Earrings and Mascara

Real, good food or real good food?

This was the biggest decision some ReACHE moms (and a few other friends) had to make for a couple of hours last night.  The first Mom Time of the school year was held at Corner Bakery, and it was a great time just visiting, sharing stories and laughing.  Some of the many topics that came up included:

                                         glue guns                climbing boys        


kids' ability to memorize large amounts of info (good or bad kind)

       
                       sewing classes (not me--I just listened on this one)          climbing girls    


cake                 car wrecks         noodles           weird sauces    


shopping for modest clothes (try the men's section)            step-kids              smart kids


            dyslexic strategies             chocolate (I was in on this one!)              earrings        


lack of mom time        sleep deprivation          impaled glass into little feet  


                                                            laughing

Talking, Eating and Laughing

Table 2--Look at those sweet smiles!

Table 1 - Even more sweetness

Thanks to those of you who could make it.  I have no doubt it took time, planning, sacrifice and clean-ups at home afterwards to make it happen.

If you couldn't make it last night, you were missed.  The next Mom Time is Saturday, September 15th at 10:00 am.  Hope to see everyone there.







Posted by:  Charla M.

If you like to talk to tomatoes...

Last week was the ReACHE bi-annual meeting, and it was great to see so many new faces and families getting involved with this amazing group.  You all come from so many places and perspectives--long time homeschoolers who are just now getting involved with ReACHE, new and new-ish homeschoolers who may or may not have had various experiences with public or private school situations, and folks who have itty-bitty kids and are trying to get a jump start on everything early.  Such a neat diversity of perspectives.

And then there were the old faces, and it was just as great to see all of you.  Your perserverance and battle scars/stories are such a welcome addition, whether you are ready to endure face another year or not.

As I was sitting back listening to our amazing leaders lay out some of the plans and activities that are planned for this next school year, I found myself jotting down random thoughts about homeschooling in general, particularly for those of you with the very well disguised 'deer in the headlights' look in your eyes (this would be newbies as well as old hats).

So, in no particular order or level of fluidity--

--Don't be intimidated or discouraged by the perfect looking families/pictures/stories/kids.  None of us know it all or have it all together.  (I can't even find any of the 24 pencils I bought last week, and yes, I did look between the couch cushions).

--Co-ops--maybe you didn't make it into a class or classes this go around, and things seem like they would so much better or easier if you had.  I am so, so sorry about this.  You might want to consider getting your own small group together in your home once a week/month and share teaching responsibilities with some other moms.  We did this several years ago when we were new to ReACHE.  It was not a ReACHE sponsored activity, but the guys in that science/history class had a blast.  Maybe that sounds great, but you don't know how to make that happen.  Throw the idea out on the forum--it may be just the type of group other parents are looking for as well.

--Don't compare yourself or your kids or your spouse to any of the rest of us.

--There are no stupid questions, even if it doesn't seem particularly homeschool related.  Ask for information.  Ask for help.  Ask for prayers.  Ask for someone to help give you a break every now and then.

--Many folks join ReACHE without knowing anyone else, or maybe only a couple of folks.  The best way to connect is to share--the good, the bad, and the ugly--either on the forum or one-on-one.  It may be just the thing someone else needs to know or hear that day.

--Not everyone has a hands-on spouse in regards to homeschooling (mainly this is the daddies, but not always--we have some great daddies as the primary teachers).  I've heard stories of those families that give presentations to the dad at the end of each school day and those same daddies help pick out the curriculum and write long term educational goals.  They probably don't even consider cereal as a viable option for supper.  At our house....um, not so much.  This works for us, but I know it can cause much distress and heartache for some families.  Try to remember to extend a little grace to those hands-off spouses.

--Extend a little lot of grace to yourself, too.  Seriously.  In the immortal words of Bob and Larry:

"Remember--God made you special, and He loves you very much"!



Posted by:  Charla M.

Hope in Christ, Not in Curriculum

I have never posted a link to another blog, so I hope I do this right.  I thought this was timely as we are all gearing up to hit the books.

Hope in Christ, Not in Curriculum

Think About This

I saw this on the Heart of Dakota website's forum this morning and it was a sobering thought to me. Thought I'd share here.

 Did you know that if you teach your children at home you gain approximately 1,480 more hours per year with your child than parents that stay home and do not homeschool? That equates to about an extra 6 ½ years with your child. Compared to families where both parents work a 40, you gain approximately 2,268 more hours per year with your child which works out to about an extra 18 years with your child! (Assumptions: School Day = 8 hours, School Days per Year = 185, Awake Time per Day = 15 hours, Daycare hours per day = 9, Daycare Days per Year = 252)

We of course are very blessed to be able to have this "extra" time with our kiddos and pray the Lord blesses it beyond measure, but as Charla said on the ReACHE forum, no wonder we are so tired all the time!!!

Field Trip to MS Crafts Center with ReACHE Art Class

Coming Soon, to a Church on Spillway Road Near You

Remember that old ketchup commercial from the 70s?  The one that had the tune from Carly Simon's 'Anticipation'?

Anticipation.
Antici-pa-a-tion.
It's making me wait...

Well, that was the tune running through my head as I took a little time this morning to look over the syllabi for next year's co-op classes.  Oh. My. Goodness.  Have you done that yet?  The classes that have been posted so far look AMAZING.  I am so excited about the courses for each of my boys, and even noticed one for moms.

I also noticed so many new and old names of people who have volunteered to step up and be a part of this great endeavor.  Yay for them.  If you are one of those people involved in any capacity, let me just thank you now.  Your time and efforts are and will be appreciated, and will come back to bless you more than you can imagine right now.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  If this is your first rodeo, and you are feeling a little nervous or concerned, please know that your contributions matter, and you will do just fine.

Then there are those (like me) that won't be involved in a hands-on way with co-ops.  Maybe it is life circumstances...or financial...or scheduling...or philosophical.  Maybe you are a little sad or frustrated, because your child is not wired for a classroom type of setting, no matter how much you wish or pray they would be.  Please know that you are just as important to ReACHE.  Thank YOU for being who you are and doing what you do.

If you are like me, you are probably just putting in your time and trying to survive THIS academic year.  Next year might seem far away, particularly with regards to planning.  And yes, you might still be just hoping to get those pesky multiplication tables memorized by then.  We are working on the decade plan at our house.  But, seriously, if you get a chance, check out those classes.  Sign-up is less than a month away.

Posted by: C. Miley

People Who Accomplished Great Things

In People Who Accomplished Great Things we studied Marie Curie in January.  Our students had a wonderful field trip to Dr. Bill Sullivan's Oakdale Animal Hospital to get a behind the scenes tour and to learn about how Curie's work impacts the field of veterinary medicine.  Dr. Sullivan showed the students a plethora of ways to conduct x-rays and how digital technology has changed the way x-rays are conducted.

Students also heard from Endodontist, Dr. Dusty Watts, in our class.  He talked about how x-ray technology aids his work in root canals etc.  The students were amazed to see how the x-rays guide his work.

     Jillian Crosby is showing her artwork she presented as a review of our Leonardo da Vinci study.  She is a great artist!

     The final picture is of our students getting a tour of Mission  First's Dental and Medical facility in downtown Jackson.  This field trip served as a follow up to our study on Florence Nightingale.  Charitable work like this was what Nightingale inspired.  Thanks to Brandi Crosby and Paula Stogner for helping me haul the kids back and forth.  What a great group!  I know they have learned about some truly great minds and people this year.  It is my prayer that this class inspires them to aspire to do great things for God!