An Interview About Our Homeschooling Journey

 A friend asked me a bunch of questions and I did my best to answer. You can find the interview here.

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An Update: April 2019

(As shared on my blog facebook page...)

Hello, you dear ones who still follow this blogger who hasn't blogged in ages.

I think about writing so very often but I have no idea where to start. A short update here feels like a much more manageable way to share. I'm doing well. It was discovered this past year that my SCAD heart attack was caused by a condition called fibromuscular dysplasia (my arteries are wonky which has and may continue to cause problems). It's been a journey accepting my new reality but I am so thankful for where I am today...I have a brand new perspective on life. I am thankful for every day. Our family is well. We are LOVING having my parents live with us in their own (attached) apartment. Their support and presence has been such a gift. Because of my health issues, we've stopped fostering. This was very difficult for me at first but our family feels complete with four wonderful children who span between learning to drive and learning to use the potty. We still garden a little and enjoy small projects but we also take advantage of our friends' CSA as slowing down a bit is good for me. We're still homeschooling but next year will include our eldest going to private school and our youngest spending a few days a week at a local preschool. When I read back over blog posts I realize that that woman doesn't exist anymore. This is both oddly unsettling and comforting. So much has transpired and while it has included trials it has also been full of so many joys and gifts. I can honestly say that while life is very different now, I would not choose to go back. God is with me and I rest secure in Him. Blessings to each of you as you navigate your own challenges and celebrations. You will always be dear to me. 

Until next time and with love, 
Jane Pin It

A Simple Math Help

My days are full of baby care and supervision (he has finally caught up, developmentally, and, at almost ten months, is everywhere) as well as kid care and homeschooling.

It's all day, everyday- back and forth between the two, sometimes attempting both at once.  I know some of you are in the midst of this now, too.  Bless your tired hearts.

Reading (outside especially) can be fun but Math is a bit more challenging for some of us.  I've written about some multiplication and division tools we use here.  But it goes beyond drilling facts.  It seems that around 4th and 5th grade, the new concepts are endless- hitting us like snowball after snowball with no chance to shake off and prepare for the next hit.  In an effort to simplify things and create a tool for review and to be used as a resource when memories fail, I started a Math concept card ring for Sadie, now a 5th grader.

We use Saxon Math and really appreciate their format for each lesson- new concept, new concept practice, then review, review, review.  For each new concept this year, I make a 3 x 5 card that summarizes the skill.  I then punch a hole in the corner and thread it onto a ring (like these). This is not rocket science.  I'm sure others do this.  It is working really well.

Sadie uses the cards for reference as she does the new concept practice problems as well as when completing the review problems that she needs a little help with.  Some days, I have her read through the cards before we start math.  The goal, of course, is for the cards to become obsolete.  In the meantime, they're at her disposal.  I'm also hoping they're prove to be a nice review now and again throughout the summer.

Maybe they will help one of your kids, too.  What do you find is helpful for your math scholars? Pin It

Multiplication and Division Helps

At one time or another each one of our kids struggle with a certain concept.  When this happens, we slow down and look for new ways to present, learn and practice the new idea.  If the concept is crucial, we might stop new work completely and take a few days (or weeks) to focus on it.  If it's just not coming, we take a break and come back to it.  Homeschooling makes this so easy to do- moving forward and hanging back as needed.

Last March I shared about our attempts to find a spelling curriculum that works for one of our kids who was having trouble with spelling.  All About Spelling is still working well for us and I still highly recommend it.

But then there's 3rd and 4th grade math when multiplication and division are presented.  Those concepts fall into that crucial category because both really must be mastered before moving ahead. From here on out, those skills will be built upon.  And they come easier for some more than others.

Sometimes flashcards, manipulatives and worksheets just aren't enough.  For some times tables (like the 9s) there are tricks to be taught but sometimes facts just need to be memorized.  Games are great but usually require more than one person to play and I am often looking for tools they can use on their own.  Thankfully, we've found a few tools that have really helped things click.

The pattern became that while I was putting wood on the stove, washing up dishes, changing over laundry or what-have-you, I could ask my student to use one of these tools as a review before we jumped into math (the first subject we do together).  This additional review has really helped and we're back tackling new lessons in math. Non-homeschooled kids can totally benefit from these tools as well.

Wrap Ups.  You can buy these individually (for about $10), in a set like we have or make your own.    I think it would be pretty easy to make cardboard versions of these- cutting notches in the sides and affixing a string through the top (using a hole-punch for the opening). The set comes with a CD with some really catchy math raps that assist in the wrapping.

You can listen along as they rap the facts (like, "7 times 4 is 28") or just give you the problem so you can wrap the right answer on your own.  To check to see if your wrapping has lined up correctly, there are grooves on the back of each plastic card that show where the string should lie so you can see if you have it right.

Hot Dots.  There are sets for different skills.  We have the division set.  The special pen (sold separately) is pressed on the dot beside your answer choice.  If you're right, it cheers for you or says some encouraging words.  If you're wrong, it asks you to try again.  The sound can be turned off if it's distracting to others and the end of the pen will light up instead, letting you know if you got it right.

This last one is our favorite: Times Tables the Fun Way.  A friend of my sister recommended this book and I was so glad I was able to find a copy.  For some kids, memorization is just hard.  Linking the facts to a story or image helps them recall what they need to know.

Each picture incorporates the numbers of a multiplication problem and tells a story like this one below.

I decided to make my own drawn-copies of those we needed the most help on and had my student color them.  We then laminated them.  These act as flashcards now and are easier to refer to than finding the right page in the book.  You could totally create your own drawings and stories.

Sometimes I find myself saying, "Is the three a bat or a bow in this problem?" to help trigger their memory.  And it works!

All kids hit a snag now and then.  I've found that changing things up, slowing things down and taking breaks (without putting undue pressure on the child) works best in helping them over their hurdles.  

What math helps have helped your child? 

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Challenge A: The First Five Weeks

{Disclaimer:  This post is about our experience with our local chapter of Classical Conversations Challenge A.  Each child, tutor and class is different.}

Challenge A: Homeschooling Through Middle School and Beyond (my first post on the subject)

Just yesterday, Sam finished his fifth week of Challenge A.  He and I were both very nervous-excited before the start.

What would the (at home) workload look like?
Would it be too much work?
Would he lose some of his homeschool independence as he adjusted (as in, will I have to help more)?
Would it matter that he had not participated in the younger Classical Conversation programs (Foundations and Essentials)?
Would he hate it?
Would I hate it?
Would I be able to keep up enough to help him?
Would he make good friends?
Would we be glad we chose this path?

Well, if you care to know, here are the answers:

What would the (at home) workload look like?

In Challenge A, they suggest allowing for one hour per subject per day. There are six skills/subjects.

Latin A (Grammar).  The Henle Latin books are used.  Sam's work at home includes memorizing vocabulary and declensions (think "conjugating" nouns for the purpose of identifying their function in a sentence, verbs are also conjugated), learning Latin rules, completing exercises, and checking his answers.

Literature, Discussion & Persuasive Writing (Exposition and Composition).  While Sam is reading the one novel, he is writing about the book he previously read using The Lost Tools of Writing curriculum.  At home, Sam works though the workbook as it guides him in asking a "should" question about a character in the book.  For example, "Should Edmund have gone with the White Witch?" Over several weeks, a simple persuasive essay develops.  The simple version is built upon each consecutive book/process.

Geography (Debate).  Each day, Sam practices drawing a different part of the world.  He started with Canada and Greenland.  Beginning by tracing, he moved on to free hand and labeling of provinces, capitals and major bodies of water/mountain ranges.  By the end of the year, they should be able to draw the world (free hand) and label all the countries, capitals, large bodies of water, etc.

Natural Science and Biology (Research).  Sam's tutor assigns a topic to research.  Sam has to research the topic, take notes, write a rough draft (5-10 sentences), note sources, and draw a diagram in his science journal.  He then copies the good draft into the journal as well as the Works Cited, using proper AMA format.  In class, he presents his research to his class and they provide feedback on his public speaking.

Clear Reasoning/Apologetics (Rhetoric). The class is reading It Couldn't Just Happen.  Each week, they are assigned a chapter and answer comprehension questions about it (about 3-4 questions per day).  He also studies the definitions of concepts/topics (anything from "What does the theory of the greenhouse effect suggest?" to "Who was Francesco Redi?" to "What are proteins?") so he can compete in a Jeopardy-type game later on in the semester.

Mathematics (Logic).  In class, the tutor reviews challenging concepts having to do with 7th/8th grade math.  Individually, each student works at their own level/pace using their family's choice of math curriculum.  So Sam's math looks just like it did last year- new concepts, math problems, and tests.  We use Saxon.

Would it be too much work?

The "one hour per day per subject" estimation was one of the things that made Sam and I a little nervous.  That felt like a lot of time.  Thankfully, Math takes about an hour but the other subjects take closer to a half hour per day and even that fluctuates depending on the assignments.

He's able to get the majority of his work done in the morning and finishes up after lunch (roughly 9:00 am-noon and 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, with occasional breaks to deal with animals, play with his sisters, work on his laundry, etc.)

Would he lose some of his homeschool independence as he adjusted (as in, will I have to help more)?

My experience has been that my kids start out needing only an hour or two of my time per day (think kindergarten).  That time frame lengthens and seems to peak around 4th/5th grade. But then!  They are able to take over more of their schooling and the actual 1:1 time needed begins to decrease a bit. Sam had been taking over more of his schooling (with plenty of supervision, just not hand-holding).

I expected that he might need additional help while he transitioned to a new program.  I was hoping that it wouldn't take too much time away from his sisters' needs and the household's.  Frankly, I thought the workload might be hard therefore he'd need lots of coaxing throughout the day to complete it (in addition to me helping with it).

We are so proud of Sam.  He has really taken responsibility for his work and getting it done in a timely fashion.  He even sets an alarm in the morning!  I attribute this to the positive peer pressure/expectations that the rest of his class is working hard, too, and he wants to move forward with them.

Would it matter that he had not participated in the younger Classical Conversation programs (Foundations and Essentials)?

So far, Sam doesn't seem to be at a disadvantage.  I attribute this to having used Sonlight all these years- an excellent curriculum (still my favorite and what the girls use).

Would he hate it?

When asked about Challenge, he says things like, "It's hard," and, "I hate Latin," but when it's just us, he leans against my shoulder and thanks me for "letting" him do Challenge.  The boy loves it.

Would I hate it?

I don't.  So far, I'm very impressed.

Would I be able to keep up enough to help him?

Before the year started, I worked ahead (about 14 lessons) in Latin just to give myself a head start in being able to help him.  He did need some help at first but now is working well on his own.  I know it would be a good idea if I kept up with him but I'm not sure that's practical for me.  In the other subjects, there is little I need to do to keep up- so far, anyway!

Would he make good friends?

His class is amazing!  There are eight in his class and they are great kids.  Sam has already starting developing sweet friendships with them.

Would we be glad we chose this path?

I am incredibly grateful that this is an option for us and for Sam. Knowing that he will be able to stick with this program throughout high school gives me peace.  He is being challenged and he loves it.

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Challenge A: Homeschooling through Middle School & Beyond

One of the questions we often get asked when folks find out we homeschool is, "Will you homeschool through high school?"  For many years, our answer was that we didn't know.  We planned on doing school at home through middle school but beyond that, we weren't sure.  It seemed like SO far away. And, as the main homeschooling parent, a bit daunting even though I knew my husband could help with the higher maths and sciences if needed.

Our plan for a long time was to just see how it went.  We are blessed to have a good, Christian private school nearby and figured that if our kids really expressed interest and could make a very good case for going AND if we felt peace about the idea, it was something we might pursue for high school.

Fast forward a number of years and we found ourselves in a different place.  Homeschooling into middle school and beyond didn't seem so intimidating because each year, we were doing it- taking on the higher subjects and enjoying them.  While it is still nice to know there is a private school option available, their tuition is impressive and we didn't want to be that financially stretched.  Also, our oldest was not asking (ever) to go to "big" school.

There is a thriving homeschool community in our area with many options for co-ops and activities.  We participate in some but mostly center our days around life at home.  I knew that as our kids got older, there were different resources out there for them but time snuck up on me and I kept thinking I had time to look into them.  Enter in the providence of God.  At a birthday party, I enjoyed catching up with a friend whose older children participated in the Classical Conversations Challenge Program- a supplement to homeschooling middle and high schoolers.  If Sam was going to join the program, he should start the very next fall- talk about timing!

Excited about the possibility, I went home, scoured the website, discussed it with Sam and my husband, visited a community day (with Sam) and filled out the application.  Sam was excited.  I was excited.  It seemed like the perfect fit/transition/supplement to our middle school homeschool experience.  Knowing it carries a child through high school was an added bonus.

In a nutshell, the program goes like this:  

~ The parent is still the teacher- the one responsible for the child's education, for grading and setting assignment expectations.

~ One day a week, the student attends community day in which they are taught six subjects by a trained tutor in a class of up to 12 students at a similar grade/age level.

~ At community day, they receive their assignments for the week to complete at home.

~ The cost was slightly higher than what we were already spending on curriculum through Sonlight.

We were all a little nervous about starting even though we felt good about the decision.  For those of you who are interested, I'll share more on this and how it's going so far in my next post on the topic.

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Nesting Spurts of Semi-Ridiculousness

One day last week, mid morning, I followed a link on facebook.  It was about making 30 days of freezer crock pot meals for busy, back to school days.  Hmm.

I tend to avoid crock pot recipes in general because 1) most crock pot meals are meat-based and two out of the five of us don't like meat and 2) I don't want to spend time in the morning (or evening, for that matter) putting things into the crock pot because it's often hard for me to get going in the morning- I don't need one more thing to do.

But freezer crock pot meals...that would mean thawing them the night before and just dumping them in the crock pot in the morning.  They would provide occasional meat meals for those of us to like meat.  They would provide me with a sense of control over meal planning which makes our busy fall seem less daunting.

Sadie and I printed out about seven of the recipes, made a grocery list and we headed out to the store. We got home around noon.  I told the kids they were on their own for lunch (they loved the idea of multiple snacks instead of lunch) and I set up shop.

Side note:  Sometimes, I feel like I am incredibly lazy (and I am) but then other times, I have these crazy notions and launch into adrenaline-driven activity.  There's no rhyme or reason to it.  I just have to ride the wave.

I set up a raw meat station, a veggie chopping station, a cheese station, and a bagging station. I got out my sharpie for labeling, lined up my recipes, elicited some kid-chopping help, and jumped in. Six weary hours later (the adrenaline wore off after the one and a half), I left the kitchen with 15 dinners prepped and in the freezer.

Then, for fear that I would forget what I froze and had available, I made a list for the side of the fridge with a few side ideas and what, if anything, I needed to have available to go with particular meals.  Yes, most are chicken-based.  Yes, using gallon freezer bags to freeze meals takes up very little freezer space (much less than 8x8 or 9x13 pans which is usually how I do it).  No, I have no idea how anything will taste since I haven't tried any of these before.  I basically followed her recipes except that for the Chicken Curry, instead of adding peas to the freezer bags, I'm going to add our frozen chopped spinach at the end of the cooking time.  Also, I'm going to add some frozen broccoli to the end of the Chicken Curry cooking time.

Some of the meals are contained in that box with some rolls and tortillas (to go with the meals) on top.  

Part of this has to do with the nesting phase I'm currently in.  Moving from summer life to homeschooling life is a pretty drastic change for me.  Instead of birthing a baby soon, I'm going to be birthing a school that needs to run semi-smoothly for all our sakes.

And so, I've been squirreling away food, purging and donating unwanted items, repainting rooms (notice the kitchen color change?), rearranging bedroom furniture, vaccuuming curtains (yes, it's a thing) and pulling our books together.

My prayer is that when it comes time to switch gears next week, I can quiet my mind and body and focus on the glorious task at hand- learning with my children.

Does anyone else nest when there isn't a baby involved?

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Stuff. Grrrr....

When I was a little girl I dreamed of being a mommy.  I envisioned cradling tiny babies, putting them down for naps, feeding them in a high chair, changing diapers, and even nursing them (I had four younger siblings who ate that way- not all at once, of course).

But never did I imagine all the time I would spend managing STUFF.  It is (as of right now) my very least favorite part of managing a household.  I don't mind cleaning very much (when I have the time to get it done) and I don't mind doing laundry.  I wax and wane excitement regarding cooking these days and don't really mind paying the bills.  What I DO mind is all the time, brain space and energy that goes into dealing with stuff.

Now granted, I am thankful for the stuff.  I am not complaining about the *actual* stuff.  The stuff we have is stuff we need and are blessed to have in our possession.

BUT.

When you live in an old farmhouse with very few closets, managing stuff is hard.

When your attic's access is just wide enough for your husband's hips to fit through (forget about bins, Christmas trees, etc.), managing stuff is hard.

When you are over-the-moon fortunate to get beautiful hand-me-downs to clothe your children but have to pile bins of clothes in your bedroom, managing stuff is hard.

When you homeschool and need to save each year's books for the children who will grow into them so you don't have to sell and repurchase books every year, managing stuff is hard.

When your children's ages range from one to just shy of twelve, some toys and books will naturally accumulate for said ages (and in between) making it hard to manage all the stuff.

When you delight in organization, tidy rooms and open spaces, managing an overabundance of stuff is hard.

When your "attic" is an old, detached-from-the-house smokehouse that is mostly sound but not sound enough to trust storing said clothes and books, managing stuff is hard.

When the only exercise you get some days is rearranging and lugging around bins and boxes, managing stuff is hard (even though the exercise is good).

I don't wish this stuff away. I am doing my best to keep us organized.  Yes, an addition would be nice as we seem to be bursting at the seams but it's not in the cards right now.

So I live with the stuff.  I walk past and around the stuff.  I sneer at the stuff and try to will it invisible.  I resent how it makes our spaces look cluttered and hope no one thinks me a budding hoarder.  I am constantly trying to think up ways to house it more discretely but the cold, hard truth is that as long as I have a family and means to clothe, entertain, and school them, I will have stuff.

So, STUFF, BRING IT ON!  I'm armed with bins and I'm not afraid to use them.  Like it or not, I will kick your butt into organized submission.

The end.

Merry Christmas!!

Love,
Jane Pin It

In the School Room

In the past month or so a friend of mine has been posting photographs and breaking them down.  I thought I'd apply the same idea to a picture I took a couple weeks ago. I love it because it truly is a snap shot into what our life is like at this moment in time.

~ Despite the occasional lament during actual school, as soon as they're given free time, they play school.  Sam is taking turns teaching Miriam (in her creative learning stance) and Sadie.

~ laundry in the basket on the couch waiting to be folded

~ Handwriting pages, maps, Bible memory verses, school calendar, spelling rule reminders and framed art from this summer's painting fun (we used this book) adorn the walls.

~ Strewn board books, an Indestructible, colander, Hess car, soccer ball, and peek-a-boo blocks show what baby was playing with.

~ School table covered in school books waiting to be put away on the shelves to the right.

~ Open toy cabinets (the doors came off years ago) and two locked craft/toy rotation cabinets sit under the school shelves.  I *so* advocate locking a cabinet or two.

~ Basket on school shelf holds diapers, changing pad, wipes and diaper cream because who wants to traipse upstairs every time there's a dirty diaper?

~ ABC cards from My Father's World because we have a kindergartener in the house

~ pillow on the floor because that's where pillows belong, right?

~ CD player on the table for listening to Bible memory verse and Geography songs

~ Sadie holding the baby like I often do during school

This is so characteristic of life right now- a semi-organized whirlwind of togetherness- children, school and never-ending laundry.  

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Late Summer Green

I don't remember a summer that has ended so green.

I only wish I had more time to be out enjoying it.  And weeding it.

Our first week of school started out great and ended with most of us sick.

It wiped me and the littlest one out.  

Jamey took the older three and headed out of town to visit his family.

A couple quiet days to rest and regroup was just what I needed.

This week we give school another go.

It's our last week of only school before all the extracurricular activities begin.

Since they're all (but one) during the day, this means the running and the juggling of naps, meals and schoolwork falls on me.

I just need to remember to get myself outside every once in awhile.

It calms and centers me and reminds me that the God of creation is there waiting to grant me the strength to tackle each full-to-the-brim day.  I just need to lay it all down at His feet and ask.

There is none holy like the LORD: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. For there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. I Samuel 2:2

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Spelling: Four Ways

In a month or so, we'll be wrapping up our 7th year of homeschooling.  I remember that when we first started "7 years" sounded like forever and I thought that homeschooling families who had done it for that long must be experts. 

I certainly never feel that way, regardless of the almost 7 years under my belt (is that what that is?).  What I do feel, though, is that I'm much better accustomed to going with the flow, tweaking and changing what we do to make it fit instead of lamenting over whether I make the perfect choice of curriculum for each subject every year.

Spelling is a perfect example of this and one of the reasons I love homeschooling.  If something isn't working, I can change it!  Over the years of Sam (K-6th) and Sadie (K-2nd), we've used four different spelling programs.  I thought it might be helpful to share a little bit about them in case our experience might benefit your family.

Spelling is a odd thing.  I have never been very good at it.  The English language has so many funny rules and many of the rules don't apply at random times and often for no apparent reason.  No wonder it can be tricky for kids to learn!  Here's a bit of our journey....

I started both Sam and Sadie out with the Spelling Workout books.  They reminded me most of what I remember doing in public school for spelling.  Each week, the child is presented with a list of words that have something in common.  Then they're given short exercises to practice spelling their words with little boxes the right size and height for each letter to act as clues.  I would also ask them to occasionally write sentences that used their list words or practice writing trouble words a certain number of times.

Sam breezed through the workbooks the first few years and then became incredibly bored with them.  He is a voracious reader which helps immensely with spelling.  He certainly doesn't always spell words correctly right off the bat but he can look at a word he's written and know whether it looks right or not because he's so familiar with the written language.

Sadie breezed through the first year of Spelling Workout but then began to have trouble.  There was little explanation of rules and reasons as to why more challenging words were spelled in a way she wasn't expecting. Just memorizing the spelling was difficult (and no fun for sure), so we abandoned them for Sadie as well.

Back to Sam.  After Spelling Workout we tried Sequential Spelling. It is one of the spelling programs recommended by Sonlight and I was intrigued because it looked so different.  Each day, the child is dictated a rather long list of words.  As they write them down, the parent is watching and immediately corrects any misspellings.  There are no tests, no exercises.  Just a list each day to dictate.  Words in the list are repeated and share prefixes or suffixes so patterns are established.

There wasn't really anything wrong with this program other than I kept thinking about another spelling program I had on my shelf that I had wanted to try: Spelling Wisdom.  This is a Charlotte Mason-inspired spelling curriculum which is also based on dictation but instead of dictating lists of words, excerpts or poems from famous writers are dictated.  The child is exposed to excellent writing and through the chosen passages, the child learns to spell the 6,000 most used words in the English language.  

The way it works is that parent and child read through the passage together and determine which words the child doesn't know how to spell already.  The child practices and studies those and once they can spell them, the passage is dictated to them to ensure they can, indeed, spell all the words correctly.  We're still using Spelling Wisdom for Sam and he and I both enjoy it (as much as one can enjoy Spelling, of course).

Back to Sadie. Again, I went to Sonlight to see what they recommended.  I needed a program that would go a little slower, provide more explanation of rules and some new ways of thinking about/doing spelling.  I decided to try All About Spelling.  I must admit, I was a bit intimidated by the actual program when it arrived.  The teacher's book was simple enough to follow but there were lots of rule cards to file, magnetic letters to find a board for, and clear, colored discs for who-knows-what.  I had to sit down and give it more thought than the other programs just to figure out how it worked, BUT BOY DOES IT WORK (for Sadie)!

We started back at Level 1 and Sadie (and I!) learned spelling rules I never knew existed which makes spelling seem less of a giant guessing game.  For example, how do you teach a child whether to use a "k" or "ck" when they hear the "k" sound at the end of a word?  Well, there is a rule for that.  If a short vowel sound is used before the "k" sound, you use "ck".  Now she knows and there is no floundering and guessing! It also teaches the student to spell by breaking down words into syllables (that's what those clear, colored discs were for) and has built in review of rules.  We are well into Level 2 at this point.  It takes a little extra time compared to the other programs but she's getting it.  She loves the magnetic letters and really does benefit from "building" words on the board as well as writing them.

So, who knows.  Maybe we've found the spelling programs we'll stick with from here on out.  Maybe as their needs change, we'll switch again.  Either way- we can do it.

Take that, spelling. Pin It