Homeschooling Through the Hard Times

Life Happens. Sometimes Life happens a lot. The stories I could tell. 

When I was 24 I had a massive car accident. I had to learn to walk again. It left me with lifelong scars and injuries. A few years later I went into congestive heart failure. When we adopted Josiah (he was 2 weeks old) I guess I kind of figured that motherhood would exempt me from anymore of life’s little surprises.

Wow.Was I wrong. But then again I was wrong about the whole stirrup pants thing, too. I thought they'd be around forever.

There were the usual things. Moves. Job Changes. The Studly Muffin is a pastor so there have been a few of those. Not to mention I had to learn to parent in my limited capacity. And then came another episode of heart failure. Another move. Another move. And another move. When we decided to homeschool Josiah, he was going into the 1^st grade. I knew it would be a challenge for me. After all, I am trained classroom teacher. And one of the reasons I stopped teaching was because of those pesky stamina problems.

There are those around me who would tell me that I was doing Josiah a disservice.  That I couldn’t possibly manage to address some of the learning challenges that were ahead of him and that he would certainly lack in friends and social situations (every hear that one?)

And then there were those self-imposed issues. Guilt for one. How can I parent effectively, let alone teach to my ability when there are days that I seldom function?  Josiah deserves better than that. How can I assure that there is still some sense of normalcy and consistency in our family life when I am anything but normal or consistent? 

 It’s taken me a few years to come to terms with my own guilt and trying to please others in my life. I had to be honest about what was most important to us as a family. 

I needed to leave the guilt behind. For one, I was developing a relationship with my son that went beyond my parental duties. And given the fragility of life…I was providing him with not just memories and a good education…I was providing him with me.

 If all I could give him some days was reading snuggled up on the couch or some real meaningful conversations stretched out across his bed, that was worth it. He has had to learn some things I didn’t wish on him. However, the payoff has been that our family unit is stronger. 

My own expectations of an ideal education had to change. I have had to let go of some of my unrealistic notions. Was a good education for us cramming our day with Latin, guitar lessons, swim practice, Lego club,..we’ve had to pick and choose. 

I would like to share with you some of the things I’ve learned along the way.  

Make Hay While the Sun Shines. I am probably more impulsive than I used to be.  If the sun is shining and there is the makings of a PB&J in the pantry, it is not uncommon for us to take an impromptu field trip to one of our city’s many parks. If you are feeling good..take advantage of it. Seize the Day!

A Well Laid Plan. I realize I sound like I’m contradicting myself. But hear me out.  On days that I am more productive I make sure I am planning ahead for those days that are harder. Do I have the supplies for my planned projects? Have I downloaded what I need for a particular lesson? Is my supply of emergency chocolate chips holding out? I've got my priorities, after all.

The Resource Room.  The Resource Room (a room at school filled with all the supplies a teacher could want) used to be my favorite place. I think nowadays teachers have to come up with many of their own supplies. I make sure that I am constantly building our resource Library. In my homeschool cabinet I have a Math Bucket with easy to play Math Games. We have an Art Bucket, with do-it-yourself kits or supplies. I have a list of science experiments that are easily done with ingredients around the house. And consider this, I am not only teaching my son,  I am teaching him to learn.  What kind of websites can you utilize for learning? Are there computer programs that can assist you?

Bookish. This is a given. Are my shelves filled with books that we can enjoy together? Do I have Audio Books that I can utilize? We try and make it to the library every week. I try and check out at least one or two Audio Books that we can listen to. Nobody says you have to read the book to enjoy it. I love listening to Audio Books, myself.

My Peeps. My support system is very important to me. My friends and family have been my hands and feet. Besides of the tremendous help I have received personally from my in-laws and other family members,  Josiah has benefited from Master Art Classes with my Mom, Learning parties with friends, Nature Hikes with my Dad, Field Trips with Daddy. Think about those around you.  There isn’t anything that says you have to teach everything.

Teaching to Learn. I mentioned before that I am teaching to Josiah to learn. Does he know how to look up facts? Letting him loose with a project is pretty great. It might not always have the desired results I think it should have. I realize that Josiah is 11. You can’t necessarily let your 5-year-old loose with a chemistry set. But, there are 100’s of ideas for sensory boxes, busy bags and learning tubs that can be adapted for any age.

Be Good to Mama. This means you. Mama. You must take care of yourself. I understand. I am not always in control. However, I do know that when I don’t get enough rest, when I run myself ragged, when I don’t eat properly…I will eventually pay for it. We owe it to our families to do what we know how to do.

Just Rest. There will be some seasons that you just need to lay everything aside. Pick a wonderful book and enjoy it together. Simply enjoy your family the best you can.

Grace, Grace, God’s Grace. I believe that God’s Grace has sustained me. There have been things I have just had to leave at the altar. And He has heard my groaning. And He has given me joy. 

 This particular season of our lives has seen a little bit of sunshine. My health is good. I lost 70 pounds this past year (I have more to go). I am getting to do some neat things . I still have enough metal in my body to support a small aircraft (not quite, but almost!) and I will be on some of my medications for the rest of my life.

But every time I see this face I am reminded that I made the right decision. It might be tough...but it's not impossible.

 

You might enjoy other of my 5 Days of Creative Teaching Posts

The Case of the Missing Textbook

Cooking School

Game On

I am linking up to 5 Days of Creative Teaching 

Game On!

True story. When I was a little girl growing  up in the Boston Mountains region of the Ozarks (I know...here she goes again) our bus rides home from school were so long I learned to play Poker like a pro. Who knew that inadequate bus services for the public school would encourage such a skill.

When we finally moved to civilization and closer to my Grandma, my mother implored us kids not to play Poker in front of Grandma. Grandma felt that Poker was one step away from the fiery gates. It is not my intention to offend any of you who have similar convictions (you can breath easy...this is not a post about Poker). But it wasn't uncommon for my brother with his buddies to be playing Poker on the front porch and have to throw the cards in the bushes when he saw Grandma's Chrysler coming down the street.

My Poker playing days are behind me (I haven't been on a school bus since the '80's, for one), but I still love to play games. We get more enjoyment out of a Family Game night than about anything. And don't get me started on the wonderful learning games you can coax out of deck of playing cards. Actually, I'll talk about those in just a minute. Plus, a few of my favorite "gamey" things I've made and our newest favorite board game.

I want to show you one of Josiah's more recent projects.

He created his own Board Game.

And it's pretty Whoopty-do!

We first talked about the concept for his game. He knew he wanted to create some sort of Mystery game. (He's all into mysteries right now). He decided he didn't want a Clue kind of game, but instead more in the line of Candy Land.

He also decided that instead of  the game board being all squares and lines like a Monopoly game, He wanted to created lots of twists and turns. He created his path on the board and then we colored in the squares. Like the Easter Grass in his hair? He was digging in his toy buckets for the right props for inspiration. I shouldn't admit to this, but I haven't got out any Easter Grass this year, yet. Yup. That grass is from last year, my friends.

He also decided that he wanted the detectives (the players) to reach the Pathways (the game is called the Mystery of the Missing Pathways). And after reaching the Pathways they could choose to go through doors A, B, or C. Certain doom or a wonderful surprise would be awaiting you. Depending on the door you chose.  See my big tote of fabric in the background. I told you all that the Fabric has taken over my house. I was serious!

We typed up some cards (I just simply made a form using a table in MS Word) and he figured out what manner of mishaps or lucky breaks you were to receive along the way.

The players take turns rolling the dice. If you land on a spot with a sticker (we used simple dollar store stickers) you have to draw a card. Hopefully, I'll get that one that encourages me to go to the Donut Shop!
As you can see he used Action Figures from his Ginormous Stash. 

Here he is. Explaining the wonder of it all.

Pretty fun stuff, huh? Oh. And he used the back of a large poster frame that had come apart. It was wonderfully sturdy and free.  He's already to try it out with his friends and his Daddy. I sure hope Daddy doesn't get locked in the room of spiders.

So I promised just a few other of my favorite Gamey things. I love using items that we already have or are easy to find.

 

Josiah and his cousin Christopher are playing War. Which I think is a genius way to learn math facts. In fact, Let's Play Math, a blog filled with tons of Math game ideas, has been a life saver. I would urge you to go try it out.  I have a Math Bucket filled with fun things Josiah can use to practice his skills at any time.


This next game has to be mentioned. It's just plain fun. Headbands! You can check us out playing with the Cousins. 

I also want to show you these little darlings. I made these owl bean bag babies. I got tired of trying to find all the various bean bags we've had over the years.For one, they were dull and unfun. These are as cute as they can be. We most recently took these to a friend's house for a Bean Bag Toss Game. Warning. Don't let their cuteness fool you. They can be used as missiles.

My last little "Game On" Shout Out is to Classic Bingo (with a twist) These are so simple to make. I used these with a variety of kids this year for Valentine's. I love that you can personalize them to fit any occasion.

Okey Dokey. I've given you a few of my favorite do-it-yourself, got it have it, and to- cute- pass up game ideas.

Go Get Your Game On!

I'm linking up to 5 Days of Creative Teaching!

Cooking School

The very first thing I remember making entirely by myself was a cake (from scratch) with blueberry icing. It was my Mom's birthday. She and my Dad had gone out for dinner. I set my Little Bro and Baby Sister to decorating the house with toilet paper streamers. And I baked the cake. The cake itself was a bit of a mess. I didn't let it cook completely (I've always had a bit of an issue with instant gratification) and I used frozen blueberries. Now. I know what you are thinking. Blueberry frosting? It sounded pretty to me. Unfortunately, the result was more of a watery, sugary blueberry mass that floating across the raw center of the cake.

My parents, however, were gracious. They ate every bit of that soggy cake. I know I've told this story before. But even though my efforts at 11 or 12 weren't the most successful, I am grateful for every minute my Mom let me spend in the kitchen...stirring, cracking, mixing...I can even appreciate clean up duty!

Maybe that's why I feel so strongly about teaching my son to cook. I feel pretty strongly about equipping him with Life Skills...one of those being cooking. And as he is my only child he gets to be my kitchen helper quite a bit.

Besides our weekly and daily cooking escapades in the kitchen, I want to tell you about something super exciting that we do. We Host a Cooking School for kids. 

Our Cooking School participants are generally our cousins. Where would you get yours from?

Haul the neighbor kids in. Invite the cousins over. Or if you have a large family, make it point to set out a time once a week or once a month for a bonafide cooking class. Sure. There are plenty of  culinary skills your kids can learn just by helping you in the kitchen. But Cooking School, my friends, involves just a bit more than tearing lettuce, mixing a cake mix or spreading out pizza dough.

But first things first. 

Why teach your kids to cook? I feel like I’m preaching to the choir. Teaching kids to cook helps with math skills, science, practices following directions and builds family relationships. (Try our family recipe for Christmas Fudge).

 My favorite thing about teaching kids to cook is that it prepares them for life. They have control over their health and wellness by participating in their own food preparation. They will be able to manage their budgets more effectively because they can cook from scratch at home.

So you want to host your own cooking school? Here are a few things I have learned along the way
.

Where? You might have an itty bitty space. I understand. My kitchen is about the size of a dressing room at Macy’s.  So I make sure that any groups I have in my home are manageable. For big groups I use my Mom’s kitchen. She has room for large folding tables. If I am going to use my kitchen I plan a recipe that is easily prepared from my cozy kitchen table.(This 321 Cake is a perfect recipe for a small crowd)

 

When? Set aside enough time for Cooking school. We do Cooking School every year at our Annual Cousin Camp. A good portion of the morning is set aside. That way there is enough time for instruction and for each and every child to become a participant.

What? Think about the kinds of things you feel kids should know how to cook. When we have our cooking school at Cousin Camp I use a mixture of family heritage recipes and items that are just plain fun and/or recipes that employ a practical technique.  I also am mindful of ingredients that we might already have one hand. Just a little tip. Baking is one of the easier things to teach during Cooking School. And there is something magic about creating a whole concoction out of a few ingredients.(Here is a perfectly wonderful recipe for Biscuits!)

Getting Ready. What kinds of cooking utensils do you need? Do you have enough ingredients? The Dollar Tree is a wonderful spot for extra mixing bowls, mixing spoons and cooking mats. How about your recipe? I make an additional copy in easy to read print and instructions.  If I have a smaller group I use individual recipe cards. My larger groups get a poster I’ve made. How about dish clothes, aprons, and any kind of foil or wax paper? Be sure you are prepared.

The Lesson. The first thing we always begin with are Kitchen Rules. These important rules help  kids navigate a kitchen safely. I always have a fun poster displayed. I also to refer to the rules all through the lesson. When I begin the lesson I generally divide and conquer. I arrange the kids into teams that can work together. I also decide how I am going to separate the tasks (if at all). I also model each step. If you yourself feel uncomfortable in the kitchen this is also a good opportunity to brush up on your culinary skills. (Take a look at this collection of week's worth of Cooking School Recipes we did at Cousin Camp a few years ago.

The following is a video from last year’s Cousin Camp. We are making homemade bread. Notice that they are learning important measuring techniques. It’s hard for me to believe but I have lost nearly 70 pounds since that video was taken.  Yay me! Only one little hiccup. When I uploaded it I did something wrong. We all sounded like the Chipmunks...mumbly Chipmunks at that. So I added some music. We made bread that day!

Add your own special memories.  

This is a little cookbook I made before Cousin Camp one year. The recipe cards were added every day. I can’t find last years book. It must have been that good. Don’t go for any kind of wow factor. Since Cousin Camp is generally a big fat hairy deal the more I have done ahead of time the better. But letting kids start their own personal recipe collection is a pretty special thing.

I enjoy making aprons. We have also taken plain aprons from the craft store and decorated them. Otherwise you can borrow or find a collection of aprons from the thrift store.

Here is a link for a free apron tutorial and chef's hat. I have made several of the hats. They are really darling!

Consider a Field Trip. Are you able take a trip to a grocery store or farmer’s market? We are blessed that my parents have a large garden. One year we took a trip to the herb garden. We then picked our own special herb blend for Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs. The  kids were so proud. I did ask somebody to bring me in some Rosemary on one occasion and got lavender, but hey! That’s pretty good!

Happy Cooking!

This post is part of the the Schoolhouse Review Crew's 5 Days of Creative Teaching.

Schoolhouse Review Crew: READS

I have to say I wasn’t really sure what to expect when READS Parent/Child Reading Comprehension System from EGM Educational Systems, LLC showed up in my mailbox. Sure. I had taken the time to visit the website, but how could something so simple make a difference with my very creative son (who happens to be Dyslexic).

What is really nice about the  READS system (Non-Homeschooling parents take note) is that is can be used in any reading situation. You don’t have to be a homeschooler. Just a parent.  It is also not particular about the reading material. I used it for non-fiction, fiction, information essays…It’s versatile.  But more on that in a minute.

READS stands for Really Easy and Dynamic Strategies. It was developed by Elaine Meyers. She is teacher and reading specialist with over 25 years of experiences. Her desire is to equip parents to help their kids develop better comprehension and critical thinking skills.

What We Received (all bundled in a sturdy plastic pouch):

Magic Finger and Reading Guide Strip

The Magic Finger (which reminds me of some of the nail tips I used to use way back in Beauty School days…yes I am a girl of many talents) is a fun tool to help the student keep track of what he or she is reading. The Reading Guide is a simple strip that highlights one line at a time…helping to keep the attention on that particular line. I used it both with a hardbound book and an article printed off on traditional letter sized paper. It fit nicely with both.

 Question Cards  

These are 30 cards that encourage the child to think about what they have read. They activities are varied and are easy to implement. The cards are sturdy and come nicely bound together with a metal ring.

Speedy Speller, a Handbook for Readers and Writers
This  book contains  1,400 common spelling words, abbreviations, numbers, a punctuation chart and more. It even has a spot to record more spelling words.  The Speedy Speller is a paperback and I found the size to be very manageable. The spelling words in arranged Alphabetical order which give the student additional practice with ABC order.

Rewards Chart & Stickers 
This is a chart and colorful stickers that help kids keep track of their reading goals. There is even a spot for recording a reward. 

READS Parent’s Manual

This handy dandy booklet gives you all the tips and tricks to use the other products with your child.It is also a paperback. 

How We Used the Product

Josiah reads from a book of my choosing every day. At the time of this review he is reading “Robin Hood.”

The Reading Guide Strip was an immediate success. Because he is dyslexic he finds it difficult to follow the sentence. If a page is cluttered or filled with words it is hard for him to stay on track. We always use the “hide the sentence above method” but I found the Reading Guide Strip to be genius. 

You can see that it is a good size. Josiah had no trouble using it with any of his books.

It is Josiah's own theory that wearing a blanket on your head helps one read better. True story.

 Notice the Magic Finger he is clutching in his hand?

Here the Reading Guide Strip is highlighting a sentence from "Old Mother West Wind."

The Magic Finger was a hit. Unfortunately, for reasons other than what it was intended for. Let’s just say he’s a boy. And that Magic Finger is a magnificent bugger picker. I had to confiscate it frequently.  You have to admit it looks like fun!

I loved the Question Cards. I love see his brain churning. On this particular day I asked him to use one for his journal writing. He had just finished a chapter in his book about Robin Hood and the Black Knight. This was the answer I got. I’ll take it. 

This was an interesting question to ask. Josiah felt that he and Robin Hood both liked to use a bow and arrow. But then Robin Hood's bow is real and Josiah is not all that crazy about wearing green all the time.
 

I liked this one. We wound up with quite a few interesting words in the Speedy Speller.

And speaking of the Speedy Speller...

It is such a nifty tool. It basically is a ready made resource for all of your child's writing needs.

I loved being able to set Josiah loose with it during his journal writing.

And I loved that the Speedy Speller reinforces Alphabetizing skills. You have to remember that all of these things come a little harder for kids that are dyslexic.Words in a dictionary are more challenging for him to find. All those words on the page! The Speeder Speller is a valuable tool for Josiah.

The Rewards Chart (seen below) allowed Josiah to keep track of his reading on his own. His rewards are things like movie rentals and Frosties. We aim to please!

The Parent's Manual gives excellent hints and tricks for all of these tools.

Not only does it explain why your child might have a trouble with a particular skill, but it also gives ideas that you can use with each of the tools.  There is even a suggested rewards list. I particularly liked that it explained how to use each and every Question Card.

As I mentioned before, READS is practical for any kind of genre of reading. And it can be used in a classroom setting, homeschool setting or by a parent helping a child with his or her reading homework.

We will continue to use the READS system and I am confident that we will continue to see results!

The READS system is recommended for grades 1-4 or for kids reading above or below grade level. It is reasonably priced at $19.95. 

You can read more about the READS system or read more Reviews from my fellow TOS Review Crew Bloggers. 

 

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product through the Schoolhouse Review Crew in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.