Official School Day

Well, today began our official school year. We homeschooled a little bit during the summer. But today we really got back to business. I'm doing some research on how others schedule their days, so if you have your schedule posted on your blog, leave me a comment! I'm sure there's a blogger who has already linked to all of your schedules, so if I missed the boat, let me know! I have wanted to stick to a rigorous Classical schedule, as suggested in The Well Trained Mind. But having the 3 boys that I have, and the childcare, I'm not sure this is going to be possible every day of the week! I'd love to "Charlotte Mason strew" as well. Anyone have success with this method? I've heard that I'm not the only one who changes their style many times throughout the year, so I'm glad I'm not alone.

A note for my readers

I am sure I don't have millions of readers, but for those who do read, here's a little comment from me. I blog (when I have time!) to share a little piece of myself, my life, my opinions, and my passions with you. I am not one of those people that blogs to provoke negativity. I hope to inspire people that may not know me and happen upon my thoughts. I want to encourage people with children, those who homeschool, or send their children to public, private, or alternative schools. I enjoy swapping stories with child care providers and children who use child care. I created this blog in the hopes of letting others know that there are challenges as well as joys in every day life, no matter your situation. I would like to think that I have a variety (ooh, that was one of our vocab words last week!) of readers. Leave comments and share your thoughts at any time!

Everything I Learned From School

I am reading a Geography book from the library, and I am quite perturbed. It discusses the Ice Age(s), and thank goodness, I was prereading it before teaching it to my boys! Years ago, I would not have questioned that there were several Ice Ages, that the Earth had been around for millions of years, and that dinosaurs lived before man. I have always believed in the Bible and Creation, and never believed in the theory of Evolution. But having not studied the Bible to the depths that a lot of Creation Scientists have, I never thought about how old the Earth is.
Of course, when you homeschool, your children come up with all kinds of questions, that MAKE you think about these things. I cannot believe some of the things I was taught in a public school system. And had I not homeschooled, and my children hadn't begun asking thought provoking questions (that I did not know the answers to), I would never have known some of the things I now know. They had a fascination with dinosaurs not too long ago. I could easily have done a unit study on the subject. But I was afraid the answers I would give and ALL the books that we would read would be scientific, and NOT FACT!! I just thought that maybe they didn't really exist, and I didn't want to have to squelch their interest. Why didn't anyone teach me years ago, that they did exist, that they were on the Ark, just like all the other animals; that the reasons they're no longer here are the same reasons a lot of other animals are now endangered or extinct! Why aren't there good books in the library that teach the facts found in the Bible?? I will continue to search out good websites (like the one I happened upon today) and science books/curricula that help me find my answers as well as my children's! How do people (and Lord help me if I ever have to) hand over their children to a place that will teach them untruths that they will be haunted with for the rest of their lives?

Some of the reasons I homeschool

I find my 7 year old boy curled up reading a book... for two hours!

I get to play with shaving cream with my 4 year old.

I get to choose what, when and how they learn.

They get to sleep in.

We can play board games all afternoon if we want.

I get to see the excitement on their faces when they learn something new.

They are not forced into ignorance by teachers who have to hold them back to the level of the other children.

I am learning (or relearning?) along with my guys... and it's FUN!

My children are friends with each other.

The Question: How can I inflate a balloon without blowing air into it?

Step One: Measure four tablespoons of vinegar into an empty water bottle.Step Two: Using a funnel, measure two tablespoons of baking soda into a balloon.Step Three: Carefully place the balloon onto the bottle. Step Four: Slowly lift up the balloon, dumping the baking soda into the vinegar.Amaze yourself and your little brothers. Hey, the vinegar fizzes and the balloon inflates!
That was cool!Time to put it into the Science Notebook.