Yes we actually leave the house Thankyouverymuch!
Another annoying Homeschool assumption debunked!

Today I took Mendel to the Dentist. I wasn't too horribly pleased with the entire experience though. The major thing that made my day was that they agreed to payments and he is not in pain anymore... Yep, that about ends the happy feeling.

I went back to their little office and spoke to the Dental Assistant and she acted like I was a HORRIBLE mother b/c OHMYGAWD!! My son has a cavity! Actually, his teeth are like mine. I told her point blank, we don't have insurance and can't afford to pay for dental care. He DID go to the dentist and I knew of ONE tooth that needed dealt with. Apparently, obviously, it is worse now. I explained that we have well water and he can't use flouride drops because it burns his mouth... Then she burned my BEEEEP when she acted like that was the strangest thing she ever heard. It wasn't as bad as when she asked if we get out any since we homeschool and stated that even IF he got a little flouride from another water source, then it would be better than none but since we homeschool... I coulda... I guess with a school name of HomeLife Academy it is obvious.

SO... MYTH:

Homeschoolers lock themselves into their home never to leave except for the ONE dentist appointment they make their kids each year to see how rotten their teeth have gotten.

Reality CHECK:

Homeschoolers aren't any different from anyone else. We don't lock ourselves away from society. We aren't hiding our kids from the world. We do go outside the confines of our homes on a weekly/ daily basis. There are many things outside our homes that we do. Church, Homeschool groups, Family get togethers, Park days, Band, Concerts, Ballet, Meetings, Family get togethers, etc etc... Anyone want to name what you do outside your home? Email me if you would like. Your name will not be posted.

Despite the popular belief of my family members (a few, not all) and apparently several people I have run into this week, I do NOT lock myself and my children in the house to do "school". School didn't work for us and I not going to emulate it inside my house. Education happens everywhere! The grocery store, driving down the street, at the lake, walking down the sidewalk, laying in the grass to watch stars, at a friends home, at Nana's house, in the country, in the city, in a suburb, in a nursing home, in the commisary, etc. It happens everywhere. Education is not gained merely from reading print in a book. It is gained through experience, trial and error, and DOING what you are learning. Even math has become a hands on learning experience for us. We are not merely SCHOOLING our child, we are EDUCATING them. There is a difference.

Furthermore! Homeschoolers can run anywhere from filthy rich to dirt poor and anywhere in between. Simply because we have busted our butts to make ends meet because of decline in the economics of this area, does not make us bad parents because we can't afford dental care. We are doing good to afford health insurance and you see where my husband is so we can get that? (Across the country!) Just because they punish intact families by offering NO help where it is truly needed does not mean we are bad parents. It means we are struggling to make ends meet, but bad parents, we are not.

Comments you want to added to this post? Email me and I will add them here (Anon. if need be)

MOM! Read this poem!

Jan's ramblings: Ode to the Roomba (Sorry everyone, Jan's blog is now a private blog and by invitation only)

I am posting this just for mom! There is a thing out there called a roomba. It's a vacuum that is automatic. You set it up to vacuum and then you stare in awe as it vacuum's while your drooling over the coolness of it all from the couch. A fellow homeschooler (and fellow poet, really cool mom and great person all around) wrote this poem about hers. And here is a link to it so you know what to add to my Christmas list *twinkle*

Irobot Roomba (AKA Dotchi's new obsession)

Add to the joy!

The vans power steering went out yesterday. It isn't safe to drive right now. I CAN, but only if it's a straight drive with very few turns and no off ramps. It's awful! So I am stranded in the country with two kids, a dog and a cat. At least we can concentrate on home education and start preparing to sell stuff on ebay. I can't sell my teacher edition books there anymore though so that is going to HURT!

On top of that, the dryer finally died. I have to check the breaker box, but I have a feeling that isn't going to help. The dishwasher finally broke all the way too. It started pouring water and soap on teh floor so I have to hand wash ALL the dishes. yea.

Tomorrow Mendel has a dentist appointment in Hixson and I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do to get us there. Scotty? Hello? Beam us over! No? Darn! Blasted transporter broke to... and it's about tuh blow! Does anyone read this blog?

Anyway, this week we are learning about garbage in science. We're making a compost heap too! That should be oodles of fun! The boys built a boat called sea crawler and I sewed a flag for them to raise. They are pleased they have the right ballast and it didn't flip over. They had to FORCE it to flip over. *sigh* boys.

I am going to go for now and will post more later.

Just Lovely

My dryer is dying a slow death. I am waiting for the clothes to DRY b/c we need them tomorrow and they are not drying. This just freaking stinks. Now I need to save up for clothes line or racks and actually keep up with laundry on a daily basis *sighs* Will it never en... Never mind. Don't answer that!

SO MOM!

When you gonna get your own blog? I know you read this! MWAHAHAHA!

AND I tried to email you and it came back. Did you change your email address?

Well, we are pre-registered for next homeschool year, 2006-2007. I have it starting June 21, summer solstice some years. And then I have the terms set up for Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall. July will be our Transition month if nothing happens before then. It'll be our "summer break" but we don't really break.

We're using Ambleside Online this year. I had to modify it some. I am starting both boys on year 1. Their years are definitely NOT grade levels. Miles will probably zoom ahead but I am fine with either of them doing that. I actually feel like we've accomplished a lot this week using it.

We got our Math-U-See manipulatives in yesterday. They are helping more than I thought. They are great! Miles is really getting the concepts now. And Mendel is having a blast with them. I really am glad I sprang for it and got them.

We're going to McKay's Used Book Store tomorrow and to Verizon to fix my phone. I'll post more then.

Homeschool Tracker Plus

I have been using homeschool tracker for a couple of years and finally
ordered the plus version. Now I wish I had it YEARS ago! I already have
all their assignments set up for the rest of the year. I set up terms by
seasons. Spring term is literally SPRING (March 22-June 21) or at least
close enough. We have a Summer term but since we homeschool year round it
will be used too. It has a lot of things like schedules, that I can use
and I have been playing around with it ever since. Now instead of adding
the assignments ONE-ASSIGNMENT-AT-A-TIME, I can add them to my weekly
plan, hit submit and I added them for ALL YEAR! I am free! Oh I love it!

I am going to use Charolette Mason's style of homeschooling to an extent.
I found a science and History curriculum that I am going to use along with
it. Next up in Science is Plate Tetonics! I ordered the next two sets of
Math-U-See for Miles and a starter set of blocks. The lego's work for only
so much, they confuse them with other things. But I think it will be a
great start.

I found the Angel Food Ministries in this area and have a contact. I am
planning on buying 2 regualr boxes and 1 special each month. If it's a
VERY tight month, I'll order 4 boxes and have dinners for a month. Then I
only have to worry about breakfast, lunch and snacks.

We've had a week off because of sicknesses. Monday I am going to pick up
Miles' glasses and do some light shopping. I have the house cleaning
planned out (in Homeschool Tracker) and I have a basic weekly plan all
laid out in the scheduler and Events manager. It's great!

I need to get to bed now. Will post more later.

Dotchi
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I'm not talking to myself, I'm having a Parent-Teacher Conference.

LET IT SNOW!

It has been snowing since around 9PM Eastern Time. It look sbeautiful and
is actually sticking to the porch and ground. Looking at the forecast, it
should snow until 5AM and should about 1-2 inches of snow. WOOHOO!
Tomorrow, I am planning a "snow day" to learn about cold and if I have all
the ingredients, we'll be making ice cream!

Dotchi
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I'm not talking to myself, I'm having a Parent-Teacher Conference.