A day in the life of a homeschool family

We are into our 11th year of educating at home! And I was one who said "I would NEVER homeschool...." Interesting the roads God brings us down! (It was mainly because I was worried my children would turn out like THIS:)

He enjoys doing this to annoy me but he's so cute :)

As we begin a new year of school thought we would share a bit about what we are learning. (well, I had hoped to get this up awhile ago we are starting week 9 in school ~ but here is the overview anyway!)

The middle 4 "Tutu, Ria, Bernie and Eugene" are enjoying traveling around the world! The curriculum we use for school is called Exploring Countries and Cultures and as we travel around the world we learn about the people, the places, the biomes and various other interesting things in each continent. oh almost forgot art and music too ~ call our home phone and you can hear HELLO in 10 different languages!

a world map made by Eugene

a nature notebooking day -- learning about deciduous and coniferous forests

We are also studying the book of Matthew, praying for people around the world with an amazing book Window on the World and reading missionary biographies which are very inspiring! Yes to all you teachers they all do the 3 R's too (Reading - love the library!, wRiting and aRithmetic for all you non-teachers:) )

The day they received their passports in the mail -
great timing as we were "traveling" to Mexico later that day!

The youngest learner in the bunch is learning to sign as well as say lots of words, "read" books (she LOVES looking at them!) play with toys and so much more!

Our oldest "Chuck" began high school at home this year (yeah its almost unbelievable!) he is using a program called Ancient History and Literature for Bible, History and English, Jacobs geometry and Exploring Creation with Chemistry, and German with Rosetta Stone. He is starting week 10 and he and his dad have a healthy competition staying ahead of one another in Taking the Old Testament Challenge daily bible reading! He is working on starting his own blog to share more thoughts with you -- we'll let you know when its live!

here he is doing some reading

Well that about sums up our school schedule -- add some extras like piano, violin, volleyball, soccer, lego robotics, chess club, and co-op and it makes for a busy schedule! (more posts on all those to come!!!)

Oh, the kids didn't want me to forget about home ec -- cleaning, laundry cooking and child care are all in our daily routine too!
So there is a glimpse into a day of our homeschool family ....
and if you haven't seen the homeschool family video by Tim Hawkins here it is ~ enjoy! (we have watched it tons of times and still laugh!)



Blessings
Amy Q

High School at Home

At our house we have a school room but only two of us kids are currently doing school in that room. I'm doing school in the basement so I can work without being disturbed, the boy's are in the dining room and the girls are in the school room. My mom made us a schedule for this school year, I tweeked it so it would work for me. I wake up, then I exercise, take a shower and get dressed, I eat breakfast, then start school with Bible, History, and Chemistry. Then I have Geometry, do some chores and then eat lunch. After lunch I practice piano and violin, then I do my English (Writing, IEW, and Grammar). Homework and exercising is next, (with the family). then I have free time until dinner.

These are pictures are of me from last year while I was doing school.

More Soon, See ya'll later
Gabe

BACK TO SCHOOL

We are off to a very late start to school this year, due to working an August convention and a vacation trip to spend a week with family, all in all it will work out! We have been meaning to update our blog, but well we have just been too busy! Please forgive us :)

August was a whirlwind and we hope to get more pictures up soon; from visiting our new niece, a quick trip from Gr and Gr K and celebrating a little ones FIRST birthday! enjoying beaches, going to an amusement park, lots of fun with friends, its been BUSY!

Well just wanted to let you know we are here and look forward to sharing more with you all soon. Our family enjoys Keys for Kids for evening devotions (you can sign up for online devo or free monthly devotions mailed to you on the link) tonight was one of my favorite verses:
Jeremiah 29:11¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
then we read 2 more verses which were even more of a blessing to me: ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

God has a plan for YOU~ call upon Him and seek Him with all your heart TODAY!

God's classroom

is the best for learning :) we enjoyed the great spring weather today by doing school outside! They stayed WARM as we studied the COLD war in history (ha ha)They were ready for a change of scenery for our Bible FEAST so they chose the trees! (reminded me of the Sound of Music scene where they are playing in the trees!)
and after "school" we all worked in the yard for awhile pulling weeds, transplanting hostas and just general spring clean up.
Here Eugene is working hard to get the whole root of those pesky dandelions out! He said "Mom, why did God create weeds?" I said "Do you remember Adam?" He said "Oh Yeah - SIN"

Only a few more FEAST posts for our fast as Easter is nearing!
so onto today's
Isaiah 61:1-9
¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

² to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

⁵ Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

⁶ And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

⁷ Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

⁸ "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them.

⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed."

Luke 4:16-21

¹⁶He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." ²⁰Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Big Steps Little Feet

15 years ago, I joined a wonderful homeschool family in their new business venture, opening a child care center. I was 19 and still in school working on my Early Childhood Degree. Rob Young, the owner, (either in amazing confidence or complete ignorance) hired me to be the director of the whole thing! WOW what an experience that was!

Our desire was to provide the best Christian care for those who couldn't (or chose not to) be home with their children. We were entrusted to help raise these precious gifts from the Lord and what a blessing that was. I have so many fond memories of those years. And feel like I owe many parents apologies for all my parenting advice -- you shouldn't be allowed to give advice UNLESS you are a parent yourself! It doesn't matter what kind of degrees you have!!!
(Some pictures of our fun days at Big Steps....)

A few highlights from my BSLF years --
* Making sure the staffing ratios are meet -- try scheduling 20+staff and over 100 children and making it all work out!
*Making meals that are healthy, well balanced, and kid friendly x 130! (I should be better at that by now -- still not my strong suit!)
*Getting to be a kid again and PLAY, read stories, and wonderful nap time :)
*Being able to work with so many friends what a wonderful treat.
*Enjoying pajama day with all the children -- then having a cute guy come and propose to me right in the middle of our preschool! (yeah, Rob was in on that too and convinced me not to change out of my pj's- however I insisted when he pulled out a camera!!!)
*Making wonderful friends with lots of families and watching their blessings grow up.
*Getting to send them all home every night! That was a shocker when I had my own 24/7
*Being able to have my children in the room right next to my office so I could see their first rolls, crawls and steps.
* Getting to know a blessed homeschool family who taught me that following God's call is most important -- Sorry I always gave you such a hard time about homeschooling, look where it got me! -- I have learned not to say NEVER

Getting to work at 8am with 2 under 2 was a challenge!

Yes that is me with Maggie and Gabe

I am thankful God has called me to be home, but that season was used by Him to grow me in so many ways. Thanks Rob and Annette for all your love and encouragement.
(and reminding me its been 15 years!)

May God continue to guide you as you help those little ones take
BIG STEPS with their LITTLE FEET! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY BSLF!

And best wishes to Kathy who has grown and improved it as director since I "retired" and to Jana (their oldest) as she opens her own BSLF this fall!!!

FYI the name came from a song by Mary Rice Hopkins
Chorus: "I may be small but HE lives in me I've got Big Steps and Little Feet"

Old fashioned school day

After visiting Greenfield village on one of our trips...
(We are getting out of order here but these are too adorable to wait!)
the kids were inspired to do an old fashioned school day... enjoy!

The TEACHERlesson time with chalk and boards

Lunch time -- pretty creative school building!

what a fun school day!

in case you are interested in doing your own "old fashioned school day"
this is a great link with lots of ideas for lessons, games, food and clothing!