Easy Grammar

I bought an older version of Easy Grammar from ebay earlier this year. The strategy is to identify propositional phrases and eliminate them before identifying the remainder of a sentence. I used it for a little while and switched over to Voyages In English. I'm not sure why, but I did. Guess what? Almost every time he makes a mistake it is because he misidentifies a part of a prepositional phrase as something else. We're going back to Easy Grammar. I suppose this is all part of finding our niche. I'm hoping this trial and error method and being familiar with different curricula will make things easier with my daughter as she gets older.

Navajo Code Talkers - Lapbook

This is part of lapbook of sorts that my son made. The assignment was a two minute presentation on a famous Native American. He chose Navajo Code Talkers.

Public School Surrender

Is it possible to maintain responsibilty and authority over your children while they are attending public school? Or are we giving it all away when we enroll them?

Homeschooling Inherently Sexist?

I'm always griping about parents who outsource their parental responsibilities. Liberal feminism has purged traditional roles from society. A man and a woman have children together but neither think it is their responsibility to raise them. Some of us don't believe that is the way to nurture productive citizens, but now some "researcher" wants the state to step in and force liberal values teaching in home education. "Fluidity of gender roles" is one of "her" proposals.
I don't believe they mention the researchers name??

http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?110707/110707_kellys_court&Americas_Newsroom&Kelly%2527s%2520Court&Kelly%2527s%2520Court&Law%2520Center&-1&News&0&&&new

It's a Beautiful Thing

The biggest difference I see in my son since he is homeschooling is that he now knows how to learn. Sure, he was an honor roll student in public school. I'm not saying he didn't learn anything there. He had some excellent teachers, but this is different. He is starting to realize he can learn about anything all on his own and that he doesn't need to wait to be taught. It is a beautiful thing! We are in the early stages, but it's happening! Hopefully, the days of spoon feeding info and forced digestion will be erased from his memory. It's happening for me too. As a product of the public school system, it's been difficult for me to abandon the methods that have been ingrained through my own education and that of my children until this point. Over the years, I've realized that grades aren't an accurate reflection of knowledge or ability, but I'm beginning to see just how arbitrary those standards are. There is so much more to learning than swallowing the bites that are fed to us.

No Offense

Do you ever feel like saying "Does my decision to homeschool somehow offend you? That's okay because your ignorant assumptions offend me."
People are strange. Most if the time I stand there politely listening to the babbling of uninformed perceptions about homeschooling while I laugh on the inside. Once in a while, I really would like to argue the case. But it takes some time to educate people who already know all about homeschooling. And regardless of facts and statistics that are presented, they have this myopia. I'm sure any homeschooler knows what I'm talking about. We usually start with "What about socialization? - Doesn't he miss being around all of the kids?" After explaining the negative "socialization" he endured, the benefits of socializing with people other than those in his own age group, and the fact that he has more social opportunities due to homeschooling, a scowl dismisses that argument. Next comes, "Who teaches him? How do you know what to teach him? Isn't he behind?" So, we talk about how homeschooled students typically outperform publicly schooled children. When the "oh, so my child is the one who is likely behind?" look crosses their face we move onto, "What about sports? How long are you going to keep him out of school?....Etc., etc. etc." Finally, we close with the public school advocate shaking her head and saying "I could never do that." Sometimes I think "to my child" is implied.
Maybe someday I will go up to these people and ask them if they are concerned with whom their child is socializing in school, or question their child's academic performance. How do you think that will go over?

If I didn't have a child in public school I wouldn't assume I knew what it was all about. Why do critics of homeschooling assume they know so much when they obviously haven't researched at all?

Quote - I homeschool because....

I Homeschool because I've seen the village, and I don't want it raising my children.

-Anon.-

Public Schools vs. Cyber Schools

Our local paper had an article about cyber schools today. A few things caught my attention.

A superintendent of a traditional school

"suggests finding an alternative way to assist in funding other than through
the home district."

The article also stated

As part of the public school system, cyber charter schools receive about 75
percent of the per-pupil funding of a student’s district of residence. When
parents enroll their child in a public charter school, the resident district no
longer has any responsibility for the education of that child."

I have a hard time understanding why school districts think they should receive per- pupil appropriations for students they no longer educate. For one thing, the home district might write the check, but the money isn’t generated by the district. It is TAXPAYER money to begin with! Some of those taxpayers choose an alternate form of education. If they happen to choose another public form, their child still deserves that per-pupil funding as much as any traditionally schooled child.. The home district shouldn’t even be keeping the 25% unless the student participates in district athletics or other extra curricular activities.



From a superintendent at another school ....

Bower said that with more students moving online for education, Rockwood must
find ways to compete.

Mr. Bower gets it! He understands that schools are being forced into competition. The big government education monopoly is slowly coming to an end. While that may be distressing to some districts, it will benefit our children greatly. After all, educating our children is what it’s all about, isn’t it? Funding the operation of a bottomless money pit is not my priority, nor that of most other parents who send their children to school. There will never be enough money to appease any district. They need more, more, more. Cyber schools, charter schools, and home schools are all proving that more money is not the solution to our education crisis. In most cases, these alternatives are producing better results with less money. Why wouldn’t that be appealing to parents? Why shouldn’t the taxpaying parent have a choice? And why should taxpayer money continue to support only the least effective means of education?
Many countries out performing US schools (and there are many) credit school choice - competition created by attaching the money to the child rather than the district of residence. I have a feeling our bureaucratic thinkers will cite the success to a national curriculum and ignore the competitive factor. As it is now, teachers and administration are not accountable to parents. We are merely a nuisance to many educators. Parents are the number one complaint of many professionals. The job wouldn’t be bad if they didn’t have to deal with parents. I would take that to mean poorly mannered, rude parents because I’ve seen parents treat teachers horribly. But as a parent who has experienced the “let me do my job” syndrome first hand, I can tell you many teachers don’t want bothered with parents at all. They are extremely defensive and resentful of any opinions or input regarding OUR children. This has to change. While I understand there are lazy parents who have the “he’s your problem from 8 to 3" mentality, many of us are simply not that way. Even so, a financial shift would also shift the responsibility, rightfully, back to the parents, who would then be making decisions about their child’s education even if they were they type to never give it a thought before.

http://http//www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_322002529.html

Trip To A Nuclear Reactor

My son's homeschool group toured the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor at Penn State University. My older kid took the day off school to take advantage of the opportunity. They offer some hands on activities and a wealth of information. I didn't get to go. I wish I had!

What causes the "blue glow" around the nuclear reactor core while it is operating?

This bluish light is caused by charged particles that are traveling through water at a very high speed which causes a shock wave to form. This shock wave is similar to the sonic boom caused when a jet exceeds the speed of sound in air. In the case of breaking the sound barrier, a wall of sound is formed in the shape of a pointed cone with the jet's nose located at the tip. This wall of sound results in a sonic boom. A similar situation occurs for the charged particle in water, but instead of a wall of sound it is a wall of light. The blue glow is called Cerenkov Radiation.

Even The Worst Homeschoolers ....

I recently listened to CD by Dr. Jay Wile. It was very interesting. In particular, he explained why even the worst homeschoolers are still better off than publicly schooled children.

Thus, I recommend that you homeschool your child through high school because
your child will LEARN MORE. That is almost a guarantee! Before I leave this
point, let me make it clear what this graph means TO YOU. Let's suppose you are
a BAD homeschooler. What will that do to your students' academic scores? It will
pull them down. If you are REALLY BAD, it might pull them down so much that your
students have THE SAME SCORES AS THE PUBLICLY-SCHOOLED STUDENTS! In my opinion,
you have to REALLY TRY if you want to educate your children as poorly as the
public schools do!

This is from an interview - a lot of the same info that is on the CD. You can read the entire interview here.

http://homeschoolchristian.com/ChristianEd/Wile.html

Regulation

• RegulationStates with High government regulation of home schools - homeschool battery score - 86
• States with Moderate government regulation of home schools - homeschool battery score - 85
• States with Low government regulation of home schools - homeschool battery score - 86

'nuff said

John Edwards On Education

Presidential candidate, John Edwards thinks he has a solution for education reform. For one, he proposes increasing the salaries of teachers up to $15,000 in high poverty areas.

Then I read an article that says this:
Numerous research studies have shown that the quality of teachers is the single most important contributor to student achievement. Indeed, teacher effectiveness has been found to matter more than the students’ income level, their race, or their parents’ level of education. While teacher salaries are not an infallible proxy for teacher quality, they are one of the best indicators we have of teachers’ experience, skills and knowledge.

Should we understand that the teachers in these high poverty schools are ineffective.? Yet John Edwards wants to pay them MORE! Yes, I realize a higher salary supposedly attracts more highly qualified teachers, but with tenure how are the schools going to get rid of the obviously lacking teachers who are already there? They won't. The fruitless teachers will continue to do a lousy job and get paid more for it. Why not offer a bonus to teachers who perform well? An across the board increase doesn't make sense to me. Better yet... why not offer school choice to parents?


Another grand idea of his is to create universal preschool. Is he unaware of the recent studies showing the negative effects of sending children to school too early?

Our children are preparing for unprecedented global economic competition," Edwards said in the policy statement.
Then why is he worried about babies going to school earlier rather than the sharp academic decline from grade 8 to 12?

Cornstarch Suspension

Some fun stuff. My kids never get tired of making this and playing with it. All it takes is 1 c. cornstarch and about 1/2 c. water. Cool!!! You gotta' try it!
http://www.kidzone.ws/science/cornstarch.htm

Character Quotes

Homeschool mom, Sheri gave me the idea to have the kids copy "character quotes". I thought it was a fantastic idea and we have incorporated it as character/ handwriting into our day too.

Jefferson's Ten Rules
Never put off until tomorrow
what you can do today.
Never trouble another for what you
can do yourself.
Never spend your money before
you have earned it.
Never buy what you don't want
because it is cheap.
Pride costs more than hunger, thirst,
and cold.
We seldom repent of having eaten
too little.
Nothing is troublesome that we
do willingly.
How much pain the evils have cost us
that have never happened.
Take things always by the
smooth handle
When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry,
count a hundred

~President Thomas Jefferson~


Pass It On
Have you hada kindness shown?
Pass it on!
'Twas not given for thee alone,
Pass it on!
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,
Till in heaven the deed appears -
Pass it on!

- Henry Burton -



The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.
- Plato-

There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy’s life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure. - Mark Twain-

Our First Year - So Far

My home schooled son is doing amazingly well this year. He is a happier person and we are all less stressed. He takes pride in learning. He has this drive now. He is soaring academically and making progress socially. He is enjoying the opportunities he has by being home. He's been on several trips with a homeschool group. We are lucky enough to have a woman who schedules some pretty awesome trips.
My cousin is a teacher and said she will do my son's evaluation at the end of the year. She is also going to look over our stuff half way through so I can be sure we are doing okay. Maybe then I can relax. I'm not as uptight as I was though. The past few weeks have been great. It seems like everything is falling into place and I can see how much he has accomplished already.

When I first looked at the Abeka Arithmetic book I thought it moved too quickly from one concept to another, and it does. But the thing is, it constantly reviews. I don't think he will learn it and forget it as a lot of kids do when they finish a chapter. Long division, multiplication and fractions are abundant throughout the entire book. I feel confident he will master these skills by the end of the year and retain them.
Spelling has been our biggest challenge. I think the Abeka Spelling is a more advanced level than what he was used to in our public school. I don't know what the most commonly used spelling curriculum is, but if all HS spelling is like this then it's no wonder all of those homeschoolers win the spelling bees. We are using sequential spelling as well so hopefully that will improve his skills. I'm looking for study methods or games to use with the traditional Abeka spelling.
My son likes the stories in the Abeka readers. He enjoys reading now! He likes the faster pace too. He used to spend a week on one story. Now he reads a story a day in addition to the short stories in the Read and Think sheets and the speed and comprehension reader. I like the idea of all the information he is absorbing by reading so many different stories. We read other books together, but even if he didn't get any other reading beyond his curriculum, he would be fine.

What We Need And Don't Need

We need to bring back patriotism.... Red, white, and blue American pride.
We don't need multi-culturalism ingrained into every aspect of our lives.

We need the freedom to choose what we believe to be right or wrong, and to raise our families accordingly.
We don't need schools imposing politically correct, humanist views (aka character education) on OUR children.

We need parents to step up and take back the responsibility of raising their own children.
We don't need a parental government, day cares, and schools to do more and more of the child rearing- enabling these lazy parents.

We need more family time. Make family the number one priority.
We don't need more homework and community service requirements increasingly monopolizing our lives.

We need a high level of proficiency in basic education. We need our children to compute math using their brains and a pencil.
We don't need our children to use calculators (starting in the 4th grade for us).

We need personal accountability.
We need to stop blaming other people for our own failures and stupidity.

We need high standards in every aspect of our lives. We should expect a certain level of decency from our children, neighbors, and friends.
We don't need sickness, corruption and perversion to become the accepted social norm.

We need to make children earn and save for some things. Teach them to be self sufficient.
We don't need to spoil them or encourage entitlement. We don't need to teach them that someone else will take care of them.

We need to turn off the TV and talk to our kids.
We don't need to allow the TV to fill our children's minds with garbage and take the place of family time.

Parenting - Garbage on TV

My oldest son is in 7th grade. He told me about a show his friend told him to watch - something about high school pranks. I said he could watch it. Knowing the parents, Mr and Mrs. Popular, I didn't think much of it. So, he's watching the show, which wasn't too bad, then I realize it is on MTV. Okay, thanks for allowing your children to watch MTV, Mr. and Mrs. Popular. You make life so much easier for those of us who are fed up with the garbage flooding the lives of the future men and women of America. It really helps mold them - thanks for doing your part to instill decency and morals. MTV is a good choice of quality entertainment for a 12 year old. My son also tells me about the movies kids his age are allowed to watch...sigh.I know I'm also to blame because I didn't check into it before I agreed, but I think you can see what I'm saying. A perfect example of why we can't rely on the "village" to raise our children. I mean parents are free to raise their own kids as they see fit, but what is with people? Where do they get their ideas of what is appropriate or not? Surely, these people have some sort of reservations about such things - don't they? I'm not a perfect parent. I fail miserably in certain aspects of my life, so I'm trying not to be critical. But why don't parents care more about what their children are exposed to?

Summer '07

This was written in August. Now that it is almost Thanksgiving, I'm getting around to updating!


I always hated when we went back to school and the teacher made everyone tell the class what we did that summer. By about the third grade I realized most (at least it seemed ) people spent their summers doing something costly and exciting. I grew up poor so mine was always the same. Even if we didn't go I said, "we went camping". Now, mind you, the way I grew up was a lot like camping all the time anyhow. I had a good childhood despite the lack of funds. We lived in the country and I loved it. Everyday was an adventure. I probably had more fun in any summer than the town folks had in their lives - but I still felt weird having no grand vacation to tell about. As my kids got into school, I felt like they needed something to tell when they went back each August, but we don't take real vacations either. We prefer many inexpensive day trips to one week that would financially prevent us from doing much of anything else all summer.Anyway....Summer '07 - Despite my husbands lousy work shift right now, the boys did a lot with their dad and I stayed home with the little girl. She just doesn't enjoy fishing or most of the fun boy stuff at this age. They went to several local lakes and dams, rented paddle boats, toured an old coal mine, camped in the yard and putzed around with bows, guns, etc.Our family (including me and the little one) activities included local amusement parks , Steelers Training Camp, and a visit to a Revolutionary War era fort for an attack on the fort and all kinds of demonstrations. We also visited the neatest little old church/cemetery. http://www.oldlogchurch.com/index.shtml It dates back to 1806 and all of us found it informative and interesting. The cemetery is the resting place of many soldiers , including some from the Revolutionary War and a captured Confederate soldier who escaped from a train and settled in the area. It sparked much interest with the boys. They ended up learning a great deal about the Civil War.The rest of our days were filled with swimming, going to the mall (I didn't know 12 year old boys liked the mall), Wal Mart, and enjoying evening fires at home.Unfortunately, our new computer crashed due to a faulty hard drive and I lost a lot of pictures that I could have shared.

Updating

Wow! This year has been busy! Of course the homeschooling requires a lot of time, and I've been working part time. It is actually going better than I thought it would. I didn't think I would be able to keep the job. While it has been a challenge, it isn't impossible.

Homeschool is getting easier as we find our niche, and working at our school allows me to stay connected with the oldest while he is there - the best of both worlds.

I started some postings back in August and will finally get them on very soon.