Have you attended a Home School Support Group Meeting Lately?

Mom1 also shared a friend's blog - Along Came the Boys (and other moms were nodding in agreement).

 

A couple moms have had a discouraging day or two lately.  So there was a lot of encouragement shared.  Everyone was encouraged by one HS mom who said she has been making it a priority to get out and walk every day - even for a short time in this cold weather.

 

Teaching Tip - If your child is reading aloud from a book and has more than 5 mistakes per page, the book is too hard for them.  Get an easier book for them to practice their oral reading with....

 

Another mom encouraged us to vary easy / hard teaching.  If something is too hard, break it up with easier assignments.  If it is too easy, add in a harder assignment.

 

Mom6 encouraged us to look at the glass half full, not half empty.  BE more positive daily.  She is enjoying her Home School Devotional Book - Daily Focus and read us one of the thoughts that hit her hard this week.  She also encouraged us to not let our older kids tell our younger kids they can't read.  Those small comments can keep the younger kids from trying.  (Sometimes, the big kids are frustrated with the little kids reading during games or assignments - step between and assist.)  Relationships with siblings is a powerful thing.

 

"Are you building people up OR tearing them down?"  Several moms use a version of this quote in their home.  One mom shared that for every negative comment, a child NEEDS to hear 7 positive ones.  It's something to think about and implement in our homes.

 

Another mom shared about Book Depository.com (FREE Shipping).   She highly recommends it.   AND her show and tell was a Latin Program - Lingua Latina  She also brought 2 Dr. Seuss books in Latin and a couple of moms were very tickled to find out the latin rhymned, too.  smile  (I've shared with friends that you only see something like that at a Home School Support Group Meeting!  smile  Latin, anyone?)

 

Another mom said her children have been enjoying painting with Blow Pens and made a lot of pictures recently with them.  Here is a homemade version.  smile

 

Mom4 has been taking daily walks with her children for the PAST 100 days.  Wow.  And the kids are keeping a log of the weather, as well as drawing something now and then.  It's been good to get outside, even for a short time together.

 

Mom5 shared Qwirkle  (GREAT strategic game that gets you thinking) and Chicken Cha Cha Cha (another strategy game - she hasn't been able to beat one child yet!)

 - both new games they love!  I WANT Qwirkle.  smile

 

Mom3 shared a new product her girls are enjoying -  Exploring Creation with Anatomy Notebook   

 

Mom6 shared about another HS mom and how she is doing job shadowing with her older children and how well it is working.  That was quite encouraging to hear.  Be creative in giving your older kids exposure to possible careers.  Sometimes they check it out through job shadowing and find out it isn't what they thought it was and that they don't want to do it. 

 

Mom7 shared the below blog and how it touched her.  She also related it to HSing and the lack of support there is for that.  (A family of 9 going into full time missions)

 

There was also some discussion of when our children have or are planning on graduating:

         Girl 1 (17) - left for College and did well.   Boy 2 (18) still needs a bit more time before leaving. 

         Girl 2 and Girl 3 graduated when they should, but one regrets not taking another year and studying some more.  Once HSing is done, and they are working full time or going to school full time, that time of leisurely learning is gone.

         Girl 4 is taking another year, too.  She started school early and just isn't ready to finish yet.  Another mom shared about her boys, too.  Boy 2 isn't that interested finishing *on time* (what a thought - what about doing what is best for each child VS just doing what everyone does....?) amd Boy3 wants to be done at 18, but is not being diligent in finishing what he needs to do.  There are so many other interests to work on .......

 

It was also mentioned that older students thrive in secondary education - know where they are going and are motivated to get there.  This isn't to dissuade any one child who is ready to graduate, but taking another year to finish up some classics or do some more studying hasn't hurt anyone, either.  Your child can get funding in Alberta until they are 20 in Sept.  (fyi)

 

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So, there is our last Home School Support Group Meeting.  I really feel for the families in rural Alberta without a local Home School Support Group.  Home Educating our children is a wonderful thing to do, but it is draining at times and a Support Group meeting is sometimes all you need to keep going.  Hope you enjoyed reading this - no matter where you live!{jcomments off}