Homeschooling during a move.

Over the course of this move we have been in various stages of homeschooling. Although I have not yet completely figured out how to balance my roles as teacher, mom, radio d.j. and ministry helper I feel like there has been some settling. For the first few weeks after we moved into the new house we did the very basics. I had packed all our most important homeschooling books in a rolling crate like this one.

 I was amazed that everything fit. Obviously this will not hold all my school supplies, notebooks, art supplies etc. but it will accommodate our all of our My Father's World books and a few basic school supplies as well as my notebooks with household calendars, notes-to-self and whatever else I thought I couldn't live without. This cart (and packing it to hold all that we need for homeschooling) has been what saved our year with all the moving, new schedules and changes.
As we were able to unpack and organize we've been able to gradually adjust our schedule until we've added art study and creative time (mostly for my sweet creative girl), science, and history to our basics of mathematics, Bible, language arts and our everyday life skills. All of this in the middle of trying to keep up with an "all-boy" toddler who is so smart and determined to make messes as soon as I clean them!

I've been able to evaluate our progress so far this year and am pleased that all the transition has not set us back as far as I worried we were. Skills in all areas are progressing and that is reassuring to me! Learning continues to happen, even if it doesn't always take place the way I want or in my timetable. Trusting God to give me grace for each moment has been a big lesson for me this year.
There are so many other things God is placing in front of me and leading me to do that I think He wants to keep me in that place of depending on Him! I really never want to leave that place, but so often I do trust what I can accomplish. I must continue to study and read Scripture, pray and learn to just be in Christ.  Sometimes the hardest part of all of the roles I have to fill is when I don't get out of the way and let Jesus live through me.

The Sunny Side

It is so much easier to remember and write about the negative, but so much of our time together is so sunny! We are still working towards forming good habits. The journal-every-day habit for the kids is going well. They have remembered to do it, have enjoyed putting stickers on the sheet we made to track our progress. These journals have not been checked for spelling or punctuation, it is just a free-writing exercise.
They've also been working hard at helping in the kitchen. Instead of a chore chart that changes who does what every week, I'm giving them a chance to really learn how to do a few things well.
My precious little distraction is such a busy toddler. He has embraced toddlerhood with gusto! Climbing what I thought was impossible for him to climb. Pushing chairs and step stools so he can reach everything. Learning new words every moment and chattering all day long. He still distracts schooling, but is learning to have a little longer attention span with a little toy, or be distracted himself with a preschool video. The big kids have been helping so much with him; I would not be able to participate in the ministry as much as I do without their incredible help.
I am enjoying learning how to use Photoshop and how to help with the coffeehouse website. I am working hard on the girls ministry aspect of the FireEscape youth ministry and will be starting a girls' Bible study, will be prerecording a radio show for women of all ages to broadcast on our radio station. I am also working on blog posts that will go along with the radio show for the girls' website that will be launching soon. Most of that work has been going on in the wee hours and I am sure I have more dark circles under my eyes, but hard work for the kingdom is good work.
My dear husband has been working so hard to make our new old house ready for us to live in. He's torn out all the old, broken plumbing and his brother will come soon to help him install new. The furnace is still a no go, but a dear friend is helping us figure out what is wrong with it, and if we can repair it for a far less cost than replacement. The apartment above the coffeehouse has been such a blessing, but the cost of utilities for us living here full time is taking much needed funds from the ministry we would like to be doing here. So we'll be moving out as soon as the plumbing and furnace are working, even though there will be many other projects to work on in the house while we live there. But that is so exciting to me! I'm sure I'll get tired of endless projects, but we're going to have a house of our own! God provides so beautifully for our desires and our needs! We've previously rented and I know you can nest in a rental, but to me it has felt like we've just been perching. Now that we feel committed to the vision of this ministry, and to the longevity of it, it feels like we can settle

Easing into the routine works

Usually, after a break, I've had our days full. We would do our full schedule. It was never smooth. There was lots of whining and complaining. The kids didn't do very well either :)
This time we've started with a lighter load, an I'm planning on adding subjects gradually. By next week we should be up and running. This has gone much more smoothly. I'm also trying to implement student planners, for the kids to get used to keeping track of their work more independently. That is still a work in progress and I'm figuring it out as we go.
I did complete my writing assignment yesterday and I've finished reading Dobson's Strong Willed Child. I'd like to make some notes about it.
I hear the baby digging in the dog food bowl. Eww.

The New Year is Staring at Me

This teacher is so glad for Christmas break! The kids are ready too; getting through our schooling these last few days has been difficult. A break will be good for us all.

With the coming new year I want to make some changes. I know that this whole process is just that. I know we've tried things that worked for us but just need more tweaking. Last year at the new year I introduced a posted homeschool schedule with times penciled in. The kids liked seeing what was up next in our day. This year we've tried the "workboxes" approach and have liked it. I need to be more diligent about prep work before the day actually begins, though. I thrive on "flying by the seat of my pants" but I don't think the kids like it. I think it stresses them out.

So what I see though all these experiences is the Lord directing me toward diligence and self-discipline. -I know-. Still. I would probably characterize it more like dragging-me-kicking-and -screaming toward diligence and self-discipline. I tend to make a plan, follow it for a couple of weeks and then start to let it slide. This has happened over and over. But what I do see is every time I slide less and less. So I may not stick to the plan completely, but I don't backslide completely to laziness. Some things from the numerous organization and time-management plans eventually stick.

What I see in the kids now is that even more consistency is needed. We will be sticking with the workboxes idea because we like it and because I need to be held accountable to prepare everyday. We will be implementing schedules again, like last year, in a bit of a different format.

I've used printables from Donna Young many times. I've personalized one of her housekeeping charts for myself and have begun personalizing one for each of the kids. I'm thinking we'll have the kids keep track of a personal daily planner with a daily routine and weekly routine that they are responsible for following. I'm posting these on my side bar under "Daily Routines" with each of our names. Maybe we'll have some way of stamping their planners when they complete all the tasks/goals for the day and giving an immediate reward. (Kaity would really like the immediate reward, Charlie may not need that as much) I want to stop nagging. I want to instill time management skills in them. Those are big goals for my new year in the realm of schooling. But I'm still figuring out all the details.

What it all boils down to is living on purpose. My husband has been exercising self-control and discipline in the area of exercise and weight loss. His 47 lb weight loss is inspiring. Not to mention that he feels so much better and looks HOT:) . I want that kind of diligence to flow out to all areas of our lives- housekeeping, school work, personal and spiritual development, time management, and ministry. So I'm thinking now about my new year's goals, but not the kind that get left behind by January 8th! We are making lifestyle changes that will last. What are some ways you could start living on purpose? No New Year's resolutions here!

Next post: Teacher Development ideas

Homeschool Triumphs

Between generous sharing of various colds and viruses, trying to sleep train a very strong willed baby and getting in gear for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years holidays I feel as though my head is spinning.
I wanted to take note of some triumphs I've seen recently. The relationship aspect of homeschooling is so amazing to watch. My older kids are closer to each other (although the bickering is not completely gone) and they adore the baby. It is heartwarming to see them take care of him and dote on him. Hopefully they won't spoil him completely!
The major triumph I saw today was in Charles. We started using Writing Strands 3 with him several weeks ago and although we have not been consistent with that book there has been a revolution. When faced with a writing assignment Charles cheered. He was happy about it. He asked if he could write more than he was assigned! This is such a triumph in a child who after a year of the pressure in public school from an unbending second grade teacher would not write. He would shut down and begin saying things like, "I'm stupid," and "Everyone thinks I'm not smart," when asked to write even a sentence.
Other updates are:
Kaity still enjoys worksheets, coloring and just sitting there to "do school." She will even ask to do school on weekends! Sometimes, though, she and I conflict about so many things. She is strong willed child number one. My dear friend, Cheri, told me to stick to my guns. That's what I've been doing. I'm hoping to see results soon. Sometimes it gets very wearing to try and outlast her stubborn will! I pray that this will be used to God's glory and that she will learn to be yielded to Him above all. Charles is just beginning to show the emotional turmoil that is pre-pubescence! Oh my! I am not at all ready for that! The baby is crawling and pulling up to standing on everything, but has not figured out how to go back down to the ground after getting up. He gets around so fast now and he loves to crawl into the nasty, disgusting, hairy, dirty dog kennel that our boxer uses. You should hear the happy little baby noises he makes when he gets in there when I'm not looking. Yuck. I'm thinking of permanently attaching a broom to my hands so that I can keep the floors relatively clean for my little crawler. Hubby says a little dirt will only make him stronger! Seriously, I love the dog, but does anyone want a boxer? :)

Small Steps

I really did not remember how much a tiny person disrupts plans! The baby is still too little for a regular napping and eating schedule and I know that will come soon enough. But not having some idea of a plan makes me feel like everything is out of control. I feel like I am losing ground in the area of personal diligence if I don't give some thought to planing our days. I am making flexible goals that I will not let myself stress over. These are ways to help me, not hurt me! Some short term goals I am working on are:
*researching the "workboxes" idea to see if it will work for us and to see how we can adapt this idea to help us stay organized and on task during formal schooling days.
* regular time away to collect my thoughts and plans about homeschool. Or to just have some thoughts :-) These will be short, one hour or less.
* longer periods of time to plan ahead and research for homeschool.
* time to work on long term things like an amended school calendar. The pregnancy and birth of Jeremiah kind of blew the last school calendar to shreds! In a good way, of course.
* my most important short term goal of having Bible study every day. I would like to add to this some family worship time at home. That is a little more out of my control because of Gaylen's work schedule. I want us to always take responsibility for the spiritual instruction of our kids. It becomes too easy to say, "oh, we go to church regularly and the kids participate." That is not enough.
* I want to stay current on homeschool news. This can be a source of fear for some, but I want to be informed so I can voice my concerns to representatives and senators for our area.
* reexamine my habits in the area of housekeeping. Am I being diligent to help my home be a place of refuge for my husband and kids? Am I keeping a servant's heart and an attitude of cheerful obedience in this? I know my attitude affects the atmosphere of our home. I know I can get so lazy in this area and blind to clutter that should and could be taken care of. Although there is an infant in the mix now and standards can be more relaxed- I should not take advantage of that and use the baby as an excuse for laziness. This is an area the Lord convicts me of, because I am so good at coming up with excuses for my laziness!

One great site for the nitty gritty details of home and school management is Donna Young. She has great free printable calendars, lists etc. that are so helpful. There are also lesson ideas listed by subject. Anyone reading should feel free to leave comments about sites you find helpful for anything on the above list!

Although its not an exhaustive list, I will be reading that myself in the coming weeks and months as a reminder to myself. I want to add to the list as God gives more direction too.

I want to remember what is working for us right now. These may not always work, I know but as I look forward to sleep deprived brain dysfunction I feel I will need some reminders!
A list of our daily routines-The times on our schedule are in pencil, the idea is to have a general flow for the day. The kids will refer to the chart posted on our school room wall and ask when they'll get to do a certain activity they enjoy. They get to look forward to something they like, I get to remind them if a less than favorite task is not completed, or if attitudes are not right then we won't have time to do the anticipated activity (right now they love Story of The World. So do I!)
A timer-found the coolest timer (wind-up like an egg timer) at the LEGO store at the mall. This is teaching time management to all of us. We can set a goal: "lets finish this math before the timer goes off" Public school timed math drills used to really stress out dinohunter. He would totally freeze up. It's all in how you spin it, however. Now he enjoys setting goals for himself. Missy is even saying, "Mom, my goal is..."
More lists-list of weekly chores, list of what I need to accomplish in the day, reminders to me to inspect their work on the bedroom/household chores. If I write an external reminder AND USE IT then I will eventually internalize the routine. Eventually. Be patient with me!
A Binder- to keep any lesson plans, all my lists, calendars, scraps of paper with reminders. Not very organized in itself, but it works for now.
Constant reorganization-Nothing will always work, nothing has a permanent home. If I constantly think about how we're using the work spaces and storage spaces that we currently have then it will only get more efficient. Sometimes however, the time between reorganization gets pretty chaotic. I must get better at putting things where they belong, not just putting them down where I happen to be standing. But that said, I need to pay attention to where things are used so putting them back will be easier.

Given that all of the above is probably a direct result of the wonderful phenomenon called nesting. I know that when those sleep deprived nights do come I will not care one bit about organization or binders. What if the nesting instinct never stopped?

A girl can dream!

Oh the Justifications I could give!

I began two weeks ago with a re-vamped routine, a chart of our school schedule for the kiddos, charts for the kids' chores and even a customized checklist for myself. I wanted to post the schedule, but haven't had the time to figure out the best way to do that. Well, I haven't taken the time!
Mainly we alternate our schedule, following a routine for Mondays and Wednesdays and a different routine for Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are great because they are set aside for art, science, and cooking projects and for catching up on any work or chores. The first week was incredible. I am in the 6th month of my pregnancy and am really enjoying the energy I feel now. I felt empowered to stick with our schedule and I even got some housework done that had been SOOOOO neglected! Even the first part of the second week was great. And then it happened...I stayed up too late one night (watching season 3 Lost episodes and youtube videos) and the next day I was completely unmotivated to keep the routine going. Oh the justifications I can give you for that day! We still managed to get most of our subjects covered (excluding art) but the housework suffered and the kids were not kept accountable to do the little chores for which they are responsible. I think this points out my need to schedule some down time, but the question is how to relax a little, without throwing out the entire routine and package.
That last sentence sounds like I am a wonderful scheduler and extremely organized. Not so. I must have routine to function. I must write a list or I will forget. many things. My checklist for household stuff gets ignored so much that it is laughable that I have one at all. I guess I just feel like I need a goal to work toward. This has been a recurring theme in my life, the one of getting organized, energetically tackling the plan to maintain organization and then hitting a bump in the road that gets me off kilter and causes me to abandon the entire plan. Then I start it again. The encouraging thing is that every time I get knocked down I don't stay down as long as I used to. I don't beat myself up with negative thoughts and pity parties. I am seeing God's hand in my life as I grow in His grace. O thank goodness for that grace!
So I fell again. I'll just get up, dust myself off and try again. I'm so glad God doesn't give up on me, even when I want to!