You Tube Monday - Apple Steve Jobs The Crazy Ones - NEVER BEFORE AIRED 1997

Cheers to all you home educators who dare to think differently and allow your children to do so as well!!!

Lesson Completed -

Our proverbs lesson "April Showers Bring May Flowers" was completed this morning and I think the lesson that I needed to learn was completed as well. The title alone could not have been more perfect to me. We started this a while ago and at the time had no idea where it was going to lead us, so I thought I would share the incredible results that have come from this very simple art project.

I have expressed how much KM disliked the process of writing many times here on my blog and in real life to nearly anyone I can think of, so when I was looking into curriculum choices for next year I decided to speak to my all-time favorite homeschool guru, who also happens to be a published writer and has a daughter who received a perfect score on the written part of the SAT, so I felt she surely would have some incredibly wise words of wisdom for me and sure enough she did.

After a long discussion of what the situation was and how KM behaved when given any sort of writing assignment, we came to the conclusion that she was self-editing in her head as she was writing and this was causing her to be blocked right from the get-go. She was so worried that it wasn't going to come out perfectly the first time that she wrote something down on paper that she just wasn't able to cohesively express herself through the written word. So my guru gave me some tips and exercises to try.

The first suggestion that really made sense to me was to have her write for two minutes - either giving her a prompt, word or whatever - she was to just write for the full two minutes whatever came into her head. She shouldn't stop, erase, correct anything, worry about punctuation, spelling or anything else. She just had to have pen to paper for a full two minutes. Well this made so much sense to me, if she was not worried about it being corrected it should alleviate the blocks. So we started doing this every few days using the proverbs that we had written out for our April Showers Bring May Flowers project. It worked like a charm. KM would pick a proverb from the bag, think about it for a minute and then I would set the timer for 2 minutes. She would just write and write and write, what she thought the proverbs meant. There were times when the timer went off and she wanted to continue writing. It was as if I had another child sitting there with a pencil in hand.

The results have baffled me. Although of course they are not perfect grammatically or content wise, she has written down at least 3 to 4 sentences each time. There have been no complaints, arguments, or begrudging stares. The more we have done it, the more she grabs a new proverb out of the bag in the morning and wants to do it.

She is growing so much and truly becoming an independent learner. She is very happy to take the books and go. She wants to be able to learn these things on her own without someone hovering over her. When she has a set assignment she is completing it with no problem. Who is this child? How can this be the same individual that I had to stand over and watch her complete every word she wrote down to make sure it was done - just a year and a half ago? She is not the same child. She is a homeschooler, even better a home learner now. She truly enjoys learning and wants to find out more about EVERYTHING!

So this morning when she grabbed the last proverb out of the bag, it literally brought tears to my eyes...

One today is worth two tomorrows.

This is one of my favorite proverbs, the truest to my heart. You must cherish today because tomorrow may not come. You must love life for it can be taken away in an instant. You must enjoy the time that you have with your family because they could be gone at any moment. Though I do not want to live in constant fear of losing everyone or of tomorrow never coming, it is good to remember those that I have lost in order to remind myself that I need to cherish the people that I have in my life while they are hear.

I cannot tell you how proud I am of her accomplishments. I can tell you the joy that I feel in my heart when I see her completing a project and suddenly the light goes off in her brain. She got it! Something made the concept click and now she truly understands it. She does not remember long enough to complete the test and then proceed to dump it to learn the next information, she truly and completely is becoming educated! Every day that I spend with her I learn more about her and myself. I am truly grateful this path that we have chosen has brought us to such an incredible place.

Sometimes all you need is a few kind words

I received one of the greatest comments yesterday! It makes me feel so wonderful to be able to share our story and that it helps to inspire others with their decision.

Making the extremely daunting decision of homeschooling your child(ren), whether you are just starting out with a little one or if you are removing your older child from a public or private school, can be one of the most challenging choices parents can make. You are taking on the responsibility to educate and set out a path for another's life. - Of course if you really think about it, that is what you signed on for when you decided to bring the child into the world, but I won't get into that right now. - This responsibility has changed our family and has given me insight into my daughter that I never would have had.

She has gone from a shy and awkward little girl who was afraid to answer the teacher's questions - for fear that if she got it wrong the teacher would be upset because she didn't know it and the kids would make fun of her or she would get it right the teacher would praise her and the kids would make fun of her - to a whirling dervish of knowledge. She was always afraid of getting up in front of a group on her own and Monday night she had a spectacular performance of Hermia in Shakespeare's Midsummer's Night Dream. All she needed was the right environment of a kind mentor and peers that nudged her along with caring, compassion and true encouragement! I feel so blessed to have found this incredible community of families to share this learning journey with.

Homeschooling is not for everyone, but I honestly don't know of a single family that has returned their kids to school because they were unhappy with the way things were working out...the same can't be said for the number of families that I know that have/are pulling their kids out of the current corrupted public and private school systems.

Acknowledging Changes

As most of you well know by now I am a neurotic planner! I need to know what is going on, where we are going to be, how we are going to get there and every stop we are going to make in between! I have been looking ahead to all the wonderful things we have planned to do and getting lessons plans ready for our spring and summer sessions. As I was doing this I realized that we have been homeschooling for well over a year now and it amazes me how much KM has changed during that time. We were discussing what subjects we were going to be covering and how our schedule was going to be changing the week after next and she is so excited about it! It amazes me that when given the choice in what she wants to learn and how she wants to approach it, how involved and truly engaged she becomes! The spark that I thought was going to be gone forever has been fully reignited!

We have far fewer arguments and they RARELY have anything to do with her lessons ~ they generally involve chores, room cleaning and telephone usage. Our family is a much more cohesive machine that truly works together to make our lives happier. We have time to spend together doing things that we like to do, as well as having time on our own to pursue things individually. We have been so blessed to have such a wonderful homeschooling support network around us and to have made so many extraordinary new friends. I think it is so important to really acknowledge changes in ones life, to reflect upon it and to thank those that have helped you get to where you are!

The three of us truly feel this is the life we were meant to live! To all the people who have given me encouragement, who have advised me and helped me be courageous enough to make this leap and to continue on this journey, I thank you! I thank you more than you can ever imagine! Each and every person who is in my life now is here for a reason and has allowed my family to grow into the stronger unit it is today!

Words of Praise

I thought since today was all about love and praise I thought I would mention that sometimes we need to change the wording to really make an impact to show our children how great we think they are!

98 Ways to Say "Very good"

1. You've got it made.
2. You're on the right track now!
3. You are very good at that.
4. That's very much better!
5. I'm happy to see you working like that.
6. You're doing a good job.
7. That's the best you've ever done.
8. I knew you could do it.
9. Now you've figured it out.
10. Now you have it.
11. GREAT!
12. Keep working - you're getting better.
13. You make it look easy.
14. That's the right way to do it.
15. You're getting better every day.
16. You're really growing up!
17. Nice going.
18. SENSATIONAL!
19. That's the way to do it.
20. That's better.
21. Best yet.
22. PERFECT!
23. You're really going to town!
24. TERRIFIC!
25. Much better!
26. You've just about mastered that!
27. OUTSTANDING!
28. You did that very well.
29. FANTASTIC!
30. You're really improving.
31. SUPERB!
32. Keep it up!
33. You've got that down pat!
34. TREMENDOUS!
35. Good thinking!
36. Keep on trying!
37. When I'm with you I feel like singing!
38. I'm very proud of you.
39. I think you've got it now.
40. You figured that out fast.
41. That's really nice.
42. You're right.
43. CLEVER!
44. That's great!
45. Way to go.
46. Now you have the hang of it!
47. That's it!
48. Congratulations, you got it right.
49. You're beautiful.
50. That's RIGHT!
51. That's GOOD!
52. I've never seen anyone do it better.
53. GOOD WORK!
54. Now you've figured it out.
55. You're really working hard today.
56. You've just about got it.
57. THAT'S IT!
58. Congratulations!
59. That's quite an improvement.
60. You're doing that much better today.
61. I sure am happy you're my student.
62. You're learning fast.
63. Good for you!
64. Couldn't have done it better myself.
65. You really make being a teacher fun.
66. One more time and you'll have it.
67. You did it that time!
68. That's the way!
69. I'm proud of the way you worked today.
70. Keep up the good work.
71. Nothing can stop you now!
72. EXCELLENT!
73. That's the best ever.
74. FINE!
75. WONDERFUL!
76. That's better than ever.
77. Good going.
78. Now that's what I call a fine job!
79. You must have been practicing!
80. You're doing beautifully.
81. Right on!
82. Good remembering!
83. You did a lot of work today!
84. You certainly did well today.
85. You're doing fine.
86. You are really learning a lot.
87. You outdid yourself today!
88. Good going!
89. Excellent job!
90. AMAZING!
91. MARVELOUS!
92. You're doing the best you can!
93. Good job.
94. You remembered.
95. That gives me a happy feeling.
96. Well, look at you go!
97. Dynamite!
98. You are amazing!

If you have any more to add please feel free!

What a difference a year can make!

I was at a homeschool workshop yesterday discussing lots of different topics and someone mentioned how at ease I seemed with homeschooling and how it really seems as though I have been doing it forever.

The irony in that statement for me is that exactly one year ago, I was sitting in a large conference room with a group of parents at a PTO hosted "Boo-hoo Brunch". This is an annual meet and greet for parents of the Kindergarten class to meet each other and learn about how they could help out by supporting the faculty and PTO. I was telling people how wonderful the teachers were and how many great activities the PTO sponsors and while these facts are all still true, it is just amazing to think that I am now advocating an entirely different lifestyle all together.

Although I may appear all calm and collected most of the time, I am also very good at disguising my trepidation for the upcoming year. Although I know that I have made the absolute right choice, a very wise friend of mine said "if you weren't nervous, I would be nervous for you." What she meant was all parents are nervous about something for their children. If KM was in school I would be worried about so much more and have so much less control over the outcome of those worries. At least with homeschooling we have control over what, how and when she is learning. If she wants us to spend three months on microscopic antibodies, guess what we will!

Our family has become an entirely different entity than it was a year ago. Our lifestyle is different, our schedule & routines are different, a lot of our friends are different, but by and large our priorities are different. Some people fear change and we used to be like that, but it seems as though these huge changes that have gone on over the past few year are exactly what we needed to make us a stronger more unified family. So for any newbie homeschoolers who may be reading this, please know that it will get calmer. You will become more confident in yourself, your kids and your choices! I have no doubt that you will see a miraculous difference in your children, as we have with ours. We enjoy being with each other, learning, laughing and living everyday just the way WE want to.

I Will Survive- Homeschool Version

TURN UP YOUR VOLUME

If it says that it is no longer available click HERE!!

I had posted the original mix lyrics, but I when this got reposted on another list I KNEW I had to put it on here! THIS IS SOOO Well done!

I Will Survive (the first year of homeschooling)

This has been going around a ton of homeschool lists but just in case anyone missed it...

I Will Survive (the first year of homeschooling)

When you click on it turn your volume up!

Home Schooling Truly Free

This is an amazing inspirational message from a young adult's point of view that I really wanted to share:

http://www.homeschoolfreestuff.com/issues/soup20/soup20.html
This was a writing assignment prompted by these HomeschoolSoup newsletters. It was written by a 15 year old homeschool student. Aside from it being one of the more touching messages I've ever read, consider it a powerful open letter to all children and parents thinking about homeschooling.

This is an incredibly insightful young woman! Hope you enjoy it!

I feel so appreciated!

She spent about an hour picking just the right ones!

Finding New Insight

An author, Paulo Coelho, was recommended to me by my favorite librarian this past week and while I was looking up some info on him I came across two quotes that I really connected with and wanted to share my thoughts on.

"We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path." - Paulo Coelho
~I think this is something that a lot of people should make a conscience effort to remember. It gets difficult at times for many reasons - as you want to be right, you want to share your wisdom, you want others to be able to feel the happiness that you feel. However you have to remember that what makes one person happy could make another sad, what tastes good to one person could cause an allergic reaction to another. We each have a right to our own path, so you have to find the line and not cross it when it comes to sharing and not pushing. We also need to remember that you cannot know what goes on in another person's home. No matter how many stories you hear, how many fights you witness or how many perfect report cards you hear about.

"Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering." - Paulo Coelhomy
~This made me think of my previous post - "Toxic or Not?" When is enough really enough? How do you make the decision to forget what has happened and move on or to forget and let go? IMO - Indecisiveness is the worse feeling. I would rather make a decision and deal with the consequences than sit and ponder and ponder until my head feels like it is going to split in two.

~Have a favorite quote that you would like to share? Please do in the comment section.

Not on the Test - Video

OMG - this was sent to some of the lists - exactly what the mother's were talking about in my previous post! It is scary to think HOW true this really is!~ before pressing play scroll down and stop or pause the last fm player to hear the video


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dAujuqCo7s


Here is another good one - I have been told that it is the father of the man who wrote "Not on the Test"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noVC5Jt2Gu8

Toxic or Not?

This is totally not my normal blog entry, but I have been thinking lately about friendship, grief and the number of different ways that people deal with it. Some people act as though nothing has happened and move on. Others fall to pieces and cannot function. Some try to drag every other person down with them into their misery. Most lie on a spectrum somewhere in between. It is hard to know whom will fall in one area, while another far from it. I firmly believe that people who have been through a situation should stand and help those who are encountering a similar situation, but to what degree? When is enough, enough? How do you decide whether one more try should be given on a friendship or it is time to end it? How many mistakes is one allowed?

Some of you may be thinking ~ "What in the world made her think of this?" ~while some of you know exactly what led me here.

I came across an article the other day that got me thinking and related it to my life. Here are some excerpts:

“A friendship is between two peers,” says Florence Isaacs, author of Toxic Friends/True Friends. “There has to be balance in a friendship for it to be healthy -- not one person whose needs get met and another whose needs are overlooked.”

This makes sense - I think it a good definition that really hits the mark on the head.

“Toxic friends stress you out, use you, are unreliable, are overly demanding, and don’t give anything back,” Isaacs tells WebMD.

While a toxic friend doesn’t have to lay claim to all of these charming characteristics, they do seem to bring on their nasty behavior on a consistent basis, as opposed to those of us who just have a bad day once in a while and take it out on some of the people we care about the most -- our friends.

“The phrase ‘toxic friend’ is pop psychology,” says Jenn Berman, PhD, a psychologist in private practice in Beverly Hills, Calif. “I would say it’s someone who, after spending time with them, makes you feel bad about yourself instead of good; someone who tends to be critical of you -- sometimes in a subtle way and sometimes not so subtle; a friend who drains you emotionally, financially, or mentally, and they’re not very good for you.”

By continuing a toxic friendship, you’re allowing your friend to hurt you, but you’re also hurting yourself. “You have to take some degree of responsibility for the situation,” says Figley, a spokesman for the American Psychological Association. “It’s a pleaser personality -- you want people to like you, you want to get along, and it’s hard to say no. But you can pay the price in one way by having toxic friends.” So even though we want to help our friends and have them rely on us in troubling times, take responsibility for toxic friendships and how they make you feel.

I would only add that negativity draws negativity - positive things happen to positive people.

This is the case that defies scientific explanation of opposites attract. When you jinx yourself by saying "Hey, I made an extra $200!" - you will get a flat tire that costs $225 to repair. You can get crazy mad and depressed or you could look at it as if you hadn't made that $200 you would have to choose between fixing the tire or groceries for the week.

Do all that you can to surround yourself in positive light and love. You will see a difference in yourself and your environment!

Just some things to think about - if you are interested in reading the full article click on the title of this blog and it will take you there.

Reducing Stress in 2008

This was sent to me and I really liked it! I edited it a little bit so that it was a little more secular - I mean no disrespect to the people or person who wrote it- I really like it, I just needed to tweak it to allow it to appeal to a broader audience.

Take it in and REALLY THINK ABOUT the suggestions.

An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'

1. Pray (to who ever your higher power or guardian angel is)

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others .

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, remeber the serenity prayer and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a book of poetry with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19 Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life. *make sure it is not a meditation tape though....don't need any accidents because you went into a trance while driving.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone. (WITH YOURSELF- no noise, no phone, no television, no computer - being able to be at peace with being with yourself is a very hard thing to learn to do but REALLY is worth it in the end)

23. Having problems? Talk to your angels or higher power on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with spiritual people. - Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be a better you!

25. Keep a folder of favorite sayings on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope often can start with a good deep breath.

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33 Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.

Hope you enjoyed...each day try to incorporate another tip into your lifestyle! In the first week you will see a change and feel like a better person!