Happy Birthday, Aidan!

Today, Aidan is 9. Here is his life in pictures.

Just a few hours old.

Our first day together.

About 9 months old - first kiss.

3 year old - First Dance Recital

3 years old - Oklahoma Festival of the Arts.

The above pictures were taken shortly after he turned 4. He did not want to eat dinner. It was succotash - sausage, lima beans, corn, and tomatoes. He said he would eat it as a shake. We pureed his meal and put it in the cup. On the left is the excitement about his new treat, on the right is the face as he took his first sip!

5 years old - His first short hair cut since he was born.
He has the most adorable double cowlick on the top of his head,
if his hair is long, it does not stick up.
A short cut is rare on this little man. 

He looks a lot like his dad, at least I think so.

Christmas 2013 - 8 years old, with our new puppy.

9 years old.

I cannot believe how fast these 9 years have flown by. I adore this little boy. He is growing up so fast!

Week 5: It's Not Just the Kids Who Learn Things!

Do you know what a comma spice is? I do, now. I have a Master's Degree. I wrote more research papers during high school, undergrad, and grad school than I can count; but I honestly had no idea what a comma splice was. I remember Dr. J, one of my graduate professors, writing it on many of my papers. I really had no idea what it meant. I did not ask either. Why? I went to a good high school. I studied grammar. I was supposed to know what it was! So, I attempted to fix them by rewriting the whole sentence. Little did I know how easy the fix was if I had just asked!

Last week the lessons in our Rod and Staff English book were about different kinds of sentences and sentence errors - compound sentences, compound subjects/predicates, fragments, run-on, and the dreaded comma spice!

In case you answered "no" to my first question, a comma splice is the joining of two sentences into a compound sentence with only a comma. You need a conjunction to go with that comma. Simple right? Here is an example:

          Comma Spice: Aidan made cookies, Lilly decorated them.
          Correct: Aidan made cookies, and Lilly decorated them.

That is only one of many things I learned last week. I learned some history, some astronomy, and some geography too. Not everything I learn is academic in nature. I learn to be more flexible everyday. I learn how to meet the needs of my kids. I learn better how to meet my needs for rest and recharging while still caring for my children.

I learned that Matthew can be entertained by acing cards!

Homeschool is not School at Home.

Lilly has struggled with reading and writing. She writes letters backwards. She reverses letters as she reads. She tires quickly when we work on reading. Last week she asked for one of Aidan's cursive worksheets. She has been very artistic since she first learned to hold a crayon, so I gave her a cursive work sheet.  I taught her to sign her name as well as a few of her favorite words. She loves to write in cursive! I would not have tried to teach a 6 year old cursive because that is not what I did in school.

I am learning more and more how to step out of the mindset that things must be done the way they are done in schools. Just when I think I have overcome that mindset - my kids prove that it is still deeply ingrained in my thought processes.

I am Easily Distracted

I plan. Our entire school year is planned in an online planner. I plan crock pot or quick meals for our busy days. We have chore charts. We still always seem to be struggling and fighting to get it all done.

I put my phone and the computer away last week. I don't usually answer phone calls during school, but I will answer a text or check Facebook. Last week I did not. I checked first thing in the morning, and I checked after dinner. There were a few other times I checked Facebook when I was stuck in the car, etc. We were so efficient! We had free time. I was not distracted.

We also kept the TV off for most of the day, and I took the kids out of the house so there would be less computer time.

Everyone Needs Rewards, Even Mom...Especially Mom

I take away computer time. I take away toys. I take away TV time. I send them outside. I send them to their rooms. These are my methods for getting school done. Last Monday was a breeze. It was the best and easiest day of homeschooling we have ever had! We were done with EVERYTHING by 11:30. We had not rushed through anything. We started a little early, and the kids worked hard.

I made a spontaneous decision that we should have a picnic and play at the park. Then we went to the library, the kids favorite place to go. Tuesday and Wednesday went just as smoothly. It was a great week. The rewards they earned by being efficient made an impression.

The time outside, sitting in the sun and watching my children play helped me recharge. We were all happy. I hope to give them more rewards that are not things, but time. Time with me and time doing the things they enjoy. That is the best motivator.

Lilly at Marshmallow Madness

Field Trip! Science Museum Oklahoma!

We took a field trip to the Omniplex almost every year from 1st to 12th grade. It was fun, but eventually we had done everything. There was nothing new and it was not as much fun as it had been.

When Aidan was 4 or 5, we took him to the The Oklahoma Science Museum (new name for the Omniplex) and it was the same as it had been the last time I went with school. Aidan loved it, it was all new to him, but we did not go back for a while.

Last year, we purchased a family pass to SMO because they had started adding new exhibits and there were some fun things for the kids to play with. We went almost weekly for the first two months. Then we went once or twice a month. We have been less in the last few months, but our pass has been a great investment! Every time we go, there is something new!

Our trip today was no disappointment. We started in a play area for the kids. Last time we went, these "roller coaster" pieces were not out and the kids were very disappointed. Today, they were in a bigger, more open space and they set up some great tracks to roll the balls down.

A series of new displays let kids experiment with the principles electricity and air.

The new Tinkering Garage lets kids take things apart or build with circuit blocks. Aidan dismantled a cell phone, a remote, and a drill. Then both kids built circuits with light bulbs, buzzers, fans, batteries, and switches. We spent most of our time here!

Matthew loved putting together tubes for golf balls to roll through. 

We also watched the science show - lots of explosions! We rode the Segway and we played in the shadow box. 

I love playing with the kids at the science museum and I cannot wait to see all the new displays they were making room for! There was construction going on in at least 3 areas. Everytime they have opened something new, it has been great. We are excited!

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

My baby is 2! The last two years have flown by! I have a very active toddler now. He talks up a storm and keeps us hopping. Here are his first two years in pictures.

Meeting Aidan and Lilly in the hospital.

Those first teeth!

One year old sillies!

14 months.

21 months.

How he looks after EVERY meal!

Fun things he says:

That cute! (when looking at himself in the mirror)
Puppy! (in a very high pitch)
Stay. Stay. (to the dog)
Two. Three. Jump! (He dislikes the number 1 and refuses to say it. Then he jumps off of what ever furniture he is on.)
My dink! (When he wants his cup)

I love this boy more than I can say! He snuggles, he makes me laugh, and he keeps me on my toes. He loves his big brother and sister and we just can't get enough of him.

Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Plans for the Year

I love to see what everyone has planned for the new school year! It is so much fun to look at how many different curricula combinations are out there, but it is also nice to see that some families are doing similar things to us. Even though I know that I have made good choices for our family and for each child's needs, it is validating to see that someone else feels the same way. That said, for those who want to know, this is what we will be doing starting on August 4!

Aidan: 4th Grade

Rod and Staff English 4
Spelling Plus (4th and 5th Grade Lists) with Dictation and Homophones
IEW: Following Narnia
McGuffey's Eclectic Readers
Latina Christiana II
Memoria Press' Greek Alphabet Book
SM Primary Mathematics, Standards Edition 5B, 6A, and maybe 6B

*We will also continue typing and cursive practice.

Lilly: 1st Grade
All About Spelling 1
McGuffey's Eclectic Readers
Bob Books
Explode the Code
Song School Latin
SM Primary Mathematics, Standards Edition 1A and 1B
Life of Fred

Together:
Finish our study of the world's biomes (learn all about that here.)
RS4K Astronomy PreLevel 1
RS4K Biology PreLevel 1/Level 1
Story of the World Volume 4
Memoria Press Geography 1

I plan to be more purposeful with bedtime reading time this year. We have always just let the kids pick from the 100s of books we have in the house and we usually end up reading the same book for weeks! This month it has been Food Hates You Too, which is a great little book of silly poems - but reading it over and over gets old!

Bedtime reading is going to be a part of "school." My husband is on board with reading more classic literature to the kids at bedtime so I have made a list of books I want to finish this year.

I really had no idea where to start! I have lists of good literature for kids, some is broken down by age and others by subject. I have a house full of wonderful literature, I just could not narrow it down to a manageable number for a year of school! My solution was to look at what various companies suggest for each grade. I love everything I have tried from Memoria Press, so I looked there first. I pulled a couple books from the 1st grade list and a couple from the 4th grade list. Some I just knew I wanted to be sure we got to this year. We have already started The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe because good literature just can't wait until the first day of school!

Literature Selections:
Beatrix Potter's Tales of Peter Rabbit and Friends
The Courage of Sara Noble
Charlotte's Web
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Little House on the Prairie
Farmer Boy
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair

If we finish all of these selections, I have a list ready for next year too!

What are some of your favorite literature selections for elementary aged kids?

Playing Catch Up: Homeschooling Through Illness and Hospitalizations

In April, I had what was supposed to be minor outpatient surgery. I had my gall bladder removed. Due to complications, I had full open surgery instead of laparoscopic surgery. After a night at home I was back in the hospital for the rest of the week due to a biliary leak. I was useless as a homemaker, dance teacher, or a homeschooler for a couple of months. Our house was a wreck, we only finished the very basics of school work, and I got behind on everything!

I have spent the last month playing catch-up. Slowly, our house looks like a home and not a disaster area. We are working through the school work we did not finish, and I am doing a little paperwork every day.

Summer school has been light. We are reading through A Child's History of the World a little each day. We read a few science books, do some activities to support what we are learning, and then we do field trips. We have spent more time at the zoo this month than we did all year, and I love it! We have also been reading some good literature out loud.

For the most part, we are just having fun. We do about 2 hours of read alouds 4 or 5 days a week. We have also spent plenty of time at Mema and Papa's new pool!

Riding the timber wolf after a long swim.

We have two weeks before we start our regular school year, we will keep having fun and see what we get done. We may spend the first month of the new year finishing up work from last year. But that is one of the great things about homeschooling, we could just take that time off. I spent my energy being mom not teacher. The kids did not miss anything while they spent a week with my parents and no one had to worry about getting them to and from school. We all focused on time together and helping the kids not be stressed about how sick I was.

We are almost back to normal around here - well as normal as we every were!

Ask Me

Prior to beginning this homeschool journey I did a lot of research. I wanted to be sure I did it right (I have come to learn that there is no right, what works for one child may not work for another and that is the beauty of home education.) I came across lists of questions that homeschoolers are asked, things that concern the general public about homeschoolers, things they think will cause the children pain and distress later in life. I know many homeschoolers who have been asked:

Can you do that?

Are you qualified to teach?

How do you get your child to listen to you all day?

How do they learn to stand in line, raise their hand, take turns, share, sit at a desk all day, etc?

How can they pass the state tests?

How will they meet boys/girls?

What about prom, football games?

What about college?

And the big one: What about socialization?

I have been homeschooling for 4 years and I have never been asked any of these questions! Come on, ask me! I spent a full year researching homeschooling before we began, I continued all through our first year. I read every book I could get my hands on. I joined a fabulous support group, I have attended 3 conventions and a parent practicum; I am ready to answer you!

I don’t know why I don’t get asked these questions. I have been asked “why?” But my answer is usually the short version, “It works better with our hectic schedule.” People usually leave it at that. On the occasion that someone has more questions, I love to talk about homeschooling.

Homeschooling our kids has been the best parenting decision my husband and I have made. This has been confirmed to us over and over again through many events and “aha” moments over the last 4 years. I want to share my joy! So ask me!

Can you do that?

Yes, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states! And yes, I am capable. I enjoy teaching. I have been teaching my kids in some way since the day they were born.

How are you qualified to teach?

I successfully finished a masters degree. Yes, it was in theatre, but I am confident in my ability to teach elementary school subjects like math and science. Besides, I don’t have to know everything. There is so much wonderful curriculum to choose from. School teachers have books they teach out of, that is what I do, too.

How do you get your child to listen to you all day?

Discipline. They listen as well as they always have. School is just a part of our lives, there is not much division. We eat breakfast, we do some school work, we eat lunch, we finish our schoolwork, then we play. Sometimes we just read, but we read from history and science books as well as picture books and novels.

How do they learn to stand in line, raise their hand, take turns, share, sit at a desk all day, etc?

We go to the grocery store, they stand in line with me there. Raising your hand does not take years of practice to learn. They take turns with each other all day.  They share with each other. Why should my 6 and 8 year olds be trained to sit at a desk all day? That is not the life I want for them as adults. Mom and dad don’t work at desks all day, my kids don’t see that as normal. It is also not developmentally appropriate for young children to sit all day. Both of my kids are kinesthetic learners (as are many young children, especially boys!) - they recall more if they are moving or doing something with their hands. We have done handstands during history, cartwheels during science, and rolled across the floor during math! I often read to my daughter while she cleans her room.

How can they pass the state tests?

They don’t have to. They are not public school students. They do not have to pass anyone’s tests. I decide when they have met the requirements to complete a grade.

How will they meet boys/girls?

They are 6 and 8. They have friends in our support group, at church, and at their extracurricular activities. When they are old enough to date and they are interested, they will find kids their age through these same activities. I am not concerned; again, they are just 6 and 8.

What about prom, football games?

Homeschool groups have proms and other activities for teens. In our area, there are homeschool sports teams. They have ample opportunities to see friends play sports; but honestly, they would rather watch a musical (just like mom and dad.)

What about college?

Homeschool students are admitted to college all the time. Some colleges even search out homeschool students. I know a handful who are headed off to college this fall.

What about socialization?

My kids have an amazing relationship with their family. The kids are best friends. They play together all the time. They are not subject to peer pressure, they are unique and I love that they don’t feel the need to hide who they are.

They spend time with people of all ages. Only in school are you forced to remain in an environment with people of your own age in a situation you may not like or feel safe in. As adults, if we dislike a work environment we can quit and find a new job. We make friends based on interests, and we are in situations with people of all ages allowing us to learn from those who are more experienced. Kids in school are not allowed this freedom. My kids have a lot of friends, all these friendships have been created through activities. They have common interests, not common ages.

They live life with their parents. They learn to socialize by example. Their example is from grown adults, interacting in a mature manner (most of the time) not from their peers who are also learning how to socialize.

Be confident in your choice to homeschool, be prepared to answer any question someone asks and maybe you won’t ever be asked! My mom always prepares for rain because then, it won’t rain. I guess the same is true of homeschooling. Prepare to answer anyone's questions, and no one will ask you.

Teaching Lilly to Read

I have not blogged in a while, I get busy and forget. I keep thinking I will do better; but I prefer to write when I have something great to write about. Today, I do.

I was not going to home school my kids. My kids were going to attend public school, maybe private school; but I did not have any confidence in my ability to home school! At 18 months Aidan starting tracing his letters. Then around 2 1/2 he was making grocery lists. He would ask how to spell something, I would say the letters and he would write them. At 4, he wanted to read. A friend gave me Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, we went through 50 lessons and he was reading on his own. This was totally normal, right? All kids are this easy!

The time came to enroll Aidan in school and he missed the cut off for Kindergarten, but he was reading and knew all his addition facts. So, we decided to keep him home. Homeschooling was easy!

I know now, that it was God's plan for me to home school my children. He gave me an advanced, easy to teach child so that I would have the confidence that I could do it. (I have had many confirmations of this fact in the last 3 years.) Then he gave me Lilly. She has been ornery since the beginning which makes it hard to know what she knows.

My favorite example was doing colors with her at 2 years old. I asked her to point to the red block with about 5 blocks in front of her. She moved her finger around and then stopped for a second over the red block, turned her head to look at me, and pointed to a different block without looking. She also refused to talk until she was 3. She COULD talk, she would say a word and then cover her mouth and resume pointing to what she wanted.

Fast forward to 4 years old. We had been singing our ABCs since birth, she can sing a lot of songs but she cannot sing her ABCs! Once I heard her count to 10, but we usually got "1 2 3 4 5 6 7-11." Yeah, I know, too many Icees! BUT she wants to learn to read. I can do this, I taught Aidan, no big deal! WRONG! We tried for a month with no progress. We dropped it for 6 months, kept looking at letters and reading great books together. We tried again, nothing but frustration for both of us.

At 5, I started reading Charlotte Mason's original homeschooling series. She lays out a beautiful method for teaching reading. We tried and we made some progress. She read me a book! Then she read a couple of Bob Books. Then we tried 100 Easy Lessons again, to learn some more phonics. It was like she hit a wall. So we stopped with all phonics lessons. We went back to the Bob Books and a more Charlotte Mason-type method; we are slowly, slowly learning to read.

Her ornery personality still causes some problems; yesterday she read half a book with no trouble, today she read out of the same book with the same words and she seemed to struggle A LOT. She was never looking at the book! She was just guessing words without even looking!

So what have I learned? I have learned to be flexible. I have learned to be patient. I have learned to listen to my kids. I have learned that what is right for one child is not always right for the other. And most importantly I have learned that what I am comfortable teaching is not always going to be the best method for my kids to learn by, and that is tough!

Week 1 of First Grade and PreSchool!

This week was great! We completed everything that was planned! Tomorrow we celebrate with swimming and a sleepover!

Aidan worked through the Introduction and Chapter 1 of The Story of the World Vol 1: Ancient Times. He loved it! Everyday he wanted to do more. We started his lapbook and plan to do an archeological dig in our backyard this weekend. He flew through his math and English Grammar. After our first day we switched to Rod and Staff English 2. We are much happier now! In science we started learning about taxonomy.

Lilly has mastered the letter A! She LOVES to "do school." We spend time each day on our letter and the sound it makes. We practiced the number 1 and drawing squares. Her favorite part was reciting "Hey Diddle Diddle." This is one of her favorite nursery rhymes!


I worked on getting the last of our supplies together - I laminated all of our history timeline cards today! When I came home, Jonathan and the kids had washed the windows!! I have a beautiful view of our garden now...although there is not much growing right now. It was a wonderful surprise.

Sleeping Beauty

 My daughter has always had the ability to sleep anywhere. She used to stay asleep wherever we put her; now she falls asleep in the strangest places! I have taken pictures of her in her many strange locations; most were with my phone because it is always available, so the quality is not great, but you get the idea.

Lilly in a tub of costumes at the studio.

It wasn't even Easter!

It's not so strange for her to sleep in my arms, but this one was particularly adorable!

It runs in the family.

Waiting for Mommy after dance class.

Under the table at the wedding reception for my sister.

Under my chair at rehearsal.

Another view of Lilly under the chair.

Sitting up in the chair.

She is actually sitting on the arm of the chair, leaning on my shoulder.

Again in the playroom.

Who I Am.

Hi, I am Cheryl....and this is my blog...

I have been married for 9 years, Jonathan and I spent the first 7 years of our marriage in Missouri, but recently moved home to be closer to family. We have 2 beautiful children - Aidan, 4 and a half and Lilly, 2! They keep us on our toes!

We own a performing arts academy with Jonathan's brother and his wife (one of my best friends from high school) and Jonathan has a window cleaning business.  Needless to say, we are busy and we have an unusual schedule!

I love what I do! My job is fullfilling because I get to see young performers grow in their talents and their love for the arts! And I get to do what I love most - dance! But, it also allows me plenty of time to be with my family.

With our busy lives, sometimes it is hard to balance work and family time, but we do our best. Our kids are happy and healthy and they know they are loved and we could not ask for more!