Thursday, February 27, 2014

Planner Idea

Alright...I admit it...I'm one of those homeschool moms.

The kind that tries not to be ruled by the planner, but inevitably fails.

I hate messy planners.  I like neat, planned boxes.

I stopped writing in ink in them about four years ago I think.  I only write in pencil now and then I erase and rewrite and erase and rewrite and erase... okay, you get it.

C'mon!  I know I'm not alone.  I know you're out there!

I tried this year to draw a line through what got off schedule.  ACK! I let it go for a while, but then last Sunday, I sat and erased it all and rewrote everything in the right place!

I have no stinking idea why this is an issue for me.  For those of you who don't get it, I totally wish I could explain it to you, and I admire your lines and x's and whatever else you do to just mark it out and move on!  I really do!

I'm so over that feeling of not wanting a day to be messed up by adding in a play date or project day or field trip...blah, blah, blah.

I thought I had remedied the situation this year by finding a planner that was undated.  It has great-size boxes to write in with the places to list each subject across the top and bubbles to mark the day you do that lesson on down the left side.

I do like the planner a lot, but it sill didn't work like I hoped.

I have already started buying our curriculum for next year, as it helps to do so a little at a time instead of rushing in July!  (That only took me 9 years to do!)  As I was perusing one of the books that arrived the other day, I had a thought:  what if I just make a list of the lessons for each subject and then number my next planner to 180 days.  When we do a lesson, I will then write it into the planner (maybe even in ink! haha) and just mark through it on the list of lessons sheet with a highlighter.  That way, if we want to do a project for history one day and only get math and grammar done, I can just add what we do!  

Ingenious right???  !!!

I know, I know...there is some momma out there laughing at me right now and saying, "Well, hello Einstein, I've been doing it like that forever!"  But, you know, for us slow turtles, hey it's a new idea that may help us stay off medication for our obsessionism about our neat planners! (wink, wink)

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Schooling in the Early Years

This coming Thursday night I will get to meet with my Homeschool Mommas Group again.  Our topic of conversation is teaching the early grades, K-2/3.

Since my guys are now in 10th and 7th, I am pretty removed from those days.  I have learned so much more about them and about me...about how we work together and what really matters.

I was thinking maybe I don't have much to offer these mommas since it has been so long.  But, quickly the Lord reminded me that this isn't about ME.  This is about me being willing to seek Him on behalf of others.  So, I began praying and thinking about what I would do differently if I could go back in time with my boys.

I thought about all the times we sat doing worksheets, while we could have been outside exploring creation and learning from it.  I thought about the times I pushed and they cried and then I cried.  I thought about the days we could have been building their imaginations through play and how I could have allowed them to learn about all the different things that enamored them.  I thought about how much I must have quenched their love of learning by trying to make our home look like a brick and mortar school classroom.  I thought about how I lived enslaved to my planner!

It grieves my heart.  A lot.

I thought about all the things we did that I loved and they loved...field trips, play dates, craft projects, cooking, movies, songs, games, lessons outside lying on the trampoline in the warm sun or on a blanket on the soft grass, and read-alouds with lots of snuggling. They still love read-aloud time!!!  Some of our closest bonding moments, most meaningful conversations and most life-impacting lessons came out of those times!  

As I was reading a book that our women's group at church is starting, this verse jumped out at me: Job 35:11...who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me, "Tell the moms that.  Study my world with their young ones and see what mysteries are to be unlocked.  I will capture their minds."

I just sat in awe for about a minute, thinking of how God really does speak to us about everything!

So mommas and daddies of young children, if I could do the early years over, I would:

*Think about and write down my long-term goals...what I really want my children to leave my home with at graduation.  I would keep those in my planner and read them any time I get concerned that I'm going to fail them or ruin them or think I'm not doing enough!

*Teach them through play as long as I could because all too soon, they will grow past that stage and you will miss it terribly.

*Get them outside and explore everything possible, allowing them TIME to fall in love with learning.

*Be more patient and not push my agenda.  I would seek God more than state standards.

*Follow their lead, watching for the natural interests and learning styles, truly "hearing" their hearts and opinions.

*Let the messes go more.  Do more crazy craft projects and experiments and never be too busy to listen, play, read, etc...

*Not make them cry over learning to read.  Relax.  It will happen when it clicks for them!

*Focus on training their hearts.  They need to be awed by the magnificence of God through His Word and His Creation so they can fall in love with Him.

*Teach them character above anything academic.  Be consistent to correct rebellion, rudeness, and disrespect. (Thankfully, we did do this and we are reaping precious fruit in our teens!  All glory to God!)

*End each day reading and cuddling with them.  No matter how stressful or bad a day may have been, once I started doing this, we all went to bed knowing we were family for better or worse and that we love each other.  It was a time to just relax and step away from everything a chaotic day could bring and refocus us on what matters most.  Even 10 minutes can make a tremendous difference in relationship!

I hope these thoughts can encourage someone out there.  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.  Make sure every single day counts for the good.  You can never get these years back and in the whole grand scheme of life, what do you want your babies to look back and remember most?  

I can tell you as a momma who is releasing her first "baby bird" to drive and helping him look at colleges that what used to matter when he was in first grade is not very similar to what matters now, aside from the importance of a personal relationship with God and strong integrity.  

Keep your eyes earnestly focused on what truly is important and don't fall prey to the world's failing system!

Friday, February 21, 2014

Most Important Things

It was a bit better week with the two younger boys staying on top of their workload.  My goal is to get to the point where I am not having to remind them to do any of their responsibilities.  I'm still not quite sure how to do that though.  I'm still seeking the Lord on that.

I was looking back over their work for the year so far and that brought much encouragement.  It helps to see how the days and hours add up when you feel like more should be happening.

From the time our oldest started home learning in first grade, I have kept all of their work in binders for each year.  We all like looking back over what has been accomplished.

My favorite pieces are drawings and hand-written stories.  It's so, so sweet to have those little thoughts memorialized on paper!  It is amazing how they grow and change, and it's great for them to see how much they have learned!

A couple of years ago I gave them a 5-subject notebook and wrote on the front Character Journal.  I wanted to make sure that what they were spending their time on for copywork or to practice cursive writing was always relevant to their life.  This has become one of my favorite things.

I believe the Word that says the most important thing to get is wisdom.  I want their minds full of God's wisdom for life's circumstances, so they copy quotes and tidbits of great advice that I want them to remember forever.  I want them to be able to read this over and over and be built up in their integrity and walk as wise men who love God and love others.  

I don't like time-wasters.  I don't like endless workbook pages or reading textbooks that aren't living and interesting.  I love stories of real people, filled with the power of an awesome God, making a mark on their world.

I really seek now, after ten years of homeschooling, to make their daily lessons very practical for our ultimate goals.  I'll write more about what that looks like for us in the next post.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

How to Get Them to Get It Done?

I just finished grading all the schoolwork from last week.  

Can I just whine for a moment and say, "Uuuugh!"

Do any of you homeschooling parents out there ever feel like this???  Surely I am not alone!

I check over the boys' work daily as best I can, but these last few weeks have been filled with many appointments, car trouble, ice and snow...just stuff ya know?

Life happens.  I know this.  I am ten years into this schooling adventure.  I try to live by the motto, "Blessed are the flexible for they don't get bent out of shape."  Frustrated and fighting failure, however, I still find myself struggling some days not to be uptight about it all.

I can say that these days are fewer and further between.  I have learned that it isn't usually a huge big deal.  I used to totally freak out that I was completely ruining my kids!  By now, though, I have seen enough good fruit come out of each school year that I know they are doing okay.

The problem is I don't think I'm okay with okay.  I probably need to examine why.  Why does it grip me with anxiety, worry, and fear that they may not know a certain amount in grammar or math?  Do I fear other people and what they think?  Am I staying focused on what God has told me to do with them?

Honestly, one of the hardest things for me is the differences between my first-born, self-motivated, extremely-driven son and my two younger sons.

I don't at all wish the other two were just like their big brother.  Garrison is super-intense and it is hard for him to just relax, kick back, have fun, and be a kiddo.  Of course, I am thankful for his strong work ethic and commitment to excellence in responsibility.  It makes things much easier on me.  Alex and Trey are definitely more laid back, but it would help to see a little more drive in them that would also be helpful, especially since dad is out of town so much and it's just me trying to keep up with everything.  

I can definitely say Alex and Trey have greatly matured in this, their 7th year of homeschooling.  This year actually started off quite bumpy, but they quickly started working harder on their own.

I guess I just wish they would continue on and do better about daily chores and responsibilities without constant hounding.  I don't really have any creative ideas flowing about how to change that right now.  Maybe I can look up some tips today.

Let me know if you have some wisdom to pass along in this area.  We do great on the days I have nothing else going on, but how do you enforce responsibilities when you have to do other things???

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Refreshed!

This past weekend I was blessed to go on a retreat with my Homeschool Momma's Group!  It was a delightful time.

Once per month, I get together with these ladies.  We take turns hosting the meetings, bringing snacks, and discussing different topics.  For example, last month, we met at a new momma's house and discussed schedules in the home.  Normally, someone shares a devotion, but that time, our leader, just asked us to share what the Holy Spirit has been laying on our hearts.  Being with these women each month is such an encouragement to me!

So off we went to our very nice cabin rental on a lake last weekend. Unfortunately, the renter did not give us a head's up about the steep hills covered by ice and snow.  We had some scary moments and some hilarious adventures as we had to park and walk up and down the hills a few times.  CRAZY!

We also laughed a lot and shared our testimonies.  We dropped our guards and shared personally and transparently.  We connected on a deeper level.  We gained more respect for one another.  We inspired one another.  We came away refreshed.

I pray for all the mommas out there who don't have a good support system.  I went through a couple seasons like that and they stunk for sure!  Sometimes it takes a while before God leads us to the right group of people.  Sometimes we watch our kids go through lonely times and it wrenches our hearts as mothers.

Hang in there mommas (and daddies who may homeschool full-time).  I am confident your diligence will pay off in the end.  Your children will be okay (probably better than ok :).

Remember to take time out for yourself.  Get away with a friend.  Always plan to go to a homeschool conference each year.  Listen to the speakers and be revived in why you started doing this in the first place!  Yes, it's hard.  Yes, it's exhausting some days.  But, YES, it is worth it!