It is fun to play games during homeschool. There is a lot to learn that way.  Monopoly is our newest favorite. 

Here are Carson and Bryson playing Chess.  Carson is pretty much moving for Bryson.  But they are both having fun.

One of my friends left this comment on my Math Fact post.

if i haven’t told you, i am so imressed that you are homeschooling.  i think you’re crazy…but i’m very impressed.

Well, just so you all know, I think I am a little crazy!    Also homeschooling isn’t as hard as everyone thinks it is.  Really the hardest part for me is the lack of ME time.  I really like quiet and being alone.  I don’t get as much as that now.   But I know it was the right choice to take Carson out when I did.  So it is worth it!

The plan is he is going back to public school in the fall.  I let him choose and he wants to, so I am all for it!

I found an interesting e-book about Social Leadership at The Social Leader.   I went to a Thomas Jefferson Education conference last weekend, because I have been homeschooling Carson for a few months and may pull Devon out next year.  Anyway, they were talking about Social Leadership and how we need more leaders in our country.  Not the BIG leaders that are famous, but us, normal people who help others.

This e-book talks about the six pillars of Social Leadership.  S-submission O-Oneness C-Calling I-Integral Education A-Action L-Liberty.

I of course read it with my family and birth in mind.  (I have a one tracked mind apparantly, or I guess 2 tracked)

Submission to a higher power.  I feel this, certainly as a mother and in being a doula.  I love feeling that God is there to help me in all I do.  I feel His hand guiding me along in all things.

Oneness- We are all connected.  I have a great family and wonderful friends that help me!

Calling- I certainly feel like it is my calling to be a mom and right now to school Carson at home.

Integral Education – Talks about going back to the classics, asking important questions and thinking!  I belong to 3 book clubs, that helps me read different books.  Though I should maybe read more classics!

Action- DO something!  It is one thing to feel you have a calling and educate yourself, but if you do nothing, then it won’t help anyone.  I don’t think you have to do something GRAND to make a difference, just do something. 

Liberty – Freedom to make choices and to learn and grow. 

It was an interesting and inspiring article.  Feel free to download it and read it yourself!

Carson really loves ancient history. 

He made a little lean to. 

He sewed a tunic and a breastplate

and made a spear. 

I also found an arrow set and he had fun playing with that. 

Carson is in this 8 year old, everything is horrible and I am so grumpy phase.  Rob and I were remembering how Devon was like this when he was 8, but I just thought it was Devon.  Now I think it is an 8 year old thing. 

Well, it isn’t fun for me, especially with homeschooling, because I get no break from him.  He also is just a bit sensitive and if things aren’t his way, he makes a stink about it.  I need to learn the balance of letting go and making sure he does things the right way.  But I think if I can let go, he will do more and do it happily.

For instance today he was hungry at 9:22 and we were in the middle of language arts.  I said, “Snack time is in 8 minutes. Let’s quickly finish.”  Well, he was just grumpy because I wouldn’t let him eat a snack RIGHT THEN and, yes he did his work, but it wasn’t fun for either of us.  Had I just said, “Go grab a snack.” he would have done so happily and then came back and worked happily. 

Part of it stems from the fact that he eats ALL THE TIME!  and it drives me a bit crazy, so it is already a power struggle in our relationship.

First off, so many people ask, “WHY are you doing this?” when I tell them we have started.  Honestly I don’t have a “good” reason, except that I feel that I am supposed to. So really that is enough.  But I often try to actually explain why.  Which pretty much comes out as Carson is bored in school.   I think most of them feel their kids are bored in school too, so is that a really good reason?  Well, apparantly in my particular case at this particular time it is, because I was supposed to and I am. 

How is it going? is the next question.  It is going really well.  But then I add, “he is my easy one.”  I know it would be different if it was Devon, though it might be easy in it’s own way.  Or if they were both home… that would be probably the most challenging. 

Devon coming home with homework has provided it’s own challenge.  He wanted to be homeschooled too, the first night.  But I feel really good about where he is right now, so we want him to stay in PS for the moment.  He may end up getting a new pet out of the whole deal. 

I am looking forward to Christmas Break and having all the boys home.  I am also looking forward to January and continuing to homeschool Carson. 

Monday the 8th of December was our first day.  So it has been a week.  Friends keep asking how it is going and I have to say it is going great! 

So far this is what we have done.

5 days of math

He has read 5 books (3 chapter books)

Journalling every day

Scripture Study every day

Piano every day (this seems to be his favorite part.  He always wants to do this.)

Copywork everyday

Memorization every day.  He has learned 2 Articles of Faith this week.

We did Five in a Row’s Angelo book and covered

History – Rome

Art – lots of things

Language Arts – lots of things, personification, details…

Science – broken bones

Cub Scout stuff (another favorite)

We finished 2 wolf tracks and about 5 elective little parts (10 equals a arrow point) 

We did a science experiement which counts towards a science belt loop. 

Spelling City every day.  Learning a 4th grade word list of 35 words, by the end of the week he got 32 right. 

Carson is SO proud of being homeschooled.  Today he told my friend, “I walk to school….. down to my kitchen table.”  

Given that DH won’t really commit either way, I have decided we will start public school and see how it goes.  Though maybe I should decide we are homeschooling and see how that goes.

T1 really wants to go to PS and as that is who would mostly benefit, I figure, he might as well go and I can always pull him out if he doesn’t get a good teacher. 

T2 really wants to homeschool.  Maybe at some point.

T1 is 2 years 9 months older than T2. 

T1 is highly intelligent, yet has learning challenges.  He has mild hemiplegia (left side weaker than the right and low muscle tone throughout his body)  I haven’t had him officially tested, but am quite sure he is gifted with learning disabilities. 

This is a big problem in our house, because often T2 does things easier and better than T1.    For instance T1 still struggles with spelling even basic words.  So often T2 will spell things for him.  (This is the only thing in which T1 will graciously take help) 

Basic math facts – T1 struggles with this, memorizing his times tables seems impossible.  But he understands higher level math easily.    That T2 is starting to learn his times tables easily causes much contention.

Really in ANY area, T1 hates for T2 to be better than him.  Even in games of chance.  We went to the county fair and played a game and T2 won.  T1 announced, “Now my day is ruined.” 

So T1 hates to play games with the family in case T2 wins.   The both are in piano and T1 gets mad when T2 learns a song better than him.  The list goes on and on and on.  We struggle with this, T1 wants to like T2, but he ” hates him”  he needs to be “better than him” because he is ” older”  (T1’s words) but in many areas T2 is better than him and may always be (sports wise) 

So as I contemplate homeschooling and having them both at home, I see a potential problem arising.  I am planning on doing Science and History things together with the boys.  What if T2 is “better” than T1?  Part of the problem being, I don’t know what will set T1 off, what will make him feel T2 is better.  So I can’t necessarily prevent it. 

Has anyone had a situation like this?  Any advice?

Ahh, I have a title.  I read this great article and realize this is what I am! 

T1 started Kindergarten in one Montessorri school and then moved to a different Montessori school for 1st-2nd grade, then to the Public Schools.  I keep trying to find the ideal place for him. 

I am thinking that home is that place.  The schools just were not fitting his needs. 

I will say that since T1 was a little boy I have always thought “one day” I will end up homeschooling him.  I just didn’t know when that would be!