Everything Homeschooling

The other day I found another great resource online.  A few homeschool parents/educators have taken the time to log countless websites and organize them in a weekly curriculum format.  I haven’t explored all there is to the site yet, but there are homeschool forms, lesson plans, and more.   We have been using it since we found it, and I love the links.  With multiple things to do in a day, finding new and interesting website can be time consuming.  I think they’ve done an excellent job.  I am not affiliated with the site and I don’t benefit financially for referring it.  But for $15 a year I though it was worth mentioning.  In addition to the book work we do, this has added a great supplement.

Check it out at  http://www.everythinghomeschooling.com/

This mornings warm-up

It’s been a very busy last couple of months.   So much that I haven’t posted to this blog.  This morning after breakfast, the children where in such high energy.  Literally!  (I think it was the breakfast cereal) So to put that energy to use I had them create poems:

“My Favorite Race Car”
I like my favorite race car
It makes me think about racing
When I play with my favorite race car
It makes me wanna dance!
YEAH!

Jalaw Benjamin
age 6
Homeschool

“Spring”

Spring is my last name
and Winter is my game
I like to play in both weathers
and in each I say
YAY… HOORAY
It’s a SUPER-FANTASTIC DAY!

Ania Benjamin
Age 8
Homeschool

Low-Budget DIY Currriculum

I thought I would try something new this time, and check out one of the great umbrella school programs for our general academics.  I found quite a few that I felt would be a good fit and provide a lot of support.  I see why many homeschool parents choose this route.  The curriculum has been laid out, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, and for many parents time is still limited especially when homeschooling multiple ages.  Planning and implementing a well rounded program takes time, and some investment whether you do it yourself or use an umbrella program.  I can’t say that either is better, it really depends on your family’s circumstances.  After looking at our budget, and our needs with an Infant, Preschooler, Kindergartner, Second Grader, and Tenth Grader, I decided to stick with a low budget Do-It-Yourself curriculum for my elementary children, while I’m studying to implement a Montessori learning environment (more on that in another post).

I have to admit, its not completely DIY, but I am not paying for someone else to guide us.  This is the curriculum I used for Jahril, and for teaching at the homeschool co-op.  It’s called Learn At Home and its published by American Education and a version by School Specialty Publishing.  You can find it on Amazon.com or from the publisher at http://www.carsondellosa.com The great thing about the curriculum is that it covers the basics; Language Arts, Math, Reading, Spelling, Science and Social Studies with lessons planned out Monday -Friday, for a full school year.  It costs between $12-$20.00 usd compared to the hundreds of dollars for some of the guided /umbrella programs.   There is a curriculum book for each grade  K-6th.  All we have to do is buy classroom materials and supplement the curriculum with our Cultural and Spiritual  studies, and any other subjects we choose to learn.  Even though I don’t teach everything exactly the way its written, especially when it comes to the meaning of Holidays, and History, I think it is important for my children to know these things so when they do attend College, and sit for exams they know what their peers have been taught.

My tenth grader is currently taking classes at the Community College on an academic scholarship, and independent study at home.  We are going to try out one of the online high school/ homeschool programs as well.  I like the idea of investing in a program that can give him AP classes, and credits that are accepted by Colleges and Universities.  Many of the programs are accredited, and provide AP classes and NCAA approval.  Online high school is great for the independent student, and is a good third party validation when applying for college.  If your child is active in sports he can also apply for sports scholarships when taking classes through a NCAA approved homeschool high school program.  You can choose one class or an entire grade-level program.  We’re currently looking at Bridgeway Academy (http://www.homeschoolacademy.com) Keystone ( http://www.keystonehighschool.com) and National High School (http://www.nationalhighschool.com).   I’ll keep you posted.  Happy Homeschooling!

Snow City

The city streets are thawing in our area, and the excitement of the snowfall has subsided. But we will never forget the Snowfall of February 2010.  While many of our neighbors were cursing the city, the mayor, and the snow, the children found an immediate opportunity to become snow engineers.  After getting over my own cold-phobia, we suited up to go out and experience  “snow-mageddon” for ourselves.   I have to admit, seeing the snow nearly cover Iyana, and up to Ania’s waist was amazing.  I have never seen snow like that in my life.  Unfortunately the cord to my video camera broke, so I can’t show you until one of my next posts.   Ania decided to dig a path 30 feet to a tree covered cove, Jalaw tried to make a snow house,  Iyana dug snow ditches, and Jahril created a series of snow tunnels that led to a large snow cave.  Judah was more reserved and enjoyed putting on all of the snow gear more than the idea of touching snow.  As for me, after 10 minutes, I called retreat, and found a comfy chair inside to sit and watch the children create their snow city.

The Line in the Sand

Once again I tried to do the “go back to work and put the children in school thing”.  Over the holidays my younger children basically told me that enough was enough.  They wanted to homeschool again. 

I knew that it would happen sooner than later but I thought it would be me in convince mode.  I figured I could last until June, until I “get things in order”.  You know the phrase we say when we have a plan that may or not work…

They must have been reading my thoughts.  Have you ever felt bad about taking your children to school.  Well, I know many people have reasons to feel that way, but I’m talking about a “good school”.  One where the teachers DO care, and the environment is nice. 

I felt like a terrible mom dropping my children of at school everyday.  I have been homeschooling since my first son was born 15 years ago, and he has only been schooled outside of home for 3-4 of those years (off & on).  I felt like I was depriving my children of the BEST education–a home education.  I felt that I was trading their lives for money.  At the same time I felt that I needed to be “sensible”.  We need money to survive, so maybe sending them to school was the best option. 

Winter break was the turning point.  Our time together made us all relize that we are truly happy when we are learning together as a family.  Our home is at peace.  Nothing can replace that feeling for me or my children. 

So now, “reality” sets in, and the bills need to be paid, and my husband cannot do it all by himself.  I was tormented for 4 days, trying to decide which road to follow.  My spirit which tells me to bring my children home NOW, or my thinker brain which tells me that putting my business on the backburner will set us back financially big time.

Well, you guessed it.  I went with bringing my children home.  I decided to really look at my business and see how I can truly make it work from home, and around our homeschool schedule.  I decided not to play with their education by flip-flopping them back and forth into the school system.  I also decided to stick with my first job as a  homeschooling mommy, and ALL other jobs have to get in where they fit in.  

I finally drew a line in the sand.  As long as I have health & strength, my children will continue to homeschool through high school.