Where Has She Been?

I know I have not been very faithful with this blog. I would like to start again. If you wondering where I have been, here is a post from my family blog about the past year.

The Advent Season has Begun

I am planning to post a series on celebrating the Advent season in our homeschools. I wanted to start with a post on understanding the difference between celebrating the "birthday" of Jesus and His incarnation. My friend, Becky, actually wrote a similar post today, and she did such an amazing job that I will send you to read her post instead of re-writing it.

I Think I Am Back

I know, I know... It has been a long time. I have committed myself to a full plate this school year. I had to let the blog go while we all adjusted to new commitments. I think we have adjusted and prayerfully, I will be back. I have missed hearing from other like-minded homeschoolers. So, here is to trying this again.

Timeline Idea

This week is Teacher Training at Veritas Press. Part of my job when I am not presenting is to sit in on seminars to aid in any way if the technology flops or if the speakers get stuck. I do not get to choose which talks I am to listen to. I just show up at my assigned seminars. Well, I just scored big by getting to sit in on Amy Pak's talk. She is the creator and illustrator for Homeschool in the Woods History Timeline Figures. She has some fabulous ideas. The one that I am most excited to try is printing off the figures that we have already studied, and the ones we are about to study, at about the business card size and laminating them. Then attaching them to business card size magnets and hanging them on the refrigerator for the kids to put in order. I had been trying to find a good spot in my house to do this with the VP cards, but could not find anywhere large enough. This should fit the bill. I will take pictures once I get the project done.

What are You Doing?

So, I decide to start blogging again the week my husband had knee surgery. That was not smart!

I love seeing what others are doing. Do you? I have to be careful with this because I need to know that Icannot do everything. I also hate to see people hopping between different curricula every year. I believe that can cause some major holes in a child's education. So, it is with a little fear that I am about to do this. I would love to have a post where we share what we are doing with our kids this year. I like to see this because it gives me ideas about some things that I would never consider. Sometimes it helps me to see holes in our education. I will list the things we are doing and look forward to seeing what is going on in your homes as well.

6th/7th Grade Son:

• Math U See
• Classical Roots A
• History Transition (Veritas Press Online-A Pre-Omnibus class)
• Art I (Veritas Press Online)
• Literature (Veritas Press Online)
• Beginning Geography
• Cults and World Religions (Local co-op class)
• Grammar, Spelling, Writing (Local Tutor twice a week, With Mom the other 3 days)
• Choir/Sight Singing, Piano, Drama, Swimming

4th Grade Daughter:

• Saxon 65
• Shurley Grammar 4 (Veritas Press Online)
• Greece and Rome History (Veritas Press Online)
• Latin for Children A (Veritas Press Online)
• The Grammar of Spelling
• Literature (Veritas Press Online)
• Memory Work (VeritasPress)
• Beginning Geography
• Classically Cursive
• Poetry Patterns
• Choir, Violin, Orchestra, Swimming

1st Grade Son:

• Completing the Phonics Museum (Veritas Press)
• Saxon Math 2
• Beginning Geography and Leagues and Legends
• Veritas Press Literature 1
• Choir, violin, Swimming

We do our Bible during our family devotion times. We are working through the Veritas Press Bible cards. We also are in a co-op which completes History and Literature projects. This year the group is working through Apologia's Planets study for Science.

I also get great joy out of seeing other's schedules. I will be posting mine soon and I hope to see yours too!

Do You Have Any Helpful Hints?

I am sorry to have been virtually non-existent. It has been a busy summer. But, who's isn't, right? I just placed my big curriculum order for the year. Each year I get a little better at determining what is really needed and what is not. I am now in the process of working out our schedule for the year. This year looks crazy. My husband has offered to take on the job of checking all of the children's Math work and making sure to help them if they need it. I am so relieved with that news. As I plan my schedule and find little ways, like getting my husband's help, to get everything done I always wonder what helpful hints others have to get everything in. Also, selfishly I am giving a seminar on this next week.:) I realize what works for me may not work for others. So, I like to come prepared with a plethora of encouragement and helps. Does anyone have any tips they would like to share?

Crazy Times

Yes, I am still alive! Wow! Life has become crazy. It does not look to slow down any until the summer. May will be one of those months where all of the dates just kind of mesh together and you have to remind yourself on a regular basis what your schedule looks like. As I talk to other homeschool families, I have come to the conclusion that this is common for the end of the school year. I am hearing people talk about dropping out of things, second guess their decision to homechool, and rethink if the time and energy put into a Classical education is worth it. I want to address a few of these things and prayerfully, you will find some encouragement in this post.


1. Remember, that it is the end of the year and we are all burnt out. I am not sure that I know anyone who does not yearn for the break that summer brings. In our exhaustion, everything seems worse. Hold on for a few more weeks. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

2. The end of the year is just plain busy. If you are like me, I do not let up any in my schooling because I cannot stand the thought at this point of extending our school year for even one more day. So, while trying to make the end of the year field trips, recitals, concerts, and get in last minute projects, we are still trying to have full days of school. Yes, it is enough to make you pull your hair out. While planning your lessons for the next few weeks, think through if every single worksheet is really necessary. Maybe you can combine some lessons, or do some of the work orally. What do you think schools do when they have snow days, assemblies, field trips, etc.? Well, from experience at several different schools I will tell you. They cut out work. The teachers decide what is necessary and what is not. I am not advocating laziness or dumbing down your children's work. But, I am saying try thinking Quality vs. Quantity. Make the most of these last few weeks by making them full of quality work without busy work.

3. I know everyone is asking for sign ups for next year. I hate that this has to come at the end of the year when everyone is so overwhelmed. Think about the things you are signing up for very carefully. When we make decisions about anything, we always ask if it will lesson my load in homeschooling or not. If it does not, we do not do it. My children take music lessons and participate in a choir. Their teachers cover so much more than the instrument and singing that it fully counts as music. We throw in the Classical Kids CDs from time to time and we have a music credit. I do not have to spend time in the week teaching it. When we think about our co-op we have the same criteria. I feel guilty at times for not participating in our very well done co-op at church. But, we made the choice to not be involved in anything that was extra and did not take something off of my plate. So, I actually started a co-op. We do memory work projects, experiments, and historical feasting parties that pertain to what we and the other families are studying. This past year was our first year. We plans to make it meet ours and the other families needs even more next year.

4. When asking yourself if you should even sign up for anything, that is a question for only you and your husband to decide. We have a child who actually gets depressed when he does not leave the house. I understand that. I am the same way. There are other families who love being home and it stresses them to be involved in anything. I do not believe outside advice is very helpful here. No one knows the make up of your family like you and your husband. For us to be involved in the things we are, it means we run things differently. We do Math and Literature year round. It frees up some time during the school year. The children should review Math through the summer, so why not just do Math. And, I want my kids reading quality books all the time. If you cannot tweak things to help free up some time for extra things in your schedule, then maybe it is the right choice to take a year or so off from all the extras.

5. GET DAD INVOLVED!! I know this is easier said than done. If you are married to a man who does not want to be involved, then I am not advocating that you force the issue. My husband believes that if a father feels that the family should be homeschooled, he should not then say, "Wife, school the kids, but I will not be involved." I am very thankful for that. He does not really do very much teaching, but if a child is really struggling in a subject he will take the time at night to reteach it. Sometimes hearing from someone else is all it takes. We do most of our field trips as a family. This is not so much because he wants to spend so many Saturdays in museums, but he understands the hardship of me trying to do it with all 5 children. He wants them to remember the trips as fun and not mom stressed out because she is trying to navigate a new place while trying to keep the little kids happy. He also loves the great discussions and family memories it builds. Fathers and homeschooling is a whole other post. Simply put, if your husband is willing, take him up on it. Especially during these very busy seasons.

These are just some thoughts that I try to think through when I am overwhelmed and starting to make decisions for the next school year. I hope they are helpful to you.