A Dance and Tumble Class?

As a homeschooling family, we are always looking for opportunities for our children to learn skills that we value but cannot provide ourselves. For our family, we seek out physical activities for our very busy and precocious children. We suggested that my dad give the girls dance/gymnastics classes for Christmas for this very reason. Today was C4’s first “Dance and Tumble” class for the winter session at the YMCA.

Not only did we want C4 to join a gymnastics/dance class for physical education and dance skills, but we also knew that there would be social, emotional, and neurological benefits from the class.

~C4 has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and she is definitely a sensory seeker. The activities in this class provide lots of proprioceptive input, which will help her with motor planning and balance. There are plenty of deep pressure activities in the class as well such as rolling, hopping, and jumping.

~This class gives C4 the opportunity to make some friendships outside of our current circle of friends. I hope that she can connect with other little girls who share her interest in dancing and gymnastics. The class gives her a topic to discuss with her friends, shared experiences, and time away from me and her sister to establish new friendships.

~I hope that the experiences she has will build her confidence in her physical abilities resulting in a better sense of what she can do independently. She often tells me that she is unable to complete a task that I have seen her do a dozen times. I suspect that her frustration is a result of her SPD sometimes and other times is part of her limit-testing as a strong-willed child. Perhaps she will gain better control over her proprioceptive function through her dance class and maybe learn a little about following the rules.

~Most of all, I hope that C4 has fun in this class. Today she was so excited that she was going to her class that she simply could not nap. As we got ready to leave the house, she kept telling A2 about how she was going to a special dance class that Papa gave to her for Christmas. When we arrived, she ran right into the room. She dove into the class. She smiled. She laughed. She was thrilled by the end of class. She made sure to tell Daddy all about her experiences.

I have high hopes for this little class!

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Responding to Concerns about Homeschooling

Recently I have been talking with other moms about our decision to homeschool full time next school year - both kids. This seems like a big step for us since we are supplementing Montessori school right now. I know that we can do it, though. For some reason I have found it incredibly difficult to face those other moms when I tell them that. I think people think that we are weird.

I have a friend who just started homeschooling this year because she and her husband feel called by God to do that. She told me that although she is confident in their decision to homeschool, but she also finds it difficult to talk to other people about this decision. She also feels like people will think that they are weird and doesn’t know what to tell people. After some discussion about the topic, we came up with a couple of things you can tell people about your decision to homeschool.

• Our homeschool meets my children’s learning needs better than any other educational setting right now. I have more flexiblitity to try different curricula and methods to reach my children.
• We want to provide a Christian education for our children, but we cannot afford private school.

The other concern that others have when I talk about home education is about socialization. I have to wonder why socialization is the big concern and not the quality of the education that my kids get, but this is what I say:

• By not paying for school, we will have funds available to put towards dance class, horseback riding lessons, swimming lessons, and the like. These are the situations where my children will be involved in group learning experiences away from Mommy.
• We are active in our church, so my children are forming friendships with these children. This way I know the families already when we either host a play date or play at a friend’s house.

Some people are concerned about me doing too much. They talk about me needing a support system and a break, which I agree with. This is my response:

• I will find a co-op or just a group of other homeschoolers to talk to about our school and our joys ans trials.
• I will also continue attending Mom-to-Mom and my church’s women’s Bible study. I will either have to work with the Children’s Ministry Director or find an alternative form of child care for the children in order for me to be part of those groups, but I know that attending these programs is essential for me.
• My dear husband will also take charge of some ongoing math and science projects to work on with the children when he is home (in the evening, on the weekends, or on vacation). He will also discuss the curriculum with me. We plan to be partners in this endeavor!

What has your response been to well-meaning people when they raise concerns about home education?

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Thanksgiving in October: Praise for What We Have and Prayer for Those in Need

Today is Blog Action Day 2008, and the topic is poverty. What does poverty have to do with homeschooling?

First, poverty cannot be ignored. According to the National Center for Children, four out of ten American children are growing up in poverty. The World Bank reports that one in four families in developing countries is living in poverty. That is an enormous amount of people directly affected by poverty!

Additionally, poverty leads to death because of hunger and disease. According to Poverty.com, “there is plenty of food in the world for everyone.” We also have vaccinations for many of the diseases that are killing people who cannot afford them. What a tragedy!

As a mother and homeschooler, I want my children to understand how much we as a nation and as an international community are affected by poverty and that we do not have to stand idly by. Our family owns a home, has electricity, and clean water. We are one of the most fortunate families in the world considering that much of the world does not have any of these things. I want my children to understand that they are living a privileged life and feel blessed and thankful. I want my children to feel empowered to do something about poverty, understanding that we can responsibly help the poor improve their quality of life.  How can my family do tha?

A service project is one answer. Our church based small group has completed a few service projects in the last couple of years such as hosting a yard sale to benefit our troops, making meals for a local halfway house, and cooking dinners for a local ministry. I think that it energized us to want to serve. I encourage you to look at service opportunities in your community.

There are many mission trips that families can take together both domestically and abroad. There are short term mission trips that last approximately two weeks while others last for a year at a time. I have been on a mission trip myself, and I am thinking about mission trips for my children. I know that seeing first hand what a developing country is like had a huge impact on me, and I know that, one day, that my children will have that same experience.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the power of prayer. Pray for the people who are suffering because of poverty. Please pray for the organizations that are sending relief to the poor. Pray for everyone to take initiative to help those in need. Pray to end poverty. I know that we will.

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Why Homeschool?

My hubby and I were watching the season finale of “So You Think You Can Dance”. (I am so incredibly behind on my tv shows these days, and thanks to Tivo I am catching up). Nigel Lithgoe was dancing with a group of children, and there was some genuine camaraderie between him and the children. I began reminiscing about my days as a classroom teacher. That particular moment reminded me of what I had always wanted as a teacher – to have a group of kids that I truly felt a special bond with. I wanted to be one of those teachers who changed the world one group of kids at a time like the teacher in the movie Stand and Deliver. Nigel’s moment with those kids stirred that memory for me for some reason. Why did I let that go?

In the middle of my dreamy state I realized that I have something better than that kind of experience now. Instead of bonding with someone else’s children for just one school year, I have my own children to bond with for a lifetime. Instead of being limited to a certain curriculum and schedule, I can decide with my children what we will learn about. (Yes, I do mean “we”. I learn along side of my children.) We can take our time to learn. I can take my kids on field trips to any place that I feel is educationally worthy. And in the middle of it all, I am able to spend time with my children. I am making memories with them, and I am enjoying them while they are young. I am influencing my children. I am giving them the greatest gift I can think of – the love of Jesus. Why wouldn’t I homeschool them?!

My struggle with the idea of home education is that sometimes it feels like a burden to me. Being the parent and being the teacher is a lot of responsibility. Deciding on our curriculum is a big responsibility. Staying organized and committed to doing work every day is difficult. The burden of explaining why I am homeschooling and how my children benefit from home education makes me uneasy. Then I read about everything happening in California with homeschooling and read up on the presidential candidates’ opinions of home education, and I get overwhelmed. Why would I homeschool my children?!

When I see myself doubting, I have to remember what I want for my family. I want my children to love God and to feel loved. I want my children to have great memories from their growing up years. I want my children to grow closer to each other. I want my children to have positive role models and to be safe at school. I want my children to know their parents and see how we navigate life in this fallen world yet still love Jesus. Who else can give them that? Why wouldn’t I homeschool?

My little pep talks usually get me back on track.

I think again about my goals for my children. I remember how I know that my children imitate me – whether the behavior is good or bad – and they imitate people they look up to. I want to be the model that they follow, not someone else who does not have a lifetime invested in them. I want to be the person they ask about the big questions in life, not someone else who doesn’t understand our values. I know that teachers have the best intentions and do wnat what they think is the best for their students. However, they are employees of the school system they work in. They have to comply with the school’s goals. They want the best for my children, but they are not my children’s parents. They will not care nearly as much about my children’s well-being as I do despite their best intentions. Why wouldn’t I homeschool?

My head spins when I think again about the responsibility. It would be easier for me to allow the schools to educate my children, and if we need something, then I would be able to say that the school has to help us. As a homeschooler, I have to be more vigilant about my children’s needs and take a different role than a typical mother. Talk about intimidating! Then I remember that I do not have to go it alone. God is ultimately in charge, and if I believe, I will see Him do the impossible. (Jeremiah 32:27Jeremiah 32:27
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27 Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?

) I do not have to educate my children on my own. God is right here. Nothing is impossible for God! I can offer my life as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1Romans 12:1
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12 ¹ Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

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) and watch Him do the rest! Why wouldn’t I homeschool?

I can be like the teacher in “Stand and Deliver”. I can have that special bond with my own children and change the world one group of kids at a time. Why wouldn’t I homeschool?

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Homeschool Composting

I am one of those homeschoolers who try to use kinesthetic activities to improve learning, and I am always looking for creative ways to connect our learning to real life. The other day I was thinking about all of the waste that leaves my kitchen every day and how to reduce that. The it occurred to me that we can make our home more eco-friendly. Even though we recycle, there is a lot of organic waste that goes down the drain. I would rather put it to good use and since we are growing a garden this year, it dawned on me that we should start composting. Children can learn more about being “green” by maintaining a compost pile than from reading books about it or simply recycling. They also find out more about all of the science concepts involved in the process of composting. What a fun way to learn!

Since I myself have a brown thumb, I know nothing at all about composting – or gardening for that matter. I started researching it and found some great information which will get us started. Hopefully this will help you out, too!

Cornell University has a wonderful website filled with information about composting called Cornell Composting. It is a great place to start your composting journey. It is a thorough website with photos to help you. You can also check out The Organic Gardener to learn about compost containers that will make home composting easier.

If you are not new to composting, but you are looking for a new approach to try out, you can attempt the Berkley Thermophilic Compost method. This video gives you plenty of information about this method and even shows you what your compost should look like.

If you want to delve deeper into the topic of permaculture with older children, you can go to Permaculture Reflections, a blog all about the topic. It would be a good jumping off point to help you find topics to research.

I also plan to start a science journal just for our compost pile. The kids will be able to chronicle the process in it, and we can reflect on the changes that we see. We can even include any research that we do about composting. Another part that I like about composting is that it is an ongoing project. We will spend quite some time working with the compost pile. Our learning and understanding of the topic will deepen over time. Then it will simply become part of what we do together.

There is so much to find out about composting. Find a place to set up your compost pile and get started especially since fall is just around the corner and you’ll have plenty of leaves to add to the pile!

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Taking the Sabbath

Have you thought about the command to take a Sabbath recently? How many of you homeschooling moms really take the Sabbath? I know that our schedules are so busy that it seems impossible to do that. I know that I don’t take a rest often, and when I don’t, I get very run-down. Exodus 20:10Exodus 20:10
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10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your man-servant, nor your maid-servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates;

tells us that we should keep the seventh day holy and rest. Even the Hebrews did not work on the Sabbath when they were in the desert because God provided enough manna for two days on the sixth day. (Exodus 16:26Exodus 16:26
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26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day is the Sabbath. In it there shall be none.”

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) I have tried to take this command to heart before and found that taking a rest – not always on the seventh day mind you – has really helped me to slow down and enjoy life. I feel refreshed the following day, and the kids do, too.

I have been thinking about this for a while now, so now it is time to do something about it. Taking the Sabbath is something that I will strive to do from now on. One step forward includes not posting on my blog on Sundays. I challenge you to also look at your schedules to see if you are taking a Sabbath. If not, try to for a month and see what the results are. You may find that you are more productive and much happier as a result. Plus you will have more time available to make memories with your family – your precious gift from God.

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Homeschooling Woman of Faith

Homeschoolers can feel isolated from time to time especially when the children have gotten into a rhythm and routine. You often forget to look up and take a break. I was able to take a refreshing break that I truly needed this weekend. I went to the Women of Faith conference. I have been thinking about what Sheila Walsh, one of the speakers, talked about. She is a funny and inspirational speaker, singer, and author. Today she spoke about what Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before he was betrayed by Judas. She was struck by the fact that although Jesus asked God to take away His fate if it was at all possible, He wanted to follow God’s will instead of His own.

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39Matthew 26:39
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39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

Seeking God’s will is such a difficult thing. I know that I often start out trying to seek His will, but instead I seek my own. Do you find that you do that, too? I don’t want to let go of my agenda, and I secretly hope that God will go along with what I want. My prayers often sound like demands. I want my God to do what I think is best. In this passage Jesus is showing us that it is all right to ask of God, but to expect that His will is done – not yours.

It is easy for homeschoolers to feel obligated, pressured, and unsure of what to do next about their children’s education. Sometimes you are not sure if what you are doing is right. You compare your home school to another. Have you asked God what He wants for you? God has a plan for you and your children.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11Jeremiah 29:11
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11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.

God’s answers to your prayers may surprise you, but you don’t know the whole story like He does. He is the author. His plan is better than any plan that you could come up with. Draw closer to Him during your quiet time in order to discern what His will is for you, your family, and your home school. Spend time reading the Bible, listening to God. Listening to God will give you wisdom about how to proceed, which may not make sense to you in the context of our world, but will make sense in God’s greater plan.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2Romans 12:2
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2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Try following Jesus’ example and pray. Ask God for what you hope for, but ready to hear what His will is.

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Phonemic Awareness

Phonemic awareness, the ability to hear and distinguish between sounds in spoken language, is important to the process of reading. There are many fun ways to give your children opportunities to practice this skill.

This week we are studying “p”.  We created a box of things with the sound/letter of the week. We searched through our toys and found things to fill our box up. The kids need a lot of guidance and some direction in order to think of items that start with the focus sound. Our box was filled with people, pigs, pajamas, a princess, a puzzle, a purse, a pony, peas, a pot, and a policeman. The next day we went through our box carefully saying the names of the items and focusing on the initial sound, /p/. I wrote a list with the names of the toys. We read the list together focusing again on the initial sound.

In addition to the “sound” box we made a collage for /p/. We leafed through some of those catalogs that keep piling up in my house to find pictures of things that start with /p/. Catalogs are nice because they don’t have any inappropriate ads in them, and the pictures are organized. We cut the pictures out and glued them to pink paper (another “p” word). This is some great fine motor practice.

We combined phonemic awareness with handwriting practice as well. We made the letter “p” using die cut paper shapes (scrapbooking paper). I wrote the capital and lower case “p” onto a piece of construction paper. We glued the paper shapes along the outline of the letters. Then we traced over the outline with our fingers. Since the paper has a texture to it, it provides a nice tactile component to the activity. We also made the letter “p” out of play dough. Again, this is tacticle and kinesthetic.

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Read Alouds are Motivating

Reading is such a pleasureable experience, and homeschoolers want to capitalize on the benefits of reading. But what if your child is not interested in reading or struggling to read? How do you motivate children to read?

One of the best ways to build interest in reading is to read aloud to your children. I know that you’ve heard it a million times, but there really is something special about the time that you spend reading to your child. It would be great if we could expect our kids to read the best books on their own, but sometimes they need to hear the book read in order to see the beauty of the language, the excitement in the plot, and to get connected to the characters.

• Reading aloud is a time for you and your child to engage in meaningful discussions, to snuggle, and to even learn something new together. Having that time with you means a lot to kids.
• In our home school have been trying out different genres than we usually read to change our read alouds a little. My children might not choose to read a nonfiction book about kangaroos on their own, but reading it to them helps them see a new genre in a different light. Maybe they will choose a nonfiction book to read in the future.
• The book you read aloud can be a more challenging book than your child can read independently. Knowing the story line of a more challenging book can be exciting and help your child talk to other kids about great books.
• Listening to a book gives your child a break from doing all of the work. It allows your child to focus on the meaning of the text instead of also thinking about how to decode the words.
• Your child learns about reading behaviors that s/he can use in the future. You use inflection, ask questions, use pictures, and make connections to your life when you read. You show your child how to do that when you read aloud. Seeing those skills in action help your child read independently, which builds confidence. Being confident in reading means you are more willing to read.

Why not read that great book to your child? There are some other great tips for reading aloud to your child at Mustard Seeds. Maybe you and your child can try something new! It might motivate you and your child. Happy reading!

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