Prayers This Week:
**For better health for our kids.
After a year of struggling with some medical issues with our daughter, issues we are still dealing with, we have just found out that we are just beginning a long road of more medical issues with our son, who already has asthma.
**Peace for a friend and her children who are going through a nasty divorce.
Something New This Week:
This morning we joined a friend at the church I grew up going to.
It was nice to be in a church that holds to the same beliefs I grew up with.
Something Old This Week:
As much as I would love them to, the laundry and dishes still will not do themself.
As much as I would love them to, the laundry and dishes still will not do themself.
And the closet monster has still not been caught. I'm thinking of upping the Reward for the capture and relocation of the closet monster.
What Mama Said This Week:
A lot:
1. "QUIT JUMPING OFF THE COUCH!!!"
2. "GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY!!"
Obviousley we have some energy that needs to be run off!
From The Mouth Of Kiddos:
My Little Man has been telling us for awhile now that he wants to live at home forever.
Today he told daddy that he thinks he wants to move into his own house when he is an adult, but he wants to live right next to us so he can come home anytime, and at night when he's scared.
Homeschool Thoughts:
Education should not look identical for each child.
Children learn best when supported by those around in pursuing what interests them.
I am not an unschooler, but I am beginning to see some of the great benefits of letting go of the cookie cutter style education and allowing children to learn in a "natural" way. And allowing them to truly be a child, for the short time that they have to be a child.
How we homeschool now and how it began for us is very different. I was very rigid and strict, a box checker of lessons. Now, I am learning (sometimes being forced) to step back and let life happen and learn as we go. A frustrating yet wonderful change to our homeschool and lifestyle.
Homeschool Picture:
Last week when we went to the Ghost Town, Wild Thing picked out a geode and was excited to find the beautiful crystals inside. He was so sweet, he even gave me a small piece I could keep as my own.
What we are reading:
The Family Under the Bridge, by Natalie Savage Carlson
*I am reading this one to the kids, just for fun. So far the kids are enjoying the story.
Dear America- Survival in the Storm- The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards by Katelan Janke
*This one Mariah just started as her reading for school. I skimmed through and I think she is going to enjoy this book and learn a great deal as well.
Hard Gold- The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859 by Avi
*I happend across this at the library the other day and I think it's going to be a great book for our Colorado unit. We are a few chapters in so far and quite interesting, even to the kids. I have enjoyed adding in some accent and dramatic tones to the story. It's working to keep the kids attention.
On the Trail of Colorado Critters by Mary Taylor Young
*Just for the boys! Even though Mariah usually sits close and listens in.
They love learning about animals that live in Colorado and many we see right here around our home.
Roads to Follow- a great 1950's reader book with a variety of stories and peoms.
*Wild Thing has done much better reading with the older style kids books. The first book that really caught his attention was another 1950's children's book with a collection of stories and poems. And I love the simple and clean stories he reads and of course the morals, respect and good behavior that is throughout these stories.
And no, I am not calling anyone from the 50's old. Well not really! :-)
Homeschool Tip Of The Week:
When all else fails and mom has a meltdown, take the school day off and have fun!
Thursday was a rough day for me. I was not in a mind set for school. So we took an "emotional day" and went to the movies. Here we have a little theatre that only costs $1.75 per person. I spent a whoping $7 (before snacks) to take the kids and myself to see the Ice Age, Contininteal Drift movie. We all had a nice time and even I enjoyed the movie.
It was more productive as family fun time than school would have been that day.
Favorite Quote This Week:
This week it's a Bible verse and a quote:
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34
Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...
It's about learning how to dance in the rain.
- Vivian Greene
It's about learning how to dance in the rain.
- Vivian Greene
Picture Of The Week:
I found this picture awhile back and now its my screen saver on my computer.
It's where I go in my day dreams. Beautiful and peaceful.
And maybe my vacation place...someday.
Lesson for the week:
We may not be able to control everything that happens in our life.
But we DO have control on how we react and what we do about and with each situation in life.
In my opnion the most important is to remember that God is with us in everything, no matter how big or small.
Sounds like you had a cathartic week! Congratulations on letting go of some stress and some 'rules'. ;) I need to do that fairly often myself.
ReplyDeleteIt looks to me like your kids are way ahead of so many who are sent off to school in a place where there is often chaos and unneeded garbage to deal with all day, every day. :)
Ha... I caught you calling your own mama old. Oh well, guess it's going to be true someday anyway. :) I still remember reading those books, especially in 1st thru 3rd grades.
ReplyDeleteI will always, always keep you in my prayers and support you. Love those kiddos too. Trials and tribulations are always part of the game of life but as you said, what you do with them and the stress that goes with it will determine how you not only survive but come out stronger for it.
Mom...
I agree with you, that Education should not look identical for each child.
ReplyDeleteToo many times, I have seen other mom's at my co-op talk about how they do this and that and how it has worked so well with all of their children, year after year. Do the children learn? Yes, I am sure they do. Still, I think, isn't the point of homeschooling is to break away from routine and allow learning to come at a individual pace? I am also not what you would call an Un-schooler. We do have a core curriculum we use ( www.Time4Learning.com ), but I also allow for some interest led learning. We do Unit Studies, etc! I try not to make every day the same. Another thing that we do is that we do not have a set learning dead line. We school year round so that my children have the freedom to learn at their own pace. If it takes longer to finish or learn something then that is okay.
Anyways, Great Blog! Loved reading it :)