"Where do I start?" (For those looking for guidance)

(originally posted on May 10, 2011, minor editing on August 14, 2011)

It's always an exciting time of year for me, the old year is ending and the homeschool convention is on the horizon...contented sigh.  I always find great excitement in looking ahead to the next school year, planning, researching, and, of course, buying!!!

I have learned a lot since the first home school convention I attended.  I remember feeling that I needed to buy it ALL then, because who knew when I might have another opportunity!  Maybe they wouldn't have it next year.  Maybe I wouldn't remember what it was.

Now, I'm not nearly as "seasoned" as some convention go-ers, and I'm sure I have a lot more to learn.  This year will be the 4th one I've attended and boy am I excited.  I usually start looking forward to it in January (maybe that's sad, but it is true).  It's great now, because my husband and children also begin looking forward to it several months ahead of time.

I've been talking lately with several other moms who are homeschooling, one for the first time and others whose children are beginning to get into "books."  So, as I looked up some information on what we use, and what we've learned, I thought I would share some of those ideas and research here as well.

First of all, if you're new to homeschooling and your child is in early elementary school (I'd say 3rd grade or younger, just my opinion), focus on finding a good phonics/reading and math program that will work for you and your child.  A friend shared with me the comment that a seasoned home school mom had told her:  focus on the 3 R's in the beginning...reading, writing and 'rithmetic.  So, I guess you could say, In the beginning, there are the 3 r's (sorry, I couldn't help myself).

I'd like to share one more thing before moving on.  When I look for curriculum, especially for those basics, I am looking for something that my two blessings will be able to do independently.  Let me clarify that further by saying that it doesn't mean I don't want to teach them, I definitely enjoy teaching them!

However, life has a way of moving in directions you don't expect.  So, if I need to do something before going to our classroom to get started in the morning, I want my princess (and eventually my warrior) to be able to get started without me.  So, I look for programs that are consistent in the type of material presented and the way it is presented.

For us, usually it's on Tuesday that we dive into a new math and phonics lesson, so I make sure I am there to get her started.  By Thursday, though, I expect her to understand enough to begin on her own.  I'm also in the process of teaching her to skip questions she needs help on until I'm able to be there.  I believe this will help her in the future as well, not to get bogged down when she runs into difficulty, but to move on and come back to it.

So, here are what we use for those basics.  They have worked well for us.  

For math, we use Math U See, the website is http://www.mathusee.com.  If you check on ebay or craigs list, you may be able to find a set of starter blocks for less expensive.  You may also check at the used curriculum sale next week.  They are hard to come by used, so it may be worth buying the whole set new if you will be using them on multiple children.

Rainbow Resource is a great place to get curriculum for less. I also like that fact that this company was started by a homeschooling family.  It is still family owned and operated.  And the reviews are written by people who have experience in using the curriculum.  Here is the link to it:  http://www.rainbowresource.com/index.php  This site has a search engine, so if you type in a title, you will be able to find it if they have it. 

Phonics:  These are 3 "primer" books which teach the consonant sounds.  There is a teacher's book which goes with them. It gives ideas on different activities to use in teaching your child and also provides directions for the "following directions" page.
Get Ready for the Code
Get Set for the Code
Go For the Code

Phonics: This series is for when they know their consonant sounds.  Book 1 focuses on short vowel sounds, they'll learn each vowel throughout the lessons in the book.  The teacher's manuals that come with this provide ideas for teaching (don't feel you have to follow it exactly) and also have the answers for the post tests.
Explode the Code  books 1-8
Beyond the Code books 1-4 is a reading comprehension series published by the same company as Explode the Code.

Other places to look for preparing for reading and such (pre-school) are Rod and Staff (http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/list/Rod_and_Staff_Curriculum/) and Pathway (go to Rainbow Resource). 

Pathway is a reading program for Amish parochial schools, the early workbooks may be worth looking at.  This past year is the first I have used it.  I got grade one for my princess and have really liked it.  I used Before We Read with my warrior this year, which is mostly an activity book that starts to teach them some color words, yes/no, etc. 

There are also workbooks called Learning Through Sounds (from Pathway) which I have not used, but look to be good.   They are phonics workbooks.  Here is a link to where they are in Rainbow Resource:  http://www.rainbowresource.com/searchspring.php?sid=1305056610-865459&q=pathway+reading#/?resultLayout=list&filter.facet_grades=Kindergarten&page=1

This past year, I began using First Languages for the Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise.  It's a grammar lesson that takes no preparation and only 10 to 15 minutes a day.  We do grammar after our devotional, which we do after breakfast.

For history and science, I have enjoyed the Lets Read and Find Out science books by Scholastic and the "If You..." books, also by Scholastic.  There are a wide variety of topics and are a fairly painless (and definitely plan-less) way to incorporate History and Science into your school day.

I would usually read these after meals.  (It helps that my children are slower eaters.)  So, after breakfast, I would read our devotional and then either history or science.  The "If You" books are fairly long (for a paper back), so it would take us a month or two to get through one.  The "Lets Read and Find Out" books are easily read in one sitting.

Here are two links to a search in Rainbow Resource:

This search is for History, it's in alphabetical order.  All the books start, "If You..."  For example, "If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon," "If You Lived During Colonial Times," etc.  http://www.rainbowresource.com/searchspring.php?sid=1305056610-865459&q=scholastic#/?filter.category_name=History%252FGeography%3E%3EU.S.%20HISTORY&page=1&sort.name=asc&resultLayout=list

This search is for Lets Read and Find Out:  http://www.rainbowresource.com/searchspring.php?sid=1305056610-865459&q=lets+read+and+find+out#/?resultLayout=list




As for character books, here are a few that both myself and my children have really enjoyed:
The Shady Lawn Twins
 http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/item/1-2404/

Wisdom and the Millers
 http://www.rainbowresource.com/searchspring.php?sid=1305056610-865459&q=wisdome+and+the+millers

Crossroads of Character (other books by the Boyer's are good too)
 http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/product/crossroads-of-character-learning-to-make-wise-choices

Little Blessings Devotional for Pre-Schoolers
 http://www.amazon.com/Devotions-Preschoolers-Little-Blessings-Tyndale/dp/0842389407/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305057806&sr=8-1

Bible Stories to Read (and Bible Stories to Color is the coloring book to go along with it)
http://www.rodandstaffbooks.com/item/1-10002/

Well, I think that's about it for now.  If you are a more seasoned homeschooler and have other suggestions, please send me a comment and I would be happy to pass them along!

A Schedule: Will it trap me or free me?

I have been reading a devotional titled "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.  It's been quite good.  My husband got it for me for Christmas and it's the version with space to journal.  As the space is not big enough for what happens normally when I begin to write things, I decided to use that space to write down the Scripture references given for each day. 

A friend asked me to join a "Good Morning Girls" group where we share what we've been reading in God's Word via email.  I share those Scripture references I've written down and sometimes a part of my devotional reading if it has struck a chord with me.  

I often have several blog posts "swirling" around in my head, but usually wait until I have time to do so.  There have been occasions when, regardless of time, I have to sit down and write something so that God will "release me" from thinking about it any more.  Yesterday I had jotted down the "titles" to about a half dozen of these "phantom posts."  Apparently the one about schedules needed to be written NOW, because what follows is what came out when I was typing my "Good Morning Girls" email tonight.  I hope you enjoy reading it!

Here are some of the highlights of my devotional reading:

"It is easy to make an idol of routine, finding security within the boundaries you build around your life."

"Don't try to force-fit today into yesterday's mold. Instead,ask Me to open your eyes, so you can find all I have prepared for you in this precious day of Life."

These two provide an interesting dilemma or challenge to me. My "default" is to have no routine, except that which is necessary or when planning for a particular event. In other words, I lean more toward being spontaneous in what we do. Usually I will have some thoughts rolling around in my head and then when the mood strikes, I'll announce my idea and assume everyone else will happily agree!

Homeschooling has forced me out of this mindset in order to be more efficient with the time allotted to each day. I began sketching out a "schedule" back in 2007 or 2008 when we first embarked on this adventure. It was a very general one, which often went more by the order in which we did certain things, rather than assigning a time to said things or tasks.

As time has gone on, our schedules have progressed to actually include times. In fact, my current schedule has something assigned to almost every half hour from 7:30 in the morning to 8 in the evening. To be honest, this is very difficult for me. Some days it makes me feel trapped, but other days it sets me free.  On days where I feel unmotivated, my schedule helps to keep us relatively productive, even when my brain feels like mush.

I have now printed out a schedule for my two children. I began to notice that when they knew what the day would bring, they did better. As I thought about that aspect of having a schedule, I realized that to my children, they may have never really knew what would happen next.

I realized that they were getting ideas about what they wanted to do at various times throughout the day (particularly my daughter who has similar leanings as myself) and when I told them it was time to do something, it would often lead to controversy (and sometimes worse). It didn't matter that we did the same thing every day, possibly at the same time. To them, their "plays" were being interrupted with no rhyme or reason.

So, while I sometimes feel "trapped" by a schedule, my children know what to expect and that makes things go more smoothly. I also have the authority to make changes to our schedule in case something comes up. I value flexibility and our schedule reflects that. I want to be available in case a friend needs help, my husband comes home early from work, or we just need to go to the zoo (or sometimes meet friends at the "play" McDonald's for lunch).

I have also "built" in cushions for those times of the day that I know (from experience) could take longer than I've planned. Some of these times include our morning routine (from waking up to starting our core studies) and our lunch and quiet time break. This helps me to remain a little less stressed or frustrated if we wake up late or if there's more "daydreaming" and less school work being done.

Once again, know that you are not alone on this journey.  We must join together in what God has called us to do.  As Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  I can honestly say that it has only been with Jesus that I have been able to come this far in my ability to stay on task.  He has shown me how "freeing" a schedule can be.

Mommy "Moments"...You are NOT alone!

An interesting conversation came about at the start of one of the classes I teach at our "Monday classes."  (That is our term for the home school co-op we are involved with.)  One of the moms mentioned the last post and how much she appreciated it.  We were laughing about how we may have a "slight tendency" to want to be in control.  (Noooo! : )  Anyway, I said that I have found that no matter how "good" or "sinless" someone appears to be, we all have the sin of pride in common.  When it comes down to it, we all have some things we want our own way!  And that translates to pride.

I discovered this a few years ago (as I mentioned in the previous post) as I read and prayed through the Scripture prayers in the book Praying God's Word by Beth Moore.  This is a brief recount of how things went when I started that book (okay, as brief as my detailed side can be).  


The first chapter is on overcoming idolatry.  I thought it might be interesting to read, but wasn't sure how applicable it would be.  Then I began to read it.  I thought, hmmm, maybe I do have a few issues with this.  One that really spoke to me was taken from Acts 17:24-28.  I've copied that passage from the NIV below:



 ²⁴"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. ²⁵And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

The second chapter is on overcoming unbelief.  Again, as I began to read it, I thought it would be interesting, but wasn't sure how applicable it would be.  Would you like to guess what happened when I started to read it?  Yep, more issues.  

One of the most interesting things I've read from Beth Moore is her describing the difference in believing IN God and BELIEVING God.  Here is a quote from her book regarding a conversation she had with the Lord.  She said that the Lord adamantly said, "I didn't ask you to believe in Me.  I asked you to believe Me." (page 34)  Here are a few of my favorite prayers from this section:

"Faith is not believing in my own unshakable belief.  Faith is believing an unshakable God when everything in me trembles and quakes." (page 44)


"Father, please bring strong believers into my life so that we may be mutually encouraged by one another's faith. (Rom. 1:12)" (page 47)


"Lord God, please place someone in my path as needed who will continue with me for my progress and joy in the faith. (Phil. 1:25)"

The next chapter was on overcoming pride.  You already know what I was thinking, and what I discovered, I had pride issues.  Not just a few either, a lot.  Everywhere I turned I seemed to discover more areas where this was a problem.  (It would be more true to say "turn" instead of turned.)  I've already mentioned the verse from Ecclesiastes.  Here are a few others which spoke to me (especially in conversing with my husband):


"Father, You're teaching me that pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.  (Prov. 13:10)  Help me to discern the pride that is involved when I am quarrelsome."  (page 61)

"Father, You are calling upon me to be completely humble and gentle; to be patient, bearing with others in love.  (Eph. 4:2)  Please empower me with Your Spirit to be obedient to this command." (page 66)


You get the idea, I'm sure.  The fourth chapter was on overcoming deception.  I will share one of the prayers which I included in my "prayer cards" from this chapter:


"Lord God, surely You desire truth in my inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.  (Ps. 51:6)  Please expose to me the deeply embedded lies I've believed and replace them with permanently engraved truth." (page 76)


To get back to my earlier conversation, we began to share with each other about our "other self."  You know, the one only our children see.  (Yes, that is a sobering thought for me too.)  Aside from the Lord, they are the ones who see ALL of us, aren't they?


Then we each shared how it was hard to believe another of the moms in that room could have a "moment" like that.  Some of the comments were how peaceful, organized, together, etc. another mom seemed.  Then a "gem" was shared.  One mom said something like, that must be a lie of the enemy to believe that someone else has everything together.  


This made me pause and think of how many times I've been in the middle of a "moment" with my children (or even my husband) and think, surely so-and-so wouldn't be speaking to her children this way.  Or surely so-and-so wouldn't have a conversation like this with her husband.  I'm learning that this is simply not true!  It is indeed a lie that the enemy tells us!

We all have "moments," though it's certainly true that as we grow closer to Christ these moments should decrease, not increase.  But we're human.  Sometimes it's when I have those moments that I realize how much I need a Savior.  It's also been the start of some good conversations with my children.  We all make mistakes.  We all need Jesus.  

In my "moment" I've demonstrated why God's way is the best way.  It also offers me a chance to apologize to them and ask for their forgiveness.  Think of the modeling I'm doing!  (I have to admit, though, I don't usually savor those moments and would much rather model other behavior!)  Again, we are showing our children that we're human, not perfect.  We show them how to humble ourselves before those we've hurt as well as before the Lord.  My prayer is that my children will continue to strive to be more like Jesus each day.  However, when they stumble, I hope that they will humble themselves before the Lord and those they may have hurt and allow Jesus to help them back up to try again.


To close, I'd like to leave you with this reminder from Hebrews 12:1-3, keeping in mind that God has marked you to be a mom to your children and a wife to your husband. 


 ¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

 You are not alone in this race!

By Faith, part 2...

To follow up my first post, I thought I would share what I wrote in my journal on May 3, 2010.  

By Faith:  Following Him Down the Winding Homeschooling Road
A place for encouragement, observations and sharing on our homeschool adventures.

The above is what I awoke thinking about this morning.  It was a few months ago, now, that I discovered Hebrews 11, specifically verse 8.  That doesn't mean it's the first time I've read it.  However, it was the first time I saw it in light of homeschooling.  Verse 8 reads:

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."  NIV

Thinking about this verse, we realize Abraham left all he knew.  He left his family, his home, his friends, a way of life that was familiar to him.  His father, grandfather, and great grandfather grew up there.  They had all walked on the same land.  What did Abraham's parents, family and friends think?  Did they celebrate his obedience to the LORD?  Did Abraham get a going away party?  And if they did support Abraham's obedience, were they supportive through and through?  What might they have been saying in their heads?  Maybe they thought, "Boy, I'm glad the Lord chose Abraham, that's not something I could do."  Or maybe, "Oh, I'm so glad He chose him and not me!"

Do any of these questions relate to our own homeschool adventure?  Have you thought them?  Have your heard them from others?  Have you wondered if others had these thoughts about you when you try to explain why you homeschool and what brought you to that fork in the road?

For me, the similarities have been amazing, eye opening, and comforting.  We do not travel down this road alone.  He will guide us, though that often means giving control to Him on a regular basis.  As a homeschooling mom, I teeter on that brink a lot.  (Sometimes that translates to minute by minute for me.)  I am so thankful to the LORD for leading me to this road.  Some days are more difficult than others, but I wouldn't have it any other way!  (Even when some of those days are all in the same week or month.)

As I typed up this journal entry, I realized that Abraham's nephew Lot and his family went with him, so he was not completely without family.  However, knowing the whole story, one has to wonder how much of a comfort his company was given some of the choices Lot made on their journey.

By faith...

On February 10, 2010 my daily flip calendar was from Hebrews 11:3. 

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:3 (NIV)

Intrigued, I turned to the book of Hebrews, which opens with the following: 

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.  Hebrews 11:1-2

As I continued reading through the rest of the chapter (of course), I really resonated with Abraham's obedience to God calling him to leave his home and family in verse 8.  I began to think of our own call to home school and the parallels with Abraham's journey. Maybe you've been home schooling for years, maybe you've just started, or maybe you're still in the pondering stage.  Where ever you find yourself, please take a moment to reflect on your own home school journey as you read Hebrews 11:8-16.  (Emphasis is mine.)

⁸By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

 ¹¹By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he^[a]considered him faithful who had made the promise. ¹²And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

 ¹³All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. ¹⁴People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.