About Judy

Sonlight customer champion and homeschooling expert.

85 post(s):

02/16/2012

Virtual or "skin on"??

I spent last week with an amazing group of ladies who are passionate about sharing homeschooling and Sonlight with whomever is willing to listen. Our consultants met in Colorado to gear up for the upcoming convention season and to get excited about meeting new and veteran homeschoolers. We filled our brains with effective workshop techniques, booth design ideas and social networking until we were sure they would short out! My only regret? I didn't get to see nearly enough of "my" mountains.

As I've been digesting all the training we experienced, I wondered just how many folks we would have the privilege of meeting this spring and summer. I've been working conventions for some 15+ years now, and it has saddened me to see event attendance slowly declining. I've heard all the reasons for *not* attending a convention (finances, travel time, child care, nothing new left for me to learn) ... most of which are legitimate. But I'd like to offer some reasons *for* attending a convention in 2012. Beyond the fact that my own passion for homeschooling was birthed and nurtured at conventions, I do think there are still legitimate reasons for making the effort/sacrifice to attend.

Virtual conferences are convenient and certainly have their place, but there is just something about meeting "skin-on" homeschoolers that makes a live convention worth the time and money. You cannot share tears and hugs when you're sitting alone in front of your computer. There is an "energy" that permeates a homeschool event that cannot be duplicated in any other venue. Even veteran homeschoolers can benefit from the renewal of energy that comes from spending time with like-minded families.

Did you know that new books have a unique smell and feel?! I can email or chat with you over the phone about one of my most favorite books (James Herriott's Treasury for Children), but it's just not the same as handing you the book and showing you the amazing illustrations while I share how much my children loved to have me read this title to them. I have a love affair with books ... touching and smelling the "new book" smell is all part of that love that can't be duplicated virtually.

When I converse with someone electronically, there is often a frustration over the inability to see facial expressions or read body language. Their voice may be agreeing with what I'm saying, but their face and slouched posture may be saying "You're overwhelming me!" I so enjoy talking with folks in person, helping them to create an education plan for their children, and then *seeing* their smiling faces as they leave my booth. I must admit, meeting folks in my booth also gives me the opportunity to see some of the most adorable babies!

Finally ... I am a firm believer that we are all *life-long* learners. I hope the day never comes when I believe I can't learn anything new. As a program coordinator for a state convention, I can tell you that we invest hours of research and prayer over the speakers we line up each year. The men and women who are investing their lives in travel and speaking on the topics that God has laid on their hearts have much to offer. You don't want to miss the opportunity to allow God to bless your heart ... or the opportunity to reach out (i.e. give back) and invest in the lives of other homeschoolers.

So here's my mission for you ... should you choose to accept it ...

Research - and find out where the closest homeschool convention is being held this year. A good place to begin is Sonlight's Convention page ... you don't want to miss the benefits of all that training our consultants just completed.
Prepare - by arranging child care early ... saving your pennies ... and studying Sonlight's "Convention Survivor's Guide" to be sure you get the most out of your convention experience.
Check out - our Sonlight Convention Forum. Consultants will be regularly posting information about upcoming events, and you can request that they bring specific product you would like to "touch and smell". You can also read about exciting give-aways and "specials" they may be offering.
Visit - our Facebook page. As the convention season begins, you'll find regular event updates there, as well as photos and feedback shared live from various locations around the country!

I look forward to seeing *you* at a convention this year ... and I know my fellow team members share that same desire. What better way to spend a couple of days than surrounded by fellow homeschoolers and a HUGE room full of books!

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

02/02/2012

No regrets . . .

The other day I was reading some research that one of our catalog writers had come across. The U.S. Department of Education's Commission on Reading stated that reading out loud to children is the most important thing you can do to teach what they need to know for future success in reading. Research by reading expert Dr. Kylene Beers demonstrates that the single greatest predictor of children's future success is how much people read to them before they enter Kindergarten. Intrigued by what she had discovered, I dug a little further and my own research produced the following facts:

When parents read to their children, they spend time discussing the pictures, what the characters are doing, and what the story means. This high-level comprehension skill helps children understand the story better.
Children benefit more from reading with their parents if the children ask and answer questions, discuss the events as they unfold during the story and make predictions about what will happen next. This approach allows children to listen to new vocabulary words and to practice using those words in speech, which builds their language skills.
Early readers tend to read choppily and without expression. Parents who read to their children provide a fluency model.

It is wonderful to see formal research proving what we already know to be true ... there is just no substitute for curling up on the couch with a kid and a good book.

As homeschool moms we are wired to have regrets. If I had only started my daughter on basic math skills earlier, she might not be struggling with her college math courses now. I probably should have spent more time on those writing assignments with my son, so he was better prepared for his upcoming ACT essay. Maybe that Girl Scout Troop would have been a good opportunity for better socialization for my oldest. I'm sure you occasionally (or maybe often) find yourself wondering if you always made the right academic and social choices for your children. I know that I do. But reading the research I referenced above reminded me of the one thing about homeschooling that I have never regretted ... reading aloud to my children.

Sonlight has a long list of reasons for incorporating "read-aloud" literature in their curriculum materials. But before I ever discovered homeschooling or Sonlight, I experienced the thrill of holding a pre-schooler captive merely by opening a good book. How wonderful to learn that what I did purely for pleasure was actually laying a firm foundation for the rest of my children's education.

So if you have a pre-schooler and are wondering where to begin with their education, let me encourage you to set aside concerns about math and spelling and science and instead invest time, lots of it, in simply reading aloud to your child. Read outside in the grass, read while you're stretched out on the living room floor, read in bed at night before turning out the light, read at the lunch table ... you get the idea. Not sure *what* to read? Some of my favorite titles can be found in Sonlight's Fiction, Fairy Tales, and Fun for Little Learners program.

Pick up a good book, curl up with your child, and lay a solid foundation for future academics ... no regrets.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

01/19/2012

Does my child love school? Of course . . . !

well, maybe not exactly *love* ... and if I'm totally honest, "tolerates" is probably a better word. So how come my kids aren't like those pictured on the magazine/catalog covers, or written about in the many homeschool blogs out there? The ones who are self-motivated and write extra papers and do amazing science projects, just because they like to.

Keeping in mind that homeschool magazines aren't likely to feature photos of kids having a temper tantrum over spelling or crying crocodile tears over math (who would want to homeschool after seeing that?) ... I suspect that there are more kids like mine out there than I ever guessed when I was mopping up those tears and dealing with the tantrums.

I learned some valuable lessons from working through such times with my kids. They boiled down to the following . . .

My kids are no different than I am. There are days when I would love to throw a temper tantrum on top of the mounds of dirty laundry, or cry big ole tears in the Hamburger Helper I'm cooking for the gazillioneth time. When I helped my kids to understand that we are very much alike in this area, it was freeing for all of us. I realized that my kids come by it naturally, and my kids were happy to learn that perhaps mom is human after all. It also helped generate a measure of grace and mercy I might not have had otherwise.
Concrete reinforcement works for all of us. "What a good job you've done!" is great to hear, but my husband is even more motivated by his paycheck. While I'm not suggesting that we *pay* our kids to do school, I think that every child appreciates some "pay-off" for work well done. I looked for some creative pay-backs for my kids when they were younger. An unexpected trip to the library after a math lesson with no tears ... an extra hour of outdoor play when school was completed with a good attitude ... an evening out with mom at the end of a good week or month. I also kept some fun educational videos around for short-term reward for work well done. Our Mathtacular and Discover & Do series are excellent video resources to have on hand.
All choices have consequences. This concept, though pretty simple, was life-changing for us. Each time I would do battle over poor attitudes or unfinished assignments, I took it as a personal affront. Why did my kids hate me so much that they couldn't follow my simplest instruction? I needed to stop and realize that every action my kids took, or didn't, was a conscious choice on their part. And it very likely wasn't anything like "I really want to annoy mom today, so I think I'll conveniently forget to do my writing assignment." Just like the police officer has no personal beef with me when writing my speeding ticket (my choice to drive above the posted speed limit), so my kids have no personal beef with me when they choose to ignore that book report. After setting some very clear expectations and associated consequences with my kids, it became so much easier to respond to a poor choice with a quiet voice and calm spirit. "Son, is that book report finished that was due today? No? You know the consequence for work not finished on time." No arguing, no debating ... very clear expectations made it just a bit easier for all of us to love learning! If my child chose to argue with me, I simply asked the offender to verbally rehearse the choice made, and I reminded them of the associated consequence in a calm voice. I had to *choose* not to lose my temper. And I had to be just as consistent with positive consequences ... it was all about balance.
Look for the excitement in learning. I remember very clearly teaching a Biology module about human anatomy, and the passion and excitement that was conveyed by my voice and my facial expressions. I *love* life sciences, and my kids responded by learning to love it as well. On the other hand, I have nothing but dread and disgust for Algebra and Geometry. Guess what? Only one of my kids has expressed any love for math ... and that was likely due to my husband's passion! You obviously can't carry that level of passion every day, for every subject ... but learn to find ways to help your kids get excited about learning. You can help them to see the wonder and awe in what they're reading and studying by finding it yourself first.

As you've started your second semester, are you struggling with whining and crocodile tears? Perhaps these brief thoughts will be helpful. Head over to our Homeschool Support Forum ... there's a conversation taking place there on this very topic. Imagine ... other people whose kids don't love school! Maybe there are some "out of the box" resources that would help provide some motivation ... art supplies, fun "extra" reading ... the sky's the limit.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

01/05/2012

Preparing Mom for 2012 ...

Jill posted yesterday about the annual "winter slump" that seems to affect us as homeschool moms ... a very real issue that refuses to be ignored. She offered some wonderful ideas for beating the blues with your kids. I'd like to offer some suggestions for YOU as you battle the post-holiday doldrums. A cruise would likely be the perfect solution for those blues, but in keeping with reality, I offer the following.

Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right?
The hype and increased activity of the holidays is now done and it's back to business as usual. But you're asking yourself if "business as usual" is sufficient? Maybe Johnny isn't reading as well as you had hoped he would be by mid-year. Perhaps Allison is still wrestling with math and really hasn't made any progress since September. Maybe you're just not doing enough ... or doing it well. Maybe you should consider putting your kids in public school. Maybe ... Maybe ... Maybe ...

There certainly are situations where a student may have learning struggles that require some outside intervention. But much of the time we are simply too close to the situation to be able to see the forest from the trees. Here are a couple of suggestions that I found helped *my* peace of mind when I wrestled with my skills as a homeschool teacher. First - spend a bit of time listing the positives from your student's first semester. What does he do well? Where are his strengths? What milestones have you already reached? Choose to focus on what you have accomplished and celebrate goals reached. Second - pat yourself on the back for a job well done first semester, and go back and review the goals you set at the beginning of the year as you move ahead with your second semester. Focus on one or two areas where improvement is needed, and remember that Rome wasn't conquered in a day (or a semester even).

I'm just not motivated. My get up and go has gotten up and gone!
Much of the time I find that my lack of motivation and energy comes from a lack of exercise or time out of the house. I highly recommend looking for ways to build a "break" into your schedule. Whether you take a walk (outside or on a treadmill), or join the local gym ... look for a way to work an "exercise break" into 2 or 3 days of your week. Exercise creates energy, helps you to sleep better, and produces a positive attitude. I know how hard it is to work this into a schedule filled with family and homeschooling and small children, but keep in mind ... a motivated, well-rested, happier mom is a positive benefit for the whole family!

I'm always giving out ... never re-fueling.
Teachers at your local public or private school regularly schedule in-service days. They are designed for furthering education and refreshing the teaching staff. Begin now looking for ways you might create "in-service" times for yourself. Whether you actually leave your house, or just carve out some "teacher alone" time for yourself, it is imperative that you find a balance between emptying yourself into your parenting and teaching and filling up your reserves on a regular basis. Check out some of the following titles from Sonlight's Teacher Resources library for your next in-service:

And begin now saving your pennies for the ultimate teacher training conference ... your state's annual homeschool convention! There is simply nothing on-line that compares to a skin-on, in-real-life homeschool convention. Plan in advance for your 2012 convention ... and be sure to check and see if Sonlight will be represented there. The Sonlight booth is a great spot to preview next year's curriculum materials, and receive encouragement and counsel from your local consultant. Just what you need to get pumped up for the coming school year.

There are many other ways to "get in shape" for this new year ... check out your local homeschool support group ... head over to Sonlight's on-line "support group" on the Sonlight Forums ... contact one of our Sonlight Advisors for some encouragement ... set aside some time to listen to our ever-growing library of webinars/podcasts ... whatever works best for you, just DO IT!

May God bless your efforts in the coming school year.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

12/15/2011

Wisdom and stature . . .

There's a little verse in the book of Luke that encourages me greatly each year as a homeschool mom. I tend to run across this verse more often around Christmas, since Luke wrote my favorite account of the story of Christ's birth.

Luke 2:52 . . . Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

We don't read a great deal about Mary in scripture, but what is written has always fascinated me. I primarily wonder what it must have been like to parent your Creator and Savior. Granted, Jesus may have been the "model" child, but I suspect that Mary had her struggles parenting Him just as I do with my children. After all, if my young son had wandered off without telling me and I didn't find him for three days, I can imagine I would have stressed just a bit.

But despite all the challenges of raising the Son of God, Mary and Joseph seem to have done a good job, based on this small statement in Luke's account.

Mary's Son grew in wisdom - there is much discussion over how an Omniscient Jesus could have "grown" in wisdom/understanding, but I prefer to take the statement at face value. Children grow in an understanding of right and wrong and develop discernment in large part due to the training they receive at home. I have to believe that Jesus received excellent instruction from His parents.
Jesus grew in stature - the Greek for the term "stature" refers to age and maturity, or attaining a level of maturity where you become "fit" or ready for a particular goal. I'm sure that Mary had set some goals for her son just as I have for my children.
He grew in favor with God and all people - the term "favor" here actually means grace (charis). It is a character trait which produces joy, pleasure and delight. No "socialization" issues here! Jesus apparently got along well with His peers and those who were His elders.

As a parent I know that all the qualities mentioned in this verse didn't manifest themselves overnight. Mary (and Joseph) must have invested time, energy, prayer and tears during that 18 (or so) years of Jesus' life ... verse 51 of the same chapter tells us that Mary stored all these things in her heart. How many times have I wrestled in my heart with issues related to my kids?

We know the end of the story ... though Mary obviously didn't at the time. She faced the ultimate fear of every parent ... the death of her son. Leading up to that awful day her son was ridiculed, mocked, arrested and generally an out-cast. Could she have done something different? Would the circumstances have changed if she had made other choices when raising Jesus? All questions that we ask of ourselves when things don't go as we plan for our children.

I take great encouragement in knowing that despite Mary's short-comings, God had a perfect plan for Jesus. The heartaches, struggles and fears she must have experienced during those 30 years were finally redeemed. I choose to believe that God has a perfect plan for my children as well. While I may not see or understand the reasons behind today's heartaches and struggles, someday it will all be made clear!

So during the busyness of this Christmas season, as you take time to reflect on the reason for our celebration, focus a few of those moments on the mother of the Baby and take heart in *her* story as well.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

PS - While Mary stored all her thoughts and struggles in her heart, you don't have to! Our Parenting Forum is a great spot to find encouragement on your parenting journey. Share your own joys and struggles and hear from the hearts of others who are walking the same path.

12/01/2011

Have your cake ... and eat it too!

Holidays always bring to mind all sorts of fond childhood memories and traditions. They can be a homeschooler's dream as they provide some "extra" time to share some things "old" and to try some things "new"!

Cooking and baking have always played a significant role in my life, and never more so than at Christmas. Holiday recipes are passed down from generation to generation ... they are part of my heritage. Sharing them with my children provides an opportunity to work together in the kitchen, tell stories that are related to the recipe, and allows my kids to gain a sense of accomplishment. Now that my kids are older, I love it when they request this or that favorite recipe that they recall from past holidays.

Here are some practical ways to integrate cooking and baking into your homeschool this Christmas season.

Encourage your kids to check with grandparents or older friends for their favorite Christmas recipe. Have them ask *why* it is such a favorite, and what memories they recall when they make it. Then help them to cook or bake the recipe, and share the end result with the "author"!
Enrich your Sonlight Core studies by creating some of the delicious dishes found in our Sonlight Cooks cookbook. Have your scholars prepare a history- or country-related meal and invite friends or relatives to share. Your kids can then share what they've learned as they serve their guests.
Need a fun way to "spice up" your math studies this month? Or perhaps you just want to keep some math concepts fresh in your students' minds over Christmas break. Reviewing such topics as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division come alive when you're measuring ingredients for bread, or doubling a favorite savory dish recipe to feed more people.
Use the Christmas holiday as an opportunity to teach your students the value of giving. Prepare some simple gift bags filled with small loaves of bread, favorite cookies and candies. Then take your children around to deliver their "bags of cheer" to those who might benefit from some holiday encouragement.

These are only a few suggestions ... take some time to add a few of your own! If you need a jump-start in the idea department, head over to our Home for the Holidays Forum. It is bursting with recipes and fantastic Christmas meal and gift ideas.

Begin sharing a heritage of cooking with your children this Christmas season. Add some cookbooks to their shelf of school books. When you need a break from sharing read-alouds, pull a favorite cookbook from the school shelf and head to the kitchen!

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

11/17/2011

Let 'em eat ... pie!

For one of my students, learning fractions was as natural as breathing. For another, it took some doing, but the concept was finally grasped. However, for one of my students, the concept of fractions was so much Greek, or Hebrew, or Mandarin Chinese. There was no rhyme or reason and we just couldn't seem to master the idea.

I recalled our struggles with fractions again a week or so ago as I talked with a young mom who could not seem to grasp how fractions worked herself, let alone teach them to her young son. I suggested she bake a pie!

Sometimes teaching fractions, or any other math concept, is as "simple" as getting it off the page and into your hands. Math manipulatives are great for "handling" math, but not always necessary. If you don't want to invest the money in a manipulatives kit, or need to master fractions *today*, and can't wait for a kit to arrive, you need only go as far as your kitchen.

Blueberry Pie is a favorite around our house, but you can substitute apple or cherry or any other pie that has a top crust. The crust isn't crucial to teaching how fractions work, but it does make it easier to visualize the "parts" of the whole. Once your pie is baked, explain that the finished pie is the whole. Cut the pie exactly in half. Ask your student how many halves make up the whole. Now cut the pie into fourths (aka quarters). Ask your student how many fourths make up the whole. Finally, cut your pie into eighths. Ask your student how many eights make up the whole. Simple? Yes. Fundamental? Definitely. But this basic understanding is crucial to moving ahead with fractions.

Now you can head in so many different directions. Demonstrate to your student how money is very much like fractions. Lay a dollar bill (the whole) on the kitchen counter next to the pie. Next place four quarters (fourths) next to the dollar bill. Spread a sheet of waxed paper or a paper towel on the counter next to the money and the pie. Measure out a cup (the whole) on the paper. Next measure out a quarter cup (fourths) of flour, four times, next to the whole cup. Be sure to point out how the "parts" are the same as the "whole".

The best part is yet to come! Grab a couple of plates and ask your student to serve each of you an eighth of the blueberry pie apiece. After you've enjoyed the pie (even better warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!), ask your student how many eighths are left. Take a look at the pie and point out that the empty space left by the two slices (eighths) you've just enjoyed, are equal to one-fourth of the whole pie. Be sure to speak in "fraction language" (i.e. fourths, eighths, etc...) so your student equates the term with what they see.

You've now laid the ground work for not only understanding the basics of fractions, but also adding and subtracting fractions. And it didn't require a piece of paper, a pencil, or even a calculator! However, when you're ready to put your fractions on paper, do a rough sketch of your blueberry pie up in the corner ... then begin with writing 1 (whole), 1/4 (fourths) and 1/8 (eighths). Have your student "cut" the pie and shade in the appropriate fractions as you write them on the paper.

The next time you work on fractions, use soft, flour tortillas, or one of those large candy bars that are scored in 10 or 12 blocks. You can also cut "pies" out of construction paper simply by tracing around a large dinner plate. And if you want to "watch" someone have great fun with fractions, check out our Mathtacular 3 DVD. Justin is a pro at making any math concept fun and easy to learn.

So when it comes time to teach fractions ... tell your kids you're going to teach them math in the kitchen. The fun of creating a pie and enjoying the "fruits" of your labor is a much better way to learn fractions than stressing over a math workbook. And it leaves a lasting mental connection between fractions and parts and pieces of a delicious blueberry pie.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

PS ... This is the perfect time of year to order a math manipulatives kit or one of our Mathtacular DVDs ... they're all part of our Christmas Sale!

10/21/2011

Holiday School

Temperatures are dropping, the leaves have turned beautiful shades of red and gold, and I filled my wooden bowl with gourds to put in the middle of my table this week. Yes, there's no denying that the season has changed. When our children were younger, school became more and more difficult this time of year. Between the obvious changes outside the dining room window (where we did much of our school work), and the various stores who began putting up Christmas displays in late September, I fought a losing battle to keep their minds focused on spelling and math. So one year I decided to "give in" and go with the flow. Over the years I developed a "holiday school" schedule that was full of projects, celebrations, and secrets. We would set aside a couple days each week for these special activities.

Beginning in early October, we would spend Saturdays "cleaning up" our property in preparation for the coming winter months. The garden was emptied of the last root vegetables to be stored, dead vegetable and flowering plants were pulled, and a few perennials were mulched. We also spent afternoons in the kitchen making applesauce, baking bread and canning apple butter. All great Science projects!

Field Trip Suggestions: Local farm market to sample produce and pick pumpkins ... Apple orchard to pick apples for baking and saucing ... Honey farm to sample local honey and watch bees in action ... Library to find books on gardening, making applesauce, and honey bees.

Favorite Books: The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco, The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice Prevenson

In November we would begin preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday. Kids love to have their art work displayed, so this was a great time of year for doing leaf rubbings, making a Thanksgiving Tree, and practicing new recipes for the upcoming holidays. All great Art and Science projects! And of course, the days of Thanksgiving week were filled with housecleaning, baking and general preparation for the big day.

Field Trip Suggestions: Go back to the local farm market to get a variety of squashes to try, and more apples for pies, crisps and breads ... Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters especially need volunteers this time of year to cook and serve ... Craft Stores are a great place to begin Christmas gift projects.

Favorite Books: The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh, Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende & Harry Devlin, One-Hour Christmas Crafts by Leisure Arts.

December was filled with holiday preparations and secrets. My kids had great fun gathering gift lists from family members (who always kept younger nieces, nephews and grandchildren in mind) and working on various projects that would show up under our tree. In addition to the various church activities that Christmas brought (i.e. play practice, choir practice, caroling) we would create gift bags for friends and neighbors. We would purchase inexpensive brown paper gift bags from the local WalMart and the kids would enjoy decorating the outsides, and then filling the inside with homemade ornaments, candies and baked goods.

Field Trip Suggestions: Go back to the local farm market (if it's still open) to get a variety of squashes, sweet potatoes, and more apples for pies, crisps and breads ... Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters especially need volunteers this type of year to cook and serve ... Deliver small gift bags to neighbors ... Check with a local nursing home to see if they would welcome a small group of children to sing carols (this was one of our favorite activities in December).

Favorite Books: Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide (a wonderful advent book published when our kids were small), The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden, Becky's Christmas by Tasha Tudor, Winter Poems by Barbara Rogasky.

So if your kids are getting caught up in the hype and excitement of the holidays, take control of how *you* want to celebrate and incorporate some fun "holiday school" activities into your October-December. And I would love to hear some of your favorite holiday projects and book titles ... I might find a new volume to add to my holiday bookshelf for someday grandchildren!

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

10/20/2011

Identity Crisis ...

This past year I've had the opportunity to sit with some heartbroken moms. As they poured their hearts out about bad choices their children were making, and the sorrows of watching their kids walk away from the Lord, I found my heart breaking along with theirs. They had done all they knew to do, and definitely had not seen the expected result.

As most parents would, these homeschooling moms began asking where they had failed. Did they do something wrong while wearing their "homeschooling" hat? Perhaps their academic expectations were too high? Or maybe their children made poor choices in friends because they were "under-socialized"?

Did they do something wrong while wearing their "mom" hat? Perhaps if they had spent just a bit more time talking with their child, instead of putting them off to get some housecleaning done? Or maybe their children were seeking love and acceptance elsewhere because mom hadn't loved them enough?

One mom I spoke with described that she felt as though her arms would break under the stress of trying to keep all the various "balloons" in the air that represented each of her children, her husband, and her multiple responsibilities for homeschooling, housekeeping, taxi-driving, and church.

I've found over my years of homeschooling that I often had to stop throughout my day and think about which "hat" I was currently wearing. There were many times when I would come to the end of a day and wonder if I had fulfilled each of those "identities" well, or if I had failed in any of them. Ultimately, I concluded that I definitely had failed, and would continue to fail in the out-working of each of those identities. I'm human and thus prone to being self-focused, prideful, and lacking in wisdom. But the good and encouraging news is that there is really only *one* identity that matters, and the rest fall into place. My identity as a daughter of the King, a child of my Abba Father, is where the rest of my identities draw their purpose and wisdom.

My response to those moms I sat with this past year was to offer hugs, to weep with them over their heartbreak, and remind them that their children are also fallible. Being a homeschooling, stay-at-home, church-going mom is not *the* recipe/guarantee for success. Our children are free to make choices (just as we are), and they will not always make the correct ones (just as we don't). But we can take heart in knowing that God loves them as much as (and more) than we do. And we can free ourselves from some of the burden by not comparing our "success" or "failure" with our children to other families. And ultimately, we can choose to believe that we have done the very best we are able, by God's grace. And that even where we've failed, God is able to work it all for good.

So take heart wherever you are on your homeschool journey. Keep your eyes focused on the one identity that truly matters. And remember that your children's heavenly Father never fails.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy Wnuk
Sonlight Customer Champion

PS ... if you're interested in chatting with other moms who are juggling multiple hats, be sure to register on the Sonlight Forums. It's a great place to meet fellow travelers on the homeschool journey.

10/06/2011

Practical Pointers: Combining with a single Core

I must admit, one of most favorite memories of using Sonlight when my kids were younger was the ability to combine them all using the same Core materials. With five years separating our youngest and oldest, it wasn't always feasible, but when it was, it made for some great memories!

Using a literature-based curriculum to allow students of different ages to study together can be a foreign concept for some folks. As a culture, we are so "grade-oriented" that using the same materials to teach children of different ages is difficult to grasp. I've encountered many dads, who tend to be more concrete and logical thinkers (a 6 year old should study 1st grade materials!!), who have a multitude of questions about how well this approach really works! Often it makes more sense when I simply share an example from our own homeschool.

When our children were in grades 4, 6, and 9, we did Core F (Eastern Hemisphere) together. Though it was a bit "young" for my oldest, and a bit "old" for my youngest (the grade range for this Core is 5th-8th grades), it was not difficult to "tweak" it just a bit to make it doable for all three children.

Tweak #1: At the time we did Core F (then Core 5), my youngest was reading independently, but he was not a "fast" reader. The Core F Reader schedule is plenty robust, so I chose to have him read every other Reader. So, for example, when the title Henry Reed, Inc. was scheduled for Weeks 1 and 2, he read it over Weeks 1 through 4. There was all sorts of room for additional tweaking in this area. Sometimes I didn't stick just to the every other Reader plan ... if I saw a Reader that I knew he would really enjoy, but would be skipped under my plan, I simply switched books.

Tweak #2: After reviewing the Reader list for Core F, I decided that my then 9th grader needed a bit more challenge. The content of the Core F literature was superb, but not "hefty" enough (in my opinion) for a high school freshman. I considered a number of ways to resolve this issue, and actually settled on a combination of ideas. I did require my oldest to read all the Core F Readers. But I also added in some literature to "beef up" this component of her freshman year. Based on my education plan for her, I knew we would not have time to do Sonlight's Core 200 program. So I chose 5-6 titles from Core 200 that I thought she might enjoy. I simply scheduled them into her year as I felt they fit best.

Tweak #3: The Eastern Hemisphere Explorer component of this Core was a great "group" project. My oldest was "in charge" and all three kept their own EHE notebooks. I obviously had different expectations for each child's completed assignments, based on their skill level and what I knew about their strengths and weaknesses (i.e. my middle child is a fluent writer, so I expected her written responses to be in depth and well written).

Tweak #4: The Language Arts F writing assignments were definitely above my 4th grader's head, and in some cases, not challenging enough for my oldest. I chose to evaluate each week's writing assignment and decide if it was easier to simply have my youngest skip it, or if I could adjust it to his skill level. More often than not it was easy to make a simple adjustment. For example ... one assignment required students to write a journal entry about a scene from one of the books they had read. After chatting with my 4th grader about what journaling was, I helped him to write a journal entry based on one of the books he had just read. My expectation was that he would generate a paragraph, probably no more than 8-10 sentences, that demonstrated to me his understanding of journaling. I anticipated having to provide a fair amount of assistance. My older two students, however, were expected to write 2-3 paragraphs, well detailed and with few mechanical errors.

Finally, reading the History and Read-Aloud titles together as a group enabled us to discuss the story line, be sure that the youngest understood what was going on, and the oldest could demonstrate more detailed comprehension.

All in all, our attempts at combining multiple students with one Core program was a success. We took this approach for a number of years and never regretted doing so. Sharing learning is an efficient and enjoyable aspect of homeschooling!

Still on the journey
~Judy Wnuk
Customer Champion

09/22/2011

Seasonal Science

Science is my favorite subject ... and autumn is my favorite season of the year ... so I always considered it a bonus when I could combine the two in our homeschooling. Living in the northeast, autumn is an amazing season to observe. The combination of gorgeous fall colors, crispy cool air and an abundance of fall produce make it an easy time of year to enjoy. And "science days" are easy to create with just a bit of planning.

Many of our most memorable science projects revolved around combining literature with some hands-on experiences. James Herriot's Treasury for Children is one of my most well-loved books. The stories are timeless and the illustrations breath-taking. A day trip to a local vet's office for a tour, or to a nearby petting zoo makes these stories come alive for your students. Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm is another great book for making animal life real and accessible for children.

Our kids had the privilege of attending a storytime/book signing with author Patricia Polacco when they were elementary age. Forever after her book, The Bee Tree, became a family favorite. Bee keeping is a well-known hobby and occupation in our area, so in September or October we would visit a local farm market to buy some of their fall meadow flower honey. The owners kept a honey bee display, so we would watch in fascination as the bees flew in and out of their hives. We would talk about queen and worker bees and why honey made from local flowers was great for treating allergies.

The Year at Maple Hill Farm is a book that became a fall tradition in our house when our kids were younger. Since we are surrounded by upstate NY farm country, the pictures and story line were very familiar. Imagine, a book that celebrated the seasons where we lived! We would combine a reading of this book with a trip to a nearby apple orchard. Riding the hay wagon into the orchard, eating apples fresh from the trees and picking apples to take home, tasting fresh apple cider right from their mill ... all combined to make some great memories. But it also presented an opportunity to talk about the "science" behind fruit trees, the effects of cold and frost on the crop, and why leaves change colors in the fall.

We would round out our autumn science studies with time spent in the kitchen making applesauce and apple butter. We also enjoyed doing waxed paper leaf pressing as a combination science and art project. Simple science "notebooks" provided a place to keep those fall creations and to make quick notes or sketches about what we learned.

As our kids got older we enjoyed the taste of crispy local cucumbers and learned about pickle making. My oldest thoroughly enjoys making dill pickles for her home today. Other fall produce such as various squashes, tomatoes and a variety of beans brought our science studies into the kitchen where we studied food preservation and rolled math and science topics into our baking.

God's creation offers so many wonderful opportunities for teaching science outside of a textbook. Do a little sleuthing in your area to find out what resources are available to make science come alive this fall for your students. You may not have to travel any further than your own backyard!

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

09/08/2011

Freedom

I was well into teaching my second child before I truly appreciated the freedom that homeschooling provides. Sure, I knew that home education meant we could choose when to take vacation, or we were free to set our own school calendar ... but I didn't really appreciate the *academic* freedom we had. Chatting with a number of "new" homeschool moms this past month has reminded me again of that freedom.

Our oldest daughter learned to read at age 4 ... actually, she pretty much taught herself. She was whizzing away at math by the age of 5. I remember scouring curriculum catalogs and setting up our "school" space with books and workbooks and pencils and rulers and all those things that mean education is taking place. Or so I thought. My 5 year old "prodigy" hit a wall about half-way through the year. I was so excited about her sponge-like brain and how quickly she learned whatever I put in front of her, that I forgot to let her be a 5 year old!

2, 3, 4 and 5 year olds (and even 6 and 7 year olds) are wired to be kids. They need to run and explore and ask never-ending questions and cuddle and trip and fall and pick themselves up again. They are wired to learn while moving, not sitting still. When my second "student" wasn't reading by 4 or 5 (or even 6) I was worried that I was somehow failing her as her teacher or that she was just lazy. About that time a very wise lady, who was a few miles ahead of me on the homeschool journey, suggested that I close up the workbooks and put them back on the shelf. She described reading great books while sitting under a tree in the backyard, and teaching science while her children immersed their hands in dishwater and popped the bubbles. There would be many years ahead for more formal academics, she assured me.

So to the mom whose 5 year old is "acting up" at the school table while working on workbook pages of math exercises ... and to the mom whose 6 year old can't answer all the discussion questions from the Read-Aloud Study Guide ... please allow me to pass on the wisdom someone else once shared with me. As you begin your school year, let your children BE children. Look for ways to weave learning into your daily activities instead of forcing an academic schedule on your students.

For those 3-6 year olds ... focus on reading great books together under the backyard tree, snuggled together on the couch, or sprawled out on the bedroom floor. Teach them colors while finger painting on huge sheets of paper or sketching outdoors with sidewalk chalk. Learn letter sounds as you pick apples (short *a* sound) or buy eggs (short *e* sound) or eat oatmeal (long *o* sound) for breakfast. Teach simple counting and addition while setting the table (how many plates do we need?) and matching shapes and colors while folding laundry. Even those students who excel in academics at a young age are wired with the need to move, be active, and just BE kids!!

Need some more creative ways to make learning come alive for your youngest scholars? Get a copy of Dr. Ruth Beechick's "Three R's Series" and read and re-read it until it's dog-eared like mine! But spoken as one who is a little further down the homeschool path, enjoy the freedom that allows your kids to be kids even as they continue to learn.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

08/26/2011

Moving Day

I'm not especially fond of moving. Though in my 27 years of marriage, I've only had to do it 4 times, I still dread the thought of packing up and moving anywhere. I'm very impressed with military and ministry families who undertake the task on a regular basis.

This week I'm undergoing another type of move. The tech guys at Sonlight and I have been in the process of moving the Sonlight Forums to a new location. They've done the bulk of the heavy moving while I've done some set-up design, painting, wall-papering and general cleaning up around our new digs. I've been the one standing on the sidelines saying "put that over there" and "please take that upstairs". I've also learned a great deal more about databases, migrations, and binary blobs this week.

The Sonlight Forum family is unique. Over the 7+ years that I've acted as one of the forum administrators, I've watched as this family has celebrated births and grieved deaths together ... as we've rallied around members who have struggled with illness, financial reversals, and the struggles of learning challenges ... as moms who are "not so new" to homeschooling have come along side those who are new to the journey and offered invaluable counsel, both in academics and just plain survival. We've watched one another's children grow up and prayed for and cheered over their accomplishments. I've been pleased to hear from many who share just how valuable this forum community has been for them.

It is my sincere hope that our family will like our new digs. It's in a great neighborhood and all the work of moving has been done for you. We still plan to move in early next week, so stay tuned for more details. And if you've never never experienced the love and support of the Sonlight Forum family, be sure to check us out next week!

Blessings ...
Judy
Sonlight Forum Administrator

08/25/2011

What am I teaching?

As our final high school student begins his junior year at home, I am contemplating what I have taught, and am teaching our children. On my junior's plate for this year is Geometry, Chemistry, Sonlight's Core 300 program, some Christian worldview titles, and the expected writing that he really doesn't enjoy. I am patting myself on the back because academically it appears to be a very sound year for him.

Reality, however, is hovering in the background behind the academics. My good friend is engaging in an uphill battle with breast cancer, another dear friend emailed early this morning to let me know that her husband is slowly losing his long battle with cancer, our college-graduate son-in-law is discouraged at his seeming inability to find full-time employment, and my aging parents face each day's multiple medical appointments with grace and patience.

It strikes me that while academics may define to some extent what my students/children can *do*, it does not begin to define who they *are*. Our homeschool journey has allowed our children to face life head-on. They've had the blessing of mowing grandpa's lawn or driving with grandma to the hospital. In return they have blessed their grandparents by seeking their counsel and excitedly sharing reached milestones. Living under the same roof has provided an amazing opportunity for one generation to benefit another. They're learning a servant's spirit and better communication skills as our daughter and son-in-law have returned home temporarily while they seek employment. Sibling relationships take on a whole new dimension as they become young adults. They've watched us struggle with sorrow as friends battle disease and discouragement, and have learned to pray with us amid those trials.

So as you face a new school year this fall, in addition to the academics you have planned for your children, consider what "life lessons" they might be able to learn as well. Look for ways to purposefully place your children/family in situations that will stretch them/you in areas of servanthood, faith, and character. As hard as those experiences may prove to be, the lessons learned will have eternal value.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

08/11/2011

Another milestone . . .

In less than a week we take child #2 to begin her freshman year in college. I find that making the "college trip" each August causes me to stop and reflect on the whole subject of homeschooling high school students. What a daunting proposition that was when our oldest was finishing junior high and facing the dreaded mountain of high school! I am so grateful that we didn't turn tail and run from the challenge, but took the time to research this new leg of our journey, sought out "trail guides" who had gone before us, and decided that with God's help we could scale this mountain.

Yes, there is indeed a "handbook" for tackling the mountain of homeschooling high school. Cafi Cohen's book, Homeschooler's College Admissions Handbook is a must-have for those considering the high school leg of their homeschool journey. Rather than discussing the philosophical ramifications about homeschooling high school, it is packed with practical suggestions, sample schedules and transcripts, and testimonies from homeschool families already well into this leg of their journey.

Choosing your "tools" is another important task in preparing for the high school journey. Many homeschoolers I chat with assume that they are ill-prepared for teaching high school level materials so they turn to an on-line or video solution for their students. While there is nothing inherently *wrong* with those choices, I liken this to taking a bus to the top of a mountain instead of making the hike. While the destination is the same, the journey is so very different. Don't miss the opportunity to tackle a rich high school experience with your teens. Great literature, heart-searching discussions, ministry opportunities, job shadowing ... just a few of the ways to make the journey more memorable.

Finally ... find some "veterans" who have made the journey before you. If you don't have access to skin-on mentors, take advantage of technology. Sonlight has some pretty amazing resources to help make your high school trek more doable. From an active forum for parents of high schoolers to video workshops outlining the "how-tos" for doing high school at home ... you won't lack for supplies for your journey.

As we pack up and head out next Tuesday morning, I expect my thoughts will range from excited to bittersweet. The journey up the high school mountain with this student has been entirely different than that of her older sister. There have been some rock slides, some unexpected downed trees and potholes in the trail ... but there have also been some incredible sights, some amazing discoveries, and the immense satisfaction of having finally reached the summit. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

07/28/2011

Gearing Up . . .

Over on Sonlight's Homeschool Support Forum they're beginning to gear up for the coming school year. One of my favorite blessings of homeschooling is the ability to determine your own school schedule ... when to begin and when to end your year. August was always a great start time for our family. However, regardless of when the first day of school may fall, summer is a great time to think about what the year will look like.

One of the most helpful exercises we would engage in prior to the start of school each year was the "principal/teacher" meeting. My husband and I would head out for an afternoon or evening to a local park or restaurant where we could talk without interruption. The purpose was to review the previous school year and set goals for the coming year. For each child/student we would make a list of 2-3 Academic goals and 2-3 Spiritual goals. Those goals would be based on our review of the previous year. So a sample goals list might look something like this:

JOHNNY'S 2012 GOALS:

Master phonics skills
Focus on foundational math concepts
Work on "immediate obedience" - answer the first time mom calls
Encourage and facilitate scripture memory in AWANA

The value in writing out each student's goals was two-fold ... 1) it helped me to head into the school year with a clear picture of what I was aiming for, and 2) in the middle of the school year (usually long about February), when I had days where I was overwhelmed and couldn't remember why in the world I was homeschooling, it was a good reminder of where my focus should be.

Box Day was always another favorite event as we geared up for the coming school year. In our family, Christmas and all the birthdays fall within a month or so of each other. So Box Day in August was like having a summer birthday! But once all the books had been handled and pored over and drooled upon, they still required some organization. My school year always went so much more smoothly when I knew where our school books "lived".

Sonlight has a wonderful webinar and a workshop video on organizing your home and homeschool. I always find it helpful to hear tips and ideas for organization that have worked for others. So grab your laptop and head for the back porch or pool-side to watch and listen to these great resources. Then plan a trip to the local office supply store to purchase some inexpensive organizational tools (i.e. crates, folders, etc...) and be sure to buy some new pencils for your kids. Who cares if most kids don't use pencils any longer ... school isn't officially started until you smell the new pencils!

Still on the journey ....
~Judy

07/14/2011

Are homeschooled students really all that different?

I've been watching a fascinating conversation unfold on the Sonlight Forums regarding whether or not kids who are homeschooled are really all that "different" than their public or private-schooled peers. It's certainly a legitimate question to ask ... none of us wants our kids to be "oddly" different or socially inept, or to stand out in a crowd in a negative way.

This homeschool mom shared that in a conversation with someone she knew, the statement was made that a relative had noted that they could easily "spot homeschooled kids in a crowd" because they stood out in a less than positive fashion. The rest of the thread explores the validity of that statement and whether or not it is something that should concern us as homeschoolers.

I must admit, I have sometimes worried about the big *S* (socialization) as every good homeschooler does! I often come to the conclusion that social awkwardness is not unique to homeschool students ... nor is it unique just to school-aged individuals. I know plenty of public schooled adults who struggle in social settings ... including myself at times!

Do we want our children to be "different"? Perhaps we do in some ways. If my students are more gracious, more giving, or more mature than their peers (homeschooled or otherwise), then that difference is a positive thing! If my children struggle with social settings and would rather spend time alone, then maybe I should reassure myself that there is room in this world for the quiet thinkers and allow them to be who they are. Perhaps we need to carefully consider our definition of "socially acceptable" and determine if it needs changing.

In the end, I recall the verse that speaks to the folly of comparing ourselves with one another, and using ourselves as the standard of measurement. God has created each of us for a unique purpose ... some to be a hand, some to be an arm, some to be the big toe. My prayer is that my kids will be the best hand, arm or big toe God has designed them to be!

Still on the journey,
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

06/30/2011

Waiting

I'm working on a study for a group meeting I'm leading tonight. The topic is "Waiting". As I've gone about my day today, I've been amazed at all the aspects of my life that involve waiting. I was weeding in my vegetable garden, and putting in another row of beans, and thought about how long I would have to wait for those seeds to germinate, and for my cucumber plants to blossom and produce some cucumbers! I'm impatient when it comes to fresh produce.

I thought about my daughter and son-in-law, freshly graduated from college with three degrees between them, and not a job prospect in site. They are experiencing a whole new dimension to the word "waiting".

My friend who is battling with breast cancer is consumed with waiting. Waiting for the next chemo appointment, waiting to see when the nausea will subside, waiting to see how successful this treatment is in beating her cancer.

It also struck me that homeschooling is ALL about waiting! This week some folks are waiting for their Sonlight Box Day! Others are waiting for a phone call from an Advisor for some counsel on what they should order.

But at an even deeper level, homeschooling is about waiting on the finished product. Waiting to see if the math lessons we've done have stuck. Waiting to see if the character issues we dealt with last week were effective. Waiting to see if my children pass their standardized tests, or get into the college they want, or get a job after graduation.

So much waiting! As I'll be sharing with the ladies in my group tonight .... be sure that your waiting isn't wasted. Our waiting should be active and have a purpose.

Use the time of waiting to remember. Remember who you are and who God is. And recall all the many times he has provided in the past, and trust that He will do the same in the future. God gave you your children, He will equip you to teach them!
Use the time of waiting to worship. Rehearse God's goodness, rejoice in His presence, and sing or meditate on his love and power. Set an example for your students by incorporating worship into your day.
Use the time of waiting to serve. My mom always told me that the best way to get my mind off my own problems was to help someone else with theirs! Look for ways to assist and encourage others. Maybe someone else is waiting just like you.
Use the time of waiting to pray. Our heavenly Father is always interested in hearing of our frustrations and concerns. It is never too early to teach our children to pray too.

(Tips courtesy of Broken-Down House by Tedd Tripp)

I hope you will be encouraged in the waiting room of your homeschool journey. As I draw closer and closer to the end of ours, I can tell you that the waiting was well worth it. What you sometimes are unable to see today, will become evident after a time of waiting. So don't grow weary as you wait!

Still on the journey ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

06/16/2011

Homeschool Support?

It's summer and homeschool conventions are in the air. I've traveled to four so far this year to represent Sonlight in various exhibit halls. Perhaps because I am reaching the half century mark this year, I found myself comparing this year's conventions and attendees to those I remember when I first began attending conventions some 17 years ago. Reflecting on the differences has made for some interesting conversation with others of my "generation".

I also have the privilege of acting as the program director for a state convention here in the northeast. We will be holding our post-convention recap and strategy meeting this weekend. Each year this meeting causes me to consider the perceived needs and wants of homeschoolers and whether or not we are effectively meeting those needs.

In the "early years" of homeschooling, conventions were eagerly anticipated as an opportunity to gather with others of like-minded thought when it came to educational choices. It was a chance to re-group and be encouraged in the rather unique path you had chosen. There was an almost desperate need to hear that what you were doing was right and good.

Today's conventions seem to be more consumer-oriented. With so many to choose from, most folks have the option of attending at least 2, and maybe 3, within driving distance. In this age of Facebook and Twitter, "virtual conventions" are also beginning to appear on the horizon. Curriculum choices are available to preview online, live chat services offer a curriculum advisor at your fingertips, and homeschool forums, chat rooms and blogs, provide virtually everything that a "skin on" convention has to offer without ever leaving home.

So are homeschool conventions and local support group meetings headed the way of the dinosaur? Will they soon be extinct? I truly hope not. While I believe that technology is a wonderful and useful tool, there is just nothing that meets our built-in need for relationship and encouragement like a homeschool convention (or a support group meeting). As I stood on various convention floors this year and talked with new homeschooling parents, admired their babies and toddlers, engaged in some Homeschool 101 conversation, encouraged them that they CAN indeed do this homeschool thing, and hugged them before they left ... I considered time and time again that nothing will ever replace that eye-to-eye, face-to-face experience that an "in-person" event has to offer. It is worth the effort of finding child care, saving pennies for convention registration and possible hotel stay, and arranging transportation.

A thought to contemplate ... if you're a "veteran" homeschooler as I am, and really feel no compelling need to attend a homeschool convention ... consider how valuable your life experience would be to new homeschoolers just beginning their journey. Give some thought to volunteering or working on your local convention team as a means of "giving back" to those who supported you during the early years of your homeschool experience. I guarantee you it's worth your time and effort.

Still traveling the path ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

06/08/2011

High School and Grading and Transcripts ... Oh My!!

As Luke alluded to on Monday, grading is one of those topics that can generate a whole range of emotions among homeschoolers. Some folks began homeschooling to get away from the "stigma" of grades, others just want an easy way to assign a grade and be done with it, while others are just uncertain of how to navigate the whole grading/transcript maze.

Luke mentioned the whole pass/fail idea in his previous post. I would agree that homeschooling allows us the freedom to ensure mastery. In other words, there is never a reason for a homeschool student to "fail" a subject. Thus, if one of my students does not meet the expectation I've set for a particular assignment, he/she has the *privilege* of working on it again until the assignment/project is mastered.

The pass/fail concept is good in general. However there does come a time when you may need to create a transcript for your child, and more detailed or specific grading becomes necessary.

Let me offer a few suggestions that have worked well with the high schoolers we've graduated from our homeschool.

1) First, don't waste any time in ordering Cafi Cohen's book Homeschooler's College Admissions Handbook. This is one of the most practical and easy to read resources that I've come across on the whole topic of homeschooling high school, writing transcripts, and preparing for college or other post-high school options. So don't pass go, don't collect $200, order this book!! You might also find our high school webinar to be a good resource.

2) Set your expectations. Each time I began a new college class, the professor handed out a syllabus on the first day. It listed the titles of the books required for the course, an outline of what to expect during the course, and what it would take to pass the course. I have found it helpful to do the same for my high school students. A possible Core 400 syllabus might look something like this ....

Passing this course requires you to read 14 of the 24 American Litereature titles included in this program. You must read Moby Dick, but you may choose any other 13 titles.
Passing this course requires you to read the following History/Civics titles: Basic American Government by Carson, Never Before in History by Amos and Gardiner, and Emancipating Slaves by Hummel.
Passing this course requires you to read 6 of the 8 biographies/historical fiction titles included in this program.
Passing this course requires you to complete the writing assignments associated with the 14 American Literature titles you choose.
Passing this course requires your comprehension of the History/Civics titles you are required to read. This will be determined by verbal discussion with me, and occasional writing assignments (simple chapter or section reviews).

(IMPORTANT NOTE: I am *NOT* saying that a student should not read all the books in Core 400, or that these titles which I've listed are better than those which I did not! This is purely for the sake of demonstrating a possible syllabus.)

A similar approach can be taken with math (expectation to complete the math course, have a test grade average of 75 or better, etc...), with science, and any other subject assigned for a given high school year.

The value of a written syllabus, though it may take you some time at the beginning of the year, is that all players are aware of the "rules" and expectations from the start. You as the parent/teacher are not stuck making requirements up as the year progresses, and the student begins the course year with a thorough understanding of what is expected.

3) Create your grading chart. Determine ahead of time what level of work earns what grade and how that will ultimately translate to a transcript. Cohen's book is a good resource for how to grade and determine grade point equivalents for a transcript. Here's a suggestion of a grading chart you may wish to use:

Completion of all assigned work with exemplary output -
98-100% (A) ..... Credit Equivalent: 4.0

Completion of all assigned work with outstanding output -
90-98% (A-) ..... Credit Equivalent: 3.7

Completion of all assigned work with good output -
85-90% (B+) ..... Credit Equivalent: 3.3

Completion of all assigned work with average output -
80-85% (B) ..... Credit Equivalent: 3.0

Completion of all assigned work with a struggle -
75-80% (C+) ..... Credit Equivalent: 2.3

Completion of all assigned work (just squeaking by!) -
70-75% (C) ..... Credit Equivalent: 2.0

It will be up to you as the parent/teacher to define "exemplary output" or "with a struggle", but once you have that foundation, creating a grade equivalency chart will save you much time and effort.

Bottom line ... you as the parent/teacher will determine what grading you will use for your high school students. You will determine the standard by which your student is evaluated ... and the amazing blessing of homeschooling is that you can set that standard based on what you know about your student. The trick is to spend some time *well before* the school year begins to establish your expectations for every course, create a grade equivalency chart, and communicate these with your student(s). This level of grading detail is far less necessary in the lower grades where there is no need for creating a transcript. Creating a much simpler pass/fail or grade range expectation works just fine.

Homeschooling high school is an exciting challenge. You will encounter all sorts of life-changing experiences with your students and build memories that will last a lifetime. Don't let grading become a road-block to your high school journey.

Blessings ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

05/19/2011

The High School Milestone

This past week I have had a number of opportunities to chat with moms and dads who are considering the monumental task of teaching a high school student. Many are already homeschooling, but the thought of tackling subjects such as Chemistry or Economics or Calculus has them seriously doubting their ability to continue.

I reassured each one that teaching high school was a milestone just like the many others they had already hurdled with their children. Those milestones always look daunting from a distance, and even more challenging as the time grows closer ... but many have paved the way ahead of them and demonstrated that it can be done successfully! I remember vividly when our oldest was beginning her 8th grade year, and wondering how I (who was a miserable math student) would ever be able to teach high school math, let alone get her ready for college or any other post-high school destination. She graduated from college two weeks ago and we thoroughly enjoy the journey getting there.

So perhaps a few practical suggestions as you consider the possibility of homeschooling a high school student ...

My first and most often repeated suggestion is to purchase the book The Homeschooler's College Admissions Handbook by Cafi Cohen. This book was a lifesaver for me as it is full of great ideas, sample transcripts, tips and pointers on the college admissions process, and testimonies from other homeschoolers who have "been there, done that".
Check out this Homeschooling High School video. This is a workshop that Kelly (homeschool veteran, three high school/college grads) presented to a group of folks interested in pursuing the possibility of homeschooling through high school.
Keep in mind that a diploma is just a piece of paper with a signature on it. It is not a demonstration of your child's achievements and knowledge base. Many colleges look primarily at SAT and ACT scores, as well as a high school transcript when they consider your student for admission.
Sonlight's Career Planning Guide is a great tool to begin using as early as junior high school. Whether college or the work world is your child's destination, this product is a valuable resource.
Finally ... keep in mind that homeschooling through high school will open the door to many opportunities for your student. The flexibility of your homeschool schedule will allow for job shadowing, volunteering, a part-time job, and much more. The chance to make college visits outside of those well-planned College Campus weekends is great for seeing your child's potential school without all the marketing hype.

Homeschooling high school may not ultimately be the best choice for your student, but don't let lack of confidence stand in your way. There are many resources out there to help with difficult subjects, offer suggestions for high school plans, and encourage you along the way. And you'll be amazed at what wonderful adults your students turn into.

Still walking the path ...
~Judy
Sonlight Customer Champion

10/04/2010

Teaching Boys How to Read

Are boys really all snips, and snails, and puppy dog tails? Do they really have little interest in all things academic?

Someone shared a very interesting article with me recently. It's titled How to Raise Boys Who Read. Since I happen to have one of those critters living under my roof and attending our homeschool, I thought this might be a good read. I wasn't disappointed!

The author points out that a recent report by the Center on Education Policy states substantially more boys than girls score below the proficiency level on the annual National Assessment of Educational Progress reading test. This disparity goes back to 1992, and in some states the percentage of boys proficient in reading is now more than ten points below that of girls.

The article then goes on to describe how many publishers appear to be attacking this problem by catering to a boy's "untutored tastes". Which means a whole line of literature centered around crude humor often related to bodily functions. It also addresses the approach some parents are taking by bribing their sons to read using technology as a reward.

What a great opportunity we have as homeschoolers to help turn this trend on its ear and reverse those statistics. Homeschooling is all about learning to develop a love for reading, in both young girls *and* young men.

I love the author's ending comment ... I offer a final piece of evidence that is perhaps unanswerable: There is no literacy gap between home-schooled boys and girls. How many of these families, do you suppose, have thrown grossology parties?

Keep those boys reading!!!
~Judy

08/25/2010

And another year begins ...

All over the world homeschool students are breaking out their books and sharpening new pencils. I love the smell of new pencils. It brings back fond memories of my own school years and of those when my children were just beginning school. Even if there was an unopened package of pencils in the drawer, I always bought my kids new pencils for the first day of school. We looked for other ways to make that first day special as well ... new notebooks, a fun picnic or visit to the park with a book to read together, a new basket to hold all their books ... and the list goes on. August always held the promise of the start of a new adventure.

This year August held a different kind of adventure for us. Our oldest daughter was married and headed off to begin her own family memories. As she walked the aisle with her dad two weeks ago, I was remembering those school days with her, among many other things we did together. Bittersweet ... but also exciting to think that someday she may be making her own school day memories with her children.

Our other children are in high school and seemingly beyond the need for a "first day of school" celebration. Although ... my 17 year old did look at me this past weekend and ask why we hadn't gone out to buy new supplies for school this year. "We can't start school without that fun stuff" she lamented! So off we went to buy some new notebooks and pencils (even though much of their work is done on the computer these days).

What will you do to celebrate the first day of school this year?

Blessings ...
~Judy

07/14/2010

Summer Jobs

Thankfully most kids aren't doing yard work with this type of mower anymore, but once upon a time we did. We *really* earned our money in those days! (Now I'm beginning to sound like my dad)

Summer jobs are another great resource for beating boredom. They are as wide and varied as your imagination. Cleaning brush, mowing lawns, weeding gardens, flipping burgers at the local hamburger joint, and the list goes on.

Summer jobs accomplish a whole list of things:

the value of scheduling (have to be to work on time)
the value of responsibility (most bosses won't step in and clean up your messes)
the value of saving money
the value of spending your money wisely
the joy of cashing your first (and subsequent) paychecks
the self-confidence related to a "good job" from your boss
the experience demonstrated on a resume

Now tell me ... what curriculum is going to accomplish all this for the price of transportation? Even if there aren't any local summer jobs to be had, find projects around home that you're willing to pay to have done. Help your kids become resourceful ... perhaps they'll want to try their hand at a home business.

You never know what opportunities will open up as the result of a summer job!

Happy hunting!
~Judy

05/05/2010

But Mom ... I'm booooored!

Summer is quickly approaching. I know this because my snow shovel is no longer residing by my front step and the sound of many lawn mowers is in the land. Another sound may also be heard as you finish up your school year. That is the sound of children bemoaning their lack of activity. "Moooom, there's nothing to do around here!"

I have the perfect solution! It's biblical, it looks great on a high school transcript or job resume, and it teaches character and servant hood. A very wise friend (who has been somewhat of a mentor on my homeschool journey) once recommended the age-old concept of volunteering. She shared how a volunteer position was/is a requirement for her junior high and high school children. Happy to take her up on that suggestion, we have also made volunteering a requirement for our students.

It was amazing to me the volunteer opportunities out there if you just begin looking. Our oldest child (now in college) spent some summers volunteering for an organization that runs an adaptive riding program for disabled children and adults at a local horse farm. Another child enrolled in a teen volunteer program at the nearby medical center and has had some awesome opportunities to work in the nursing home with aging adults. Our youngest began volunteering at a local Rescue Mission store not too long ago.

The cost is minimal ... transportation back and forth, schedule juggling, but the rewards are too numerous to count. So the next time you hear that familiar whine of boredom, tell your children about the perfect plan you have for their summer!

Blessings ...
~Judy

03/10/2010

Say that again?

My kids are beginning an on-line writing course this week. I've endured all the expected weeping and gnashing of teeth ... followed by the standard explanation of why I will not graduate children who cannot write well.

Coming directly on the heels of those conversations, a friend shared the funniest web site I have yet to see related to the massacre of the English language. WARNING: Be sure you're sitting down, not drinking anything hot, and have a full box of tissues handy. This is just too funny. (Standard disclaimer: I have not read the entirety of this site nor have I clicked on every link. So proceed with caution.)

Enjoy!
~Judy

02/12/2010

The faster I go ...

the behinder I get! That seems to be a common theme in the month of February. The holiday "high" is over, motivation is hard to come by, and for some of us, winter is lasting forever. Every day I wake up feeling "behind".

I was thinking about this as Jill, Kelly and I recorded our most recent series of webinars: "Has Your Homeschool Dream Become a Nightmare?" Take some time over the next week or so to listen to the three-part series. Each session is about 45 minutes long. I think you'll be encouraged!

But back to being "behind". As I had the opportunity yesterday to interact with a mom who is feeling "behind" ... it caused me to evaluate just what that means. I asked her to define "behind" for me. Does she feel behind because her kids aren't at the same place their public or private school peers are academically? Did some holiday conversation amongst cousins or in-laws leave her feeling as though she was lagging in her homeschool journey?

Comparison can be just as lethal for homeschool students as for others. Especially when it is combined with mid-winter lethargy and lack of motivation. Invest a few moments to set some concrete academic and spiritual goals for your children. Just 2 or 3 apiece. Write them down and refer to them often this time of year. Learn to compare your child's progress to your *goals* and not to their peers.

Don't give in to comparing and measuring yourself to others ... enjoy the freedom that comes from setting your own goals.
~Judy

12/10/2009

The Early Years - Phonics

Teaching a child to learn to read is, IMHO, one of the most satisfying tasks of homeschooling. Watching understanding dawn on your student's face as they finally are able to read their first sentence, and then their first easy reader book, is beyond description. Especially if it's been a particularly long and arduous road getting there!

There are numerous, wonderful phonics programs out there. Some are quite simple in their approach, while others incorporate bells, whistles, and singing animals. Deciding which to use will depend a great deal on your child's learning style, your teaching methods, and how much money is in your bank account.

While phonics programs are wonderful tools, there are some very practical approaches to teaching reading that don't require any curriculum or packaged resources. The most basic of these is to look for reading opportunities throughout your day. When you're driving down the street, point out street signs and ask your child what letter sounds they see, or if they can sound out the words on their own. In the grocery store, pick up boxes of cereal or crackers and ask your student to identify the letters they are currently learning, or have already learned.

Homemade flash cards are another great way to teach or reinforce phonics. Start with a set of letter flash cards and play letter "Go Fish" with your child. Create a duplicate set of letter flash cards and play a "Concentration" or matching game. Or make up simple "Bingo" grids and using some macaroni or other "markers", play letter Bingo. Once you begin teaching letter blends, make up some blend flash cards and let your child build words with the cards. I remember my youngest child's excitement when he got to the place where he could build simple sentences using his flash cards. The ideas are endless!

Another good idea that used to elicit chuckles from folks who visited our home is to create "label" flash cards for the various items in your house. You can label your "couch", "chair", "bed", "table", "rug", and so on. Hand the cards to your child and let him/her sound out the word and place the label appropriately. Or perhaps mix up the cards and place the "chair" card on the rug, and the "couch" card on the table, etc... Let your student have fun correcting your "mistakes".

Once again, Dr. Beechick's Three R's booklet is full of very creative and practical ways to teach or reinforce basic reading skills. Definitely a "must have" for every homeschooler.

Enjoy the journey!
~Judy

12/04/2009

The Early Years - Math

Let's face it, some kids are born with the math gene, and some just aren't. I personally missed out on that valuable piece of genetic material, but fortunately at least one of our children inherited his dad's ease with math.

So what does math learning look like in the elementary grades? Especially if mom isn't all that comfortable with the subject herself! Does 30 minutes of math mean sitting at the table doing a workbook for 30 minutes? Yikes! I sure hope not ...

If you have a workbook-loving student, then spend 15 minutes going over a worksheet together. Then close the book and move on to 15 more minutes with counting blocks, or math games (Mathtacular is a great choice!) on the computer. I remember teaching my younger students about pairs by having them match and fold socks. We learned simple addition and subtraction by setting the table ... counting out the forks, knives and spoons ... discussing how many we needed to take away if dad wasn't going to be home for dinner that evening. And baking is an awesome way to introduce simple fractions (and even get in a little Science at the same time!).

Have *FUN* learning math with your child. It doesn't have to be painful. If you'd like some additional practical ways to teach math without workbooks or textbooks, check out Ruth Beechick's Three R's Series.

More to come! ...
~Judy

12/03/2009

The Early Years - Priorities

I had the opportunity to chat via email with a new homeschooler the other day. She is educating a 6 year old and has a toddler and a newborn as well. Needless to say, she was feeling a bit frazzled!

Some practical thoughts that I shared with her were helpful to me when I walked in her shoes ...

The first thing I would concentrate on is to make a list of priorities. What academic skills do you most wish to focus on with your student? Personally ... phonics was at the top of my list for that age. If they can learn to read well, then all other subjects become that much easier. I would also work on some foundational math concepts. Everything else is "gravy"! Reading and Math ... just two subjects.

Plan to spend 20-30 minutes each day on math and 20-30 minutes each day on reading. A total of one hour of "formal" schooling. You may want to do math in the morning and reading in the afternoon ... you may want to do 15 minutes of math and then take a break and finish the final 15 minutes after the break. There are a multitude of ways to break it up, but these two subjects ... one hour per day ... would be my priority. Now that doesn't sound quite so overwhelming!

More to follow ...
~Judy

11/19/2009

Note Taking - Learned Skill?

I spoke recently with a homeschooling mom who was concerned because her daughter was in sixth grade and didn't have a clue how to take notes. She was looking for a product or formula that she might use to teach this skill. I made the following, cost-effective (nothing to buy!) suggestions:

Start off by explaining the purpose of note-taking: to keep a record of your condensed understanding of what you're reading or hearing. In other words ... don't trust your memory!
The next step is learning to focus and concentrate while listening. If you are reading a book aloud to your student ... tell them that each time they hear what seems to be an important tidbit of information, they need to write it down. These would be things like an important date, someone's age, or a location where something occurred. This might even include any words or terms they don't understand.
In between listening for these types of note-worthy "facts" ... suggest that they make notes that will act as "reminders". Perhaps you're reading a chapter about Washington's winter at Valley Forge. Were there things mentioned in the chapter that helped them understand "why" the army was there? Perhaps something that gave a basic explanation of "what" was going on politically at the time? These all make good reminders.
Compare note-taking to being a newspaper reporter. They always need to be answering ... Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?

The ultimate goal? To be able to go back and read over their notes and come away with the same knowledge/understanding they gained when they first read or heard the information. Note-taking acts as a "refresher" of sorts.

Keep in mind ... this takes practice. You may need to prod a bit at first ... or even come alongside and take notes that they might copy. Read a few sentences from a book to your students, and then stop and say ... "If it were me, I would make a note of the following ..."

As your student gains proficiency in knowing what they need to make notes of, then help them to develop their own style of note-taking "shorthand".

Helpful abbreviations
Use incomplete sentences
Use bullet points or asterisks to make points stand out on a page

Church sermons, TV or radio news reports, or even a DVD documentary all provide great opportunities for practicing note-taking. And who knows ... working with your student may help your skills to improve as well!!

~Judy

11/03/2009

The Holidays are Coming ...

For some people that statement brings feelings of excitement and fond memories of childhood holidays ... for others it creates a feeling of dread and the wish to just fast-forward to January.

I suppose there are a multitude of reasons why some folks love the holidays as much as others hate them. In fact, I've had some years where I couldn't wait for Thanksgiving to arrive, and other years when I wished we could just avoid the whole mess. Current family dynamics, age, the economy, and a whole slew of other factors play into how you perceive the holiday season.

So how to avoid the holiday doldrums when they come rushing in? Two simple approaches have helped me immensely in past years. 1) Get my focus off myself, and 2) Do some advanced planning.

Get your focus off yourself
Those years when I've struggled the most, and tried to determine why, I've usually found that I am hyper-focused on my physical struggles, family struggles, or disappointment in others. It has been very helpful for me to name the issue, whatever it might be, and consciously work to leave it with the Lord. If I can daily shift my focus off from me and on to those around me, my attitude improves tremendously. Certainly the holidays are not the time to become a martyr, so I'm not suggesting totally ignoring personal needs. But looking for little things that might work to improve my spirits is much more fruitful than using that time to dwell on life's troubles or injustices.

Do some advanced planning
Most often the stress and hair-tearing of the holiday season can be avoided with a little proactive planning. As much as I'm able, I try to map out the events of November and December well in advance. Around those activities I plan our meal schedule. Based on that schedule I try to plan my grocery shopping so I only have to go once or twice. There's nothing more frustrating to me than being stuck in an over-crowded grocery store during the holidays.

Getting my kids involved with the planning is also tremendously helpful. With my focus on others instead of myself, it becomes less important that every event is planned "correctly" than working on the project as a family. We schedule hospitality times in our home, create a menu, and brainstorm decoration ideas.

I also take a serious, realistic look at our budget, and plan our gift giving based on what is possible. 61% of Americans list lack of money as being their greatest holiday stress point. Shifting our focus to relationships and creativity can go a long way toward relieving this issue.

Not creative? Need a jump-start for holiday meal planning and gift-giving? Here are some great resources to check out as we head into November.

(Standard caveat - I cannot vouch for all the content on each of these sites, so browse with care).

I'd love to hear your ideas for a stress-free, enjoyable holiday season. Feel free to share! And most of all ... I wish you a relaxing, family and Christ-centered holiday season.

Blessings ...
~Judy

10/15/2009

Famous Homeschoolers

I've always found it fascinating each time I learn of some other well-known individual who was homeschooled. Part of me thinks that if that person did so well in life "despite" being homeschooled, there is hope for my kids!

If you've never read about any famous homeschoolers, take a few minutes to do so with your kids. You may be surprised ... they may be encouraged. It's an exercise worth pursuing.

Now we can add another prestigious name to that list ... Willard S. Boyle was recently awarded 1/4 of the Nobel prize for physics. How exciting to learn that he was homeschooled! His mama (if she is still living) is surely proud of him.

Who knows what potential sits around your kitchen table today ... sleepily working their way through their spelling words or the intricacies of chemistry.

Blessings ...
~Judy

10/14/2009

Applesauce!

Yep ... it's that time of year. In the next few days my house is going to smell the best it will smell all year. The odor of cooking apples, cinnamon and cloves ... in addition to the smell of fall leaves each time the door opens, should really be bottled and sold!

This is a tremendous time of year to get your kids involved in something besides academics. Here's where science and math and practical life skills all merge together in your kitchen.

Find a local orchard where you can pick apples ... do a bit of research ahead of time so you can chat like an old pro about the different types of apples and their many uses. Here are some hints to get you started:

Cortlands - this "workhorse" apple is phenomenal for cooking just about anything ... pies, sauce, apple butter, crisps, etc... They are often a large apple which gives you more bang for your peeling!
Honeycrisp - This apple has exceptionally crisp, juicy, sweet-as-honey flesh with just a hint of tartness, making it a tasty treat any time of the day. You can also use this apple for baking. This has become a family favorite for an eating apple.
Idared - This rosy, brightly colored apple is a cross between two New York apples, Jonathan and Wagener. I love to add these to my sauce because of their bright pink color.
McIntosh - The tender white flesh is crisp when freshly harvested, but soon adopts a softer consistency, making it perfect for cooking into pies or sauce. Macs are sweet and juicy with a pleasant tanginess. I mix Macs, Cortlands and Idareds for an awesome applesauce and apple butter.
Granny Smith - Lime-green speckled skin that resists bruising and very firm, crisp flesh characterize this popular apple. Its sharp, tart flavor holds up well in recipes with spicy notes, and the flesh is firm enough to retain its shape when cooked. If you like to make baked apples, this variety is perfect!

Then go spend a chilly afternoon in your local orchard picking apples and enjoying the sights and smells of autumn. If you aren't lucky enough to live in the northeast (a little local pride there), then make a field trip out of visiting your local store and choosing apples. Head back to your kitchen to create some applesauce, apple butter, apple crisp, apple crumble, or any number of delicious apple creations.

Even better ... create some applesauce ornaments to hang around your home. This keeps that wonderful apple and cinnamon scent around that much longer. These are easy to make ... combine 3 cups of applesauce with 3 cups of cinnamon. Mix well until you have a thick mixture. Carefully roll the mixture out on a very lightly cinnamon-dusted surface to about 1/4" thick. Find your favorite cookie cutter and cut away! Use a drinking straw to create a small hole at the top of each ornament. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 2 1/2 hours at 150 degrees. Remove from oven and cool on rack. Once cooled, thread a slender ribbon through the hole and hang! These make great Christmas gifts as well.

Have fun!!
~Judy

10/13/2009

Going Home

A homeschool icon left this earth for a better place yesterday. HSLDA's Chris Klicka fought a 15 year battle with MS and "won" ... though not in the way that many might define winning. I have alternated between rejoicing and weeping with his wife, Tracy, as she documented Chris's final struggle with MS on their CaringBridge page. Being close in age to someone who graduates to heaven can bring the realities of life into sharp focus. I can only hope that I finish my life's journey as well as Chris has.

Bits and pieces of Sara Grove's song, Going Home, have been invading my thoughts over the past 24 hours. I have it playing in the background as I write this ...

Of going home, I'll meet you at the table
Going home, I'll meet you in the air
And you are never too young to think about it
Oh, I cannot wait to be home.

I'm confined by my senses
To really know what you are like
You are more than I can fathom
And more than I can guess
And more than I can see with you in sight.

But I have felt you with my spirit
I have felt you fill this room
And this is just an invitation
Just a sample of the whole
And I cannot wait to be going home.

Going home, I'll meet you at the table
Going home, I'll meet you in the air
And you are never too young to think about it
Oh, I cannot wait to be going, to be going home.

May we all be looking forward to going home ...

Blessings ...
~Judy

09/16/2009

But mom, the sun is shining!

This is, hands down, my most favorite time of year. Spring is a wonderful promise of things to come, summer is great with its balmy breezes ... we won't even mention winter ... but autumn is, in my opinion, when God lets loose with his creativity!

So it's no wonder that beginning school in September has always seemed wrong to me somehow. I remember sitting in a classroom, listening to the teacher drone on, while my eyes constantly wandered to the window and the sunshine. My kids have been no different.

What a blessing homeschooling is ... to be able to flex your school schedule in order to maximize outdoor time. Are your kids antsy to be outside? Are you finding that concentration is sorely lacking? Then work the great outdoors into your school schedule! Pack up a tote bag of books and head to the local park. Sit on a park bench or under a tree and read together. Call an impromptu science field trip and hunt for leaves or cocoons or evidence of squirrels preparing for winter.

Time enough for indoor "table" work and serious studies when the temperatures are frigid and the snow is blowing. Autumn is the perfect time for breaking away from the schedule to relish God's creativity. Don't waste it!

Blessings ...
~Judy

09/10/2009

What Happens if it Doesn't Work?

I was chatting with a new homeschooler via phone this morning. She's about two weeks into her school year and her son is just whizzing through the math and history products she chose. Her greatest concern was that she had chosen the "wrong" materials ... and what should she do about it?

I suspect this is a perennial question for many homeschoolers ... both new and veteran. And I don't know that there's any "right" answer to the question. But as I shared with this mom today, I do think there are a couple things to consider.

One ... are you concerned about the choice you made because your student doesn't like the material? While I'm always willing to listen to feedback from my kids, and will certainly consider any "legitimate" concerns ... "liking" your math or science curriculum is not a prerequisite for using it. I do agree that products that are boring or not well written are worth re-evaluation ... but I've also come to the conclusion that bells, whistles and making you "feel happy" are not necessary when it comes to learning.

Two ... are you concerned about the choice you made because the material doesn't seem to be a good fit for your student? This is an entirely different issue from your student not liking their school work. Now "not liking" your math or language arts may indeed be a symptom of a "poor fit", but if your student is whizzing through 3 or 4 math lessons each day and is acting bored ... or if you're utilizing a workbook based language arts program and your child is just not "getting it" ... then you may want to consider a different approach. Not all children learn the same ... some do better with hands-on tools, others excel with textbooks and workbooks. Sometimes there is some trial and error involved in figuring out which approach works best for your student. The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias is a great resource for discovering your child's learning style (and your teaching style!).

So make a change if a change is needed. Invest a bit of time now figuring out how your child learns best ... and make adjustments to fit that need. This is not a failure of your curriculum choosing abilities, but rather a great opportunity to tailor your homeschooling to your child's strengths. A momentary "glitch" in your school year that will reap years of benefit is not a bad thing!

Blessings ...
~Judy

09/09/2009

Mom is my teacher?

This is the time of year when veteran homeschoolers are getting back in the routine, and those who have chosen to move their students from public or private school to homeschooling are facing the unavoidable transition time.

There have been times in our 15+ years of homeschooling that my kids have given me the look that says "who says you get to be our teacher?" Or when we've faced a particularly difficult math or science concept, they seem to be thinking "are you sure that's right? I mean, it's not like you're a teacher or anything!" If these "doubts" come from students who have known nothing but homeschooling, imagine the leap of faith it takes for kids who are used to "real" teachers.

The fact of the matter is, we are "real" teachers. From the day we brought those wee ones home from the hospital we have been teaching them ... how to speak, how to eat, how to dress themselves, how to avoid the dangers in life, and so on ... In fact, I would argue that I am my child's best teacher.

So if you've made the leap to homeschooling this year, and your children are doubting your credentials for teaching ... loving persistence is the best response. If *you* believe in yourself as teacher, you will be better able to present a confident front as you begin each school day. In those areas where you doubt or struggle with your ability to teach, be transparent with your kids and tell them you'll be learning together. But never let them doubt your "right" to be their teacher. Give them space to adjust to this "new" role you've undertaken, but remain firm in your expectations of their respect.

Blessings on your new school year!!

~Judy

08/24/2009

How do others view homeschoolers?

One of the regulars over on the Sonlight Forums shared a thought-provoking, well written article today. It is titled College Professor Critiques Homeschoolers by Greg Landry M.S. I'll copy the article in its entirety at the end of my comments ... but I wanted to highlight a few of the things he noted about homeschool students that I think are "right on".

They are independent learners and do a great job of taking initiative and being responsible for learning.

I have found that most homeschool students I've encountered, including my own, are independent learners. I spent a few years teaching science labs in a homeschool co-op and for the most part, my students were motivated and didn't need me hanging over their shoulder every moment giving direction.

They handle classroom social situations (interactions with their peers and professors) very well. In general, my homeschooled students are a pleasure to have in class.

This is, to me, an especially significant observation. For all the dire warnings and fears that folks have about homeschool students not being "socialized", this statement seems to imply just the opposite. Homeschool students seem to do very well in "mixed" age groups ... equally comfortable with peers as with those who are older.

They come to college without sufficient test-taking experience, particularly with timed tests. Many homeschooled students have a high level of anxiety when it comes to taking
timed tests.

My kids have never seemed to have test taking anxiety, so this one surprised me a bit. Though it certainly doesn't sound unreasonable. Anything that is unfamiliar in life has the potential to create anxiety ... and many homeschoolers are "anti-testing". The good news is that this one is easy to remedy! It wouldn't be terribly difficult to add some "timed" testing to your high schooler's educational experience.

Many homeschooled students have problems meeting deadlines and have to adjust to that in college. That adjustment time in their freshman year can be costly in terms of the way it affects their grades.

I have, for years, encouraged folks to add "organization and time management" as a required skill to their academic schedules. It's always nice when you see the goals you set for your students pay off. This is one area that my daughter brought up soon after she entered her freshman year of college. She was amazed at all the kids who could not seem to manage their time and get assignments and projects in on time. As she was heading off to bed at night she would smile at all her suite mates burning the midnight oil to get the next day's work done in time!

Overall, a very encouraging article ... but offering challenges as well. I enjoyed the balance in the author's presentation, which can be difficult to find when reading through articles on homeschooling or about homeschoolers.

Article copied in its entirety below:

College Professor Critiques Homeschoolers
copyright 2009 by Greg Landry, M.S.

I teach sophomore through senior level college
students - most of them are "pre-professional"
students. They are preparing to go to medical
school, dental school, physical therapy school,
etc.

As a generalization, I've noticed certain
characteristics common in my students who were
homeschooled. Some of these are desirable,
some not.

Desirable characteristics:

1. They are independent learners and do a great
job of taking initiative and being responsible
for learning. They don't have to be "spoon fed"
as many students do. This gives them an advantage
at two specific points in their education;
early in college and in graduate education.

2. They handle classroom social situations
(interactions with their peers and professors)
very well. In general, my homeschooled students
are a pleasure to have in class. They greet me
when the enter the class, initiate conversations
when appropriate, and they don't hesitate to
ask good questions. Most of my students do
none of these.

3. They are serious about their education and
that's very obvious in their attitude, preparedness,
and grades.

Areas where homeschooled students can improve:

1. They come to college less prepared in the
sciences than their schooled counterparts -
sometimes far less prepared. This can be
especially troublesome for pre-professional
students who need to maintain a high grade
point average from the very beginning.

2. They come to college without sufficient
test-taking experience, particularly with
timed tests. Many homeschooled students have a
high level of anxiety when it comes to taking
timed tests.

3. Many homeschooled students have problems
meeting deadlines and have to adjust to that in
college. That adjustment time in their freshman
year can be costly in terms of the way it affects
their grades.

My advice to homeschooling parents:

1. If your child is even possibly college
bound and interested in the sciences, make
sure that they have a solid foundation of
science in the high school years.

2. Begin giving timed tests by 7th or 8th grade.
I'm referring to all tests that students take, not
just national, standardized tests.

I think it is a disservice to not give students
timed tests. They tend to focus better and score
higher on timed tests, and, they are far better
prepared for college and graduate education if
they've taken timed tests throughout the high
school years.

In the earlier years the timed tests should allow
ample time to complete the test as long as the
student is working steadily. The objective is for
them to know it's timed yet not to feel a time
pressure. This helps students to be comfortable
taking timed tests and develops confidence in
their test-taking abilities.

3. Give your students real deadlines to meet in
the high school years. If it's difficult for students
to meet these deadlines because they're
coming from mom or dad, have them take
"outside" classes; online, co-op, or community
college.
_______________________________

Greg Landry is a 14 year veteran homeschool dad
and college professor. He also teaches one and
two semester online science classes, and offers
free 45 minute online seminars.
http://www.HomeschoolScienceAcademy.com

08/10/2009

I love new pencils

One by one, homeschools are gearing up and beginning a new school year. A friend recently Facebooked a picture of her elementary aged kids on their first day of school. The picture shows brother and sister sitting at the dining room table with eager smiles on their faces. On the table are folders and notebooks and of course ... new pencils.

I always made a special day out of our first day of school ... some years it was a special breakfast ... other years the day included a picnic at a local park. But every year included new school "treats" that I had purchased in the weeks prior to beginning. My kids always anticipated that first day ... excited to see what fun folders I had purchased or if I had found special shaped erasers or pencils with their names on them.

These days I have one in college and two in high school. Nobody gets excited about folders and pencils any longer. But I have decided it's still important to "celebrate" in some fashion ... despite the moans and groans that I will hear when I present them with their planning notebooks and pile of books and computer software. This year we'll take a day and drive a couple hours to a favorite amusement park. We'll eat junk food, get sunburned, and end the day at the local burger joint. While we won't have new pencils to admire, we'll have some new memories and peeling skin to kick off another year of learning and growing.

What do you do to kick off the new school year?

~Judy

07/21/2009

Graduated ... now what?

This is a topic that comes up periodically when I chat with parents of high school homeschoolers. I was encouraged to see an article in the May/June issue of HSLDA's Court Report dealing with this very topic! I think that Becky Cooke and Diane Kummer have provided some excellent ideas in their suggestions for that first post-high school year.

In case you haven't had time to read the article, please allow me to summarize here and offer some thoughts of my own ...

Take time to mature ... a very valid point which discusses the differences between those kids who are "born old" and those who may be "late bloomers" when it comes to deciding what to do in life after high school is ended.
Gain a year's job experience ... another good option for kids whose financial status requires them to bulk up their bank account a bit before heading off to college or pursuing a different life's goal. College debt can be a huge burden, so this may be a valid choice for kids seeking increased financial stability from the very beginning.
Explore the globe - this is one I wish I had thought of as a high school senior! Let's face it, most of us won't have this kind of opportunity again once we are married, or begin a full-time job. So if your student has dreamed of travel and is financially able to swing it, this may be a great time to fulfill that dream.
Find ministry opportunities - short-term missions is a wonderful avenue for gaining personal experience and exploring possibilities for future ministry. Our daughter took part in a 6 week ministry opportunity the summer between graduation and college. It was a tremendous experience that gained her valuable people skills and increased maturity.
Pursue special interests - perhaps you have a student who excels in music, or a specialized trade or even a foreign language. A year of additional exposure may give them a leg-up when applying to college or seeking a job in their field of interest.

But are there any downsides to taking a year off between high school and college? A couple come to mind. Having spoken to some who have done so, it can be difficult to get back into the "swing" of academia once you've experienced a year away from the demands of a schedule. There may also be some scholarship opportunities that are only available if you are entering college immediately following high school.

Ultimately, it will depend entirely on your student's circumstances and goals, but it is nice to know that there are a world of options available to choose from!

Blessings ...
~Judy

07/09/2009

School Year in Review

Yesterday I was putting the finishing touches on the final reports I needed to send to my school district. Included in those reports were the results of my students' assessment tests. We happen to use Iowa tests ... but have tried various assessments in the many years we've homeschooled.

As I compared the test results with those from previous years, I once again noted a pattern of strengths and weaknesses for each of my kids. It's always good to keep current with areas that my kids excel in and areas where they struggle. I find this especially helpful as I plan for the coming school year. Test results are often part of my decision making process when I purchase curriculum materials.

I also enjoyed looking back over material studied, books read, and projects completed. I allowed myself a few moments of proud reflection as I noted areas where my kids did very well. I also struggled for a bit with that always present homeschool mom "guilt" over areas where my kids didn't do as well. But all in all, I'm once again thankful for the opportunity and privilege to educate our children at home.

Feel free to share some of the highlights of your school year!

~Judy

07/02/2009

Time Management - Meal Planning

Summer is upon us and with it comes the freedom to travel, take long walks, visit the beach, and grill almost every meal. But before you know it the school year will arrive once again and it will be time to put a schedule in place. Next to getting laundry done, one of the hardest things to schedule seems to be meal preparation. How many times have you looked at the clock only to realize it's 4:30 pm and you have nothing defrosted for dinner?!

Here's a simple approach to meal planning that has worked well for me for years.

Divide up the week into 7 categories ... something like this:

Monday - Chicken dish
Tuesday - Pasta
Wednesday - Beef dish
Thursday - Casserole
Friday - Pizza Night
Saturday - Left-Overs
Sunday - Crockpot Meal

Next, purchase an index card file or box to hold a series of 3x5" cards. Divide them into six categories:

Chicken Recipes
Pasta Recipes
Beef Recipes
Casserole Recipes
Pizza Recipes
Crockpot Recipes

Copy your favorite recipes for each category onto a 3x5" card. Then file appropriately.

Each time you prepare to go grocery shopping (I happen to shop twice a month), pull out one recipe per day from the appropriate category. Then base your grocery shopping list on what you know you will be cooking.

Your categories will vary based on your family needs. As our children got old enough to work in the kitchen, they became responsible for meal planning and preparation and this plan was helpful as they took on this new responsibility.

Take some time this summer to create your own meal planning recipe box. Check out my recipe blog for some new meal ideas. Share some of your favorites here!

~Judy

06/21/2009

The Rise of Homeschooling

A recent article in USA Today cites a profound shift in those who are homeschooling their children. In brief, the article states that there is now a higher percentage of girls, than boys, being homeschooled, and that a greater number of those homeschooling are white, wealthy, and well-educated.

While I am no statistician or expert on homeschooling trends, I must admit my first impression was to doubt some of the conclusions drawn. Apparently someone else has doubts as well. Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute has responded to the USA Today article with some statistics of his own.

I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts as you interact with the homeschooling community. Do you really think that more girls than boys are being homeschooled? If yes, why? How about the claim that homeschoolers are increasingly more white, wealthy and higher educated?

I recently had the opportunity to join a radio interview with the president of the New York state homeschool organization (LEAH). The topic of the interview was the USA Today article. Take a few moments to listen to our conversation and decide if our thoughts are any more accurate than the article. (Click when the floating headline reads "The Rise of Homeschooling").

We've been home educating for over 14 years now and the face of homeschooling has definitely changed over time. What changes have you observed? What will the homeschool climate be like when our children begin homeschooling?

~Judy

06/15/2009

Trust

Every now and again I see something that sticks with me and leaves a lasting impression. I had one of those experiences last weekend. I was at a homeschool convention, enjoying the worship session at the beginning of the day. We enjoyed the awesome sounds of a homeschool family that had more talent than I knew existed in one household. Dad, Mom, and four kids (ages 7-16) ... singing, playing flute, bass, percussion, keyboard ... and the harmony was perfect. In the midst of the worship experience, I noticed something that perhaps no one else saw. Every one of those kids had their eyes focused on their dad. He led their music without saying a word. He never had to stop to get anyone's attention ... never had to wave or shout or give any direction. Each child regularly looked to their dad for the "next thing". They didn't question or disagree ... right down to the youngest member of the group they simply watched dad.

Each time we met together for worship, I watched this scenario play out. And while the worship music spoke to my heart, the lasting impression was that of the trust the kids had in their dad. They believed he would always be there to give them direction ... and he was. Might I always keep my eyes on my Father ... always believing He will be there to give me direction. (Ps 25:2)

~Judy

05/29/2009

Homeschool Graduations

They come in all shapes and sizes ... big and small, in a living room, in a church ... but they all have one thing in common ... their uniqueness! I think this is one of the things I most love about homeschool graduations and graduation parties. They very often are a demonstration of the talents and strengths of the graduate(s).

Tonight we will be attending a graduation "recital" and reception for a friend's daughter. She has been homeschooled all her life and her greatest love has been, and still is, music. She will be putting on a piano recital for us all to enjoy, and then we will share refreshments and an opportunity to encourage her as she heads into a new leg of her life journey.

Another friend will be enjoying the graduation of his son this weekend. 18 homeschooled friends and families will gather together to celebrate and acknowledge their shared accomplishments.

A favorite memory of mine is the homeschool graduation of my daughter's piano teacher. While it took place many years ago, it still sticks with me. The celebration was held in her home with a group of close friends and family watching on. She and her parents had put together a meaningful ceremony of homeschool recollections and a charge from her parents for the life ahead of her. What a special memory for her (and us)!

Our oldest daughter graduated from our homeschool last year. She chose to participate in our state homeschool support group graduation ceremony. She and 120+ other graduates marched into the hall together as friends and family watched. When it came her turn to receive her diploma, her dad and I met her mid-stage to share together in her special moment. We presented her diploma, which seemed very fitting to me since we helped her obtain it!

I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy a homeschool graduation this year. If you've attended one in the past, I'd love to hear some of your favorite memories.

~Judy

05/28/2009

Thoughts about the Internet ...

A friend pointed me to a blog post yesterday that is discussing the effects of the Internet on individuals and society. It was an intriguing, and sometimes guilt-producing read! (I'm real good at the homeschool mom guilt thing)

The author discusses the "sins" of narcissism and waste generated by Internet use and the effect it can have on family relationships.

I need some time to digest what he's written. My first read left me feeling both guilt at what I recognized as myself in some of his statements, and strong disagreement at many other statements. But it did make me wonder what effect the Internet has on *homeschool* families ... particularly moms who are often tied at home 24/7 raising and teaching children. Is it a legitimate resource for "reaching out" when one is primarily at home?

So what are your thoughts? I'd be interested in your reaction to Internetmonk's ideas.

~Judy

05/26/2009

How do I plan for high school?!

Homeschooling elementary age children is a huge decision. Many of us couldn't imagine teaching someone to read when we started out. But homeschool a high schooler?! No way I'm up to that task!!

When I talk with folks about homeschooling a teenager, two concerns seem to rise to the surface. The first is a perceived inability to teach such hefty subjects as Chemistry and Geometry. The second is a fear of planning and keeping records that will satisfy a future college.

While the first may be "easily" satisfied with all the on-line and computer-based science and math products available, the second seems to be more intimidating. I'd like to offer a couple of thoughts that might make it less so.

For any high school course of study, it is very helpful to create a syllabus. This is as simple as establishing your expectations for your student. Here are a couple of examples ...

AMERICAN HISTORY (Junior Year)

Read daily assignments from Core text
Maintain a Word document of answers to all questions based on reading assignments
Complete one research paper on an individual of your choosing from your American History studies (Length = 2-5 pages dbl spaced, complete bibliography with no fewer than three sources)

Satisfactory completion of these requirements will result in a passing grade.

AMERICAN LITERATURE (Junior Year)

Choose 10 titles from the provided book list
Complete the associated writing assignment for each literature piece

Satisfactory completion of these requirements will result in a passing grade.

Much like a college course, a syllabus provides a clear understanding between instructor and student as to what is needed to receive a passing grade. Creating a written copy of a syllabus for each course for your student's high school folder/portfolio presents a clear picture of your child's education. It also becomes easy source material for creating your high school transcript.

My final thought is simply this ... yes, *you* are qualified to create the syllabus for each high school course your student undertakes. You are the teacher ... you know your student's abilities ... and you are best able to set reasonable goals for your child's education. A syllabus goes a long way toward removing any subjectivity in the high school record keeping process. If your student completes the expectations outlined in the syllabus to *your* satisfaction, then a 4.0 or A or A+ is automatically entered on their transcript.

Trust your instincts ... just as you were the best one to teach your child to read, you are also the best one to guide that child through the high school process!

~Judy

05/16/2009

Space Shuttle Atlantis

I've been enjoying watching the folks at Atlantis repair the Hubble telescope this week. It's just awe-inspiring to me to watch (in real time) the astronauts leave the relative safety of the shuttle and float, climb and wander around the docked telescope to replace cameras and other technology. Fox has a great Shuttle live feed that I've had playing on my computer this week.

As I watched two of the guys wrestle with a particularly ornery piece of equipment yesterday, it struck me that in my lifetime I watched Neil Armstrong take the first step on the moon ... and now I'm watching live video and audio feed of a floating "service station" in the sky.

I'm choosing not to allow this to make me feel old.

~Judy

05/15/2009

Homeschool Mom Guilt

So you want to homeschool your children? OK ... first let's see if you "qualify". Please check all that apply from the following list:

You use cloth diapers only
You grow all your vegetables (and then can or freeze them for the winter)
You bake all your bread (after you've hand-ground the wheat)
You sew all your clothes and your husband's and children's too
You bake cookies only from scratch, with some of that hand-ground wheat and honey from the bees you keep out back
You feed your children only whole milk, straight from the Guernsey you keep out back
You play the piano beautifully, sing like an angel, and whistle while you work, in the garden out back
You knit beautiful blankets from the wool you spin from the sheep you raise out back

I suspect you know where I'm going with this! A friend recently shared a blog post she read over on WorldMag.com and it got me to thinking about this topic. I suspect that WorldMag article does carry some truth to it. We moms can indeed be cruel to one another. But I wonder where that judgmental attitude really comes from? Maybe because we're not terribly confident in our own choices?

I find myself often guilty of the same behavior ... comparing myself to others and finding myself coming up short. Or I compare myself to my own self-imposed expectations, and once again come up short. Sort of like those Corinthians that Paul had to remind ...

2Cr 10:12	We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
2Cr 10:13	We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.

One of the great lessons that God continues to teach me in both my parenting and my homeschooling is that He and He alone sets the standards for my life. I can certainly admire the efforts and accomplishments of others, but ultimately the only plan that matters for my life is the one my Father has assigned.

So what does this mean on a daily basis? Huge boatloads of grace! Grace towards myself, when I fail to reach the expectations *I've* set for myself (or for my spouse or children). Grace towards friends and acquaintances who make different choices from mine. Or put more plainly ... cut myself (and others) a break!

Keep on keeping on ...
~Judy

05/14/2009

Homeschooling and the Economy ...

Having recently spent a weekend at a large homeschool convention, and trying to discern if attendance was up, down or stable, I decided to do a bit of surfing to see what the Web had to say about the effect of the economy on homeschooling today.

I came across an interesting article titled "Number of homeschoolers continues to rise despite the economy". According to the author's research, homeschooling continues to grow at the rate of about 8% per year. Yet another article discusses how the high price of private schooling is forcing some to turn to homeschooling when they can no longer afford tuition.

While I am not an expert on economic or social trends, I am certain that the change in our economy will affect homeschooling as much as it does anything else. Creeping closer and closer to the half-century mark, my experience has been that folks spend their money on their priorities. While homeschooling may require more of a sacrifice this year than it has in the past, I do believe that parents will find creative ways to make this type of education possible if it is a priority. That is certainly *not* to say that those who choose not to homeschool do not see their childrens' education as being important.

Feel free to share your comments about how the economy will affect your homeschooling this year. Perhaps you've come up with some creative ways to make it more affordable ... or perhaps the quality and value of your curriculum materials far outweighs cost and you've chosen to cut back in other areas. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

~Judy

05/13/2009

Teaching Science ... Remember HENSA?

H.E.N.S.A. = Home Educators Neglecting Science Activities. A group that was birthed some time ago on the Sonlight Forums, and continues to exist ... HENSA is reflective of many a homeschool. By the time you get Math and Reading and Language Arts and Writing and History out of the way, who has time for Science?! Especially if you also have to make time for piano lessons, and baseball, and flute lessons, and basketball, and ... well, you get the picture.

When my children were in the K-4 or 5 years, I came up with a solution to my HENSA woes that worked out pretty well in our homeschool. Each quarter of our school year (every 9 weeks), we would take a "week off" from all other subjects (except math!) and enjoy a science week. That science week would focus on a single topic ... perhaps weather, or astronomy, or electricity, etc...

As I planned my school year each summer, I would choose four science topics to enjoy for the coming year. I would then make certain to collect anything I needed for each of these weeks as they drew closer. I usually spent some time on-line during the summer, checking for special Science books or supplies that might round out our topical studies. Then a couple weeks prior to each Science week, I would visit our local library to add to our stack of books for study.

Once each Science week arrived, we would pull out our stacks of books and science materials, each student would grab their Science "notebook" (3-ring binder with lined and unlined paper), and we would begin our adventure. This might involve some reading about the topic on their own, some reading that I would do aloud, and any activities or experiments that might relate to the topic at hand. I usually tried to include one or two Science videos related to the topic as well. I would make sure that we wrote down any new Science "words" in their notebooks, being certain they understood what they meant. We also sketched (or you could take photos of) the experiments we tried. These all made for a wonderful Science notebook.

My primary goal was to ignite an excitement in my children for learning about Science. Since I viewed these weeks as being "discovery" oriented, I wasn't terribly concerned about mastery of the material. At a time when our major focus was on learning to read well and establishing the fundamentals of math, this approach to Science was enjoyable for all of us.

So don't obsess about Science ... and proudly wear your HENSA badge year-round, with the exception of four weeks when you enjoy exploring God's creation with your children!

~Judy

05/05/2009

'Tis the Season for Testing

Next to socialization, testing is probably the second most "hot topic" for homeschoolers. Should I or shouldn't I? Do I have to? What am I required to do?

I'm certain most of us realize that not all children test well. There are also students who do better with an "oral" exam as opposed to something on paper. Still others do great with essays, but really suffer when it comes to True/False or multiple choice tests.

Much like anything else in homeschooling, your first step is to decide what works best for your family, and for each student within your family. Your next stop should be your local support group or perhaps the HSLDA web site to find out what your area's homeschool regulations require in the area of testing. Once you have answered both of these questions, you can move on to make decisions about the values of testing, types of testing, and what is available in your area.

A couple of things to consider when deciding whether or not to test your children. Testing sometimes provides an unbiased review for you as the teacher. It helps to point out areas of need and highlights areas where your child excels. I remember one of my kids consistently scored low a couple of years in the area of punctuation and capitalization. I had not seen it during the school year, but the testing showed me an area where we needed a bit of remediation. Seeing areas where your student excels may provide a jumping-off point for extra-curricular activities. Finally, testing may also be good "practice" for your students. If higher education is in your child's future, it's worth having them experience testing while still at home, than to have it be totally unfamiliar when they reach college.

Where to go for testing services? One of the most frequently used options I'm familiar with is the Bob Jones University Testing Service. They primarily provide the Stanford and IOWA tests, and your ability to administer some of their tests will be based on your having a college degree (Bachelors). Seton provides the CAT-E standardized tests for homeschoolers. While I have no experience with these, I know many homeschoolers who use them and are pleased with the results. Their pricing is very reasonable. From the Family Learning Organization you can obtain the California Achievement Tests. Again, I am not personally familiar with this organization, but they are another option.

Whether to test or not is a personal decision ... what is "right" for one family may not be for another. There are many alternatives to testing as well ... probably as many as there are homeschooling families! But we'll leave that to another post.

~Judy

04/22/2009

Convention Shoes

It's that time of year. Convention fever has hit, and being the incredibly contagious bug that it is, it is spreading. So what are your plans for visiting a homeschool convention this year?

I bought new convention shoes this year. Good footwear is vital to a pleasant convention experience and I just couldn't resist these when I saw them. I'm sure there are a number of other things that make for a good convention experience. So sure in fact, that some of my friends and I put together a short podcast on how to get the most out of your convention experience. I hope you find it helpful!

Over on the Sonlight Conventions forum folks are busily making plans for visiting their favorite conventions. Others are holding a very interesting conversation about high pressure sales tactics on the convention floor.

I particularly enjoyed one thread discussing the merits of attending homeschool conventions. The following seem to be common reasons for making the time and effort to attend:

I felt very refreshed after hearing the speakers. I'd come home excited about starting school again in the fall.
I love going and looking at the curriculum. Also the seminars are very helpful.
Worth every minute of driving and every penny of gas!
... it was life changing for my husband. He had always supported me in homeschooling but never participated. After the convention he had opinions on curriculum, and he now teaches a class ....
It always refreshes/encourages/inspires me right when I need a shot in the arm.
Normally this life is so isolating - I love seeing all those hsers in one place.
The convention was what I needed - encouragement to stay the course. It's encouraging to me to see all the other moms in the same sessions as I, realizing that we all have the same struggles.

They had lots more to say ... but perhaps you'll find just the "boost" you need to make it to a homeschooling convention this year. And hey ... let me know about your favorite convention shoes!

Maybe I'll see you there!!
~Judy

03/27/2009

My children ARE a blessing!

I've recently had the blessing of being involved in a small Bible study with two other homeschool moms. We are working our way through Carolyn Mahaney's excellent book Feminine Appeal. The chapter for this week was a much needed reminder and very convicting!

Titus 2:4 is the verse around which this chapter centers ... the mandate to women to love not only their husbands, but also their children. The idea here being that "love" actually means to delight. Mrs. Mahaney makes what was for me a very eye-opening statement ... Although many mothers are committed to caring sacrificially for their children, they sometimes neglect to enjoy them (emphasis mine). How often do I get so caught up in the details of being wife, mom, taxi driver, homeschool teacher, etc... that I miss out on the pleasures of a relationship with my kids?

But my plate is so full! Where do I find time to do more than I already am? Oh sure, one more thing to feel guilty about! Questions I regularly ask myself ... especially after reading this week's chapter. Fortunately, the author goes on to point out that our only genuine source of refreshment ... to be able to delight in our children, as well as serve them ... is from God. Daily time alone with Him is the only way to acquire the strength needed to carry out this task of mothering.

I can say without exception that this one discipline ... of carving out quiet time alone with God each day ... has had the greatest impact on my ability to hold it all together as a homeschooling mom. It has never come easy ... and I am rarely 100% successful in a given week ... but it is well worth the effort.

One of the closing statements in this chapter has stayed with me this week ... I am convinced that no one has more potential to influence our children to receive and reflect the gospel than we do as mothers. And in spite of how huge this task may appear to be, I can be encouraged that God's grace is greater (2 Cor. 12:9).

Keep on Keeping on . . .
~Judy

03/21/2009

Learning Assembly Line

As I sat waiting in the doctor's office last week, I read a fascinating article in an issue of Forbes magazine. In short, the article was discussing the problems associated with group learning as opposed to individual instruction. The author related the story of a fairly well educated friend who took a job on an auto plant assembly line. His job was to create a section of the auto body. The first day on the job he was provided step-by-step instructions and then set loose on the line to do the work. By the end of the day he was amazed to discover that a very small percentage of the parts he worked on were done correctly. The "quality control" at the end of the line found a multitude of mistakes. Fast forward to yet another job on a different auto plant assembly line. This time the author's friend received the same step-by-step instruction as he had on his last job. Only this time the instructor didn't allow the friend to move on to the second step until he had mastered the first. And he wasn't allowed out on the assembly line until he had mastered each and every step. His first day out on the line found him working without a mistake.

It didn't surprise me at all that the purpose of the article had nothing to do with homeschooling. Instead, it was discussing technology that could help overcome poor test scores by enabling teachers to do regular "quick checks" on a student's knowledge and mastery of concepts. I'm certain that I don't have all the details exact since I wasn't able to take the magazine home with me ... but the gist of the article struck me as a wonderful word picture. The opportunity to set your own pace, to await a student's mastery of step one before moving on to step two, has always been a powerful argument for homeschooling.

~Judy

03/20/2009

You want me to teach Algebra?!!

I believe I've blogged about my inbred lack of any semblance of math skills ... so when my oldest reached high school age, you can imagine my fear and trembling! No way was I going to be able to teach her Algebra ... let alone all those other high school courses. I was recalling those fears today as I had the opportunity to respond to a mom who is considering homeschooling her up and coming high school freshman.

One of the first things that I did in preparation for homeschooling a high schooler was to read an excellent (IMHO) book recommended by a friend. The Homeschoolers' College Admissions Handbook by Cafi Cohen is an excellent resource that covers doing high school at home, creating credits and granting a diploma, writing a transcript, application essays, and much, much more. Her book is full of wonderful testimonies and practical suggestions from other homeschool moms. I spent many hours poring over the book and highlighting sections that were especially helpful.

Another thing I would highly recommend is to find someone that has already begun, or even completed, the high school portion of their homeschool journey. There is great value in taking the time to "sit at the feet" of someone who can share first-hand what worked for them and what did not. If you lack this kind of "skin-on" resource ... find your local homeschool support group or get in touch with your state support group to find out what regulations apply for educating a student in high school.

Get your student involved! Talk with your high schooler about where their interests lay and what types of things they might wish to study. One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling a teen is the chance to provide them with opportunities to learn and grow in their area(s) of interest. Beginning with excellent curriculum material is only part of the equation ... there are all sorts of opportunities for internships, job-shadowing, field trips, and other hands-on experiences that will greatly enrich your student's high school years.

More on homeschooling through high school in another post. For now ... order the book I recommended and begin talking with your student about the possibilities of a high school career at home!

~Judy

03/20/2009

I found my desk!

I don't know about anyone else, but February and March tend to be the hardest months of the year ... for homeschooling or just life in general! My desk is always a good indicator of this mid-winter slump. Instructor's Guides pile up, assorted notes and papers litter my desktop, and somewhere under all of the "stuff" are bills and important notifications.

Each year at this time I see my life reflected in the clutter on my desk. My priorities go out the window and I have little motivation to put away the "IGs" and sort through the "papers".

So what's the remedy? Well ... cleaning off my desk is always a good place to begin! The point being that often just identifying one small task, and choosing to get it done, is a good start towards climbing out of my mid-winter slump. Another good idea is to get OUT! Out of the house, out of your office, out of the kitchen ... whatever applies. Even if it's just for a brisk, 15 minute walk around the block, the change of scenery and fresh air is always a good slump-reliever.

Or maybe you need to give yourself the "gift" of a few moments alone. After your kids are settled in for the evening, pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage and spend some time browsing through Sonlight's Podcast library. The series on How to Organize Your Homeschool is always a good motivator this time of year.

Send me some of your "slump-busters" ... I'd love to hear them! And as my mother used to tell me, spring is always just around the corner.

Keep on . . .
~Judy

03/20/2009

The stuff that curriculum doesn't cover . . .

I had the opportunity to be away from home for about 5 days this past week. As I talked with my kids over the phone and then returned home, it occurred to me that I've had to teach my children far more than reading, writing and arithmetic all these years. And in some cases, I suspect those "non-curriculum" subjects were far more important than the academics ever were.

I may never know if the Algebra stuck or if the Chemistry made sense, but it is truly a blessing to see the fruits of hours invested in teaching a son how to cook, or a daughter how to do laundry. And beyond the tangible fruits of completed chores without mom's nagging, there's the sense of accomplishment that comes from returning home to a house still standing and family members smiling and at peace with one another.

Lest you think I've somehow reached the end of the journey in teaching my children the practical aspects of life ... I did find some rather interesting left-overs in the 'fridge and a rather suspicious-looking new stain on the living room carpet. So I'm obviously not done with this part of the trip. But let me encourage you to look for the fruit ... though it may seem few and far between sometimes. When the math and science skills seem long in coming, don't despair. Realize that homeschooling is far more than just academics.

Keep on keeping on ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Who's in charge here anyway?!

I had the privilege to spend some time with a young homeschool mom not long ago. She has one school-age child (8) and two toddlers (2 and 4). As we discussed how her homeschooling was going, she shared what I've come to realize is a common frustration with many homeschoolers. In fact, it is an issue that sometimes keeps folks from homeschooling. It pretty much boils down to ... who's the parent/teacher/boss in your household?

I will be the first to admit that homeschooling is not for everyone. I would never presume to make that decision for another family. However, it distresses me greatly when young moms tell me they could never homeschool because Junior would never listen to me, or Junior would never accept me as his teacher, or My kids aren't disciplined enough to homeschool. May I respectfully submit that I don't believe homeschooling is really the issue here?

The mom I was talking to described how her child breaks into tears whenever asked to do something he/she prefers not to do (like math or spelling!). She also spoke of how much time was consumed each day in "convincing" this child to follow through on instructions given. It immediately brought back a vivid memory of when I first began homeschooling my oldest. My mom was visiting for the day, and witnessed a similar display from her granddaughter. At which point my mom looked at me and said "well that was quite the Academy Award winning performance!"

My point is this ... homeschooling already comes with its own set of challenges ... please don't add a lack of discipline to them! I'm not referring to your approach or method of discipline, but rather of the concept itself. The Latin root of this words means instruction ... with the idea of providing instruction to a disciple. I love this definition ... methods of modeling character and of teaching self-control and acceptable behavior. Whether we homeschool or not, we are called to "disciple" our children. I remember my mother telling me that her one over-riding goal in raising her children was not to set loose adults on society who had no self-control and were unable to have a positive impact on those around them.

So if you are considering homeschooling ... be sure that the issue of discipline in your household is regularly addressed (not conquered ... but addressed). And if you are currently homeschooling ... be sure that in your list of academic priorities, teaching self-control and acceptable behavior are at the top of the list!

Keep on keeping on ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Who am I anyway?

Continuing my reading through Calm My Anxious Heart the other day, I came across a chapter on being content with the role that God has given me. It occurred to me that homeschooling moms probably struggle tremendously with the whole idea of who they are. Am I a mom? A wife? A teacher? The Principal? A Curriculum Designer? Taxi driver, nurse, peace-maker, counselor, and so on and so on. I'm sure you get my point. If anyone should be wrestling with a split personality disorder, a homeschool mom is the perfect candidate!

I distinctly recall times in our homeschool journey when I did battle with the Lord over the many hats He required me to wear ... and how "unfair" it all seemed some days. And which role was supposed to be the priority? And, by the way, I didn't like some of the roles I was being asked to fill, and I didn't ask for them either!

So this chapter on being content with my God-given roles was good for my heart, and a gentle reminder of who I am. Here are a couple of thoughts the author shared that really hit home ...

All the roles I play will, at some point in time, be difficult. BUT ... each of those roles comes with tremendous opportunity. Jesus came to the world to play the role of servant (Matthew 20:28), not to be served. What better example is there for fulfilling the roles I am called to fill? I can choose to minister or manipulate. What wonderful blessings come my way when I choose to minister.

And what does God really ask of me in those roles, anyway? Is He expecting perfection in all that I do? Or is that my expectation? I Corinthians 4:2 tells me that God requires faithfulness, not perfection. God has entrusted me with the roles of mom and teacher and discipler and so on ... and He simply requires me to be faithful in carrying them out. It is in being faithful that I best glorify Him.

Do not become weary in well-doing ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

The cost of homeschooling

To continue the conversation I began last month in my blog post titled Does January = time for educational change? ... I thought I would talk a bit about the true "costs" of homeschooling.

Now if you're like my husband, you would, at this point, be pulling out your calculator and notepad to begin tallying up the financial cost of homeschooling. However, I believe there are some "costs" related to homeschooling that must be considered before we talk dollars and cents.

The first, and I believe most important, cost to homeschooling is that of COMMITMENT. Homeschooling is not just a 9 to noon chunk of your day or a different approach to educating your child, it is a change in lifestyle. Both parents and children must be willing to persevere through the change in family routines and relationships. No longer will you be just "mom" (aka doctor mom, taxi driver mom, peace-maker mom, etc...), but you will also be school teacher mom. Dads must be willing to recognize the extra burden on mom and be willing to step in whenever possible. As homeschooling becomes part of your life, you will begin to see learning "opportunities" in everyday activities. But you must be willing to take advantage of those opportunities ... even if it means setting aside those things on your "to do" list for the day to engage in the joy and privilege of helping your children grow and learn.

Another cost may be SOCIAL PRESSURE. As you may already realize (if you've begun discussing this change with your extended family), not everyone is excited about the prospect of your homeschooling their grandchild, nephew, etc... Concerned, well-meaning family and friends will have varying ideas and attitudes about your decision to educate your children at home. You must be convinced and convicted about your commitment to homeschooling ... despite what others may say.

Yet another cost may be in the area of TIME AND ENERGY. To add teaching to your schedule, you will need to organize your home, divide the chores, delegate, and plan ahead. For those who are born with the organization gene, this may not be as large a "cost" as it might be for those who are not. Keep in mind that as your children will be learning math, science and reading in your homeschool, you will be learning right along with them. And it could be that *your* greatest area of learning will be in wisely spending your time and energy each day.

Finally, there is the actual financial EXPENSE of homeschooling. The investment of home education varies widely from family to family. Usually you spend what you have and creativity supplies the rest. We all tend to spend our money on our greatest priorities. So be sure to establish an education budget, right along with your grocery, and maintenance, and vacation budgets. Then research, research, research. Find curriculum materials that fit your teaching and learning styles but also fit your pocketbook. And when it appears that homeschooling might be a strain on your budget, consider the life-long investment you're making in your children. Look at the cost of homeschooling vs. other forms of education such as private or charter schools. Weigh all your options and pray about your final decision. It's an important one!!!

~Judy

03/20/2009

Calm My Anxious Heart

So I finished Piper's Future Grace in 2008 and have begun a new study titled Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. How was I to know it would be so timely for my life's circumstances?! Obviously God knew.

Contentment is an issue that at least one of my kids struggles with. While I don't believe I struggle with this as much as I used to, I can certainly say my child comes by this trait honestly. Thinking back to my younger years as a believer, contentment was one of my biggest "beefs" with God. Why can't you answer/fix this today? was my most frequent prayer. Homeschooling was probably (and still is) one of the areas in my life that God uses to stretch me in this thing called contentment.

Being a lover of lists and bullet points, this "prescription for contentment" jumped out at me this week as I began Dillow's book:

Never allow yourself to complain about anything - not even the weather (ouch - how does she know where I live?!)
Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
Never compare your lot with another's.
Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
Never dwell on tomorrow - remember that tomorrow is God's, not ours.

OK ... so maybe I don't have as much of a handle on contentment as I thought. Let me just close this meditation nanosecond with one last thought from the book ... Make it a goal to possess a soul sufficiency, a peace separate from your circumstances
Philippians 4:11-13

Keep on keeping on ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Homeschooling Resolutions

I suppose resolutions are a good thing ... though I will admit that I shudder whenever someone asks if I've made my New Year's resolutions yet. As I was thinking about resolutions today, the thought crossed my mind that homeschool resolutions might be very helpful to make. Especially if it helps me to be more efficient or to gain a better sense of accomplishment throughout the year.

Just recently I encountered a homeschool mom who was asking how she could be certain that she's covering enough material in any given school day. If you share the same concern, please know that you're not alone! The "is it ever enough?" battle is one that most homeschool moms fight ... whether veteran or newbie.

So here's a "planner" of sorts that I've found helpful for myself and those who ask me how to know how much is enough. Perhaps a "resolution" to set these goals for your homeschool in 2009 will be helpful.

ULTIMATE GOAL: 5 "credits" per day

1 Math credit
2 Language Arts credits
1 History OR Science credit
1 Music, Art or Physical Education credit

Well, you might ask ... that's all good, but how much is a credit? I'm glad you asked!

Math (1 choice = 1 credit)

One math lesson
One math test
Math review session
1/2 hour math game or software

Language Arts/English (3 choices = 2 credits)

One grammar lesson (3rd grade and up)
One phonics lesson (age appropriate)
One writing exercise (i.e. a letter, creative writing, history or science paper, etc...)
One handwriting lesson
Minimum of 30 minutes of reading (books approved by mom)

History (1 choice = 1 credit)

Minimum 30 minutes of reading related to topic (mom approved)
Field trip (may count as 2 credits or more depending on quality)
Educational program or video (mom approved)

Science (1 choice = 1 credit)

A science experiment (to include observation and conclusions)
A science journal entry
A 30-minute science-related TV program or video (mom approved)
Minimum of 30 minutes of reading related to science (mom approved)
A 30-minute discussion with mom on the science topic

Music or Art (1 choice = 1 credit)

15 minutes of uninterrupted instrument practice
An instrumental lesson
Faithful work on a craft
Music practice for a church program
Minimum of 30 minutes of music listening and discussion
Field trip (see history)

Physical Education (1 choice = 1 credit)

15 minutes of games at AWANA or a scout meeting
1 hour of roller skating, ice skating, in-line skating, swimming, etc...
Combination of running, jumping jacks, sledding, etc... (mom's judgment)

DISCLAIMER: This is my usual, standard disclaimer on any thoughts I share. These are suggestions only, not to be taken as legal advice. Requirements in your state may be very different than in mine. Also ... keep in mind that these are to be used as a tool, not a slave-master! I'm sure that you can come up with many additional "choices" for credits in the various subject areas.

Maybe this will give an encouraging boost and fresh start for your 2009 school year.

Enjoy the journey!
~Judy

03/20/2009

Does January = time for educational change?

Once the busyness of the holidays diminishes, many parents begin to listen to their children complain about returning to school. Some of it is simply the weeping and wailing about education in general that kids are required to do because ... well, because they're kids! But some of it comes from legitimate concerns and complaints and the obvious need for a change.

Here are the top 3 reasons I hear when parents are considering a change to homeschooling mid-year ...

1. Academic remediation - Johnny or Susie just isn't "getting it" in one or more of their classes. They are slowly falling behind the rest of their classmates, and for various reasons, their teacher is unable to provide the individualized attention needed to get them "up to speed". Or perhaps Johnny or Susie is miles ahead of their classmates and terribly bored. On the younger end of the spectrum, perhaps a child hasn't yet learned to read confidently, so his/her other subjects are suffering until their reading abilities catch up.
2. Control over social issues - Peer pressure is a huge issue for many kids. It could be that your student is succumbing more and more to pressure to become like his/her peers at school. Perhaps you are seeing attitudes or hearing conversation that is concerning to you. Then there are those kids who just never seem to fit in. In my day we would have said they "marched to the beat of a different drummer". And in some cases, bullying and school violence are real concerns.
3. Family relationship building - Often the Christmas school break will make it obvious that your child values their peer relationships over those with their siblings. Perhaps it becomes very clear that your child no longer views you as an authority in their life. Or maybe you are wishing for stronger family ties and an opportunity to instill your values and worldview in your child.

I'm sure there are many, many other reasons for a change in venue when it comes to your educational choice for your child. Whatever those reasons may be, let me encourage you to consider homeschooling as a valid educational choice. In the days ahead I plan to share some very practical things to think on when researching homeschooling, but for now, let me simply say that You Can Do It!!

Blessings ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Musings on a Merry Christmas

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas holiday ... no matter how, or with whom, you spent it! Our Christmas was somewhat bittersweet this year ... life changes so quickly. I was reading a thread over on the Sonlight Forums that was talking about expectations, and how Christmas is a time of year when they are most often not met. It struck me that often my expectations for the "perfect" Christmas holiday are based on my rose-colored childhood memories. Or even my memories of earlier holidays when my children were toddlers, and we all got caught up in the magic of the season as we saw it through their eyes.

Time marches on ... my parents are aging ... our oldest is off to college and brings friends home with her when she comes ... the economy manages to "intrude" on any holiday plans we might have ... friends come and go ... etc ... As I lay in bed last night thinking over this year's Christmas "experience" and expectations, I was reminded that there is at least one constant in my life that time does not affect ... the love of God that sent His Son for me. A fairly new Christmas song (by Faith Hill) that I heard last night summed it up well ... A Baby Changes Everything ... may that baby provide a life-impacting change for you this season.

Blessings ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Cookie Makin' Day

Today is our annual cookie (and other treats) making day. We start off with a list of our favorites and everyone pitches in, making those items that they enjoy the most. Our kitchen is small, and we're often tripping over one another, but with the Christmas music cranked up and the laughter floating around, no one seems to mind. This year is especially fun because our oldest is home from college on Christmas break. If I close my eyes and listen (and smell) it's "almost" like years past, but not quiet the same. Bittersweet indeed.

When we're all finished we'll have a large tray of assorted cookies that we'll enjoy through the rest of the week. We'll also have goody "gift" bags made up for friends that we'll see on Christmas Eve, and some baked goods that we'll enjoy on Christmas day.

Here's another perennial (and easy) favorite recipe.

MINTY RITZ
This is one of those recipes for which I never had a recipe. Just buy as much as you think you'll enjoy (which will never be enough), and have at it!

Ritz crackers
Milk (or dark) chocolate melting wafers
Mint or Peppermint extract
Cookie sheets lined with wax paper

In the microwave, melt 1 or 2 cups of melting wafers at a time. Once melted, stir in 3 or 4 drops of the extract (to taste). Using a fork, dip Ritz crackers, one at a time, into the melted chocolate mixture. Drop gently onto lined cookie sheet. Cool until hardened (my front porch works great for this).

Enjoy!
~Judy

03/20/2009

Church Christmas programs

Our 2008 church Christmas program is now a thing of the past. I'm heaving an extra sigh of relief this year since I was the director. I have always loved this annual chance for kids to dress up in shepherd costumes, and memorize lines, and sing like angels. And what an awesome opportunity for homeschoolers who may not have the benefit of a local drama group. Here's their chance to experience and overcome stage fright, and to perform for family and friends, all wrapped up in the ultimate opportunity to share the story of Christ's birth. It's an exhausting process ... but so very worth it when you watch the toddlers singing a song about baby Jesus at the top of their lungs, complete with hand motions. Or when you listen to that 16 year old young man (who I'm sure was one of those toddlers just yesterday!) recite Luke chapter 2 in his deep, grown-up voice. Somehow it serves to re-focus my mind and my heart on the true message of the Christmas season ... the love of God all wrapped up in swaddling cloths.

Following our church service, and the treacherous ride home in blustery, blowing, snowy weather, we enjoyed some yummy homemade soup by our woodstove. Here are a couple of recipes for our all-time favorite soups ... perfect for making ahead and having available during the crazy, busy holiday.

SHRIMP AND CORN CHOWDER

2 teaspoons canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup diced ham or kielbasa
3 Tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon Thyme
3 cups milk
1 - 16 oz package frozen corn
1 1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup brown minute rice
1 can tiny shrimp (can substitute frozen shrimp defrosted and diced)

Heat oil in 4 quart saucepan. Add onion and meat. Cook and stir until tender. Stir in flour and Thyme. Add milk, corn and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Stir in rice and shrimp. Return to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes. Serve piping hot.

POTATO SOUP
3 Tablespoons butter
2 medium onions, diced
4 cups potatoes, diced
1 1/2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced
3 cups milk
4 cups chicken broth
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 teaspoons Basil

Melt butter in pan. Add onions and cook until tender. Add chicken broth, potatoes, carrots and seasonings. Cover and cook gently until potatoes and carrots are tender. Stir in milk and crumbled bacon; bring back to a simmer. Thicken, if desired, with potato flakes or flour/milk paste.

Note: Additional veggies can be added as desired. This is a great soup for emptying out the refrigerator left-overs!

Enjoy!
~Judy

03/20/2009

Christmas Eve Traditions

Christmas Eve is all about food in our house (is there any part of Christmas that isn't about food?). We generally attend the Christmas Eve service at church (candlelight and beautiful music), then head home for an evening of Christmas movies and a buffet of delicious foodstuffs.

We're all suckers for a good Christmas movie. And what a fun family tradition that we share with Grandpa & Grandma (who live with us). I'm certain that for years to come we will have fond memories of our Christmas Eves together. On our list of favories:

White Christmas - with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Our number one, all-time, hands down favorite.
The Homecoming - the original Walton movie. One of my favorites. Not so favorite among the teen set.
The Santa Clause - with Tim Allen. No matter how many times we watch these, they make us laugh.
It's a Wonderful Life - a favorite of only my husband, but one to which we are all subjected at some point during the holiday season.

One of the favorites that will appear on our buffet table, along with the traditional egg nog, will be our "beanless" version of Mexican dip.

MEXICAN DIP
1 - 8 oz brick of cream cheese
1 - 15 oz can of Hormel Chili without Beans
Favorite shredded cheese
Bag of tortilla chips

Soften cream cheese at room temperature. Using a rubber spatula, spread in the bottom of an 8x8 baking dish. Spread chili over top of cream cheese. Sprinkle shredded cheese over top of all. Pop into the microwave for 5 minutes, or until cheese topping melts and dip begins to bubble. Serve with tortilla chips.

Enjoy!
~Judy

03/20/2009

Another holiday tradition

Since our kids were little, we've had a fun tradition of making "goody bags" to share with friends and family. This primarily involves decorating some sort of container/bag and filling it with baked and hand-made creations from our kitchen. Some years I've purchased a package of brown paper lunch bags and my kids have used rubber stamps or stencils to decorate the outsides. Other years I've visited our local WalMart or other craft store and found brown paper gift bags (with handles) which we've decorated with stamps, stencils or glitter and cut-outs. Whatever the outside decoration might be, it's the stuff inside that's always a huge hit!

Here's a perennial favorite ... easy (and inexpensive) to make.

Toffee Chocolate Crunch Bars
Line a greased cookie sheet (jelly-roll style, with sides) with one layer of saltine crackers. Set aside.

In a small sauce pan over medium heat, melt 1 cup of butter and whisk in 1 cup of brown sugar. Bring to a boil, and boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour sugar mixture evenly over layer of saltine crackers. Bake for 7 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with a 12 oz package of chocolate chips. Using a rubber spatula, spread the chocolate evenly over the top once the chips have melted. Cool and break apart into irregular pieces.

Enjoy!
~Judy

03/20/2009

Holiday Enticements

I love this time of year, and I love sharing the traditions we share as a family, and those I hear about from others. Over the next couple of weeks I hope to post more regularly (notice how I didn't commit to anything?!) with some quick ideas for holiday gifts, treats and traditions.

When my kids were little, we loved to express our creativity every Christmas by making paper snowflakes. A friend recently shared this phenomenal paper snowflake project which I can't wait to try. Definitely a grown-up version of paper cutting! I'll try to snap some photos and post here once we get them done.

Earlier this week another friend asked for a good recipe to use in a cookie press. Here's my grandmother's recipe ... an all-time favorite:

SPRITZ
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Stir together flour and baking powder. Beat butter for 30 seconds, add sugar and beat till fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and almost extract; beat well. Gradually add dry mixture to beaten mix. Beat till well combined. Do NOT chill. Force dough through a cookie press onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 7-8 minutes.

I usually do a couple of recipes and add different food coloring to each of them. This makes a gorgeous platter of cookies to take to your next holiday gathering.

Enjoy!
~Judy

03/20/2009

Why is teaching writing so hard?

Beyond the infamous "January burn-out", the second most common complaint I hear from homeschool moms is how difficult it is to teach good creative writing. Either they struggled with writing themselves as a student, and have no idea how to teach it so their children will have a better experience ... or writing comes naturally to them, but they have no idea how to teach it to their children because they just "do it".

Obviously there are a wide variety of resources and curriculum materials available for purchase for teaching this difficult subject. Homeschool publishers did their research well and pounced on this potential money maker years ago. In a moment I'll list a few with which I have experience, but I thought I would share just a few of the tips that I have found to be helpful over the years.

**The simplest, yet most difficult advice I can offer is that the best way to teach writing is to have your kids write and write and write and write. The more they write and re-write, the better (and more confident) they will become at it. Have them write letters to grandma, journal their thoughts, write newspaper articles, write stories, interview a friend and write an article, and on and on the list goes. And to make this approach even more effective, you need to write with your kids. Don't worry that your kids will be discouraged when comparing their written work to your masterpieces ... instead, look at it as a joint venture. Point out the areas where their ideas were "different" from yours and praise their original thinking. Let them read your writing and pick up some good ideas.

**Second ... look for a set of simple writing rubrics and use them consistently. You can find some online, or create your own. Bottom line, a simple set of grading guidelines, used consistently, will greatly benefit your student (who will know what your expectations are) and you as the teacher (who won't have to re-create the wheel with every assignment).

**Finally ... before your student begins any formal writing, teach them to "map" their thoughts. One of the most difficult concepts for a young writer to conquer is the ability to brainstorm ideas, and then put them in some sort of coherent, logical order. You can bypass this frustration by utilizing specialized software such as Inspiration, or give them your own visual format to work within. For example, a friend of mine used to use a "dresser" visualization with her kids. The dresser was the topic at hand (maybe baseball). Each of the five drawers in the dresser were the five main points the student wished to address in their paper. Maybe the top drawer was "history of baseball", second drawer was "rules of the game", third drawer was "legendary baseballs players", and so on. You get the idea. Finally, each drawer contained a variety of items. Just like the top drawer of the dresser in their bedroom might contain socks, t-shirts and shorts ... the top drawer of their outline might contain three "sub-topics". Once they were finished "outlining" their dresser, they were set to move on to writing their first draft. Either approach works ... one simply has more "bells and whistles" than the other!
As promised ... here are a few products I've found helpful in our homeschool:

Diamond Notes - an inexpensive, easy approach for teaching young writers. This worked well with our youngest.
Writing Strands was very popular when our oldest was learning to write. We had some limited success with this workbook approach (our oldest loved workbooks).
Bravewriter has received lots of great press over the years. We used them for one year with good success, but they are pricey.
WriteatHome is my current favorite. This is our second year and I have found that having a writing coach for each of my students has been a great idea. Their feedback is always chock full of good pointers, but they're also incredibly encouraging. A real winner in our household and now we can integrate with our Sonlight-based writing assignments.

So don't delay ... today is as good a time as any to begin! Have your kids write that dreaded annual Christmas letter ... or better yet, have them create what could become an annual Christmas newsletter.

Blessings ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Giving Thanks . . .

Unlike my friend Luke, who is enjoying the holiday in an undisclosed location (how much will you pay folks to keep your location a secret?!) ... I'm giving thanks from chilly, snowy upstate NY today. Our college student is home with friend in tow, we're enjoying the Macy Thanksgiving Day parade in front of a toasty fire, and goodies are lined up on the counter in the kitchen. As we enjoy today with family and friends, I've purposed to stop periodically and appreciate what God has provided and to thank Him for all He has done. Speaking of those goodies out in the kitchen, here's our fresh pumpkin pie recipe ... a real favorite with a dollop of real whipped cream.

FRESH PUMPKIN PIE
Pie pumpkin(s) (cook and puree to produce 3 cups pumpkin)
1 cup sugar
1.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
3 eggs
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
10-11" pie crust

Mix all ingredients well and pour into pie crust (mixture will be very runny). Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 45 - 60 minutes longer until a clean knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

May you be blessed today with whatever goodies and traditions your family usually enjoys.

Blessings ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Meditation second

This one is a little longer than a nano-second, but really encouraged me this morning. And yes, I'm still reading Piper's Future Grace. Some books take me longer to "digest".

Today's topic was the strength and grace that God supplies to carry out our spiritual gifts and ministries. I immediately thought of my ministry of homeschooling to my children. And I suppose you could even say that homeschooling is a spiritual "gift" that God provides (though there are many days when I don't feel gifted in this task at all).

I Peter 4:11b states Whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Piper notes that the word in this verse is "supplies", not "supplied." God goes on, day-by-day, moment-by-moment, supplying the "strength" in which we minister. The ability to exercise our spiritual gifts in the ministries to which we are called (including homeschooling and parenting) is by the power of future grace, not in any power we might muster up as we think about God's past grace.

Piper then goes on to note that as we rely on this grace for tomorrow, our gifts and ministry becomes grace for others. Ephesians 4:29 says Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. At some point today, or tomorrow, I will be in a position to meet someone's need through the words that I speak or the actions I take. If I am trusting in God's future grace for that coming moment, I will have the privilege to become a channel for God's grace in that person's life. I will experience the satisfaction that comes in knowing that God called me and used me in someone's life.

What an awesome perspective to have on homeschooling my children. God's future grace will always be available to me as I mentor and disciple my children. I will be in the perfect position to offer them an edifying word and become a channel through which God's grace is bestowed upon them.

Blessings ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Reading and Good Writing - Any Connection?

One of the frequent posters over on the Sonlight Forums recently shared an article that caught my eye. It was a piece titled The sad, sad state of college English from a recent edition of the Baltimore Examiner. Take a few moments to read this short essay written about a college English professor, now retired, who relates some of the horrific writing he experienced from his students.

What especially struck me was this statement ... Most students make it clear that they don't like to read, and they don't want to read. Many struggled tremendously with their reading. So they just wouldn't do it. And yet it's so important. When you read, you get to see the language used correctly, and you're exposed to a range of vocabulary far beyond your own. I listen to students today, and the number of words they use is limited to slang and colloquialisms.

I remember as a young mother, cherishing the time spent reading to my children, little realizing what a great impact that special time was to have on them later in life. While I do suspect that good writing benefits from solid training, I am convinced that the ability to verbalize and then write well thought out responses is impacted tremendously by a lifetime of reading quality literature. That love for reading begins early, and if my children are any indication, never leaves!

~Judy

03/20/2009

Homeschool Holiday Traditions

My childhood memories of holidays are so sweet that for as long as I can remember, I've wanted to create long-lasting holiday traditions for my own children. I was reminded the other day that some of our holiday traditions have always centered around good books. During a recent chemistry lab at our house, one of the moms was gazing at a couple of our many bookshelves (I too love checking out peoples' books) and remarked on a group of obviously older books on one of the lower shelves. I explained that this was a well-loved collection of holiday books with which I refuse to part. It is a group of books that I someday hope will become as much a part of my grandchildren's holiday traditions as they were of ours.

I thought I would share a short list of some of our holiday titles. These aren't necessarily award winners or what I would classify as "classics", but we have enjoyed them over and over as our children grew ...

Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin
Jotham's Journey: A Story for Advent by Arnold Ytreeide - This advent favorite was used over and over in our home.
The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg - which was made into a movie not long ago, but the kids and I agree that the book is still better!
Becky's Christmas by Tasha Tudor
An Amish Christmas by Richard Ammon
Winter Poems selected by Barbara Rogasky and published by Scholastic
A Story a Day Til Christmas published by Current - this was a series published by Current in the late '80s and early '90s. We owned Volumes 1 and 3.

Each year as our kids were growing I would create holiday "units" that included some of these books as well as two or three craft projects and some yummy baking. One craft project I remember in particular involved creating paper snowflakes. The Internet has some wonderful pattern ideas which combined with a little creativity of our own, resulted in some gorgeous snowflakes decorating our home one year. Check out the free patterns at Craft Ideas, Paper Snowflakes.com , and Dave's Snowflake Patterns (these are quite intricate). Use some colorful origami paper and glitter to spice up your designs.

Maybe I'll share some of our favorite holiday recipes in my next few blog entries. There are some phenomenal holiday recipes changing hands over on the Holiday Forum on the Sonlight Forums site. A one-month subscription is definitely worth the $4.99 (if you don't qualify for a free subscription) for all the great recipes and holiday ideas.

I hope you enjoy the holiday season with your family!
~Judy

03/20/2009

The Process

Depending on which direction your politics lean, you're either smiling or shaking your head this morning. But either way, this is certainly an important time in our nation.

I was thinking, last night as my kids and I were watching news reporting on the election results, that this is another one of those HUGE teachable moments. As important as your political convictions are (and yes, this is a great time to share them with your kids), I've been thinking about what an awesome opportunity this is to discuss the process. I must admit that though I can mutter and sputter with the best of them about the economy and government, I live in a country that has a pretty amazing process in place when it comes to electing government officials.

Now my kids have learned American history over and over again, and we've discussed the process of a presidential election myriads of times. But I was reminded again last evening that often those facts don't stick until you see them in action (i.e. the teenager who asked what's the electoral college again mom?).

So now is a great time to put some shoes on those facts. Help your kids to see the process (if you haven't already) that led to last night's election results. Talk with them about what happens now? We had a rather interesting discussion last evening about how "powerful" President Bush will be for the next two months or so. Can he really accomplish anything now that the next president has been elected? How does the transition between this administration and the next take place?

I've found the Internet to be a wealth of resources for presidential election education. Here and there I've seen people refer to sites that helped them better understand the process. A few that impressed me:

History Central has a phenomenal site that provides information on every presidential election back to the late 1700s. Find out who the candidates were, how the electoral votes played out, and what the major issues were.
Wikipedia has a great explanation of how the electoral college works, and some interesting links and maps to back up the information.
There's a nifty interactive electoral votes map found at 270 to win

.So whether your candidate of choice won or lost last night, don't miss this tremendous opportunity to help your kids understand the process, and how it came to be.

Keep on keeping on ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Choosing Curriculum

After so many years of homeschooling, I often have the privilege of talking with folks who are just considering or researching the possibility of educating their children at home. One of the first choices they evaluate is which homeschool curriculum to use. They've either spent some time researching homeschool curriculum on the Internet or they've attended a homeschool convention ... and it's at that point that I end up talking with them ... the glazed "deer in the headlights" look still in their eyes. The choices out there seem endless.

I usually try to simplify the task just a bit by asking them to look at curriculum products based on teaching style. I'm sure there are more categories, but I usually break it down to five:

Traditional - This style relies heavily on the textbook/workbook approach to education. Similar to the classroom experience many of us are familiar with from our own childhoods. Some publishers: Bob Jones, ABeka, Alpha & Omega.
Unschooling - Essentially the opposite end of the spectrum from traditional homeschooling. This style recommends providing a variety of experiences and resources to stimulate a child's in-bred desire to learn. Delight driven learning is a common phrase heard among unschoolers. John Holt is a name often associated with the unschooling approach.
Unit Studies - are topic driven units that intermesh history, literature, writing, science and other subjects around a common theme. These can be accomplished by purchasing pre-packaged units or designing your own by making liberal use of your library. Some publishers: KONOS, Amanda Bennett's Unit Studies.
Classical - is a term synonymous with The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer. The premise is that children move through different stages of learning, each requiring a slightly different approach. There is a heavy emphasis on the use of living books, study of logic and a chronologic look at history. Some publishers: Veritas Press, Peace Hill Press.
Literature Based - falls somewhere between unit studies and a classical approach. Relying heavily on the writings of Dr. Ruth Beechick and Charlotte Mason, this teaching style relies on exposing children to great ideas found in classic literature with a goal toward developing a love for learning. Some publishers: Sonlight Curriculum, Tapestry of Grace.

While this isn't an exhaustive list, it does help to narrow down the choices a bit. There are a couple other resources which I think are very helpful in making choices about homeschooling (though I admit to being somewhat biased about these!):

Podcast - You Can Homeschool
Podcast - How to Do It: How to discover the homeschooling vision that best fits your family's needs

Hopefully this brief "Homeschooling 101" will give you somewhere concrete to begin as you consider homeschooling.

Best wishes on the journey ...
~Judy

03/20/2009

Science co-ops

I was reminded last week why I have always found homeschool co-ops to be so valuable. In a word: CHEMISTRY. There's no way you can possibly hear the distaste in my voice/mind as I type that word, but it's there nonetheless.

Let's face it, no homeschool mom is an expert in every field she has to teach. Over the years I've seriously doubted that I'm an expert in any, but some are certainly easier to teach than others. One of my favorite subjects has always been Biology. I love studying and investigating the intricacies of the human body which the Creator has so marvelously designed. And even more, I get excited over passing that love on to students. Even the most squeamish come away from dissecting frogs and earthworms with a new appreciation for how amazing the creation truly is.

I'm afraid, however, that my love and excitement for Biology does not extend to Chemistry, which relies so heavily on math (another subject that has the ability to make me squirm). As I watched and listened to our small chemistry co-op (just 4 students) puzzle over measuring the specific heat of a chunk of metal last week, I patted myself on the back for once again expending the energy to seek out moms of other high school sophomores who needed a chem lab. None of us is really an expert in the field, but there is one among us who has an innate sense of how chemistry works, and is a whiz at math. So she leads our little group, and the rest of us help and cheer her on.

Obviously science is not the only subject which lends itself to sharing teaching and learning, but the lab sciences do seem especially perfect for such a setting. And it's really not terribly difficult to establish a co-op. You certainly don't need a large group of students, nor do you need a special location, or experts on any given topic to make it work. What's really necessary is a common desire to share the burdens of teaching and the excitement of learning. Sprinkle in a little bit of motivation and commitment to make it work, and you have a made to order "no frills" co-op. And you know, we've come us with some pretty amazing co-op classes and teachers in the past. One year we held a speech class and invited a homeschool mom who was an English teacher in her "past life" and had a passion for public speaking and drama. A friend of mine once hijacked an acquaintance who is a meteorologist to come and speak to her middle-school co-op science class. We've also invited "guest lecturers" by way of DVD and field trips. The sky truly is the limit.

So if one of the subjects in your homeschool seems to be lacking some excitement or "punch" ... and you just can't find the motivation to make it more interesting ... why not consider a homeschool co-op to spice things up!

Keep on keeping on ...
~Judy

PS ... a couple of very practical "helps" I've found in my struggles with chemistry: Sonlight's Chemistry Supplies Kit and a nifty web site called the Periodic Table of Videos which a friend recently shared. See, I really *do* look for ways to make Chemistry more palatable!

03/20/2009

Milestones

My husband and I got away for a couple of days to celebrate our 24th anniversary this week. We love to hike, so we escaped to a wonderful Bed & Breakfast on one of the Finger Lakes here in upstate NY. Across the road from the B&B was the entrance to an awesome gorge which was just ablaze with color.

: Autumn colors in the Finger Lakes

: Down the gorge out to the lake

: Perfect for hiking!

: Sunset over the lake

People tend to make more of someone's 25th anniversary than they do the 24th. But for us, it's a milestone ... because this year we also survived the launching of our first homeschool graduate. Anyone who doesn't believe homeschooling puts some strain on a marriage isn't dealing in reality. While parenting in and of itself can be brutal on a relationship, tossing homeschooling into the mix brings its own unique stressors. While we both are extremely proud of the first one we've launched, we are also acutely aware that any success is entirely due to God's grace and His daily provision of wisdom.

So if you're new to homeschooling, or just considering the option, do be realistic enough to recognize the stresses and strains it will put on your marriage. Then establish some relationship "builders" to help shore up the foundation and strengthen the ties. Perhaps you'll set a goal to have a date night every other week or once a month. Maybe a night away can be scheduled a couple times a year. For the short-term, consider a 2-hour break for mom or dad (whomever carries the bulk of the teaching load) once a week. Even an uninterrupted time for devotions or a chapter from a favorite book each day goes a long way toward maintaining sanity and a good attitude. Whatever you choose, just making the effort demonstrates to both parties that your relationship is worth the effort. And let me assure you, it is well worth the effort!

~Judy

03/20/2009

How do I get it all done?

The homeschooling mom's perennial question. You know that kid's "song that never ends"? Well this is the question that never gets answered. It is one of the most-often asked questions I hear from both new and veteran homeschoolers. It has also been on my mind of late since we recorded the goal-setting podcast I mentioned in my last blog entry.

I've read many of the time management books, done some speaking on the topic, and designed multiple Excel spreadsheets and chore charts ... all in the name of getting it all done. But it occurred to me the other day that perhaps we're asking the wrong question. Not that the "how" question isn't a good one ... but I think there's a question we should ask before we ask how. I think first we should ask ourselves to define what ALL is.

Being a somewhat hyper-motivated individual in my younger years (I got over it), I remember well the struggle to say "no" to things. Every opportunity presented to me seemed to be a good thing, so I would think of course I should say yes to this! And before I knew it my plate was overflowing and I was asking that perennial question ... how was I ever going to get it all done?

Though it has been a painful lesson learned by hard experience, I regularly have to be reminded that not every opportunity, as good as each one may seem, is the best for me. And the process of determining what is best can be as simple as setting some well-defined goals. Decide what you're aiming for in life ... both short-term and long-term. Then as each opportunity presents itself, weigh it against your list of goals. Will this opportunity push you closer to any of those goals, or will it slow down your progress? A very practical way of practicing the Biblical mandate to redeem my time.

It's a well-known fact (probably someone somewhere has done a study) that homeschool moms suffer from we're not doing enough syndrome. Surely we need more sports, more music lessons, more field trips, etc... Perhaps what we really need is a prayed-over and well thought out list of goals!

~Judy
Galatians 6:9

03/20/2009

Of squirrels and hoarding

It's that time of year again when I inevitably slip into my winter hoarding mode. Here in the infamous snow belt region of upstate NY, I face each winter wondering how many months it will be again before we see green grass and warmer temperatures. And while we're waiting for that first snowfall (which I love, by the way), we spend our days hiking hills through the multi-colored leaves that are falling, and harvesting vegetables from our garden to can or freeze for the coming cold months. Autumn is my favorite season of the year ... hands down.

I also find myself cleaning out bookshelves, storing or giving away books and curriculum we no longer need, sorting through summer clothes that have seen better days, and just organizing overall. I think I know the dreaded months of January and February are coming (this homeschool mom's most hated months!), and I'm subconsciously attempting to prepare for them in advance.

All of this canning, sorting and organizing definitely put me in the mood for recording one of our latest Podcasts over at Sonlight.com. Jill, Kelly and I put together a fairly extensive series on goal setting, homeschool time management, conquering the clutter in your household, and overall organization. We had a great time sharing practical ideas and swapping stories from our homeschooling and child-rearing memories. If you find this time of year inspiring you to sort, clean and organize, take a few moments to listen to some of our tips and suggestions. I think you'll enjoy them!

And just to share some of the great "smells" floating around our household, here's my time-tested spaghetti sauce recipe. I canned 42 quarts of this delicious sauce which we will enjoy over all sorts of pasta throughout the cold winter months to come.

Judy's Spaghetti Sauce

(I use a combination of whatever canning tomatoes are available and Romas) 4 quarts (16 cups) of processed tomatoes (I remove the stem end and puree them in my blender, skin and all)
1 teaspoon Garlic powder
3 Tablespoons Parsley Flakes
1 teaspoon Basil
1 teaspoon Oregano
1 teaspoon Pepper
6 teaspoons Salt
3 Tablespoons Sugar
1/2 cup Olive Oil
1 chopped Onion Combine in a large stock pot. Simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes. Stir in 1 - 12 oz can of Tomato Paste. Cook 30 minutes more (or longer) until sauce thickens to your liking. Yields 7 pints of spaghetti sauce ENJOY!!

~Judy

03/20/2009

Mom's aren't supposed to get sick

Well ... almost a month later I'm finally back to blog again! A rather nasty case of the flu which morphed into strep throat knocked me off my feet for longer than I liked. Why is it that I can't bounce back as quickly as my kids do?

So you might be wondering how homeschooling is affected when the main teacher (aka mom) is sick in bed. While some creative souls may use it as a learning opportunity (picture a field trip to the doctor, kids lining up to peer down mom's throat, book reports on the history of modern medicine) I'm just not of that caliber. I want people to serve me cold milkshakes or warm soup, cover me with a warm blanket and rub my feet. And then leave me alone! I suspect reality is somewhere in the middle.

I do find that whenever I'm out of commission, we see both the best and worst come out in our family. I'm always surprised by, and incredibly grateful for, how caring and available my kids and husband are. I'm also very aware of just how little dirt and clutter bothers everyone in this family but me! So yes, mom's illness definitely becomes a learning experience for all of us. I especially learn patience and a dependence on God like no other experience can generate. My kids get to put to use those cooking and cleaning skills we've worked on all year long. And I suspect my husband is reminded how much he appreciates going "off" to work somewhere!

And you know ... homeschooling goes on. Even mom's sickness is a time for education. Not of the academic kind necessarily, but definitely in practical life skills. It's also an opportunity to see just how well kids can work and learn independently. So when life "happens" ... even if it means that mom is side-lined for a bit, don't despair that your chldren will fall behind. See it as an opportunity for a different kind of "school".

~Judy

03/20/2009

Meditation nano-second

"Meditation Moment" is a title that's been overused (IMHO) ... and a moment can be quite a long time, if time is at a premium. So I have just a little tidbit to share (a nano-second?) ... gleaned from my quiet time this morning.

From John Piper's book Future Grace.
Patience is the capacity to "wait and to endure" without murmuring and disillusionment - to wait in the unplanned place, and endure the unplanned pace. ... Impatient people are weak, and therefore dependent on external supports - like schedules that go just right and circumstances that support their fragile hearts. ... The strength of patience hangs on our capacity to believe that God is up to something good for us in all our delays and detours.

Whew ... tough (but good) to hear at 7:30 AM.

~Judy

03/18/2009

It's that time again!

Is it possible that the summer is nearly over and it's time to begin school again? I'm fairly certain we just filed the end-of-year report with the school district, closed the books and filed them away! But the calendar does not lie and here it is mid-August again.

This year will be different for us. Our oldest has graduated from our homeschool and heads to her first year of college the end of this week. That will leave me with *only* two to school ... one sophmore and a junior higher. Our daughter's graduation has made me think back to when we began homeschooling some 14 years ago now and to mentally review how far we've come. There have "mountain top" years and years when I wondered if my children learned a single thing. Looking back I can see that both were valuable ... the mountain top experiences for boosting our self-confidence and building our love for learning ... and those lean years for causing us to depend on the Lord and realizing we really couldn't do this education thing in our own strength.

I'm looking forward to what this year holds ... and sharing some of it here! We'll be focusing on Civics, Gov't & American History from Sonlight for the sophmore. Along with Consumer Math, Chemistry and a writing program. The Junior Higher will be doing an indepth study of American History from Sonlight, Algebra 1 and Physical Science. It will be my second and third time through some of these subjects, but I find something new to learn each year as they share what they are learning.

~Judy

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