In my life this
(past) week…
I experienced a repeat realization this last week. Something that I have recognized before, but,
then, neglected to adhere to: My children do best when I take no more
than 5-10 minutes on the computer at a time once all three of them are awake. For even when the kids don’t “need” my direct
interaction, their behavior and displayed emotions indicate that they do best
when I am more fully present with them than I am when I am working on documents
or online.
So, it is that I have
started disciplining myself (again!) not to be on the computer for long periods
during the day when all three of my child are awake – a boon for parenting, homeschooling and the happy-peaceful atmosphere I
seek for our home, but, perhaps, a hindrance to the pace at which I’ll be
blogging. (If this post is anything
to go by, it will be, at least. For, I
started this post before the kids woke up Friday morning and am just NOW
posting it!)
In our homeschool this (past) week…
 |
| Nina thoroughly enjoyed our penny experiments. |
We experienced the benefits of “strewing”, of direct
focused lessons and of freedom to enjoy experiences that we might not if
the children drove away on the big yellow bus each day.
Strewing is an unschooling
term that refers to the art of allowing your children to discover things that
you casually leave out, almost like seeds, which help a child’s curiosity, joy and enthusiasm germinate and
grow. Although we don’t unschool here on
a regular basis, we have been through some “unschoolish” periods and continue
to value the learning that happens spontaneously in the rich soil of
unscheduled, yet well-seeded time.
Beautiful moments that have sprouted due to
strewing last week included:
-
Luke
pouring over Story of the Orchestra book
during every free moment he had one morning and
singing “Tchaikovsky wrote a
great ballet...” to himself and us
as he went about his play (a tune he learned from
The Story of Swan Lake).
-
Luke beginning
to learn about playing the piano
again and spending a lot of time one day playing Jack’s little electric
keyboard. Nina asking Daddy to re-string
her kids’ guitar and, then, all the
children and Daddy dreaming up a future family band.
-
the children “reading” to each other in precious moment after precious moment about ancient
Egypt,
their imagined space wars, changes in time throughout history.
The book
A Street Through Time particularly
fascinated Luke and ignited all of the children’s imaginations.
Focused lesson fun and
success has included:
-
games! Learning
games focused on specific standards-based goals. A large chalkboard has become the game board for Nina’s phonics and early reading lessons, Luke’s “flip the sound” strategy practice, reading numerals up to 100 and counting
by 5’s... A calendar became a game
board to bring Nina one step closer to mastering counting and reading numbers through 31 – a goal she is almost at. Cut up papers have become handwriting
practice and, then, cards for Slap!, Go Fish and Concentration while studying
both phonics and sight words. Focused lessons has been fun around here this
week!
-
math
challenges! There is just something about calling addition work, number work and
other skills-based math exercises “challenges” that makes doing otherwise rote
tasks so much more appealing to our children.
-
post-dinner
science experiments. Exploring acidity and experimenting with
how common kitchen products make old pennies shiny again was a huge hit for all
three children.
-
Daily Five
time – formal and child-driven.
Afternoons, when we are home, the kids are getting into a
routine of
The Daily Five time.
First thing in the mornings and late in the
afternoons, they often choose to engage in informal sessions of it, too.
I just
LOVE hearing them “read” to one another or seeing them hanging out in
comfortable places reading to themselves.
- Jack joining
in at the beginning of our Drama Kids lesson
this week (since Daddy was a few
minutes late). It was so precious to see
him jumping right in with all the “big kids”.
Then, after he left the class, Luke finally figured out the difference
between projection and shouting and Nina delighted in delivering a line of our
scene in an expressive, loud voice front and center stage.
Freedom
borne from homeschooling has afforded us opportunities to:
-
make snowmen, snowwomen and snowdogs while the snow
was perfect for it. As I shoveled the driveway so we could get
out to a medical appointment for Jack, all three kids played and sculpted in
the snow. Later in the day – and week –
they repeated their snow breaks often.
-
enjoy mid-day skating. A local
homeschooling group has organized the best deal with a local skating rink, so
every few weeks, we get to go skating around lunchtime ultra-affordable. Jack tried skating the first week, but now
prefers to watch and then take his nap in my arms. Nina and Luke, though, wow! With persistence and joy they are teaching
themselves to skate. Nina made such
great strides – or rather slides – this week with thanks to another homeschool
mom, Kristen’s, help. Seeing Nina smile
as she skated across the rink and back was awesome.
- spend an entire day between two libraries and a
playground, enjoying a fabulous music and movement class that a friend
led, meeting a craft challenge in
preparation for a feast day next week, playing educational computer games, playing board games, zooming wooden
trains, swinging, enjoying dramatic play and slipping in some more
academic, formal lessons.
-
visit a homeschool friend’s house so Mommy could plan for our spring co-op while my
children were fully and graciously entertained by their friends. I just
love witnessing the multi-age interaction that homeschooling affords and how
development is evidenced and encouraged as older children excitedly engage
younger children and vice versa.
Yep. It’s been a good week!
Helpful homeschooling tips to share…
 |
| The kids were so happy to finally use the snowman kit that Auntie got Jack for Christmas. I was equally delighted to recall that enjoying the snow in the morning when it is expected to melt by afternoon is a benefit of our chosen lifestyle. |
Comparison, doubt, worry, have to’s, should do’s and all the rest of the
things that snuff the joy right out of homeschooling creep up so
surreptitiously. Then, darkness
falls.
Pause, prayer, love, acceptance, hope, perspective... All of these things spark smiles once
more. After being beleaguered by dark
and doubt at times two weeks ago, I am glad last week found us on fire again
here and am hoping to keep feeding the flame even as darkness keeps creeping
back into my brain. To this end, I am recording
a little tip for myself to look back on and remember for when things inevitably
sputter:
Do it their
way, your way and His way. When I refocus on following my children’s
lead, accepting embracing my style and making a greater effort to see,
feel and live with the Spirit working in our home and homeschool, things get so
much better. Attitude, authenticity
and a strong portion of grace can be the difference between a “good” homeschool
experience and a “bad” one. I just
wish I could remember that 24-7, because lately I have forgotten it for at
least a few hours a day.
Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
Besides the things I already wrote about as part of our homeschool
review, and a family nature walk we enjoyed on the Sabbath, the biggest highlight of the week – which was a rather quiet and
reflective one – was that both Mike and I got to be present at Adoration this week.
I encouraged Mike to go Adoration two weeks ago and was surprised
when he took me up on a suggestion that I could get the kids to bed after I
came home from work if he would like to pop on over to nearby Adoration chapel for some quiet time. I was even more amazed when Mike asked if he might
go back to the chapel the following night.
Unfortunately, prior plans did not allow for Mike to make it to Adoration
on two nights in a row, but we were able to rearrange it so Mike could go to
Adoration again that week, and, now, we think we have our schedules figured out
in a way that will allow him to enjoy at least one weekly Adoration hour.
And, bonus, we might be able to work in time for me to go as
well. In fact, this past week, I was
able to spend some quiet time with Jesus at the chapel after work one night, I didn’t know how much I needed that!
I hope this trend continues.
My
favorite things this (past) week were…
-
hearing
my kids develop their “peacekeepers” and “attackers” story. They have been making up a saga
inspired by Star Wars for months now, and, this week, they have sat with books
a number of times, using the illustrations to inspire new chapters of their
collective imaginary adventure.
-
daily evidence of the will to serve
others in each of my children. Nina takes the lead in displaying
generosity and kindness. Jack models
after it well. Luke even bandwagons at
times. Well, that is when he isn’t
saying, “If Nina’s too generous, she’ll give herself out of house and home one
day.” The boy cracks me up.
My kiddos favorite thing this (past) week was…
"Ryan
and Katelyn!"
Nina danced about saying as she related that our weekly homeschool playdate was
among her favorite things this week. “And computer time past when you’re supposed
to be to bed,” she continued. I
guess I know what the kids and Daddy did while I was at work and Adoration.
"Video
golfing last night on your computer," Luke chimed in.
Yep, it is confirmed. Daddy
treated the kids last night.
"Seeing Tucker," Jack recalled. “I
build tree with Tucker.” Actually, I
helped Jack build a tree as a part of our craft challenge at a playdate this
week, but our friend Tucker was there, too, and, boy, don’t our kids love
Tucker and his family.
Things I’m working on…
 |
| If I can find balance and joy in life like Nina finally did on the ice this past week, I will be golden. |
...some of the same things as last week: circle time plans,
blog drafts, home organization, healthy eating, balanced living, daily five
reading time, Morning
Basket retreat time, etc. More than that, though, I am working on
mindset -- keeping priorities in focus, trusting baby steps and focusing on
nourishment, rest and rejoicing are vital for me right now. As
I already mentioned, I keep slipping into dark moods these days. I am not sure why. But, I keep getting discouraged, doubtful,
down right grumpy. Hopefully, I can continue
offset these times with greater periods of pleasantness. Life is
good. My attitude just isn’t sometimes. (Prayers and grace, do your thing!)
I’m cooking…
...with groceries that are killing our budget. I
really must find a balance between how we eat and how much we spend on it
I’m grateful for…
...opportunities to work
to help supplement our family’s income. I have a lot of independent contracts
scheduled from now through May and am going to be leaning hard on the Holy
Spirit to let the work work for us and not offset the balance of life too much.
I struggle with our daily rhythm a lot anyway and now, adding more
to it, I am a tad concerned about total disharmony.
I’m praying for…
...the openness and discipline to better listen to
the Spirit, among other things, and the strength of character to live as salt and light even when life
starts seeming tasteless and dark.
A photo to share...
 |
| After one of those frightening moments when you thank your child's guardian angel for breaking a fall that no one saw coming, Jack wanted only a hug from his brother and his sister, who were delighted to comply. I;d gladly do without a repeat of the scare, but will always smile when my three kiddoes seek comfort and love within one another's arms. |
|
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