September 10, 2005
Today the kids & I joined our local homeschool group for the annual "school year" kick off at Range (pronounced Rang) Pond. Range Pond is a local State Park. This particular pond (lots of decent sized lakes in Maine are called ponds) is a small lake with a private campground, camps (what Mainers call cottages at the lake), residental houses in addition to the State park. The park features a beautiful, shallow & clean swimming area.
So, it's kind of funny to kick off the school year by going to the lake and swimming! It was a gorgeous day and I even went for a little swim too. The kids loved playing with the other homeschool kids. Most were older and some were close in age to our children. Many they know from activities we did last year. Our school year goes all year as we don't have a formal start and stop time - we just continually learn and explore. But it was nice to meet as a group again.
Tonight we went out for supper to a newly opened fast food restaurant - Extreme Pita. Can you believe it? This Canadian company has come to our neck of the woods and are we ever pleased! Supper was healthy, delicious, satisfying and inexpensive. Then we drove to Freeport (outlet shopping mecca) to buy new North Face shirts for Damien - getting ready for the new job. Damien is a huge North Face fan and the outlet store there has great prices that are discounted further this time of year. My mom & I had a great time shopping there during her visit to our house the end of August. We've made her into a North Face Outlet fan.
I don't have any photos of the kids at Range Pond because our camera was lost/stolen in Montreal. I won't have photos of our family for awhile until we get a new camera.
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becky on Sept. 14, 2005, 1:09 p.m.
I think it's great that you are homeschooling your kids. You are a natural teacher, like Christy(my other homeschooling sister). Both of you are excited about learning and that is what makes learning is fun/easier for the kids. I won't be homeschooling though, teaching doesn't come naturally for me and it really isn't for everyone. Even now it's work to try and remember to name things for Ja-ira so she knows what it is....she asks us what things are now with a grunt. But back to you guys good for you....have a great school year!
barbara on Sept. 22, 2005, 8:11 a.m.
I agree, homeschooling isn't for everyone. But that doesn't mean you won't have to teach your children at home. You can still teach your children at home, complementary to what they are learning at school. We did a lot of that with our children all through their school years. We read to them to stimulate their interest in books and to help them develop their vocabulary skills. We took them on many educational outings. We purchased educational development toys and helped them learn to use the toys to learn basic concepts. We bought computer learning game packages. We bought phonics and math skills workbooks and stickers to give them extra practice at home. We tutored them with their homework. And now there are many fun DVD's and tapes on the market that can teach children alphabet, math, science, social studies, health and music basics even before they reach school age. You can't leave your child's education totally in the hands of the school even if you don't homeschool. You still have to be very involved and play an important part in their education even if they attend a public school system, if you want them to maximize their learning capabilities. And you are giving your children your quality time if you are able to stay home, financially, even when they are all in school, so they can come home to a clean home and a mom that isn't exhausted, and a nice hot supper on the table.