Desks!

I just love it when kids are resourceful and/or entertain themselves. They did both with this project!


Yesterday when they were done with their work, Grant decided he wanted a good place for his new lamp, so the boys began rearranging their room. Then they decided they each wanted their own desks (dad has a home office and mom has her own office), so with cardboard boxes and beanbag chairs, they created their own "office" in their bedroom.



The girls immediately jumped on board. In their room, they too created office space for themselves.

The weird thing about these desks is that they have amused the kids for almost the past 24 hours! They did their math at their desks. They sat and read at their desks. They wrote letters at their desks. They hooked up lights and worked at their desks after dark. After meals they cleaned up quickly so they could get back to their DESKS!

The other benefit was that there was a mysterious lack of bickering!

Today they added the courtroom element. Whenever someone wronged someone else, they held court. Grant was the judge and Natalie was the bailiff. Her favorite part was pounding the gavel.


It sure beats hours of video games!

Top Ten Questions Homeschoolers Receive

I found this list of questions and answers regarding homeschooling on the internet and have adapted the answers to our own family.


1. How are you sure your homeschooled child is properly socialized?

Many people assume the only way a child can learn to play with others is to be in a classroom of 20 other kids the same calendar age, sitting at desks for 6 hours a day. To me this is just not the best way to learn real world social skills! How does spending your entire day with age-grouped peers prepare you to socialize in the diverse real world? How many times are best friends separated at school, lest they talk during class? How many schools now have silent lunches because they think it helps to maintain discipline (to the detriment of socialization)? How many children are bullied without any interference from the school staff? Children have more time and opportunities to socialize at home than in a school environment. They play with neighborhood friends on a daily basis. They also accompany their parent to the bank, library, supermarket, and post office, where they interact with a diverse group of people in the real world. Homeschoolers volunteer in the community. They work. They take classes (yes, amazing isn't it? They take classes!) with a group of children interested in the same thing. They are in scouts, and 4H, and dance team and sports teams and youth group and church groups - all with public, private, and other homeschooled children. They have had more opportunities to learn social skills to cope with the outside world than public school kids because they are in the outside world now - not the artificial world of public school. Other than the 13 years in public school, when do you spend the majority of your day with people within 2 years of your age? When are you in a situation where you cannot escape from a bully?? I'm not trying to hide them from the world. I'm trying to give them a bigger picture than the four walls of a schoolroom.


2. How do you know your homeschooled child is learning if she isn't tested?

How did you know your child was learning to walk or talk - because you were there and saw them doing it! You interact with your children while you are working with them. I can assess how much my children understand by their questions (and responses to my questions) during our discussions. I quickly figure out if they were paying attention, are confused about a particular point or have a handle on what we just covered. It is also amazing how much knowledge comes pouring out in regular conversations. Since we aren't dealing with overcrowded classrooms and mandates on how many kids have to "pass", we can deal with areas a child doesn’t understand until they get it. And it usually doesn't take as long as it would in public school, because instead of a lucky 15 minutes a day of personal attention, our kids get hours of it. Tests are great when you are dealing with a large group of kids that you only interact with for minutes each day so that you can't really gage what they get and what they don't. It's quite a bit different when you're working one-on-one, and much of the study is discussion. Imagine having an oral exam every day, and you can see why many homeschoolers have a good handle on where their kids are in relationship to the material.


3. How can you teach your child without a teaching degree? Isn’t that a state requirement?

Having a teaching degree is not necessary, or even helpful, in teaching your own. It is not required by my state (WI) law to have a teaching degree in order to homeschool, nor is it needed to teach in a private school. Yep, in my state you can pay big bucks and (gasp!) have your child taught by an uncertified teacher in private school! I would rather save the thousands of dollars that I would have spent on private education and use part of it for great field trips! Last year, I took the two older kids (ages 11 and 8) to New York City. First, we visited the Empire State Building for fun. Then, to cap off our study of immigration to America, we had lunch at Katz's Deli in the lower east side (started by immigrants in 1887), visited the tenement museum, and then took a ferry out to Ellis Island.


4. Isn't it hard to teach your own child? You must be rich to do this!

Yes, in some ways it is. Homeschooling definitely is not for everyone. It is very self-selecting. No one chooses to do this because it is the easier choice. A few families do try out homeschooling, find it doesn't work for them and put the kids into public school. Many of those who home school do not have large incomes but live with tight budgets, fewer indulgences and lots of family dedication. They still manage to get out and be involved in their communities and still teach the academics. There is no set mold and yet, on the whole the children are learning the core academic knowledge while growing and developing into people who care, get involved and effect changes. It is also a myth that only a family where one parent stays home full time can homeschool. Many single parents homeschool. We have chosen to run a small family business as part of our learning curriculum.



5. Why do you homeschool?

There are nearly as many reasons to homeschool as there are homeschooling families! For a partial list, see this link:
http://www.nhen.org/newhser/default.asp?id=228
Many of our own reasons are on this list. At the top of our list is that we feel this is something that God has called us to do.


6. How can she learn tolerance if she isn't in public school?

My school experience was not one of tolerance - everyone was very much noticed for each and every difference, and that attention was rarely positive. How can kids learn to deal with bullies and the trauma of being picked last for dodge ball unless they get out there and experience it? Nobody needs to learn about hardships by being thrown into the middle of them without help. The fact that people so often do learn this way is merely very sad. It can work, it can be valuable, and one can survive unscathed, but the idea that this is the best we can do for our children is frankly pathetic. The belief that educational institutions represent some kind of unique difficulty of life that must be faced sooner or later is patently false. School is not compulsory. Reality is.


7. Doesn't your homeschooled child miss riding the bus?

My oldest child rode the bus to public school for two years. He learned some very bad words at the bus stop, in first grade! Then the kids switched to a private school two blocks away from home, and our oldest didn't miss the bus at all! Our younger ones don't mind missing the bus at all, because this year we bought a "schoolie," a former school bus converted to a motor home. We have already had lots of fun times camping and traveling in that bus, and when it's at home parked on the north side of our house, it makes a great play house! Used school buses can be purchased very reasonably, in various sizes.


8. What about the prom?

(My first thought when posed with this question, I confess, is "Ugh, what ABOUT the prom? I attended school and was never asked to prom. I was fully over my disappointment at missing the prom WELL before my 40th birthday, and it only took about two years of therapy!)

Seriously, though, many homeschool groups sponsor proms, graduations, yearbooks and other events, which are thought to be the social highlight of a young teen’s life. Our homeschooling co-op put together their first prom this year. My kids were too young to participate, and frankly, I don't know if they will want to participate when they are older.


9. How long do you plan to do this? How can you possibly have knowledge of every subject you need to teach?

We take each year one at a time. I would ideally love to homeschool right up to college. Parents who choose homeschooling have a tremendous variety of materials and resources available: computer, Internet, software, pre-packaged curricula, workbooks from the teacher store, community college courses for teens, co-op classes, native speakers who will teach small groups a foreign language, theatre troupes, orchestras, and anything else you can think of. Having knowledge of every subject you want your child to learn is not necessary – the resources are available to help you, but you will need to be a go-getter type to seek them out. My favorite resource is a speaker named Carole Joy Seid. She teaches a classic, literature-based and real-life approach to schooling. AND, she will be in the Twin Cities in January!


10. So, do you have any plans for your homeschooled child to go to college?

We will assist them in getting into any college they choose. Schools from Harvard, Princeton, Yale and MIT seek out homeschoolers, as do other (less expensive!) schools. Not having a public high school diploma does not prevent homeschoolers from taking the SAT, ACT or even taking the Advanced Placement tests, which carry thru as college credits. Many homeschoolers graduate with associate’s degrees when their same age public school peers are graduating from high school.

My Heart, the Lord's Stable

This is a devotional that my friend Vicky emailed me the other day. I thought it was lovely!

“My Heart, the Lord’s Stable” by Van Walton, Proverbs 31 Ministries Speaker, Director of Hispanic Ministries

Key Verse: Ephesians 3:17: “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him…” (NLT)

Devotion: Before my children were born, early when we were a family of two, my husband and I began a Christmas tradition. Late in November, Christmas came to our house in the form of a prominent nativity scene that decorated our mantle.

Each season I reverently place the Christmas characters on my mantel, locating shepherds, wise men, and angles, carefully facing them toward the focal point – the empty manger, the bed of hay and straw. In our house we traditionally waited until Christmas Eve to introduce the Christ child into the crèche displayed in the middle of our house.

One year, while arranging the nativity, I engaged my sons. They took turns choosing where each piece – a character, an animal, or a star – should be strategically located. At last we pulled the little manger from its storage place.

“Where is Jesus?” Aaron asked. “He belongs in this crib.” After much discussion and explanation I convinced the boys that Christmas is as much about waiting and preparing for Jesus as it is celebrating His birth.

“But it makes me sad to look into the stable and see an empty manger! I want to see Jesus.” Benjamin expressed his conflicting thoughts. We had a dilemma on our hands.

I retrieved the tiny wooden carving – a sweet little replica of an animal’s feed trough. Grabbing a red marker, I drew a heart in the “crib.”

“There,” I said. “Each time you look into the stable and see an empty manger, let the heart remind you to make room in your heart for Jesus. This year give Jesus a special gift. Let others see Jesus in you!”

I used this moment to teach my sons an object lesson. “Jesus was born in a stable. Really, though, He came for you.” I gently placed my finger on each little boy’s heart. “He wants to be born in your life. Your heart is like this stable. Can you let Him live in you? Why not remember each time you look at this nativity scene, “my heart is Jesus’ stable.”

Do you know what a life whose heart is filled with Jesus looks like? It is a life that is stable: one that is satisfied with His will, living in truth, always adoring the Lord, believing in God’s promises, longing for relationship with Him, and empowered by His spirit.

It’s the life of a person who is SATISFIED: Certainly, Mary would have chosen a better place for her child and the King of Kings, but she was satisfied with God’s design.

It’s the life of a person who knows and lives the TRUTH: Certainly, Joseph’s desired to put Mary away, except that the truth of Jesus needed to be shared.

It’s the life of a person who obviously ADORES God: Certainly, the shepherds were fearful, but they obeyed God’s call to leave their objects of purpose and income, objects of adoration – their lambs. They obeyed God’s urging to find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. Leaving their lambs, shepherds fell down in adoration when they found the Lamb of God.

It’s the life of a person who BELIEVES God: Certainly, the Magi dreaded the long trip, but they believed in God’s power to provide a new King.

It’s the life of a person who LONGS for a relationship with God: Certainly, God’s children here on earth want to be filled with that which the world has to offer, but when we long for Jesus to fill our every yearning, everything else falls into its proper place.

It’s the life of a person EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit: Certainly, we are weak, but God is strong. When He steps into our hearts He brings “all his glorious, unlimited resources to empower us with inner strength, through his spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16, my paraphrase)

When you look into your heart do you find it empty? This season invite Jesus to fill your life. Determine to allow the living God to be your focal point. Merry Christmas!

My Prayer for Today: Lord Jesus, Without You there would be no Christmas. Today I want to dedicate this season to You. Every day I will remember that You are the reason we celebrate. It is Your birthday. Had you remained in heaven, I would still be lost, without purpose, without a future or hope, without joy. Thank you for giving Your life that I might live. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What's for breakfast? How about a lesson?

I awoke this morning and remembered that I forgot to make hot cereal in the crockpot last night. (We do hot millet cereal because two of us - Natalie and mom - cannot have gluten). So I began the task of brainstorming something up for breakfast. I have been in a rut recently because of the gluten thing, and Natalie cannot have dairy either. Our possibilities seem to go way down, and we currently rotate between about 4 menus for breakfast.

Suddenly, an idea flashed into my head. When is Hannukkah? A trip to the computer told me that Hanukkah starts at sundown tomorrow the 15th, so I delved into my shelves of children's picture books, in search of "Grandma's Latkes," which I knew we had somewhere. Found it, and the recipe in the back! So we made these absolutely DELICIOUS latkes and read the story over breakfast. I know we were a day early, but my original search gave me the wrong date and I thought we were in day 7 (I had looked at 2004).

The Jews were angry because Antiochus wanted to force them to worship the Greek gods of the day. They hid in the hills and defeated Antiochus, who was much stronger than they were, but THEY did not have the strength of God that the Jews had. The victorious Jews returning to their temple to celebrate, only to find a day's worth of oil left in the menorah. The second miracle of Hanukkah was that the oil lasted 8 days. Hanukkah is also called the "Festival of Lights."

Here is the recipe if you would like to try them, from "Grandma's Latkes" by Malka Drucker:

3 large potatoes
1 small onion
2 beaten eggs
2 tablespoons flour (we used rice flour because of the gluten thing)
1 teaspoon salt
pinch of pepper
1/2 cup vegetable oil (we used coconut oil)

Wash the potatoes well, but don't peel them. Grate them coarsely into a bowl (food processors come in very handy!!). Grate in the onion. Add the beaten eggs, flour, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture sit for ten minutes to thicken. Pour off excess liquid. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan. When the pancakes are brown around the edges, turn and fry them until the other sides are crispy. Drain on paper towls, and eat them with sour cream and applesauce.

(The sour cream and applesauce does not sound like the best combination with these, but I assure you that it was WONDERFUL! We were out of applesauce so Grant made some chunky style sauce in the food processor with apples, honey, and cinnamon).

I now have 5 breakfast menus in my rotation!!

A Few Years Ago...

A friend sent me a devotional today, about making your heart the Lord's stable, and I was reminded of this. Back in 2001, when my kids were ages 6 down to 1, I happened to walk past our Nativity scene. I stopped in my tracks when I saw what the kids had added to the scene. The Little Mermaid figurine was on her knees (do mermaids have knees? They were bent, anyway!) and Superman had his fists in the air like he was celebrating.

Even Ariel and Superman know who the King of Kings is!!

Walk Through Bethlehem

Today we took a field trip and visited a large church near Milwaukee that has a "Walk Through Bethlehem" program. They put a lot of time and effort into it! There were live animals and a large rotating cast of "Bethlehem residents." My kids were nervous that the wandering Roman soldiers were going to throw them into the jail. (I admit I was a little intimidated by the soldiers myself!) We went all the way through the Bethlehem Marketplace, spending our shekels on apples, cheese, and crafts, while following the star to the end where the baby Jesus was with His parents.

Afterwards, we went to the nearby home of our friend Tiffany for lunch. A lovely afternoon was spent with my three dear sisters in Christ while all the kids re-created their own walk through Bethlehem upstairs!

The First Big Snow!!!

Wahoo!
We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland! What could be more appropriate for December 1st? Now I myself am not so fond of snow and cold (I'm a 72 degree weather kind of gal), but the kids love it! So mom is staying indoors to work on Grant's Christmas gift (a quilt) while all the kiddies frolic in the frozen white powder.

Grant is the one shoveling the driveway, but with all the footprints in the snow it looks more like they have been playing tag. Zach is the little nearly-bald fellow (thanks to dad's barber skills last night), playing with neighbor friend Nathan.




Nathan's brother, Graeme, is enjoying a feast of snow behind the back deck.

And finally, dd Natalie is proud of the giant football field she created in the backyard.