tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post877707299247423892..comments2024-02-02T22:31:03.045-08:00Comments on Mt. Hope Chronicles: Lately LifeHeidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-65280288364581720552014-10-06T16:58:26.133-07:002014-10-06T16:58:26.133-07:00We LOVE puzzles around here! (West Michigan)
We al...We LOVE puzzles around here! (West Michigan)<br />We always do puzzles as a family during Christmas break and so my husband made a "puzzle board." It's simply a piece of plywood with some dark-colored felt duck-taped on. At one house it went above the fridge, at our apartment up on the counter, and now it's under my son's bed. He has a 1000 piece puzzle of Impressionist's Paintings going. He loves to work it while listening to Story of the World, Lord of the Rings, Narnia, or Bill Potter cds. We can gather around the table and then easily move it for dinner. <br />-KimberlyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14303778447080683639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-9035338118387185372014-10-06T11:53:26.950-07:002014-10-06T11:53:26.950-07:00Just chiming in to say how much I appreciate the c...Just chiming in to say how much I appreciate the conversation above! This interplay between the structure of our days and the way it affects my kids' habits and character is something I've been thinking about, and I really appreciate the way you've laid out the pluses and minuses of the way you've schooled, Heidi...and also the way you're thinking about it as you move forward. Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05960950786462948625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-7343649894870709032014-10-05T15:34:24.717-07:002014-10-05T15:34:24.717-07:00In-laws *
Thanks for the warm response. Yeah, cha...In-laws *<br /><br />Thanks for the warm response. Yeah, character ... that's a tough one for all of us. carolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14460660865881905507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-2172231860319171112014-10-05T15:07:06.414-07:002014-10-05T15:07:06.414-07:00I'm glad you posted your first comment, Carole...I'm glad you posted your first comment, Carole. I don't mind a bit. :)<br /><br />I just made a long story even longer. Ha! <br /><br />Yes, we use several different approaches. Not necessarily intentionally, but more because it just happens that we all work that way. I'd say we are very relaxed with classical content. :) Even when I attempt a detailed schedule, it always ends up sliding (very quickly) into that pattern.<br /><br />What we're dealing with now (and have been in the past) is more along the lines of character issues (for *all* of us). Obedience, self-discipline, time-management, good attitudes. Those things come into play whether we're doing unschooling, relaxed, or classical. We've really failed at the Charlotte Mason goals of attention and habits. ;-P And then there are the few skills the boys are having trouble picking up in a more relaxed, delight-led environment. So we really get to practice our character formation when spending time working on those. :D The only way I could really make this easier for myself is to un-parent. Ha!<br /><br />Seriously, I took your comment in the manner that I know it was intended--friendly, interested, helpful, conversational. :)Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-67116254358123708372014-10-05T13:45:20.717-07:002014-10-05T13:45:20.717-07:00Heidi, I was "thinking out loud" too ear...Heidi, I was "thinking out loud" too early in the morning. I really appreciate your honesty and don't mean to question your decision making. :) I know what you mean about unschooling done well - it's messy and involved just as much as classical hs is more structured and involved. Hearing that Leif has been essentially unschooling/reading voraciously on his own is fun. So you do implement a mixture of approaches - we do, too. <br /><br /> Anyhow, I was up early and made my comment and then went to church and my I laws and all the while I was thinking, "ack! I should delete that!" (sigh) carolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14460660865881905507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-73813524504095181702014-10-05T08:53:29.556-07:002014-10-05T08:53:29.556-07:00Ariana~ You have so much OTHER stuff going on in y...Ariana~ You have so much OTHER stuff going on in your life. Like having a 5th baby, moving 3 times!!, surgery for your baby... And I look at all the fun little crafts and projects and fun play that you guys do and I'm amazed. :)Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-2753174740848358912014-10-05T08:48:45.541-07:002014-10-05T08:48:45.541-07:00Carole~ I get where you're coming from. I real...Carole~ I get where you're coming from. I really do. :) But we've had SO. MUCH. "unschooling" time in the past few years. I've NEVER been able to do a full homeschool schedule even if I was really trying. And we had a super long, relaxing summer. So the boys now think that if they have to work for a couple hours that they are unreasonably tortured. ;)<br /><br />I've always said that I think unschooling (when done right) is much more work than regular schooling. At least for my personality. The mess from projects (as well as coming up with the stuff the kids need for it) drives me crazy (and they usually need help which is not my forte either), and they really need a way to work in some writing in particular (and math for Levi, but he wouldn't gravitate toward any project involving math). It would still be a battle over implementation, follow-through, and clean up. Or *I'm bored and I just want to play with electronics.* I think some parents are great at getting their kids excited about things and then working in stuff like writing without making it seem like a chore, but that's MORE work for me!<br /><br />Leif has done next to nothing formal for school for years now. That's just the way it went with two older brothers whom I could teach together (he would never stay with us) and a little sister who needed a ton of attention (starting from when I was pregnant and he was 3 years old). Leif could read well and do math well, so I just left it at that. But now we're reaping some unpleasant behavioral issues from that. Like, unwillingness to work or obey. :( (He is also less capable of doing independent projects. And clean-up... not at all.)<br /><br />Levi's hit 7th grade. His formal work load has been super light until now, but I think this is an important time to step it up. The transition is just notsofun. He desperately needs formal math instruction, and he needs to learn to be willing to work hard with a good attitude. He's in a class one day a week, and the work he does at home is all laid out for him. The social/accountability aspect is so good for him because all the kids are doing this work, it has a deadline (otherwise it simply wouldn't happen), and he is accountable to someone other than me.<br /><br />Luke is the one who could do it. He could do projects on his own. He could come up with a few ideas. He's the most likely to clean it up. But he is also the ONE child who will do independent school work. He begs for a list, gets it done, and then wants computer time. This child is not fun when he's unemployed, because he just wants *something to do* or computer time. The only real formal work (other than his independent list of short tasks) is math we do together and his writing assignments from the class we attend on Mondays (it's 24 weeks, so not a full year). He really needs that formal writing instruction. I can see a big difference between last year and this year.<br /><br />Seriously, I hear unschooling and I think we have to do all the learning we're already doing, but now I have to make it so fun and exciting and messy that the boys never think they are doing work. Ha! Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05878817427434603915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-36533534962533796712014-10-05T06:52:08.403-07:002014-10-05T06:52:08.403-07:00GOSH, I really loved this post! Your life is so ve...GOSH, I really loved this post! Your life is so very different from mine since your kids are so different but I feel like I was right there experiencing it with you and Luke! haha<br />I love these stories about your daily life. <br />I'm fascinated by how capable your boys are! I'm amazed at the school you guys do. It seems so time intensive and I feel like I use every second of my day keeping up with my own simple homeschool schedule! I don't know how you do it! Do you feel worn down often?<br /><br />We have the same problem with puzzles and it's pretty sad because every single one of my kids (besides the baby) loves puzzles and would love to have a giant one constantly in progress but with only one table we do a giant puzzle about once every 3-6 months only.<br />Ariana Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03601754414156234023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5750282299627894194.post-26252502256740535612014-10-05T04:39:38.424-07:002014-10-05T04:39:38.424-07:00I know I'm going against the grain here with m...I know I'm going against the grain here with my idea - I know, I know - but have you ever, would you ever, consider unschooling or project based homeschooling? Even for a year or two? Your home seems like the perfect environment with so many amazing books. Plus your kids are fabulous readers, wildly imaginative, and you are feeling exhausted (although that is also the product of being a mom to four!) . Why not let them take charge of their education and go along as their mentor and support person? :) I'm crazy, I know. ;)carolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14460660865881905507noreply@blogger.com