Back to School - Neighborhood Edition

I love hearing all our neighborhood friend's reports about their first week of school! I love that they come over and tell me all about it <3

One hates it so far and wants to be homeschooled (mainly because of the uniforms! "They are NOT cute!" lol), one said his teacher is mean, one said she loves school and her teacher is her most favorite teacher EVER, one said she is tired from waking up so early and actually fell asleep during one of her classes today! 

One middle schooler has a pretty busy schedule and hasn't formed an opinion about it yet, and all of the children unanimously hate their school lunches and ate lots of pancakes, fruit squeezers, popsicles and French toast sticks when they came home.

The first week is always such an adjustment - for everyone! 

When Dylan was in public school, I remember we all had to adjust to the early hours and uniforms and school lunches and baby girl had to adjust to big brother not being there all the time! 

Now, our kiddos still have to adjust... to waking up and doing math problems at the table instead of watching Phineas and Ferb! Total bummer!

We also do fun things at the table like have afternoon tea! 

There is a LOT of pressure on kids and sometimes they don't have time to just be KIDS. So grateful to be here to experience that part... the wonder of a lady bug. The beauty of friendship. Debating keeping my distance when it might be tempting to break up a fight instead of let it run its course, and yet being nearby to remind them to play nicely and be friends.

This summer, God showed me there is much more He expects of me than to just raise my children. He wants me to be a light in my neighborhood. Really, intentionally reach out. Making an effort to be kind and encouraging and loving. As if they were all my kids. After all, this is my neighborhood, my city... they are mine, in a way. 

I've done this intentionally in the past, but since we were called to serve at a church across town 4 years ago, it has been difficult to really dig in... I felt as if I was being led away although we find ourselves still here. Yet God gave me a nudge this summer and it continues during the school year. 

I can love in the waiting. 

I can decide each day to reach out to the people that are around me, even if tomorrow those surroundings change. Also, we can choose to homeschool and still be an integral part of our community. And that is my intention... to disciple and love these children and their parents, grandparents, step-parents, etc... until the Lord moves us to a new community to do the same!

With that, I wish you ALL a wonderful school year, precious kiddos! May you learn and grow and discover the MAKER who put all this here for you to experience - may ALL of it draw you close to HIM! May you look to Jesus, who knows your pain (however small it might seem to others) for He truly loves and cares about you. When things aren't perfect, might that cause you to realize there is something much greater than this life. And may we continue to go to the Lord for strength as we love our neighbors and reach out to our communities!

His, Mama G

Something Smells Fishy

So... have you (local) friends seen this and the "discussion" surrounding it? It's creating quite an uproar on homeschool Facebook groups...

Thoughts?

This honestly reminds me more of Jocelyn when Dylan went away to school... she missed her buddy all day long! Although we did have lots of one on one playtime and did tons of girly things so it wasn't too bad ;)

A homeschool mom on a Facebook group wrote to the artist, expressing her concerns that the homeschooled fish seemed sad and facing backwards b/c he will learn less... and here was his response:

I think you've read far more into my comic than was intended. 

Instead of being in a regular "school" of fish, he's home"school"ed. 

Nothing more than that.  

As for the direction he's facing - it was completely arbitrary. 

Didn't even realize I'd placed him facing a different direction 

until you pointed it out.  

Just a lighthearted cartoon. That's all.

Totally get it. He thinks it's funny. Some other people might too! But it does open up a discussion about the stigma surrounding homeschool kids and families - as one can see, they are mostly misunderstood...

First, I feel like a lot of people still don't really "get" homeschooling - it's growing more and more common but it's still not the norm... many people actually still think if kids learn at home, they are missing out on all the fun... maybe even missing out on a life their parents had. Of course we understand the opposite is true!

Geocaching - Fall 2017

Spending allowance money on a survival compass - Fall 2017

Art - learning to draw - Spring 2017

Spending time with his piggy Rocket - Spring 2017

Learning about crystals - experiments - Spring 2017

Studying the earth's layers with Rice Krispies and marshmallows - Spring 2017

Of course every homeschool parent knows school at home is not all sunshine and rainbows and fun science projects and field trips! But most of the time it is interesting and wonderful and a slower paced more fulfilling life!

Second, I feel like everyone has different reasons for homeschooling but one thing this artist may not have intended to accurately represent is the fact that all the fish in school are swimming the same way, while Pete is swimming the other way... I see him as a leader! He's an individual! Yay Pete! Where is your smile Pete? =D This should definitely not make you sad!

Of course children in public school are given opportunities to shine as individuals and leaders at times, (not saying they aren't!) but they ARE also highly influenced by peer pressure and pressured by the culture to "swim" the same way. As a product of public schools, good ones I might add, I know this to be true! "Traditional" schools breed insecurity and obviously homeschooled kids have much less pressure to conform. Maybe that's why they seem "weird" sometimes, carrying on conversations with adults and loving unpopular subjects like math and literature... 

As far as facing the opposite way means learning less as one mom took the comic? Not the case... homeschooling is the equivalent of having a private tutor and most homeschooled kids are ahead of their peers. Not that anyone is comparing! Again - we are raising individuals who learn at their own pace and develop a love for learning in a noncompetitive environment!

Third, a more accurate representation (in my opinion) of education would be the school of fish being scooped from the ocean and poured into a large confined tank and Pete still swimming in the great big ocean with his family of fish and all the other creatures of the sea because... Pete's education isn't limited to a fish bowl! He's not limited to a strict schedule... or desk... or classroom... or posture for learning. He doesn't have to raise his hand to use the bathroom. He can munch on apple slices while working on his math worksheet... and he can take frequent trampoline breaks to get the "wiggles" out! He can even pace the room or do pushups while reading if he needs to! If anything, Pete has more freedom to move and learn and explore!

Science experiment - Fall 2017

Rock climbing - Fall 2017

Still... many people look at my kids as if they are in a glass bowl - studying them, judging them.. because they are not in traditional school. Oh the grocery store during the weekdays... They are under a microscope, under scrutiny, their knowledge casually tested by strangers and family members more often than kids going to a traditional school to make sure they are learning at the same rate, or are they learning at an accelerated rate compared to others their age??... I often feel like I'm being observed as well! Am I qualified to teach? Homeschooling can be very isolating in those ways!

Fourth, hey - it was meant to be a joke.. haha... The artist even said it was a lighthearted comic not meant to be read into so much. I don't think we should get all riled up about it... and I don't really find it offensive. I get it... But honestly I do find it ignorant... no offense but Mr. Scott Hillburn is living under a rock when it comes to school choice and the benefits of homeschool vs the traditional classroom! Are we still, in this day and age, perpetrating these misnomers about homeschool? I hope not... Welcome to the 21st century, Mr. Hillburn! Homeschool ROCKS! =D And I'm truly grateful to be able to do it! The sacrifices are a privilege!

And here's our personal experience... our kids are NOT begging to go to a "traditional" school. It's the other way around! 

In our community, on our street, a handful of neighborhood friends who are ready to put their uniforms on and ride the bus to school next Monday are begging to spend the day in OUR house, asking to be a part of Goldbach Academy so they can be homeschooled instead! True story!

Kids will adjust to what their parents decide is best for them. And parents love their kids and make choices they feel are best for their children! 

I just thought this black and white comic deserved a little color and illumination on the reality of homeschooling. Guess it's the educator in me... 

Our little school of fish aren't sad, aren't confined, aren't missing out, and don't want to jump into the big tank and join the other school of fish. They are perfectly content to learn here at home, and in the big wide world, and so are we!

Love to all you homeschool folks... here's to raising individuals! Happy School Year to all the "Petes" out there and their faithful moms and dads who help them everyday develop a love for learning!

His, Mama G

Update:

A talented homeschool kid drew a new comic, reflecting her experience and sent it to the artist! He complimented her drawing.

Friday in Photos

Hiking through Reedy Creek

Texture

80 year old fallen tree

Discovering snails and slugs

Snail friends!

Hello Mr. Snail

Plays at Reedy Creek with a giant stuffed Snail puppet!

Roman column cookies
We reviewed the fall of the Roman Empire in "Story of the World Book 2"

Who knew Roman columns would be so tasty? And resemble patriotic Christmas cookies?
They sang "Jingle Bells" while decorating these... 

Headed to the first KIDS CARE Club event 

Putting together Blessing Bags to give to our homeless neighbors

Praying over these bags, the kids said things like "Help them to be warm in their new socks" and "Thank you we have extra money to help others" and "We pray they like the candy" and "Help the people feel loved" and "Help us find the people fast." We included a printout of local resources for homeless friends and a gospel tract. 

Some members of the KIDS CARE Club

Such precious friends!

One quick story...
As I was standing in line to get totes (33 of them) for the Blessing Bags at the local Dollar Tree, a woman behind me asked me where I found them because they were so cute and was I using them for gift bags? I told her about our KIDS CARE Club and that we were making Blessing Bags so we'd be prepared to give when we meet homeless friends in our community. She thought that was the neatest thing and asked if it was part of a church and how long we'd been doing this.
I explained the club was an idea of mine to get our family more involved with volunteering around the community and this was our first event, but we had made Blessing Bags as a family and it was a wonderful thing to do!
Then she told me something that blew me away... she said her brother was homeless! He had just entered a rehab facility in Asheville. Then she thanked me for doing this - for showing care and love to others, like her brother.
I know God put her right in line behind me at the Dollar Tree for a reason - to confirm that all the organization, the follow-up, the time, energy, money, effort put into loving our neighbors is worth it. Because loving our neighbors is loving our brothers, our sisters, our daughters, our sons, our mothers, our fathers... I can't WAIT to see what God has in store for us as we intentionally love our community together!

His, Mama G

First Day Back

I planned to start school next Monday, on the 14th, but the kids were getting too excited and begged to start today so here we are on our First Day Back! Here they are - cute as ever - with their colorful Goldbach Academy binders inscribed with our theme verse...
Colossians 2:6-7
This is truly my prayer for our home school adventure... that these children will be ROOTED in faith, BUILT UP with love, STRENGTHENED mentally, physically and spiritually, TAUGHT truths of all kinds (academically and Biblically), and in the end OVERFLOWING with Thanksgiving!

But let's be transparent... The excitement of the First Day Back began to wane after I requested a responsive writing from Dyl (his nemesis) and some words to be sounded out and read from Lulu (oh, the concentration that demands!) ... But hey - that's a "Day in the Life" of home education!  They finally conceded when they were gently reminded about our new allowance system that requires them to TRY and DO MY BEST WORK. Money talks, people! And kids (and adults) GET rewards. And that's ok - it's good motivation!

They won't LOVE everything they need to learn or are required to do. But much of it is amazing and exciting and causes them to love learning and ask questions and WANT to do their "work". Especially when it doesn't feel like work.

For example, this was our unplanned "world geography" lesson of the day! Don't they look engaged? They were! While I was spreading peanut butter and jelly on bread and slicing celery in the kitchen, they were listening to Wee Sing Around the World and identifying all the countries on a globe. Dylan was reminding Lulu about the continents, and showing her which places belong to the USA. They found countries in South America, North America, they discovered the West Indies and began to move into Europe before we stopped to eat our lunch.

Today was a light day ~ I decided since Jocelyn has swimming lessons for the next two weeks in the mid-morning, we'll start slowly and do a little each day until we really get in rhythm.
We read our first history lesson from Story of the World, Volume 2: The Middle Ages, which was a review of the Roman Empire.
Our big fourth grader did a math page and reviewed some terms like addend and sum as well as  learned some new terms like minuend and subtrahend.
Our big first grader learned about the big hand and little hand on the clock. We also talked about how to write dates and we reviewed the days of the week and months of the year.

How's Teacher-mom doing? Well, not only have I prepared the academic side of this year (chosen curriculum for the year and bought planners etc...) but I have done something a little more - I've been preparing my heart. God has been teaching me about myself - convicting me, really, about some things I haven't been doing well. Ways I've been lazy, rebellious, unloving, self-serving... some of it is because of some health problems I've been experiencing. But most of it is just distraction and not trusting His plan. He's shown me through a few different books including books of the New Testament, a wonderful book by Shannan Martin called Falling Free, as well as a book called For the Children's Sake. This is one I'm still reading and probably need to purchase and read every year. It's a book written in the early 80's about Charlotte Mason's philosophies and practical application on educating (and really valuing) children. I would recommend it to anyone, even those not choosing home education for their children, even those who don't HAVE children because children are everywhere and we need to understand how to interact with them... They are part of our society, they are the church, they are our neighbors, they are our children and grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Children aren't the future - they are the present!

So as we enter this new school year, we are moving forward in faith that God will provide what we need to do His will which is... to LOVE Him and LOVE others. That's it. And that's impossible without the Holy Spirit! So we abide.

His, Mama G