It has been 10 YEARS !

Today is almost like a birthday for Donnie, Shayna and I. Ten years ago, today, our lives changed dramatically. It was the day that the "health ordeal" started. Ten years ago today, Shayna was a wee one of only six weeks. I was at the mall, not feeling well. I came home and called my MIL to help with Shayna. Donnie was off somewhere in the Berkshires doing a professional development course. When my MIL came over she insisted that we went to the ER. This is where it all began.

Test, XRays, more tests... then I coded. The doctors told Donnie I wouldn't live through surgery. Those doctors were fired. Donnie kept looking and looking until he found one that tried. Finally, he found one, who not only tried, but saved my life. At that point, we didn't know if "life" as 3, 5, 10 or more years. Most people thought I would live "healthy" for about five years. But, hey we'd take it.

It has now been 10 years. I am pretty healthy. Not a "poster child" for perfect health - but hey I hold my own. There are good days - and bad days - but I have TIME on my side. I have had a great 10 years watching Shayna grow up. I have a fabulous 10 years with the man who is the love of my life.

I am not sure if this will continue to last or not. But I have personally learned to life each day to the fullest. You need to have a positive attitude and move forward.

I want to thank my darling husband, precious daughter and all those doctors/nurses who worked on me for endless hours, days, weeks and months to put me back together again.

Happy 10th Birthday !

Parental Pride

Do you remember those "cute" things your children did that you had to restrain yourself from "yelling" and just let the "gushing" pride come to the surface !
I found this online and simply remembered those days.

The story I heard about my husband was that when he was thee years old and learned how to write his name (correctly spelled) he decided to "tag" everything in his house with a black marker with is name.

Our daughter did something a bit similiar ! She was drawing her "pretty pictures" on a dinning room chair. We caught her before much damage was done but I am certainly glad she learned that we draw on paper !

Great Quote !

"Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is."

~ Isaac Asimoc

Homeschooled applicants attractive to top liberal arts colleges

The faculty, staff and student newspaper of the University of Richmond
April 2006

When homeschooling became a major movement in American education, college - bound homeschoolers faced a rigid application process designed to evaluate students from traditional high schools - not to mention colleges and universities skeptical of their preparation.

A generation later, homeschoolers have become highly desirable as applicants to some ofthe best institutions of higher learning, although they should be prepared to provide special information to admission officers.

"Homeschooled students, by and large, are a liberal arts college's dream," says Sabena Moretz-Van Namen, associate director of admissions at the University of Richmond. "We want more students who think outside the box and color outside the lines. Homeschoolers often have developed into self directred learners. Traditional high school students osmetimes lack that trait."

Richmond, a highly selective, top tier liberal arts university with 3,000 undergraduates, has eight students who were homeschooled for at least their senior year of high school.

According to Moretz-Van Namen, self direction allows many homeschoolers an easier transition into college academic work than that experienced by graduates of traditional high schools.

"In college, it's not about following directions," she explains, "It's about figuring out a whole new path."

Sherie Mungo, a freshman from Portsmouth, VA, was homeschooled her entire life. She became interested in attending the University for several reasons, including its significant study abroad opportunities, generous financial aide program and beautiful campus. Mungo says the move form homeschooling into college challenged her, but no more than most other first year students.

"My adjustment process has been the same, I think, as all other freshmen - new place, new experience, freedom from parents, heavier workload," says Mungo, "From what I have seen and heard, I have the same issues as a freshman coming from public or private school."

Richmond junior Kristen Greenholt of Yadkinville, NC says she knows other homeschoolers who had a difficult transition into college life, but it was not a challenge for her.

"Socially, I was every bit as apt as my peers, and academically, I was more individually motivated than a lot of them," Greenholt said. "I was used to managing my own schedule, assignments and work."

However, Moretz-Van Namen says not every homeshcooled student is ready for the admission to any college. "Admission officers have to look at homeschoolers with a lot of care" and homeshcooled students should plan to compile the information colleges need to make an admission decision. She says a thorough record of all courses completed is fundamental, so that colleges can be sure homeschooled applicants have a well rounded education.

The admission experience of homeschooled Richmond graduates provides additional tips.

After finishing his high school education two year early, Taylor Campbell, attended a community college for two years before enrolling at Richmond. He and his mother founded they needed to do work that traditional schools perform for their students applying to college. "Since I didn't have a high school counselor, we had to create the transcipt and letters ourselves," the Ashland, VA senior said, "But my mom kept good records, so it wasn't a problem.

Greenholt suggests that homeschooled applicants "write good essays, apply on time, be organized, take standardized tests seriously, make sure your recommendations are from people other than your parents who know you and your abilities well, and have a well balanced high school experience."

Younger homeschoolers hwo think they are college bound should plan to demonstrate the same academic, extra curriucluar and leaderships skills that colleges require of all applicants regardless of background.

Moretz-Van Namen urges homeschoolers to work with subjects in which they lack interest or talent. She said that by challenging themselves with difficult subjects, students grow academically.

"It's like cross training," she said. "Even if you're a really slow runner, you have to cross train."

Mungo recommends community involvement, volunteering and taking courses at local community colleges.

Although homeschooled applicants face a unique set of application circumstances, they can compete successfully for college admission.

"Don't be afraid to take the leap into college. We homeschoolers can hold our own," Mungo says.

Geocaching - A "Goldstein-Hume" Favorite Activity !

This morning we decided to go geocaching today. It has been quite a while since we did this as a family, even though it is one of our favorite activities ! If you haven't heard of "geocaching" you can learn about it at www.geocaching.com . Basically, it is a "scavenger hunt" using a GPS to find "caches" that people have hidden. In our town alone, there are about 1000 geocaches.

Sometimes you find all you go out to look for. Othertimes, you aren't so fortunate. We printed out three caches (one that had a TRAVEL BUG) hoping to locate them all.

The first cache was in some "wilderness - overgrown bushes" down below a baseball park in our town. The coordinates helped us locate the area pertty easily. However, the clue (at first) didn't help us much. The biggest problem was I didn't realize it was a MICRO cache. So the three of us are looking on the ground, behind rocks, tree branches, brush etc. Finally I looked up at eye level and spotted it where a branch and the trunk of a tree met. We logged it and headed out. There were baseball games going on and I personally think the people at the game thought we were crazy going down into the "brush area."

The second cache was along the WO & D (Washington Old Dominion) trail. We parked at a local Elementary School and wondered down to the trail. We had to walk out about 3/4 of a mile and started our search. This was easy as there wasn't much "bushwhacking" required. Donnie found it hidden inbetween a log and some branches. The TRAVEL BUG was there. We were so excited because we have never found a TRAVEL BUG before. 2 out of 2 - we are doing GREAT today.

The third cache was also along the WO & D trail but about 1 mile in the other direction from our 2nd spot (so 1/4 mile past where we started). This cache put a smile on our face. Someone used their creativity and hid a squirrel (the plastic kinds for outdoors) that can be a 'KEY' hideaway. Where the key would go - the log was. Brilliant ! We were so excited to be 3 out of 3 today !

We then headed back home and logged those babies into the geocaching site ! Awesome family fun !

I thought the "spring cleaning" bug was supposed to come in Spring !

I am not sure what came over me in the last two days. I am an organized person, however, I would not say that I was "overly clean" simply because I am always short on time. The last six months of living in Massachusetts, I had a cleaning lady (a homeschooling mom that ran this as her business) come once a week to do the dusting, vacuuming/sweeping of the floors, bathrooms and kitchen floor. It didn't take her long, but saved me HOURS. The compromise when moving to N.VA to make sure we could "live within our means" was that this luxury was dropped ! I think today my husband might just think about "offering it again."

I am not sure what happenen but I snapped this morning.

Yesterday, Shayna and I came home from our "trip" and the house was in complete and utter disaray. Now, this didn't surprise me, because my husband couldn't care less. Shayna was so cooperative (knowing I was about to blow) and helped me clean the "worst of it."

This morning, when I went into Shayna's room - I about lost it. I found EVERYTHING that she was supposed to put away STUFFED in her closet or on the floor in a heaping pile. Maybe I should of been the one to tuck her in last night because I would of found it then. The "it's a science experiment, an art project and the beginnings of a creative timeline" answer didn't work on me. As she was in the bathroom, I attempted to help her find the bottom of the big piles of junk ! My oh my ! What I found there.

Then Shayna and I came downstairs and somehow it was possible that all the cleaning that Shayna and I did in the kitchen yesterday was a mess because after soccer Donnie simply wanted a late night snack ! It looked like the refrigerator exploded !

Everyone in our house (and probably the entire neighborhood) knew that I simply didn't have the time, patience and energy to deal with this. I needed to be out of the house by 8 am this morning to drop Shayna off at a friends so I could WORK today. (I desperately needed to visit some librarians in W.VA) I left the house in an awful mood. I was just in tears. I was probably exhuasted, overwhelmed, etc..... Honestly, I was just so p*ssed ! I had it !

I just got home (six hours later) from visiting librarians etc and walked into a "MUCH MORE" clean house (I know "much more" isn't the best term - but it is what I can come up with). Either my husband hired a house keeper for today without telling me OR he decided to take 20 minutes and pick up the worst before leaving to work today !

I honestly thought the "spring cleaning" bug in me was only supposed to come out with the nicest of spring days once the horrible winter was over. Maybe my seasons are backwards. OR maybe after hanging out with all my Aussie friends from camp, my body believes that I am in Australia where the days of spring are just beginning.

Either way - I am not sure - but I am so glad that Donnie vacuumed the rug !

The Historical Triangle Day Three: Yorktown

Today, our third day at the "historic triangle" we had our last two stops.... Yortown Victory Center and Yorktown Battlefields. We lucked out since it was supposed to POUR all day and we didn't think we would make it to either place. However, it ended up being overcast and the rain held off until 2 pm. We had enough time to get both places in !

Yorktown Victory Center had a GREAT
re-encampment camp with marvelous speakers that did fabulous demonstrations for the kids. The medical tent was by far our favorite. We loved looking at the "teeth" tooth for extracting teeth. Also the "bite bar" certainly did wonders for our imagination ! Shayna loved pretending to "extract" a bullet from someone's clenched fist to simulate what a doctor would have done in the American Revolution.

We got to see a Musket Demonstration and hear the blast. We also caught the cannon demonstration. It certainly brought a more realistic understanding to both of us the confusing that constantly happened in battle ! Shayna was the "cannon ball" runner for the demonstration for that !

The National Park Service at the Battlefields had a FABULOUS movie on Yorktown. We did a quick drive through the battlefields prior to the downpours !

We left and headed home ABSOLUTELY exhausted ! It is good to be home in our beds tonight, however with thoughts of three GREAT days reliving American History from Jamestown - the American Revolution.

The Historical Triangle Day Two: Colonial Williamsburg

Boy are we exhausted ! Today was Day Two of our "field trip" in the Historical Triangle. We got up early, had breakfast and was at the Visitor's Center at 8:45 am.

We began with the movie at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor's Center which was outstanding. Then we headed over to the "village". Our first stop was the Governor's Palace which was an excellent tour. Then we wandered around for some time. It was disappointing in that quite a few buildings were either "closed" or "had no one there." I really expected there to be MANY interpreters all over Williamsburg. We did visit the saddlemaker, wigmaker, printer, blacksmith and silvermaker. Each area was crowded and we didn't stay long. We did go into the Capital Building and that tour was outstanding. This evening we went on the "Legends, Stories ..." Ghost Tour. There were three stories - of which two were excellent and one was less than satisfying.

Shayna had a fabulous time. She loved everything we saw.

I was disappointed because to me, for the "typical" price (we paid homeschoolers fee for this week so it was very cheap !) it would not be worth it. I felt that Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts was so much better !

We are very nervous about tomorrow. We are "supposed" to go to Yorktown; however, the area is supposed to have HORRIBLE rain/thunderstorms all day tomorrow. We might have to cancel this. We will just have to wait and see.

The Historical Triangle Day One: Jamestown & President's Park

Today was the first day of our "field trip" to the Historic Triangle. It is homeschoolers week at Colonial Williamsburg, so we decided to add in a few extra days for Jamestown and Yorktown to complete the triangle.

We (Shayna and I.... poor Donnie - he had to stay home because of work !) woke up early and headed to Jamestown on the Colonial Parkway. We enjoyed stopping at the stops along the James River getting some GREAT views a brief history lesson from the plaques.

When we got to Jamestown - we saw an incredible film as an intro. The tour took us through the Powhatan Village, Jamestown Fort and to the dock where the Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery's replicas are docked. Shayna had an incredible time exploring, participating in hands on activities and listening to the stories.

After, we drove over to President's Park. This is an "unknown treasure." There are 18 feet "busts" of all the presidents with plaques of facts, quotes, interesting events throughout their life. This was a phenominal place that Shayna enjoyed immensly ! The park was virtually empty ! We had the "run" of the place.

Awesome Day !
Intense Learning !
Fun - Fun - Fun !

The First Wave of Homeschoolers Come of Age

By Robin Wallace

FOX News

Playground bullies and prom-night jitters. Lunchroom hijinks and locker room humiliations.
The necessary stuff of cherished school memories, or traumas best left behind in the hallways of high school? Or maybe something else entirely. Maybe they are completely irrelevant to a happy and fulfilling life.

That's what Ben Kniaz, a 20-year-old American college student now studying in Italy, would say. Kniaz missed out on all that because he was schooled entirely at home and says he didn't miss a thing.

"It was more that I was spared a lot of the stuff that goes on in high school," Kniaz says from Rome. "I felt pretty turned off by some of what I’d see."

"People say you need to experience it to deal with it later, but you can just miss out on it and deal with it when you're more mature. I got to focus on the things I wanted to do and liked to do," Kniaz says.

Kniaz's gratitude for being spared some of the more dangerous and corrupting influences of school life may be why anywhere from 850,000 to more than a million children are being homeschooled in the United States now.

Legal in all 50 states since the 1980s, homeschooling has often been criticized as a paranoid practice of right-wing religious fanatics that stunts children's emotional growth.

But as that first generation of homeschoolers settles into young adulthood, the criticism is proving unfounded. If anything, some experts say, the homeschoolers are proving to be better prepared for adulthood than their traditionally schooled peers.

Self-Reliant and Focused

Many homeschooled young adults say that being freed from the rigidity and conformity of high school allowed them to explore their individuality, creativity and independence.

"My parents felt that elementary school was traumatic for an intelligent child and that in high school, you don't really learn anything," explains Aletheia Price, a 19-year-old sophomore at Thomas Aquinas College in Orange County, Calif., who was schooled entirely at home until age 15.

"I think a lot of this stuff [about high school] is mythology, that maybe we've got a whole lot of falsehoods associated with schooling," says J. Gary Knowles, a University of Toronto researcher who has extensively interviewed adults who were homeschooled. "We have all these weird rites of passage that are deemed important and many are quite dysfunctional."

Knowles has found homeschoolers to be more self-reliant and focused.

"They're able to move into adulthood with a much better sense of self and have a very good sense as to what they want to do," he said.

If he has any concerns, they are about socialization. Children schooled within a rigid social view may not be well equipped to live in a diverse culture, he says.

"They may have had very little exposure to the cultural complexities of society, to a range of ideas," Knowles says. "I am very concerned about families with very narrow views on what is appropriate preparation for citizenship."

Overall, though, Knowles has found homeschooled adults to be no more or less engaged socially or politically than those with traditional educations.

Branching Out

To get past the socialization issue, many homeschooling families join with homeschooling groups in their area or turn to town athletic programs, scouting and other youth groups.

"Your peers are not the people the same age as you, they are people who share your interests," insists Patrick Farenga, a consultant with Holt Associates, a homeschooling advocacy group.
Or as Knowles put it: "Where did we ever get the idea that 2,000 13-year-olds were the ideal people with which to socialize other 13-year-olds?"

Curiously absent from homeschoolers as a group is something many presumed to be a part of every childhood — youthful angst and alienation. The burning desire to isolate and separate themselves from their parents just doesn’t seem to be there, researchers say.

Kniaz, for example, recalls fondly enjoying two-hour conversations with his father every night, and both he and Price describe close, honest relationships with their parents and siblings.

"Alienation between generations is a product of schooling," says Knowles. "There's no reason for teen-agers to be alienated."

Kniaz said his parents gave him choices, so he never felt under their thumb. "I always felt that I was in charge of my life with my parents guiding me," he says. "I never felt anything was being hammered down my throat."

"That problem was sort of solved itself because [my parents] turned me loose when I was 16," says Price, who began taking college courses and studying her self-designed curriculum at the library at that age. "I was out of the house all day."

Price's initiative is not uncommon. Many homeschooled teens supplement their education with community college classes, taking over the direction of their education much earlier than other kids their age. Whether that is good or bad remains a subject of debate.

Knowles has expressed concern that homeschooled kids are pushed too hard to achieve, and that some are finding themselves in college much too early. Price and Kniaz, both of whom attend a traditional university, said dorm life, and the behavior of some of their classmates and roommates, was jarring at first.

Once over that, though, the homeschoolers seem to have the discipline and maturity to quickly develop college-level study habits. They are not as easily distracted and are already accustomed to taking responsibility for their themselves.

"I wouldn't say homeschoolers are better educated, but they are better equipped to learn," Knowles says.

Both Kniaz and Price credit their parents for creating a successful, creative and positive homeschooling experience, and according to the experts, the main concern about homeschooling is that some children will be trapped with bad parents as bad teachers.

"I know some homeschoolers who probably would have been better off in high school," Kniaz said, perhaps putting it best. "It all depends on your family."

Laughing so hard my tummy hurts !

This came through on one of my "Yahoo Groups" lists. I was laughing so hard by the end of it, I had to share ! This actually comes from a college TEXTBOOK for an English / Writing Class.

"Successful College Writing" by Kathleen McWhorter.

In the section on Brainstorming before writing essays, the example used on how to do this involves the topic "Disadvantages of homeschooling".

The ideas arrived at by brainstorming are....

(caution: please don't eat or drink while you read these...you'll lose it!)

1. Child is not exposed to other children
2. Parent may not be an expert in each subject
3. Libraries are not easily accessible
4. Wide range of equipment, resources, not available.
5. Child may be confused parent playing the role of teacher
6. Child does not learn to interact with other children
7. Child does not learn to compete against others
8. Parents may not enforce standards
9. Parents may be unable to be objective about child's strengths and weaknesses
10. Child may learn only parent's viewpoint - will not be exposed to wide range of opinions
11. Special programs (art, music) may be omitted
12. Child may feel strong pressure to achieve
13. Services of school nurse, counselors, reading specialists are not available.

Sigh....

Elsewhere in the chapter it does suggest that RESEARCHING a topic might change your opinion.

"Ya Think !"

The Initiative, Independence and Passion that Shayna is showing us at the start of this year

I know how blessed we are. Trust me. We truly do have a gem ! Shayna is an amazing kid. Our friends tell us how lucky we have it. Yes, training her to be this way was a "treat" (is that scarcastic enough) ! There were certain things that we instilled in her at a very young age. Some people totally disagreed with our ways. Others thought we were crazy. Some just shook their heads. However, in our opinion we got a pretty cool kid !

Homeschooling - Shayna is strong willed. While good most of the time, it was certainly hard some days of homeschooling. Especially the first few weeks of every year. She questioned "Why". She constantly said, "But the kids at school aren't learning this." She sometimes just moaned. I guess this is what comes from a strong willed kid.

This year (and maybe I am totally jinxing myself) has been SO DIFFERENT. There are no questions. She has set her alarm and woke herself up daily. She has been getting dressed, straightening her room, brushing her hair/teeth (without being asked), coming down for breakfast and always doing her "independent work" without me asking.

What is the change ? I am not sure. Maybe after all these years (although we have only done "sit down work" in the morning for the last 2 years) things have finally clicked.

For the last two weeks that we have started "school" I have been so pleased. Shayna has worked for 3 - 4 hours every day. We have gotten some GREAT projects started. Worked on viewing some math from last year. Played games - lots of games ! Done some art projects. Made plans for this year. Planned field trips.

Yesterday, I had a lengthy meeting with a friend of mine. I brought plenty for Shayna to do. She kept herself busy and completed everything I asked and did it well !

For writing class, she has taken the initiative and is working HARD on a piece of writing (we use IEW) and it is amazing !! I can't believe the growth in her work.

I am amazed at everything this child is doing ! And with joy, smiles and laughter. What a GREAT beginning to this Homeschooling year !

Taking Homeschooling Out of Your Home by Mary Pride

Names are funny things.
Take the word "homeschooling."
What does that make you think of?

If you said, "School at home," I'm not surprised. Home + school seems to equal school at home.

Only two things are wrong with this definition:

(1) Homeschooling isn't "school." It's a whole different approach to education.
(2) Homeschooling does not have to all take place at home.

If Homeschooling is Not School, Then What Is It?

Homeschooling, properly understood, is education designed by parents. This automatically makes it a whole different animal from "public" education, which is education designed by government bureaucrats. It also differs sharply from "private" schooling. Regardless of their talk about parental authority, in practice private schools reserve curriculum design for teachers, administrators, and textbook designers.

Even those who think the child should direct his own education must admit this type of "un" schooling is only possible if the parent has the authority to let the child choose his own educational pursuits and projects.

So, homeschool is not "school" when it comes to who is in charge of curriculum design. Having parents choose or design the curriculum is radically different from what happens in any school.
Amazing as it may seem, parent-designed and parent-chosen curriculum yields better results than school-designed-and-chosen curriculum, as many research studies have shown. Then again, how amazing is it that curriculum chosen from the entire universe of options (rather than the small list "approved" by the state or school board) and targeted to the exact child for which it is intended, should result in more learning taking place faster? Especially when the parents in question have the ability to hobnob with other parents and find out what's working for them . . . and when they can easily obtain detailed reviews of all their curriculum options through homeschool magazines and books.

Homeschool also is not "school" when it comes to scheduling and priorities. We do not have "announcements," ringing bells to mark the end of a class period, football teams that soak up the budget that would otherwise go to art and music lessons, or endless classes geared to the latest politically correct fads. Unless we want to, that is!

This means that homeschooled children in general have a much greater attention span and ability to "focus" than children who attend school, where they are continually interrupted in the middle of their projects, math papers, writing assignments, and so forth.

Most Parents Homeschool

But man does not live by focusing power alone. This is why our neighbors keep asking us that old question, "What about socialization?" What they really mean is, "Can your child grow into a strong adult just sitting around your house doing lessons and projects?"

Alas for our poor neighbors. They are mistaking homeschooling for schooling that happens at home, when it's really education under the authority of the home.

What a wild thought: all those parents who pay for art, music, and ballet lessons . . . who chauffeur their kids to soccer team and karate class . . . who sign them up for a YMCA course or who join the local Jewish community center . . . are homeschoolers, too! To the extent that they provide educational opportunities for their children solely because they want to, not because any authority "makes" them, these are homeschool parents.

All that we "real" homeschoolers do in addition to what most parents do, is add academic lessons at home. Or via a tutor. Or an online academy. We just exercise that additional dollop of choice.

Homeschool Away from Home

Since we now realize that homeschool is not "school at home," this leaves us free to look for educational adventures anywhere in the real world that we can find them.

Five years later....

Shayna and I are sitting here both watching the "ceremonies" on NBC for 9/11. It is so hard to believe that this occured only five years ago. Five years ago, Shayna was just an "innocent" young child of five years old. I clearly remember that day. We were picking up toys in Shayna's playroom. I ran quickly into my office to "start downloading" my email for the day. (my office was adjacent to Shayna's playroom) One email came from a friend in Usborne and it said, "Turn on the television". Almost immediately the phone rang, it was Donnie, he said "Don't turn the television on with Shayna there." Well, of course I turned the televsion on and it was about 9:00 am... within minutes we viewed the 2nd plane blazing through the 2nd tower. Shayna's reponse was "I shouldn't be watching a movie like this - it is violent." I just started crying. I didn't understand what was going on... I just knew something was going on.

Hours later, after watching television on and off (mostly when Shayna wasn't around) I, like all of America, gained a better understanding. By mid-afternoon, I explained to Shayna what was happening. She knew something was going on because of how I was acting all day. Her first reaction was "Mommy, those must of been bad men, very bad men." Her second reaction was,"Mommy, Aunt Patty must be very sad. She is from NYC and loves NYC. Can we call her ? I need to cheer her up."

Five years ago, we didn't think of "security" at the airports like we do today.
Five years ago, Washington DC didn't have "concrete flowerpots" protecting the buildings.
Five years ago, we didn't worry about terrorism on the level we do today.
Five years ago, we were a different country.

As each persons name is read - I see my daughter finally understanding how "huge" this is. Obviously, she always understood, but today I think a clearer understanding of how many mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins and children were lost. I can see sorrow, true sorrow for the first time in my young daughters life.

I hope that our country never has to share this type of sorrow again with our children.

You know you're a homeschooler when...

It's FALL... It's SATURDAY.... and we are at the SOCCER FIELD !

It's fall... it's Saturday...Where are we.... at the soccer field !

Today was the FIRST game in the SFL (Suburban Friendship League) for Shayna's "now U12" team. They moved up a division and moved to a different "league" but are still part of Ashburn's Park & Rec Soccer. What does this mean ? Long games (we play now a full 60 minutes), bigger fields (we play now on a full field) and more players (11 vs. 11) !

I am not the typical "soccer mom". In fact I never show up to practice (why bother - my husband is the coach) ! And if I am lucky I show up at the coin toss for games. Finally, I barely say a word during games. All the other parents are screaming, yelling and cheering for their kids. The one time I cheered for Shayna she yelled back at me that it was hard enough having your parent as the coach and that I should tone it down ! I figure that Donnie makes a good enough "soccer dad."

The season began TUESDAY (yes, five days ago) and the first practice was rained out. The second practice was a normal practice, however, Donnie had to coach all the girls how to play 11vs11 INSTEAD of what they were used to 7vs7. So it was more of a "class" on positions rather than a practice. His roster went up to 20 (yes, twenty girls and their parents who wanted HIM as the coach) for 11 players at a time. Trust me, he isn't complaining. But, they certainly didn't have time to practice on the bigger field.

Most of the girls have been on Donnie's team in town soccer or on the "All Stars team". A few migrated from other teams and know Donnie via word of mouth. And a few girls are new to town ! However, they still never played a game as a team.

So, Shayna runs out as captain for the coin toss ! They lose the toss. They begin playing and quickly realize HOW BIG the field is ! They are playing on a full size high school field. They are still babies. The other team only has 13 players (giving them 2 subs). We have all 20 girls (giving us 9 subs). We are in good shape. However, in the first few minutes of the game we are called and they get a penalty kick. Our goalie, Joyce, who is fabulous has her first moment in a "real soccer net" and unfortunately the ball gets passed her.

However, our team re-groups and plays HARD. We dominate the game ! And thank goodness - play very well. We end up winning 2 - 1.

Shayna is playing "stopper" or "sweeper" as her two positions. She will subsitute for goalie when necessary ! Let me tell you - our kid has an awesome foot ! She nails the ball out of the "zone" so well. She has quite a few fabulous saves in todays game ! Very impressive ! I couldn't even believe it. Her body has finally caught up with the rhythm of her brain and she can put 2 and 2 together now.

What a game ! One win down..... 9 games to play !

We are NOT going back to school party !

The coolest feeling in the world is when we pulled out of our friend's driveway after the "We are NOT going back to school party" and saw a group of children walking home from where the bus dropped them off. My friend, Marie, and I turned to our girls in the back seat and made sure they noticed it !

Today a group of friends got together for the "annual" gathering of homeschoolers in what we refer to as "We are NOT going back to school PARTY" ! It was so refreshing to watch the 13 kids play for 3 hours in the pool, playing basketball and playing football... They were intermingling with various friends rotating to the activities they choose to do.

As I sit here, reflecting on the glorious day and glorious weather we had for our gathering to celebrate homeschooling, I hope the kids realize what opportunities we are giving them daily. Not only the opportunity to socialize - and I mean "real socialization" with various ages, from various families and various backgrounds. But the opportunities to take time off to be able to be kids. The opportunity to learn in ways that make sense to them. The opportunity to review, practice or speed up their learning. The opportunity to research and study things that interest them. The opportunity to learn to LOVE learning and become passionate learners.

This is what homeschooling does for our family and I hope other homeschooling families appreciates it as much as we do !

First Day of Writing Class

Today was the first day of writing class ! It was AMAZING to see all the kids who were in the class last year AND three new kids integrate themselves amazingly well ! It was like we were always ONE group.

We follow the INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE IN WRITING curriculum by Andrew Pudewa. I have taught a class like this for three years now. I love it ! The kids get so much out of the class.

Today's lesson was a review of Unit One and Two. They all have the same source text, an American History paragraph. You could see their brains turning with many creative options using this source text ! I can't wait to see what the kids come up with ! It will be awesome - I am sure !

What are WE using this year for curriculum !

We DON'T use all of this DAILY ..... we do a lot of going back and forth ! We try to merge as much as we can and do a lot of READING, PLAYING GAMES and FIELD TRIPS ! But if someone was to come over and see what we have on our home on our "schooling shelves" this is what they would see....

Math - Keys to Algebra, Keys to Measurement & Challenge Math (Gifted & Talented)

Institute of Excellence in Writing (IEW)

Story of Our World - Volume Three

Real Science 4 Kids - Biology

Latin for Children

Rosetta Stone Latin

Editor in Chief

Art History - Usborne Book of Art, Discovering Great Artists

Logic - Mind Benders, Analogies, Math Dectective, Mensa Codes & Ciphers

Vocabulary - Rummy Roots, Vocabulary from the Vine and/or Word Roots (we aren't sure how we are handling this !)

Social Studies - Presidents, Countries of the World, Geography (using the Geography Bee Complete Preparation Handbook)

American History - Unit Study Based with LOTS of GREAT books !

Other Unit Studies we will explore this year - 9/11, Cinderella around the World, Human Body, Inventions.....

We just read a lot of GREAT books, put in the curriculum where we see fit and have fun !

Study sees no harm in home schooling

Report done for conservative-allied group says movement is now broadening beyond Christians with young children

By Alan J. Borsuk

The sparse amount of data available about home schooling in Wisconsin includes no evidence that the growing trend is harmful academically or socially, says a study by an educational consultant.

The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute study, written by Robert V. Luebke, an independent educational researcher from Middleton with a doctoral degree in educational administration, suggests that, on the contrary, the academic benefits of home schooling are becoming more accepted.

There is little question that home schooling is on the rise. The study says that the state began keeping count in 1985 of the number of children whom parents reported were being home schooled. The total at that time was 1,126. In 1998, the total was 18,712, an increase of 1,562%. It also is likely there are numerous students being home schooled without the state being notified.

If all the home schooled students were considered part of a single school system, it would be the sixth largest district in the state, Luebke said, although it would still represent less than 2% of all students in Wisconsin.

Luebke said that research "paints a profile of the typical home schooling family as religious, white and middle class, where the mother stays at home." In most instances, the mother is the main teacher, Luebke said.

In earlier years, home schooling largely involved families with strong Christian motivations, dealing with young children.

But Luebke said available data indicated that the movement had broadened to include more people who were motivated to keep their children out of school systems by more general dissatisfaction with the educational establishment, and that there were an increasing number of middle school and high school age students being home schooled.

Luebke also said that, even though the research is not extensive, it appears that home schooled children have active social and extracurricular lives. Lack of such things has often been raised as a concern by critics of home schooling, but Luebke said there is no research to support the claim.
Luebke said one big question about home schooling is what becomes of students after they leave high school. He said that while there were 881 home schooled students listed as high school seniors in the 1997-'98 school year, only 32 students entering the University of Wisconsin system in the fall of 1998 had been home schooled.

On the other hand, there is no evidence that home schooled kids aren't able to make it at the college level; in fact, five home schooled students from Wisconsin were named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Competition a year ago, he said.

Luebke, whose own children were home schooled at one time and are now in public school, suggested that "policy makers would do well to consider home schooling an attractive and effective alternative to traditional education."

The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute is a Thiensville-based private organization that funds studies and other commentary on state issues. It has often been associated with conservative political thought.

Great Comic Strip !