Time4Learning

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning is an online educational program that can be used as an online homeschooling curriculum or for afterschool enrichment. Find out how to write your owncurriculum review for Time4Learning.

What Really Matters

John Taylor Gatto wrote a great article that I have been looking over I wanted to quote him on a couple of things and share my thoughts.

A lot of things don't matter that are supposed to; one of them is well-funded government schools. Saying that may be considered irresponsible by people who don't know the difference between schooling and education, but over 100 academic studies have tried to show any compelling connection between money and learning and not one has succeeded. Right from the beginning schoolmen told us that money would buy results and we all believed it. So, between 1960 and 1992 the U.S. tripled the number of constant dollars given to schools. Yet after 12,000 hours of government schooling one out of five Americans can't read the directions on a medicine bottle.

After 12,000 hours of compulsory training at the hands of nearly 100 government-certified men and women, many high school graduates have no skills to trade for an income or even any skills with which to talk to each other. They can't change a flat, read a book, repair a faucet, install a light, follow directions for the use of a word processor, build a wall, make change reliably, be alone with themselves or keep their marriages together. The situation is considerably worse than journalists have discerned. I know, because I lived in it for 30 years as a teacher.

Last year at Southern Illinois University I gave a workshop in what the basic skills of a good life are as I understand them. Toward the end of it a young man rose in back and shouted at me: “I'm 25 years old, I've lived a quarter of a century, and I don't know how to do anything except pass tests. If the fan belt on my car broke on a lonely road in a snowstorm I'd freeze to death. Why have you done this to me?”

 Scary huh? And yet, as home schoolers, I feel some of us have come into the same trap. We "school" at home. We don't teach the basic skills needed in life because we are too busy trying to teach what a set of teacher instructions tell us. I know I have fallen into this trap out of fear that one day my kids will be labeled dumb and it will all be my fault. I think that this doesn't necessarily mean that we dump all curriculum and be unschoolers, although every family is different. I think that this means that outside of our "school" time, we still need to be learning. Just because we finished a checklist doesn't mean that we should shut our brains off. We need to be learning about our society, it's history and science. We need to understand the written word and how to communicate. However, there are some fundamental skills that need to be taught that our curriculum doesn't cover. If we say no to our kids when they ask us to look up some info on a certain fish just because we already did science that day, then we are teaching them that learning is only done at a specific time and structure.

People who do very well in schools as we've conceived them have much more than their share of suicides, bad marriages, family problems, unstable friendships, feelings of meaninglessness, addictions, failures, heart by-passes that don't work and general bad health. These things are very well documented but most of us can intuit them without any need for verification. If school is something that hurts you, what on earth are we allowing it for?

Does going to school matter if it uses up all the time you need to learn to build a house? If a 15-year-old kid was allowed to go to the Shelter Institute in Bath, Maine, he would be taught to build a beautiful post-and-beam Cape Cod home in three weeks, with all the math and calculations that entails; and if he stayed another three weeks he'd learn how to install a sewer system, water, heat and electric. If any American dream is universal, owning a home is it – but few government schools bother teaching you how to build one. Why is that? Everyone thinks a home matters.

Does going to school matter if it uses up the time you need to start a business, to learn to grow vegetables, to explore the world or make a dress? Or if it takes away time to love your family? What matters in a good life?

This rings true for me. I did very well in school, straight A's. However, when I got out, I didn't know how to function. I did get a job, two in fact. But I was stuck there. I didn't know how to relate to people(I wasn't home schooled.lol) and I second guessed EVERYTHING that I did because someone else didn't tell me to do it. I didn't trust myself enough to make a decision. How sad. We question the material that public schools are teaching but few of us question the basic ideas behind them. I will always wonder if I am teaching my kids everything they need to know.  I think success would ultimately be achieved if I taught them to have a  veracious desire to learn what they need to when they need to. That way, the gaps that I may leave will always be easy and fun to fill.

Children are so funny

My children are very interesting to study. They are like little puzzles. Just when you think you've got them figured out they throw you completely off. We are studying what's called "A Thomas Jefferson Education". In many ways, it seems like kid's would LOVE it. Not mine, nope. They WANT me to do what we normally do. In trying to figure out WHY, I have learned alot about each of them. One of them wants to be told what to do, she's just like me in many ways. Give me a goal and I will try my best to reach it. The other one could go either way but she truly loves learning. In talking with them last night we made them write down goals that they want to accomplish. At first, they were just writing down stuff that they wanted to do but Jason quickly pointed out that goals without dates are just wishes. So then they became more realistic in their list making. What's interesting to note is that some things that they had on their lists were things that I tried to get them to do before but they complained. Now when I leave the choice up to them, they WANT to do it. We will see how things progress. I have a feeling we will be revising those goals.lol This whole experience has been good for me. I have wishes, not goals. I need to add dates.

Free books

Don't you just love free stuff? My father has given us a nook and we have been using it for school. There are so many great books in the public domain for all ages! Many of them are harder to read but once you get used to it, no big deal. Everybody just trades off when it's their time to read. I have REALLY enjoyed it! No hunting down books, I take them all everywhere. I love the games as well. We are eying the new colored one as well. Eventually we will get all the oldest a nook but that will take some time, and prices need to come down! :) I figure the money we are saving on having to buy books, we can put into getting another nook. Yay! Thanks Dad!!

Learning how to suture

Jason's coworker gave him a suture training kit and the kids and I are learning how to stitch people up! It's so neat. Here are some pics.

Fear in Blogging

I haven't been blogging because I have been fearful of the safety aspect of things. I heard that there are people out there bashing homeschoolers and it just rubbed me the wrong way. I realize that not many people care about what goes on in our little house but it sent shivers down my spine to think that my name might be on someone's hate list. Over the holidays however I have had several family members mention that they do read my blog when I update and that they miss it. Jason said that I should start back.So I am just going to jump right in.
Christmas was awesome this year. We had a great time with no drama, which was a blessing! Despite being pregnant the drive up to family wasn't bad at all, due to our "new to us" 12 passenger van. January has presented some challenging moments however. I was put in L&D for monitoring because of low amniotic fluid but everything seems to be ok now. They gave me fluids and put me on bedrest. They really don't know what is going on but they will continue to monitor me for my levels and for potential blood clotting issues. Oh boy!! At least I get to see my little one more often! Thankfully Jason can work from home so he is trying to take on the most difficult tasks while I continue to homeschool as I can. We are actually almost done with this year. Because we homeschool year round, we end up finishing early and starting even earlier as the years progress. The kids love schooling because it gives them something to do. They can only take so much of tv and wii before going insane. I am thankful for this :)
On another note, I have found it difficult to get out of those holiday blues that I sometimes fall in. It's been especially difficult since coming back from the hospital. The excitement of it all and then crash-very anticlimactic! Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that he gets to stay in a little longer(I am at 33 wks) but it's still been difficult. I go back in today for another checkup. We will see. I am trying to focus on what it's going to be like AFTER he is here so that maybe the wait won't seem too long. I am looking forward to seeing him and watching how he fits into our little family. The kids are very excited as well!

Weekly Overview 11/30-12/4

• Bible- Advent activities
• Hymn-One Small Child, Review other hymns and record
• Exercises-Stretching, Myself Fitness(XBOX)
• Science
  • Considering God's Creation
    
• Handicrafts-Christmas Projects
• Reading:

Charlotte- The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe

Kaitlyn- Swiss Family Robinson

Toby- Poppleton/Sonlight I can read it #3

Summer- 100 EZ Lessons

• Computer Science-Continue lessons on CSS/Html; Read chapter out of Rox book
• Art-Christmas presents/Cards
• People Study/Character Building- Christmas gifts/ Go through toys and clothes to give away
• Math- Math workbooks

Toby and Summer-math workbooks(Toby is working on fact families, Kaitlyn and Charlotte are working on percentages and division w/ remainders)

• Writing- LA workbook for grammar/Book report on book/Essay comparison/Story on Secret passage in house
• Preschool-Workbook/Books read; Britannica Learning Zone
• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting/Puzzles, etc...
• Read Alouds- A Llama in the family; The Christmas Box; The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems; Book of Virtues

Weekly Overview 11/9-11/13

• Bible- Bible stories/Reading
  
• Memory Chapter- 1 Corinthinthians 13-Finished!!!!!! Yahoo, the kids have done so great!
• Hymn-Review previous songs, practice Silent Night Stanzas
• Exercises-Stretching, Myself Fitness(XBOX)
• Science
  
  • Considering God's Creation
  • Experiment demonstrating the various states of water and why they are the way they are(speed of molecules)
  • Rotation(Used spinning egg as example)
  • Article from Britannica kids online regarding water and it's states
• Handicrafts-Sewing lessons/Kaitlyn's skirt
• Reading:

Charlotte- Reading the adult version of Journey to the Center of the Earth(she liked the beginning of the kids version of this book and decided she wanted to read the adult version for more detail.

Kaitlyn- West to the Land of Plenty(Dear America) and a few misc books that she is reading on her own

Toby-Hop-Finished! He finished level 5..Go Toby!!

• Computer Science-Continue lessons on CSS
• Art-Artwork for webpages
• People Study/Character Building-Service
• Math- Math workbooks

Toby and Summer-math workbooks

• Writing- LA workbook for grammar, Letter to grandparents
• Preschool-Workbook/Books read
• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting/Puzzles, etc...

• Bible- Bible stories/Reading
  
• Memory Chapter- 1 Corinthinthians 13 cont.
• Hymn-Review previous songs, practice Silent Night Stanzas
• Exercises-Stretching, Jumping Jacks, push ups, lunges, squats, calve raises,Running in place, jacknife
• History
  • Story of the World: The Bottom of the World
  • Britannica online for kids videos on Aborigines
  • Paint faces like a Maori warrior
    
• Handicrafts-Sewing lessons/Christmas projects/Kaitlyn's presents
• Reading:

Charlotte- Reading the adult version of Journey to the Center of the Earth(she liked the beginning of the kids version of this book and decided she wanted to read the adult version for more detail. We will see:))

Kaitlyn-Finish Bark of the Bog Owl; Dear America Books(4)

Toby-Hop

• Computer Science-Continue lessons on CSS(This has become a huge deal to the girls. They worked on it constantly this whole week!)
  
• Art-Aboriginal art
• People Study/Character Building-Missionary Stories, Service
• Math- Math workbooks

Toby and Summer-math workbooks

• Writing- LA workbook for grammar; Write a sales pitch and convince Daddy and I.
• Preschool-Workbook/Books read
• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting/Books
• Extra-Poems
  

Homeschool Week of 10/26-10/30

I can't believe we were able to school this week! We were still sick in the beginning of the week, especially Jason. The kids were real troopers and they really do not like being bored! We are almost %100 better but still have a little congestion.

• Bible- Bible stories/Reading
  
• Memory Chapter- 1 Corinthinthians 13 cont.
• Hymn-Review and Begin Silent Night
• Exercises-Stretching, Jumping Jacks, push ups, lunges, squats, calve raises,Running in place, jacknife/ Begin Yourself Fitness
  
• Science

-Considering God's Creation- Atmosphere Experiment with flashlight demonstrating the effects of direct sunlight vs. indirect/proximity of sun.
-Hot/Cold air molecules
-Discover and Do video
-Microscope:Sugar, salt, cayenne pepper, onion, carrot, cheerio

• Handicrafts-Sewing lessons/Christmas projects/Toby-Paper
• Reading:

Charlotte-Journey to the Center of the Earth; Facing Death

Kaitlyn-

Reading to summer: Robin Hood

Independent: Cont. Bark of Bog Owl

Toby-Hop

• Computer Science-HTML, GIMP lessons/practice, begin lessons on CSS
  
• Art-Gimp
• People Study/Character Building-Persecuted people in other countries/ Write a letter through prinsoner alert/Encouraging letter
  
• Math- Combination between Captivated Minds and Math workbooks

Toby and Summer-math workbooks

• Writing-Correct sentences from last week that didn't get corrected/Read about the correct formation of paragraphs
  
• Preschool-Workbook/Books read
• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting

Homeschool Week of 10/19-10/23

I haven't been posting our weekly overview because I have been using another program(one Jason wrote) but I thought I would start copying over here, how hard is that?? LOL We have been "doing" school a little differently for the last 3 weeks and the kids love it! They are enjoying it so much more now. If you are wondering where our traditional Science is, we alternate entire Mondays between Science and History. Mondays are completely devoted to one or the other. We get so much more done this way and they seem to be able to enjoy it more. We do tend to study both Science and History within our other subjects by default but the official day is on Monday.

• Bible- Bible stories/Reading
  


• Memory Chapter- 1 Corinthinthians 13(cont..)


• Hymn-Away in a Manger


• Exercises-Stretching, Jumping Jacks, push ups, lunges, squats, calve raises,Running


• History-Prepare for Fall Academic Presentation Day

Finish Presentation and practice!

• Handicrafts-Sewing lessons/Christmas projects/Toby-Paper


• Reading:

Charlotte - Journey to the Center of the Earth

Kaitlyn - The Bark of the Bog Owl

Toby-Hop(On to level 5!!Yay)

• Computer Science-HTML, GIMP lessons/practice


• Art-Presentation Board


• People Study/Character Building-Missionary Stories, Service


• Math- Combination between CaptivatedMinds and Math workbook

Toby and Summer-math workbooks

• Writing-Oral Presentation/Book notes


• Preschool-Workbook/Read Aloud Books
  


• Toddler-Cutting/Pasting/Read Aloud Books
  

I am amazed

Charlotte has learned how to do animation in Gimp. She just messed around and figured it out on her own. I can't believe it! So neat.

Chaotic!

That is the only word that comes to mind to describe this past month! We have had a lot to do. Jason did get the toilet in and it seems to be fixed(Praise God) BUT we have yet to finish the bathroom. We have one tile left and I am hoping that it will be laid down tonight.
We found out that we are for sure having a little boy! He will be our tie breaker. We are very excited! Right now we have a couple of projects in the making that is taking up some extra time but I am hoping to integrate my blog into the mix so that should be interesting. School is going very well right now because of the changes that we have made. The kids and I are both really enjoying it now! It feels like this is the way it is supposed to be. So here's to integration, normality, and hopefully success!

What's been going on??

Well, it's been almost an entire month since I last posted and I am sure my dear step mother is anxious to get an update so I thought I would start back so that I wouldn't have an even longer update to give :)
For the last 2 weeks we have been doing very little schooling due to sickness. At first it was just a fever and now we have children with sore throats. I think we are on the up now though. Poor Andrew, every time he drinks he says "Owie" and cries. He has had a terrible time sleeping. It seems this summer has been kinder to us regarding sickness(even though we seem to be sick alot..LOL) so I am hoping this winter will be easier than the last to.

Aside from health issues(including pregnancy) we have been working on the house. I have been constantly getting rid of stuff so that we can sell when we are ready. We are actually looking to downsize(we get drop dropping expressions when people hear this) to a smaller home in the next year or 2. We have also been working on the downstairs bathroom. We have stripped the wallpaper off and last night Jason tore up the floor. It was tile-awful looking tile! So the bathroom is going to be a huge project for us! I just wish I could help more but because of the pregnancy I am left with stripping wallpaper and decluttering-poor Jason!

I have also been working on our computers. I have installed Linux on one and am going to install Linux as a dual boot on the other this week. I have been studying up on it and trying to migrate things over because we foresee in the future that there will be a need for us to use open source software. I am so glad I have a hubby that knows about all this stuff and can teach me!

I am not sure what we are going to do today since we can't go to church. We will likely have a family service together. I am bummed that we will miss getting together AGAIN with the other family we meet with every Sunday night to have "home church" with. We enjoy it so much. They have been moving the last couple of weeks and now we are sick.

I haven't posted in a while any pics because my camera doesn't work anymore. I can use my camcorder but it's so much more difficult. I will try to get some pics up soon though.

Homeschool week of 8/3

This week finishes up our "summer" school. We have been dabbling in different things for the kids now trying to get a better idea of what our goals are for them and how we want to accomplish those goals. Some things will change, some things will stay the same. It will interesting and fun I think either way, that's the goal, right?
-Bible
-Math-Captivatedminds;Some worksheets for Toby. He is learning carrying.
-handwriting
-Creative Writing assignment based on experience during an adventure game we played(Dh wrote it)
-Piano Lessons
-Considering God's Creation
-Landmark History Book
Toby
HOP
Kaitlyn
Across Five Aprils
Great Turkey Walk
Charlotte
Wright Brothers
Left Behind book #21

A few things

Well, I am into my 13th week and I am feeling much better. I can't seem to sleep past 6 hrs though, no matter what I try. My food aversions have mostly disappeared, thankfully! I have been able to eat more raw foods which are so much healthier than subway everyday! My tastes have changed alot though. I am not eating as many fermented or asian foods. It's hard to believe that in just a couple of weeks I will be able to feel the squirming of another little baby in my belly. I always enjoy that part, especially sitting in church. It's very amusing!
On another note, I found an excellent resource through our local library called Discus. It's free and it has lessons, etc.. for school aged kids. What a great homeschool resource! It is very kid friendly as well, very visual. I am not going to require that they do the stuff on there but I think they will enjoy it any way! That's all I have time for right now but I do have more to say:)

Homeschool week of 7/27

Kaitlyn is much better! I almost took her to the ER but we were able to keep it under control. Andrew has been running a temp of about 102 but he isn't acting like Kaitlyn did. For right now, it seems like this sickness is milder for him. I am so thankful! Alex has been acting like he doesn't feel good but he isn't running a fever. We did "do" school in the traditional sense last week but I am really not into "traditional"! I am much more of a life learner. I want to enjoy what I choose to learn. I can't help but think that the kids are like that too. We will find our groove sooner or later. The kids have a musical coming up soon so the next couple of weeks we will be doing more unschooling(which I like) Here is what we did:
Misc.
Bible-Starting Strong
Math-Captivatedminds
Handwriting
Considering God's Creation
Movie-The Underground Railroad
Wii Fit Resort-They love this!
Kaitlyn:
Caddie Woodlawn
Miracles on Maple Hill
Hero over Here
Piano
Guitar
Charlotte:
George Washington Carver
Hero over Here
Toby:
Hooked on Phonics(Made it to the 3rd level! Yay Toby!!)
Preschool:
Lentil
One Morning in Main
Nursery Tales
Flashcards

Homeschool week of 7/13

We have still been sick(well, just me anyway) so it has been another lighter week.
Misc.
Strong Start Bible Devotionals
BookWorm Adventures
Return to Chimp Eden videos
Considering God's Creation
First Language Lessons
D&D game-continuing to cover the constitutional convention and math skills(they love this, they ask for it on non school days-Praise God!)
Human Body videos from netflix
Writing(from the D&D game. They are doing so awesome! They write about their experiences inside the game.)

Kaitlyn
Roll of Thunder Hear My cry
Reading Mandy books again
Charlotte
Return to Gone Away Lake
Toby
Hooked on Phonics

Homeschool week of 7/6

This week we have been very sick. We still did school but it wasn't normal.
Misc.
D&D type game covering history now(Madison's notes on the Constitutional Convention) and math
Bookworm Adventures
Handwriting
We lesson out of Considering God's Creation
Kaitlyn
More Borrower's books
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry
Charlotte
Sarah Plain and Tall
Toby
Hop books
Summer
Worksheets
Starfall

Homeschool Week of 6/29

Lazy week! Well, really the kids have been working on their game with Jason. They have so much fun with this. They are making progress with their math skills because they want to win at the game. So neat.
Misc.
Dungeons and Dragons type Math/moral game with Jason(his own creation)
Bookworm Adventures(Everyone)
First Language Lessons
Kaitlyn:
The Borrowers(a couple of the series)
Charlotte:
Helen Keller
Gone Away Lake
Toby:
Hooked on Phonics books
Handwriting
Summer:
100 EZ lessons
Kindegarten book
ABC Bingo

Science:
Considering God's Creation
History:
Several videos on Greece/Taking notes