Homeschooling Away From Home

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One of the great advantages to homeschooling is the ability we have to take this show on the road. When we travel, so does our school. On our last trip, I think half of our car was packed with school supplies. My husband never complains about all the books he has to pack into our family car, but he always makes at least one comment about the number of shoes I claim are necessary for any getaway.

I know all our “school stuff” took up a good portion of our hotel room. I had crates of books, workbooks, paper, and other miscellaneous supplies all packed into our little hotel room for the entire trip. We sacrificed one corner of the hotel room to the two little kids’ supplies, and the coveted desk to my high schooler and all his materials. The only person who seemed a bit disconcerted with my stash was the sweet woman from housekeeping who somehow ended up with our room for a solid two weeks. But luckily she developed a cleaning method that included turning a blind eye to the piles of papers and books.

For the entire two weeks we got up early in the morning and completed an entire day of school well before noon. It was awesome. My kids were able to spend time with their cousins and not worry about falling behind in school. In fact, my oldest got so far ahead we were a little concerned we would run out of class materials before the two weeks were up. In hindsight, I think he figured out how to pace himself so that he could take a couple of days off–out of “necessity”.

I know that I say this all the time, but I am so thankful to live in a country where I am able to home school my children. As we sneak up on the launch date of my first book, I am looking at taking my kids on the road for a couple of months. Right now they seem to be completely excited about the potential this adventure holds. I will dig up information on all the interesting sights, museums, and educational experiences we can do as a family while we are on the road. It will be epic.

Parenting 101

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Growing up with two brothers and two sisters, there always seemed to be an enormous amount of competition in our home. I was continuously compared to my older sister who seemed to be the perfect child, and my ability to keep up with the standard my mother felt she set was lacking in every way. There was contention in our home. There was resentment. It has taken many years of work to get to a healthy place for all five of us kids, but we are finally there. And the lessons I have learned are interesting to say the least.

  1. Don’t compare your kids! Each one is different and each one deserves attention for their individual accomplishments—even if you think those accomplishments are less than commendable. If you have a child who does not want to participate in the stereotypical activities for their age or gender, don’t compare them to the child down the street. This is a very dangerous path, and your child will just end up despising the neighbors.
  2. Do not encourage children to “work it out” on their own until they have the skill set to truly work out their struggles. I remember many moments of “working it out” as kids. My go-to-move was clocking my brother in the face. I have much better communication strategies now, but there is a never ending supply of stories for any dinner gatherings with my siblings.
  3. Don’t encourage dissention in your home. I’m fairly certain my mother believed a little bit of healthy hatred would motivate us to do better. It in fact did not!
  4. Treat your spouse with kindness and respect. I grew up knowing that one of my parents could do no right in the other’s eyes. That was not a real motivator in the marriage department. There is no greater gift you can give your kids than to create an environment of peace and love. There is nothing more nurturing than a home filled with kindness and respect.
  5. And this issue with respect should carry over to your kids. They are just very short people. Do not treat them in a way you would not treat another adult. Kids can learn from reasoning and reassurance just like adults. The “just because I said so” routine is worthless. Teach your children why you are directing them in a particular behavior, and then maybe they will employ that knowledge again in the future. Seriously, would you tell a friend “just do what I say and stop asking questions”, or is this just reserved for those people we love and cherish most?
  6. Do NOT publically take the stance that you love one child more than another. You may be surprised in the future, and find that the one you singled out as “less than” is the only one willing to help you in your old age. You may be taking care of them now, but those kids will very likely end up taking care of you in the future. Just sayin’…
  7. The whole “I brought you into this world and I can take you out” mentality is not one I suggest you cling to. You really don’t have the power to take them out without hefty consequences, and quite frankly you need to avoid empty threats all together. Try switching to “you are going to lose a privilege if you continue to lie on the floor in isle 7 of this Wal-Mart—screaming like someone lit you on fire.” Kids have a currency. Find out what they value and discuss the reality of choices and consequences. Like I said earlier…they are just really short people. Kids deserve respect even if they are pitching a fit that makes you look like you are parenting a howler monkey.
  8. Love your children in every stage of their lives. My mother tells us how she hated the newborn stage. Can you imagine telling someone, “in the beginning of our relationship you were a nightmare, but now I like you”…seriously?!? I’m sure there was something redeeming about that stage of my childhood. Like the fact that I couldn’t get into anything because I couldn’t even hold my own head up… Or the fact that I couldn’t talk back, or talk at all. If the reason for loving that child throughout their existence seems to be missing…dig deep. I’m sure you can find something.
  9. Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not give the “in my day” speech. Kids today are facing issues we never dealt with. We, as parents, need to be aware of the fact that we may not actually understand what our children are going through. Take time to sit down and listen, and then just try being the soft place for your children to fall. It is hard not to advise them in every aspect of their lives, but take a deep breath and just say, “I am so sorry you were un-friended on facebook.”
  10. Just love the living crap out of your kids. They will return the favor ten-fold. There is nothing quite like knowing you are loved no matter who you are or what you do with your life. Love your child who becomes a doctor. Equally love the child who aces Clown College and becomes the best juggler in a traveling circus.

Homemade Granola

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One of the many amazing aspects of homeschooling my little ones is the fact that I can make three homemade meals, and often times more, a day. My children are notorious for needing first, second and third breakfast. They don’t eat a lot in one sitting, so I have had to find ways to make healthy “mini-meals”. One of the favorites in our home is granola. I have gotten a few requests for this particular recipe. So, here it is…

6 cups rolled oats

1 ½ cups lightly salted sunflower seeds

1 ½ cups sliced almonds

1 ½ cups (sweetened) shredded coconut

½ cup toasted wheat germ (optional)

½ cup milled flax seed (optional)

1 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 cup honey

¼ cup brown sugar

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl, add wet ingredients and stir until evenly coated. Spread the mixture on two greased cookie sheets, as evenly as possible, and bake at 220 degrees for 90 minutes. Allow the granola to cool completely before removing from the cookie sheets. I store mine in a large Zip Lock freezer bag in the fridge. It usually lasts about two weeks in our house. This is great as cereal with milk or sprinkled on Greek yogurt.

 

The Power of Friendship

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I feel so blessed to be surrounded by amazing friends.  I am constantly reminded that we are all given trials to overcome in this life.  By sharing our experiences with each other we become stronger, as individuals, and closer as friends. I find that I sometimes get caught up in appearances and fail to see the value in being vulnerable and leaning on those people I trust the very most.  It’s silly to think that they expect me to be at my best every minute of every day, but I catch myself trying to look like that is my reality.  The truth is, I need my friends and I am thankful for the times when they need me.

One of my dearest friends is going through an incredibly tough trial in her life right now.  She has been brave and trusting enough to allow me to help her through this time of vulnerability.  We have spent a lot of time talking through the situation she is facing.  She has been able to open up about sensitive issues and we have worked together to find reasonable options for her and her children.  I thought I was being helpful to this friend.  Just yesterday I realized, that in all reality, I am being helped just as much, if not more, through this process.

I have learned the power of love from this friend.  I have seen that one woman can make mighty changes in this universe through her words and her deeds.  I have seen the unyielding love of a mother literally work miracles in the lives of her children.  This amazing woman has shown me that the ability to love unconditionally is truly a beautiful thing.

How many of us think that we must carry the burden of sorrow alone?  How often do we yearn for a kind word of encouragement when the weight of the world pushes down upon our shoulders?  I know that I have had more of those moments than I can count, but more often than not I trudge on without looking towards my greatest friends for the support I so desperately need.  I am so grateful to my sweet friend for showing me how to truly be a great friend.  It turns out, being a great friend requires being both strong and weak.  Great friends are not afraid to teach each other through their struggles.  They don’t allow fear of criticism or judgment to keep them from seeking out the comfort of those they love.  True friends let you see the good and the bad, knowing that you will be by their side through both.

Children’s Books are Therapeutic

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The world is so full of conflict.  It is in our homes, schools and invades every corner of the globe.  I have often times thought through the newsworthy events in my life, and wondered why war is such a prevalent topic amongst my memories.  I don’t believe that there has ever been a time in my life, of 37 years, that a war was not raging somewhere in the world.  This is a truly devastating reality.

On the brighter side, there are also kind humanitarian acts sprinkled throughout these horrifying wars and conflicts.  I just read an article, Book Therapy for Syrian Refugee Kids in Jordan, in the Khaleej Times.  The humanitarian aid group, Knowledge without Borders, launched a reading program for the kids who are currently living in these refugee camps inside Jordan.  The premise of the program is the belief that books are therapeutic on multitudes of levels, and so humanitarian aid is being sent in the form of a children’s library.

My kids and I spend hours inside our local library.  In fact, the local public library is not enough to satisfy the insatiable appetite my children have for books.  We also hit up the school libraries.  We hold the record for “most books checked out by one family” at the local elementary school’s library.  I LOVE BOOKS!  We are readers in this home.  We read books on history, science fiction, non-fiction, joke books, how-to-do-it-yourself books, and everything in between.  I can’t imagine our home without thousands of books.  We have book baskets, book shelves, and have even given up the upstairs linen closet to our overwhelming book collection.  There is not a room in my 3,400 square foot home that is lacking reading materials.  Sadly, even the bathrooms are stocked with literary gems.

When I read this article on bringing books to the children in these camps, I was touched.  It is absolutely the most amazing concept, and by all means a therapeutic opportunity for children of all ages.  These kids will have the chance to “leave” the harsh reality of their current circumstances and travel to other worlds through the pages of these books.  These stories will truly supply an opportunity, for the children living in these uncertain circumstances, to address their desires to learn and read about the world as they work through the emotional struggles that accompany any displacement situation.

The first refugee library was opened with only 3,000 books.  I probably have close to 2,000 books in my personal collection right now.  That is a sobering thought.  What a gift to live in America, and have access to such tremendous quantities of reading materials.  I take way too much for granted.  There are so many amazing blessings and gifts, we as Americans, enjoy the privilege of indulging in.  My eyes have been opened to the magnitude of this gift.  I will never look at my personal library the same way again.  I’m so thankful to those individuals who have made it possible for the Syrian children to have the opportunity to read and learn in their current circumstances.

Homeschooling Summer Begins…

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Most of us are finishing up the final remnants of this year’s lessons and activities.  It is absolutely amazing how quickly the year rolls by and we are back into summer.  I have already started next year’s lesson plans for my little monkeys.  The kiddos only got a 48 hour break before summer “maintenance math” and handwriting lessons started up.  I’m sure this will come back to haunt me in the future.  I picture my kids at a therapist’s office telling him/her how their mother made them learn all through the summer.

I’m loving the planning portion for next year’s science curriculum.  My ten-year-old, J, will be doing the Bob Jones Science program for fifth grade and we are already planning a trip to supplement what he will be learning.  The family is going to make a trip out to Diamond Park in Murfreesboro Arkansas.  The kids actually get to dig for diamonds.  I’m aware that there is a very slim chance they will end up bringing home a diamond, but it will be fun to try.  And honestly, if anyone can find one… it’s my son.  He has some kind of Jedi power when it comes to finding treasures.  We will be collecting rocks, minerals, and I’m sure a few bugs.  I made an enormous mistake when I told my kids they could start a bug collection. I had no idea what type of Pandora’s Box I was opening.

In order to make this “school inspired” trip count towards two requirements, we are also having the kids help out with the planning of the trip.  J is working on his Webelos rank in scouts, and we are making the most of every single activity we do.  By planning the trip he will finish his travel portion of the scouting program for the year.  So, as they say–two birds.

Bring on the sunscreen, pool time, and some diamond digging supplies!

Curriculum for Homeschooling

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Today is a momentous occasion for the Harris Family.  We have decided to make some serious changes in our homeschooling curriculum, and it was not without a lot of thought and research.  I have been wanting to utilize some programs I’ve been looking into for about two years, but was too afraid to completely sever the ties to the public school system.  Evidently, I am a woman who requires small step by step movement.

I am thrilled to be utilizing the Susan Wise Bauer history curriculum.  I have read rave reviews on this text and could not be more excited to watch my littlest one begin to learn history in chronological order.  I know this sounds like a concept to most of us, but that is the way kiddos learn the best.  Provide the full story, start to finish, and they are most likely to remember and make connections that are applicable in everyday life.  I could not possibly be more excited for this program.

We are also completely overjoyed to begin using Saxon math.  This is a time tested approach to learning and mastering mathematical concepts.  I have been watching the math in American public schools evolve over the last couple of years, and I am not seeing positive statistical growth in the development and learning in the arithmetic arena.  This program slowly builds one concept upon the next with tests and assignments that provide an enormous amount of practice material in each lesson.  I am so excited for this portion of our program that I can’t wait until fall.  We are starting math in two weeks.  My kids are actually excited too…  CRAZY!

The rest of our homeschooling curriculum is an eclectic mix of what fits the tastes of our kids.  This year, for the boys, art will be stop animation.  We purchased the Stopmotion Explosion animation kit, complete with camera, animation software, and a 290 page book on story boarding, script writing, and basic how to advice.  I am so excited to see what they create.

Art for my youngest will be a combination of art history and drawing classes.  She is the resident illustrator in this family.  She writes her own stories and then illustrates the text with beautiful artwork that compliments her natural writing abilities.  I am amazed at the talent inside this little seven-year-old child.

English is the Bob Jones homeschooling curriculum.  This is a new series for me, and I am excited to see how it goes.  Reading, writing, grammar, spelling and vocabulary are all pulled from slightly different programs.  It is hard for me to stick with just one homeschooling curriculum, because there are so many out there and so many different learning styles within my own household.

My oldest is somehow at the age where he will be starting high school.  I sincerely have no idea how this happened.  It feels like he was just born, and yet here we are starting ninth grade.  He will be attending the online homeschooling program BYU has created.  While BYU is a Mormon university, the homeschooling curriculum for high school  is secular and available to anyone interested in applying.  I am excited to have him fill out the application this week and submit it to the university.  He will be capable of applying for university programs after completion of this application process.  It comes complete with a student written essay on their academic goals and plans.  I love it.

This is all so exciting, and I am getting started on all the lesson plans next week.  I have to stay focused on this year’s school work and finish up the last couple of chapters in our current program.  But I am so excited for this next year’s homeschooling curriculum.

Thank You Teachers

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Dear Teachers,

As this school year comes to a close, I am reminded of all that you do.  I have to take this moment to say thank you for choosing to nurture and educate the children of our great country.  I can’t begin to imagine what this world would be like if there was no public school option, or if there were no adults willing to accept the challenge of public education.

I have been homeschooling two of my three children the last two years, and I know how hard it is to motivate two children.  You motivate entire classrooms of children every single day.  You teach them about the world, the universe, math, reading, writing, and you do this all within a small community called a classroom.  I don’t know how you do it.  Each child’s personality is so different.  Their educational levels vary so greatly.  Yet, you find a way.

When these kiddos look back on their school experience, they will remember the great moments you inspired.  They will remember the kind words on a frustrating day.  They will recall the funny joke that made the entire class erupt with laughter.  They will remember you.

As a parent, I thank you.  As a teacher, I thank you.  As an American, I thank you.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all you hard work, love, and concern.  You truly are teaching a nation.

 

With complete respect,

Amber Harris

You Got Rid of What?

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Only a few years ago, I would have believed that getting rid of network television constituted child abuse, or at a bare minimum mommy abuse. About the same time I started homeschooling my oldest child, I called the cable company and informed them that I was no longer interested in their services. This was actually the second step in my television recovery program. And yes, there should be a 12 step program out there. I was hooked. I was completely addicted to the craziness of “reality TV” and in the process was missing out on some of my own reality. The day before I shut down the cable I binge watched my favorite shows. I had that DVR filled with the latest craziness from talk shows to housewives of every conceivable county. It was my last fix, and then I went cold turkey.

This personal decision was met with shock and awe by friends and strangers alike.

Me: I would like to discontinue my subscription to network television.

Cable Guy: Um, we have other packages you could check out.

Me: No thanks. Just go ahead and shut down my account entirely.

Cable Guy: Are you dissatisfied with our services?

Me: No, you are pumping craziness into my house very efficiently.

Cable Guy: So would you be interested in a different package?

Me: Can I talk to your supervisor?

It was like the cable guy could not comprehend the possibility of anyone having the audacity to consider actually turning off the TV. My friends were even less understanding than Mr. Cable Guy.

Friend: Are you watching Breaking Bad?

Me: Breaking bad what?

Friend: Breaking Bad, the show.

Me: Oh, we don’t have television anymore.

Friend: Oh my gosh! What happened?

And this is where I realized that most people took this as me not being able to afford to pay for the services of the local cable company.

Me: I had them turn it off.

Friend: So you have absolutely no television?

Me: Well, we have one television and a DVD player for the kids’ movies, but no network stuff.

Friend: How do you know what is going on in the world?

Me: I read.

Friend: “BLANK STARE”

Friend: So, you are homeschooling and you got rid of TV… how are your kids going to know anything about the world?

Me: “BLANK STARE”

Yes, I realize that getting rid of network television can be seen as radical. However, I get reactions that would lead one to believe I moved my children into a cave and tried to recreate the Stone Age. It is a bit worrisome to see how unsettled friends and strangers are when they find out that I have no clue who the latest celebrities are, and what “said” celebrities are up to in their personal lives. I seriously used to think that this kind of stuff was news, but I have come to find that it is in fact not at all pertinent to my daily life. Which, to be honest, was serious news to me.

I understand that most people can have TV in their homes and not feel like it is eating up way too much time. I was not one of those people. I just needed a break, and I am finding the break to be much more enjoyable than I dreamed it would be. I have so much more time, and when I sit down to relax I am plugged into conversations with my family. With some of that extra time I finally got around to writing the books I had been meaning to write. I’d like to challenge Americans to turn off the TV for one week. Just unplug that sucker and see what you are able to get done. I would love to hear what you are able to do in a week without TV.

Let’s Get Real

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I am a homeschooling mother of  two, soon to be three, beautiful kids. I came to the homeschooling community with an interesting and atypical background. I have a master’s degree from Arizona State University in education. I was trained to work in the public schools. I feel like this training gives me some interesting insights into both the typical schooling system and the homeschooling system. I started this blog because I want to share my experiences and expertise. I am unfortunately going to offend some people on both sides of the homeschooling debate. I believe there is a place in this world for both public schooling and homeschooling. I have a hard time finding people who share this belief. It seems the proverbial “line” has been drawn, and most people just pick a side.

My blogs are driven by topics I find to be relevant to parenting and homeschooling. If you don’t home school, but have opinions or questions you would like to share… feel free. I try very hard to base my stance on factual information, but my stance is still just an opinion. Keep this in mind as you read and respond to this blog. We all are entitled to our opinions and should be respectful of each other as we discuss the topic of education. I love to hear any and all perspectives others are willing to share. I am always learning and growing because of the brave souls who are willing to put their beliefs and opinions out there.

I have stated time and again, on many different forums, that homeschooling is not for everyone. There are a plethora of circumstances where it is logistically impossible for a parent to home school their child. But if you are interested in homeschooling and are committed to the process, you absolutely can be successful teaching your children at home. The day my son came home and asked me if I would consider homeschooling him I picked up the phone and called my friend Krista. She homeschools all four of her kids, and was my “go-to-gal-pal” for this situation. Krista was a sounding board and an insanely insightful resource for me in a moment of confusion and fear. I want this blog to be a “virtual Krista” for all of us. This needs to be a safe place for asking questions, sharing frustrations, making friends, and building up your network of homeschooling families.