Twenty Ten Homeschooling Chat

[Sally]

Sounds like you're onto a good plan there Lusi

We started back on Monday & so far it's been going good with the kids. Alec started prep, and that's been going good. I would say I was 75% prepared, had the schedule and the lessons done, but things like cutting and laminating, and still waiting on the english and SOSE to arrive, but apart from that the school year is planed and underway

[jakey]

I came in and wrote a big long post about everything we've been up to, then we had a power cut and I lost it all !!

No time to rewrite it all again, so I'll come back another day and do it.

Lusi I saw the photo's of your velcro chores list - great idea! Does it make the kids want to do the chores better??

We've started back slowly this week, but are going away tomorrow so haven't leapt straight in yet. I've got my second son starting officially this year too so I'm trying to work out the recording - do I do two seperate diaries, or one diary with a section on the bottom for stuff they do individually??? I think i'm leaning towards one diary - less recording overall.

Anyway, good to hear what you're all up to. Will drop back in soon!

Sarah.

[lusi]

Hi Sarah

Sorry for the delayed reply mate but hope all is going well your way
I've got 3 children that I'm recording for this year and I'm doing it all in the same diary. There are only about 10 lines to fill each day (last year I kept a full a4 page for almost each day and it near killed me!!! The OBOS lady was so sweet and said, 'um i'd expect to see that much detail recorded from a person with one child - not a mum with 4!!!!' so this year i'm limiting (severely) what i write and only recording the important stuff. It has freed me up heaps and helped me enjoy this journey even more! Having really simplified the record keeping side of things too with their folders has also helped me feel less overwhelmed with the paper stuff Another yay!!!

lol about the chore chart - They moan and groan like most kids but other days they do it happily which is nice. Oh and I adopted your idea Sarah of putting a hook inside the vanity door and taught the kids to wipe over the sink there when they see mess (it is cleaned once a day as a chore by one of the kids but it needs to be wiped over so often!!! lol) So THANKS HEAPS for that idea Sarah it is working really well! Ethi stayed recently at my parents house and two mornings in a row he woke up had brekky then snuck into their room and made their bed for them as a surprise!!! So lovely to see principles you are trying to teach (like servanthood) actually coming across and impacting in their lives Very cool

We've been easing into it but man the first week and a bit has been mighty tough. Liji especially. But i remember that it was like that at the start of last year too. Slowly slowly

How are you guys travelling? Amy are you homeschooling this year?

Love to you all!

[lusi]

How's everyone travelling? I had a REALLY hard day today but we kept pressing on and God is always with us even in the face of trials hey.

Me to God: "Count it all joy"....even when it gets 'this' bad?. Are you sure You were meaning even when he says this or she does that? Am i to 'count it 'all joy' then?
He to me: Yes sweetheart you are.

His answer is always a resounding YES. And so just like David the psalmist today, i found myself 'commanding my soul to praise the Lord' and to use the 'shield of faith' to protect me from the 'arrows of the evil one'. Praise Him for already preparing us for days of battle, for moments of soul-defeat and minutes of exhaustion. He has already prepared 'good works in advance for me to do' since I know that I am 'His workmanship'.

Just wanted to share my heart and send my love to you all.
Love lus x

[ScrapHappy]

Be encouraged dear sister in Christ. You're doing a wonderful thing

What you shared reminded me of a Colin Buchanan song called "Press on Mums" - the very last line says "when all your human energy is gone ... look towards your Jesus and press on". It's always helped me, hope it blesses you too

[Amy Bell]

Cool Thread... Sounds like we all have our challenges and triumphs Praise the Lord...

Cheers Lusi for asking after me.

We have continued on in our homeschooling journey. A few weeks back we purchased our first set of 'real' curriculum so began super slowly as we felt like doing some. However behaviour challenges forced drastic measures so we now have an over-strict 'homeschooling schedule'. Its been a challenge getting obedience, submission and respect to flow naturally from within this past week. Praise the Lord for His daily strength and peace over us all. Given tonight's "I want to do some homeschooling" and "I'm finished. I want to do some more homeschooling" the fights have been worth it.

We start the day with breakfast, getting dressed and some house work etc. At 9:15 my phone beeps at me and the words "Proverbs of the Day" remind me its time to stop housework, grab my bible and the children, Pray prov 1 and get reading. Then at 9:30 my phone beeps again and its commencement of homeschooling. For homeschooling we have been using Rod and Staff ABC series which is good but my boy isn't keen on the colouring in aspect of it. Plus he knows most of it already. We play games, puzzles, sing songs, talk, read, do worksheets etc. 12:05 we break for lunch, jobs, spending time with DH and some free play 2:10 - 4:30 back into the homeschooling. Seems like we do alot of homeschooling by the sounds of the schedule but its mostly all play. But means there is no time for 'other' things for both myself and the children. I'll be adding daily devotions, Praise and Worship, memory verses, and bible stories in there somewhere too.

I have my 4.5yo doing 'curriculum' work and my 2.5yo wanting stuff too. She has been such a joy to watch her suddenly grasp a concept (as small as it might be). So 'two' 'homeschoolers' in this home and I am loving it. I look forward to the older years teaching different stuff to them and watching them grow. I cherish these times we have while they are young also.

Been on the hunt for more ideas/activities/etc but there is far too much to look at and I'm not a fan of reading. Must pray for His guidance in what it is that He wants us to be doing.
So far it is looking like Thrass, Maths-U-See, Creation Science and everything else 'made up by me' and direct from the bible

The Lord has been so faithful in strengthening me this past week with the behavioural challenges and my answered prayers. When I haven't been sure if I was doing the right thing, or if the changes were going to work etc. Guess that is all apart of the battle of the mind.

Another Praiseworthy note is my 10month old took his first steps last night to me :):) Was such a joyful occasion...

Remain Blessed my friends
Amy xx

[ScrapHappy]

Reading your post is great encouragement Amy. Good to hear all that is happening with you

[lusi]

Yay Amy! Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us - its really encouraging to read the ups and downs of other families who have chosen to homeschool. Sounds like things are really going well and i can't believe your baby is 10 months old! Man!

I've had some really great and some really full on times lately. Seeing some amazing things with the kids' attitudes towards work which is great. Tried some new things over the past month and they have worked well which is answered prayer. I've struggled personally with a whole lot of things going on but God is SO increidibly faithful to bring us through ALL things isn't He?!

I'm starting at the gym on Monday so my mornings are about to begin earlier. Am going to be at the gym at 6am and then back in time for family devotions. Brett will get the kids going with brekky before that but it will be new for us all so we will see how it pans out. I need to drop some weight though since my back has been going out ALOT lately. With 4 kids at home all the time, I can't afford to be walking around on the walking cane (which i have had to use a fair bit recently). Plus if we are going to have any more children in the near future (God willing of course!) i would like my back better. During all my pregnancies I've had bad back issues and anyway, am hoping that strengthening my core and losing a little weight might help in the long run.

LEM Phonics has been going really well and the boys are picking up more and more words everyday. So exciting to see!
Stass is doing well and we've been planning some girly arvo's for her and some of her friends doing a range of activities that she's picked out like an origami arvo, a little house on the prairie arvo (where the girls come dressed up and watch an ep or two), card making arvo, baking arvo (and then selling the goods at church on sunday to raise funds for missions). Stuff like that really warms my heart.
Zippi is getting more and more full on during homeschooling time but she loves being around the kids and they love her being there. Just means we are a bit more flexible with how we do stuff and when.

Well must fly but love to you all as you homeschool at your place!
Love Lus x

[Nat]

Lus and Amy, thanks for sharing your hearts and your homes girls.

Lus, praying that the new routine will work well for you. xx

[lusi]

Lol I counted my chickens before they hatched!!!
Brett was injured badly last night at his state league basketball match. He can't walk properly and will see an orthopaedic surgeon when the swelling goes. In the meantime he'll be off work for at least a fortnight which means my workload just got a bit harder. Poor guy is in pain and discomfort. Praying he heals quickly. In the meantime, would love prayer that I can carry the extra load while he's not well. Gym has to go on hold for now. Thanks all xo