoid the pitfalls of the foolish and simple ones spoken of
in the book of Proverbs, and instead, will grow to walk with the wise.
In this adventure as a home school mom I can know that the greatest
contribution I can make to our society and to the next generation is the dedication of
myself to influencing my children to become responsible adults with godly character who
have hearts to love, obey and serve the LORD.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and
instruction." - Proverbs 1:7.
By Edrie C.
We have been doing homeschool for about seven years. My, how time has
gone by! It just seems like yesterday when we started homeschool. Having llimited money to
buy curriculum, I found out about 4-H. This has been where I get most of my curriculum.
4-H has been a way to develop leadership, sciences, and other interests that my kids have.
Our children are 18, 17, 12, and 8. Candice, our oldest, has done the
most with 4-H, participating in local and state activities and projects. She has done
projects demonstrating cooking, sewing, space,wildlife, etc. and has won state and local
demonstration contests. In one contest she demonstrated different kinds of pie tops. She
won a state wildlife contest and went to Nationals where she took fifth in the nation. She
was appointed by the state 4-H to be the "Know Your Government" news editor.
She's been on various advisory councils both local and state. She attended Poky High
school part time to take Japanese classes. Candice graduated from homeschool and is now
going to Salem-Teikyo University in Salem, West Virginia where she was awarded a 4-year
full-ride scholarship. Her major is Japanese and international business. She is also
contemplating taking Chinese.
James has been involved with many contests and has also won many of
them. He's been appointed the "Know Your Government" editor as well.
Heather and Thomas are now finding their way in 4-H. Heather
loves to sew and model and is giving demonstrations as well. Thomas plans to do a dog
project with his pet dog.
Kevin & Lynda H.
..."If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done around here." Thank
you Lord for last minutes and second chances!
...I was asked three weeks ago to write an article about how our homeschooling day
generally goes, and here I am the day before deadline in a furious attempt to organize my
thoughts into words that readers can understand and identify with.
...When we first started on this homeschool journey of ours, we followed a very
structured, textbook approach to the elementary education of our children. We have relaxed
somewhat as they have grown older and are now encouraging them to be more self-motivated
in their schooling. Two years ago, we purchased a curriculum on CD Rom that is full of
good literature, and a whole new approach to schooling at home. While we do not agree 100%
with his philosophy, we have adopted some of Robinson's ideas and integrated them into our
schedule.
...Ideally, we start our homeschool day with Bible reading and prayer. This has been a
wonderful bonding time with the kids, and an opportunity to practice Deuteronomy 6. (I'd
like to add that this does not *always* involve the teacher...sometimes I am busy chasing
or entertaining busy preschoolers, and will send the older children in to do this on their
own, this allows them to read and learn on their own, and not rely on being
"spoon-fed" God's Word, but learn to rely on Him to reveal truth to their
hearts.) Right now, they read one chapter of Proverbs, then they journal about what they
have learned from that passage. There are 31 chapters, enough for one each day of the
month, which has been a wealth of practical application to daily life.
...After our morning reading, the kids both pull our their Math. They do one chapter a
day, including speed tests, then they grade their own lesson for the day, and go back and
rework any problems they may have missed. My son has lost me in his math. If he has any
area that he does not understand, or cannot fix, he takes it to his dad when he is home.
Kevin is a wonderful math teacher, and they really learn a lot easier when he explains the
concepts to them. Mostly, they read the lesson, practice the problems related to the
lesson, then work the chapter problems. On days when we have running to do, or activities,
we may cut out the other subjects, but we always try to do a minimum of Math and Reading.
...On a full school day, we add in history and/or science. (Currently looking for a good
6th grade science reader/curriculum) They are responsible for setting reasonable goals in
each, and they get the satisfaction of seeing their goals accomplished, which is a great
motivator to set higher goals. (Teacher is always the judge of what is
"reasonable".)
...They also write an essay every day. This is one of the suggestions from the Robinson
Curriculum that really does work for us. They may write about anything they desire, but it
must be neatly written and take up one full side of a page. Their spelling words are taken
from words that they have misspelled in their essay, and if they need practice in their
penmanship, it will also show in their essays.
...There is no set time for our school day to be accomplished. We have been finished with
a full day, all subjects included as early as noon, or as late as dinner time. There are
those days when we struggle with Math most of the day, and other things don't get done.
There are days when we don't get started at all with academics, and we end up working on
character training instead.
...The most important thing I have learned is the importance of balance in my own life.
Structure is not a bad thing, but can be taken to an unhealthy extreme of rigidity. The
same is true for the opposite end. Flexibility can be taken to an unhealthy extreme of
laziness, and the result can be equally disastrous. Finding a healthy balance, where kids
(and parents) are continuing to grow in knowledge, and are able to accept schedule changes
and disappointments is an end that we are striving for here. It is not easy, but it *is*
well worth the effort.
By Tami N.
When I think of all the reasons that I chose to home-school (and there are MANY) there is
one reason that sticks out above all others. I wanted to bring my family home! I wanted
the values that my husband and I feel are so important to be taught in the proper manner
without sending mixed messages or confusion to the minds of my children.
I didn't have any major problem with our local school district. I just
felt that teaching my children was my responsibility...even my calling.
We have had a wonderful first year so far teaching Preston (7) and
Amber (6). Alexi (4) joins right in on the activities and Joshua (15 months) tries his
best to keep us OFF track!
My approach has been more of a relaxed one. I work one on one each day
with the children in reading and with Preston in math. We try to make learning fun and a
natural part of our daily lives! Since the kids absolutely love animals of all sorts we
enjoy reading children's magazines such as Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard, and Zoobooks.
We also love watching, as a family, some of the programs on PBS such as Nature, Wild
America, Newton's Apple, and some of the National Geographic specials. There are some good
television programs out there if you search!
Our favorite times are spent reading together. We are presently reading
through the "Little House" series by Laura Ingles Wilder. What a treat for the
imaginative minds of 6 and 7 year olds!
When you homeschool, I think you automatically keep your eyes and ears
open for possible learning experiences or situations. We will never forget the afternoon
we spent at a "pig-farm" and I know Preston will forever remember the day he
spent playing with the foot long water snake that he caught.
Homeschooling has brought our family unit even closer together. It has
helped build confidence and self-esteem within all of us. I'm so grateful for the
opportunity I have as my children's teacher, to see the wonderment in their eyes as they
learn and grow.
By JaLynne F.
My name is JaLynne F. and I was asked to write a brief explanation about the book I have
written. If you have any questions, comments or if you would like to contact me my
e-mail address is [8love@thechurchofelias.com].
The purpose of this reference guide is to establish a basic structure,
which can help or assist those who are instructing any age level. Further manuals
will be provided with more detail according to the specific levels of the students
involved. This book is a compilation of all of my experiences working in elementary
classrooms and my college schooling to obtain my bachelors degree in education and I have
received a great deal of direction and guidance from my husband (John Fletcher).
This information is provided to assist those members of the Church of Elias to instruct
their children.
In order to teach effectively a teacher needs to know what
is expected of them and what they want others to gain from their instruction. This
book discusses major attributes that a teacher should possess, such as: patience, mercy,
justice, etc. Also, included in this book are skills that a teacher should develop,
such as: how to be an effective leader, how to motivate students, appropriate discipline,
and ways to help the students develop self esteem and respect for others.
The next step to effective teaching is understanding the students and
their current mental capacity. As a teacher it is essential to be aware of the
emotional and physical state of the students. If their emotional or physical needs
are not met their ability to learn will be greatly hindered and will only frustrate the
teacher. A teacher also needs to address the students at their level so that they
can understand the information being given. Everyone thinks differently so the
teacher needs to approach the teaching process carefully so that the students can
understand the information being taught.
The next phase of the book deals with reading and writing to establish
a strong language foundation. Language and communication are vital to this society
and it is essential to teach students these skills. During my college education I
learned a great deal about how to set up a reading program and a writing program. I
observed various classrooms that approached these subjects in different ways. I
modified the programs so they would be most profitable to the students and to the
instructors. Both programs are explained in detail as well as sample pages to give
to the students and pages to assist the instructor in the teaching process.
Preschool is a time for the child to learn about the world and their
surroundings. To teach your child at a young age they will be much easier to teach
when they are school age. This book discusses a program set up for preschoolers to
assist them in their learning and to get them ready for when they start school. In
this program we teach the importance of books, basic writing skills and obedience to the
instructor. When a student is able to start in a school environment early, it is
then easier for them to adjust to that setting. By the time the students start
kindergarten they should already have an idea of what school is, what is expected of them
and the necessary respect for others that they need to have. The intent of the
program is that they will learn at an early age that school and learning is a major and
important part of their life and will continue to be so for a long time.
The next section is focused on kindergarten and information that needs
to be addressed at that level. The kindergarten section has a list of subjects and
specific points that the students should be taught throughout the school year. There
are sample lessons to provide an idea of how to present and discuss ideas with students.
The weekly schedule demonstrates how to cover all of the different subjects and how
often each subject should be covered. A four-week unit shows how to intertwine all
of the subjects into a schooling program. A yearly sample schedule is included to
give an example of how to teach the skills necessary in a school year. This schedule
can be followed for those who like structure or can be used as an idea to follow.
All information should be taught throughout the school year regardless of the method
chosen to accomplish this task.
The last half of the book consists of a variety of materials to assist
in the instruction process. It is important to keep students interested and
motivated, to assist in this process the following helps are included: Sample
mini-lessons, Ideas and helps for spelling, Ideas for making books, Creative ideas for
book reports, Physical Education Games, Handouts for Writers Workshop, and flashcards.
The Physical Education games consist of many games that have been
consolidated, modified and altered for small group or family settings. They are fun
and reflect educational concepts and skills that are necessary for students to learn.
The flashcards are homemade flashcards that range from alphabet, addition, spelling words,
and sight words. These cards are good for younger students who learn better with
something physical that they can touch.
I believe that this life is centered on learning; from the time we are
born until the moment we die we are always learning something. The earlier we can
instill this love of learning in our children the more they will thirst after learning.
There is no way that we can teach a child everything there is to learn in this
life. But if we can teach them the necessary skills to find the information for
themselves we have given them the greatest gift. We have taught them to learn and to
love it without any conditions. This book is designed to assist instructors to teach
students so that they may learn and grow to reach their highest potential.
The following are a few examples taken from the book to show the kind
of information that it contains and a little of what it is like.
REASONS STUDENTS MISBEHAVE
1. They do not understand.
2. It is a weakness in their character.
3. The student wants attention.
4. The student lacks motivation
5. The student thinks you will not follow through on what you have warned.
6. The student is in a power play for control.
7. Student is outright rebellious.
They do not understand.
Definition: The inability to understand is the lack of communication in which
the student does not perceive what the instructor wants of them in the situation.
Things that are misunderstood:
-What is required
-Time limit (unaware of)
-What to do
-How to do it
Symptoms:
-Blank looks
-Confusion
-Frustrated
-Doing other things
-Delaying in what they were given to do
How to overcome:
1. Explain
2. Obtain feedback in confirming what you just said
3. Find out whether they know how to do it or not
4. Agree on requirements
5. Obtain a commitment from the student
FINGER PAINT RECIPE
1 Bar Ivory Soap (grated)
1 cup corn starch
1 quart water
Combine ingredients in a sauce pan. Mix ingredients well.
Bring ingredients to a boil over medium heat. Let mixture boil until mixture is the
consistency of pudding. Let cool overnight.
To add color, place a large spoonful of paint directly on paper to be
used. Pour a small amount of tempera paint onto the finger paint. Allow
children to mix the color in as they begin spreading the paint on the paper. (Since
this is a soap base mixture the finger paint cleans up wonderfully.)
PHYSICAL EDUCATION GAMES
Hoop Games (Manipulative Games) - Three to six children hold hands in a circle, facing in
with a hoop dangling on one pair of joined hands. They move the hoop around the
circle and back to the starting point. This requires all bodies to go through the
hoop. Hands can help move, but grips cannot be released. *Squirrel and fox -
two different color of hoops are going around the circle in the same direction. The
fox is trying to catch the squirrel. *Two hoops going in the opposite direction,
hoops meet and must cross. Grips may not be released.
Copyright © 2002 [Southeast Idaho Homeschool Association]. All rights reserved.
Revised: June 21, 2005.