10 Random Thoughts {From Our Vacation}

Our family was on vacation last week, so this is a pretty light week on the blog as I get caught up on laundry and grocery shopping and life. A perfect day to post a Top 10 Tuesday...

"10 Random Thoughts {From Our Vacation}"

1. This could have been my new profile pic, if I hadn't put the flower in my mouth.

Beautiful field of Colorado columbine on a very steep mountain.

2.  That is a really long drop.  I'm pretty sure that they are not as close to the edge as it looks.... um... right?

The Last Chance Mine Creede, CO

3.  How quickly confidence can turn into despair...

At the top of Engineer Pass 12,800 ft.

Um.... yea.  The car wouldn't start at 12,800 ft. 
It was a tense 20 minutes until it providentially came to life after banging around on it alot and praying really hard.

4.  Some park rangers can be pretty tough on you if you get the answer wrong in the Junior Ranger book about feeding the wild animals.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Come to think of it, we might have confused him a little with this.
 I guess it's not all his fault he got the answer wrong.

5.  This is what happens when three boys have been camping at high altitudes for a little too long.

OK, you got me.  It's not my boys, it's three marmots.

6.  {Sigh.... }   I love vacation!

 A field of fuschia paintbrush above timberline on Imogene Pass.

7.  According to my middle son, sour cream and onion potato chips are more "lady-like" than other potato chips.

(Maybe it's because he wanted the BBQ chips all to himself.)

8.  Really, is it necessary to document the use of the alpine potty?  I'm sure I've used toilets that are higher in altitude than this one.

(Well, not as nice as this one though.)

9.  Anytime is a good time for a geology lesson.  Good thing Dad is a geologist.

"Is this one worth anything?"

10.  God has really made a wonderful, beautiful world and blessed us with blessings beyond compare!  Imagine what heaven will be like!

 (Our vacation included lots of 4WD trips over the high mountain passes of the San Juan mountain range in Colorado.  We visited Creede, Lake City, Telluride, Ouray, and Silverton... with a stop in Gunnison to fix the starter on the car.)

I'm linking up today with Top Ten Tuesdays at Many Little Blessings...

 if you joined us from the linkup Welcome to My Blog!

Myths, Half-Truths and Propaganda Part 2

Last week I posted my list of Top 10 Homeschooling Myths, Half-Truths and Propaganda.  I was being a little silly and sarcastic, but my point is that you need to be aware of these things so that you can be discerning and not base your support for homeschooling on weak arguments or false expectations.   Here are the last five of my Top 10 list, and then I will have some thoughts about why all this is important.

Continuing from last Tuesday...

6. We don’t need no socialization!

Myth. 

If there is one question that homeschoolers get constantly it is, “What about socialization?”  So we have built up lots of arguments against this, almost to the point of refuting that it is even a legitimate issue at all.  Let’s face it, we have all seen homeschoolers who are the “stereotype” of a strange, awkward, unsocialized kid.  Most people I know don’t want to be “those homeschoolers”.  By that I mean, we don’t want to be so removed from the world that we can’t even communicate with it anymore.  And it can be difficult at times trying to find the right activities for your kids to get involved with, trying to balance protection and unrealistic sheltering, and making sure your kids are exposed to non-christian, non-homeschooled kids so they can learn to interact with people who are not like them!  If we ignore that this can be a challenge because we don’t want to acknowledge the repetitive socialization question, then we might be closing our eyes to a legitimate concern.

7.  “Train up a child” is a promise!

Half-Truth. 

Hold on, how can I say that the Bible is half-truth?!  “Train up a child in the way he should go and in the end he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6)  The problem is not with the Bible, it is with the interpretation.  Here is a helpful alliterative phrase to help you with wisdom from the book of Proverbs:  “Proverbs are Principles not Promises.”  This means that it is a true principle that training up a child in the way they should go is a very good indicator that they will continue to follow in those ways.  The reverse principle is also true, if you don’t look to the ways you train a child, you can’t expect for them to follow in those ways.  But Proverbs are not promises or guarantees.  Look to any mature Christian parent and see how many have raised  all their children with exactly the same training and yet one follows the Lord and another doesn’t.  You see, we think that because we homeschool our kids we are then guaranteed that they will turn out great.  This is not what the passage means.  Salvation is of the Lord and if we don’t realize that, we will be trusting in our efforts and not in the power of Christ.

8.       Homeschooling protects my child from evil in the world.            

Myth.

The evil is not in the world, it is in US. We are the problem. Our hearts don't seek God, they are in rebellion against him. If we believe that all we need to do is to keep the external evil away from our children - we will be missing the most insidious evil: OUR attempts to be our own Savior through our own righteousness. I have a great book club going on right now on this subject, if you want to study this more!

9.  Government schools are the enemy.

Propaganda.

It is true that government schools are based on a naturalistic, secular worldview, that many times there is a subtle agenda towards teaching certain subjects according to the prevailing politically correct cause and that prayer and religious expression have all been eliminated from the classroom.  But let’s not be confused.  The enemy is Satan.  There are many public school teachers who  are Christians and who are battling that enemy in their classrooms.  There are Christians in our churches who maintain a high level of involvement as a witness in the midst of this highly secular environment, because they believe they have a calling to that mission field.  Public schools have good resources to offer to homeschoolers in terms of enrichment programs, testing services and sports programs to name just a few.  Many times the assistance offered by the public schools can help a new homeschooling family to transition into homeschooling on their own, or help them with academic resources and experts for free.  This leads me to #10…

10.  Homeschooling is the only biblical way to educate.

Half-Truth.

I think the case can be made (and has been strongly made) by homeschool speakers and advocates that parents are responsible for the education of their children.  I do not believe that we can then extend that to mean that every subject that a child is taught needs to be taught by the parent.  Most homeschoolers will admit that they take advantage of all kinds of resources – tutors, co-ops, computer learning, grandparents, other homeschooling parents to help them to teach their own children.  All of this occurs under the supervision of the parent, even if they aren’t the ones doing the teaching.  Additionally, if we were to say that children should only be educated by their parents then we would have to discount all kinds of biblical examples of children being educated by Rabbi’s in the synagogue.  This is likely the way that Jesus was educated, as all Jewish boys were educated this way.  Finally, if we are so dogmatic about this, what would I do if I were to have a debilitating stroke, my husband were to lose his job and we had no ability to educate our own kids?  We would send them to public, charter or private schools because this is what God has provided for us in that situation.  We would also trust that God would help us to continue to supervise their education, to disciple them in their faith and to help them to discern between truth and error.

Conclusion

Most of the first 5 in my list have been silly and harmless, but these last 5 are a little more touchy.  All 10 of them can have serious implications.  One big implication that comes from over-stating benefits is that it can lead to false expectations and assumptions about what things will be like.  Another implication is that we cannot notice our own blind-spots and weaknesses.  Finally, we can become prideful and exclusionist towards other believers who have not made the same educational choices that we have.  For all these things there is a remedy - Repent and Believe!  Your acceptance in Christ is not based on your performance, but on Christ who was the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Look to him and be amazed that he has given us access to the Father apart from our works, but on the basis of His Work - His life, death and resurrection.

Watch Out for Myths, Half-Truths and Propaganda!

Today's post is inspired by the 10 in 10 link up from iHomechool Network and hosted at Many Little Blessings. The topic is: Top 10 Pieces of Advice for a New Homeschooler.

Homeschoolers LOVE to talk about the benefits of homeschooling.  Really, there are a lot of benefits!  After my first 5 years of homeschooling, however, I have found that some of these benefits can be a bit... um... overstated?  In fact, because I like to be somewhat sarcastic occasionally, I am going to give you my...

Top 10 Homeschooling Myths, Half-Truths and Propaganda. 

Well, I will give you 5 today and 5 next week.  This week are the silly ones, next week I'll try the more serious ones.

Just to make sure I don't offend anyone TOO much, I give you these definitions (cherry picked from the internet to fit my purpose):

Myth-  idealized conception: a set of often idealized or glamorized ideas and stories surrounding a particular phenomenon, concept, or famous person

Half-Truth- A deceptive statement, especially one that is only partly true, incomplete, or misrepresents reality.

Propaganda- a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position.

*To be sure, I don't think anyone told me these things in an attempt to deceive - we homeschoolers  just sometimes get a little over-zealous in our attempts to convey our enthusiasm about homeschooling!* 

Here we go!

1.        We can do school in our PJ’s!

Half-Truth. 

This is a bonus when you have toddlers, are sick or on snowy days, but let’s face it-  It would just be lazy and weird if we did this every day.  I need to get dressed so I don’t feel like a slug, if you know what I mean.

2.        Homeschool takes less time than public school!

Propaganda. 

We can complete our basic school subjects before lunch, but there are some days we don’t even BEGIN our subjects until after lunch.  There have been years when we finished our school year WAY earlier than our public school neighbors, and the year that we did school half way through the summer because of family circumstances that stopped school  altogether in the winter.  Then there is the fact that homeschooling isn’t just doing school at home, it becomes a lifestyle.  Sometimes we watch educational videos for family movie night, take vacations that are primarily educational and let’s face it, if Mom and Dad are doing the teaching, you NEVER leave school.  So, although it is technically true that we are outside playing way before the public school neighbors get home, there is plenty of school going on at lots of other times as well.

3.       They will probably be ahead of the public school kids no matter what you do!

Half-Truth. 

I hear this one a lot when I am discouraged and wonder if we are doing all the things that we should be doing, or if I feel we are getting behind.  A fellow homeschooler may encourage me with, “They are probably still ahead of the public school kids.”  This is partly true.  In general, studies say that homeschoolers are ahead of their public school counterparts in standardized test scores and other indicators. (See this info graphic.)  However, just because the average homeschooler is generally ahead, doesn’t mean that if I neglect certain aspects of my child’s education that they will still be ahead, or even at the place they should be.  There are plenty of times when my kids are ahead of “the curve”, but plenty of times when they are behind “the curve” either from my own neglect of a subject area or simply because my kid's ability is not as strong in that area.  I need to be diligent to give my kids the skills they need and I also need to not have to compare them to public school kids as a measure of my effectiveness.

4.       We don’t know what grade they are in!

Myth. 

OK, so the child has a 12^th grade reading level a 6^th grade math level, a 2^nd grade spelling level, knows Latin verb conjugations but has atrocious handwriting.  Homeschooling allows for kids to work at their own pace, which is fantastic.  But really, I think we all know what “grade level” our kids are in.  It is really just another way to state age, really.  The fourth year of school = fourth grade.  If I am saying, “But my child started school when they were 2 years old”, maybe I just need to ask myself if my child’s performance is a matter of pride or self-righteousness and then, is that the message I want my kids to receive and send to others when someone asks them, “What grade are you in?” 

5.       Even going to the grocery store can be a field trip!

Myth.

People told me when I started homeschooling that everyday chores could be counted as school – I was so excited!  It is true that our learning should consist of practical learning as well as the academic subjects and that is a benefit of homeschooling.  But after dragging three boys on countless grocery store trips over the years… grocery shopping is not educational it is just survival!

Do you have any homeschooling myths, half-truths or propaganda that you would like to dispel for us?  I would love to hear them in the comments!

Come back  next Tuesday for the rest of my Top 10 Homeschooling Myths, Half-Truths and Propaganda.  And don't forget to check out the other lists at Many Little Blessings today!

Top 10 Questions People (Really) Asked Me

I have to admit that I didn’t think this post would be all that interesting.  Most of the time when I mention that I homeschool, people smile and nod, but rarely do they ask the hard questions that I know are really going through their brain.  If they are interested in homeschooling themselves, they may ask questions, but these are interest driven questions, not ones that may threaten me.  Oh, sure homeschoolers all learn the “answers” to the typical hard questions, but I frankly get tired of the standard answers.  The typical responses tend to treat these questions like they are coming from a hostile “outsider” not a caring, inquisitive person who might be my friend or my relative, who is supportive of me, but just doesn’t “get” why I would do this, and might be afraid to ask because they don’t want to offend me.  So I wasn’t planning on answering the typical questions.  Then I posted to Facebook a request for questions that people would like to ask me.  (Facebook tends to give people the freedom to ask questions they might not otherwise ask, but would really like to know.)  In fact, this post has already generated more feedback than all my other 25 blog posts so far  - even before it was written!  The questions I received were great and really caused me to think not only about my response, but how I would specifically respond to the person who asked them.  These are not nameless, faceless questions, they come from friends who I love and respect, so I will do my best to answer them with love and respect.  I haven’t changed the questions at all, I just copied them over from my Facebook page.   (This is MUCH longer than a typical blog post, so feel free to scroll to the questions that most interest you!)

Here goes:

1.      Why are you choosing to homeschool your kids?

There is a long list of reasons why we homeschool:  flexible school schedules, time, alternative curriculum methods, customized education, one-on-one instruction, worldview development, social environment, family bonding, spiritual instruction, and because we love it! 

2.     What's wrong with the public school system?

That is a loaded question!  Let me answer that with what I think is RIGHT with the public school system.  They have some of the most dedicated teachers I know, who do a very difficult job with very little credit and even less pay.  They work hard to get better at what they do and give as much attention to each individual student as they can.  I greatly respect them.  I would not want to do what they do.  My father-in-law, grandmother-in-law, pastor’s wife, college roommate, cousin and one of my mentors are all (or have been) public school teachers.  Our choice to homeschool definitely should not be seen as a slight to these people who have spent a lot of hard work to be good at what they do.  At the same time, all these people also would admit that not all the teachers are equally dedicated, and more importantly – the system that they work under frequently hinders them from doing the work that they would like to do.  That’s as far as I will go with that one!

3.     How will you "do" high school?

Well, I haven’t committed to high school yet…  I like to think that we take things one year at a time.  Although, that is not entirely true.  We assess what we are doing every year, but we do like to think long term about where we are going and how we will prepare them for future grades, whether we are doing the schooling at home or not.  If we do homeschool through high school, there are some really incredible resources to make sure that our kids get college prep experience in all sorts of subjects, regardless of my capability to teach all of those subjects.  High school, as I understand it, begins to become more of a preparation for life than even a “normal” high school can be, because I can seek out subject experts to tutor the kids in math or chemistry or writing, I can provide internships in areas of interest and skill (because they have time for that) and we can also enroll in community college courses so that it is possible to use high school time to get a leg up on college core requirements.  The possibilities for creating experiences that really support the boys’ strengths and interests is pretty exciting (but I won’t think about it too much yet….)

4.     What about socialization and dealing with the "real world" as opposed to an artificial, insular, over protective environment?

Any homeschooler will tell you that socialization is their biggest question.  There are some social experiences that are helpful, some that are harmful and some that are neutral.  If we are talking about helpful social experiences such as making friends, playing sports, meeting people who are different than you, these are all things that homeschoolers get in abundance and with people from all different age groups (babies to senior citizens)!  If we are talking about harmful social experiences, homeschoolers can be protected from the over-abundance of these experiences, or they can experience them within a safe environment and with the guidance of parents who can help to frame these things in ways that turn them into learning and growing experiences.  (Public school parents can do this too, but more things can slip through the cracks, especially as the kids get older.  At least that is how it worked when I was in public school.)  Some social experiences are neutral… I’m pretty sure my kids understand how to stand in line, how to eat their lunch quickly if they need to, how to raise their hand to ask a question.  (I’m not being snarky about these things… they are honestly things people have mentioned to me as important social aspects that my kids might be missing!)  My kids have non-homeschooling friends from church, neighborhood and sports.  They hear words they shouldn’t hear.  They have been exposed to different lifestyles and even to outright evil that I wish I could have protected them from more.  How and when we expose our kids to the “world” is a matter of wisdom and prayer.  I agree that homeschool should definitely be a place of preparation for mission in the world, and not just separation from it.

5.     How do you decide on curriculum?

I research homeschool websites and curriculum providers, I ask friends what has worked for them, I read books on educational methods and learning styles, I try things and assess how they work, I ask more questions, do more research, wash rinse repeat.  I really enjoy it actually!

6.     How do you stay one step ahead to keep them occupied?

This is what seems really hard to imagine from the outside looking in.  It can be tough, but the kids and I start to get into a routine of what is expected during certain times of the day.  For the youngest, I provide plenty of coloring books, puzzles, picture books, Legos and short learning activities.  When they were toddlers, they had “school boxes” that had different activities they could only do during school time and that kept them busy.

7.     What is the most difficult and/or frustrating aspect of homeschooling your sons?

ME!  It is hard to realize that you are your kids’ primary role model and yet to realize how often you fail at that every day.  Parenting itself is one of God’s best tools for sanctifying us (making us more like Him), and the more hours a day you are at it, the more you feel it!  I cannot make my children good, smart, successful, moral, or even Christian – but I really want to!  So I am the most frustrating thing… when I am trusting in myself.  I daily have to cling to the cross and realize the depth of my need, OUR need – but that is a fight of faith, for sure!   

8.      What can a spouse (in the supporting role) of a homeschooling parent do that is the most help?

 I think the most helpful thing a spouse in the supporting role can do is to be the champion of the family vision.  I don’t think that homeschooling would work if my husband wasn’t fully on board with the reasons, benefits and value of what we are doing.  He carries the vision when I am discouraged, and at the same time, he also helps me to evaluate (non-emotionally) if it is time to make a change.  Especially in a family of boys, if Dad is not all in, you will soon have a bunch of “momma’s boys” and I don’t mean that in a good way.  The more Dad is involved with not only discipline but with direction, vision, and especially spiritual leadership, the more successful homeschooling will be.  Wait.  The more successful FAMILY LIFE will be… regardless of school choice.

9.     Where do you see deficiencies that could be worked on to make things run more smoothly?

Time management.  Anyone with help for that one, I’m right here waiting.  I mean, I’m not just waiting, I’m using my time wisely while I wait.  Kind of.

10.When everything is all boiled down, what is the number one, most important reason you homeschool?

I asked this question to my family to see what they would all say.  Much to my dismay, the kids all came up with an answer that revealed what I have (obviously) spent entirely too much time talking about.  It was actually really helpful for me to see what things get conveyed to the kids when we talk around the dinner table about why we do the things that we do.  This is true in all kinds of areas… ask your kids why they think you go to church, or why you vote for the candidate you vote for… you might be surprised to see what things they hear you emphasizing, even if it is not what you think you are emphasizing.  (This could be a whole other blog post.)

The REAL answer, and the one that I will make sure my kids understand over and above all other reasons is…

Homeschooling gives us the greatest quantity of time with which to teach our sons about the great God who reveals himself through creation and through history and most of all through his Son, who lived and died in our place, while we were still hostile towards him, to reconcile us to God and give us unspeakable joy in His presence for eternity.  Should God be pleased to open their eyes and grant them new birth through faith, we will be thrilled to be able to walk alongside them and disciple them as we follow Christ together, for His glory and for the magnifying of His name.

Thanks for all your questions… and for making it to the end of this blog post!
I love getting your comments, and you have earned a little talking time of your own after reading this whole post, so have at it!!

This post is part of the Top Ten Tuesday link up at Many Little Blessings.

Motivating Summer Read Alouds for Boys

My boys are great readers, but sometimes it can be difficult helping them to choose books to read.  It can be hard to convince them to try something new.  Summertime is a great time to help motivate them to branch out into new genres, authors or themes by reading aloud to them!  I find that if I read a book to them they might not have chosen themselves, they may end up liking it and search out others like it for their own independent reading in the future.

Here are some great books that might motivate your boys to read more!

Series

The idea here is YOU read aloud the first book, they get hooked and ask for more - so put them on the independent reading list for next school year!

1.  Redwall Series

Redwall: Where Legends Are Made--A Tale of Redwood By Brian Jacques

There is an almost endless supply of books in the Redwall series.  Once your boy starts, he will be hooked.  (Even if he does think he is too old for books about a mouse.  Promise!)

2. Mr. Tuckett by Gary Paulsen (The Francis Tucket Books)

There are five total books in this series, about a boy captured by Indians while going West on the Oregon trail.  Read the first aloud and let him discover the rest!

Classic literature

If you want your son to appreciate healthy food instead of just Twinkies and pizza, you present him with good quality foods to develop his appetite.  You don't continue to feed him Twinkies and pizza and sigh, "Well, at least he is eating!"  The same thing is true of classic books.  If I don't want my son to read a steady diet of books about bodily noises and underpants, I put before him a banquet of imaginative, exciting classic books.  Enjoy them together - pretty soon the other stuff won't sound nearly as appetizing.

3.  Swiss Family Robinson

The Swiss Family Robinson By Johann Wyss / Penguin Putnam Inc.

If you want, try this as an audio book and listen in the car.  He may not understand everything, but with a captive audience, you never know what he might like.

4. Classic Starts series

Around the World in 80 Days By Jules Verne / Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

Or try an easier start into Classics.  The abridged classics for kids at least introduce them to compelling story lines, without all the complicated subplots and antiquated vocabulary.

Favorite authors

Find some new authors that have great books for boys.  We like...

5.  N.D. Wilson

Leepike Ridge By N.D. Wilson / Yearling

Written by Doug Wilson's son, a homeschooled kid (now adult).  He has several other books for children as well.

6.  Marguerite Henry

Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West By Marguerite Henry / Simon & Schuster

Books about horses aren't just for girls!  Marguerite Henry has written quite a few horse books that had significant "boy" appeal for my little cowboy.

Non-fiction

Boys usually do pretty well with non-fiction, but it may be hard to find something more substantial than magazines and The Dangerous Book for Boys.  Here are a few we will be trying...

7.  Sterling Point biographies

Daniel Boone: The Opening of the Wilderness By John Mason Brown / Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

A well written biography about a true life hero can be very inspiring to a boy!

8.  Sports biographies

Through My Eyes By Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker / Harpercollins Publishing

We live in Bronco country, so our recent sports hero has been Tim Tebow.  Great to read aloud together so you can talk about it when you watch him on TV.  Have Dad read this one with the boys (he can explain the plays better than I could.)  Not a Tebowmaniac?  How about Jeremy Lin, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton... any other suggestions?

 

What you didn't think they would like....

9.  Little House on the Prairie series

On the Banks of Plum Creek, Little House on the Prairie Series #4 By Laura Ingalls Wilder / HarperCollins

Let's face it, your boys won't pick up a book with a girl on the cover.  But, if you read it TO them, they will enjoy this one!  My boys identify with Pa and Mr. Edwards, but they are pretty impressed with Laura, a real tomboy.  They have often said about certain tomboy-ish girls we know, "She's cool.  She's a Laura Ingalls kind of girl."  HA!

 

Don't neglect...

10.  The Bible

Summer is a great time to read the bible together.  Not just a story Bible, but the actual text.  Start from the beginning and just keep reading.  I know... what about when we get to Leviticus?  Well, you could skip around, or you might just keep on reading.  Carrie Ward has some great suggestions in her book Together about her journey to read the WHOLE Bible together with her kids.  This is a quick read for Mom's summer reading list and may inspire you in your Bible reading with your children!

Together: Growing Appetites for God By Carrie Ward / Moody Publishers

You can also find more from Carrie at her website, An Everyday Mama

Find more great summer read aloud suggestions at the

Many Little Blessings blog linkup!

Join us at Gospel Centered Homeschooling on Friday for the beginning of a new book club!  We are reading Gospel Powered Parenting by William Farley together!  "Like" GCH on Facebook, or subscribe by email to join the conversation!