The Daily Folder System

Ok, so you all know by now that we are eclectic homeschoolers that lean towards unschooling.  Eh- or maybe you don't.  What this looks like in action, can vary.  But on most days, we have goals that we would like to accomplish and then I simply leave the rest up to chance.  Our goals are fairly simple, Monday through Thursday the kiddo has classes to attend and then we aim for one hour of workbook or online learning and one hour of quiet reading.  From there, the kiddo is free to pursue his own ideas.

For years now, this has been working pretty well.  Some days, there's more home learning then others and many times he reads for way longer then just 60 minutes.  However, this year- it seems we've turned a corner.  Since September, I have spent the majority of the day yelling at the kiddo to get his workbook and reading done while he's spent his time NOT doing it.  It's a battle of wills in my house with no clear winner.

And so- I'm switching things up!  Ah- one of the many great benefits to homeschooling.  When one thing isn't working, you can change it.  Love that!  So I wanted to share with you the folder system that I came up with one afternoon.  Perhaps it just might help you too?


What You'll Need

• 5 folders with pockets
• sharpie
• post its or paper clips
• worksheets, curriculum, workbooks etc
• computer/printer

The process is easy.

Step 1:  Create a daily checklist in either Word or Excel for the next month or two.  You could also do this by hand and simply make copies if that's easier for you.  

Daily Checklist

Keep in mind your schedule constraints for each day.  For example, the kiddo has several hours of classes on M/W so for those days, the daily checklist is different then it is for T/Th.

Step 2:  Write the day of the week on the outside of each folder with your sharpie marker.  On the inside, write "Assigned" on the left pocket and "Completed" on the right pocket.

Assigned & Completed Assignments

Step 3:  Tape the daily checklist on the outside of the folder with the corresponding day.  So Wednesday's checklist on Wednesday's folder.  Easy, right?

Step 4:  Pull assignments, worksheets, curriculum etc for each day.  Paper clip together and label it.

Because the checklist is 5 weeks long, I pull 5 weeks worth of curriculum at once.  If you prefer to only have to do this every couple months, or every 6 months- then by all means, extend your checklist to include the length of time you prefer.

And that's it.  Seriously, you're done.

How It Works:

Your kid pulls the folder for that day.  So if it's Monday, then pull Monday's folder.  Look inside the "Assigned" pocket to find that dates assignments.  

Once the assignments are done, they mark them off the daily checklist located on the outside of the folder and move them to the "Completed" pocket.

*Tip- I also include quiet reading, science experiments, crafts, chores etc on the checklist.  Same principal applies here.  So even though there might not be items in the "Assigned" pocket, they will still need to complete these and mark them off the daily checklist.  Like quiet reading for example...

You can then check their work in the "Completed" pocket and make note of anything left to be done on the outside daily checklist.

Pretty simple right?  We are on week one of this new system but already, I'm seeing big improvements!  

The Daily Folders

I Am NOT Brave

I posted this message over on the Facebook page and it's simply too good NOT to share here.  Special thanks to Momastery for the article at the very end.  I simply LOVE this blog, so if you get a chance, check it out!

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People call me brave. They say I'm doing something amazing. They tell me that they "could never do what I'm doing," this thing called homeschooling.

And then I think to myself- I'm not brave. I'm weak.

Because I could NEVER, ever in a million years do what you do. I could never send my child off to public school each day. Watch as my baby walks out the front door towards an uncertain world. How do you do it parents? For every wonderful thing they may experience is an equal amount of horrible and I just don't have the guts, the bravery, to send my baby out into this unknown scary universe.

Will it take away his smile? Will it change his behaviors? Will he become bored & act out? Will he be made fun of for his choices? Will he make true friends? Will teachers see his wonderful?

So instead, I choose to homeschool. Where I know he's safe. Where I know he's learning. Where I know he's loved. Where I can (for the moment) control the environment, his friends, his curriculum and shape him into the MAN he is destined to be.

Some say that's bravery. But sometimes, I think it just may be the fear of the alternative.

I am not brave.

The parents that open that door & watch their children, their BABIES, their hearts, walk away from them- now that's true bravery.


And because I love this article, I'm sharing with all of you. There should be a word to describe this bravery. All of us parents struggle with our choices- is homeschooling best? I wish I could afford private school. Is public school really the right way to go? We all struggle, no matter what we decide. And for those of you here who do watch your babies walk out that door- you are far stronger then I am. Please know that I support you as you make the choice that is right for your family.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/there-should-be-a-word-for-what-it-feels-like-to-send-your-child-to-middle-school_b_5805396.html

Change Your Health

We've been on this journey towards a healthier lifestyle for several years now.  Eh- probably around 6 or more, so awhile.  In that time frame, we've made some big changes.  We've totally changed our diet, we've adopted more meat free meals, we are on a strict vitamin/supplement regime, reduced the amount of chemicals and toxins we are exposed to and so on.  This has been a very LONG process and I have to be honest and say, that for the husband- it's been the hardest.

The kiddo was just a little guy when we started out, so he really doesn't know any better.  And me- well I'm the crazy mastermind behind all this, so of course I'm totally on the board.  The husband- not so much.

But I just have to stop and take a moment and say how proud I am of him.  He initially followed along because I didn't give him much choice.  Bwahahaha.....however, in the last year I've seen him taking more and more initiative and I'm super excited about it.

He's really wanting to make these changes.  He's also telling others about the steps he's taking and trying to encourage them to do the same- even if they do throw bitch fits at him and say, "you ate at Carl's Jr that one time..." it doesn't stop him.  And just the other day, he texted his friend the recipe for my Green Smoothie.  I shit you not- he's texting his buddies smoothie recipes.

Shut.  The.  Front.  Door.

He is really putting in the work and its exciting for me to witness.

Ok- so why am I telling you all this?  Well, I love to brag about the husband of course!  But there's another reason.

For years the husband has battled with sinus issues, eczema, high blood pressure, stress, anxiety (work induced) & was at risk for diabetes.  Yikes!  Unfortunately to combat all these issues, he's been prescribed a chemical cocktail.  Double Yikes!

Sound familiar?

I bet it does!

So, today he went to the doctor for a checkup.  The doctor had this to say- "Wow.  Whatever you've been doing, keep doing it."  Not only have his sinus issues totally cleared up (with the very occasional flare up) but his weight is down, his blood pressure is significantly improved and he's no longer at risk for developing diabetes.

Wait.  What?

You heard me right- he's made huge changes in his health, in just the last year.  So you just know that I have to tell you all what he's been doing because maybe, just maybe- it might help you too.

• Gave up most fast food places, including his fav- Taco Bell.
• Drastically reduced his soda intake even more then before, to just a couple per week.
• Even more vegetarian meals, lentils & quinoa OH MY!
• Lots of kale smoothies!
• Drinks Apple Cider Vinegar every morning.
• Takes cinnamon for high blood pressure.
• Oil pulling with organic coconut oil.
• Drinks Kombucha several times weekly.
• Eats more fruits & veggies.

You guys- I just.  I can't.  I don't....

It's awesome.

He went from several pills, to one.  Just one.  And for anyone who takes a handful of pills to deal with "lifestyle" issues (you know- stress, weight, high blood pressure etc) you know that his is big.  HUGE.

I'm so happy, I could cry.  The jury's still out- I just might.

But this is so exciting for all of you too!  For anyone who suffers from the same issues or something similar- the husband is proof that with hard work you can totally eliminate many of your health problems.  So please- browse my blog, read some of the recipes, google "oil pulling" and make your health a priority.

You're worth it, now do it.

He's Extra Special

Mommy Confession Time-  sometimes I struggle with our choices.

Are we making the right choice to homeschool?

Am I a good Mom?

Are we totally screwing up the kiddo?

Will he be too different from his "peers"?

Do we push him too hard?  Not enough?

Am I too obsessed with teaching him certain things and not focusing enough on the others?

Are our expectations realistic?

Will he resent us when he's older?

So yeah....I've got a lot of thoughts running around in my head.  Doubts, fears- whatever.  It's totally normal and I don't think I would be a normal Mom if I didn't have some doubts.  Everyone has them, whether you homeschool or send to a public school, or enroll in a private school.  We all have these questions when it comes to our kids.  But that only means we love them and are doing our very best.  Nothing wrong with that, right?

The funny thing is, that whenever I'm really experiencing these doubts, a moment comes along to re-affirm our choices.

Every.  Single.  Time.

And so it was today, that I was thinking how easy it would be to just send the kiddo off to public school so I could finally, FINALLY, have a moment of peace.  When I bumped into one of the kiddo's former writing instructors.

"How are you?  How's William" she asked.

I'm good, he's good.

"Give him my love.  He's extra special that kid- I miss him in class."

I think so too.


And as I agreed with her, that yes- the kiddo is extra special, the tears pooled in my eyes.  Because I needed to hear this today.  I needed to hear someone say, "I see him too.  All his potential, his passion, his joy.  I see him and I love him."  Because homeschooing is hard darn it.  Yes, it's wonderful and empowering but it's also really damn difficult.  Especially on day 10 of struggling through fractions, or 2 years of focusing on sight words all while trying to teach them to tie their shoes and have them clean their rooms.  You are both Teacher and Parent and that is hard.  No one ever really talks about the struggle to balance it, the battle of wills taking place on your couch, the crying (from both of you) as they struggle to learn.

So when a moment comes along like this, it's a silent fist pump, a jump for joy, a shout to the Heavens- what you're doing is worth it.  It's worth the struggles, the tears, the laughter, the fear.  All of it.

Worth.  It.


Now tell me- what Mom would doubt herself after a moment like that?  Fears gone.  Questions erased.  Validation BOOM.  For now, I totally got this.  My kid is happy, he's learning and I'm not the only one that thinks he's extra special.  Clearly, we are doing something right.  So until the next time, when I will inevitably start to doubt myself again and God will send me another moment like this....

We all have doubts, Moms probably more so.  But listen to the moments Moms- they are God's way of saying, "You Got This".

Love Your Husband

In our society, we are always hearing about making sure we as women feel loved.  That we are told by the men in our lives how special we are, how important we are and how much they love us.  One would think our men need to be on bended knee with bleeding hearts to properly express their sincere feelings towards us as women.  Now of course it's nice to hear how awesome I am.  What woman wouldn't want that?

But where in our modern world are we as women being told that we should be doing the same for our man?  Seriously- think about this.....I'm not seeing any messages, subliminal or otherwise, that are letting us know that we as women MUST tell our husbands how much they rock our worlds.  It just doesn't exist and as a wife and a Mother to a son- I find this extremely sad.  

Men are just as important as women.

Oh shit.  I went there.  Flame on feminists, flame on.

But you know its true.  We women are NOT any better.  We don't love better, we don't have better careers, we don't parent better, we don't sing better, we don't drive better....we don't do anything better.  We simply do it differently.  We are equal.  Yep, you heard that right- traditional wife that I am and I'm telling you all that we are equal to men.  We balance each other out.  We are individuals.

That's just who we are as people, not as a gender.

And if you are lucky ladies, you will find a man who balances you out.  If you love cooking but he hates it- seems to me you've found the perfect match.  If you want to climb the corporate ladder but he would rather stay home with the kids- you'd better marry that man!  It's not about being better, it's not about looking down upon men but rather standing by their side.  Loving them, supporting them and treating them as equals just as we want them to treat us.  So this is simply my message to you.  Don't forget that your husband is a person too.  He needs to feel loved just like you do.  He needs to hear your validation and feel your support- just as you do.  Don't forget that.

Ever.

Below is a recent message that I posted over on the Facebook page.  A reminder to us all to take the time and tell our husband's how very much they mean to us.  Love them, encourage them, validate them, lift them up, hear them....just as we want the same.  It's important and I promise you that it will only help to strengthen your marriage.

Y'all- I just want to take a moment & talk about the husband. 

Our marriage isn't perfect & we are certainly far from perfect people. But what we do have is an unshakable love. A connection so deep that sometimes words aren't even needed. I can look at him & know what he's feeling. I know his thoughts before he does & I know him better than anyone. He is my best friend & I am his. 

Yes- we do fight. And oh boy does he ever piss me off sometimes. The same can be said in return. We are so different that we certainly have our fair share of disagreements. But I still love him. I will always love him, just as he will always love me. He is a part of me- he is my home, he is my heart. And not one day goes by that I don't tell him how much I love him or show him how much he means to me.

So tonight, I want to encourage all of the wives here. Keep loving your husband. Encourage him, fight for him, praise him, thank him but always, always let him know that he is loved. Husband's need to hear it just as much as we do.

And to my own husband- You know what's in my heart, just as I know what's in yours. Fourteen years later & you are still my forever.

I'm Not Homeschool Enough For Your Homeschool Club

Er- what?

So yeah.  It seems that in some circles we aren't considered homeschoolers simply because the kiddo participates in a homeschool program that is funded by our local public school district.

Oh Lord.

To be clear, a homeschooler is someone who is the primary educator of their child.  Simple as that.  It doesn't matter if you homeschool at home, if you do it in the car, if you use programs and co-ops, if you hire a teacher to help you teach a subject, if you follow a specific curriculum or have none at all.  It doesn't matter.  If you are the primary teacher and you are the one who facilitates your child's education- then you are a homeschooler.

Got it?

Good.

Real homeschooling is where the parents make the decision on what is being taught and has ultimate control over their child's education.  I have this.  Yes, my child is taught a few classes each year by teachers who report to the state.  However, I am given a very long and very clear description of what they are being taught and notified whenever there may be testing.

Just last week in fact, a handout was sent out home with the kiddo from his multiplication and division class.  In the handout, the teacher stated that she would be doing quick math drills to strengthen the basic multiplication facts.  Since this was not in the original class description, she wanted all the parents to be aware and then gave them the option to opt out.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with this and I'm pretty sure that traditional public school teachers don't go to such lengths to keep their student's parents informed.  At least they never did while I was in public school...

So yes, the kiddo attends a homeschool program that is part of our local public school.  To be clear- he does NOT attend a traditional public school.  This works for us.  And yes, we are still homeschoolers.

This public school program helps us stay legal with our state.  The kiddo gets to experience some of the positives that come with a school environment like playing on the playground with friends and working together in groups in Lego lab.  I get help in teaching the subjects that I have NO desire to teach- math anyone?  And we have access to workshop classes like pottery, art, martial arts and more.  And it's free.  Tell me-who wouldn't love that?  Simply because it's attached to a public school district?  Geez....

The kiddo is here at this program for just a few hours each week.  We homeschool at home for the remainder- well, sometimes it happens in the car on the way to activities.  But the fact remains the same, I am the one making the decisions for what my son is learning.  I am given the choice to opt him out of classroom activities, I sign him up for classes and workshops, I teach him at home, I drive his behind to all his sports and activities, I taught him to read, I do science experiments with him, I help him craft, I facilitate quiet reading time, I , I , I.......

So if that doesn't make me a homeschooler- then I don't know what does.

The face of homeschooling is evolving.  It no longer looks like the Mom in her long denim skirt, hair in a bun and 10 kids trailing behind her as she reads from her Bible and quotes the scriptures.  Sure, this is one facet of it- but we as homeschoolers are evolving.  Our generation is smart enough to use all the tools at our disposable to educate our children.  We pick and choose the best of everything available and create a custom learning experience for our children.  This is homeschooling.


So to those of you who think we aren't really homeschoolers, I have this to say...perhaps you need to take another look around you, get outside your bubble and realize that homeschooling is changing.  There is no one thing that defines us and no one type of person or family that homeschools.  We are growing, we are progressing past the stereotypes and we are changing the way outsiders view us- and that's a pretty amazing thing.

So yes- we are homeschoolers.  And if what we are doing makes me an outsider in the homeschooling community, I guess I really don't care.  I'll start my own club and I just might invite you, maybe...

A Weekend Away- Homeschool Style

Have you been following along on my Facebook page?  Well if you have- you saw some pretty great photos of our recent trip.  It was just 4 days, 3 nights but we managed to pack in lots of fun AND learning in that short amount of time.


So here's the details-

• We drove from the Seattle area to a small town near Coeur d'Alene Idaho, called Post Falls. 
• We left Friday mid morning and returned Monday night around 9:30pm.
• On our schedule was to spend a day with one of the husband's good friends and his family, go fishing and go to Silverwood theme park- that was it.
• I packed meals from home to reduce the amount of food we ate out.
• We stayed at the Red Lion Templins Inn, the price was under $100 and it had amazing access to the Spokane River.

Day 1- Friday

On our drive, the kiddo noticed a "tunnel of trees".  This lead to a discussion about rock blasting, landslides, what trees are used for, why people are cutting them down, wasteful attitudes, appreciation for nature and God's creatures.

We stopped for lunch in Ellensburg, Wa which is an adorable small town with a great country store and rockin' fly fishing shop.  We smelled the peaches, sampled the local honey, bought some Huckleberry taffy, discussed the local rivers, got the scoop on the best fishing spots and bought some tackle.

Oh- and we also found grasshoppers.  Lots and lots of grasshoppers.  Because isn't that what you do while on vacay?

Upon arrival at our hotel, the kiddo immediately wanted to go swimming.  We checked out the pool but he was much more interested in the river.  So we walked down the hill to the private beach and marina so the kiddo could play in the water.  And you just know the husband and I relaxed with an adult beverage as the sun set.  It was perfection.

Dinner in our hotel and then we hit the bed early.  Seriously- the husband was snoring by 9pm.  

Day 2- Saturday

The kiddo woke up super early, so that meant- we woke up super early.  We were done with breakfast and out the door well before 9am.  Seriously folks- this just doesn't happen in my house.  We are NOT morning people!

Our view from the hotel

But something about being on vacation, had the kiddo up and ready to go!  The husband needed to "get legal" so he could fish in a different state and after a couple morning phone calls, he found a mini mart down the corner from our hotel that sold fishing licenses.  I also found juice boxes for Mom's there too! Sweet!

After our exciting adventure at the mini mart- we decided to explore the town of Post Falls, Idaho.  There's not much in the way of businesses- a few chain restaurants, a bowling alley, an Ace Hardware and something called FuK Japanese Steakhouse- that was fun trying to explain that one to the kiddo!

However, as we were heading back towards our hotel, we noticed a sign for Post Falls Park and decided to check it out.  Boy- am I glad we did!  Why they don't advertise the gem that is this park, I seriously don't know!  It was a step back in time as we wandered the short trail- old machinery and equipment circa 1880, great river views, a dam and lots and lots of informational signs that got us talking about hydroelectric power, water ways, electricity and more!  An hour at this great little park was worth more then 10 hours in any classroom!

The dam at Post Falls, Id

Old saw mill machinery circa 1880

From there, we headed back to our hotel to spend the day with my husband's friend, Sticky and his family.  Yes- his nickname is Sticky- that's just the kind of friends we have.  The kiddo played in the river with his three children- ages 9, 6 and almost 4- while us Moms chatted about childbirth, parenting, health concerns and more and who knows what the husband's were up to!  We spent the entire rest of the day here at the river just fishing, talking, swimming and cementing this lifelong bond.

Fishing off the dock

Fishing while in the Spokane river

I want to take a moment and just tell you- this visit was a major reason why we decided to take our trip to Idaho.  The husband hadn't seen his friend in almost 15 years and with a recent health scare, we knew we needed to make this trip sooner rather than later.  We make the time for the people in our lives that are worth it, some friends will come and go- but some will last a lifetime.  So if you have friends like this, cherish them and try to visit as often as you can.

Ok- moving on, that evening we ate dinner in our hotel room and crashed after our long day at the river.  It was a good day.

Baked Potato Soup, prepped & frozen ahead of time

Day 3- Sunday

After a late breakfast at our hotel, I bought tickets to Silverwood theme park online before heading out.  By doing this, I was able to save $19 per ticket- sweet!

We arrived at Silverwood just in time for rope drop at 11am, which if you go to Disney is a big deal- but here...not so much.  Although it was kinda fun and I joked with the husband that I had totally planned it that way.  Not....

This was our first visit to Silverwood and probably our last.  Not impressed.

The Spincycle- "that looks like death Mom"

We walked all the way to the very end of the park, Roller Coaster Alley, I believe they call it so that the kiddo could scope out the big thrill rides.  He decided to try the smaller stuff first and then work his way up to the larger ones.

Forever now known as the "hurl-a-whirl"

Here's something you might not know about me- I hate roller coasters.  Seriously- I am not a fan.  They scare the crap out of me, I have a heart condition so it's probably not a good idea for me to be riding on these AND they make me dizzy and nauseous.  So yeah- I don't ride the big rides like this.  Big Thunder at Disneyland- no problem.  Aftershock at Silverwood- problem.

Aftershock in blue & Timber Terror behind it

Right before lunch, the kiddo decided he was ready to try a big roller coaster.  The funny thing is that both the kiddo and the husband LOVE the coasters at Disneyland.  We've been many, many times and on our last trip, they went on Big Thunder Mountain seven times in a row.  SEVEN TIMES!!!  

We decided that Timber Terror would be the easiest of the big thrill rides.  And after bribing the husband with naked favors- he agreed to take the kiddo.  NO way in hell was I letting my baby on that ride by himself!

They hated it.

The kiddo came off that ride and laid down right on the street.  Seriously, just laid right down and said, "Mom, I need a minute."

And so ended the big thrill rides for this family.

The Barnstormer

Lunchtime!  

In my quest to eat something that was NOT deep fried, we found a burrito place and split two burritos and a side of nachos between the three of us.  Thank the Lord these burritos were vegetarian (although I'm pretty sure the beans had lard in them!) and not dunked in the deep fryer.  Although they did leave something to be desired...the nachos however...seriously gross as they were coated in a layer of fake canned cheese like stuff.  Ick.  We opted to introduce the kiddo to Dippin' Dots instead.

Yum, Dippin Dots!  

We ended our trip to Silverwood by riding the train, which lead to discussions on how steam powered trains work and the fact that this train was 90 years old- very impressive.  

And of course, a train ride wouldn't be complete without seeing a Bison pooping.  Yeah- I'm pretty sure this was the highlight of the trip for both kiddo and husband.  And who knew- there's bison at Silverwood!

Riding the train

On our drive back to the hotel, we saw a sign for Black Sheep sporting goods.  Folks- a sporting goods store is to the husband and kiddo, like a good shoe store is to me.  And so we stopped.  You know we had to.

We had dinner back at our hotel and then the kiddo begged me to go swimming with him.  So I did.  Because I'm awesome like that.  And the husband watched from the comfort of his lounge chair with his whiskey and lemonade- because he's awesome like that.

Day 4- Monday

We had plans to get up and head for home early.  However, a major chemical spill had shut down the freeway until roughly noon.  So we decided to stay awhile longer, asked for a late checkout and wandered down to the private beach and marina.  The kiddo and husband did some fishing while I drank my coffee and read a book.  Ah- perfection.

The husband had seen a flyer on Buck Knives, so after checking out of the hotel, we headed straight there!  Who knew that Buck Knives had a factory right here in Post Falls?  And they give free tours!  Sweet!  You know this homeschooling Mama was ALL over that educational opportunity!  So we hit up the 2pm tour (call ahead for reservations) of the Buck Knives factory and wandered the very small (but still cool!) museum and then I talked the husband out of buying yet another knife.

The coolest thing about Buck Knives- and folks, I'm really not into knives, is that it is 100% made in the USA.  You know where you see labels that say, "made in the USA" and you wonder- is it really?  The answer is yes- Buck Knives is made in Post Falls, ID, in their factory and you too can tour it, for free!  Now that is awesome!

The kiddo enjoyed his first ever trip to a real, working factory and the husband loves knives, so he was in Heaven.  I however, was bored out of my ever lovin' mind.  But I am still very thankful that we got to experience this and of course, it provided a fun learning opportunity for the kiddo.  I'm all about that!

A stop for food at a place I grew up going to on road trips, Zip's Drive In and we were off!  

On our drive home, the kiddo wanted to stop and take a closer look at these amazing wind turbines.  Sadly, we missed out on the tour at the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility, but now I can plan that for another visit!  And you just know that this opened up a whole discussion on wind power- there's some great learning happening up in here!

149 of these in a several mile stretch!

After getting stuck at Snoqualmie Pass while they shut it down for well over an hour for rock blasting, we were finally, FINALLY almost home.

And the kiddo is done

Towards the end of our trip, seriously- the last hour or so, the kiddo started complaining that he wasn't feeling well.  "I'm never eating out again Mom!"  So yeah, I learned a valuable lesson on this trip too- next time, pack more food from home!

Well there you have it!  

A long weekend trip, homeschool style.  Plenty of fun, lots of relaxing and educational opportunities.  This is how we travel- have a basic plan and a few things you want to do and then just see where the trip takes you.  We found some pretty awesome places and got to see some neat things this way- highly recommend it!

And if you're near Post Falls, Idaho- it's worth a stop.  Trust me.

The Public School Funded Homeschool Program

Say what?!?

I know....I know...this is really a confusing concept.  So here it is, an update on the program William attends.  To see my previous post on this program, click here.

Ok, so what exactly is a public school funded homeschool program?  Well, it's exactly like it sounds.  It's an "alternative" school in our local public school district.  They are funded just as every other public school is funded- with our hard earned tax dollars mmkay....Although, dare I say it...I feel that programs such as these are held to stricter standards then say, those for the high school dropouts.  But really, that's just my own opinion.

Many, many, many public school districts are now offering a program for homeschoolers.  If yours currently isn't- just you wait!  I bet you'll see one in the years to come as homeschooling gains in popularity.  Now, each program will vary depending on your school district.  We are fortunate to live near four different districts and so we've chosen the best homeschool program of the four local districts- Edmonds Heights K-12.

The other programs didn't offer actual classrooms but rather take home work, or they didn't have a campus but held classes all over the city and one was SO small it was stuck in a tiny room inside the school district's main office.  So when looking at homeschool programs- do your research!  Not all are created equal.


Now let's talk about Edmond's Heights K-12.


It's a large program, the largest I've come across.  The school campus uses an old high school in the town of Edmonds.  Y'all- Edmonds is seriously a beautiful city!  In the mornings when we pull up to "school" I can hear the nearby ferry boats and smell the salty ocean water- yeah, we are very blessed.

Edmonds, Wa

The school has a Principal, fully credited teachers, expert workshop instructors and families.  Lots and lots of beautiful homeschooling families of all races, cultures, sizes, social backgrounds and they travel from all over the area for the ability to attend this wonderful program.  There's a brand new playground that we raised money for just a few years ago.  There's an great arts program with full on musical productions and artist showcases.  We have a library, computer labs, co-ops, debate teams and more.  Folks- this place is simply awesome.  We're in love.


Sounds great, right?  Now- how does this all work?


Well, it's almost exactly like community college.  There's a building, staff, teachers etc- we've already covered all that.  But as far as the classes go, it mirrors the way college works.  You pick the classes you want to take each semester and we have 2 semesters per year.  The classes run on either a T/Th schedule or a M/W and there are no classes on Fridays.  It's like they knew that no one would want to be there on Fridays...genius!  The classes are broken up into grade levels and usually its 2 grades combined or 3 grades, for example, William has a Multiplication & Division class this Fall and it's for grades 4, 5 and 6.  This works well for kids that are both ahead of their grade level and behind their grade level.  The class size is also restricted depending on what the subject is- so usually 10 or 15 kids max.  Wow what a difference from a traditional public school classroom with 30 or 35 kids!

A typical class at EH

For us- since it's a 35-40 minute drive just to get there, I really try to limit our days that we are there.  So typically I try to arrange for all of William's classes to either fall on a T/Th or M/W.  Last year I got them all on a T/Th but so far, this Fall we will be attending on M/W.  It just depends on what the class schedules are and what's being offered.

**To see William's complete Fall schedule, click here.


So that's just a little bit about how our public school funded homeschool program works.  This program has been a huge benefit to us in our homeschooling journey.  William enjoys attending the classes and playing with his friends and I love meeting fellow homeschooling families.  It's been a good place for us and I would highly suggest you look into your local public school homeschool programs.  Don't be scerd mmkay...they really can be a wonderful thing!

The Great Fall Schedule

Tomorrow begins the official start to our Fall homeschooling season.  And what a busy season it is!  Inquiring minds have asked what exactly my son's schedule looks like- so here it is!

Mondays

9-9:55am Lego Challenge class at Edmonds Heights K-12 (EH)

10-10:55am Multiplication & Division class at EH

11-11:55am Reading & Writing class at EH

12pm All campus lunch break

1-1:55pm Physical Science Exploring through STEM class at EH

*One hour of quiet reading 

*One hour of work book/online learning

Tuesdays

12:30-1:30pm Homeschool Recess at YMCA

1:30-2:30pm Homeschool Art class at YMCA

6-7pm Soccer practice

*One hour of quiet reading 

*One hour of work book/online learning

Wednesdays

10-10:55am Multiplication & Division class at EH

11-11:55am Reading & Writing class at EH

12pm All campus lunch break

1-1:55pm Physical Science Exploring through STEM class at EH

5:50-6:45pm Karate class  

*One hour of quiet reading 

*One hour of work book/online learning

Thursdays

12:30-2:30pm Homeschool Swim & Gym at YMCA

6-7pm Soccer practice

*One hour of quiet reading 

*One hour of work book/online learning

Fridays

Magic School Bus science experiment kits (at home)

Crafts/games/free play (at home)

4:30-5:30pm Youth Conditioning class at YMCA, followed by open swim for a couple hours

*One hour of quiet reading

*One hour of work book/online learning

Saturdays/Sundays

1 hour soccer game

Open swim at YMCA

Family activities/field trips

As you can see, core classes are covered- math, reading, writing, science....yep, it's pretty much all here.  We supplement with some home learning and then have PLENTY of outside sports and activities.  There's time to rest and be at home, lots of social interaction and fun play time.  A good mix of everything.

The key to planning your homeschool schedule is to remember to be flexible.  Don't try to over plan- give yourself the freedom to enjoy your children.  If they really aren't feeling the two hours of workbook learning that day, who says you can't switch it up and take a field trip instead?  Don't lock yourself down to a set schedule but remember that it's there simply as a goal and guideline for the day.

My approach is very relaxed.  While I am an OCD type over planner- I learned early on that this simply doesn't work with my son's learning style.  I wanted to schedule every 15 minutes of our day and he was having NO part of that!  A good teacher will follow the lead of their students in order to effectively reach them, so that's just what I did.

I build our schedule by simply filling in the classes that are a priority, for us- this is the classes at the kiddo's homeschool program, Edmonds Heights K-12.  Once I have this down, then I add in other classes in the area.  Since we live literally right down the street from the local YMCA, we take advantage of all there great class offerings.  You can also add in homeschool co-ops, outside sports, Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts, homeschool programs offered through local museums- just start building your schedule around what's most important and then simply fill in as you go.  Easy peasy!

I also leave room for plenty of seasonal activities.  Fall in the Pacific Northwest is a beautiful time of year.  We spend time studying leaves and taking nature walks, picking apples, visiting pumpkin patches, doing corn mazes and more.  This year the kiddo will even be doing an underwater pumpkin bobbing event- should be interesting!  These are the things that build great memories and there's no way I'm missing out on that!

Good luck- you got this!

Damn I Look Good

A few years ago, I noticed something.

I am always the one taking the pictures and hardly ever IN any of the pictures.  Why is this?  Well- seems pretty self explanatory to me.  I was waiting until I looked better.

I know, right?

Yes, I am in some pictures and I certainly don't go out of my way to avoid the camera.  But if given a choice, I would always choose to be the one taking the photo.  And you know that I always stuffed someone smaller right in front of me so as to hide my body as best I could.

Yeah- I did that.

But then I started thinking- what a waste.  Why am I hiding this body of mine?  Why am I missing out on being in the memories and the photos simply because I have a little extra fat or was having a bad hair day.

Pfft.  Whatever.  I'm over it.

So let me just stop and tell you all something- these short legs of mine have carried my flat behind all over Disneyland.  My feet are small and dainty.  The scar that runs down the middle of my chest is a testament to the open heart surgery I survived as a child.  It's mine.  I earned that.  The faint stretch marks across my stomach and the pooch that hangs over my c-section scar- those are mine too.  I'm pretty damn proud of that c-section scar because it helped me bring my son into this world.  The chicken legs, wide shoulders and knobby knees- yep, all mine too.

This body of mine is far from perfect.  Dare I say, it will never be perfect.

You hear that world?  I will never have the ideal body type imposed by the media on innocent women.  Nope, not gonna happen.

But what I do have, is this body.

Scars, stretch marks, flab and skinny legs.  It's healthy and it's loved.  By me, by my child, by my husband.  I'm not going to hide it away because it's not the image that people desire and I'm certainly not going to be ashamed of it.  It's a work in progress, an ever changing road map of my life.  A daily reminder of where I came from and where I'm heading and damn if that doesn't look good.

So the next time you look in a mirror- remind yourself that the body you see is more then just fat, scars, stretch marks, etc.  It's strength, survival, beauty and its perfect just the way it is.

Damn ladies- we look good.

Blessings in Disguise

Well, we've officially begun soccer season.

Yeah- you can just hear the joy and excitement, can't you?  But I'm going to be honest here and say that I'm really not a HUGE fan.  I don't enjoy sports.  The hours spent shuttling to and fro.  Sitting outside in both the overwhelming heat in August and then the bitter cold in October and November definitely leaves something to be desired.  Add in the fact that the kiddo has been playing with the same team for 3 years now and they have yet to win a game....oh man.  It's gonna be a long couple of months.

But let me also be VERY clear.  I will always put on a happy face and pretend that I enjoy it.  And I will encourage my child and support him because it's something he enjoys.  I will use phrases like, "it's not about winning or losing- it's about how you play the game."  I will cheer from the sidelines.  I will bring the MOST AMAZING SNACK ever!  I will be the best darn soccer Mom even if it
kills me.  But let's hope it doesn't.

But this year- oh yikes.  This year the kiddo has a few new teammates and he's having a hard time with one in particular.  We are only 7 soccer practices in and already this boy has been name calling, made fun of the kiddo, punched him in the stomach and kicked him in the thigh.  Leaving a pretty nasty cleat shaped bruise I might add.

We homeschool so we don't have to deal with children like this.

Sigh...I know...I probably shouldn't even be saying that, but it's the truth.  Honest to God, there are some awful people out there and kids can be SO cruel.  As a result, I am doing my best to see this as a blessing in disguise.  It's a great lesson for the kiddo on how to deal with conflict and with difficult people.  It's a lesson for the husband in restraint.  Husbands- you get me, right?  And it pushes me to work more closely with the kiddo on his behavior and his reactions.  Good lessons all around.

And then we were driving home from soccer practice last night and the kiddo was super excited about how well he was doing.  "Mom- I kicked his butt!"

Oh man....

But wait- let me just stop for a moment.

It's Soccer Season!!!

The kiddo has always approached soccer as something fun but was never really serious about it.  He got stuck in the goal net once for goodness sakes!  But something's changed this year.  He's much more focused, he wants to practice at home, he wants his Dad to help him learn "tricks", he wants to be early to practice so he has more time with the coach, he's playing harder, he's running faster- in short, he's much improved.

And I'm pretty sure it's all because he wants to "stick it" to that difficult kid.

So should I look this gift horse in the mouth?  The kiddo has had a major improvement in his focus and determination on the soccer field and all because he's been challenged by another player, even if that player is on the same team.  That's good, right?

Well I'm just going to admit that while I'm not a fan of this other boy, I am thankful that he's pushed my son to up his game so to speak.  And I have done the obligatory Mom speech which contains excerpts like, "you need to learn to work together" and "you're on the same team" and "treat others how you want to be treated".  But perhaps in the long run, this really will be a good thing?  I suppose only time will tell....