As homeschoolers, our families often live on one income. It's easy to look around and see other families that might be able to provide expensive vacations, lessons, or all the "best" clothes and advantages. Comparing that to the simpler life we live can make us wonder if our children would be better off with the second income instead of homeschooling.
My first nursing job was at a university health service. Our facility provided not only urgent care services, but also limited in-patient services. It amazed me how much those young adults had to say in the middle of the night.
Without exception, every young person that talked to me said they wished their parents had spent more time with them. They lamented that their parents had spent their time working, to give them money and "stuff", but what the kids really wanted was time. You can't imagine how many times I heard, "I wish they had given me themselves instead of 'stuff' ".
Although you might wonder if you are giving your child what she needs when others are enjoying 'stuff', remember you are choosing to give of yourself to your child. That will last far longer, and have far more positive benefits than any 'things' you might have provided with a second income.
Invest in what lasts!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Summer Math games
While we hear about lots of summer reading ideas and programs, we all know summer math can suffer from neglect. Leaving math to wither over the hot summer means needing review as you start up again in the fall. Some classroom settings may spend one, or even two, MONTHS reviewing!
Let's not. Encourage your child to keep up his math skills; with estimation as you go to the store, with one or two math lessons each week, or the most fun, with games.
We used a board from a standard board game, 2 standard dice and a special die with the math symbols on it, +, -, etc. We found one at our local teacher store. Each player would roll all 3 dice, to yield 2 numbers and one symbol. The player performs the function, say, 3+5=8, and moves his token that many spots. It makes for a painless way to review those math facts.
If you do flash cards, make that a game. Each time the child can give the correct answer, let her keep the card. Who has the biggest stack after once through, you or the child?
There are unlimited possibilities, choose a variety of games and activities you both enjoy, and jump start your school year!
Let's not. Encourage your child to keep up his math skills; with estimation as you go to the store, with one or two math lessons each week, or the most fun, with games.
We used a board from a standard board game, 2 standard dice and a special die with the math symbols on it, +, -, etc. We found one at our local teacher store. Each player would roll all 3 dice, to yield 2 numbers and one symbol. The player performs the function, say, 3+5=8, and moves his token that many spots. It makes for a painless way to review those math facts.
If you do flash cards, make that a game. Each time the child can give the correct answer, let her keep the card. Who has the biggest stack after once through, you or the child?
There are unlimited possibilities, choose a variety of games and activities you both enjoy, and jump start your school year!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Extracurriculars....
One extracurricular activity that we enjoyed for years is 4-H. Although you might think of this as only for farm and ranch folks, projects are available for everything from Electricity and Rocketry to Cooking and Photography, as well as livestock.
Excited by the huge variety of choices, I WAY overestimated on projects that first year. By the second year I had realized that we needed to choose one or two and finish those. It wasn't until doing livestock projects that my children were interested in competing at the fair.
They put huge amounts of work into their livestock animals, and for the most part it was a great experience. We learned SO much about why the Lord refers to us as "sheep", not particularly a compliment, by the way. Sheep need care, they are silly, foolish, comical, and very lovable. They truly do know the shepherd's voice.
This summer may be a great time for you to check out a 4-H club (there are county rules that are common to all clubs, as well as club charters that specify rules for that individual club). Talk the leader, some of the parents and members, maybe attend a meeting. This is a busy time of year as members work on their books and do all the last things required for their projects to be ready for the fair.
Good questions for you to ask might be how often and what time are the meetings, are there project meetings in addition to club meetings, is there a project leader for the project of your child's interest, or will you be doing it yourself, does the club have requirements for when the project books are finished (the county does, but individual clubs might have additional rules). Become familiar with what the club might require in terms of time commitment.
This research will pay off in a good "fit" between your family and the 4-H club. Meetings often start up again in September or October and the sign up deadline is usually by Dec 1st.
Check it out!
Excited by the huge variety of choices, I WAY overestimated on projects that first year. By the second year I had realized that we needed to choose one or two and finish those. It wasn't until doing livestock projects that my children were interested in competing at the fair.
They put huge amounts of work into their livestock animals, and for the most part it was a great experience. We learned SO much about why the Lord refers to us as "sheep", not particularly a compliment, by the way. Sheep need care, they are silly, foolish, comical, and very lovable. They truly do know the shepherd's voice.
This summer may be a great time for you to check out a 4-H club (there are county rules that are common to all clubs, as well as club charters that specify rules for that individual club). Talk the leader, some of the parents and members, maybe attend a meeting. This is a busy time of year as members work on their books and do all the last things required for their projects to be ready for the fair.
Good questions for you to ask might be how often and what time are the meetings, are there project meetings in addition to club meetings, is there a project leader for the project of your child's interest, or will you be doing it yourself, does the club have requirements for when the project books are finished (the county does, but individual clubs might have additional rules). Become familiar with what the club might require in terms of time commitment.
This research will pay off in a good "fit" between your family and the 4-H club. Meetings often start up again in September or October and the sign up deadline is usually by Dec 1st.
Check it out!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Did you miss it?
I'm coming up for air again after the book sale. My friend, Cheri, and I have been organizing the Missoula/Bitterroot Homeschool Used Book Sale for 10 years now. It seems every year has its adventures, and this year was no exception.
A friend of Cheri's came early, poor dear, we put her to work right away! My daughter and I had arrived a little before Cheri, and along with Cheri's friend, we put up all the chairs, pulled out tables and were nearly arranged when Cheri got there, right on time.
In doing the name tags, we found we were short on tables, a perennial problem! I had tossed in 2 tables of my own, and Cheri went to her church and borrowed one, giving us exactly the right number. The Lord has provided just what we needed each year.
It was great to see so many people, and a wonderful blessing to know that people were able to buy and sell things they needed to. Every year we hear stories from fellow homeschoolers that they were able to find exactly what they needed at a price they could afford. That really makes our efforts worthwhile!
The only sad note this year, I got an email last night from a friend in Anaconda, wondering if she had missed the sale! Cheri and I try to be consistent in planning for the first Monday in June, don't miss it next year!
Congratulations to K.G. of Lolo, who won the gift basket drawing!
A friend of Cheri's came early, poor dear, we put her to work right away! My daughter and I had arrived a little before Cheri, and along with Cheri's friend, we put up all the chairs, pulled out tables and were nearly arranged when Cheri got there, right on time.
In doing the name tags, we found we were short on tables, a perennial problem! I had tossed in 2 tables of my own, and Cheri went to her church and borrowed one, giving us exactly the right number. The Lord has provided just what we needed each year.
It was great to see so many people, and a wonderful blessing to know that people were able to buy and sell things they needed to. Every year we hear stories from fellow homeschoolers that they were able to find exactly what they needed at a price they could afford. That really makes our efforts worthwhile!
The only sad note this year, I got an email last night from a friend in Anaconda, wondering if she had missed the sale! Cheri and I try to be consistent in planning for the first Monday in June, don't miss it next year!
Congratulations to K.G. of Lolo, who won the gift basket drawing!
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