It is a good thing for our kids. Some days there is not much else to laugh at. Lately, Damon's teacher has been relaying cute things that he says in class. Today's was a gem. She whispered it all to me after class...
Damon says, "I am falling in love with Reese."
Mrs. F says, "Oh really?"
Then Damon looking at his friend asks, "You too?"
Oh, Damon!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Group Monday
I can now truthfully say that I love Mondays... for school purposes only. Today is Julia's 4th birthday so the kids and I did the dutiful deed of trekking to Vons at 8am for a (store-bought) classroom treat to help make the day feel special. We left with stale chocolate chip cookies and juice boxes. I didn't really give her the chance to help choose it because our day need to get moving and knowing Julia, that decision could last until her 5th birthday. After dropping off happy Julia and screaming Brady, Damon and I joined our fellow south county SLOCA friends for a morning of group lessons. Still one of my best ideas yet!!
Our friends Noah and Kim hosted us today for some reading and science. We are reading The Story About Ping which is a cute story that takes place in China. The kids loved listening to Kim read and then migrated to the table for a lesson about buoyancy. Hypothesis, observations, testing, recording, it was a great lesson thanks to Tyler's mom, Kristi (great name, I know.) The kids watched and waited and ooooo'd and aaaahhh'd perfectly. A great morning of fellowship and learning. But what I learned about Kristi while I was there changed my outlook for the rest of the day.
As I was about to leave, we started discussing carpooling options to get all the kiddos to San Luis without all the moms driving. Driving brought up carseats and carseats brought up the horrific accident that Kristi was in just a year ago. I don't know her very well yet, but from the few conversations that we have had, I never would have guessed that she is SO blessed to be alive. While driving without their two kids, Kristi and her husband were hit head on by a drunk driver going 100 mph. They should not be alive. After a long six month recovery, they are both doing very well. But, the outcome could so easily have been different.
I drove away a little more cautious and a lot more aware of what was around me. Not so much the other cars and people, but my little kids, my husband, my friends, my mom on the phone, my whining dogs, Julia's birthday, Brady's painting of a "snake", the little things that were present in my life today that could so quickly disappear. I like to complain, especially in my ramblings right here, but when it comes down to my life and what and who the LORD has so abundantly surrounded me with, I am an extremely happy girl. I will be hugging my kids and my husband a little tighter this week!
Our friends Noah and Kim hosted us today for some reading and science. We are reading The Story About Ping which is a cute story that takes place in China. The kids loved listening to Kim read and then migrated to the table for a lesson about buoyancy. Hypothesis, observations, testing, recording, it was a great lesson thanks to Tyler's mom, Kristi (great name, I know.) The kids watched and waited and ooooo'd and aaaahhh'd perfectly. A great morning of fellowship and learning. But what I learned about Kristi while I was there changed my outlook for the rest of the day.
As I was about to leave, we started discussing carpooling options to get all the kiddos to San Luis without all the moms driving. Driving brought up carseats and carseats brought up the horrific accident that Kristi was in just a year ago. I don't know her very well yet, but from the few conversations that we have had, I never would have guessed that she is SO blessed to be alive. While driving without their two kids, Kristi and her husband were hit head on by a drunk driver going 100 mph. They should not be alive. After a long six month recovery, they are both doing very well. But, the outcome could so easily have been different.
I drove away a little more cautious and a lot more aware of what was around me. Not so much the other cars and people, but my little kids, my husband, my friends, my mom on the phone, my whining dogs, Julia's birthday, Brady's painting of a "snake", the little things that were present in my life today that could so quickly disappear. I like to complain, especially in my ramblings right here, but when it comes down to my life and what and who the LORD has so abundantly surrounded me with, I am an extremely happy girl. I will be hugging my kids and my husband a little tighter this week!
Kim reads Ping to the group!
Couldn't resist this one of Noah snuggled into his mom.
Kristi explains the science experiment.
Watching...
Curious...
Waiting...
Fairly sure he knows what is going to happen...
Friday, September 18, 2009
A Whole New Outlook!
First of all, I am sorry. I am sorry for all the complaining and pitiful comments about our homeschool venture. For as down as I was this entire week, I am back up on the enthusiasm bandwagon after today. Mrs. F shared an incredible website full of little, leveled readers and corresponding phonics lessons that just may have saved our entire year. As I mentioned before, I missed the point about creating my own reading program. I don't know who I expected to teach Damon how to read if not his mom, the one HOMEschooling him. So I am an idiot. Now that I established that, I can move forward taking advice from everyone else around me who clearly has a better vision than I do/did. I sorta get it now. Here is my new interpretation of how the system works...
Damon goes to school two days out of the week to socialize and get focused instruction in all subjects in a group setting. Mrs. F sends home a sampling of assignments so as to create continuity with class and home with the understanding that we have our own programs (reading, math, science) going on at home. This explains why during the first two weeks I felt like I had NOTHING to teach. I expected everything to come from school. Now I realize that if I use this reading program that Mrs. F shared with me... I have a course to follow and enough of a routine that Damon will begin to know what to expect out of our days at home together. I am in need of a math program that will meet Damon at his skill level while still keeping up with the math book that they are using in class. The concepts in the class math will be covered in class and he needs to be in the know, but he also needs a bit more of a challenge from the idiot mom who just now is starting to "get it."
How did I get to week three trying to be on top of everything and really not having a clue???? I'm not going to fool myself into thinking that now it is a piece of cake, but at least it's a tiny crumb.
Damon goes to school two days out of the week to socialize and get focused instruction in all subjects in a group setting. Mrs. F sends home a sampling of assignments so as to create continuity with class and home with the understanding that we have our own programs (reading, math, science) going on at home. This explains why during the first two weeks I felt like I had NOTHING to teach. I expected everything to come from school. Now I realize that if I use this reading program that Mrs. F shared with me... I have a course to follow and enough of a routine that Damon will begin to know what to expect out of our days at home together. I am in need of a math program that will meet Damon at his skill level while still keeping up with the math book that they are using in class. The concepts in the class math will be covered in class and he needs to be in the know, but he also needs a bit more of a challenge from the idiot mom who just now is starting to "get it."
How did I get to week three trying to be on top of everything and really not having a clue???? I'm not going to fool myself into thinking that now it is a piece of cake, but at least it's a tiny crumb.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
My Moment...
Campus day today. A campus day makes for a fairly relaxed morning. Brady is always able to stir the pot, but at least we do not have "things" that need to be accomplished. The plan was to have lunch with Damon's teacher and hangout sharing tips with the other moms. The plan was to gain some enthusiasm and some new ideas. The plan was to get to know some of the other moms and be able to co-op in some areas. The plan was NOT to cry in front of all of them as I told them about our week. The plan was NOT to watch Brady single-handedly dump out all of the classroom toys and manipulatives while I bare my soul. The plan was NOT to be such a scene!
On a positive note, I was able to talk with Damon's teacher for about 30 minutes all by myself. She was very good at painting a picture of how precious our kids are and how little they are for such a short amount of time. I came away from the meeting today with another dose of amazement. Mrs. F and the community at SLOCA are very much out-of-the-box thinkers, I am hoping to catch-up soon.
Then we ran home, rested for a very short time, and sent Damon off to soccer. Meanwhile, Brady and Julia fell apart and I was left to figure out dinner and survival for the next couple hours. As my sister-in-law so perfectly puts it, it was at that point that I had "my moment!" It was then that my next door neighbor called (are you still listening?) to offer us dinner! My moment of the day was the instant I was offered dinner for the entire family out-of-the-blue. AWESOME!
It was the kind of day that I can look back on and thank the LORD for very specific ways that he encouraged me today. It is time to stop the complaining and keep my eyes on Him.
On a positive note, I was able to talk with Damon's teacher for about 30 minutes all by myself. She was very good at painting a picture of how precious our kids are and how little they are for such a short amount of time. I came away from the meeting today with another dose of amazement. Mrs. F and the community at SLOCA are very much out-of-the-box thinkers, I am hoping to catch-up soon.
Then we ran home, rested for a very short time, and sent Damon off to soccer. Meanwhile, Brady and Julia fell apart and I was left to figure out dinner and survival for the next couple hours. As my sister-in-law so perfectly puts it, it was at that point that I had "my moment!" It was then that my next door neighbor called (are you still listening?) to offer us dinner! My moment of the day was the instant I was offered dinner for the entire family out-of-the-blue. AWESOME!
It was the kind of day that I can look back on and thank the LORD for very specific ways that he encouraged me today. It is time to stop the complaining and keep my eyes on Him.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Home Day + Brady= Tears on Brooke's shoulder
Yep, it is official, I have no life when Brady is around. Today we started Damon's new math book, AND we dumped over the colored pencils seven time. Today we read a little reader sent home by Damon's teacher, AND we slammed every door and every drawer in the entire house. Today I attempted to empty the dishwasher by myself, AND a rock was thrown in the garage. Today I made BLT sandwiches for dinner, AND was screamed at, "YUCKY!" Today I turned on a Baby Einstein movie to try to teach Damon, AND through tears I was told that it was, "TOO SCARY!"
Are you kidding me??
I am having one of those nights where you sit down and try to figure out what is working in your life and what is not. Homeschooling with Brady around... NOT working. Driving myself crazy trying to figure out how to make everything run smoothly around my house... working perfectly. I have high hopes for lunch with Damon's teacher and the moms from his class that takes place tomorrow. I will pray that having Brady with me during that 40 minutes will not be destructive to the classroom or those around us. My goal for the meeting is to come away with a nugget of inspiration that can carry us through next week. If that is accomplished, the second thing I will try to walk away with is a early reading program that is working for someone else. If I am going to meet Damon where he is, I need to have lots and lots of books at his level... huh? The real work is starting to set in. OMG!
Are you kidding me??
I am having one of those nights where you sit down and try to figure out what is working in your life and what is not. Homeschooling with Brady around... NOT working. Driving myself crazy trying to figure out how to make everything run smoothly around my house... working perfectly. I have high hopes for lunch with Damon's teacher and the moms from his class that takes place tomorrow. I will pray that having Brady with me during that 40 minutes will not be destructive to the classroom or those around us. My goal for the meeting is to come away with a nugget of inspiration that can carry us through next week. If that is accomplished, the second thing I will try to walk away with is a early reading program that is working for someone else. If I am going to meet Damon where he is, I need to have lots and lots of books at his level... huh? The real work is starting to set in. OMG!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
We Love Campus Days
Another day on campus. Another day that Damon walks out of his classroom a little taller, a little wiser, and a little more convinced that he would like to be there every day. Mrs. F. is wonderful. As I sit here in the last minutes before midnight (I have to hurry and post before this date stamp puts me through to the 16th) I am struggling with figuring out what is not working at home. I think I have decided it is the leveling of the curriculum that I am trying to "make" Damon work on. He thinks the activities that we do are WAY too easy, therefore he doesn't want to do them. He thinks they are pointless and my guess is he might be a little offended.
I have decided to step things up. Stay tuned.
I have decided to step things up. Stay tuned.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Day ?: Family Trees- Group style
A very fabulous homeschool day. Dropped two kids at preschool and invited two Kindergartners over for lessons. The beautiful part about adding kids to the homeschool day is that everything you ask them to do seems like a playdate. I began with a very few simple ideas of activities that Damon and I would be doing together on our lonely Monday morning. But then it hit me when he said those dreaded words that I knew might come, but I prayed wouldn't come in the second week of school... "Mom, why can't I go to a different school?" OH MAN! That is when I decided to give him what he was really asking for... interaction with his friends. We invited two classmates and their moms over to join in our lessons for the day. Enter a whole new perspective!!
Damon woke up excited to have Noah and Reese come "do school" with him. I woke up relieved to have Ilsa and Kim come "do school" with me. They not only showed up smiling and determined to make the group environment work, but they brought food, crafts and great ideas to share. Love them! The enthusiasm of other moms that are passionate about what they are doing for their kids is very inspiring. Two hours flew by. We read, we played phonics games and we created the most adorable Family Trees. Group homeschool might very well save us from the gumshoe homeschool blues. Again, thanks Kim and Noah, Ilsa and Reese!!
Damon woke up excited to have Noah and Reese come "do school" with him. I woke up relieved to have Ilsa and Kim come "do school" with me. They not only showed up smiling and determined to make the group environment work, but they brought food, crafts and great ideas to share. Love them! The enthusiasm of other moms that are passionate about what they are doing for their kids is very inspiring. Two hours flew by. We read, we played phonics games and we created the most adorable Family Trees. Group homeschool might very well save us from the gumshoe homeschool blues. Again, thanks Kim and Noah, Ilsa and Reese!!
Kim and Noah building their family tree.
Damon writing the names of all his family members.
Lefty Reese writing on her "leaves" for her tree.
The finished Humphrey Family Tree.
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