Cool Art site:

Go Here...

Don't think I know anyone who wouldn't love playing on that site. To think...we can call it school!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Why start school before Labor Day?

I was looking for an article I wrote two years ago for our local paper about going to school before Labor day...that year the kids went to school around Aug 17Th!!! I remember practically crying when we were driving to the pool and seeing school buses and kids getting dropped off...what a crime.

I realize that Labor day is late this year...come on, I am due to have the baby that day(of course I am usually 2 weeks late)...so I know what day it is!!! But I feel as if the "school system" is chipping away at our family time...they go later-start earlier. Are they really learning more in school these days? With all the cutbacks around here it's a wonder they are teaching anything. Not to mention the homework they load on parents...come on, some of these kids are doing 2-3 hours of homework a night...that is more school than I do with my elementary kids in a day...I won't even touch on the push families feel towards extra activities like sports, music, scouts, or other club stuff...to people even eat dinner together anymore?...so lay off on families and let them enjoy the limited time they have with each other!!!

Here is an article I wrote last year about Back to school basics if interested...

We are going PUBLIC...

My husband and I went to public school all of our lives!!! Maybe that is why even before we got married, we decided to home school our kids!!! I have been a mom for over 19 years and it took my tenth child who has a speech problem to get us to SIGN ON with the school system...what a huge decision. I have never filled out so many papers and signed so many forms, we even need to get a vaccine we never did...(kinda creepy). Even for my kids in college. We have already been getting calls from the county computer letting us know of report cards coming home, testing for high school, wow...what a lot of stuff to do.


This morning I was a wreak. I was rushing around getting everything ready. Backpack, clothes, good breakfast, hair done...wow, I love homeschooling!!!



BREAKFAST...

SO EXCITED...RUNNING TO THE CAR!!!

IN FRONT OF SCHOOL...

PUTTING HER BAG ON THE COAT RACK...(picture of best friend behind her)

PLAYING WITH THE TOYS...

No picture of the 41 year old mom expecting her 12th kid who never had to take her kid to school before...about to cry...

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

On line educational videos...

School vidoes by INGNITE LEARNING on youtube...They have lots of different ones...so far I like them. Of course watch out for a secular view...brings good discussion!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

All in a day's catch...

Part of the fun of "my" homeschooling philosophy is too be flexible!!! So even though our science unit this month was the body...we had a quick switch to plants and animals...

Our Friday morning started out with finding a very sickly tree frog near our kitchen sliding door...it had trudged through our playroom all the way to the kitchen looking for water and freedom!!! It was covered with dust and one of its legs were hurt. We rinsed it off and sent it on its way to freedom.
Within the hour we found two more frogs both totally different and about an hour after that a tiny turtle!!!
As I sent my 8 year old with his nature journal for "Friday Journaling Time" (when they just draw or write for 15 minutes about what they see made by God in our yard) he decided to write and delve into a weed he found called a POKEBERRY. He used it as ink...and had a great time reading up about this weed. (it can be very toxic to people and animals!!!)

BTW...we do not live in some great area with land, fields, and woods....we just live in a simple neighborhood with a nice small plot of woods behind our house. Don't ever hinder your schooling ideas due to your living situation!!! Be flexible and creative in your state in life and home situation!!!

So we finished up for the day with lots of great memories and said goodbye to the day's catch and sent the creatures on their way back to the woods!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

He wonders why...

I love Tuesday's and Thursday's because my sweetie pie works from home. He makes fun of us when we are schooling and sometimes questions what exactly what we are learning...well today as my son was writing and reciting the seven continents my husband shouts from the other room..."Huey, Louie, and Dewey...oh, never mind, it's Sleepy , grumpy, wait those are dwarfs...how about sloth, envy..." He wonders where they get it from...+oxox+love ya honey!!!

Final countdown to the end of school...

I finished the end of the year school schedule for two of my kids this weekend. It is a very stressful and thought provoking time. Everyone needs to give me space as I make them. I can't believe I only have about seven weeks left...have I even touched on what my kids should have accomplished? Dear Lord, I am sorry if I haven't. I do know we learn constantly, but sometimes the enormity of the task I have sometimes brings me to my knees, and I hope I am not missing teachable moments with my precious kids. THY WILL BE DONE...

Well I need to get off the computer and...JUST DO IT!!! +JMJ+