Special Edition~Silver Dollar City Homeschool Weekend

Silver Dollar City has a Annual Homeschool Weekend, we went from Friday to Sunday to Silver Dollar City and the children were able to enjoy learning all kinds of history, crafting, and such from the 1900's. They had a blast! My father took us...he's so sweet and kind!

Special Edition~Exploration Place Hispanic Day

We took the kids to Hispanic education day at Exploration Place. They seen foods, dances, and clothing, arts, and crafts from all over Mexico, Central and South America. Had a LOT of fun. We also watched a educational movie there.

Weekend Edition~Great Literature

I just LOVE old books. Especially ones rich with language and knowledge. I scour my local library every Saturday, in their used book section. All books are priced 10 to 25 cents. I have to be discriminate or I would end up needing a building as large as the library to house them all. I have come across some true treasures, many times over.

With autumn just around the corner I came across this wonderful pearl. Beautiful words, and attractive captivating yet enchanting photographs. It's about a 50 some odd year old apple tree. That is beaten, and old, that only produces sour apples at this point in it's life. But, the wonderful community it host.

Baby deer in the spring, opossums, squirrels, robins, and their nest, singing concerts, rabbits who love

to eat the "sour" apples, and on and on.

The book brings out, that while some may under estimate this tree's worth and chop it down with haste, proclaiming the tree is too old and useless. The tree has value in many lives it continues to contribute to in the Apple Tree Community. This is the heart of what a "living" book is!

This of course is just one of hundreds of treasures I have dug up at the local library used book shop to add to our home library. I have so many more as well.

Many people lament that they can't possibly homeschool, because they can't afford that pricey boxed curriculum. And while boxed curriculum may work for some families, and that's just fine. If you can not afford that box, you don't have to worry that you can't afford to educate your children. This book and many more, that can be found at most any local library, or used book stores, can be from free, to very very inexpensive, and give your child a rich rounded education on literally, a dime!

Special Edition~Great Plains Nature Center

I still can't find my photos. But, we visited the Great Plain Nature Center. We went for Art on the Trail. And studied the local fish and wild life. Then we went to a party for my step mothers office. And the kids had a great day. Their friend Abby came along as well.

Special Edition~Autumn Art Fair

I was having a lot of problems with my phone at this time. But, I do have photos from years past that I will post. This is a annual art fair put on by a local small mall we love to go to ever year!

Weekend Edition~Testing and exams?

Do homeschoolers need to tests or use exams? If not, how would they know what the child is learning?

The simple answer is, no. As a homeschooler you do not have to test or exam your children. Now some states do require some at certain times, and then of course you must obey your state laws. But, in general you do not need tests or exams.

How do you know what they are learning? Because you are with your children all the time. In a classroom sitting a teacher is having to teach 30 or more children. She does not have the time to have a deep personal relationship over years (life time!) with each child to know what they know or do not know. As a parent you know your child. You are with them every day, you know what they can and can not do. You didn't have to make them take a test, to make sure they were walking, or talking. You seen it with your own eyes. It's the same with math, language, science etc. You are with them every day. And when you engage your children they LOVE to talk about all the things they know. haha And you will just know. When you are at a store they can start to tell you about budgets, how much money they have, and what they can buy with it, or what they would have to save for. When you go to a zoo, they will be more then happy to tell you all they know about each animal and habitat, and every thing they know about zoology on a whole! When you go to a gardening store to start buying your spring plants, they will tell you about bugs that eat plants, and about the plants they know about. This just happens naturally because children love to share and tell you about the things they know.

So in short, no you don't have to test a child you are homeschooling. With exception of some states requirements. But, not all states require testing. My state does not. And you will know what they are learning, by being with them and knowing them personally. Remember you do not have to have any resemblance or keeping up with public schools. And most likely you will not want to. As most homeschool children are way ahead of public schools. So you wouldn't want to hold them back like that any way.

But, how will I know when to promote them in grades? As you continue on your homeschool journey eventually you will realize grade levels are arbitrary. They really do not have much meaning outside of institutionalized schooling. They are a way to group a lot of children together to make it easier to educate the masses. You are not educating the masses. You are only educating your children. So there's no reason to split them up into grade levels. It is natural that most children will not have all subject knowledge at the same grade level either. That is why public schools, often have reading lab, or math lab, as well as intermediate reading classes and math classes. Because some children are ahead and some children are behind. And that's normal because they aren't robots. What to remember is, again get out of the box thinking that all children need to be at X or something is wrong. We all learn at different stages in life, different things and that's ok. The main agenda should be to master skills, and keep on building and learning on them. And just by living life that will be accomplished. It's near impossible to stunt learning because no matter what we are doing, we are learning something from it.

Special Edition~Zoofari 2016

I think my phone is completely messed up. I am not finding photos from this day either. However, this was our local State Homeschool Associations Annual Zoofari. There was lots of classes, and even a movie in the zoos theater that we didn't even know existed. We paid extra for special lunch there, but it wasn't that great. Pretty sure we will bring our own lunch next time.

If I find the photos though I will post them!

FOUND them!!!

Daily Planner~09/13

Special Edition~Kansas State Fair

We were able to meet up with our friend Gracie and her Aunt Jill at the Kansas State Fair.

Weekend Edition~Home Sweet Home-School the Book!

Home Sweet Home-School

Home Sweet Home-School is a book published by Stoops Manufacturing.

Stoops Manufacturing website Product Description-by R.H. Smith A “How To” book written by a certified teacher turned successful Home School Instructor.If you have ever home schooled or thought about home schooling your children, then this book is for you! Finally a book on home schooling especially written for Jehovah’s Witnesses. It answers questions such as: “How do I start?”, “Is it legal?”, “Can I teach my learning disabled child?”, “What do I do if it isn’t working?”, etc. It addresses the pros and cons very well-a product of experience. Even if public schooling is chosen for your children, this information will help you see to it that they acquire the best education possible. Approx.158 pages. 8¼ x 5¼ in. Soft cover

Let me just tell you, this is one awesome book. This sister has pretty much nailed it! Her and I would get along great. This book is full of fantastic advice! I wish I had read it long ago. Yes there's a few small details I would disagree with, such as buying a curricula your first year and sticking to it. But, by and large, I completely agree with her advice. Such good grounded advice, mixed in with citing scriptures which is a very nice touch.

A little product description of my own, chapter by chapter:

Chapter 1- List the reasons why one would choose to homeschool, including spiritual reasons. IE the Israelite would not of sent their children to nations of foreign God's to be educated. And there is no way for curriculum to not be religious. (even secular is going to teach pagan, humanistic, etc religious view). And many more. All good and solid reasons.

Over all chapter one is so encouraging and bolstering of your choice to homeschool.

Chapter 2- Goes into obeying the laws where you live. Including record keeping, homeschooling other peoples children, and many more.

Chapter 3- Discusses the kinds of homeschooling methods to choose from. Of course it does not name them all but has a good start of what new to homeschooling moms would want to know. Also discusses in a good light Unschooling.

I particularly liked her expounding on Unit Studies/Unschooling in detail. Focusing on the hobby of Stamp Collecting. And how this one hobby can stretch into learning many many different subjects. And can be virtually free hobby as well. It was such a interesting read on stamp collecting I have decided we MUST start!!!!

Chapter 4- Explains what you may need or want to homeschool and encourages not spending too much money or buying things you most likely do not need. And how to determine that.

Also very interesting and eye opening, chapter 4 discusses the main kinds of learning personalities that exist. And why it is important to know which ones you and your child are, so you can best educate your individual child. And tailor their education to that learning style. In contrast with public school. And how some of these learning styles actually are considered problems in public schools.

In my opinion this is HUGE, in reasons to homeschool. And also sometimes many mom's get frustrated and upset when homeschooling and want to throw in the towel and send their children back to public school because they become so frustrated. When the real underlying problem may be that the curricula or homeschooling method that the parent has chosen is just not the right fit for the child. And when you can switch to the one that works for your child, how much easier things can be!

Chapter 5- List and explains homeschooling programs, curricula, and otherwise. Programs such as Pear blossom, Calvert, American School, etc

Chapter 6- Is about how to teach, choosing to grade or not, scheduling, and such things.

Chapter 7- Goes into choosing what to teach your children. She had so many good points. Mainly focusing on Biblical Education above all things. We want to set the tone of what we value as important to our children. Along with this, she gives many many ideas on different fun ways to teach different subjects, and often citing our literature in the how to.

Chapter 8-the pros and cons of testing your children.

Chapter 9-Lists different reasons some may think they can not homeschool. And offers hope and help to over come those challenges. Going into great details about homeschooling children who have disabilities, as well as parents who have disabilities.

Chapter 10-The reasons organization helps in homeschooling, and setting your priorities to make sure your most important goals are met.

Chapter 11-Field Trips and vacations and such are discussed. While I will admit, I don't really agree with her on how to organize field trips, nor about leaving smaller children at home. (I believe any where we go, all my children should be able to come-just like they can all come to the Kingdom hall) but she also has some very good ideas and points as well.

Chapter 12-Talks about how support groups can help you. And how you can start your own if you don't already have some local ones. Again while I may not agree with all her advice, she had some very good advice-like for instance asking the other parents for money in advance for a group field trip or what not, because MANY will back out, and then leave a bad taste in the mouth of the people you made the field trip with (museum, zoo, etc) I have personally seen this happen a LOT!

Chapter 13-Discusses how fathers/husbands can help support the wife, as well as help with the criticism from others. And other ways that fathers can be involved and should be involved with the education of their children.

Chapter 14-Is a wrap up review of all the previous chapters, with a few tips to try before giving up, a few experiences of older graduated homeschoolers, and encouragement, with a large resource list.

One thing to keep in mind during this chapter, is the date of publishing of this book. These were very popular options during that time. And still are around and being used today. But, homeschooling has really exploded in the almost 20 years since this book was published and many people are now opting to be more independent of these types of program. However, again they are still around and are still being utilized. When you read my about me page on this blog, you will see I have even used Calvert myself. So it is still probably relevant to at least be educated on these programs. As I am still asked frequently from other sisters about them. And they are still valid options when considering homeschooling.