Teach The Child

The Worst Homeschool Day

2011-09-29T18:20:00.000-06:00

It had been one of those days.....It was only Tuesday , but already the week seemed long. It seemed like everything was going wrong. My daughter was having one of her bad days. That meant she couldn't pay attention for two seconds - let alone concentrate on an assignment. The new concept in math had been far beyond her comprehension. A brief writing assignment in English had reduced my son to tears. I had done nothing but nag and coax all morning.It was nearly noon and I hadn't done any housework. Here it was time for lunch and the dishes from yesterday's lunch were still in the sink. When would I ever find time to start my To Do list?I continued to struggle with my attitude. I wondered why we homeschool. Why did we have to try so hard and struggle through life? I was tempted to fantasize about dropping the kids off at school. Let someone else struggle with them while I went off to a job that actually paid real money.That evening God answered my questions. My daughter came to me in tears. She climbed up in my lap and poured out her heart to me. She wanted godly counsel and she asked me for it. Me! The one who had nagged her and hassled her all day. The one who hadn't done the dishes or cleaned the house.She is eight now and I know these tender teaching moments must become more rare as she matures. But this night I held her tight and thanked God for opening my eyes. You see, homeschool isn't always about history facts and grammar rules. It is about being present for my children and giving them godly instruction. While I am teaching math facts and grammar rules my kids are learning so much more.

Book Review #1

2011-04-14T14:51:00.000-06:00

The World Is Flat

by Thomas L. Friedman

In The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman postulates that the development of technology has reduced the distance between people. He points to ten forces which have created this change. These include the fall of the Berlin Wall (time at which capitalism triumphed over communism) and the invention of Windows, the date on which Netscape went public (the introduction of the internet based systems platform), the ability of computer systems to talk to each other, Y2K, and others. As a result people around the world are able to communicate, exchange information, and collaborate in ways never before possible. A global, Web-based playing field was created that reduced the advantage of corporate giants and empowered both the individual and the small business.

Along the way Friedman discusses the technological and business innovations which made these developments possible. He details the businesses which have made the most of a flat world by becoming multi-national companies. In America, that has often meant out-sourcing which Friedman admits is difficult but he argues that it is advantageous in the long run. He addresses concerns over the future of America including the substandard education and gives strategies for surviving the flattening of your company.

I found this book fascinating partly due to my business background but also because Friedman named and explained a phenomenon which I had observed in my individual life. Let me explain how my world is flat. First of all, I have eccentric tastes. I enjoy music and books which are not part of the mainstream. A flat world allows me to download the songs I want to my i-Pod. It doesn’t matter if the music was performed in China or South America. I can find it. I can also order (via Amazon) or download (via my Kindle) books which no one else has read in years. For instance I recently enjoyed reading a book by the Venerable Bede which was written circa 731 A.D. Not only is this book hard to find, it is also prohibitively large in its paper format. Both problems were solved by downloading it.

A second example is the lessons which I teach the children. This is a great and blessed time to be homeschooling. I can order any type of text I want (even the non-technological Mennonites have someone who sells their books on-line). For history I frequently tap into lapbooking lessons created by moms around the world – including China and the Philippines. Our German pronunciation is helped by a web-site which has audio pronunciation of any word or phrase we need. We are currently studying space in Science class. With a little on-line research I was able to download a workbook about the Chandra observatory (which has fascinated the kids) and to order educational materials – both free. The list of resources is endless.

A third way in which my world is flat can be classified as “communication.” Applications such as Facebook and Skype allow us to stay in contact with distant friends and family members. This enhances our sense of family and community and allows us to show concern for one another even from Idaho. When I have a question – or when I am answering one of the thousands which stream from the kids – I can quickly find someone who knows the answer. For example, my nephew recently needed several teeth pulled. I was able to answer his mom’s questions by contacting my husband’s cousin who is a dental assistant. And this didn’t takes days or weeks. It was the work of mere moments. Now that is a flat world.

The Crisis

2011-03-08T18:54:00.001-07:00

Education in America has reached a crisis point. Budget woes have finally stopped the incessant flow of cash into the public schools. As a result, cracks have started to show. In Wisconsin, the teachers’ union has staged protests in opposition to the govonor’s plan to end collective bargaining[i]. Locally, the state superintendint of schools has come under fire for suggesting an end to tenure and an increase in online classes. Not content with opposing the plan politically, his opponents have descended into destruction of personal property and stalking of his family[ii]. A teacher protest was followed by a week-long student walk out at area high schools[iii].

When compared with the demonstrations for freedom taking place in Africa and the Middle East, these protests are absurd. For the most part, the proposed legislation calls for more personal responsibility by both the teachers and the students. Nearly every other industry in the nation has faced catastrophic financial downturn. Faced with millions in budget shortfalls, the educators have chosen to stop teaching, to walk out of class, and to subvert the course of government rather than to adapt. In no other industry would this behavior by employees be tolerated.

Despite the chaos of the national education system, there is learning going on in America. Quietly, 1 ½ million children around the country are being educated by their parents. They are being taught according to their parents’ philisophical and moral standards. These students consistently score higher than their public school counterparts and are being educated at an average cost of less than $600 per child per year. They do not suffer from the “learning gaps” which afflict public school students based on gender, race, or socio-economic status.[iv] In addition, homeschool students are being given a moral and personal foundation which is largely missing in this nation. Whether they are authoring books while in their teens [v] or making national news for their personal stands[vi], the examples of personal ethics and achivement abound.

The effectiveness of homeschool education is no longer in question. The real question is how much longer the expensive, ineffective, method of public education will be tolerated by the country as a whole.

[i] http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/28/police-let-protesters-stay-night-wis-capitol/?test=latestnews

[ii] http://www.ktvb.com/news/Supt-Luna-becomes-target-of-vandalism-and-threats-116233989.html

[iii] http://www.ktvb.com/news/Students-walk-out-of-class-in-protest-of-education-reform-plan-117064878.html

[iv] Statistics taken from Homeschool Progress Report 2009: Academic Achievement and Demographics http://www.hslda.org/docs/study/ray2009/default.asp

[v] Alex & Brett Harris http://www.therebelution.com/books/authors.htm

[vi] Joel Northrup http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/23/earlyshow/main20035302.shtml

A Sad Day . . . . .

2009-11-16T16:56:00.003-07:00

The family has been thrust into adulthood by the loss of something very precious. No, the children haven’t left home… yet. Kade’s lost her front two baby teeth, and just in time for Christmas. In two short days our baby’s all grown up. *sniff sniff*
We’d watched the Music Man, an old musical with little Ron Howard, who played a small boy with a lisp. Kade wanted to imitate him, and tried, to no avail, until with Tonya’s help, the front two teeth finally came out. Now she lisps, to the utter joy of Jost, who asks her to repeat an endless amount of sentences. So if you want to know what Kade sounds like, imagine Ron Howard with a lisp, and that’s our daughter.
------------------by Peter R. Leavell

Atomic Cookies

2009-09-10T16:04:00.003-06:00

Today was a good day! There I said it. It is written down forever in black and white. We did have one day that wasn't just good it was great! Kade got an A on her math test. Her first A in math. I was just hoping she would pass.

Both Jost and Kade had a test in English which they passed with flying colors. Peter is doing such a good job with them. I don't like English enough to make it fun.

Then Jost made his first really grown up joke. He was listening to part of Obama's speech and he asked, "Mom, is he equivocating about the meening of equivocation?" What do you know! I laughed so hard.

They got Happy Meals to celebrate their great grades this morning. Jost's "toy" was this "American Idol" headset. He never heard of it so he's walking around saying, "Come in Houston. This is outback. Come in Houston."

So what are Atomic Cookies? We are studying the structure of atoms so each cookie had a nucleus with Orange/ Yellow/ Brown/ Red protons and neutrons. Around the outside is the corresponding number of blue electrons. We made the first 7 elements on the periodic table. Can't wait to eat them!

Poor Buddy

2009-08-28T16:57:00.001-06:00

Jost wins a prize for having the worst possible day yesterday. He started off the day by waking up with pink eye. Not terrible - but it did sting. I made a doctor's appointment since we've never had pink eye and I wanted to be sure. On the way to the doctor's he had a huge nose bleed. It continued bleeding during the appointment which made it hard for the doctor to see his eye. It isn't unusual for him to have a nose bleeds. I guess he takes after Papa that way. Then for the grand finale - we were at Monte & Jeneen's. The cousins were playing outside when I heard a wail - scream - groan coming from the garage. Jost came into the house with blood covering his face. He had leaned down to pick up a bat and hit it on the end of the weight lifting bar. The gash wasn't too long, but it was wide. Since it was on his face we decided to take him in to the Urgent care. Poor guy! He ended up needing four stitches and a tetanus shot. He was terrified when they told him but when they actually did it he was very brave. They tried to numb it with a gel but it didn't work. She started the first stitch and it hurt so they had to stop and give him the numbing shot into the skin. For me that was the worst part. He never screamed or hollered just said really politely "That hurts - it really hurts!"

When he was done we went back to Monte & Jeneen's. We topped off the night by goofing off with Chris and Michelle and Monte and Jeneen and the cousins. We just wanted to have some fun. Today Jost says everything hurts. He has a goose egg under the stitches. Plus his arm hurts where he got the shot. Now we just have to wait and see if it scars. They will take out the stitches next Wednesday, so we should see then.

Back to HOMESchool

2009-08-25T16:27:00.000-06:00

Well, it is that time of year again. Kids are headed back to school and we head back to HOMEschool. They really are two different things. Jost started me thinking about the difference when he wished that just one sign would say "Back to Homeschool."

We started on August 10th and have two solid weeks of class under our belts. After missing so many days last year I am thankful for every completed day. Our days are less like traditional school than ever before - despite our new "school room." Jost has moved from the Grammar Stage into the Logic Stage. He will learn to ask questions and to weigh arguments. He also does more independent studying on his own. If he want s to know something, I tell him to find out for himself. He is also studying logic on his own. I just review with him to make sure he understands completely.

Kade is doing much better in school this year. The SPD treatments are really helping her focus and engage her mind. Adding the treatments -or activities - is an extra layer in every class and I have to be prepared for any unexpected loose moments. It is kind of like constantly watching over machinery that wants to come unscrewed. It is really rewarding though to see her math finally click. Today she figured out the "trick" to adding nines. She was so happy that she did the whole worksheet wrong. I don't mind; I was thrilled too.

This picture is from their craft last week. We were exploring the challenges and methods of cave paintings. It turned out really well - and looked a lot like the real paintings. Maybe those are really cave "kid" drawings. After all, there isn't a lot to do in a cave when it is cold outside. I know we have been tempted to draw on the walls - or climb the walls - during cold snaps.

Happy back to HOMESCHOOL.

The Burning Bush

2009-07-06T11:32:00.003-06:00

This is the last straw! The fourth of July is - officially - our least favorite holiday. We were walking home from the fireworks when we saw the smoke. We could tell it was near our house, so Peter took off running. The kids and I hurried as fast as we could. Jost was a few steps ahead and when he rounded the corner he let out a scream and started crying. I could see the lights from the firetrucks and smoke billowing but I couldn't tell where from.

The fire was in the huge bush at the apartment building behind our home. It was started by a firework of course. Thankfully the residents and the neighbors got water on it before it spread to any structure. As it was the kids were terrified and Peter and I were furious. Drinking and fireworks never result in good things.

We ended up with the kids in our bed until about one o'clock. And we all woke feeling terrible. The news last night had some great pictures. Check them out at the website below:

http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-jul0509-fireworks_aftermath.108051a0.html

In a Jam

2009-07-02T21:58:00.000-06:00

When I am old, I think the taste of jam will always remind me of these summers with the kids. I started making jam the first year we moved to Boise because a group of us from church had gone berry picking and I had so many berries. Now my children and I are spoiled. Store bought jam just doesn't taste the same. You can't taste the sunshine and blue skies. You can't taste the fun of spending all day together in the kitchen.

This year I discovered why you don't add the pectin right away. Think strawberry fountain in the microwave! Oops. That's a mistake you only make once.

This year's jam is a little bit different. For the first time I had a helper all the way through. Jost and Kade washed and destemmed the strawberries for me. We had 2 whole flats and they did them all. I was so proud of them. It really helped me a lot and the whole process went faster.

We get our berries from a local, pesticide-free farm. You can pick your own, but we didn't do it for strawberries. We plan on picking our own blueberries as soon as they are ready. Our kitchen will be red, white, and blue by the time we finish! Truely an all American summer.

12 Things We Learned on Our Trip

2009-06-18T19:38:00.001-06:00

1. You DO NOT call them palm trees!
They are Palmettos. I thought those were the red things inside olives.

2. Jost swells up with mosquito bites just like I do.
He said "I guess I taste good."

3. Dr. Pepper bottled by Pepsi tastes better then when bottled by Coke.

4. Spanish Moss is neither moss nor Spanish.

5. You can never find an alligator when you want one.

6. Roads are either twice as wide as needed or narrower than one car.

7. The street lights are not temporary. The hang them like that so they will flap in a hurricane.

8. Wearing real leather sandals in the sand leaves your feet feeling like they've been sandblasted.

9. If you say, "I'd like to flip around." when making a U-turn, people look at you like your head is on sideways.

10. Kade picks up accents quickly. You should here her say "Charleston."

11. Never eat Mexican Food in a town this far east. Eat the fish instead.

10. We love South Carolina!!

The Final Day

2009-06-15T17:24:00.002-06:00

Can you guess where we went today? That's right - Sea World! It was hot - and crowded. But I am starting to think that's normal for Florida. Our very first show was Shamu. Jost was saying "Wow!" continuously. At first we thought Kade wasn't liking it because she wasn't saying anything. Then we realized she was totally involved. Lesson? When Kade is enjoying herself she is happy. We saw the sea lion show, a dolphin show, the manatee exhibit, penguin exhibit, dolphins, sharks, and just about every other sea animal you can think of. We fed the sea lions - well tried. The silly bird stole some of our fish.

And yes all you grandparents. We did let the kids pick a treat from the gift shop. Jost got a box of sharks and Kade got a stuffed dolphin. We are taking an entire zoo of stuffed animals home - dogs, pigs, dolphins. Good Grief! We didn't want to stay for the late show. We were all getting tired of the heat and the crowds. Plus we have an early flight tomorrow. Today really made me wonder what Mom and Dad and Duane and Jerry were thinking when they took us all to San Antonio's Sea World. It had to be hot and sweaty and crowded but all I remember is great memories. Thanks guys. I hope the kids have good memories of today too.

To boldly go...

2009-06-14T18:08:00.005-06:00

What makes humankind look to the stars, create machines, and visit them? What makes familykind look to Orlando, drive fifty miles, and visit the launch pad? Today we visited the Kennedy Space Center.

The Endeavour waits on its lonely launchpad, raised above the dense Florida forest like a beacon of American freedom, or so they think. I would have to agree. The pride NASA has, not only in their work, but in the work for our future, is a pride we can all share. "How many pay taxes?" our bus driver asked. We all raised our hands. "This is all possible because of you."

Our first visit was the past missions, Gemini, which is my (Pete's) personal favorite. To get there, we wandered past tall, empty rockets, standing like totem poles, or empty beacons of days gone by. Inside, we were treated to Kennedy's solemn reminder of a promise to send a man to the moon, land, and
return him safely to Earth. It worked, of course, but the technology, as we're constantly reminded, lacked the computer memory of a calculator.

A lecture from a scientist came next, about Wednesday's launch that is now threatened by the delayed Endeavour. Wednesday's launch is a high-tech camera to take hi-res pictures of the moon, all in preparation for the return to the moon, this time for colonization by 2020. Her snide comments about the current administration in the White House caught our attention. More on that later.

We then took a bus to several of NASA's highlights, where we saw the Endeavour, then to the Saturn building. The Saturn building recreated a launch from inside the launch room, then we visited the Saturn rocket, laying on it's side. If I jogged an eight minute mile, it would take 20 or 30 seconds to run from tail to tip. Try it sometime. All to blast into space a pod no bigger than most entertainment centers.

Then to the working quarters for the International Space Center. America's interest in the station is waning...

After a 3-D I-Max, we raced to a decommissioned shuttle. Huge, but the new Constellation class shuttle will be even bigger. Cool.

And as far as funding, it may not be there for NASA, in fact, the president hasn't picked a leader for the space program yet. What has he done? NASA doesn't know.

We came away with more knowledge about space, its exploration, and the vastness God created. But now that I think of it, it's not pride NASA or America feels. As each mission thunders into the bright blue of Florida's sky, we know just a bit more, and yes, it's okay to swell a bit with awe. But not pride. A wall of those who sacrificed their lives in the cause reminds all what pride can lead to. And that, in the end, is worth driving fifty miles to see.

Leaving Beaufort

2009-06-13T05:46:00.003-06:00

Although it is beautiful here, we are not sure we would want to raise our family here. Along with a deep history comes years of injustices, injury, and evil. The pangs of slavery and segregation can still be felt here. There is a distrust between races that is insurmountable.

Idaho may be a young state with fairly recent history, but it is a great place for fresh starts. In our experience, it is a well mixed society with little racial tension. That is the kind of place where we want to raise our children.

By the way, we learned a vital lesson yesterday. Never eat Mexican food in a town with minimal Hispanic population. Ugggggh. It was a long night.

The picture of Jost is at the waterfront here in Beaufort. Kade is holding both here doll from Charleston and her new pink pig. She named the pig "Piggly Wiggly." For some reason that grocery store chain cracks her up.

Saying Good-bye

2009-06-12T07:40:00.002-06:00

Today is our last day in Beaufort and we are all feeling a little sad. On the health front we have both good and bad to report. Good news- it wasn't Kade's allergies that were bothering her. Bad news- it was a cold and she shared it with me. That is the only reason I didn't post yesterday, but today I am feeling much better.

Wednesday was spent in Charleston. This time we made it to historic Charleston. We went to the open air market. It was about four blocks long and so crowded, but I had fun. We all got a memento to take home.

We got up early for the drive up and went to see the sunrise on the beach. It was beautiful and no one else was there. We all loved it. That's what the pictures above are from.

In Charleston we went to the Aquarium and the Charleston musuem. Kade loved the aquarium. That was what she had wanted to see the whole time. Jost loved the musuem because it had a model of the Hunley- the civil was submarine.

Yesterday, Peter took advantage of my sick day to drive around by himself. Early tomorrow we will head down to Florida. So the fun is winding down. I plan on doing more posts but they probably won't be as exciting. Alas.

Day 12 - Plantation House

2009-06-08T18:35:00.017-06:00

Oh, this has been the best day yet! Please forgive if I include a bunch of pictures. We saw so much! First of all, let me explain we drove north toward Charleston and went to the Magnolia Plantation. It is famous for it's extensive gardens. Personally I think it is most important that it has belonged to the Drayton family since Revolutionary times. That is the house above. The gardens opened for tourism just ten years after the Civil War but it took another 100 years before the house was open.

First of all we took a tour of the slave cabins. (That is the small white house above.)Really neat to walk in and touch and feel and smell the place. The guy who led us was really passionate about history - hmm sound like someone else you know - so despite the rain we enjoyed the tour. Oh didn't I mention the rain? Well let's just say we could have swam in the river and we would of been drier!

Next we toured the inside of the house. Kade ooohed and ahhhed. She felt like "a lady from back times." My personal favorite part was the quilt with an eagle and 13 stars - because when it was made there were only 13 colonies. Peter loved the desks especially the secretary which dated prior to the Revolutionary war and came complete with secret compartments.

Our next tour was by far Jost's favorite - the pontoon boat tour of the marsh. The water of the marsh is sweet water - or not salty - and this makes it a great wildlife habitat. Interestingly even this far up the Ashley River is still brackish meaning it is a mixture of salt water and fresh. It even rises and falls 6 feet with the tide. So why did Jost enjoy it? ALLIGATORS!!! Turns out Kade is great at spotting them. We saw about 4 of them. They just lurked there among the reeds looking villainous and menacing. We also saw turtles, herons, egrets, and tons of other birds. I was in birding heaven. (The picture of the three of us is on the boat).

We had lunch at the appropriately named Peacock Cafe. Then we headed to our final tour around the 500 acres on the nature tram. Once again the guide was very knowledgeable giving both the common names, proper names, and historical relevance of many plants and trees. Once again it poured, but by that time we had been wet all day so we really didn't care. We saw more alligators - happy Jost - and tons more birds - happy Tonya.

Once the tours were over we had enough energy left for the shrub maze, some of the gardens, and of course the petting zoo. This was what Kade had been waiting for all day. And it was worth it! We petted deer, pigs, geese, and goats. And yes, Mom, we washed our hands afterwards. There was one rooster who kept following Kade around and crowing. When she went to see the rabbits, he jumped in the pen and acted like a rabbit! We decided he thought she was a pretty hen. Unfortunately one billy goat didn't like her and butted her. She tried not to cry, but her feelings were hurt.

The white bird in the picture above is a great Egret. It walked out from behind a tree about three feet in front of me. I couldn't believe it was so close. When it swallowed a little fish, you could see the fish go down its throat. So cool.

The bench the kids are on above is called a joggling board. Essentially for getting your wiggles out. At least that's the best way I can explain it.

We grabbed a quick dinner in Charleston. Unfortunately it was too late in the day to "see" Charleston. We hope to go back later in the week. Tonight we are exhausted and poor Kade is sick - sore throat, stuffy nose, cough. I'm not sure if it is a cold or allergies but her breathing is not good. I have a hunch it is the mildew that is everywhere here. Our agenda for the week will depend on how she is feeling. I may have to send Peter out on his own for a few days.

Day 9- and most of 10

2009-06-06T10:27:00.002-06:00

Well I missed my "deadline" yesterday. You see, I got sunburned yesterday and so I collapsed into bed as soon as we got home. We spent the day on Hunting Island. It's a state park with a lighthouse and a beach. I only got sunburned where I put sunscreen - and where I didn't. Odd enough my face didn't burn. I'm glad.

We went to the lighthouse first. It is 136 feet high and has 167 steps. And we climbed them all! We were able to walk out at the top. It was so windy and a little freaky. We felt like we were sliding off the whole time. It was cool to see the ocean from that high.

Afterwards we went to the beach. OOhhhh. It was so much fun. The guys let the waves break over their backs to make a huge splash. Kade was a little nervous - with good reason. Tide was coming in and the breakers were over her head. She squealed and laughed and ran with the waves chasing her. With the breeze and the water and sand, it was a total sensory experience for her. She was so happy. Jost and I went out beyond the breakers for a little while. We were letting the waves bob us up and down. It was fun until one wave caught me when I wasn't looking. It broke over my head and picked me up and rolled me. Before I could get my feet under me the next wave hit me and rolled me again. It was a wild ride. Only hurt where I scuffed my leg on the sand. Jost assured me it was as funny looking as I thought. Still, I was done with being out past the breakers so I went and collected sea shells for a bit.

We built a sand castle together too and dubbed it Tabby Castle. We left before the tide washed it away. It was a beautiful day - even though I am a crispy critter today.

Day 8 - All About Town

2009-06-04T20:09:00.006-06:00

Once again today was great. We spent some time walking around Beaufort, taking pictures of some of the old houses (that is one of them above), and just getting a feel of the ground. This left us with a few questions that needed answers. The lady at the museum sent us over to their office. We met two nice ladies there and were able to tell them about our project. One lady gave us her email address in case we have other questions. She knows the owner of the Frogmore plantation - which we would like to see as it is the house Laura Towne bought. She offered to give us their phone # but we felt like that would be too forward so we left our email address. She will pass it on if they are open to helping us. It isn't absolutely necessary, but it would be nice.

We also had an appointment at the bookstore today. A guy who can do silhouettes did a book which is illustrated all in silhouette. He was at the bookstore and doing silhouettes so we had the kids done. I love them! It won't surprise Gram, but Jost looks like Dad. I never realized how much, but the profile is just the same. In Kade's I can see how she will look when she is older. It's hard to explain exactly.

While we were there they recognized us from the other day when we inquired about an out of print book. They had managed to track one down. The lady was willing to part with it but it was actually dedicated to her. She was working in the store today so she showed Peter the book. We didn't feel right spending so much on a book that obviously meant a lot to her. So after hearing about Peter's work - SHE LOANED IT TO US! I couldn't believe she would just let us walk out with it! Peter carried it home like it was made of gold. He's trying to study it and take notes as fast as he can. What a wonderful opportunity to read it without having to spend a fortune. God has really blessed.

Oh, I almost forgot. These flowers are hydrangeas. Here they are a kind of electric blue or purple in color. I found out that it is differences in the soil that make them change color. I can't get enough of them! I hope the computer shows them the right color.

Day 7 - Sundown at Sheldon

2009-06-03T17:39:00.001-06:00

We didn't do as much today. We took the kids to see the movie "Up" this afternoon. They laughed so hard - well so did Peter and I. This evening we went to the ruins of Sheldon church. I am so glad we waited because the evening light was beautiful. The history of this church is interesting too. It was burned by the British during the Revolutionary War. It was rebuilt and then burned a second time by Sherman on his march. What kind of person orders a church to be burned? Who does that? I could understand infidels burning churches, but not men of the same country and beliefs. Makes you think doesn't it? Well, regardless, it was breath taking. There are some graves on the grounds. Some of them pre-date the Revolutionary War. I like the sentiment on one in particular. It said,
"Here lies ------- Died in ---- Alas."
I thought that was simple and sweet.

Hope all is well with everyone. We are a we bit homesick, but I think we are mostly just tired. Early to bed tonight.

Day 6 - Plantations lost and found

2009-06-02T18:29:00.004-06:00

I'll try to upload more pics tomorrow but the site is cooperating tonight...
Once again it has been an eventful day. We began with a carriage ride and tour this morning. We knew most of the history but it was fun to hear someone else tell it. And we learned some things we didn't know. Like - Tom Hanks was really nice when he stayed here for the filming of Forest Gump. And - Barbara Streisand was a real grump when she was filming the Prince of Tides. And there were 42 pirates hung on the hanging tree. I learned that most of the Civil War era homes in Beaufort were summer homes. The families would come up from the sea islands to escape the heat and the yellow fever. Once in Beaufort they spent their time at dances and parties. One particular building was never intended as a residence but was built strictly to hold parties. The kids were really good on the ride, but I think the rhythm nearly put Jost to sleep. We were the only ones in our carriage so the driver let the kids feed the horse his carrot treat at the end. The horse - Duke - slimed them but they liked it anyway.

After lunch we went to the Verdier House musuem. The lady who is the docent there is so sweet. She is descended from one of the old families in town and has the loveliest accent. Once again we were the only ones on the tour. Being inside an authentic federal style house really helped us "see" the history. For instance, the kids and I had studied a book on Plantations with a similair house. From the drawings we couldn't figure out how there was a door under the stairs, but once we got in we realized the stairway went up in the middle of the hall so there could be door on either side.

There isn't a lot in the house because a lot of the family items were stolen or destroyed during the war, or during a hurricane or during the big fire of 1907 (We learned that fire started in the fire station. How ironic! Jost said they must have been cooking hot dogs.). Anyway, they have uncovered some of the original wall paper in one room and the original paint color in another. The paint was made with indigo so the blue is very unique. Unfortunatly we could not take pictures in the house. Still it was wonderful to finally go inside.

We spent the afternoon looking for plantations. Most of the plantations have disappeared. They weren't like "Gone with the Wind" but were actual working farms. When the owners failed to return after the war, the Gullah people saw no reason to keep up their homes. Carpet baggers both then and now have taken advantage of the Gullah by offering them low prices for ocean -or bay - front property. The few remaining plantation homes are now private homes. However we were able to find the locations for Frogmore and Tombee and few of the other plantations in the story.

Tonight we stopped for dinner at a local place on the islands called "Gullah Grub." It is like a little small town diner. It was the most satisfying meal we have had! Of course the children were afraid to eat so they split a piece of peach cobbler and had some cornbread. Peter had BBQ Chicken and potato salad. I had a small bowl of shrimp gumbo and a dish of strawberries on cornbread. Yum.......We told the lady quite frankly that this was the best meal yet. She really opened up about how expensive Beaufort is and how it is all for the rich. I had to agree. I love the islands and every day I can't wait to get back out there. Beaufort is lovely but the islands are comfortable. Don't get me wrong there is a lot of poverty there and a real sense of separation between black and white. But I still like it better - I just can't explain it.

Our biggest problem so far has been with the children. We have always tried to raise them not to see color but to see all people as God's creation. I am afraid the end result is not what we expected. You see, they think slavery and racism are ridiculous. It is so ridiculous to them that they cannot see why teaching slaves to read was a monumental idea or why Gullah food and culture is different. People are just people so they aren't grasping the importance of the trip. They just go along with whatever it is Daddy is doing. But they are making friends left and right, chatting up every person they come across. Both the descendent of a rich plantation owner and the Guullah woman making baskets. It does my heart good to see them. So I guess it is okay if they aren't fully tuned in to what we are doing. In a way they are on their own mission.

Day 5 - Explorations

2009-06-01T18:11:00.006-06:00

Today we made up for our lazy Sunday by a day of industry. We went over to St. Helena Island to visit the Penn Center. The school in Peter's story was formed here. At the musuum, the kids enjoyed a scavenger hunt. Peter was fact checking and I took a ton of pictures so we can remember the lay of the land.

We have met wonderful people here. This morning we met an author with a history degree. He was just walking by and struck up a conversation. The lady at the musuem was also very nice. After touring the musuem we were beginning to feel that there is no way we -as outsiders - could properly represent and enter into the culture here. So I was bold enough and just asked her about it. She graciously pointed out that E. Pierce and Laura Town were outsiders, white, and Northerners and they managed. She reminded us that the peopole are the key. The Gullah community is a lot like a small town. Everyone is related - they all know each other - and they know each other's business. She was so encouraging. We had been walking around in the heat and she generously gave us two bottles of water.

I purchased a hand woven basket there. Ladies, you all are going to be jealous when you see it. I love it. The fancy sweet grass basket can be quite expensive, but this one is just a handmade basket. Still wonderful. I really wanted to get one from the Penn Center because they are doing such great work. You see, the school had to be closed down so the decision was made to create a culture center. They hold classes and events celebrating the Gullah culture. Everyone there has a clear sense of being part of something precious. I think Laura, Pierce, and the others would be proud of what happened to their experiment.

We spent the rest of the afternoon going up and down every island road which sturck our fancy. This evening we had dinner on the water front in Beaufort. After being on St. Helena, Beaufort seems urban, pricey, and yupie. The local restaurants we have tried so far have had second class food and first class prices. There is a place on St. Helena called Gullah Grub. We are working up the courage to try it.

Day 3 - Taking It All In

2009-05-30T19:35:00.000-06:00

Today we didn't do too much. After lunch we drove out to Paris Island (Marine Base), across to Port Royal and on to Lady's Island and Saint Helena Island. It really wasn't very far - about 15 miles. It is hard to tell where the island ends and the water begins. River, ocean, and land all ooze into each other.

I am enchanted with the area. The sea and the wilderness are ruler here. Humans are only interlopers. Every inch that is not maintained is quickly overgrown and reclaimed. There are homes of every quality and size. It certainly isn't a subdivision. Instead each home is nestled into a small clearing of wilderness. Like south Texas, there aren't many lawns. You just pick which plants to let grow and which plants to dig up.

I had to get a book of local plants and birds. I didn't realize that the kids were accustomed to me naming every plant and most birds. I didn't know I could identify most of our local fauna. It had just become a habit. So now I am learning a whole new vocabulary. So far we have identified the following: Lobolly pine, Longleaf pine, magnolia, and red oak. We also saw a snowy egret, small turtles, and a little tiny frog. The frog was happily hopping around in the puddle in front of the hotel.

Today we avoided the usual afternoon thunderstorm. Apparently these deluges are a nearly daily occurence. While they are wonderful for little frogs, they are also wonderful for mosquitos. As I expected, I am covered in bites and as most of you know I really swell where ever I am bit.

We did stop at two bookstores today. At one we met an author from Charleston named Nicole Seitz. She was doing a book signing so while I got a signed book Peter got to talk publishing. She is really nice and so friendly. She was promoting her third book and I can't wait to read it. We also picked up the kind of local books that we can't get in Boise.

We are hoping to just rest tomorrow. Jost is not adjusting to the change in weather. Of course he insisted on wearing jeans and a ball cap today. I think he learned his lesson. Anyway, I want to draw and read and Peter wants to read and write. We are all a little overwhelmed.

Day 2 - On to Beaufort

2009-05-29T19:00:00.009-06:00

We spent this morning in St. Augustine. We didn't get to see as much as we had hoped because we slept so late. Plus the kids had a hard time with the heat & humidity. Personally I think it feels great.

We did get to go to the Fountain of Youth. It was actually more interesting than I thought it would be. We sampled the water - tasted like Fowler water - and learned about the early history of the area. We really enjoyed walking around the area. It is all just so beautiful. We saw some real monks while passing the nearby mission.

By that point we were ready for some rest. We had lunch at this little hole in the wall pizza place. We knew it was good because the Goodwrench guys were eating there. As you can see from the pictures, the slices were huge! Jost actually managed to finish his!
This afternoon we drove up to Beaufort. We still haven't seen a hill that wasn't man-made. Other than that we are really enjoying the scenery. Every plant and tree is new to us.

In the parking lot at Walmart we saw a sign that said "DO NOT FEED THE ALLIGATORS." We had a good laugh at it, but Kade wasn't sure she wanted to get out of the car. I guess that's the way it goes around here.

2009-05-28T18:25:00.000-06:00

Saint Augustine Basilica

Day 1 - JET LAG

2009-05-28T17:41:00.010-06:00

Whew! We had quite a day. On Wednesday we lunched in Boise, had dinner in Seattle and breakfast this morning in Orlando. It was wonderful to see the sun set over Puget sound and rise over the swamps of Florida. The actual flight time was only 5 hours, but the physical time change was 9 hours. Needless to say we are beat. Kade was the only one who slept well on the plane.

Apparently things move slower here. It took almost 2 hours to get our luggage, our rental car, and figure out how to exit the parking garage! We were so glad to find a Cracker Barrel for breakfast. But it looked funny with palm trees out front!

Afterward, we drove up to Saint Augustine, Florida. We stopped along the way at a park but a sudden thunderstorm dampened our enthusiasm. Then we drove up to a nearby beach. We couldn't believe how warm the water was. And the sand was so soft. Of course the kids were soaked in about two seconds. But that's what vacations are for.

When we finally made it to our hotel we were desperate for showers. We hadn't changed in 24 hours. We had slept in our clothes, been soaked by rain, and splashed by the ocean. Whew! Peter and I fell asleep for a bit and it was so refreshing.

Tonight we went to a Spanish restaurant. Peter had a fish dish called marluza with a Russian style sauce. It was delicate and delicious. I had a Cuban dish which included an empanada, roast pork, boliche, plantains, and yucca. Delish!! Of course the kids ordered plain old grilled cheese and chicken strips. Party poopers! But at least Kade tasted my plantain and yucca - she didn't like the texture of either. Jost said his was new because the crust was different.

Afterward we wandered around down town until we were tired again. Kade said every time she went forward, the world went backwards. That's jet lag for you! She is already curled up and sound asleep. I hope the rest of us follow soon.

Grace in Grief

2008-11-06T21:20:00.001-07:00

It’s been a while since I’ve posted and that is because our world has been rocked. A very dear friend lost her daughter last month. She is grief stricken. Her daughter was 28 and they were very close. Together they had survived both the father’s desertion and the son’s murder. Our friend is devastated –as any mother who has buried two children would be. Peter and I have been dealing with our own grief while trying to support our friend.

In all this, I learned something amazing about homeschooling. It gives grace during grief. For example, with a little rearranging I can be available to sit with my friend during the day. She doesn’t want to be alone and many of her other friends can’t come until after work. In addition, I can offer the comfort of my children. My friend is a teacher and loves children. Her children were the light of her life. So, sometimes we take our children over and the sparkle that they carry seems to rub off on her. When she cries they don’t mind. They just go over and hug her.

Looking back over the last month, I realize that we haven’t fallen that far behind. I have cancelled some days and compacted others. But we are still on track. School has stretched and bent to meet our needs instead of limiting us. And I hope the children have learned useful life lessons about grief and compassion.

I thank God for the gift of homeschooling during grief.

The Gift of Patience

2008-09-11T16:25:00.000-06:00

I am always in a hurry. One day last week I made an effort to take my time and when I did a funny thing happened. As I was chiding Kade a phrase came to mind: “the gift of patience.” Now normally when I think of patience I am asking the Lord to give me loads of it. Give me the patience to deal with them, Lord. . . .Lord, give me the patience to wait for them. I frequently find myself asking God to give me the gift of patience, but I do not think this is the way it is supposed to work.

So I looked it up and sure enough James explained it. “The trying of your faith worketh patience (James1:3).” Then he goes on to say that God gives wisdom to those that ask for God “giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not (1:5).”

If that’s the case why am I continually “out of patience” with my children? Then it hit me. God has given me patience liberally – just as James said He would. When I doubt Him, He is patient with me. When I don’t have time, He is patient. When I stray, He is patient. He doesn’t snap at me or tell me to hurry up. God has given me the gift of patience. Every day, He is patient and forgiving of my failings.

I have been going about it all wrong. Instead of wanting to get patience when my children try me, I should be giving patience. God has given it to me liberally. Now, I need to give my children the same gift of patience which the Father has given to me.

This has become my mantra. When I am in a hurry or the children are being slow, I tell myself “Give them the gift of patience.” I relax, slow down, and sure enough we get where we are going - sooner or later.

Total Melt Down

2008-08-19T18:55:00.002-06:00

No, the temperature hasn't reached 200 degrees in Boise....And no, I haven't gone completely crazy and eaten every drop of chocolate in the house....At least not this week. The fact is we suffered a complete and total computer melt down this week. Literally everything is gone - my home schooling records, a full years worth of pics, and my complete family history project.

As a result I want to take this chance to remind everyone to please back up your computer today. Our problem was a Trojan horse that snuck in at some point. No warning, no protection from our virus system. It just took over the hard drive and what it didn't destroy we had to wipe out.

Now that we are back up and running I'll hopefully be able to post more often.

Starting School

2008-07-26T12:49:00.003-06:00

Ahh, the smell of pencils, new books, new crayons. It’s time for school to start! Our family will start school on Monday. I can’t wait. The kids are even excited. The other day Kade came into our bedroom at 6 am to ask if it was time for school. One of the wonderful things about homeschool is being able to start whenever you want. Here in Boise, August is normally extremely hot and the air quality is terrible. Since the kids have to be inside anyway, I figure we might as well be learning. That also gives me the opportunity to take more of December off.

The annual rush for school supplies has begun. I am amazed at parents grabbing everything and kids begging for more. I just stand at the end of the aisle and watch. Don’t get me wrong, I love it too. I buy new crayons every year whether we need them or not, but I still have glue and pencils etc. leftover from last year. In fact, I don’t think I’ll ever need to buy pencils again. Everyone seems to be handing out pencils this year. I have pencils that fight breast cancer, pencils from the National Guard, and solar pencils that are heat sensitive. I couldn’t even buy those!

I am also amazed when I watch parents buying new school clothes. I am so thankful we can do school in torn jeans – wait those are back in style. Well, I am glad I don’t have to pay for torn jeans. I got to figuring it up and I think we probably pay in curriculum the same that other parents spend on new clothes. What a luxury to spread the cost of clothes out over the year.

In Germany, on their first day of school children are given “schultute” to help ease the first day jitters. “Schultute” are large paper cones filled with candy, chocolates, and toys (see above picture). I loved this idea and now I try to surprise the kids with some sort of gift on the first day.

Another of my traditions is making the first two weeks of school sacred. This means we don’t plan anything and we avoid anything that is not part of school. This helps us establish our routines without distractions.

Do you have any traditions or advice for the start of school? I’d love to hear your ideas.

Beat the Heat

2008-07-08T21:42:00.001-06:00

Summer time and the living is…..easy? Here in Idaho it is very hot. My kids tend to get bored and cranky. Below are some ways to beat the heat and entertain everyone. Sometimes we devote all day to these projects and sometimes just a few hours. I’d love to hear your ideas.

1) Crayon melt -
Supplies:
Old crayons, with wrappers removed
Foil muffin tin – or one you are willing to part with
Craft sticks, sponges, cotton balls, string etc. – any disposable craft object
Newspaper – to cover your working space.
Paper – to paint on

Break the crayons into small pieces and place in muffin tin. Just 2 or 3 in each compartment. In the heat of the day, place the tin in direct sunlight. Cover the area where you will be working with newspaper. Once the crayons begin to melt, use the sponges, sticks, etc. to smear the crayon goo on your paper. We also smeared it on jars to make penny banks.

Warning: Expect a mess, on the pavement, on your hands. Everywhere! Around here our motto is “IF YOU AREN”T GETTING MESSY, YOU AREN’T HAVING FUN!”

2) Sprinkler Keep Away
Same as normal keep away, but the person in the middle is also standing in the sprinkler.

3) Pajama Camp Out
This builds on the great tradition of staying in your p.j.s all day. Start with cereal in the back yard. Spread a blanket with books, snacks, pillows, and make yourselves comfy. When it gets too hot, head indoors and watch a movie or read in Mom and Dad’s bed (what is it about Mom and Dad’s bed that kids like?).

4) Make a Tent
If you have a real tent put it up and let the kids entertain themselves. If not, try building one out of a large blanket and chairs, ropes, trees, or whatever is in your yard.

5) Read Everything
Pile a TON of story books around your favorite reading spot and see how many you can read in one day. I love doing this when our bookshelves are a mess so we can tidy up when we replace the books.

6) Do Nothing Box
Just pull out games, toys, coloring books which your kids haven’t played with in a while. Place them in a box or basket and tell the kids they “have to” play out of that box all day. I also do this on rainy days or when I am sick. If I was really organized, I would have a box ready, but I don’t

7) Don’t Cook
Okay, so that’s a personal fantasy. When it’s too hot to bake cookies, pull out your favorite no-bake recipe and let the kids help.

8) If, all else fails, fill the bathtub with water and let them all climb in in their swimsuits. Don’t ask me why they like this, they just do.

Why do you home school? How do you home school?

2008-06-24T16:47:00.000-06:00

These two questions seem to be constantly swirling around me. At first I spent a lot of time perfecting my answer. It seemed like my reputation depended on my answer. I wanted to impress those who quizzed me with a thoughtful and intelligent answer.

After four years of experience, I still haven’t found the perfect answer. In fact, my answers are much more relaxed. Sometimes they are even joking. I usually say whatever pops into my head - which isn’t always a good idea.

The point is it really doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter why I home school and I don’t really have any business asking you why you home school. No two families have the same reasons and no two families teach their children in the same way. That is the point of home school – and it’s beauty.

I know home school families that are vegetarians, families that are totally organic, families that have a dozen kids and families that have an only child. There are families that use a distance learning programs, families that teach the classical method and families that unschool. However, I also know people who have been shunned because they do things differently and I’ve seen lines of communication cut over minor issues.

I am tired of trying to fit myself and my family into a home school box. That’s not who we are. So I decided to start a blog that would be a comfortable place to discuss all things home schooling– a place of encouragement and support. No fitting in required.