Field Trip: Farm

Recently we started drinking goat's milk after we finally faced the fact that Jack Jalapeno is sensitive to pasteurized cow's milk. We had a feeling but when it got worse the more he had, we knew.

Thankfully, we found a sweet young family with 2 extra gallons of goat milk we could buy each week. The kids loved the tour of the "farm": mingling with goats, petting an hours old chick, visiting a whole bunch of chickens and riding a horse.

It was definitely a day to remember for them.

The next day we drove 1 1/2 hours to a ranch to purchase a 1/4 cow. Sort of a sample pack to see if we like their meat. Really though there isn't any chance we won't like meat from 100% grass fed, no antibiotic, no hormone cows!

While visiting the Shudde Ranch the kids got to feed the chickens and horse while sweating profusely in the 100+ heat. Ugh! It was miserable and fun at the same time.

We took the scenic route home from Shudde Ranch and saw the most amazing views! We are truly blessed to live in the Hill Country!!

Do You Have 2 Heads?

2 Heads? For sure! I mean I must if I homeschool, right?

That's certainly what many people think when you tell them you homeschool. It's interesting that the fact that we homeschool always comes up after they've raved incessantly over the local schools.

Ever noticed that everyone who sends their kids to public school resides in THE top school district in the state? Fascinating.

I try to smile as they give me this golden nugget of information then, because I would hate for them to leave with the wrong assumption ;), I politely say "we homeschool".

The funniest response I have gotten to this statement: "Oh, well, if you ever decide to not homeschool anymore Kerrville has amazing schools." This man, the pest control man at that, had already bragged on the schools 4 times!

What is so funny about this statement is that he (and most other people) believe that to homeschool is some flippant decision we up and made one day. Like it's on the same level as deciding what color underwear to wear today.

It's actually quite insulting to the intelligence of homeschoolers to assume that it's a decision made lightly.

I remember very clearly when homeschooling became a part of our lives. Einstein was driving home from the practice when he heard James Dobson talk about how detrimental the public school system is for boys. This one statement was enough to flip a switch in Einstein.

We had been discussing homeschooling but weren't sure which way was best and what God wanted for us. Hearing Dobson was just confirmation that we were heading in the right direction. From then it wasn't a question but a matter of how and what.

I was almost 100% NOT on board. I mean really, what mother doesn't dream of the day she gets some "free time"? Who doesn't wish they could read a book at 11am, take a shower at 1pm and bake cookies for the kids as they arrive home from prison daycare school?

Once I got over those insanely selfish feelings...3 years later!...things have actually been fun.

It wasn't until this year that we were "really doing school". We'd been teaching since Cha-hisser was 3 1/2 and her intelligence was praised by many. But as far as having a set plan, 2009 was the start.

We knew that Classical Christian teaching was our future plan but we weren't sure where to start with a 7yo. So we purchase Adventures in My Father's World. After a couple of months of doing that Einstein read Teaching the Trivium.

Talk about confirmation! Teaching the Trivium put into words everything Michael thought and wanted for the education of our children. It gave us resources, schedules, ideas, and support that we had been craving.

My previous post talks more about that.

I can say that 80% of the time I enjoy homeschooling Cha-hisser, Jack Jalapeno, and Grace (on a good day Sterling is napping). If you've figured out how to not be selfish 100% of the time PLEASE let me in on the secret!

My favorite part of our day is reading a good book. I say "good" because not all of the books I read would I consider good. Sure the kids love Hank the Cowdog but ...

I really do love to see the raw excitement that the children have for Greek lessons. They honestly love it and so do Michael and I. Our family is so close. We eat every meal together, read together, have Bible reading 2x/day together, take walks together, drive in the country together, learn together, live life and LOVE GOD together!

That is what homeschooling is about!

Our Daily Schedule

Over the past few weeks, life in the our house has changed dramatically. I am so humbled by God's ever present hand in my life.

For years we have known of the book Teaching the Trivium by Bluedorn. We knew of this book because we homeschool using the Classical Christian approach.

After seeing it go on sale I purchased it for Einstein and once he cracked the book life as we knew it changed. It's not like we were living a bad life, God just had bigger plans for us.

Have you ever known that you believed in something or knew something but couldn't quite put it into words? Then when you read it in print the huge lightbulb flicks on and you have that moment of suspended motion. A moment when you say "finally! Someone else thinks like I do."

Well, Teaching the Trivium provided that moment for Einstein. I love to see this fire in my husband. He can't stop devouring new information (if you know Einstein you're probably thinking that he's always been this way. he has but now it's multiplied exponentially!).

If you are completely clueless on what classical christian homeschooling is or what the heck Teaching the Trivium is about, here is a synopsis:

The Trivium In a Capsule

The Trivium consists of the first three formal subjects of the seven liberal arts: Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric. This is the formal Trivium in the classical sense. This formal Trivium is an academic reflection of the more basic Biblical Trivium, the mental capacities of Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. (See the list of references at the end of this article.) The classical style of education is built upon these three mental or intellectual capacities:

1. The first, for receiving and gathering up information - Knowledge.


2. The second, for arranging and connecting the information in a logical order - Understanding.


3. The third, for putting this gathered and ordered information into practical expression - Wisdom.

Children are continually developing in Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. Though these three capacities are mutually dependent upon each other, and the capacities are developing in the child from before birth, nevertheless, children pass through several developmental stages, or levels of learning, where one capacity experiences rapid growth. We will describe these stages below. Keep in mind that our age divisions are not meant as nice neat little cubicles. They are only arbitrary approximations, and they may vary greatly from child to child.

...
In summary, the capacities for Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom are not neat little compartments with sealed doors between them. Rather, they all develop at the same time from the very beginning, yet they each pass through successive periods of intensive development, until they finally catch up with each other and work harmoniously together. These ages are only approximate, and your child may be on either side of the line.

To summarize it all in one sentence: we first instruct the child in Knowledge; then we guide the youth in Understanding; then we challenge the older youth in Wisdom.

*Exodus 31:3; 35:31; 36:1; Deuteronomy 1:13,15; First Kings 7:14; Job 15:8-9; Proverbs 2:6; 3:19,20; 5:1,2; 8:12; 18:15; 23:23; 24:3,4; Daniel 1:4,17; 5:14; Ephesians 1:8,9,17,18; Colossians 1:9,10; 2:2,3; and many other places.

Peruse that site for more information on the Trivium and Classical Education.

Now, as my title eluded to, here is our daily schedule. Einstein feared I would push-back (as I often do with change) and that the kids would resist. However, like all things God designed "the cards fell into place". Life has been much easier, less chaotic and abundantly rich since implementing this schedule.

7:00 am Wake Up. Breakfast. Chores (I will add this chart in another post)
8:00 am Bible time/Family worship/Prayer
8:30-9:30 am General meeting

1. Recite memory work- Bible verses, alphabet (eng., latin, greek, hebrew)


2. Reading- children read (Bible history, Constitution, poetry, etc.)


3. Practice narration- Cha-hisser or Mommy reads, Jack Jalapeno and Cha-hisser narrate back

9:30-10:15 am Mommy reads. May ask questions to children about what was read. Can do art or crafts but must be quiet! (the littles may busy their hands but must listen)

10:15-11:30am

1. Phonics for Jack Jalapeno - English notebook


2. Copywork- minimum 15-20 minutes (Bible, history, poetry, quotes, speeches, latin, greek) - can combine w/ artwork and draw pictures of what is being copied - put in English notebook


3. History and Timeline

11:30-1:00pm

1. Prepare and eat lunch


2. chores


3. clean house

1:00-2:00pm Naps.

2:00-2:45pm Mommy reads aloud (same system as 9:30)

2:45-4:30pm nature walks, play outside, library, volunteer work, field trips, museums, fairs, workplaces, ....

4:30-5:00pm Mommy works out

5:00-6:30pm Dinner and chores. Bible reading and questions w/ daddy.
6:30-7:30pm Daddy reads. Latin or Greek work.

Where are all the homeschoolers??

Since we've moved to Kerrville (in Feb.) everyone - EVERYONE - tells us there are "tons" of homeschoolers here. But where are they???

There is virtually zero presence on the web for anything homeschool related in Kerrville. That's why I decided to start this blog. I have a busy cloth diaper blog All About Cloth Diapers, what's one more responsibility?? lol

Since this is the first post, I'll tell you a little about us: I have been married to my wonderful husband for 11 years! We have 4 beautiful children whom I will refer to as Cha-hisser, Jack Jalapeno, Grace and Ter-Ter.

We have been homeschooling since 2005ish. Cha-hisser was eager to start learning with workbooks very early. We've learned though that every child is different...WAY different. Jack Jalapeno is just beginning to learn letters and writing.

Grace is 2 and as we sit down to Greek at night she is eager to participate. Unfortunately, she thinks the english "c" is the greek "kse".

And of course little Ter-Ter is just hanging out, soaking it all in. At 4 months we think he is hands-down the smartest baby!

We began homeschooling with certain ideas about what was best. But when Einstein read "Teaching the Trivium" by Bluedorn the lightbulb went on and everything just clicked.

I will be posting a post I published a month or so ago on my family blog about our daily schedule. At first it seemed impossible but once I did it a week it is simple. Aren't all new things like that?!

About our family

We are a Reformed Christian family. We believe that as Christians we are to constantly be growing closer to the Lord, comfort isn't an option. We weren't always this way.

Although we became Christians in 2000, it was a comment at a recent dinner party that skyrocketed us into a new level of love for the Lord. We are so grateful for that comment, although that comment was not intended to lead to these changes.

We have been married for 11 years in August. We have 4 children: 7yo Cha-hisser, 5yo Jack Jalapeno, 2yo Grace and Ling Ling born 3.09.

Homeschool is not just a choice we made because of a hatred of the public school system (or private for that matter). We feel that God has given the responsibility of educating children to the parents. It is our job to raise them up. We are the ones who will stand before Lord and be held accountable for the choices we made for our children.

Recently, myself and our daughters went to wearing skirts only. This has been a very positive change for our family. We've also found that we really don't need the TV! Crazy for me to say that as I love a good movie.

If you would have told me 6 months ago that my life would look like this I would have laughed at you! But, God is faithful and his desires will come to fruition. No matter how hard we fight it, God's way is the way that will lead to joy, blessings and contentment.