Lord, direct my steps

I have kids who thrive on a schedule. Well, what kid doesn't? Can you imagine the powerlessness that children sometimes feel? They have no way of leaving the house on their own, no real money of their own...they have very little control of their lives when they're so young. One way we can give them some control is to give them a schedule of daily events and stick to it. Although our daily schedule goes through periodic changes, it's never an all-or-nothing thing. If we need it, I make the changes slowly - one thing at a time.

One of the biggest aspects of following a schedule is flexibility. Things come up! When something interupts our schedule, it's real hard on my kids because they don't want to veer off course. I have to constantly encourage them that we'll get back on track ASAP! I talk to them about being flexible and most importantly, being open to what God brings to our days. One of our most oft repeated verses is Proverbs 16:9:
"A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."

One of the biggest challenges we encounter is each other. One needs help, the other is looking for a playmate, Mom or Dad needs a chore to be tackled...how we react and respond to each interuption to our own carefully constructed plan is so important. Our culture is so geared towards personal gratification and me-time. Throw that in with a natural tendency towards self-will and selfishness and you've got something that's hard to get over. It's a daily struggle in our home. Darin and I have committed ourselves to be like "water over a rock" as we remind and encourage the kids to give up their own wants for those of the loved ones around them. And then we get down on our knees and pray for the same determination to do this for them as well.

A Date with Your Fam

It wasn't until Baby #6 that Darin and I realized how loud it was getting in the house and began to feel the need to apply certain measures in order to keep the peace.  We get it now.  Lotsa kids=lotsa running through the house, screaming, jumping out at others from behind doors, loud singing, and the loudest of all....crying.  We've started using phrases we've laughed at our entire parenting career such as "your inside voice" and "children should be seen and not heard."  ;-) 

Our focus right now is the breakfast/lunch/dinner times.  Darin and I usually go to Starbucks on our date nights because by the time we can get out of the house, there's really nowhere else to go.  Last week we took my laptop and researched table manners and found a video on YouTube that is an oldie but goodie. We watched with the kids this past weekend and are going to implement a lot of what we saw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvsyAT2rWBY

Uploads/Downloads

I just uploaded an Apologia General Science daily schedule to Scribd that I created a couple of years ago.  I had ulterior motives.  I wanted to download something for free and could do that if I uploaded something. 

I'm not sure when it was, but I downloaded a free copy of "Grammar-Land" to check out for possible use in our school.  I accidentally stumbled across it again today while looking for other stuff in my Documents.  You can check it out HERE.  Nice, living book for grammar for the younger grades.  It covers the nine parts of speech.  I thought it would be interesting to go online to see if there were others who had used it and what they thought, when I came across Jessica Cain's worksheets she created for it on Scribd.  They are nice worksheets, and have not made this living book into a boring program, so I've snagged them for our school and can't wait to start using them.  Here's a link to Jessica's blog post on the worksheets she made.

Bible Study the CM Way

“Method of Bible Lessons.––The method of such lessons is very simple. Read aloud to the children a few verses covering, if possible, an episode. Read reverently, carefully, and with just expression. Then require the children to narrate what they have listened to as nearly as possible in the words of the Bible. It is curious how readily they catch the rhythm of the majestic and simple Bible English. Then, talk the narrative over with them in the light of research and criticism. Let the teaching, moral and spiritual, reach them without much personal application” (Vol. 1, p. 251).

“The knowledge of God is the principal knowledge, and no teaching of the Bible which does not further that knowledge is of religious value. Therefore the children read, or if they are too young to read for themselves the teacher reads to them, a passage of varying length covering an incident or some definite teaching. If there are remarks to be made about local geography or local custom, the teacher makes them before the passage has been read, emphasizing briefly but reverently any spiritual or moral truth; the children narrate what has been read after the reading; they do this with curious accuracy and yet with some originality, conveying the spiritual teaching which the teacher has indicated” (Vol. 6, p. 272).

I am really enjoying "being Darin" this weekend.  (see previous post)  I'm getting so much done.  Lots of organization, and good reading. 

I’ll be You, You be Me!

I am so excited that this weekend is a 3-day weekend.  I have been printing and printing stuff for the last two weeks, but have had zero time to organize it all and put it away.  I've got a huge stack of stuff sitting on my desk, calling to me.  Loudly.  I also need to make copies of some things...I just need to get organized!  I told Darin that this weekend, "I'll be you, and you be me!"  In other words, he can hang out with the kids, and I can "work."  Getting school stuff organized is work, but I do enjoy it.  I love the planning, organizing and even the execution. 

I've visted a few blogs that have listed all they're going to do with their kids this year, and I love reading what others are doing, so thought I would also share.

Ben (10th grade)
World Views of the Western World II - this includes Composition, History, Literature, Art and Music Appreciation
Harold Jacob's Geometry w/help from the Ask Dr. Callahan DVDs.
Apologia Biology at CIM Science Co-Op
Shurley Grammar
Latin
We are also following the reading list that Patrick Henry College has on their website.
He's also learning the guitar, and is starting Cross Country.  He's a team of ONE.  ;-)  Our chiropractor has volunteered to coach Ben with his running.  They're going to chat once a week to keep Ben accountable.

Lydia (7th grade)
The Story of the Greeks by H. A. Guerber
Shurley Grammar
We're at the tail end of Saxon 7/6.  I haven't decided whether to stick with Saxon or move to Cornerstone Curriclum's math.  I need to try to get my hands on Cornerstone's math before making a final decision.
Apologia General Science at CIM Science Co-Op (I'm teaching this class!)
Music Appreciation using Music & Moments with the Masters
Piano lessons
Latin
I'm going to keep Lydia supplied with biographies of Christian women this year.  The first will be Susanna Wesley.  Next will be Amy Carmichael.
Geography through Art

Jack (5th grade)
Cornerstone Curriculum math
Latin
The Story of the Greeks by H.A. Guerber
Apologia Astronomy at CIM Science Co-Op
Music Appreciation using Music & Moments with the Masters
Geography through Art

Henry (my precocious 4 yo!)
I'm teaching him his letters and letter sounds.  So far when I point at "A" and say what sound does "A" make?" he says, "a-a-apple."  ;-) 
I'm also doing a couple of things from Hubbard's Cupboard.  Especially the Calendar Binder.
We do an occasional Before Five in a Row lapbook from the resources at Homeschool Share.

Sophia (2 yo) joins Henry and me when we do a lapbook.  Her favorite has been the "Owl Babies" lapbook.  Grace (8month old) joins us when she's not napping.

Miscellaneous resources I use all the time are Plants Grown Up, Polished Cornerstones, Beautiful Girlhood, Awana at our church. 

I think that's it!

Preschool Chore Chart

I've been struggling to get Henry and Sophia involved in doing chores on a regular basis.  Finding a printable, visual chore chart for them to use has been on my mental list of things-to-do for awhile and I finally got around to it tonight.  Here is a link to my favorite over at Christian Preschool Printables.