Giving myself permission...

to take a short summer vacation from school. As public school kids in the area head BACK to the classroom, I am taking a break from the workbooks for a time. We are all a bit burned out and with building a new home and beginning to pack and declutter, I think we need to take a break. I feel like it is time for us to shift gears in our educational pursuits.

Yesterday, as we were have a picnic lunch in the yard, I discussed with the children what they were interested in learning about. My oldest, Elizabeth, wants history - any history as well as photography. My 8 year old daughter, Anna, want science. In particular, she wants to make a volcano and learn how to blow things up. WHERE does she come up with these things?!? My 3 year old son just wants to learn about trains - no surprise there.

We did read some out of the Usborn Book of World History where we learned a bit about the building of places like Stonehenge. The use of simple machines like levers was discussed and we did go outside and build a lever of our own using a 2 X 6 and a log. All of us, including my 3 year old, were able to lift a very big rock with ease. Then I dd let Anna make a volcano in the sandbox and we made it fizz and flow using food coloring, baking soda, and vinegar. We also attempted to make a playdough container blow open using baking soda and vinegar, but discovered that the reaction was too fast an we couldn't get the lid on in time. So, we resorted to using alka selzer and water which worked great. We were able to discuss chemical reactions, gases, and volume all while having a fun play time. Anna keeps asking me what other things we can blow up. Gonna have to do a little research for some fun experiments for her.

At this point, we are just going to have fun for a while. No workbooks or forced lessons. I want to truly seek out a lifestyle of learning.

Who'd have thought..

You are a Tigger Homeschooler. Tiggers jump into
homeschooling with both feet, as a grand
adventure. Everything is about learning, and
their days (and houses) show it.


What kind of Hundred Acre Wood Homeschooler Are You?
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Struggling....

I haven't posted much here because, well, to be honest, I don't know what to post. Lately, I feel like I have neglected my children's education. There is SO much going on in our lives, it's summer and the kids have NO desire to do anything even remotely "schoolish." I don't really want to think about schoolish things right now either. BUT, I feel the importance of the time in our lives to give my children a sense of purpose, and a feeling of competence. I don't think they really have that right now.

We are in a strange state of flux right now because we are building a new home and have the busy-ness associated with that as well as decluttering and packing up our existing home. Add into that the chaos of everyday life and the fact that my basement now floods every time it rains and I don't feel like I have anything left to devote to "school." I do not want things to be this way!

I feel like God is telling me that this new home is like a new slate - a new beginning for our family. So, I guess right now I am seeking God and asking Him to give me a vision of what our family is to be. I know He has a special plan for our family - A specific purpose for us, but am unsure of what it is. He has been preparing all of us for it and I know that our family's passions play a part in this. I am passionate about digital art and photography; Elizabeth is passionate about photography and digitally enhancing her work; Anna is passionate about art in many forms, and Barry is passionate about sound, video and photography. Patrick and Abi are still yet young, but I would bet that their passions will coordinate with our family, as well.

I have always been somewhat of an "out of the box" kind of person. My mom and I were just discussing this. I think my children are the same way and a tradition school education is not exactly what they need to prepare themselves for what God has planned for them. So what should our homelife (which includes their education) look like? I am looking at the big picture and trying to see their education in broad terms right now so that I can set some clear goals. This is hard! This is a time of prayer and regrouping for me. I pray for God's wisdom and ask for Him to give me that vision.