Lindy's Homeschool: January 2022

Sunday, January 30, 2022

Homeless

Oh my goodness people. I am homeless right now...well, sort of.

We LEFT CANADA! We....for the first time in the history of my homeschool....are not under the umbrella of the Westwind school division. I've always made this blog for them (partially.) Will I have enough umph to keep up this blog if I don't have someone watching over my shoulder? Hopefully. I think this is a healthy record for my family.

We are vagabonds in Arizona, but headed out on a year...two year...three year? adventure.

I'm freaking out a bit.

First stop? Our kids will stay with their cousins while Dustin and I learn how to sail in Texas. We have A LOT to learn.

I've been crazy busy getting ready to leave, but I did do some school. We did our last science classes.

We had three lessons about light. In the first one, we learned mostly about how light shines straight and about shadows and things (I'm tired...that's the best description you're going to get.)

The kids made shadow puppets and Taylor made an Among Us one.

Then we concentrated on reflection and refraction. We got out mirrors and concave and convex lenses.

At the last week we learned about the electromagnetic spectrum, and focused on the visible light spectrum. We talked about rainbows and brought out the prisms and the light refracting glasses.

I will MISS science club. Honestly, without a science club it's SO HARD to do science. I need accountability! How am I going to do this?!?

Well, I know myself and I know I will be pretty stalwart about getting my english and math done. For instance, even though we were super busy, William finished All About Spelling level 1.

And Abraham has been doing his math which has had a lot of geometry lately:

But I'm seriously broken up about not having my community. At church, Abraham has the best teachers (who actually speak english and have a printer available to them...which doesn't happen in Vanuatu.)

And Amy Bay has been having outdoor classes that are so fun:

And Hyrum has LOVED Dungeons and Dragons with his friends and has been reading missions (getting him to read for fun is not always easy.)

And what about my education? How will I survive without my writer's group? From my birthday, we got together and I FINISHED MY BOOK!!!! But I'm reading through it now before I send it out to beta readers.

We will miss our community more than words can say. I have no idea how we will be happy homeschoolers without them! I'm trying to convince all of them to visit us.

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.