Homeschool!

We’ve completed our second week of homeschool here at our house. It’s our first time at it as many of you know. It is definitely a challenge and there are so many moments where I think, “What have I decided to do?” Or, “Am I cheating them out of anything as far as education or socialization?” But then my husband will send me a link to the latest news headlines on what education boards across America are voting into their curriculums, and I know that I am doing the right thing.

An Ohio school board just passed a law to include the history of the LGBTQ movement into their history curriculum! Say what? I read last spring of some school boards in California wanting to include pictures of male and female genitalia to show to children as young as kindergarteners and first graders. I’m not sure if that got passed or not. I don’t know the specifics, but isn’t that enough to know that our children are becoming prey to an agenda to demoralize their characters? An agenda to make wrong, right and right, wrong.

I know the discussion can go either way in all of this as far as how far should a parent go to protect their kids. Should we hide them under a rock and when they get older they won’t know how to be in this world? Or should we put them into the schools, let their lights shine onto the lost? These are just some of the opinions out there. I can’t say as I’m ready to get on a soapbox somewhere or storm the steps of Congress on it all, but I can say it’s been a desire of mine for a long time to be a homeschool mom. I am so very glad that God healed my mind enough to be able to do it. Not that there won’t be hard days. I’m well aware. As the first four days were very hard.

The first week I had established an easy setup for my first grader. I learned very quickly that it wouldn’t be enough. She was and still is a reluctant learner. It’s not easy to teach her as she not excited about learning…at all. It was discouraging because when I have my teacher hat on, I’m ready to pour into her all kinds of new and exciting things. But she’s not wanting it. It’s like buying a gift for someone who opens it and throws it down and runs away from you. Lol.

This did bring to mind our Lord. Think about it. He wants to give each of us that abundant life the Bible talks about. He wants to step in and bring that peace we’ve been searching for. He wants to bless us with that new job, that freedom from addiction, or even heal us from our childhood. And there we stand with our arms folded, nose in the air saying “no” to Him time and time again. Mostly because we don’t want to do it His way. (There’s your freebie for the day)

I had to scramble to figure out how I was going to tailor her learning to fit her needs. My other daughter who is in 4th grade is using the Abeka program. It’s Christian based and simply wonderful. There are many facets to it. Many books and worksheets and test and quizzes. My 4th grader thrives on routine. Loves, loves learning; this was a great fit for her. But I didn’t think my reluctant learner could keep up with Abeka. That’s why I didn’t use it for her at first.

As I watched my reluctant student over a couple days, I knew something had to change. I ordered the Abeka workbooks for Math, social studies, and science for her with the intention to teach her from them. I found a book that simplifies teaching your child to read and write based on individualized techniques to hopefully cover language arts. But then!! I prayed, Lord show me what to do. The next morning my good friend called me to tell me we could use the teaching dvd’s for abeka that her daughter is currently doing! God is so good. These DVDs are going to step up learning for my daughter. She’s already watching them and interacting with them. Thank you my friend Mandy! My family is blessed to know your family.

The DVDs are of a teacher leading her class using Abeka. She engages the “kids watching at home” too. She pauses when needed so there is plenty of time for my child to keep up. Whew….what a load off. I am still engaged with helping her learn. I can hear what’s going on during the DVD, pause it, and ask my daughter necessary questions to make sure she’s understanding.

I’ll keep you all posted on our success throughout the year, if you want. In the meantime, we are going to the zoo this next week as well as the library for an one hr weekly class just for homeschooled kids.

The blessed whiteboard…where all the magic happens. Posting their assignments makes life a bit easier.

A few Abeka workbooks for first grade. They’re colorful and the directions are clearly marked. Most importantly you’ll find God in them too!

Makeshift desk out of a chair…for now.

My diligent fourth grader! Could be president one day and this picture could be worth millions!

The one con to homeschooling so far! Big, crunchy, live beings in jars in my home. Her science activity work was to make an insect zoo by putting all kinds of bugs in separate jars. Thing is, grasshoppers have taken over our yard…and now my kitchen. Ewe

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