Lindy's Homeschool: Filling Our Lamps

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Filling Our Lamps

The Ebert's Four Year Plan book for this past year is called "Filling Our Lamps" referring to how like the ten virgins, we must drop by drop fill our lamps so we will be ready for what ever comes our way. In their book, they include some "drops of faith" that homeschoolers need to instil in their children, and I thought it was so excellent, I had to share it.

Heavenly Father loves you.
He likes you. He believes you are beautiful and smart and good.
He wants you to learn. He will help you learn.

You can do anything.
You have been given special gifts that you can develop, enjoy, and use to help others.
You can choose any area that interests you to explore and learn about. You can become an expert in anything if you are willing to work hard.
Both boys and girls can be good in math- and science and English and computers and cooking and childcare and sports and so on.

You are a genius.
If you are struggling in an area, it is because a lot of your "smarts" went into making another area REALLY strong. The more you struggle, the more of a genius you must be.
God gave you weaknesses so that you can turn them into strengths.

I am in this with you.
I will do everything I can to help and support you, whatever it takes.
I know some things, and sometimes I am even smart. I can be good at math if I want to be.
I do not know everything. I make mistakes. However, I can still learn, and I am willing to learn this with you.
I do not have to do this, but I will because I love you. We are a team.
I cannot learn it for you.

Our family loves to learn.
We each have different strengths. We help each other by sharing our strengths.
Life is not fair, which means equal. We are happy for each other's achievements.
Our family is smart. We can do anything, together.
Our family believes in striving for excellence.

1 comment:

LynetteJuly 10, 2011 at 7:20 PM
Thank you for sharing!! :) :) It's nice to read something that is a good reminder of where our ability to learn and discover our talents come from: Heavenly Father (with the guidance of Mom and Dad). :)
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The "awkward and unprepared" Myth

There are many misconceptions and biases against homeschooling, and many people really think that I've never heard them or considered them. Many people worry about the "inevitable social awkwardness" of homeschoolers or that they are "unprepared for the world." In my experience, I've found that homeschoolers tend to be as socially "normal" or "awkward" as their parents. As far as "unprepared for the world" is concerned, that depends on how they are taught, but I have seen many successes first hand. Basically, I know the ins and outs of the decision I've made, thanks.

Why I Homeschool

When I was first married, I fell in love with the kids of the Leavitts and Schafers (my sisters-in-law families.) They were...and still are...confident, leaders, innocent where they should be innocent, creative, and accepting. They were also homeschooled. I wanted my future kids to be like them, and if homeschooling was part of that equation, then I was willing to make the sacrifice. Now, after years of study, prayer, and experience, I want to homeschool for many reasons. I want my kids to be family oriented not peer oriented. I want to include the gospel in every aspect of what they are taught. I want them to think out side of the box. I don't want them to be obsessed with what is "cool." I want them to feel loved by those around them. I want them to know who they are and what they stand for before they are bombarded by outside influences. I know that many families can do this without homeschooling, but it seems a lot harder to me. Basically, I'm a control freak. I want to be in control of my children's learning and social life....homeschooling makes that easier.

Also, now that I've realized they are severely dyslexic, I think homeschool is the best place for dyslexics to learn.

And there's the statistics.

My Schedule

7:15

START OUR DAY

Daddy does scriptures

Breakfast

Devotional w/ videos

Come Follow Me

Goals/mindfulness/memorization

9:00

School Starts

Maxwell

School of Hope Online

Hyrum's 3 "R"s

IEW Grammar and Writing

Video Text Algebra

Spelling (Word Wasp)

Daniel's 3 "R"s

Writing Prompts

Rightstart Math level "G"

Spelling (Wasp)

William's 3 "R"s

All About Reading

Creative Writing

Rightstart level "D"

Abraham's 3 "R"s

Logic of English

Handwriting Without Tears

Rightstart level "B"

Activity in afternoon:

Social Studies

Science

Art

Chess

field trips

Literature Club

WAS classes

My Curriculum

For math, I do RightStart Mathematics, which is an abacus based math, Times Tales to memorize multiplication, Video Text for Algebra, and Mathantics or other supplements on youtube.

For Devotionals, I use Come Follow Me.

For Reading, I have used the Barton Reading and Spelling program, but right now I'm experimenting with All About Reading and Logic of English.

For Writing, I use Handwriting Without Tears, IEW Fix It! Grammar, and IEW Student Intensive Writing.

For History, and Science, I use The Four Year Plan (which I LOVE.) This year we are using the "Family Jubilee" book which covers Biology, Modern World History, and New Testament.