Another new book to read

I have been coming across some beautiful blogs and writing on the internet.  One I have followed for quite some time.  I shared her book in my last post, I hope you get a chance to read both her blog and her book.

Recently, thanks to a Martha Steward Living Magazine article, I found a wonderful new writer, her blog is called Rurally Screwed, love that title.  From there I learned she has a book due out on April 3rd.  Her blog is so enjoyable to read I can only imagine that her book is a great read.  Don't forget to pre-order on Amazon for a great price.  Could be a fun read for your book club.

A great read....Heaven is Here

I have been reading NieNie Dialogues for quite some time.  I learned about NieNie just after her accident, as people gathered together to raise funds for her and her family via auctions on Ebay.  I was so inspired first by the total strangers who banded together to help and then completely inspired by Stephanie Nielson and her courage and spirit.  I will be buying her book and I encourage you to do the same.  If her book Heaven is Here is anything like her blog you will be completely inspired by her.  I can't wait until April 3rd.

Alternative Education

My job as educator to my children is to make sure they get what they need and give them lots of space to grow, explore and learn.  I have tried with some successes and some failures but that is what life is all about.  I do my best to give my children all their options.  We do not require college after high school but try to give them what they need if they choose the college option.  I don't feel that college makes them a better or smarter person.  I don't believe that college makes the man (or woman).  I think if there is a desire and a career that calls for college then by all means go to college, but there are many careers that are not inherently enhanced by a college degree, yes I know society says different, I just happen not to agree.   I think you can further your education in many ways and college is not the only way.

I often thought I was alone in the way I was thinking because many around me were saying you can't be anything without college, you won't go anywhere or make good money.  I did honestly worry but I always say that things happen for a reason and the first thing that happened was seeing a link to Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address.  This just confirmed my thinking.  Then I came across this young man which led me to his ZTC (Zero College Tuition) website.  I am so excited to see that people are writing about alternative ways and see that there are options to college and that people are confirming that one road is not necessarily good for all.   So nice to see and I will be reading and learning, I hope many join me.

I am now at the point where I have one who has no interest in college and one who is completely interested in college and two that are too young to even be worrying about it right now.  I know there are some who would even disagree with me on that and say that by middle school they should be thinking about college but no way compared to our time spent in adulthood, childhood is short and I want them to enjoy it and not feel the pressure just yet of evening thinking about it.  Anyway it will be interesting to see how it all plays out down the road.

Looking forward to another great school week at home.  Although tomorrow will not be spent at home, we are headed to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, where in celebration of his birthday it is free to enter and enjoy a day of fun.  You can read more about it here.

Happy Schooling =D

A book to read

I wanted to share a few books by an author that should, in my opinion be read by all.  He is a great one for parents, home-schooling parents and educators with a very interesting view.

Great place for freebies

Through searching I found a great place to find free or very low cost curriculum or learning materials.

Stop by Home School Math for some great tools for all levels of math.  I have found the videos helpful and the printable workbooks and worksheets a live saver or rather a money saver.  

When I first clicked in through a search I landed here and haven't left since.  For once my younger two are actually enjoying math.  We have tried a few of the more expensive curriculums thinking they would give us the best understanding of math, they were nice but not always fun or helpful.  

On this website you can pretty much find it all.

Schools out for the summer........

.....not. So this year we are schooling through the summer. Not because we are trying to get ahead of everyone but because we are a bit behind, so I made an agreement with my children that we will work for up to 2 hours each morning and then we get to enjoy the rest of our day. I thought the would think I was awful but they were fine with it. So I am keeping it simple and also including learning in everything we do from gardening to baking to a car ride, so far so good.

We are also finding some great books to make the experience even more fun. Some are just for fun reading, some help us in the garden or with cooking and baking and some help us with the learning. Great books out there, we will never trade them for an electronic reader ever, I love turning the pages of this great science program and seeing the great printed colors, very cool. Check it out here - Real Science 4 Kids offers a great learning experience and really give you a thorough understanding for each level of science.

Plus I am reading the City of Ember series, very interesting so far, I will let you know what I think when I finish the series.

Have a happy day!

I hate math

Ugh if I hear that one more time, I will go crazy.  We have tried so many math programs over the years and finally we seemed to have settled on one - Teaching Textbooks, it is wonderful, truly the best for my older two and my 11 yo seems to like it but today I heard those dreaded words "I hate math" from my daughter and I was telling her she did not and that everyone has to do math and now we are all doing this program and no one gets to change, but then I heard myself and remembered why I home school in the first place.  Why you ask?  Well let's see the main reason was because I wanted them to have a freedom in the way they learned, to not be kept in a box and that includes not using a program just because the rest of the family uses it.  So it hit me she loves to bake and shes loves the basic concepts and she doesn't have to have a program to get that.  To some degree I have lost track of my eclectic style and keep following along on the paths of others and that makes me so mad because I am truly my own style but over the last bunch of years I have lost me and my sense of learning from doing and learning at our own pace and style. 

All this from one little state, you ask, why yes can you believe it?  But it took her saying it with such persistence to make me realize I have lost our own path and begun to follow others and it's time for a change.

I will let you know what she chooses.

What's up next on the reading list?