A Fly On My Homeschool Wall

  YWAM Publishing has an outstanding line of biographies in their Heroes of History series.  When presented with 28 different titles to to choose from, my Nature Angel was very happy to select Heroes of History--George Washington Carver . While there are a number of significant differences between the lives of George Washington Carver and my little daughter, there are enough similarities for my nature-loving girl to have found a hero/mentor. Born under appalling conditions, and into slavery, George Washington Carver was kidnapped, along with his mother and sister, from his home at the Moses Carver farm.  Carver sent out agents to find his missing property, and eventually baby George was returned . . . but not his mother or sister. Nature Angel's heart just about fell out of her chest as she read about these horrible events.  As she read, we talked . . . a lot. A book that evokes strong emotion and elicits thought-provoking conversation gets two enthusias...

I was already away from the table giving baths to other kids when this happened. It has been a dark week mentally and emotionally for me. The same blessings and joys surround me as always do, but I have not been able to comprehend them. I'm pretty sure it's hormones.  I celebrated my 45th birthday fairly recently, and my body is changing. I don't like it. But I have to accept it . . . and figure out how to cope with it. One step I've taken is to work extra hard on keeping a (private) gratitude journal. A second step has been listening to General Conference talks while I make dinner--this is in addition to my regular daily scripture study. I'm going to need some more plans, but these are what I have so far. Picture by Little Princess--the tree that guards our back deck. Stuff we've accomplished: *Pixie finally finished her final English essay, and she is officially done with 9th grade. *Nature Angel has worked like a demon on math and no...

The amazing thunder storms of last night are on pause right now, but they're due back this afternoon, so we've sent kids outside to run off some energy . . . Oops, I spoke too soon. The rain is back, and the kids came pouring in. We have no problem with playing outside in the rain, but this rain has major lightning with it, and that's cause to hide indoors. It's been a low key week. We started the older girls on their summer morning schedule, and that has slowed all of us down.  I still make breakfast for everyone 10 and under at 7:30 or so in the morning, but the kitchen remains open to the older girls until 9:00 am, at which time we gather for Morning Meeting. Everyone small wanted to sit with me--as close as possible.  Lola and Baymax are both sulking because they are having to share my lap.  Across the room are several more small people who were also sulking because they couldn't find space next to me.  I think the appropriate reaction is to be gla...

As May advances, I can feel a drive to rest. Sounds funny. How could I feel driven to rest? Seems contradictory. But it is what it is, and I feel a pushing, aggressive, compelling drive to rest. I've begun to honor that drive by sitting still in the afternoon for a few minutes at least twice this week. :) And because seminary ended this week, we are beginning to work our our summer schedule. Hurrah for seminary!  Hurrah for the end of seminary! The kids' tire gardens are thriving.  The kids are faithful about watering and tending to their sunflowers and peas.  Today (Saturday) is our end of season dance performance.  Pixie spent the week sewing and crafting, and now she has 4 darling circle skirts and 2 no-sew bow ties (I've asked her to make a set for our little boys) all ready for the swing number she choreographed to "Jumpin' Jack" and the "Callin' Baton Rouge" clogging number she, Belle, Super Star, and Nature Ange...

According to Pixie, my 15 year old high school freshman, the High School Essay Intensive by Institute for Excellence in Writing is very helpful. She's never been a confident writer, and this year's freshman English essays have been a real challenge for her.  Add in the fact that she's chosen a highly competitive university as her dream goal, and she how has to prepare for major standardized exam stress. On my end, though I've always been a confident writer, I've felt frustrated as her teacher because of the conflicting information about essay writing that's available these days.  Should I teach the basic 5-paragraph essay that got me through my standardized exams?  Or are those passé, and I should teach something more in vogue? . . . but what's in vogue enough to help her do well on her exams? Enter the High School Essay Intensive . Of course, IEW has been the gold-standard in teaching writing for a long time, but though I've attended home...