Training Them Up

 

Now that we have finished up our second week of homeschooling for 2012, my gears have been spinning.  Why?  Well, now that I have an idea of what I am doing this year versus last year I would like to incorporate character training into the mix.

Homeschooling in itself is a challenge, this I have learned quite well, but it's also extra time to really train my children up in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.)

This verse has been ringing in my head and heart since beginning our homeschooling journey and I want to be obedient.  After all, they are only little once and we only get once chance as parents.  This really is a big deal.

In the mornings I make it a point to start our day off in prayer as this should be a no brainer as Christians right?  Yeah, I can honestly say that I have let a couple mornings accidentally slip due to adjustment periods. I know God knows my heart and that I am trying though.  I am sure you can relate.  I have been teaching the girls how to pray and hope to take turns with them in the days ahead.  We also include Bible reading and scripture memorization.  Kelly takes turns reading with me then we discuss it.  God is so awesome and I love that we have this opportunity. 

I want this to be routine and top priority in starting our day.  I also try to make it a point to pray for others.  I will be starting a prayer request chart for the girls to be able to write their requests down.  I have not made Bible a subject in our homeschooling curriculum.  I want it to be a natural thing that we do as unto the Lord, not because we want a good grade.  So I eliminated it from our subject line up.

Thank you Lord for this opportunity to train my children (your children) in the way they should go.  I know that I will be held accountable for everything I teach them.  Lead and guide me through your Word to be your loyal servant.  I want to please you Lord.

Many Blessings,

Lindsey Clair
Blessed to be a Wife and Mom

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Our Second Year of Homeschooling 2012

Well, we have officially started our new homeschool year, our second homeschool year to be exact.  We started Monday, August 27th.  The girls were so excited to start, it really blessed my heart.  So far, it has been running smoothly and wonderfully.  Little Bethany has been added into the homeschool mix with 3 year old preschool learning and fun.  It's a challenge keeping up with 4th grade, 1st grade, and preschool stuff, but it's all working out and for the best.  Kelly and Lyssa are doing A Beka Curriculum and Bethany is doing some preschool A Beka with a variety of other learning materials.

I am relieved we started now as we can slowly add in other activities and homeschool learning to our schedule.  Here's an example of our full schedule starting next week and beyond:

• Mondays: Homeschool, Chores, Piano Practice, FREE EVENING! Yay!
• Tuesdays: Homeschool at the Carr Ranch (my parents home in the country), chores, piano practice and Pioneer Girls.  (Christian Girl Scouts type program)
• Wednesdays:  Homeschool Connections classes in Farmington Hills: Kelly: History American Girl Class and IEWriting program and Lyssa: Fun with Spanish and P.E. and Piano Lessons at home!  Quick chores when we arrive home! We are doing the Homeschool Partnership with Oxford Virtual Academy and Homeschool Connections.
• Thursdays: Homeschool, chores, piano practice, and Kelly/Gymnastics!
• Fridays: Homeschool, chores, piano practice, and Lyssa and Bethany/Dance!  Once a month will be Fun Fridays for Homeschoolers at Ward Church so that should be fun too. =)

Of course I have to include my writing schedule and other duties into the mix, but it will all be worth it!

As you can see it will be a very active and busy schedule, but it also looks like it's going to be a lot of fun!  I love planning our own schedule.  This is a definite perk to the whole thing, haha!

Happy Tuesday!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom

Our Homeschool Schedule for 2012-2013

I have finally gotten our schedule together for our new homeschool year.  It's going to be busy, busy but it's also going to be fun.  I am just praying for strength and endurance this time around as a little more has been added to the schedule vs our first year of homeschooling.  Here is what our homeschool schedule is looking like starting next week.

• Mondays:  Homeschool, piano practice, chores, my writing schedule
• Tuesdays: Homeschool, piano practice, chores, my writing schedule, Pioneer Girls in the evening
• Wednesdays: Homeschool Connections classes (4 of them: American Girl History, IEWriting program, Spanish and P.E.) Piano Lessons, chores, my writing schedule.
• Thursdays: Homeschool, piano practice, chores, writing schedule, gymnastics
• Fridays: Homeschool, piano practice, chores, writing schedule, dance

Thankfully, dance, gymnastics, and homeschool classes will slowly make their way in after next week so the week of the 27th, we will just be adjusting to our homeschool schedule.

Of course there is meal planning, etc. thrown into the mix.  The girls get up time will  be 7:00 am and mine will be 6:00 am for my early morning workout, otherwise I will not have time to fit that in there and this mama has got to stay healthy, haha.

If you homeschool, how is your schedule looking?  Of course as homeschoolers we know that no schedule is set in stone and there is always room for flexibility.  This took me some doing as I am a planner and a stickler for schedules.  Even following a schedule from time to time is great for everyone to get into a nice routine.  Kids thrive on routine.

Have a blessed rest of the week everyone and see you next week!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

Northern Michigan Adventures

Oh my, it has almost been a month since I last posted.  It's so hard to keep up sometimes, but I most definitely don't want to drop my personal homeschooling blog.  This will become a treasure to my family one day when transformed into a book, can't wait!

Last week, my family and I took a nice and long vacation just north of our state.  We visited Onaway Sink Holes, Alpena, Mackinac City and Mackinac Island, Gaylord, etc.  Eventually, we would like to plan a trip to the Upper Peninsula, Michigan with the girls.  I just love it up there.

As you can see in the pics it was an adventure for us.   Walking up and down the sink hole steps were a definite challenge for them, but they did it and weren't even tired.  Gotta love the energy of a child.  Thankfully, I am in shape ( I think, haha) so it was not difficult like I originally thought it would be.  I enjoyed the added workout, haha.

We enjoyed lying out on the beach and having R&R as a family.  It was a blessing especially since our homeschooling adventures will start up again in full swing the last week in August.  Our schedule is going to be jam packed, but I am pretty excited and praying I can keep up.  Let's just say I will be a piano mom, dance mom, and gymnastics mom on top of our homeschooling adventures, pheww!

I am hoping to post once a week this coming fall.  I am most definitely adding Jewels in My Crown to my editorial calendar of other writing tasks as I want this to be one of my top priorities. 

Many blessings!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

Homeschool Summer

Hello dear readers.  Sorry that my posts have been averaging one every other week or so if not more.  As many of you know, I freelance write and blog for multiple sites and one of them being a homeschooling site.  My goal is to keep up with my personal homeschooling blog because eventually, I would like to turn it into a book.  How cool is that? You can turn your blog into a book.  I found this out through Blurb.com and will definitely be utilizing this feature when our homeschool days come to an end.  I am anticipating this will be after I graduate them, God willing.

So far we have been doing summer homeschool sharpeners.  My goal is to make sure the girls stay on top of their math, reading, and writing skills.  These subjects can easily be lost and forgotten if not exercised at least 3 times a week if not more.  I thought it would be fun to mix it up with online learning games, recipes, and other activities as to not steer them into boredom.  Many of us know what that can be like, haha!

 Just recently, I signed Lyssa up for an online learning site designed specifically for girls called: Always Ice Cream.  It was $11.90 for a two month membership.  I figured this was perfect as when it runs out we will be starting our normal homeschool year.  This site was created by a panel of educational experts, teachers, and even homeschooling parents.  They have games on there ranging from Language arts, foreign language, and math, to reading, life skills, etc.  Children earn "Scoop Points" and parents receive email progress reports on their learning.  It's definitely a great supplement for the summer.  It is also Christian based so there are Bible drills etc., on there as well.  Kelly is doing the free version of this program at this time because I am having her do summer journaling, math, and a summer reading program.  They seem to be having fun so this makes me smile.  If you are a parent of a boy(s) they also have a site for boys called: Clever Dragons

What do you do with your children over the summer whether you are a homeschooler or non-homeschooler?  Would love to read your ideas.

Many Blessings!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom

Homeschooling and Obedience

As a Christian Homeschooling mom of three precious girls, I desire to be obedient to the Lord's calling not only for my life but for the lives of my girls. 

Now heading into our second homeschooling year, I know that in my heart I am being obedient to His call and I most definitely will not turn back.  Have I been tempted to just drop everything and send them off to school whether private or public? Oh yes.  And in more ways than one.  But then again at the same time, I wouldn't trade homeschooling for anything else.  Sure, it can be a major challenge some days and other days it can be very rewarding.  God prunes and shapes us in every single one of our callings to be sure that we do hear his voice and that we are willing to be obedient.  I thank you Lord that I have passed this test.  Did I pass with flying colors?  I would say not with flying colors, but God knows our hearts and will continue to test them.

With a new homeschool year ahead, I renewed my membership with HSLDA, ordered our curriculum, and enrolled in our co-op classes.  At this point in time I thought we were set until I attended a meeting through Homeschooling Connections. 

Okay, let me rewind our homeschool journey a bit.  Just before the Lord showed me I was to homeschool with a Christian curriculum, I enrolled Lyssa and Kelly in Michigan Virtual Charter Academy and Connections Academy.  Both online public schooling.  I felt the go ahead and peace about it until I learned and realized that if I wanted the ways of the public school system, I might as well just put them back into the public schools.  This was the advice of amazing homeschool moms at Ward Homeschool Fellowship.  Within days I decided to pull them off the waiting list.  Shortly after that they were still accepted.  Did I want to do this?  The truth is, to do online public schooling you still have to follow that of a public school system according to your state rules and laws.  As a new homeschooling mom I most definitely wanted the flexibility of homeschooling without a system breathing down my neck.  So, it made sense that this wasn't the route that was expected of me.  The Lord above showed me very clearly and put me back on track.  Thank you Lord for directing my steps.

Okay, back to present day.  Last Thursday, June 21st, I attended an amazing meeting through Homeschool Connections.  An online virtual academy has now partnered with Homeschool Connections providing wonderful opportunities as traditional schoolers but with homeschooling flexibility, free homeschooling classes etc.  When I received the email update about this opportunity by a absolutely wonderful lady, Tarla Gernert, I was skeptical and figured there would be a catch.  What? I have to sign up for online public schooling to get free homeschool classes? Does this even make any sense?  Isn't this against what homeschoolers are?  Wasn't I steered away from this?  Haha, well the meeting weighed on my heart and the words and testimony of how Tarla partnered with OVA (Oxford Virtual Academy) was beyond a blessing.  I am not sure if I will be going this route this year or not, but I do feel this is another direction I will be heading as a homeschooler.  One of the amazing partnership opportunities is college programs for homeschoolers, etc.  OVA is unique and not like any other state online school.  They offer flexibility which is perfect for the homeschooler.  There will be another meeting coming up that I think I will be attending to get my questions answered and wait to receive confirmation in my heart and spirit.  I so wanted to just toss this whole idea, but now this time, God is showing me something different!  Thank you Lord for giving me the desires of my heart.

So with all of that said as a homeschooling mom, I desire to be obedient and not knock down every opportunity that comes my way.  Another awesome thing about this is, I currently blog and write for a truly awesome woman that happens to be good friends with the Homeschool Connections Director.  How amazing is that?  God is truly leading me where I need to go and I am beyond thrilled and ecstatic!

Have a blessed week!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom

Dreams of a Homeschooling Mom

Wow, it has been I while since I last posted on here.  Our busy schedules have been the main reason for my posting absence.
We are completing our final week of homeschooling.  We made it through our very first year and super excited and blessed.  I think I know now how I want to run our homeschool beginning this fall.  Here it is:

• Start our day at 8 a.m. sharp and end at 12:00 p.m sharp
• After lunch do our choirs for one beautiful hour
• Have a fun afternoon of extracurricular activities: dance, piano etc.,
• Have a stress free and fun evening

Am I a dreamer?  Ha! Yeah, I know this is definitely a dream and if you are a homeschooling family, you understand that there is no such thing as a strict schedule that sticks and with flowers and bows attached.  Boy, did I learn this very quickly.  While I would love for our homeschool schedule to pan out this way, it's just realistically not going to happen as life is not perfect.  Even though I do plan to tighten up our schedule I know that there must be room for flexibility.  At least flexibility is a dream come true for any mom so I most definitely cannot complain.  God is so good!

Well, I think that is all I have for now.  Have a blessed week.

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

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