Homeschool Co-op Lessons
Posted by: Tina James on: August 13, 2011
Okay. So I started a co-op this week – me and my two homeschool children. I have to admit I had a great deal of anxiety going into this new endeavor. All of the contact I had had with the board members of the co-op leading up to this first week of classes led me to feel overwhelmed, unprepared, unqualified, and just plain anxious. I knew that being a part of this co-op was what God wanted me and my kids to do – never doubted it. But what a huge life change for us! My kids had no idea about due dates, doing things in a certain order, keeping pretty notebooks, and lots of other things that seem to be so very important to so many in the co-op.
I was signed up to teach 2 high school writing classes. Now, I have written since – well, ever since I can remember. But I’ve never actually taught a writing class per se. I’ve taught writing as a part of an English class that included literature and grammar, but never just writing. Oh, and I was informed that I would have to pick a text, write a course description and have a syllabus ready over the summer. A couple of weeks before co-op officially started, my kids began getting assignments emailed for them to have completed before the official first day of class. Yikes! I didn’t even really have a clue what I was going to teach and here were other teachers who not only knew what they were going to teach, but they knew exactly what day it would be – and quite possibly before classes even started.
I rolled up my sleeves and composed a letter to send to parents and future students that I thought might get me off the hook a little. I started it with the idea that writing just isn’t like math and science, and so my class would be by it’s very nature a little looser. And because I didn’t know anything about my students’ writing skills, we would deal with problems as they arose. Not to mention the fact that I had 9th through 12th graders in class together. . .
Well, I thought that might appease everyone involved. Basically, what I was saying was that I didn’t know what I was doing and I might not know what I was doing several months down the road. I was able to include a list of some different things we would be attempting to write (which was quite substantial, I might add). No, we’re not planning to write a novel – but just about everything else.
I elicited advice from my newly graduated son (who’s headed to college next week). Should I do the fun, fiction writing first and leave the possibly boring essays and research paper for later in the year or get the blah stuff out of the way first and end on a lighter note? He suggested doing the nonfiction first and leaving the fun stuff for later in the year. Actually, I’m hoping that all of it can be fun.
Oh well, I can truly say that I had a great time with my first 2 writing classes, and I hope my students did too. My goal for this first year is to encourage my students to view writing as something that can be an enjoyable way to express themselves; and that they will feel confident with their writing skills no matter what situation they find themselves – whether it be in college, a career, or in another high school class.
I’m just waiting for the mom to come to me and ask exactly when we will be composing a Shakespearean sonnet and how many outside sources her child will need to cite for the research paper. I may have to answer her in all honesty that I have doubled up on my anti-anxiety medication and that maybe she should think about doing the same. Do you think I might not get invited back to the co-op next year? I really do hope that they do ask me to come back, because I truly do like teaching kids to write. I just think it needs to be fun.
Do Not Throw Away Your Confidence
Posted by: Tina James on: February 2, 2010
Hebrews 10:35-36 says, “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Have you thrown away the confidence you once had for homeschooling? Have you been told that your children would be better off in school with professionals who have been trained to teach? Have you been thinking that your children are missing out on what other kids are getting in school that you can’t offer them at home? Let me assure you that you’re not alone. We all have our moments of questioning whether we’re really doing the will of God. None of us is exempt from Satan’s attacks. He doesn’t like it when we are confident in doing what is right and good.
Let me also assure you that confidence is not tied to a feeling. We don’t have to feel confident to be confident. There are many times that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am doing exactly what God wants me to do, but I might be feeling anything but confident. There have been plenty of times that my level of confidence has more closely resembled a plate of soggy, cold spaghetti rather than a tall, strong oak. And it is just as likely that I will feel this way with other homeschool parents as with non-homeschoolers. The past few years I have battled with fibromyalgia, and there are days that I can hardly drag myself out of bed much less perform exciting science projects and guide my children through the complexities of English grammar. Believe it or not, there are days that my kids just have to muddle through and fend for themselves almost entirely on their own. Those are days that I don’t feel confident at all.
The good news is that our confidence does not need to be in ourselves and our human abilities (or lack thereof). Our confidence rests on our all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present God. Our job is to keep our focus on His will and to persevere in doing His will. Scripture reminds us that if we do not throw away our confidence we will be rewarded. We can be confident in a God who keeps His promises. We don’t have to second-guess our decisions. We don’t have to question whether we are able to give our children what they need. God is able. Our confidence is in Him. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that “God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by his power that is working in us.”
Time4Learning.com
Posted by: Tina James on: January 29, 2010
Time4Learning.com is part of my 4th grade daughter’s homeschool program. She loves it because it’s entertaining and fun. The silly humor is right on her level. (Don’t worry, Moms, it’s all clean.) She also likes that she gets to “do school” on the computer instead of reading boring textbooks all day.
I like Time4Learning.com because I know my child is learning. Her reading skills and spelling skills are especially improving. She shares new stuff she is learning with me. Last week while she was working at her computer and I was sitting next to her working at mine, she shared with me a spelling rule she was learning. She told me that she wished she had heard that rule earlier, because it would have helped her. I had missed it. It gave me a new appreciation for Time4Learning. I don’t have to be sitting with my child all day long making sure she’s getting her schoolwork done. I can tend to other things at home and trust that she’s getting what she needs to learn. I consider the $19.95 monthly fee a wise investment.
Oh, Yes, You Can!
Posted by: Tina James on: January 28, 2010
Have you ever said to yourself – or anyone else, for that matter – that you could never homeschool? Okay, so there are a few of you skeptics out there. I’m not going to try to persuade you to homeschool, but I would like to examine some of the reasons parents give for not homeschooling. First of all, let me dispel some of the myths about homeschoolers.
- Homeschoolers are crazy. This is simply not true. Many of us are extremely sane – at times.
- Homeschoolers don’t have social skills. Not true. We have parties and outings quite frequently, but not so frequently that it cuts into school time.
- Homeschoolers are just trying to be smarter than everyone else. What’s wrong with that?
- Homeschoolers spend a lot of money on all their books and supplies. As long as we have a public library and internet access we’re good to go.
- Homeschool parents need to know everything. No way, Jose! Teacher’s books have all the answers.
- Homeschoolers have shorter school days than everyone else. Oops, that one’s true.
Take the following quiz to see if you could be a successful homeschooling parent. Answer each item with True or False.
- I have at least one child.
- I can stay awake for at least 3 hours.
- I have taught (or am teaching) my child how to do something new.
- I love my child.
- I want the best for my child.
- I am responsible for my child.
- I enjoy torture. Oops, sorry. That belonged on one of my other quizzes.
If you answered True to any of these statements (except #7), you’re ready to homeschool. Still not convinced? Believe it or not, you’ve been homeschooling since the day your child was born. Some of you even started teaching before your child was born – thanks to those headphones that fit around a pregnant belly. All parents teach their children (some of us teach them not-so-good stuff, but we’re teaching all the same). Just think about a few of the things parents teach their children: how to brush teeth, how to go potty, how to tie shoelaces, how to button and snap, how to ride a bike, how to whistle. . . See what I mean?
Teaching your child how to read and write; how to add, subtract, multiply and divide; what the difference between a noun and a verb is; how to read a bar graph; why a spider is not an insect, etc. . . is not that different than the other things I mentioned. So, let’s cut to the chase. I know that there are those of you who are thinking that you can’t afford to quit your job and teach your child. In the time that you are sitting with your child in the evening doing homework, you could actually be teaching them yourself instead of reteaching what the teacher taught that day in class. You say, but what would I do with my children during the day? Are you really sending your children to school because you need a babysitter? Aren’t children important enough to make a few sacrifices, rearrange a schedule, be inconvenienced, compromise, be creative while they’re still living at home and you still have them in your care? Homeschooling isn’t easy, but neither is being a parent.
New Favorite Book
Posted by: Tina James on: November 21, 2009
My new favorite book is Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink. It is beautifully heart-warming. I love the relationships between the members of the Woodlawn family, among the neighbors in the community, and between adults and children. Unlike much of today’s literature, grownups are treated with great respect; but there is nothing hokey about the story. Caddie and her siblings have fun adventures – that sometimes land them in hot water. The Woodlawn children learn wonderful lessons, and by the end of the book Caddie has begun to learn that even though she has not been raised as the typical Civil-War era girl there is coming a time that she will need to develop proper skills appropriate for a young lady. When she does gain interest in learning to become a lady she does so with such grace and maturity that her brothers (who are used to her companionship) want to join in her new activities as well. I won’t spoil the ending, but suffice it to say that you might want to have a tissue handy – the tears will be happy ones.
How I managed to miss reading Caddie Woodlawn sooner I will never know, but I’m glad I did find it to share with my daughter.
Homeschooling Through Unemployment
Posted by: Tina James on: October 31, 2009
Homeschooling through my husband’s unemployment has been a mixed bag of blessings and difficulties. First of all, let me address some of the difficulties – most of which you could probably come up with on your own.
- 24/7 Family Togetherness – Homeschooling families spend a lot of time together. Togetherness goes hand-in-hand with homeschooling and, indeed, may be the reason for many families’ decisions to homeschool, but usually at least one member of the family goes off to work during the day.
- Trouble Staying On-Task – Husbands like to have projects to do. They like to stay busy and feel a sense of accomplishment whether they are getting paid or not. The children oftentimes see what Dad is working on and want to “help.” If this is a weekend project, it doesn’t usually interfere with school, but when it’s a weekday morning project it becomes a whole different story.
- Coming and Going – During the course of these projects, invariably a trip to the store becomes necessary. Then come the echoes of “Can I go too? Can I go too?” Everybody is bound to need something from the store, so a shopping list must be created.
I could probably come up with one or two more problem areas, but I really want to focus on the blessings. Most would not agree that unemployment could possibly bring anything good with it, but I have found some true blessings in the midst.
- Help With Teaching Math – Language Arts is my area of expertise and enjoyment. My math skills are quite limited, and I have a knack for not only confusing my children but myself as well. My husband is our family math whiz. Instead of calling him at work to get his guidance through a math problem, we have him right here.
- Running Errands – There are days that get eaten up by being on the road running hither and yon: pick up a prescription at the pharmacy, one of the kids’ has outgrown his shoes (again!) and needs new ones, we’re out of milk, we need stamps . . . It’s nice to have my husband run those errands while the rest of us stay at home getting schoolwork done. I think he offers because he wants to get away from the house; but if it keeps us from losing a day of school, I won’t take it personally.
- Help with Chores – My husband is a real pro at loading the dishwasher (those engineering skills are useful), After I get all the dishes that will fit crammed into the dishwasher, he will invariably find a way to sqeeze in 4 more bowls and a few more glasses. It’s a real talent. Not only that, but when my husband cleans an appliance, he takes it apart to clean it thoroughly inside and out and then puts it back together again. It would have never occurred to me to take apart the oven door to clean the stuff that dripped down between the inner and outer panes of glass (not that I could have put the oven door back on even if I had actually figured out how to remove it in the first place).
- Help with Computer Troubles – If you ask my children what I’m most likely to say while sitting in front of my computer, they would tell you, “I should really take this thing out to the backyard and just shoot it!” Unfortunately, my reliance on my computer far surpasses my knowledge of how to make it do what I want it to do. My onsite computer expert always comes to my rescue (or maybe he’s actually rescuing the computer). Working at my computer was much more frustrating when my husband was going off to work everyday. I would have to wait for him to get home in the evening, and by then I would probably have attempted every possible “fix” that I knew, thereby making a bigger mess for my husband to undo. Luckily for my computer – I don’t have a gun.
So, you see, unemployment is not ALL bad. I have to admit, I’m not totally looking forward to having my husband go back to work. I’ll have to go back to running my own errands and limping my way through math problems, but I do think I’ll appreciate payday much more.
A Bump in the Road
Posted by: Tina James on: June 5, 2009
My family has hit a bump in the road in our homeschooling adventure. Unfortunately, I have been having health problems and I cannot count on having the energy to “do school” everyday. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about 6 months ago. I have good days and not-so-good days. On not-so-good days I am unable to do much of anything at all. The kids are able to keep up with the subjects that they do on the computer, but what we miss most is our reading together time. I end up feeling guilty about that and the dirty laundry that piles up, the dishes stacked in the sink, and supper not being ready when my husband comes in from work. Invariably, I feel as if I need to explain myself and make sure that no one thinks I’m just being lazy.
I have thought about placing my homeschool kids into public school – but that thought passes by very quickly. I know that is not the best option for us right now. I have had to revisit our reasons for choosing to homeschool in the first place. I love the flexibility that we have. I like that my kids can work at their own pace. I love teaching my children. After much frustration and prayer, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I simply can’t do everything I want to do.
I decided to research some other options and I’ve chosen an online homeschooling program for my 7th grader. He will be be completing all of his school work on the computer. I will be here to answer questions and to give guidance, but much of the teaching responsibility will be off my shoulders. My 3rd grader has already been working on an online program that I’ve been very pleased with. I can still teach all of my children the really important life lessons – even on my “not-so-good” days.
We all pass through trying times and different seasons of life. Well, this is one of those times for me and my family. I must admit that it has not been easy for me to accept that I cannot be Supermom. But I do serve a Super God, and He is ultimately in charge of everything concerning me and my family. I hold tight to Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”
Accredited or Not?
Posted by: Tina James on: June 5, 2009
Homeschooling families are faced with many dilemmas throughout the course of their homeschooling journeys. One of the dilemmas facing many homeschoolers is whether to connect themselves with an accredited school or to remain purely unadulterated and unattached. There are pros and cons with either decision.
Many families like the support and safety of an accredited program. In this method of homeschooling, students may actually be enrolled in a private school yet they complete their lessons at home. Some of these programs allow parents to grade their children’s work, while others require that the work be submitted to their staff for grading. Usually, when a child is enrolled in a private school/homeschool program, he is first given a diagnostic test to determine the grade level for each subject. The school will then notify the parents with a suggested plan of study. The school normally dictates the curriculum and specific daily assignments. Parents may have a great deal of contact with the school staff or a very limited amount of input from the school. Many schools assign an educational advisor to each family. These advisors will work to insure that each student earns the proper needed credits at each stage. This may be extremely helpful for families homeschooling high school students. Having an educational advisor, or graduation coach, at that point can be very beneficial. It can be quite traumatic to have a child on the brink of graduation and find out that he is missing a credit for a class he should have taken. Another benefit to being involved with an accredited school is the fact that students receive diplomas from that accredited school. The student’s transcript will show that he matriculated in a private school and earned a diploma from that school. This could make college admission a much easier and more pleasant experience – for the students and parents alike. Also, some scholarships are rewarded only to students with diplomas from accredited schools. Dual enrollment eligibility may require that the student is enrolled in an accredited program as well. For those homeschooling parents who don’t feel comfortable with being completely responsible for their children’s education, this can be a very attractive option.
Enrollment in an accredited program does have its downside. It can mean quite a financial commitment. Usually the school has an enrollment fee and a registration fee. These fees may be doubled or tripled for more than one child being enrolled. Some programs include books and/or access to online classes in their upfront fees. Others require that families purchase student materials separately. The curriculum may be rigidly designated with no allowable alternatives. Courses are usually limited to stiff time constraints. The student may not receive credit if the coursework is not completed by a set deadline.
Parents who don’t want outside limits imposed on their children’s education may take a different path. Pure homeschooling may be more appealing to these families. Parents have complete authority over curriculum, activities, grades (or no grades). If a student needs more than 180 days to complete a course, he has that freedom. If the students and/or parents decide that they just don’t like the curriculum they chose to use, changes can be made midstream. Also, families can use materials from more than one publisher. For instance, parents may choose to use Saxon for math and Shurley Grammar for language arts. Parents may decide to use only what is available from their local library, making for a very inexpensive homeschooling program. Student interests can guide subject choices, too; and student weaknesses can dictate that more attention is given to that particular area of study.
All of this freedom of choice calls for a great deal of research and decision-making on the part of the parents. It will be necessary for parents to become familiar with different types of curricula and to seek out recommendations from other homeschoolers. The parents will also benefit from becoming familiar with their students’ individual learning styles. These parents who prefer pure homeschooling will need to be true educators. That is not to say that they must hold degrees in teaching, but they must themselves have knowledge before they can impart this knowledge to their students.
Students who are homeschooled completely under their parents’ authority may meet with roadblocks when they apply to colleges. The homeschooling community looks forward to the day that homeschoolers will be wholeheartedly welcomed into all colleges, but for now this is not so. It may take more work on the part of the student to earn college admission. Each college has its own admission requirements, but by far the high school transcript is the most important required document across the board. For those parents who have chosen to “go it alone” the high school transcript may be the most daunting of their responsibilities.
There is, however, a compromise for even the most independent homeschoolers. Families can hire a professional record-keeper. Usually included in the list of services offered by these professionals is academic advisement. These record-keepers are educated in state requirements and can guide families in making choices that will keep them on the right path toward high school graduation. Of course, there is a cost involved in receiving professional help. The cost, however, should not be as much as enrollment in an accredited program. Some of these record-keepers offer personal consultations and ongoing personal advisement throughout the high school grades. They may teach the parents how to keep their own records or they may ask the parent to submit grades and course descriptions in order to create the transcripts themselves. This path does not lead to a diploma from an accredited school, and the student may be left open to questions and scrutiny. However, as the homeschooling movement grows and as homeschooling becomes more accepted as a legitimate form of education, homeschooled graduates will be increasingly welcomed into all institutions of higher education. Prospective employers will appreciate the dedication, diligence, and level of knowledge of hardworking homeschool graduates.
Homeschoolers indeed have many decisions to make on behalf of their children, but making the decision to homeschool is a great first step for any family who wants to help their children succeed in life.
Working Mom
Posted by: Tina James on: June 5, 2009
When my husband and I got married, I was in my 3rd year of teaching and he was in his 4th year as an engineer for a local manufacturer. We weren’t rich by any stretch of the imagination, but we had plenty. We have said more than once since that time that we wish we would have put more money into savings for the future. Instead of saving, we ate out at least twice a week. I bought pretty much whatever I wanted whenever I wanted it.
My husband began to see signs of trouble in his company and when he was offered a position in a company on the other side of the state, he just couldn’t let it pass by. We had just found out that we were expecting our first child and we had only been in our new house for 6 months. We put our house on the market, packed up, and moved. I did not have any doubts about finding a teaching position. Teachers could find work anywhere.
Well, I didn’t find a position right away. When I was finally offered a position (sight unseen), it was at a public junior high school in a very tough part of town. When my husband inquired with his coworkers about this particular school, they all agreed that they would never have their wives working there. It was too dangerous. So, I began looking at private schools.
I was called in for an interview with the headmaster at a Christian private school. My tummy had grown quite a bit by that point and it was obvious that I was expecting. The headmaster asked what I planned to do when the baby was born. I told him that I intended to put the baby in daycare and continue on with my career. That didn’t seem to sit well with the headmaster. Before I left his office, I knew where he stood on the topic of working mothers of young children. I don’t think he ever had any intention of hiring me once he realized I was expecting.
Before our son was born, I did take a long-term substitute teaching position, and I was actually needed longer than I was able to stay. Times were tough with buying a higher priced home and having a baby to care for on one income. But, you know what? We did it. We never lacked anything we needed. We learned to cut some corners and live more frugally. We even used cloth diapers to save money. By the time I could have gone back to work, we had already realized that I didn’t have to work. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving my baby boy with someone else all day long.
That was over 16 years ago and I’ve been a stay-at-home mom ever since. It’s the best career I could have ever had. If I had it to do over again, I would major in home economics instead of English. That would have been more practical; however, I do use my English teacher knowledge a lot in homeschooling.
I might get back to my career after my children leave home, but something tells me that I’ll probably have other interests by then.
