C and I are both sick. She has been on antibiotics since Saturday, and I am going to the doctor later today. We are also one of the 32 states included in this excessive heat warning, and my air conditioner is not working, which isn't helping us feel any better.
Hopefully, within a few days we will feel better, and I will return to my "Why we Began Home Schooling" series of posts. I have at least 2, and possibly a third, planned. Sorry for the delay.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Why We Began Home schooling...part 2....more public school
Last post I left off while C was finishing her Kindergarten year. This same year, her oldest sister was in middle school. When April was 11, and in 6th grade, she came home asking questions such as "Mom? What's a bl** j*b?" because she had heard other kids talking about that, and a boy on her field trip had asked her to give him one. She was also telling me about girls in the 7th and 8th grade who were pregnant. Apparently, bj's were reserved for a "just friends" status, and quite common, but "all the way" was for the more "serious" of the middle school couples, and getting pregnant was a badge of honor. While this was all quite shocking to me, I tried to give as honest answers as I could, not show COMPLETE revulsion, and keep the lines of communication with my daughter open, so she could feel comfortable bringing these topics home to at least have someone to discuss these things with.
Meanwhile, C sailed through first grade with no major problems, and a wonderful teacher. C made "high honor roll" every quarter in first and second grade. She was one of only 2 students in the entire school to receive that honor. I continued being actively involved in helping out with classroom activities and field trips. The only trouble C had during these years was a few of her classmates made fun of her for always being on high honor roll, and for having a mother who cared enough to come in and help out in the classroom. She was still being called vulgar names, but this time the name-calling stemmed mainly from GIRLS in her class, one in particular. C began to refuse to go to the bathroom at school because these girls would gang up on her during restroom break.
C also began, during these years, to suffer night terrors.....virtually every night I would awaken to her screaming, yelling, crying. I could not get her to wake up during these episodes, and she claimed to not remember them at all in the mornings. She became very tired and difficult to wake up for school in the mornings. Every time I tried to talk to her, find out what was bothering her, she claimed to have no memory of bad dreams, or of screaming and crying for a good half hour at LEAST every night.
One day C came home with a note stating she had a detention after school the next day for "disrupting" class. Of course, I asked her what happened. She said one of the girls who always taunted her had been walking up the aisle between desks. The teacher had been writing something on the blackboard. This girl whispered "white b**ch!" at my daughter, and shoved her desk into C so hard that C had bruises on her chest, and knocked her over backwards out of her chair. C cried out, " Mrs W!" to her teacher, and THAT was how C managed to disrupt the class. Mrs. W claims that since she didn't SEE what happened, and since C was always complaining and "tattling" on this other girl that her only recourse was to give both girls detention the next day. The teacher said since she didn't personally see the incident, only heard C call out her name, that she had to punish both girls equally. Mrs. W told me then, as on other occasions, that C really needed to learn to "handle" things, and not be such a tattle tale all the time. I told Mrs. W that maybe SHE needed to learn to handle her class and not allow girls to push and shove other little girls and call them b**ches and leave bruises on them, and then punish C for merely calling out to her teacher for help. I then called the principal, who said she had to stand by the teacher.
So...the next day at 2 : 15, I showed up in the school office, and served detention with my daughter. I felt it was unfair that she should even be punished at ALL, let alone that the girl who made a racist, profane comment to her and knocked her clear out of her chair backwards was receiving the SAME punishment as my daughter was for calling to the teacher for help. Of course, the principal came out and told me I couldn't be there in the detention room, and i told her, "You already know I feel this is wrong. Our school district claims to have a "zero tolerance" policy for bullying and violence, yet you have issued C a detention which goes on her permanent record for asking for help. While I disagree with her being punished, I also raise my daughter to respect her authority figures, which, at school are her teachers and YOU. Therefore, since you have decided she has to serve this detention, I want her to know we have to respect that decision, but I'm not making her sit here alone when she did nothing wrong!" The principal didn't quite know what to do with me, so there C and I sat and served our half hour detention. I then went home with her, and called the district superintendent.
The next day, the principal called me at home, and asked me to meet with her. When I arrived, she had C, C's teacher, and 4 other children in her office. Apparently, after I served detention in support of my daughter, the principal decided to further investigate the matter of what had occurred in class 2 days earlier. She had called each and every child in the class down to her office, and these 4 who sat near C all told the exact same story as C had tried to tell. That C had been working at her desk, that the other girl had said, "whit b**ch" and shoved the desk into C, knocking her over backwards, and that all C had done was call out her teacher's name for help.
The teacher continued trying to say that since she hadn't sen it happen, she had no recourse but to punish both girls equally for causing a disturbance. The principal, however, apologized, and said she would have C's detention cleared from her record, and informed me that because of their "zero tolerance" policy they had to adhere to district guidelines and suspend the other girl for 3 days from school. I asked why had they not talked to other children BEFORE C and I served our detention? Why had I had to call the district administration office and talk to the superintendent to get anything looked into? Why had C had to serve the detention in the first place, when she should have been HELPED when she was hurt and bruised, instead of being punished fro being 8 years old and asking for help in vain? The principal and teacher both tried to say that some of the other children were against C because she always won high honor awards at assembly, and therefore they felt she was getting "special treatment".
Well....DUH! I guess any child who was one of only two in the whole school who consistently made the high honor roll SHOULD get to feel a little special, walking up every quarterly assembly and receiving their certificate award. That's a pretty big deal. It is not something a child should be made to feel ashamed of, or that a child should feel he/she has to NOT get in order to be SAFE! The girl who shoved her desk into C was in her second grade class. However, this girl had been in trouble numerous times for bullying other children for whatever reason, and she was 10 years old and SUPPOSED to be in 4th grade, but had been held back twice. She was older, about a foot taller (really, this girl was TALL), and had a long school record of trouble. Yes, they cleared C's school record of the detention, but she still had had to serve it, and she had still had to go 2 days being a victim not only of the girl who hurt her, but of a teacher who wouldn't listen or get the facts!
Sadly, all this was not enough to make me think of pulling C out of public school. I STILL hadn't heard of homeschooling, other than the Duggar family on TV. I didn't think it was LEGAL. I didn't think normal people did it. It certainly never crossed MY mind that it was an option. By this time I HAD looked into private Christian schools in our area, but they were WAY beyond our financial means. However, I made the comment to my husband one night that due to what C was experiencing, and due to the graphic sexual behaviors at April's middle school, that, "Come hell or high water, I will NOT allow C to continue in this school district. I will save every penny I can so that by the time SHE reaches middle school I can put her in a private school!"
To be continued....next post...third grade, the year that changed everything.
Meanwhile, C sailed through first grade with no major problems, and a wonderful teacher. C made "high honor roll" every quarter in first and second grade. She was one of only 2 students in the entire school to receive that honor. I continued being actively involved in helping out with classroom activities and field trips. The only trouble C had during these years was a few of her classmates made fun of her for always being on high honor roll, and for having a mother who cared enough to come in and help out in the classroom. She was still being called vulgar names, but this time the name-calling stemmed mainly from GIRLS in her class, one in particular. C began to refuse to go to the bathroom at school because these girls would gang up on her during restroom break.
C also began, during these years, to suffer night terrors.....virtually every night I would awaken to her screaming, yelling, crying. I could not get her to wake up during these episodes, and she claimed to not remember them at all in the mornings. She became very tired and difficult to wake up for school in the mornings. Every time I tried to talk to her, find out what was bothering her, she claimed to have no memory of bad dreams, or of screaming and crying for a good half hour at LEAST every night.
One day C came home with a note stating she had a detention after school the next day for "disrupting" class. Of course, I asked her what happened. She said one of the girls who always taunted her had been walking up the aisle between desks. The teacher had been writing something on the blackboard. This girl whispered "white b**ch!" at my daughter, and shoved her desk into C so hard that C had bruises on her chest, and knocked her over backwards out of her chair. C cried out, " Mrs W!" to her teacher, and THAT was how C managed to disrupt the class. Mrs. W claims that since she didn't SEE what happened, and since C was always complaining and "tattling" on this other girl that her only recourse was to give both girls detention the next day. The teacher said since she didn't personally see the incident, only heard C call out her name, that she had to punish both girls equally. Mrs. W told me then, as on other occasions, that C really needed to learn to "handle" things, and not be such a tattle tale all the time. I told Mrs. W that maybe SHE needed to learn to handle her class and not allow girls to push and shove other little girls and call them b**ches and leave bruises on them, and then punish C for merely calling out to her teacher for help. I then called the principal, who said she had to stand by the teacher.
So...the next day at 2 : 15, I showed up in the school office, and served detention with my daughter. I felt it was unfair that she should even be punished at ALL, let alone that the girl who made a racist, profane comment to her and knocked her clear out of her chair backwards was receiving the SAME punishment as my daughter was for calling to the teacher for help. Of course, the principal came out and told me I couldn't be there in the detention room, and i told her, "You already know I feel this is wrong. Our school district claims to have a "zero tolerance" policy for bullying and violence, yet you have issued C a detention which goes on her permanent record for asking for help. While I disagree with her being punished, I also raise my daughter to respect her authority figures, which, at school are her teachers and YOU. Therefore, since you have decided she has to serve this detention, I want her to know we have to respect that decision, but I'm not making her sit here alone when she did nothing wrong!" The principal didn't quite know what to do with me, so there C and I sat and served our half hour detention. I then went home with her, and called the district superintendent.
The next day, the principal called me at home, and asked me to meet with her. When I arrived, she had C, C's teacher, and 4 other children in her office. Apparently, after I served detention in support of my daughter, the principal decided to further investigate the matter of what had occurred in class 2 days earlier. She had called each and every child in the class down to her office, and these 4 who sat near C all told the exact same story as C had tried to tell. That C had been working at her desk, that the other girl had said, "whit b**ch" and shoved the desk into C, knocking her over backwards, and that all C had done was call out her teacher's name for help.
The teacher continued trying to say that since she hadn't sen it happen, she had no recourse but to punish both girls equally for causing a disturbance. The principal, however, apologized, and said she would have C's detention cleared from her record, and informed me that because of their "zero tolerance" policy they had to adhere to district guidelines and suspend the other girl for 3 days from school. I asked why had they not talked to other children BEFORE C and I served our detention? Why had I had to call the district administration office and talk to the superintendent to get anything looked into? Why had C had to serve the detention in the first place, when she should have been HELPED when she was hurt and bruised, instead of being punished fro being 8 years old and asking for help in vain? The principal and teacher both tried to say that some of the other children were against C because she always won high honor awards at assembly, and therefore they felt she was getting "special treatment".
Well....DUH! I guess any child who was one of only two in the whole school who consistently made the high honor roll SHOULD get to feel a little special, walking up every quarterly assembly and receiving their certificate award. That's a pretty big deal. It is not something a child should be made to feel ashamed of, or that a child should feel he/she has to NOT get in order to be SAFE! The girl who shoved her desk into C was in her second grade class. However, this girl had been in trouble numerous times for bullying other children for whatever reason, and she was 10 years old and SUPPOSED to be in 4th grade, but had been held back twice. She was older, about a foot taller (really, this girl was TALL), and had a long school record of trouble. Yes, they cleared C's school record of the detention, but she still had had to serve it, and she had still had to go 2 days being a victim not only of the girl who hurt her, but of a teacher who wouldn't listen or get the facts!
Sadly, all this was not enough to make me think of pulling C out of public school. I STILL hadn't heard of homeschooling, other than the Duggar family on TV. I didn't think it was LEGAL. I didn't think normal people did it. It certainly never crossed MY mind that it was an option. By this time I HAD looked into private Christian schools in our area, but they were WAY beyond our financial means. However, I made the comment to my husband one night that due to what C was experiencing, and due to the graphic sexual behaviors at April's middle school, that, "Come hell or high water, I will NOT allow C to continue in this school district. I will save every penny I can so that by the time SHE reaches middle school I can put her in a private school!"
To be continued....next post...third grade, the year that changed everything.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Why We Began Home Schooling...part 1...public school
My daughter, C, always had a love of learning. I spent her baby months teaching her colors, ABCs and counting. By the time she was 18 months old she not only could recite the alphabet, she could recognize and find each letter. Through her toddler years we spent hours each day working puzzles, playing games, reading, and learning songs, shapes, and all the other typical "toddler stuff". When she was 3, I felt she needed to have a few hours each day to be around little children her age, and to learn more. So I sent her off to preschool, where I discovered she already knew all the things they were teaching. I still felt it was "good" for her to be with other kids, though, and I was very actively involved with her classroom, coming in and helping the teachers a couple times a week, going on all field trips, and daily helping the other little ones with pick up and drop off at the bus area.
Everyone praised me for such a smart daughter, but I really didn't think THEN, and I STILL don't think that she was really any SMARTER; she just had a mother who spent her days working with her from infancy onward, teaching her things. When I couldn't think of any more to teach her I bought C workbooks for math and spelling and reading and writing, and worked with her more. At that time I had never HEARD of home schooling, and I wouldn't have considered it if I HAD heard of it. Little did I know that I WAS home schooling.
C turned 5, and off she went to Kindergarten. And that's where it all fell apart. She spent the first semester crying and begging not to go to school. There were a couple of boys in her class who taunted her, poking her with pencils as she tried to do her worksheets, calling her very vulgar names (fat c*nt, and dumb b**ch the 2 most frequently used). These boys caused her to be afraid of going to school, and because of her fears I felt like a horrible mother forcing her to go every day to a place that was "good" for her. I spoke with her teacher, and her teacher said, " I know, these boys are horrible, but there is nothing we can do about it. They come from troubled homes, and we are supposed to give them leniency. They call ME those same names." Well, I couldn't believe THAT. There is no way a teacher is going to be told to ALLOW that kind of language and bullying, and I was horrified this was going on in KINDERGARTEN! So, I took my issues to the principal, and lo and behold, the teacher had not been misinformed, the principal ALSO told me these boys come from troubled homes, and need encouragement, not discipline. Well, I'm all for encouraging children, but not in negative behaviors that involve verbal and physical abuse! I wondered if these children were so abusive and vulgar at the age of FIVE, what would they be like in HIGH SCHOOL?!? What kind of men would they be? How would they treat their wives or girlfriends when they were older?
Well, I guess the teacher and principal got tired of me being a pest and not shutting up about what my daughter had to endure every day, because one day in January, they called and informed me that they were having a little problem with C. Since she was so unhappy in Mrs. C's class, they switched her into Mr. D's class. They didn't let either of us know they were going to switch her, they didn't prepare C, they just pulled her out of class one day and told her she had to go be in Mr. D's class. Mr. D was a brand new teacher. He had never taught before, until this semester. They gave him a class of 12 children. C had LOVED her "old" teacher, and while she had to endure abuses no ADULT should put up with, let alone a child, she was, quite naturally, scared and didn't know anyone in this new class other than....the 2 boys who had spent the first semester tormenting her. Yes, THEY were switched into Mr D.'s class too!!!! The principal told me C was having a little problem. I asked, "What do you mean?" And the principal said, "Well Mr. D can't get her to lift her head off the desk. She has been crying since this morning when we put her in his class. She wouldn't even get out of her seat to have lunch. " Mind you, this was at 2:00, just minutes before I was walking out the door to go pick her up.
After meeting Mr. D, and talking with him about a half hour with C included in the conversation, I decided to give his class a try. As this was his first semester teaching, they had only given him a small class. They gave him a few of the kids who caused problems. And C was deemed a problem causer for 2 reasons: 1.) because the other children picked on her, and 2.) because she already knew everything they were trying to teach the rest of her class, and so spent much of her time reading books because she finished her work so early, and they didn't know what to do with her. We agreed to have C be in his class for 2 weeks only. If, after 2 weeks, she still wanted to go back to Mrs. C's class she could.
Mr. D personally called me every day letting me know how she was doing. The first few days she refused to do anything but cry, and refused to eat lunch or go outside for recess. She, literally, would not leave her desk. However, by the end of 2 weeks, C began joyfully running to meet me when I picked her up, telling me all about new things she was learning, cool things the class was doing, and best of all....the 2 little boys who had been so mean to her all along and yet had been transferred into Mr. D's class...well Mr. D didn't tolerate their language, their bullying, and their disruptiveness. Somehow HE managed to run a class, teach the children, and keep the children under control. Mr. D felt so bad for C; he felt personally responsible for her being moved into his classroom, and being so sad, scared, and miserable. So, he made it a personal goal to make her LIKE school, make her ENJOY coming, and show her that no one would be allowed to hurt her in his class.
By the end of the school year, C had learned tons. She was reading fluently, waking up smiling, excited to go to school, and was only sad when she realized that finishing kindergarten meant leaving her beloved Mr. D behind. ALL the children put in his class loved that man, even the 2 little boys who had been so out of control. Well, heck, *I* loved that man...he gave me back my happy little girl who LIKED school. I thought so highly of his teaching and classroom abilities I wrote a letter to the administration and the school board on his behalf because they weren't sure they wanted to keep him on in our district,, because he was so new. Funny, how a tenured teacher and a principal couldn't figure out how to manage troubled kids, and one accelerated child, but a 23 year old fresh out of college not only managed just fine, he fostered respect, kindness, and a love of learning.
To be continued.....
Everyone praised me for such a smart daughter, but I really didn't think THEN, and I STILL don't think that she was really any SMARTER; she just had a mother who spent her days working with her from infancy onward, teaching her things. When I couldn't think of any more to teach her I bought C workbooks for math and spelling and reading and writing, and worked with her more. At that time I had never HEARD of home schooling, and I wouldn't have considered it if I HAD heard of it. Little did I know that I WAS home schooling.
C turned 5, and off she went to Kindergarten. And that's where it all fell apart. She spent the first semester crying and begging not to go to school. There were a couple of boys in her class who taunted her, poking her with pencils as she tried to do her worksheets, calling her very vulgar names (fat c*nt, and dumb b**ch the 2 most frequently used). These boys caused her to be afraid of going to school, and because of her fears I felt like a horrible mother forcing her to go every day to a place that was "good" for her. I spoke with her teacher, and her teacher said, " I know, these boys are horrible, but there is nothing we can do about it. They come from troubled homes, and we are supposed to give them leniency. They call ME those same names." Well, I couldn't believe THAT. There is no way a teacher is going to be told to ALLOW that kind of language and bullying, and I was horrified this was going on in KINDERGARTEN! So, I took my issues to the principal, and lo and behold, the teacher had not been misinformed, the principal ALSO told me these boys come from troubled homes, and need encouragement, not discipline. Well, I'm all for encouraging children, but not in negative behaviors that involve verbal and physical abuse! I wondered if these children were so abusive and vulgar at the age of FIVE, what would they be like in HIGH SCHOOL?!? What kind of men would they be? How would they treat their wives or girlfriends when they were older?
Well, I guess the teacher and principal got tired of me being a pest and not shutting up about what my daughter had to endure every day, because one day in January, they called and informed me that they were having a little problem with C. Since she was so unhappy in Mrs. C's class, they switched her into Mr. D's class. They didn't let either of us know they were going to switch her, they didn't prepare C, they just pulled her out of class one day and told her she had to go be in Mr. D's class. Mr. D was a brand new teacher. He had never taught before, until this semester. They gave him a class of 12 children. C had LOVED her "old" teacher, and while she had to endure abuses no ADULT should put up with, let alone a child, she was, quite naturally, scared and didn't know anyone in this new class other than....the 2 boys who had spent the first semester tormenting her. Yes, THEY were switched into Mr D.'s class too!!!! The principal told me C was having a little problem. I asked, "What do you mean?" And the principal said, "Well Mr. D can't get her to lift her head off the desk. She has been crying since this morning when we put her in his class. She wouldn't even get out of her seat to have lunch. " Mind you, this was at 2:00, just minutes before I was walking out the door to go pick her up.
After meeting Mr. D, and talking with him about a half hour with C included in the conversation, I decided to give his class a try. As this was his first semester teaching, they had only given him a small class. They gave him a few of the kids who caused problems. And C was deemed a problem causer for 2 reasons: 1.) because the other children picked on her, and 2.) because she already knew everything they were trying to teach the rest of her class, and so spent much of her time reading books because she finished her work so early, and they didn't know what to do with her. We agreed to have C be in his class for 2 weeks only. If, after 2 weeks, she still wanted to go back to Mrs. C's class she could.
Mr. D personally called me every day letting me know how she was doing. The first few days she refused to do anything but cry, and refused to eat lunch or go outside for recess. She, literally, would not leave her desk. However, by the end of 2 weeks, C began joyfully running to meet me when I picked her up, telling me all about new things she was learning, cool things the class was doing, and best of all....the 2 little boys who had been so mean to her all along and yet had been transferred into Mr. D's class...well Mr. D didn't tolerate their language, their bullying, and their disruptiveness. Somehow HE managed to run a class, teach the children, and keep the children under control. Mr. D felt so bad for C; he felt personally responsible for her being moved into his classroom, and being so sad, scared, and miserable. So, he made it a personal goal to make her LIKE school, make her ENJOY coming, and show her that no one would be allowed to hurt her in his class.
By the end of the school year, C had learned tons. She was reading fluently, waking up smiling, excited to go to school, and was only sad when she realized that finishing kindergarten meant leaving her beloved Mr. D behind. ALL the children put in his class loved that man, even the 2 little boys who had been so out of control. Well, heck, *I* loved that man...he gave me back my happy little girl who LIKED school. I thought so highly of his teaching and classroom abilities I wrote a letter to the administration and the school board on his behalf because they weren't sure they wanted to keep him on in our district,, because he was so new. Funny, how a tenured teacher and a principal couldn't figure out how to manage troubled kids, and one accelerated child, but a 23 year old fresh out of college not only managed just fine, he fostered respect, kindness, and a love of learning.
To be continued.....
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Who We Are...A Reintroduction
I began this blog over 3 years ago, shortly after I began home schooling full time. In the past 3 years I have gained new readers, many of which don't personally know our family. Our familial circumstances have also drastically changed, so I feel that it's time to explain a little about who we are, an "introduction" to my newer readers, and a "reintroduction" for those of you who have known me all along.
As it says in my sidebar, my name is Rebecca. I am a stay-at-home-home-schooling-mom. I've raised/am raising 4 daughters. April is 20, B is 17, and neither of them live at home anymore, but both live nearby so that we see them somewhat frequently. Technically, April and B are "step"-daughters, but as I raised them full-time from the ages of 3 and 6, I consider them my own. I guess if we want to be TECHNICAL, they are no longer my actual step-daughters, as I was divorced a year and a half ago from their dad, but again....family isn't simply blood, or marital ties, and these 2 girls will always be daughters to me.
At home with me are my 2 biological daughters. C is 12 1/2 and in 7th grade. E is 8 and in 3rd grade. Both are active in softball. C loves cats to the point of obsession, playing the violin, and reading. E loves ALL animals, playing the piano, listening to music, reading, and helping others. E is the kindest, most generous person I've ever known. C has an attitude just like her mother, yet is a little shy. Both girls love to play outside, BE outside in nature, and being with friends.
I am recently remarried (6 weeks ago) to Mark. Mark is very private, and so am I, so I try not to write about him too often, or say too much when I do.
C and E's dad is Danny, to whom I was married for 12 years. He happens to be getting married (tomorrow) so the girls will have a step-mother, Brandi. As I don't know her, I won't say much about her, either.
That is basically WHO the main members of our family are. As I said, I've been a stay-at-home-mother since I met Danny, and April and B. I was a nurse prior to that, but my priority and Danny's has always been to BE home with our children, to raise them ourselves, to be the primary people they spend time with. No matter how poor we have been at times, we both considered it imperative to put parenting and time with the girls first. It never crossed either of our minds that I work outside the home, leaving my children with someone else, and when we divorced, we both agreed C and E shall remain home schooled.
Now that you know the basics of who is our family, in my next post I will address the main aspect of our life, which is home schooling. Everything I do, every day, from my schedule to my finances ( or lack thereof ) , from the girls visiting their dad to when I am able to do chores and yard work, my life is dictated by putting my daughters first, educating them, spending time with them, giving them the best possible life I can, being the best possible mother I can.
As it says in my sidebar, my name is Rebecca. I am a stay-at-home-home-schooling-mom. I've raised/am raising 4 daughters. April is 20, B is 17, and neither of them live at home anymore, but both live nearby so that we see them somewhat frequently. Technically, April and B are "step"-daughters, but as I raised them full-time from the ages of 3 and 6, I consider them my own. I guess if we want to be TECHNICAL, they are no longer my actual step-daughters, as I was divorced a year and a half ago from their dad, but again....family isn't simply blood, or marital ties, and these 2 girls will always be daughters to me.
At home with me are my 2 biological daughters. C is 12 1/2 and in 7th grade. E is 8 and in 3rd grade. Both are active in softball. C loves cats to the point of obsession, playing the violin, and reading. E loves ALL animals, playing the piano, listening to music, reading, and helping others. E is the kindest, most generous person I've ever known. C has an attitude just like her mother, yet is a little shy. Both girls love to play outside, BE outside in nature, and being with friends.
I am recently remarried (6 weeks ago) to Mark. Mark is very private, and so am I, so I try not to write about him too often, or say too much when I do.
C and E's dad is Danny, to whom I was married for 12 years. He happens to be getting married (tomorrow) so the girls will have a step-mother, Brandi. As I don't know her, I won't say much about her, either.
That is basically WHO the main members of our family are. As I said, I've been a stay-at-home-mother since I met Danny, and April and B. I was a nurse prior to that, but my priority and Danny's has always been to BE home with our children, to raise them ourselves, to be the primary people they spend time with. No matter how poor we have been at times, we both considered it imperative to put parenting and time with the girls first. It never crossed either of our minds that I work outside the home, leaving my children with someone else, and when we divorced, we both agreed C and E shall remain home schooled.
Now that you know the basics of who is our family, in my next post I will address the main aspect of our life, which is home schooling. Everything I do, every day, from my schedule to my finances ( or lack thereof ) , from the girls visiting their dad to when I am able to do chores and yard work, my life is dictated by putting my daughters first, educating them, spending time with them, giving them the best possible life I can, being the best possible mother I can.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Cursive vs Printing vs Keyboarding
E has been steadily learning and practicing her cursive writing. She actually does quite well. While she still labors with anything hand-written, cursive not only speeds her along a LITTLE bit, it is also much more legible...pretty actually. It has been all over the news lately that public schools in 41 states are doing away with cursive, and children will no longer be required to learn it. While I have only recently started seeing news stories about this issue, it has been a topic of debate among home schoolers for at least the past 3 or 4 years. If they can not WRITE cursive,how will they ever learn to READ cursive? Remember, most Americans use cursive as their primary form of writing, and even if they have phased cursive out of the public schools, I feel children should still learn it; if nothing else they need to be able to READ what other people write. And how will they sign their names?
All 3 of my older daughters prefer to print. However, they CAN read and write cursive, and did so for several years until they were of middle school age and allowed to choose. The public schools now feel that cursive is becoming obsolete due to computers and e-mail, cell phones and texts. While I feel it IS important to learn to type, I don't feel children should rely on typing until they can write by hand well, in EITHER form....printing or cursive. My children all learned cursive in 2nd grade...E is a few months behind, as she is going into 3rd grade, but that is due to her possible dysgraphia issues. C is going into 7th grade, and thus far I only allow her to type e-mails (of course) and final drafts of reports or major writing assignments. She is learning to type as she goes, although I will hopefully be able to afford to get her a formal "keyboard" curriculum by the time she is in 9th grade. By 9th grade she will have been printing for 10 years, and writing in cursive for 6. She will have no trouble reverting to whichever form of handwriting she prefers by then, and by 9th grade she will have a true NEED to learn to get around proficiently on the keyboard for lengthier and more frequent writing assignments. For now, though, I prefer to let the computer be used only for "special" assignments, and final drafts. Sort of like I allow the internet to be used only for research on those same types of assignments, and things such as real books and encyclopedias for most of her research.
So while I am all for children learning to type and be proficient on a keyboard, my opinion is that they should FIRST be proficient at good old-fashioned printing and cursive, and have several years of both under their belts before taking the "easy" way out and typing everything.
All 3 of my older daughters prefer to print. However, they CAN read and write cursive, and did so for several years until they were of middle school age and allowed to choose. The public schools now feel that cursive is becoming obsolete due to computers and e-mail, cell phones and texts. While I feel it IS important to learn to type, I don't feel children should rely on typing until they can write by hand well, in EITHER form....printing or cursive. My children all learned cursive in 2nd grade...E is a few months behind, as she is going into 3rd grade, but that is due to her possible dysgraphia issues. C is going into 7th grade, and thus far I only allow her to type e-mails (of course) and final drafts of reports or major writing assignments. She is learning to type as she goes, although I will hopefully be able to afford to get her a formal "keyboard" curriculum by the time she is in 9th grade. By 9th grade she will have been printing for 10 years, and writing in cursive for 6. She will have no trouble reverting to whichever form of handwriting she prefers by then, and by 9th grade she will have a true NEED to learn to get around proficiently on the keyboard for lengthier and more frequent writing assignments. For now, though, I prefer to let the computer be used only for "special" assignments, and final drafts. Sort of like I allow the internet to be used only for research on those same types of assignments, and things such as real books and encyclopedias for most of her research.
So while I am all for children learning to type and be proficient on a keyboard, my opinion is that they should FIRST be proficient at good old-fashioned printing and cursive, and have several years of both under their belts before taking the "easy" way out and typing everything.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Indepence Day/Thank You A and B/and a Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER: For this post I would first like to mention that awhile back I said there were a few private issues in my life that affect our home school, and our life in general. For the past 3 years of writing this blog, I have left personal details out, and kept our names, locations, and identifications private. However, I have been feeling lately that, while still keeping identities private and not betraying TOO much information, I would like to delve a little bit more into aspects of our life that make our family unique, especially among the home schooling crowd. Not that I'm a very inspiring person, but there were many years in my life that I would have been inspired, or at least not quite so ALONE, if I had realized I was not the only one on this planet dealing with such things as alcoholism, abuse, and yes, home schooling as a single parent with no family to help me, watch the kids, or offer financial help, or moral support. I am blessed in that the girls dad(up until the past month) has always been very supportive of home schooling, and that the girls step-dad is also supportive of it. However little I reveal in the ensuing post, it is still a lot more than I have ever PUBLICLY revealed, but I feel it important for others to read the truth, not just some pretty picture of the good things in our life. I hope to soon find time to elaborate more on our particular situation, and yet retain privacy and be respectful of all parties in our family. Ok...on to the main topic...
This is my least favorite holiday. My ex-husband used to make quite a drunken production of The Fourth of July and several days leading up to it. The first time he ever beat me *badly* (requiring medical treatment) was during, and because of, fireworks, when I was 5 months pregnant with my now 12 year old. So, needless to say, for years I dreaded and barely endured this time every year.
But THIS year, I actually ENJOYED it. In our town, for some strange reason, everyone always puts on their big fireworks shows on the 3rd. Both my older 2 daughters live within an hour of me, and they stopped by Saturday night to ask if I'd like them to take C and E to the show last night. After giving it some thought, I called them yesterday and said if they wanted to we could ALL go, and I would drive. Just because *I* don't have any fond memories of the 4th, doesn't mean I shouldn't let C and E have fun and get to see what every American child SHOULD see. We're American, it's our tradition, and sometimes Moms do things they don't want to do for their children.
My oldest daughter (technically they are ex-step-daughters, but as I raised them, spent their whole lives with them, they consider me mom, and I consider them my own)was a bit shocked, "But MOM, you HATE the 4th!", but she and B were both happy with letting me do the driving and come along. They both brought their boyfriends, so there were 7 of us altogether.
Much to my surprise, I had a REALLY GOOD time! We all did. We talked, and laughed, and ate very overpriced cheeseburgers and fries, and a few times remembered some of the humiliating, stupid things the kids' dad used to do, and were simply able to laugh about it, and be thankful none of us have to deal with his abuse any more. Well, MOST of us....E got off the phone crying from his nightly phone call while we were there, and said he was "really mad" that we were all there together, and when C got off her turn on the phone she just rolled her eyes, and said he was being stupid and mad again. (He's been having a few "issues" since my remarriage, and the entire reason we got divorced was because of his abuse of A and his drinking, so naturally he doesn't like that she and I have remained in close contact. )Other than THAT, though, the night was wonderful, and the fireworks actually lasted about 45 minutes, which for around here is a pretty good show. It took us about that long to get out of the parking lot, and then we came home, the girls visited with my husband for a few minutes, and went on their way.
So, not only did we celebrate the anniversary of our NATION'S independence, my 4 daughters and I were able to enjoy and celebrate OUR independence, freedom from abuse and alcoholism, and just have fun, and ENJOY the night, which is the way it should have ALWAYS been. I think it was very good for all of us. Thank you so much A and B for thinking of your little sisters, and for the nice night we had last night.
Happy Fourth of July everyone!
This is my least favorite holiday. My ex-husband used to make quite a drunken production of The Fourth of July and several days leading up to it. The first time he ever beat me *badly* (requiring medical treatment) was during, and because of, fireworks, when I was 5 months pregnant with my now 12 year old. So, needless to say, for years I dreaded and barely endured this time every year.
But THIS year, I actually ENJOYED it. In our town, for some strange reason, everyone always puts on their big fireworks shows on the 3rd. Both my older 2 daughters live within an hour of me, and they stopped by Saturday night to ask if I'd like them to take C and E to the show last night. After giving it some thought, I called them yesterday and said if they wanted to we could ALL go, and I would drive. Just because *I* don't have any fond memories of the 4th, doesn't mean I shouldn't let C and E have fun and get to see what every American child SHOULD see. We're American, it's our tradition, and sometimes Moms do things they don't want to do for their children.
My oldest daughter (technically they are ex-step-daughters, but as I raised them, spent their whole lives with them, they consider me mom, and I consider them my own)was a bit shocked, "But MOM, you HATE the 4th!", but she and B were both happy with letting me do the driving and come along. They both brought their boyfriends, so there were 7 of us altogether.
Much to my surprise, I had a REALLY GOOD time! We all did. We talked, and laughed, and ate very overpriced cheeseburgers and fries, and a few times remembered some of the humiliating, stupid things the kids' dad used to do, and were simply able to laugh about it, and be thankful none of us have to deal with his abuse any more. Well, MOST of us....E got off the phone crying from his nightly phone call while we were there, and said he was "really mad" that we were all there together, and when C got off her turn on the phone she just rolled her eyes, and said he was being stupid and mad again. (He's been having a few "issues" since my remarriage, and the entire reason we got divorced was because of his abuse of A and his drinking, so naturally he doesn't like that she and I have remained in close contact. )Other than THAT, though, the night was wonderful, and the fireworks actually lasted about 45 minutes, which for around here is a pretty good show. It took us about that long to get out of the parking lot, and then we came home, the girls visited with my husband for a few minutes, and went on their way.
So, not only did we celebrate the anniversary of our NATION'S independence, my 4 daughters and I were able to enjoy and celebrate OUR independence, freedom from abuse and alcoholism, and just have fun, and ENJOY the night, which is the way it should have ALWAYS been. I think it was very good for all of us. Thank you so much A and B for thinking of your little sisters, and for the nice night we had last night.
Happy Fourth of July everyone!
Friday, July 1, 2011
A Reminder That No Matter How Tight Times Are, God DOES Provide even the Little Things
I received a complimentary issue of "Homeschool Enrichment" Magazine a few days ago, as I'm sure many of you also have. I've never heard of, let alone read, this particular home school magazine before, but so far I've enjoyed every article in it. But one, in particular, really struck me, because it reminded me of something miraculous in my life that I'd forgotten about.
Back in October, 1998, I was a brand new wife, and a brand new mother. I had 2 step kids that I considered my own and raised their entire lives who were, at that time, 4 and 7 years old. I had a baby less than 3 weeks old, and we were, to say the least, poor as church mice. Our bills weren't much...rent, power, and that as about it. We had propane heat because we lived in the country, and we had well water for the same reason, and we burned our trash, so no garbage or sewer bill. We didn't have a computer, so no internet, and we didn't even have TV, so no cable TV bill. But we also had no income....neither of us worked. We had very little food, because it's hard to buy food with no income. We had a clean house, happy kids, and when my then husband found an odd job here and there, or my mother sent us a little cash, we bought several weeks worth of cheap groceries for the kids, and he and I rationed our food to one meal every 3 or 4 days. By cheap, I mean our kids LIVED on Ramen noodles and bologna sandwiches. On a good day we had grilled cheese and tomato soup.
One morning, I noticed my 2 week old baby girl, C, had thrush. She was screaming in agony, and wouldn't nurse. I called the doctor, and he prescribed some medicine for me to go pick up for her. However, when I called the pharmacy to see how much it was, they said it would be almost $9.00. Now, $9.00 certainly isn't much, but it was about $8.00 more than we had when we scraped out change together.
I couldn't bear seeing my baby girl crying, in pain and hungry, but unable to nurse because of the pain. I was sure she was going to starve to death. I was crying, and, though I had no faith at that time, I didn't know what else to do, so I said, "God, please help me help my baby. Help me find a way to make her better." As I sat there trying to rock her, and both of us crying, D went out to get the mail. One of the envelopes was addressed to my baby, and was obviously a card congratulating us on her birth. I opened it up, and....enclosed was a 5 dollar bill and 4 ones. $9.00.
Now....who in the world sends $9 for a baby gift? NO one sends such an odd amount. People would either send a an even $10 or $20, or just a card and gift, but not a 5 and 4 ones. So here i am, not a Christian yet, having NO faith, but in my desperation to calm my baby and help her get well I cried to God without even thinking. And less than 15 minutes later not only did he provide, he very clearly provided the EXACT odd amount I needed to go buy C her thrush medication. Maybe back then I didn't yet have faith, but He sure wanted me to know he listens!
Times for me right now are just about as tough as they were back then. I have no babies, my youngest daughter is now 8. I have no rent, as I own my home, but I have way more bills, and again, no income, and haven't had child support in over 6 months. I AM a Christian now, and I have a very STRONG faith, a faith that actually began the very day I am writing about, and 15 months later was fully planted. But I think God sending me the particular free issue of a home school magazine in the mail at this particular time in my life was meant as a reminder....the similarities to the story in the magazine, and to my OWN story are just too eerily similar to be a coincidence. And I sure needed that reminder at this time in my life that no matter how tight my financial situation happens to be right now, He WILL always provide for us.
Back in October, 1998, I was a brand new wife, and a brand new mother. I had 2 step kids that I considered my own and raised their entire lives who were, at that time, 4 and 7 years old. I had a baby less than 3 weeks old, and we were, to say the least, poor as church mice. Our bills weren't much...rent, power, and that as about it. We had propane heat because we lived in the country, and we had well water for the same reason, and we burned our trash, so no garbage or sewer bill. We didn't have a computer, so no internet, and we didn't even have TV, so no cable TV bill. But we also had no income....neither of us worked. We had very little food, because it's hard to buy food with no income. We had a clean house, happy kids, and when my then husband found an odd job here and there, or my mother sent us a little cash, we bought several weeks worth of cheap groceries for the kids, and he and I rationed our food to one meal every 3 or 4 days. By cheap, I mean our kids LIVED on Ramen noodles and bologna sandwiches. On a good day we had grilled cheese and tomato soup.
One morning, I noticed my 2 week old baby girl, C, had thrush. She was screaming in agony, and wouldn't nurse. I called the doctor, and he prescribed some medicine for me to go pick up for her. However, when I called the pharmacy to see how much it was, they said it would be almost $9.00. Now, $9.00 certainly isn't much, but it was about $8.00 more than we had when we scraped out change together.
I couldn't bear seeing my baby girl crying, in pain and hungry, but unable to nurse because of the pain. I was sure she was going to starve to death. I was crying, and, though I had no faith at that time, I didn't know what else to do, so I said, "God, please help me help my baby. Help me find a way to make her better." As I sat there trying to rock her, and both of us crying, D went out to get the mail. One of the envelopes was addressed to my baby, and was obviously a card congratulating us on her birth. I opened it up, and....enclosed was a 5 dollar bill and 4 ones. $9.00.
Now....who in the world sends $9 for a baby gift? NO one sends such an odd amount. People would either send a an even $10 or $20, or just a card and gift, but not a 5 and 4 ones. So here i am, not a Christian yet, having NO faith, but in my desperation to calm my baby and help her get well I cried to God without even thinking. And less than 15 minutes later not only did he provide, he very clearly provided the EXACT odd amount I needed to go buy C her thrush medication. Maybe back then I didn't yet have faith, but He sure wanted me to know he listens!
Times for me right now are just about as tough as they were back then. I have no babies, my youngest daughter is now 8. I have no rent, as I own my home, but I have way more bills, and again, no income, and haven't had child support in over 6 months. I AM a Christian now, and I have a very STRONG faith, a faith that actually began the very day I am writing about, and 15 months later was fully planted. But I think God sending me the particular free issue of a home school magazine in the mail at this particular time in my life was meant as a reminder....the similarities to the story in the magazine, and to my OWN story are just too eerily similar to be a coincidence. And I sure needed that reminder at this time in my life that no matter how tight my financial situation happens to be right now, He WILL always provide for us.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Bragging on E a Little : )
E is 8, and in her second year of softball. Last year she did well at practices, but froze up during games. She spent much of her time at homeplate turning around searching for me to make sure I was watching, waving at me, and striking out. Last night E had her first game of THIS year. Much to my surprise she did not have one, single out. She was up to bat 6 times, and she hit the ball each and every time. Not only did she HIT the ball, she WHACKED the ball into the outfield! She had 5 singles, and a double. She COULD have had 2 doubles, but on one of them, she didn't realize she had plenty of time to keep running, and stopped on first base. E came home on all of her at-bats, so was responsible for 6 of the 18 runs total her team scored to win their opening game. I don't know how many RBI's she had; I wasn't paying attention.
When it wasn't her teams turn at bat, she stood in for the pitcher. On the first game with each new team of the year, the coaches pitch, so E wasn't actually pitching, but she stood there and fielded all 6 innings. And picking her nose. Constantly. LOL I called her over at one point and whispered to her that everyone could SEE her picking her nose. She said, "Okay." and went right back to it. LOL! Maybe all those boogers helped the ball stick , because she stopped many balls, and threw a couple girls out at first, and tagged another girl out.
I have never seen E play softball so well. I have seen her improve this year during practice, but she really SHINED last night, and I'm very proud of her, and of ALL the girls on the team. They all played well, and deserved their 18-8 win.
When it wasn't her teams turn at bat, she stood in for the pitcher. On the first game with each new team of the year, the coaches pitch, so E wasn't actually pitching, but she stood there and fielded all 6 innings. And picking her nose. Constantly. LOL I called her over at one point and whispered to her that everyone could SEE her picking her nose. She said, "Okay." and went right back to it. LOL! Maybe all those boogers helped the ball stick , because she stopped many balls, and threw a couple girls out at first, and tagged another girl out.
I have never seen E play softball so well. I have seen her improve this year during practice, but she really SHINED last night, and I'm very proud of her, and of ALL the girls on the team. They all played well, and deserved their 18-8 win.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Very Busy
The girls and I have had a busy couple of weeks.
I'll begin by adding a little more information to my last post about getting married. I have known Mark for 3 1/2 years. I was there for him when his daughter died, and he was there for me when my ex-husband left the girls and I. What began as a good friendship gradually developed into more, and ten days ago we became husband and wife.
Softball season is now in full-swing. (no pun intended, lol) C had her first A-league game yesterday. They lost, but C got home to score 4 of the 8 runs her team had. She hit 2 singles, a triple, and got a lucky run on a dropped strike. She pitched 2 innings. E's first game will be tomorrow evening.
E and I managed to get in some good days of school in last week. As I said previously, we won't be doing a full-time school schedule, but I hope to work through E's Science, and finish teaching her cursive writing, and also keep up with working on her English. We didn't get to any English, but we DID complete 3 lessons in her science, which both of us are enjoying, and she learned FOUR new cursive letters, both capitol and lowercase. Her handwriting is still very labored, but her cursive is SO much prettier and neater than her printing.
C has now had 5 violin lessons. She has advanced very quickly though her beginner book; she is now half way through it. ( Lesson 100 out of 195 ) She is dedicated in practicing, and working very hard. Her teacher has notified us that this is his final year of teaching, and that when the summer is over, he won't be doing it anymore. As we both like him, and he appears to be doing a very good job instructing her, we are disappointed that after so many years of waiting to be able to get her a violin and a teacher, she will now be losing him so soon after beginning lessons. Please pray C can find another good music teacher with no lapses in her lessons.
My older 2 daughters, A and B, came to visit us yesterday. They both live within a couple hours drive of us, but it is rare we get to have all 4 of the girls together. I see A every few months, and B seems to just randomly drop in, but it isn't often they both are here together. They will be coming back in 2 weeks to see their little sisters play softball.
Another busy week is in store. I have 6 softball games in the next 6 days, plus violin lessons, and every spare minute we have the girls are playing with their friends (because they are unsocialized home-schoolers) working on small bits of school, and trying to keep up with house and yard work.
I'll write when I can.....blessings to all! : )
I'll begin by adding a little more information to my last post about getting married. I have known Mark for 3 1/2 years. I was there for him when his daughter died, and he was there for me when my ex-husband left the girls and I. What began as a good friendship gradually developed into more, and ten days ago we became husband and wife.
Softball season is now in full-swing. (no pun intended, lol) C had her first A-league game yesterday. They lost, but C got home to score 4 of the 8 runs her team had. She hit 2 singles, a triple, and got a lucky run on a dropped strike. She pitched 2 innings. E's first game will be tomorrow evening.
E and I managed to get in some good days of school in last week. As I said previously, we won't be doing a full-time school schedule, but I hope to work through E's Science, and finish teaching her cursive writing, and also keep up with working on her English. We didn't get to any English, but we DID complete 3 lessons in her science, which both of us are enjoying, and she learned FOUR new cursive letters, both capitol and lowercase. Her handwriting is still very labored, but her cursive is SO much prettier and neater than her printing.
C has now had 5 violin lessons. She has advanced very quickly though her beginner book; she is now half way through it. ( Lesson 100 out of 195 ) She is dedicated in practicing, and working very hard. Her teacher has notified us that this is his final year of teaching, and that when the summer is over, he won't be doing it anymore. As we both like him, and he appears to be doing a very good job instructing her, we are disappointed that after so many years of waiting to be able to get her a violin and a teacher, she will now be losing him so soon after beginning lessons. Please pray C can find another good music teacher with no lapses in her lessons.
My older 2 daughters, A and B, came to visit us yesterday. They both live within a couple hours drive of us, but it is rare we get to have all 4 of the girls together. I see A every few months, and B seems to just randomly drop in, but it isn't often they both are here together. They will be coming back in 2 weeks to see their little sisters play softball.
Another busy week is in store. I have 6 softball games in the next 6 days, plus violin lessons, and every spare minute we have the girls are playing with their friends (because they are unsocialized home-schoolers) working on small bits of school, and trying to keep up with house and yard work.
I'll write when I can.....blessings to all! : )
Monday, May 30, 2011
Summer Plans
I said that I was going to post our summer plans. I have several goals for this summer, some academically, some personally, and I also have some plans for this blog.
I think I will start with the plans I have for this blog. The major change I plan to undertake is to write a little bit of our background, our history. Judging by my "stats" page, I am gaining a few more readers, and for those new to my blog I feel I should "re-introduce" myself. I began writing three years ago, and just about every aspect of my life EXCEPT home schooling has changed since then. I also plan to talk a little bit more about our particular situation. If homeschooling is still an "eccentric" way of life, then how much MORE odd is it to have a single, divorced, stay at home mom doing it all on her own? No husband, no income, no baby sitters, and no family other than my daughters? Hopefully, over the next few weeks/months I can address the girls and I's own unique, personal situation in a little more depth. I'd also like to try to address WHY I am divorced, when divorce goes against everything I believe in, both as a Christian, and as a wife and mother. This part I am still having a few issues in how to approach. I have so much to tell, but I'd like to do it without "invading" too much of my girls and my ex-husband, and my own privacy. And yet, I feel it is important to write down, not only for my daughters, but for any of you moms that may be reading this.
As for academic goals....those are so much more concrete, and therefore so much easier to write about. For C, my 7th grader...our goals are relatively simple. She will be spending 4-5 days a week or more either playing softball, practicing softball, or watching her little sister's softball games. This is C's 6th year in softball. I also plan to have C continue with her violin lessons. She has only had 3 lessons, but I am actually quite amazed at how well she is doing, how hard she is practicing, and how fast her teacher is advancing her. She has passionately wanted to take violin lessons for 4 years, and so far she is exceeding my expectations. (To be quite honest, she is under threat....she knows I have NO income, and those $15 a week lessons REALLY hurt. She knows if she DOESN'T advance quickly I will consider it a waste of not only time, but much needed money, and the lessons will stop.) As for school work...C and I usually do very intermittent school over the summer break. She is already a month into HER break, and we haven't done one thing, which is fine. My goals for her school work are to maybe get one more whole chapter of Math done, and maybe one chapter of Science. And if not....well, then she and I can both enjoy a first....a summer with NO school. At least for her.
E's goals for the summer? Well, E is also in softball....her second year. She will be at the ball park on all the same days as her sister. E will also be continuing piano lessons. I am her piano teacher, and our lessons are very sporadic. I may do 3 lessons in one week, and then go a month doing NO lessons. Anyone who reads this blog knows E is just as much or more passionate about the piano as her sister is with violin. E still plays at a beginner level, but that is mostly due to my busy days and not being consistent enough as her teacher. She memorizes everything, she plays every day, hours a day, and would advance MUCH quicker if I spent more time being able to teach the "extras", like piano. I am hoping with less school work, I can do better at teaching E more.
I also have quite a few school work plans for E. As I said in my last post I hope to have her complete Level 2 of First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind, and in addition, have her finish the second half of her Harcourt Learning Language Arts workbook. I also plan to begin and hopefully, complete several of her McRuffy Science 3 lessons while we have time. Science is one of those FUN, but TIME-CONSUMING, classes, and this will be the first year I have home schooled and had the 2 girls in 2 separate science classes. They have always done the Apologia science books together till now. Because of these 2 reasons, I think summer would be a good chance to get ahead with E's science, when we can spend more time since I am not working much with C for a few months.
My MAJOR goal is to have E writing completely in cursive by August. Um....for those of you that are long-time readers....yeah, I know that I may have mentioned this goal of E writing in cursive one or two times in the past. THIS time I MEAN it! LOL E has severe handwriting issues----to the extent that I believe she may have a form of dysgraphia, and I have had to spend far more time just helping her better her PRINTING, than introducing her to CURSIVE.
This isn't necessarily a GOAL, but I have it in the back of my mind to get E through at least the first 20 or so lessons in Horizons Math 3. Math is her favorite subject, and Horizons has so many lessons that it would be NICE to get part of them done, but because she does so well with it, I don't consider it IMPERATIVE.
So...in a nutshell...our summer plans are to carry on with music lessons, get through the hot, humid days of softball, spend quite a bit of time on E's schoolwork, but not every day, and not too MUCH time that she can't be a kid and enjoy playing and being with her friends. And ideally, I will find a way to go into some rather personal things writing here on this blog, without getting TOO personal.There is, literally, TONS in my brain, just itching to get out in print, yet I have to be careful what and how I say things. And if you know me, I am NOT a censor-my-words kind of gal. So...we'll see if I am able to meet this goal.
Blessings to all of you, and Happy Memorial Day. : )
I think I will start with the plans I have for this blog. The major change I plan to undertake is to write a little bit of our background, our history. Judging by my "stats" page, I am gaining a few more readers, and for those new to my blog I feel I should "re-introduce" myself. I began writing three years ago, and just about every aspect of my life EXCEPT home schooling has changed since then. I also plan to talk a little bit more about our particular situation. If homeschooling is still an "eccentric" way of life, then how much MORE odd is it to have a single, divorced, stay at home mom doing it all on her own? No husband, no income, no baby sitters, and no family other than my daughters? Hopefully, over the next few weeks/months I can address the girls and I's own unique, personal situation in a little more depth. I'd also like to try to address WHY I am divorced, when divorce goes against everything I believe in, both as a Christian, and as a wife and mother. This part I am still having a few issues in how to approach. I have so much to tell, but I'd like to do it without "invading" too much of my girls and my ex-husband, and my own privacy. And yet, I feel it is important to write down, not only for my daughters, but for any of you moms that may be reading this.
As for academic goals....those are so much more concrete, and therefore so much easier to write about. For C, my 7th grader...our goals are relatively simple. She will be spending 4-5 days a week or more either playing softball, practicing softball, or watching her little sister's softball games. This is C's 6th year in softball. I also plan to have C continue with her violin lessons. She has only had 3 lessons, but I am actually quite amazed at how well she is doing, how hard she is practicing, and how fast her teacher is advancing her. She has passionately wanted to take violin lessons for 4 years, and so far she is exceeding my expectations. (To be quite honest, she is under threat....she knows I have NO income, and those $15 a week lessons REALLY hurt. She knows if she DOESN'T advance quickly I will consider it a waste of not only time, but much needed money, and the lessons will stop.) As for school work...C and I usually do very intermittent school over the summer break. She is already a month into HER break, and we haven't done one thing, which is fine. My goals for her school work are to maybe get one more whole chapter of Math done, and maybe one chapter of Science. And if not....well, then she and I can both enjoy a first....a summer with NO school. At least for her.
E's goals for the summer? Well, E is also in softball....her second year. She will be at the ball park on all the same days as her sister. E will also be continuing piano lessons. I am her piano teacher, and our lessons are very sporadic. I may do 3 lessons in one week, and then go a month doing NO lessons. Anyone who reads this blog knows E is just as much or more passionate about the piano as her sister is with violin. E still plays at a beginner level, but that is mostly due to my busy days and not being consistent enough as her teacher. She memorizes everything, she plays every day, hours a day, and would advance MUCH quicker if I spent more time being able to teach the "extras", like piano. I am hoping with less school work, I can do better at teaching E more.
I also have quite a few school work plans for E. As I said in my last post I hope to have her complete Level 2 of First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind, and in addition, have her finish the second half of her Harcourt Learning Language Arts workbook. I also plan to begin and hopefully, complete several of her McRuffy Science 3 lessons while we have time. Science is one of those FUN, but TIME-CONSUMING, classes, and this will be the first year I have home schooled and had the 2 girls in 2 separate science classes. They have always done the Apologia science books together till now. Because of these 2 reasons, I think summer would be a good chance to get ahead with E's science, when we can spend more time since I am not working much with C for a few months.
My MAJOR goal is to have E writing completely in cursive by August. Um....for those of you that are long-time readers....yeah, I know that I may have mentioned this goal of E writing in cursive one or two times in the past. THIS time I MEAN it! LOL E has severe handwriting issues----to the extent that I believe she may have a form of dysgraphia, and I have had to spend far more time just helping her better her PRINTING, than introducing her to CURSIVE.
This isn't necessarily a GOAL, but I have it in the back of my mind to get E through at least the first 20 or so lessons in Horizons Math 3. Math is her favorite subject, and Horizons has so many lessons that it would be NICE to get part of them done, but because she does so well with it, I don't consider it IMPERATIVE.
So...in a nutshell...our summer plans are to carry on with music lessons, get through the hot, humid days of softball, spend quite a bit of time on E's schoolwork, but not every day, and not too MUCH time that she can't be a kid and enjoy playing and being with her friends. And ideally, I will find a way to go into some rather personal things writing here on this blog, without getting TOO personal.There is, literally, TONS in my brain, just itching to get out in print, yet I have to be careful what and how I say things. And if you know me, I am NOT a censor-my-words kind of gal. So...we'll see if I am able to meet this goal.
Blessings to all of you, and Happy Memorial Day. : )
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)