Thursday, March 31, 2011
Top Ten Signs Your Family is Getting "BIG!"
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Spring Break!
The kids had a blast building a dam in the (mostly unplanted) garden... there are some peas trying to pop up in the back part of the garden.
Joel is earning his Wolf badge, Gold arrow and Silver arrow in Cub Scouts this month! One of his last achievements was to visit a firehouse and learn about fire safety, so he and Greg went for a visit today. Way to go, Joel!!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Crackin' Me Up!
For this post, I just want to say my kids crack me up and I love having them in my life.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Some thoughts on sympathy...
A parent loses his opportunity for good to his child, if he fails to have sympathy with this child in that child's weakness and follies and misdoings. It is in every child's nature to long for sympathy at the point where he needs it most; and when he has done wrong, or has indulged evil thoughts, or is feeling the force of temptation, he is glad to turn to some one stronger and better than himself, and make confession of his faults and failures. If as he comes to his parents at such a time, he is met with manifest sympathy, he is drawn to his parents with new confidence and new trust.
~ Charlotte Mason
The first time I read this quote, it really touched me. I think it impacted me a lot because having sympathy and compassion for my children in their weaknesses isn't my first instinct. When they make poor choices, I can be a real lecturer. Somehow I'm always afraid my children won't learn from their mistakes without me reminding them about this or that or how we "should" behave.
I realized that I am operating under the assumption they really don't know right from wrong. I have believed they somehow needed me to point out the distinction to them or there's no way they could learn it.
Charlotte Mason's approach, however, shows an intrinsic belief and trust in the child's own judgment. It proposes they do indeed already know they have done something wrong, and their own conscience is doing more teaching than a parent could ever do. When I first wanted to try this, I actually was afraid that really loving behavior and sympathy (after they've done something wrong) would somehow give them a positive reward for negative behavior. I wondered if it would do the opposite of what I wanted.
However, the idea really spoke to me, so I've been working on this approach with the kids for a while. Sometimes I remember, and sometimes I don't, but I have really liked what it has done for my relationship with the kids. When I discover something wrong, or they come and tell me about something they've done, I try to respond to them with sympathy. It creates kind of a special moment (especially compared to the adverse effect that is usually created), and they really do feel the weight of their choice without anything from me but sorrow and support. I can tell that they feel like I'm on their team, and I'm just as sorry as they are that they made an unwise choice. It makes me feel like they know I love them still in spite of their decision.
To be truly honest, when I make poor choices (which I certainly do), it is very clear to me that I have the same "longing for sympathy where I need it most" just like my kids do. I want to turn to someone "stronger and better" for help with my follies who doesn't judge harshly or reprimand me. I know when I've done something wrong and I appreciate a kind support to guide me through the consequences of the choices I've made.
Have a lovely evening! ~Emily
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Weekend Potpourri
The kids visited a local news station for a field trip. Maybe we have a couple of budding meteorologists?
Last but not least, Joel gave a talk in Primary. He did a really great job and we were all very proud of him. Here are his first paragraph and last sentence.
Everybody needs to try to be safe from the temptations of Satan. Like if you are in a maze, Heavenly Father is like a map. But Satan, in the maze, is a mistake on the map. We need to be smart about where we go and what we do.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
How Can We Measure Progress?
- I printed off the grade standards for the APS (Albuquerque Public School) system for New Mexico. The grade standards tell me, for each grade, what the child should be learning in each subject. It's incredibly detailed to the point of making lesson plans for all subjects, if I choose.
- I recently found an online standardized test from the state of Texas for grades 3-11. New Mexico doesn't require any testing for homeschoolers, but I want to get a sense of where we are (or aren't) as far as the content of these tests go. My plan is to administer the test in the spring of each school year. I also think it's important that the kids get familiar with the way these tests are set up and have some experience taking them.
- As far as math goes, my children are required to correct all mistakes immediately after I correct their assignment. Right then, no buts about it. That process ensures that they are mastering concepts as they go, and are not allowed to move on without understanding something.
- Regular use of dictionaries and thesauruses is highly encouraged.
- If I say to my kids, "It's time for history," and I hear "Yes!!!" come from their mouths, I know they are enjoying history, and therefore feeling happy and content.
- If we go on a nature outing, and the kids go running to their Dad when he gets home from work saying, "Dad! We saw a branta canadensis today!" I can tell they're happy and have learned something.
- If my then five year old sees a stick with a forked end and says, "Mom, it's just like the Nile river delta!" I can tell he is feeling excited about his history learning.
- If my daughter has a friend over and she tells him they're going to do free-form writing for fun, that tells me she's enjoying her writing.
- If my daughter asks me to give her perimeter and area problems to solve during church, I can tell she really likes math.
- If my son says, "This problem is just like a Gordian knot!" a year after we learned about Gordian knots, I can tell he really liked and picked up on that lesson.
- If I have to set my daughter's library book limit to 14 per week, I can tell she's loving reading.
- If my daughter says to me, "I had to pry that book out of Joel's hands so he could brush his teeth," that tells me he's loving reading.