There's been a lot of changes since my last post......Killian has graduated, Lotus is midway through her 9th grade year, our foster daughter who we were doing preschool with has went home and we've gained a sweet little baby boy that keeps us busy. All in all its been a busy season and Im kinda hoping the pace can slow down a bit.
Since starting this homeschooling journey Ive learned a lot about myself. I had big dreams for homeschooling and honestly real life got in the way of those dreams a lot of the time, but weve managed to make some good memories. Fostering has definitely brought some changes to our routine & brought us closer to home but its also brought its own lessons for both myself and my kids that we would not have learned otherwise.
As for the kids, well Killian is getting established with work and will hopefully be interning with some family friends to get a clearer picture of whats out there. Lotus is attending a co-op now which she loves and planning on getting a job soon so that she can gain some work experience. And the baby well he's doing typical baby stuff; which means growing at a tremendous rate.
All in all its an exciting season filled with challenges and growth. You know the stuff homeschooling is made of. Keep checking in. Who knows what the future holds. :)
Feb 17, 2016
May 22, 2014
2014-2015 School Year...
So were coming to the end of one school yr and moving into the start of another in June. Why so soon? Well this yr were starting yr around school; which is actually something weve been kinda doing but usually with make up being in the summer. But this year our schedule will look like this with each month having 15 days of schooling totaling 45 days each quarter and 180 days a yr. A plan I wish we had adopted earlier on.
Summer- June, July, August
Fall- September, October, November
Winter- December, January, February
Spring- March, April, May
In other news Killian is starting his senior year and making decisions about what is future looks like. Realistically college is probably not in his future right away, but my hope is that he takes a year to get some real life experience and just learn about what its like to work hard. And he has shown some interest in going into the Knoxville Police Cadet Program at the end of the yr which I think would be an amazing way for him to build confidence and figure out what he really wants to do. In the meantime though were looking into jobs and building those skills that will help in the workforce.
Lotus on the other hand has dreams of becoming a Park Ranger and will be starting to earn credits toward graduation this year in the hopes of going to college. But she has also shown quite a bit of interest in photography so she's exploring that as well.
Both have a lot to learn about being consistent in whatever they do and working daily towards their goals, but I have hopes for this school year and what they can accomplish. So feel free to check back and see whats next for the Mighty Masters Academy.
Summer- June, July, August
Fall- September, October, November
Winter- December, January, February
Spring- March, April, May
In other news Killian is starting his senior year and making decisions about what is future looks like. Realistically college is probably not in his future right away, but my hope is that he takes a year to get some real life experience and just learn about what its like to work hard. And he has shown some interest in going into the Knoxville Police Cadet Program at the end of the yr which I think would be an amazing way for him to build confidence and figure out what he really wants to do. In the meantime though were looking into jobs and building those skills that will help in the workforce.
Lotus on the other hand has dreams of becoming a Park Ranger and will be starting to earn credits toward graduation this year in the hopes of going to college. But she has also shown quite a bit of interest in photography so she's exploring that as well.
Both have a lot to learn about being consistent in whatever they do and working daily towards their goals, but I have hopes for this school year and what they can accomplish. So feel free to check back and see whats next for the Mighty Masters Academy.
May 13, 2013
Bridging the Gap...
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| Bridging Phonics for Middle School Students |
Apr 27, 2013
End of year/ Summer School...
A short break during late November through January means an extended school year for us, but that doesnt mean we cant finish strong in some classes.
So far we've been able to finish up Killian's math for the year; which means he will be free of his least favorite subject for the summer. And in the next few weeks we will do a quick review of the TN Drivers License manual in hopes of getting his learners permit in June. Pray God gives this mama lots of patience once he's behind the wheel. Luckily for him we will only have to finish up his Physical Science this summer & perhaps go ahead and take Health & Wellness, but thats still to be decided. My hope is that we can accomplish as much as possible before his 12th grade year.
Lotus is a little less lucky and will be finishing up the majority of her classes during the summer, but she will manage to be done with US History by the end of May. We will also be closing up the Write Shop (see note below) and focusing on spelling, vocab and some problems she's having with phonics. As for science were still uncertain if were going to work through the summer or just wait til next year. However science is sooo much more fun in the summer months. Nothing like studying fungi when you can actually get outside and look at fungi.
I guess this means I will be very busy in the next few months, but dont worry most of this will be done creekside or poolside. You know, homeschool style.
(A few months in we decided to switch Lotus over to the Write Shop study that we are using with Killian and incorporate more individual studies in grammar.This program will be worked on over the next couple of years. So far we are loving it!!)
So far we've been able to finish up Killian's math for the year; which means he will be free of his least favorite subject for the summer. And in the next few weeks we will do a quick review of the TN Drivers License manual in hopes of getting his learners permit in June. Pray God gives this mama lots of patience once he's behind the wheel. Luckily for him we will only have to finish up his Physical Science this summer & perhaps go ahead and take Health & Wellness, but thats still to be decided. My hope is that we can accomplish as much as possible before his 12th grade year.
Lotus is a little less lucky and will be finishing up the majority of her classes during the summer, but she will manage to be done with US History by the end of May. We will also be closing up the Write Shop (see note below) and focusing on spelling, vocab and some problems she's having with phonics. As for science were still uncertain if were going to work through the summer or just wait til next year. However science is sooo much more fun in the summer months. Nothing like studying fungi when you can actually get outside and look at fungi.
I guess this means I will be very busy in the next few months, but dont worry most of this will be done creekside or poolside. You know, homeschool style.
(A few months in we decided to switch Lotus over to the Write Shop study that we are using with Killian and incorporate more individual studies in grammar.This program will be worked on over the next couple of years. So far we are loving it!!)
Aug 17, 2012
Dictation Lessons....
Another year has begun, but this time I'm equipped with a newer version of Word. Which means I'm a document making queen and the kids have all sorts of cool stuff to go along with their homeschooling.
This year makes Lotus' 3rd year using Learning Language Arts through Literature which is a great language arts curriculum, but this year I decided to avoid writing in the books. So I got busy making a pdf of the first 9 dictation lessons so we can work from those. Of course this was probably somewhere already made for me in the online world, but I couldnt find it. The plan is to make one for each of the lessons, but til then Ive taken care of the 1st 9weeks.
So check it out and please feel free to use it, share it, throw it away. Whatever!! This comes from the 98' version of the LLATL Tan Book which is about the same as the rest. And includes lessons 1-9. Check back later for the other lessons which I plan to have done in about 3 weeks. Enjoy.
Lessons 1-9 Tan Book/ LLATL
Mar 2, 2012
Planning for the future.....
We've come to that time in Killian's homeschooling where we have to make decisions about his future. What does he see himself doing after high school? What path do we want to take...college bound or general diploma? And what are the realities based off how hard he's willing to work for those dreams.
Three years ago I made the decision to bring him home because he was failing, we were fighting all the time and our relationship was falling apart because of it. We had also tried at least 5 different A.D.D. medications in a 4 month period which had side effects that were scary to watch. Killian was changing and he had given up on school despite the ways we punished or encouraged him. I know today that we made the best decision because our relationship did improve and I was able to work with him at a slower pace.
However I can also admit that I've had to change a lot in the process too. I had to fight my own demons of procrastination and laziness. Honestly I was the loser in this battle because I gave in too often. It was a aha moment this year that turned the tide and made me transition into full time homeschooling mom. Well full time mom whose heart is set on Jesus, Scott and the kids. Typically one of these 3 suffered at the hands of the other. Now Im finding my groove and the naturalness which flows out of finding your calling within the home.
If I were completely truthful I would admit that all the decisions had already been made at the beginning of this year. I had decided that we would work our butts off and Killian would complete all those college bound graduation requirements. He would make it all the way through the highest maths. He would learn to write if it killed him and he would be college bound or at least have the option right out of high school. Alot of that came out of my fear of failure that didnt match the words I was saying. I was saying it was all about him loving learning, but then making these plans that matched what the world was saying had to be. There was also this fear that I would fail him. Set my heights too low for him or maybe for myself.
But no more. Truth is Killian is super bright, but he hates writing (no matter what I do), he struggles in math (always moving one step forward and 2 steps back) and reading causes him to fall asleep. Kinda like his dad which just happens to be one of the hardest working men there is. Who might never have a book in hand but can construct a building from the ground up. Someone I would be proud of Killian becoming. I want to make decisions about his future based off his strengths and not the worlds standards. I want him to become the best he can be and not a clone of everyone else.
Which path fits Killian? Well Im not really sure, but we have to have some serious conversations. He has to start thinking past the here and now into his future and I have to start leading him by God's standards not the worlds. And this time not riding the fence between the two.
Three years ago I made the decision to bring him home because he was failing, we were fighting all the time and our relationship was falling apart because of it. We had also tried at least 5 different A.D.D. medications in a 4 month period which had side effects that were scary to watch. Killian was changing and he had given up on school despite the ways we punished or encouraged him. I know today that we made the best decision because our relationship did improve and I was able to work with him at a slower pace.
However I can also admit that I've had to change a lot in the process too. I had to fight my own demons of procrastination and laziness. Honestly I was the loser in this battle because I gave in too often. It was a aha moment this year that turned the tide and made me transition into full time homeschooling mom. Well full time mom whose heart is set on Jesus, Scott and the kids. Typically one of these 3 suffered at the hands of the other. Now Im finding my groove and the naturalness which flows out of finding your calling within the home.
If I were completely truthful I would admit that all the decisions had already been made at the beginning of this year. I had decided that we would work our butts off and Killian would complete all those college bound graduation requirements. He would make it all the way through the highest maths. He would learn to write if it killed him and he would be college bound or at least have the option right out of high school. Alot of that came out of my fear of failure that didnt match the words I was saying. I was saying it was all about him loving learning, but then making these plans that matched what the world was saying had to be. There was also this fear that I would fail him. Set my heights too low for him or maybe for myself.
But no more. Truth is Killian is super bright, but he hates writing (no matter what I do), he struggles in math (always moving one step forward and 2 steps back) and reading causes him to fall asleep. Kinda like his dad which just happens to be one of the hardest working men there is. Who might never have a book in hand but can construct a building from the ground up. Someone I would be proud of Killian becoming. I want to make decisions about his future based off his strengths and not the worlds standards. I want him to become the best he can be and not a clone of everyone else.
Which path fits Killian? Well Im not really sure, but we have to have some serious conversations. He has to start thinking past the here and now into his future and I have to start leading him by God's standards not the worlds. And this time not riding the fence between the two.
Feb 6, 2012
Link Love...
I know full well that people homeschooled before the invention of the computer, but honestly I don't know how. It is my go to resource for all things. In fact when my public school friends say to me, "I couldn't homeschool because I wouldn't know what I was teaching" I remind them that if they know how to search the internet and read then they can teach. True it might take a little more work, but part of teaching is being willing to learn. However if not for the internet I would be at the library constantly just trying to keep up.
Luckily for those of homeschooling we have others willing to do the work and share what they found. So in keeping with that let me share some great sites I have found this week.
Luckily for those of homeschooling we have others willing to do the work and share what they found. So in keeping with that let me share some great sites I have found this week.
- Thanks to Mr. Hostetter of Mountain View Elementary I now have a great resource for teaching science. Which includes links to other sites, powerpoints and even test.
- And thanks to Mrs. Brown another great public school teacher I have a long list of art projects to do with Lotus. Which also includes art projects for grades K-5 and powerpoints as well.
- MIKIDS is a great site filled with games to help with whatever subject you might be teaching.
- Skymaps.com has printable sky maps for each month of the year to help you explore the night sky.
- The astronomy for kids online site helped Lo (and mom) learn about Copernicus today.
Feb 2, 2012
Changes.....
One of the things I'm finding is that homeschooling doesn't leave much room for blogging. Especially with a move to a new house in November and the addition of a new family member (our beautiful puppy, Luly). Still I am determined in the new year to make more of an effort. Plus as the family and I try our hand at teaching a few classes to others I'm sure we will have lots more to share.
In the meantime here is a little information about whats been going on in the Mighty Masters Academy.
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| The New Homestead |
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| The new puppy. |
- Lotus finished her cross country adventure with an appreciation for how hard it is too run a mile and plans on doing it again next fall. For now she is using the new backyard hill for practice. She also amazes us with how much she is learning. The girl is a sponge and loves every subject and her teacher. ;-) She also got the chance to be the model for a friend of mine who was teaching a photography class. Which she loved!!
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| Lotus and her friend Haven after a run in the rain. |
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| Lotus getting her model on!! |
- Killian enjoyed his co-op class, but because of car difficulties we have been forced to finish out the remainder of the year on our own at home. However the Exploring America series is amazing and very easy to follow and I am learning right alongside him. Cant say he loves learning, but I see him improving everyday and now that he has his on phone we have good leverage. I still very much know that we made the right decision in bringing him home.
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| Killian avoiding the camera |
- Like I mentioned above we are going to be offering classes and some outdoor adventures in an effort to teach the kids responsibility, meet new people, share the things we love and to make a little extra income. Check out my "Learn" page for more info. We are also planning a mission trip to Haiti this year to visit and work with our friends the Kelley's who are serving as missionaries there.
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