Broken Bread and Poured Out Wine

"To be a holy person means that the elements of our natural life experience the very presence of God as they are providentially broken in His service. We have to be placed into God and brought into agreement with Him before we can be broken bread in His hands. Stay right with God and let Him do as He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children." ~ Oswald Chamber, My Utmost for His Highest [September 30]

As Christians, we are called to be broken bread and poured out wine. This is true for every aspect of our lives--including home schooling. Christianity is the institution of servanthood: serving those around us with love and humility.

As parents and as teachers, we are the authorities in our schools. We are the leaders. But in following Christ's example, we are to be servant leaders... Broken bread and poured out wine for His purposes. The challenge is in allowing Him to break us and pour us out on the altar of our lives, knowing that both the breaking and pouring will be painful.

Father, may I be fully submissive to You today, in whatever ways you would break me or pour me out for Your purposes. ...in Jesus....

Scrapbooking to Learn

Check out Heart of Wisdom's Scrapbooking to Learn pages.... We completed a scrapbooking project the other day on Psalm 139:23, 24. The kids had a great time (as did I!), and those verses will forever be written on our hearts in a special way.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

Psalm 139:23, 24

Road Trip Countdown!

It is one week until we leave for our 31 day road trip! This will be a very busy week as we tie up all the loose ends around here, buy things we'll need for the trip, begin packing, etc. On top of all that, we need to stay on top of our school schedule... Should be a challenging week!

This is what my "To Do List" looks like:

Make appts. for Joel and Zach to have their hair cut.

Finish laundry.

Visit extended family on Tues.

Choose outfits for everyone for church directory portraits on Wed.

Write story for church devotional before Thursday.

Writing team meeting, Thursday at noon.

Shop for snack foods and food for the trip.

Go to health food store; purchase enough supplements for the trip.

Groomer appt. for the dog, Friday, 8 a.m.

Get sitter for marriage retreat this weekend.

Marriage retreat--Friday evening, Saturday.

Make sure house-sitter is lined up (for road trip).

Line up house-sitter for Thanksgiving week.

Change all bed linens before next Monday.

Plan school items to be packed for trip.

Purchase new sneakers for Zach and slip-ons for Jenna.

Clean house.

Clean out fridge.

Put copy of address list in road trip planner notebook.

Return library books.

Check on flu shots.

And I'm sure this list will have several additions as the week goes on.... Even so, we are all getting excited about this trip!

7 Days and Counting!

Posted by The Teacher at 10:09 PM

The Cross We Bear

"God does not ask us to do the things that are naturally easy for us—He only asks us to do the things that we are perfectly fit to do through His grace, and that is where the cross we must bear will always come." ~ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest [September 25]

"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain,
so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name
He may give to you." John 15:16 (NASB)

Finding Fulfillment

"The more you cooperate with God's design, the more fulfilled you will be." ~ Sally Clarkson, Wholeheart Ministries

Keeping the Love of Learning Alive

I was talking with a friend today, a fellow home school mom, about how to keep the love of learning alive in our children.

God created each one of us with a love of learning--a sense of awe and wonder, and a natural curiosity. But somewhere along the line, between phonics worksheets and math drills and two-page book reports, doubled-spaced, with careful attention to spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and composition--our children are not only losing the love of learning, they're learning to loathe it. The sense of awe and wonder is replaced by complaining and whining. The natural curiosity is suffocated under piles of assignments. There are certain non-negotiables--skills that have to be learned--even in home schooling. So how do we teach them the things they need to know without driving the love of learning from them?

I'm certain I don't have all the answers, but every once in a while I get a glimpse of something that might help in this area....

For instance, there's delight directed learning. One conference speaker told of how she taught her son, an avid baseball fan, the basics of math using of all things, a baseball game. Her advice was to find what your children love, then use that topic to teach them certain skills.

Another helpful hint comes in the form of giving them choices. Take book reports for example. The rationale behind having a student write a book report is to be verify he or she can clearly communicate the main ideas of a story through the written word. Suppose that instead of writing a book report for every book read, the child is occasionally given the options of giving an oral book report (note: public speaking is also a valid skill to learn), creating a diorama, making a poster, designing a scrapbook-type page, acting out the story, or reporting the story as a journalist would--complete with microphone or newspaper layout. As long as they are demonstrating their written skills on occasion, where is the harm in allowing them to use their interests--art, journalism, acting, etc.--to inject some fun into school?

I have dabbled with the Charlotte Mason method of home schooling for a couple of years now, and though I've never completely grasped the whole of her philosophy, I keep coming back to it. In so many ways it just makes sense.

Sally Clarkson of Wholeheart Ministries is one of my favorite home school mentors. In one conference she led, she stated that home schooling is about three things:

Redeeming life

Building a heritage

Inspiring a life for Christ

In order to aspire to these heights, it seems to me that the love of learning must be kept alive. As Sally further stated, "When you secure the heart of your child, your child will love what you love." In order to secure the heart of your child, you must first touch the heart of your child--something that math drills and spelling tests and traditional phonics lessons will never help you achieve.

I'm not "there" yet... I'm still working out this thing called home schooling. I'm just glad there are people like Sally Clarkson, Jean Fleming, and Barb Shelton out there leading home school moms like me down this difficult path. And I'm also thankful for fellow home school moms to talk to on days like today.

Posted by The Teacher at 09:44 PM

Happiness and Contentment

"True happiness comes when we are content where we are." ~Sally Clarkson, Wholeheart Ministries

"...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Philippians 4:11 (NASB)

Keeping Perspective

It's true that being a parent is one of the toughest jobs on earth. Add to that the responsibilities that go along with home schooling and, well, you've multiplied those responsibities. While it's certainly tough to be both mom and teacher, it is equally easy to be critical of ourselves when we've had a rough day or when things didn't turn out as we had hoped. Sometimes it seems too hard. Sometimes the cost just seems too high....

I ran across some more home school conference notes today, and what I found was a good reminder to take seriously the task of home schooling, but likewise, not to be too critical of myself in the process. Following are some of the key notes that struck a chord with me:

At the end of the day, ask yourself: (1) Did I take time with the Lord today?, and (2) Did I put people before things today? Note: If all my "ducks are in a row," I may have neglected the important for the temporal.

Jesus did not heal everyone. He did not change every life. But He completed the tasks He set out to accomplish. He was in tune with the Father and did only what He was assigned to do. Note: If I am overwhelmed with the tasks on my agenda, it is probably a sign I am taking on more than God intended....

It is not an accident that we are living in this time in history. Like Esther, God has called each of us to "this place" (home schooling) to prepare our children for the future, and by doing so, to affect generations to come. Note: Consider that God has placed us here, "for such a time as this."

Our tempation, when we look at the world around us, is to become fearful or anxious. But we are called to "mother" by faith, not fear. Sure, there are going to be some gaps in what we teach our kids. That is true of every school. And yes, we certainly seem to have a higher standard with which to live up to. But all things considered, all the days of our lives--and the lives of our children--were ordained before one of them came to be. So when we're tempted to be terrified, we must instead, trust.... Note: Trust God to order your steps. Trust God with the lives of your children.

At the end of the day, after all the lessons have been taught and the school work is completed; after the dinner dishes have been washed and the house has settled into that quiet resolve once the kids are in bed, take a moment to look for the ways God worked in your life and in the lives of your children today. While we must count the cost of this commitment, we must also not forget to count the blessings as well.

[Notes taken from the Wholehearted Mothers Conference, February 1999. The speaker was Jean Fleming, author of A Mother's Heart.]

Posted by The Teacher at 09:49 PM

Real Learning

"Real Books + Real Life = Real Learning" ~Sally Clarkson, Wholeheart Ministries

Walk By Faith

"God knows what your children need. Trust Him to lead your studies. Pray about it and move ahead." ~ Sally Clarkson, WholeHeart Ministries

The Significance of a Simple Declaration

Yesterday my daughter, Jenna, came to me with a letter she had received in her (home-made) mailbox in the schoolroom from her dad. Penmanship was never one of his strong suits, so she was having a hard time reading it. She asked if I would read it to her. Of course I said yes.

It wasn't particularly witty. It wasn't written with much artistic flare. The grammar and spelling were more or less correct. But none of that mattered because this was a love letter from a Daddy to his only little girl.

The letter spoke of how much this Dad loved his daughter; how special she was to him. In it he listed several things specifically that he loved about her... Her wonderful sense of humor; her ability to enjoy life so fully; and the sweetness of her smile.

At the end of the letter, Dad had drawn a picture of a long-time family friend (of the stuffed kind) and another simple declaration of his love for Jenna.

As I finished reading the letter, I pulled Jenna close and told her I had to agree with everything Dad had written. I told her she was the best little girl in the whole wide world and I was so blessed to have her in my life.

Her little face beamed with joy at the words of her dad and the solid agreement of her mom.

The interesting thing is, the rest of the day this ordinarily ornery little girl was an absolute angel. And just before bedtime she invited Dad to read with her. When Dad told her to get a book, that he would be with her in a few minutes, she asked, "Is it okay if I just sit here with you while I wait?" It was enough just to be near him.

Both her dad and I were astounded by the signficant difference this simple declaration of love made in Jenna. I hope it's not a reminder we will soon forget.

"But now faith, hope, love, abide these three;
but the greatest of these is love. "
~1 Corinthians 13:13

The Best Things...

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched--they must be felt with the heart." ~ Helen Keller

Looking for a Ministry Opportunity?

Years ago I worked "in the ministry," meaning I was employed by a Christian ministry in the Dallas area. Then I had a child and left the ministry to be a stay-at-home mom. Then three years later I had another child. After the second child was born, I started an Internet ministry (SafeHaven Ministries) and for four years I juggled the kids, the house, the husband, the home schooling, and the online ministry. What I learned from that experience, was I really am not Wonder Woman! I couldn't do it all!

As a result I resigned from SafeHaven and handed it over to one of my volunteers, who has been running the site successfully for the past three years. (Thanks again, Carla!) Since that time, I have continued to look for a "ministry" in which to be involved. But everything I tried fell flat or flat-out failed, and I couldn't figure out why....

Then one day recently (I'm ashamed to say!), it finally occurred to me: home schooling my children is my ministry! It was one of those epiphanic moments where it seemed the clouds should part, the heavens should open wide, shining down a ray of brilliant light from above with a choir of angels singing the Hallelujiah chorus. Of course it wasn't that dramatic, but it I almost felt it should have been.

Once I realized that for this season of my life, this is my ministry, I was freed from the tiring search that had taken me nowhere. It was as though I could finally unpack my bags, settle into my home schooling routine, and relax. The search had ended, and as usual, the very thing for which I was looking was right under my nose the entire time!

How foolish we human beings can be sometimes! Always striving, always searching, always longing for that elusive "thing" that will bring us fulfillment, or significance, or joy. When all along if we would just open our hearts to the things God has brought us to--or brought to us!--we could save ourselves a lot of needless waste of time and energy.

I always fancied myself a pretty quick study, but the more I learn, the more I realize (in some areas, at least), I'm a slow-learner! But thankfully, eventually I catch on. Now when I consider the investment I'm making in the lives of two of the most wonderful people I know, I realize this is the best ministry of all!

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." ~Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Even the Experts Fail!

"Even the 'experts' try and fail, try and fail. Don't be intimidated by the experts. If you encounter a plateau or a learning problem, make a list of ways to get past it: change gears, change subjects, change learning methods, take a break, try more/different creative ways of teaching." ~Joyce Herzog

I'm In Middle School Now...!

I have always liked home schooling better than going to a private school. For one thing, we get the comforts of home. It's a lot more comfortable than a white-walled, stuffy school room. Another reason is that you don't have to struggle to make friends. You know everybody there!

I didn't expect much of a difference to come from jumping from 5th to 6th grade. I thought a little more work would be expected from me, the same respect to my teacher (Mom) and classmates (Jenna). I was really surprised when I got four new assignments that I had never done anything like before!

This is the first year I've been taught about outlining and current events. It's a lot different than what I thought middle school would be like. But all things considered, I love it!

Sometimes, depending on the day, we finish between 1:00 and 3:00 o'clock. So our school days are mostly shorter than other schools'. I think it gives me an awful lot of opportunity to respect the people around me, especially since they are my family.

Sometimes home schooled kids need to stop and think about how lucky they are to be able to be home schooled in the first place. Makes me more thankful when I know that most kids' parents are both busy bees during the day when we have the opportunity to stay at home and learn as much as everybody else, sometimes more.

Written by Zach Comm
(Age 11) 6th Grade

Secrets of Teaching

Below are some of my notes from a workshop at the Texas Home School Convention, 1998. The speaker was a woman by the name of Joyce Herzog. I hope these notes encourage you as much as they still encourage me!

Secrets of Teaching

1. Every fall, every teacher starts with 2-3 weeks of review before beginning new topics.

2. Realize some months are better than others. December and the last month of school are the worst months for teaching. Be creative. Focus on charity, stewardship, birth of Christ, crafts, cooking, etc.

3. Set a schedule that works for you. Realize 9 months on, 3 months off was established so the kids could help in the fields....

4. Even the "experts" try and fail, try and fail. Don't be intimidated by the experts. If you encounter a plateau or a learning problem, make a list of ways to get past it: Change gears, change subjects, change learning methods, take a break, try more/different creative ways of teaching.

5. Realize textbooks and workbooks are the least effective methods of teaching!

6. Kids learn best by doing:

draw

color

build

dramatize

etc.

7. Teach them what you want them to learn using things they enjoy. (e.g. using baseball to teach math, etc.)

8. Learning takes time to assimilate. Don't introduce a new topic every day. Give them "down time" to assimilate the information. ("Down time" = mindless play/entertainment.)

9. Use children's books for research. Progression of research. (With each deeper level, zero in on points to research more in-depth.):

Picture books

Juvenile books

Jr. high books

Adult books

11. Teach kids where/how to find answers and information.

12. The "One Paper" rule: one paper per subject per week per child. This paper can be done orally, written, through art, photography, game, etc.

13. Don't put your child in a 'grade' box.

14. Is your goal to finish the text or to teach the child? Be a mother hen raising her chicks, not a poultry keeper.

15. The school year ends when you decide....

16. For those "the natives are restless" days, take a break, do a picnic or something that takes less concentration.

17. Regarding atmosphere: No one can learn in an atmosphere of:

Anticipation

Anxiety

Tension

Fear

Depression

Hunger

Extreme hot or cold

18. Make the atmosphere of your school comfortable, relaxed and enjoyable.

19. Remember who determined what should be taught in schools, how, and when: secular humanist publishers. Use your head, not someone else’s. Use common sense.

20. When you've had one of those days, take a step back, win your children back. Have fun. Mend the broken places in your relationship(s).

A Day of Rest

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. ~Genesis 2:3

Remaining True...

"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend." ~ Henry David Thoreau

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NASB)

A Page From Our Photo Album - May, 2001

These photos were taken at the end of the school year, 2001. Zach had just completed 3rd grade, and Jenna had completed Kindergarten.

Jenna performing in her first
piano recital!

Zach showing off his AWANA award....

Jenna and Dad performed together at her
ballet recital in a "Daddy & Me Dance."

Zach had a solo in the children's musical at church.

The night Jenna was baptized....
Her Dad had the privilege of
doing the deed. It was very special!

Zach also performed in the piano recital.

Gratitude

"Gratitude is the memory of the heart." ~Jean Baptiste Massieu

Record-Keeping

I have a very simple system for keeping records. Of course it helps tremendously that the state of Oklahoma does not have strict requirements on home schoolers. But it's wise to keep complete, accurate records regardless of the restrictions. (In other words, always go the extra mile in record-keeping, just in case....)

I have four basic areas of record-keeping:

Attendance (We are required to complete 180 days of school each term.)

Daily Checklist, showing what subjects we covered for the day (One month fits nicely on a sheet.)

Curriculum Planner (This is the detailed lesson plans that came with the curriculum. I mark each subject each day with a check mark as the assignments/studies are completed. Also, any additional subjects or assignments with which we supplement the curriculum can be listed at the bottom of the page.)

Comprehensive notebook file of each student's work (This is categorized by subject and it contains all the work each student completes for the year.)

Finally, just last year we began testing our children with basic standardized tests--partly for our own benefit, to evaluate what they learned over the course of the year, where their strengths lie, and where we might have gaps in our studies. Secondly, this kind of testing not only prepares them for future testing (such as the SAT), but it gives us an additional record that would satisfy those who might challenge our home school.

Legally, I have been informed that if an authority comes to the door asking questions about your home school, all you need show them is the attendance record. Beyond that they need a court order to examine your school. Also, the standard warning is to not let anyone investigating your school inside your home without a court order.

For legal protection, it is advisable to join the Home School Legal Defense Association. For a minimal fee of $100 per year you are guanateed legal representation specific to home school law suits. The added benefit is the legal information they provide regarding each state's home school statutes. The likelihood of a law suit is miniscule, but it doesn't hurt to have this kind of insurance just in case.

Record-keeping doesn't have to be a major headache. Keep your system simple and keep up with it on a daily basis. At the end of the year you'll have everything you need to support your home school legally, plus you will be amazed at how much you and your children actually accomplished!

Posted by The Teacher at 08:20 AM

Well-Timed Silliness...

"Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans; it's lovely to be silly at the right moments." ~Horace

Speaking of Silliness...

My daughter is silliness incarnate. No matter where we are or what we're doing, there is usually a grin spread wide across her face and we know a giggle is not far behind. Her mind is always working, naturally searching for the silliness in every situation.

Because of this, we have always freely acknowledged that Jenna loves life. There is little that can squelch her joyfulness on any given day--short of a lack of sleep or being scolded or disciplined! Those events will send her silliness packing, leaving a stark silence, a stoic wall where the giggles once ruled. (It's not pretty!)

But, that's our Jenna. Full of laughter. Full of humor. Full of life. No matter what the emotion, it's usually a strong one when it comes to her!

It's because of this intense emotion--whether the emotion of silliness or stoic silence--that we must guide Jenna with both sensitivity and consistency. It never fails that just at the crescendo of a story we're reading aloud, or in the most crucial element of a lesson, Jenna will interject some silliness. While she has learned that this action will always lead to some sort of discipline, she is not in the least deterred--at least at this stage of her youth. The goal is to calmly identify the behavior, implement immediate discipline (making sure the punishment fits the crime, so-to-speak!), then continue with the lesson. There will always be time later on to laugh about whatever it was she interjected, but there and then is neither the time nor the place! I am also quick to instruct Zach not to encourage her by laughing with her or at her--which is usually not a problem. It's Dad we have to watch out for in this respect! (Hmmm.... Could that be where she inherited her silly gene...?)

Anyway, as time goes on, as we deal sensitively and consistently with Jenna's silliness, I hope and pray she will learn the difference between appropriate and inappropriate moments during which to share her silliness. I often tell her how happy I am she is such a joyful child, but I am also quick to remind her there are times when it is just not the right choice to make. And I have no doubt that someday she will be a woman who brings much joy to those in her sphere of influence with well-timed silliness!

Note: Sometimes it's in everyone's best interest during our study time to take a "silliness break." A short round of Follow the Leader or seeing who can make the silliest face or some-such diversion does wonders for getting some of the excessive silliness out of our systems. Then we're able to move on to our more serious subjects in a more serious manner.

What it Means to Be a Friend

[Wednesday night, 9/17/03]

There's nothing like an afternoon spent in an emergency room to bring things into perspective.

As usual, it started with a phone call, and ended with a hospital room. A friend was in trouble today and she turned to me for help. I had other things on my agenda for the afternoon, but suddenly those things didn't seem all that important.

Did I want to spend my day in an emergency room? No, but I went anyway. On the way to pick her up I prayed for her. I prayed that God would minister to her through me. I prayed He would give me the words to say and discernment to know when to speak and what questions to ask.

She told me I could leave once I dropped her off, but I knew I couldn't leave her. She was alone, and after all, I am her friend.

So while we waited and waited and waited some more, we talked. We talked about her trouble; we talked about her children; we talked about her (deceased) mother that she misses so terribly--especially on days like today. We even managed to laugh every now and then, in spite of the sadness surrounding her; in spite of the trouble that brought her there.

So what did I learn? It's not always easy to be a true friend, but it certainly is worth it. Did I help her today? Well, I certainly didn't "fix" her trouble, but I did what I could: I sat with her. I talked with her. I even laughed with her. I hugged her. And I let her cry.... And when I left tonight, she thanked me. I didn't do much of anything really, but it was all I could do and it was all she needed--just a friend willing to be there.

And at the end of a day like today I can honestly say:

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. ~Psalm 28:7

Speaking of Respect...

"That I may care enough to love enough to share enough to let others become what they can be." ~John O'Brien

Our Home School History - Part II

The Second Year

Our second year of home schooling was very similar to the first. We continued to use Konos Curriculum, but we supplemented it with an excellent curriculum titled Character First!. Since so much of what we wanted to focus on was character-based, we knew we couldn't go wrong with this curriculum. The units were divided into five lessons (one for each day of the week) and were nearly perfect for Zach. There were plenty of activities as well, and Jenna thoroughly enjoyed participating in them with us. The stories were well-researched and pertinent; the accompanying poem was fun to say and easy to learn; in short, we had a great time with it!

The year seemed to fly by as we continued to chip away at the various unit studies. We continued meeting with our co-op group as well. The highlight for that year was when we put on our own winter olympics! We were in Texas at the time, and since we didn't have ice and snow, we improvised! Instead of ice hockey, the children competed in ice (rollerblade) hockey. They "ice skated" indoors on paper plates, and everyone made a flag signifying a different country. It was lots of fun and a real learning experience as well.

We also went on as many field trips as we could, often going on overnighters to break up the weeks with something different, and to give us all something new to look forward to. (Since Joel was self-employed and could take his Internet business with him wherever we went, traveling during school was easy!)

Year Three

During the summer, between our second and third year of home schooling we realized it was time to move our family closer to extended family. Because my parents (in Oklahoma) were getting older and their health was not as good as it once had been, it grew more difficult to arrange to spend time with them. So we located a house in my home state and moved within an hour's drive of my parents.

The transition was more difficult than I had speculated, but we managed to get the house mostly in order so we could begin school on schedule. It took time to get acclimated to our new town, to find a new church, to meet new friends, and to get connected to a new home school association. All of these factors affected us on a personal level (we missed our church and friends from Texas!), but school was more or less the same as it had been--only we were in a larger, nicer house!

I continued that year to use both Konos and Character First! for our basic curriculum, and at the end of the school year we had a fantastic end-of-school party with all of our extended family in attendance! The kids showed off their school work through displays and stacks of work they had completed; Zach played the piano; they both recited poetry and/or Scripture verses; and we handed out the usual certificates and awards. The best part for Zach and Jenna was being able to show everyone what they accomplished that year. All the hard work had paid off and they got more congratulations and pats on the back than they'd ever had before!

My family has always supported our decision to home school, but I don't think they realized how much we accomplished until that first end-of-the-year party--and neither did we! It was really good for all of us!

Seeing is believing...

One of their displays... Showing off their work!

(Part III of Our History to Follow...)

The Art of Teaching

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. ~Mark Van Doren

Teacher or Parent?

The line between being the teacher and the parent often becomes blurred when one is home schooling. In our school, we study the basic courses that eveyone must study, especially during the elementary years, but we try to diminish the sense that we are "in school" while learning those skills. At the same time, we believe all of life is a learning experience, so we don't just "do school" while at home in the classroom. We may apply a lesson in the grocery store or in the car on the way to a friend's house, and often do.

As a result, we are faced with the challenge of defining our respective roles as well as tending to these vital, life-long relationships.

I suppose you could say that not only does the line between being the parent and the teacher become blurred in home schooling, but the line between life and school also becomes blurred.

Recognizing the challenge may be easy enough, but rectifying it is not.

While there are many variables involved in both roles, there is one element, however, that is essential to both: that essential element is respect. In fact, there are few roles or positions in life that do not recognize the need for respect. God commands it (in Psalm 34:9 and many other verses); Martin Luther King, Jr. died for it; Aretha Franklin demanded it; and women, gays, pro-lifers, and blacks have marched on Washington, D.C. to obtain it. Both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were set up in order to secure respect (among other things) both for our nation and for the individual rights of her citizens.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." --Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

So what does this have to do with our roles as teachers and parents? The answer is simple, though not entirely easy.... In order to command respect, we must be willing to freely give it. We must model the respect we desire to obtain. In order to cultivate respect, we must sow the seeds of respect.

What this means is that if we want our children to respect us as their parents and their teachers, we must respect them for who they are. Do we 'talk down' to our children? Do we bark out orders like a drill sargeant? Do we try to control their behavior, suppress their individuality, or demean them in any way? If we do, not only will they not respect us, but they will rebel against everything we stand for--our values, our morals, and our faith.

The question, therefore, is not nearly so focused upon our individual roles as parents and teachers, as it is about the virtues and behaviors we ourselves model to our children. If we are open to their ideas, ready to discuss things that matter to them, available to spend time with them, and show regard for their opinions, their feelings, and their likes and dislikes, they in turn will respond more respectfully toward us.

There's an old saying that goes like this: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." We wouldn't be home schooling our children if we didn't care about them, but in the daily-ness of the must do's and should do's and have to's, do we take time out to talk with our children, to listen to them, and to respect their views, opinions, and the things that are important to them? If we haven't, now would be the perfect time to begin.

What Makes A Teacher Great...

"A great teacher never strives to explain his vision. He simply invites you to stand beside him and see for yourself." ~R. Inman

Home is no place for school?

I ran across a letter in USA Today last week titled, "Home is no place for school." The title interested me, as you can imagine.

The author of the letter, Dennis L. Evans, makes some very valid points. While I don't agree with all of them, I did find some to be quite accurate. For instance, he says "The popularity of home schooling...is attracting growing attention from the media." Okay. I can agree with that.

He also said "Good teaching is a complex act that involves more than simply loving children." Sure. I'll agree with that as well.

Additionally, he said, "Research on student achievement overwhelmingly supports the "common-sense" logic that the most important factor affecting student learning is teacher competency." With this statement he is bordering on extremism, but okay, I'll bite. Although I think it would be more accurate to say "one of the most important factors...is teacher competency."

Let's see. What else is there in his article I could support? Hmmm. I think that's it. The rest of his article constitutes a serious deficiency of facts concerning both home schooling as well as institutional schooling.

Mr. Evans suffers from several assumptions:

He seems to be under the assumption that home school teachers/parents believe that merely loving a child is education enough. Although a positive, loving environment where everyone gives and receives respect is most conducive to learning, there is much more that goes on in a home school. Likewise, the level of respect among peers and toward those in authority is generally seriously deficient in public schools.

He also seems to be assuming that home school parents are incapable of teaching higher level courses, and as such, are not giving their children an adequate education. Of all the home school parents I know, not one would sacrifice their children's education because they were not equipped or were ill-equipped to teach a particular topic. As a result, there are many home school co-op groups that share in the teaching of these higher-level courses. Likewise, there are always resources available that are more than adequate for teaching what parents are unable to facilitate. All the home school parents I know want the very best education for their children, and they are willing to make the commitment and the sacrifices necessary to reach that end. Public school teachers, on the other hand, have their "hands tied" in so many ways, even when it comes to ensuring each student they pass to the next grade level has adequately mastered the required skills.

Mr. Evans also seems to believe that home school parents isolate their children, hiding them under proverbial rocks, far away from outside social interaction. Nothing could be further from the truth! We, as home school parents, encourage our children to be involved in various outside activities in which they are placed in social situations both with other children their ages and with people of all ages. A partial list of our favorite social activities include, but are not limited to: piano lessons, Tang Soo Do (martial arts) lessons, ballet, tap and jazz lessons, children's choir, children's drama, youth group activities at church, hands-on ministry opportunities (like taking Valentines to a local nursing home and taking gifts to the children in state custody), not to mention normal church activities, and activities with other home school families. As a result, our children are well-rounded individuals who are capable of carrying on intelligent conversations with people of all ages and walks of life.

Likewise, Mr. Evans seems to view public or institutional education in an equally unrealistic manner. He states, very naively, that "Schools, particularly public schools, are the one place where 'all the children of all of the people come together.'" He continues, asking the question: "Can there be anything more important to each child and thus to our democratic society than to develop virtues and values such as respect for others, the ability to communicate and collaborate and an openness to diversity and new ideas?" I would ask Mr. Evans if he has been in a public school in the past 20 years? It seems to me the virtues and values that are learned in most public schools are, among other things, learning which kids are dangerous and how to stay away from them; learning, as a sixth grader, they are of less value simply because there are two grades of students above them in middle school; learning about all the cliques and knowing their place (or social standing) in relation to these cliques, etc. Likewise, many public schools (at the encouragement of the NEA) have taken upon themselves the responsibility of teaching children moral issues such as the acceptability of homosexuality as a lifestyle (via books like "It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie Harris), while also teaching them that a fetus is a blob of tissue, that abortion is an acceptable method of birth control, or that condoms and birth control pills are effective means of birth control and can be readily obtained without their parents' knowledge or consent. This practice likewise teaches children not only to disregard their parents' authority, beliefs, and morals, but how to bypass them. Meanwhile, many students are graduating public high schools without knowing how to think for themselves, and reports show that an alarming number are illiterate!

Another question for Mr. Evans might be, "When in life are we ever segregated with others of our same age except in institutional schools?" Further, isn't the only reason children in public schools are segregated by age because that is what is easiest for the school? Were it truly an effective institution, children would be placed in classes according to their academic level not their birthdate.

And finally, if memory serves me well, in an institutional school it is the teacher that teaches the lesson and assigns the homework, but isn't it the parent who then assists the student with that same homework at the end of the day? I seem to remember plenty of times when my parents did just that--even once I got into the high school years!

I would invite Mr. Evans to investigate more thoroughly that which he condemns. I would invite him to attend the next National Spelling Bee, which has been won several years by home schooled children. I would invite him to observe home schooled children both within their families and within social situations.

I have to admit it has been my experience that home schooled children do indeed stand out when mixed with students who are institutionally schooled. Home schooled children are the ones who are recognized as being well behaved, polite, respectful, and pleasant to have around. They are generally well liked by their peers, make friendships easily, and are appreciated by other adults. Further, home schooled students have, over the years, tested higher on standardized tests than their peers from public schools.

The truth of the matter is that no school is perfect! Whether an institutional school or a home school, whether the class has twenty students or two, there will be problems and draw-backs. However, it has been my experience that our students do better both academically and socially as a result of being schooled at home.

Another significant difference between Mr. Evans and myself is that while I would never tell someone else in what school environment they should place their children, he would not hesitate to do so. It is this behavior, perhaps, that disturbs me the most: when one person--an educated one at that!--determines what is best for my children; children he has never met, much less assessed.

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding, and I'm afraid Mr. Evans has proven the point that institutional education is sorely lacking. Not only is he a product of it, but he is also apparently in the business of perpetuating it. Too bad he didn't do his homework!

Posted by The Teacher at 02:05 PM | Your Comments (2)

Wisdom and Instruction

"Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning." Proverbs 9:9 (NIV)

Highlights From North Central OK Field Trip

We had quite a list of things to see on our field trip to north central Oklahoma this weekend, and ended up seeing them all plus some other unexpected sights!

Following is a brief run-down of what we did and saw:

Friday:

Ponca City, OK - Toured the Pioneer Woman Museum. Also ran across the new Standing Bear Memorial Park. (A very nice older couple told us where to find the labyrinth inside the park.)

Pioneer Woman Monument

Saturday:

It poured rain on us almost all day on Saturday, so we were unable to take outdoor photos of some of our stops....

Perry, OK - Toured the Cherokee Strip Museum (Learned about the Cherokee Strip Landrun of 1893.) Also toured the historical buildings behind the museum, including the Rose Hill School.

Zach, Testing His Vision Using an "Ancient" Eye Chart! Rose Hill One-Room Schoolhouse

Pawnee, OK - Toured Pawnee Bill's Museum and Mansion. Fascinating stuff here, especially the house. (And to think I'd never heard of Pawnee Bill before!) We drove through the buffalo preserve behind the museum; got to see some buffalo, longhorn steer, and horses up close!

Jenna at Pawnee Bill's Museum

Yale, OK - Toured the home of Jim Thorpe, once proclaimed "The World's Greatest Athlete"!

A Sampling of Jim Thorpe's Medals!

Stillwater, OK - Drove through the Oklahoma State University campus. We also ran across the Indian Meridian sign, from which we learned about how and where the Indian Territory and the Unassigned Lands were divided.

The Indian Meridian Sign

Sunday:

Langston, OK - We located the Indian Meridian monument, a fascinating historical marker chock full of interesting information. We also drove by Langston University, Oklahoma's own African-American college.

The Indian Meridian Monument

It was a great trip! We saw a lot, learned a lot, and gained even more appreciation for the history of our state. (And even Socrates had a good time!)

Socrates, Our Mascot and Favorite Four-Legged Friend!

Celebrate Everything!

"Until further notice, celebrate everything." ~ Unknown

Awakening Expectations...

"A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations." ~ Patricia Neal

Oklahoma History - 2

We're taking our second Oklahoma history field trip today. We're off to Ponca City to see the Pioneer Woman Museum, then to Perry to see the Cherokee Strip Museum and the Rose Hill School. Tomorrow, we're planning to go to Stillwater to see Oklahoma State University, (that's where I went to college!), and then to Pawnee to see the Pawnee Bill Museum. If we have time, we'll take a jaunt over to Jim Thorpe's Home.

This is the way history was meant to be learned: through seeing actual artifacts and exhibits, and through reading "living" books! (Wish my history teachers in public school had taught history this way!)

God Is Working In Your Life

"No matter what difficulties you may be facing, remember that God does not want you to give up. He has a plan for you and He will strengthen you. Be ready to listen for that still, small voice, and you too will see the mighty work of God in your life." ~David Humpal

"'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD..." ~Jeremiah 29:11-14a

9/11 - Second Anniversary

I can't help but pause today to remember September 11, 2001. It's been two years, and still the sights and sounds are haunting. Recent newspaper stories made everything fresh again as they reported some of the emergency calls recorded that morning by the Port Authority.

It's still hard to believe this really happened.... And so much has happened since. I pray for all those for whom today is a painful memorial. I pray for the leaders of our country. And I pray for the greatest country on earth...the United States of America. Because God has blessed America, may we bless Him in return.

*America Bless God!

[*Click on this link to hear the song our worship pastor wrote by this title. The song file is located at the bottom of the page on this link.]

The Power To Turn A Life Around

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." ~Leo Buscaglia

Road Trip - Countdown

Well, let's see. Today is the 10th, so we have 25 days left to plan, prepare, and pack. The planning is going well, although I am at a standstill for the moment. I have given my husband the assignment of finding accommodations for us for the cities in which we'll be staying more than one night. (He is the accommodations king! He always does great in this area!)

I think we've got the itinerary more or less "down." So for now, we're just counting the days...

Countdown: 25 days

The Power of Praise!

"Praise does wonders for our sense of hearing."
~ Arnold H. Glasow

One for the Books!

Every once in a while someone in our household does or says something too funny for words. Last night was one such "once in a while...."

My husband Joel and our daughter Jenna went out to dinner last night, just the two of them, for a special night out together. Later, as he and I were enjoying some quiet time alone after the kids were asleep, he told me of something Jenna had said while they were out.

Jenna had wanted to go to one of her favorite restaurants, Fazoli's, so of course, that's where Dad took her. They had just ordered their food and sat down when Jenna realized she had been given an unusually large portion of spaghetti.

Joel commented to Jenna that the guy in the back making the food had most likely figured that even though she was a little girl, she could probably handle a larger portion of spaghetti.

Jenna responded with all the seriousness of the moment, saying, "I'm not little, I'm mediocre."

"You mean 'medium'?," Dad responded, keeping a straight face.

"Yes. I'm medium," she replied.

And I thought she never listened when I was talking to her brother! We have been talking a lot, lately, about striving for excellence instead of settling for mediocrity.... I guess she picked up just enough of the conversation to be dangerous!

It helps to look for the humor, especially after difficult days like yesterday!
We certainly had a good laugh over this one. Hope you did too!

[Our not so mediocre daughter, Jenna!]

"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy." ~Psalm 126:2a

The Goal of Teaching

"The object of teaching a child is to enable him to get along without his teacher." ~Elbert Hubbard

Bad Day Blues!

We had a whopper of a bad day today! (Actually we've had a few such days since we started this term three weeks ago.) I'm not sure exactly where the root problem lies.... There are several things it could be.

For instance, Zach, the one with one toe in adolescence, has been challenging every decision of mine (and my husband's) with which he does not agree. Or, if the reason for an assignment is unclear or does not make sense to him, he will challenge that as well. Being the older sibling, this has likewise influenced his sister, 8-year-old Jenna.

Then again, there are personality foibles that tend to color every day. Zach, who is an incredibly bright young man, likes to find the quickest, easiest, shortest route to any end point. In other words, he is a short-cut taker. Because most everything has always come easily to Zach, he tends to follow the path of least resistence--even if it means he has to sacrifice a little quality in the process.

Then there's Jenna. She does not have the giftedness that Zach possesses--although her intellect is quite acute! She tends to give up all too easily--especially if she is left to work independently. (While Zach is the social one outside of the home, Jenna is the social one inside the home. She hates being alone!)

Of course we can't forget that being the only two students in our school, and being together more or less 24/7, they tire of each other's company. There is usually some argument or other stewing, regardless of how many times they lose privileges.

And last, but certainly not least, they are children, and it is school we're talking about! Although we make every effort to make school fun and interesting, there are a certain number of non-negotiables they do not enjoy. Plus, being children in this modern age of constant entertainment, the concept of "work" is the last thing to which they want to apply themselves! TV, Nintendo, computer games, electronic games--now those are things they get excited about! But math and cursive and composition--well, they just can't hold a candle to those other things....

Well, as far as our day went, we did manage to get back on track after a l-o-n-g discussion this morning about making choices: choices of where they go to school; choices of how they will perform their academic duties; choices of how they will treat me and their father as well as each other; choices about whether they will seek after righteousness or walk in the way of wickedness.... All pretty heady stuff...! But in the end, they opted for school at home; excellence over mediocrity; righteousness over wickedness.

As I said, this wasn't the first time this term we've had a day similar to this one. And I'm certain it won't be the last....

May the grace of God sustain us!

"Behold, God is my helper;
The Lord is the sustainer of my soul."
~Psalm 54:4

Middle School Mélange

Yes, we have officially entered the "middle school" years! Not only is our oldest child, Zach, teetering on the abyss of the "h" word (hormones), he is also a sixth-grader this year, meaning it is time to raise the bar regarding what we expect from him in relation to his school work.

In trying to achieve this higher standard, we implemented a few new areas of study.

Outlining

One of the first challenges I added to his assignments was learning to outline. I was fortunate in my early education to have a teacher that taught me how to extract the most vital information from written texts. This skill was invaluable in teaching me to study effectively as I got older.

As I was thinking of how to teach this same skill to Zach, I "just happened" to be reading through the Proverbs--which, as it turns out, are full of contrasts. Contrasts are an excellent tool for training the eye and the mind to extract vital information. Plus, he will gain an added advantage in studying the wisdom of the Proverbs so closely, thus multiplying the benefits.

The next step was to go through the Proverbs, picking out those I thought would be most appropriate for this type of study. I started him out on Proverbs 10, and set up a chart showing him how to choose categories to focus on. For this particular Proverb, the focus is on the righteous vs. the wicked, the actions taken by each, and the subsequent reward or consequence.

Then I assigned him a list of Proverbs to work through over the next few months, giving him two weeks to complete each outline. He is currently working on his second outline, and so far so good.

Current Events

The next skill we deemed essential to our son was that of learning to think for himself. In this age of ultra-biased media, and considering how polarized our society has become on social and political issues, we decided to give Zach the opportunity to learn about our society through reading the newspaper. Three days a week (M-W-F) he is instructed to look through the newspaper, cut out an article that interests him, and write a brief explanation of what that article means to him.

One of the most beneficial parts of this assignment has been that Zach and I have had some wonderful conversations about some very significant occurences, such as the recent removal of the Ten Commandments from the courthouse in Alabama.

Anything that gets your child talking to you--and listening to you--especially at this pivotal age is good. Again, we are pleased with the outcome to date.

Vocabulary

The third new subject we introduced to Zach this year was vocabulary. I found an excellent book titled 100 words every high school graduate should know by the Editors of ----Dictionary. Because Zach is an avid reader, he already has an extensive vocabulary, thus the reason for raising this particular bar so high.

For his first assignment, I went through the book picking out five words I thought would be appropriate for him. He has one week to complete the assignment which entails writing the word out once as usual, then writing it a second time showing the syllabary divisions and attributing the accent to the appropriate syllable; identifying the appropriate part(s) of speech for each word; writing out the definition(s) of each word; listing any related words; and finally, using each word in a sentence of his own writing.

As with the other new tasks we have given him, this one will not only stretch him academically, but I believe it will likewise boost his self-confidence.

As with so many tactics in homeschooling, these new areas of study are trial-by-error, and I expect some changes will be made in our methods as the year progresses. One of the key words I learned early in my homeschooling adventure was "flexibility." You know the old saying, "If it aint broke, don't fix it." Likewise, if it's not working effectively, tweek it, modify it, or pitch it altogether. And if all else fails, look for a curriculum that teaches it the "old fashioned" way!

(Now if we could just figure out how to manage this "hormone" thing, we'd be set for a great school year!)

[Our pre-adolescent son, Zach]

Great and Marvelous is Our God!

Great and Marvelous!

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:

"Great and marvelous are Your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed."

--Revelation 15:2-4

Exercising the Mind

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."

~Sir Richard Steele

Share the Load!

One of the first things my husband was told before we started homeschooling was this: If you can't help your wife with the household chores, then hire her a maid!

Well, my husband, as wonderful as he is, is not one to scrub toilets, so for the first few years, as we were able, he hired a maid occassionally to help with the household cleaning. It was a wonderful thing while it lasted!--and even though I felt "guilty" for having someone else clean my home, I knew I needed the help. (I also justified it by convincing myself I was actually helping our national economy by putting people to work!) :-)

But, as time went on, I discovered that it was getting harder and harder to find good help that would clean things the way they needed to be cleaned. So many maid services start off strong, but after they've worked for you a while they get in a hurry to finish the job so they can call it a day. Or, they will send out their "A Team" the first couple of times, then once you become a regular customer they start sending their second string--or worse....

So up until last winter I used a maid service twice a month--until I just couldn't stand it any more! But you know what I realized? I had two very capable, able-bodied students who could learn to help out around the house! :-) So, I went to work teaching them to vacuum, dust, and clean their bathroom. They also learned to sort laundry and to fold it, hang it, and put it away. And they also learned to load and unload the dishwasher, wash down the kitchen table, and sweep and mop the tile floors. Additionally, during the spring, summer, and fall, they take turns watering the flowers in the front and back yard. (All this came in very handy this past summer when I had surgery and was laid-up for several weeks! They were a huge help to my husband while I was recuperating!)

To make it easier on everyone and to cut down on arguments, I made up a weekly job chart listing the jobs that were to be done each day and I assigned either a "1" or a "2" to each chore. Then, at the bottom of the chart, I assigned the "1" and the "2" to certain weeks of the month (ranging from 1-4), alternating the numbers so they didn't have the same chores each week.

Because I was saving so much money by not paying a maid service, and because I was giving them so much work to do each week, we doubled their weekly allowance. While they were not too thrilled with the workload, they were very excited about having their allowance doubled! However, we told them that if they did not complete their chores as directed, not only would they have to do the job(s) again, but they would lose that doubled portion of their allowance for that week. (That also applied in the event of whining, complaining, arguing, etc. about these household chores.)

The added bonus to it all was that since they were actually learning important skills they would use later in life, I was able to write this down in their school record book as "life skills"....

One of the things I had to remember when checking over their work the first few times, is that they are young and this is all new to them. They will get better with time, and they will always be able to carry these skills with them when they leave home. Also, if I am careful to encourage and compliment a whole lot more than I critique, their attitude will be better toward the work itself. (They might even gain a sense of accomplishment and importance, knowing they are helping me so much!)

While they don't clean things perfectly, they have become tremendous helpers! I don't know what I'd do without them!

"In all labor there is profit"
Proverbs 14:23

All Work and No Play...

[Actually, I learned this a few days ago, but we won't be legalistic about it!]

What I learned is this:

Playtime with my kids is every bit as important as school time.

Sounds like a simple concept, doesn't it? And you would think it would be something I would've learned a long time ago, but some of us are s-l-o-w learners!

It was a very simple thing indeed...brought about as a result of setting aside special time with my husband. I had made a sign that read: "Welcome to Mary's Bed & Breakfast. Relax, kick off your shoes, and enjoy a lovely evening..."

I had attached it to the bathroom door while my husband was showering one night recently. (We had spent the past few months redecorating our bedroom, making it a warm, comfortable haven just for us grown-ups!)

Well, our son, Zach, happened to see the sign that night as he went to bed...and an idea was born in his head as he drifted off to sleep....

The next day, he and Jenna had a wonderful surprise for me. They had set up his bedroom as a "retreat center" just for me! He and Jenna donned their finest clothing, created a menu of goodies from which I could choose, and laid out blankets and pillows in the cubby underneath his raised bunkbed. They had also poured me a glass of cold water, using a pretty goblet they knew I enjoyed drinking from. They asked what I would like off the menu and promptly retrieved it, serving it with all the style an eleven- and an eight-year old could muster!

It was very sweet!

Then, they gave me the options of what we could do... There was a pile of games to play, some books to read, or we could just relax and enjoy one another's company while the sweet melodies of "Sleep Sound in Jesus" played on the cd player.

Okay, so it wasn't heaven, but it was awfully close!

The truth is I almost missed this wonderful time with my children. You see, I was busy working on something "important", and I had seen them running around the house in their Sunday best--which was definitely a no-no. I was just about to get onto them when I discovered what they were doing. Had I "leapt" before I "looked" (as I often do!) I would have missed it. I would've barked; they would've had hurt feelings, and we all would've missed out.

By the grace of God, this time we didn't miss out! And I learned how precious playtime with my children can be--even after a long day of school work, and even when there are "important" matters to be tended to.

Since then, we've had similar playtime together several times. Each time I've had to remind myself how important this is--in the beginning. But once I've pulled myself away from the chores and tasks at hand, I realize how much we enjoy spending this "retreat" time with each other.

Some lessons are slow in coming, but when they come, they are so good!

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." --James 1:17

Thanks, Dad!

Never Stop Learning!

"I am still learning."

--Michelangelo

Start the Day Right...

One of the things I've learned about homeschooling over these past few years is to start each day out right. For me, that means several things:

Get up by 7:00 a.m. (at least!)

Shower before breakfast (when possible!)

Have "quiet time" before school

Throw a load of clothes in the washer before school

Be ready for school on time (which is 9:00 a.m. for us)

Begin each school session with a devotion and prayer

This year one of the new things I've started, since the kids are getting older, is that I let each of them lead us in devotion once a week. So on Tuesday Zach leads us in devotion, and on Thursday Jenna takes a turn. This accomplishes several things... First, I don't have to have devotions prepared on those days. Second, by allowing them to lead, they are learning to prepare devotions--which means they are also learning to apply God's Word to their lives! And third, it allows them to be in charge of something, which makes them feel good about themselves, plus it teaches them to be leaders.

I wish I could take the credit for this idea, but as with all my good ideas, this one came straight from God Himself!

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
--James 1:5

Posted by The Teacher at 03:42 PM

Oklahoma History

I can't believe it's September already! Where did August go?

We have been homeschooling a couple of weeks now, and just took our first "major" field trip. Since we're studying Oklahoma history this term, I thought it would be good to see some of the historic sites around our lovely state. So last weekend we drove east to Oklmulgee, Muskogee, and then on to Tahlequah. (If those aren't Indian names, I don't know what are!) We just happened to be in Tahlequah for the Cherokee National Holiday!

We went to several Indian museums and came across some wonderful exhibits, information, and people. The most fascinating person we met was the Cherokee National Blowgun champion, who gave us a lesson in the art (or is it sport?) of blowgun shooting. It was so much fun we had to buy a couple of them!

Since learning that the kids and I have some Cherokee blood in our veins the things we saw and heard became more significant to us. The Trail of Tears, for example, was a focus of one of the museums, and hearing stories from "true" American Indians (via video tape) who have lived that heritage was moving indeed.

Tomorrow we get back to the usual schedule after a long weekend.

And still I have so much planning to do before we take our month-long road trip to the Northeast!

Homeschool On The Road!

Well, we've done it. We've made the decision to take a month-long road trip this fall to supplement our study of American history. For the month of October (more or less), we will be driving north and east to the New England area to see the sights, to tour the museums, and to experience our American history up-close-and-personal.

We have already spent many hours planning the trip, requesting travel packets from all the various states, picking and choosing which sights to see and which ones to pass by. We have a tentative schedule which allows for Sunday worship wherever we happen to be, and down-time on Sunday afternoon and Monday.

We will do school work in the morning over breakfast, at night before bed, and anytime in between that we have the opportunity. The kids will each keep a daily journal of the things they see and learn about. They will be instructed to leave plenty of room so we can add photos later on, making the journals priceless mementos of our trip!

Although we're really excited about this trip, we're a little nervous too...wondering how we're going to fare on a 31-day trip across the country, spending long days in the car driving, hopping from one motel to another, and being in close quarters and constant contact without the luxury of our own personal "space" in which to retreat!

I'm sure we'll do fine, but I have no doubt we will have our "moments."

The next thing on my list is to map out motels along the route. We're taking Socrates, our beloved Yorkshire Terrier along with us, so we will be limited to only the motels that allow small pets. The other complication is that we will be in the northeast at the height of the fall colors, which I understand can make it difficult to find accommodations.

~ Socrates ~

I guess I'd better get busy!

COUNTDOWN TO DEPARTURE: 31 Days

Our Homeschool History: Part I

In the beginning...

It was 1997 and though he was only 5 years old, our son, Zach was already reading chapter books. He had taught himself to read at around the age of 2-1/2. (I know, it's amazing, but it's true!) So taking that into consideration, we just couldn't see putting him in Kindergarten with other kids who were just learning to read the most basic words.

About this time we learned that some families at church were beginning to homeschool, so we thought we would check into it. (Actually, my husband, Joel, had wanted me to homeschool since Zach was born!) While the idea was not a new one, it was also one that I was not too keen on. God really had to do some work in my heart before I could seriously consider taking on a challenge this huge.

And that's just what He did! By the time fall rolled around, not only was I willing to homeschool Zach, but I was excited about it!

Thankfully, those families at church that we had heard about were wonderful people, and we soon became good friends. One family had already completed a year of homeschooling, so the wife, Julie, being the experienced one, became my mentor.

My first step was to attend the Texas homeschool convention that spring where I first heard Sally Clarkson speak about her family's ministry based on their book Educating The Wholehearted Child. Not only was I totally sold on the idea of homeschooling my child, but I was encouraged to do so in a way that was built on the Word of God itself and the principles therein.

The other homeschool ministry I learned of that spring was Konos Curriculum. I don't remember if Jessica Hulcy spoke at that convention or not, but I heard about their homeschool method through my new friends, and it sounded like just the type of curriculum for our family.

A few months later, my husband and I attended a seminar at the Hulcy's home and we were on our way to educating our children using Konos in conjunction with The Wholehearted Child's philosophy.

Homeschooling 101

The fall of 1997 came quickly after a busy summer of becoming familiar with the Konos Curriculum, reading The Wholehearted Child, planning, strategizing, and researching. I was a little nervous, but I was excited about getting started.

Kindergarten was a wonderful year! Although Jenna was only 3, she enjoyed "school" along with us, coloring pictures, doing worksheets, and playing along with us as we did our hands-on activities in conjunction with the curriculum. Zach had a great time too, especially when we got together with our homeschool friends for our monthly co-ops! One of the first co-ops we got together for was centered around building a giant model of the human ear that our kids could crawl through. Oh sure, it looked like the kitchen table on the outside, but inside it was an adventure! All the essential parts were there--the cochlea, the hammer, the anvil, the stirrups, and the eardrum--all made out of our piano bench, a pair of panty hose, a real hammer, etc. On the outside, at the entry, we had drawn a huge ear on brown paper and cut a hole through which the kids could enter the "ear." It was quite a memorable experience for us all!

Zach was such a "sponge" when it came to learning, that he was truly a joy to teach--most of the time! No one is perfect and we had our days when we just wanted to strangle one another, but we exercised some self-control (and implemented plenty of time-outs!), and we survived just fine!

Year one was a huge success, and we threw an end-of-the-year party to celebrate it, complete with certificates for both Zach and Jenna, and a well-earned "diploma" signifying Zach's completion of Kindergarten.

(Part II to follow...)

A Day of Rest

And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. ~Genesis 2:3

Our Students

Our son, Zach, is a gifted child who has excelled in reading, science, geography and math. It is our privilege to guide him in his studies in a manner that is both challenging and affirming. Zach is a self-motivated learner, with a strong hunger for knowledge. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere in which he has the tools required to both satisfy this hunger and stimulate his mind toward further growth.

Zach is a very social child with strong leadership tendencies. Although he is one of only two students within our school, he is regularly involved in outside activities with other children his age, not limited to sports activities, children's choir, music lessons and biblical studies.

Jenna is an average learner (though incredibly sharp in her own ways!) and is on target for her age. She has a shorter attention span and thus needs the special attention available to her through one-on-one tutoring. She is a reserved child in social situations and is encouraged to flourish more readily in the home school environment. Concurrently, she is also active in various outside activities in which she is expected to expand her natural social capabilities while interacting with her peers. Likewise, she is regularly involved in dance lessons, music lessons, children's choir and biblical studies with other children her age.

Our Philosophy

Our philosophy toward learning is that:

Learning takes place when the child's heart is engaged as well as his mind.

Learning is not a burden, but a joy and a privilege. While the end goal is non-negotiable, the method of reaching that goal is individualized according to the interests and learning styles of the student.

Once the foundations are laid (reading, writing, arithmetic), there are no limitations to what or how much a child can learn as long as the love of learning is fostered, protected, stimulated and encouraged.

Life is itself an exercise in learning and education.

A child who is taught how to learn, to think independently, to decipher and to discern will become an adult who never stops learning and bettering him/herself.

The most critical "subjects" learned are those pertaining to self-discipline, self-control, respect for and service to others, civic responsibility, and high moral character.

Posted by The Teacher at 11:11 PM

How Our Home School Operates

We do not 'grade' our children per se, but we do evaluate their work, allowing them the learning experience of correcting errors and discovering better ways of completing their projects. Their work is completed in written expression (on paper and on the dry erase board) and through verbal/oral expression. They are encouraged to 'think outside the box' and to use all the resources available to them to accomplish their goals. We have as central themes in our school the importance of life skills, people skills, teamwork, and family unity.

We operate on a 180-day "formal" school term beginning in August (usually) and ending in May or June. We continue informal learning through the summer months.

The students are encouraged to practice musical skills at least five days a week, and to be physically active as often as possible. Television/video learning is at a minimum while hands-on learning is encouraged. Character training and biblical studies are a daily focus.

We use a variety of curricula and resources, but the main curriculum source this year will be Sonlight Curriculum, which is a history-based curriculum. We will be supplementing the history study with Sonlight’s language arts and science curriculum. We will continue to use Saxon Math this year.

We implement field trips as often as possible, giving our students the opportunity to experience learning in real life and real historical situations. Travel is an integral part of our learning experience. To date we have traveled to: Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Virginia, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, California, Jamaica, Mexico, and the western Caribbean, as well as exploring our own state of Oklahoma. This year we are planning a month-long driving trip to the East Coast and the South, visiting historical and cultural sights along the way.

Oklahoma Law

We operate our school in accordance with Oklahoma State laws pertaining to home schools.

Welcome!

Welcome to HomeSchool "U" -- (short for university) -- because teaching school at home is an ongoing learning experience!

We have been a home school family since 1997. Even though this is our seventh year of home schooling my husband, Joel, and I are still learning! Every year brings with it new challenges. Each child, as he/she grows, adds a different dimension to our home school and to our family life. When we started on this journey, our oldest child, Zach, was five years old, and our daughter, Jenna, was only three. Back then, school was a lot easier in terms of what we studied and how we studied. Now, with Zach in sixth grade and Jenna in third grade, things have changed drastically. We don't use "alphabears" to spell words anymore, and we don't read boardbooks anymore. We don't use playdough and paint. Now we're using the Internet and reading books with 200+ pages and words like "bourgeways." (For a more indepth look at our home school history, click on the category by that title.)

Ah yes, and the simplicity of children without raging hormones is quickly becoming more scarce as well, since Zach is on the cusp of adolescence.

So, as we continue to learn about the unique lifestyle of home schooling, we are excited to share our newfound knowledge, hints, and tips with you. Hopefully our journey will encourage you on yours.

So welcome to HomeSchool "U"! Please visit often!

Mary Comm
Wife, Mom, Teacher, Daughter, Sister,
Neighbor, Friend, and Child of the King

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
--Proverbs 22:6