Homework
A large part of our day was spent having make-up lessons. This past week brought so many academic interruptions so I needed to use our weekend for studies. We did make it to church and had another round of ice-skating at my daughter’s request. I must admit I too enjoyed the skating, especially when I was able to get my speed up while grooving to some song with a fast beat. New career addition: taxi driver, NASCAR, figure skater.
We were studying until 9:00 tonight. It was really a marathon of subjects mostly for my 2 oldest boys. They complain a little but they know their studies are a priority even with the interruptions.
Tomorrow brings more snow and academics.
Finding motivation
Monday morning approaches. We’ve lost an hour of sleep from Daylight Savings Time (not a fan). Add that to my already sleep-deprived day, and I’m not ready to gear up for academics tomorrow. Yes, I could totally blow off studies, and we could sit around and do nothing. You actually could do that as a homeschooler, but that’s not really my nature. I work by a schedule. I know what needs to be taught and covered, so I must stay focused and persistent. I’ve been reading more on the Chinese culture and their parenting style, so I’m feeling as if I’m in a bit of competition with them and anyone else who’s intense on academics and succeeding. I don’t want to go out in left field with this, but at the same time, my kids could be trying to get the same jobs or trying to get into the same college as they will try to do one day. Note that I don’t transfer these feelings onto my kids. They’re really just something that I’m constantly thinking about to myself, and it drives me to study, research, and refine what we’re doing at home. Here’s my global thought on the whole bit of all…I want my kids to pursue their interests and where their gifts are. They don’t have to go down the Ivy League road if it’s not the right fit for them. However, if they would like to even be competitive for consideration, they have to be prepared for such. That’s why I desire to train them early with a solid educational foundation. It’s easy to prepare them for anything if started at an early age. Not so easy when you start late, and then it’s usually too late.
The Nightstands and such
You will find many books in and around our bedroom nightstands, and I try to encourage quality literature selections although Pokemon slips in there sometimes. The only permanent media devices allowed in their bedrooms at present are a karaoke machine for singing and a CD player for listening to audio books. There are radios on the players, but I prefer the kids listen to music downstairs where I can filter what’s on the stations. I do let them listen to classic rock, pop, the oldies, and so forth although my house is usually filled with either classical or jazz music. I want them to appreciate talented musicians and the great songs that have shaped our culture, but there’s no since filling up their minds with words that may not be healthy, either. However, if a song comes on that has less than stellar words, we do discuss why I may not approve of that song. Those times tend to spur conversation. We all know music can affect you, and that influence can be of a positive nature or potentially a negative one.
Along those lines, I let them watch part of “American Idol” tonight while they waited for dinner..
Weekend blues
Wow! We’ve had such cold weather over the last few days where we live. It’s the kind of cold that makes you want to stay inside and eat an entire pot of warm soup and chocolate cake and stay in your sweat pants. Of course, if we are eating my cooking, we may end up ordering pizza!
Anyway, the weekend had our usual activities along with under-the-weather kids. Still, unless there’s some emergency or my kids are throwing up, we keep right on going with learning. They can still read while resting or I can read to them. I guess that’s an advantage of homeschooling versus sending your kids outside of the home. You don’t really have sick days so academics aren’t affected when you need to slow down at bit.
Finished academics with my daughter tonight (9:00). As long as she’s doing well with it, we keep going. Sometimes we have to do late nights because there’s just only so much time that I can give to each kid one-on-one. Extending our teaching time into the evening sometimes has to occur.
Well, now it’s 11:00, and I just printed out Paul Lockhart’s “A Mathematician’s Lament”. This will be my midnight reading before retiring. But, hubby and I have to watch our recorded “Fringe” episode. This is one show I actually watch off of TV. Other than that, I couldn’t really tell you what shows are on.
I need a shower. My hair is so dirty it is sticking to my scalp!
Ivy League Homeschooling 