When John and I felt God whispering change into our family's landscape last year, it was lead by a prompting we felt to turn in our PTA shirts for ones that hit a little closer to home. For the first time in my life, I felt God calling me to a classroom of four instead of thirty.
Anyone who has known me for a long time, knows how much "teaching" means to me. One of the reasons I started this blog was because of the insatiable desire I have to share with others about the ways God is teaching ME along the way of our family's journey. I don't make money from writing, and have really never desired to. I just love to share. Showing others what God has revealed to me so that they may walk their steps more aware of His presence and purpose brings me DEEP joy....like maybe it's God Himself that placed that desire in me...(and I believe it is :)
A year ago, when God nudged us to pull out of the "system" and to educate our kids at home, it was not all roses from the start. I've written about this before, but I want you know exactly where I'm coming from...
I liked SCHOOL.
I liked being a part of the community of learners around us.
I loved the thrill of a first day outfit and picture with a new teacher as little faces saw their new class for the first time.
I loved BEing the teacher for a few years before the kids were born, joining with my peers to collaborate over the needs of the students in our classrooms each year.
When I was a choir teacher, I loved the joy of a performance gone well where the families and kids genuinely seemed to beam with excitement over being given an opportunity to exercise musical gifts on stage...
And I loved the joy of Open House where kids excitedly showed their parents what they had learned that year...(at least the part that could hang on a wall) :)
Then one day, God spoke to me...once my own kids started in the same routine I knew well...
"I want something different for YOU."
I wasn't sure I was ready for different. I liked what I knew. I wanted my kids to walk in the same footsteps that were familiar and have the same fond memories I held dear. But God stirred mine and John's hearts in the same direction at the same time when it came time for our four to start down that same path. Ryder was in Kindergarten at the time, and I grew more aware of God's desire for something different for my boy.
At the time, I was a bit afraid to opt out of something I loved. My thoughts were consumed with what I thought we'd be missing in taking them out of traditional school. I had no idea at the time, what lay ahead. God showed me many things in our moments of decision. He showed me that no wise choice is fueled by fear. The "fear" of them missing out on what I had is not the way to follow in His footsteps....ever. I only share this for those of you who have heard Him call you to a place you've never been and may be afraid to go to since it's unfamiliar. It's new. It's different than than they way YOU grew up.
The longer I've walked with Jesus, the more confident I am in His leading. He has NEVER failed me yet. In fact, His way...especially the unfamiliar, new, never been there before kind of places He's lead us to over the past few years have been life changing in ways I could have never found on my own if I would have followed the safe, predictable, beaten path set before me. We rarely know of the blessing that waits on the other side of obedience when we take that first step...but there IS blessing!!!
So believe, my friend. Whatever He's calling you to...regardless of the nature of your existent or non-existent college degree...if you are a parent, you can KNOW, God has a plan for your child. He had one for them before they were born. The very best thing YOU can do for your children is let the God who made them, lead YOU in raising them. Without fear, but with FULL confidence knowing that He leads AND He also equips.
When Jesus asked Peter to walk out on the water, Peter stepped without any previous experience of "water-walking" before. It was the face of his Master that lead his heart to step in full-faith. He knew, the One who called Him, was One who could be trusted. It was only once he turned to logic, and thoughts of His own human abilities that he fell. Jesus had every intention of sustaining Him the whole way. Don't let your opinion of yourself interfere with the plans of your Sustainer. He doesn't operate on the same plane of thought that we do. :) Trust HIM to do immeasurably more than anything your mind could think of or imagine!
Now that we're finishing up our first year, I'll give you just a glance of the blessings we had our first year of home educating our kiddos. I didn't take many photos this year...probably because it felt so unnatural to disengage from what we were in the midst of to capture it on camera, but here are a few glimpses into mostly the beginning of our year!
...Our First Year...
I had all kinds of grand plans to write a lot this year. Instead I found this year to be a great one, letting God show me what works best for our family...our schedule, curriculum and way of life changed throughout the year and now we've fallen into a GREAT groove. I love it, they love it and we're LOVING being home together at a pace propelled by the Spirit rather than our schedule.
Ryder's first narrative story of the year...
Ryder grew SO much as an author throughout the year! I was so proud of him, since it was the subject that required the most focus, determination and effort from him.
Math...his favorite subject!
Cole started the year using Confessions of a Homeschooler's K4 Curriculum
Pros: Very fun, hands on activities that he could do independently while I worked with Ryder.
Letter Tracing...
Letter Race...Ryder says a Letter and they RUN to it!
GREAT visual of what adding is all about!
Cons: A LOT of printing (ink and paper...as you can probably tell!)
After a while, he wanted his curriculum to match Ryder's and the K4 curriculum became to easy for him... (a good thing!)
So, at the beginning of 2nd Semester, we transitioned to Kindergarten Curriculum...
Math: Saxon K (loved!)
One of his favorites...Let's Play STORE :)
And...making graphs!
Reading: All About Reading Pre-Reading Level and Level 1
(I cannot say enough amazing things about this one!!!)
When I found out Cole was deaf, one of the statistics that concerned me, was that children who are deaf have difficulty moving past a 3rd grade reading level. We've been working HARD to help Cole move past that statistic!!! he has grown a lot this year, and just today, picked up one of the books that comes with this curriculum, and read it all by himself...He stopped, sounded words out, re-read sentences a few times to make sure it sounded fluent, but did it on his own! This is a HUGE victory for our boy!!!
Journal Writing using Sight Words...
Cora attended pre-school 3 days a week this year at the same school Cole attended last year. She's loved it! On the days she was home with us, she became our little artist! She also loved being brought into Cole's learning.
...All together now...
Bible, History, Science, Read-Alouds: Sonlight Core A, Intro to the World: Cultures
(Our favorite part of the day...snuggling on the couch, reading. None of these times were caught on camera...we were too busy enjoying them!)
I really loved using Sonlight this year and plan to use it again next year. I love the way the literature-based curriculum for History, Bible and Read-Alouds brought our whole family together on one couch after lunch each day. After everyone was tired from working hard all morning in their individual level for Math, Writing and Reading, we were excited to learn together through great books.
One of our science experiments...how waves move in the ocean!
...Computer time...
(a treat for finishing early)
One website my preschoolers and Kindergartner loved was Starfall.com 
Half way through the year, we were able to use money from our Charter School to buy an iPad! We were SO excited. Here are some fun apps we've enjoyed!
iPad Apps:
Ryder (2nd grade +):
Mind Snacks Spanish
Brain Pop Jr.
Mad Libs
Crosswords for Kids
Kids Discover
National Geographic Weird But True
NASA
Read Rhythm
Magic Piano
Awesome Eats
Fit Brains
Cole (Kinder):
Bob Books Magic 1 & 2
McGraw Hill Word Wonderland
Duck Duck Moose Reading
Endless ABC
Letter School
Montessorium Alpha Writer
eFlash Sight Words Flash Cards
Duck Duck Moose Musical Me!
Brain Pop Jr.
Articulation Station (speech)
Cora (Preschool):
all of Cole's apps +
Duck Duck Moose Princess Fairy Tale Maker
Duck Duck Moose Puzzle Pop HD
Rylee: (toddler):
all of Cora's apps +Toddler Teasers Colors
Duck Duck Moose Old McDonald Had a Farm
Play 1.2.3
Baby Counts
Books:
Joseph's Coat
Dino-Store
Tejas and Lillipop
Mary's Lamb
Goodnight Safari
Go There
Nighty Night
Our Curriculum
2012-2013
Ryder: 1st Grade (according to the state), 2nd grade (curriculum at home)
Sky Mountain Charter School: We met with our Educational Specialist every 20 days at our house, to monitor Ryder's progress and for him to show her what he's be learning that month. It held me accountable to certain goals we made each month and gave Ryder a chance to talk to another adult about what he's learning
Sky Mountain Charter School: We met with our Educational Specialist every 20 days at our house, to monitor Ryder's progress and for him to show her what he's be learning that month. It held me accountable to certain goals we made each month and gave Ryder a chance to talk to another adult about what he's learning
Bible: AWANA - Sparks :)
Bible, History, Geography, Read-Alouds: Sonlight Core A: Intro to the World: Cultures
Math: Saxon 2 (teacher-led) and ALEKS Math (independently done and self-propelled forward)
Science: Sonlight A: Biology, Botany, Physics
Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 2
Writing: Write from the Beginning (I was trained in this when I taught...blog post to come!)
Spanish: Rosetta Stone Level 1
California State Standard reinforcement: Study IslandPiano: Lessons from Daddy :)
We were so blessed to have all this curriculum (except for Sonlight), including our iPad, paid for by our Charter School! Ryder had a great first year at home! When I asked him where he wanted to learn next year, he said...home. Actually he asked if it was possible to go all the way through college, homeschooling :) Ha! We take it year by year, but it's great to know he likes where he is.
Cole: Kindergarten
Bible: AWANA - Cubbies :)
Bible, History, Geography, Read-Alouds: Sonlight Core A: Intro to the World: Cultures
Math: Saxon K
Science: Sonlight A: Biology, Botany, Physics
Writing: Journal Writing with Mom :)
Piano Lessons with Daddy when he came home from band rehearsal...
Some things are just for fun :)
It's so hard to capture a year in a few pictures and through a list of curriculum. What you can't see here are the moments we sat on the couch, cuddled under a blanket, hearing a stories from the Old Testament that none of us (including me!) had ever heard before. Having our minds and hearts enlightened together over new truths day after day, never grew old.
As long as the Lord calls us to home educate our kids, I will be grateful for many things...
...for the chance to teach my children right where their mind and heart are in that moment
...being able to study the topics they love
...seeing them through victories and challenges, both academic and relational (with siblings!)
...praying with them through difficult moments
...morning bike rides and mid-week family breakfasts
...field trips with friends and family alike
..."recess" with neighbors
...being able to "train them up in the way they should go" without taking a 7 hour school break
...being personally stretched to trust God at every moment of the day without a 7 hour school break :)
...seeing God be faithful to complete the good work he started in us all year through
...living at the Spirit's pace instead of the school's schedule for us
...being able to give everyone a chance to explore other activities and sports without feeling overwhelmed by school as well as homework
I realize not everyone in their current situation believes they have the opportunity to make this education choice for their kids. I deeply respect that. I will say, however, if God calls you to it, He'll make a way...He always does, and we're so grateful He's shown Himself to be faithful to us in our first year at home.
He provided the finances (Mostly through Sky Mountain Charter School - $1600 per pupil a year!)
He provided the plans (Most of the curriculum we used came with a plan to follow...You don't have to have a teaching credential to educate your children at home!)
The most important element He provided was the patience for us all to learn to live with each other all day long! He's so faithful to take us as far as we'll come! Our character as a family and mine as a mom has never grown more in any other season of our lives. There is a peace I now know with my imperfect children who have imperfect parents since we've all fallen more deeply in love with a beautifully perfect God...together. In all of our brokeness, we know we're on the same team. There's nothing like hearing your son pray for his Daddy before work, and then minutes later burst into a spontaneous dance party to his favorite worship song to start the day :)
I wish this call upon everyone. I really do. We've been given a gift that will last a lifetime. Time...the one gift we never get back...
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I love this post. :) While we are not feeling the call to homeschool yet. It is always in the back of my mind as an option. I partially feel like you described: I loved school, loved my teachers, and I want that for my kids. I also feel that while I had to teach 35-40 kids each year when I was a teacher, doing it with my kids at home with a baby (and who knows if we will add to that) might be too much. It is great to read what you are doing with your kids and see how the homeschool option might work with so many little ones.
When I was working for Sylvan Learning Center, Sky Mountain paid for a few hours of tutoring for some of their students. I do have a question: What is the tuition for one child to go through Sky Mountain?
I'm so glad you asked! It's free! Sky Mountain Charter School is a public charter school, and the funds given to each student come from the budget they are given by the state for each student. You are getting your tax dollars back and all you have to do is register them (hoping there is room) and you'll be assigned an educational specialist who will meet with you every 20 days to monitor your child's learning and keep track of your budgeted spending. It's been WONDERFUL for us!!!