- Who knew our national debt was so high that it really had to take some brain power to read it correctly??
Monday, November 5, 2012
math lesson...for me!
Bob Kerrey what??
We were driving in the van today and out of the blue Courtney starts talking about Bob Kerrey. We don't watch a lot of TV at our house, but apparently, she had heard enough.
Then I hear her say, "I am Bob Kerrey and I approve of this message."
I cracked up! What inspired her to say this?? Oh, it's election season!!
Then I hear her say, "I am Bob Kerrey and I approve of this message."
I cracked up! What inspired her to say this?? Oh, it's election season!!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Homeschooling- Number #1
The other night I went out with a bunch of my friends and got me thinking, why do I love homeschooling so much? I have become an advocate for homeschooling lately because I have seen such good things from it, it has been a huge blessing in our household and I am very thankful that God softened my heart a couple of years ago and showed me that this was the way to go!
Here are some of my reasons:
1. Time in school.
Requirements for homeschoolers: 1032 hours a year
Requirements for public schoolers: 7 1/4 hours a day, 188 days a year = 1363 hours a year
That is over a 330 hour difference! Now, my question is...if the state only requires us to go to school for 1032 hours, where do the public schools get the extra 330 hours? That's an extra 45 days of school! I think they get it from money. Last year, Millard added on an extra half of hour to each school day- why? So they could get more money from the government to help "improve their schools." Have the schools improved? I'm not sure, we pulled Megan out. :)
Here is what my kids do here at home.
Courtney- takes about 1 1/2 hours for spelling, handwriting, reading, phonics, and math
Megan- takes roughly 2 hours for her read-alouds, math, history, English, writing, handwriting, she does reading on her own.
Together-takes maybe 1- 1/2 hours for science and Bible class
If I was just teaching Courtney kindergarten, she could be done in less than two hours a day. We also use four day lesson plans (like many homeschoolers), so technically she goes to school about 8 hours a week. That is as much time as public school kids sit in school in one day! And she learns just as much!
Megan takes a little bit longer because she has more subjects, but still, she goes to school about 2-3 hours a day.
Now you may be asking yourself...if they only go to school 8 hours a week, how does that add up to 1032 hours a year? 36 weeks x 8 hours a week =288 hours. that leaves about 750 hours left.
Yes, but school is much more than sitting at the table learning out of books!
Here is what we do:
1. Play basektball outside- PE class
2. Take dance/ gymnastic class- PE
3. Painting a picture- art class
4. Learning how to brush your teeth- health
5. Taking a class at the homeschool learning center- history
6. Attending AWANA- Bible Class
7. Attending Sunday School- Bible Class
8. Reading labels on cereal boxes- health class
9. Learning how to take care of ourselves when we are sick- health class
10. Singing along with the radio- music class
11. Singing and dancing as mom plays piano- PE and music class
12. Learning the German alphabet as we drive in the car- German class
13. Learning why birds are slamming themselves into our windows at home- science class
14. Learning what to feed Courtney's pet grasshoppers- science class
15. Going on a field trip to the zoo- science class, PE
16. Visiting John Brown's Cave in NE City- history class
17. Making real corn tortillas- history
18. Writing a play about the first thanksgiving- history class, creative arts
Etc...
This is where we make up that extra time! Homeschooling is a lifestyle- my kids are learning all the time! If I technically kept track of all the hours that my kids are "learning", I'm sure we would hit the 1032 hour mark!
As for the times that my children are not "learning", they have time to be kids. Go play and be creative!! Life is not all about school, especially when you are a kid. You are going to have responsibilities soon enough! Go enjoy life!
2. Interests
My children can pursue what they are interested in. I do not have to do science with Courtney, they don't have science in the public schools until 2nd or 3rd grade, but since she has a huge desire to learn about science, I found a curriculum for her level and we are doing science this year! I can also combine Megan and Courtney's science class and do it together (since she didn't get much in public school anyway).
In addition to science class, we can also go to the library and check out books on things that she is interested in, we can find science experiments, we can visit the zoo, we can go on nature hikes, etc, etc. I have time to do all these things!
As for Megan, she is my little historian (A girl after my own heart. :)
We can read about history for school and then we can dig a little bit deeper into the subjects. Again, we can go to the library, we can pretend play, we can do hands-on-projects to learn about history, adn go on field trips. The possibilities are endless.
4. We now have time for school AND outside activities. Since we have school four days a week, we have time to pursue outside activities during the day. Megan attends dance during the day. We can go on field trips during the day. We can have some downtime between school and evening activities, so we are not running from one activity to another without a break. We have time to sit down and eat supper as a family before our activities. We are not restricted to anybody's schedule but our own.
Here are some of my reasons:
1. Time in school.
Requirements for homeschoolers: 1032 hours a year
Requirements for public schoolers: 7 1/4 hours a day, 188 days a year = 1363 hours a year
That is over a 330 hour difference! Now, my question is...if the state only requires us to go to school for 1032 hours, where do the public schools get the extra 330 hours? That's an extra 45 days of school! I think they get it from money. Last year, Millard added on an extra half of hour to each school day- why? So they could get more money from the government to help "improve their schools." Have the schools improved? I'm not sure, we pulled Megan out. :)
Here is what my kids do here at home.
Courtney- takes about 1 1/2 hours for spelling, handwriting, reading, phonics, and math
Megan- takes roughly 2 hours for her read-alouds, math, history, English, writing, handwriting, she does reading on her own.
Together-takes maybe 1- 1/2 hours for science and Bible class
If I was just teaching Courtney kindergarten, she could be done in less than two hours a day. We also use four day lesson plans (like many homeschoolers), so technically she goes to school about 8 hours a week. That is as much time as public school kids sit in school in one day! And she learns just as much!
Megan takes a little bit longer because she has more subjects, but still, she goes to school about 2-3 hours a day.
Now you may be asking yourself...if they only go to school 8 hours a week, how does that add up to 1032 hours a year? 36 weeks x 8 hours a week =288 hours. that leaves about 750 hours left.
Yes, but school is much more than sitting at the table learning out of books!
Here is what we do:
1. Play basektball outside- PE class
2. Take dance/ gymnastic class- PE
3. Painting a picture- art class
4. Learning how to brush your teeth- health
5. Taking a class at the homeschool learning center- history
6. Attending AWANA- Bible Class
7. Attending Sunday School- Bible Class
8. Reading labels on cereal boxes- health class
9. Learning how to take care of ourselves when we are sick- health class
10. Singing along with the radio- music class
11. Singing and dancing as mom plays piano- PE and music class
12. Learning the German alphabet as we drive in the car- German class
13. Learning why birds are slamming themselves into our windows at home- science class
14. Learning what to feed Courtney's pet grasshoppers- science class
15. Going on a field trip to the zoo- science class, PE
16. Visiting John Brown's Cave in NE City- history class
17. Making real corn tortillas- history
18. Writing a play about the first thanksgiving- history class, creative arts
Etc...
This is where we make up that extra time! Homeschooling is a lifestyle- my kids are learning all the time! If I technically kept track of all the hours that my kids are "learning", I'm sure we would hit the 1032 hour mark!
As for the times that my children are not "learning", they have time to be kids. Go play and be creative!! Life is not all about school, especially when you are a kid. You are going to have responsibilities soon enough! Go enjoy life!
2. Interests
My children can pursue what they are interested in. I do not have to do science with Courtney, they don't have science in the public schools until 2nd or 3rd grade, but since she has a huge desire to learn about science, I found a curriculum for her level and we are doing science this year! I can also combine Megan and Courtney's science class and do it together (since she didn't get much in public school anyway).
In addition to science class, we can also go to the library and check out books on things that she is interested in, we can find science experiments, we can visit the zoo, we can go on nature hikes, etc, etc. I have time to do all these things!
As for Megan, she is my little historian (A girl after my own heart. :)
We can read about history for school and then we can dig a little bit deeper into the subjects. Again, we can go to the library, we can pretend play, we can do hands-on-projects to learn about history, adn go on field trips. The possibilities are endless.
4. We now have time for school AND outside activities. Since we have school four days a week, we have time to pursue outside activities during the day. Megan attends dance during the day. We can go on field trips during the day. We can have some downtime between school and evening activities, so we are not running from one activity to another without a break. We have time to sit down and eat supper as a family before our activities. We are not restricted to anybody's schedule but our own.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Megan :)
Usually I write about how Courtney is so compassionate helpful, but I think Megan has taking lessons lately.
1. Megan was heading upstairs last night and I asked her to take Christian his blankets. I figured she would just throw them in his room because he was already in bed sleeping. I went up there later to check on him and she had actually covered him up with a blanket! How sweet of her!
2. Every time Christian gets hurt, Megan is the first one to run up to his room and get him his blankets to make him feel better.
3. Every time I start to cook something, I hear, "Is there anything I can help you with?" coming from Megan. She then says, "I love to cook!" She can make cookies herself and tonight she made half of supper. I'm going to lose my job pretty soon!
4. Every time I ask any of the kids to clean up their messes or to help out lately, it has not been a battle at all. Every Tuesday we clean the house because I give piano lessons. Each girl takes a room and they clean it WITHOUT complaining. They clean it and have fun while doing it. What happened to my children??
5. Homework has been a huge imporvement from last year. I don't think she has stomped, slammed her door, or threw her pencil across the room once this year. She gets her homework and she does it! I think it has helped that I purposefully give Courtney some homework so she has a little competition.
I love homeschooling because it has really taught my kids to be compassionate and to care for others. Like I said, Megan is not really the compassionate one, but she heading in that direction and I love it!
1. Megan was heading upstairs last night and I asked her to take Christian his blankets. I figured she would just throw them in his room because he was already in bed sleeping. I went up there later to check on him and she had actually covered him up with a blanket! How sweet of her!
2. Every time Christian gets hurt, Megan is the first one to run up to his room and get him his blankets to make him feel better.
3. Every time I start to cook something, I hear, "Is there anything I can help you with?" coming from Megan. She then says, "I love to cook!" She can make cookies herself and tonight she made half of supper. I'm going to lose my job pretty soon!
4. Every time I ask any of the kids to clean up their messes or to help out lately, it has not been a battle at all. Every Tuesday we clean the house because I give piano lessons. Each girl takes a room and they clean it WITHOUT complaining. They clean it and have fun while doing it. What happened to my children??
5. Homework has been a huge imporvement from last year. I don't think she has stomped, slammed her door, or threw her pencil across the room once this year. She gets her homework and she does it! I think it has helped that I purposefully give Courtney some homework so she has a little competition.
I love homeschooling because it has really taught my kids to be compassionate and to care for others. Like I said, Megan is not really the compassionate one, but she heading in that direction and I love it!
Pictures..
I am having trouble loading pictures on my blog, so I just decided to put them all on facebook.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Straight Teeth!
I took Megan to an orthodontist yesterday. With all my teeth problems, I wanted to get her in and looked at and they say the kids should see the orthodontist for the first time between 7 and 9.
I was kind of scared of what they were going to say to me, but in the end, her teeth look great! She does not have a cross-bite, which means no pallette expander, and her teeth are coming in straight!
Very thankful!!!
The orthodontist wants to see her in a year to monitor her and he said she may need something when she is a teenager, but he wants to just wait and see.
Thank you!!
I am going to go see this orthodontist next Tuesday. I have been to two different orthodontists and they both agree I need jaw surgery, but one says to break the bottom jaw and the other says to break the top. I want to see what this one says. This is my final orthodontist appointment. I am not getting anymore opinions, I just want two opinions that match. I think my next stop may be the oral surgeon. :( But if I had surgery, I would need to wear traditional braces nine months beforehand and then wear them during surgery and then for about six months afterwards, so I would still need to see an orthodontist. Ugh.
Anybody have a money tree anywhere??
I was kind of scared of what they were going to say to me, but in the end, her teeth look great! She does not have a cross-bite, which means no pallette expander, and her teeth are coming in straight!
Very thankful!!!
The orthodontist wants to see her in a year to monitor her and he said she may need something when she is a teenager, but he wants to just wait and see.
Thank you!!
I am going to go see this orthodontist next Tuesday. I have been to two different orthodontists and they both agree I need jaw surgery, but one says to break the bottom jaw and the other says to break the top. I want to see what this one says. This is my final orthodontist appointment. I am not getting anymore opinions, I just want two opinions that match. I think my next stop may be the oral surgeon. :( But if I had surgery, I would need to wear traditional braces nine months beforehand and then wear them during surgery and then for about six months afterwards, so I would still need to see an orthodontist. Ugh.
Anybody have a money tree anywhere??
Trouble at the Library...
Yesterday after our crazy busy day, I decided to add one more stop at the library. Megan and Courtney had some books on hold and they were just DYING to pick them up. It was about 5:15 and the library closed at 6.
We went in, got our books off the shelves, and of course stacked up on many, many more books that we will use for school this week. I didn't take the stroller in because I thought that would help restrain myself, but then I realized that little girls can help carry books too, so that didn't really help.
Anyway, I went to check out and I had somebody different check me out this time. I filled one card up and I gave the lady another card, she said, "This one is filled up too." I just looked at her because I thought, surely she will just keep adding them to the card. I had about 10 books on the counter that needed to be checked out yet. Remember, you are only SUPPOSED to check 40 items out per card. But usually, this guy named Bob, let's me go over. I looked at her and said, "Well, they usually let me check out more than 40 and it hasn't been a problem."
Her response," Well, we're really not supposed to do that."
I replied back, "But he (pointing to the man) let's me go over. I homeschool and I really need these books for the week." I was so used to that one guy letting me go over, I was actually arguing the rule!
She said, "Do you have anybody else who has a card?"
I said, "Yes, I have one, but I haven't used it in a very long time." (Now, do you really think I need another library card where I can check out 40 MORE books?? NO!)
So she asked for me ID, I gave it to her, and she found my account. She then gave me a new library card. I asked her when was the last time I used that card and she replied with "2005." I quit using it because I had a fine on it. I checked out the last 10 books and left.
I checked this morning and of course, the $3.00 fine is still on my library card!
We went in, got our books off the shelves, and of course stacked up on many, many more books that we will use for school this week. I didn't take the stroller in because I thought that would help restrain myself, but then I realized that little girls can help carry books too, so that didn't really help.
Anyway, I went to check out and I had somebody different check me out this time. I filled one card up and I gave the lady another card, she said, "This one is filled up too." I just looked at her because I thought, surely she will just keep adding them to the card. I had about 10 books on the counter that needed to be checked out yet. Remember, you are only SUPPOSED to check 40 items out per card. But usually, this guy named Bob, let's me go over. I looked at her and said, "Well, they usually let me check out more than 40 and it hasn't been a problem."
Her response," Well, we're really not supposed to do that."
I replied back, "But he (pointing to the man) let's me go over. I homeschool and I really need these books for the week." I was so used to that one guy letting me go over, I was actually arguing the rule!
She said, "Do you have anybody else who has a card?"
I said, "Yes, I have one, but I haven't used it in a very long time." (Now, do you really think I need another library card where I can check out 40 MORE books?? NO!)
So she asked for me ID, I gave it to her, and she found my account. She then gave me a new library card. I asked her when was the last time I used that card and she replied with "2005." I quit using it because I had a fine on it. I checked out the last 10 books and left.
I checked this morning and of course, the $3.00 fine is still on my library card!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)