Homeschooling through Caty's Eyes

Our youngest and barrel of personality is Caty.  She was a surprise to our family.  She's always up for an adventure and constantly keeps us on our toes.  She tells everyone that she was born on the night of a snowstorm and she just continues to keep blowing!

Caty is in "first" grade.  She has some learning delays that we are working around.  She is the first to run and give hugs and kisses.  She loves to help others.  She loves playing Minecraft and Animal Jam.  She also loves My Little Pony, especially Rainbow Dash.  Rainbows are her absolute favorite designs.  Her life would be complete if she could find a rainbow unicorn to ride.  She takes horse riding lessons, and literally has been thrown off the horse and has gotten back on again.

She always wants to take things on "Caty" time, which means stopping to smell lots of flowers.

Me:  What are some things that you like to do Caty?

Caty:  I like to play and watch Minecraft videos on You Tube.  I like horses too, oh and playing sports with Randy.

Me:  What computer games do you like?

Caty:  Minecraft, Animal Jam, and I forgot the others.

Me:  What do you collect?

Caty:  I collect rocks.

Me:  Who is your favorite book character?

Caty:  My Little Pony, Pete the Cat, and the Pigeon books (by Mo Willems)

Me:  What is your favorite movie?

Caty:  FROZEN!!!! the Chipmunks movies and Chipettes cartoons.  Night at the Museum movies, Paddington the Bear, I like any My Little Pony movies

Me:  What is your favorite tv show?

Caty:  Paw Patrol, Lil Charmers, Ever After

Me:  Do you have a favorite animal?

Caty:  bunnies and elephants

Me:  If you could pick any meal to eat, what would it be?

Caty:  Nacho chips and cheese and your homemade chicken and dumplings.  I like corn on the cob too.

Me:  What is your favorite subject we study?

Caty:  Science.  I love to do experiments and learning about animals

Me:  We travel a lot, what are some of your favorite places we have visited?

Caty:  I LOVED Mount Rushmore.  I also liked going to the Hershey Factory and Crayola Factory.  Going to the Statue of Liberty was very cool too.

Me:  What do you like about homeschooling?

Caty:  I can sleep late most days, and I get to rest during the day since I have a hard time sleeping at night.  I also get to play on the computer when my other work is done.  You don't have to raise your hand to talk to your mom, you can just talk to her.

Me:  Would you recommend homeschooling to other kids?

Caty:  Yep, because we get to do all kinds of extra fun things. We get to go on field trips, and I get to cook with my projects.  I love learning how to cook.

Me:  Is there something you don't like about being homeschooled?

Caty:  Brayden picking on me.  You also catch me not doing my work.  So I sometimes have to do work in the evenings because we try to not do our work when you want us to.

Me:  What do you want to be when you grow up?

Caty:  A doctor for animals.

Me:  What do you want to tell our blog readers?

Caty:  I love being homeschooled, that's pretty much it.  Can I go back to watching my video now?

Caty is currently using Build Your Library Grade 1, A+ Tutorsoft Math, Great Parents Academy, Visual Learning Systems, Usborne Art, Story of the World V1, Reading Eggs and whatever library books she picks out.  

Homeschool Lies that Irritate Me

We are currently in Oklahoma City.  I always watch the local news wherever we are, especially for weather and traffic information.  A story made my ears perk up as I was working and listening the other day.  They were running a story about homeschooling.  Of course I looked up the story the next morning to see what it was all about.

Apparently there is a group seeking to get more restrictions on homeschooling in Oklahoma.  But in Oklahoma your constitutional right to homeschool is written into the state constitution, so the people wanting to make restrictions will have a difficult time.  Currently they have very open laws, to the point where you do not need to even register with your local district.  (I admit I am jealous!!)

I understand that some people may have had a hard time homeschooling.  Maybe a poor home environment or bad homeschool group.  Some parents go to the extreme to protect their children from what they see as dangers.  There are also parents who are seeking the easy way out and under the cover as "unschoolers" just let their kids do whatever they want and do not take responsibility for their education.  (Now I am not calling any religious group "extreme" or saying Unschoolers are irresponsible, because I fall between those areas.  So don't get upset.  I am all for whatever works best for each family.)

But my question is, why lump all homeschoolers into your bad experience.  Not all of us:

1.  Discipline our kids in an extreme way to the point of leaving bruises.

2.  Make our kids think only one way and not allow them to think freely.

3.  Not take our kids into public for fear of "religious" confusion.

Everyone I know:

1.  Encourages their children to make educated decisions.

2.  Encourages their children in outside of the house activities

The majority of homeschoolers (all the ones I know), encourage their kids to take part in outside activities.  In fact they spend hours driving their kids between activities.  They learn how to balance lessons at home and on the road to make sure their kids are getting a well-rounded education and life.

Even the unschoolers I know make sure their children are constantly learning in some way.  Life provides so many examples for kids to learn from.

Unfortunately there are some that are hiding abuse, and those are the ones that we need to be pointing out.  Not as homeschoolers, but as abusers.

No system is perfect, even the public schools have abuse cases that fall through the cracks.  Yet I am not hearing a warning about sending our kids to public schools being issued as a special report on the evening news.

So all the people out there that are rallying to make more strict rules for homeschooling, step back and ask yourselves, why are you attacking the homeschooling community as a whole?  Why are you trying to punish everyone who is working hard for the benefit of their children?  Why are you trying to make life harder for them?  I have listened to your points.  I understand your concerns, but they don't apply as a whole to the homeschool community.

Millions of people are homeschooling and "rocking the boats" of the educational system.  Colleges would not be begging for homeschooler to apply if they didn't see this movement as a great change for society.

Maybe you might want to step back and take a look at your experience again, and know that you can change your own family.  Stop trying so hard to change mine.

Homeschooling through Lydia's Eyes

Our next child that I interviewed about homeschool is our 9 year old daughter Lydia.

Me:  What are some things that you like to do?

Lydia:  I like to swim and ride horses.  I like to play some sports like soccer and cheerleading.  I like to play computer games too.

Me:  What computer games do you like?

Lydia:  Animal Jam and Minecraft.  I like my mystery Nancy Drew game.  Oh I just started playing on Always Ice Cream.  I like that a lot.

Me:  What do you like to collect?

Lydia:  Sea shells, rocks, snow globes, Pez dispensers

Me:  What books do you like to read?

Lydia:  Nancy Drew, Thea Stilton books, Horse Diaries, and some of the Who Was series?

Me:  What is your favorite movie?

Lydia:  Wizard of Oz, Annie

Me:  What is your favorite TV show?

Lydia:  Ant Farm, Big Time Rush

Me:  Do you have a favorite animal?

Lydia: Giraffe

Me:  What kind of music do you like?

Lydia: Taylor Swift, Night Vision, One Direction and Big Time Rush

Me:  What is your favorite subject we do?

Lydia:  Anything I can do in Minecraft.  

Me:  If you could pick any meal to eat, what would it be?

Lydia:  Your homemade chicken and dumplings

Me:  We travel a lot, what has been some of your favorite place(s) we have visited this past year?

Lydia:  The Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth.  The Art Museums in New York.  I loved getting to see Starry Night when we were in New York.

Me:  You have been homeschooling for 3 years, what is your favorite thing about learning at home?

Lydia:  I don't have to go to a classroom.  I can finish my work and then play and do what I want.  I don't have to travel and sit on a bus everyday.  I also get to pick my lunch and I get to cook a lot.  I love to cook.

Me:  Would you recommend homeschooling to other people?  Why?

Lydia:  Yes I would.  Because it might help them when they have problems.  You guys were able to help me in areas when I need extra help.

Me:  Is there something you don't like about being homeschooled?

Lydia:  I really do have to do school work.  I don't sit around all day.  I don't get to get out of doing anything.

Me:  What do you think you would like to do when you grow up?

Lydia:  Help animals.  I think I might be a veterinarian.  I might even try and work at a zoo.

Me:  Is there something you want to tell our blog readers?

Lydia:  Homeschool is fun.  We have gotten to do a lot of stuff that we might not have been able to do if it wasn't for being homeschooled.

Me:  Do you have any advice for kids that are homeschooled?

Lydia:  No I don't think so.  Just have fun learning.

Currently Lydia is using Build Your Library as a base for her curriculum.  We are also using A+ Tutorsoft, Great Parents Academy, Visual Learning Systems, Soaring with Spelling, Story of the World V.1, and she is reading the Who Was book series for classwork.   She also plays on Always Ice Cream for Girls.   

Homeschool Mothers Journal - Week 34

In my life this week.....

It's been a busy week.  The weather cut a couple of the activities this week, but we still had a full plate.  I am struggling a bit this week with exhaustion.  I think that it's part of my fibro and my body doesn't handle stress well.  It's been a stressful couple weeks.

This weather that we are getting though is just way too cold.  So I think that is also causing issues.  I so want to get out and go jogging in the sun.  But nope, it's frigid (and at dangerous levels) and cloudy most of the time.

In our homeschool this week.....

Even with all the craziness, all the kids were able to get their work finished.  I think Brayden has one sheet he needs to correct tomorrow.

Lydia is working harder at her reading.  Caty is reluctantly learning how to read.  We'll see how it goes.  We are using 100 Easy Lessons with her.

Joey is working really hard at his assignments.  I am very proud that he is finally working independently on most subjects!!  Most days I don't even have to remind him to get busy on his work.  he goes and gets his assignment sheet and gets started.  He knows he can take breaks, as long as his work is completed.

Places going.....

Joey and Lydia cheered on Tuesday and Lydia had her first basketball game.  She tried the whole game and finally scored a basket in the last quarter of the game.  We have a great coach and he really works at making sure that all the kids feel like they are #1 during the whole game.

We had doctors appointments, dental cleanings, med checks...so we saw a lot of doctors this week.

Projects I am working on......

I am working really hard at trying to find a balance.  I am really working at having the kids stay on top of their chores.  I need to figure a good way to display their daily chores.  I am working on a a new planner/organizer from Motivated Moms (watch for the upcoming review).

I have two bigger sewing projects to work on and of course the Homeschool with Minecraft lessons for next semester. We are taking all the glitches that we are finding and tweeking them to avoid future bugs :)

I am also writing unit studies for the Titanic and a country study of Greece.  I may cheat and buy one on Greece for Lydia and Joey to work on.

Things I am cooking.....

Whatever we seem to want.  They did eat out a couple times this week, subs from Subway.  I have been using our new blender to make smoothies almost daily.  Also made paleo caramel dip a couple times for apple slices and plantain chips for snacks.  We have delicious roast the other day.  I coated it in freshly ground horseradish.  Yummy!!!  We ate on that several meals.  I changed the plan up a bit, because of time restrictions.

Books I am reading.....

I am trying to read.  I downloaded Divergent onto my Kindle and I bought Unsinkable - The Molly Brown Story this afternoon.  Lydia and I are going to do a study of the Titanic and she is going to do a report on Molly Brown for a State Fair project.  So I need to get more knowledge.  I think Lydia will make a great Molly Brown :)

My favorite thing this week.....

Sitting and watching the classic Unsinkable Molly Brown with the Girls today.  We put on our PJs and curled up in the living room.  I did work some on the laptop, and Lydia learned how to latch hook and was working on a special project while we were watching.  It was nice.

It was also great on Tuesday when we were all able to go to the basketball game to watch Lydia play.  We never usually go together.  Joey cheered during her game and then she cheered the 2nd game, so daddy got to watch both the kids.  I had to bribe Brayden to leave the house...Subway again.  At least they have $5.00 footlongs right now.

Photos to share.....

Lydia at her game, getting ready to shoot.

Caty and I finished up our study of the Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies.  Next week, we start Berenstain Bears Lend a Helping Hand.  The Enchanted Homeschooling Mom has great plans to turn the B. Bears into a Five in a Row study.

 This week in Science, Caty and I learned about the tools that Scientists use. She worked with a balance this week.

Caty and I started this book to help her with reading.  We'll wait and see :)

Lydia started her first full latch hook project.  She is so proud of every stitch.

We had a fairly good week.  It's our Krazy life....lol.

Linking up with other Homeschool families at So You Call Yourself a Homeschooler.

Me & My Guy Dance

Lydia's first Daddy and Me dance!!  She was so excited (and he was too)!!!

Lydia loves to Dance!!!

Weekly Wrap up for January 7, 2011

When I upload the pictures from the camera, I started downloading them into weekly files.  I just noticed that I dated this week's file as 'January 2-8 2010'.  Had to change that quick!  It's our first finished week of 2011!

Lydia and I finished up reading some more Peter Rabbit stories.  The collection is part of her K12 Literature Arts curriculum.  She is really disliking their stuff.  So I have had to come up with ideas to change it around and make sure she is still getting what they are wanting her to learn.  We got this book from Hands of a Child.  VISIT THEM...They have awesome units and sales alot!!!

While cleaning my hard drive, I found the fun Frost the Snowman poem and activity.  There's a hat, mittens, scarf, books and broom that you cut-out.  We sign the song and play-along.  Caty was even loving this!

My brother and sister-in-law built an ice rink in their backyard.  On New Year's Day it was around 50F outside when they were building it.  Now the temps are back down in the 20sF.  The girls got to go and skate for the first time Wednesday evening.  Lydia starts Ice Skating lessons Monday at the ice rink at Bowling Green State University....home of Scott Hamilton!!!  How cool!  (When we were in Tennessee the last time, he and his family were at a local play area the day before we were.  They live in the Cool Springs area now.  The woman that manages the PeekABoo Playtown there was telling me how starstruck she was.)

Brayden really started liking the Duplo building cards that I bought at Your Therapy Source. 

We made Borax Snowflakes.

The pipe cleaners were challenging for the kids to make.  It was a definite visual perception challenge for the boys and a fine motor skills challenge for the girls.

This picture was about two hours after we put them in the solution.  You can see the white has started collecting on the pipe cleaners.

This is what they looked like the next morning. 



Someone in one of the yahoo groups I belong to shared these wonderful Pokemon folding activities.  So for a surprise I put these in their boxes this week.

 Caty has been showing more interest in what's going on in the living room for school.  So I have been working on keeping her more busy.  I am going to get her a small set of drawers for during school time.  I think it's Confessions of a Homeschooler that has TOT SCHOOL. 

Yesterday we cut and torn pieces of construction paper and I had her glue them inside the circles I drew to make a snowman.  She needed help to finish.  She was so tired.  We played Nickelodeon FIT yesterday on the Wii.  It was sooo fun!!  She had a blast.  They were "jumping rope", slalom, relay races, etc.  I am going to have to do a write up on all the awesome things about this game!