Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up August 9

Last Saturday was our 17th wedding anniversary.  We went out for a nice dinner.

The house was decorated with all kinds of homemade signs

Since we got in late on Saturday, Sunday night, we celebrated with a cake

This has been a good and busy week and a busy blogging week, as well.  I participated with 89 other bloggers in the "5 Days of..." series.  The posts have been encouraging and full of wonderful information and ideas on about every topic imaginable.  If you haven't seen my posts, "5 Days of Eclectic Homeschool," you can click on the links below:

For Day 1, "What is an Eclectic Homeschool?" click here.
For Day 2, "Lapbooking" click here.
For Day 3, "Field Trips" click here.
For Day 4, "Physical Education" click here
For Day 5, "Giving Service" clilck here.

The kiddos have gotten lots of outdoor time riding their bikes and swimming.  It is finally sinking in that the summer is coming to an end.  :-(  We do have our beach vacation to look forward to on the 17th, which will be a lot of fun.  I promise lots of vacation pics.  The kids are planning non-stop about how they are going to swim, fish, boat, etc.  Should be a good (and tiring!) time.

Of course the week wouldn't be complete with some kind of baking going on around here.  Kiddo #4 made us all peanut butter cookies (only she can make baking soda look so nice!)

and I made everyone my chocolate chip banana bread.  You can find the recipe here, on Try a New Recipe Tuesday.  It was literally gone by afternoon.  :-)

Isn't it wonderful when kids find something stashed away in a closet that they had forgotten all about? My boys found a dinosaur dig kit and had a lot of fun working with it.  I love how Kiddo #1 helped Kiddo #3 with it and made it a collaborative project.  :-)

Tonight (Friday) they are going to be "performing" their own version of "Tortoise and the Hare" for us.  They made their own costumes and wrote their own script all afternoon.  Cute.  I love creativity, don't you?  It is awesome how the teenagers were helping and encouraging their younger brother and sister, too.  Here is a picture of the "tortoise" and "hare" during dress rehearsal.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!  God bless!  :-)

Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, NOBH, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection and Family Fun Friday and T.G.I.F. Linky Party

5 Days of Eclectic Homeschool- Day 5

Wow, it is the last day of the series!  I hope you have enjoyed taking a brief look at how our "Eclectic Homeschool" works.  I think the most important aspect I could ever stress is that every child is different, so every child's education should be different.  I do not believe that any "school in a box" will work.  The math program that works for "Child A," for example, may not work for "Child B."  It doesn't make something wrong with "Child B;" it just means that he or she may learn differently.  And that is ok.  It is more than ok.  It is normal.  And to pretend that those innate differences do not exist is not only foolish, but is sacrificing our children's education.  It is critical for a parent/teacher to know how each of their children learns, whether they be visual, auditory, tactile learners or a combination of one or more of them.  Is it easy to design a unique and individual educational plan for 4 children?  No, far from it.  But, I do not believe I would be doing my children any justice if I didn't.

The last aspect of our eclectic homeschool that I would like to share this week is giving service.  I believe this should be a very important part of any child's character development and Christian worldview.  It is a very important part of our homeschool and our lives.  Christ taught us that He didn't come to this world to be served, but to serve.  What an important life lesson for all of us, whether in our homes or in our communities.

As my children grow older, I am sure that our service opportunities will grow even more, but at this point, we have really focused on being active and helpful members of our church community.  My older two boys volunteer as office runners and assistants with our education program, where I am a teacher.  My older son has helped with funerals and weddings and our daughter and her youth group have done numerous acts of service, ranging from setting up for special programs, visitng the homebound and helping with baptisms.  My husband and I are on the planning committee for our family retreat.  All four children help with the fundraisers that offset the costs.  We setup for our flea markets (which is no small task) and work at the registration tables each year at the retreat.

There are so many ways to give service and encourage a servant's heart in our children.  It can be through your church community or in your neighborhood.  There are no shortage of food pantries that need help or donations.  Homeless or women's shelters are always looking for toiletries or small household items.  Even the act of gathering up unwanted or no longer used toys and books for a local preschool encourages the act of giving in young people.  Children at our church have made cards and placemats for residents in nursing homes and have sent letters to servicemen and women who are far away from home fighting for our freedom.  This is a wonderful and inexpensive way to brighten someone's day.  It doesn't have to be costly to be meaningful or even life-changing.  And this applies daily in our home, as well.  Giving service, just like going to church, shouldn't be something that is scheduled for one day a week and then we can feel like "we have done our part."  We must live it.  It must be a part of everything we do, all day, everyday.  I encourage my children to be of service and service minded everyday.

Encouraging our children to pray for those less fortunate or for those who lives are in harm's way and for each other is probably the greatest gift that we can ever offer and it doesn't cost a penny.  And what a beautiful example we are setting for our children and hopefully paving the way for a lifetime of being of service to and thinking of others.

I hope that this series has been helpful and encourging to you.  I have enjoyed writing it and reading all of the other posts that have been shared this week.  It has been a privilege to take part.

To see Day 1: What is an Eclectic Homeschool click here.
To see Day 2: Lapbooking in an Eclectic Homeschool chick here.
To see Day 3: Field trips in an Eclectic Homeschool click here.
To see Day 4: The importance of Physical Fitness in an Eclectic Homeschool click here.

There is one day remaining in our Kindle Fire HD giveaway.  Have you entered?  Click here.

5 Days of Eclectic Homeschooling- Day 4

Another very important element in our eclectic homeschool is physical activity.  Physical activity is so very critical in a child's development.  In fact, I saw on a documentary recently that in Finland, whose children score significantly higher than ours in ALL areas tested, requires children to have physical activity after every one or two classes during their school day.  You read that right.  Physical activity EVERY hour or so EVERY day for all ages including high school. (they also don't teach to the test and give very little to no homework, but that could be the subject of a whole other blog series!).  

In this country, in institutionalized schools, young children get one or two recess periods in an entire day and once they reach junior high or high school, they get NONE.  ZERO.  ZILCH. (ok, maybe one "gym" period in an entire week and that is considered sufficient exercise?)  These kids are sitting passively for 8 plus hours a day and continuing to score lower than their counterparts in other developing nations more and more each year.

I didn't need to hear about Finland (but I'm glad I did for validation!) to know the importance of physical activity.(and not having hours and hours of busywork  homework each night.  Uh-oh, there I go again!  lol)  Increasing one's heartrate increases oxygen flow to the brain in addition to releasing steam and stress.  When there is increased oxygen levels, children are able to concentrate better and their academic work is significantly improved.  

This being said, I also encourage my children to drink and snack during the day.  In an institutionalized school, children have one opportunity all day to eat or drink.  The affects of dehydration on academics and on a child's overall health are well known.  In addition, when sugar levels are allowed to drop, there are behavioral implications as well as health issues.  Keeping the sugar level even and balanced during the day with healthy snacks is very important.  There are drinks and good snacks out on our table all day for my kiddos.  And trust me, when I inadvertently forget, it is evident in more ways than one.  It is all part of keeping our children healthy!

My children participate in a weekly homeschool bowling league.  It is only $5 a child and they get instruction and plenty of time for bowling practice.  If your local center doesn't already offer such a program, speak to the manager.  A friend of mine did and thus began our program.  Many companies are looking for homeschoolers to reach out to them so they can develop programs that cater to their needs.  I have also read online that local karate centers and dance studios are offering daytime lessons for homeschoolers, as well as the YMCA.  My children participated in the YMCA's Homeschool Swim and Gym program in the past and enjoyed it.

But more important than any structured (and/or expensive) program is just the physical activity itself.  During the in between class times in Finland, there isn't a gym "class" or structured "play."  The kids are allowed to just be.  They can run, jump or just get some fresh air.  It doesn't have to be organized to be fun and beneficial.

You can let your kids go outside for a bike ride or play on your back yard swings.  You can take them to a local park (it's great during the day because we can typically have them to ourselves!) or field with their play equipment.  The possibilities are endless!  :-)

For Day 1, 'What is an Eclectic Homeschool?' click here.

For Day 2, 'Lapbooking in an Eclectic Homeschool,' click here

For Day 3, "Field Trips in an Eclectic Homeschool,' click here.

There are only 2 days left in the Kindle Fire HD giveaway!  Click here to visit my post to enter.  It is an awesome giveaway!  :-)

5 Days of Eclectic Homeschool Day 3

Another important part of our eclectic homeschool is field trips.  Not only are they fun, they are educational and make learning real.  Field trips make what you read and study come alive.  There is nothing like experiencing whatever it is that interests you first hand.

Here in PA, we are so very blessed to live in an area so very rich in history, science and culture.  We have walked in the very footsteps of Franklin, Washington and Jefferson.  We have visited colonial manors.

We learned about the Spanish-American war on a 19th century battleship and about WWII on a submarine.

We have studied geology while underground in a cave

and about animals at the zoos and aquarium in the area.  We have run up the Art Museum steps like "Rocky" (we did study art on the inside of the museum!) and experienced almost everything science at the Franklin Institute.  We have toured our ballpark, visited local farms and orchards and climbed into the log cabins at Valley Forge.

And this is all right here.  Much of it was free or low cost, so it can be accomplished on a budget.  I would also suggest shopping around for zoos or science centers that offer reciprocal membership benefits.

As for out of PA, we have walked back in time in Colonial Williamsburg, helped defend the fort in Jamestown, climbed aboard a NASA rocket in Hampton, visited many the Smithsonian museums and monuments in DC (incredible learning experiences!),

studied the ecology of the watershed in Delaware and participated in maple sugaring in New Jersey, just to name a few.

We hope to do even more in the future.  I want my children to climb aboard the ships in Boston from where the tea was thrown and march the path of Pickett's Charge.  We would like to travel some of the journey of Lewis and Clark and gaze into the Grand Canyon.  Someday.  :-)

We always ask our children to write (one even makes power point presentations) about their experiences- what they learned, what they liked most and what they would like to see more of in the future.  Our kids like to take their own photos on our field trips, as well.  It is always fun to put albums together with mementos, stickers or other materials.  This, too, becomes quite the learning experience; giving our children a diverse and interest-led education is what our eclectic homeschool is all about.

For Day 1, 'What is an Eclectic Homeschool' click here.
For Day 2, 'Lapbooking in an Eclectic Homeschool' click here

5 Days of Eclectic Homeschool Day 2

In our eclectic homeschool, one of the ways I encourage my childrens' interests, yet have them enthusiastically working is through lapbooking.  Many of you may already be familiar with lapbooks, but perhaps have been hesitant to introduce them into your homeschool or classroom.  Even back when I was the director of a Montessori school, I did a workshop introducing the teachers to lapbooking and they were able to successfully implement them with their students, even as young as 4 years old!

Lapbooking is a means of hands-on learning.  We all know the benefits of hands-on learning.  Students learn and retain the most information when they actually are engaged physically with the learning and "do" something, rather than just passively sitting and hearing or reading about it.

The lapbook itself is assembled with file folders and there is always a section to lift or fold. (kids just love manipulating them!) The topics can be as varied and diverse as the students making them. Different templates are utilized (booklets, wheels, cards, etc.) to include important information about the topic the student is learning about.  Lapbooking is active learning.  The student is cutting, pasting, researching, DOING.  They love it and the results are always impressive.

Age is never a factor.  In fact, when Kiddo #3 was in kindergarten, he made one on addition facts.  His favorite by far is the one he made on elephants.  Kiddo #2 has made one on 'Creatures of the Deep' and American Football  and Kiddo #1's favorite just happens to be the one on Aviation.  Some of Kiddo #4's lapbooks have included pigs, a Little House on the Prairie book synopsis and most recently, one on butterflies.  As you can see, they are available in every level of difficulty, from the most simple to the most advanced.

There are companies that produce lapbooking kits and have everything right there for you-- the information, the book suggestions and all of the templates and cut-outs to include in the lapbook.  Such include Hands of a Child, A Journey through Learning,  Lapbooks for Catholics and CurrClick.  They sell these materials for a fee and you can find the lapbooks available for grades preschool through 12th grade.

Some of the ones from these companies that we have used include:

There are also free lapbooks available online in literally dozens of topics and grade levels.  Such websites include Free Lapbooks at Homeschool Share, which has over 500 free lapbooks on every topic you can possibly imagine,  Homeschool Helper Online and Lapbook Lessons.

For Day 1, 'What is an Eclectic Homeschool' click here.

5 Days of Eclectic Homeschool Day 1

What is an eclectic homeschool?  Well, I guess that depends on who you ask.  I can certainly tell you what it isn't.  Eclectic homeschool is NOT school in a box.  It is NOT a one-size fits all curriculum.  I sincerely believe that approach doesn't work in a school building, so it wouldn't be something I would want to do with my children at home.

Every child is a distinct and unique individual.  With that uniqueness and individuality comes strengths and weaknesses unlike ANY other child.  If we, from the day of our child's birth, tell them that they are "special," and in Mr. Rogers' words, "there is no one quite like you," how can we expect every one of them to use the same exact materials, be on the same academic or interest level of every other child?  It is artificial, contrived and has failed.  Just look at the statistics.  Even with all of the money that has been poured into the educational system, it continues to decline each year.

So, in our eclectic homeschool, I cater to each child's individual strengths and interests.  Kiddo #1, for example, lives and breathes aviation.  This kid could make a working and flying airplane out of a cardboard box. (yes, he has indeed done that, just look at the photos below!)  So, when it comes time for writing (which this hands-on kid does not like, let me tell you!), I encourage him to write about aviation.  He is not thrilled about writing as it is, why would I want to force him to write about a subject that he has absolutely no interest in whatsoever?  Where is the learning in that situation?  He would do it because he is a good, obedient kid, but there would be NO real learning involved.  That is where I think schools and education have failed our children the most.  Their creativity needs to be fostered, their imaginations sparked.  Real, true learning will take place when a child WANTS to delve into something deeper.  So, with that thought in mind, I let him choose a topic in aviation that he wants to learn more about.  He will enthusiastically do the research and since it is relevant to him, he will remember and want to learn more and more about it.  And, I the research paper gets written.  So, he is learning the basics of self-expression while absorbing so much more about a subject he loves and one that will probably be his life-long interest, career and passion. Wow, what a concept!  ;-)

In this 5-day series, that many other bloggers are participating in, as well, on topics of THEIR choice (hooray!), I will look into and give some examples of what we do in our homeschool that encourage my children's interests and abilities and help them become better students, citizens and Christians.  It may be time consuming, but nothing of worth is ever easy!

Day 2- Lapbooking
Day 3- Field Trips
Day 4- Physical Activity
Day 5- Giving Service