Are they Socialized???

I home school. And when I tell people the first thing they look to see my boys to see if my boys look like they are socialized. If they truly new them... they would know that they are probably overly social. I know lots of people have questions about those that home school so I'll try to answer some of the most common ones that I get.

Why did I chose to home school? When we were in Arizona, James was in a Pre-K program. He came home one day and during dinner he told me that he "hated school"  I thought how sad that in pre-k he was having these feelings. So I pulled him out. I talked to a mom that was in my ward and any one else I could about homeschooling. I figured that I couldn't screw up kindergarten so away I went. I did a ton of research and talked to who ever I could. I joined a few Yahoo groups and asked a lot of questions. The thing that really helped make a decision was talking to a friend of my husband. Nathanial was his battle buddy in the army and was deployed with him and he was homeschooled... and he was normal!!

Do I have a teaching degree? Nope. But I didn't need one when I taught the boys how to talk and use the potty. I am learning a lot right a long with the boys. When they ask a question that I can't answer right away we look it up. We find out what we can about the things they want to know.

Do I really think I know everything to teach? Oh, heavens no. Even with James in second grade I am learning right along with him. I have many friends who are teaching higher grades than I am. I ask a lot of questions and I bounce a lot of ideas off of them. One thing that I have noticed about the homeschooling community is that people are always willing to share and help. Honestly I don't remember anything that I learned from high school Chemistry {do you??} so when we come to that point I will either relearn it with the boys or I'll find someone or a curriculum that can teach it to them.

What about being social? Have you met my children? We are out and about all the time. On Wednesdays we go to the park for a playgroup. {it's nice for me too! I get to have some adult conversation} Then on Friday we go to a Co-op. Different mom's teach different subjects. There is even a PE class that they take. James is taking violin, Tommy does piano and I seem to be the hang out for all the neighbor kids every day. They are very social.

Is it all about religion? I wouldn't say "all about" but yes, we do a lot of scripture study. The boys are currently memorizing all 13 Articles of Faith {yup... even Tim} We will move on to the Scripture Mastery List scriptures once the AoF are memorized. We are learning the primary songs and we read from the Friend We start the day with a devotional and anytime I can talk about the gospel I do. When we are learning about Ashurbanipal who was King of Nineveh, we also talk about Jonah who was commanded of the Lord to go and preach to the people at the same time. The gospel is a big part of our life, not just on Sunday, but every day.


Do you have a curriculum? I have started using the Critical Thinking Company and I love it! It gives me enough to know that we are progressing, but leaves things open enough to do what we like. We use the program Math U See for math and we are doing The Story of the World for history. I probe the boys for things that they are interested in and we go from there. Previous to this I did just pull together a simple curriculum that worked for us, but Benji is so busy now I wasn't having time to get everything done that I needed to do.

What time are you done? We start our day at 9:00 and we usually end about 12:00-12:30. There are only 3 of them so a lesson on nouns and verbs takes only 10 minutes instead of 30 minutes. I'm not one to kick a dead horse so if the boys get it we move on. When we are done the day is theirs. If I have had a doddler the afternoon is the time to finish any left over work.

What do I do with Tim and Benjamin? Tim is with us for our devotional and for our group learning {history, science, social studies} After that he is free to play or color. Most times he want's to "do school" with us so I have a workbook to give to him. He is learning how to read so we focus on that and on his handwriting. We all work together so even when the boys are doing their work Tim is in the room with us. Benji is just there with us. We work around him as best we can. The boys are a great sport to give up their desk if he is squawking to much. He is getting better at sitting a playing with things for short times but most of time he is just into everything!

Are my kids sheltered? Oh, probably. I'm sure as much as your 8, 7, and 5 year olds are. Just because they don't go to school doesn't mean they are complete oblivious to the world. StarWars is their favorite movie and the play Pokemon every day. I do monitor what they watch on TV... how much time they play on the computer and video games... and who their friends are. But to me that is just good parenting and I'm not going to apologize for that.

Are my kids shy since they don't go to school? Have you met my children. I have one that has no personal boundaries, and another that will talk your ear off. My kids are far from shy.  Some kids who go to school are shy some aren't, going or not going to school doesn't make kids shy.

Are we happy all day every day? No! We have our days of tears and days where I have one doing school work until 5:00 and others yelling at each other. I do have to say that most days are really good, and we get through our day pretty quickly, but we do have our days.

Do I homeschool my kids because they are brilliant? Well like any mom I think they are brilliant, but if I were to have them tested I'm sure they would be like any kid that has strengths and weaknesses. They have their talents and I try to nurture those and help them grow.

Do I push my kids academically? Yes I do. Tommy is reading on a 4th grade level... do you really think I'm going to school him at a kindergarten level?  But there are things that they struggle with. If they are not ready for something... usually in math, we wait. I have had to pull math completely out for a week or two and then come back to it. James just gets stuck so rather than more drills we just backed off for a week and then picked it up again. After that he usually gets it and it click so we moved on.

I love homeschooling the boys. I know it's not for everybody, but it's definitely for us. If anyone has any other questions please feel free to ask me.

Book Review

I just got done reading this book to the boys, and they {and I} loved it. It was really interesting to read about the life of Paul Revere. The Many Rides of Paul Revere by James Cross Giblin


"Paul Revere is commonly remembered in the Longfellow legend of his Midnight Ride before the 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord. In this bright, informative biography, Giblin follows Revere's life from his humble beginnings as a French immigrant's son to his work as a silversmith and a horse messenger amid the mounting pressures of revolution. In precise, accessible prose, Giblin chronicles Revere's daring acts -- both the famous and the overlooked. Along the way, he portrays a brave, compassionate, multitalented American patriot."
During lunch time I'll get the boys their lunch and then settle down as well to read a little. We grabbed this book from the library and it was a great choice. Paul Revere did so many great things beyond just the "Midnight Ride" that we read about by Henry Longfellow. Paul was trusted to ride many times to warn the colonists about the British invading our shores. He was an expert silver smith, and a trusted friend. He was friends with some powerful men.

I love learning about the early men and women who graced this great land of ours. I also love going deeper than just the common stories that we hear, these are men and women who lived and then died on this great land of ours.

Let it Rain

We had a rainy day. So rather than dive into the school work that day we watched a movie and did some art. Today was something different.

I gave each of the boys some cardstock and washable markers

We each drew a picture

We put our pictures out in the rain and let it do the work.

They turned out pretty cool. It gave it a nice watercolor effect.

 I really like the way Benji's turned out.

Next time you are pulling out the art box think of a new way to use the stuff.

Valentine Flowers

I'm sure many of us got flowers for Valentine's. What sweet spouses we all have!

As my flowers were starting to pass rather than to throw them away we cut them open.

We looked at all the different parts of a flower and pointed them all out.

We looked to see how the flowers are different and how they are the same.

I look forward to the next time Steve gets me flowers!! I'm thinking tulips and roses..... those would be fun to pull apart and cut open.... be lovely sitting on my counter.

Littlest learner.

Benji is a great addition to our family! And I love having a baby around. The boys... well... they love him too but -  he has been pushing them out of their desks so he has a place to work. They are not sitting on the floor so he doesn't thing he should either.

I had him in his high chair for a while, which was fine for about 4 days but her realized that once he was up he lost the freedom to get down when he wanted... I was ok with that, he had other ideas and told me so.

I remembered that I had this little blue table, and one lone chair to go with it.

Now Benji has his own place to work, and sit, and spread out. He will look at books for a while and then color, and then drive the brothers crazy, before starting all over with his book.

I think the little ones pick up quickly. Benji knows are routine, and just wants to be a part of that. If the brothers are working on something, he feels like he needs to as well. They all have their own spots, so he needs one too.

So for your smallest ones let them feel like they have a space to do their "school work". It's nothing formal, but let them have a space that is not in the way of the other kids, {and so they are not in his way either} and let them feel like they are a part of the group rather than to be shooed away because they get into things.

And in true boy fashion, it is starting with Dinosaurs.




{After I took this picture Benji found something better to do and emptied my cabinets... I guess you can't win them all}

Question of the Week

What is the worst/funniest/oddest question or statement that you have heard about homeschoolers?
{I had no intention of this turning into a post on Socialization.. but that seemed to be the theme here} 

This is a funny question! I have overheard people say things (that didn't know I was homeschooling) about how people do it so they can shelter their kids from the world or they can't let their kids go out in the world. I disagree of course because I am not sheltering my kids from the world, I am teaching my kids about the world myself while I am there to answer their questions. But, I think the thing people warn me the most about homeschooling is that my kids aren't going to be socialized. I disagree with that as well...
~Kris S.

The question made by my sons former teacher: "What will happen when he enters the real world?"
Seriously? Just because a child is homeschooled, it doesn't mean they are completely sheltered from "the real world".

Another statement was "Homeschooled people (or their parents) are just lazy."
~Noah C.

"Are they socialized?"
~Shannon E. 


People have said to us as were out shopping. "I guess you don't get to socialize with other kids'? All three of us will look at each other and laugh. We don't bother to answer them.
~Elizabeth F.

I found these that were funny so I thought I would share them 





The music on this one is annoying, so turn it down, but the comments are real.





I think I'll do a post on socialization {as if it hasn't already been done to death :) }

Next weeks question is. Is Art a part of your day/week, or is it something that sometimes get forgotten?

B is for....

Marcy over at Ben and Me has started a new bloggy link up. This is something that I can do because I can plan for and know what is coming rather than having to wait for a topic.

This week it is B

And for me... B is for BOYS!!!

Homeschooling all boys is well... CRAZY all the time. The really don't often sit. So usually have to find creative ways to get the things done that we need. I will have one boy stand on a wobble board while I read to them. We have desks, but one boy would rather sit on top of the desk rather than at the desk. These are things that I know they would not be able to do in public school, and yet they are excelling because I can play up their strengths and allow them to be wiggly boys.

I also have them outside a lot. Honestly.... it is not supervised play.... or even directed play... most of the time when they come in showers are required and then I have to clean out the tub because of all the dirt and mud that has accumulated on them. But I like it like that. I like watching them figure out how there body works with out be dictated to. I like watching them work together to dig a hole, {and fill it up with water}, and then to move on to the next great idea.

I know all boys are different but my boys love so deeply. I treasure this. I know that in the years to come the love that I get to have all to myself will go to another wonderful woman. And while I know that is the way it is to be I will be sad when those kisses and hugs are not all mine.

Boys are funny creatures, on the surface they can be hard to figure out, but if you take a step back and just take the time to watch them and hear them you will learn so much.