Battlezone school or Fun Learning Environment

 

I've had a bit of an epiphany.

 

Homeschool can be as fun or as stressful as you make it. 

 

If this sounds strange, hang on with me for a minute. 

 



 Just like everything with our kids, we can make it a battle or enjoy it.  ("But wait, it's THEM making it a battle not ME!" I've often felt the same way.) 
             Take eating vegetables.  Or bedtime.  Or anything else.
We can make it a battle where we are arguing, and there are tears.  Or we can encourage them, make it fun, or just sit patiently with them until they do it.   
                                  I happen to have a child who enjoys a battle, so if there is any way we can cooperate, please, let's do that.  Let's NOT make a battle.  Yes, I do make them clean their rooms, eat their vegetables and take a shower.  HOW?   A big part is schedule. Do the same thing at the same time so it's expected and less likely to be argued against.  Make it fun.  Make taking showers a race, and have a small snack afterwards before bed.  Do it with them. Sit down and read before bed so it's more of a fun activity than a dreaded one. 

   Ok, how does this play into homeschool?                

Trust me, homeschool can be a battle zone.  And, it has been, at my house.  For days, weeks, years.

                But, lately, it hasn't been as much.  WHY?
Schedule-  Everyday, we start at (about) the same time.  They are less likely to pitch a fit or start an intricate game if they know school is starting.

Make if fun- Watch a video about the subject you are learning in Science.  Do learning games online- www.spellingcity.com is a great one for spelling, and there are lots of math and English games too.  Everything doesn't have to be drudgery to be learning.
 
Make it age or ability appropriate- Don't make school overbearing by demanding something of them that they cannot do.  If your 5 year old can't sit still to read, have him read some, and then jump on a small trampoline or run up and down the hall.  If your 9 year old struggles to read at age level, read the text books aloud, and let her read something she enjoys for her "reading" time.  If your 10 year old struggles with memorizing math facts, keep practicing them, for months or years if need be.  You can make school work FOR you not AGAINST you.

Do it together- Start the day with songs, prayer, or exercise-- get in a good mood!  Share a relaxing breakfast together, and talk about your dreams.  Stay positive, and try to remember that these little people are first and foremost your children, not your students.  Do projects together. Read together. Go on walks, go to the library.... always be learning, always be doing things together.

Let go of FEAR-  For a long time, I was afraid to swerve from the curriculum even a little bit.  I didn't want to miss a day of "school" to take an exciting trip because that day would have to be "made up" at the end of the year.  Part of this comes with experience, and personality, but let your homeschool be truly YOURS and don't let what you perceive others (including that curriculum) think of you.

      Hope this can encourage someone! Blessings.

Some random photos of homeschool

            

 

Have a nice day!

Leaving a Legacy

   It's been awhile since my last post.   A lot has happened.
My father-in-law, Bill DeLaughter, passed away on March 19th.  He and his wife, Carolyn, were missionaries in Zimbabwe and had done mission work in South Africa as well.  His major life work was Bible Studies written for each book of the Bible, and they can be found at www.word4world.com/        We are still using his studies in our work here.

Working on his studies

      We went back for the funeral, and to help Carolyn for two weeks.

Now we are back.    

       Our teammates, John and Hannah, arrived in Tanzania the day that Bill's dad died.  Quite a shock.  We had to leave them shortly after arriving, and had them go and stay with disciples in Arusha.  It's been a lot for them to go through as well.

      We feel in a way that we are living in two worlds right now. 

Helping Carolyn continue to figure things out long distance
                                       and hosting our teammates.   

         We have started homeschool again as well, and Katrina is studying for her SAT 10 test that she will be taking in the fall. 
         
             When Bill died, I realized how much of a Legacy he had left behind.  How many people he had lead to Christ, how many people he had discipled, how many people he counseled, how many projects he lead, how many Bible Studies he wrote.  I don't think we'll ever know on this side of eternity the impact he made.
                              

                        I just pray that we will also leave such a Legacy behind when it's our time to go. 
Something to think about.....

      
   
     

Hot Vs. Cold

Ok, I have just a short funny "story" today.

        In our bathroom shower, the hot and cold tapped are reversed-- so the blue means the hot tap and the red means the cold tap.
              BUT.... we hardly ever turn on the hot water since it's so hot that we like a nice, cold shower. 
       AND.... the water tank is on top of our house, and it's black, so the tap water gets very hot when it's a sunny day.

         SO.... the hot water which comes out of a small heater tank inside the house often comes out colder (when it's off) than the cold water from the cold tap,

                    WHICH MEANS.... that the red tap ACTUALLY does have the hot water, and the blue tap has the cold water.... how weird is that?

Just a short strange story from Tanzania!

What counts as Screen Time?

We have all heard about "screen time" and how we're supposed to be limiting it with our kids.  So, my question is, what exactly is screen time?  Officially, it's anytime you are looking at a screen whether it be a computer, TV, iPad or phone screen.  But, what do you count as screen time for your kids?

For instance...
      Does Skype Count as "screen time"?

      Does Reading on your Kindle count as "screen time"?

     Does doing homework or educational games on a computer count as screen time?
 
     Does watching Praise and Worship DVD's count as Screen time?
      
     Does doing a Wii Fit work out count as Screen time?

To be honest, I DO NOT count these things against my children's screen time, but they are only allowed 30 minutes of "free" screen time each day where they can watch a TV show or play a video game.
      It's difficult to balance screens and imaginative play/getting exercise.   So, what do you count/not count as screen time?   

Shopping Day

Shopping here is a little different.  There are "grocery stores" but they never have everything you need, so multiple stops are required.  Here is a typical shopping day for me.

1.  The first stop is at the small duka (shop) where we exchange our 20 L water bottle for our water cooler.

2.  Next we usually stop and check our PO box, and mail any letters that need to be sent at the Post Office down town.

3.  The ATM is next, if we need to get money out.

4.  A quick stop at the bakery to pick up 4-5 loaves of bread.

5.  Next, to the dairy to pick up our cheese and butter.

6.  On to the first grocery store to pick up most of our canned foods, and eggs.  We buy eggs by the tray (30 eggs). 

7.  Pick up some frozen mince beef at one duka, and some chips, cookies and bread sticks and another small duka.

8.  Next, we stop at a small grocery store attached to a gas station to pick up frozen chickens, and sometimes they have apples.

9.  Another grocery store next, the "expensive" place in town where we pick up dog and cat food.  It's the only place in town that sells pet food. 

10.  The market to pick up vegetables and fruits.  Also, rice and beans.

11.  We are finally on our way home.  We sometimes stop and pick up some ice-cream or candy at another duka.

            So, there you have it!  It usually takes about 2 hours to do all of our grocery shopping.  We've been blessed to find everything we need here.

Slower Pace

It's been over a month since my last entry, and it's hard to think about what to write. 
    My days are pretty much the same, doing school with the kids in the morning, in the afternoons baking, cooking, spending time with Bill and the kids, reading.  Weekends we watch movies, shop for groceries and go swimming.  Things are very pleasant, but there is not much new to report.

  Life here is very laid back, relaxed.  Nothing is rushed.  We are enjoying this slower pace of life.
         We have had very busy times in our lives.  When both Bill and I were taking 18 hours of seminary classes, and we had two small children, as well as driving to report to our churches every weekend.  Times when we were raising support that we would send out 50 letters a week to churches and then spend the rest of the week calling those churches to try to set up appointments, as well as taking seminary classes and taking care of our baby (Katrina) and finding out I was pregnant.
    So, we are enjoying a time of a slower pace.  For now.  Because nothing stays the same forever.... change is the only constant!