Homeschooling: END OF THE YEAR~WRAP UP~

Our daughter's sense of humor
and a pic from a biology lab!

Many of you know we began online virtual academy this semester as part of our drive to secure diplomas for my high schoolers and begin our college experiences.  Wow~looking back what a ride it's been! AND WOWSY WOW WOW! How exciting it has been to see my children exhibit such incredible strengths.  Oh, the challenges have been many, but in all the process I've seen some TREMENDOUS GROWTH and SKILLS exhibited with them BOTH!

Without going into too much detail, I was really nervous about their abilities having homeschooled them BOTH since K and 1st grade...and well, the proof showed itself in a neat way this semester. Our daughter looks like she is going to be all As if not for a VERY HIGH B if this last test doesn't measure up to her expectations! Our son pulled his OWN 'fat out of the fire' by AT THE LAST HOUR, I'm afraid~earning 1A, 4Bs and 1C...imagine that!?  I have two very different learners, and so their 'styles' have really been so evident~daughter is a hard worker who is skilled but not confident~tenacious worker...doesn't GIVE UP or IN...keeps on going despite odds...Son, quite different: Only willing to do just so much...Wants goals and steps and to do JUST THAT...  Anyway, these kids are opposites in so many ways but also great kids...Once it looked like some Cs~more than he'd like, my son kicked it into high gear~or higher gear-I should say.  Now the results is good, but the process was so stressful...I began calling them both the "cardiac kids" b/c just the wait could give one a heart attack LOL!! But today @5PM is the END of this semester...totally...I'll be boxing up their curriculum tomorrow~although I'd like to ask to keep one of the math books so my son can review and make SURE he knows this stuff as he has the PART 2 NEXT YEAR to do...make sense?? LOL...Okay~that's our wrap up...

I really wasn't sure I was going to be pleased with a virtual academy setting for my kids~something about being in control of WHAT AND WHEN we do school as the first would be a concern over the content. Let me assure you that teenagers IF they attend colleges and universities will face worse 'doctrines' belief systems than what I've observed with our virtual academy curriculum...and at what point are they going to face THE WORLD anyway? I believe that after a child is grounded in the faith that it's a good thing to allow them to reason and learn what the other things are out there while I am still here to help...they're gonna face it anyway~which is better: on their own totally or still with parents and supports?  We chose to go for it now.  I know it's a concern. I'm not trying to convince anyone other than to say that I wish I had known HOW GOOD virtual academy would be as we would have done this YEARS ago...

Thanks for checking on us~TIMES ARE A CHANGING!  The Lord is good and I am so thrilled as He has blessed us~Let me know what's up with you and your thoughts ;-))
Hugs
SisterT

Virtual Acadmemy: BIBLE CLUB~I Say YES!!

I'm excited to see a Bible Club in an online public school~I will be praying that it gets off the ground and finds loads of success~

Here's the article that appeared in the school paper:

First DAY of the REST of Our Lives~THIS Semester!

It really WAS a struggle figuring out that we needed to sign up for a home based Virtual Academy, but in the decision came some relief and much needed prep work.  We had to rethink environment, styles, and TIME.  Our learning environment went through an overhaul. For years, we have schooled without a specialized SPACE, but just in our cozy comfy den chairs and sitting at our kitchen table~our style was relaxed and unpushed mostly~sometimes it got harried~but mostly it was get up and get going by 10 and work it TIL we were done which meant at least 3PM, but IF we had appointments or I had errands, I'd leave an agenda or TO DO list~and scoot~they'd handle it! Then there was the TIME factor of the past~our schedule was OUR OWN...nobody to do any dictating to SisterT and her littles...except IF we wanted or truly needed (like doc and dentist appoints OR traveling...) to change it up~AND WE DID...also our times to do our work could vary too.  TIME WAS OURS...But something told me on Thursday as we all three were sitting in our den, each with his laptop in an online Virtual Academy orientation session~Some things ARE about to change...

AND they have changed. Yesterday was our very very first day of working within the confines of the Virtual Academy~AND it was different.  Good.  But definitely different.  All we did yesterday was continue to work the very last of our school work (from me) AND do some initial testing for assessment.  In this came the need to address ALL those things that we've done so differently~like setting up the NEW SPACE.  There were new desktops put into place and a new book shelf as well.  One computer had arrived~DID I SAY that they provide the computers and all books and materials? I couldn't be more excited JUST on this feature ALONE!  But setting the space up meant taking some time to room arrange and vacuum.  I mean: construction MAKES dirt! LOL...sooo we had some housekeeping too, and all that where our NEW quiet and non (HOPEFULLY) distracting, but close by MOM area...I'm liking this myself.  ALL that school stuff near them...but also neat and organized..well, it WILL BE...LOL..it's still arriving in great big boxes...daughter's stuff is ALL yet to get here...but it will...and we'll get it put into place and even have plans to add shelving OVER their work stations as well as a cork board to post up for THEMSELVES their calendars and agendas...or anything else they might need to highlight in their space.

On a light note about the space, I did get to hang one of my very very fave pics in it as it matches just perfectly.  It's a Victorian Era mother teaching her little child to pray~I love it! And in many ways it has symbolized my heart about homeschooling even if the actual scene here wasn't all that serene as we did our schooling.  Something calming and inspiring about this picture..just plain pretty imho.  ;-))

But the environment isn't done.  There's more painting to be done~the trim around the new back door is just wood, but it's present and all drafts are sealed! woot! AND then our sheetrock doesn't meet our ceiling b/c in the future~the ceiling will be redone and maybe the space reconfigured...maybe...but anyway, the long term purpose will be addressed soon too..but for now, it's a school room..YES IT ISssss!

Our Time changed in that we were on a mission to accomplish this testing that I knew would take AT LEAST two hours or more...ENTER MO for both kiddos...tiring/taxing TESTING...but it had to be done and since the probability of being HERE to take it on Monday @2 is remote IF they both get parts for the new Drama Club spring production, Charlotte's Web~we had to do it...YESTERDAY!  Soo I set it all up~and off they went...It seemed to work well for them..I can only HOPE...

And of course, our schedule got a kiax yesterday because with monologues due today, I normally would have allowed a short school day and not worried if the Advisor or teachers were available in their office hours and holding classes/answering questions...THIS IS ALL SO NEW~but good...seems good...will be GREAT!

Okay, so all that nagging NAGGING fear is somewhat lessened...somewhat.  The proof is in the pudding so they say, and in TIME we shall see...We SHALL...and it's coming pretty quick!

So today, this mama, SisterT is heading out to run errands to further organize up future TIME~so I can have them up, on tap and READY FREDDY come Monday~the TRUE VERY first day of this semester, which is THE FIRST DAY of the rest of our lives...

See you soon. Thanks for coming by~leave me a shout-out about what's going on at your place! HUGS!!

CHANGE~A New Method For Our Homeschool

We'll soon complete 10 years at home together homeschooling our two, and it was becoming evident it is time for a change. This past few weeks, I interviewed my kids about their opinions regarding homeschooling~to hear some of their truth~what they think~their dreams, goals and ambitions~AND fears. My kids have worried about not being prepared.  I've worried about them NOT being prepared. I've studied and read all the stuff out there~I've shared much of it here~I've talked to other parents about their homeschool graduates~I have DONE my homework...but I could never EVER wrap my mind around that in the end~WHAT I DID or DO will be enough. I'm no teacher~well, SisterT isn't half bad as a teacher, but I certainly don't know it all~(despite those who *might* say otherwise that I THINK I DO...LOL)...and fear not only HAD them, it was nipping at my heels too...(READ what they told me~ HERE!)

Read more about the new schoolroom HERE!

We've made a change. It's a big change. And I am so excited! In fact during the orientation of the online process, I began to cry...no more is the burden totally mine...I share it with an online academy~We BeGiN on Monday~wooot!  Not only am I thrilled, but so are my teenagers who are so excited too! We've reworked some space here in the house and materials began arriving TODAY~

Soooooooooooo what's in store NOW for SisterT? Well, I'm still homeschooling but with MORE support than I dreamed~and the freedom is going to beeeeeeeeeee soooooooo nice!

Yes, they are still home. Yes, we are still family and the bonds are present and growing...YES~I have wonderful kids and BELIEVE in HOME EDUCATION~but in our 9th hr, I needed to be SURE that our education we were giving was going to DO WHAT A SOLID education needs to do~

Thank You, Lord!
He has blessed us~

Look for posts concerning our NEW journey in homeschooling~Virtual Academy! Thanks so much for stopping by and I plan to share about upcoming Drama Club tryout happening in less than 48 hrs~BOTH kiddos are trying out~WOOT! Production this spring is Charlotte's Webb~

Let me know if you have these same thoughts and how you are coping with it~What are your plans for your high schoolers to get them diplomas?  Is a GED equivalent in your estimation? Ring in~Thanks for stopping by and caring enough to drop me a shout-out~HUGS!!