Day 11: Quote...

I had some errands to run this evening. I left after dinner, no one missed me because they all proceeded to go swimming while I made returns and dashed in and out of a half a dozen stores. I was half tempted to buy this sign. I love this little poem. I think it will be going up on the chalkboard wall soon. I am always keeping an eye out for sayings that I think will catch the children's attention or inspire them to love each other more, thank God more, live more boldly for Christ. 

What quotes inspire you? Or just make you smile? 

Day 10: Lunch...

It was one of those days when my best laid plans were changed by a single phone call. The call that changed my well orchestrated post-school 3pm doctor appointment into a 12:15pm one which splinters the children's focus and sent me scurrying to make changes to my previously arranged childcare as well as rushing to pack lunches I never intended to pack. And in all my rushing, I forgot food for myself and ended up at the only drive through that has food that I can safely eat on a GF diet. 

I had intended on making a special new oatmeal for lunch and was looking forward to photographing it. Instead, I barely remembered to snap a picture of my empty crinkled Chick-fil-A bag. 

What did you eat for lunch? 

Listening aloud...

We have embarked upon a new school year, and with it, we have been striving to form some new habits and priorities. Some things are more of a return to old things that had somehow disappeared from our daily routine (like morning family worship and daily work on handicrafts).

Our new morning schedule seems to be working well assuming I keep on top of everyone. I have also been writing up the framework for our day on the big whiteboard in the hallway, the children who can read can now answer the "what are we doing today" question for themselves. I love that!

Each day I have been writing up "read aloud" and "handicrafts". A handful of years ago, the non-napping children and I would steal away to the couches in the afternoon during naptime for the youngest ones and I would read aloud and they would work on handicrafts (embroidery, knitting, crochet, loopy projects, etc.). We all loved the time, but I always felt a little left out on the handicraft part and I got very little work done on projects. My consolation was that I loved reading aloud to the children and we all loved meeting the various characters that came to life from page to page.

Somewhere in the hustle and bustle of life, our designated time of handicrafts and reading aloud through the afternoon fell away. Recently, one of the girls asked me to knit her a teddy bear. Then her sister asked for one too. Then her other sister asked for one. Then the littlest brother requested a "cowboy teddy bear". I haven't knit for nearly a year and I had no idea when to fit it in but I said I would try.

A friend mentioned that she and her kids were listening to a Librovox recording of The Secret Garden and it was read by one of our favorite readers, Karen Shallenberg (www.kayray.org). I had an idea. I downloaded the files to my phone and asked the kids if they would mind listening to KayRay read the book instead of me, explaining I could then work on knitting projects during our newly re-instituted handicrafts time in the afternoons. They all agreed.

We have spent three or four lovely afternoons listening to KayRay read The Secret Garden and I have nearly finished knitting the first of my long list of teddy bear orders. The girls have worked on needle felting, knitting, cross stitching, and the boys have made Perler bead creations or played with Duplos.

Today, as we were making the transition from school time to handicrafts time, Hannah said, "Mom, is it time for 'Listening Aloud' time?" I grinned at her and noticed how pleased she was with herself and her little joke (since I am no longer reading to them myself). We turned on KayRay and all got to work, it has been a nice and enjoyable part of our afternoons. We are all looking forward to our "listening aloud" time every day.

Of pens and pencils...

When I was in grade school, probably around the third grade, I absolutely refused to write in pencil ever again. I couldn't stand the way pencils smelled, wrote or erased (oh, those little eraser shavings were the worst!). I had a math teacher who was just as determined that I not do math in pen. I was stubborn.

When I asked her why I couldn't write in pen, she said because it would make my paper too messy when I made a mistake. I thought about her answer for a moment and asked her, "May I write in pen if I don't make any mistakes?" She took a moment to think and said, "Yes, you may write in pen as long as you have no scratch outs on your paper."

I am sure that she intended this experiment to be short lived. Instead, the perfectionist in me flourished and I turned in all my math work in pen and without a scratch out. If I found a mistake or needed to rework a problem, I would rewrite the entire page. I don't think I owned another pencil for twenty years.

However, somewhere along the way in our homeschooling journey, I gained a deep appreciation for pencils (though I still despise the eraser shavings). I give my kids pencils all the time, I doubt they can remember a Christmas or Easter without a new set of pencils.  Everyone around here knew how to work the electric pencil sharpener by the age of two.

This year, my older two children are using The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) and their DVD teacher insists on their using pen for their essays. So, with much reluctance, I gave them pens for doing their schoolwork. Well, specifically for their writing assignments, but I gave no official caveats.

Imagine my amusement upon finding my fourth-grader's math homework done completely in pen this afternoon and with no scratch outs. Immediately I laughed, and then called out, "Please only use pencil on your math homework!" I guess we will see if he heard me when I check his math sheets tomorrow. :)

Day 9: In The Schoolroom...

An atypical September day in Texas found Noah on the deck all morning and afternoon with the dogs and a pile of books. The rest of the kids were strewn about on couches and floors. It was a lovely day with lots of reading and little time spent at tables (except for handwriting and math, required table subjects). The fall is approaching and I envision trampoline studies will soon commence. 

I am loving our studies in Tapestry of Grace, and while the workload took a while for us to all get used to, I think the kids are enjoying the relaxed approach to learning that reading all day provides. :)

Day 8: Word...

This school year we started a new Bible Study, The Narrow Way by The Pearables is an in depth study of 2 Peter 1:4-8. We are just starting, so we are digging into what faith is and who God is whom we place out faith in. It is a sweet time each morning after breakfast and sets our day in the direction. 

What are you doing to be in God's Word with your kids? 

Day 6: Project...

Studying the Middle Ages has been enjoyable for our whole family. As a part of our co-op, I am co-teaching the 6th grade History class. Today, I led the kids in a lesson on heraldry and they designed their own shields. I am continually impressed by the creativity of these kids! Our co-op has been such a blessing, I love seeing all the things the kids come home with each week, and am so thankful for the other moms who pour into my kids.