Reviewing The Past Year And Looking To The Next

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The school year is officially finished.  Today, I turned in the evaluations for Rachel and Emily and the required 5th grade testing scores for Rachel.  They did well.

I don't know about you, but at the end of every school year I like to take some time to review how the year went and to spend time planning for next year.

This year was a weird year to me - it seemed so often like we weren't working as diligently as we should and yet the kids learned and grew both academically and spiritually.

Sarah, had been struggling with her reading and was getting frustrated.  So we set it aside for a time.  I know that may be shocking to many of you but in my 16 years of experience teaching my children, I have found that it works!  By the end of the year it was all starting to come together for her.  She was bored with her math this last year, so we are going to try Teaching Textbooks for her this next school year.  She also wanted to improve her drawing skills and so she worked at it, asking Lindsay for help now and then, and we all could see a big improvement!

Rachel, who reads so well, struggles with her math, but I got smart this year and set aside what she had been using and tried a different workbook with more variety and then also did Teaching Textbooks for her and she started to take off!  Why is it that we cling to the old thing that is not working?  Lesson relearned for me!

She also grew in her ability to work on her own.  This is a wonderful thing for students!

Emily doesn't love academics but before this past year started she realized that she hadn't been trying very hard and wanted to stretch herself this year, and she did!  Biology, Advanced Literary Analysis, British Literature...this on top of doing some intermediate level sewing, creating Fraktur art, and working a summer/autumn job at a local adventure farm.

The longer I home educate my children, the less curriculum I use.  Oh, I use a math curriculum and science books as well, but for real learning of history, and language arts and government etc., I use real books - living books.  Ones that have been written by someone who loves the subject they are writing about.  Books that can capture my children's attention and get them thinking.  Then we do a lot of discussion, and processing and relating the information to our lives.  

I believe this teaches them more than anything how to be life long learners.

This next year, I will be starting Kyle on a bit of formal education and am now responsible for Sarah to the state.  But we will continue to learn together as we have always done.  Always our goal is that of discipling our children, to love the Lord and to walk with Him always.  

What a terrible thing it would be if we taught academics and college preparation and yet the hearts of our children were far from the Lord!  So as this next year of learning starts, I hope to encourage you to focus on the eternal things, gain the hearts of your children first and foremost.  The rest will all fall into place.

Deanna

Gearing Up For The New Year!

I think I could do year round schooling. Truly.

I never used to think so, I looked forward to the summer break as much as my kids. I noticed this year though, that I wasn't ready to stop, I wanted to keep going, but as I was unprepared for that, we didn't.

Normally we start school the first week of August, but since we will have family visiting, I think we will get started a few weeks late. This coupled with my girls work at the maze, makes me worried we will be behind. I need to STOP the worry and pressure. We finished really early this year. I have all the time I need. I don't need artificial schedules.

I have all the required paperwork turned into the school district and we are ready to roll. I want learning to be a part of everyday life - I don't like "now it is time for school". I use those words, but I don't like them. I would rather say "do some math, now we are going to learn about the Romans etc...." We don't do school - to me school is desks and timetables and peer groups, and drama....

We are raising our children to love to learn and to do it in a natural way. Yes it is directed, but beyond the basics, we let them learn what they are interested in. It is delightful how much stays with them when they are learning what they have an interest in or passion for.

Now, since we have requirements required by the state, I am going to print off log pages for the girls. One more step toward the new year.

I'm excited!

On Being in a Co-op

Not everyone needs to participate
in a Co-op to Homeschool.
However, it can be very lonely
to go through the homeschooling process without
the fellowship of a co-op.

When I started homeschooling Jonathan
I did not join a co-op. I did not think
they were for me. After all, I was the
teacher and I knew what needed to be done
and why should I then go back to a classroom
type setting for anything...my thoughts.

Well, when I had all three kids at home and
we were in a new area the Lord led me to
a grocery store at least 45 minutes from my house.
I stood in the check-out line behind a very outgoing woman who
started a conversation with me.
Somewhere in the conversation
she asked if we homeschooled and let me know that
she did, as well. Robin was such a blessing to
me that day. I was a stranger in a strange land.

Before long we found ourselves invited to a field trip
with the co-op that Robin and her kids participated in.
It was the educational department of a huge pet store who
brought in all kinds of small animals and reptiles. The kids
loved it.

There were a few friendly faces that I will never forget from that
day. It just seemed that we should get involved. So we applied.
Yes, around here it is not guaranteed that you will get into the
co-op of your dreams...in Lancaster County there are so many homeschooling
families that most co-ops have waiting lists. This was astonishing
to me!

The Lord led us exactly to the perfect co-op for us.
To be honest it was not easy.
I, who can talk to anyone, had a very hard time becoming
a part of this group. There were so many established friendships
that no one really needed another person in their group.

The kids struggled to find their place...there were many days of tears
as we headed toward the church where we meet. But, I was committed and
for some reason I just knew that we needed to persevere through the adjustment.

That lasted for two years!

For two years we felt like outsiders...

Then there were some changes...

I began to teach.

My children began to make friends, very slowly.

One Mom, in particular, reached out over and over
again. She kept setting playdates for our children.
Jana has been such a blessing to my children and I.
As have Josh and Kristen.

Chelsea is so shy. It was hard for her to assert
herself into a group.

Wow! As I think about what I have written it seems
so negative up until the last few sentences. But, I want
to be real. It is not easy every time to come into a
co-op. To be the "New family". But with time, prayer
and diligent effort to serve it is worth while.

I am now serving on the committee and delight in reaching
out to the new Moms if they seem like they are struggling.
I try to hearken back to 7 or 8 years ago and remember those
feelings of not fitting in.

Our children have blossomed and have made forever friends.

I am spending time with the young people in my position as
7-up Coordinator and have found them to be delightful, loving
young men and ladies.

Ours is not an academic Co-op, so much as a support to our
homeschool program. If I am doing a physical science,
there may be a lab offered through our co-op.
If my kids need a boost in writing or speech, I'll sign them up
for a class that will give them a little extra.

In the classes up through the 6th grade, music and gym are mandatory.
This helps to fulfill the needs of group activities. It is
harder to teach these at home. Playing baseball with myself and
three kids is just not the same as forming two teams and learning
how to play together as a team.

Wow, I have meandered through many thoughts on this but I just
want to encourage you. If you have struggled through the
decision or even the first year or so in the co-op, and there is
no real reason for you to leave it...hang in!
Reach out!
Get involved.
It is worth it.

Many thanks to Deanna, Belinda, Jana, Rosalee, Suealyce, Dawn, Marla, Robin, and the many, many others who have made this a safe and encouraging place to call,
"our co-op".
I appreciate all of you so much!

There is a lot of sacrifice in leadership
but the rewards are far greater.

Take the risk. You just might like it!

Your Friend,
Becky K.

A Must Read

Run, don't walk, over to Pleasant View Schoolhouse, to read an excellent post on helping our children find their life's work.

You can find the post here.

How Has Your Homeschool Year Gone?

We are nearing the end of our school year. I like to review what we have done during the year and to see where we can make improvements for next year. I like this picture above because it makes me think of my older girls and their love for reading. For one of them this is the year that reading became something she did for pleasure, for the other the love of reading continued strong. For our younger girls, one of them has delighted in her reading as well, and the other is just starting to sound letters out! What fun this is for me. I love reading!

In September, we went to Colonial Williamsburg. This was such a treat. Since it was a Homeschooling week the tickets were so inexpensive and made it affordable for our family. While there we met up with friends from our homeschool co-op!

Our cat Chloe had her second little of kittens.

Our dog Samantha had her first litter of puppies. 11 of them!

In December, we had a Jane Austen Christmas Ball! These are the students in my "Pride and Prejudice" class.

We also have done the usual subjects like math, science and history. These we have done well with. Below is a picture of Lindsay's biology lab class.

Areas we need to do a bit more work on are writing and health. I have daughter's who like to write a lot, and have one who would rather dissect a frog, than write. She can do it, and does well, but she just isn't a writer. So she has to work at it, force herself to do it. :)

Overall, I would say that we have had an excellent year of learning. How about you?

Jonathan and Math

This has been an interesting year for Jonathan and his new Math program. We are using Teaching Textbooks (link) and he is doing the 7th grade level. I am not telling him how much above the last level he worked at this is...so far, so good.

The interesting thing about Jonathan's Math disorder is that some days it seems clear for him. Others, he struggles so much. Yesterday after school we were in the car and Jonathan said..."This was a good math day. Sometimes the answers just come to me and other days I cannot remember a thing." I have noticed this, but it was interesting to hear him commment on it out of the blue on a good day. He was thrilled.

He is working on his math in the next room, as I type now. He came over a couple of minutes ago and said, "It must be another good math day. Look at this problem I just did." I am happy for his good days. They build his overall confidence. So far this year he has far surpassed his progress any year to date.

One major compensation I am allowing him this year is the ability to use a multiplication chart when he is doing division. I want him to be able to understand the division process without having to attempt to remember the multiplication facts that so elude him. He said, "I have tried every year to learn them, I really wish I could. They just won't stay in my head." I know this to be true and so am allowing this compensation in order for him to not be stopped at this level another year.

What have you done to assist your children through learning disabilities? Anything you would like to share?

P.s. Jonathan just burst into the room saying,, "Oh yes! Oh yes! I just..." and proceeded to brag on his accomplishment in long division. He walked me through the problem and how he solved it!
If you knew all of the time and tears, tutors, vision therapy and effort it has taken to get to this point you would be on your feet doing a jig with me right now!

Blessings on these special children!