Bad Days

Okay so in my last blog I was honest about my fears of homeschooling in the beginning and also the on going fears. Now, forgive me, those of you who will condemn me for putting honest and true life and feeling into this blog, but it is my blog and I don't aspire to be anyone but who I am.
On with it, yesterday was a "very bad terrible day" (from the book: Alexanders Bad Day, very cute kids book) I read for a while out loud and Michala could not narrate back what I read because the 18 year old was busy interrupting me and goofing off. Which has been a constant issue, so mommy and cousin (me, one in the same) had to put the crabby face on and scold a person who is supposed to be an adult and send her up to do her own school work in her room. And the second oldest was ordered to reread what I had just read and do without read aloud time until who knows when. I don't enjoy wasting my time and getting a sore throat for nothing. While Carmin the youngest told me the story finished her work and was the only thing that kept me from loosing my mind and patience at the moment. This is when Dad woke up (he works nights) and wondered why Mom was in a foul mood. Surprisingly at the end of the day Hannah was speaking to me. So now today as punishment both girls spend the day doing school work in their rooms and Carmin gets my full attention for the morning. So, will this teach them to be diligent or just afraid of moms (cousins) wrath? I loose my patients when I make an effort to make learning fun and people don't take it seriously. I suppose I wouldn't be a very good unschooler. So, ladies, this is an honest bad day in the life of one homeschooling mother (or cousin).

Daily Digest

Well today I am busy with the daily routine. The girls are busy with school. I am checking e-mail and doing laundry. Exciting! I am very excited, however to go to INCH this year. It is our state home school conference that is held in Lansing. I have not gone since my best friend died and I am ready to go now. In the past it has been geared toward new home schoolers. This year it seems to have more to offer for those of us who aren't quaking in our boots at the idea. Notice I didn't say afraid because you are always afraid. Afraid your child isn't getting enough of each subject, afraid you will fail, afraid they won't get into college. We just aren't terrified like we were at first (LOL). I really don't fear these things on a regular basis. Just once and a while when I hear of how bright someones child is and I wonder will mine make the cut? Then God reminds me I was called to do this and when ever you are called by God. Well he doesn't fail. He always rises to the occasion.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

A little more on Charlotte Mason. First off there is a wonderful website dedicated to CM. It has her books online, many links to other websites , free out of print ebooks, and free curriculum plans and schedules! It is called amblesideonline.org. This is some of what I use with my girls. I don't do every subject (like Plutarch) and do put the grades together rather than having to read many different books for each grade. I also aspire a little to Robinson Curriculum where I do require my kids to do much of there work alone, his website is robinsoncurriculum.com. ( I will talk of him later or you can just visit his website, I find him brilliant and fascinating) Each child has an assignment book that I write down daily reading list, spelling words (usually misspelled words from writing), math pages, and any unusual chores. The chapters they read alone they narrate back to me. We have a world map puzzle that is 1,000 pieces right now that we are doing for Geography. Michala learned the States and Capitols from music and her Leap Frog. She knows them better than I do! Most of our science is done in the Spring, Summer, Fall, and through reading. I love the Thorton W. Burgess books for science if you can find originals they are a treasure. You can find paperbacks at doverpublishing .com otherwise they are out of print. Back to Science, we do garden and when we find creatures we often draw them and look them up. We have also used Considering Gods Creation and that was a great hands on start to Science. I like to keep things simple mostly for my own sanity but also I think to many subjects cause a lot of disruption in the school day. To tell the truth, many days we have spent a whole day outside doing Science and nothing else, the same is true for all of our subjects. If your kids are actually interested and curious why stop to do math? Go with the inspiration. Some of our best learning has happened by chance not through my planning.