Ezra Taft Benson -

As a watchman on the tower, I feel to warn you that one of the chief means of misleading our youth and destroying the family unit is our educational institutions. President Joseph F. Smith referred to false educational ideas as one of the three threatening dangers among our Church members.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

A fun blog about homeschooling

I read a blog post about how to "mix it up" during these months that seem to go on and on during the year.

Instead of copying what she said I will give you the link and you can read it.

We love games. Both board games and video games. One of our favorite board games is Qwirkle. My 9 year old loves it all the way up to my husband. Let me know your favorite. Maybe it will be a game we need to purchase.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Educational-Family-Games

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Stereotypes

I have heard from both home schoolers and public schooled families so many stereotypes about each other. The education, socialization, manors, etc. I have seen ugly on both sides of the fence.

We know public schooled families with illiteracy issues, who are socially disfunctional, and have manors of the Tasmanian devil. Likewise we know families who have had a lot of success in the public school environment, with kids very pleasant to be around, and who make great friends.

Home schooled families have learners at very different levels. Some are very advanced and are graduating at 16 with Associate Degrees. Some are struggling with learning road blocks like dyslexia and have problems reading and writing. Some families focus on other learning areas while the kids are elementary age. So using a measuring stick doesn't really show how much they are learning. Some home schooled kids are the best people around. Others I'd rather keep at arms length.

We have been to both social gatherings. Both groups have issues to deal with. Both can have rude kids. Both have kids who don't know how to act around others, and who are shy or don't relate to kids their own age. We have been to church events where everyone but us is in public school and have been treated terribly. Teasing, name calling, disrespect for leaders, etc. We have also been to home school events where there has been bullying and name calling as well.

To say that either is perfect would be incorrect and arrogant. It isn't a contest where I say my choice is better than yours. For our family it is better for us to home school our children right now. But I certainly would not ever want your choice to send your children away for school to be taken away from you. Nor would the decision of whether or not my children be friends with your children be based on where they receive their education or their religion for that matter. In return I'd like to see you respect our decision and not judge or stereotype us or fight our choices in legislature.

The real issue is CHOICE. Everyone wants it. Parents are ultimately responsible for the upbringing of their children. Period. Parents choose how life will be for their own children. And it should always be that way. Likewise, parents should be held accountable for their childrens outcome. Bullies and social misfits usually have those same issues at home. Where they are schooled won't change that.

Education needs to evolve. We need to be open to other options. The world is changing. Technology allows for easy access to wonderful things. Transportation allows for easy travel to visit places and people.

I wish you luck on your journey.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

It's that time of year

It's that time of year where I start evaluating what I want to do next school year. What did we like? What did we not like? What bargains can I get right now?

This year I had two kids doing K12 part time. K12 is an online program the local school system offers. We have done this program on and off for about 5 -6 years and enjoy the curriculum. This is one of the programs I think I will be dropping next year, however. Participating in this program keeps other options for the kids closed. You can only participate in one state program at a time here in Utah. Even if it is part time. There are other classes at a local charter school that the kids want to participate in. Plus there are classes that other moms are teaching that keeps us busy, as well. So I think we will go it alone next year for them.

Aleks online math has been a great program. It helped Shelby get through BYU Geometry. (Not a lot of instruction with BYU math classes). Taylor loves Aleks math. But Ricky wants to go back to Saxon Math. He finished this years math and we already started him on next years math.

I have a lot of the books Taylor and Ricky will be using next year. I am looking to get Easy Grammar for 7th grade for Taylor. Ebay has been the cheapest place to find it. I'll just look for a bargain. I have gotten it for as low as $5 in the past. (that is with shipping) Patience! I also got my Apologia Science books for about half the price last year. I start looking early and wait.

Shelby applied for admittance to Utah Valley University's High School program. Mostly to keep options open. If she can get admitted and graduate from there she can graduate with an Associates Degree at 17. However, she really enjoys Open High School of Utah and is excited they will be offering the classes she needs next year. They only offered Algebra for 9th graders this year and Shelby was taking Geometry. So we had to take it with BYU. We haven't liked BYU High School classes at all. There is no interaction with the teachers. Yes, the speed backs are open book. But we don't feel like we learn much and the final exam grades reflect that.

Also there could be Concurrent Enrollment options available with Open High School. Concurrent Enrollment is a program in Utah that allows advanced High School students the opportunity to take college courses in place of their high school classes. Instead of taking AP classes, they take a college course and get college credit. That will be a deciding factor if we have to choose this summer which program to keep her in.

Utah has a plethora of choices for home schooling families. We feel so blessed to have our children participating in great programs and learning things they most definitely wouldn't get to in another setting.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Road Blocks

We have known since December that on February 14, 2010 we would be singing as a family in Sacrament at church. Shelby decided she wanted to be the one to play the piano. Oh, how excited this mother was. She started practicing the song. Wasn't perfect but she has time, was the initial thought. We did practice singing together one night during Family Home Evening.

Somewhere along the line we just pushed it out of our minds. Maybe from fear of the very thought. I said yes because the proud and excited momma took over. Of course my daughter can play well enough for Sacrament meeting. Of course our family will stand in front of 300 people and sing. We'll be great.

The reality that we aren't the Osmonds hit me this week. My daughter still stumbles on one particular part of the song in playing the piano peice. And we sound about as good as any average family. Not horrible, but certainly not good enough to sing in front of people.

We will somehow pull it together. We won't be great. People will only laugh and talk about us for a short time. It will be a good experience for the family to work together. (she keeps telling herself to reassure her that it isn't going to be as bad as she fears. lol)

My motto has always been "Just do it". But I am beginning to realize saying no isn't so bad.

Say a prayer for us!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

10 tips to a positive attitude

Here is what we did for our morning devotional.

Tips for a Positive Attitude


1. Remember that you can’t control other people’s actions, but you can always control your response. Life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we react to it. (Read 1 Peter 3:16)

2. Everyone has troubles, and God’s Word says to rejoice in those sufferings.
Difficult times are only part of life, not our whole life, so remember to thank God for the blessings, while dealing with the issues. (Read 1 Peter 1:6-7)

3. Pray for God to help you do a self examination to see if you are harboring any seeds of negativity and pessimism in your heart, and if God reveals something to you that needs improvement, pray for His strength, courage and ability to deal with the root causes for those emotions, and fill your heart with God’s love instead. (Read Ephesians 4:26-27)

4. Regardless of what may have happened in your life, do not live your life as a victim. Strive to achieve the victor mentality that God empowers us to have through His strength. Make the choice today, and one day at a time, to have a positive attitude, and look for the good things in your life and future, not just the unfortunate things from the past. (Read Ephesians 2:22-24)

5. If you are unhappy about things or circumstances in your life, pray for God to change those things if it is within His will, and then expect to begin seeing Him at work. Remember that nothing is impossible with God. (Read Proverbs 3:5-6, and Mark 10:27)

6. Believe that God redeems you, despite your past, and that He loves you, despite your pain. Remember there is always a purpose for our pain. (Read Psalm 130:3)

7. Focus on gratitude. Spend some time listing all of the good things in your life, and all the blessings God has given you. Pray and ask God to help you have a heart of gratitude. Focus on Him, and not the things of the world. (Read Hebrews 12:28, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

8. Stop letting other people's negative attitudes affect yours. Negative attitudes can be contagious. Ask yourself - is my attitude worth catching?Then ask God to help you change your attitude, and be strong in your optimism even when the people around are you are not being that way. The key to success lies in the asking. (Read Philippians 2:5)

9. Stop thinking that you don't measure up. Comparing ourselves to others is a sure-fire recipe for self condemnation, defeat and low self esteem. Remember that you were made in the image of God, beautiful, unique and precious. (Read 2 Corinthians 10:12, and Psalm 139:14)

10. Just breathe, and believe that God knows the desires of your heart. He knows of your desire to have a Christ-like attitude; that you try, but often fail; that you need strength, guidance, healing and forgiveness. His mercies are renewed every day. Trust in His grace and mercy. (Read Psalm 139:1-4, Lamentations 3:21-22, and 1 Corinthians 4:16-17)

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