The other day I was asked this question on Facebook.

“Do you have a firm method of schooling? We are a combo of unschooling and actual courses.”

I have never been asked this before and it surprised me and strangely bothered me.  Perhaps it’s because I’m a newbie, and nervous about people judging my choices.

I am a homeschooler, a new homeschooler so I’m open to learning about new curriculum and new methods of schooling special needs children.  That being said, I feel that I am also confident in my choices.  I tend to be chaotic with schooling where I’m happy to change the order up of what subjects we are doing each day, all the subjects will get done, but not always in the same systematic approach as the day before.  Generally, our home life is calm, unless the cows get out of the pasture, then my life is very chaotic for a short period of time.

I feel like a baby bird being nudged out of the nest.  So, here it goes.

I use Saxon math for my kids.  I know that some students hate it, some parents hate it.  My kids love it and I can see their confidence growing in Math on a daily basis.  That being said.  I hate time drills.  They are the bane of my existence.  Do you want to know the reason why?  My kids are smarter in the math drills than I am.  It takes them under 5 minutes to do the drills, it takes me 6-7 minutes to mark them.  I can not multiply effectively, sorry Mr. Brett and Mr. Fox, I know you tried to teach me but I still haven’t learned.  So, I compensated.  I found my new math friend www.xtramath.org  there my children do math drills on a daily basis, my dd9 likes it so much that I had to make a rule of only twice a day.

For History we use, The Story of the World and we are currently on Volume One.  I bought the accompanying curriculum guide/activity book.  In the activity book there are lists of suggested books, here are the books we picked up for the next three weeks of reading and a few review books to remind the children of the chapters we have already completed.  We love our librarian Ms. Laura!

This weeks library books!

For Language Arts and Science we use Switched on Schoolhouse.  Each child is on their own grade level and I love being able to customize the software to meet the needs of my special needs son.

For Spelling and Vocubulary we use www.spellingcity.com and I paid of the premium membership because I also want to be able to track their grades and allow them access to some of the premium games and actviities.  I decided to use the Abeka spelling lists that were so graciously typed in by a Miss Julia.  I pray you are truly having a blessed day Miss Julia because you have saved me a ton of work!

Typing we use Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing.  We spend 15 – 20 minutes everyday and the kids are doing great!

For penmanship we use A Beka and this cursive writing book.  Although, my son’s fine motor physio therapist wants us to use Hoops and Loops so we are looking at starting again and working through that program for him.

Everyday I require the children to read.  One hour that was the expectation I had for each child to fulfill every single day.  Now, I have turned into the bad mommy who won’t let them read longer than an hour everyday.  The lot of us, would be happy as punch snuggled up on our beds reading for hours at a time!  What do my children read?  Everything, they can lay their hands on.  It really cracks me up to find my son reading encyclopedias.  Yeah!  My non-reader LD child loves encyclopedias, he also loves history!  I tend to follow a more classical style reading list like Ambleside Online, but priority is always given to Christian literature first.

We’ve already finished our Geography course for this year, we used Ann Voskamp’s A Child’s Geography.  The kids and I loved it!  We are all looking forward to learning through her second book this fall.

Ok, so that is what we are currently doing.   So, to sum everything up, I use a bunch of different companies to build a method of schooling that works for my kids.  I couldn’t pick just one of these companies as my favorites, they are all being equally enjoyed.

Method of schooling is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life

One of my favorite places to hang out, after at Joanne’s place, a quiet museam, facebook, and pinterest is The Well-Trained Mind Forums.

The other day one of the newer members asked what we would suggest as a list of things she would need for supplies for a homeschool.  The ever faithful Mom’s quickly jumped to work listing items that they just love in their classrooms.  Being the bit of a brat that I am, this is what I wrote.

I would suggest the following..

A wig so when you pull your hair out you can still answer the door for the fed-ex guy without him thinking you’ve been attacked.

Four extra hands and an additional set of legs. Of course, if you can just split yourself in two or three that works better.

A spare brain or two, because it’s hard to jump from Advanced algebra to remember exactly when the War of 1812 actually ended.

Googly eyes are good, but the extra pair of eyes on the back of your head will need glasses also as the kids get older, so order a spare pair of eyes and glasses now, they take forever to arrive.

A steel lined stomach for the science experiments that you would traditionally gag through. Don’t cheap out and buy the nylon lined one, it won’t be enough.

A strong back bone for yourself and your children for when well meaning frienemies ask stupid questions about your qualifications to homeschool and the pop quizzes that they feel is appropriate to give your children.

Nerves of steel, just to teach them to drive someday. I’m still recovering from the first child and the second born just turned 16. Lord, please have mercy.

Steel toes if you walk around bare foot because if something can be dropped it will be dropped on your feet. EVERY SINGLE TIME! Otherwise, steel toed boots, although I could totally see Joanne walking around in these steel toed high heels on the job site! LOL

Oh, and don’t forget to order the spare tongue and mouth assemble, makes use you buy the set that speaks blessings and encouragement to your children and to you every single day.

Did I forget anything??? I can’t remember, I think it’s time for another spare brain!

I love what Chris is VA added, “Don’t forget the maid, cook and chauffeur so you can school w/o stopping to do chores, make meals, or drive to lessons and field trips… ”

Icelmer also suggested, “sunshine in a schoolroom.”

So, I think this covers a basic list of supplies for a homeschool classroom.  What do you think?

Supplies for a homeschool. is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life

After being nudged by my friends’ excitement about following the FlyLady system, I decided to ruffle my feathers and attempt a second take off myself.

I love the FlyLady.

I stumbled across this one web link in a Reader’s Digest magazine over 11 years ago.  Honestly, it feels like yesterday.  But I know I was pregnant with child #3 and I felt absolutely, totally helpless and defeated as a housewife.

God knew that we were just going to start a whirlwind journey with the birth of our special needs son. I’ve told people in the past, that The FlyLady (aka Marla) was my Jesus with skin on… and she’s never actually hugged me!  But she did give me wings to F.L.Y.  Encouraged me to take one-tiny babystep and sent me daily F.L.Y. wisdom that helped me to flap my wings.  I actually came to the point where I believe that I could do this crazy job called being a housewife, myself.

The acronym F.L.Y. stands for Finally Loving Yourself

and that is exactly what I needed to do.

I’ve spend my past few days, rebuilding my “Amy’s Brain in a Binder” which is my Control Journal.  You can find the babysteps to make your own Control Journal at The FlyLady website.  Then I sat down to build my youngest two kids their own Control Journals.  Using the template for the Teacher’s control journal and the Student control journal, I forged my version specifically for my kids.

I’d like to show you what I created, but understand this is specifically for my children.  It lists their chores, their school work classes, their schedules and it will not work for your wonderful children.  You must put the time and effort into make something that will work specifically for your unique family.  The exciting part is that it is not hard to do!

I chose to not use a binder for my two children because they both have personalized clip boards that they love using. (They take after their Mother with their love of office supply stores!)  The other reason is that one of my children will not remember to flip the page.  When they see that every box is checked off, they assume they are done… For The Day.  So, there was no way I could put the morning routine on one page, the school work routine on another, etc.  It just would frustrate this child.

So, I carefully knitted together everything they would need to do onto one page per day.  In my CJ if put a reminder to go downstairs and flip the page for the kids, so that it would be ready whenever they headed off to the school room in the morning.

I hope you enjoy them!

Christopher Weekly Control Journal Checklist

Heather Weekly Control Journal Checklist

And here is my weekly plan laid out.

Moms weekly plan

Enjoy!

Flap your wings and FLY! is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life

Sixteen years ago, I looked into quiet blue eyes of wonder.  She has never been known for doing anything at neck breaking speed.  She saunters through life at her own speed.  I call her “My Lassie” which is shortened for molasses.  She sort of hates that nick name, but I love it.  Out of all my children, it’s the truest name for a specific child.  She lives her life like molasses.  She’s quick to love others, slow and steady to do her work and slow to allow signs of anger to grace her beautiful face.

James 1:19 “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

My Jennifer is a James 1:19 girl.  Everyday she models for me, how I should behave and act.  Everyday, that I fail, I see the slightest twing in her bright blue eyes and I’m cut to the quick.

It wasn’t a surprise when planning her party that she wanted to raise funds for another girl.  A woman who Jennifer admires and hopes to someday be worthy of walking in the same path of.  A woman who struggles to make ends meet and daily leans on the Lord.  Jennifer wanted to send blessings to Katie. “Kisses from Katie” was the good work that Jennifer wanted to support.

So, with a Butterfly kisses theme, we set out to bless our daughter, so that she could bless others.

We had a wonderful time, praying over our daughter and her friends.  We raised money for Kisses from Katie with the help of our wonderful friends, blessing families and watching the wonder of our girls turning towards womanhood.

If you would love to bless someone who is in need we would love for you to visit “Kisses from Katie” and bless her ministry.

Sixteen is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life

Today marks the first day of our second semester homeschooling.  I’m extremely happy at the progress my kids have made so far this school year.  I was looking over their I.E.P.’s and filling in the dates when they had completed specific goals and be moaning that we were three weeks behind in History.  I started to beat myself up emotionally about being behind in History and I stopped myself.  I realized that first of all, my kids weren’t getting a dedicated History course in public school.  Second, we were 3 lessons behind schedule because we were blessed with a field trip, an opportunity to bless another couple and I had been sick, so not getting a History lesson completed because we focused on Math, Science, and Language Arts while I was sick was completely fine.

I told Satan to take off.  I don’t want to spend my time as a homeschool Mom frustrated and angry with myself because a lesson doesn’t get done on the day I slated it four months earlier.  I know that I won’t do everything perfectly as a homeschooling Mom, and no one says I have to be perfect. I just need to keep following the my Lord who grants me perfect peace.  And that makes perfect sense to me!

Second Semester is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life

In the end of September of 2012, we brought the children home to homeschool them.  I wanted them to have a voice in this process so we asked their opinions on if they wanted to come home and we checked in frequently about what they liked and didn’t like about being homeschooled.  It has now been five months since we started homeschooling.

In September, I asked the children the following question.  What do we like about homeschool?

They responded with the following:

• Certain people we will see more often, like our homeschooled friends and family
• Cool crafts and activities
• We can be comfy while we learn
• No bus rides!
• Mom can pray with us before a test
• We always have our schoolbooks – we never accidentally leave our books away from school
• more time to play in the snow at recess
• QUIETER!
• I can spend more time working with Daddy on the farm
• hand’s on activities like science experiments

Then they asked me if we could make a list of what they didn’t like about homeschool.  Honestly, this made me nervous for half a second but I said sure let’s make a list.

What we don’t like about homeschool.

• People we will miss.  Our school friends, our Teachers, our Principal and our beloved Educational Assistant.
• No fog days, no ice days, no snow days, no P.A. days

I couldn’t do much about them missing their Teachers, Principal and E.A.  But we’ve been able to invite their friends over to visit and I made a promise that if the school buses were not running then they wouldn’t have to go to school either, if they didn’t want too!  So, that put most of their concerns to rest!

What do we like about homeschool? is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life

In September of 2012, we decided that it was time to homeshcool our youngest two children.  The plans were all in place, the IEP’s written for our use in the home and a date had been chosen of when we would remove the children from the public school system.  I was nervous and I knew the children were nervous too.  I anticipated a bunch of questions and I wanted the children to be able to answer those questions themselves without requiring Mom to be their mouthpiece.  So, we created a poster to hang in our classroom.  This poster was called, “Why are you homeschooled?”  The following statements are what my children expressed to me.

• more time with our parents
• we can use more media
• we can learn faster
• God has provided the funds to afford this
• I feel I have gaps in my learning, we are filling in those gaps
• we are better protected from bad words, bullys, and mean attitudes
• We can learn about God in ALL subjects
• Without Godin our education we only learn half of what He wants us to learn
• We think its a good idea
• I am less distracted at home
• Learning morals, what is right and what is wrong according to God’s word
• We can learn using our style of learning
• we can have shorter school days
• It will be fun!

So, far they have been right!  We do have more time together, they are less distracted, they are learning at a pace that works for them.  Many gaps have been filled in with a bunch of “light bulb” moments when you can see on their faces that they finally get a concept or lesson.  Are our school days shorter, not really.  We are in a constant state of learning.  We don’t seem to be able to just go for a walk without talking about science, and God’s wonderful creation.  We can’t clean the house without talking about how Math, music and creating order all have areas that match.  Learning is no longer a 9am to 3pm period of their lives.  Learning is now available from the moment they open their eyes until they close them at night.

Why are you homeschooled?  Life is too short to stop learning!

Why are you homeschooled? is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life

On the very first day that our children and I went downstairs to our classroom, I pushed aside the textbooks and put out poster paper and markers.  We made a series of posters to give us direction as a homeschooling unit and to remind us where we have come from and where we were going.

The first poster was called. “Things we get to do because we are homeschooled!”

13 Things we get to do because we are homeschooled

1. We get to go to the library, take out books and movies and play on the touch screen computer there.
2. We get to go to Homeschool Co-op!  We met new friends who treat us nicely.  We got to see snakes and turtles.  See our church friends more and we get to have friends over for lunch.
3. We get to talk and pray before tests.
4. We get to loose pencils. LOL!
5. We get to experiment with pill bugs.
6. We get to participate in Homeschool Lego Club.
7. We get to go to the local restaurant with Daddy.
8. We bet to take something boring and make it fun.
9. We get to play learning games and explore fun websites during our lessons.
10. We get to be crazy and collect all sorts of bugs. (Which creeps Mommy out!)
11. We get to love on each other lots everyday
12. We get an hour to read every day!
13. We get to finish our work – no bells to stop us!

13 Things we get to do because we homeschool is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life

Twenty-three years ago, give or take a few months.  I first laid eyes on the man I would grow up to love with all my being.  Twenty-three years of flirting, longing and yearning for this man, my blessed Lord gave to me as a precious gift.  Twenty-three years of growing up, becoming the grace filled crimson covered women that I currently am.  I’m not the woman that God wants me to be yet.  But I’m not the same girl I was twenty-three years ago.

Eighteen.

Eighteen years ago, give or take a few months. I first laid eyes on the blessing and joining of our love.  For the first 24 hours, I only remember seeing her foot and then her eyes.  I remember being so tired, so sick and oddly comforted that my baby lay down the hall in the NICU. Her daddy running back and forth between the two of us, making sure everything was going to be ok.  Eighteen years of growing up, becoming her own version of a grace filled crimson covered woman.

When she was sixteen years of age she was learning, growing, struggling to break free of the cocoon God had nestled her into and finally with His blessing He called her out. She fluttered, tested her wings, took off tested them and then came back to continue growing up sheltered under her father’s love for two more years.

When she was sixteen, we opened the door to dating.  She poked her head out, looked around her at her friends and classmates, saw their broken hearts, disastrous outcomes and lonely lives of raising children when they themselves were still children.  She asked us to shut the door until she was eighteen.

Now, the joining of our love has approached the door, asked for the key to unlock it.  We as her parents, quietly whisper to her that the door was already opened.  She simply had to decide on her own that she was ready.  She flutters to the door, her wings strong and strengthened with her studies of God’s word and declares to us, her parents what she wants in her future.

A Godly man, noble man, a truthful man, a loving man, one who understands his responsibilities and isn’t afraid to face them.

Out of a cold north wind, blows a godly, gentle breeze of a blessing.  A new friend, who treats her like the blessing she is.  A friend who works side-by-side with her father, showing himself approved by word and dead.  A friend who plays games with the siblings and never has a bitter word for annoying little brothers.  A friend who treats her mother with respect and honor.  A friend who is committed to finding himself in God’s house frequently.

Her father knowingly hugs her mother and whispers let her fly.  The mother opens her hand in farewell and instead has a hand slip into of hers and whispers that she wants us to join her. To share in the journey.  To continue to bless it.  Then they flutter never far from her family, learning more about each other every time to meet.  Soon, the man asked to court the young woman and the parents are very pleased.

Twenty-three is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life

Wikipedia defines Zumba as: Zumba is a Latin dance -inspired fitness program created by dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez in Colombia during the 1990s.

My daughters and friends have enjoyed Zumba, but I had to ask my daughters to stop.  I had a huge problem with the raunchy lyrics and the dance moves at times being extremely sexy.  We have never encouraged our girls to dance in public because of the sexual nature that dancing can promote among two hormonal youths.  That being said, I have felt like a ninny because I wouldn’t let my girls practice Zumba at their friends house.  As far as I know they have honored my decision.

Well, they will be very happy when they finish their schoolwork tonight.  I found a lovely Zumba website that uses Christian music and the instructor has put a bunch of videos online and the dance moves are much mellower than the moves I’ve seen on other Zumba videos!  Check out Devoted Fitness! My girls can finally Zumba and I’m comfortable that the music they are allowing into their brains won’t rot out their souls!  Now, if I can just quit tripping myself every time I “pony” maybe I might just join them!

You can check out some of their videos on their Video link.  Enjoy!

Zumba is a post from: The Crimson Covered Farm Life

The Crimson Covered Farm Life