Confessions of a home school flop

There were very few fights over who was going to be the teacher when my friends and I played school back in the day. I always knew exactly what I wanted HAD to be and no it wasn't the teacher. My main role as a young'un was the naughty kid sitting in the desk in the back of the classroom. Seriously, I never wanted to be the teacher. I never made up worksheets for my little brother to work or gave mock spelling bees.

When I got married and soon children started arriving I had to start thinking out this whole education thing. I mean how were my kids going to learn to read or add for that matter. We had already decided that they wouldn't be going to public school and with hubby being a preacher private school was financially out of the picture. So while he worked a full time job, went to college full time and was heavily involved in our local church surely he could make a little time for his own offspring. Right? Wrong! Apparently most of that job falls on the wife I soon found out. I think someone should have warned my and my kids ahead of time.


When it was finally time to start our oldest son Cody things weren't as hard as I had expected. I was nailing this whole home school thing. I was an excellent teacher and he was reading at 3! Okay now's the time to fess-up, Cody's first couple years of home school were done using Abeka video. I know what you're thinking...what did I do if he was doing video? Hey, someone had to put that VHS in the player and make sure he stayed seated and paid attention.

Then Josh came along and we were off to Croatia and we defiantly didn't have the cash flow as new missionaries to pull off Abeka video again. So guess who became solely responsible for Josh's schooling? Yep, you guessed it...the naughty kid from the desk at the back of the classroom. Poor Josh! The fact that that kid can read probably should be recorded by Ripley's Believe It or Not. To top off all the fun of Josh's first couple years he was extremely dyslexic. The kid turned everything backwards including his pants, no kidding! Teaching that kid his blends was impossible, I thought for sure he would never learn to read. Alas the Lord has mercy on us both and things eventually clicked. Truth is that Josh is unbelievably bright, that kid forgets nothing which is good and sometimes a real pain.

Hannah, oh poor Hannah she is our last child and you know what happens to the last child. Okay don't play stupid with me. How many photos do you have of your first child compared to the last? Point understood proven! Anyhoo, Hannah was even more of a challenge, she was so much more dyslexic than Josh. She would write whole paragraphs completely backwards so that if the paper was held up to a mirror it read perfectly. She was a trial but she's doing awesome. The girl is very bright and she writes like a seasoned author.

Look, the truth is that I stink as a home school teacher. I've never been good at planning out the week or even following up on assignments no matter how hard I try. I know that some of you are super teachers and your kids are blessed to have you but I'm not one of you. I wish I were and I've tried to the best of my ability but I'm not. We do have very bright and witty kids but did they get the best academic education? Sadly I would have to answer no but my kids know their Bibles, they know what is right and wrong and they have character that they wouldn't have learned if they had been in a public school and they're smart.

So you're worried terrified about home schooling your children. Maybe you were my cohort at the back of the classroom. You feel inadequate and you may be but the fact of the matter is that if it's right then God is going to help make up for your inabilities and weaknesses. You children may not be the next Harvard graduate but your children will know that you thought they were important enough to spend time daily trying your hardest to make then better Christians and students.

So here I am 17 years of home schooling, struggles and tears along the way but it's worked out just fine. My kids are smart and they know academically what they need to know to go on to the next step in life and their hearts are rooted in the Word of God and that is the most valuable education ever.

Graduation Prep

I can't even believe it's that time again, but our second child is getting ready to graduate. How can I possibly be only 27 and have two graduated kids?? HA! Anyhow, when Cody graduated 2 years ago it was difficult finding graduation rings for home school students. Well things have gotten much better.

Fist off Homeschool Diploma is a great site for all things home school graduation.

They have to most options for home schools and the new site is great. Homeschool Diploma has class rings and they have 5 home school options for the text around the stone and you can add your own text for and extra $75. 

I also found another great source for class rings. Limoges Jewelry allows total customization of the ring and the price is very good, the best I've found. We Josh just finished designing his ring and I love the fact that there is total customization. I will say that there aren't as many symbols for the sides as I've seen at some other places but it was exactly what he wanted. 

Obviously the finished ring will look different but I love the choice he made for around the stone. Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

There are others who accommodate home schools also but they are few.

Jostens also do rings for home schools but the options are very basic when it comes to the text around the stone. 

There are so many options when it comes to class rings and you're not going to find one place that offers everything but maybe you will find something that works for you and your graduate.

When our first son graduated the only place we could find that would allow the customization that we wanted was a smaller company and we were very unhappy with the ring.  Beware to shop at larger and more well known companies. 

Here are a few others that I found:

the ring company

artcarved

dunham ***this is the place we ordered our oldest son's ring from so beware***

Oh yea and if you have any other great links, leave me a comment.

Algebra Teacher, I think not!!

Okay so now as I get older, the kids are getting older too. We now have a 10th grader, 7th and 5th. You know what I realized, I don't have any idea how to do Algebra, no really! So what's a homeschooling mother to do anyway? Well after trying many different products we have finally found the BEST Algebra course for homeschoolers around.

Teaching Textbooks "was founded by two brothers, Shawn and Greg Sabouri (a Harvard graduate and former Harvard math tutor). The two realized that software could be used to make math instruction better, easier, and more affordable. Today, the company produces a whole range of math programs that enable students to learn from top-notch tutors while in the comfort of their homes."

We have been using TT for the lase several weeks and Algebra has never been so easy, we love it!!

*no charge for the free homeschool counseling secession :0)