Life in the Fast Lane...

...or at least that is what this feels like.

Each week ticks by like a day...

Each day feels like just a few moments...

What has happened?

Time used to seem like it stood still. Remember waiting for the bell to ring in school? Remember sitting on the porch and being "bored?"

Here's my theory...Somehow, as you get older time begins to speed up. It starts going faster and faster until... well, until you're just plain out of it.

Camp Adventures

Wow... again another few busy weeks. We have been recuperating from a week at camp with over 100 degree temperatures. It is always a great blessing to be able to go to camp with our young people. It seems like God gets them apart from the world and daily distractions and really gets to their hearts.

It was a huge blessing to watch 40 young people worship God, testify, and dedicate their lives to living for Christ. Though we probably sweat bucket loads... it was well worth it!

I love watching my children grow in the Lord, and Camp Fairview seems to allwise enable this. Thank you Lord for your love, mercy, and grace!

What is going on with my life?

I know I have been quite negligent in my posting here at Faith and a Full House... but that's just it... I have a full house! Everytime I turn around these days there is a huge catastrophe awaiting my attention. I am sure all of you  mothers with many children can commiserate! Somedays I can't even find the time to shower... yeah - I know... that's gross.

Just this past week we have had a series of "freak" accidents at our house. Really, I'm not sure if I should call them freak or just kid related incidents that make me freak out.

The first eerie... no... GROSS situation occured while I was fixing lunch for the kids. All of a sudden I felt drops of water hitting my face from the built in range vent hood. At first, I didn't get what was going on... then the sound of running water hit me (or should I say dripped on me)! Someone had plugged the toilet and then the toilet was stuck running... and now it was dripping from the second floor through the ceiling down through the vent hood and onto my face....YYYUUUUKKK! Of course, I ran upstairs to take care of the issue - but needed way more towels than I had anticipated! Eventually, I got all of the water up - and then took another shower....grrr.....

After I had the nasty toiletty water towels safely washing in the machine, I heard a knock at the door. I go to answer, and there is a nice deputy sheriff waiting for my attention. I kindly asked what it was that he needed, and he proceeded to tell me that someone from our house had called 911 and he was just checking it out. Now, I thought the toilet incident was pretty bad, but not quite bad enough to call 911 over. So, who called? Yeah... you guessed it my precious little blue eyed three year old! I apologized profusely that he had to come by my house when there were real criminals out there needing his attention. He did look at me rather weird when I said that, maybe I look like a criminal or something - OR maybe he can read minds!!! I then proceeded back into the house to debrief my dear little ones over the importance of NOT calling 911 unless someone is bleeding, hurt, or dying. I think they got it... let's hope.

Over the weekend our dogs kept mysteriously getting shocked (shock collars) everytime they stepped out of the back door. I shut off their transmitter, and still they wouldn't go past the back steps. They wouldn't use the bathroom for over a day! Yes, they finally they got over it - it was pretty bad - we thought we were going to have labradoodles. :)

Then yesterday my dear sweet Jordan was telling me about some amazing thing she had done and just tripped over her own feet and broke open her chin on the door jamb. I mean... crazy! It swelled up huge and now is a lovely shade of purple.  Oh... this is not the extent of her amazing capabilities... later that day she was hopping on one foot with her other leg bent over and pulling on her ankle. Fun... but it popped her knee out of socket... screams... tears...all I could think of was, "What am I going to tell the emergency room now? (purple chin and knee out of socket) 'Yes, doctor she just did it to herself'!"... but thank God while I was thinking through that one... daddy came to the rescue and rubbed it the right way and it popped back in.

Tomorrow I am going to try to work on my income taxes... do you think I'll make it through alive?

Creation Evangelism 2011

I am so excited about the outreach our church is doing this year.  We have been planning for several months now, an evangelistic outreach ministry to our town. We are hoping to reach our town through distribution of DVDs, materials, visitation, and gospel CDs. Would you pray with us about this ministry?
We are trying to reach our whole town with a Creation DVD.  I am posting it here if you want to check it out.  We have also tried to find some tract/brocures that support creation evangelism. 


What really put it all together for me was one of Ken Ham's videos.  He stated that today we are fighting a losing battle against the effects of an eroded foundation.  We are trying to battle the decay in many areas... but we are not getting to the root of the problem.  This is what really spoke to me... the root is the fact that over the past century the foundational belief that GOD  created the heavens and the earth in a literal 6 days has been attacked and evolution has now given many people the "godless" belief of their beginnings.  When man believes that he has been created by chance, on accident, he then does not have to acknowledge a Creator God.  Yet, if man agrees that there was a CREATOR... then man is responsible to that Creator... and must then follow his Creator's will for his life.  Also, if Gen. 1:1 is not true, then the rest of God's Word is not true.

Basically - no Creator - no responsibility - no sin - no right - no wrong.  Can you see it?  This is so true... this is IT.  This is exactlly where our society is... exactly what has happened to us! If we can restore that foundation... the fact that man was created by God... and that Genesis 1:1 is true... then man must also agree that the rest of God's Word is true as well. We are accountable to a holy God, and that one day man will face his Creator and give an account of his life.  Oh... that God would give us souls in our town that through this ministry may be prepared to meet HIM on that day!

Generation Misdiagnosed

I was recently reading an article that nearly made my blood boil.  Researchers are now saying that there are nearly 1 million children in the United States that are misdiagnosed with ADHD.  Boy, did I see that coming.  In the early nineties, when I was teaching in school this was so common.  Although our school was a proponent of natural rememdies, I had many children who were treated with ADHD drugs.  Many of them were truly discipline problems even WITH their medication.  Often I could not tell a difference between their behavior on the drugs or off the drugs. (which by the way, leads teachers to suggest higher doses and on and on)  But now, a decade later we are trying to rein in a horse that has run free for way too long. What damage has already been done to the previous generations that are now trying to function as adults?

The other article that I read stated that often the issues associated with ADHD can be resolved with play, "green" time, and excercise.  The studies cited in this article mentioned that children were tested with no play time - with play time indoors - and with  playtime outside.  Which do you think responded better?  I can only imagine that you would answer - play out of doors.  It is so true - children are created to discover, to learn through play, if we take that from them - WE are the ones causing these issues.  Here's the kicker - guess what teachers in schools do to children who are misbehaving?  They take away their playtime - the time they need outside to release their energy - to discover - and to play.  You see, a vicious circle ensues.  Misbehavior, no play time, more misbehavior, teacher diagnoses child as ADHD, child put on medication, misbehavior...  What did we do 100 years ago when there wasn't ADHD?

Just go play outside...

Home sweet home...

Yes, I know... I have been a stranger lately... but we are finally back to our "home sweet home." With piles of laundry, neglected projects, and a desk that had become a mountain of "to do's", I haven't had much of a chance to breathe let alone write. The desk mountain is now at about half capacity, the laundry is almost caught up, and well... the neglected projects are getting a lick and a promise because next week is church youth camp. AND you guessed it... we start all over again.

I have tons of pictures I want to share, and even some of our updates about homeschooling this fall.  I promise it is coming soon -

When I was little, I had a small picture in my room that my grandmother embroidered for me... it said, "Please be patient, God isn't finished with me yet." I guess that is my motto this summer!

A Busy Summer

I have been so busy lately that I have obviously neglected my writing...  but we have had some wonderful adventures!

We had a great week at our church's yearly Camp Meeting.  Wonderful preaching, great fellowship, lives were changed, and souls were saved!

After camp meeting we left for a bit of family free time, we went to visit my parents and stopped off at Galveston for a couple days.  We enjoyed the beauty of creation and loved watching the ocean, the flying fish, and the pelicans sweeping down for their bit of lunch.

We left Galveston after frying our children.... accidentally... in the sun, and went to visit Nana and Papa.  We took a little day trip to the Wichita Mountains, and had a great time hiking up the mountains (or us Easterners used to the Appalachians would call them more "large rock piles" :)

Beautiful scenery! The kids enjoyed the hike, but Jordan got a bit hot and got sick...

We stopped at a little "hole in the wall" that is ranked 8th in the nation for its burgers!  Meers Restaurant a very dignified place to eat...hmmmm...

Would you go in?

Right before we ordered... Jordan said she was hot and had a headache so we headed for the bathroom, but on our way.... she threw up next to the table beside us...  and they had just ordered their "hand cut steaks"... so sorry...

Here it is folks... the whole reason we risked our lives going in to that building...the supposedly famous... Meers burger...

tasted good, but I would have rather had one of Dad's grilled hamburgers at home... where the kitchen is actually clean.

Stay tuned.... the Texas adventures are still in progress...

Where are the Lazy Days of Summer????

My thoughts today...

I love summer, always have... I enjoy the summer break from

home education

and

tutoring

as much as my children... well, at least I usually do!

This year it seems like no "break" has come??

What is up with that?

 I think I need a vacation from my summer vacation....

Our Family Album

This post is especially for Nana and Papa.  Just so they can see how absolutely proud they should be of their grandchildren.  Can you imagine what they will be like when they grow up??  This ought to be good!

Chloe - Boredom and a sheet of stickers

Abbey and a rattlesnake...       Permanent marker tatoos -  Wyatt

Haley - whatcha eatin?

Desperate for horses - Jo and Slater

Baby Powder snow...

brush those teeth girl... Charis

Wanting to swim in Feb. - Cameron

Josey May and Silas - still too young to be as strange as the others....

Silas and Josey -

Homeschool Math

I am absolutely thrilled with how the homeschool culture is growing. The last decade has seen a huge increase in new homeschoolers, and public opinion of homeschooling is definitely changing.  A decade ago homeschooling was still considered the "odd" thing to do... there are still those who may think that way... but there is a growing positive outlook on homeschooling.  Yet, with all of the positive changes there is also a major influx of homeschooling curriculum.  The options are seemingly endless.  How do we know which courses of study are well designed and will fit what we want for our homeschool?  This problem is probably one of the hardest aspects of homeschooling.  Finding the right curriculum out of the hundreds that are out there is no easy task.  In the next few weeks, I'd like to post the most popular homeschool curriculum based on the responses of many homeschooling families that I know, as well as several articles from magazines such as The Old Schoolhouse.

I will start with the most popular homschool math that is available for homeschoolers as well as some of the curriculum that I have used.

Workbook Based Homeschool Math Curriculum:
 By far the most popular for elementary math and preschool is probably ABEKA. I think almost every homeschooling family has heard of this kit/workbook based curriculum.  They are strong in most all of their subjects, and have had decades of solid performance under their belts. I went to a Christian school as a child, and this is the curriculum that I used through twelfth grade.  I scored well on my PSAT and ACT and had no problem with college level work. 
BJU press is a similar well proven curriculum that also has several decades of strong performance to speak of. I have a degree from BJU and do believe that their curriculum is a fine course of study. We have used the elementary reading series and a science curriculum. The BJU math is very manipulatives based and goes at a slower pace than ABEKA.
Saxon Math is another forerunner in the homeschool arena.  This series has been out for several decades as well and has produced very well founded math students. Saxon math is strong in review... so much review that many homeschoolers just skip some of the review assignments.
Alpha Omega offers a complete homeschool curriculum as well and has also been around for many years. Alpha Omega offers several different options from Lifepacs (workbooks) to computer based learning programs. It is a strong curriculum, and many of my personal friends have used the Switched on Schoolhouse program.
Singapore math is an increasingly popular choice among homeschoolers these days.  I have heard good things about this curriculum. It does not have the long track record of some of these other products, but it seems to be  solid curriculum.
Math U See is a great option for students who have difficulty with typical math curriculums. Math U See is manipulatives based and even has accompaning DVDs to help the parent/teacher.
Time4Learning is a complete homeschool curriculum that offers math. We have personally used this program, and it is a great option. It is a standards based curriculum available online for PreK through 8th grade.
Houghton Mifflin math texts for the high school are what we use for our upper grades math.  I have a degree in math so I enjoy teaching my children Algebra and such but this is not an easy road for everyone. If you have a difficult time with high school math yourself you may want to consider a curriculum that is teacher led and taught. ABEKA, BJU, Alpha Omega all offer individual math courses with an actual teacher teaching the course.

There are many free resources available online for help with teaching math. Here are a few:

Hippo Campus
AlgeBasics
Interactive Mathematics
Math TV.com

Comment if you have any great curriculum that you would like to recommend!

A Busy Weekend

Just thought I would share some photos with you of our weekend.  It was our anniversary on April 10th.

Investigating the creek

Patiently watching...

All dressed up for church!

Us - before we went out to dinner...

I can't believe it has been 17 years... time flies when you're having fun!

Home school Curriculum

It's that time of year, isn't it? Have you been thinking about your plans for next year's home school? I sure have. I know exactly what I am NOT going to use next year! That's the easy part right? Though a few things will get scratched from our list, there are a few things we used this year that quickly became favorites. I guess we could call them "keepers", like Time4Learning, Apologia Science, Rosetta Stone Spanish, The Mystery of History, Memoria Press Latin and certain ABEKA subjects.

On the other hand, there are a few things on our list to "try" next year. I have heard so much about the merits of Time4Writing, and with all the struggles we had churning out a few research papers this year, I know it's time for a change. I have also been thinking about trying the "One Year Adventure Novel." I have one daughter who loves to write fiction stories and I think this would be right up her alley.

I have also been thinking about changing the handwriting curriculum that we have been using.  I still haven't found one that I am particularly pleased with - comment if you have one!!

I would also like to find a better spelling curriculum or method. I have four different spelling levels I need to teach... I would love to find something that was sort of "automated." Not requiring a whole lot of spoon feeding from me. I am thinking of using SpellingCity - but I am still looking at options.

I am not finished perusing all of the wonderful home school curriculum catalogs and magazines... so I am sure I will find other items that look interesting.  If you have a particular favorite homeschool or preK curriculum... please share - let us know where to find it as well!

Related posts:
Online Education's Science Curriculum
Online Education's Language Arts
Online Education's Math Curriculum

Spring...

The days are absolutely lovely... sunny several days in a row.  That is just what I have been needing... and so have the kids.  We have been cooped up in our school room for ages now  - it seems.  So, we have been taking our home school to new sights... outside.  The winter kinda brings our home school to a grind. It begins to feel like we wake  - eat - school - eat - play - eat - sleep! But when those lovely days of spring hit - we take advantage.  A day out in the sunshine does so much good, and brings life back into the "grind" of homeschoooling.  I sometimes even change our pace - change up our subjects  - to help change our mindset about finishing up the year.

Take a minute today - and enjoy the outdoors - take your homeschool to a new place... enjoy God's beautiful creation!

"For the beauty of the earth - for the glory of the skies...this our hymn of grateful praise!"

How to... clean up Baby powder SNOW

I am so thankful for each of my sweet children...

This is what I woke up to this morning! Innocence...

This is what I found this afternoon... somehow the girl's room

began to snow... baby powder??

This look tells it all... notice the powder flecks on the camera

It is still in the air...

I just thought it was safe to take a shower!

Good news... The vacuum cleaner wand and the little

flat attachment...

...worked wonders! Now we just have a lingering smell

(which is rather pleasant) and a fine dust on everything.

I guess since our two's were not so terrible... we must be

playing make up during 3!

Just thought I'd share - in case you ever wonder how to clean up baby powder snow! Now you have the "How to."  (But I hope you never have to use it... I don't think I will ever get ALL the dust off the furniture.) Preschoolers...

Check out 30 minute blog challenge and Chatting at the sky for more interesting mom stories!

Tighten the Seatbelt...

I am pleased to share a guest post with you all today. This was written by my dear friend who is a missionary to Wales, UK.  She shares her struggle over the past few months, and it is so encouraging how she exhorts us to "tighten the seatbelt" during these discouraging times.

I feel impressed to share my struggles and growth in faith in this update, as I have recently run into several precious brothers and sisters struggling much the same as I have been in the past couple of months. I have to admit that it is INCREDIBLY hard to write an ‘upbeat, encouraging’ update when one feels like the fires of battle are beginning to consume every semblance of spiritual life. We have all heard that we should live by faith and not by feelings. While that is true, one cannot negate the fact that ‘feelings’ are very real and overwhelming at times! My latest battle has lasted for about two or three months. I’d best describe it as an emotional roller coaster with so many twists and turns it’s nauseating. Could it be the colder weather? Darker days? Could be...but I seriously doubt it. Even though the season could play a part in the game (feelings, remember?), it is usually pretty easy to ‘see’ that for what it truly is...seasonal. No, I have to say that this has been on a much deeper level. There are days when the battle seemed so ferocious that the strength to push back the covers escaped me before the thought of getting up had finished crossing my mind.
Emotionally, it is hard to ‘be strong’ when one feels as brittle as a pine needle. I understand that the commandment to Joshua should apply to us (’Be strong and of a good courage...’ Josh. 1:8), and I also read the exhortation not to be weary...faint not....BUT HOW?? It is easy to say, but hard to do, is it not? I believe that God has helped me to learn a lesson of how to ‘tighten my seatbelt’ and hold on!
This ‘emotional rollercoaster’ is about as fun as it sounds. Yet, God has helped me to use the ‘seatbelt’ of His Promises to keep me stable when the momentum of the ride becomes overwhelming. Regrettably, I can’t point you to one ‘Super’ passage that has helped to sustain me during the hardest times. I found strength in His PROMISES- to KNOW that He is a God that CAN NOT lie; He is faithful to listen to my EVERY ‘complaint’ and to give ‘a word in season’ through a friend, preaching, or His Word; He is a Comforter that soothes the pain; He is the One Who has called us to Wales, and will keep us here by His grace. (I could go on and on!)
At times, it seems that all I can do is close my eyes to the things around me and focus on Christ. That is our exhortation in Romans, yet when I look at man’s depravity displayed on every hand, and seek to find a way to point them to Christ; when I see the ‘church’ and its present state of apathy and coldness; even when I look at loved ones and ‘wish’ for more spiritual growth, I find it hard to access that ‘single vision’ on Christ alone. How can you see our present day surroundings and NOT be affected? I have found that even Christ was moved emotionally as He looked over Jerusalem...but His PURPOSE wasn’t swayed by His emotions!
We hurt just as you do, and struggle with the same weaknesses. Yet, through the struggles, God has been teaching me to ‘tighten the seatbelt’ and trust HIM through the twists and turns of life. He is growing my faith...and faith isn’t grown much in the easy times or mountain –top experiences. I trust Him that He will bring me through this season, as He has in times past, and in the end I will look more like Jesus than ever!
To God be the Glory!
Darlene

Strength in Weakness

Ps. 73:26                 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength  of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Kinda feel like this lately??

I must say that lately I have been struggling with many things, and feel the "weight of the world" on my shoulders.  Do you ever feel like at every turn - there is a large and difficult hill to climb?  I don't want to come across like I am whining... yet, I must admit that raising children, being a mom, a pastor's wife, etc. etc... is not easy.  Today, I am feeling the heaviness of it.  And can only turn to one place for the strength I need. Everyone these days is carrying a heavy load - no one can carry my burden as well as their own... but my Lord can.  He has the strength I need to face these things - a vast supply... enough for me and for you.

So, tonight - though I feel weak and weary of the requirements on my life - I am strong - I can be strengthened and renewed by casting my burden upon Him.

I Pt. 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Are you struggling these days with the cares of this world?  Would you share your thoughts?

Tears are fallin...

Saying Goodbye

It is a sad day at our house... two girls had to say goodbye to their best buddies for 3 more months!! Yes, one of those was me. I have been saying goodbye to people I love for a long time now, you would think it would get easier. I went to college in Georgia, 800 miles from home when I was 17 - had to say goodbye to my family. I got married and stayed here in Georgia. ...goodbyes...Later, they all moved again -but now they are almost 900 miles away - in Texas. ...goodbyes... I lived near my best friend for 15 years, but 5 years ago she moved to U.K. as a missionary....goodbyes... SEE, I should really be a pro at this... but it still hurts each and every time you have to say goodbye to someone you love.

I am trying to remind myself today that God does everything for a purpose, and for His honor. God never promised us that this life would be easy. But, He did promise us the strength to be able to handle it. God has a purpose - and a grand one it is. My friend was needed at that little church in the country of Wales - because God had a plan. A whole family in their village has been saved since they went - what a beautiful thing. God is good - and I know that each and every time that I must say goodbye to my dear family or friends - it is for a purpose. This world is "temporal" or temporary - but the one to come - eternal - is permanent. The temporary "goodbyes" are just for a season - one day there will be no more goodbyes.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: Now the God of hope fill you wiht all joy and peace in believeing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:4-5, 13

My New Habit...

Ok - I know I am not the authority on "couponing", but I have started making it a habit.  It is pretty exciting to go to a store and have them tell you that you saved more than you spent.  Now that's exciting! A friend of mine recently wrote about her new habit as well!

This recession has us really spinning our wheels... so.... about six months ago I started buying the paper on Sunday, clipping the coupons and then checking the items in our local grocery stores.  We have three near us and I look through each ad to see what's on sale that WE CAN USE.  I have to disagree with the coupon divas who buy everything they find on sale ... just... because... it .... is... on... sale and they have a ..... coupon for it!  I look for only the items that I know I will use. I particularly enjoy the stores that use BOGO (buy one get one free) - and when you have a coupon for it as well... woohoo that is big savings!!

I also want to mention that my husband is an avid hunter - so we save a TON of money by eating venison, and other meats (not anything weird :) that he hunts.  But I am a white meat lover, so I do buy chicken when it is on sale! 

 Then I go through my coupon stash ( a pretty pink little coupon holder that my daughter got me for Christmas - defintely a necessity) and try to match coupons to all the sale items that I want. I will also check couponmom to see if there is anything there that I can use.  I like that site because it has all the different printable coupon pages. Again - one stop! :)

To save even more money, I plan my meals around the sale items that I find at the store - yes, so I don't get my absolute favorite -  spaghetti - - every week... but I am saving money! Let me tell you - it is a big sacrifice. Nothing beats garlic bread and spaghetti - I really could eat it every meal... but that's another story...

THEN... because I have six kids and can't won't!!  go to 3 different stores in a shot - I go to one on Friday and then a different one on Monday or Tuesday.  We usually need more milk in the middle of the week anyway so it works great for us!  Shopping mostly sale items has been saving me at least 50% (often more) each time I go to the store... That is REWARDING and exciting! AND...Here is my proof!

Homeschool
Shopping
Coupon

The Preschool Pressure

It truly is sad that preschool has become an area of increased social and educational pressure.  While I was at a department store this past weekend I heard one well off mother asking another - "Do you send your little one to Royal Learn*ers?" As if it is a status symbol.  Where are we going with this?  What happened to the good old days when parents helped their own children learn their letters, sat down on the floor and colored with them, taught them how to work, how to tie their shoes, and how to get along with their siblings.  Now we think someone else should teach our precious little ones these absolutely invaluable life lessons. But why?  Are we like the ladies in the store - is it a status symbol for us - are we just too busy - or are we just lazy?  Whatever reason, it is a sad result.  I see children in preschool who are nervous, anxious, who cry for half the morning, who refuse to use the restroom at school, or who bite their nails.  All of this before the age of 5? Like Robert Fulghum children learn all they need to know by Kindergarten, but for some reason I DON"T THINK stress and anxiety should be one of them!

Now don't get me wrong... I am not saying that we should not teach our children before typical school age. No - Not at all.  It is just the PRESSURE on the little ones to perform that is so wrong. It is obvious that there are some children who are ready to be challenged with various preschool activities at very young ages.  Most of my girls were able to color in the lines, cut with safety scissors, and draw prewriting symbols when they were 2. In almost every situation the girls did this without my prompting.  They just "wanted" to color, cut, and draw.  So, I provided the means.  With each of my children, I have taken the stance that I WILL NOT PUSH them in preschool. My two oldest girls did attend PreK at the Christian school that I Administrated.  They were NOT at the head of their class.  They were NOT the super star readers. The teachers would often pull me aside and say they needed extra work in this or that area... not trying to be a "rebel", but I just did not make PreK a big deal.  If they got it - good. If they didn't - well, then they just weren't ready.  The whole idea is to "introduce" the child to "pre" school activites or things that would develop "readiness."  Just give them the opportunity.  I did the same things with my son that I did with the girls, and guess what?  He could not even hold a crayon correctly until he was almost 4.  He wanted NOTHING to do with coloring or writing... BUT he enjoyed books and building things with blocks.  Different, but still good. No pressure to make him write every day - just an occasional "You want to color with mommy?" More often than not - I got turned down - but he would occasionally join me in a coloring session.  All this to say, that "pressuring" a child will not get results - just stressed out - "pressured" children.

The abuse of the parent's responsibility to give their children the "opportunity" to learn is what has caused our government to increasingly "push" PreK.  Many parents, like we mentioned before, are just too busy or just don't care.  This is a disservice to our children.  Their little minds should be challenged - not just set in front of Barn*ey or some other cartoon.  There is so much that they can do - these little people are absolutely amazing!

The "pre" school child should also be given the opportunity to develop responsibility as well. This is achieved by giving them duties or chores around the house. (Again - we see... it starts at home!) We know that the national standards want our children to be learning their letters, numbers, pronunciation, speaking in complete sentences, their colors, and how to behave socially.  But there is so much more to child development. What about instilling them with good work habits?  or is that a dirty word in today's society?  Did you know that a Preschool child can clean their room - wash their own hair and body - set the table for dinner - clear the table after dinner - gather up their dirty clothes and put them in the basket - separate dirty clothes for washing into piles of darks and lights and whites (helps practice colors) - put away their own clean laundry into drawers - the list goes on and on.  A child has purpose and meaning when they are given doses of responsibility appropriate for their age.  What did children do 100 years ago? You better believe most children worked as hard as some adults do today. What did they learn? Latin, logic and rhetoric along with LOTS of readin', ritin', and rithmetic were common 100 years ago - did you know that most of our country's "Founding Fathers" could speak Latin fluently?? What kind of people did those children grow into? WOW...these were the adults that made American the Christian country that we were so proud of.   My thoughts are...  why are we trying to reinvent the wheel?             The way we raised children 100 years ago.... hmmm... did it work better than pressuring them into preschool when they are still babies?

Whether your children learn at home or at school they really do learn almost everything they really need to know before they are 5.  Robert Fulghum's short essay is wonderful....

-Share everything.

-Play fair.
-Don't hit people.
-Put things back where you found them.
-Clean up your own mess.
-Don't take things that aren't yours.
-Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
-Wash your hands before you eat.
-Flush.
-Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
-Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
-Take a nap every afternoon.
-When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
-Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
-Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
-And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

Preschool
Homeschool

January To Do List...

It does not seem possible that it is already the middle of January 2010! I personally am having a hard time with this! It sure doesn't help that as I get older time seems to go by faster and faster. Oh, for those days as children when time seemed to stand still.
Today I was reviewing my "Homeschool January To Do" list, and I thought I'd share it - just in case a "newer" homeschooling mom might like a few ideas. Though, I must admit that even after homeschooling for over 5 years I still feel like I'm in "Homeschooling Mom Kindergarten." There is always so much to learn!
In January, I usually set aside some time to review where we are at in our own homeschool. I start by looking at our state requirements for homeschooling just to make sure they haven't changed on us! I use several websites to help me with state homeschool resources. If I need to make any changes for the year to adapt to their guidelines - I do them in January.
I also like to determine what I will do regarding standardized testing for the year. Our state requires standardized testing at least every 3 years, however, they "like" to see it more frequently. Up to this point, I have had the children tested every year. I know many homeschooling families are against standardized testing, and if their states allow them to avoid testing then that is their choice. However, I use the test as a tool to help me homeschool.
There are three ways that I use the standardized tests to help me. The test often gives me the "Big Picture" of my child's academic progress. I know it is often true for me that I "can't see the forest for the trees." The daily little probelms often cloud my ability to see where my children are "across the board."
Standardized tests also let me see areas that the children have weakness in. I might think they are doing pretty well overall in math, but the test may pick up a particular weakness with fractions or decimals that I hadn't noticed. Sometimes, I will purchase an inexpensive small workbook highlighting the weak area and let them do it casually during the summer. This keeps them on target and thinking until school picks up again in the fall. That simple review often makes the difference and helps them out of the rough patch.
Finally, I use standardized test scores to help me make decisions about the curriculum that we use. I don't base any decision solely on standardized test scores, but simply use them as part of a many faceted view of assessment for my children.
January is also the month I like to get some idea of where I will be going with next year's curriculum. Often the final decision will have to wait a while, but I just start thinking about it in January. This really stems from the practical bargain hunter side of my brain. If I can get an idea of what I might use - I can watch out for deals on these items. I can also purchase them a few at a time - helping to keep intact an already stressed budget. That is good for everyone these days!
On a more personal note January is also the month I like to clean closets, unload uneccessary junk, and just generally declutter my home and my life. I love the "new beginning" feeling it gives me and my home. In recent years with the economic pinch we've all been feeling, I take the victims from the decluttering and sell them on ebay or Craigslist. It is a bit of work , but hey it's money to buy next year's curriculum. Woohoo! Also - lest anyone think I have it all together- I still haven't gotten to most of these items on my January To Do list - but January's not over yet!