How Homeschool Looks at Our House

We are about half way through the school year. It's going pretty well so far. But I definitely have things I need to work on organizationally. And I'll probably change a few things in terms of curriculum. But overall both Cliff and I feel good about how it's going.

I attended a homeschool conference a few years ago when we were just looking into it, and I learned a few things that were really helpful. One was that you don't need to buy an expensive curriculum to learn. In fact, most people that did, ended up scrapping it and adapting the curriculum to each kid's learning style anyway.

I also remember one lady talking about how she and her son would end up in tears every day because he couldn't sit still and both were frustrated with the traditional sit in a chair and read and write method for hours on end method. She figured out that if she pulled the trampoline next to the table and quizzed him on his times tables and other subjects, he learned MUCH better (and got out the wiggles at the same time.)

So when our kids decided to get "get creative" with their learning, I didn't bat an eye.

Yep, he's on top of the dryer...

Mason and Kaiah are on the top bunk. If you look closely you will see that they have set up their webkinz pets to do some group school time next to their pillow as well.

While the kids are doing school, Bria plays with her little people while dressing up (most days) in princess attire and reading stories to her babies (half in English and half in baby babble pretend words). She has started to write some letters too. But I think I need to start working with her some more after what I heard the other day in the car. She was asked if she knows how to spell her name and she said very confidently "Yes! D-A-K-A-19!"

Lochlan still takes a morning nap. But when he's awake he's exploring! And getting into everyone's business and bothering them. He has taken the little brother role very seriously. We have given him a few "stations" to unload around the house so not everything is a "no-no." These are the kids cups/bowls drawer, the playdoh accessories, the tupperware in the closet, and the pots and pans. He's very thorough in helping entropy along... and so cute while doing it!

One of the areas I also need to work on some more is the science experiments and field trips. We have done a few:

Making the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria and "sailing" them in our bath tub

Making Butter.

Wind races.

Gas expansion experiments

Making blueberry ink and writing with a feather quill

We have also had a lot of fun doing some extra curricular activities with our homeschool co-op where we get together with a few other families and learn from an awesome woman (Mrs. Smith) who volunteers to prepare all the science lessons and experiments for the group. The first half of the year we studied birds which was great for Mason's fascination with them. He jumped right in on giving presentations on the birds he loves the most... There have also been guest speakers and field trips with that group as well.

Every other week we take a homeschool music class/choir. The kids have been learning about rhythm and singing in harmony and even some really cool new instruments like the xylophone. I could not believe my ears when she actually had about 12 kids all playing different parts of the song at the right time. It actually sounded pretty good! They sang some of the songs they learned for the Senior Saints at church before Christmas.

We feel very blessed to be able to round out their education with some sports classes. Mason is currently taking Basketball and Tennis one day a week. Cliff takes the older kids swimming every Monday and just looks up online how to teach the strokes to them. Sometimes Cambria goes along too. And the girls are taking a Creative Movement dance class together at the local rec. center.

There are so many fun things about homeschooling. It's really a privilege to watch them learn and figure something out for the first time. They have formed very strong friendships with each other. We can change the curriculum to make them most excited about learning according to their interests. But I think the best part of homeschooling for me is being able to talk with them about spontaneous questions that come up at the most random times.

But I think I'll save some of those for another post someday along with the many homeschooling failures and difficulties of the job lest you start to think it's all roses and wonder...