Archive for August, 2011

The Queen of Routines

Posted on: by Jamie McMillin

Before I move off the subject of routines, there is one website you simply must check out:  flylady.net The original “Flylady,” Marla Cilley, and her crew are the best mentors ever for getting your life under control. They give away warm, comforting, free advice on things like housekeeping, menu planning, self-improvement, household organization, kid management, and it’s all done with a sense of humor. It’s hard to explain, you just have to check it out.

One of Flylady’s most important tips is to take “Baby Steps.” You should not beat yourself up trying to do everything right all the time (and not succeeding). Break a giant task into small chunks. Or if you are trying to master a long string of habits, start with just one. It takes about a month of continuous practice to really develop a habit – so unless you have extraordinary willpower, just concentrate on a few improvements at a time.

Disclaimer – even though I love Flylady, my house is rarely clean. We try to stay on top of the bathrooms and the kitchen, but the rest of the house looks like an explosion of laundry, books, mail, recycling to be taken out, dog toys, backpacks, wilted flower arrangements, and bread crumbs. Truth is, my priorities lie elsewhere and I know I can’t do everything. The kids help a lot, but they are busy people too. I do occasionally work myself into a mad frenzy of cleaning, especially when company is coming, so my house does get spiffed up sometimes. That’s probably the only thing saving us from squalor. Three cheers for company!

Getting Back Into a Routine Part II

Posted on: by Jamie McMillin

In my last post, I talked about getting back into a routine, so I thought I would share some of my routines with you.

New Monday Routine

0530 Wake up, make breakfast and lunch for husband

0600 Eat breakfast/read email, plan week

0645 My turn to drive kids to high school

0730 Write/work

0900 Leave for outdoor “Boot Camp”

1045 Drink a green smoothie and do yardwork

1115 Shower, dress, meditate for 25 min

1200 Lunch, work at computer

1430 Leave to pick up daughter, drop off at gymnastics, groceries

1730 Dinner, family time

Not much time for work on Mondays! But Tuesdays are better because I don’t have to drive anywhere except for my “Boot Camp” from 0930-1030. The rest of the time I can be working! My kids help with yardwork on the weekends, but there is so much to do that I’m trying to hit it for just 20 min each day.

Needless to say, routines change regularly with every season because the kids are all doing different things. We have to juggle who gets what car and when, and who drives the non-drivers to their activities.

My nemesis is errands. Errands, driving and shopping are my biggest time wasters. Although, when my kids were little and homeschooling, we put that time to good use listening to audio books in the car. Even then, we were able to do so much more when I was able to consolidate errands and kid stuff to no more than three days a week. That was my goal – spend two whole days a week at home!

Here’s my daughter’s homeschooling routine for last Fall:

Monday

9:30am – 3:00 pm “Trackers” outdoor class (Science)

4:30 – 7:30 pm gymnastics, listen to Spanish in car

Evening – write in journal

Tuesday

9:15 – 10:00 math (pre-algebra)

10:00 – 10:45 history reading

10:45 – 11:00 dictation

11:00 – 11:15 listen to Spanish while making lunch

11:30 – 12:30 watch DVD (geography, history or art) while eating lunch

Afternoon – art, crafts, or architecture

4:30 – 7:30 gymnastics

Evening – reading

Wednesday

9:15 – 10:00 math

10:00 – 10:45 history reading

10:45 – 11:30 copy work and writing

11:30 – 11:45 listen to Spanish while making lunch

11:45 – 12:30 lunch break

Afternoon – chores, then free time

4:30 – 7:30 gymnastics

Evening – reading

Thursday

9:15 – 10:00 math

10:00 – 10:45 history reading

10:45 – 11:00 grammar

11:00 – 11:30 geography quiz/game

11:30 – 11:45 listen to Spanish while making lunch

11:45 – 12: 30 lunch break

Afternoon – work on writing project

4:30 – 7:30 gymnastics

Evening – reading

Friday

“Science Friday”

either field trip, or read a science book with a project, or watch a science DVD

After science is free writing

Movie night

Weekend

Do one more math assignment

I’m not saying we stuck to this schedule, but it gave us something to shoot for. She did a variety of chores throughout the week too, but we were never able to stick to any kind of chore schedule (myself included).

Getting Back Into the Routine

Posted on: by Jamie McMillin

One of the things I hear a lot from moms as school is starting is how nice it will be to get “back into a routine.” Summer is fun but ultimately we all start itching to be more productive. The same goes for homeschoolers. Even if you are a relaxed homeschooler with no set curriculum, it’s nice to make forward progress. I am a huge proponent of self-directed education, but that doesn’t mean that our days have to be unstructured, perpetually spontaneous. It just means that instead of someone else telling us what and when to learn, we decide for ourselves.

What do you wish you had more time for? Where are you wasting time? There are so many distractions in our day that things take longer than they should, or perhaps we start our day with a lengthy to-do list but only accomplish a few things (if any).

The way to take control is to develop ROUTINES. You can have a morning routine, a homeschool routine, a workout routine, a kitchen routine, a weekend routine – whatever. The important thing is to prioritize first. Make sure that your routines accomplish something that you really care about. You cannot do everything. I repeat, you cannot do everything. Some things will have to go. Some things will have to be delegated. You may have to adjust your expectations. How clean does the house have to be? How elaborate the meals?

One nice thing about routines is that they will ultimately save you time because you will become more efficient. You won’t waste time skipping from one random task to the next – or trying to multitask (a subject for another post). Certain routines involving manual chores become more effective as they become habit, such as cooking, cleaning, yard work, etc. Other routines accrue benefits over time, such as exercise, meditation, relationship building or other forms of self improvement.

The idea is to plan your time. Plan for free time too. Planning productive work for every minute of the day would just make you crazy. You don’t have to be a zealot, or get all stressed out when you fall out of routine. In fact, just the act of writing a routine down on paper can help you focus, even if you never follow it! Putting thought into your highest priorities and analysing how you currently spend (or waste) your time is a wonderful reality check. And now is a good time for it – get back into a routine.

P.S. For a fascinating look at some famous peoples’ routines, check out this web site.

A Well-Balanced Homeschool

Posted on: by Jamie McMillin

I recently stumbled upon another homeschooling website that I really like – a kindred spirit!  I’ve included one of her articles here, with permission of course. The information about  her website is below. ~ Jamie

The Learning Pie for a Well-Balanced Homeschool

By Donna Vail

“Wisdom is learning what to overlook.” –William James

When I first began homeschooling the only way I agreed to homeschooling is if I knew my children would have everything they needed to move forward in their life once they decided to go to college, start their own business or even work for someone else. I didn’t want them to feel like they were held back because they were homeschooled. I searched far and wide for packaged systems that met my high standards. I never found that system, so instead after years personal trial and error I created my own system that met my requirements and more.

A key element I designed and incorporated in An Inspired Education is what I call the Learning Pie. The Learning Pie creates a well-balanced homeschool and naturally brings into focus everything your child will need. Relief to the parent knowing that you’re “covering it all” without the stress and chaos associated with commonly used curriculums is an added benefit.

“The main part of intellectual education is not the acquisition of facts but learning how to make facts live.” –Oliver Wendell Holmes

The Learning Pie

The Learning Pie is to be used in a self-education environment where partnerships and mentoring are practiced. To make learning happen is not to teach. Let’s explore each piece of pie.

Parent Partnerships: This is a partnership created between the parent and child, walking beside each other. Dominating relationships always experience problems. Parent partnerships, you both stay true to learning and honor the values of each.

Critical Thinking: This does not have to be a separate program, but is woven through your partnership, curriculum and everyday living, including hands-on experience. Be conscious of your conversations and make them purposeful, engaging and a springboard for critical thinking.

Independent Study: Includes academics that must be completed by the student as well as studying about special interests. This is where the child develops his skill to be a self-educator and learns how to gather information. The depth of Independent Study will depend on the child’s age and increase appropriately.

Community Service: Involvement in the community brings the child to an awareness of his world around him. Young children can be involved through family and neighbors. When children reach appropriate ages they can be more involved in community projects individually. Serving others is one of the most important lessons you can give your children.

Apprenticeships: Learning a skill from others adds another dimension to knowledge gained. When children are young and you’re partnering with them, they can apprentice with you on life skills. As they get older and develop interests apprenticing with other experts can help build skill and clarity for their greater work to move into as adults.

Field Curriculum: Much of our knowledge is found in books however, it’s equally important to among like minded people. Taking classes and experiencing hands-on learning brings together more knowledge and experience.

Work Study: When the student is old enough to work, it’s important to choose jobs that are aligned with what is intended after completion of homeschool and moving into college or professional work. Gaining experience will add to the student’s skill level, serve as excellent material for portfolio as well as bring more clarity to his unique purpose.

As you get more into living an Inspired Education you will see the wholeness and how you’re “covering it all” and then some. Coupled with Creating this balance is key in your homeschool. It eliminates the guess work and creates a life that is rich and rewarding.

“For a person to build a rich and rewarding life for himself, there are certain qualities and bits of knowledge that he needs to acquire. There are also things, harmful attitudes, superstitions, and emotions that he needs to chip away. A person needs to chip away everything that doesn’t look like the person he or she most wants to become.” –Earl Nightengale

Parents Inspired to Action:

Get familiar with the learning pie and contemplate on how it applies to different areas of interest for your children’s learning.

Always keep their values first and foremost when determining a course of action.

Remember you don’t have to do all of the pie pieces at once.

When faced with a decision you can look at your plan and see if it’s aligned with the Learning Pie, the child’s values and the overall well-being of the whole family.

 

Children Inspired to Action:

First and foremost determine their values and always advance in the direction of those values. Every 8-12 months revisit values determination for changes that take place as we learn, grow and move through different seasons of life.

Discuss ways learning can be structured around these values and how each subject is an important part of living in alignment with highest values.

Have your children make a list of what they’re most interested in learning. What areas of interest do they want to explore. Choose one or two and determine ways to apply the learning pie to these areas of interest.
You might be wondering what kind of systems you can incorporate to get the results you’re looking for in your own homeschool and life. What are the daily details to make it happen? Trial and error can take a lot of time. Successful people always incorporate the help of mentors and coaches so they don’t have to re-invent the wheel. If you would like a more systematic approach that includes the details to help you produce real change fast, I recommend joining the Mentor Mastery Inner Circle. It keeps you inspired and you receive coaching directly from Donna in the most important things for setting up simple, effective systems giving your children an education in excellence while creating family harmony. It’s easy. It’s affordable. Get started today at www.aninspirededucation.com/inner-circle.html.

Think peace, live love.

 

© copyright 2011 Donna Vail International

All rights reserved.

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Want to Use This Article In Your e-zine Web site, blog or newsletter? You have my permission, as long as you include this complete excerpt with the article: Inspired Education Mentor Donna Vail publishes the all inspiring ‘Living an Inspired Education’ e-newsletter. Every issue reveals tips, tools, and secrets to simply and confidently home school with inspiration! Start living a lifestyle of true freedom and inspire the best in your child.  Get your free weekly education and success mindset tips now at http://www.aninspirededucation.com.

Make the Most of Your Homeschool Budget

Posted on: by Jamie McMillin

 

I admit that I have spent way too much money for homeschool stuff over the years. Do you remember reading the Sears Christmas catalog each year as a kid? That’s what receiving the phone book-sized “Rainbow Resource Guide” and other catalogs in the mail each year was like for my homeschool friends and I. Out came the sticky notes and highlighters as I poured over every tantalizing page. There was so much to choose from! You’ve heard the term “hope in a bottle” referring to beauty creams, but these catalogs offered “hope in a curriculum.” I wanted the best for my kids – for them to learn a lot, have fun doing it, and become super genius wonder kids in the process. But I only had so much money, so I had to restrain myself. Still, I ended up buying things that I wished I hadn’t.

So, I’ve learned a few things:

  1. Stick to your menu. Clipping coupons is fine for stuff you actually need from the grocery store, but not if it tempts you to buy something you ordinarily wouldn’t. The same is true for homeschool curriculum. Come up with your plan for the year first (your menu) and only buy what you need. Don’t be tempted by good deals or shiny packaging. The exception here would be great deals, as in garage sale prices (or free), for things that might come in handy.
  2. Before you buy anything new, make every effort possible to lay your hands on the actual product. Oftentimes the packaging and description can be misleading, not deliberately of course, but because things are hard to describe. Reviews are very nice to find, but even then, we all have different needs and tastes. One person’s expectations may be quite different from yours. My homeschool group used to have a monthly evening meeting (sans kids) where we would discuss a certain topic or hold a curriculum show-and-tell for a certain subject. So, if the subject for the night was English, we would all bring in what we had for English and pass it around so everyone could see. It was a great way to see new things and hear how it worked. You can also put in a request to your email groups to ask if anyone has a certain product that they wouldn’t mind bringing to park day, etc.
  3. Search for used curriculum first. Good sources: vegsource, usedhomeschoolcurriculum, homeschoolclassifieds, and of course ebay.
    Be realistic about how much time you have. We all tend to overestimate how much can be completed in a day/month/year. This can lead to undue family stress and tension if you buy expensive products only to see them sit unused for lack of time. Same thing goes for craft projects. It’s better to expect that everything will take twice as long as you think it should and leave plenty of breathing space in your schedule.
  4. I know this sounds obvious, but learn to maximize the use of your library. Use your library’s computer system to search, request inter-library loans, place holds, and find out about free resources. Make friends with your librarians and let them know what kind of resources you are looking for. Don’t forget about audio books, music, DVD documentaries, and foreign language materials.
  5. The greatest library and source of free information is right on the Internet. In fact, if you bought nothing else for your homeschool, a simple computer with an Internet connection is all you would ever need to craft an epic education. Learn where to look and you can find anything! Here’s a few quality free sites to get you started: The Self-Made Scholar, Discovery Channel, Sheppard Software, Ambleside Online, and my number one favorite Khan Academy.
  6. Lastly, consider minimalism. There is a lot to be said for LESS stuff. I certainly didn’t need, or even use, some of the stuff I bought. Some of the things I used most were things I created myself. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination!

What is the Difference between a Dropout and a Homeschooler?

Posted on: by Jamie McMillin

Thomas EdisonI heard a story on NPR this week about our nation’s dropout crisis and how it is affecting our fiscal burden: “Nearly 1 million kids who start high school every year don’t make it to graduation. At a time when federal and state budgets are tight, dropouts costs taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenue, health care, welfare and incarceration costs.”

Linda Wertheimer’s opening statement caught my attention. She explained that “just under four million kids begin ninth grade every year, but about a fourth of them don’t make it to graduation. That’s almost a million dropouts every year. According to one estimate, from the American Council on Education, there are currently 40 million Americans who never graduated from high school. That is an enormous cost for them as individuals, for the rest of society.”

Now, I understand what they are talking about. They are talking about the kids who dropout for one reason or another, with no interest in learning or earning a degree, who then go on to become a burden rather than a producer in society. But I wondered how kids who “dropout” of school to start homeschooling fit into those statistics. (more…)