The Benefits of Homeschool for One

Photo Credit: Home Educating Family Blog

Today I'm over at Home Educating Family Blog. Come check out my article!

Home Educating Family Blog--Economic Downturn Education

I definitely wrote from my real life experiences on my blog post today for the Home Educating Family Blog!



Check it out!

Where does education take place?

Over a year ago, I wrote a status on FaceBook about the difference between public education and home education.  I meant it as a semi-joke, but also a commentary on the two systems. 


Boy, I didn't realize the can of worms I was opening!  


One of my old friends from high school took it VERY personally.  I tried to assure her I wasn't speaking specifically about her children or her choice.  I said that every parent has to decide between them and God what is best for their children.  I even asked if we could just "agree to disagree."  


She un-friended me.  :-(


But one of her comments has hung around and just goes to prove how little most know about home education.  She said something to the effect of just because we do our schooling around the kitchen table doesn't mean it's better or make us "holier than thou."


Well, at least she didn't think I had a desk set up.  I know many homeschoolers have a "classroom" with desks and such for doing school.  That's cool if it works for them.  I dare say most of them don't limit themselves to just that one room though.  Personally, we tend to be a little more casual throughout our day.


I thought I'd share some pictures of learning taking place. Some are recent; some are not.  I'd love to see how it compares with your day!

Okay, so some of the day is spent at the kitchen table.  And yes, these happy expression are staged!  It's not always quite this exciting.

Doing some math with her little brother Pancho.  She also climbed under the table to listen to me do some reading.

Doing some language with her brothers.  I'm okay with different locations as long as work gets done and penmanship/neatness doesn't suffer.

Here she's reading Charlotte's Web.  Of course, Pancho and ChiChi are usually nearby.  They love their big sister!  ;-)

She's attending an online club at CurrClick.com.  I'm not sure why she has Mick Jagger lips.

We've used sidewalk chalk to practice spelling words.

Sometimes it just happens.  She discovered this katydid on our porch and we later researched it.

There's nothing like learning by doing!  Her 5-cup salad/ambrosia has become a regular at family gatherings.


Of course, field trips rock!

There's nothing like seeing and touching
tadpoles with friends!

Toy and Miniature Museum in Kansas City.

Well, there a few places where learning has taken place around here.  Nothing wrong with a desk or a kitchen table, but homeschooling offers SO MUCH MORE!!!

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Today I'm posted on the Home Educating Family Blog

I wrote an article for the Home Educating Family Blog which was posted today.  It's entitled Educating My One and Only.  It's about home educating an only child.  I would be tickled pink if you would go check it out.


I was asked to become a regular contributor to the Home Educating Family Blog.    (I know.  Me?  A regular contributor?) I think my piece is supposed to every third Monday. But don't forget to check out the blog other times because there's a bunch of good stuff on there.  My friend Jenny is doing an awesome job with it!


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Science on the "fly"

OK, it wasn't a fly, but it was an insect.

Mija was outside playing when all of sudden she comes running through the door, "Mommy, have you ever seen a bug that looks like a plant?" 

Well, of course I have says I.  Thinking back to all the photos of walking sticks and such I've seen. 

"There's one out here right now!!  Come see!"

You're a parent.  You know what I'm thinking.  "This sofa feels very comfortable and the last time you told me to come see some nondescript item."  BUT ALAS!  I didn't say it.  Instead, I actually got up to go see.

And this is what she saw:

And then she said, "I have a hypothesis...."

That's right.  She had a hypothesis. (Thanks, Dinosaur Train.)

She thought that God had made this insect look like a leaf, so it wouldn't be eaten by predators (her word) because it looks like a leaf.

After doing some research with me on the Internet, you know what we found out about this katydid (for that is what it was)?

God made it look like a leaf, so it wouldn't be eaten by predators. 

Her hypothesis was correct!

Needless to say, the next day after our research, there was some photo printing and journaling involved.  (I didn't do it the same day because I didn't want to interupt her play time AND touching on the same subject for two days, made it more memorable.)

So, that was our science on the fly.  The joy of home education!