Saturday, November 21, 2009
Bleary Eyed!
I went with Samantha and a bunch of other 13-14 year old girls to the 10:30 showing of New Moon last night. By the time I droped all the girls back at home it was almost 2:00 a.m.. I am feeling it this morning.
The movie was good. Much, much better than the first one. However, I do have one beef.
If you are over 30 please, please, please do not hoot and holler when Edward or Jacob come onto the screen. That totally freaks me out.
Sends me back to memories of Mary Kay Latterneou? I am sorry, that is just gross. I'm just sayin..................
The movie was good. Much, much better than the first one. However, I do have one beef.
If you are over 30 please, please, please do not hoot and holler when Edward or Jacob come onto the screen. That totally freaks me out.
Sends me back to memories of Mary Kay Latterneou? I am sorry, that is just gross. I'm just sayin..................
Labels: Family Fun, teenagers
Monday, October 12, 2009
Getting Used To The New Normal
Today I sent my oldest son to the doctor. By himself.
He has an ingrown fingernail that started looking infected.
I gave him cash, his insurance card and directions.
My first born will turn 18 on Sunday. He definitely needs to know how to do these things.
Why is it so hard for me to let go?
I called the High School to excuse his absence and the clerk says to me "Oh, this is probably the last time you will have to do this for him. As of next week he can sign himself in and out."
Huh?
It seems once you turn 18 you have certain rights even if you are still a senior in High School.
I very sternly explained to him that his Dad and I expect he will not be abusing this privilege. The kid already has senioritice and school has only been back in for a month.
This is going to be a loooong school year for him.
However, there are some perks to having a responsible almost 18 year old living in your house.
I finished school with the other kids early and Zach took Tyler to his Auto Shop class this afternoon. Samantha watched the other kids and I took off for a couple hours of shopping All. By. Myself.
I feel like I just had a weeks vacation at the beach.
I really do love my life!
*******************************************************************************
Note: I am still working on my second post in the Homeschooling through high school post. I will try and have it up by the end of the week.
He has an ingrown fingernail that started looking infected.
I gave him cash, his insurance card and directions.
My first born will turn 18 on Sunday. He definitely needs to know how to do these things.
Why is it so hard for me to let go?
I called the High School to excuse his absence and the clerk says to me "Oh, this is probably the last time you will have to do this for him. As of next week he can sign himself in and out."
Huh?
It seems once you turn 18 you have certain rights even if you are still a senior in High School.
I very sternly explained to him that his Dad and I expect he will not be abusing this privilege. The kid already has senioritice and school has only been back in for a month.
This is going to be a loooong school year for him.
However, there are some perks to having a responsible almost 18 year old living in your house.
I finished school with the other kids early and Zach took Tyler to his Auto Shop class this afternoon. Samantha watched the other kids and I took off for a couple hours of shopping All. By. Myself.
I feel like I just had a weeks vacation at the beach.
I really do love my life!
*******************************************************************************
Note: I am still working on my second post in the Homeschooling through high school post. I will try and have it up by the end of the week.
Labels: High School, teenagers
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Homeschooling Through High School
Several people have asked me how we are homeschooling Tyler (16), what that looks like, and what curriculum we are using, and why we are doing it? So, I have decided to try and answer your questions.
First, let me say that the idea of homeschooling a high school aged student filled me with terror not so very long ago. Then funny things started to happen. I kept meeting families that were homeschooling a teen and my attitude began to change. Those families were successful, their children seemed well educated, and all of them were going to college (if that was their chosen path).
If you asked Zachary (who is now a senior) what he learned going to High School he will tell you pretty much nothing. He is a smart kid who took mostly honors classes. We quickly found out that the best teachers were put into the non honors classes and the honors kids got what was left. Perhaps the theory being that these kids were self starters and could learn no matter who was teaching them. Last year Zach took Physics. My husband would look over his work and see that the teacher had graded his work incorrectly. Zach told us that the teacher couldn't show them how to work one of the problems in their book and he told the class that he was sorry, but he hadn't learned how to do that one yet. When we inquired at the school we found out that this teacher had a degree in Chemistry and had never taught Physics before. They asked us to please be patient. My guess is this poor teacher probably had a few weeks notice that he would be teaching this class (if that long) and had no time to prepare. He was learning as he taught. By the way this school is a "California Distinguished School".
I have seen so many Californians running from the public schools lately. We have great teachers, there is no doubt about that. However, the politicians have ruined our schools. I could do an entire post on that one sentence but I will save that for later. Bottom line....let the teachers teach.......politicians, stay out of the classrooms.
With all that being said we had some concerns about letting Tyler go to this school. He loves math and science and I wanted to make sure he got the best education possible.
The sentence above was the first reason we began to consider home education. However, my goals quickly changed. Yes, I wanted all of my children to get a good education but I also wanted them to learn about God's truths. I wanted them to have a Christian World View and not a "Hollywood" world view. As I began to dig into God's word I became convicted that I needed to make sure my children got a Christian education. As we could not afford the $9,600 a year our local Christian High School charged, homeschooling began to look better and better.
What about college? This is probably the first and most often asked question by people when they find out we are homeschooling a highschooler. To be honest, this was our first question to. So, I started researching colleges. My husband went to The California Institute of Technology and Tyler had expressed an interest in going there. I got on their web site and saw that they had a special link for students who had been home schooled. The site explained how to keep a portfolio of your work and what they would be looking for in their applicants. They stated that they wanted to see that science classes were taught by a "qualified person". Just to make sure I understood what a "qualified person" exactly was, I gave them a call. They were extremely helpful and said the qualified person did not have to be a credentialed teacher, just someone who had a basic knowledge of the subject they were teaching. She said his SAT scores as well as his portfolio of work would be much more important than who actually taught him. Interesting.
As we have begun looking at college brochures for Zach I have been pleasantly surprised at how the majority of them accept and give guidance to home schooled applicants. We have met so many families recently who have given us guidance in this area. One families oldest daughter is in her second year at Brown. She was homeschooled since kindergarten and received a full academic scholarship. We have not met one family that has had any problems getting their children into college. We were very encouraged by this fact. However, as several families have also reminded us, as Christians, we should not be educating our children to ensure that they get into Harvard, but educating them to insure they get into Heaven. I have been pondering that statement a lot lately.
I also have a little secret I want to share with you Internets. Shhhh, come close and I will whisper it into your ear. Ready? OK. The SAT has been dumbed down since we took it. If you are in your 30's or above your child will not be taking the same SAT you took. The government dumbed it down a while back. Seems our sweet youngins were having a hard time with it and it was becoming an embarrassment to our country. Zach had to take it last year. We kept telling him he needed to study but he would rebuff us. Mom, I only have to score a 1200 or above to get into the schools I want to go to. "Don't worry" he said. His Dad and I were not so sure.
Seems our boy was right.
Without studying, even one second, he got a 1700. The national average is 1538. A perfect score is 2400. Over 1,000,000 students took the SAT last year and only 20 of them received a perfect score. A respectable score is 1200 and will get you into most schools you want to go to. If you received a 2100 or above you are in the 90th percentile. College's are slobbering all over my child because he scored about the national average. Really? I think he should take it again and study this time. Lets see what he can really do. However, what is the incentive for that when the colleges are telling him his 1700 makes him nothing less than brilliant? Can we really fall any lower in our expectations of our children?
So, in a nutshell here is why we are homeschooling our teenager (as well as the younger children).
1. I want Him to learn from a Christian perspective and leave school with a Christian World View not a Secular one. I found it nearly impossible to "Train up my child in the way he should go" when he was away from me more than he was with me.
2. I feel we can give him a more complete education that meets his specific needs.
3. I have found the greatest added bonus of homeschooling has been the closer relationships I have seen form amongst all of the children. They are better friends and nothing gives me more pleasure than to see them all huddled on the couch together doing their school work. I would home school now just for that one reason.
As this post has gotten so long I will post tomorrow about what classes he is actually taking and what a typical day actually looks like.
Please note: If your child is in the public school system right now please do not think I am telling you that you are a bad parent. I am just telling you why WE made the decisions we did. Many families tell me they would love to home school but are afraid or don't know where to start. I am just going to try and be as honest as I can about our decisions and if that helps just one person I will be thrilled. We all love our children and want what is best for them. Of that, I have no doubts.
See you all tomorrow. I'm off to a ballgame. I'm sure you are all shocked by that statement.
First, let me say that the idea of homeschooling a high school aged student filled me with terror not so very long ago. Then funny things started to happen. I kept meeting families that were homeschooling a teen and my attitude began to change. Those families were successful, their children seemed well educated, and all of them were going to college (if that was their chosen path).
If you asked Zachary (who is now a senior) what he learned going to High School he will tell you pretty much nothing. He is a smart kid who took mostly honors classes. We quickly found out that the best teachers were put into the non honors classes and the honors kids got what was left. Perhaps the theory being that these kids were self starters and could learn no matter who was teaching them. Last year Zach took Physics. My husband would look over his work and see that the teacher had graded his work incorrectly. Zach told us that the teacher couldn't show them how to work one of the problems in their book and he told the class that he was sorry, but he hadn't learned how to do that one yet. When we inquired at the school we found out that this teacher had a degree in Chemistry and had never taught Physics before. They asked us to please be patient. My guess is this poor teacher probably had a few weeks notice that he would be teaching this class (if that long) and had no time to prepare. He was learning as he taught. By the way this school is a "California Distinguished School".
I have seen so many Californians running from the public schools lately. We have great teachers, there is no doubt about that. However, the politicians have ruined our schools. I could do an entire post on that one sentence but I will save that for later. Bottom line....let the teachers teach.......politicians, stay out of the classrooms.
With all that being said we had some concerns about letting Tyler go to this school. He loves math and science and I wanted to make sure he got the best education possible.
The sentence above was the first reason we began to consider home education. However, my goals quickly changed. Yes, I wanted all of my children to get a good education but I also wanted them to learn about God's truths. I wanted them to have a Christian World View and not a "Hollywood" world view. As I began to dig into God's word I became convicted that I needed to make sure my children got a Christian education. As we could not afford the $9,600 a year our local Christian High School charged, homeschooling began to look better and better.
What about college? This is probably the first and most often asked question by people when they find out we are homeschooling a highschooler. To be honest, this was our first question to. So, I started researching colleges. My husband went to The California Institute of Technology and Tyler had expressed an interest in going there. I got on their web site and saw that they had a special link for students who had been home schooled. The site explained how to keep a portfolio of your work and what they would be looking for in their applicants. They stated that they wanted to see that science classes were taught by a "qualified person". Just to make sure I understood what a "qualified person" exactly was, I gave them a call. They were extremely helpful and said the qualified person did not have to be a credentialed teacher, just someone who had a basic knowledge of the subject they were teaching. She said his SAT scores as well as his portfolio of work would be much more important than who actually taught him. Interesting.
As we have begun looking at college brochures for Zach I have been pleasantly surprised at how the majority of them accept and give guidance to home schooled applicants. We have met so many families recently who have given us guidance in this area. One families oldest daughter is in her second year at Brown. She was homeschooled since kindergarten and received a full academic scholarship. We have not met one family that has had any problems getting their children into college. We were very encouraged by this fact. However, as several families have also reminded us, as Christians, we should not be educating our children to ensure that they get into Harvard, but educating them to insure they get into Heaven. I have been pondering that statement a lot lately.
I also have a little secret I want to share with you Internets. Shhhh, come close and I will whisper it into your ear. Ready? OK. The SAT has been dumbed down since we took it. If you are in your 30's or above your child will not be taking the same SAT you took. The government dumbed it down a while back. Seems our sweet youngins were having a hard time with it and it was becoming an embarrassment to our country. Zach had to take it last year. We kept telling him he needed to study but he would rebuff us. Mom, I only have to score a 1200 or above to get into the schools I want to go to. "Don't worry" he said. His Dad and I were not so sure.
Seems our boy was right.
Without studying, even one second, he got a 1700. The national average is 1538. A perfect score is 2400. Over 1,000,000 students took the SAT last year and only 20 of them received a perfect score. A respectable score is 1200 and will get you into most schools you want to go to. If you received a 2100 or above you are in the 90th percentile. College's are slobbering all over my child because he scored about the national average. Really? I think he should take it again and study this time. Lets see what he can really do. However, what is the incentive for that when the colleges are telling him his 1700 makes him nothing less than brilliant? Can we really fall any lower in our expectations of our children?
So, in a nutshell here is why we are homeschooling our teenager (as well as the younger children).
1. I want Him to learn from a Christian perspective and leave school with a Christian World View not a Secular one. I found it nearly impossible to "Train up my child in the way he should go" when he was away from me more than he was with me.
2. I feel we can give him a more complete education that meets his specific needs.
3. I have found the greatest added bonus of homeschooling has been the closer relationships I have seen form amongst all of the children. They are better friends and nothing gives me more pleasure than to see them all huddled on the couch together doing their school work. I would home school now just for that one reason.
As this post has gotten so long I will post tomorrow about what classes he is actually taking and what a typical day actually looks like.
Please note: If your child is in the public school system right now please do not think I am telling you that you are a bad parent. I am just telling you why WE made the decisions we did. Many families tell me they would love to home school but are afraid or don't know where to start. I am just going to try and be as honest as I can about our decisions and if that helps just one person I will be thrilled. We all love our children and want what is best for them. Of that, I have no doubts.
See you all tomorrow. I'm off to a ballgame. I'm sure you are all shocked by that statement.
Labels: Home Schooling, teenagers
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Working on Kindness
During the Advent Season our family is really good about meeting together in the evening for some scripture and story reading. The rest of the year that whole idea seems to kind of fall apart.
At the begining of 2009 Dave and I decided that we wanted that to change. I searched for devoitonals, inspirational stories, anything that would bring us together.
We finally decided on a drastic course of action.
We would read the Books of the Bible together as a family.
What a concept, huh?
Two or three nights a week we meet together for some time as a family. I would like to say it was every night, but I am happy with the balance we have found between sports and God. It definitely doesn't seem as one sided anymore, the tetor totter had definitely been tilted in the wrong direction for a while.
After we read a Chapter or two in the Bible we do one of the lessons in this book.
I noticed that my children have not been very respectful and kind to each other lately and I wanted us to discuss what the Bible had to say about kindness.
The book has 24 rules you can use in your house and you can add to them to make your own kind of "Family Constitution".
We have been working on this one for a few weeks:
Dave and I are both sarcastic people thus we have produced 5 children who think sarcasm is fabulous. However, at times, it can sound cruel and unkind. We need to watch that around here.
I love the fact that you work on each rule for 5 nights, and each night there are different discussions and Bible verses to look up regarding that rule. This book can be geared for older or younger children. I usually just use it as a guideline and then add my own information and questions to some of theirs for my high school age kids.
I usually make a snack or something to make the time more fun. We have had some great discussions during this time and I have learned things about my children I never knew.
Here are some pictures of Valentines Day Evening. I got a few little gifts for the kids and let them open them before our devotional. It was fun.
Garrett was very excited about his bubble gum (We generally have a no gum rule in our house).
Paige having a hard time waiting for her turn.
Tyler's happy. Paige is daydreaming about what could be in her bag (it was a my little pony baby).
Samantha got some new sleep pants.
I love my family, and I love spending time with them. Making 2009 the year we have scheduled time together in the evening has been one of the best decisions we have ever made.
If you have teenagers I would highly recommend doing this. Its amazing how lose their lips get when they are relaxed and bribed with sugar.
I only have a few short years left with my teens and I am determined to fill their hearts with God's truth's before I set them off into the world.
I really wish I truly understood how fast the time would go by when they were little. It's almost time for the oldest to spread his wings and fly (18 months until the first day of college). While he may be ready, this mom isn't so sure she is.
At the begining of 2009 Dave and I decided that we wanted that to change. I searched for devoitonals, inspirational stories, anything that would bring us together.
We finally decided on a drastic course of action.
We would read the Books of the Bible together as a family.
What a concept, huh?
Two or three nights a week we meet together for some time as a family. I would like to say it was every night, but I am happy with the balance we have found between sports and God. It definitely doesn't seem as one sided anymore, the tetor totter had definitely been tilted in the wrong direction for a while.
After we read a Chapter or two in the Bible we do one of the lessons in this book.
I noticed that my children have not been very respectful and kind to each other lately and I wanted us to discuss what the Bible had to say about kindness.
The book has 24 rules you can use in your house and you can add to them to make your own kind of "Family Constitution".
We have been working on this one for a few weeks:
We love one another, treating others with kindness, gentleness, and respect.
Dave and I are both sarcastic people thus we have produced 5 children who think sarcasm is fabulous. However, at times, it can sound cruel and unkind. We need to watch that around here.
I love the fact that you work on each rule for 5 nights, and each night there are different discussions and Bible verses to look up regarding that rule. This book can be geared for older or younger children. I usually just use it as a guideline and then add my own information and questions to some of theirs for my high school age kids.
I usually make a snack or something to make the time more fun. We have had some great discussions during this time and I have learned things about my children I never knew.
Here are some pictures of Valentines Day Evening. I got a few little gifts for the kids and let them open them before our devotional. It was fun.
Garrett was very excited about his bubble gum (We generally have a no gum rule in our house).
Paige having a hard time waiting for her turn.
Tyler's happy. Paige is daydreaming about what could be in her bag (it was a my little pony baby).
Samantha got some new sleep pants.
I love my family, and I love spending time with them. Making 2009 the year we have scheduled time together in the evening has been one of the best decisions we have ever made.
If you have teenagers I would highly recommend doing this. Its amazing how lose their lips get when they are relaxed and bribed with sugar.
I only have a few short years left with my teens and I am determined to fill their hearts with God's truth's before I set them off into the world.
I really wish I truly understood how fast the time would go by when they were little. It's almost time for the oldest to spread his wings and fly (18 months until the first day of college). While he may be ready, this mom isn't so sure she is.
Friday, October 24, 2008
My Favorite 15 Year Old
Yesterday, I was busy getting ready to send hubby and oldest and youngest son off for a three day weekend. More on that in a later post.
Anyway, my allergies have been acting up big time with the Santa Ana winds we have here in California. My head was feeling like it was going to explode from the sinus pressure.
The house was a wreck and the kitchen looked like a bomb had gone off in it.
After I got the boys out the door Samantha reminds me she needs shoes for her costume she is wearing tonight to a youth group costume party. She also needs a slip and Paige needed some shoes also.
So, even though all I really wanted to do was crawl into bed we left on what turned into a three hour shopping trip, because you know, it takes a long time to find the perfect pair of shoes.
We arrive back home and I am dreading walking in the front door knowing what is awaiting me on the other side. However, upon entering I smell the sweet scent of some sort of cleaner. I walk to the back of the house and find that my kitchen is clean. The counters have been wiped down and the dishwasher loaded.
Tyler had cleaned the kitchen while we were gone.
Now, if you knew Tyler, you would understand why this just melted my heart. He hates cleaning the kitchen. A pea left on a plate will send him into the dry heaves. This kid has the weakest stomach I have ever seen.
He is a great bathroom cleaner, vacuumer, duster, trash taker outer, etc.. But the kitchen, he begs to not have to do that. He has also been known to pay a sibling to do his kitchen duty. Since I know he hates it so much I usually don't assign him that task unless I am desperate.
The funny thing is I almost asked him to clean the kitchen before I left but honestly did not have the energy to deal with the arguing that I knew would ensue with such a request. To say I was shocked to find the kitchen clean would be the greatest understatement of the decade.
I immediately ran to him and thanked him with a big hug and kiss. To which he replied "Mom, its no big deal, I knew you weren't feeling well so I took care of it, I was bored anyway".
Translation: I love you, but I'm way to cool to admit that!
Just when I think my teenagers might send me over the edge with their hormone induced mood swings, they do something so sweet it melts my heart and reminds me there are little boys inside those big bodies learning to be loving, caring and kind young men.
I think his future wife will be a very lucky young lady.
Anyway, my allergies have been acting up big time with the Santa Ana winds we have here in California. My head was feeling like it was going to explode from the sinus pressure.
The house was a wreck and the kitchen looked like a bomb had gone off in it.
After I got the boys out the door Samantha reminds me she needs shoes for her costume she is wearing tonight to a youth group costume party. She also needs a slip and Paige needed some shoes also.
So, even though all I really wanted to do was crawl into bed we left on what turned into a three hour shopping trip, because you know, it takes a long time to find the perfect pair of shoes.
We arrive back home and I am dreading walking in the front door knowing what is awaiting me on the other side. However, upon entering I smell the sweet scent of some sort of cleaner. I walk to the back of the house and find that my kitchen is clean. The counters have been wiped down and the dishwasher loaded.
Tyler had cleaned the kitchen while we were gone.
Now, if you knew Tyler, you would understand why this just melted my heart. He hates cleaning the kitchen. A pea left on a plate will send him into the dry heaves. This kid has the weakest stomach I have ever seen.
He is a great bathroom cleaner, vacuumer, duster, trash taker outer, etc.. But the kitchen, he begs to not have to do that. He has also been known to pay a sibling to do his kitchen duty. Since I know he hates it so much I usually don't assign him that task unless I am desperate.
The funny thing is I almost asked him to clean the kitchen before I left but honestly did not have the energy to deal with the arguing that I knew would ensue with such a request. To say I was shocked to find the kitchen clean would be the greatest understatement of the decade.
I immediately ran to him and thanked him with a big hug and kiss. To which he replied "Mom, its no big deal, I knew you weren't feeling well so I took care of it, I was bored anyway".
Translation: I love you, but I'm way to cool to admit that!
Just when I think my teenagers might send me over the edge with their hormone induced mood swings, they do something so sweet it melts my heart and reminds me there are little boys inside those big bodies learning to be loving, caring and kind young men.
I think his future wife will be a very lucky young lady.
Labels: teenagers
