Resistance is Futile...Except in Art Class

Luci is taking an art class in Huntsville this month.  Thursdays for an hour.  I sit outside the classroom and listen to the hub-bub inside.

Luci has learned about colors, shades, tints, complementary colors and secondary and tertiary colors (although she probably could not tell you what a secondary or tertiary color is).

Here is today's lesson--Color Wash Over a Wax Resist, Using Complementary Colors (if I use capital letters, it sounds more School-y)

Teaching Reading

I guess it's not a surprise to any of you that our daughter has taken longer than most to learn how to read.  We've tried everything (well, I have), going through quite a few curricula. (That's the plural of curriculum--see here.  Who knew?  Not me, until now.)  We are now using Level 1 of All About Reading and it seems to be working.  Maybe it's working because Luci is just ready for it now.

Dyslexia is one of the struggles we've diagnosed, which was rather apparent today in the switching of "d" and "b" throughout.  That is a classic sign.  Until a few months ago, entire words were moving on Luci and she could not sound out even the easiest of words.  I am so thankful she is overcoming some of this!  Her brain has developed more, I suppose, and is able to comprehend.  The other struggle is Auditory Processing Disorder, which is closely related to dyslexia.  Dyslexia covers so much, that it is all intertwined and quite a puzzle to figure out in this little girl.

Today Luci had her LPS (Littlest Pet Shop) characters reading.  She set them up in a "classroom" and had them come up two-by-two to read each line.  They got a little crazy and I had to have them start over a few times!  This method works well with Luci.  If we had more children at this stage, it would be quite crazy trying to "get it all in," but with one, it is not too vexing for the mama.

Four LPS characters were stuck behind at their desks, taking tests, according to Luci.

Seasons of a Mother's Heart

That's a book written by Sally Clarkson, a homeschool mom who has been there and done that.  Her book, Educating the Wholehearted Child, was the first book I ever read on homeschooling.  It was such a help!  I had the 1994 version--I am sure the updated versions are even better.

A friend of mine IRL (in real life!! I actually know real, live people--they are not all bloggy friends! :) ) had suggested a book study, and Seasons of a Mother's Heart was her choice.  We are to read and then "talk" about what we've read on our blogs.  Amy is a librarian-turned-homeschooler, and is quite eloquent.  With me, you get the third-grade-understanding version.  Amy has a lovely blog here:  Hope is the Word.

This portion of the book study covers the first section of the book, Spring:  Season of Renewal.  If you have a newer copy, your book will have four chapters per "season."  My copy has only three.

My thoughts on the first three chapters (due tomorrow, July 8th! I'm a bit slow):

Chapter One:  Celebrating Life

This chapter hit home with me (as will probably every chapter in this book, since I've been homeschooling a long time now).  We must choose joy instead of constantly looking at what's wrong around us.

Choosing joy changes my perspective and lets me see that God is in control, and not me. I have had this pounded into my head over the past three years (I am a slow learner).  Luci has had some learning difficulties and has not progressed as I thought she ought.  Her reading is just now beginning, and math?  Please.  That's a subject for this year.  I hope she catches on to something with math this year.  But--I am seeing the joy Luci has in "doing school."  She LOVES coming to the table and working with me, even when I was getting so exasperated.  I am choosing to see the JOY in her delight with anything "schooly," and will rejoice again whenever a new word or math concept is learned.

This chapter was about cleaning your heart-attitude and making different choices.  Knowing that God is in control.  When I complain, I am telling God that I am not happy with how He chooses to let my life unfold.

Chapter Two:  Changing My Will

I love this chapter.  It is all about choosing to do what God has set before me, and letting go of that which seems good, but is not the best for me.  I may think of grand and glorious things to do away from home (or even from home, as Sally did, working from her home with her husband setting up a Journal that helped many people).  But God has put on my heart the homeschool challenge.  So this is my place, at least until the last one graduates.  Things that get in the way of my role as wife, mommy, and teacher need to be given up.  

It's not always a popular decision, to retreat from the world a little bit.  I have gotten some flak for retreating from some good things.  I do try so hard to not put my ideals on others, to make them "see where they are in error" when it is a matter of opinion and they are doing what is best for their families.  (John is probably laughing at me right now, because I do have opinions, but I also try to not share them when I shouldn't.)

Chapter Three:  Beside Still Waters

You can guess what this chapter is about!  Taking time to be with the Lord in personal reflection, and taking time for yourself to recharge your batteries if needed.

I am an introvert.  I was surprised to see that Sally Clarkson is, too, since she has such an out-going ministry.  It has taken me until this past year (that would be 52 years or so) to realize that it is okay to need time away from my children.  I don't take much time (sometimes it is just a trip to WalMart) but time with quiet and no one touching me or yelling about a sibling is necessary for me.  Last week I took off for the commissary, an hour and a half away just to have time with quiet and to get a meal that I didn't have to share, or listen to someone tell me all about paint ball for the entire trip.  I also had the bonus of going to a teacher's supply store, which was like Christmas to me!  I was only gone about five hours but I came back a new person.  It has been at least two and a half months since I've been able to do something like that.  I didn't even mind the super-long line in the commissary.

As for being with the Lord more, this year I've prayed more for others than I ever have.  I've also been reading through the Bible for my own study, not for a homeschool class with the kids.  It's been wonderful.  I've used different methods (Bible in a Year, different topics, etc) but this year and last I've just read three, four or five chapters every day and that will get me through the entire Bible by Christmas.  I like using different versions--this year I'm using a version meant for children, and it is surprising how reading something familiar worded a different way can make me perk up and pay more attention.

Get the book for yourself:  Seasons of a Mother's Heart.  It's only $11.97 on amazon

Science for a Second Grader

This month we are studying plants.  Today's subject was leaves.

John's job was to take Luci into the yard and find some leaves for us to study.  We have this nifty microscope thingy that hooks up to the computer.  You can capture a picture of what you see through the microscope.  Here are some shots of the backs of a few of the leaves:

I'm sorry I can't recall which leaf is which--they were not labeled as John took them.  The fuzziness of the center photo amazes me.  The leaf did not look fuzzy at all.  The leaf on the bottom reminds me of flying over cities, seeing the neighborhoods below.  The stems look like freeways!

We talked about what leaves do (make food for the plant) and what happens when they quit making food,  turn colors, and then fall off of the trees.  Luci knew exactly what that part is called...Retirement!

Tuesday

Yesterday at Daisies. This is Luci with Ava.

We learned a little bit about Santa Lucia today. Luci and I will make some sweet rolls this afternoon, in the spirit of the celebration.

Luci was surprised to learn that she is the "oldest daughter," and so gets to wear the crown of lights.  She always hears, "you're the baby," so hearing that she's the oldest girl was mind-bending!

I want to do an Experience!

Um, I think that would be experiment, Luci.

JT peeled the apples with his handy-dandy pocket knife.

One apple was covered with a salt and baking soda mixture.  The other is our control.  In one week we'll see what happened.  Replicating some of the mummification process with these apples.

My favorite line in the experiment's directions:  Set the bowls where they will not be in your mother's way.

First Day!

Our school year officially began yesterday.  Here's our annual photo.  I have taken photos each year, measuring them against the hutch to see their growth.  What you see is one boy who grew by leaps and bounds last year!  And yes, he's wearing his pajamas.  On a school day.  Because when you homeschool, you can do that. 

What you don't see:  Bryan, in the background, laughing at the two who must start school.  It was hard for me to see only two kids in the picture this time.  Sniff, sniff. 

Luci began Mandarin Chinese with Rosetta Stone today.  She's so excited about it!  I also began today, with the Mandarin, to keep her company. We use the homeschool version of Rosetta Stone and I love it.  It is almost like a game, and the homeschool version keeps track of everything for me, including scoring.

Bryan completed two years of Spanish (Latin America) with them, and JT completed one year or Spanish.  This year he's working on Korean.  Someday he wants to go to South Korea and train further in Tang Soo Do, so Korean is his big interest right now.  This shows a screen in the Mandarin lesson from today.

Here are some blasts from the past, showing how the kids have grown.

 1997  Only one student that year! 

 2007  I absolutely LOVE Luci in this photo.

2008

 2009

I love my homeschool covering.

(definition:  Homeschool Covering is the group to which I report our schooling.  They have the contact with our local authorities; the covering keeps us legal.  In Alabama, the covering is designated as a church school.  You can view all 50 States' laws here:  Homeschool Legal Defense)

Our covering is very hands-off.  We are left to do what we should and get to make all our own decisions for educating our kids.  When we first began this adventure, we had a covering that wanted to know lots of things.  When that cover school closed its doors, we moved to another covering that eventually became more burdensome.  They required things beyond what state law requires (which is legal but a nuisance sometimes).  That approach works well for new homeschoolers who need a little hand-holding. 

Since we'd been at it for a long time, I felt comfortable moving to DaySpring Academy.  

We're not total recluses (when are we ever home??).  We do meet with homeschoolers in the area (who belong to different coverings)  for field trips and social events, and sometimes for special classes. 

One thing I love about DaySpring is the sense of humor Donna, the administrator, has.  Here is the attendance report form, or ARF.  Donna has also dubbed this the "The Terrible, Horrible, Awful, No Good,Very Bad Attendance Report."

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As the ( __ ) parent    ( __ ) guardian   ( __ ) person having control and charge of the above-named child decided that the absence listed on the above-named date was an absence that required explanation and submission for formal approval.

This decision was based on (check  all that apply):

• I have limited my definition of "education" to that commonly perpetuated by educationalists, i.e., to include only overt, measurable, academic activities.
• My school schedule of academic activities is "official" and written in my plan book in ink and not subject to change.
• I believe the commonly-accepted premise that parents are not capable and can not be expected to, or trusted to, be responsible for making the educational decisions for their children without monitoring from an outside source.
•  There has to be a catch to this DaySpring "parents are responsible" thing somewhere and this looks like a good place for it.
• This form was blank and I needed to fill it in.

By signing this form, I am certifying that I understand that the DaySpring school year is 365 days and one form is required for each absence of a half-day or more during the school year.

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Alabama state laws on attendance are attached at the bottom of the ARF.   Makes it all respectable, you know.

Arf! Arf!

Homeschool Rules!

The view from the deck...the red maple is doing its thing.  Spring is starting here!

I could not resist this t-shirt at the Homeschool Convention last weekend....

PS: Yes, I know Luci's eyes are crossed. LOL!

It started off innocently enough...

Luci and I left for the MidSouth Homeschool Convention early Thursday morning.  It's about a four-hour drive to Memphis from our house, and we planned to visit the Memphis Zoo before going to the "fancy hotel" (Luci's words).

When we were about three hours from home, Bryan called me.  The boys had gone to church to work in the Friendship Center's food pantry, and were on their way home.  Except they couldn't get home.  Seems they ran over an animal, and now the car was kaput.  Bryan said it was a goat, laying in the road.  On a country road, far from any kind of place to pull over, and the car is not working.  A goat?  Yes, a goat.  Or maybe it was a deer.  (It was a deer.)

Bryan and JT got a ride home with a Florence Utilities worker, who had also lent them his phone. (Why did we buy you a phone and get this ridiculously expensive family plan if you're not going to take it with you?!  At least that lesson was learned, and both promised to not ever leave home without their phones again.)  They were followed by the AAA tow truck. (At least Bryan remembered that he had a AAA membership!  Which paid for itself Thursday.)

Where was John when all that went on?  He had a job on the eastern side of the state, and did not get home until nearly 6 p.m.  He got a good look at the car the next morning and it was fixed lickety-split, and cheaply, too.  So that ended well.

After the first of the not-so-frantic calls (Bryan does stay calm in a crisis), we made it to the zoo.  Luci and I saw marvelous things.

Ginormous hippos.

A bit of China

More China...

A bird who decided to nest in China

We saw Buddha...but I could not get Luci to rub its belly for good luck.  This is the closest I could get her to it...and she does not look too thrilled! (Fake smile alert!)

The reason we needed to go to the Memphis Zoo...Pandas!  

We are such country bumpkins...thrilled and scared at the same time at being in the flight path for Memphis' airport.  We were buzzed by quite a few Federal Express planes.  That plane (in the middle of the photo) was lots closer than it looks.  I promise you, I could tell the pilot needed a shave.

We saw a three-legged elephant (not really, but this photo sure looks like she only had three legs!)

And this mighty polar bear who swam around and around and seemed to pick out Luci for a snack (she's in the middle of these children).

At the end of our time there, we went back to see the pandas...and found them napping on baked potatoes...no, wait...that's poop! This one is sleeping on his own poop. Yuck.

After the zoo, we made it to the fancy hotel, which had many floors, two glass elevators, and escalators!  What joy for a six-year old who lives in a town devoid of escalators and glass elevators.  We explored and found our room, found the short cut to getting to the convention, and found there was a trolley that went right past the hotel.

I brought my Sunday-church-keep-the-kid-occupied bag to let Luci dig in while we went to lectures.  I got to go to a total of four, count 'em four lectures.  Out of probably 200 total classes to choose from.  Sigh.  But the ones we did go to were good ones.

The first was on children with learning disabilities.  John and I are wondering about Luci...some days she seems to know her stuff, some days she doesn't.  It is really baffling!  The very first lecture I chose, by two reading specialists, was exactly what I needed to hear as we figure out what Luci needs.  We have an appointment with the International Adoption Clinic at the end of the month to help us unravel the puzzle that is Luci.  The lecture I heard by the Eckenwilers (The Struggling Reader) was so helpful.  We also went to a math lecture, one on field trips, and one on worldview by John Stonetreet (Summit Ministries) that was wonderful.  I would love to get his materials to use with the kids, but they are pricey (even with the discount that was available at the convention).

The only drawback to John Stonestreet's lecture was that it was in a huge room, built of concrete blocks.  The echoing was horrible!  Terrible acoustics. I wanted to get all of his lectures on CD but if they all sounded like that, well, no thank you.  I found out that the concert with Tim Hawkins was to be in that same hall...Luci just about went nuts in there with all the echoes, so I sold our tickets.  I felt like a drug dealer, holding out my tickets on escalators, in hallways and in elevators, trying to sell them.  But sell them I did!  This link will take you to youtube, where you can hear Tim's song, "Things you don't say to your wife."  Trust me, it's worth the click.

Luci's favorite parts of the trip were SHOPPING!  EXPLORING!  SWIMMING! (which "We didn't do since Mommy forgot the suits and I'm not letting her swim in her panties, ooh, icky!" said Luci) and THE TROLLEY!

The Trolley was cheap, just a dollar for me and free for Luci.  We rode the Loop, which went in a loop (duh!) and brought us back to the hotel in a nice 40 minute ride.  We saw the Pyramid Arena, which tickled Luci to no end ("Egypt in Tennessee! Do you think Moses is in there?"), homes along the waterfront of the Mississippi River that sell for at least $1.3 million (the cheap ones go for that!), and a big surprise to me--the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King was shot.  It is now a part of The Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.  It really was a shock to see it...I recognized it from all the times I've seen it on the news and had no idea it was so close to where we were spending the night (yes, I'm old enough to remember when that actually happened).

Unfortunately we did not get to see Graceland...I had thought of posing Luci in front of the gates with a little sign that said, "Eat your heart out, Uncle Marty!" but it was just too far in bad traffic.  Another time.

Luci had a before-bed ritual each night we were there...jumping up and down on the Tempur-Pedic bed "to get it all fluffy for us."  So glad she did that.  Because I really did not like that mattress!  I sleep lots better on a regular mattress.

You see snobs, even among homeschoolers.  Mostly they are not clothes snobs (some of the mommas look "crunchy," wearing their babies in slings and eating homemade granola bars, sandwiches on homemade bread brought in their little ice chests) but "education snobs."  Do you know what I mean?  The kind of moms who tell you all about their little four-year-old Shakespeare-reading darlings.  That type of snobbery.  Well, with our "Average Family" I have learned to ignore lots of that, but it does get tiring.  By Friday afternoon I was ready to scream!

Especially with our little Princess, who seems brighter than our home-grown kids, having some difficulties...well, you just can't blame me for getting peeved when one vendor asked Luci how old she was.  "Six."  Oh, I have a six year old, too!  He's over there playing chess.  Just lovely. Smile and move on, Susan.

Then there was a "learn Spanish" booth.  Perfectly nice ladies, wanting Luci to color ("This is VERDE, darling,") and asking me if she was learning Spanish (with the implication that I should be doing that, or else I'm doing her irreparable harm).  I had had enough.  I pulled the language card on her!  I said, "We're working on Mandarin." (How exotic is that?)

Which we sorta are.  We do watch Ni Hao Kai Lan every chance we get, and I do have Rosetta Stone's Mandarin installed on my computer for later on.  (insert evil laugh here)

Enough excitement!  Time to go home...so we wait on Saturday for the tornado watch to pass (what's a road trip without a tornado watch or two?) and start on our way...after arguing (nicely, and with a smile) with the front desk lady that my breakfast (that super-expensive buffet) was supposed to be free, so why is it on my bill twice??  Once the bill was taken care of, we headed out of town and saw a car on fire, fully engulfed in flames along the freeway.  Never have seen one on fire before.  Score another one for big-city thrills.

Then...the phone call about the fridge at home...where is the warranty, Susan, the thing quit working and the repairman says it's the compressor?    Warranty was found, and we are still waiting on the compressor, on Monday night, while eating out of two ice chests in the kitchen.  Sigh.  I am hoping we end up getting a new refrigerator out of this.

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Tuesday Morning Update:  Just heard from the appliance store...the compressor should be in this afternoon or tomorrow morning and they are going to fix it.  No new fridge for me this time.

Surviving Homeschooling with a Retiree

John has so much more time to spend with the children.  Most of the time, the kids like that.  One "for instance" is Luci--she loves playing outside, and she can get John to go out almost every time she asks.  He even does really fun stuff while out there, like building a snow-fort just for Luci. 

He's taken over our Chemistry class, doing labs with the kids.  I'm blaming the mess in my kitchen on this particular lab study.  I can't remember what principle they were studying this day, but it was certainly intriguing to Bryan.

And what Daddy (and big brother) don't like doing the taste test when Luci makes donuts with her The Science Chef book?  The Science Chef is sort of like Alton Brown cooking, geared towards kids.  (I just noticed that there is a The Science Chef Travels Around the World book, too--I'll have to get that one next.)  As you can see, Luci's donuts got five thumbs up.

Most of the time, it is just lovely that John's home so much.  The other days, he has jobs to do in town, and I think he's glad for the escape from the monkey house. 

John has taken over Bryan's math lessons, which means I get a break from the "I hate school" attitude.  I think it's really an "I hate anything that's not related to sleeping, eating or video-games" attitude.  I don't care what it's called, I'm just glad I get a break from it. 

John also gets a front-row seat for all the scrapping the boys do.  One of my favorite things to say is, "Go tell your father."  Then he gets to deal with World War VII or whatever World War our house is up to at the time.

And, as pictured above, John has taken on our Chemistry class.  I am grateful for that because I am not fond of the mess it can be.   I'm the one who studied a little bit of chemistry in college.  John's learning-as-he-goes and doing a fine job at it, too!

It's so nice to share the good and the bad with John.  He has always been pretty much hands-off with our schooling, but now he's jumping in with both feet.  He loves to keep busy!  I've heard some mock-horror stories of what retirement is like for the wife...but so far, I like it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just had to share this one...today we did get snow--about an inch and a half.  Just enough to use the saucer-sleds we got in January.  I forced encouraged Bryan to go outside and endure enjoy the fresh air for thirty minutes this morning.  He is in this photo--can you find him?  He slid down the hill that's next to Luci's treehouse and just stayed there...lying on the ground...for most of his required thirty minutes.  He's next to that light-green saucer in the bottom right of the photo, knee up and head on the down-hill side.  He was fine; he was not hurt there; he was just thinking he was smarter than I by not doing anything while he was outdoors.  I didn't care.  As long as his face saw the sun.

"If you homeschool, you'll be imprisoning your children at home." Oh Yeah?

Today Luci woke up and asked her usual question, "Where are we going today?" 

"Nowhere.  We get to stay home all day."

"YAY!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We've been busy with Friendship Center at church, going to see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Daisy Scout party, karate, karate party, brunch with Friendship Center folks, library class, Huntsville Botanical Gardens tour, picking up John and Bryan at the airport, church worship, Christmas shopping trip, and that's all in the last week.  The rest of this week is busy, too.  

Unsocialized?

Sequestered?

I think not.

One of these days...

I'm going to ask someone,

What was your rationalization for choosing your local public school for your children?

Today the woman who asked me that about our choosing to homeschool didn't even have children.  She's older than I am and has a dog and a cat.  

And she's critical.

Since I'm too busy to come up with anything original...

here's something great from The Secular Homeschooler:

The Bitter Homeschooler's Wish List

by Deborah Markus

1 Please stop asking us if it's legal. If it is — and it is — it's insulting to imply that we're criminals. And if we were criminals, would we admit it?
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2 Learn what the words "socialize" and "socialization" mean, and use the one you really mean instead of mixing them up the way you do now. Socializing means hanging out with other people for fun. Socialization means having acquired the skills necessary to do so successfully and pleasantly. If you're talking to me and my kids, that means that we do in fact go outside now and then to visit the other human beings on the planet, and you can safely assume that we've got a decent grasp of both concepts.
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3 Quit interrupting my kid at her dance lesson, scout meeting, choir practice, baseball game, art class, field trip, park day, music class, 4H club, or soccer lesson to ask her if as a homeschooler she ever gets to socialize.
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4 Don't assume that every homeschooler you meet is homeschooling for the same reasons and in the same way as that one homeschooler you know.
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5 If that homeschooler you know is actually someone you saw on TV, either on the news or on a "reality" show, the above goes double.
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6 Please stop telling us horror stories about the homeschoolers you know, know of, or think you might know who ruined their lives by homeschooling. You're probably the same little bluebird of happiness whose hobby is running up to pregnant women and inducing premature labor by telling them every ghastly birth story you've ever heard. We all hate you, so please go away.
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7 We don't look horrified and start quizzing your kids when we hear they're in public school. Please stop drilling our children like potential oil fields to see if we're doing what you consider an adequate job of homeschooling.
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8 Stop assuming all homeschoolers are religious.
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9 Stop assuming that if we're religious, we must be homeschooling for religious reasons.
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10 We didn't go through all the reading, learning, thinking, weighing of options, experimenting, and worrying that goes into homeschooling just to annoy you. Really. This was a deeply personal decision, tailored to the specifics of our family. Stop taking the bare fact of our being homeschoolers as either an affront or a judgment about your own educational decisions.
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11 Please stop questioning my competency and demanding to see my credentials. I didn't have to complete a course in catering to successfully cook dinner for my family; I don't need a degree in teaching to educate my children. If spending at least twelve years in the kind of chew-it-up-and-spit-it-out educational facility we call public school left me with so little information in my memory banks that I can't teach the basics of an elementary education to my nearest and dearest, maybe there's a reason I'm so reluctant to send my child to school.
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12 If my kid's only six and you ask me with a straight face how I can possibly teach him what he'd learn in school, please understand that you're calling me an idiot. Don't act shocked if I decide to respond in kind.
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13 Stop assuming that because the word "home" is right there in "homeschool," we never leave the house. We're the ones who go to the amusement parks, museums, and zoos in the middle of the week and in the off-season and laugh at you because you have to go on weekends and holidays when it's crowded and icky. (and paying full price--comment from me)
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14 Stop assuming that because the word "school" is right there in homeschool, we must sit around at a desk for six or eight hours every day, just like your kid does. Even if we're into the "school" side of education — and many of us prefer a more organic approach — we can burn through a lot of material a lot more efficiently, because we don't have to gear our lessons to the lowest common denominator.
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15 Stop asking, "But what about the Prom?" Even if the idea that my kid might not be able to indulge in a night of over-hyped, over-priced revelry was enough to break my heart, plenty of kids who do go to school don't get to go to the Prom. For all you know, I'm one of them. I might still be bitter about it. So go be shallow somewhere else.
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16 Don't ask my kid if she wouldn't rather go to school unless you don't mind if I ask your kid if he wouldn't rather stay home and get some sleep now and then.
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17 Stop saying, "Oh, I could never homeschool!" Even if you think it's some kind of compliment, it sounds more like you're horrified. One of these days, I won't bother disagreeing with you any more.
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18 If you can remember anything from chemistry or calculus class, you're allowed to ask how we'll teach these subjects to our kids. If you can't, thank you for the reassurance that we couldn't possibly do a worse job than your teachers did, and might even do a better one.
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19 Stop asking about how hard it must be to be my child's teacher as well as her parent. I don't see much difference between bossing my kid around academically and bossing him around the way I do about everything else.
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20 Stop saying that my kid is shy, outgoing, aggressive, anxious, quiet, boisterous, argumentative, pouty, fidgety, chatty, whiny, or loud because he's homeschooled. It's not fair that all the kids who go to school can be as annoying as they want to without being branded as representative of anything but childhood.
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21 Quit assuming that my kid must be some kind of prodigy because she's homeschooled.
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22 Quit assuming that I must be some kind of prodigy because I homeschool my kids.

23 Quit assuming that I must be some kind of saint because I homeschool my kids.
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24 Stop talking about all the great childhood memories my kids won't get because they don't go to school, unless you want me to start asking about all the not-so-great childhood memories you have because you went to school.
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25 Here's a thought: If you can't say something nice about homeschooling, shut up!

K through 12 School

As I grew up, schools were fairly well segregated according to age.   Kindergarten-6 (and some didn't even have K!). Then came the junior high, then high school. 

Here in our county, in the rural areas, we have K-12.  Just imagining the kids all in together was funny to me, because I'd never experienced that.  We (the five of us kids) were always on different buses, going to different schools. (Except for that one year when Dad was deployed to SE Asia, and we all rode the same bus!  We were in first through twelfth grades.  But it still delivered us to at least three different schools.) 

So, John's older kids went to a K-12 school.  So odd!  It made more sense when I found out the total population for the high school (grades 9-12) was about as big as my graduating class at Meridian High 'way back when. 

And now, we have our own K-12 school right here! 

Introducing the  student body of the

K-12 

Willingham School for the Exceptionally Brilliant

Okay, so it's from last Christmas.  It shows their faces, and they are all smiling!  So there.

CHEF Convention

JT was so disappointed.  He thought we were going to a cooking convention.  Sorry, son, it's a homeschool convention.
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Christian Home Education Fellowship of Alabama had their convention last weekend.  Bryan and JT stayed home.  They went to the YMCA to help with a Tang Soo Do test.  The real tests were 1) will they get along? 2) will they be safe driving? and 3) will mom have a nervous breakdown worrying about them and the other drivers on the road?

Luci came with us and had fun swimming in the hotel pool, playing on the playground at the campground where the convention was held, and, well, that was about it.  She was good during the lectures (too young this year to go to the children's programs) and after the first two lectures, decided to sleep through the rest. 

John and I had a really good time.  This was his first year to go to a homeschool convention.  I was hoping he'd feel some of the good vibes I feel when I go to one.  Homeschooling is hard, mostly because you can't send the kids home after the school day is over.  I think the most difficult part of homeschooling is that there are not many breaks for mom.  So the best part about a convention is the building up of the parents that happens.  A real validation of the job we are doing.  The other good things are the camaraderie that you experience seeing old friends and knowing that a lot of us are in this group, a large group of Christian families who want the best for their children and work hard every year to achieve this goal. 
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And, of course, the book vendors.
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For someone like me, who loves and adores books, the vendors' hall is a wonderful experience.  John found some books to facilitate a study of US History he wants to do with the boys this year.  Luci found a good book about the Oregon Trail. (We are driving out to Idaho in a few weeks.  She had no idea what the book was about, but loved the cover.  So this book will be a good read-aloud, letting us imagine the people who went before as we sail across the continent.)  And of course, I found lots of torture math materials for all three kids. 
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John enjoyed Andrew Pudewa's keynote address, and circled every other lecture Mr. Pudewa had in the schedule.  John went to every one of them, and was so enthused about the messages.  Some of you might know of Mr. Pudewa from his Excellence in Writing program.  He is so much more than that program.  If you ever have an opportunity to hear Mr. Pudewa  speak, make the effort to go.  He is inspirational and funny, all at once.  And he looks a bit like my brother Charlie.  Luci thought he looked very familiar.


This trip really cemented John's and my partnership in the teaching of our children.  It (the working together) had always been there, but it had fallen mainly on my shoulders.  John is getting near retirement and looking forward to taking over some of the educating of our children.  I am all for it!  I think this past year of travel for him made that desire in him stronger than ever.  These kids are growing up fast.  No time to waste. 
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What a great weekend.

On to Williamsburg!

We are going to visit Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown this spring. I am so excited! A group of homeschool families from here are making the trek. This has been such an interesting study here at home, and at a homeschool co-op class the boys are attending. I've especially enjoyed the study because history (US, World, Ancient--all types, really) has been my worst subject all through my own schooling. That's one of the best things about homeschooling: you learn right along with your children.

Of course going to such an historical place would be more fun if you have appropriate attire! So Luci plotted, and I planned, this PINK gown:


Luci called it her "President Wife" outfit. So, I asked her to pose like a President's wife:

I loved it! Hands on hips, ready to tell the Leader of the Free World just what he's got to do here at home to make the wife happy.

(Mom: Did you notice the pineapple? Just right for posing next to, when you are dressed for Williamsburg, don't you think?)

This dress still needs hemming. The pattern calls for lace at the end of the sleeves and at the hem, plus a bow on the ruffle of the sleeve, but Luci does not want that at all. So, risking an unfinished dress, I decided to not put on those details even though hunting for the trims took longer than finding the pattern and the pink material in the first place. I want her to wear this! If it's not "just right" in her eyes, it will remain in the closet. Oh--and I need to make the shawl and mop cap. That's what I get to do tomorrow afternoon.

It was so much fun sewing today. Even when I put the skirt on the bodice inside out and had to take it all apart. I hate ripping out stitches! But I actually enjoyed my day, even with that. Luci has been at her clingiest with bronchitis, and she let me sew. She played Playhouse Disney on my computer, at the table with me, as I worked. I have not sewed in a long time, because I haven't been able to focus on the task while Luci demanded attention. This gives me such hope for making Luci pretty dresses in the near future! She loves dresses, but the ones for her age group are, well, tacky. They are way too skimpy for my taste, too grown-up, too sexually oriented for me to buy for my young daughter. (And I refuse to buy that stuff when she's older, too.)

If I hit the sales at the mall stores, pretty, modest dresses can be found--but I have to buy for next year to be able to afford things...and, as Luci has done in the past, what she loved at shopping time she did not like at all when it came time to wear the clothes. Wasted money!

Here's the pattern: Simplicity 3725, view D














We are in Volume V, Chapter 1 of our Weaver Unit studies. What great timing, as this chapter covers US History from Columbus through the American Revolution. Some of our resources (but certainly not all) are KIDS DISCOVER Magazines (thanks, Mom and Dad for the subscription!), The Light and the Glory for Children, and If you lived in Williamsburg in Colonial Days. There have been quite a few more books from the library that I can't recall off the top of my head right now.

Busy Week

This has been one hectic week. Homeschooling? It's been more like "Traveling Zoo."

Last Saturday was busy. Then this week happened.

Church. Karate. Boys' class on early US History. Orthodontist. Karate again. Library--don't forget to bring something that begins with R, and what happened to that DVD we checked out last week?! McDonald's playdate for Luci with BFF* Kalyn. Bryan's trip to Gatlinburg for Winterfest Youth Convention. Penguin Party at the library to celebrate reading lots of books. Soccer evaluations for Upward Soccer (which Luci performed in her Princess ball gown). Dinner with Daddy at Cracker Barrel (need I mention that this is my favorite thing all week?). Trip to Huntsville for soccer shoes, Build-A-Bear Workshop field trip with new homeschooling group, then to Redstone Arsenal for groceries. JT's Black Belt Clinic in Russelville.

Too much. Especially when Mom's dealing with a sprained ankle (it's getting better, but all the walking is taking a toll...the sprain happened last week, otherwise it would've made it on the list above). Even things "in town" are at least 23 minutes away (yes, I timed it). We did manage to keep on track with schoolwork and get it all done! So that makes me happy. Next week's calendar has two EMPTY days! That makes me even happier!

*BFF=Best Friends Forever

Here are some snapshots of today's trip to the mall in Huntsville:

A nice group! 13 kids and 5 moms.
Pretending to be a mannequin at the video game store.
Dreaming!

A Little Sponge

That's what Luci is. Yesterday the boys and I were "doing Bible" at the kitchen table. Luci was in the living room, busy with her toys. The subject of our Bible study was Jacob and his family, in Genesis 29 and 30. I began quizzing the boys, asking questions about the passages read. One of the questions:

Whom did Jacob love?

the boys hesitated, but from the living room comes:

Rachel!

McWane Science Center

JT, Luci and I spent Friday at McWane Science Center. It's always a lot of fun, and this trip was even better with a homeschool friend. Jae and her daughter met us there and we had a ball.

We also got to meet Curious George!




Jae's daughter, Mamie. She and Luci are becoming good friends.


Notice the NOSE.
You can't see me!
When we got home, there were two more Princesses to play with! Fun day from start to finish.