Catching up

This post was originally started in late September.

It's been a while since I posted and I won't be online for at least a week.

Homeschooling is going pretty well.  We've been focusing on math pretty much exclusively as Hubby wants the older three boys to be caught up to where they should be.  That means pushing hard all of the basics - addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  

In talking to other parents though, it seems that there are more and more children - not only in our district - who can't do the basics.  (Even in the traditional classrooms, not just the Montessori ones!)  My MIL was talking to a 4th grade teacher who said she's probably retiring next year because they're changing what and how the kids are learning in math.  Then the 6th grade teachers are becoming upset because the students are coming up unable to do math.  That's an issue.

Anyway, the kids are starting to realize the benefits of staying home.  We've gone to the Durham Museum when there are just a couple of people at the exhibits.  Last week we went and after an hour or so, a group from a nearby school came in (like a hurricane...).  The three oldest came to me, individually, within a few minutes and asked when we were leaving because it was too noisy. They've gotten spoiled!  

We all like being able to spend time as a family on Hubby's days off, since they rotate.  It's nice to spend more than one day a week together!  It also is giving us flexibility to take a day in the middle of the week and go out to do something.  

Still having issues with MM as he's not sure he wants to be homeschooled, but that's ok.  I expected this and we can deal with it.

Day 2

Well, it's "official" homeschooling day 2 and we're not off to a great start.  

Went to Mom's Night Out last night and left about 30 minutes after I meant to.  (Worth it for a socialization aspect for me, but the kids were already getting to bed late then.) Then I chatted with my MIL for about 30 minutes before heading home.  Got home and Hubby was finally home after a 12+ hour day.  Sat with him for about 45 minutes before he went to bed and then my mind was not ready to shut down so I stayed up for another hour and a half researching various topics.  Now I want nothing more than to crawl back into bed and get up after lunch!

It was almost 8am - the time I want the kids ready to start working - before I remembered they should have been up before I managed to pull myself out of bed.  I also forgot there was a curriculum swap today from 11 to 2, which will cut into our schedule.  Ah well, I guess that's one of the awesome parts about homeschooling - flexibility!

I suppose I should get in the shower and wolf down some breakfast so we can get something done before we head out.  

Coffee, here I come.  

Interesting

Hubby sent me a link to The Changing World - specifically about two young teenaged boys who grew up in the ghettos of Chicago and made an audio documentary about 10 days in their lives.  Then there was an interview - or rather, another audio documentary, from one of the men, 15 years later.

Listening to the first part, I wondered if that's what life was like for TSS and EB.  They walked past children with guns daily, had an alcoholic mother, a father who they'd visited once, and were fostered by their grandfather's girlfriend who told them they had to live somewhere else because she was moving and wouldn't be taking them with her because they were "so bad".  (What a way to grow up, being told constantly that you're not a good person!)  Last we knew, she was still in the area and the only contact she's ever made with the boys was to call and tell them that their 14yo sister had had her baby.  (That was over a year ago.) I don't know her situation, but I would like to think I would at least be curious about the welfare of children I took care of for years.

Because they were wards of the state, I was told they need to be evaluated yearly by a pschycologist. The same one visited with them in January 2008 and January 2009.  She couldn't believe they were the same children - they sat still, they responded to her questions intelligently, looked at her - their whole demeanor had changed.  I certainly don't say that to say Hubby and I were the primary influence; rather it's what the boys did for themselves, once we provided a stable environment, with rules and boundaries.  

Would they have turned out like their environment or would they have risen above it?  It's hard to guess - but I'm glad we don't have to.  We know there has been a difference in their lives - a positive one we like to believe - and the only choice they'll have to make is which of a thousand wonderful different paths to take.

A blur

The last 4-5 days have been a blur as the boys and I work on clearing out the garage and getting it reorganized.

However, in that time we received our confirmation paperwork from the state saying we're officially a homeschool - hooray!

Unfortunately, Hubby has decided that we still haven't proven that we can pull this off, so the boys and I need to buckle down sooner than anticipated and show him we can get things done in a timely manner. Bummer, as I was looking forward to getting some time to get things done around the house. :(

Fortunately, he's not looking for huge results, just a decent schedule so we can get the work done before he gets home, so I need to get the boys working on some spelling and math and I think that will appease him for now.

Anyway, I've been spending far too much time on the computer lately, so will be shutting down probably for the next couple of days. Actually, I'm looking forward to it - I'm too easily distracted by this machine. It will give me practice for next month when we hit the school schedule hard, because I'm not going to have the time to mess around on it.

Signing off for now - have a full day ahead of me tomorrow. Good night!

It's Done!

Our paperwork was notarized and submitted to the state late last week - we're officially homeschoolers!  And I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. 

Last week I sent off notes to family, school friends, former teachers and the schools.  We've received quite a few replies, most very supportive.  (Though I think Melissa's was the kindest and most uplifting - thanks for that!)

Last week was a very homeschool-oriented week.  Not only did we received our HEN card (woot - educator discounts!), but we received confirmation from the HSLDA that our application has been received and approved, which was a huge surprise, since it usually takes 2-4 weeks.  (I submitted the app maybe Wednesday.)  For those who don't know, the HSLDA is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.  In a very basic nutshell, they help out when public schools, neighbors or states overstep legal boundaries with homeschoolers.  

Yesterday I spent a few hours going over educational materials that my mother-in-law kept from her teaching days.  I'm flabbergasted at how much stuff she has and how much of it is still so usable.  Even if I don't use it in it's current form, it will give me ideas.  I brought home a few things to peruse - one is for schooling younger children, closer to TCC's age.  Several of the things are very Montessori, which I love!  (Sandpaper letters anyone?)  There are a few packets of information on learning styles and teaching styles, which I'm definitely going to be needing to help me keep things in mind.  

We'll be doing a lot of unit studies so I can keep the boys together for those.  About 2 months ago, I rediscovered several educational computer programs I'd picked up on clearance. The boys have been using them since before public school got out and have been really enjoying them.  I've had people tell me that you can find almost anything on YouTube for how to make things, or how things are done, so I know we'll be utilizing that.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this and feel this is going to be a wonderful experience!

More later.

Yikes!

So, it's been a REALLY long time since I posted!  Since then, we've fostered - and adopted - 2 more children!  The change in the household has been dramatic and is settling down into a semi-organized state of chaos.  (Is that described as controlled chaos?)

Our newest change coming up:  We're in the final planning stages of homeschooling the boys.  While we're thankful for the education they've received and really love the wonderful teachers they've had in their lives, we can tailor our educational style to meet their individual needs and interests. We've been doing some since summer started, kind of a trial run; MangaMan and Exuberant Boy have both commented that they like the fact that there aren't as many distractions and MM said he feels he's learned more math in 2 weeks than he could at school - and we're just reviewing basics.

Due to their ADHD, we felt the smaller environment would help both MM and EB focus better (and from the above, you can see they think so too!).  MM and The Shining Smile have both expressed a great desire to learn very specific things.  (Computer programming and cinematography for one and research on almost everything under the sun for the other!)  We've already hooked up with 3 homeschool support groups, which I'm thrilled with.  We're getting to know the people from 2 of them as we have attended several events.  I've learned a lot from them in just a few short weeks; I'm confident this is the right route for us.  

However, like most parents, I constantly wonder if doing this is going to damage them irreparably or if they're going to hate us.  I think TSS, who was super excited about the possibility, will come back around after he gets over the "mom is actually going to make me do the work she assigns" blues.  MM was looking forward to middle school, but I feel strongly that it would be a huge mistake to send him there.  His teacher from the first half of 5th grade said it well - we don't want him to get lost in the cracks, and I'm certain that's what would happen.  (In three months' time, between the middle and elementary schools, his paperwork got lost three times!) EB is going back and forth. I think he wants to complain about it because that's what MM is doing, but I honestly believe he's secretly as excited as TSS was.

The Curious Child will be heading back to preschool, at least for the foreseeable future, which will give me time to work with the others three mornings a week.  (When I'm working, the other three will go to Nana's house, where she has offered to help in the teaching - whoo-hoo!)  

All right, that's all I have for now!  Now that I've remembered my blog, I promise to be more diligent about updating.