My heart got burdened, my mind needed to be changed.
All my plans needed to change.
Isn't it so frustrating - when we think we know what's right but God says "Nope, do things this way!"?
Here's what happened.
I visited a community day of Classical Conversations with a friend.
I learned there are different models of education - modern and classical.
The Classical model of education. What is THAT?
More research, more visiting, more praying.
- note: my husband, while less actively involved, was definitely consulted. We went to conferences together, discussed goals for our girls, etc. He knows what I'm getting our girls into and is all for it. I just did a lot of the foot work because I am the stay at home mom. Part of the job description.
- Ephesians 6:22-23
- "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
- For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
- Titus 2:3-5
- "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
- That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
- To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
The Classical model is VERY different than modern teaching.
A Classical Christian model is even more so.
I'll give a brief summary/idea for those of you not familiar with it. Then, I will give references that I have used and/or am reading if you want to look deeper.
First, Classical refers to the fact that learning takes place in three stages - grammar, logic, rhetoric.
In the first years of brain development, memorization is what it does best (grammar, the foundation of knowledge).
Then, the brain begins to ask questions to try and make sense of all the information (dialectic, the why and how).
Finally, you are able to express your own opinions and views (rhetoric, explaining and teaching).
- Think about when you learn something new. If I wanted to learn to do carpentry, I would first need to learn the terminology used (grammar), then why I would use one type of saw over another (dialectic), and then I could actually build something (rhetoric).
Another difference that stuck out to me is the fact that all subjects are connected in a Classical model. What you learn in history connects with English, science, etc. It's not separated and seemingly unrelated.
- I believe this to be soooooo important. Connecting the different aspects of life one to another is hard enough, if you aren't taught now they connect, it's so easy to compartmentalize life in destructive ways.
Classical education is different in a few other ways, so here is an article that tells you more without being and entire book.
https://welltrainedmind.com/a/classical-education/
A Christian education is, of course, Christ (therefore God) centered.
It's a worldview thing.
Ephesians 6:1-4
1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
3
That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Matthew 22:37-38
37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38
This is the first and great commandment
No education is without some religious lean. If we try to "leave religion out of it", we are then teaching with a humanist/atheistic worldview.
Douglas Wilson said in his book "God is the Light in which we see and understand everything else. Without Him, the universe is a fragmented pile of incomprehensible particulars... Christian education must therefore present all subjects as parts of an integrated whole with the Scriptures at the center."
A few pages later, he said "The Christian educator's job is not to require the students to spend all their time gazing at the sun. Rather, we want them to examine everything else in the light the sun provides. It would be utmost folly to try to blacken the sun in order to be able to study the world around us 'objectively'."
(Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning)
Putting those two together is going to be a huge challenge for me. The Christian part in making sure all my materials either reflect the correct worldview, or I use them appropriately.
The Classical part because there is a LOT I myself am going to have to learn/relearn.
I am not comfortable >teaching< a Classical Christian model of education for one reason only - I am new to it.
I do know, however, that this is what God wants for my children. I know it, better than I have known a lot of decisions in the past.
I also know that, where God guides, He provides.
Now, maybe you want a Christian education for your child(ren), but don't want to mess with the Classical model. Go for it! You can still put God at the center of your child's education using the modern education model.
Or, perhaps you don't want a Christian education for your child, but the Classical model intrigues you. Look into it some more, I bet you can find a way.
Me, I am praying and finding a way to do what God wants for my children.
I've joined Classical Conversations. It's pretty much a curriculum and co-op put together. Like anything, you need to provide some outside learning. Reading/writing isn't included, nor basic addition/subtraction/etc.
Plus side: it provides SO much of what I've been looking for - curriculum, community, Christ-centeredness.
Down side: it's a bit on the expensive side as there is tuition.
However, there are ways to step up and off-set the cost. I'm going to tutor during the community meeting days, which is a big help. Not just financially, but it gives me (personally) an extra bit of accountability to force me to prepare each week.
Also, other than the teacher guide and tin whistle, you don't need to buy anything new unless you want to. There are some very useful extras, but I'm going to wait a year or so before spending the money.
So really, I think it is every bit worth the financial commitment. I remind myself constantly, if God wants this, He will provide for it.
And so, in about two weeks, our community meetings begin. I am still working on a complete understanding of it all, but I do have enough of a grasp to begin climbing. Mainly due to books, websites, the parent practicum, and the community group.
God always points where He wants you to go. I've been working on this post for a week, still praying and insecure with making such a big decision. Yet, this week, as I read my book about Classical Christian education, as I continue to pray and go to church, as I pay attention to other people preparing their children for the new school year - God has told me that, yes, this is what HE wants me to do.
So, we will go. We will do.
Here am I, Lord, send me. My mission field is my children, I will go where I am not comfortable.
Here are references I've either looked at or are on my list.
* Dorothy Sayers "The Lost Tools of Learning" (read, available online for free, and is also in the back of the following books)
* Classical Christian Education Made Approachable. (First one read, a great intro)
* Douglas Wilson - "Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning" (reading through this currently)
* https://www.circeinstitute.org/resources-web-features/recommended-articles
- This website has a good bit of useful info, it was one of my first sources.
* https://welltrainedmind.com/a/classical-education/
- Similar to the above website
* https://www.classicalconversations.com/
- This gives a more limited amount of introductory info, but if you decide to do with it, there's is a cheap subscription that is very worth it.
* "The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide To Classical Education at Home"
- I've read parts of this
* Leigh Bortins - "The Core"
- On my list, the author came up with Classical Conversations
* CS Lewis - "The Abolition of Man"
- It's CS Lewis! Definitely next on my list
* David Hicks - "Norms and Nobility"
- The quotes I've read from this are phenomenal.
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Monday, July 31, 2017
Kindergarten curriculum?
So, if you've looked into homeschooling at all, you know there are TONS of curricula out there, and none of it really covers everything.
One publisher will be perfect for reading, another math, so on and so forth.
Then comes the issue of cost. If you can't bundle all subjects from one publisher, you pay more in shipping and miss out on bundle "deals".
It's overwhelming. It can be quite intimidating, and I say that coming from a school teachers experience in picking out the curriculum for a middle school language program.
Also, I had read blog after blog about moms who jumped in with a set curriculum and soon became stressed and overwhelmed. Either it was too much, not enough... they began to worry about falling "behind" and being a failure.
Not how I want my first year to go.
So instead, I go on Pinterest ( 😔guilty) and search for things my child needs to know for kindergarten and learn in kindergarten.
Amazingly, it comforted me because it really was stuff I could teach without a set bought curriculum. I knew that I could pretty much make do with free/cheap and make-your-own stuff. Cause really, it's kindergarten. A child's ability to focus isn't fully developed, they learn more through song, play, and hands-on life than books and lectures.
This is how I wanted my homeschool to be anyway, very hands-on and parent led. God trust me to educate my children, I'm going to take it seriously.
(Deut 6:5-9)
So I start planning. I download phonics flash cards, print worksheets, and math worksheets. Find math and money flash cards at yard sales. I get familiar with the easy reader section of my library. I think about the different games we play and how they can help her learn.
I think about teaching the family tree, address and phone number, emergency contact info, public workers (police, fire, etc)...
I join a local Facebook mom group and feel out what they do - ask for advice and recommendations.
Oh yeah, I was ready. She was turning four and I was ready for her to start "school".
- Yes, I think I over-plan a bit...
Then one day, a friend invited me to the open house of her homeschool community, Classical Conversations.
And I learned, yet again, that I was missing some foundational structures in my planning.
Did you know that there's a Modern education model and a Classical education model? I didn't.
I had to learn more - and I am still learning more about it.
What I can say for now is, I feel God wants me to use the Classical Christian model of education for my children.
I'll tell you more about why I chose this and what it is - hopefully in my next post.
I leave you with this -
Proverbs 1:7-9
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Rewind
Back-tracking a moment.
Ok, gonna talk finances. Please understand, this is my story. Non-judgement zone. It works for me, it may or may not be right for you.
If you've read my previous entries, you know we don't currently pay rent nor have a mortgage. God provided in a miraculous was about four years ago.
And yet, it still hasn't been easy. Plus, we know the time is coming when that will change. Even so...
We dropped below the poverty line in income. We qualify for every possible financial/government aid out there, yet use none of it.
~ let's derail for a secondary topic.
😱 Why not use government assistance!?!? - you may ask. Well... We feel as though God wants us to trust Him to provide, and not trust the government. I'm not saying it's a horrible thing to use any government assistance, I'm saying that we (hubby and I) have prayed and discussed about it. Most of the programs are designed to help people get on their feet when they hit a hard time - temporary help. This living on one income is something we plan on doing for a while, so we need to figure out how to make it work. And you know what? God provides every time.
Now, back to my original topic - making finances work on a tight budget.
First, I know we are blessed to not have rent/mortgage. However, we still have to cut corners EVERYWHERE because, contrary to what people believe, my husband does not make a 6digit salary working on computers.
The computer repair business in a small city is not very lucrative.
How we manage to not over spend:
1: Trust, pray, obey. You know how I said we don't use gov't aid because we feel God wants us to trust in His provision? Well, thats step one.
Pray and find out what God wants you to do financially, and do it. Trusting Him, even if it seems crazy.
2: Savings account. We don't have a massive savings, but over time God has provided us a decent buffer in the bank to start an IRA (great considering you don't retire from being a SAHM and hubby won't 'retire' either) and build up a decent amount to provide either a good down-payment when we buy a house, or when we have to move provide a few years worth of rent until we can buy. It also gives us some comfort for when health issues arise.
3: Divide and conquer so one of the pair isn't overwhelmed by the lack of money. This also involves trust - of your partner.
~ My husband deals with the "bills". Electric, medical, insurance, broken vehicles, etc. All the monthly stuff and the big stuff, he takes care of.
~ I am responsible for food, child/school supplies, and daily whatever (gas...)
How I manage my set of finances:
* I have, over the past two years, written down every penny I spend in a notebook. One page, one month (Date, place, amount). At the end of each week I do a weekly tally to see if I'm on track over-all. At the end of the month, I see my total, but I also total up the groceries, eating out costs, and gas separately. Then I see if I can cut any more corners.
Let me tell you, this has been a GREAT help to me. When I started staying home, I was spending nearly $600 a month on stuff. Now, I tend to stay around $450.
How? I see where my money is going.
Example: I spent way more on groceries than I do now. I learned that even using coupons and sales, I spent more weekly at certain grocery stores than others.
We have a LOT of grocery choices. For me, Aldi cut my weekly grocery bill nearly in half (no joke). I also buy discount bread at the "day old" bakery in town. We live on eggs - when a dozen eggs is less than $0.90... I feed my family a healthy breakfast of eggs, liver mush, toast... Pretty much daily. $4.00 a week, breakfast for four people. Can't beat that.
~ Unfortunately, I have also cut costs in less healthy ways out of financial necessity. At Aldi, I can buy a can of veggies ($.46), Vienna sausages ($.39), and a box of Mac 'N Cheese ($.33), mix together and have lunch for my daughters for three days. This isn't a weekly thing, but it does happen...
Anyway, I also saw how much even grabbing a quick lunch off the dollar menu once a week was costing.
This encouraged me to start packing lunches when the girls and I will be out all day. Not the nicest meals, but affordable.
Other ways God has shown us to cut costs:
* We don't pay for TV. We don't really watch any TV (that's a different rant), so we have a tv and DVD player. That's it. No cable, satellite, Netflix....
* Our internet is only on our phones. This cuts costs, also cuts the desire to be on it all the time.
* During nice weather, I do not use the dryer. I have a clothes line, I use it regularly.
* We have a garden and preserve our food regularly. Canning, freezing, etc.
* We buy meat in bulk, on sale, and freeze it.
* We also don't shy away from rabbit, deer, etc. We have friends who like to hunt but don't like to eat venison. If they give us the skinned deer, we process it ourselves and freeze it. We also raised rabbits for a while - for the meat. It's a lot cheaper.
* We live a good bit outside of town, so we only go into town twice a week and do all our running in those days. With a 30 minute drive, the less often we take it the better (other than hubby, who drives the distance to work. Then again, he drives a car with good gas mileage, not the big thing I lug the kids around in.)
* Hand me downs... and downs... and downs... My children are two of nine cousins on my husbands side. Clothes get passed around. We also get hand-me-downs from church friends and pass them around. Between that and grandparents, I think I've spent $20 buying clothes/shoes for my children.
* When it gets to the end of the line, we consign stuff. There are more than five consignment stores in town, I take boxes around to each one. It helps. Yes, I donate stuff too, but when you need money (or store credit), consignment is a great idea.
* Reusable stuff. Cloth diapers, mommy cloths... It's a bit gross to transition to, but really once you do it a while you stop noticing. You really do save money in the long run, and you can get used cloth diapers pretty affordably.
* Being willing to do some work (yes, even as a SAHM). This is where school comes into play for me. I chose to join Classical Conversations (more about that later). It's not the cheapest, but because it's a curriculum and coop combined, there are ways to save money if you are willing. I first volunteered to help do the art/music, which would have simply off-set the tuition cost. Then, the need arose for another weekly tutor, and things in my personal and prayer life aligned to tell me to step into that role - which provides more of a financial help.
- Some moms become consultants for companies (Usborne, ThirtyOne, Avon....) or find an online/ work from home job. I know a few who work odd shifts so they are home during the day. That way they have some extra income without having to leave their children. Kudos to those women, I've done part-time work but never something quite that demanding.
So remember - Where Hod guides, He provides.
It may take time to adjust. It may be a bit "uncomfortable".
Yet... If God wants you to stay home and mathematically speaking it seems impossible, well... Isn't He the God of impossibilities?
Matthew 19:26
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
Proverbs 3:5-6
" Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Ok, gonna talk finances. Please understand, this is my story. Non-judgement zone. It works for me, it may or may not be right for you.
If you've read my previous entries, you know we don't currently pay rent nor have a mortgage. God provided in a miraculous was about four years ago.
And yet, it still hasn't been easy. Plus, we know the time is coming when that will change. Even so...
We dropped below the poverty line in income. We qualify for every possible financial/government aid out there, yet use none of it.
~ let's derail for a secondary topic.
😱 Why not use government assistance!?!? - you may ask. Well... We feel as though God wants us to trust Him to provide, and not trust the government. I'm not saying it's a horrible thing to use any government assistance, I'm saying that we (hubby and I) have prayed and discussed about it. Most of the programs are designed to help people get on their feet when they hit a hard time - temporary help. This living on one income is something we plan on doing for a while, so we need to figure out how to make it work. And you know what? God provides every time.
Now, back to my original topic - making finances work on a tight budget.
First, I know we are blessed to not have rent/mortgage. However, we still have to cut corners EVERYWHERE because, contrary to what people believe, my husband does not make a 6digit salary working on computers.
The computer repair business in a small city is not very lucrative.
How we manage to not over spend:
1: Trust, pray, obey. You know how I said we don't use gov't aid because we feel God wants us to trust in His provision? Well, thats step one.
Pray and find out what God wants you to do financially, and do it. Trusting Him, even if it seems crazy.
2: Savings account. We don't have a massive savings, but over time God has provided us a decent buffer in the bank to start an IRA (great considering you don't retire from being a SAHM and hubby won't 'retire' either) and build up a decent amount to provide either a good down-payment when we buy a house, or when we have to move provide a few years worth of rent until we can buy. It also gives us some comfort for when health issues arise.
3: Divide and conquer so one of the pair isn't overwhelmed by the lack of money. This also involves trust - of your partner.
~ My husband deals with the "bills". Electric, medical, insurance, broken vehicles, etc. All the monthly stuff and the big stuff, he takes care of.
~ I am responsible for food, child/school supplies, and daily whatever (gas...)
How I manage my set of finances:
* I have, over the past two years, written down every penny I spend in a notebook. One page, one month (Date, place, amount). At the end of each week I do a weekly tally to see if I'm on track over-all. At the end of the month, I see my total, but I also total up the groceries, eating out costs, and gas separately. Then I see if I can cut any more corners.
Let me tell you, this has been a GREAT help to me. When I started staying home, I was spending nearly $600 a month on stuff. Now, I tend to stay around $450.
How? I see where my money is going.
Example: I spent way more on groceries than I do now. I learned that even using coupons and sales, I spent more weekly at certain grocery stores than others.
We have a LOT of grocery choices. For me, Aldi cut my weekly grocery bill nearly in half (no joke). I also buy discount bread at the "day old" bakery in town. We live on eggs - when a dozen eggs is less than $0.90... I feed my family a healthy breakfast of eggs, liver mush, toast... Pretty much daily. $4.00 a week, breakfast for four people. Can't beat that.
~ Unfortunately, I have also cut costs in less healthy ways out of financial necessity. At Aldi, I can buy a can of veggies ($.46), Vienna sausages ($.39), and a box of Mac 'N Cheese ($.33), mix together and have lunch for my daughters for three days. This isn't a weekly thing, but it does happen...
Anyway, I also saw how much even grabbing a quick lunch off the dollar menu once a week was costing.
This encouraged me to start packing lunches when the girls and I will be out all day. Not the nicest meals, but affordable.
Other ways God has shown us to cut costs:
* We don't pay for TV. We don't really watch any TV (that's a different rant), so we have a tv and DVD player. That's it. No cable, satellite, Netflix....
* Our internet is only on our phones. This cuts costs, also cuts the desire to be on it all the time.
* During nice weather, I do not use the dryer. I have a clothes line, I use it regularly.
* We have a garden and preserve our food regularly. Canning, freezing, etc.
* We buy meat in bulk, on sale, and freeze it.
* We also don't shy away from rabbit, deer, etc. We have friends who like to hunt but don't like to eat venison. If they give us the skinned deer, we process it ourselves and freeze it. We also raised rabbits for a while - for the meat. It's a lot cheaper.
* We live a good bit outside of town, so we only go into town twice a week and do all our running in those days. With a 30 minute drive, the less often we take it the better (other than hubby, who drives the distance to work. Then again, he drives a car with good gas mileage, not the big thing I lug the kids around in.)
* Hand me downs... and downs... and downs... My children are two of nine cousins on my husbands side. Clothes get passed around. We also get hand-me-downs from church friends and pass them around. Between that and grandparents, I think I've spent $20 buying clothes/shoes for my children.
* When it gets to the end of the line, we consign stuff. There are more than five consignment stores in town, I take boxes around to each one. It helps. Yes, I donate stuff too, but when you need money (or store credit), consignment is a great idea.
* Reusable stuff. Cloth diapers, mommy cloths... It's a bit gross to transition to, but really once you do it a while you stop noticing. You really do save money in the long run, and you can get used cloth diapers pretty affordably.
* Being willing to do some work (yes, even as a SAHM). This is where school comes into play for me. I chose to join Classical Conversations (more about that later). It's not the cheapest, but because it's a curriculum and coop combined, there are ways to save money if you are willing. I first volunteered to help do the art/music, which would have simply off-set the tuition cost. Then, the need arose for another weekly tutor, and things in my personal and prayer life aligned to tell me to step into that role - which provides more of a financial help.
- Some moms become consultants for companies (Usborne, ThirtyOne, Avon....) or find an online/ work from home job. I know a few who work odd shifts so they are home during the day. That way they have some extra income without having to leave their children. Kudos to those women, I've done part-time work but never something quite that demanding.
So remember - Where Hod guides, He provides.
It may take time to adjust. It may be a bit "uncomfortable".
Yet... If God wants you to stay home and mathematically speaking it seems impossible, well... Isn't He the God of impossibilities?
Matthew 19:26
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
Proverbs 3:5-6
" Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Philippians 4:13
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Pre-homeschool
Pre-schooling M'ija (my eldest) was ideal. Truly.
She was the only child for three years, so it was easy to dedicate exactly the time needed (while still getting housework done!)
We read daily (I'm a bookworm, we both were happy), did the educational puzzles regularly, counted everything, compared big/small, etc. All. The. Time.
She's also been the type that wanted to sit on my lap. All. The. Time.
So, the learning aspect of play was just... Easy. Ideal, really.
And cheap. Seriously, yard sales and consignment stores. Alphabet puzzles, shape and color puzzles abound.
I also bought those little puff balls used in crafts; they're great for counting, color sorting, comparing sizes, all sorts of stuff.
After her little sister was born, she CRAVED extra mommy time. Understandable, she was used to my (mostly) undivided attention.
Cue nap time!
So, when baby went down for her naps, I spent the time counting, doing puzzles and phonetics, and reading to M'ija. A lady from church bought a collection of Dick and Jane books, and one day, not long after her 4th birthday, I decided to let her try to read.
Shock! She can sound out many of the sight words... I was impressed. Ecstatic even.
I wondered what else she could do, so I bought math flash cards. Yeah, she can add and subtract up to ten easily / she can add more, but it's difficult because she uses her fingers.
Preschool for her was really what everyone dreams preschool would be.
Even as MiSol got older and napped less, M'ija could do things on her own (tracing words, mazes, 24-48 piece puzzles, etc) while I was trying to get the youngest to just stop crying.
Oh, yeah, the "other child".
Can I just say that preschooling one child is VASTLY different than trying to teach two?
First, your time is now divided.
Second, you have to figure out a different personality and learning style.
Third, jealousy. Oh my... I never dreamed how green the eyes of my precious children would turn (figuratively).
Happily, my eldest still loves any opportunity to learn, so she will do word tracing, reading, etc while I wash dishes (the table is right behind my back, it's easy for me to turn and look), do flash cards and math when she wakes up early from her nap, stuff like that. I can even get her to read to her sister!
MiSol, the littlest? Yeah, haven't really started with her yet. She's the type that doesn't sit still for more than... 15 seconds. I'm a bit behind, comparatively, but she does learn from her sister.
I'm coming to the conclusion that the little siblings, while they miss out on the large amount of one-on-one time the oldest gets, they see the older ones doing things and learn from example. It balances out eventually. I'm still waiting, but certainly....
The beauty (and uncertainty) of homeschool is that it's different for each child.
Beautiful because it's personalized for your and their needs.
Uncertain because, if one way works for one child but you have to do it different for the other, you're not sure if you are doing it right.
I'm not sure if I'm doing it "right" with my second. She's happy, healthy, seems to be mostly on track with the others in her library group... She's just not moving as fast as her sister was.
Comparisons. We know we aren't supposed to compare, yet we do anyway. It's a battle that leaves us feeling insufficient.
Then I remember - God blessed me with these children.
*Proverbs 17:6
"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."
*Psalm 113:9
"He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD."
He has a plan for me with these children.
*Proverbs 22:6
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
*Isaiah 54:13
"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children."
So I will pray, I will do my best, and trust God with the outcome. I believe, as long as I keep God in the center of it all, I will one day be able to say what John said in 3 John verse 4
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."
She was the only child for three years, so it was easy to dedicate exactly the time needed (while still getting housework done!)
We read daily (I'm a bookworm, we both were happy), did the educational puzzles regularly, counted everything, compared big/small, etc. All. The. Time.
She's also been the type that wanted to sit on my lap. All. The. Time.
So, the learning aspect of play was just... Easy. Ideal, really.
And cheap. Seriously, yard sales and consignment stores. Alphabet puzzles, shape and color puzzles abound.
I also bought those little puff balls used in crafts; they're great for counting, color sorting, comparing sizes, all sorts of stuff.
After her little sister was born, she CRAVED extra mommy time. Understandable, she was used to my (mostly) undivided attention.
Cue nap time!
So, when baby went down for her naps, I spent the time counting, doing puzzles and phonetics, and reading to M'ija. A lady from church bought a collection of Dick and Jane books, and one day, not long after her 4th birthday, I decided to let her try to read.
Shock! She can sound out many of the sight words... I was impressed. Ecstatic even.
I wondered what else she could do, so I bought math flash cards. Yeah, she can add and subtract up to ten easily / she can add more, but it's difficult because she uses her fingers.
Preschool for her was really what everyone dreams preschool would be.
Even as MiSol got older and napped less, M'ija could do things on her own (tracing words, mazes, 24-48 piece puzzles, etc) while I was trying to get the youngest to just stop crying.
Oh, yeah, the "other child".
Can I just say that preschooling one child is VASTLY different than trying to teach two?
First, your time is now divided.
Second, you have to figure out a different personality and learning style.
Third, jealousy. Oh my... I never dreamed how green the eyes of my precious children would turn (figuratively).
Happily, my eldest still loves any opportunity to learn, so she will do word tracing, reading, etc while I wash dishes (the table is right behind my back, it's easy for me to turn and look), do flash cards and math when she wakes up early from her nap, stuff like that. I can even get her to read to her sister!
MiSol, the littlest? Yeah, haven't really started with her yet. She's the type that doesn't sit still for more than... 15 seconds. I'm a bit behind, comparatively, but she does learn from her sister.
I'm coming to the conclusion that the little siblings, while they miss out on the large amount of one-on-one time the oldest gets, they see the older ones doing things and learn from example. It balances out eventually. I'm still waiting, but certainly....
The beauty (and uncertainty) of homeschool is that it's different for each child.
Beautiful because it's personalized for your and their needs.
Uncertain because, if one way works for one child but you have to do it different for the other, you're not sure if you are doing it right.
I'm not sure if I'm doing it "right" with my second. She's happy, healthy, seems to be mostly on track with the others in her library group... She's just not moving as fast as her sister was.
Comparisons. We know we aren't supposed to compare, yet we do anyway. It's a battle that leaves us feeling insufficient.
Then I remember - God blessed me with these children.
*Proverbs 17:6
"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."
*Psalm 113:9
"He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD."
He has a plan for me with these children.
*Proverbs 22:6
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
*Isaiah 54:13
"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children."
So I will pray, I will do my best, and trust God with the outcome. I believe, as long as I keep God in the center of it all, I will one day be able to say what John said in 3 John verse 4
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."
Friday, July 21, 2017
Preparing to Homeschool
I'm a bit of an over-planner by nature. I don't freak out when things don't go as planned, but I can't stand to not have a plan.
- Did I mention the first homeschool convention we went to, my firstborn wasn't even born yet?
Yeah, so I was planning my homeschool before I even quit my public job. Before I had even given birth to a child.
Crazy? Yeah, possibly, a bit...
What were my expectations, anyway?
1. I was public schooled
2. I taught public school
These greatly influenced my thought as to what my homeschool would look like.
I actually wanted to buy a school desk to put in the office or living room. I wanted the cubby for all her school stuff, and a desk for all my teachery stuff.
I went to conventions and workshops (ask any school teacher, we do these a lot), took notes, and learned....
Homeschool does NOT look like public school.
DUH!
II Corinthians 6:17a "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord...."
Another stumbling block:
There are millions of curricula out there! How do you possibly choose what will work best for your child? I mean, I've done the differentiation for students, but this.... It takes on a new meaning when you're spending your personal funds (now cut back drastically) and you haven't figured out what homeschooling is really like yet.
Hard to prepare for that. I had four years of college, and a few years teaching before I had to worry about textbooks in the classroom.
I soon realized my "expectations" blew up into pieces and I could go no further because I hadn't asked the foundational questions:
- Why homeschool?
- What is the worldview I want my child(ren) to learn by?
- If she (they) only truly learn one thing, what do I want that to be?
- What type of person do I hope they grow up to be?
Let's face it - if I don't know the answers to those questions, I cannot properly plan my homeschool.
So? My answers:
- I want control over what my children learn. (Eph. 6:4, Deut. 6:7-9)
- I want to instill a Biblical worldview into their minds/hearts. (II Cor. 10:5, Rom. 12:2)
- I want them to learn to distinguish truth from falsehoods. (James 3:13-18)
- I want them to be dedicated, Christ followers. (Prov. 22:6, I Cor. 15:33)
Surprisingly, though this narrows down a lot of my choices, it was still overwhelming.
My oldest (M'ija) is a fast learner, I knew she'd be ready (and desire) to start school early. So I prayed. I knew I could forgo a strict curriculum her kindergarten year, but I wanted a PLAN.
Every thing falls to the wayside if I don't have a plan. May not go according to the plan, but it won't go at all without one.
Am I the only one like that?
Anyway, I prayed, scoured Pinterest and Google, read blogs...
Philippians 4:6-7 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus ."
Then we started "preschool." ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/pastorcabbyjr/12307468365
- Did I mention the first homeschool convention we went to, my firstborn wasn't even born yet?
Yeah, so I was planning my homeschool before I even quit my public job. Before I had even given birth to a child.
Crazy? Yeah, possibly, a bit...
What were my expectations, anyway?
1. I was public schooled
2. I taught public school
These greatly influenced my thought as to what my homeschool would look like.
I actually wanted to buy a school desk to put in the office or living room. I wanted the cubby for all her school stuff, and a desk for all my teachery stuff.
I went to conventions and workshops (ask any school teacher, we do these a lot), took notes, and learned....
Homeschool does NOT look like public school.
DUH!
II Corinthians 6:17a "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord...."
Another stumbling block:
There are millions of curricula out there! How do you possibly choose what will work best for your child? I mean, I've done the differentiation for students, but this.... It takes on a new meaning when you're spending your personal funds (now cut back drastically) and you haven't figured out what homeschooling is really like yet.
Hard to prepare for that. I had four years of college, and a few years teaching before I had to worry about textbooks in the classroom.
I soon realized my "expectations" blew up into pieces and I could go no further because I hadn't asked the foundational questions:
- Why homeschool?
- What is the worldview I want my child(ren) to learn by?
- If she (they) only truly learn one thing, what do I want that to be?
- What type of person do I hope they grow up to be?
Let's face it - if I don't know the answers to those questions, I cannot properly plan my homeschool.
So? My answers:
- I want control over what my children learn. (Eph. 6:4, Deut. 6:7-9)
- I want to instill a Biblical worldview into their minds/hearts. (II Cor. 10:5, Rom. 12:2)
- I want them to learn to distinguish truth from falsehoods. (James 3:13-18)
- I want them to be dedicated, Christ followers. (Prov. 22:6, I Cor. 15:33)
Surprisingly, though this narrows down a lot of my choices, it was still overwhelming.
My oldest (M'ija) is a fast learner, I knew she'd be ready (and desire) to start school early. So I prayed. I knew I could forgo a strict curriculum her kindergarten year, but I wanted a PLAN.
Every thing falls to the wayside if I don't have a plan. May not go according to the plan, but it won't go at all without one.
Am I the only one like that?
Anyway, I prayed, scoured Pinterest and Google, read blogs...
Philippians 4:6-7 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus ."
Then we started "preschool." ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/pastorcabbyjr/12307468365
Friday, June 30, 2017
I thought you loved your job?
What does it take to get a successful bread winning wife who loves her job to quit and stay home?
God.
Seriously. Like I stated in my previous post, even though my husband and I knew we wanted to homeschool our children, we didn't see how that would be possible.
We lived in an apartment in town, paying about $475 rent, plus utilities and such. No cable, satellite, Netflix.... We were making ends meet when my first child was born.
Daycare..? Are you kidding me? Ok, not all daycares are bad, but the ones we would have been able to afford on our budget just weren't an option.
God provides.
There's a lady about my moms age who stayed home. She wasn't looking for extra income, but it would be useful with the Med bills and extra stuff she was doing to help her aging mother.
She agreed to take in our daughter at a really cheap price for us but reasonable enough to make it worth it for her.
I give birth in October and return to work in January, dropping off my daughter with a woman I could trust.
- Did I mention I worked 35 minutes away from where I lived and she lives 15 minutes from where I worked, almost on the way? How well did that work out!?
Summer comes and we are soooo strapped for cash. We ended up having to dig into saving for the daily necessities (diapers, food, etc)
We start wondering - what's next? How will we do this?
Enter God.
Warning: this may be a bit hard to follow, but it is every bit true.
A deacon at our church had a brother who has to move into a nursing home due to his health. A widow, no children. No one else in the family needed the house, but they couldn't sell or rent the house without messing up his Medicare and other financial stuff in regards to paying the nursing home.
They also didn't want the house to fall into disrepair.
In short, a caretaker for the house was wanted. Rent free, the expectations were to pay taxes and keep up the house and yard repairs as needed.
This house was also a LOT closer to our babysitter and my job.
Naturally, they wanted a dependable family to do this so the house wouldn't be used for any illegal or otherwise undesirable activities.
Our deacon suggested us, knowing we were strapped for cash and starting a family.
After meeting with the lady over the estate, we moved in the week after July 4th (nearly 4 years ago).
Talk about a blessing! We were actually able to begin to save money again for a few months.
I found out I was pregnant again in November after moving in. We were thrilled, hubby and I want a big family.
Unfortunately, I found out right before Christmas that I miscarried. Twins. This resulted in needing a D&C. However, because we weren't paying rent, we had the money for the bills.
The next school year nears the end and my babysitter, as wonderful as she is, would no longer be able to care for my daughter the next year because her mothers needs were growing and she couldn't handle both. Hubby and got to praying - what do we do? We didn't (and still don't) blame her, you have to care for your family first.
Turns out, it was part of Gods plan. It was clear.
Time for me to stay home.
I said goodbye to the people I worked with and began my journey as a housewife / stay at home mom. We could now afford it because...
1) no monthly rent
2) no "extras" like Internet, cable, etc
3) line drying clothes in the nice days
4) wood heat in the winter
God sent me home when my oldest was 19 months old.
It's not been an easy journey, but I don't regret it.
God always provides, in ways we couldn't imagine or even ask for.
God.
Seriously. Like I stated in my previous post, even though my husband and I knew we wanted to homeschool our children, we didn't see how that would be possible.
We lived in an apartment in town, paying about $475 rent, plus utilities and such. No cable, satellite, Netflix.... We were making ends meet when my first child was born.
Daycare..? Are you kidding me? Ok, not all daycares are bad, but the ones we would have been able to afford on our budget just weren't an option.
God provides.
There's a lady about my moms age who stayed home. She wasn't looking for extra income, but it would be useful with the Med bills and extra stuff she was doing to help her aging mother.
She agreed to take in our daughter at a really cheap price for us but reasonable enough to make it worth it for her.
I give birth in October and return to work in January, dropping off my daughter with a woman I could trust.
- Did I mention I worked 35 minutes away from where I lived and she lives 15 minutes from where I worked, almost on the way? How well did that work out!?
Summer comes and we are soooo strapped for cash. We ended up having to dig into saving for the daily necessities (diapers, food, etc)
We start wondering - what's next? How will we do this?
Enter God.
Warning: this may be a bit hard to follow, but it is every bit true.
A deacon at our church had a brother who has to move into a nursing home due to his health. A widow, no children. No one else in the family needed the house, but they couldn't sell or rent the house without messing up his Medicare and other financial stuff in regards to paying the nursing home.
They also didn't want the house to fall into disrepair.
In short, a caretaker for the house was wanted. Rent free, the expectations were to pay taxes and keep up the house and yard repairs as needed.
This house was also a LOT closer to our babysitter and my job.
Naturally, they wanted a dependable family to do this so the house wouldn't be used for any illegal or otherwise undesirable activities.
Our deacon suggested us, knowing we were strapped for cash and starting a family.
After meeting with the lady over the estate, we moved in the week after July 4th (nearly 4 years ago).
Talk about a blessing! We were actually able to begin to save money again for a few months.
I found out I was pregnant again in November after moving in. We were thrilled, hubby and I want a big family.
Unfortunately, I found out right before Christmas that I miscarried. Twins. This resulted in needing a D&C. However, because we weren't paying rent, we had the money for the bills.
The next school year nears the end and my babysitter, as wonderful as she is, would no longer be able to care for my daughter the next year because her mothers needs were growing and she couldn't handle both. Hubby and got to praying - what do we do? We didn't (and still don't) blame her, you have to care for your family first.
Turns out, it was part of Gods plan. It was clear.
I said goodbye to the people I worked with and began my journey as a housewife / stay at home mom. We could now afford it because...
1) no monthly rent
2) no "extras" like Internet, cable, etc
3) line drying clothes in the nice days
4) wood heat in the winter
God sent me home when my oldest was 19 months old.
It's not been an easy journey, but I don't regret it.
God always provides, in ways we couldn't imagine or even ask for.
Friday, June 9, 2017
Who are you and why are we here?
Ok, so introductions.
I'm Christina. 30(some) year old. Wife of Hubby, mom of two lovely girls this side of heaven (M'ija is four and a half, MiSol is 20 months).
Preachers wife, Sunday school teacher, former public school teacher (Spanish: 7 years middle school, one in high school), Housewife, Stay at home
Mom, substitute teacher on the side.
Married to my high school sweetheart. Living in the middle of nowhere with some rabbits, chickens, and a small veggie garden.
I could go on and on, since everyone has many aspects of their life that describe them, but I shall move on considering that is not the full purpose of this blog post.
I'm starting this blog to share my experiences- and to record them. I know there are tons of other people with their blogs, I won't say mine will be the diamond amidst the coals, but since I have friends a few years behind me debating homeschooling I thought it might be nice to share my journey.
See, even before we had children, my husband and I felt led to homeschool them. Mind you, we were both public schooled and had no idea how to go about homeschooling. Also, we knew I would be the one to stay home, yet I was the college educated one with the higher paying job.
Trust God. That is my point for today.
Five, six years ago, if you had told me my life would be what it is now and my oldest would be starting school next year, I would have told you to write a novel and sell it.
God has worked miracles to get me to where I am today. The path has not been easy, but it has been worth it. I am beyond blessed.
So, if you feel God is telling you to homeschool your children, but are uncertain of the hows and other details, then check back and read as my story unfolds.
If you are uncertain if you should homeschool, keep praying. God will make it clear.
And check back here to see how my story unfolds.
Or, just come back and read my story as I update it. Even if you don't have children, perhaps my story can encourage you. Much has happened to me that proves God works miracles even in the duly lives of the unimportant and unimpressive.
I'm Christina. 30(some) year old. Wife of Hubby, mom of two lovely girls this side of heaven (M'ija is four and a half, MiSol is 20 months).
Preachers wife, Sunday school teacher, former public school teacher (Spanish: 7 years middle school, one in high school), Housewife, Stay at home
Mom, substitute teacher on the side.
Married to my high school sweetheart. Living in the middle of nowhere with some rabbits, chickens, and a small veggie garden.
I could go on and on, since everyone has many aspects of their life that describe them, but I shall move on considering that is not the full purpose of this blog post.
I'm starting this blog to share my experiences- and to record them. I know there are tons of other people with their blogs, I won't say mine will be the diamond amidst the coals, but since I have friends a few years behind me debating homeschooling I thought it might be nice to share my journey.
See, even before we had children, my husband and I felt led to homeschool them. Mind you, we were both public schooled and had no idea how to go about homeschooling. Also, we knew I would be the one to stay home, yet I was the college educated one with the higher paying job.
Five, six years ago, if you had told me my life would be what it is now and my oldest would be starting school next year, I would have told you to write a novel and sell it.
God has worked miracles to get me to where I am today. The path has not been easy, but it has been worth it. I am beyond blessed.
So, if you feel God is telling you to homeschool your children, but are uncertain of the hows and other details, then check back and read as my story unfolds.
If you are uncertain if you should homeschool, keep praying. God will make it clear.
And check back here to see how my story unfolds.
Or, just come back and read my story as I update it. Even if you don't have children, perhaps my story can encourage you. Much has happened to me that proves God works miracles even in the duly lives of the unimportant and unimpressive.
As is often stated, we never know what happens in the lives of those around us; what battles they are facing or have faced. Rarely does anyone know the whole story of someone else's life.
I will attempt to be as honest here as possible and prudent.
School starts in August, so I have to be sure to tell the back story before we deal with the chaos is homeschool kindergarden...
God bless!
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