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Some of my favorite homeschooling-related writings...
THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS IN THE HEART
People want proof. What does that mean?
THEY ARE THE REAL TEACHERS
Professors in kid suits.
THE WAY OUR FAMILY DOES IT
Family Council Meetings and Family Chore Charts help our family run smoothly.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A HOMESCHOOL GRANDMA
She means the world to us, and she is making quite an impact.
CRAFT CART
An easy-to-make creativity center on casters
AND MORE TO COME!
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The Proof Of the Pudding Is In the Heart
When we made the decision to teach our first child at home, our thought was to take things year by year. No long-term decision of how long we'd do it, but somewhere in the back of our minds, I think we both figured we'd teach at home until junior high, then put him in public school. When we started, Jeff was in second grade, and by the end of the year, we knew we had made the right choice. Jeff was happy, respectful, and well-adjusted, and he scored several grades ahead on his standardized test. Our family and friends were supportive, but every now and then I'd hear a comment that sounded something like, "Well, that's fine for when he's little, but when he gets older, he'll need to go to real school."
By the time he reached seventh grade, we knew that the last thing we wanted to do was throw away all the progress he had made in his character, so we decided high school would be a better time and age to put him in "real school". In my heart I worried a little what people would think. I knew they saw Jeff as the "proof of the pudding", the proving ground of our home education decision, since by then we had five children--all learning at home.
By the time he reached ninth grade we knew we had to make a very big decision. If we taught him at home any further, we'd have to go the whole route and teach him through high school because of credit accumulation.
Decision time. What about homecoming? What about prom? Football games on Friday nights? Grad Night? Spring Break? School spirit? A diploma? What about college? We agonized under the weight. After all, both Steve and I had attended public high school. And the reality was, it wasn't so much that we hated public and private school. It was just that home education had become a way of life for us. Something we all loved and enjoyed. We decided to stick out our necks and accept the challenge of educating through high school.
Jeff began volunteering at the local science museum, and was chosen to participate in a special career-ladder program. He continued playing Little League baseball with fervor. He was asked to serve on the Teen Advisory Board in our church youth group. Within two years he was placed on-staff at the museum. At about the same time, the opportunity came for home educated students to dual-enroll at the local junior college and have the class credits count for both high school and college. He passed the placement test and entered college.
I sit at my desk thinking about all of this, and I can't help but smile. Jeff "graduated" from our home high school last May. He received a diploma that bears the name of his own home. At that time he was half-way to an Associates Degree. He has now been on staff at the museum for three years, in addition to the two years he volunteered. He has played baseball for nine years and now plays on the church men's softball team. He plays guitar and piano and is developing his talent for art design. He has been personally praised by both his professor and the president of the junior college. But above all the academics, the impressive grade-point average, the music, the art, the youth activities, the career...is the most important proof of all. He is a good man. He is married to a wonderful young lady and is looking forward with delight to the upcoming birth of their first child. He is a terrific husband and looks forward to being a dedicated father. Respectful and respected, he is a young man I am blessed to call my son.
They said he would be the proof of the pudding. For many on-lookers he would be the proof for home education in general. As for us, he is proving what our hearts were telling us all along. We've never said home education is for everybody. Not everyone can and not everyone wants to. But for those of us who do, the proof is with us every day. It's right here with us as we enjoy each year, each moment, teaching our children and enabling them. Instilling in them a love for learning and equipping them with the necessary tools. Teaching them to be good people.
The proof of the pudding has always been right here in our hearts.
By Lisa Easterling
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THEY Are the Real Teachers
The older I get and the longer I work with children, the more I realize that I am surrounded by miniature educators. These little teachers (some of whom are taller than me now) continually show me what's truly important to know.
They teach me about selflessness. Jamie, 6, a precious little angel with Cerebral Palsy was visiting us one day. She signed to me that she wanted a drink, and when I gave it to her she pointed to my son, Luke and signed that I should get him one, too. She waited until he had his, then she grinned and drank hers.
They teach me about friendship. Luke, 13 told me yesterday that his best friend was doing and saying things that could be destructive, and if he wanted to be a true friend he needed to tell his best friend the truth: that he was on a dangerous road and he could get hurt. Trevor, 7 explained to me one day that I needed to be patient with his 9-year-old friend, because his mom had died and he was "going through a lot". Rosie, 3 informed me that she was going to be Jamie's best friend forever and push her around in a wheelchair until she could teach her how to walk. Her eyes lit up as she named all the things they are going to do together growing up. She designated a pair of ballet shoes and a dance outfit for when she teaches Jamie to dance. Jamie is perfect in her eyes. And mine.
They teach me about love. One day when Luke was four we were riding along in the van and he said, "Mom, I love you and dad so much, I am just filled up with loving. And one day I am gonna take mounds of cotton and build a cloud and just drift away loving you."
They teach me about priorities. Trevor, 7 came into my room yesterday while I was busily typing away on the computer. He got between me and the monitor and said, "Mom, LISTEN!" I stopped, mid-sentence and said, "Trevor, that was rude!" He said, "But, Mom, if I just stand here and say 'Excuse me, Mom', you don't hear me." I had been so involved in the article I was writing that I didn't even hear him calling me. Believe me, the next time his little voice said, "Excuse me, Mom", I heard.
They teach me about parenting. Rosie said, matter-of-factly, "When I'm a mommy and my children cry I'm gonna pick them up because sometimes mommies pick up their children even if they're big girls." Matt, 5 said, "When I'm a dad I'm gonna do stuff like my dad does because God wants me to."
They teach me about perspective. The other day I was brushing Rosie's hair and I had her face covered. She kept squirming and wiggling until I was exasperated. "What are you doing?" I snapped. She twisted her head around and flipped long blonde curls out of her face. "I'm trying to SEE!" she said. "See WHAT?" I asked, sighing. "Everything, Mama. I want to see everything." Her blue eyes searched my face. I hugged her and told her that I understood, and that I always want her to try to see everything.
I am amazed at what they know, and at how much I can learn if I just open my eyes and ears--and my heart. Their lessons are simple and honest and real. There are no lesson plans, for the University of Childhood Innocence is all about everyday life. They are all around me, these young instructors, with big ideas and a strong sense of justice. Our home school is a classroom for the whole family. Yes, I am being educated by "the least of these", and that's something no degree could show.
By Lisa Easterling
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The Way Our Family Does It
Whether mom works outside or inside the home, it is tough juggling chore lists and schedules.
I found that it helped to sit down and list each member of the family and his or her responsibilities. This includes the obvious ones such as Dad working to support the family and mom
cooking. I tried to give each family member at least one main chore they were solely responsible for, including our 3-year-old. Each of the kids was also given things to do as a team with one or more others (builds teamwork).
The list is posted on the fridge, and detailed descriptions of the jobs and methods are printed out for the kids on index cards to post somewhere in their rooms. These are ridiculously specific and explanatory to eliminate the "I forgot"s and "I didn't know how"s.
One thing we do which is important in itself is Family Council. We do this once a week on an evening (ideally Friday) when everyone can be there, and we call it Family Night.
~We go over the chores list and ask if anyone has any problems, questions, stories, or suggestions.
~We give out generous amounts of kudos and "awards" (sometimes homemade ribbons or certificates, sometimes a favorite candy bar or other goodie) for accomplishments, good work ethic, exceptional attitudes, etc.
~We set character goals for the coming week and assess whether or not we met last week's.
~We discuss how school went that week and talk about what we will be studying next week.
~Each member is given ample opportunity to share things from the heart, ask questions, ask for help, tell a joke, make a suggestion, etc.
~We do various activities to have fun and bring us closer as a family, such as round-robin affirmations, those silly fill-in-the-blank games, poetry or other writing fun, etc.
~We have a devotion and prayer time.
~We finish out Family Night with pizza, pop, popcorn, and a movie.
Family Council is a great time to pull all hearts toward home and unite as a strong family. It will only work if it is planned and its time slot
protected. It keeps us (relatively) on the same page and reminds us how important we are to God and to each other. I've found, also, that it
changes attitudes about chores if they know we will be sharing performance and attitudes on Family Night.
I hope some of you can use this idea. It has been wonderful for us.
By Lisa Easterling
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Never Underestimate the Power Of a Homeschool Grandma
I'm sitting at my desk typing on the computer keyboard to the sound of my mother's voice reading to my daughter in the living room. Her voice rises and falls and pauses now and then to answer the questions of an inquisitive three-year-old.
What a woman she is. She has had a hard life from the start. Born in the middle of nine children to a poor farming family, she is acquainted with grief. But she puts aside her memories of tobacco barns and slim Christmases to read stories to a wide-eyed little girl who wants to know everything she can about this woman in the bentwood rocking chair. She is Grammy to seven children, five of which are mine. You might say we're an extended homeschool family.
Her initial reaction to our decision to homeschool eleven years ago was unlike the reactions of many grandparents. Instead of saying, "So, the way I brought YOU up isn't good enough for them?", she said, "Hey, go for it."
I have to marvel at her effect on the children. She lowers her voice to quote Scrooge McDuck. My daughter chats with her about why Scrooge feels the way he does about Christmas. She insisted on taking charge of teaching the children the states and capitals. I didn't hesitate to take her up on that, remembering the fun we had when I was learning them. "If-a you-a want-a to-a look-a through-a the key-a hole-a, then you have-a---" "Topeka!" they all shout at once, dancing around the room.
Last year she bought a hand-held tape recorder to record her thoughts and musings for posterity. The children have memorized every word on three cassettes, and they quote her songs and childhood stories, laughing with her so hard they roll on the floor and she heads for her breathing machine. She fusses at them for leaving messes, then runs to the store to buy them "some little something". She explains how the Confederate Rose blooms and why unfilled ice trays don't make ice. She tells them The Apple Truck story for the umpteenth time and they dissolve into giggles like it's the first they've heard of it.
They love this woman with the double chin and the heart of pure gold. She has so very much to teach them, and no one could tell it quite like her. She's a homeschooling grandma. I wouldn't have it any other way.
By Lisa Easterling
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CRAFT CART
One of the things most loved and utilized in our home is our CRAFT CART. It's a wire rolling cart, about 3 feet tall and 2 feet long, with three shelves. I think I got it at Wal*Mart for about .
On the top shelf I put two of those Rubbermade storage bins with the three little drawers (for a total of 6 drawers). These drawers are the perfect size for different kinds of paper as well as art utensils like:
pens
pencils
markers
color pencils
erasers
dry-erase markers
pattern books
On the other two shelves I stacked plastic shoeboxes with lids, containing the following, in a somewhat organized fashion:
art smocks/aprons
glitter
glue/paste
craft scissors
templates
extra photographs
stencils
craft punches
stickers
rubber stamps & inkpads
notecards
envelopes
stationery
postage stamps
die-cuts
ribbon
paints & brushes
yarn
used greeting cards
blank index cards
scraps of lace, eyelet, and fabric
cotton balls and swabs
popsicle sticks
modeling clay
buttons
beads
embroidery thread
cross-stitch/sewing supplies
and various items with project potential, such as:
tissue rolls
small, empty cocoa/coffee cans
empty film canisters
plastic communion cups
small, sturdy boxes
baby food jars
etc.
It's also a fun idea to keep a watch out for fun and useful clip-art. It can be cut out of ads, junk-mail, newsletters, and newspapers, to name a few. Kids (especially) find this a nifty way to decorate notes and other projects.
Old greeting cards can be saved and clipped for decorations, gift tags, or used as actual postcards.
A large "pocket" can be hung on the back side of the cart, attached by rings to either side. The pocket can be created by using clear postal tape and attaching sections of poster board together so that it's large enough to accomodate full-sized pieces of poster board. You may even wish to cut a "V" or "U" shape in the side of the pocket facing out, so that smaller pieces of poster board and oversized pieces of art paper remain visible and easy to remove.
A cart on wheels is easy to roll out to the kitchen or family room for projects, and having all the supplies in one place encourages me to organize and collect useful materials. I've even been caught enjoying the convenience by getting creative myself, on occasion. It just reminds me how much fun it can be to take everyday items and create something wonderful.
By Lisa Easterling
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