Lessons All Around

We had a soft start to our school year two weeks back.  We read the religion for Catholic Coffee Club and the kids were required to do just 15 minutes of math each day.  We did spend several nights outside looking up at the stars.  It is so thrilling to see a shooting star.  One night we saw about 20, 3 were huge.  It was enough to hook us for the next several nights even though the local temps were hot and humid even at 11 pm.

Being that we were from St. Louis and they were in the path of totality for the eclipse this Monday.  We heard about it from all of our friends and families.  They had huge eclipse parties.

We tried to make the most of it and see what we could.  It was a very hot and steaming day that made it a quick lesson outside and more pictures and videos later.

by Goobers

We were planning a full start next week but now I am not sure that will be possible.  You see a hurricane is headed toward Houston.

I must say that this is the kind of learning that I find most exciting.  Please parents don't fret when life gets crazy and makes schooling difficult, just turn it into a lesson.

The kids continue with small faith lessons.  We are still doing the 15 minutes of Math (as long as we have internet).  We have all been causally reading or working with reading games online for at least 15 minutes.  Now mother nature has sent us another fun lesson to mess up our full on start.  We can and will postpone most other subject to make use of the natural learning that will take place.  The science of weather, the social aspect of a crisis, the humanity of helping those in need, the faith that God is powerful and bigger than a hurricane.

I love homeschooling.  I love these kind of annoying distractions.  They are were the real learning is. So if you get off track or are hit with a hurricane.  Just make it a life lesson and keep on learning.

Year Later I get Confirmation on Homeschooling

 I am always so thankful when Pooker points out that benefits of her childhood and her style of education.  I remember giving her the lesson she describes.  I loved how inquisitive she was ( and still is.)  She was only 5 years old and asked me a question about why it gets dark at night if the sun isn't moving.  It was such an awesome question that it merited a real example.  As we used the flashlight (sun) and basketball (earth) and tennis ball (moon) I could see on her face that she was understanding what I was trying to teach.  She was "getting it" and was very thoughtful in her questions.  I had questions myself about homeschool a lot that first year, her kindergarten year.  This lesson happened and I realized that I wanted those moments with my daughter.  I LOVED seeing that "A-HA" moment when she understood the answer to her question.  I loved that she was more interested not less interested as we studied to find her answer.  I never knew it meant anything to her, but that lesson changed my resolve to be her teacher.  I find it very cool that 21 years later she still remembers it.

Pooker posted this on Facebook.  

"You can laugh at my picture. I am. This one is for mom though. 
I'm in the middle of my "professional leadership and development" class. Part of which requires a ton of reflection. We were asked to express in the "artistic drawing form" a memory from school after listening to a guided lecture. My first memory of official school was my solar system lecture. I remember going to the basement so we could use a flash light (because space is dark!) and mom using different size balls to represent planets and such. It was so cool to have that time with mom and you know what, I've loved the solar system my whole life probably because of that lesson.

Thank you mom  for homeschooling me. And thanks dad for working so hard so she can be at home.

Maybe we should have spent more time with art though?"
Thank you mom  for homeschooling me. And thanks dad for working so hard so she can be at home. 
Maybe we should have spent more time with art though?"

Ok so now I am off to work more art classes for the younger kids.  I love homeschooling as much today as I did that day.  Thank you, Pooker,  for the tears of joy!

How have you taken advantage of having home schooled children?

We take trips when we want. We do school when we want. We sleep in and stay of late talking. We help people when we see a need. We can always do school later if someone needs our help today. If we are sick we don’t school. We have been able to go on trips with Dad.

Years back I was hurt in a car accident. We ended the school year early but still learned so much about feet while we watched mine heal. The girls learned to cook, clean and run the house all while I was in a wheelchair and pregnant with number 7. The kids learned compassion and so much about pregnancy that summer.

I love the group learning. I think it has helped us all learn so much more. We can do that being homeschooled.

If your children were offered a Catholic School education for free would you send your children?

We have had offers over the years and have always said no. The cost of a good Catholic school is not the reason we homeschool. As our oldest grew the schools wanted her on their teams and in their classrooms. She would have made them look good. The offers were never ones that would be better for our children just better for the schools.

Extended family tried to get the kids in school that way. One family member had someone from the parish approach us and offer to pay for the children’s education at the parish school. I suspect family was behind that first offer and that they would really have been paying. At first we were a littel temped but then that same year the new principal banned rosaries from the campus. (Hello Catholic School here!) She thought they were too much of a distraction for the students and forbad them. No rosary was allowed in the pocket or anything. If she saw it, the child would be punished. I knew then that there was no way our children would ever spend time in that building. Later that principal was fired but I have always wondered if any children have lost their faith because of her years.

In all honesty no one cares about my children as much and their father and I do. We are the only ones that will answer to God for them. No teacher will ever care for them that much. Unless of illness, death or some other extreme situation we will never put them in school, at least I have yet to see one that can measure up.

What are some positive effects you see in homeschooling?

The most important effect I have seen is self confidence.

This is an old example but still very appropriate. Many years back we were at the home of relatives. Many extended family members was there. One of the Aunts corners me and begins a conversation out of the blue. She is telling me how concerned she is about the social life of our children, (I don’t even think she knew their names but was still concerned for their socialization.) It seamed beyond her comprehension how I could even consider that my daughter was getting all the interaction that she needed.

While I was trying to truly listen with charity knowing that another family member had set her up. I watched a scene in the corner of my eye. I watched this kind woman’s heavyset grandson. He was awkward in his actions. He was about 9 or 10 and would not look any body in the eye. He was hiding under the kitchen table where his grandmother and I were talking. My oldest (who was apparently so anti social that she was considered a freak by family) walked up to the table, pulled back a chair. She was only about 7 at the time. I watched her coax this “well adjusted schooled” child from under the table and down to the basement to join the other kids while they were playing. She wasn’t told to include him and she had never met him. I watched her just be Christian and work to include someone when that person was having a hard time. It was so ironic to watch while I was being shown the ‘truth’ by well meaning family.

My children are very aware of each other and others. They are kind, polite and thoughtful. They remember everything, we have huge discussions as we pray for people at night prayer time. I have watched them help at functions put on by schools, they always help clean up and never leave someone out. I never see those same things in school children.

I see this strong character in each of my children. I see children that are polite, kind, trusting, helpful and independent thinkers. They value heaven and they know Christ. I ask for a more important positive effect from homeschooling.