We Are Persevering With Homeschooling

It seems we have finally gotten into a good school routine here, and we are starting to accomplish some of the goals that were planned out for this year. I am so thankful for that because - I won't lie - we had a very rough start to our school year this year and, I gotta tell ya, there have been times when part of me really wanted to quit.

Homeschooling my 14-year-old son is not easy! Its not the teaching part that is hard; I can usually handle that - and, if there is something I don't know the answer to, then we look it up (thanks, in part, to Google). The hard part has been his attitude about schoolwork.  He is not a fan of school - never has been. I'm guessing its because school is hard for him due to his learning difficulties. I understand that. But, I have always been a positive thinker and I have a difficult time with "complainers." He is the type of person who doesn't hold back his negative thoughts, so I OFTEN hear his complaints and feelings about his schoolwork. It irks me to no end; and, I guess maybe I take it too personally at times. I spend countless hours trying to find the curriculum that best fits his personality, and best fits his learning style (as well as my teaching style), and then I get excited about how great our year is going to be and how much we are going to learn. Then, my efforts are met with complaints about the curriculum, or about the work that needs to get done. I want him to have the same kind of excitement about learning as I do, but he doesn't. So, it is frustrating, and it is hard.

On our hardest days, I have prayed, "Why can’t he see how much I am doing for him! Will he ever appreciate me for it? Will he ever learn to do his work without complaining and just do it because its what he is supposed to do? How can I motivate this kid to love learning?"

And, then, the Lord reminds me that, yes, it is hard; but I need to persevere. It will be worth it in the end.

James 1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV)

So, no.... I’m not going to quit just because its hard. One thing I have always tried to teach my kids is that we don't give up "just because its hard." So, that applies to me as well.

But, I want to be clear about something... I would never say it is wrong to enroll a child into an organized brick and mortar school. I would never say every child should be homeschooled. Every family and every situation is different, and not every schooling option is the best fit for every child. But, for me and MY family, homeschooling is what we have chosen to do. It is what my husband and I feel is best for OUR family. So, I know I, personally, need to keep going. With God's help, I am bound and determined to get this kid through High School.

JJ is just being funny here. He knows he has frustrated me, and he is making "light" of it. LOL. He is a good kid, and is trying to do better. I love him dearly and wouldn't trade him for anything.

   

A Visit from Cousin Jon & Sam Judd

Cousin Jon from Kentucky came to visit us for a week. He and JJ are not just cousins, but the best of friends. They talk on the phone almost daily, text each other, Skype, and play some online games together. Their interests are very similar. So, when we found out my brother's friend, Sam Judd, was going to come minister at our church on October 15th, we worked out a way to have Cousin Jon dropped off on Sunday, October 8th. Jon is also homeschooled, so he was able to take the time away from home. However, the boys did not get away from doing ALL of their schoolwork. 

Jon and JJ took Monday, October 9th off from schoolwork because it was Columbus Day. But, they were required to spend the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday doing their work. Then, Friday was another "holiday" for us, just because we wanted it to be.  It's not every day that we get a visit from Cousin Jon, seeing as how he lives at least 6 hours away.

They also did some chores together while Jon was here. Here they are picking up the pears that continually fall from the tree in our front yard every Fall.

They also took numerous bike rides around town on the days it wasn't raining. Great exercise for them, and kept them off the video games for awhile.

Sam Judd came on Saturday, October 14th, and ministered at our church on the 15th. It was a great visit with him, and we enjoyed getting to know him. He is an excellent speaker, and a great musician. So, be sure to check out his website, listen to samples of his music, and contact him to see when he might be available to minister at YOUR church:  www.samjudd.com

 

Sam left on Monday morning, the 16th, and took Jon home with him. It was fun to have him here. I am glad we were able to take advantage of this opportunity for the cousins to spend some enjoyable time together.

SEPTEMBER 2017 FIELD TRIP: Lost Creek Orchards

On Wednesday this past week, we took our first Fall field trip (not including the total eclipse trip we took on our first day of school). We went to Lost Creek Orchards for the 5th year in a row (and our 6th time in total). By now, we know this orchard really well, and it is actually more of a tradition for us than a learning experience. We enjoy the familiarity of this trip, the laid back tour, and also the social time with others in the group.  So, even though JJ is in High School now, we will continue going on these trips as long as we are able, and as long as he still has an interest in going.

JJ chatting with friends before the tour

EL posed for a nice picture by some pumpkins

Walking through the corn maze

Several boys taking a break after walking through the orchard

Heading down the hill back to the lodge

EL is pretty as a peach!

A [Hopefully Final] Change in Math Curriculum

Over the years, we have used several different Math programs for JJ. He is one of the "lucky" kiddos who has always struggled with Math, so we have had some difficulty finding which curriculum works best for him. Some of our choices have included:

• Kumon Math workbooks
• Developmental Mathematics
• Mastering Mathematics - by Letz Farmer
• K5 Learning - online program
• ACE Paces (Accelerated Christian Education)   

All of these curriculum have pros and cons. They all worked well for awhile and helped JJ to learn, and to advance in his math skills. However, none of them really helped explain the math process to him in a way that he could understand. I have noticed I have been able to do most of his math problems on my own and get the correct answers, however, explaining HOW to do them in a way that HE will understand has been more difficult.

At the beginning of last school year (2016), we were using ACE paces for his Math. He was doing well with it for the most part but, eventually, hit a brick wall. So, we started using Math Antics to help explain different concepts, and found it to be very helpful at times. But, Math Antics isn't a full math curriculum. So, I once again, began the search for a different curriculum, one that is more visual like the Math Antics videos. I had heard about Teaching Textbooks from so many people and, I don't know why, but I never really wanted to go that route. I'm guessing the price was a bit of a deterrent. Plus, I just didn't have any experience with it and was used to using a workbook approach. But, I asked around in my homeschool circles to see if anyone was ready to sell the level 7 CD's, and I found a good deal on a used set. (One thing nice about Teaching Textbooks is that, even if you buy the curricula used, you can call the company and they will gladly give you an access code to be able to use it on your own computer.)

So, at the start of second semester last year, shortly after Christmas break, we started using TEACHING TEXTBOOKS. It still hasn't been without some difficulty. However, it has helped greatly to explain HOW to do the math problems. JJ went from making C's (and sometimes lower) with ACE paces, to making A's and B's with Teaching Textbooks. Plus, it is self-grading, which makes it a lot easier on me, too. Success!

So, hopefully, we will be able to continue with Teaching Textbooks throughout the rest of JJ's school years, although I am not opposed to supplementing with other curriculum if needed. I don't anticipate him getting into the higher levels of math before finishing High School (Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, etc.) but that's okay! He isn't interested in a career that will need those higher levels of math. So, we will have him continue to work at his level, and move on at his own pace. That is the beauty of individualized home education.

Back to School 2017: The Beginning of JJ's Freshman Year

Our first day of school this year was Monday, August 21st. We took a field trip with some friends of ours to Southern IL to see the 2017 Solar Eclipse. Totality only lasted a couple of minutes, but it was an incredible sight to see! The pictures do not even come close to showing what it was really like.

Then, on Tuesday, we started easing back into our book work. Since EL has graduated, we only have JJ to do official school with this year, although EL is still doing some light schoolwork to help keep her mind active.

JJ is now a High School Freshman!

We started our day on Tuesday with Toaster Strudels for breakfast, one of our favorite treats.

Then, I had the kids write "Thank you" notes for the gifts they received for graduation. I also had JJ write a short field trip report from Monday's trip to see the eclipse.

The next two days (Wednesday and Thursday), we added Spelling, Grammar, and Spanish. Then, next week, we will add a couple more subjects.

We are using an eclectic mix of different curriculum for JJ this year, which includes the following:

• IL History & US Geography - State History from a Christian Perspective
• Survey of Geology & Archaeology (Earth Science) - Master Books
• Math (Heading into Pre-Algebra this year) - Teaching Textbooks
• Spelling - Sequential Spelling
• Grammar - Easy Grammar Plus
• Composition - Igniting Your Writing
• Spanish - Rosetta Stone

I will try to update as we progress and let you know how things are going with these options.

Keep us in your prayers, and have a great school year!

Update On Using Notgrass History

Last school year (2016-2017), we used NOTGRASS HISTORY:  UNCLE SAM & YOU for our History/Civics/Government curriculum. JJ was in 8th grade, and EL followed along with us for her final year of school as well. (It is geared towards middle school students, grades 5-8). We all enjoyed the curriculum. It is easy to use, and covers many different areas of interest. Each chapter covered 4 days worth of topic. Then, on the 5th day of the week, there is an optional lesson on a holiday of your choice (included at the back of the textbook), along with a recommended family activity.

On a typical day, I would read the day's text out loud to both of the kids, so we were all learning together at the same time. Then, at the end of each chapter, there were suggestions for activities to do such as Bible study questions, additional reading from The Citizen's Handbook, vocabulary and writing assignments, and a page or two in the corresponding workbooks.

The workbooks are optional, but we found them to be helpful for reviewing the material. There are two workbooks to use or choose from. The Lesson Review is for those who just want to answer review questions (written or oral), and The Student Workbook is for those who prefer fill in the blank types of activities, crossword puzzles, and drawing assignments. We used a little of both, but mostly used the Student Workbook.
 

A Literature Package is also available, and it includes 8 books that correspond with the time period/topic being studied. We did not read ALL of the books, but chose a few that best suited our needs and interests. I read these aloud also, and our favorites were "Basher Five-Two" and "Lost On A Mountain in Maine."

What is nice about this curriculum is that you can order just what you need/want, or order the entire curriculum package. If you use the entire package and included activities, you will be covering the subjects of Bible, Civics, Vocabulary, Creative Writing, and Literature. You can also buy most of the books used if you find someone who is selling them, and then re-sell them yourself, making it a more economical choice.

We are not continuing with Notgrass this school year (2017-2018), but not because we didn't like it. We have decided to go in a different direction for now, covering IL History and US Geography (We will begin our school year on August 21st!) However, when the time comes for us to jump into World History or US History at the High School level, I will definitely be looking into Notgrass again.

Thumbs up for Notgrass!

Our 2017 Graduates

 

At the end of May, we finished our 2016-2017 school year, and that means our daughter, EL, completed 4 years of High School and, therefore, "graduated" from SONset Academy. Her special learning needs kept her from being able to complete high school level work so, after consulting with HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association), we felt it was best to give EL a Certificate of Completion rather than a Diploma. She will not be attending college, so a diploma is not really necessary for her anyway. But, regardless of what type of certification she has received, we are very proud of her accomplishments.

Our son, JJ, also graduated this year - from 8th grade. So, this past Sunday, we finally had a small graduation celebration for both of them. (It has been a busy Summer, so this was the best time to schedule the party, even though they technically graduated at the end of May.)

David/Dad/Principal - Signing the graduation certificates

We had a casual, simple ceremony in our garage. To start things off, Aunt Jackie played "Pomp and Circumstance" on her flute as the graduates walked out of the house and into the garage where family and friends were waiting.

David gave a short message/word of encouragement to the graduates, as well as to the rest of us in attendance.

JJ received his 8th grade diploma

EL received her Certificate of Completion.

After the ceremony, we had a simple reception:  A decorated cake, Veggies and Dip, Trail Mix, Goldfish Crackers, Cherry Candies, and drinks. The colors were red, white and blue. Decorations came from Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Walmart's clearance section.

Family photo with the graduates.

It was a nice day. 
Now, we begin High School with JJ!

May 2017 Field Trip: Horse Farm & Sheep Farm

Here it is, the end of Summer 2017, and I am just now getting around to posting about the field trip we took in May. I don't really have any excuses. Life has just been busy and blogging here hasn't been a priority. But, I'm hoping to get back into it as we finish up the Summer and get back into a new school year.

On May 23rd, we took a field trip to a farm where they train horses, then also to a 4-H sheep farm. Here are a few pictures, followed by a short report from each of the kids.

A horse in the ring

JJ riding a horse (EL did not want to ride)

JJ Petting a horse

Shearing a sheep

FIELD TRIP REPORT FROM JJ

WHAT I LEARNED:   It takes a horse a long time to have a baby. For a human, it takes 9 months. A horse takes 11 months. It takes a sheep 5 months. A horse gets freaked out when he goes to a new horse farm. It is just like when a kid transfers to another school - they don't like it. I learned that sheep want to die every day but, if you care for them, they will live longer. A sheep gets shaved once every year.

WHAT I LIKED:  I loved riding on the horse!!! And, I liked watching the sheep get shaved. I liked playing with the dog and cat. I liked mostly the whole day.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: I did not like the dust. Other than that, nothing really. Like I said, I liked the whole day.

FIELD TRIP REPORT FROM EL

WHAT I LEARNED:  A horse has white legs. The horse is big and brown. The mule runs fast with 4 long legs. The mule has long ears. The mule has a tail like a horse. It's a mule tail. I saw a black horse and some white horses. And, I also saw a black and white horse. I pet the horse. Horses make sounds. I saw a girl riding a mule. I saw a saddle on the mule's back. I saw a black and brown cat. The cat meowed. I just watched the kids ride on the mule. I saw a gray and white cat. I pet the cat. The cat says hi.

WHAT I LIKED:  I like the black sheep, just like the song. I saw a little white lamb named Sunny. Don't forget the ram with horns. I saw 2 dogs, a gray and brown dog, and a black and white dog. The dog sniffed my hand. I pet the dog.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:  I didn't like the loud noise of the man shearing the sheep. The sheep makes a loud baaaing sound.

Quick Update

This school year is going by fast. I haven't taken many pictures this year, so I haven't had a whole lot to share. The kids are older now, and we just aren't doing as much "fun" hands on types of things. But, I did end up making a few curriculum changes that I want to tell you about, and also want to share what has been working for us. Be watching for these future posts.