School Update

Things are moving right along here at Full Sail Academy!

We did some school work immediately after returning from a trip to New Jersey just to try to get back in to the groove quickly. This week is supposed to be our week back to normal (whatever that is) but our Monday started off slow. Daddy's alarm clock mysteriously turned itself off at 5am so we all got up late! 

The big boys were very in to Legos so instead of interrupting that, Deacon and I cleaned up his room and played with cars. 

For the start of the new year, the plan is jus to continue on our current track. Turner is plugging along with Miquon (math) so instead of moving over to Singapore math like I intended, I'm going to let him stay with Miquon. I think by using that and reinforcing with fun games it's making more of an impact for a child with zero interest in math. 

Eli is fascinated with letters and sounds so I'm taking the opportunity to really dive in to this with him. He's a creative soul, so art and creating are a huge part of his day right now. 

That's all for now! This week is all about keeping it easy since I'm trying to balance the new job with this homeschool thing! 

Two things:

1. Apparently, google images in the Netherlands put up a picture from my blog. Blogger has a new interface and it shows all sorts of stats when you log in. My "audience" and blog hits spiked. Intrigued, I had to look. It's me...and my boob...nursing Deacon. I thought of taking it down, but, it'd probably still remain up on their images, right?. I don't know wether to be weirded out or not...

2. School is going well these days! The kids are pretty eager to learn and it's really not all that tough to do. The preparation for the week is the toughest job...well, that and keeping Deacon busy.

The One Where I Finally Make a Decision

*I changed the URL to the link listed for our homeschool blog, click below*

Homeschooling has been on my mind a lot lately: to do it or not. Last October, when we moved from Florida to Virginia, it just sort of happened -the learning at home. It was just preschool and when I was all done teaching ABCs and 123s, the plan was to send Turner off to Kindergarten to learn with a "real" teacher and other children. Then I started reading: a lot. I have been reading for almost a year about public education, private education, progressive education and homeschooling: the pros, the cons and everything in between. What was the best decision for my boys, my family?

While reading I've tried to keep an open mind. What are the BEST parts of a public education (let's face it Uncle Sam pays the bills around here and public is about all we can do with three children)? What are the WORST parts? What are the benefits of homeschooling? What can I see being the downfalls (or, rather, my own pitfalls)? I have been reading and questioning myself over and over and over (Thank you to my friends and family for letting me talk it out!) . John must think I'm a nut because I decided to homeschool and then called the local public school to get a feel (over the phone?). After all of this I decided to send Turner to the public half day Kinder. I did a follow-up call and was told I'd have to bring him in to be tested to see what teacher he'd go to and stopped in my tracks.

What the what?

A test? Already? I get it. It's innocent enough. They want to make sure the class is equal, not skewed. What a gateway, though, testing kids before they've even made it in to a classroom.

I should stop right here and say this: I'm not a "go against the flow" person. I don't like explaining myself, though I might feel passionate about something. I have never been a "question authority person." I was raised to just do things, get the grades and move on. So, this makes me very uncomfortable to even explain myself.

HOWEVER, I feel passionately about this. I really do. My inability to stick to my original decision (though it's done now), was largely based on the fact that I felt supported but not really backed. Does that make sense? My friends, family and my biggest supporter of all, John, were saying "uh, huh, what ever makes you happy." I really just needed the "...and I've got your back, no matter how hard a day you have." When I finally expressed that to John he was sort of side-lined because he thought his support was enough. I needed a deafening "YEAH! I'm totally on board!" We have since been able to talk (he's still in Newport at "become a CO school") and we're on the same page about the goals of this home learning.

It's hard to go against "normal" (even though homeschooling isn't a fringe activity anymore). For me, it's difficult because I wasn't wronged by the system, I'm not doing it for secular reasons, nor am I doing this because I feel like I can do it better than Mrs. X at the local school. I'm doing it because I want to. I feel like this is what I can do for my kids right now and I want to.

Here I am: finally sticking up for my decision.

Is it a good one? I have no idea.

Will it be worth it? Totally.

I will be documenting our trials, errors and triumphs over at Oh! The Things We'll Know. For now it's under maintenance, but I plan to keep a nice record for John (and family) to read up on while he's deployed.

Just Passing the Time

This time of year, no matter where we live, it's all about passing the time. Usually it's raining or cold and, while I do try to let the kids get out in almost any type of weather, Mama just ain't in the mood for outdoor play. 

So, we've been doing a little of this (click to go to our homeschool blog and see a game) and a little of that. 

To calm them down after bouncing or running around, I pull out their sensory boxes.

Valentine's rice boxes. John emailed and wanted to know what the
fairies were all about. They're just trinkets I found at Michaels! Sheesh. Boys
can play with fairies, too!

Big Dude has had some great days, despite missing Daddy.

Eli loves his "wice" box! 

Turner's new favorite activity is making cakes out of his rice. He measures ingredients,
bakes and adds decorations. Then, he sings Happy Birthday to Mommy...every time
he makes a cake.

All my boys. I can't believe I have THREE of them!

After much anticipation, Deeks still has just two teeth. 

He's sitting up very well on his own. Every so often he'll topple over
in excitement.

Is it spring yet? 

Aquarium!

It's always interesting when you do something new. Not only did we finally make it to the aquarium, but it was our first homeschooling event, I met a friend I've only known through the world wide web, and I went to a large public place with the crew (without John). I felt like a bona fide homeschooler. There were a lot of moms and kids so I tried to introduce myself to a few people and I think it was a mixed bag. 

Checking out sediment.

Turner was super excited to see the sting rays!

The absolute favorite of the morning was the submersible. They played in here for quite some time.

Eli was NOT a fan of another child trying to touch Deacon. 

Only after watching Turner would Eli used his finger to touch. Then, of course,
true to Eli fashion, he grabs a horseshoe crab and flips it over!

This cutie was such a trooper. 

After the aquarium, we came home to realize that I locked us out of the house (why is the key not on the key ring? I don't remember...). Mr. Eddie came to our rescue, though: he's such a sweet guy.  

We topped the night with popcorn and a movie. Turner got to stay up late to read some new library books and it seems as though we've had a good day! 

Homeschool

Even though I've toyed with the idea when Japan was a duty station possibility, I never thought (in a million years) I'd home school.

Yes, I just said home school. Home learning. Home education.

Yikes.

Three boys: one preschooler, one toddler and an infant.

I am, however, looking forward to it. There will be lots of crazy times and fun to be had. I am planning on a very basic traditional yet Waldorf inspired curriculum.

Want to see what we're up to?

Follow our adventures on Oh! The Things You'll Know...

And no, I will not be birthing 15 other children. Thankyouverymuch.

Don't make Me Go Waldorf on You!

We stumbled on the Seaside Playgarden only because a friend mentioned she saw this cute little school near the beach. She and her husband were garage-sale hopping in the area when the came across the school and thought it might interest me.

It was October of last year and I hadn't enrolled Turner in any of the area "church-type" schools because I was not only nervous about sending my baby out three days a week, I was terrified these people don't know my sensitive little man. He hadn't quite come out of his shell as a three year old (his birthdate is August 31st) so I was really torn about even sending him. All the other mommies were doing it, though, so I kept looking...

When the Seaside Playgarden option came around, I checked out the website and thought "Hmm, different and a fabulous price." That's it. That's all I thought. I didn't even know who or what Waldorf was. The teachers looked nice, the school was small, and it was just two days a week.

Within the next few weeks I noticed Turner becoming less and less dependent on me for everything. It was a combination of moving farther in to three and his attendance at school. He started singing songs out of the blue and even, now, tells these elaborate stories. His teacher, Ms. Julie, says Turner will now even walk in and start hamming it up with the kids and the other teacher in the school.

It wasn't until recently that I did any more research on Waldorf pedagogy. Based on our duty station choices I started to check out the local school options in Honolulu, and San Diego. I found astronomically priced Waldorf schools (5k for a 4 year old program? Ouch). Assuming if we lived in Japan Turner would attend a DOD program like the CDC (Child Development Center a.k.a. Glorified Babysitting) I started thinking back to the teeny voice that said 'homeschooling.'

Wait! Rewind. Homeschooling?

Psssh. That's for those crazy folk who drink the Cool-Aid and have tons of babies. I need my 'me' time. It's what moms do, right? Have babies and hurry them along to school so we can get back in to what interests us. Shopping, the gym, a pristine house, happy kids...perfect, perfect, perfect! That's what I want(ed). Perfection. Homeschooling does not equal perfection in my mind. Mess is all I think of. When do you clean? How do you dinner prep? When do you get to read your book/magazine?

It's been a whirlwind of reading, thinking and finally coming to this conclusion:

First let me say that I'm talking about early education. Not actually school school but more like making the most out of their time at home. This tiny flit of a moment is all we have with our kids. Turner is already copying my actions and, quite honestly, they're not all good. Not even close. I can do so much more but I was reaching for direction. I've found it. We are going to continue to learn more and follow a quasi-Waldorfian path. We're not dumping all our plastic toys and cutting off all media in the spirit of being purists. I am not going to homeschool for their lifetime, nor keep them from organized sports, or anything I consider pure joy in childhood (Ice cream man! Wait! I've got my money right heeeerrrreeeee! ). I'm not saying they need school at this very moment. I'm just saying that our home is going to be more "Waldorf inspired" and, if it's the case, I'll 'school' them in that manner for their first years. It really gives me a direction, a rhythm of my own to follow. It forces me to remember that this is my job; I am really my child's first teacher.

Our goal is this: Protect the Kingdom of Childhood. Fairies, gnomes, dirt, leaves, rocks, dough, felt and all.