Math seems to be a subject many homeschool parents stress over. I'm not sure why though. I mean, sure, math can be a tough subject for some kids to learn, but there are so many creative ways to teach it. Arithmetic is a skill we use every day, and as such there are ample opportunities to work math lessons into daily living.
Gotta run to the store? Give your kid a list of items you need and ask them to keep track of how much each item costs, and keep a running total. Then, while you're waiting in line, ask your child to calculate the amount of change should recieve if you give the cashier a specific amount of money.
Paying bills? Tell your child how much you pay for electric per kilowatt hour and then have them look at the bill to see how many KwH your family used to figure out how much the bill is. Consider teaching your child how to read the electric meter. Let them keep a running total of how much electricity your family is using each month. If you want to make your child more aware of money, tell your child how much money you make per hour, and have the calculate how many hours you have to work each month to pay the electric bill.
Meal planning? Teach your child about serving amounts, and recipies, and have them calculate how much of each ingredient you will need to prepare thier favorite meal. Have them do this for each meal for a week, and then estimate the grocery bill for that week. See how close they can get.
These simple tasks cover the basic use of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
10/24/2009
10/11/2009
Webinar: How to Stay Healthy This Winter
msquill will be holding an informational webinar on Friday, November 6 from 8pm to 930 pm Central time.
The topic is "How to Stay Healthy this Winter."
She will include information on:
Vitamin D3
H1N1 Vaccination
Herbs that build and support the immune system, and how to include them in your diet
Vitamins that build and support the immune system and how to increase these vitamins in your diet
Foods to help you stay well
The role of meditation and attitude in health
Cost is $5.
Participants are encouraged to take screen shots of slides for their personal use.
For more details, or to sign up, go to www.msquill.com/webinar-information
The topic is "How to Stay Healthy this Winter."
She will include information on:
Vitamin D3
H1N1 Vaccination
Herbs that build and support the immune system, and how to include them in your diet
Vitamins that build and support the immune system and how to increase these vitamins in your diet
Foods to help you stay well
The role of meditation and attitude in health
Cost is $5.
Participants are encouraged to take screen shots of slides for their personal use.
For more details, or to sign up, go to www.msquill.com/webinar-information
10/09/2009
Bringing Her Back to the Fold
We 'unenrolled' my step daughter from school this morning. I was expecting the school office staff to make things difficult, and we were supposed to be at homeschool co-op by 9am, so I grabbed stepdaughter and the other 4 kids and headed out to our co-op. I sent my husband over to deal with the school.
Good thing, too. They kept him there for over 20 minutes, telling him how sorry they were to see her go, and how much they'd love to have her back. Somebody even suggested we give it another try. Um.... NO!
These are the same people who bullied me into letting her go on a field trip that her counselor suggested she skip. This is the same teacher who made it obvious she does not read our Communication Log by asking me if there was a med change one week after I told her about the med change in the same communication log AND took copies of the pharmacy printouts to the office to be given to the teacher. This is the same school who called CPS because the child as an eating disorder. It seems the it wasn't good enough that kiddo's psychiatrist and I both told the school of said eating disorder. Or maybe the school officials just didn't understand that 'eating disorder' could very well equal "underweight and on a special diet.' We gave it 2 months and frankly putting up with the school's constant incompetence and interference was almost as bad as stepdaughter's psychotic behavior at its worse.
If my choices are those two stressors, I'll place my bets with the kid.. thanks.
After 2 months of school, she has regressed in reading and math. Her handwriting has improved a little bit, and she's learned that a school has the right to over ride whatever her parents, counselor and psychologist say. She's learned that she doesn't have to eat at all away from home... nobody cares. And let's not forget the wonderful 'socialization' she received. Let's see... she learned it was okay to lie to her teacher because the teacher wouldn't even tell her it was wrong, She's picked up a few gross kid habits that she didn't have before her 2 months in school, too.
Know what? I've learned something too. Elementary schools are not what they used to be-- I'm starting to wonder if all the extremist anti-government propaganda has some real truth to it. This school has done several things that schools in 'my day' could never have done.
Example-- Stepdaughter's counselor told her she was not to attend a specific field trip if certain behavioral goals were not met. Kiddo did not meet those goals. I let the teacher know kiddo would not be going, and explained why. I offered to come get her for the 30 minutes the class would be gone. Teacher went to the principal and complained. (after telling me it was no big deal a week before hand) Principal called and tried to bully me into letting her go. Finally he threatened CPS and legal action. I was "interfering with her education" by not allowing her to tour the local police station.
I guess signing a field trip permission slip is no longer optional for parents, huh?
Oh.. a child's medical records are no longer between parents and doctors either. The school demanded we release ALL stepdaughter's medical records... from time of birth. I offered to hand deliver them copies of information relevant to her mental illness and eating disorder for the past two years. But that wasn't good enough. They wanted them ALL. My husband refused. Because of his refusal, the school called CPS... accused us of physical neglect. CPS deemed the charges unfounded, but the stress put upon our family over this was huge. I felt violated.
When we were kids, heck.. a few years ago, when I managed CPS and therapeutic group homes in Phoenix, "Physical Neglect' meant starving a kid, possibly refusing to get a kid medical treatment etc.. but.. not giving the school complete medical records from the day the kid was born... THAT is a parent's right to maintain a child's privacy.
I am relieved to be done with this school, and that principal. Never... and I mean NEVER again will I enroll one of my kids in public school. I used to be one of those 'middle of the road' homeschoolers. You know the parents who feel homeschool is best for all kids, but that public school really doesn't do much damage, because "after all, I turned out okay.
Thanks to this one school, this one principal, and all the similar stories out there I find myself wondering if my experiences are the norm, instead of the exception.
Good thing, too. They kept him there for over 20 minutes, telling him how sorry they were to see her go, and how much they'd love to have her back. Somebody even suggested we give it another try. Um.... NO!
These are the same people who bullied me into letting her go on a field trip that her counselor suggested she skip. This is the same teacher who made it obvious she does not read our Communication Log by asking me if there was a med change one week after I told her about the med change in the same communication log AND took copies of the pharmacy printouts to the office to be given to the teacher. This is the same school who called CPS because the child as an eating disorder. It seems the it wasn't good enough that kiddo's psychiatrist and I both told the school of said eating disorder. Or maybe the school officials just didn't understand that 'eating disorder' could very well equal "underweight and on a special diet.' We gave it 2 months and frankly putting up with the school's constant incompetence and interference was almost as bad as stepdaughter's psychotic behavior at its worse.
If my choices are those two stressors, I'll place my bets with the kid.. thanks.
After 2 months of school, she has regressed in reading and math. Her handwriting has improved a little bit, and she's learned that a school has the right to over ride whatever her parents, counselor and psychologist say. She's learned that she doesn't have to eat at all away from home... nobody cares. And let's not forget the wonderful 'socialization' she received. Let's see... she learned it was okay to lie to her teacher because the teacher wouldn't even tell her it was wrong, She's picked up a few gross kid habits that she didn't have before her 2 months in school, too.
Know what? I've learned something too. Elementary schools are not what they used to be-- I'm starting to wonder if all the extremist anti-government propaganda has some real truth to it. This school has done several things that schools in 'my day' could never have done.
Example-- Stepdaughter's counselor told her she was not to attend a specific field trip if certain behavioral goals were not met. Kiddo did not meet those goals. I let the teacher know kiddo would not be going, and explained why. I offered to come get her for the 30 minutes the class would be gone. Teacher went to the principal and complained. (after telling me it was no big deal a week before hand) Principal called and tried to bully me into letting her go. Finally he threatened CPS and legal action. I was "interfering with her education" by not allowing her to tour the local police station.
I guess signing a field trip permission slip is no longer optional for parents, huh?
Oh.. a child's medical records are no longer between parents and doctors either. The school demanded we release ALL stepdaughter's medical records... from time of birth. I offered to hand deliver them copies of information relevant to her mental illness and eating disorder for the past two years. But that wasn't good enough. They wanted them ALL. My husband refused. Because of his refusal, the school called CPS... accused us of physical neglect. CPS deemed the charges unfounded, but the stress put upon our family over this was huge. I felt violated.
When we were kids, heck.. a few years ago, when I managed CPS and therapeutic group homes in Phoenix, "Physical Neglect' meant starving a kid, possibly refusing to get a kid medical treatment etc.. but.. not giving the school complete medical records from the day the kid was born... THAT is a parent's right to maintain a child's privacy.
I am relieved to be done with this school, and that principal. Never... and I mean NEVER again will I enroll one of my kids in public school. I used to be one of those 'middle of the road' homeschoolers. You know the parents who feel homeschool is best for all kids, but that public school really doesn't do much damage, because "after all, I turned out okay.
Thanks to this one school, this one principal, and all the similar stories out there I find myself wondering if my experiences are the norm, instead of the exception.
10/05/2009
Comedy is Required
I have come to the conclusion that parenting a mentally ill kid requires one to become a comedian, or at the very least develop super-human abilities to find or create humor in each and every situation. No matter how serious.
I envy people who have this skill. It's a skill I very seriously need learn.. by next Tuesday.
Stepdaughter's psychiatrist wants us to bring stepdaughter back to homeschooling with her 5 siblings. We enrolled her in school at the beginning of this school year because of some very serious behavior issues.
Because stepdaughter's dx is now Bipolar plus Reactive Attachment Disorder and possible Oppositional Defiant Disorder the psych. believes having stepdaughter in school is actually doing more psychological damage (because of the RAD).
So.. her last day is next Monday. The boys are stressing over it..... even my 13 yr old has reservations about this... all with good reason.
Stepdaughter tends to target her brothers when she's angry, and being oppositional defiant means she will argue and argue and ARGUE with me and her dad over everything and nothing all at the same time. We have known her to stand by the sink and scream for over an hour because I asked her to put a plate in the sink.Getting her actually work on ANYTHING at home is difficult to say the least.
Things have gotten better with the most recent med change, and her psychiatrist's and counselor's goals are to use medication to manage the behaviors and weekly counseling to teach her better ways of doing things.
My part in all this is to keep peace and impart a little bit of knowledge and understanding.
I've decided to do this with humor. I'm not much of a comedienne.. So this may be interesting. I'll let you know how it goes
I envy people who have this skill. It's a skill I very seriously need learn.. by next Tuesday.
Stepdaughter's psychiatrist wants us to bring stepdaughter back to homeschooling with her 5 siblings. We enrolled her in school at the beginning of this school year because of some very serious behavior issues.
Because stepdaughter's dx is now Bipolar plus Reactive Attachment Disorder and possible Oppositional Defiant Disorder the psych. believes having stepdaughter in school is actually doing more psychological damage (because of the RAD).
So.. her last day is next Monday. The boys are stressing over it..... even my 13 yr old has reservations about this... all with good reason.
Stepdaughter tends to target her brothers when she's angry, and being oppositional defiant means she will argue and argue and ARGUE with me and her dad over everything and nothing all at the same time. We have known her to stand by the sink and scream for over an hour because I asked her to put a plate in the sink.Getting her actually work on ANYTHING at home is difficult to say the least.
Things have gotten better with the most recent med change, and her psychiatrist's and counselor's goals are to use medication to manage the behaviors and weekly counseling to teach her better ways of doing things.
My part in all this is to keep peace and impart a little bit of knowledge and understanding.
I've decided to do this with humor. I'm not much of a comedienne.. So this may be interesting. I'll let you know how it goes
9/19/2009
The Value of Co-ops
The Value of Co-ops
I love our homeschool co-op. We meet most Fridays so the kids can take classes and the moms can socialize. We have a great group. My kids take various band classes, a string class, drama, and wrestling. I'm teaching American Sign Language and Creative Writing.
My ASL kids have decided to put on a play in Sign. We'll be performing Little Red Riding Hood for parents and siblings sometime in December. It's going to be a blast, and the kids are just so cute.
The creative writing kids are working through the Nanowrimo Young Writer's Program. They will be writing novels of their own as we work through the program.
But, more importantly than the classes is the chance to meet and hang out with other homeschool kids and parents. We live in a small town now. The people here seem to be very traditional and not so keen on homeschooling, which makes my kids, and especially me a bit of an outcast here. The co-op meets in a larger city 30 minutes away. People there seem to be more accepting and supportive of homeschooling It's a nice break for me to spend the day with people who get it.
Since I spent 20 years in the huge city of Phoenixh, and homeschooled my older daughters there, I'm not used to having to 'homeschool discretely." The idea of doing most of our school work inside is foriegn to me. My older kids learned at museums, parks, friends' houses, the grocery store.. ... where ever we happened to be. Here, in small town USA, a lot of people think me a bad mother because I choose to teach my own kids. But then, those same people critisize when they find out that one of our children attends the local public school. They can't seem to understand that my husband and I make the decision that is best for each child, individually. And for one kid, that choice is public school right now.
But, the parents at the co-op.. (yes, there are some fathers there) get it.. because many of them have made the same kind of decisions. From year to year, they evaluate thier education options and choose the one that is best for each child, and the family as a whole. Having been there, and taking the responsibilty to make real choices regarding thier children's eduction instead of just doing what everyone else does seems to be the defining factor.
Whether you choose to homeschool, use a private school, unschool or use public school.. let it be a CHOICE you make for your children based on thier educational needs, and your goals for their education. Don't just enroll your kids in school because they reach school age.
I love our homeschool co-op. We meet most Fridays so the kids can take classes and the moms can socialize. We have a great group. My kids take various band classes, a string class, drama, and wrestling. I'm teaching American Sign Language and Creative Writing.
My ASL kids have decided to put on a play in Sign. We'll be performing Little Red Riding Hood for parents and siblings sometime in December. It's going to be a blast, and the kids are just so cute.
The creative writing kids are working through the Nanowrimo Young Writer's Program. They will be writing novels of their own as we work through the program.
But, more importantly than the classes is the chance to meet and hang out with other homeschool kids and parents. We live in a small town now. The people here seem to be very traditional and not so keen on homeschooling, which makes my kids, and especially me a bit of an outcast here. The co-op meets in a larger city 30 minutes away. People there seem to be more accepting and supportive of homeschooling It's a nice break for me to spend the day with people who get it.
Since I spent 20 years in the huge city of Phoenixh, and homeschooled my older daughters there, I'm not used to having to 'homeschool discretely." The idea of doing most of our school work inside is foriegn to me. My older kids learned at museums, parks, friends' houses, the grocery store.. ... where ever we happened to be. Here, in small town USA, a lot of people think me a bad mother because I choose to teach my own kids. But then, those same people critisize when they find out that one of our children attends the local public school. They can't seem to understand that my husband and I make the decision that is best for each child, individually. And for one kid, that choice is public school right now.
But, the parents at the co-op.. (yes, there are some fathers there) get it.. because many of them have made the same kind of decisions. From year to year, they evaluate thier education options and choose the one that is best for each child, and the family as a whole. Having been there, and taking the responsibilty to make real choices regarding thier children's eduction instead of just doing what everyone else does seems to be the defining factor.
Whether you choose to homeschool, use a private school, unschool or use public school.. let it be a CHOICE you make for your children based on thier educational needs, and your goals for their education. Don't just enroll your kids in school because they reach school age.
Flu vaccine prison camps?
I don't know how true this is, but this article was sent to me by someone I trust. I've also heard this kind of vaccinate at gunpoint rumors from other places, as well.
http://blogs.healthfreedomalliance.org/blog/2009/09/18/police-and-military-train-to-intern-swine-flu-vaccine-refusniks/
http://blogs.healthfreedomalliance.org/blog/2009/09/18/police-and-military-train-to-intern-swine-flu-vaccine-refusniks/
9/12/2009
Long overdue update
A lot can change in almost 2 years. Around here everything has changed, and most things have stayed the same.
Kiddo #1 is 15.. has her driver's permit, and is a Jr. in college. She's earned a slew of scholarships that will pay for most, if not all, of her graduate studies. She's still playing clarinet and oboe, and is adding english horn.
Kiddo #2 picked up trombone and is learning piano. She's in 2 homeschool bands and we do a hs co-op now, too.
Kiddo #3 is progressing wonderfully. He's at grade level and learning flute. He loves going to our homeschool co-op every Friday. Oh.. he's taking wrestling this semester.
Kiddo #4 is now in school fulltime. She started in the middle of August. She needs the structure and routine in order to function at all. She's not thrilled, but adjusting well.
Kiddo #5 is showing that he's gifted and advanced just like his older sisters. I'm letting him work at his own pace, and focus on things he's interested in. So far, that's reading, science, and music. He just turned 7 in August and he's working from 5th grade text books and is learning violin and loving it. He's taking wrestling through our homeschool co-op as well.
Kiddo #6 will be 4 yrs in November. Were DOES the time go? She's slowing working up the desire to learn to read. She's most of the way there, just needs to build confidence. But, she has time.
I'm teaching American Sign Language and Creative Writing through our homeschool co-op and loving every minute of it. I've picked up my music again and started hauling out the clarinet and sax semi-regularly. Oh.. I bought a chanter and I'm teaching myself to play bagpipes. I"ve gone back to school, too. I'm taking classes to become an herbalist. My first book was published this past August.
And my husband does all he can to keep up with us. He's still writing and submitting regularly. Unfortunately, he's working almsot 2 hours away from home, so time is at a premium these days.
Until next time.. (and I'm hoping that is fairly soon... )
Kiddo #1 is 15.. has her driver's permit, and is a Jr. in college. She's earned a slew of scholarships that will pay for most, if not all, of her graduate studies. She's still playing clarinet and oboe, and is adding english horn.
Kiddo #2 picked up trombone and is learning piano. She's in 2 homeschool bands and we do a hs co-op now, too.
Kiddo #3 is progressing wonderfully. He's at grade level and learning flute. He loves going to our homeschool co-op every Friday. Oh.. he's taking wrestling this semester.
Kiddo #4 is now in school fulltime. She started in the middle of August. She needs the structure and routine in order to function at all. She's not thrilled, but adjusting well.
Kiddo #5 is showing that he's gifted and advanced just like his older sisters. I'm letting him work at his own pace, and focus on things he's interested in. So far, that's reading, science, and music. He just turned 7 in August and he's working from 5th grade text books and is learning violin and loving it. He's taking wrestling through our homeschool co-op as well.
Kiddo #6 will be 4 yrs in November. Were DOES the time go? She's slowing working up the desire to learn to read. She's most of the way there, just needs to build confidence. But, she has time.
I'm teaching American Sign Language and Creative Writing through our homeschool co-op and loving every minute of it. I've picked up my music again and started hauling out the clarinet and sax semi-regularly. Oh.. I bought a chanter and I'm teaching myself to play bagpipes. I"ve gone back to school, too. I'm taking classes to become an herbalist. My first book was published this past August.
And my husband does all he can to keep up with us. He's still writing and submitting regularly. Unfortunately, he's working almsot 2 hours away from home, so time is at a premium these days.
Until next time.. (and I'm hoping that is fairly soon... )
2/25/2008
Musical homeschoolers
All of my kids are musically talented. My 13 yr old plays clarinet and oboe for her college, my 12 yr old plays trumpet, baritone, and tenor sax. Both play piano/keyboard and are learning organ. Our other 4 kids are under 7, and so, too young to start formal instrumental lessons. Everyone gets the instrument of their choice and instruction on how to play it on their eight birthday. Personally, I play clarinet and saxophone well enough to preform. I still have functional knowledge of flute, cello and bassoon. In the spirit of trying to fit in with this musical family he married into, my husband is teaching himself to play electric guitar- with our help.
Since my 12 yr old came back to homeschooling in January, she's been missing the daily band thing. Sure, she practices her trumpet every day and she pulls out my tenor sax a couple times a week, but there's something special about making music with a group of friends. So, we started searching for a homeschool band. The closest group meets 4X a week for an hour each day -- 2 hours from us.
That's to much driving for me.
So, we've decided to do a couple of things - first off we're forming our own trio. 12 year old on trumpet, 13 yr old on clarinet or oboe - depending on the tune, and me on either tenor sax or clarinet, again depending on the tune. We've got a handful of local coffee shops and town events where we can preform.
Finding music for our little group has been a challenge. So- we decided to write our own. I did a lot of writing in high school and college, I've taught my kids a bit of theory and this is the perfect opportunity to teach them to compose. I'm looking forward to this. I gave up performing when I had kids - couldn't make the time commitment anymore. Since the day my oldest was born, I've dreamed of making music with my babies and getting back in front of an audience to share our love and talent with anybody who wants to listen. And it looks like I'll get my chance. Both girls are excited by the idea of performing with mom.
I'm also thinking about starting a community band for other homeschoolers and parents in our area. We live in a small town, though and I'm not sure how much interest there will be.
Since my 12 yr old came back to homeschooling in January, she's been missing the daily band thing. Sure, she practices her trumpet every day and she pulls out my tenor sax a couple times a week, but there's something special about making music with a group of friends. So, we started searching for a homeschool band. The closest group meets 4X a week for an hour each day -- 2 hours from us.
That's to much driving for me.
So, we've decided to do a couple of things - first off we're forming our own trio. 12 year old on trumpet, 13 yr old on clarinet or oboe - depending on the tune, and me on either tenor sax or clarinet, again depending on the tune. We've got a handful of local coffee shops and town events where we can preform.
Finding music for our little group has been a challenge. So- we decided to write our own. I did a lot of writing in high school and college, I've taught my kids a bit of theory and this is the perfect opportunity to teach them to compose. I'm looking forward to this. I gave up performing when I had kids - couldn't make the time commitment anymore. Since the day my oldest was born, I've dreamed of making music with my babies and getting back in front of an audience to share our love and talent with anybody who wants to listen. And it looks like I'll get my chance. Both girls are excited by the idea of performing with mom.
I'm also thinking about starting a community band for other homeschoolers and parents in our area. We live in a small town, though and I'm not sure how much interest there will be.
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