Be Ye Separate

I think this is important and needs passing on!

Blessings!

   I think this is important for everyone to know about. For those that send their children to government school, you just might want to play hooky and enjoy them on April 25th.

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

If your child's school observes the homosexual sponsored "Day of Silence," keep your child at home April 25. Friday, April 25, several thousand schools across the nation will be observing "Day of Silence (DOS)." DOS is a nationwide push to promote the homosexual lifestyle in public schools. AFA is joining other family-oriented groups in urging parents to keep their children at home that day if their local school is participating in the DOS project. By remaining silent, the intent of the pro-homosexual students is to disrupt the classes while promoting the homosexual lifestyle. DOS is sponsored by an activist homosexual group, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). DOS leads the students to believe that every person who identifies as a homosexual, bisexual or cross-dresser is a victim of ongoing, unrelenting harassment and hate. Students are taught that homosexuality is a worthy lifestyle, homosexuality has few or no risks, and individuals are born homosexual and cannot change. Those who oppose such teaching are characterized as ignorant and hateful bigots. Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Day of Silence: Take Action! What should parents do? Check with your local school principal to see if your child's school will be participating in DOS. If the school is participating, notify other parents about DOS and ask them to join in keeping their children out of school on that day. Here is a partial list of schools which are expected to participate in DOS: If your school is listed, call your local school and ascertain whether they officially or passively allow students to observe "Day of Silence." If your school is listed, please double-check with your local school to see if the school is actually sponsoring DOS. Sometimes the "participation" turns out to be a handful of kids who are saying they have a homosexual club and are observing this protest day, but without school endorsement. We sincerely hope your school, if listed, is not actually an official sponsor. If it is not, we will take them off the list, if a school official asks us to do so. Please e-mail your correction to webmaster@missionamerica.com. Some tips: Be sure of the date that DOS is planned for your school. (The national date is April 25, but some schools observe DOS on a different date.) Inform the school of your intention to keep your child home on that date and explain why. Click here for a sample letter. Explain to your children why you're taking a stand: Homosexual behavior is not an innate identity; it is a sinful, unnatural and destructive behavior. No school should advance a physically, emotionally, and spiritually destructive sexual lifestyle to students. Encourage your church leadership to follow the bold example of Pastor Ken Hutcherson who is vocally opposing "Day of Silence" in his community in Redmond, Washington. For his story, click here.

Homeskilling thoughts and encouragment:)

Blessings!

   It's late and I can't sleep so I thought I would take a little time to encourage the home educators:)

   I know how it is to start out with the idea of emulating the only thing you know when it comes to "education". Recreate the classroom!:P I know, because that's exactly what I did:) It's not unusual and it's not abnormal. Most everyone does it at first. Until you find your own relaxed "groove" in the home education endeavor, it's sometimes easier to try what you already know. Having said that, lets push the books away from the table, get up and take  stretch, grab a coat (if it's cool) and go outside:)

   Children of ALL ages enjoy bug hunts, leaf hunts, digging in the dirt and making mud pies:) How about making a mud village? Our children took time to make themselves an adobe village. Of course, it was simple mud but it sure was fun:P In fact, our mud village was built in the winter. We took one of those pop up shades that you get from Bi-Mart (or some other such sporting goods/hardware type place) and especially this time of year when all that summer stuff is on clearance:P, and place that on it's lowest leg setting. It required us to stoop down and crawl under it. This also helped to protect our village from the rain and wind etc. It was also a great thing to leave out in the yard so that it would keep a certain patch of ground covered enough to keep it dry so we could have picnics all year round:)

   Just last year we put our little pop up out there and brought out the campstove and set it on the ground. We brought out everything we would need for a picnic of hot soup, grilled cheese sandwiches and hot cocoa:) It was such fun and we stayed dry:)

   There are so many wonderful things to discover that are just as educating as sitting behind a book in a stuffy room and insisting on silence only fun!:) I also understand the desire to make sure our children "keep up". That's the hardest one to break free from for sure:P There is this imaginary standard that a lot of home educators try to hold themselves to. I don't know about your state but here in Oregon, children are state tested in 3rd, 5th, 8th and 10th grades. It's a simple placement type test. Something that nearly all home educators fret over. However, the only requirement is that home educated children must pass in the 15th percentile! That's an outrage! Sadly, it's even lower for government educated children to be passed to the next grade. They don't tell folks that, they just say it's required testing and leave it at that.

   Having said that, keep all this in mind when you try to decide what you want to teach your children. Is it really all that important to worry about what the government systems are teaching children? The very institution that you pulled your children from is insisting on corrupting our youth all in the name of tolerant progress:s

   Children do NOT have to learn to read by the age of 7. They don't HAVE to learn their ABC's or numbers by the age of 5. It's really alright for them to take their time and learn as they go. Not every child is ready to read at the prescribed age. Sometimes pushing a child into it can cause more frustration for them and for you than is really necessary. And believe me, they won't learn any faster in the government system. They will simply be frustrated there and bring that frustration home! But I digress:)

   I discovered that each of our children had their own learning time for simple things like counting and letters. In fact, I sort of encouraged it in a sidestepping way to make it fun and interesting. Not a chore. The children and I found fun ways to make numbers and letters come alive:) They learned to read, write and comprehend and more importantly to enjoy it!

   That's not to say that children should "call the shots". There were plenty of times when it was necessary to sit and concentrate and be still. They were still expected to take some tests and quizes and to show their ability to stay focused. They were not invited to just get up and come and go as they pleased. When skilling was happening, they were all expected to participate. It just didn't have to be boring:)

   All, in all, have a wonderfully fun time with them. If you aren't having fun then it makes it a chore. If it's a chore then no one wants to do it and those moments of frustration will get the better of all of you. Those are the moments when we question our choice and our abilities to educate our own children and sometimes resort to threats of returning them to the goverment institution. Those are the times it's most important to go make mud pies:) Believe me, you'll be glad you did:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Socialization while Homeskilling:)

Blessings!

   It has come to my attention that socialization while Homeskilling is like a brood of hens or a dopping of ducks. (Yes those are real terms, I didn't make them up:P)

   I am certain that the majority of you who have chosen to home educate your children have met with this very same question and felt the fear and guilt over the answer..."What about socialization?" Believe me, your children will NOT turn into inept social twirps who cannot carry on an intelligent conversation or know how to treat another human being their age (or older/younger) just because they are not "socialized" by society's standards. So on with my point:)

   My children have spent their entire educating career (sounds unnatural doesn't it?) learning to socialize in one way or another. They don't HAVE to be exposed to the outrageously worldly to be able to socialize at an acceptable level. In fact, I have found that most of the home educated children I've met are thoroughly delightful. They are respectful, they share with others, they don't try to manipulate the others and they even listen to others well. (I mean listen as in, showing real interest in what someone else is saying).

   How do that do that without having "outside socialization?" I'll tell you how...family! Yep...it's as simple as that...family! Home family, church family, extended family, it's all a part of socializing and healthy both emotionally and spiritually:)

These are our wonderful dopping of ducks. Notice the white one at the end of the line. She was our first and she's the oldest of all of them. All the rest were in the same shipment and 2 days old when they arrived here. Adelaide was already 7 months old and laying! While most folks told us that the others wouldn't accept her because she was a different color, we found this to be silly. (Or maybe we are the acception:P) In any case, These ducks do everything together. They eat together, sleep together, play together, wander around together and when frightened they run together! Just as our children are raised together so are these ducks. And just like each of our children taking turns at being the leader, so do these ducks. Adelaide isn't ALWAYS at the end. In fact, sometimes she's in the middle and sometimes she's the leader:) They squabble now and then but it's never serious and when someone from the outside comes to interfere they defend each other:)

   These are 13 of our 25 hens. Notice how they are all interested in the same thing? We threw them some grain and they all wanted some. They aren't fighting over it, they aren't pushing and shoving. In fact, they are sharing! Oh they might try to grab at a piece at the same time but if one gets it first the other simply finds another piece:) They don't like to be alone, they even spend time with the ducks throughout the day. Whenever it's time to walk outside to do anything for any of the other animals, those chickens (usually all 25) are hot on our heels:) They will follow us into the goat pens, the horse stall, the barn even the lower field. They don't fight for first place they don't push and shove. They simply want to be in the same place together. And when frightened they will run together and huddle. The theory is that they make themselves look bigger when a predator is near so that it will be frightened off:)

   I use these two as examples for socialization that doesn't require that I take them next door to visit the neighbors chickens or ducks. They don't need to go to the hatchery or poultry farms to get their socializing in so they feel better about themselves. Just as our children know, these animals know they are safe here. Love, cared for, protected.

   Here we believe in public displays of affection:P

Personal space and alone time:P

And creative outlets:P

   Don't worry if your children are getting enough socialization. Believe me, they are getting plenty. And the nice part is it's all positive and you don't have to worry about the type of influences they are being subjected to. If it's not what you like then you can put an immediate stop to it...

And most importantly, create stronger family:)

a few of my family front to back and left to right...Sister Lori, Keri (28), my mother and father to the left behind me, Brother Craig, Sarah (14), Theron (2), Mary-Ann (17),  J.R. 23 (a friend of Keri's) and Matthew Robert (19). Missing are Nathanial (23), Matthew Paul (20), Jonathan (24) and grandson Morgan (6) (yes we have two Matthews:P)

   Isn't family wonderful? Isn't socializing with your children a blessing? Aren't you glad you decided to home educate? I now I am!:)

   With all the church activities like fellowship meals, weddings, quilting frolicks, church cleanings, and other Christian home educating friends, I would have to say that our children are probably better "socialized" than most government educated children. :) Notice I said MOST. This is not to say that some families who choose to have their children in government education aren't good at teaching their children good morals and values. But today most of society really don't value their children. I applaud those who have taken the chance on the government system and won. Sadly not all well meaning families can say that they succeeded. Those influeces are so strong and so negative they've been known to turn even the most devout christian child into one of them (as it were).

   For those of you who are questioning your choice to home educate. Don't lose heart. Your children are doing just fine in the socializing department. Just watch your children play. It speaks volumes:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Still Homeskililng and Still Loving It:)

Blessings!

   I thought I would do another installment of our Homeskilling 101:)

   As I said before, everyone decides what works best for their families as far as home educating goes. Nothing I am sharing is a judgment of those who don't do it my way. My way is right for us and is only a reflection of our own choices here in our home. If you or anyone you know chooses to home educate with strict structure and schedules, please to not take offense as we are not saying you are doing it wrong. We are simply sharing our way and what has worked for us as a family and the results:) (This is my disclaimer):)

   Onward!

   We do use a mathbook to reinforce what we teach in mathematics. We have used several different curriculum for this but have found that Saxon (the original not the new) has worked best for us. This allows the children to learn forumulas, showing their written work and lets us know that they understand how they came up with the answers and gives them something to look back on and reference from time to time. The seatwork is done twice a week. However, the mathematics is encourged all day, every day:)

ARITHMATIC

   For instance, mathematics yesterday was balancing the budget for the animal feed and reworking the budget for the upcoming winter supplies. It was working out the portions and times the animals will be fed for winter scheduling and making sure all the numbers line up and everything is ready for breeding on time come November.

   We also did our baking for the week, did our regular cooking and food prep for the day and figured out our costs on soap making and egg production vs. our income from these:)

GEOGRAPHY

   We did our baking for the week.:) How is this geography? Well, we spend time discussing, while we are working, the origin of our ingredients, and final products. We try to include at least one meal a week with a geographical origin not of this country. From couscous and rice a beans to stews and soups.

   We also use TOG which helps us to focus on certain places and find foods to prepare that are similar. We do lots of oratory teaching/learning here:)

   The girls were discussing unleavened breads. Their biblical significance and physical origin. So, we made some pita for a meal later this week:) The girls will make a meal of Falafel, pita and a soup to go with it. They are working on an oratory to share with the rest of the family when it is served. I must say I am looking forward to is as I love Falafel:)

HISTORY

   Need I say more? Our history lessons are derived from not only the cooking and baking we do but from the types of animals we keep. The girls are often with their heads in their books trying to reproduce a way of doing things historically. This was originally how we came to grind our own grains. All the children learned to grind in many different fashions, from stone grinding like the indians, to mortar and pestil, to hand cranking hoppers.

   We decided to take a trip to a reenactment a few years ago where the children we able to participate for a few days as reenactors. One of the things they were able to do was to grind flour for the group by walking a large stone wheel for several hours. It was hard work and with the help of the docent who was in charge of it, they recieved quite the education in who, what, why, where and how:)

SCIENCE

   Again, the cooking and baking is a tremendous help in this. As well as our gardening:) The children have learned and continue to learn about the science of these and how it supports creation vs. other beliefs.

   They have learned, first hand, how a plant germinates, how it grows and is fed by photosynthesis. What the different parts of the plants are and their importance in how God created them.

   Our most favorite chemistry lessons are done while cooking:) Especially stews and all those wonderful smelling herbs we add in. They have learned how to tell if a spice/herb is going to go with what they are cooking/baking by smelling it. How it IS possible to mix the wrong herbs/spices together and create something that is edible but tastes horrendous!:P They have also learned how these are meant to compliment each other and to choose carefully what they want to add:)

   We also have fun types of sciences that aren't cooking or baking (sort of:P). We made mystery putty a few times. Now that they are all older they enjoy doing it when we have younger children visiting. It's fun to see their faces when they make it themselves in just minutes and can take it home!:)

   During Christmas we make dough creations too. It fun, and artistic too!:) We make ornaments, gifts and other fun things out of it. It's a fun time of year to also make the gingerbread items too for hanging on the tree and giving away as gifts. And of course, they are fun to eat:)

SOCIAL STUDIES

   Contrary to a popularly held misconception, Social Studies is NOT History. It is the study of cultures and their place in societies. This is accomplished with cooking, baking, sewing, gardening, canning, even playing games!:) We always try to learn a new game once a month. We might never play it again but we do have a tremendous time learning about it:)

   Games in particular are a wealth of information in Social Studies. Games are played in every town, city, village and on every continent in the world. It is a form of entertainment and often education at the same time. From jumping rope to throwing jacks. From checkers to eight-men-down to hide the thimble:) We all enjoy learning of how other cultures used these games in their society.

   We have come to find that some of the "games" that we play today were, in fact, games of gambling, passing the time, challenging and competing for honor and even to the death! Things that we take for granted and think are fun, sometimes were used to decide types and times of executions. Leading right to the cross, in fact. Casting lots was a lot like playing Yahtzee. It was a form of gambling to divvy up the Lords clothing.

   Do we stop playing these games once we know their origin and use? No. But the fascinating history of these games are something that shouldn't be forgotten.

   Some games were simply just that...simple games:) It has taught us all to find something fun to do without needing to be entertained. When we go camping we make it a point to include other folks in our games to teach them about these games too. Perpetuating their history so it doesn't get lost.

   I'm going to leave it here for now. I haven't been well today and I need to lay back down for awhile yet. I just really had all these things on my heart and mind and prayerfully wanted to begin sharing them with you.

   I will get into ideas and such for the homeskilling family in the next few days or so, as time and health permits:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

HomeSkilling 101

Blessings!

   Did you know that the number one reason that parents/guardians give for educating their children/charges at home?..."The government school system is inadequate..." The true answer is longer but you get the picture.

   I have been asked this same question, time and time again. Even by my own mother who once said, "parents need breaks from their children". She truly doesn't seem to understand WHY I simply enjoy having my children with me all the time. It never occurs to me to "need a break". It never crosses my mind to get away from my children. That's not to say that my husband and I haven't had a night alone or even a weekend (like just recently). But that' wasn't until all 7 of them were nearly grown. (Our baby is going to be 15 in October). But NEED it? Not at all.

   As a parent who educates our children at home, I want to share why "I" do this and what MY opinions are about that. Some folks may share my beliefs and opinions, other may not. Home educating is not for everyone. One must truly be called to it or it will never work. That isn't to say that even those who DO feel called to it won't have struggles and frustrations but perseverence and relying on the Lord will get you through those times and in the long run you'll be glad you did:) Just remember that trials and tribulations is NOT necessarily an indication that you were mistaken about that calling, most times it's the prince of doubt and fear that is the culprit. Onward Ho!:)

   My husband and I had long felt the desire to home educate our children. I had already done it with my elder 2 children and though they were back in government school a few times in the process I still knew in my heart that I wasn't listening to the call. Anyway, my husband had also felt this for the last 12 years and we finally gave in to it and just did it after pulling 5 of our children from the government school one afternoon in October. This would be the very last time our children would experience the government school system.

   Okay, now we had them home...now what?...Ummmm...BOOKS! Right! We combed the internet, the library, Christian bookstores and business phonebooks to find the curriculum that would teach our children at home. We spent a LOT of money in the first two years of this little endeavor. We tried everything from aBeka to Bob Jones to Christian Light. We did the Advantage curriculum, Switched on Schoolhouse and even tried the Alpha and Omega lifepack Gold series.

   Each of these had their merits. Each of them were fairly thorough in what they were teaching. Most were very easy, some were more challenging, ALL needed a child to be in their seat, bent over a book, pencil poised and paper spread neatly. Just...like...government...school! Ugh!!! Nooooooooooooo!

   It occured to us, several months into this that we were emulating and recreating the government education setting. So it was at home, so it was one on one, so it was teaching them the three R's. I WASN'T fun or interesting or "free". After all I had learned about the "freedom" of home educating I was finding myself tethered to a dining table feeding seatwork, tests, and information to our children while correcting papers and placing stickers on callenders. The children were quiet, somber, and bored! And yes...I was bored out of my mind!

   One day the children gathered around the table at the appointed hour, we said our vespers, we passed out papers from the day before, the books were positioned in front of them and their faces told me the whole tale. They weren't enjoying this. They weren't having fun. They weren't putting their whole into it, they simply weren't happy. I stood up, asked the children to stand with me. They did, like little robots standing at attention and looking at me as if they could roll their eyes clean out of their heads no doubt wondering what new mundane and ridiculous antic we were going to do now. I told them to march out to the front yard. They did. Once there I told them to touch their toes...they did. I asked them to reach to the sky...they did. No one said a word so I kept going. Needless to say I was getting quite the workout but decided that I had to stick this one out and not let them see me wearing down. Just about 3 minutes shy of 30 minutes into this one of the spoke up and said..."Mom, what are we doing?" I said, "we aren't having fun, that's for sure!" They still didn't get it. We sat down and I said to them, "There was a reason Papa and I took you all out of the government, it wasn't so we could bore you to pieces or so we could "control" you, it was because we love you and want you to have the very best in education. Not just book learning but learning to be good people who love the Lord, to provide for yourselves and your families (one day), to be good workers and good stewards of money, land and the provisions of the Lord. We want you to enjoy learning and to smile even when things get boring, or unpleasant. We want you to learn to think for yourselves and to ask questions...just like now...what are we doing? We are learning!:)"

   What we came to realize was we were trying to remake that government institution in the comfort of our own home, the very institution we had removed our children from for their own spiritual, emotional and physical safety. We didn't want to have a regimented education time. In fact, we realized the children were receiving more education by living! Learning homekeeping and homesteading skills. We knew that it wasn't our desire to school our children. We wanted to SKILL them. Thus HomeSkilling was born!:)

   Yes we do still do a little seatwork because it's important for children to learn to sit still and to stay focused. Many people ask us how our children are to learn "routine" if we aren't making them sit for their education through certain times etc. We always answer that our children understand routine better than most adults! They have routine in their lives daily. They get up, get dressed for the day, have animals fed, watered, milked and gathered by a certain hour every morning and night. They have their meals and help to fix them as well at certain hours. They have their baths, brush their teeth, some of them must go to outside jobs. THAT'S routine! :)

   I will go into what exactly we do for our homeskilling in my next posting. I just wanted you to know what our ideas, thoughts and opinions were of why we chose to and continue to home educate our children. And to encourage everyone of you that chose to follow the calling to bring your children home. Education is not sitting at a desk 7 1/2 hours a day 5 days a week. It's not standing up and sitting down to a bell. It's all about learning. It's about discovery, self motivation, inquisitiveness and encouragment. I just can't wait to share our days with you:)

   Have a VERY blessed day in the Lord and may He richly bless you with His grace and mercy.

God be with thee!

Sister Lori