This is 'Home' Schooling

.

.

.

.

.

People who don't home school some times have a hard time grasping what it looks like. Some think we sit around at home, all day long and do nothing but study for Bible Bowl, right!

Others don't realize there are home school sports, choirs, bands etc., just like any other private school. What makes 'home' schooling such a great for our family is that very little of it is done at home.

For our family, our kids do much of their school work on the computer. A professor will introduce the subject matter, if it’s Science and they are studying volcanoes, then the professor will discuss the hot magma, ash and gases escaping from below the surface. The kids will also see video of a volcanic eruption and the professor will demonstrate the baking soda & vinegar volcano. Because all of our subjects are from a Christian point of view then the professor will discuss the importance of information learned from Mount St. Helens to the Creation vs. Evolution argument.

Anyway because this is done on the computer every lesson involves a quiz, is instantly graded. If there is something the kids don’t get, they can re-watch the lesson. The awesome thing is, they can do ‘school’ in the car on the way to Tulsa, sitting in the waiting room of the dentist, or while the other sibling is at the batting cages.

Very little of our ‘schooling’ is done at home!

Oklahoma Aquarium

The little kids and I are in Tulsa with Dad, while Mimi is in Kansas City. Today we took Dad to the Oklahoma Aquarium. It is one of those fun spots we enjoy visiting when we are in town. The kids love the hands-on activities like feeding the turtles, petting the star fish, and petting the sting rays. The shark tank is amazing. It is 420,000 gallons of man made saltwater housing three types of sharks. The kids brought their aquarium guide from Answers in Genesis so we don't have to worry about the 'billions of years' junk that is usually posted in most 'scientific' field trips. A friend of mine was laughing last night at the 'if we evolved from frogs with legs. . . blah, blah, blah' why do we still have frogs. Anyway. . .it was a fun day, the kids enjoyed being with Dad and impressing them with all their knowledge.

Constitution Day

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Thursday of this week is Constitution Day. Usually on that day we do something to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy. Today we got together with a few of our homeschooled church friends to learn a little more about the Constitution and of course the kids must recite the preamble. Donna made sure there were games and fun, and of course we watched the Schoolhouse Rock, 'We the People...' probably the way most people memorized the preamble. Hopefully this remnant will understand that the Constitution is more than a re ally old piece of paper, it is the framework to a government and a country that have spurred generations to immigrate here.

P.E. Class

P.E. was cancelled today on account of rain, so I took the kids to the pool. The pool by our house offers home school swimming three days per week. The kids can lap swim, play or blow water thru the noodle at a sibling!

Tea Party Express

Today we joined the Tea Party Express as they travelled through Dallas on their way across the nation, rallying Americans to oppose the out-of-control spending, higher taxes, bailouts, and growth in the size and power of the government.
.
The most moving part of the event was when the crowd was lead in the Pledge of Allegiance, in unison everyone emphasized ‘under God’ without any prompting! It wasn’t a protest rally, but a rally to support the country we love, the men who have fought for our freedom and an expression to protect our Constitution.

Books for the 2008-2009 School Year

Last school year I began posting the books we read as a family. These don't count the library books the kids have read on their own. Since a new school year is beginning I need to clean of the list to begin this year's list. So before I delete this fun list, here is a final archive of what we read for the 2008-2009 school year:

A Christmas Carol; Anne of Green Gables; Arabian Nights; Around the World in 80 Days; Belle Prater's Boy; Black Beauty; Call of the Wild; Charolette's Web; Detectives in Togas; Doctor Doolittle; Double Fudge; Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde; Dracula; Ella Enchanted; Encyclopedia Brown; Encyclopedia Brown II; Frindle; Fudge-a-mania; God King; Gulliver's Travels; Henry and Beezus; Holes; Maniac Magee; Mara, Daughter of the Nile; Megan Rose on Stage; Mystery of the Roman Ransom; Number the Stars; Pilgrim's Progress; Pippi Lonstocking; Pretty Please; Ralph S. Mouse; Ramona the Brave; Ramona's World; Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm; Ribsy; Runaway Ralph; Shadow Hawk; Sheila the Great; Shiloh; Strange Museum; Stuart Little; Super Fudge; Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing; The Boxcar Children; The Courage of Sarah Noble; The Giver; The Golden Fleece; The Mouse & the Motorcycle; Tuck Everlasting; Two Times the Fun

Zoo Visit

.

In cleaning out the garage today, I came across a memory card with photos from one of our visits to the zoo this summer. Jon keeps our DMA and zoo memberships current so we can make frequent visits. This particular day, we went to see the albino crocodile and the butterfly house. But the highlight of the day turned out to be the elephant who was out and very actively tearing apart a tree, having lunch! It was fascinating to see the strength of his trunk.

Third Day of School

Third day of school, time for a field trip! It's always a little tough going from summer to school! Today we made a day of art appreciation. We love the Dallas Museum of Art, they have a great children's area, featuring different mediums. It has a lot of hands on activities. The kids were impressed with the sculpture out of chocolate, but not so impressed with the one out of lye soap!

First Day of School

.

.

Ahh, the first day of school. . . . the commute . . . . meet the teacher. . . and roll call! :)

The Not-So Surprise Party

.

-

.

.

.

So you remember the surprise pool party planned for Frankie, the day my mom had the emergency surgery to remove her large intestine, right. Good, then this won't seem quite as lame! Tonight after services we joined the Gungans and the Fishes for dinner at Taco Bell. Sis had a nice time with the girls, and of course, she loved the attention! So grateful for such good friends!