Category Archives: Homeschooling

creating art

Imagine a world without great music, or art, one in which Mozart’s genius was stifled by the neccessary duty of going to school or Michaelangelo’s art was censored by the common ideas of the time. Imagine a world where everyone ate the same things, where they all dressed the same and talked the same. A world in which you could never excel past your “peers” or radical ideas were stifled.

This is not a political blog, this is a blog about farming, living close to the earth and family, creating a life worth living. But I am troubled. In school I honestly idealized the social contructs of Scandinavian nations. They seemed to have it all together. But now after having children of my own and thinking more about the life I want to live I realize there are very real and harsh consequences of those of us who choose to live outside societal norms both there and here. One is that of constant criticism. Whether you want to make your own healthcare decisions or at least demand that your doctors inform you of all your options, or you choose to raise your children at home and educate them there, whether you want to make decisions about the foods your eat based on your personal convictions and many of the decisions we must make on a daily basis that don’t jive with common culture all bear much criticism. Sometimes it is hard to focus on the fact that I am crafting a life, I am creating art. Art that some would wish to censor.

There has been much chatter about the quote by MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry, stating, “break through our kind of private idea that kids belong to their parents” and recognize that “kids belong to whole communities.” Her comments were met with outlash by the right and some people who would do well to just stay quiet for once. I must admit I was a little nervous. I make regular decisions that are not supported by my larger community. Later she said, “I believe wholeheartedly, and without apology, that we have a collective responsibility to the children of our communities even if we did not conceive and bear them. Of course, parents can and should raise their children with their own values. But they should be able to do so in a community that provides safe places to play, quality food to eat, terrific schools to attend, and economic opportunities to support them. No individual household can do that alone. We have to build that world together. So those of you who were alarmed by the ad can relax. I have no designs on taking your children…”

I am glad she restated and now we can understand each other better. We must all be careful what we say,

Little ears are listening. And what I hope they are hearing is that their mom believes in raising them in the beauty of the home, the shelter of my arms and that I will fight for that right. I am constantly aware of the fact that art is dangerous, none more so then the lives we lead, the decisions we make.

Family Circles

The weather around here is getting a bit warmer. While I of course am looking forward to the coming season I feel a bit sad to leave behind the short days of winter spent close to home and surrounded by family. Nothing like the winter to allow you to slow down and contemplate life a bit. As I said here this year I working on centering and bringing the important things of life into focus.

Part of that is a focus on homeschool. The children are getting older and their work is getting progressively more indepth. Then next year I will add a 3rd child to our homeschooling circle not to mention an infant and pre-schooler. So it is time to get organized and focused. One resource I find invaluable is Family Circles from Doorposts. Doorposts is a Christian resource for families. Family Circles however can be used by everyone. It is a great tool for focusing your attention on spending individualized time with each of your family members.

I started using this and discovered that I really don’t talk to my children. . . I mean really talk like know what they are thinking and dreaming about and taking the time to explore the feelings behind behaviors. Since starting using this and other resources from Doorposts I am happy to say the atmosphere is getting wonderful in our house. It is multi-fold, relationships and intellects growing and children glowing.

So I am hanging on to winter a bit longer, I think it will probably end up being my favorite time of the year. So I encourage you before the warmer weather, and busy traveling and growing season make sure you take some quiet time to sit and talk with your kids–read a great book, play some board games, make a special dinner together, and most importantly talk. And once you develop the habit keep on keeping on.

Traditional Cambodian Dance at Intermedia Arts

One of the reasons we wanted to homeschool was knowing that our children are bi-racial we wanted them to have a really strong sense of who they are and where they come from. This means a fair amount of instrucition in Cambodian art, culture, history, language and music. Proeun and I are learning a lot along the way as well.

This weekend the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans hosted one of their monthly cultural events. This time focusing on dance at Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis. When we discovered that Cambodian dance would be included we jumped at the chance to go.

Proeun’s mother used to dance traditional Cambodian style (ap’ saraa). We have often thought about putting Avril in it but the nearest class is 45 minutes away and every weekend. It is a huge time commitment so for now we will just enjoy cultural events.

Avril posing with the dancers before the show.

The children were very into the dancing. Two was sitting nexted to me and wanted to know where each of the dancers were from. The dance program also included Chinese, Indonesian, Indian, Tibetan and pan-Asian modern dance. They were very excited to see the Cambodian dancers.

Mavis was way more into it then I would have thought. But there were pretty dancers, costumes and music so I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised. She was even trying to copy some of the movements.

Dancers from CAAM Chinese dance theater.

Indian modern dance.

Our First Nature Study–Rabbits

I was reading in Charlotte Mason Companion about the importance and fun of doing nature studies. Knowing how into animals the children are I knew this would be an important component of our homeschool.

 

But with nearly 2 feet of snow on the ground I wasn’t sure what we could do. Plus we have a 7 week old that shouldn’t be out much in the cold weather. So for our first nature study I wanted to stay in the backyard. I knew from years past that we have alot of rabbits around. Plus one of the children’s favorite books is Bucky by Harry Baerg. It’s the story of a jack rabbit and beautfully illustrated. It’s out of print now but I still have the copy my grandma gave me for my birthday back in 1987 recently rebound by my mother.

So we read Bucky and went outside to see what we could find.

 

First we had to shovel our way to the backyard.

Avril was hoping for some sledding also but with Effie in a sling under my coat and snow up to Mavis’ chest I decided we wouldn’t venture too far into the snow pack.

We did find some poo in a “form” near the chicken coop.

But the real find was a little farther away. I had to zoom in to the get this one and only Two could see it other then me.

Later we drew rabbits for our nature book. Next week if the weather cooperates we will head to the near by nature center for some (indoor) play with animal tracks. Not too bad for our first one though.

Homeschooling Begins

Finally after months of stalling and years of planning homeschool began this week. Yes the week in between Christmas and New Year is normally off but since we planned to begin in October but then we were derailed first by preterm labor and then bedrest and then going overdue and then getting really sick right after the birth and finally by the holidays we felt it was time to begin.

With all the craziness in our home and us parents being occupied by illness, and mental fatigue the TV had really taken over. Even the children were getting bored with it being on constantly. So now the rule is the TV is off until 5:00 except for the daily dose of “Sesame Street.” It really has made our house much more pleasant. I plan to continue to cut back even more but slowly.

The first day though was incredible difficult. Unfortunately over the past few months our house has also gotten out of control and I can barely stand it. In hindsight I should have taken a week to prepare the house before beginning school but I didn’t so I work a little bit every day. But we muddled through the first day none of us really knowing what to expect. Each day it has gotten a bit better.  

Today I was sitting nursing my baby with my three older children around the table going through our ABCs and practicing writing and I just had to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment. How sweet life is.

I plan my next couple of posts to share what we are beginning and our struggles and fun as we go on this momentous journey. More on Friday.

Charlotte Mason’s “Mother Culture”

Several months ago I ordered A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola from our local library. It took several weeks, even a couple months to get it and though I tried to read as fast as I could I wasn’t able to finish it before my 3 weeks was up. So I ordered it from Amazon and have been reading it ever since. I am going on 2 months now but it is such a great book giving so many tips on homeschooling.

Basically the book is rewritten by Andreola and features Charlotte Mason’s ideas in modern english. Charlotte Mason lived in the late 1800s, early 1900s and it is so amazing to see how many of her ideas are applicable today.

Lately I read the chapter on “Mother Culture.” While I like all the ideas about homeschooling I loved this chapter and felt like I found what I was missing. See it is so easy to get wrapped up in tasks and duties and not continue life long education in my own life. This chapter says that it is absolutely essential for the mother to continue growing and learning for a successful homeschool. Another woman ahead of her time, Ellen White, said in paraphrase, “like plants, if you are not growing you’re dying.”

Mason and Andreola recommend at least 10-30 minutes a day of outside reading for the mother and that she have 3 books going at once, a hard one, an easy one and a novel. In addition to reading mother field trips, listening to music and stimulating conversation all work to revive the mother and Andreola says adamantly that by taking some time for yourself to better yourself your children will think better of you.

A fresh wind of change will revive you when you participate in Mother Culture. Some may say, “I simply have not time for myself.” Others, “I don’t think it is right to think of myself.” Such mothers are stuck in a rut of self-sacrifice to the extent that they are starving themselves spiritually, mentally and consequently, emotionally. Their children grow up with that “oh it’s only mother,” tone in their voice. Some children will eventually carry the attitude that they know more than mother on all points. But this can be altered. . . “  pg. 344.

I am beginning to make a conscious effort to follow this program. It is not easy to change your ways especially when time is such a premium. But I am seeing some good change. I will keep you posted on progress. I recommend the whole book heartily.

Homeschooling Today in the Doeun Home

Our first year of homeschooling is almost completed. Though we are taking a very very laid back approach it has been really fun to pick topics and begin the process of educating at home–though some would argue that educating actually beings in utero. At least every couple days I am so grateful for the decision we have made, especially when I look at my precious boy who is getting to be quite the little man.

In the midst of a crazy busy week last week we got the most recent copy of Homeschooling Today Magazine

Even though I am a writer and reader I try to limit the number of subscriptions we hold for the sake of budget and money, but this one magazine is my preferred resource homeschooling information. Whenever it comes I am tempted to drop everything and read it cover to cover and If ever I am feeling overwhelmed with the magnitude of the task ahead of me, I find it a great encouragement. It is a great feeling when someone asks the children if they go to school and the children confidently say, “we go to school at home.”

Next winter I think we will start a reading program and beef up the family cooking and of course this summer is all about nature studies even though we are officially off.

Personalized Towels

Every year for Christmas my sister gives the children handmade, personlized gifts. This year it was big, fluffy bath towels with their name embroidered on it. The kids love having their very own towels and as parents it makes it much easier to have the name right one it so as not to mix them up.

We had been using the towels for a couple weeks. I grabbed Avril’s towel, held it out for her and was waiting for her to get out of bath. That was when she looked at me and said, “Mommy you have to turn me upside down.” I looked confused so she pointed at the towel and said “it’s upside down.” I looked down and sure enough she was right.

I was honestly a little baffled as to how she figured that out and over the next couple of days I tested her. She was right every time. Then I let it go for awhile and last night decided to try again. I deliberately turned it upside down to see if she noticed. I wasn’t disappointed.

Our approach to homeschooling has been more of an unschooling approach. Instead of traditional class work, we work to enrich our family life and learning opportunities in day to day life. I try to read to the children several times every day. I also try to nurture their natural interest which is probably why Two knows what deer tracks and bald eagle nests look like and how to spot animals in the wild. Some days I am better then others. The past couple of weeks have been crazy and i feel like I really need to get back on the ball, and then they remind me that they are learning always.

Still the children constantly surprise me, whether it is recognizing not only letters but if they are upside down or questioning my philosophy on life (you laugh but it happens).

Better Late Than Early

The past couple of days I had really been stressing about educating the kids. I knew that second guessing yourself and not feeling qualified to educate your child are feelings common among homeschool moms. I didn’t think I would have a problem with that. I feel qualified to teach literature, and Algebra. Imagine my surprise when I began doubting my ability to teach my young children. Yes I was scared of Early Childhood Education.

I knew that the TV and computer were draining many hours away from my children. I knew I had contributed to the problem by not monitoring it while I was busy with other things. Yesterday I put a major effort into coming up with things to do with them only to be frustrated by continual requests for TV and computer. I went to my parents and poured out my heart. My mom said, “you can’t get so frustrated just because they ask. Just be firm,     provide consequences and realize it is a process.”

So I thought about that. I had been ready to go buy all these curriculums and schedule the days of my 5 and 3 year olds. Truth be told I would just love for them to play and entertain themselves–to be free and unstructured for awhile. The problem is I am a structured person and I wasn’t sure how to get them playing.

I turned to the Adventist Home Educator manual for ideas and this quote from Ellen White once again inspired me, “For the first eight or ten years of a child’s life the field or garden is the best schoolroom, the mother the best teacher, nature the best lesson book. . .He should be surrounded with the conditions most favorable to both physical and mental growth.” Education page 208. The Manual also quotes liberally the Moores who advocated when it came to schooling it is, “Better Late Than Early.”

So I was reminded once again that homeschool is not about curriculum and textbooks, it is about real activities and experiences. Cooking and cleaning, reading together, going for walks, even the occasional movie but its about living life together. I have plenty of ideas about how to amp up the learning, more reading throughout the day, art projects, cooking and cleaning together on a daily basis, having morning and evening worships, walking the dog and taking care of the chickens and other animals. Winter is still a problem, but I am encouraged, now I just need to put it into practice. More to come on our progress.