I love this picture of Miss Rachel with her
Grandpa Bob. It is a joy to observe our children
interacting with their Grandparents. In both
the Rabe household, and in ours, Grandparents are
very present and involved.
My Mom is committed to teaching my children
Bible(all), Drivers Ed(boys) and Home Ec(Chelsea)
one day per week this year. I will love that
time for many reasons. Mom has a wealth of
wisdom and a great love for the Lord that she
will communicate, she has a lifetime of experience
to share from and this will make their relationship
even stronger than it is today, if that is possible.
Homeschooling is rich in relationships.
Intergenerational relationships.
This is a good thing!
Becky K.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Homeschool Co-op has Begun!
Indeedy!
It began with a bang!
Nearly 60 families arrived at
the church auditorium with excitement
and trepidation.
The returning families were delighted to
see each other...the new families looked
a bit tentative.
Nonetheless, it was wonderful
to see every one.
I sat with many high schoolers as the opening
announcements were made. I have known many
of these young people since they were in elementary
grades. My, how they have grown.
And so nicely too.
It blesses my heart to see older siblings caring
for younger as some Moms have responsibilities in
leading the co-op.
There are no obvious complaints.
They just serve like that.
There are always things that need adjustments,
our co-op has those too. We are working them
out. I am so thankful for the solid foundation
of friendship that makes ironing out the wrinkles
possible.
Co-op is not just about the students.
The parents need this connection also.
Most times it is the Moms, however, lately
some of the Dads have been meeting together
quarterly for breakfast . I think this is
great. It is a very good thing to see these
Dads recognizing their part in the homeschool
process and wanting to do more to support their
wives and children.
Well, enough rambling.
I'll be back with updates every now and then.
Becky K.
It began with a bang!
Nearly 60 families arrived at
the church auditorium with excitement
and trepidation.
The returning families were delighted to
see each other...the new families looked
a bit tentative.
Nonetheless, it was wonderful
to see every one.
I sat with many high schoolers as the opening
announcements were made. I have known many
of these young people since they were in elementary
grades. My, how they have grown.
And so nicely too.
It blesses my heart to see older siblings caring
for younger as some Moms have responsibilities in
leading the co-op.
There are no obvious complaints.
They just serve like that.
There are always things that need adjustments,
our co-op has those too. We are working them
out. I am so thankful for the solid foundation
of friendship that makes ironing out the wrinkles
possible.
Co-op is not just about the students.
The parents need this connection also.
Most times it is the Moms, however, lately
some of the Dads have been meeting together
quarterly for breakfast . I think this is
great. It is a very good thing to see these
Dads recognizing their part in the homeschool
process and wanting to do more to support their
wives and children.
Well, enough rambling.
I'll be back with updates every now and then.
Becky K.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Fitting in Jobs and School
Working teenagers have been around for a very long time.
It is a bit different when we homeschool and try to be flexible with our school schedule to accomodate jobs.
Both Mrs. Rabe and myself are experiencing this during the early part of this school year as employers are eager to hire homeschooled teens because of their flex schedule. Our children work in the tourist industry of Lancaster County and will continue working until the end of October.
It becomes a challenge also as our children begin to stay up later and then want to sleep longer. It is known that teens actually need as much, if not more sleep, as their younger counterparts.
How am I dealing with this?
I am struggling, a little, to get everything in.
We are learning as we go.
I am sure that there will be days this winter that the public school students will enjoy snow days and ours will be snuggled up with a textbook. This is life as we know it. I personally love those days.
I also count some of the job time as school time.
Our children are learning so much on the job!
They are learning about working with people, responsibility, going to work when you don't feel like it, handling money (in some cases), doing customer service and so much more. All of our children work in a strong science environment and safety is a huge component of their jobs. They are all extremely physically active in their various positions. I consider it a work/school environment.
This does not relieve us from getting in the required math, english, history and science...those are continuing to be done...
If you are in this position, what changes have you made to accomodate a work schedule?
Becky K.
It is a bit different when we homeschool and try to be flexible with our school schedule to accomodate jobs.
Both Mrs. Rabe and myself are experiencing this during the early part of this school year as employers are eager to hire homeschooled teens because of their flex schedule. Our children work in the tourist industry of Lancaster County and will continue working until the end of October.
It becomes a challenge also as our children begin to stay up later and then want to sleep longer. It is known that teens actually need as much, if not more sleep, as their younger counterparts.
How am I dealing with this?
I am struggling, a little, to get everything in.
We are learning as we go.
I am sure that there will be days this winter that the public school students will enjoy snow days and ours will be snuggled up with a textbook. This is life as we know it. I personally love those days.
I also count some of the job time as school time.
Our children are learning so much on the job!
They are learning about working with people, responsibility, going to work when you don't feel like it, handling money (in some cases), doing customer service and so much more. All of our children work in a strong science environment and safety is a huge component of their jobs. They are all extremely physically active in their various positions. I consider it a work/school environment.
This does not relieve us from getting in the required math, english, history and science...those are continuing to be done...
If you are in this position, what changes have you made to accomodate a work schedule?
Becky K.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Food Science...
Does anyone have a good resource for teaching about food science?
I have two children interested in the subject and a book
on order but we will not receive it until October because
it is backordered.
I will go to the Library and search but I thought if you knew
of something it would be easier than starting from scratch.
Blessings on your day!
Becky K.
I have two children interested in the subject and a book
on order but we will not receive it until October because
it is backordered.
I will go to the Library and search but I thought if you knew
of something it would be easier than starting from scratch.
Blessings on your day!
Becky K.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Friends, What Friends?
I put this header up because I love the
good times our children enjoy together.
Over the next few weeks I will change this header out
with other ones that show the active lives our
homeschooled children live.
They are busy, active and a whole lot
of fun!
Becky K.
good times our children enjoy together.
Over the next few weeks I will change this header out
with other ones that show the active lives our
homeschooled children live.
They are busy, active and a whole lot
of fun!
Becky K.
This Poor Blog...
Sitting here all alone...
I have been ever so neglectful
of it all summer.
Not anymore!
Things are happening...we are
ready to share our fun and excitement.
We began school only to have our first
week be knocked completely full of holes
since all three kids worked a lot.
I know this is part of the process and they
are learning so much at their jobs. I just
need to adjust my expectations of the material
that we were able to get through for ourselves.
This week is somewhat better in quantity of
work we will get done...but Monday was a Holiday!
I was excited yesterday to get to the library and
find the materials I went for! That is cool!
We are studying Rome. It wasn't built in a day,
you know...sorry, couldn't resist.
I found a series of books about what it was like
to live in different time periods. I need to
preview them as they were not in the youth section.
Some very interesting things took place in those
early days and I need to see just how revealing these
books are...but I just know there will be usable
material there and I am beside myself with glee.
We began our year reading a youth fiction called
Time Shift. It was a great literature jumping off
point. Not because the writing was anything fabulous.
Definitely not a classic, but because the story caught
the kids attention and there are lots and lots of
helpful hints about writing in the story...the main
character loves to write...and everything he writes
actually happens...I used this to have the kids do
writing assignments, exercises in story ideas, etc.
It was a fun way to start lit this year.
When we were at the library yesterday, Chelsea
found the next book in the series and insisted that
we do that together next.
Enthusiasm is a very good thing!
Well, happy schooling to you this year.
Come back...
Blessings!
Becky K.
I have been ever so neglectful
of it all summer.
Not anymore!
Things are happening...we are
ready to share our fun and excitement.
We began school only to have our first
week be knocked completely full of holes
since all three kids worked a lot.
I know this is part of the process and they
are learning so much at their jobs. I just
need to adjust my expectations of the material
that we were able to get through for ourselves.
This week is somewhat better in quantity of
work we will get done...but Monday was a Holiday!
I was excited yesterday to get to the library and
find the materials I went for! That is cool!
We are studying Rome. It wasn't built in a day,
you know...sorry, couldn't resist.
I found a series of books about what it was like
to live in different time periods. I need to
preview them as they were not in the youth section.
Some very interesting things took place in those
early days and I need to see just how revealing these
books are...but I just know there will be usable
material there and I am beside myself with glee.
We began our year reading a youth fiction called
Time Shift. It was a great literature jumping off
point. Not because the writing was anything fabulous.
Definitely not a classic, but because the story caught
the kids attention and there are lots and lots of
helpful hints about writing in the story...the main
character loves to write...and everything he writes
actually happens...I used this to have the kids do
writing assignments, exercises in story ideas, etc.
It was a fun way to start lit this year.
When we were at the library yesterday, Chelsea
found the next book in the series and insisted that
we do that together next.
Enthusiasm is a very good thing!
Well, happy schooling to you this year.
Come back...
Blessings!
Becky K.
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