A Wiggly Kid

Is your child "wiggly?" 

It's a dumb question, I know, because most kids wiggle~at least SOME! But I am talking about the wiggly kid who absolutely can't sit still: the one who moves about in his/her chair~dances not walks through life~sings constantly~a living substance of MOVEMENT and NOISE!

I have two like this.

When they were littles, I really struggled to teach them to sit still.  As a pastor's family, our littles were on view every church service, and generally on the front row so that everyone who wanted to be distracted could be by a little boy who layed on the front pew and ran his cars up and down...  He colored, did puzzles, hugged his teddy bear "Big" who was as big as he was, and BIGGER~our son was a constant thing of movement. Now he was pretty quiet compared to his sister. The sister was always talking or singing. She danced on her toes EVERYWHERE she went~of course as a mature grand lady all of the teenage years today, she is TOO MATURE and serious to do such! Ha!  She draws/sketches anytime she is sitting today or sometimes she takes notes.  I was a note taker and foot mover to prevent the wiggles...  I guess we all find methods of participation when we are wigglers!

Thinking about homeschooling "wiggly kids" reminds me that when we had foster children, our public school teachers were PRO-medication for several. Way back then, I had little choice.  I was not in control of the medical treatment of those kids in my care. I know it sounds odd, but foster parents have no legal control beyond the washing, cooking and love for a child in their care~control resides with the state's social workers, and a suggestion from school professionals generally meant appointments IF not prescriptions and followups as well...soooooooooooooooo when I had my own children, as they were "wiggles" first I didn't WANT to see that wiggling. I didn't want to believe it was possible for them to be "wigglers" when we had tried so hard to take good care of them AS IF my care could stop the nature of WIGGLING...only in part. 

Wigglers are the kinds of kids who find sitting still not a bore, but literally impossible to accomplish.  "Wiggling" isn't a medical definition or description, but it does adequatley describe what kids who do this DO~All children wiggle, but this is a discussion of PERVASIVE wiggling~the "I can't stop" kind of wiggling...Oh my!

Well, living with two, I have done some research, looked at options, read a lot of stuff~good and bad.  There's a ton of stuff to read on the topic of hyperactivity and inattention.  Of course all treatment and methods begin with a good medical evaluation to see if there is a biological connection. Most likely if a parent wiggles, one or more of the children will, in many families. Since I wiggle, and recognized wiggling, I was STILL resistant to believing my littles were wigglers, but they were...Oh yes they were and still are!

So wigglers can become movers and shakers for sure!  Finding ways to  tap into all that energy and creativity as well.  Think about constant blinking.  Open and close your eyes repeatedly in succession for a minute and that's what some brains of the wiggly kid is like so I've been told.  Imagine being in a totally dark room and blinking like that.  Whew! No wonder kids have trouble with learning who wiggle. 

Some have found dietary measures adequate to help their wiggler. I can say that we've reduced sugar and no caffiene in our home! But it did take medication to help us, but it wasn't a cure all by any means.  We had to find ways to teach and allow wiggling to become part of the education.  When we were on overload, we got out our our seats and moved. We acted stuff out rather than just reading and studying.  We used art mediums of all kinds and on our feet we moved and went.  Physical education was accomplished with scooters, bikes, trampolines, and more moving types of things, and today the kids run...because they WANT to run! They still wiggle but have found more control.  Control~them being in control can be taught one second at a time. Set a goal and help them work towards it, little by little. Is the goal sitting through a story for a read a loud for the first or unsuccessful millionth time? Then  find a shorter story and read 1/2 or less to get some control. Increase as your child learns or figures out..also allow the hands to be busy with things like action figures or silly putty while they sit. This really can help.  Allowing some movement will help a wiggler!

The challenge of a wiggly child is one that over time can be tackled and learning will be accomplished.  Do you have a wiggler? What's working and what hasn't?  One thing is sure, wiggling is a challenge, just ask your child...
SisterTipster<3

TWO Questions??

Would you homeschool again if you could?

Do you regret homeschooling?

Wow! Two heavy questions for a homeschool mom! But I was thinking about the process today. Would I?? I believe I would, but there are days I've wondered and worried IF we have made a sound decision. I could be arrogant, and frankly, sometime I am about it by saying, Yeah, it's great and we've done a good job. But as a mom, deep in my heart, I worry. Home ed is a path of most resistance and certainly at the least a non conformist activity! The stats show that is a low percentage who do this, but numbers are increasing. I hear of a few who go back into traditional schooling for various reasons, but for the most part people stick with it over the long haul that I've met.  So beginning in the first grade was a pretty good thing for us, but IF I had known what I know now, I may have done all the other schooling that they had before then, myself.  The one major advantage I can see in beginning in the beginning is that our kids aren't used to or led to believe in another way! I've spent years undoing what the school system taught my children in terms of expectations. They somehow got it that schooling is ONLY this way...but believe me, they have learned, and learned well in our one room schoolhouse.

Do I regret homeschooling?
No. But I do recognize that it's been a sacrifice. I haven't worked and we've had less. OK, but I'm not sorry, but often frustrated by the lack of material things sometimes. Living on one income is tough, but glad to have done it. I think there are things that money can't buy, and hopefully I've given these to my children along with a good sound Christian education. The proof WILL BE in the pudding!

What about you? Where are ya? Would ya ? and Do you regret?  Ring on in...
SisterTipster<3

BTW~I also had the thought that we all secretly fear and worry too...but nobody's talking about it...for the most part...there's a little something inside...(anyone else?)

A Little Structural FUN HERE!

Midwest Mama will have to forgive me for not building with her sooner in her tool box of Tuesday antics. I was in the BLAH mode before, but think a little bit of organizational hooplah might pull me out of the doledrums!

Here we go:

Today is TuEsDaY and let's go with:

Audiobooks.

Do you have a squirmy kid? OK..wait. WE ALL DO, I forget...no, I really didn't forget. I was HOPING! (bad humor on a Tues, I know!) But since we all have those little tykes no matter their size who squirm, wiggle and MOVE all about, fostering the listening skills is essential no matter their PREFERRED learning style. Some kids, in fact most will like the hands on approach to learning, but if we encourage them to sit still and listen what wonderful results they will gain in a life of sucessful living. HOW SAY I?

Think about all the places a human needs to carefully listen to fully understand the intended meaning of the speaker? I'm not even JUST discussing the formal settings of speaches, talks and sermons. I am referring to the one on one interaction of person to person whether it's face to face or phone line or wireless line to anykind of line! VOICE TO EAR to BRAIN is what I'm thinking! If we don't foster a keen sense of listening in our children what will they know? In fact, the deaf community "hear" without an auditory ear, I know, but there are nuances of speech that are more complex for their understanding and perhaps a challenge in their lives. Listening does more than realay sound, but inflection of mood and other meanings.

I think listening well cultivated helps in all communication.  ALL.

Sooo how do I get a squirmy little fellow to sit long enough to absorb and relate to those sounds? MAKE IT FUN!

Audiobooks is one really really good way! I love them, and have since I was a kid with 33s borrowed from the library along with the book I "read" as it played its dramatized version of the story.  I also LOVE radio theater. I remember listening as an older child finding late night productions and hardly being able to wait for the next night's installement.

There are many resource for FREE online now that the computer age is upon us!

Homeschool Radio Shows has free weekly mp3 downloads with family friendly well done children's stories where when you sign up, the Erskin Family will send the link to your mailbox each week. This week is a cute story called, The Buscuit Eater about a boy and his dog. These don't take more than around 20 minutes to listen to which is a good bit for young children, but may just entice them to sit still for that long. You can start out with smaller increments if needed of course, but encourage them to sit as still as possible. They may like to draw or color quietly which can take the form of note taking for an older child when more advanced forms of audiobooks can be used such as are found with

• Free Books

• Learn Outloud Free

• Ejunto Public Domain Audiobooks

• Librivox 

•  Free Classic Audiobooks

•  Books Should Be Free

Within the above sites there are adult's and children's books with the last even classifying into young adult fiction as well.   If you google search "free audiobooks" you will come up with many many many resources that can be broken into genre as well, such as children's, classic, classical, history, fiction, and more! Type in your fave author or book title too and you may be surprised what comes up! I am! ;-))

Listening is more than a  pleasurable pursuit. It's a skill and worthy of intended seeking with our children.

Enjoy!
SisterTipster<3

Happy Easter!

Thank you Lynn for sharing such an AWESOME work of the heart from her egg dying adventure with her children~I told her I was stealing her pic LOL!  
LOVE IT ~  love it ~  LOVE IT!

Isn't this the truth?

I've been struggling to get my grove on recently. Can you tell? Sister's been having a blah moment, and this little egg has me grinning! (Thank you, Lynn!)

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter full of blessings!
SisterTipster<3

THREAT to Homeschool FREEdom!

I'm tell'n it! The National Governors Assoc and others are working on a state standards intitative for common core standards in education.  You can read it all at corestandards.org.  Homeschool Legal Defense is working to keep government out of homeschooling. You can read HSLDA.org to get the latest info.

Everyone who homeschools needs to be aware that while this movement is more accepted today than in the past, there continue to be threats in this area.

Homeschool Legal Advantage advises several things while homeschooling. You can readHandling Legal Challenges.
As homeschoolers we must be wise and aware of all situations and do what is best for our families.  

There's some great info on both HSLDA and HLA websites on home education.

Blessings
SisterTipster<3

Homeschool Planning With A PLANNER!

Are you wrapping down the school 09-10 year? Some of us will be finishing this, next or even the next month, while some of us are year rounders~I've done it both ways where we've schooled Sept-May and then went year around too. Seems like we end up doing SOMETHING year round most years~but I like to PLAN this time of year! I like to have all my ideas in the bag and my plans all made~WHAT ABOUT YOU? I know the year we moved, I found myself planning in late summer~I have found a wonderful resource, sent to me for review by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine: 2010 Schoolhouse Planner eBook. I've reviewed the 2008 planner previously and the Excerpts from both 08 and 09 eBook as well. This is an awesome planner. It's really bigger and better in that there are NEW forms. I am amazed that everything you might need organized in the home and homeschool is given attention is ONE spot!

Forms, articles from leading homeschool names who are experts in the field, ideas for study, and more are included in this HUGE planner! You won't need another planner for your organizational needs and each year The Old Schoolhouse has made it bigger and better! I think one of the best features is that if you want to pick and choose what you use from it, you can as the components are interactive. You can print all or little depending upon your needs to create a workable plan for the school year. I am working on utilizing the forms that will complement our homeschooling, since I prefer to save on printing costs, I will only print just what I need. But I will have a copy on my hard drive from my download to work through right on the computer too. I don't have to print if I chose not to~or I can! It's very flexible!

The Old Schoolhouse Store is taking orders ~$39.00!!

Check out The Old Schoolhouse 2010 Planner eBook. Everything you need to plan the year is right here at a mouse click and ready to go with us for a successsful plan for a successful year!
SisterTipster<3
I was given a copy of the 2010 Planner for this review without any other compensation. My opinions are my own.

SNOW? in March~

This just might be mundane to talk about, but really REALLY when I am seeing my more southerly friends planting and readying their garden spots AND I am getting a snow storm~WHAT AM I TO THINK?

I can think I am mad and fuss and fume that snow is covering up my flower bulbs that got duped by mother nature and peek out into the sunshine ALREADY!

I can think that my flowering trees are going to drop all that splendor and NO fruit this season.

I can think that white on the ground is OK in March! The END of it, no less!

I can think that cold is good~it's better than hot~I mean, how many clothes can one take off but~THERE ARE LOADS to put on if cold!

I can think that Spring will be even better WHEN it really gets here!

I can think I had better quit thinking~LOL!!

I can think that it's time to quit posting something this silly~AND wonders if you have snow where you live right now?

Yea, I can think...it's about WHAT I am thinking...and it makes all the difference!
SisterT

Homeschooling At Its Best

Sometimes it just works out beautifully. Really.

There were obstacles too. In fact, except for some blessings, this event would not have occurred. But boy it was GREAT that it did~my daughter and son were able to attend a Spring Dance in formal attire this weekend. Wow~how quick they grow up!

If I said what went wrong then you'd understand how
SWEET the victory is~

1. We had no dress or money to get one.

God blessed our daughter with a gifted dress. I had to hem it and have it dry cleaned.

2.  The cleaner improperly bagged the dress and it got wrinkled. 

Had to send the dress BACK and pick it up just a couple hours from time to depart for the dance!

3.  The hair dresser had my girl in tears because SHE DIDN'T LISTEN~

Hub had to run to the beauty supply to buy curlers for THE LOOK and Mama Hair Diva (me) had to roll up daughter's hair, dry it, and fix it FAST!

4.  The foundation garmet FAILED to arrive!

Mama's secret to the rescue...

5.  The hair would NOT dry~

Mama Hair Diva (me) used a trick to fix the hair~whooweee daughter was gorgeous!

There were soo many lessons we learned that day, but for me, it was pure delight sharing in getting my daughter ready for her first formal. Picking jewlery and fixing her hair was my pleasure~

My son was a little easier~he wore his church clothes and we cleaned his shoes~SIMPLE!

But it was great when all worked out so grand!

It was a homeschooling dance with homeschoolers who are learning old timey square dancing and ballroom style.

It's GREAT when it works out well~YES it is!
SisterTipster<3

Download N Go~Twisting Tornados!

Twisting Tornados is one of the newest Download N Go unit study series available for your child. There are quite a few titles, and you won’t want to miss a single one!

Spring has sprung around our house, and we had our first thunderstorm of the season this evening! Flashes of light, wind, rain and the BIG boom are all part of the season of growth that comes this time of year. But just a few years ago, we were in the Fall of the year when like Spring temperatures were rapidly changing to find ourselves in an F5 tornado’s path! Yikes! It was harrowing as the wind howled and the house shook. IT WENT THROUGH OUR BACKYARD~No kidding! And while devastation was all around us, we were safe and sound! Twisting Tornados will prepare you and your child if this event should come and give him a great understanding of how tornados are formed and behave. Never head of Download N Go?


Amanda Bennett along with The Old Schoolhouse are creating Download N Go weekly lapbooking unit studies for ages K-4th grades. From the study, the explanation:
“Each study is one week in length, having five daily lessons with lapbook components for each day. The name, Download N Go™, comes from the concept that these studies are ready to use as soon as you have downloaded them. No preparation or waiting time or other expensive resources are required. A few inexpensive items are needed for the lapbook—a simple file folder, a glue stick, safety scissors, brass brads, and crayons or markers. That’s it—simple, effective, and what a way to learn!” This is an easy way to learn the crucial information~all the FUN STUFF related to tornados~and certainly I hope you never get to first hand experience one, but their power is something incredible!

Children have such natural curiosity, and while a REAL tornado may evoke fear, if we teach all the information prior to such an event or as a point of knowledge as the seasons change from Winter to Spring what greater peace can come as well as being prepared for safety.

I don’t want to give too much away about Twisting Tornados, but you can rest assured that there are five really full days of learning centered around this topic that will include loads of learning for your child. With each day there are objectives, a suggested reading list and the lapbook with much information that is available on the web. Your printer will do the work of creating the “pages” of the lapbook and your child will increase his fine motor skills as he creates his lapbook. This is a fun and easy way to learn information that will prepare for a possible real life event! There are faith building objectives as well, giving the Lord our trust for our well being!

Download N Go offers an affordable option of learning without any prep other than the afore mentioned supplies, library books and websites. You will find this easy to teach and rich for your child!

If you are unfamiliar with lapbooking, Download N Go offers detailed instructions on constructing these on the simple, but you can make the project your own as well~it’s versatile!

Let’s capitalize on our children’s natural curiosity and teach about a naturally occurring event straight from mother nature!

SisterTipster <3
I recieved a copy of Twisting Tornados Download N Go Unit Study but no other compensation. I am a TOS affiliate and reviewer. My opinions are my own; see my posted policy right bottom. Thank you.

History Channel FREEbie!

As you know, Sister LOVES history! Soooo without further ado...a FREEbie from the History Channel:
Go to Story of Us dvd sign up  to get your own copy of this wonderful resource. We have the books, Story of Us by Joy Hakim and they are awesome for US history! This is a very very cool FREEbie which registration will end July 1, 2010.

If you have the History Channel, the series, America The Story of US — premiers on HISTORY™ April 25 at 9pm/8c — is a six week event that provides a fascinating look at the stories of the people, events, and innovations that forged our nation. It will provide you with an unprecedented opportunity to bring our nation's history to life for your students. This 12-hour series will be supported by educational materials tied to curriculum standards and is copyright cleared for Fair Use in the classroom by instructors or pupils in the course of face-to-face teaching activities.

 Don't miss out! Thanks Jennifer for sharing this IMPORTANT LINK! ;-))
Historically speaking,
SisterTipster<3 GO get your dvd!!

Terri Shivo Film on CLA website...

I'd like to introduce you to a short film on Terri Shivo, with Attorney David Gibbs who represented the Shindler family Terri's Fight.org. This film will not take very long and is very informative about what really happened to this disabled person.  Please go to the Christian Law Association's link to gain some more insight into just what happened. Note that this is a talk by Attorney Gibbs and will not be suitable for young children.

My prayers go to Terri's family in their loss.

I have seen the film, The Terri Shiavo Story.  It's very good and quite eye opening. I was surprised to see Joni Eareckson-Tada who was there with the family for Terri's right to live. The mainstream media NEVER showed Joni (Joni and Friends.org) on camera as well as all the other people who came in support.


This is the fifth anniversary of Terri's passing. Please go and see...
God bless you,
SisterTipster<3
I have recieved no compensation nor products for this review of information. It is my own opinion and not anyone elses. Thank you.

Healthcare and Homeschool Don't Mix!

Folks,
If you ever wondered how in the world freedom becomes eroded for a nation, KEEP TUNED INTO the situation in our government. Repeatedly since the new presidential admin there has been an attack on the foundation of our nation. First with a lack of regard in general for our nation and a desire to "change" what in some ways did not need fixing but in other ways did~however to take total control is not just change, it is wrong!

Healthcare in the current form presented to congress will bring unwarranted and unwanted change to our nation~but what are we doing? Some of us~nothing! I know that the liberal left is busy, busy, busy while we sit on our hands or throw them high towards heaven forgetting that God expects us to do...we must get involved to keep the freedom of our land!

If you are a homeschooler or just flat believe the government has no business messing in the affairs of its people LIKE THIS, head on over and email your congress: rep and senator. Do them ALL for your state! Don't be a nameless/faceless comentor, STAND UP and be counted as a dissenter for freedom! Somebody has to preserve the freedoms of our land!

BTW~wanna know why~WHY imho our younger generation *thinks* this kind of bill is ok? Consider their education and socialization. Did they get enough history taught to them that they understand or grasp more than what they hear in the nightly news? (If they even watch it!) What about knowing how to think beyond the obvious? Where is the evidence? Have we failed our recent generations with a handicap of ignorance that we and future generations will have to pay for in loss of freedom? Has everyone become so "accepting" that we are willing for a peaceful occupation and loss of American freedoms? Do they know what inalienable rights our founding fathers had in mind by having read their works? When our government says that it's a fundamental right, do people really KNOW what "carrot" is being dangled in exchange for power?

Oh Sister T is't popular today, but that's ok...WAKE UP! WAKE UP! READ and be educated! KNOW the TRUTH~ occupation doesn't always come with tanks and guns~~~perhaps it has come with a system of education where our children's minds are locked into ignorance and self absorbing ideals so that when a threat presents itself LIKE THIS HEALTHCARE BILL we are too blind, dumb and happy to reaize we were JUST TAKEN OVER!

Read the Homeschool Legal Defense Association's take on this situation. Come ON! Let's do something~now!
Leave me a comment and make that email or call~let's do what our President is urging his followers to do which is to light up Washington's phone lines with calls!
SisterTipster<3

Weather or Whether?

Just kidding about the little play on words there in the title! I just want share that if you have a need to show some films in your schooling or like me could use a little "entertainment" on the cheap, then check out
Netflix
for some cool films that can be great! Let me say that not all the films are family friendly, OK? So BEWARE of this and preview any for your kids as well as watch those ratings! They offer a free trial and for those of us on a budget who are not paying high cable bills, $10 a mo is great for movie watching as well as documentaries. I like these a lot!

Now whether you worry about the weather or not, I am into storms. But not the way you might guess. I was once "almost" struck by lightening, but it was tonight's viewing of a Netfilx film that led me to this realization. Oh how earrie it was too! The room glowed, the CORDLESS PHONE rannnnnnnnnnng and was burned out at the base~folks don't think just because it's cordless you are safe, OK? AND also there was a strong static charge that went through the air! Believe it or not, I was near my double kitchen windows WASHING DISHES in rainy stormy Georgia quite a few years ago! I though lightening had struck and knew the phone had been destroyed, but the flash of bright light and static charge is a description that compares to the film I watched...must be...hmmm...

Ok...I am reviewing a Download N Go on Weather COMING SOON~Stay tuned!
GLAD I am here!
SisterT<3

I've Said It Before...

AND I will say it again, HOMESCHOOLING is TOUGH! It's not the easy road. There are many many sacrifices. Should EVERYONE DO IT? Probably not. But who shouldn't homeschool then, if I believe it's the VERY BEST educational option for children? Without a doubt there are women who have no business homeschooling, but they are likely the ones that makes those (like the Nazis) who think that there are women who have no business being mothers too.  I think that if a woman is a mother and a man is a father then their responsibility is to educate their offspring. Does this mean in the home? OR does this mean in some sort of other means like a public or private institution? While I whole heartedly RECOGNIZE the home as the very best place of nurture for children, the best place to learn ALL that is needed in this life both educationally and morally there can be instances where it is needful to utilize other resources for education.  Do I think that anyone can homeschool? NO~actually there are some who don't need to for many reasons~AND there are times when the other avenues will need to be utilized. It boils down to a soul searching and priority check up really. If we can assess our values and goals within the confines of a sound moral make up rooted in God's Word then our decisions will be within the will, His perfect Will for our lives~homeschooling or not. I tend to honor the idea that "to whom much is given, much is required", and once I am made aware of a higher plane it's my duty to follow it. IS THIS EASY?? Never! In fact it's often like pulling hen's teeth (as if the ole gal has any!!) Soooo my facebook comment regarding home education as the only means of education is my stance being soundly rooted in nine looooooonnnnnnggggg years of following the path I have so been led. ARE there days I want to throw in the towel? You bettcha! Yes!!! And there are even moments I consider IF I AM DOING a good job or is this truly the best for my children.  Yeah, I shudder and think about it~I'd be a total fool not to think about it, as would any thinking, evaluating parent. We all must look at our situations and consider the long and short term results~EVALUATE each and every second we are walking this or any other path for that matter.

To Homeschool Will Require:
1. Desire
2. Time
3. Guts
4. Cooperation in the home~everyone has to WANT TO...but it doesn't end there~working together is key!
5. Tenacity
6. Evaluation and Accessment
7. Patience
8. Preparation and Execution (and I don't mean "kill the kids" either LOL!)
9. Positive attitude
10. Prayer
11. Humility
12. Research
13. Materials (a plan and a goal~Long and short terms goals that are coupled with the materials used.)
14. Maintence (keeping up with it all!)
15. Love (a devoute love and respect for our children to make them a high priority in our lives.)

With all said, I would never want to get into the "WHO" of shouldn't homeschool. I'll leave that up to the individual...but as for us, we are one step~itty-bitty, teeny-weeny, minnie-side slide working the plan towards graduation~by His GRACE!

I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday who I saw a pic of her at 15 (my daughter's age) who said she had smoked pot and some other drug I can't even spell that is a hallucinogenic THAT SHE BOUGHT IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL~oh yeah! AND she's 50 years old now...also she was telling me that there weren't enough school books to go around, "They didn't teach us anything!" she told me...now I know it's quite a few years since...but, but..but.....BUT! I do know when my son attended his ONE year of public school I was utterly amazed to hear (over a year later!!) just went on there~things like teachers throwing desks and yelling, 3 classes held up in one room with ONE teacher~kids sitting all over the desks and floors so the other two could attend a meeting~oh let's see...hmm....then there is the locked up school with EVERY DOOR LOCKED down tight and a child in the hallway has to knock if they go into the hallway~yeah, it's security measures for the LONE GUNMAN who might enter~OMgoodness!!!

With all said, when 9/11 occurred (2002), I was home with mine and never felt I needed to run go and get them! When the news says somebody lost it and shot up the school, I am NOT wondering IF my two are safe~AND I ALSO know that there's NO POT or whatever sold in our parking lot AND WE have enough school books~

Does everyone need to homeschool? You decide your own path~and we all~YES, we all~including SisterT will find ourselves with the consequences of our actions, both good and bad..."the decisions we make today, can and WILL effect us, possibly for a lifetime and into eternity!"

Just my NOT so humble opinion. AND by the way, I am OK if you decide you can't, won't, will not, shall not, aren't able, it's best not, or any other way to say~you are not homeschooling! It's a free county-so far...and it's everybody's right to our own destiny~and since I am so narrow minded, just know though, I am OK with any one of my friends who decides their own path...that's the beauty of friendship~WE ARE ALL different.

So since I've said it before, it's laid to rest. The choices are for each of us...the consequences are ours too either way~both good and bad.

SisterTipster<3

FREE RESOURCES~ALL TOPICS/SUBJECTS

I would like to invite you to check out the lower right sidebar for FREEBIE web sources for homeschooling.  I get so excited when I see something useful, like today I found and posted an interactive map that shows the founding of Rome to its fall through geography. Go check it out!
Blessings
SisterTipster<3

That Somebody in Our Life~

No, I'm not talking about our spouces, but this person could be our spouse.  I'm not talking about our mothers either, but again she OR our fathers could be this person to us...

It's the person in our life who THINKS WE CAN and therefore WE THINK WE CAN~\

it's the power of empowerment and encouragement from another!!  Do you have someone who is on your side, constantly affirming your presence unconditionally in this world? This could be a spouse or parent, a best friend or co-worker, a friend or pastor of the church or someone who knows us warts and all with LOVE and acceptance who continuously uplifts and encourages us to BE THE BEST us! 

This is one tall order, I know.  In fact, in my life I have had two of these who have lifted me~actually I can think of three who showed me love and if two were living would continually be a source of encouragment.  For it was Mary, an elderly friend who years ago told me I am resourceful~WHAT? ME??? It was she who said I was " the hostess with the mostess" meaning that she thought I could make anyone feel at home.  It was Mary who loved me and accepted me, encouraging me to the best I could ever become~her memory is soo special to me!  I had a school teacher who thought I was "special" too.  One who encouraged me to walk with God and do His will. I see her occasionally in life and she's such an encouragement even now...then there was the little lady in my church, Mrs. Jackson who with wavering gait and speech always had a word of encouragement for me! Did she know that it would mean so much? I don't want to gush about these people and what they did, because it feels funny to just tell it, but this kind of relationship is soo uplifting and it's really a call to do this for others.  I think this might be why I had these people in my life~to teach me this kind of love! WOW~do you have an encourager in your life? Are you one?  I have some wonderful girls who are the bestest friends a gal could EVER have! I wouldn't trade a one~YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!! ;-)) But I am telling you, everyone needs somebody in our lives to love us and cast that vision of how good we can be on days we might not know or have forgotten it ourselves! AND for those of us with a tank full of love or wavering on empty, it's good to realize the best way to FILLUP is to give it away~become the encourager for others around us~what about our spouse and children? Do they know our love and support? AND the girls, do they know you think they "rock?"  Somebody in our life can encourage us to become somebody in the lives of others~

I am blessed! Somebody cared. I care!
SisterTipster<3

Learning the Life

Reaching, stretching, retracting, withdrawing all fall in this ebb of life and homeschooling isn't anything but an educational pursuit OF LIFE! IMHO, if this is soooo, then WHY do we find ourselves making it more OR less than we should?  When we artificially manufacture the learning environment, do we do our children a service?  By making our homeschools strict, regimented and totally structured are we ultimately doing what is best for our children? Conversely when we are too lax ~ is this a correct description? I am thinking not challenging, not "something" our kids will need to have in their arsenal as adults ENOUGH! 

I completely "get" that many of us (I did) start out trying to recreate the environment of the school systems we may be acquainted and comfortable with, but IF learning is ALL the time and in each and every situation, does it need to be modeled after something that isn't even working that well in the general for the specifics of our children in our homes?  My daughter is being taught sewing, and she said to me, "Why don't you just pick out a pattern or two and give me those choices," instead of the trip we were making for her to pick out several patterns of her choosing out of the ENTIRE pattern book!  Oh my!! Here I had given her the unending possibilities to pursue the art of sewing, and she wanted what she perceived as something better~LESS! Happily, I can report that after I explained that she could chose and that a class of 30 kids might not be able to, despite their desire~it really took getting her in front of the choices~~~oh how much fun she had, and she came home with SEVEN PATTERNS!! and an excitement to sew! Wonder what it might have been if I had just chosen a couple with my "adult-ole lady-Mama TASTE"!??  LOL! 

Do we do this very kind of thing within our homes with all or some of our academics?  When I began homeschooling nine years ago, I purchased a "box curriculum" and salivated for a "classroom" eventually getting one and realizing that it was just a room that would require more cleaning and attention on my part!!  Yes, it had a table and bulletin board, white board, two desks AND a huge bookcase~ooooh I decorated to teach as well,~~but as we got older, we moved away from this to a HUGE bookcase system and our kitchen table and two desktop computer work stations right in our living room WHERE LIFE occurs! I am not saying that homeschooling in a special room is wrong, but I am saying that life and all of learning is better gained in the natural home environment.  It's not only cost effective, but also is a better focus.  Another example of this mindset is that there was a contest for a best homeschool makeover last year which amazed me.  Moms over the country organized and SPENT to doll up their educational space~I have been there, but knowing what I know~my vote went to a Mom who showed her living room coffee table and a few baskets of books stored underneath.  I know (only because I learned before with first hand personal experience) that it isn't necessary to have all that EXTRA stuff~but apparently I am not popular in this thinking because the winner got tons of votes with her all schoolhouse looking space! OK~not to bash, but think about learning for LIFE~does it have to be a segmented area of our homes~a segmented area of our lives?  I am not an "unschooler" in viewpoint or practice either, but unschoolers who allow natural learning within the home without forced or guided learning do have a point, albeit not as strong as the "desire driven community where a child has interests coupled with the classical learning of well thought out structured materials (this would be our aim in our home education!)! With this said, I do believe in curriculum, and in days gone by have over-schooled my children~totally run them ragged with education~BOOK LEARNING and it's not any fun when it's like this! Do we know how much is learned as we LIVE together?

The ultimate question is not what curriculum or space is used to educate but what are the long term goals of being educated.  If education is LIFE PREP 101 then we must give our children a life that is with faith and family values with the ability to learn and grow~does it take loads of money to accomplish this in boxed materials and a separate room fixed up like the one room schoolhouse? I don't think so, but rather we can learn and grow~become educated in our everyday pursuits as we LIVE together!

Just so you know, I do have a room dedicated to learning in our home~a library! But we don't school in there nor will we ever! We school right at our kitchen table or in our living room~cats in our laps and wrapped all snug in our blankies on cold winter days! THINK about this in the long term.  Focus on the goals of the long term~and yeah, it's wonderful IF it's your thing, but if it's not~don't stress! LIFE IS EDUCATION and along with some good GOOD books and math skills to a higher plane, our kids will make it! I love history and find GREAT  value in it~so we have focused on learning world history for years~it's a key to our present and future!

Here's to LEARNING LIFE!
SisterTipster<3

Did We Forget?

It's easy to overlook and forget things that aren't pleasant.  I think it's called "avoidance" by the psycho-guru world??  Well, after seeing a documentary film about the September 11, 2001 World Trade Towers ATTACK, I am convinced as a society~we are in an avoidance mode OR have just plain forgotten! I want to urge everyone to take a minute and check out some footage, some "old" articles or whatever you can find including some library books on this subject to REMEMBER the worst peace time attack on OUR NATION in recent history.  I had the privilage to see a documentary film on Netflix last night regarding the unconquerable spirit of America in the face of such terror~yes, terror.  This particular film is unique because it is made by several (about 30) independent filmmakers who are on the scene and contribute their footage and voice to such as was those days when America experienced the UNTHINKABLE. I never want to be a "dooms day prophet" EVER, but seeing and realizing that we are still a very vulnerable nation is quite unsettling~and we go about our lives, with a lase-fare attitude because somehow, it wasn't my child, parent or co-worker or friend who was taken, stolen from the world on that day.  We've allowed our hearts to forget and avoid this pain so that we go on as we must each day, but the negative is that if we do forget, is it possible we are even more vulnerable to something in the future as bad or even worse?  I know that any manner of remorse and grief does not alter the past, but I also know that pain can create change.  We THINK we've chosen change when we remain not only as vulnerable as ever, but in many ways have become more so by harboring the attitudes that will allow a villian to come to us again~and in front of our eyes, our faces!!

Dear Gentle Readers, PLEASE educate yourself on the events surrounding this event in our nation's history~and when you do, educate your children to love and honor our nation and our people~yes, it's ours; we are ours!  There's a war going on that we must battle to overcome oppression in the world to keep our national interests secure.  It begins in our hearts and minds.  Let's take another look-see and REMEMBER 911 well before this upcoming 9th anniversary.  It's horrible and not fun, I know.  I love to laugh and be happy, but the inheriant happiness I enjoy is lost IF my nation falls to terror.  I must REMEMBER and act.

My actions include self education, prayer and then educating my children to stand for freedom and national pride.  We are keepers of the spirit of America in our homes, and we can influence our families to love God keep His commandments AND honor our One Nation Under God~INDIVISIBLE with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL, all within our borders.

God bless America! Home of the free BECAUSE of the BRAVE~this is us as well as our military! We must be brave enough to face down the painful memories and seek God and a higher cause to love our nation.





If you would like to watch a very good film (over an hour on 9/11, please go to the
9-11 The Falling Man
Like Pearl Habor we must NEVER forget!
SisterTipster<3

BUSTIN OUT the PRIDE and ARROGANCE!

WHAT IS UP with the Mamas who act like their homeschools and kids are just perfect? Anyone out there struggling like I have over the years? Anybody LIKE ME?   It's the most irking thing to read where a Mom is braggin and post'n about her wonderful family and all giddy-happy~~and some of us are in the trenches SURVIVING and pressing onward in a job that is tough, lonely and unique.  There are soo many of us swimming up stream in a RIVER where we are the only ones! I know! I have YET to be in a church family where I had other homeschoolers to fellowship with! It's been 9 years!!! Oh yeah, we've been in co-ops.  Some were the best experiences, and others WE WERE FURTHER ISOLATED and sometimes mistreated! Yeah, I'm TELL'N It! I am soo sick to death of the pride and arrogance of some! We all~yes, ALL of us are in the same little boat, paddling up that current AGAINST the GRAIN to homeschool~but why do some feel self righteous and smug? Is it pride? OR DO I misunderstand.  Are they just masking a greater feeling that appears soo different?

"Why can't we be friends?" is a line from a 1970's funk song discussing differences~WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT! even in our homeschools! No two family is going to be the same for sure! I believe we should encourage each other in love and support~what does this look like? I've seen some pretty awesome homeschooled kids reach out to new comers or those very shy to encourage them~AND I HAVE SEEN SOME awful homeschooled kids ignore and marginalize kids too! WHY won't we all reach beyond our percieved barriers and encourage each other in love and support to the greater good?

I WANT TO SAY that we should put away~disolve our haughty ways and reach out to one who needs us~ AND we won't know who this is...it could be a mom who looks like she's all together AND the one who is obviously falling apart.  We Christians are KNOWN (if you didn't know it-I am TELL'N It!) for killing off our wounded and not binding up the wounds of brokeness so often! WE CAN LOVE EACH OTHER~even the unlovely~not just the unChristian, but the
unorganized
unhappy
unsaved
unnerving
unsuccessful
unfriendly
unhelpful
unintellegent
unenjoyable

There is HOPE for everyone in the Family of God and just because someone "doesn't fit with me" or "doesn't meet my needs" or some other such that we should cast them off~Oh IF our Lord did that to us!

Lets bust out this pride and arrogance and see all around us as an opportunity for fellowship and care.  It's not about me, but WE!
God bless HOMESCHOOLING and all the homeschoolers!
SisterTipster<3

History~Medieval World Susan Wise Bauer

You KNOW I LOVE history! In our homeschool, it has taken a preeminent place in the education of our children.  Much of their education has centered around it~other subjects woven into support its study and pursuit.  Susan Wise Bauer's The History of the Midieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade is NEWLY released (Feb. 22nd), and I have had the opportunity to read it for review!  If you are familiar with Mrs. Bauer's work, The Well Trained Mind with her mother, Jessie Wise then you know what an important new book this is to education.  This is the second of her adult level (although I believe a well read high schooler will benefit) history series; the first, The History of the Ancient World: From the Earliest Accounts to the Fall of Rome.    My children and I have read the children's series: The Story of the World: History For the Classical Child (volumes1-4) in our history studies and really enjoyed them! This is the upper level series with much much more detail and imagery! With over 700 pages this is a thorough account of how Christianity became the major player in the western world when prior to Constantine it was not mainstream or even well tolerated.

I find this book exciting and think every high schooler and adult should read it too!

Please know that you can get this at The Well Trained Mind (Peace Hill Press)and you can get a signed copy too! Whoohoo! Check this out! IF you are just getting started with young children,  I recommend the children's series. 

The History of the Medieval World will be released February 22~

The History of the World~GOTTA KNOW IT! This is essential info for life!
SisterTipster<3