How to Manage Toddlers (or babies) While Homeschooling

See this dragon? He is a whirling dervish of destruction. Ya, he looks sweet enough but we all know that dragons will either burn you to a crisp with fire or eat you if you let them. Toddlers are a lot like dragons. Having a small dragon in your house while you are trying to each exponential math would be awfully distracting too. So, how do we handle dragons, or toddlers, or babies, while homeschooling?

Step 1. Train your dragon.

All peaceful households with children that you will ever visit have one thing in common the children have been trained and it took time and CONSISTENCY. I know this sounds like no fun and one would think that it would take a long time. Put those thoughts out of your head. They won't help you and are therefore a waste of time.

The training philosophy you hold to is your business but do pick something and go with it. During school hours I give my toddler things to do that are not a huge disruption (play dough, paper and pencil, paper with scissors, quiet toys, etc.). I keep my toddler with me. If my toddler is within arms reach than he is most likely not trying to flush something down the toilet, or pulling the cat's tail, or undoing all my housework. He sits on my lap. He plays by my side. He sits at the table and plays "school" while I help his older brothers. If he begins to misbehave, I handle things promptly. If he becomes a continual distraction ( and every child has their moments) then I set him in his bed for however long it takes me to get his brothers back cruising along on their lessons (typically about 5 minutes) and then I deal with him. I think it is important for the little people of the house to know that their disruptive behavior is not going to bring everything in the household to a screeching halt. That would be too much power for a toddler to handle.

Babies can be trained too. I have heard of people training babies to sit on a blanket and play with toys during school. I just wore my baby. It was simpler for me. I have always encouraged my babies to be cheerful. I do this by being cheerful with them myself and by holding them often. It works. :)

Step 2. Be Aware. You wouldn't turn your back on a fire-breathing dragon...don't turn your back on a toddler.

We all know the things that toddlers can do. I turned my back on my 3rd born once when he was a toddler only to turn back around and find him to have a mouth full of potting soil and my freshly planted flowers all dumped out of the pot. Cute. Cute and mildly annoying.

If a toddler doesn't have the opportunity to cause mischief then there will be no mischief to distract you or your other children from your studies. A problem prevented is a problem solved.

Step 3. Wear your armor. You wouldn't go into battle without wearing protection, or bringing a sword, or bringing provisions for the journey.

I know my toddler will want snacks, drinks, multiple things to do, a nap, and my attention. I prepare for these things.

It says in the Bible that we need to wear spiritual armor. Do this by praying and reading your Bible. When I run out of steam, God's word comes to me and keeps me going.

Step 4. Be patient. Dragons are unpredictable.

My toddler (baby) will be a toddler (baby). So, I try to keep myself flexible. I also try to be patient with myself. I cannot do it all and I will never be anywhere near perfect. I too will get grouchy, tired, and bored. Sometimes I also just need to cry. Moms and toddlers can be alike sometimes.

Happy dragon wrangling!

Homeschooling Books, Living books, Whole Books

I thought that I would share what texts we are using for school today.

Spelling Power I like this book because it covers all levels of spelling. It is simple and quick.

New World Dictionary I picked up my copy at the local thrift store. Dictionaries are great tools, not just for reference, but for actual lessons. Today the bigger boy will be looking up more obscure words from their reading assignment.

Simply Grammar A very useful book because you can repeat lessons as need be. I find the boys often "brain dump" basic grammar rules, not in their writing, but in being able to articulate which is a linking verb or which is an adverb.

Treasure Island I checked this out last night at the local library. I am reading it myself to better check the boys' comprehension level and also to pullout words for their vocabulary lessons. This book seems to me to be a perfect boy book. I am always on the hunt for adequate boys books (not just dribble).

CLP Nature Reader 4 Why this book is so inexpensive and others are so expensive, I shall never understand. All levels of the CLP Nature Reader series are great. Even though the boys are mainly doing 5th grade level work, this little book is still useful for facts and a quick check on comprehension because of the questions at the end of each section. Non-fiction tastiness.

A Child's History of the World An pricy piece of literature which I found rather cheaply at a used curriculum sale. I love the way history is presented, not dry and burdensome, but rather interestingly and rich.

Drawing with Children All my children are enjoy art and drawing. I appreciate the systematic way she approaches art.

MCP Mathematics Levels B, E, F I didn't add a link here. They are sufficient books. I found that I detest Saxon math for being convoluted so I switched to this no nonsense math program.

CLP Phonics Level A I like things simple, simple and direct while being fully sufficient. Boys like things simple too.

Handwriting Without Tears grade 1 I tend to try to keep the boys either on grade level or above. I find if you do not tell them that something might be too difficult for them, they just do the work. :) This is a good, solid handwriting curriculum. I do follow-up with a more rigorous curriculum later, such as CLP handwriting.

So, this is what is on the table today. Tomorrow we add science (Apologia Science) and drop the history.

Happy Schooling!

Mimicry

Today is a very slow, gray, drippy Saturday. Chris was hard at work on his paper for his class. I decided to distract myself with drawing in my sketch book. Without a word, all three boys assembled themselves around me with papers and markers of their own, even baby Nai (especially cute with his one arm strapped to his chest due to his broken collarbone). It just goes to demonstrate how much our little ones mimic us naturally. This brings to mind how God says we are to teach our children, as we go along the path, to teach them in all of the daily outworkings of our life. How can we do that if they are not with us? Let us be the ones they mimic.

A Typical School Day

This is where we do our school. It is nothing fancy. The boys do each have their own desks in their room but they don't like to be separated. Luc and Nai scramble in and out of the empty chairs or build tents. Everyone stays close together.

Every week I write out a lesson plan for each boy and post it on our corkboard. The big boys read their list daily and do their assignments, occasionally working ahead if they want a lighter day later on in the week. I use the plan to keep me on tract and accountable with Luc. Nai is currently copying all our phonics sounds.

After school is completed we stack the books into a pile and replace it back on the bookshelf in the hall. Our curriculum is inexpensive (about 200 dollars for the current years for all the boys...it will get more expensive as they get older, but not horribly so). We keep the school supplies (pencils, glue, crayons, etc.) in a buffet table (big, wide dresser) in our dining room.

The point of this post is to say that homeschooling does not have to be overwhelming. Keep it simple because it trully is not the most important part of your day and your life need not revolve around it.

New Homeschool Group

Chris and I attended our local homeschool leaders retreat. Let me just say...wow! The speaker had such wisdom and insight. Her name is Mary Schofield and she is active on the Board of Directors for the Christian Home Educators Association of California (among other things, like attending law school...for FUN). I am very glad Chris was there because the more this mega-mama spoke the more I wanted to run out da' door. But, all things work for good (so says the Lord), and so shall even this. It really helped light a fire under me and to get Chris and I on the same page in the planning phase of our new group.

Speaking of which, our new group has its kick-off picnic this Friday. I'm am refering to the group as a new group because it was not an organized, active group in the past and that is what we hoping for in the future. God opened the door. We walked through. It is all in His most capable hands. I just need to keep reminding my weak self of that.

Chris has been great. He is more than on board, he is leading the show. I love it! I am so blessed. He was pleased that I finally got my school year ideas down on paper and the first month of school prepared as well. This year is a bit different as I am going boxed curricula free.

I put a link for the homeschool group's yahoo group site. It is new so there is not anyone else on it, but I wanted to have it ready before we started the group officially. Let me know if you all have any words of wisdom (aside from things like, "Hey Angie, remember not to let your mouth run away from your mind"...this I know =) ).

A New Homeschool Group

Well...I thought that it would be a long time before I attempted a more active role in homeschooling. God had other plans. Chris and I were given the local group here in Oklahoma by a family that wished to retire from being homeschool leaders so they could focus their attention elsewhere. We are even going to a homeschool group leaders retreat put on by the state homeschool group. I think it is so cool that there is even such a thing. I am even looking forward to going. While, to be honest, I am not sure that anyone will be in this homeschool group with us, at least we will be available to help any who might desire it. And, incidentally, Chris told me after we were given the group that he had been praying for something like that. I was astounded. I mean the man has always been active but this brings things to (wait for it, lol)..a whole other level (this is a Chris/Angie joke, sorry folks...had to put it in here).

We are having our kick-off picnic here on the 21st of August. So, pray for me folks! I don't want to be sitting there by myself (seriously, I have heard all my own jokes already).

Math is Fun!

I don't think that I ever smiled that big while doing math in "school".

THIS face, on the otherhand, is probably closer to how I felt doing math in public school.

Abraham says that he loves math, but approaches it seriously because he wants to get it done as quickly as possible. The sooner he gets his schoolwork completed, then sooner he can play or read "Hank the Cowdog" (his current series of choice....I must admit, it is pretty funny!).

Also, afters years of tears (LOL I'm a poet), Elijah is truly enjoying math this year. It is like the light bulb just went on in his head and now it all makes sense. AMEN!

Fit Throwing and Holly Bushes

Yesterday was a very TRYING day here. One of the sheep didn't want to complete his math page (4 step word problems). He did want to throw his worksheet, and his pencil, and run amok in my house yelling, "I can't do this with you bossin' me!"

AHHHHHH!

We had some re-training and then tried again. Nope, didn't work. The sheep still would not do his work. I had to call in the head farmer at work for reinforcement. The sheep then sat down quietly to do his math. (O, so if Daddy says it...then all is well.....fooey).

I gave the sheep a short break after the 4 hr math page. Sheep do not appreciate breaks....they actually make them feel entitled and sassy. The sheep did not want to come back to the table to work on his grammar. He wanted to throw more fits and yell.

This fit ended with the sheep at the top of a 20ft holly bush, crying for all the neighborhood to hear.

It is so awesome being the mother of the year!

Sometimes we must drag our sheep

My sheep are moving sooooo slowly today. They seemed so surprised when I handed them their work back and asked them to make corrections. You should have seen their large, pleading eyes as I told them, "Of course you have to fix the problems which are wrong. What? Did you think that I was just going to tell you they were wrong and we were going to leave it at that?"

Yep, that is exactly what they thought. I must be too lenient.

Then one my sheep found out that if you do not do all your schoolwork on the day you are supposed to do it, then you get to do it the next day PLUS your schoolwork from today.

I didn't know sheep could look so incredulous and angry.

Did you know that sheep cannot seem to read directions? Do you know that if you bring that to the sheep's attention that the sheep will inform you that, "Yes, I can read the directions. And I did the directions, but, the directions did not mean what they said."

What?

The sheep now know that directions do mean what they say.

"Mommy, can I just not do schoolwork today", says the angry, incredulous sheep who has been working on his second page of math while making every whiney, annoying noise he can think of.

What?

Grrrrr.....sheep.....grrrr