Home

Advertisement

Customize
About this Journal
I created this journal to help chronicle our experience as a Pagan homeschooling family. All are welcome to read this journal and to comment. I only ask that you be polite about it.
Links:
Homeschool Association of California California Virtual Academy
Current Month
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
Jan. 12th, 2009 @ 09:24 am homeschool woes
I'm having some weird stomach problems and need to see doctors a lot while they try to figure out what's wrong (so far all tests show everything is fine yet I'm in really bad pain). I'm thinking of putting Orion back in school. I want to homeschool him but it's difficult when I have so many dr. appts.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Jan. 8th, 2009 @ 06:44 pm Too short of a day
I haven't started Orion's science or history just yet. I'm trying to get him used to having school at home first. However with phono-graphix, math, handwriing, lang. arts, and spelling...well we're ending early. We're done with all the work by 11 am. We start at 9 am. That's just 2 hours!

I still need to get books for art, music, science, and history/social studies. I want to get a library card. I hope I can even though my license still has my old address.

I just feel like we're not doing enough. Yet he's learning. He's just good at it.
About this Entry
3 comments
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Jan. 5th, 2009 @ 06:35 pm We're homeschooling again
Just started today...

All in all we had a good day. This morning I started with doing a test for phono-graphix (like phonics but different) to see where Orion is. He did pretty good except for the last part which drastically lowered his score. At least I know what areas he needs the most help with.

Then we did math...or tried to. Orion's at the point where he's ready to add and subtract two digets. I was trying to teach it to him but he was very resistant. He just didn't want to do it. He kept on saying that it wasn't the way his teacher taught him. *sigh*

So we put the math away and did language arts. I read to him a story about 6 blind men who try to see an elephant. They each touch a different part of the elephant and so they think it's something different. Anyway the moral of the story was that you should look at the whole of something instead of just part of it. We got a little philisophical about that. lol

Then we stopped for a while. I had to go meet with the homeschool liason (who tried to convince me to put him back in school) while a friend babysat.

After my friend and her son left we went back to the math and finished it. He got really good with the method I showed him.

That was it. Tomorrow we're going to the library so we can get books for history and science.

All in all it was a good day.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 7th, 2008 @ 08:57 am Orion is going to school...for now
I just put Orion on the bus. I had a long talk with the school psychologist right now and she talked me into letting Orion have half days at school for now. We're going to have a meeting on Tuesday to discuss what to do with him. She says there are a lot of great programs. I'm going to the meeting with an open mind. There might be something really good for him. But I'm not holding my breath. I still feel that perhaps homeschooling will be best. But, on the off chance there is a really good program, I don't want to dismiss school all together.

Am I being weak? I don't think so. This poor kid though. His life has never been stable. The moving, the switching of classes, homeschool then school then homeschool then school, people comming and going in and out of his life....it's a lot on a young kid's psyche.

There's a lot that I want to do with him. But somewhere in my mind I wonder if I can teach him. Oh I know I have the capability to do it. I just wonder if I have the mental stamina for it. It's not because he's difficult (though he is). It's because I'm never stable for long. Even though I'm doing great right now there's no way to know if I'll do well a month or two from now. I hate it but it's a fact.

Plus, I get frustrated with him too much. Part of me, a part I'm ashamed of, wants the break from him that school gives me. I'm a little afraid that if I was around him 24/7 again that something might happen. Oh I won't hurt him. I love him too much for that. But I do yell a lot and I wonder about what effect that might have on him. I wonder if I'm somehow hurting him.

So, perhaps for now school might be a good idea. I don't know though. There's that feeling deep within myself that tells me I should homeschool. That it's our only true option. Only time will tell.
About this Entry
1 comment
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 6th, 2008 @ 09:58 am (no subject)
It's an agonizing decision and it shouldn't be. I know what is best for Orion. He learns better when he can do so at his pace. So I need to provide an environment where he can do that. He gets overwhelmed easily and needs frequent breaks. He was getting some of that in the special education class he was in but IMO I don't think they transitioned him well.

I told my mother flat out that I'm going to homeschool. She surprised me by saying, "Do what you feel is best." She's a little concerned that he's not going to be interracting with other children. I explained that he will be, just not in a classroom setting. There will be park days, and co-ops, and field trips, and play dates, and his social skills group, etc. He'll still socialize.

The more I think about it the more I want to do it. I'm sure I can do this. I've been stable for months now and I see this stability continuing.
About this Entry
1 comment
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 5th, 2008 @ 02:29 pm lack of support
I have a total lack of support about homeschooling Orion. I really want to do it though I can understand where everyone is comming from. But my bipolar has been really stable. Granted my house is a mess today but that's because I've been busy trying to write the IHIP.

I'm going to homeschool. It's the best thing I feel I can do. Lack of support or not!
About this Entry
4 comments
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 4th, 2008 @ 04:55 pm Writing my own curriculum
It looks like I'm going to have to write my own curriculum. The only other option is to buy one or join a homeschool private school. Niether of which are in our budget. I've written curriculum before but that was for preK. Granted he was way prepared for kindegarden and did well. But first grade is new territory for me. Thankfully I had already had the foresight a year or so ago to buy some first grade books so I'm not going in blind.

On the 15th I'll probably buy some workbooks if I can find them. I know we can do this.
About this Entry
4 comments
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 4th, 2008 @ 02:26 pm Might be going back to homeschooling
Orion has been having increasing difficulty at school. I think I'm going to just go back to homeschooling. I'm not sure of the laws in New York and I'm a little apprehensive. But hopefully we'll do good. I'm going to research what I can.
About this Entry
4 comments
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Mar. 15th, 2007 @ 11:39 am so tired
I've been so tired lately that it's been hard for me to do homeschooling with Orion. I wish that we were doing better but we're not. Because we're behind from when I put Orion in school we're going to have to really buckle down to catch up. I just hope I have the energy for that.
About this Entry
1 comment
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 27th, 2007 @ 10:06 am Stressed and frustrated
I am so stressed and frustrated today. I don't know why. Part of it is because it seems as if Orion's medication isn't working today. He's being difficult with a capital D. It's one of the few times where I wish he was in school. Then I remember how much better he does on homeschooling and I just push those thoughts out of my head, take a deep breath, and continue on.

We've only done phonics so far today and I know that's the most difficult for him. Next is math and that usually flys by. So hopefully it does so today.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 19th, 2007 @ 12:44 pm taking a holiday break
We're taking a break today for the holiday. It's mostly because I'm exhausted. Haven't been sleeping well. I know we need to catch up a bit but I'm confident that we still can.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 17th, 2007 @ 08:13 pm New member to our household
If things go according to plan we may have another living with us soon. She's going to be our 14 year old foster kid. She's currently failing all her classes in high school because of problems in her home. She needs help catching up or she'll be left back a year. I talked with her about the option of homseschooling through a charter and she's totally into it. The chater we're looking at is The Charter School of San Diego. They have a program for kids who need to catch up. They also have classes two to five times a week, seminars, field trips, etc. The classes are small and she'll be able to do a lot of independant study time. Which means that the classes she's having trouble with (like math) she can take her time on and the classes she's better in (like English) she won't have to take as much time on. She loves that idea. She really wants the chance to go to college and this might help her.

It's going to be a challenge raising a teen and trying to help her get back on track with her education. But it's a challenge I'm willing to take on.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 13th, 2007 @ 02:35 pm (no subject)
Today we were only able to get phonics done. The OLS isn't working. It's not just me. I called the CAVA teacher and it's not working for her also. *sigh* This is NOT what we need right now. We need to get in every day we can. I guess we'll make up for it on the weekend.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 10th, 2007 @ 01:05 pm (no subject)
Orion keeps on talking about school and his former teacher. He misses it. He misses playing on the playground with his classmates and in the classroom. He misses taking the bus and playing with the other kids while we waited for the bus to get there. *sigh*

I'm having his birthday party on March 3rd and I think I'm going to walk with him up to the bus stop on Monday to invite the kids he went on the bus with. I'll make up the invites on the computer tomorrow. This way he'll know for sure that he can still see them even though he's not in school anymore. He still plays with one of them on a regular basis which helps too.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 7th, 2007 @ 10:29 am Today's lessons and pagan stuff to boot
Today's lessons went suprisingly smooth. We had a rough start at first but after we got over a few of those bumps it was smooth sailing. hehe We had fun. Orion likes learning about Africa and he had the most fun I think with math. He wanted to do tomorrows lesson and I think that later we might do that.

I've been thinking a lot about his spiritual lessons. We haven't been doing anything really. I talk with him about the Goddess but haven't done ritual with him since he was a baby. I'm thinking that Ostara will be a great time for that.

I already have an esbat ritual I wrote with children in mind. It's simple and allows for crafts or lessons on the Goddess to be done in the middle of them. I think that I'm going to use it to help me write one for the Sabbats as well.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 6th, 2007 @ 01:49 pm Orion's lessons and his meds
Orion is doing really well with his lessons. His medication is making a HUGE difference and we're having fun again. He keeps on asking about school and when he'll go back. I've been avoiding it as much as possible or just telling him, "Maybe in a few years. For now you're going to do lessons with me." That seems to satisfy him until the next day when he asks again.

Today we did phonics, math, lang. arts, science, and art. It took about 4 hours...including the breaks. Not too bad. I remember when long days like today would take 5 or 6 hours (pre-meds then). His focus is greatly improved.

Our art project was fun. He was to make an animal with clay and use a fork and pencil to make textures on the clay. He made a person. When I asked why he didn't make an animal he responded, "Well, a person is an animal, Mommy." Such a smart boy! lol I couldn't think of a way to argue with it so I let him make a person. He used the fork for the hair and the pencil for eyes and buttons. It came out so cute! I wish my camera had batteries right now so I could show you.

I'm soooo glad to be doing this again! YAY!
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 3rd, 2007 @ 10:41 am Catching up
To help us catch up to where Orion is supposed to be (ie. where he would be had we not put him in school for a month and a half) we're going to work a bit on the weekends. Only doing the core lessons.

He's being highly resistant today but finally is getting into the groove. He keeps on pointing out things that I do differently from his teacher at the elementary school. It's quite annoying. He wants to go back to school. Ofcourse he wasn't learning anything then so I'm not going to cave in. Eventually he'll get back into liking lessons again...I hope.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 2nd, 2007 @ 10:59 pm It works!
The OLS works now! I just logged on in the hopes that it was working and it is! WOOHOO! I entered in what we've done and it's all good now. I'm so happy! YAY!

Starting Monday it's back to a full day's schedule.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 2nd, 2007 @ 10:48 am OLS STILL NOT WORKING!!!
The OLS is still not working. *sigh* They said hopefully it'll be up by morning. They have a few people working on it. I hope it does work soon. We really need to catch up.

We did Math and Phonics today. We're going to do Lang. Arts later. It looks like the math for this lesson was all review. So, I wasn't too worried. We just did the worksheet and that was that. At least phonics isn't done on the computer so I can still do full lessons of those. And his CAVA teacher helped me figure out what to do for Lang. Arts.

Hopefully it works soon! I really want to get right back into the game (so to speak).
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry
Feb. 1st, 2007 @ 08:46 am (no subject)
The OLS still isn't working but Orion's CAVA teacher gave me some things to do with him that the lessons he's up to work with. We're only doing three (math, phonics, and lang. arts) because the rest really need the OLS. But, at least we're able to do something. She said that the maintenance guy is on it and that he's very good. He doesn't exactly know what's wrong but he and the administrative guy are working on it (or is he the same guy? I forget).

Hopefully by tomorrow it's working. But at least for now we're able to do lessons. We just finished our phonics assessment and Orion did pretty well (except on the reading where he kept on misreading words).

Now we're taking a break before doing math (his favorite subject) and then another break before lang. arts. :D I'm happy to be homeschooling again, even if only a little bit right now. lol

*hugs* to all
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Link to this entry