Last night I spent time thinking about all the reasons why I homeschool.... I couldn't believe the list I actually came up with and just wanted to share it with all of you out there !
Freedeom to deliver instruction that accommodates the way my child learns.
Teaching skills when my child is ready to learn them - not before, and not after.
Learning from the real world & relevant activities - not textbooks, worksheets & drill.
Socialization - learning social skills from the real world, not same-age peers as clueless as my daughter.
Opportunity for my child to learn & practice functional skills (cooking, laundry, healthy habits).
Efficiency - less time spent schooling means more time for family, hobbies, sports, community service.
Not having our lives dictated by school hours & homework.
Encouraging my child to become an independent learner.
Spending quality time with family & relatives.
Time to enjoy holidays & vacations.
Studying things that my daughter wouldn't be able to study in school.
Focus on learning, not teaching.
Finally understanding algebra after all these years.
Being sure we're delivering on our responsibility as parents to prepare our child for the real world.
The ability to take a family vacation in September.
Getting to the public library every week.
Not trying to get my very not-a-morning person daughter off to school 180 days a year.
Knowing the parents of pretty much all the kids my children are friends with.
The ability to have a family crisis without having to worry about the bus schedule.
Discount cards for all the local book stores.
Did I mention, time with my daughter – real time – not homework time, rushed time and only dinner and bedtime.
The luxury of learning whatever interests us.
The ability to live according to our own internal clocks and calendars, enjoying public places during quiet times when most others are at school/work.
And finally, the priceless expressions on peoples' faces when I tell them I'm a homeschooler. ;-)
Friday, July 28, 2006
Sunday, July 23, 2006
First Day of Second Session at Emerson
Today begins the 2nd session at Camp Emerson. Shayna had three friends from home join her in her bunk. She is a bit nervous about "sharing her time" as she put it. However, at first glance, all four girls who know Shayna are handling it like a PRO.
The girls certainly bonded and headed off for their camp tour in a CONGA LINE. Yes, they were high kicking it around the campus towards the lake. They were laughing and giggling like all the girls always knew one another.
Tonight brings exploring activity options, a campfire and then make your own ice cream sundaes. The philosophy at camp is that EVERYTHING is better with ICE CREAM !
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
A Letter to my Daughter on her Tenth Birthday
Today marks your 10th birthday. It is hard for me to explain what this means to me. Both daddy and I desired to have a large family, however, as you know we were unable to. However, God gave us a gift that we have appreciated immensely – God gave us you, our only gem !
The world was a lot different when I was a child. The environment was clean, the air we breath then was clean. Everybody was happy and cheerful. Kids played outside in the streets with little to worry about. You could always find a game of kickball happening in the neighborhood. Children were allowed to be kids. Most children were respectful and if they did something wrong they were certainly held accountable. Nowadays, values have changed. Many children aren’t taught respect. There is violence in our world. The elderly aren’t treated with honor and respect as they should be. Many children don’t know how to engage in a conversation with adults unless it is about a television show or video game.
I met your father in college during our sophmore year; however we feel in love one week before my 21st birthday. When we were dating, we spent many nights telling stories, we used to stroll in the park, watch movies often, we visited many bookstores. We fought a lot and loved a lot. I am married to my best friend. We were married on November 24, 1990.
The first few years of our marriage was quiet. I was working on my Master’s Degree. Daddy and I were both teaching. We received news in 1994 that we were pregnant with our first child. Unfortunately, life sometimes throws us curve balls and we lost our son, Alex, very late in the pregnancy. Immediately after that my father became ill quickly and died six month later. About 8 months later, we received joyous news… that you were on the way !
You were named after my father, Stanley. Your name, Shayna, means “beautiful one” in Yiddish. I clearly remember my grandmother calling me “Shayna Madela” all my life. As soon as you arrived, I knew that Shayna was the perfect name for you.
It has been my pleasure and honor to watch you grow up. It was an honor that was almost taken away from me due to the illness. I am so grateful that I survived and I am watching you grow up into a beautiful young lady.
I clearly remember the first day you learned to walk. You were inbetween the Seyler’s and our house. You were wearing a Gymboree Outfit that I loved ! You had the best determined look on your face ! Once you mastered walking nothing has stopped you !
Through the years I loved watching you at Gymboree classes, swimming lessons, gymnastics classes, art classes, coops … I love teaching you at home and watching your eyes light up as you learned or discovered something new. It is amazing to watch your desire to read anything you can get your hands on. It has been my honor to have the opportunity to homeschool you. What a gift that has been. Thank you for sharing that with me.
You are a talented child and I admire you for your good traits. You are honest, sensitive, compasionate, friendly, grateful and a leader. You are caring to all around you. You have a great smile and laughter that can light up the room.
Treasure this letter which you can show to your children and grandchildren. Always have a grateful heart. You are a person of good being. Learn the lessons of life; savor the memories of life. Love life!
I love you and I am proud to be …
Your Mother
The world was a lot different when I was a child. The environment was clean, the air we breath then was clean. Everybody was happy and cheerful. Kids played outside in the streets with little to worry about. You could always find a game of kickball happening in the neighborhood. Children were allowed to be kids. Most children were respectful and if they did something wrong they were certainly held accountable. Nowadays, values have changed. Many children aren’t taught respect. There is violence in our world. The elderly aren’t treated with honor and respect as they should be. Many children don’t know how to engage in a conversation with adults unless it is about a television show or video game.
I met your father in college during our sophmore year; however we feel in love one week before my 21st birthday. When we were dating, we spent many nights telling stories, we used to stroll in the park, watch movies often, we visited many bookstores. We fought a lot and loved a lot. I am married to my best friend. We were married on November 24, 1990.
The first few years of our marriage was quiet. I was working on my Master’s Degree. Daddy and I were both teaching. We received news in 1994 that we were pregnant with our first child. Unfortunately, life sometimes throws us curve balls and we lost our son, Alex, very late in the pregnancy. Immediately after that my father became ill quickly and died six month later. About 8 months later, we received joyous news… that you were on the way !
You were named after my father, Stanley. Your name, Shayna, means “beautiful one” in Yiddish. I clearly remember my grandmother calling me “Shayna Madela” all my life. As soon as you arrived, I knew that Shayna was the perfect name for you.
It has been my pleasure and honor to watch you grow up. It was an honor that was almost taken away from me due to the illness. I am so grateful that I survived and I am watching you grow up into a beautiful young lady.
I clearly remember the first day you learned to walk. You were inbetween the Seyler’s and our house. You were wearing a Gymboree Outfit that I loved ! You had the best determined look on your face ! Once you mastered walking nothing has stopped you !
Through the years I loved watching you at Gymboree classes, swimming lessons, gymnastics classes, art classes, coops … I love teaching you at home and watching your eyes light up as you learned or discovered something new. It is amazing to watch your desire to read anything you can get your hands on. It has been my honor to have the opportunity to homeschool you. What a gift that has been. Thank you for sharing that with me.
You are a talented child and I admire you for your good traits. You are honest, sensitive, compasionate, friendly, grateful and a leader. You are caring to all around you. You have a great smile and laughter that can light up the room.
Treasure this letter which you can show to your children and grandchildren. Always have a grateful heart. You are a person of good being. Learn the lessons of life; savor the memories of life. Love life!
I love you and I am proud to be …
Your Mother
Monday, July 17, 2006
Real Homeschool Mothers !
Real Homeschool Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.
Real Homeschool Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
Real Homeschool Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Homeschool Mothers know that dried playdough doesn't come out of shag carpet.
Real Homeschool Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Homeschool Mothers sometimes ask "why me?" and get their answer when a little voice says, "because I love you best."
Real Homeschool Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade ... It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mom.
Real Homeschool Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.
Real Homeschool Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Homeschool Mothers know that dried playdough doesn't come out of shag carpet.
Real Homeschool Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Homeschool Mothers sometimes ask "why me?" and get their answer when a little voice says, "because I love you best."
Real Homeschool Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade ... It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mom.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Beauty and the Beast - Stars were BORN !
A few nights ago, Lower Camp at Emerson, put on the musical Beauty and the Beast. The show was amazing. These young actors and actresses only had 2 1/2 weeks to put on this musical and did a SPENDID job !!
Amazingly enough, Shayna was not nervous, spoke and sang loudly, and held her head up high (no hiding her face) smiling the entire time ! For any of you that know Shayna, getting up on stage in front of people is not a strength of hers. She turns red in the face and often hides her face behind papers.
Shayna had a few roles: chorus, towns lady and the fork ! She is now anxiously awaiting the next production which is the Wizard of Oz !
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Checking out the Ropes Course on Visitor's Day
Yesterday at Camp Emerson was visitor's day. In reality, what this meant was parents coming to visit their kids, taking them off campus for lunch and a trip to the mall. The kids getting lots of candy and even some gifts (still not sure why). Some kids getting homesick when their parents left for the day. Getting the kids back into evening routine, letting them share their candy in a "bunk party" and finally collecting all the leftover candy so we don't get any "visitors from the woods".
For Donnie and I, visitor's day meant that we were parents for the entire day instead of staff. Around noon, Shayna joined us for lunch in the dinning hall and couldn't wait to share all her activities with us. Now, granted, we see her doing the activities daily; however, she certainly hasn't "shared" much with us. At camp we are administration, not Shayna's parents.
So, after lunch with Shay, she excitedly dragged us activity to activity. We went to jewelry, gymnastics, digital photography, water skiing and the ropes course. We probably spent the most time in the woods in the ropes course. Shayna had to show me (mom) the elements that Donnie (dad) had worked on with the groups. (Donnie is the wilderness director). By far, Shayna's favorite was the element that included swinging. My understanding is that with a group, the team works to get all members of their group from one platform to the other without landing in the "middle" !
After we visited each activity the campers had a talent show ! Lower camp theater (this includes Shayna) got up and did a portion of their play to be put on tomorrow night, Beauty and the Beast.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
The Price of a Child
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay or Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, So . one day they will like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!
But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay or Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, So . one day they will like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Lip Sync Contest at Emerson
Every evening there is a SPECIAL ACTIVITY at Emerson. Sometimes it is all camp, other times it is by "lower, middle or upper" camp and other times it is camper's choice.
A few nights ago we had the lip sync contest. The bunks all made up a routine and shared their lip sync.
It was so much fun to watch all the bunks; however, it was especially fun to see Shayna's bunk. I heard through the grapevine that Shayna was the ringmaster/leader of developing their routine. They did an awesome dance to the song "All Star" by Smash Mouth. The girls were GREAT ! Great job Bunk B !
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