Homeschooling Journal - 3/22

 

In my life this week...

I have been diligently working on sticking to our routine, and it was worth the effort!  I have also been trying to finish up a few more big jobs on the spring cleaning list.  The warmer weather has been a nice change, and the kiddos are more than happy to be able to finally enjoy more time outside.

In our homeschool this week...

There is not much new happening in school right now.  We are continuing through our read alouds.  We have almost completed Swiss Family Robinson, and we just began a new missionary biography about Jim Elliot. We have also enjoyed reading Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones during our morning Bible time.   Evvie and Andrew have been making mini books of each planet we have studied.  They have had fun doing this and have surprised me with how much they remember.  We have almost concluded our study of Mozart and will be moving on to Bach.  Andrew is beginning multiplication, and Evvie has been breezing through fractions.  I am hoping this is a sign that she got her Daddy's math mind...not her Momma's! :)

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice...

I always remind myself that I cannot teach my children everything.  It is my responsibility to give them such a love for learning that they will always have a hunger to learn as much as they can for themselves.  If I will do this, they will continue to learn long after they have left our home.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

All the kiddos had a dentist appointment this week, and we left with no cavities!!!  YAY!!! Apparently, I can brush my children's teeth better than my own because I went to the dentist two weeks ago and had FIVE cavities!!!  We also went shoe shopping because everyone desperately needed play shoes and dress shoes.  That was a long evening, but we accomplished the goal!

My favorite thing this week was...

Hearing Garrett and Madelyn read words!  Also, Andrew, out of the blue, told me that it would be really neat if I had twins but asked if it would take longer for them to get here since there would be two in my belly.  I don't know where that came from because, as far as I know, we aren't expecting a baby - much less two! :)

My kiddos favorite thing this week was...

Reading the quiet time book I mentioned above for our Bible time.  We had much discussion, and they couldn't wait to read the next day.  They have also enjoyed reading Nathaniel Hawthorne's Tanglewood Tales this week.  We are reading The Minotaur, and they can hardly stand the suspense while waiting for the next story time.

Things I'm working on...

I am trying to find a way to motivate my 9 year old Evvie to read more on her own.  She reads well, and she loves to be read to, but she does not pick up a book and read for pleasure.  She will read assigned books on her school check list but she procrastinates with that as well. I'd love to hear some of your ideas!

I'm grateful for...

The opportunity to teach my kids at home, and the way God has led me through this process of homeschooling.  It is always stretching me to what seems to be my limits, but as I look back, I see how I have learned and grown more than my kiddos have!

That has been our week!  We are enjoying a lazy Saturday morning but are about to begin the Saturday cleaning!  Hope you all enjoy a beautiful weekend and a wonderful day of worship tomorrow!

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy

Joyful Mom Monday - Being Consistent!

Well, if you read the title to this and went UGH, I am right there with you!  My most popular prayer seems to be, "God, please help me be more consistent....next week!" :)  As my children are getting a little older, though, I am able to see where consistency in certain areas has paid off and, much to my dismay, where inconsistency in others is KILLING me now! ;)  The previous month in our home has just been off, and I do believe, I finally pinpointed the problem - INCONSISTENCY!  My goal for this week is STICK TO THE SCHEDULE; BE CONSISTENT!  

When I think of consistency in parenting, I think of two areas in particular - routine and discipline.  I have learned that having a routine, especially with smaller children, helps tremendously.  Because they know what to expect, there are not as many temper tantrums or whiny "why can't I's."  We just do what we do because that is what we have always done.  If you are experiencing more contrariness than usual, you may need to think through your routine and work out the rough places that could be causing problems, or you may need to make a new routine altogether.  

Once you have a routine established and are sticking to it, then you can begin addressing those disciplinary "issues."  I have found that the closer our family stays to our normal routine, the fewer issues we have.  Everyone knows what to expect.  All are fed and well-rested.  There is a happy balance of work and play.  However, despite the lovely routine, there can be "issues," and when these "issues" arise, I find I can discipline more consistently and with a clear conscience because I know I have done my best to make the home environment appealing.  In other words, when I prepare supper two hours later than usual, I cannot, with a clear conscience, discipline my 4 year old for throwing a fit during supper.  If I prepare supper on time, I probably will not have a fit...well, it's a good theory on paper anyway! :)  If I do have a fit, I feel as though I can go to the heart issue without having to deal with the surface problems as well!

I have also found that consistency in discipline is more easily achieved when you only try to conquer one problem at a time.  Last month, I truly wondered (and you would have to) if my children had ever seen the inside of a church!  I finally took the time one morning to write down each child's name and one problem that I wanted to work with them on for that day.  I focused on only that one thing for each child all day.  Unless there was an issue of direct obedience or defiance, I ignored all the other problems.  I am finding my home much more pleasant after just a couple of weeks of this kind of consistent focus.

We have very rigidly kept to our schedule today, and I am finding that I and my children are much more joyful!  Yes, there are times/days when the schedule needs to be thrown out the window, but our children will not be self-disciplined if we are not.  How are you being consistent in your home?  Do you have areas you would like to be more consistent in?  What motivates you to stick to your schedule/routine?   Well, I am 10 minutes off schedule and am supposed to be preparing supper right now.  I better go before the 9 year old catches me and reminds me of "the schedule." :)

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy

Counting God's Little Blessings - 3 Every Day:
40.  The laughter of my kiddos
41.  The wink of my Mr.
42.  The wisdom God gives each day when I take the time to ask for it!

Preparing for Easter

I usually begin preparing for Easter much sooner than this, but a) I knew from the beginning that I wanted to simplify (I tried too many things last year!), and b) it is sneaking up quickly! (Is it earlier than usual, or is it just me running behind as usual?)  It has always been a pet peeve of mine that we prepare for and place such an emphasis on Christmas but then devote a Sunday sermon about Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday only on those two days.  As Christians, we have far more to celebrate on Resurrection Sunday than we do on Christmas morning, and it is a wonderful opportunity to once more present our children with the plan God has for them through His saving grace.  

This year, I had planned on doing only the Resurrection Eggs found here.  This is a great way to allow our children to slowly soak in the gospel message and to also help them remember the details and order of events by using the symbols in the eggs.  However, curiosity got the best of me, and I began googling other Easter ideas and came across this one - a Resurrection Tree that you fill every day with a symbol beginning with the story of creation and going through the Resurrection. What an excellent way to give your children a complete overview of God's plan for this world!  Obviously, it's a little late to start this and finish it by Easter, but I thought it was too sweet not to share, and you could double up the days and finish on Easter Sunday...(here I go again!).

I would love to hear how you celebrate Easter in your home!  God has given each of different gifts, and there is no end to the many different ways we can remember this special day.  Make sure to take this opportunity to fill your children with the beauty of the gospel and God's love.

 Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy

Counting God's Little Blessings - 3 Every Day:
37.  The health God has given to me and my family.  We have struggled with several bugs this fall and winter, but we have no major health issues and that is not something to take for granted!
38.  The spring cleaning is slowly being accomplished!
39.  The singing of the birds!  They are back in our trees, and the first day we heard them, Gavin would not stop looking to see what was making that sound!  It was the most adorable thing!