September is Not my Favorite Month

This post was originally posted on a site called Home and School Mosaics on September 2, 2014.

Five years later I am revisiting some of these posts and part of me is nostalgic,missing the days when I was homeschooling and my boys were younger.  Another part is laughing, because they barely seem like the same kids.

Since the Home and School Mosaics site has been down for several years now, I will post these on my own blog for posterity, nostalgia, and a laugh.

I hope you enjoy this re-run of September is Not My Favorite Month.

Here in New York, most school districts begin their school year right after the Labor Day weekend.

When my boys were younger and in public school this was an extremely stressful time for them.

As the lazy days of August began to wind down, it was easy to see them growing more apprehensive.

To make matters worse, well meaning adults would begin to ask all of the usual back-to-school questions. What school did they attend? What grade were they going into? Did they know who their teacher was going to be? Were they looking forward to the first day?

In their own sweet, quirky, and endearing way, my children would try to be honest and polite when speaking with grownups. On a day before the start of first grade, Boy Two was playing the part of public relations/spokesperson for the duo when he replied, “September is not my favorite month.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. He said it with such sincerity! Now any time our summers are interrupted by questions about school we laugh and use that as our standard answer.

Thankfully, homeschooling has made that first day less loathsome, but none of us are waving the pompoms as we contemplate getting back into the daily routine of cracking open the books. Once we get started we are fine, but we do love the laid back days of summer!

It was for this reason I learned to begin gently.

We have some traditions that help us jump start each year.

These rituals are the tiny sparks that start to smolder and eventually ignite the brain cells to get back into the swing of hings.

Our favorite is “not back to school” day.  When yellow buses roll out and our publicly schooled friends attend their first day of classes, we celebrate our break from this lifestyle by sleeping late, going out for lunch, and catching a movie matinee.

The next day, when we officially begin our new grade level, I make a special breakfast.

After we eat, I surprise my students with some new games, books, and clothes for the school year. We spend the first day simply checking out the new curriculum, setting up a schedule, and listing our goals.

While they don’t exactly cheer the start of each new school day, we do manage to enjoy our time together. They are bright students and I love helping them learn.

Do you have any special traditions that help kick off your school year?

Less Words Wednesday – First Day of School

Our First Day of Seventh Grade.

Don't they look thrilled?

Wordless Wednesday - School's Out!

Good bye sixth grade!!

We've got seventh graders in the house!

Wordless Wednesday – This Week in #Homeschool - #WW

Beyond the Textbooks:

We Had Some

Fun With Dry Ice

We Also Planted Strawberries 

and Forget Me Nots

Celebrate "Not Back to School" With Us!

Our Tradition is to celebrate a Not Back to School Day every year.  When the other kids have their first day of public school, we have a day of fun instead.

Here are my 6th graders, ready for a day out on the town.  (I don't know why they insist on making goofy faces - but at least they're smiling!)

This year we started the day with freshly baked bite sized cinnamon buns, and a basket full of presents.  (and game that isn't really new - but worked well for propping the previously debuted first day of school frisbee up for the photograph)

The Fellas enjoyed their new T-Shirts, and other assorted items.

Not Back to School Day also includes lunch out, and fun activities all day long.  Unfortunately, this year it was pouring, which brought some limitations, but it was still lots of fun.

We Made Our Own Gum

Once upon a time, this was a colorful post with a lot of great photos.  Then homeschool blogger dot com wiped all of my photographs from the internet and now it is a boring post barely worth reading.  Sorry.

Yes, it would have been easier to pick up a pack for $1.29 as we were going through the checkout, but the boys were given a gum making kit, and they were seriously excited to make their own bubble gum.

First we assembled the ingredients.

We poured the powdered sugar into a bowl, and left a well in the center.

Then we added the little packet of gum base which looked like little beads.

We softened the base by microwaving it several times at 15 second intervals. 

Then we added a little bit of liquid corn syrup. 

Next we added the flavoring. 

Everything was mixed together.

The (sticky, messy, very RED)
mess mixture was then poured onto a sheet of waxed paper that had been dusted with powdered sugar. 

We rolled it out, and shaped the pieces.

The kit came with a booklet that had a lot of interesting information about gum, and it's origins.

It was fun, although quite messy.  (I should have used a disposable mixing bowl!)

Unfortunately, the gum didn't taste so hot, either - but we had a good time, learned some new things, and we made more than gum.. we made some memories.

Unexpected Blessings.

About a year ago, I was accepted as a member of the Old SchoolHouse Magazine Product Review Team, also known as the TOS Homeschool Crew.  I really had no idea what to expect.  I had come across the crew as a new homeschooler.  On the crew blogs, I found the most helpful curriculum reviews and wonderful support for homeschooling families.  I found myself using the resources quite frequently.  When I heard that there were openings for the 2010-11 year, I tried out immediately.  When I was accepted, I was thrilled!   I had been doing product reviews for years, and I thought, Wow!  What a great fit!

Well.. that was  until I found out I had to start a blog of my own.  A BLOG?!?  ME??  I was a little intimidated.  I thought, well, okay, I can do this.. I bit the bullet, and "Our Village is a Little Different" was born.  I figured I'd do a few reviews over the course of a year and that would be it.   At first this was a poor, neglected blog.  Then, as the school year got rolling, and the Crew became busier, I began to see the value in it.  This wasn't just a few reviews!  I suddenly remembered why I was drawn to the Crew to begin with.  It was not the products, but the crew members! I read their blogs, and I learned about products, homeschooling families, different teaching styles and curriculum.  I was encouraged, and supported, and informed.  I did buy some items based on reviews I had read, but as a new homeschooler, I was really drawn to the community that the crew provided.  It suddenly dawned on me that *I* was possibly that person for another new homeschooling family.

It's now almost one year, and many awesome products later.  Each item we have used as a Crew family has been a blessing.  My boys are better writers, more confident with drafting tools, they have learned the beauty of the Psalms, know their math drills forward and backward, and are beginning to understand the importance of a strong faith foundation in a secular world.

In other areas, I have become a very confident review blogger, and I'm much less reluctant to add personal posts to my pages.   I have added new words to my vocabulary like meme, blog button, linky, and blog hop. I have made many new friends, learned so much more about what is available to use in our schooling, new ways of working with autism spectrum disorders, and the many different styles of homeschooling.

Every area where the Crew has touched my life, I have grown, and become a better person.  I am very grateful for that.  The Crew has given me an opportunity to reach out to crew mates and other homeschoolers.  I don't think I could have hoped for more.

As this year draws to a close, I'm so glad I was chosen, and I look forward to the new year ahead.

This week's Blog Cruise is a look back over the 2010-11 Crew voyage.  Several other Crew members will be linking up with posts about the blessings this year has brought to them.  It will be the last entry for this school year.

Thank you to Jodi who has done a great job with the Cruise all year!  I haven't had much to contribute as a fairly new homeschooler with only two children in the same grade level, but I have learned a lot from each week's entries!

Eucharist, a CD and Study Guide by Fr. Robert E Barron

One of the most significant hallmarks of the Catholic Church is our consecrated Eucharist.  This audio lesson and accompanying study guide are a great way to shed even greater light on this most blessed sacrament.

Father Robert Barron opens the discussion by describing what it was like to dispense communion in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.   He speaks of the faithful gathered there, begging with their hands outstretched as though they were starving.   He contrasts that scene to most parishes he goes to.  Unfortunately, most people have not had a full spiritual education, or they may have a misunderstanding of the sacrament.   The words are the right words, the motions are the right motions, but so many hearts do not hunger for the  Sacrum Convivium - "The Sacred Banquet".

After his short introduction the remainder of the 77 minute class is divided into three parts.  Sacred Meal, Sacrifice, and Real Presence. The accompnying Study Guide is a workbook to be written in.  Each part of the lecture has a study guide recap, followed by Questions for Understanding.   These include some studying, looking up certain parts of the Catholic Cathechism or Bible passages, and answering questions.   Those are followed by Questions for Reflection.   As you would guess, these are more personal, and do not have right or wrong answers.  They are more for spiritual growth.

There are also two pages of prayers that are appropriate for after Eucharist, a short biography about Father Baron, and a page for taking notes.  You will want to listen with a pencil.  He makes so many wonderful points, my pencil was flying across the page the first time, when I listened as a reviewer.  I listened again, a second time, so I could simply allow myself to appreciate the words.

During the lesson of the Sacred Meal, Father points out the many times in the Bible that God lays out a banquet - starting in the Garden of Eden.  It is shown to us again, and again.  When Jesus walked among us, we see it still.  the fist miracle at the wedding feast, the loaves and the fishes - Jesus was always sitting down and sharing food, even with those considered lowly, or unworthy.  This was the case all the way until The Last Supper;  The Passover Meal he shared with his Apostles, and the meal we recount every time we attend mass.

As Father Barron discusses Sacrifice, he  does not shy away from the fact that it often is not a delicate notion.  Sacrifice hurts, but the pain is rewarded.   Our Biblical references to sacrifice are bloody, painful, and heartbreaking - but they are gifts.  Gifts given in love.  Not because of law, but because the giver wanted to please God above himself.  The same is true of God's gift, God's Sacrifice.  The Lamb of God was without sin, but he took our sins upon himself.

Next week is Holy Week.  We will reflect upon the Passion.  Everything bad in the world was placed upon Jesus, who took it up and obeyed the will of God.  For US.

It is almost impossible to escape the fact the centerpiece of the Mass is an altar.  The consecration takes place upon that altar.  We kneel and bow our heads as the priest proclaims, "This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.. "

When we talk about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, it makes some people uncomfortable.  They balk.  They question.  They assures us that we must mean that it is a symbol!  It is NOT a symbol.  The language is unmistakable.

Jesus dealt with this also.  Father Barron discusses how important the words of Jesus truly are.  He never chose words lightly.   When he said, "Unless you eat my bread and drink my blood, you will not have life in you," it is what he meant to say.  Many left him at that point.  They were disgusted, and appalled.  The very thought of it, even if it were figurative speech, would be breaking the laws of  the time.  In spite of this, Jesus did not soften his tone, or change his word.  he became more insistent.  "Do not seek the goods of this world, seek for the bread that will not perish!'

The final part of the lecture is very moving, and convicting.  It delves into how God's word is the final authority, the real truth.  What God says, is.  Reality is not always the same as appearance.  The words of the consecration are the same words of Christ, as retold in the Gospels.  When we gather for Mass, we gather for the Sacrum Convivium.

I think this is a wonderful study of the Sacrament of Eucharist.  It is available from The Catholic Company for $29.95, and would work well as a self study with the workbook or with a group.  The possibilities for discussions are great.

The site describes the set this way:

This set includes the Eucharist CD and its companion Study Guide.

In the CD, Fr. Barron offers inspiring insights into the mystery of Christ's presence in our lives and the centrality of the Eucharist as an important part of that presence. So many believers do not understand the mystery of the Eucharist, which Vatican II describes as the "source and summit of the Christian life." This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as sacred meal, as the sacrifice necessary for communion with God and as the real presence of Christ.

You can listen to the CD and then probe more deeply into Father Barron's message by using the companion Study Guide, which is divided into sections that correspond to each part of Father's presentation. Each section provides "Questions for Understanding" and "Questions for Reflection" based on Father's presentation and references from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Eucharist CD Bundle (CD/Study Guide) . They are also a great source for serenity prayer and baptism gifts.

Happy Spring?

I was so happy last week, enjoying the warm weather, being outdoors, seeing all the green sprouty things...  We woke up today to snow, and ice, and some slushy rain mixed in.  LOL.

We marked the equinox by balancing an egg on the counter.

Of course, I have only ever tried this on Spring Equinox days, it could be entirely possible that eggs ALWAYS balance on the counter, but it was fun, and I impressed two ten year old boys.  They were amazed to see it still standing this morning.

So, You're Thinking About HomeSchooling?

There are some things a family has to do in order to homeschool.  They have to know their state's regulations, they need to inform a district, they probably need to report progress and grades periodically.  Then, of course, there is an amazing variety of choices.  A family can arrange for a remote school to prepare a curriculum for them, or they can take classes over the internet or by video.  They can scour the internet and put together their own school year piece by piece.  A family can unschool eclectically, or use a pre set program religiously.  There are secular, Christian, and public school K-12 programs.  For me, these were the easy decisions.  What I had to conquer was self doubt.

This is only our second year homeschooling.  Before they were even born, I had (only half jokingly) told my husband that I would homeschool our boys; then life happened.  Having children with special needs also means a lot of specialists.  To help with school we have had physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, special educators, aides and social skills classes.  We've had evaluations, interventions, tests, reward systems, weighted items, therapeutic devices and many, many suggestions.

As a mother, I wanted what was best for my children.  I understood that all of these well trained people were trying to help them.  I also knew that it wasn't working.  By the third grade, I had some very clear revelations.  My children learned best in our home - without distractions, sensory bombardment, and constant transitions.  Their academics were becoming advanced in comparison to their classmates, but their maturity and coping skills were lagging behind.  I also noticed that interactions in the classroom situation were far more difficult than practicing social skills in real life.  Against the advice of the experts, and even some of the people closest to me, I made the decision to homeschool.

I'm not going to lie.  I was terrified.  I had done a lot of research, and I felt like I knew what to do, but could I really handle this?  The answer was yes.  Not only did we do it, but it was a wonderful first year for all of us.  We were able to cover all of the required material, and the boys were also able to take the subjects they loved and go as far as they wanted to with them.  They could bring home piles of books and documentaries about history and science and pour over them.  They were able to write stories and draw pictures and find ways of expressing themselves without constant interruptions and transitions.  We learned math in a new way that helped my visual learners to see concepts and to touch them.

I might not have a college degree in teaching, but I know my children better than anyone else on this planet. As I prepared for our second year, I realized that every bit of doubt was gone.  This is truly what is best for our family, and we CAN do it.   (quite well, thank you!)

Here's what I would suggest to anyone ready to begin their own homeschool journey.   If you have no real life cheerleaders, find some support online.  There is a huge community of homeschooling families, and there are sure to be some that are just like yours.  Next, spend some time on the internet doing research.  There is a whole new language to learn.  Some terms seem intimidating, like IHIP.   Then, you'll learn it's only an abbreviation for what you plan to study that year.   You might see a post refer to the HSLDA which is a legal resource.  Lapbook, Unit Study, Boxed Cirriculum, Unschool, Co-Op, etc.  - new words, slight confusion, but it will all come together, and if you don't know,  ASK!   Homeschool families love helping each other!  There can be some differences in philosophy, but overall, you will find that it's a very welcoming community, and not very many of its members are out to eat their young.

Not Back to School Blog Hop - My Fifth Graders

Welcome to the third week of the  Not Back To School Blog Hop Hosted by Heart of the Matter.   This week everybody is sharing photos of our students.  I love looking at all the pictures and putting faces with the names.  If you'd like to see these happy homeschoolers, or add your own class photo, new posts will be added all week.  Hurry!  Submissions end on Friday.

These are my Fifth Graders whom I lovingly refer to as "Boy One" and Boy Two"

This last photo is probably the best representation of a school day.  As I mentioned in last week's post, we spend  a lot of time on this couch, reading.

Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful week!