Homeschooling through High School

Why, yes, yes, we do homeschool our high schooler.  Okay, is it really that strange? I have invested A LOT of time and money and effort and heart and yes even possibly some of my soul in schooling my children at home.  Why, oh why, then would one be surprised that I would not want to lose that investment?

I know there are situations and circumstances that cause one to decide to opt into public school once their children have reached that age. BUT I do see it happening a lot because of reasons beyond my understanding.  For example:

• My child wanted to
• oh, okay, well at one point my child wanted a tattoo....yeah we didn't do that either.
• I don't know where I would even begin
• really? how did you begin homeschooling in the first place.... or hey, there's the internet.
• I don't know anything about record keeping
• again, there's the internet.
• What about a diploma.
• don't even need that to go to college.... I am a college graduate and I was a high school dropout with a GED.

Anyway, there are more but I don't want to give in to my negative snarky side :). What? its too late? oh well, I tried. My point is don't invest so much of yourself, spend so much of your family's time and resources just to give up out of fear or uncertainty.  Again, I do understand that there ARE reasons where homeschooling ISN'T what you feel is best for your family and I am not arguing that.  I am referring to those who don't homeschool high school out of fear of failing or fear of trying.  Just hang in there, do what's right in your heart and give your worries to God for Him to handle.

Update on 2012-13 plans

Hi, I have made some changes to my plans for this school year, you can find the update at the bottom of the original post: Plans for 2012-2013 school year

Role Playing Games

My son took up role playing bored games, mostly D&D.  At first I was like eh, its just boys being boys, but as he is getting more and more into it and even DMing (heading up) his own campaigns, I am starting to see just how much work actually goes into playing this 'game'. He even DMs a game for the family to play occasionally on family game night.  Not only is Tyler playing D&D fun for him, but he is learning much from doing it.  He puts hours into researching and planning out campaigns.  He has to strategize, plan, create and develop.  During game play he has to think on his feet, be quick witted and creative. He has to be a team leader, leading the players through game play in a way that will maximize fun and creativity for all.  He has to have a VERY vivid imagination.  He uses math and logic during each battle. The list goes on and on, so yeah, I ENCOURAGE my son to play D&D, and quite frankly, if you can find the right group to play with you I encourage you and your teens to as well. :)

Discouragement in the homeschool

As a homeschooling mother, it is often hard not to get discouraged at least a couple times throughout the school year.  Whether it be a difficult child, or a subject that someone just doesn't seem to comprehend, burnout or something else, we all seem to suffer from it at one point or another.  During these times it can be difficult to keep your motivation levels up, to be positive and encouraging to your children, to be supportive and respectful to your spouse, many things suffer when discouragement occurs in your homeschool.  Sometimes during these times I will try and spend more time on my devotionals, sometimes we just take a small break for a few days, but what I find the most helpful is making connections with other homeschool moms for encouragement and reading 'Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit' by Teri Maxwell.  This book has refueled me many times.  I guess my point here is that you aren't alone, not only have others experienced this as well, but God is always right there beside you, these are the times you just need to lean on Him. Feel free to comment below any discouragement or encouragement you would like to share with others. Blessings all my fellow homeschoolers!

Timez Attack Review

Timez Attack is a fact fluency program by Big Brainz.  It is designed to help kids learn their math facts.  When our son (the avid video gamer) was having trouble learning his math facts, we began to search all different ways that might make learning them fun.  That's when we found Timez Attack.  We love it! It helped our son learn his multiplication table in no time, all while having fun.  He didn't even think of it as learning, for him, it was being able to play a game that mom and dad actually encouraged. If you have a child getting ready to or needing to learn their math facts that likes video games, I highly recommend this product, my little niece even loves it.

I love this image. I found it on Doug's Blog.  Doug Phillips is one of my favorite speakers.  You should check out the company he endorses Vision Forum and his blog there called Doug's Blog.

Plans for 2012-2013 school year

I love homeschooling.  I can not tell you enough how glad that God lead us down this path about 3 years ago.  And surprisingly, it has had its effects on at least one of our children in a surprising way, you can catch a glimpse of that in his blog post here.

We are moving to AZ next week and look forward to living in a state that is more relaxed in its legal homeschool requirements, not that KY was difficult by any means.  I am looking forward to next school year.  We are really doing a mix'n'match with our choices which I have laid out for you here:

UPDATE:
Tim and Tori's English to Easy Grammar, Easy Writing, Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary, and Daily Grams.
Tyler's Electives take off the Entrepreneurial Training and add Switched on Schoolhouse-College Planner, and a computer programming course author TBD... suggestions welcome.

3 Fs I wanna share with you

Freedom. Homeschooling has offered my family a freedom that has been such a blessing.  We are able to school on weekends if we want, not school on weekdays if we want.  Take shorter or less holiday breaks.  Take longer or more holiday breaks.  School year round with more breaks.  Have a longer summer break with less breaks throughout the year.  As long as we put in the 180 days of instruction, we are good.  It has allowed us to do our schooling upstairs, downstairs, on a couch, in the floor, at the table, at our desks, on our computers, outside, in a tent, at a picnic table, in the car, on vacation... really, the possibilities are endless.

Faith.  Homeschooling has strengthened our Faith.  We have more time to work on developing our relationships with God and less damage control from unwanted influences.  We use Biblical curriculum written from a Christian world view.  We have a Bible class as part of our daily life.  We go to a Christian Homeschool Co-op and have built wonderful, encouraging relationships there. We work on building Biblical character.  We have truly been blessed by God on this journey.

Forgiveness.  What? Yep, forgiveness has been needed many times when mommy gets a little short..  Forgiveness has been needed when one child or another has mysteriously disappeared in the middle of answering their science questions and left the little cursor blinking on the screen and the seat empty when mom comes in to check on their progress. But at the end of the day.... its all worth it.  

Those are my three Fs for today.  Maybe next time I will bring you the letter A... or maybe not????? 

Winding up the Year

We are working on wrapping up (or catching up, rather) our school year and focusing on choosing our curriculum for next year.  We have decided we want to go back to how we put curriculum together our first year; the more eclectic style of combining multiple publishers etc together to form a very customized curriculum plan for each student. One that is specifically compiled to each of their 3 different learning styles.  I have completely compiled our youngest's curriculum plan and will begin working on my middle child's this weekend.  So, have any of you come into spring realizing you a wee bit behind with your school year?

Our School Year 2011-2012

This year we are homeschooling an 11th grader, a 7th grader and a 4th grader.  It has its challenges :).  For our 11th grader: One Year Adventure Novel, Switched on Schoolhouse: American History, Switched on Schoolhouse: Geography, Easy Grammar, Answers In Genesis: Astronomy, Rosetta Stone: Spanish.  Although this doesn't seem like a full curriculum for an 11th grader, it is more than he needs because he already has taken so many things due to my over zealousness previous years that this year and next year are pretty much going to be a breeze ;).  7th grader: My Father's World: Exploration to 1850, Switched on Schoolhouse: 7th grade Science, Switched on Schoolhouse: 7th grade English, Rosetta Stone: Spanish, Teaching Textbooks 7.  4th grader: My Father's World: Exploration to 1850 w/ Science, Switched on Schoolhouse: Math 4, Bob Jones University: Spelling 6, Handwriting I make, Queen Language Lessons for the Elementary Child, Rosetta Stone: Spanish.
I think that's everything.  Next year our 4th going to be 5th grader will be doing Switched on Schoolhouse 5th grade and Rosetta Stone: Spanish, our 7th going to be 8th grader we are still unsure about, she needs like a video instruction and workbook setup and A Beka just seems too expensive..... We like Teaching Textbooks for that very reason, it works well for her, but its only math. Any suggestions?  And our 11th going to be 12th grader will be One Year Science Fiction Novel and Easy Grammar OR Switched on Schoolhouse English IV, Rosetta Stone: Spanish II, Switched on Schoolhouse: Government and Economics, Drafting & Design (can't remember titles), Possibly Robotics (maybe Lego) or Programming of some sort, and Switched on Schoolhouse: Consumer Math.
In our co-op this semester our 4th grader is taking: Lego Robotics, 3D Art and It's A Mystery. Our 8th grader is taking Wonders of the World, Game On and Sign Language. And our 11th grader is taking Book Club, Game On and CSI.
It has been a pretty full year, but I love it!
God Bless,
Jen

Update on the Hoovers

To be honest, Life got so busy, I actually forgot I even had a blog lol!  This year we started off in Burlington, Kentucky.  I really enjoyed living in the area, we were close to our church, close to shopping, dining and well... people.  After taking a look at our finances and reevaluating what our goals were, we decided to begin looking at alternative housing choices.  During this process, I mentioned paying my father rent to live in his basement, not really thinking he would consider it.... I was wrong :)!  So after discussions with the hubby, at the end of October we packed the family up, and moved back to Dry Ridge, Kentucky.  BEAUTIFUL area!  NOT a lot of shopping, dining or well.....people.  Our church is now like 30+ miles away and to top it off we joined a homeschool co-op in guess where? That's right, Burlington!  We love living on my parent's farm.  It is so peaceful here and the scenery is just beautiful, and we are truly grateful for the love and hospitality that Grandpa and Grandma Irvin have shown us.
So you heard me mention we joined a co-op this year, well actually this semester.  Those of you who know me might say "wuh? I thought you said co-ops weren't for you." Well, you are right I did say that.  But God weighed it on my heart this past holiday season and I found one that I really love and care for very much.  The kids are really enjoying and it has been such a blessing to be a part of.
Tyler my oldest now has a blog http://ty-fyter.blogspot.com/ of which I am very proud of him for taking on that endeavor.  He is also still very involved with forword, his youth program at our church and this year Tori has joined him there.  Tyler joined a new discipleship group of young men called 'Fight Club' which is very good for him and he is now playing D&D with a good group of fellow Christian young men.  This is a great outlet for his creative mind, and boy does he get into it! Tyler is also being more healthy and active thanks to Zija!
Tori is now attending forward youth at Grace Fellowship and enjoying that every bit as much as her brother does.  She has made lots of new friends this year and is truly developing in to one very unique young lady.  She is also enjoying her co-op classes, especially sign language with Michelle!  It is neat to watch her interest in signing and it makes watching 'Switched at Birth' on ABC Family with her even more enjoyable.  She is now looking into starting dance lessons. (Also in the Burlington area lol).
Timothy is still my little man.  He is as rambunctious as always, looking for the next new and interesting thing to get his hands on.  He is taking a Lego Robotics class in co-op where they get to build little robots, then learn how to program them to do different things.  This is right up his alley and he is enjoying it thoroughly.  He is making new friends and branching out.  Can't wait to see what new interests develop within him.

So.....Schooling Jen, when are you going to talk about your schooling? Well stay tuned and my next post (hopefully tomorrow) will update you on all our curriculum choices, changes and journeys we have had this year! Thanks
Jen