The Big Switch

I thought I'd chat about the curriculum switch we made for this year. We have enjoyed our core curriculum, Sonlight, for so many years, I sure did hate to leave it. I am hoping maybe next year we can go back to it. But we’ll see.

I just had too many kids in varying places in schoolwork and was getting overwhelmed with all of the reading out loud and at different levels, needing to adjust for each individual child, plus all of the other subjects being at different levels. It was taking way too long every day and there was no possibility of getting anything else done each day. Not to mention, I want my kids to enjoy school. If the load is too heavy, and if I am stretched too thin in helping them, or learning along with them, the fun and enjoyment stretches pretty thin too.

So, for anyone who may be curious, below is what we are doing daily. Keep in mind that we started out doing something totally different and have phased out the old and, slowly, in with the new, so we are still adjusting to getting everything done. Many days we can’t get everything done, but I aim for them to get Math, Handwriting, Dictation and Spanish done every day at least. If we have to give a little, it is usually something besides those.

Science (Lyrical Life Science for 4th and 6th graders, Apologia for 10th grader)

Math (Saxon 7/6, RightStart for 4th grader and Thinkwell Pre-Calculus for 10th grader)
Dictation, Spelling, Vocabulary, Narration, Handwriting Practice (Spelling Wisdom – This is a change for us too. Previously we were using Spelling Power plus doing dictation, which took more planning to locate passages. We are able to cover narration, vocabulary, spelling, handwriting and dictation all with one exercise. Plus they get some really great quotes and passages, which we discuss.)

By the way, I also purchased Laying Down The Rails as I have felt like we need to make a more concerted effort in this area; a refresher course on habits, especially for the younger kids, since we made a concerted effort with the older ones and some things mightpossiblymaybe have gotten a little rusty. We'd possibly be up there with wild Indians if it weren't for The 21 Rules of This House having become a permanent part of our home many years ago (and that's even a little creaky!).
Handwriting (we use Italic but they requested to learn traditional cursive so we are doing that right now then will go back to Italic)
Reading for at least one hour daily, (Misc. and/or pertaining to current History studies)
History/Bible (Loosely based around the Story of the World, Child’s History of the World and Engermeier’s Bible Story Book, using this chart and this chart for assistance and adding in my own hands-on activities) and age appropriate Bible times for each
Spanish (Rosetta Stone)
Plus assignment completion from their once a week classes (including Creative Writing, Communications, Speech, Vocabulary, Shakespeare and/or Literature, depending upon the child)
Twice per week we do a Nature Walk and once per week we aim (operative term to date) to do nature journaling
Once per week we focus on a new Lyrical Life Science song. They are wordy and informative and we just added this a couple weeks ago, so we have not gotten very far yet.
Once per week the boys have a full day of classes outside the home, my daughter takes two of them. This has been a huge help!
Once per week they have a PE class
They have other activities through church and 4H, basketball starts soon, and they have chores around the house, property and for the animals plus learning cooking and other Home Ec type skills. We have put piano, guitar and voice on sabbatical. We have no extra time!
I am still streamlining and trying to figure out how to balance all of this. This is the first year in 16 years of homeschooling where I do not have any two students doing the bulk of the same work. Plus I have a 4 year old who also has his own little learning times.
I’ll post again in a month or two with a progress report because many days I still feel like there is just too much, especially with high school requirements, to get everything done!

Thursday. That’s Today.

My blogging has dropped off considerably the past few weeks. It’s mostly because AT&T decided to change it’s Laptop Connect package and not provide anything comparable.

Living in the country, I don’t have access to WiFi. And, well, a couple of my sons decided to watch a movie on my computer. That used up most of what was left of my October service package and I was left with DIAL-UP, people!

I could write quite alot about AT&T and it’s decision to be way behind in internet communication outside of an iPhone. It would bore you, so I won’t. But this loyal customer of 14 years is not happy.

The AT&T debacle was on the heels of my writer acting up and…oh, forget it. I’ve been having computer and program woes. I’ll leave it at that. And then I will tell you that I *think* I am back. Pending another AT&T interference. Or a teenager using up my airtime.

Another reason could be that I have been dejunking like mad. I’ve pretty much been busy 24/7, except for a little bit of sleep in between tasks. And in between carrying my elder brother on my back, uphill, in a tornado with barefeet, nah, let's say Laboutin's on. I've barely eaten and my nose is cold.

And my husband was gone for a week to Haiti, then a week to Germany, back-to-back.

And it has been gray here so I get a little sleepy anyway. Yawn. The past couple days have been unseasonably warm, so I am not complaining, just sayin’.

And I'm teething.

And I need a nap.

Excuses, excuses.

I think we FINALLY have our school schedule down. Since we changed our curriculum altogether, I have been adding additional subjects a little at a time. This week marks the first week all subjects are added in and I think it is going to be okay, other than the fact that we could use another couple of computers since we all do Spanish on my laptop and two of the kids have math lessons on DVD. But we're making do (oh, there's another reason -- I don't get my computer much these days!) I don’t think I have ruined one kid while trying to reach another in a language he/she can understand. But the jury is still out.There are days when I wonder...

Tonight I am going to watch the rest of Gone With The Wind with a couple of my kids. So maybe tomorrow I will get caught up on all of your blogs.

Happy Autumn!

(Oh Drat! Doesn't the clock "fall behind" this week?)

Most Important

Reminder to self:

“…Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

I love homeschooling. It has worked well for our family, which is why we have stuck with it for so long.

When I count all of the hours we’d be in the car, running here and there, doing homework, etc. I think parents who have their kids in traditional school probably spend as much, or close to as much time, as I do, on school! Not to mention, some (probable) stranger would get the honor of spending all of that time with my kids -- and I’d miss out.

But this school year, and the prep leading up to it, this “seasoned” homeschool mom has been befuddled and bewildered.

Reevaluating.

Having to choose.

Too many choices.

Indecision.

Confusion.

Paralyzed at times.

What has always worked before isn’t working for us this year. I have had to make changes. And I really like the comfort of the “same-old, same-old”, so it is sort of hard.

I have four school or pre-school aged children at home this year -- from a highly intelligent and stereotypical Boy With A Curl In The Middle Of His Forehead who needs alot from ME, to a high-school young man who learns differently than his brothers before him, with two in between who cross over each other in some subjects, but have different learning styles and needs.

I finally realized that I needed to let go of a curriculum we really, really like, at least for awhile, and simplify. It was a huge blessing when my kids were closer in levels, and I could do it with multiple ages and levels at once. But things are different now and I need to be flexible. I am still sort of saying “boo-hoo”, but it is getting easier as I see how much sense all of the new things are making.

I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel, finally embracing the hints I’ve been seeing for months now. And I think I am going to rejoice at the “in with the new” as soon as it is all in place and running smoothly. Because it will fit. It will align with what I see as a desired end result, and peace will reign. In my heart anyway – probably not in this house full of jokesters and gymnasts doing parkour!

Back to the Basics:

“Every day, every hour, the parents are either passively or actively forming those habits in their children upon which, more than upon anything else, future character and conduct depend.”

~ Charlotte Mason

I look forward to the next couple weeks of establishing

and settling into our new routine!

Chalk It Up To Cheap!

I might be addicted and am going to have to be careful. Too much black would be dark and gloomy.

I have it in both spray paint and in a little quart can.

It goes really well with alot of Goodwill and garage sale finds. And it looks super cute paired with bright colors.

chalkboard paint

You can find it at your local home improvement store in a spray or paint-on. I used both. I am still working on a couple other things with this paint (as well as another paint I am excited about trying!), but here are the two chalkboard projects I have done so far.

I decided to use these banker’s boxes for some of our storage. But they didn’t look very good on the shelf. The print added more “clutter” and we have enough of that on our own!

I figured at about $2.00 per box, it wasn’t a huge risk. So I painted right over it. The cardboard held up really well. You could also use boxes your paper comes in if you buy printer paper by the box. Then they’d be free.

Labeling each box with bright chalk colors adds some fun. I also like how they sort of “anchor” the shelves.

We used to have the boys’ computer on a sweet old antique desk. But we moved it into the school room and decided to use a computer desk someone gave us. It was pretty tired and plain, but had the shelf for the accessories, and a big surface area, so it was practical.

I painted the body of the desk the darker shade of the wall, and the surface area with chalk paint. Since it is near a computer, we probably won’t be using chalk around it, but I thought it looked cute for a school area anyway.

The car screen saver is subject to change without notice (do you hear me kid?).

I am also ordering a new mouse pad, and the art is still waiting to be moved around and arranged. I can’t bear to totally take that sketch down as it is a vacation souvenir from 11 years ago.

If only I had bothered looking around online before I started my projects.

Using a tutorial or two *might* have saved me some irritation and some extra steps I had to repeat a few times been helpful.

Here are some other fun ideas for using chalkboard paint:

The color of this desk almost made me change the colors in the room altogether! Love that shade of red. I also love how they kept the chair the wood color.

OOOoooo, Ahhhhh. Love the black and white. Love the retro. Love the stools.

Wouldn’t this be a fun way to teach your kids the correct way to set a table? Drawing placecards right on the table would be a super cute way to arrange seating too! (Lots more pictures on her site).

This lady made her own chalkboard labels for canisters.

You can also buy chalkboard contact paper and cut it apart if you don’t want to make your own labels.

Organizational Dresser

I set these on our very narrow mantle last year. It’s a hard to decorate space that we plan to reface, so I didn’t want to spend much.

Paper Source has several adorable chalkboard frames.

You can also find placemats, picture frames, wall decals and all sorts of other stuff. I love, Love, LOVE this wall decal. You could do it yourself with a stencil if you are artistic.

Even more simple, you could paint directly on the wall and hang an empty old frame around it.

If you have an ugly old fridge or freezer, wouldn’t it be cute to write your menus directly on it? Or diet reminders …ahem.

Someone suggested using it to paint faux tiles behind a sink as a backsplash. Maybe once I find a cabinet and we can get the farm sink in I will give it a try. Well, my husband might. If I tried to paint faux tiles they’d likely look more like a tyrannosaurus. Cuz I’m just that bad.

You could paint an entire door, maybe a pantry? Or even an entire wall – the possibilities are endless.

Where are you going to start? And, um, where am I going to stop?!!

I hope you don’t “erase” everything I’ve shared here today and you have a day that’s “chalk”full-o-summery goodness!

Menu Plan Monday, August 30-Sept.5, 2010

My daughter has been showing an interest in antiques and vintage items for the past couple years. She sometimes goes “antiquing” or “garage sale-ing” with me, and has even ventured to the huge antique expo with me a couple of times. So I was pretty excited when, at the Goodwill a couple weeks ago, I found an old recipe card club file box from 1971with a complete set of recipes, including a section entitled “Recipes Children Can Make”.

Making sure that my daughter knows how to run a household is very important to me. She needs to know how to care for others, take care of babies, clean, do laundry and etc. for sure, but I really, really want to make sure she understands how to cook, develops an instinct, and has confidence with it. She is 9 years old now and knows some basics, but I am excited to take her through some more formal training.

So, starting once our family schedule settles down a bit (when we are done with traveling and camping trips), we, along with my 11 year old son at least some of the time (yep, boys need to know too!), are going to start some purposeful cooking lessons, using this vintage Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library.

Some of the recipes are not as wholesome as I prefer to serve my family regularly, but they are recipes that she will be able to do by herself, and can give her a good foundation for confidence building.

She and I are both pretty excited about getting started. I’ll be using the recipes in my MPM posts and linking to the blog where we will have posted about making it (I will also be teaching her some computer skills during the process) so you will all get to see how it is going.

With that in mind, I have also planned to use several recipes this week which the kids can make with me, just to whet our whistles. Amidst all of the projects, I am trying to spend time with the kids and involve them as much as possible in whatever I am doing. I am trying to make the most of every summer minute we have left. I hope you are doing the same!

Have a great week!

Menu Plan Monday

I have found so many new recipe ideas through people who have posted their menus and links to recipes on Menu Plan Monday. I don’t have time to look at every link, but I do look through at least several almost every week. I make a note of recipes I’d like to try on my private blog space, where I hyperlink recipes, and make a note of which blog I found the link on so I can give credit if/when I actually use it in my Menu Plan. I love MPM:)

Monday: Apple and Chicken Sandwiches with this recipe which OrgJunkie shared on MPM as inspiration.

Tuesday: Easy, Creamy Mexican Skillet which was referred by Vanderbilt Wife via MPM

Wednesday: BBQ Sloppy Chicken Pan Pizza also referred via MPM

Thursday: Pepperoni Bread also found via MPM, when I followed additional links

Friday: Indian Flair Potato Pancakes

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Burger Thing

In addition to menu plans for dinner, I am hoping to try Migas as something new for breakfast.

Busy, Busy...

Hi ya'all. Busy, busy. Yep. STILL working on projects. Namely the Homeschool Room. Though even the name is getting a bit boring. So I think I will copy what someone, somewhere in Blogland called it, and say I am working on the Learning Lounge.

Anyhew, I decided to post about our little wannabe farm today and thought it fitting that I post it on our family blog. And I really can't blog to two places in one day. Cuz, I am busy, busy. So, if ya wanna getta glimpse, feel free to go on over and check it out at You Should Be So Lucky!


I sure hope your part of the world smells as good as mine does this week with all of those luscious blackberries hanging in the sun!

Basket Case

I see lots of stuff online I’d like to use to set up and organize the homeschool room. Boy howdy, is there alot of fun stuff out there! For us though, I just want a place for everything, everything in it’s place and still lots of uncluttered, open space.

I'm thinking baskets. Maybe some of these?

Fabric Basket Storage Ideas

Seat Sack is the name of the company. For around 10 bucks already made, the main reason I can think of for making my own is because I could customize them to fit whatever chairs we finally end up with. Maybe I could repurpose some vintage fabric I saw at a Goodwill recently. There are lots of patterns for messenger bags on etsy.com that I might be able to use.

Hanging storage baskets Look at how adorable these are!

Super cute storage baskets I could use for my shelves.

Lovin this wall rack for canvas baskets. The company is no longer functioning, but I have an idea on how to make a version of this. Hmmm, we’ll see.

If I make any of the fabric ones, maybe I could buy some super cute fabric from my friend Jona at Fabritopia. If I make anything, especially if I fat chance actually SEW, I'll let you know.

If you are a basket case today, I hope it is this kind!

Be Like A Whale

(Picture from Chad Gerans Rhyming Book)

This is Day-In-The-Life week over at Heart of the Matter, as part of their Not Back to School Blog Hop. However, we really are not back to school. Even at home. We are still harvesting those last days of summer. Here in Oregon, even the kids who do go back to school are not yet back to school.So, for now, I’ll just share something basic about the way we plan our days.

When we are in school, we “do school” from about 8am-1pm. We don’t break for lunch until we’re pretty much done. Because, for this family, it’s just too hard to get back to it after that. I make a plan of what needs to be accomplished and we work our way through it, rather than trying to plan a certain amount of time for each thing. Stringent scheduling just doesn’t work for this creative-yet-goal-oriented mom of a “large” family.

I look forward to reading other posts I find at Heart Of The Matter this week. And I’ll share more specifics about our schedule some other time, when we are done enjoying summer.

Oh, and, by way of a little bit older more seasoned friend smiling and lovingly patting you on the back and telling you “You can do it!”, please let me offer these couple of words of advice as you troll along through some super fun posts by other moms (and maybe some dads and kids too).

~ What works for someone else might not work for you. What works for you might not work for someone else. Like I always say, “be like a whale” – read and listen to the plans, input, and advice of others, drink it all in. Then spit out everything that is non-nutritious and only keep the good stuff, the things which will fortify you and your family. Don’t use it to compare yourself or to feel overwhelmed by all that you are not doing. (Here at But I Had A Tiara, we are not allowed to compare, etc. see sidebar!)

~ Make a plan. Because I love being flexible and you can’t be flexible without a plan.

I hope you enjoy looking at the schedules of other Not back To Schoolers, and get lots of wonderful inspiration!

Homeschooling: Year 16, Picture Week

Yes, that's right. I said it. Year 16. What of it?
Since all who know me know I am 29 and full of bologna, that means I was 13 when we started on this particular journey.

As of a couple months ago, I have TWO (2) graduates.

My eldest, Mr. Linguistics, will be beginning his last year of studies at university to earn his B.A in Linguistics and is debating whether to go on and earn his PhD. Right this minute he is working at a mission in Zimbabwe and loving it. I think he wants to stay there...

Photo by Tyler Gould

My second son, Mr. Economist, recently graduated high school and already has one year of college under his belt. He will finish up his Associate’s Degree at community college then transfer to a 4 year, probably to earn his B.A. in Economics, with an eye heavily on the alternative energy field.

Photo by Kyle Kennedy

So, ya, I don’t homeschool them anymore.

But I do have four additional children, three of whom are school aged and who stay here at home, with me, and expect some sort of an education. Other than the one they are giving me, I mean. For reals, you who homeschool – and even just anyone who is a parent! Don’t you totally feel like you are getting just as much of an education as the one you are facilitating for your kids?


My third son, Mr. FunGuy, is a sophomore this year. He will be doing Sonlight Level 300, along with a bunch of other stuff. He loves most things with engines and being hyperactive, and astounds me with his physical ability. Not to mention, his 24 pack. Geesh.


Mr. Congeniality is living through The Year of the Teeth. He is never quite sure how to smile. So he is shy about letting me take pictures. I took some great ones today but we are camping in our little trailer and I forgot to pack the card reader to upload them. So this cell phone picture of him (below), with Person, will have to suffice for the time being. We’ll be doing Sonlight Level 5 (my favorite level!) along with his other subjects. This boy loves to fish and can’t wait to hunt. He also loves his little brother and sister and teaches them all sorts of things, mostly good.



But ya, we are camping, so I don’t have access to the beautiful pictures I took today, just for this post. But this one was taken just a couple weeks ago, at the county fair, of my one and only daughter, Mimmers. She also is doing Sonlight Level 5, along with other subjects, including math from Right Start. This girl is a mini-mama. She thinks everything her little brother does is adorable (“but Mom, he’s so cuhyute”), even when it is naughty. She bakes a mean loaf of bread all by herself, from scratch, in my breadmaker and knows how to cook a couple of main dishes already too!

We call my little man The Person. His main subject is distracting everyone else from getting their stuff done.

And he is the youngest of six, so I guess he’s been rewarded in his attempts pretty much every time he’s tried. Ferocious Beast. I’m camping. In the dark woods. I should never have looked at these

pictures right before bed.

Hmm, funny how I happen to have so many pictures on hand for this kid…

Did I already he say, um, he’s the last of six kids?

He’s quite a strategist. In more ways than one…

To see more proud moms brag tell you about their kids, go to this blog hop. This week is picture week. Moms are sharing pictures of their kids for the beginning of the school year. Like I just did.

I hope you are squeezing out every last drop of summer!