Decisions, Decisions

So, it is that time of year.  We are wrapping up one homeschool year and I am starting to plan the next one. This first year of homeschooling went pretty well but being the curriculum junkie that I am I am looking at switching some subjects up for next year.  We will still be doing Classical Conversations. I will have kids in Foundations, Essentials, and Challenge A. Challenge is pretty much self contained so there is not as much planning to do for that one.   My younger two are a whole different story. I am not satisfied with the amount of literature we did this past year so I am looking to add in a curriculum that incorporates more literature and that makes me do more science and history.  My Father's World is appealing to me but I just can't make up my mind.  I need someone to tell me exactly what to do.

Homeschool Swapping Adventures

I have found what looks to be an amazing opportunity to put a little fun in our homeschool while learning about other states and countries.  There is a group on Facebook called Homeschool Swapping adventures that looks to be oh so much fun. They have a variety of different swaps going on all the time ranging from a simple postcard swap to a Geo-Swap or even a Flat Stanley type of swap along with other swaps for different holidays and such. We just sent out our first postcards and are gathering items for our first Geo-Swap.  I got the kids state and country fact books so that each time we receive a new piece of mail we can study the state or country and color it in on our map. I will be sure to post some pictures as our items come rolling in.

Life

      So, we are coming upon the end of our first year of our new homeschooling adventure.  This has been such a learning experience for all of us. The kids have had to learn how to be at school while at home and I have had to relearn how to be with my kids all day every day.  Add to that being in a new place thousands of miles from family and you have our last 8 months.  All in all it has been great. We have learned so many many things about being a family....together.
       Hawaii is AMAZING. I can not even express how much we love it here.  We love the weather. Who wouldn't love spring year around?  We love the scenery.  I have seen so many amazing places since we arrived.  We love the people.  The people here are so welcoming and I truly admire their sense of family and community.  The only thing I can think of that we don't love is being so far from our families.
      Homeschooling has been such a great experience for us. There have been some really rough days when I have felt like there was no way I could keep doing this or that I was scarring my kids for life.  However, most days have been a time of learning for both the kids and I.  It has been eye opening in regards to how I now see our public education system. I have always felt that my kids received a good education and were at good schools. Also, I held tight to the old standby, "I went to public school and I am just fine". Now I see things a bit differently.  While I still think my kids went to good schools I have also realized that one teacher can never teach 28 kids as thoroughly as I can teach three. I know my kids and their strengths and weaknesses much better than any teacher could no matter how good they are.  I also don't have to teach to a prescribed standard. I can teach them what I think they should learn (within reason) and let them dwell in the areas they love (within reason).  I am also seeing the gaps left in being taught within the confines of a test for so many years.  Will we homeschool (I prefer home educate) all the way through high school?  I don't know.  I do know that I plan to make the best of these years I have left to teach and learn with my kids.
       Next up in the chaos of my life is making decisions concerning next year.  What curriculum? What supplies? What records?  What field trips? Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.

Starting Over

So, I have obviously dropped the ball on my 365 yet again this year. I am going to take this as a sign that it is just not meant to happen and that I am meant to take this blog in a different direction.  With homeschooling, baseball, and just life in general there are many days I forget to eat much less take a picture.  I still love photography and plan to share my favorites here but not every day.  I am going to just play it by ear and see how this evolves. There is no telling what you may read about in the coming days.

1-4-2013 Day 4

Sorry about the quality of this picture. It was taken with my phone. In the last year or two I have been teaching myself how to crochet.  Since we have moved here we have discovered many locally made soaps but I hated losing the last little slivers or chasing it around the tub when I dropped it.  I saw a pattern for a soap saver so I decided to try it. It turned out pretty good.  I made it for my husband but he wasn't too impressed. His comment was, "I prefer washcloths," so I guess this one will go to a lucky friend or child. His loss :)

1-3-2013. Day 3.

When we moved to Hawaii we learned that pineapples are actually really easy to grow so now anytime we eat one we replant the top.  The first two we did in planters and the rest we just plant in the landscaping somewhere.  This was the first one we planted.  Pineapples take as long as 18 months to mature so we are at least 11 months from seeing a pineapple but are enjoying watching it grow.

1-2-2013 Day 2

Moss grows on everything here. I think its the dampness and constant humidity.  It's always so cool looking if you look closely.