Meet Crystal

     I have four children ages 2-13.  Currently my 3 oldest are homeschooling.  I've learned a lot over the years about being a mom and homeschooling.  I have always homeschooled my children.  I was a substitute teacher in public schools until my oldest was born.  I knew before I had her that she would be homeschooled.  From the things I saw and experienced as a substitute teacher there was no way I would ever send my children to public school.  I started teaching my oldest preschool when she was two, kindergarten at four and she tested ready for first grade at five.  She learned all of her ABC's at two after hearing them twice & she could read at age four.  All without having bought any packaged curriculum.  I thought homeschooling was so easy.  Turns out she was so easy.I learned a different lesson with my second.  

     We have tried many different curriculums.   With my oldest we started with store bought workbooks then for first and second grades she did ACE worktexts.  Third was a mix of curriculums and fourth through sixth was Sonlight.  With her I bought what I thought sounded good and she did it.  I didn't change programs if she didn't like something or if she complained or cried.  Its what we bought for her so that's what she had to do.  With Sonlight I did let her skip a book now and then and I added extra materials to subjects I thought deserved more attention. 

     My second daughter was completely different than my first.  Not only did I not start teaching her early but I delayed her.  I tried multiple curriculums in the first couple of years only to discover none of it worked.  She didn't respond to any of it.  I also never made her sit and do schoolwork.  She thought of it as a game and we played when she was willing.  Eventually I quit trying to make her fit the curriculum and started making the curriculum fit her.  I learned a lot from homeschooling her.  I learned sometimes education must take a backseat to health.  I learned some children don't learn from a curriculum just because I think it sounds good.  I learned that book learning is a hard won battle for some children.  I learned that child led/interest based learning is an amazing thing. 

     Now we homeschool 100% interest based.  My oldest still absorbs knowledge from thin air.  She finds it fun to study the dictionary and takes great pleasure in stumping people by using words no one has ever heard of.  She doesn't like math but finds algebra fascinating and fun.  My second still has a hard time learning things if it comes through a book and she has no interest in most things curriculum would teach, but she loves animals and learns easily if its tied to animals.  She loves to watch documentaries on animals, she loves to listen to stories about animals, loves to interact with animals.  She can do math problems in her head and draws like no one I've ever known.  And my youngest two?  Well, I guess you could say they're along for the ride.

     In my 11 years homeschooling I have learned a lot, but the lesson I most value is that my children are more important than any curriculum.  They are more important than any scope and sequence that tells me they need to know something at a certain age.  I don't care that my oldest started doing algebra a full year before anyone thought she should or that her vocabulary probably rivals a college graduates.  I don't care that my eight year old doesn’t want to study American history or that she is 100% focused on animals and protecting the endangered ones.  I've also learned that learning is like magic.  Put a person (child or adult) in the right environment and they will learn without even trying.  I've learned to make my home a rich environment.  We have bookshelf after bookshelf of books accessible to anyone that wants to look at them.  We have lots of curriculums and textbooks, and worktexts from lots of different companies.  On all different age and grade levels.  We have educational dvds and audio cds, science kits, and unit study boxes, craft and drawing supplies.  They are all always available to anyone (even the toddler) that wishes to use them.  We take lots of "field trips".  We go to museums, libraries (we like to visit new libraries even if we can't borrow books), zoos, aquariums, Parks, hiking, biking... 

     I hear questions like "how do you do it" and " why do you do it?"   I hear questions about what we will do for college or what about socialization.  Questions about what curriculum works best and how do we afford it.  The best answer I can give to all these questions and more is that I do it because I love my children.  I do it because it makes me happy to see them happy.  I do it because I don't want my children exposed to all the pressures of public school.  My children are socialized because they live and learn in the real world.  We will handle college when we need to.  And there is no great curriculum.   The best curriculum for a child is the one that works for that child.  And we afford it much like you do anything else by buying one book or kit or membership at a time.  The best compliment I ever got was when a neighbor whose children are the same ages as mine and go to public school said, "Your kids aren't like other kids.  They're happy and they act like kids."

     My best advice to anyone is to enjoy your children.  They are gifts from God.  They will learn way more from an enjoyable afternoon spent with a parent then they will from anything else.

Meet Amy

A little about me…

My name is Amy Dulock, and this is my first endeavor into the blogging world, so bear with me!

So first things first, I grew up in Gainesville (born in OKC…don’t hold it against me), and made it safely and successfully through the Gainesville school system. From there, I went on to Austin College (our mascot? The fighting kangaroos…vicious) with the hopes of becoming a band director. However, in the middle of my junior year, I switched majors from music to English, and wrote more papers in those years combined than I will write for the rest of my life. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2006, then took advantage of AC’s 5-year Master’s program, and graduated in 2007, with a Master of Arts in Teaching. I taught 8^th grade English for one year (2007-2008) in inner-city Arlington. I was married in Nov. 2007, became pregnant on my honeymoon, and resigned from my teaching position the following year, a few weeks after my first son was born.

At the moment, I am blissfully married to my high school sweetheart. We were friends all the way back in 1997 (in that awkward way that 12 and 13-year-olds can be friends with the opposite sex!), and were married in 2007. Although I have absolutely no intention of letting my boys date (until they’re married, of course…that’s reasonable, right?), oddly enough, neither of our parents felt the same way, and we were dating before either of us even had driver’s licenses. Nothing like going on dates with your parents! (As a side note, I happen to agree with the idea of courtship, and awkwardly willingly sat in my parents’ van, holding hands under a blanket after 6 months of “dating.”). Steven and I have 2 boys – Noah (born July 29, 2008) and Greyson (born February 21, 2010) – and they keep me busier and more exhausted than I ever thought I could be. In the same vein, however, these two nutty boys have given me more uproarious laughter and more tears of joy than humanly imaginable. They fight (a lot), they hug (a little), and they enjoy themselves (always). If only I enjoyed playing in the dirt as much as they do…

Steven is the praise and worship leader at our church, New Life Bible Church, and I sing with him. I clean the church, practice music, do a women’s book club, and multiple other things at the church, and that, combined with the incredible hearts of the people there, have made it a second home. In fact, when I was teaching Noah his address the other day, I wanted him to repeat it back to me. I asked him, “Where do you live?” He said, “At home and at church.” And I’d say that’s a pretty accurate perception.

There’s not much people don’t know about me – I’m a pretty open book. When I have a passion for something, I tend to be somewhat (ha!) vocal about it. God is continuously working with me on discretion and tact! My current obsessions passions include attempting to keep constant communion with God. After reading the books, “1,000 Gifts” by Ann Voskamp and “ Practicing the Presence of God” by brother Lawrence, my life has been somewhat turned upside down (at least my thought life has – that would explain the somewhat distant look you may see on my face frequently. Well, that or the fact that I have 2 toddler boys…po-tay-to/po-tah-to). My second fixation is with childbirth. I have a slight obsession (is there such thing as a “slight” obsession?) with pregnant women…when a baby’s born, I am somewhat ashamed to say that my first thought isn’t, “How precious – a baby!” Instead it’s, “I wonder how the delivery was!” Yes. It’s sad, I know. I teach childbirth classes, and I spend more time than I would like to admit researching, then researching some more, then if I have more time, I research. I can’t help it. God has given me the passion, who am I to suppress it? ;)

My homeschooling journey…I’m not sure I’m even on the journey – maybe still marking the trail!

Initially, Steven and I decided we would homeschool our children based solely on the fact that we were watching the school systems in our area decline into an abysmal state. Our reasoning was strictly academic. As Noah grew, we quickly realized that he was far ahead of his age, academically speaking. I worried about his future in a public school system. I worried that he would be bored, and would cause trouble out of boredom, and that he would be one of those highly intelligent kids sitting in detention every day. Since then, we have come to a different realization: it’s ok to say that you want to homeschool your children for religious reason! *gasp* (Sounds so elementary when it’s typed right in front of my face!) We had always said that no, in fact, it wasn’t because of our adherence to biblical doctrine, or because we wanted to shelter our children that we would homeschool…but as I’ve grown in my relationships with my children and with Christ, I can say that YES! That has had a colossal impact on our decision to homeschool! Children are so impressionable and so vulnerable, that we feel that it is our responsibility to shelter them from worldly things, until they are mature enough to process them. (A disclaimer: I wholeheartedly understand that homeschooling is not for everyone. For some, it’s not desirable; for others, it’s not possible. I am merely speaking of my own convictions and experiences – no judgment here!).

I have started slowly with Noah, with very little “official” schooling. He is an eager learner, and his favorite thing to do around 18 months was to sit and learn his letters, shapes, colors, and numbers. So that made things easy for me! As he gets older, he is still an eager learner, but I’ve had to find things that are a little more creative than just using the MagnaDoodle he got for his first birthday. I’ve used many ideas I’ve seen online, but none of them consistently. Greyson is not as eager of a learner, so I haven’t pushed it. He would rather play with a Mr. Potato Head than learn letters, and I’m fine with that. I knew Noah was ahead of the game at age 2, so I don’t feel the need to push Greyson into doing things the same way Noah did. I love the fact that with homeschooling, you can be God-centered in everything, especially with little ones. Just going for a walk presents so many opportunities for drawing little hearts to Christ, while educating them in an academic sense as well. Observing a rainbow and telling the story of Noah (a big hit in my house) opens the door to so many heart and head lessons. We can make bread in the kitchen, and teach that a cookbook gives us the ingredients and instructions to help us achieve our end result, and at the same time, show how the bible is God’s recipe and instruction book for our lives, with the end result being a Christ-like heart. Also, I love that we can use anything that comes up as a teaching moment. We interrupted school on a fall day to watch the Tuff Shed guys build our shed from the ground up. Noah was fascinated. Finally, it is a beautiful thing for me to be able to watch my children “get” something…that look in their eyes when you see that the wheels are turning, and suddenly they tell you five more words that begin with “guh-guh-G!” that you hadn’t even brought up. And then when one of those words is “guh-guh-give,” which is followed by a memory verse from months past, “Guh-guh-Give thanks to the Lord, who made the great lights: sun, moon, and stars” from the mouth of a 3-year-old – it’s priceless. If I felt like a failure for everything else that day, I knew that THIS was a success, and I was present to witness it.

I LOVE to teach letters and math and shapes (remember, my kids are 3 ½ and 2 at the moment, so the math is still easy!). I DO NOT love to do art projects or anything crafty or messy. Sad, I know. I just feel like I have so many messes to clean up already, so WHY would I want to willingly add more messes? It seems masochistic to me…which is why my sister and I have pledged to trade off these teaching duties. I will gladly teach her children the academic subjects that she doesn’t want to teach, provided she will let my kids fingerpaint and get rice or glitter everywhere (at her house, of course…I’m not crazy…er, well, not THAT crazy).

Since we’re still very unstructured in our schooling (I’m working on it, cut me some slack!), our day is somewhat (ok, let’s be honest, it’s COMPLETELY) structured around meal times and naps. Breakfast, errands (or playtime), lunch, nap for Greyson while Noah does school, “rest time” for Noah, movie time for the 5:00-6:00 hour (lovingly referred to as the witching hour in my house), dinner, playtime with Daddy, bath, books, bed. And that pretty much sums up our day. My goal for the next month is to have a more structured playtime. A new (but what I hope will become a very dear) friend advised using activity bins and changing activities and locations every 15-20 minutes. This made so much sense to me that I nearly slapped my own forehead. So I’ll keep you updated on that front…

My children are so socialized, it’s a often too much for me at times. Noah seems to be a bit socially awkward, but not in the stereotypical homeschool way (no offense intended there…but c’mon, there *is* the stereotype)…he’s awkward in that he gets too close to people too fast. He tends to hug strangers, share all of the details of his life (real or imagined), and has even kissed a stranger’s leg after discussing the book he was reading. So, yeah…socialization? Check that off the list. Enrichment classes, church, and family (we have 7 cousins within3 ½ years) are their main sources of socialization – something I am SO grateful for.

Keeping it Real…

I haven’t had much need thus far to separate the mom from the teacher. Since my boys are so young, they have only learned from me. And since they have short attention spans, learning takes place in the moment, whenever I can make it happen. If I’m changing a diaper (being mom) and Greyson hears an airplane outside, I can immediately switch to teacher and show him how he hears with his ears and sees with his eyes, etc. I know that as they get older, there may be more of a need for that separation, but I’d like to put it off as long as possible!

Bad days? Uh, yeah. I have 2 strong-willed boys within 18 ½ months of each other, and the oldest is 3 ½ . Yeah, there are bad days. Those bad days consist of the boys fighting, some more fighting, rough-housing, a little bit more fighting, a wound or two, then back to fighting. Those are days that I am NOT proud of…I yell more than I would like, swat more than I would like, and threaten more than I would like. But alas, God’s grace is sufficient, and each day begins anew. My new friend has also inspired me with her morning prayer: “Lord, give me a meek and quiet spirit today. Give me a meek and quiet spirit today. Give me a meek and quiet spirit today.” I will be praying this every. single. day. before my feet hit the ground. How can I not? It’s these bad days when the burnout occurs, but it has nothing to do with homeschooling! If I gave them more structure, they wouldn’t have time to fight (as much…c’mon, I’m a realist). Since I am so new to homeschooling and haven’t really gotten into the thick of it, I don’t feel that there’s a lot of advice I can give to the burned out homeschooling mom. But I AM a woman, mother, wife, and child of the King, and I can speak to that a bit: I’ll say it again. God’s grace is sufficient. Always. It’s when we fail to see His grace that we feel burned out. And burnout is just that: a feeling. It is not a state of being. While we can feel burned out, we can rest in the assurance that God has brought us this far, and that as long as we are totally dependent on Him, we can handle anything that is thrown at us. (Now, if I can remember this in about 12 hours when my boys are trying to kill each other…)

Calgon, Take Me Away . . .

Almost coming in first under Top Homeschool Products were: Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Dr. Pepper
Personally, when the kids are on my LAST nerve or the phone keeps ringing when I am TRYING to read a book aloud, or I just need a little pick me up, my fav is SWEET TEA. If only there was a Taco Casa in Forestburg!!! During the winter it's Starbucks apple cider. It is always a race on Friday mornings to see if I can make it to town early enough to swing through the drive thru before our enrichment classes. Sweet Tea or Apple Cider just seem to make the day better.
How 'bout you? Are you a morning coffee drinker? I know I have seen many of you in the same Starbucks line I sit in! What get's your day off to a good start? OR what helps you make it through the afternoon?
Come on . . . Spill it!! (No, pun intended!)

“Yes, sweet tea for me, too. I having with breakfast (or before) every morning. Don't like coffee, and gave up DP.”

-Nicki

“I am so blessed to be able to read the bible and drink a few cups of hot tea every morning. I couldn't manage to find the time when the kids were younger, but now, I think I can't function without that quiet time! My current tea favorites are Wisdom of the Ancients Yerba Mate Royale and Yogi Muscle Recovery Green Tea. I buy both of those from Michelle's United coop.
I also enjoy Uncle Lee's Jasmine Green Tea and Uncle Lee's White Tea (tastes just like black tea) that I purchase from Alison's Frontier coop. “

-Susan

“Venti Starbucks Iced Double Shot with White Mocha gets me through the rough days. Two of our homeschool graduates introduced me to this drink, last year when I was getting ready for Cotillion and my energy level was at zero.”

- Pennye

“Starbucks is my pick up.I drink cheap, instant decaf diluted by half with a generic brand of vanilla soy pre-warmed in a microwave.  What do I know about taste?  Know what I like about
Starbucks?  My personal unwritten rule:  No Kids Alowed.  For years, I never took a day off unless it was sanctioned by their father.  This was my choice, not his demand. He worked so many long, hard hours, I figured he needed his
rest.  Then one day while feeling particularly murderous I realized I hadn't had a day off in 2 YEARS.  Now, I strike out whenever the humor is on me.”

-Jen

“Everyone should get a break.  Sometime during my 30's, while being either pregnant or lactating or both for 10 (yes, that's ten) sleep-deprived, contiguous years, I decided everybody needs some down time. That may mean going to my room for a "Mommy time-out" or talking on the phone or, rarely, it means a night out with my dh or friends. Having a break keeps me out of survival mode, that robotic, pragmatic state in which all creativity and humor is lost.
Coffee, chocolate, and tea can help. But when I have 5 minutes and am inspired to do something really invigorating for myself and my kids, I turn on the music and we all dance.”

-Dawn

Meet Maggie, A Single Parent Homeschooling Momma

Hello, my name is Maggie VanDolah, I have 3 fantastic children that have been a blessing beyond what I ever imagined before having children. I have been a single mom for the past 11 years, which was not a choice I would have ever wanted or chosen but God has been so good to us in so many ways that it is hard to even consider this as anything other than an extremely blessed life. It has been a great joy for me to be able to homeschool when I thought it would be impossible. I also have worked at Sears Medical Associates for the past 9 years and have been able to have a flexible schedule which is great with homeschooling. Currently, my only hobby is doing home improvements as I have time, I have 3 storm doors and a ceiling fan that are waiting to be installed when I find a free day or two or three to get to them! My favorite meal is any meal I don’t have to cook, except fish! My dream vacation is spending time in the Colorado Rocky Mountains but I would also love to go to Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Washington D.C., the list could go on and on.

Here is a little about my favorite subject, my children! William is 24, he lives in Ft Worth with his wife, Elizabeth, and their dog, Bella. William is a very considerate and caring son and husband. For the most part he was my most compliant child but also the most adventurous. He would get mad at himself if he was ever too afraid to try something; I learned to almost force him to do the things he seemed afraid of. One time after we were getting off a roller coaster at Six Flags, he hugged me and said, “Thanks for making me go on that ride, Mom!” Ben is 20, he currently lives at home and is attending NCTC in Gainesville. He has played the drums for over 7 years and he has always loved video games. Ben loves to tease his mom and siblings; he has always had a very quick wit, mind, and mouth! He is the one that could (and still can) outlast and outwit me, most of the time! I wouldn’t change a thing about him because he has been an exceptionally fun son to raise and has challenged me to look at many things in a different light. Molly is 14, my little girl that’s not so little anymore. She plays piano and loves to hang out with her friends. Molly is a very sweet and loving daughter, I’ve noticed as she is maturing she is developing a very level head and has quite a bit of common sense. She was only 3 when her Dad and I divorced. She recently told me she wouldn’t change her parents or life because she feels she wouldn't be the same person, she believes God will use what she has been through to help others. That was so awesome for me to hear. I have always encouraged my children to focus on all the wonderful things they have and not the few things they don't have, I have never wanted them to think of themselves as victims of divorce.

Our homeschooling adventure began twelve years ago with Ben when he was going into 3rd grade. He seemed to have trouble staying out of trouble in class because he would get bored waiting for the teacher to teach the next subject. He begged me to homeschool so I called my brother and his wife, Ray and Joyce Hall, who had homeschooled both their girls before anyone thought homeschooling was an option! They assured me that I could do it and even continued to encourage and assure me that I could still homeschool even as a single mom. We had tried public school and private school with William and he just never enjoyed school and had quite a bit of trouble learning to read but when he started school at home in 8th grade he realized he could learn so much more and he gained a confidence in himself that he hadn’t had before. He even got the opportunity to teach guitar to several other kids. Molly has been homeschooled since the beginning and she will be in 9th grade this year. I have tried several curriculum and my favorite was Sonlight, it comes with so many books and covers so much and if I had more time to spend we would still be using that. I have used Abeka with Molly for several years and she started doing the Abeka videos last year. Even though the videos are not my first choice they give a very well rounded education that my children can do without waiting for me to find the time before or after work to do school with them. I can help with anything they are having trouble grasping and they can tell me what interesting things they learned each day. The benefits to homeschool far outweigh any disadvantages. The flexibility is a huge benefit, it is so nice to be able to take vacations when everyone else is in school, to be able to see things and spend time together. For us when a hard issue would come up it was so nice to be able to talk it though and work it out as we needed to instead of waiting till they got home from school. My children have a bond with each other that they would never have had without being homeschooled. They have always had so much fun together and did so many more things together than they ever would have done had they not been homeschooled. William and Ben played in a band together and even recently have started playing golf together. All three of them loved to go on adventures together exploring anything they could find to explore.
What is it like homeschooling a teenager? Just like anything with a teenager, hard but totally awesome! When they start enjoying learning and decide they want to learn it is so very rewarding, you feel like you have given them a gift they will use and cherish for their whole life.

Are there ever bad days? No, never!! Of course there are but it’s usually the bad ones that teach you the most afterwards. You definitely figure out what not to do! When things got too bad for us, many times I would decide to take the rest of the day off of school and regroup. We might go to a movie, or just watch one of our favorite movies at home, sometimes we would just go do a little shopping, the idea was to just take a break to be able to objectively look at the situation without the emotional unrest.

One of the biggest challenges for me with homeschooling is knowing if I taught them enough and worrying that I failed them by not teaching them something they might really need. In the end though I realize that if I can teach them a thirst for knowledge they will be able to learn the things they really need to know.

I have experienced “burn out” and my advice for anyone going through it is to just step back and know that you are doing something great for your children. You may not feel like it at times and they may tell you differently at times, but be assured that your children will be given something from you that they will be able to use the rest of their lives!

My advice to any single parents thinking about or homeschooling their child is to pray often, to be patient and to talk about things with your children. Sometimes the emotional trauma of being a child of a single parent can be internalized by your children and I have found that when I can get mine to talk about what they are thinking we can work out so much and their whole outlook on life and school completely changes.

Hi. I'm Tiffany.

Hi. I’m Tiffany. I am one of the bloggers & the official interviewer here at RRCH blogspot. I thought I might should introduce myself (& my family) since I’m nosing into everyone else’s business.

My husband, Tim, & I have been married for almost 7 years. Together we have a very blended family: His, Mine & Ours. Altogether there are 8 of us: Tim, Tiffany, Tiya, Taylor, Tyler, Tucker, Trevor, & Truman. I am blessed to be a stay-at-home mom & have been homeschooling our children for about 4 years now. Tim is a police officer in Denton a few days a week & farming around our home in Forestburg the rest of the time. Tiya is our only child that does not live with us. She will be a freshman this year at a public school in OK, where she lives with her mom. Taylor is almost 11 & will be starting the 5th grade. Tyler is 8, starting 3rd grade. Tucker is 4, Trevor is 3 & they are PK/K4. Truman is the baby, just 2 months old.

Our family lives on about 800 acres so most of our hobbies include the outdoors (excluding the winter activities for me). We like to spend our time fishing, riding 4-wheelers, gardening, & working on projects together. Tim is the ultimate handy man, but seldom completely finishes any project. I have a very long “honey do” list for him  Taylor loves being a little momma to her brothers & fits right in with all these boys; however, she enjoys her girl time with her friends & loves to scrapbook. Tyler is our ball player – he loves baseball. Tucker is following in his big brother’s footsteps & played T-ball for the first time this year. Trevor can’t wait to “be big enough” to play next year. On my personal time (late at night) I enjoy scrapbooking, blogging, and working on school activities for our homeschool.

Something about me that most people in this group may not know is that I was a single, teenage mom until Tim & I married.

My dream vacation with kids would be Disneyland & the beach in California. WithOUT the kids I would love to go somewhere tropical, sit on a beach with my hubby & enjoy the sun.

Our homeschool . . .

Our homeschool changes from year to year. I found myself homeschooling & not even knowing I was homeschooling, to homeschooling b/c I wasn’t impressed with the PS system, to homeschooling a child that needed the extra help. All these reasons I feel have been at the hands of the Lord. I truly believe a childs classroom is their mothers heart.

We have a small schoolroom (& are getting a BIG schoolroom soon!), but for the most part we school all over the place: My room, their room, the living room, the kitchen, outside, at the park, in their tree house . . . you name it, we’ve probably done school there. My desire is not to school at home, but to homeschool. The schoolroom is more of a central location for having everything in one spot & not strung out all over the house.
Pinpointing our method to one style is difficult. All in all, it is very electic. I love Charlotte Mason ideas & look to her teachings for inspiration, but I tend to use more Classical curriculum. However, I’ve found that curriculum I love isn’t always curriculum my children love. Seasons change in homeschooling, just as they do in nature. When I see it is time for a change – we do just that – find something that will work. This year will be my first year to use a computer based program for one of my children.

Curriculum:
Tapestry of Grace
Winter Promise
Math U See
Easy Grammar/First Language Lessons
Writing with Ease
Heart of Dakota
Handwriting Without Tears
Switched on Schoolhouse

My favorite subject to teach? I love PK/K!! Just love it! History & Geography are my favorite subjects with my big kids. Which is funny b/c I did not like these subjects when I was in school.

A schedule: Oh yes! I am totally Type-A, planner, overly organized. That’s me 100%. We have a schedule(s); however, life is life & we rarely have a typical homeschool day that the schedule is actually followed. It is a great plan though. A normal school day for us is:
Breakfast
Chores
School (start by 9)
- PK/K with mom while big kids do their independent work
- PK/K with a big kid while I spend one on one with the other
- SWITCH
- Snack time: Picture study
- Free time or “center” time for PK/K guided/independent reading for big kids
- LUNCH: memory work, classical music
- PK/K quiet time, Group study & activities with big kids

School is usually done around 3-3:30

It looks so simple all typed out. This does not explain that we are a REAL family. I do clean up at least 10 spills or messes a school day. I do have to stop a lesson to deal with a character issue. We do play hookie. If grandpa shows up with a watermelon we will stop & eat it – even if it’s not “Snack time.” I do have unscheduled teacher appreciation days for days they drive me crazy! The schedule exists, is constantly changing, occassionaly is completely followed, but something I would still say is necessary.

Benefits of homeschooling? There have been many. I love being the one to share the experience of learning with my kids. It is a wonderful feeling to see them excited about a topic or finally accomplish a goal. The little things are such a blessing; however last year God showed me another side of the benefits. My mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer & only given 3 months to live (she did just that). Once we realized how short our time was with her everything was put on hold & the kids were able to spend as much time with her during the last 3 months as they/she possibly could. The time with her homeschooling gave them was a huge benefit. After she passed away they also had plenty of time to grieve. They didn’t have to go back to the normal hustle & bustle of school life. They were able to truly mourn as much as they needed.

Keeping it Real . . .

Bad days? Yes, we have them. We even have bad weeks & bad months. We’ve had a bad year too!

How do I handle bad days?
It depends if it is me, the kids, a kid, or just life’s circumstances. If it is me – I just have the kids do their independent work & then have free time OUTSIDE. If it is the kids – I scream & pull my hair out. If it is a kid – I send them to daddy! If it is life – we stop what we are doing, accept it for what it is & return when we are refreshed & ready.

Challenges in homeschooling?
It is difficult homeschooling in a blended family. Not all the parents always see eye to eye. Being a Step mom & a teacher has its own challenges, but the good far out ways the bad.

Separating from being the mom & the teacher. I can’t; however, there are times I wish I could. How nice it would be to just send a note home. Lol It is impossible. We homeschool – mom is the teacher. There is no role playing. It is what it is.

Subjects I haven’t enjoyed teaching
I hear a lot of homeschooling mothers say they love to teach their kids to read – Not me. It tends to be a lot of pressure & I just worry so much that I’m not doing it right. Science is fun, but not really my thing, so my husband usually does life lessons in science & I throw a little curriculum in here & there.

Chores
Many. I have chores, they have chores, we all have chores & none of us get paid. We are a family, we live on a farm & we all have to pitch in to make it work. We reap what we sow.

I don’t’ know if I’ve hit the “Burned Out” time of schooling, but I have experienced the “Worn Out” times!

When times get difficult I whine. I pour out my heart & soul to the Almighty. Okay, honestly, I’m human . . . First, I try to handle it. I can fix it – I’m a mom after all – that is my job – to fix things, make them better. Then I usually make a bigger mess, realize I can’t fix it, in fact, it isn’t my battle to fight – it is God’s. He is not surprised at the situation, He makes no mistakes, & chances are He is trying to teach me something through the difficult times.

Advice for newbies. I don’t quite feel qualified in this area yet; however, I will say – don’t compare yourself, your children, or your homeschool to others. Homeschooling doesn’t mean perfect. We all have our own struggles & battles to give the Lord. Lean on God for understand & guidance – He will direct your path. While your waiting for direction – read Educating the Wholehearted Child & if you are still waiting when you are done with it then read Cathy Duffy’s Top 100 picks.

That’s all folks. If you enjoyed my interview & would like to hear more about our homeschool visit my blog Rockin' C: Teaching 2 Many Diligently

Meet Kari: Part 3

What about "EC" (Enrichment Classes)?

What made you begin Enrichment classes?

When Liberty was 4 we heard about Enrichment Classes in Sherman. I had never heard of that before. We called, got in and started. We both fell in love with the classes and I with the concept. I felt like this was the thing that was missing with Jessie and Hiedi's homeschool experience. One day during orientation the EC director, Karen Tooley, announced that she would like for someone to consider starting another EC group. Their group had gotten so big, they were limited on space and their waiting list about 23 families long. She thought if another got started it would help that situation. Well, I took up the idea since I didn't like driving to Sherman each week. I thought it would be nice to start one closer to home. I talked to Karen, she helped me with all the details of setting up our own Enrichment Class and the rest is, as they say, history. The Sherman group was so organized that it made the whole process of starting up our own classes fairly easy. The Sherman group had 3 board members so I thought we should have 3 board members. The first three were Nicki Truesdell , Maggie VanDolah and myself.


What is your favorite thing about EC?

The camaraderie between all the kids. I love that they have a 'school group' that they are a part of. School is a major part of growing up and I think EC is just an added benefit that gives kids something to belong to academically. I have observed over the years that some children don't take their school work as seriously as their parents might like for them to and EC offers a little academic competition and accountability with their peers that helps them see for themselves that they need to step it up. I love my children being exposed to other adults that have something to offer my kids that I can not. I always use Dainah Blalock as an example. She is a wonderful mentor to my daughter in the area of writing. I love that there are classes offered that I just could not offer at home, like Color guard, drama, etc. There are also classes, like history or literature that we do offer at home but the added dimension of a group discussion enhances the study so much. And I can not leave out the fellowship the moms enjoy. There is so much to be gained from so many of the moms and dads that attend EC. I just love our group so much!


What have been some of the challenges with being the leader of this group?

I am sure they are the same challenges that are common to anyone in leadership. I have to continue to go to the Lord and ask Him for wisdom.


If there are any changes you could make for EC what would it be?

I would love for our program to be 5 hours instead of 4. It is not an option for us because of the availability of the church. The other change would be to build or buy our own facility suited to meet the needs of our homeschool community at large.


Kari, I have really enjoyed working on this online interview with you. Thank you so much for sharing with us. You are a wonderful Christan, mother, homeschool parent & friend. You & your family are an inspiration & our EC group is privileged to have you. THANK YOU!!

Meet Kari: Part 2

More about Kari's Homeschool . . .

When we don't have extra activities going then a typical day starts between 8 and 9. This year we start with algebra since Gary is doing that with Liberty before he goes to work. After algebra then Liberty usually does her Bible study, shower and then we continue with the rest of her subjects. From the time I started homeschooling until this year we always started the day with prayer, pledges to the flag & Bible, then Bible study and Bible memorization. After that we start working our way through the different subjects. The order we do the subjects changes from year to year. This year we knock out the most difficult subjects or the ones Liberty is the least enthusiastic about at the beginning then go on to the rest. Of course we still start the day with prayer and our pledges. I always felt this was important because I felt like it set the time apart, made it more special. We ring a bell and then it all starts. We never ever have done school in our pajamas in the past. The kids were to wake, do their chores, eat, dress, etc. and be ready when the bell rang, which for most years was between 8:30 and 9:00. I always felt like every hour before noon was worth 2 after noon. I don't know why but it just seems that way to me. Anyway the past year or two things have been a bit different and we started sleeping in a little later and it got to where we were starting at 10:00. That was not as productive for us. So now Liberty gets up and does her running and work out & gets all her animal chores done, then we start. After Gary finishes algebra then she goes on to finish her morning routine before start ting the rest of her subjects. So, on days that she doesn't do her work out first she is still in her PJ's when they do algebra so we can say for the first time that we do some school in pajamas.
Now, when we have other activities going on, which in many cases are an extension of our school then we hit the subjects that we can and try and catch up with the rest.
I like to try and follow a schedule, even though loosely at times, is because it gives structure. It helps create self-discipline, for the student and the teacher. And it shows the kids that their school is important, a priority. When they know you believe it is important then it is easier for them to feel like it is important. I always wanted the kids to be proud of their school. And if they don't feel like they are doing as much as they should or being challenged intellectually I believe it is easy to be discouraged and lazy about their school.

I have always tried to stay on a Sept. - May schedule just because I need the time off. But this year because we had so many other things going on we got behind and so we are playing catch up with a few subjects this summer.
I have an opinion about getting too busy. I find that some homeschooling parents feel like they have to compensate in areas because maybe their children are missing out. I used to feel that way but that is a deception. Of course we want our children to have all the opportunities that we can afford them but you must be careful not to overdo it. Your kids do not have to participate in everything that comes along. I have found us so busy running from one activity to another that I hardly had time to do school. I told my husband 'this is supposed to be homeschool but we are never home'. So I found if everyone is stressed because of crazy schedules then you need to just step back and re-evaluate, prioritize. Just because something is good doesn't mean you have to do it. Find things that your child is truly interested in and develop those areas. Sometimes it takes a while to find what they love but it is better that way.
Think and pray about where you want your children to be when they are 18 and finished with school. What kind of character do you want them to have? Do they have a heart for God, do they see less fortunate people and reach out to them? Does your child seek to hear the voice of God in making daily decisions? Are they servants? Are they willing to sacrifice their own desires for the good of others, for their country, for their God? Is their faith solid? Do they really know what they believe so they can stand against all the voices in the world that will try and pull them away and not only stand against them but be influential to lead others to Christ? When you know where you want your child to be, then work backwards from that and ask yourself every year, "Am I doing things with him or her to help toward achieving these goals?" Everyone's school will look a little different because we are all unique and trying to follow the path that we believe God has for our family. That to me is the beauty of homeschooling.

Everyone has chores. I think it takes everyone pitching in to keep the home running. I also believe that having responsibilities whether it be your chores, an outside job, etc. are character building. Our job as parents is to prepare our children to live in society as productive adults. It has to start somewhere. I think it causes children to be selfish and self-centered if they are not given duties in the home. I believe it also helps build their feelings of self worth.

The cost of homeschooling depends on the curriculum you choose to use and how many you are buying for. Many families are able to use the same text books year after year for all their children so their initial expense is quite a bit higher than their continuing expense. Our current algebra curriculum runs about $250.00 a year. A friend of mine is using the same curriculum and bought it for less than half that through eBay. There are lots of websites you can go to and buy used curriculum.
No one should let the cost of homeschooling stop them from trying it. You can homeschool for very little if you put forth the effort. Between the library, internet and used books there are lots of options.
Anyone can homeschool if they really want to...and if they are willing to work hard. I don't ever let anyone think it is easy because it isn't, but the rewards more than outweigh any hardship they might encounter.


What is it like homeschooling a teenager?
I have a different answer for each of my teenagers. But the one word I could use to describe the experience with each one is HARD. It is hard to stay ahead and I'm not sure I really do in many areas. I have seen each of my children excel past me in some things. On the one hand it is wonderful seeing who your young children are becoming. On the other hand you know in the back of your mind that your time with them is growing short, which is where Gary and I are right now, and that can be a little sad.

One of my greatest rewards in homeschooling is just being such a huge part in the lives of my children & seeing things through the eyes of my children and learning all over again and again and again. I loved teaching the kids to read. That has to be my favorite. I think that is one of the most rewarding parts of homeschooling.

Do you think your children will homeschool their children?
My two grown children have homeschooled their children at different times. They are not homeschooling now and don't think they will in the future but you never know. They are both really pleased with the school in their neighborhood. They are very involved with the school and every aspect of their children's lives. My youngest daughter, Liberty, seems the most likely to homeschool her own children in the future. I will just have to wait and see.

Do you have bad days?
Yes. Some days start out hard and you just want to stop before you start. Fortunately that is the exception. I think you handle bad days like you would handle any situation in life, turn it over to God. That is, of course, after you have gone to your room and cried, wondered if you could get away with running away from home, called your husband at work pleading with him to come home NOW, screamed, thrown your book down on the table... Then you stop and think it through, remembering that you are in charge, they are just children and immature and that it is up to you to take hold of the situation, deal with it and move on. I don't separate from being the mom & the teacher. I am their mother giving them an education.

My biggest challenge...I have a few. One was overcoming a mindset of fear. That took years. I was arrested the first year I homeschooled. In the early 80's there just weren't that many families homeschooling and it was common to hear of different families battling the courts for their right to be able to homeschool their children. I used to not go out during school hours because we were always challenged and questioned. I have had people walk up to my kids and basically give them the third degree because they were not in school. One woman went up to Liberty when she was about in second grade and told her how sorry she was that she couldn't go to school. Then the woman clucked her tongue at me, shaking her head as she walked away. Fortunately, Liberty wondered what was wrong with the woman. Another challenge for me was overcoming my own feelings of inferiority. I did not finish high school and have struggled with doubts about myself being able to offer my children all they would need for their future. I do better with that now but I look forward to going to school when Liberty graduates. My other huge challenge was with Jessie and Hiedi. When they were teens they did not appreciate the homeschooling experience as much as Liberty does.

Yes, I have experienced burn out, if by burn out you mean thinking you can't do it another year or struggling with putting your 'all' into as you once did. I think when you get to that point you get help. Talk to your husband, if he is supportive, visit with a friend, go back to your reasons for homeschooling and see if any of those reasons have changed, pray for renewed strength, shake things up a bit. Do things a bit different, if possible. Just don't keep it to yourself.

I think the single most important thing to remember about homeschooling is that your child is just a child, to remember they are not finished yet. Try and be patient and see their hearts through the eyes of God.

MEET KARI: Part 1

If you are a part of the Enrichment Group or new to it, you may here "ask Kari" or your e-mail inbox may have a new message from time to time from sweeteralsothanhoney. Who is Kari aka. sweeteralsothanhoney? I had the pleasure of interviewing the other Co-founder of our EC Group (who also happens to be Nicki's Aunt), Kari Davidson.

MEET KARI

My name is Kari Davidson. I am happily married to Gary. He is my partner in life and yes, even in homeschooling. We have one daughter still living at home. Her name is Liberty and she will be 16 this summer. Liberty loves the Lord, enjoys writing, acting, playing piano, basketball, her tambourine and dance team, politics, spending time with friends and serving the Lord on the mission field. She will be spending part of her summer in Guatemala doing just that. She also will be performing in "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf", as the grandmother, in June with Butterfield.
Our oldest son is Jessie. My homeschooling story starts with him, but I will tell you more about that later. Jessie is 32 years old, married to Melissa and they have three children, Shea-13, Jordan-10 and Maya-9. Jessie has his own Directional Boring company, W&W Construction. His family resides in Paloma Creek in Aubrey, Texas. His son could be his twin if they were the same age and it is fun watching him father him and his two daughters. Jessie is all about fun, excitement and living on the edge. He enjoys playing sports, coaching and watching his kids play. He also enjoys deep-sea diving, motorcycle racing with his kids and everything scary that helped turn my hair gray before it was time. Fortunately, Melissa isn't a scaredy-cat like I am and she can actually enjoy these things with him.
Our second child, actually the baby for her first 14 years, is Hiedi. Hiedi is married to Dwayne and they live in the same neighborhood as Jessie. Hiedi and Dwayne have two children, Taison - 8 and Madison - 7. Hiedi also has a step-daughter, Dynasty - 14, who doubles as Liberty's best friend. Hiedi served in the Marine Corp, which I am very proud of her for and where she also met her husband. ( She is also responsible for some of my gray - all you military moms know what I am talking about) She is now busy raising her children and going to school. She is very involved in her kids' school and has headed up committees every year and has just been voted in as a vice-president of something at her school for next year. Hiedi is one of the most practical-minded people you'll ever meet. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go for it. She is also a great motivator and organizer. Her kids are also very involved in sports so when Dwayne and Hiedi aren't busy at their jobs or school, you'll find them at a basketball court or baseball field, along with Jessie's family. And I have to say the Lady Rattlers are very blessed to have had Hiedi's husband, Dwayne, as their coach for the past couple of years.

Hobbies:
As a homeschooling mom you don't always have a lot of time to indulge in your hobbies but what little time I have had through the years I have enjoyed sewing, playing guitar, reading a good book, and mostly just spending time with my family. When we do things together as a family it is usually outdoors things, like hiking, etc. We really enjoy learning about God's creation.

One thing people don’t know about me???
I would love to learn how to dance really well. I wish I could sing great and I really would love to act.

My favorite meal that I like is grilled salmon, squash and a huge salad. That is not a favorite for the whole family. They like lasagna, melties, my hamburgers, etc. I cook a lot. I make most things from scratch and don't like a lot of packaged food.

Our dream vacation I have always wanted to go to Prince Edward Island. I also want to go somewhere where I can see whales swimming by and just let time stand still while we take it all in. We all enjoy traveling. Liberty enjoys cruises and would also like to visit Europe and explore the castles, etc. Gary says he would love to do it all.


About Kari's Homeschool . . .

I have homeschooled my 3 children and also helped homeschool 4 others at different times. I started homeschooling in 1983. My son was in kindergarten in public school in Nocona, Texas and I was very unhappy about some things I was seeing. I was a new Christian and a single mom. My husband, Jessie and Hiedi's dad, died in July of 1979. I had never heard of homeschooling at the time. I had a business and a couple came in one day and started visiting with me and we started talking about school and they told me they homeschooled and I asked questions about it and I knew in my heart then that it was something I was going to do. As I started seeking the Lord I felt like He told me that this was the way I was to raise my kids. It was just something I knew in my heart. I got to know the couple over the next few months and they shared more with me and when Jessie started first grade, I started homeschooling. That couple was J. and Candy Gaston. They now have a daughter, Jennifer Howard, who attends Enrichment Classes with her own children. I have different reasons why I am glad I do it from year to year but the bottom line is I believe that is what God called me to.

The benefits of homeschooling are many. I am sure many of these things can be accomplished whether you homeschool or not, depending on how involved you are in your children's life. And I am sure there are many benefits that I will continue to see through the years. I think my children were never as peer dependent as many children are. I don't feel like they are cookie cutter versions of all the other children their age. I think we were able to focus on their strengths and interests and make the most of their learning experience. I love knowing that all my children have a good working knowledge of the Bible and have committed so much of it to memory over the years, which is always something that we made a part of our school at the beginning of each day. It is up to them to choose to draw from that resource through their life but at least it is there to draw from. Also, our curriculum in general is a cut above since it uses the Bible as its foundation and establishes the fact that God is the Creator of life. Since Jesus is the center of our lives and we believe all knowledge comes from Him, we teach every subject with Him as the foundation. I feel like my kids have had so many opportunities to participate in things that public schooled children might not be able to. We have had the freedom to go to places that we are studying on a regular basis and explore things more thoroughly due to the fact that we are not limited by schedules.

We have always made costumes and acted out our history studies and interest in different time periods through the years. That has always made school more fun. Eating supper by candlelight during colonial studies, gathering with other families for spelling bees, and academic competitions, traveling to revolutionary war sites and acting out battles, participating in EC., the list goes on and on. I'll never forget after reading the Little House books going to Laura and Almanzo Wilder's home in Missouri and seeing Pa's fiddle and Ma's china shepherdess. I cried. I also loved going to Helen Keller's home and putting my hand to the pump where she first was able to grasp the idea of signing. It was great going to Disneyworld with Jessie and Hiedi when they were younger, in October when there weren't crowds and getting special attention from the pilot on the flight since they were the only children on board. I don't think Jessie and Hiedi will ever forget that. We could choose when we wanted to go since we were not limited by someone else's schedule. I think if you make the most of your learning there can be many fun times in homeschooling.

I don't feel like you can teach about life and all things pertaining to it and leave out the Giver of Life. I believe the most important thing in the world is our relationship and walk with God. I never could reconcile myself to the fact of sending my kids to a place that not only would not nurture that but that would teach things completely opposed to my belief in God and where God was mocked and asked to leave. I don't think you can teach about history or even understand the history of the world and the decisions men and women have made throughout history without knowing what their faith was or wasn't and that it is the very thing that led them to make their decisions. God created language. How can we teach language without acknowledging that and helping our children understand the importance of our responsibility with using the language God has given us, whether it is through the written word, spreading the Gospel, speaking words that are meant for encouragement and edification. And science...we lose so many kids with the false teachings just regarding science and how God is not involved at all. He put the world together, created us, made the universe work so perfectly. It was all done by His Hands but most school kids are taught that that is all fable and when they sit in a classroom day after day, hour after hour hearing this some might not be able to help but be doubtful of the truth. I don't believe in dividing things by secular and spiritual. If God is true then that is to be the center of all my decisions. I do fail but I try to live by that.

Curriculum?
When the kids were young I always enjoyed A Beka for spelling, learning to read, math and science. I liked knowing all the phonics rules given and the colorful workbooks and all the activity suggestions that made learning fun for young ones. As they got older we branched out to things that were more suited to each child's learning style and strength. We have used Beautiful Feet and enjoyed that immensely but that is partly due to the fact that we enjoy reading and learning history through living books. We have tried many different curriculums for science and can't really say that we have a favorite there. For Algebra we use a DVD program called Video Text Interactive. My husband does all the algebra with Liberty and also helped with my older children. We like this program the best of any we used.

Getting to know Nicki

Hello Homeschoolers. My name is Tiffany. I will be conducting the interviews here at "RRCH." My first guest is a good friend of mine, the co-founder of EC, & the co-editor of this blog herself, Nicki. We decided this would be a good way to help everyone to get to know each other a little better. Now run along and get yourself something to drink & let's get to know Nicki a little better. And please, no talking or interrupting. Thank you.


Getting to know Nicki . . .

Me: Introduce your family please . . .

Nicki: I am Nicki, my husband is Randy & we have 4 children: Claudia, Chloe, Nicholas & Nathan. Randy is a mail carrier for the Postal Service. I am a full time mom. The kids range in age from 1-12. We live in Gainesville.

Me: What are some of your hobbies Nicki?

Nicki: Reading, crafts, & sewing

By the way, Nicki is an EXCELLENT quilter!! Click Here! to check out the blankets she made my boys. To see more of Nicki's FaBuLoUs quilts or to ask her about making you or your babes a blankie just Click Here!

Me: If one wanted to butter you up for, oh say 2 more blankets, what would be your favorite meal to seal the deal?

Nicki: Chicken fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, with Texas toast dipped in gravy…did I mention gravy?

Me: What is your dream vacation?

Nicki: Traveling the USA in an RV for as long as we like.


About Your Homeschool . . .

Me: When did you start homeschooling with your kids?

Nicki: I’ve been homeschooling since birth! I am a 2nd generation homeschooler, starting in my 6th grade year.

Me: What have been some benefits from homeschooling?

Nicki: Time to develop relationships with my kids, free time together, & older and younger siblings developing deeper relationships.

Me: Can you give us a few examples of some especially fun times you had as a result of homeschooling?

Nicki: I really enjoyed teaching my children to read, especially at that moment when they “get it!” Most of our fun isn’t what necessarily happens “in” school, but as a result of spending our days together, like walks in the woods, feeding ducks in a pond, etc.

Me: How many children have you homeschooled?

Nicki: 2 officially, but I have 4 children altogether.

Me: What initially caused you to decide to homeschool your children?

Nicki: My parents did the same for me, and I absolutely loved it! I enjoyed the flexibility even as a student. My days consisted of chores, school, playing outside, field trips, vacations, riding horses, playing with goats, playing in the creek, lots of time to read and read and read, exploring a subject that loved as far as I wanted to take it, gardening with my Mom, building model rockets with my Dad, being tutored in science and math by my Uncle Gary, learning to sew and cook, having the flexibility to take part time jobs, and much, much more!

Me: How would you describe your homeschooling philosophy?

Nicki: I believe that school is just one part of life. I definitely don’t want our homeschool to be an extension of public school. My children have lots of things to learn, including math, reading, spelling, writing, Scripture, character traits, practical skills like cooking and cleaning, relationships, and more. I also want to be aware of their talents and gifts so they can be encouraged and trained in those areas. It is interesting to note that throughout most of history, parents taught their children the majority of what they needed to know. Schools were few and far between, mostly for boys, and were geared for specific vocation. The writers and thinkers of history were educated with simple, straightforward methods. Public schools are a relatively new concept. I believe I am raising the next generation of Americans. What can I do to make the future better? I can raise my children to be people who are well read, can think and write coherently, carry on conversation with people of any age, think for themselves and communicate their opinions and beliefs clearly, serve others, and so much more.

Me: Which homeschooling method best describes your homeschool style?

Nicki: Definitely eclectic and relaxed! I use whatever works for our family at different times. If I see a problem with one child in a certain curriculum, I’ll change to something that works better. We normally school year round. This is the first year we are taking a real summer break. Year round school gives me the flexibility to take breaks when it’s best for us. Again, I don’t want to be an imitation of public schools. I lean toward Charlotte Mason, but not strictly.

Me: What curriculum has worked best for your children?

Nicki: We use Math-U-See for everyone old enough to do math. Other curriculum we use and like: Easy Grammar, Beautiful Feet History, The Well Trained Mind, and the library.

Me: What does a typical day for your family look like?

Nicki: A typical homeschooling day changes with our family’s needs, but for the most part, we do: chores, breakfast, school from about 9-12, lunch, and then little ones nap while older kids finish school. I like to leave afternoons free for many reasons: unstructured free time leads to creativity in many areas.

Me: Do you follow a schedule?

Nicki: Oh Yes! I love schedules. I use Managers of Their Homes by the Maxwells for inspiration.

Me: Do you have planned “school” time?

Nicki: Yes. Usually in the mornings, and maybe a little in the afternoon if necessary.

Me: Do the kids follow different schedules?

Nicki: Somewhat. I have 2 older daughters and 2 younger boys, so we alternate subjects, playtime, babysitting, etc.

Me: What is it like homeschooling a teenager?

Nicki: Just getting started with that, but I can say that it requires more time in our/her day!

Me: What has been your greatest reward in homeschooling?

Nicki: The little things, like teaching them to read, tell time, or finally get multiplication. I also enjoy sharing my favorite subject, history, with them. I like being the one to share the excitement of the American Revolution, Ancient Egypt, or Medieval Times. I like reading all the exciting books and stories from history with them.

Me: What are your favorite subjects to teach?

Nicki: All of them! I love school.

Me: What advice do you have for someone beginning their homeschool journey?

Nicki: What kind of PEOPLE do you want your kids to become? When you know that, you will have a better idea of how you want each day to look. School is just one part of the equation. Character training, God's word, and relationships: they all go together to form the whole person.

Since you are starting at the beginning, I would recommend starting out slow and easy. Some beginners want to do EVERYTHING! Start with the basics like math and language arts (spelling, reading, grammar, etc.) and slowly add in your history and science, as well as any other electives you want, as you discover your teaching preferences and your children's learning styles. It's very disappointing to purchase lots of exciting-looking curriculum only to discover it was not the right fit at all! Read to your children! My kids all love to be read to, even the 12 year old! Wear out your library card!

My last piece of advice: don't try to make your home look like a public school classroom. You are their teacher now. Design a school experience that you know will appeal to YOUR family. Imagine it's 200 years ago on the American frontier, and you are solely responsible for your children's education. You've never even HEARD of a public school. What do they need to know? How will you accomplish that? That's all you need to start with!


Keeping it Real . . .

Me: Do you have bad days?

Nicki: No, never. Of course I do! Everyone does. It usually doesn’t have to do with school; it’s a character issue that needs dealing with.

Me: How do you handle bad days?

Nicki: I’ve done several things. If the bad day is because of bad behavior, I have to deal with the behavior before we continue with the schoolwork. Character is way more important than spelling or science. If the bad day is because MOM is having a bad day, I will stop everything and try to deal with my problem. If that means no school today, then so be it. I don’t have a problem missing school to deal with life. I think that is very realistic. If I think the kids OR mom are getting burned out, we will do something fun.

Me: What has been your biggest challenge in homeschooling?

Nicki: Encouraging reading for pleasure was hard with my first child. The key was finding a subject she enjoyed AND letting her read books that would have been considered “below” her reading level. In about the 3rd grade, she picked up a book on King Arthur that was probably a 1st grade level book. She read it 2 or 3 times, asked for more and took off from there. Now she is in 8th grade, loves to read, and reads on an adult level. Challenges come anytime a concept is new and hard to grasp. You just have to find a new or interesting way to teach it until your child can get it!

Me: How do you separate from being the mom & the teacher?

Nicki: I don’t think you do. I am their mom, and I oversee their education. There is no dividing line there for me.

Me: Do you have family chores?

Nicki: Yes. Chores must be done in the morning. If they’re not done right, they will be done over. My girls wash the dishes, sweep, clean the bathroom, do their own laundry, and make all the kids’ beds. The other housework we do as a team. I do my own room. My 3 year old is just getting started with helping. He likes to set the table, and he picks up toys and books.

Me: Do you ever get “burned out”?

Nicki: Sometimes.

Me: What advice do you have for moms experiencing “burn out”?

Nicki: Take a break! If you need a day or a month off, take it. Your kids can continue learning without “school” so don’t panic if you haven’t finished a workbook by the end of May. Remember: You are not a public school. It’s YOUR homeschool. If you need a break from burnout, spend time watching good videos together, visiting museums, go to the lake, read some books that are just for fun, do bird watching, learn about wildflowers, learn to knit, take a road trip, camp out in the back yard, visit Grandma. There are lots of ways to spend quality time together. Burnout happens to everyone at some point. Just take a break, have some fun, pray, ask God for new direction, and refresh yourself!
o We also re-evaluate our schedule. Too many outside activities can wear out the whole family. This year we’ve had to decide to drop many things and spend more time at home. We will do Enrichment Classes and piano lessons. That’s it. That’s the limit for our family to keep the “home” in homeschool.
o Also, don’t feel like you’re the only one with difficulties! Ask your friends and fellow homeschoolers how they handle situations similar to yours. You’d be surprised at the families you thought had perfect school days who also deal with their own difficulties. You never know what great idea another mom has that will be the perfect solution for you!

Me: Thank you for being our first interview. I REALLY enjoyed interviewing you.

Nicki: I had fun doing it!


If you'd like to ask Nicki any questions just leave a comment & she will be happy to answer them.

To get to know Nicki better or for a closer look into her homeschooling check out her blog, 400 Things