Here it is Saturday afternoon. What have I done this morning? Has it been a successful, fruitful morning. I think so. It doesn't feel like it though. I haven't cleaned the bathroom, dusted, vacuumed, or even finished a load of laundry ( but I have started the same load now for the 3rd time, because I keep forgetting about it and it is STILL smelling moldy.)
So what have I done????
Well, I took my 5 year old for a much needed date time with Mommy. I talked on the phone with my dad. I talked to by dear friend who is too sick to talk all that often. And I phoned my brother who just had a new baby.
I took care of the relationships in my life. During the week my attention is on my children almost every minute of the day. Yet these other relationships are important to me too.
So, even though I haven't pumped myself with caffeine and run around making my house look like a museum, I have had a productive morning. I have tended to the things that matter most. I have tended my relationships.
Now I need to tend to the most important relationship of all. I need to go take some time with the Lord. While my sweet ones are napping and resting I will turn my gaze to the One I love the most. Then my productive morning will be complete. :)
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Success
I've been reflecting lately on what it means to raise a "successful" child. What are really the goals of my homeschool. Is it to produce an academic? A philosopher? A genius? A millionare?
I think to raise a successful kid is to raise one who is a first a disciple. A person who loves Christ and lives for Christ. A person who can think and reason enough to face the challenges of our post Christian. A person who has a servant heart for those around them. A person who can support themselves and a family if called to. I pray that I can help my children to grow to be the unique individuals that God has called them to be.
So, if this is my definition of success, how does that influence how I teach and raise my children today? What it truly the most important things that they should learn at these tender early ages of 7,5 3, and almost 1?
I have been fascinated by Dr. Raymond Moore's research on early childhood development. The more I read, the more I realize that my warm, loving responses to my children at these early ages makes more of a difference for them than whether or not they can read and spell and know their grammar rules AT THIS TIME. There is a time and place for this learning.
My goal is going to be to fill my kids life with Truth, Beauty and Goodness through prayer, great books, chores, great books, nature, great books, free time to explore, great books, some math, great books, opportunites to serve others, great books and lots of love.
We'll find out in 20 years or so if I should have used more workbooks and rigid lessons in 2nd grade.
I think to raise a successful kid is to raise one who is a first a disciple. A person who loves Christ and lives for Christ. A person who can think and reason enough to face the challenges of our post Christian. A person who has a servant heart for those around them. A person who can support themselves and a family if called to. I pray that I can help my children to grow to be the unique individuals that God has called them to be.
So, if this is my definition of success, how does that influence how I teach and raise my children today? What it truly the most important things that they should learn at these tender early ages of 7,5 3, and almost 1?
I have been fascinated by Dr. Raymond Moore's research on early childhood development. The more I read, the more I realize that my warm, loving responses to my children at these early ages makes more of a difference for them than whether or not they can read and spell and know their grammar rules AT THIS TIME. There is a time and place for this learning.
My goal is going to be to fill my kids life with Truth, Beauty and Goodness through prayer, great books, chores, great books, nature, great books, free time to explore, great books, some math, great books, opportunites to serve others, great books and lots of love.
We'll find out in 20 years or so if I should have used more workbooks and rigid lessons in 2nd grade.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Christopher Columbus Day!
The more relaxed I am about homeschooling, the more creative I become. The less "school" we do, the more we seem to learn.
Today we threw out our math books (gasp!), and our phonics (gasp), and our spelling... and we had a fun day learning about Christopher Columbus!
Okay, so I made up a game. I was nervous that it would be a flop and it wasn't! It was so fun!
We pretended to be Christopher Columbus and his crew and find new lands.
Things needed:
3 laundry baskets ( preferably different sizes, but not necessary)
Baby dolls for crew- list of jobs in History Pockets- cook,doctor,carpenter,priest, first mate...
Hard tack- mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 t baking powder, 1/8 salt, 1 cup water. Bake 450 degrees for 18 minutes or so. Turn over 1/2 way through
Paper and pencil
long string tied to each laundry basket
compass (if you have one)
Construction paper (preferably different colors) cut in strips with instructions on them
"Good winds. Go North 10 steps"
"Bad Storm. Blown off course. Take 5 steps East"
"Food Break! Eat Hard tack"
"Draw a picture of the ocean all and you see in it"
"Dictate a letter to Diego (Columus' son) about your voyage"
"Sickness. Go back South 5 steps."
etc...
1. Make your hardtack. ( baking, math, measuring, working together! What a wealth of learning!)
2. We "rock paper scissored" for who would be Christopher Columbus and have the biggest boat (Santa Maria)
3. The three year old was the smallest boat... the Nina.
3. Pick your crew.
4. Gather all your supplies.
5. Find a place to begin and a place to end. Our starting point was at the end of our driveway. Our ending point was in our garden in the back yard.
6. Figure out North, South, East and West and teach your children. (great skill for them and me! )
7. Put your construction paper instructions ( about 20 of them) in a bowl.
8. Let the littlest pick first. Off you go.
Everyone follows the instructions together, but they take turns picking from the bowl.
We made it to our destination! We found new land and experienced a little of how hard it was to make that journey. My 3 year old worked on colors (from the different colored slips). My 5 year old practiced counting by counting steps. My 7 year old practiced reading. They all practiced working together. We enjoyed being outside. We laughed and we LEARNED!!
We tried round 2 because they begged for it... only the 7 year old could handle 2 rounds. :)
Good books that we read to introduce Columbus...
The Christopher Columbus Story by Alice Dangliesh
Christopher Columbus by Ann McGovern
We sang:
The Nina, The Pinta, The Santa Maria,
Columbus and his Crew,
they sailed the ocean blue,
in 1492.
Today we threw out our math books (gasp!), and our phonics (gasp), and our spelling... and we had a fun day learning about Christopher Columbus!
Okay, so I made up a game. I was nervous that it would be a flop and it wasn't! It was so fun!
We pretended to be Christopher Columbus and his crew and find new lands.
Things needed:
3 laundry baskets ( preferably different sizes, but not necessary)
Baby dolls for crew- list of jobs in History Pockets- cook,doctor,carpenter,priest, first mate...
Hard tack- mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 t baking powder, 1/8 salt, 1 cup water. Bake 450 degrees for 18 minutes or so. Turn over 1/2 way through
Paper and pencil
long string tied to each laundry basket
compass (if you have one)
Construction paper (preferably different colors) cut in strips with instructions on them
"Good winds. Go North 10 steps"
"Bad Storm. Blown off course. Take 5 steps East"
"Food Break! Eat Hard tack"
"Draw a picture of the ocean all and you see in it"
"Dictate a letter to Diego (Columus' son) about your voyage"
"Sickness. Go back South 5 steps."
etc...
1. Make your hardtack. ( baking, math, measuring, working together! What a wealth of learning!)
2. We "rock paper scissored" for who would be Christopher Columbus and have the biggest boat (Santa Maria)
3. The three year old was the smallest boat... the Nina.
3. Pick your crew.
4. Gather all your supplies.
5. Find a place to begin and a place to end. Our starting point was at the end of our driveway. Our ending point was in our garden in the back yard.
6. Figure out North, South, East and West and teach your children. (great skill for them and me! )
7. Put your construction paper instructions ( about 20 of them) in a bowl.
8. Let the littlest pick first. Off you go.
Everyone follows the instructions together, but they take turns picking from the bowl.
We made it to our destination! We found new land and experienced a little of how hard it was to make that journey. My 3 year old worked on colors (from the different colored slips). My 5 year old practiced counting by counting steps. My 7 year old practiced reading. They all practiced working together. We enjoyed being outside. We laughed and we LEARNED!!
We tried round 2 because they begged for it... only the 7 year old could handle 2 rounds. :)
Good books that we read to introduce Columbus...
The Christopher Columbus Story by Alice Dangliesh
Christopher Columbus by Ann McGovern
We sang:
The Nina, The Pinta, The Santa Maria,
Columbus and his Crew,
they sailed the ocean blue,
in 1492.
Well, here I am. A first time blogger. A friend of mine keeps mentioning that I should try this blog thing to record our homeschool experiences. So, here I am.
I am a mom of 4 beautiful children. My oldest, Lucy is 7, John Patrick is 5. Jimmy is 3. And Mary Margaret is 10 months!
I LOVE homeschooling my children!! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be home with these little ones. I enjoy being with them and getting to know them. (most of the time...)
Another reason I love homeschooling is because I get to learn all the things that I should have learned growing up. You will have to be patient with my writing/grammar/spelling skills... I am only at a 2nd grade level!
How would I describe my homeschool philosphy? I guess eclectic is what I am. I am very drawn to Charlotte Mason. I really enjoy Carole Joy Seid. And I am reading Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore books right now too. My philosophy is evolving. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me to be the kind of homeschooler that He wants me to be.
I am a mom of 4 beautiful children. My oldest, Lucy is 7, John Patrick is 5. Jimmy is 3. And Mary Margaret is 10 months!
I LOVE homeschooling my children!! I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be home with these little ones. I enjoy being with them and getting to know them. (most of the time...)
Another reason I love homeschooling is because I get to learn all the things that I should have learned growing up. You will have to be patient with my writing/grammar/spelling skills... I am only at a 2nd grade level!
How would I describe my homeschool philosphy? I guess eclectic is what I am. I am very drawn to Charlotte Mason. I really enjoy Carole Joy Seid. And I am reading Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore books right now too. My philosophy is evolving. I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me to be the kind of homeschooler that He wants me to be.
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