The Homeschool Mother's Journal - July 8, 2011

In my life this week...

I have been filling my head with information on dyslexia and food allergies. Amazing how one simple discovery can dictate the route your life starts to take.

In our homeschool this week...

We have discovered Lexile.com which is a resource that assigns a numeric value for books in their system. It is more finely tuned than just giving a recommended grade level. I am using this to come up with reading material that is below H-Bob's current level so that we can work on her fluency.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

Dig in deep yourself and educate yourself on the options there are for your children's education. There is no cookie-cutter approach and each one is definitely wired differently. In doing so, you will learn more about yourself than you imagined.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing...

We have one more weekend of church convention activities that will pretty much fill up our weekend, but the following week looks wide and clear. Yeah!

My favorite thing this week was...

It's great to see the garden flourishing even though the temps are moderate. Even the tomatoes are beginning to look as if they're taken to their transplanting. The peppers, maybe not. But more warm weather has been promised. We also set up our pool. Now if the weather would cooperate.

What’s working/not working for us...

I'm considering our diet. If the thought of going sugar-free for even a week sends me into a panic, it is probably a good sign that I have a little sugar addiction I should address. Big thoughts going on here in that direction.

Questions/thoughts I have...

I asked for wisdom to figure our how to best address H-Bob's dyslexia. And the books and materials that keep falling in my path deal with diet. I'm pretty sure I should grab the bull by the horn and head that direction.

Things I’m working on...

The kids should be getting exhibits ready for our county fair which is held mid-August. After our busy two weeks with church activities, that is going to become a priority. What will I be working on? Well, probably just helping them stay on track.

I’m reading...

Well Brain Allergies turned out to be focused on food addictions, allergies, and nutritional deficiencies that affect the psychiatric health of the population. But the information was startling. What gets me is that with evidence which appears so strong in books such as these, why aren't more people seeking those avenues? Are we always skeptical? Do we not trust our own gut feelings because mainstream medicine does not follow suit? More food for thought.

I’m cooking...

The brisket I mentioned last week was beyond incredible. Even though it's not our usual elk or venison, I'm going to have to purchase one every few months. Such a treat! In the meantime, we've plenty of lettuce, greens, broccoli, onions, radishes and strawberries from the garden to fill our plates with.

I’m praying for..

I'm finding answers that relate to H-Bob's learning difficulties. Now I still just need to know which path to travel first.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Want to read what others are reflecting on? Head to The Homeschool Mother's Journal hosted by The Homeschool Chick.

Enjoy your weekend!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - July 1, 2011

I love hearing from other mothers whose journeys are similar to mine. So I'm linking up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal on Fridays.



In my life this week...

We have been attending a lot of activities put on by our church's annual convention which is held every July. Spare time has been limited. At the same time we've had kids with terrible colds, another with a head-to-toe rash, and I'm exhausted to say the least.

In our homeschool this week...

There has been enough happening here to deserve explanation and it's own blog post. We have been exploring ideas for H-Bob, our nine-year-old, from hyper temperament traits to dyslexia to right-brain learning to brain integration therapy. Very overwhelming right about now.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

I mentioned our on-going vision therapy for H-Bob last week and am thankful that it paved the way to realize that there may be more blocked learning pathways as well. I have read Overcoming Dyslexia, Raising Your Spirited Child, have coming from the library a ton of resources on right-brain learning, and have devoured the information on Dianne Craft's website. I'm not one to jump on any wagon just passing by, but this evidence is too great to ignore.

I am inspired by...

Those who have championed for their children and turned their lives around by exploring other options for them.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing...

Goat Princess and I will be working a 4H concession stand fundraiser at a goat show on Saturday, but I'm most looking forward to a day to work at home on the 4th. Hubby is taking two of the kids on a sturgeon fishing trip. I'd love to get my garden whipped into shape. They're predicting three days of sun in a row. We'll see.

My favorite thing this week was...

Finding the time to pick a flat of strawberries for the freezer. Now to get some stuff for freezer jam and to u-pick some more.

What’s working/not working for us...

In the big picture...apparently a lot. In the details...constantly adjusting.

Questions/thoughts I have...

I certainly am bogged down with the information I have picked up regarding H-Bob's potential learning issues. The material I have come across is so enlightening and explains so many things I have noticed. But in tackling those issues, I tend to want to look at just one area at a time and resolve it before going elsewhere, such as her vision therapy. But now seeing that she needs phonics intervention, which we will start once the materials arrive, I'm also wondering about starting Dianne Craft's Brain Integration Therapy and dietary changes she recommends. But that seems like a tremendous amount of change in H-Bob's life when change is difficult for her.

Things I’m working on...

I will be putting together a new summer learning schedule for H-Bob to include the reading intervention activities that we need to start.

I’m reading...

Once I make my trip to the library to pick up my books on hold, I will have soooo many to tackle in educating myself about right-brained learning.

I’m cooking...

I've been pondering smoking a beef brisket on the Traeger.

I’m praying for..

I prayed for wisdom to find answers, now I need wisdom to determine which learning areas in H-Bob's life to tackle first.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Our oldest has been baby sitting a seven-month-old pit pull puppy. Can't say that I'm terribly fond of them, but he sure is just a big goofball.



Enjoy your weekend!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - June 24, 2011

I love hearing from other mothers whose journeys are similar to mine. So I'm linking up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal on Fridays.



In my life this week...

Our football player has been off to his team camp this week, so the dynamics in the house are a little different. In other words, the empty pit is not here to feed. Our stay-at-home summer trip this week included a trip to the outlet store for Dave's Killer Bread and Bob's Red Mill which are across the street from each other. Picked up Dave's Good Seed bread at 'imperfect' prices plus buy two and get one free. Killer deal. We're trying to at least go somewhere different, see something different, or try something different each week to make up for our summer at home. That unbeatable trip to Hawaii in May cannot be topped.

In our homeschool this week...

I've started to look at the Sonlight American history year one curriculum that has been put away for H-Bob who will be in fourth grade. Time to get some initial planning done.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

H-Bob, who will be our fourth grader, was diagnosed with vision tracking problems at the first of the year. With therapy she has gone from barely a first grade reading level to being able to read most any book in the I-Can-Read series which is around third grade. I would encourage anyone with a reader who is struggling to consider having their eyes checked. Her 'vision' is perfect and most optometrists don't checking for eye teaming. But oh what improvement she has made now that it has been identified.

I am inspired by...

There appears to be hope for Big Guy who had a successful week at his football camp. A few bumps and bruises, which are nothing in his life, but his ACL repair held up and his foot seemed to be okay. We just might go overboard with enthusiasm here with his last year of high school football now that it appears he's good to go in order to play.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing...

Hubby and I went out today to watch Big Guy scrimmage at his football camp...seems like it's all about him this week :) Nice to just get away without anyone else tagging along. I even had a purchased latte this morning.

My favorite thing this week was...

Even though the weather struggles to get above 70 degrees, parts of the garden are doing so well. That makes me smile. Lettuce, greens, a few strawberries, radishes, green onions, herbs. Great to have that available to use at any given moment.

What’s working/not working for us...

I've taken a look at the bare minimums I feel need to be done around the house during the day, so that if we take off somewhere or I spend more than the usual amount of time on a project, I still feel like we're staying at 'survival' levels.

Questions/thoughts I have...

We have accumulated a fairly good sized pile of things in our garage...pending a garage sale. But will we ever have one? Should we just haul it to Goodwill? Then I think perhaps some stuff should go on CraigsList. Why is it so hard to part with stuff after you realize you no longer need it? It should be a way at looking at any purchase you make realizing that when you're done with it, you shouldn't expect any value from it at the end.

Things I’m working on...

Each day I tackle one drawer or cabinet in the kitchen to purge and thoroughly clean out. The tortoise wins the race! And this method is working. The kitchen is almost finished. By the end of summer, I'll feel like I've accomplished a major job throughout the house.

I’m reading...

Determined to start reading those library books!

I’m cooking...

Hubby took some clients out sturgeon fishing this week and brought home his share of sturgeon. It's a great white meat fish similar to halibut. Takes on about any flavor you wish.

I’m praying for..

I'm going to be thankful...and not ask for anything else...that Big Guy came through his football camp unscathed.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

A proud mama moment when Big Guy received his All Team award at the closing ceremony of his football camp today. It's been a long haul in coming. Yep, he's the big redhead.







Enjoy your weekend!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal - June 17, 2011

I love hearing from other mothers whose journeys are similar to mine. So I'm linking up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal on Fridays.



In my life this week...

With such gray dismal weather, we were not too motivated to get much done this week as far as projects around the house. The lack of sun for the past nine months is getting to us. Not that it wasn't a busy week...Goat Princess had her CYT Bible study, a photo shoot, 4H goat club meeting, a day spent with a friend over, and a birthday party to attend tonight...Big Guy is having friends over for video games, ping pong and a bonfire tonight...Hubby has been out of town most of the week...so perhaps I'm just tired!

In our homeschool this week...

Still plugging away on some unfinished math for Goat Princess and continuing phonics and reader work for H-Bob.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share...

I look back on my to-be-senior-in-high-school-next-year son and am excited to see his SAT writing score. This boy used to hardly write a single word. His SAT scores though are now above our school and state averages. Chalk one up for slow and steady homeschooling.

I am inspired by...

Big Guy inspires me by his eternal patience dealing with injuries preventing him from playing football, the love of his life. A slight concussion this week put him out of the running for the scrimmage today...which would have been his first opportunity to play since his Lisfranc fracture last fall.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing...

We're trying to decide what to do for Father's Day...a bike ride, a drive up the Gorge? Not sure yet. Weather plays a huge factor around here.

My favorite thing this week was...

We had a difficult time getting one of our new pullet hens out from under a building and then lost her after she flew out of their pen. Lo and behold, she showed back up three days later, none worse for the wear.

What’s working/not working for us...

Summer schedules are lax around here, but we need to do a better job in getting H-Bob to bed early.

Questions/thoughts I have...

I truly do wonder what Big Guy's senior year holds for him in the arena of football. This concussion is not the way to start off the season.

Things I’m working on...

The garden is getting planted little by little. I set out half of the pumpkins and tomatoes this week but am holding off on the peppers as long as I can. It was only 44 degrees this morning!

I’m reading...

I'm pretty faithful at reading the blogs that come through my feed reader, but I sure would like to start tackling the stuff I have home from the library.

I’m cooking...

I have a pork butt/shoulder that we will slow-cook on the Traeger tomorrow for Father's Day. Sure hoping it turns out.

I’m praying for..

I need inspiration in a lot of areas of my life right now.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

The strawberries around here are a full month late in ripening. We've had a few ripen at home this week. We're anxious for the u-pick fields to open next week so that we can restock the freezer. What's a smoothie without good Oregon berries.



Enjoy your weekend!

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal

I love hearing from other mother's whose journeys are similar to mine. So I have decided to link up with The Homeschool Mother's Journal on Fridays.



In my life this week…

We are wrapping up our final math lessons. Both girls will be doing some reading over the summer. Goat Princess is working on Dragon's Gate at the moment and H-Bob has a stack of I-Can-Read books from the library to work on her fluency.

In our homeschool this week…

I have been trying to get in as much gardening time as possible to make up for our long, wet spring which isn't over yet.

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

I loved our charter school experience last year but have made sure this year that the classes the girls are taking outside of the home will NOT cause me to pull my hair out with driving to and fro.

I am inspired by…

I thoroughly enjoy the 'adult' conversation with my fellow Christian Youth Theater parents. There is always something that someone says that inspires me in someway.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We just returned from our 25th wedding anniversary and entire family vacation in May, so we'll be staying put for quite a while now.

My favorite thing this week was…

I just realized that I didn't set my tomatoes or cucumbers out last year until the middle of June, so I'm not too far behind this year.

What’s working/not working for us…

After purchasing a laminator last winter, I'm able to print up charts that I can turn into dry-erase sheets. Chores charts on the refrigerator, reminders for myself of daily routine items, and check-off lists in H-Bob's summer school binder are becoming well used.

Questions/thoughts I have…

I'm wondering how to carve out some uninterrupted time to plan Goat Princess's freshman year of high school and H-Bob's fourth grade studies for next year.

Things I’m working on…

I've been busy gardening, though I'd love to update some of our living room accessories and brighten up the room.

I’m reading…

Well, I have stacks of stuff from the library to read, but I never seem to get to them. I do want to start The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson before it has to go back.

I’m cooking…

Dinners have used a lot of venison and elk from the freezer to help balance our food budget this month.

I’m praying for…

I need a daily summer schedule that keeps me focused throughout the day. What I need is the wisdom to determine my priorities at this time.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

This is what summer homeschool should be about in our family...having the time to head out to the woods and pick salmon berries. I'm not fond of them, but hubby and H-Bob sure are.



Enjoy your weekend!