An Amazing World of Learning

To My Fellow Homeschool Parents: 

We are going into our 7^th year of homeschool. It has been a roller coaster of emotions as we have been on a learning journey every step of the way. I feel as if I finally understand something of utmost importance that I am compelled to share with you.

First, let me explain our process of choosing education among our children. Every year has been different in our family. Some years, we have all the kids at home. Other years, we've had two homeschooling, one doing online classes, and one in public school. Another year we had three in public school and one at home. It has varied because as our children have grown, their needs have varied as well. One thing I cannot get past, though, is that as a stay at home mom, I have needed to be available to teach whatever child has needed to be at home that year. Sometimes, the need has stemmed from us moving to a new state, or because the pressure of keeping up with public school curriculum and regimen was just too daunting. As the needs have varied greatly, so have our lessons, schedules, and methods. We have even homeschooled through me having heart surgery and recovering from that. It was not easy, but it was necessary.

This year, two of our children felt strongly it was time to return to public school. Always encouraging my children to take the lead in their education, we reviewed a list of pros and cons, the “why” of their decision, and the requirements to attend in our new state. (We move to Tennessee this summer!) After much prayer, research, and discussion, the choice was made for them both to return and we all felt peaceful about it. When I went to look up one last piece of information, I learned there were some conflicts in what was required of our children by the school district. Gathering all of the info that was needed, I gathered my children together and we had a very involved discussion. When all was said and done, they could not go against their personal standards and they chose to be homeschooled once again. It was a decision made after a lot of heartache and tears, but in the end, we all knew it was the right decision. They held fast to their principles, and I could not be more proud of them for doing so.

Now it is time to get to work and for the first time in all of our years of home educating our children, I do not have my supplies or books to teach them, for everything is still in storage. As I have deeply pondered and prayed about how best to teach three children of varying ages and levels, I finally realized something I needed to change. For all of these years, I had only considered the needs of my children. As I prayed about going into this school year, I felt something different: it is time to consider my own needs as well. This year, we are changing up our schedule to how I know I can best teach. We are encouraging our children to take the lead in what they are studying instead of me planning it all. We are now working together on the needs of all of us, rather than that of just the children. It is a change that has brought sweet calmness and peace to this mama's heart.

Do not think learning has to to always be the same year after year. Let me share a few changes we are making. 

Take more field trips! We are now living in the middle of the Civil Ward battlefields, so we will be taking regular field trips to learn part of our nation's history. There is always somewhere to go, and many times for free. Ask around! (The library often has postings, as well as the city websites.)

Allow the Children to teach! My two teen boys chose what Social Studies subjects they want to learn about, and they will be teaching the rest of us what they learn. This will allow them to share what they are passionate about, all while learning how to do public speaking!

Use living books! We have always utilized the libraries, but this year, I will encourage more living books instead of using text books.

One more thing. If you are not able to homeschool, but would like to be more involved with your child's education, I highly suggest this well-written essay on the understanding Education in America. It is as if the author (who is a fellow musician acquaintance I highly respect) went into my brain, pulled out everything I wanted to share, and wrote it up for me. Whether or not you homeschool, public school, or private school your children, it is well worth the read.

Please share your favorite homeschooling tips with us! Perhaps you will be the answer to someone else's need!

Learning Daily,

Mama Dragon

Peter, You are The Pan

Today Peter Pan has been on my mind, as well as crafting, cooking, moving, packing, missionary work, etc. Mostly, I have been thinking about Peter Pan. My young friend, we'll call him Peter, is a HUGE Peter Page fan. At 9 years of age, Peter will be going to the hospital tomorrow for his third (or maybe 4th) Open Heart Surgery. He had the others by the age of 2. His heart is so unusual, doctors do not know what to make of it. The surgery, I imagine, is a tricky one, and very risky. 

Whenever I have been to Peter's home, I have seen him carry around his Peter Pan book laying it down to barely do another activity for a few minutes. It is one of his most treasured possessions and I love the way he studies the words and pictures. 

When I think of Peter Pan, I think of this young boy who knows how to make magic happen. When he believes in himself, he can overcome anything, even the notorious evil pirates. He knows how to get others to listen to him, and to believe in themselves to. What great qualities to have! My young friend, Peter, is much the same way. He siblings, both older and younger, look up to him. They see his kindness and admire his strengths, in spite of his physical limitations. When his brothers want to battle a great swordsman, they go to Peter. When they want to fly on a ship, they ask him to take them to Never Land. They spend hours together each week pretending they are in a place where there are no physical limitations. Together, they can fight pirates, fly a ship, and soar through the clouds.

I wanted to do something special for Peter before his surgery. I felt prompted to make him a true Peter Pan hat. I thought of his siblings, who are very young, and knew they would have some worry with him going to have major surgery. I wanted to do something where they could think of their brother and he of them, and somehow they would feel connected. I decided to make each of them, including Peter, a star. They parents received hearts. Inside the package was also a bit of sprinkled pixie dust. It was fun creating something for each one, to show their personalities as well as give them a tangible item to squeeze tight to. 

Tomorrow, I am fasting and praying for the doctors to be guided in helping this young boy's heart. I look forward to the adventures that await his family when they are reunited. Peter, you have a heart of gold, a light that shines, and you know that following the stars will always lead you home. You are the Pan. 

"To live would be an awfully big adventure." -JM Barrie

Straight on till morning,
Mama Dragon

Praying for Freedom

Picture from official NDP website

Today is National Day of Prayer. For my friends in other countries, or the ones in this one who don't know, National Day of Prayer is the one day of the year we come together as fellow countrymen, and pray together for our country to be saved by God. From their website:

"The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. Our Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer. It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families. The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible."

Prayer unites us! It is the communication that carries our feelings from us, to the angels, to God. Prayer comforts in ways nothing else can. It lifts us in the darkest hours and brings forth miracles in the morning light! Today, I will be praying for God to soften the hearts of our current government leaders, so they may get back to supporting our Constitution and living by it! I will pray that we can each make better choices in our own personal lives and be more willing to trust in and submit to God's will. I will pray for my own home, that it may be a safe haven from the world and those that dwell here will do feel welcomed and loved.

May we each come together and observe this day- so that it may be the hallmark of unity it was designed to be. Take a moment and pray. 

Heartily praying-

Mama Dragon

To School or Not to School?

When we began our homeschool journey in 2009, it was out of necessity. (Until that point all my kids had been in public school- PS). Without getting into details of our then-circumstances (at least not yet), know that it was a time of survival of our family, literally. It has been a learning to curve over the years as we have tried all forms of education for our 4 children including: unchooling, homeschooling-like-public-school, public school, charter, online charter, online public school. (I am sure I am leaving one out.) On a regular basis, I have had parents ask me how we decide where/how our children will be educated. I have decided to share our little secret to successfully educating our children: A LOT of research and a LOT of prayer.

[Each year, we take into consideration each of our individual child's needs. Then, we pray with them and individually to ask the Lord to guide us in our decisions. Since I am the educator in our home, I will spend time in fasting and prayer to confirm the feelings I have about each child. Sometimes, I research new schools, or online schools. Other times it is a matter of checking into new curriculum or revamping the old. Then, we begin our journey for the new year. No year is ever the same.]

In the beginning of our journey, we kept all four kids home. At the time, they were (respectively) 1st, 4th, 6th grades and a toddler. We made it through what schools refer to as the "second semester" by spending countless hours at the library and local parks. For a little while, we had a job where the kids could work with us during school hours. This was our time of "unschooling". By fall, my husband had to go work out of state for 6 months, we were dealing with a dangerous stalker, and I was deathly ill with un-diagnosed heart problems. I decided to keep all of them home again, but mostly out of fear for our family. I wanted them safe! We plunged into online PS. That barely lasted until Christmas, as it was WAY too much stress on this sickly mama and my gifted boys were rather bored. By the time January came around, I saw my eldest especially needed something different. I prayed long and hard about the direction my children's futures were headed. That is when I realized I may not all be able to have them do the same thing year after year.

Eldest and Second Eldest were enrolled in a brand-new charter school. After three weeks, they were pulled out. Although I can only speak for our specific reasons, I know that many other parents were struggling with the school as well. For my own children, one teacher used very inappropriate language on a regular basis that made him very uncomfortable, and the other one could not take the pressure of the courses. Eldest and I discussed his options and we decided to enroll him for the remainder of the year in PS. There, he found his niche in band and math, and made life-long friends within a very short time. He has been in PS ever since, and this month will graduate high school with a 3.98+ GPA and several college courses under his belt. He has had truly incredible teachers to mentor him and I am grateful for the experiences he has had.

Second Eldest came home for the rest of that school year and did well. He loved to read, so we used that to his advantage. In the fall, (6th grade) we decided to enroll him in PS because he wanted to give it a try. He attended for one semester then came home. After all our family had been through with my health and our other challenges, he needed to feel certain in his home-life situation, so I became his teacher. We made up our own curriculum. In 8th grade, he returned to PS and did very well. With 9th grade approaching, we moved to a new state and I faced heart surgery. Together, we chose to try an online charter school and he did really well. The current school year, he is in the same program, but not reaching his full potential, so we are re-evaluating for fall. Research, prayer, and discussion with confirm the upcoming path.

When we began the online school, my youngest boy really struggled. By the middle of second semester, he was having melt-downs everyday. Because of my health, I was not able to find a way to help him as much as he needed. He returned to PS and by Day 2, serious problems arose. It was in those next 6 weeks that we began to undergo testing and came away with a diagnoses of Asperger's (aka- Awesomeberger's) and ADHD. With a plan in place to get him the assistance he needed from the school specialists, we decided to allow him to return to PS in the fall. Unfortunately, the new principal did not take the IEP seriously and he was not able to get what was needed. One day while sobbing in my arms, I asked my brand new 3rd grader what I could do to help him. He begged me, "Please don't send me back! Never send me back!" So, we never did. Now 13, he has been home ever since and will remain for the time being. It is at home where he thrives the most. I am his mother as well as his teacher and being able to focus on his needs has been a tremendous blessing.

My youngest started out in kindergarten after I ignored serious promptings to keep her home. I knew between my health and my upcoming work schedule I would not be able to give the time to her that she needed. Everyday was a challenge to get her out the door. She wanted to be home. One week after spring break, I pulled her out. She was getting failing grades for being able to read. I was told by her teacher, "The new Common Core Curriculum dictates that this is a sound-aloud assignment and she is reading the words instead of sounding them out. I cannot give her a passing grade for that." This ridiculous guideline she was forced to follow was only one of the issues I had with the curriculum after that meeting. She came home the rest of her kinder year and first grade. Using our own guidelines of discussion, fasting, and prayer, she returned to PS for 2nd grade, which she finishes this month. Fall will bring her home again.

Over the years, I have battled with others as they've disagreed with our decision to HS. There are all kinds of myths (which I will write about later, based of our findings) that I find are incorrect. I have nothing but complete respect and admiration for the PS teachers. I was going to be one! Just because PS school may seem the "easiest" road, it does not mean it is always right. For me, sending my children out the door for 8 hours a day doesn't sit right with me. On the other hand, always having children at home with me has hard moments as well. The truth is, it takes a lot of time to homeschool. It takes willingness and dedication. You are going to have amazing days, and difficult days. You are going to have days you want to quit and days you feel like you can conquer the world. If it is what is right for your child, no sacrifice is more worth it to see them succeed. (Each state is different in their HS laws, so be sure to check those.) Whatever you decide with the education journey, study out your options. If you are a religious soul, pray for guidance in your choices. Not every family will have the same experience. Respect whatever they decide for their own children. (That was a hard lesson I had to learn.) Education can be a complex road, but as long as you are doing what is best for your family, it is a worthwhile one!!

Happily Teaching-
Mama Dragon

My Homeschool Pinterest Page

Prayers for the People

I am a rescuer, a fixer. It has been both an incredible blessing in my life, but can also be my downfall when I take on too much. My husband and I have used our passion for helping others to teach our kids to serve. No child is too young to learn compassion towards others. 

When the Indian Ocean tsunami happened in 2004, my husband and I used that as a great opportunity to teach our very young children, then 6, 5, and 2, what it meant to really serve. We talked about the event, in childish terms, then talked about ways we could help. The boys all donated their savings (a total of $20) to send to the aid of the tsunami victims. 

Just like many others in our country, when the September 11th attacks happened, I felt helpless. So desperately I wanted to help, but did not know what to do. We were living in St. George, UT- a long way from New York City. I went to donate blood, but because I was pregnant, I was not allowed. So we made up flyers, put the word out, and gathered as many First Aid items as we could. After a few days of neighbors and friends donating, we took them to the Red Cross to use wherever they were needed. we found a ways to help, even if the items never reached New York. Those of us in the community that felt helpless found a way to reach out and do something. 

Right now, in the wake of the Nepal earthquake that hit a few days ago, I am feeling that same, helpless feeling. There have been times in my life I wanted to be a rescue worker so I could go and help in crisis such as these. This is one of those times. We had even talked about being a family that traveled the world in order to help serve those in need. However, God has laid a different path for me and I am where I need to be. Yet, sometimes I feel like it is not enough. What can I do for the people of Nepal? As I have pondered on this, the thought that comes to mind is to pray. 

Sometimes, praying seems like not enough. However, I have witnessed first hand how prayers of is enough- especially if that is all you can do. 

others lift the ones in need, helping bring them peace, or guiding them to answers. Praying is one of the most powerful forces in this world! Think about it. When we take even a moment to lift someone up in prayer, we are literally talking to God, our creator, and asking Him to bring comfort to one (or more) of His children. Although He can help them anyway, when we ask Him for extra help or comfort on their behalf, He is taking our love, along with His own, and distributing it to those who are hurting. He does this though His angels, be they be heavenly or earthly (you and I). Our love is lifted up to the heavens, magnified to countless degrees, then sent to the soul in need. Perhaps that prayer brings a moment of comfort, or maybe it brings a new idea of how they can help themselves. We may never know. Realize, though, that when you pray, sometimes it is enough!

Today, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I urge you to stop, and take a moment to say a prayer for the people of Nepal, a loved one hurting, or a stranger you saw on the side of the road. Your prayer is an act of love and it may be that exact moment that you pray that the recipient needed your love the most. That is what we are here for- to love one another through this life. Let us love through acts of service, through moments of prayer. 

Praying daily-
Mama Dragon