Update, #2 So sorry y'all...

Okay Dad! Here's for you. ;)

I know, I know...how did I get so behind?

Hmm...well, starting where I left off, my oldest completed his volunteer work at the zoo. He had a great time, made a lot of friends and learned a bit too. I snuck around snapping some pics, he looked so grown up working and talking with Zoo visitors. In fact in his evaluation at the end of his semester, one of his best qualities they admired was his ability to talk with guest. (But, I thought homeschoolers weren't socialized?? just saying)

My middle son played his baseball season, and guess where he ended up? Pitcher's mound! A little aprehensive at first, but after his first game, several strikeouts he was really felling that position, did a heck of a job too. Unfortunately they never did pull off a win, but hey...it's the first year of kid pitch, it's what we consider a learning year. I'm most impressed with his ability to lead. A quality of him I hadn't picked up on before. On the field, sometimes I feel like I'm watching someone else's child. He is focused, determined, and constantly encouraging the others in games and practice. The coach even made mention of him and his leadership qualities, but where my heart strings tugged, is when he comes home and says "I sure wish so and so could get a hit." See, he knows he will hit, make plays, get points on the board, he knows what that feels like. He craves for the others on his team to get that same rush. His addtitude on the field is definitely humbling to watch.

As for my not so little guy, he is just living life. Learning, growing, and keeping me running. I'm still trying to figure him out. He loves robots, legos, and building things. I've tried to get him in sports. I think I've just realized, sports are not his thing. Either way, he's just happy playing in the dirt at the ball fields, not a care in the world.

I think that sums up some, I am going to try to do better. No promises, but I do intend to try.

Belated update.

So, I've been REALLY negligent in keeping up with my blog, I'm trying y'all. It's a struggle, none the less Im still here. So what's new you ask?? Well, my oldest after a little hard work, and an interview was selected to be a junior zookeeper at our local zoo. He works 4 1/2 hrs once a week. Totally bummed though his first official day was cancelled due to snow. :/ hope to update soon, on his new adventure. My middle son is all signed up getting ready to play baseball again, new league and he begins kid pitch this year. Though he is perfectly content not pitching. He just wants to play his same position at first. We shall see... My youngest boy is actually reading and sounding out words now. He is just amazing to teach, he catches on so quickly, we have already started in is kindergarten workbooks, I was going to wait, but he was so bored I had to. I actually dont like to push them up grades. Id rather them be confident and have a complete grasp of the concept, amazingly enough, some kids just grasp it quicker than I expect. He is making huge strides, as well as my oldest who has just started seventh grade math (pre algebra) I believe he was more than ready as well too.

I Love Homeschooling

I believe I've done this before, but seeing as statistics supposedly say most Homeschoolers feel like quitting in the months of November and February. I thought I'd  write my list of reasons why I love homeschooling. I must say this year is probably the first year I haven't faced a "burn out" around this time, but from previous experience when I start feeling that way, I try to go back to those core reasons why we began our homeschooling journey and what I absolutely love about it. So with that being said, here's my own compiled list of why we love homeschooling.

1. Biblical Teaching
I love that I can teach my children with a Biblical faith based foundation that public school doesn't offer.

2. We learn at our own pace.
Grasp a concept, Great! Lets move on, no waiting for 30 other children to grasp it before moving on. If we are struggling with a concept, we can spend as long as we need to until it's mastered.

3. More family time.
Yes, even though somedays they drive me absolutely Nuts! I love spending time with them, it's so nice when Dad has a day off we can all hang out together, field trip as a family, or just enjoy each other's presence.

4. Flexibility
We can school when it's best for us. For instance I school my youngest in the afternoon, so I can give attention to my older two in the morning. My oldest will start the harder subjects first where as my middle son will put his off till last, and you know what....That's perfectly Ok!

5. We get perks.
Oh, you know when all the other kids are in school. We can go places mid day with less of a crowd, take our time, etc... Nothing like taking vacations the week school starts for most children, and you have free roam, no lines, and a little more freedom. Not to mention mid week discounts!

6. Sleep
Yes! I said it sleep. We can sleep in if we want. I'm just starting to realize the importance of this, as my oldest is a pre teen, I'm learning as they grow through the teen yrs they truly do need more sleep. Its a growth and development thing not necessarily a lazy teen thing. In fact, there has been a lot of talk reccently of pushing high school time back an hour so school kids can get adequate amounts of sleep. Not to mention well rested kids equal happy kids, and c'mon we all know any one with recurrent lack of sleep, is a grump and not exactly who you probably want to hang around all day.

7. I get my kids during the best time.
What fun is it to have sleepy, groggy kids your shoving out the door in the morning and when they return, they're wore out and tired only to be bombarded with homework, dinner, shower, and bedtime? Nope, see I get to share a cup of hot chocolate in the morning, have discussions over lunch, free time to cuddle and no stressful nights of homework. Just good quality evenings of more family time. I love that!

8. I can see them thrive.
I get to teach them, watch them grow, help them in their struggles, and generally be there through all their ups and downs.

9. I know what they're doing.
Call me over protective, I don't care. I love knowing who my children's friends are, who their parents are, what interest they share, and what influence they have on each other. So far I couldn't be more pleased with the group of friends they have. In today's world its refreshing to know who they're running with and that they're in good hands with another parent.

10. Health
I have a say in what they eat. Though I will say, this healthy eating thing is an area of weakness for us, it's nice to know ultimately it's up to my discretion what's served. No, nasty lunches that children only eat three bites of just to come home at the end of the day starving. Oh and no sending them pointless lunch money I might add!

11.Time
Time, truth is time is precious, we can't buy more of it, can't trade it in or get it back. We have to use it wisely. Our children will only be small for a short time. This is the last year before I officially will be raising a teenager and I already am trying to figure out where that time went. I want to cherish this time while they're small. I want to soak up the hugs and kisses. Laugh with them, play with them, never be so busy I miss it. We all know we aren't promised tommorrow, so we must make every second count.

As if we didn't already know, here's some proof..

I love Stats especially ones that back up homeschooling, as if there are any that don't??? I have yet to find any truly negative stats. Opinions but no facts.Lol. I guess with having a sixth grader and looking ahead to high school, which I really never thought I'd continue to homeschool through....looks more and more like I probably will be, so when I read stats saying... homeschool kids are more likely to enroll in college, more likely to complete college, more likely to make a decent income, more likely to vote, be more involved in their communities, more likely to not be on welfare, it totally excites me. I found these stats as well, thought I'd share..

In this link: Once almost unheard-of and usually relegated to the province of educational quackery and political or religious radicalism, the homeschooling movement has in the last few years blossomed into a serious educational option. A recent study by the National Home Education Research Institute and the Homeschool Legal Defense Association demonstrates just how serious an alternative it has become. Conducted by researcher Dr. Brian D. Ray, the report made a number of startling finds:

The number of students being homeschooled across the nation is between 1,103,000 and 1,348,000.

The total number of homeschoolers equals the public school enrollments of the states of Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyomingcombined.

Homeschoolers outperform public school students by 30 to 37 percentile points on all subjects on standardized achievement tests.Whether the parents ever held a teaching certificate had virtually no impact on student scores. 

Even homeschooled students whose mothers never finished high school scored 55 percentile points higher than public school students in similar circumstances.

Homeschoolers scored between the 82nd and 92nd percentiles regardless of their families’ incomes.

Students scored at the 86th percentile whether states imposed strict or minimal regulations.

Homeschooling parents pay an average of $546 per year, whereas the average per-pupil expenditure by public schools is $5,325, excluding all capital costs.

Homeschoolers’ test scores tend to increase the longer they are homeschooled, going from the 59th percentile for those who have been homeschooled for one year to the 92nd percentile for those who have been homeschooled for seven years.

More than half (53 percent) of all homeschoolers visit a library at least once or twice a month; 38 percent of them make three to five visits a month.

The average homeschooled child is involved in 5.2 community activities, such as volunteer work, classes outside the home, group sports, and church.

An astounding 98 percent are involved in two or more activities.

Only six percent of homeschoolers, in contrast to 62 percent of public school students, watch three hours or more of television each day.

About 61 percent of homeschoolers are in grades K-6, more than 18 percent are in grades 7-8, and almost 20 percent are in grades 9-12.

Three percent of homeschooling parents intend to continue doing so through grade 6 or less; 89 percent plan to homeschool through grade 12.

In short, homeschooling not only works, but is helping to erode the public school monopoly. The more this message gets out, the more serious will become the homeschooling option.

—Dennis L. Peterson

A copy of the complete study, Strengths of Their Own—Home Schoolers Across America: Academic Achievement, Family Characteristics, and Longitudinal Traits, may be obtained from the National Home Education Research Institute, P. O. Box 13939, Salem, Oregon 97309, (503) 364-1490.

Nerf Wars Birthday Party!

Welp, my two oldest have birthdays in the same week so decided we'd try a nerf wars birthday party this year, ya know because a 12yr old is to cool for anything else, but not old enough either...hmm. Well after collecting cardboard for over a month and a lot of extra help from my Mom, we pulled it off. Could not have asked for better weather. We had several boys and even some preteen girls....I know, I know, already! We all dressed in camo, team color bandanas, and shades, yep, even us adults got in on the action. We warred against teams, parents vs. Kids, and boys vs. girls. Topped it off with cake ice cream and other goodies. The boys had a great time and contrary to the invite they recieved several gifts, money, and gift cards. Now time to get them working on those thank you cards. Posted some pics...

General update.

Don't  think I've spoke much about how school is going this year, especially science. It seems to be everybody's favorite lately...well maybe not the little one. I can truly admit, never dreamed I'd have fun teaching chemistry, but I'm totally enjoying it. We've done several experiments from buoyancy, density, legos as atoms, and our last we made hydrogen and oxygen atoms using candy to represent all the electrons, well Timothy my four yr old wanted in on the fun, I knew it would be over his head but none the less he joined in. He was perfectly fine until he tried to eat the candy with glue on it. lol. When I  told him no, my response from him was something like this...
Him: "well, well, this is no good. Why are we just wasting all the candy?"
Me:" I have candy left for us when we finish."
Him:"We are wasting perfectly good candy mom, and all your doing is just reading,reading, reading. ..ugh"
Me: "You don't have to do this experiment if you don't want too..."
Him:(starting to cry)" This is supposed to be fun, but this is no good science experiment....(pouting) just wasting candy." he walks off.

Have to admit this was one meltdown at the kitchen table homeschooling that was more humorous than most. Kinda felt bad for my little guy, and my smiles and laughter from the other two were just really upsetting him more and more. Oh, and yes I did give him his left over candy. lol.

We are full swing into guitar lessons as well, and I have heard the first line to jingle bells more times than I want to admit. I'm thankful though as they are practicing now for their Christmas concert its been really rewarding watching them learn to play.

Timothy is excelling with his schooling, infact he's sounding out everything...at home, in the store, wherever, and asking a thousand questions. He amazes me in math because at four he adds in his head. Its so weird to me he doesn't use the pictures in his work book, for instance two fish plus a picture of three more fish and then normally a child will count them to get the total, he does it in his head and just rights the answer. I will say it has me a bit scared. I know my other two children's learning styles but this is different than either of them. He's going to be a fun one to teach in the future that's for sure. 

Happy reading yall.

United front and a firm foundation

I can only hope you've never faced conflict amongst your family when it comes to homeschooling. Unfortunately, many times talking with other homeschool families, it seems everyone has a skeptic, and rightfully so, shoot I was one myself before I started homeschooling. I can say we've had our share in our family, most respectfully disagree, some have changed their view a whole 360° and are my biggest supporters, but then there are those...

You know, doesn't matter what you say, they won't budge, always critical, the ones that quiz your kids to see if they really know anything, and mostly the ones who are so close minded they see the results yet still refuse to acknowledge them.
Like for instance, you hear the comments, "your boys are so well behaved." or they praise their achievements yet ask "when are you going to put them in real school?" "You really think you can teach them everything?"

Oh how these comments infuriate me. I'm sure having all in laws as public school teachers, you can imagine the uphill battle we have amongst some of our family. (Though, haven't quite figured that one out because every other school teacher I've met has given is a wealth of support, including my oldest sons kindergarten teacher, who we told we had future plans to homeschool.) Back to the point. So as we seem to continually face conflict, I decided I'd complie a list of ways we try to handle these beloved situations.

1. Stand United!
Just as you keep a united front with your husband when you discipline your children. Your immediate family comes first. When conflict arises, you always back your husband and he should back you as well. Homeschooling is a team effort, after all he is the principal right? Our family likes to nit pick us separately, not sure why, if their trying to drive a wedge or what, but what I do know is even though my husband can tell me at home what he sees the children need improvement and sometimes be my biggest critic. He is also my number one fan! We support each other and always have each other's back any negative comment made about the other or our children, will simply not be tolerated.

2. Nip it in the bud
As soon as you see a conversation going in a negative direction, stop it, change the subject, don't entertain it, don't argue. Sure, do I believe my kids are smart? Yes. Do I think their set apart from most other kids their age? Sure, but I also know my children's strengths and weaknesses, and they aren't perfect my any means. I've heard my husband say a number of times at home, "I'd put my kids up against any kid their age any day." Lol, proud Dad I know and rightfully so, but making those comments to another is not benefiting to you or your children. We all know there are kids in school who are gifted as well as strugglers, just as in homeschool. Don't put your children on such a pedestal in front of the nay sayers that you  become just as closed minded as them. Just stop the negative talk. Reccently we were visiting with family and the comments were icing on the cake compared to other visits, my husband's simply said, it's time to go. We packed up and left, that simple, and sometimes you have to do just that.

3. Your children are not preformance actors
Seriously, don't do that...here let me quiz my child in front of you so you can see they are learning, in the same way, stop letting them ask your child a thousand questions so they can decide wether your actually educating your children or not. Kids are Kids, they don't want to be put on the spot when family comes around all the time. You know as well as I do, Homeschoolers have a natural love for learning, rest assured they will share what they last read, some interesting fact, or what science experiment they did last. Let them do that in their own time and chances are those nay sayers still love your children enough to at least listen.

4. Children should not be an audience
Again, especially if your children are lurking, nip that negative talk in the bud. Kids hear more than we think, they are little sponges. They don't need to hear negativity from people in your family they love. They don't need to hear others question your ability to educate them. They don't need to hear anything that would make them feel they aren't as smart as they should be, or anything else that can be detrimental to them.

5. Children are not tools.
Don't know about you, but my children will not be your tools to mold and bend. They are my children, and last I checked God blessed me with the opportunity to raise them. If you have family members who disagree with your homeschooling, closely monitor their interaction with that member. Kids tell all, You don't need your children questioning why there Homeschoolers, or being influenced with some crazy ideal they'd be happier if they went to "real school" or did this or that. Truth is last year, had you asked my eight yr old he would have said, I don't like homeschool, I want to go to public school." When we sat down with him, his answer was, "so I can have chocolate milk at lunch and more friends." Well, had we entertained that idea he would of been in for a rude awakening. We rectified both complaints he had, and I haven't heard a word since. Now, had he said to one of those family members he hated homeschooling, you can imagine..all hell would of broke loose. Lol, then that oh so famous comment I've heard to many times to count, "your depriving your children." Yep, your right! (Another day, another topic.)

6. Hold your head high.
God gave you your children to raise, they are yours and no one else's. Even on your worst day homeschooling when your ready to throw in the towel. Know, I will make it, my children love me, my husband believes in me. (If you don't have your husband's support, I wouldn't suggest homeschooling in the first place, just my opinion, maybe topic for another day.) Have confidence, do what's right for your family, and don't let those negative comments dwell inside of you. I am raising my children to the best of my ability, the best way I know how. How they turn out is on me and my family. I will not cave to negative comments from others and let it influence how I raise my children. If I screw up, and my children don't succeed, its on me, but I don't ever want to sit back later and regret making poor decisions for our family based on another person's opinion. If I have regrets later on, it will be because of my own foolishness, no one else's.