Jul 30 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 31 – Homeschool 101

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

A new school year is upon us. So many more people are considering homeschooling these days. I see questions on homeschool support Facebook groups or Yahoo groups all the time. Where do I start? Which curriculum should I get? What do you recommend for my fifth grader? What do I DO?

If you are just starting out and not sure which questions to even ask, click here for a 10-step process to divide and conquer homeschooling.

As we started our third year homeschooling, I felt my own tension and apprehension and let-us-get-it-done spirit take over. What adds to my trepidation is that I have to figure out how to do school with two now. They are only in second grade and kindergarten, which means they need me to hover over them as they learn. By middle school, I hope to work toward more independent work, but until then I have to be there to teach them the 3Rs. Continue reading »

Jul 23 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 30 – Kids and Money

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

Any thinking adult knows children should be taught about handling money, but where do you start? How? When? Money experts agree that children must be taught about money as early as age 3.

You start by giving them an allowance, usually their age in dollars per week, or half of that. Dave Ramsey advises against an allowance, but we have chosen to give one because it is one more way to discipline them. Back talking? That will cost you a dollar from your allowance. Refusing to do chores? I will have to take some of your money to pay your sibling for doing your work.

By the way, we don’t link allowance to chores. It’s two different things. Should allowance be tied to chores? You decide after reading this debate on the Wall Street Journal.

Chores are split into two categories: Continue reading »

Jul 16 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 29 – Nesting

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

For the new school year, I am getting ready. This nesting instinct came over me last week and it won’t let go. I am de-cluttering, going through closets, sorting, organizing, filling up bags for our local thrift store and feeling extremely happy in the process.

I printed out my chore charts and talked it over with the children. They are old enough to be allowed to choose the chores they are willing to do (beside the ones they must do) and they are young enough to be eager to help. It is the golden age of early childhood and I am riding the wave.

If you have not yet downloaded my book which prepares your home and your school for the new school year, 21 Days to Jumpstart Your School, now is the time. This little book will guide you through three weeks of focused organization so that you can feel empowered to start homeschooling.

Now if you will excuse me, I have some organizing to do…

Jul 9 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 28 – Teach Me, Mom!

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

A homeschooling mom’s dream come true: “Mom, we have not done school in there – pointing to the office we use as school room – in a long time. Tomorrow, I want you to teach me in that room, OK? I want to do math and spelling, OK?” This is one time when I don’t request my children say “please” at the end of their plea. By the way, said plea came from my son who is enjoying a great summer break with swimming on a swim team, youth camp, Summer Reading Program workshops at our local library, nature study, Little Bits experiments and violin and piano practice.

Yes, we are learning a lot through the summer. Just not in “that room.”

So what happened? Why the plea for math and spelling? Continue reading »

Jul 2 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 27 – Homeschool Conferences

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

I have said it before, and I will say it again: homeschooling parents should attend a homeschool conference at least once a year. Sorry for should-ing all over you, but you should. I am not saying you should spend money on transportation, hotels and restaurants to get to one. But if you have a local event, by all means change your schedule, get a second job to pay for the fee, volunteer at the conference for discounts, do whatever it takes and attend.

Adriana Zoder and Susan Wise Bauer at the Appalachian Home Educators Conference in Knoxville, June 2015

With Susan Wise Bauer at the Appalachian Home Educators Conference in Knoxville, June 2015

The reason people don’t attend homeschool conferences is that they don’t think they will get enough value out of them. I know, I know, some of you are saying, “That’s not true. Some actually can’t afford a conference.” I can agree with that only for the extremely poor, but even they make an effort to earn some extra money for something they deem valuable.

Ultimately, it is human nature to choose activity A over activity B because activity B does not offer as much satisfaction or perceived value as activity A. Sure, I understand schedule conflicts. I also understand lack of resources. I even understand the fact that homeschooling parents are afraid of being made to feel inadequate in their efforts by so-called homeschooling experts. Continue reading »

Jun 25 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 26 – Summer Camp

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

Our son attended Cohutta Springs Youth Camp in Crandall, GA for five days (and five nights). It was very difficult to be without him for me. I missed him a lot, especially the first day. Deciding to send him there was a God thing back in May, so now that it was all done and settled, I prayed harder for peace. Peace finally came, along with confirmations that he was having a wonderful time. One of the counselors happens to be our sitter and she texted me by the second day that he was doing well and enjoying his time there.

He really enjoyed himself there. Every day, each cabin experienced four activities from a list which included: archery, swimming, BMX, the blob (giant air-filled pillow floating on their lake), banana boat rides (two boats shaped like bananas, connected in the middle, three kids per side), creative arts (they painted ceramic turtles), canoeing, indoor sports in the gym on rainy days, and more. Each cabin had their own worship time in the morning and then, as a whole, the campers assembled for morning and evening worship.

They put pictures on their secure site for parents to look at and it was fun to look for our son’s lovely face every day. He did not appear in the slide shows every day, as they could not get all the kids in there. When we did spot him, it was such a strange feeling: our son, so far away, having fun and living life away from us for almost a week.

Children and counselor at Cohutta Springs Youth Camp

My son (Superman shirt) with friends plus their counselor

It is not exactly a good feeling, but I decided I was going to be brave and accept the cycle of life. Children grow up. Continue reading »

Jun 18 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 25 – Continuing Education

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

Last month, my sister graduated from a Romanian university with a master’s in education. I am so proud of her. She has been working on this degree for years, a bit at a time, as time and circumstances allowed. In addition to being a mom and an author, my sister has been working for a Christian radio station for more than two decades. She is not really planning on being a teacher, but she felt this master degree would give her the knowledge to continue to write and produce children’s radio programs.

The AL Abacus from Right Start Mathematics

The AL Abacus we use from Right Start Mathematics has two sides, for different operations.

As homeschooling moms, we also ought to invest in ourselves through continuing education. It is not only traditional classroom teachers who need in-service days. Home educators should read at least one book a year about how to teach. Summer time is the best time for this, of course, because many of us take at least a month off from teaching actively. Continue reading »

Jun 11 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 24 – Completion

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

Learning never ends, but school years do. After 180 days of school, we were happy to take our children out for a nice lunch at The Wild Plum Tea Room and give them their Certificates of Completion. Our son finished first grade, and our daughter Pre-Kindergarten.

: My husband with my son, who is proudly presenting his Certificate of Completion for First Grade

: With my daughter, proud of her Certificate of Completion for Pre-Kindergarten

We would like to go to the same restaurant every year for this event, but maybe that’s not necessary. Maybe every year we will feel like trying a different place. Who knows what the future will bring?

But The Wild Plum was a great choice for this year. They serve their delicious orange tea and many healthy choices.

Too bad it is not exactly man food. Our principal was not too fond of their menu, but we made it through and had a good time as a family (and school). Continue reading »

Jun 4 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 23 – Growth

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

My children are growing. They are doing what everybody else’s children are supposed to do: grow. It is glorious to behold and sad and so exhilarating at the same time. The first time they do something new, I rejoice. Then, I take a step back and analyze. They have never done this before. This is new. This signifies growth. Oh, they are growing before my eyes. Why am I sad?

I have asked other moms and they also say it is a bit sad to see children grow up. Do we not want them to lose their innocence? Their small size? Their cuteness? Maybe all of these combined and more.

This week, my daughter offered to clean the bathrooms. Again. I usually refuse because I feel uncomfortable with the thought. I think her too small and then I have to do double work, go behind her etc etc. Continue reading »

May 28 2015

Thoughtful Thursday Week 22 – Fussiness

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Adriana Zoder

For the past two weeks, I have been eating humble pie. I have made so many clumsy mistakes, I finally saw what I was supposed to learn: I am human and clumsy. So are my children. I need to stop with the fussiness already. It all culminated with my finding Mom Enough – especially the first chapter by Rachel Jankovic. I received a new perspective and repented some more.

I have been a bit too harsh and hard on them lately. When they make mistakes because they are small and human and still learning, I have overreacted. And then I spilled the gelatin mixture as we were pouring it into LEGO molds, giving myself 30 minutes of cleaning sticky goo from the kitchen counters and floors. My son even helped of his own free will, even though it was not his mistake. But he was helping his mom because he wanted to, which humbled me further.

And then I forgot I placed my cell phone inside my son’s violin case, which meant we thought I left my cell inside the building where our son had his recital. This wrong belief, stemming from my own forgetfulness, meant that we spent two hours in front of a building on the UTK campus, waiting for a police man to come unlock the building on Friday evening Memorial Day weekend. It gets worse: it was our 10th anniversary, too. Continue reading »

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