the homeschool mother's jounal: what to do...what to dooooo

In My Life This Week 

This week is wrapping up with me feeling utterly drained.  You know how sometimes Life Drama just seems to swallow you whole?  From every direction.  Yeah.  That's how it's been feeling lately.  

In Our Homeschool This Week

Oh gosh.  Getting back into the groove after Spring Break was a tuffy.  I think Mommy needs a Spring Break to recover from Spring Break!  

After waffling for months, I finally committed.  And ordered Bristel's curriculum for next year.  She'll be primarily doing Abeka.  Mostly because we had a hefty credit on our account, I already own the teacher's manuals and we qualified for free shipping! 

Now I've gotta figure out exactly what I'm gonna do for the Going-Into-5th-Grader.  Why did I decide to be eclectic again?!   It was so much easier when I just ordered everything from one place!

Places We're Going and People We're Seeing

I had dinner out with a sweet, homeschool mommy friend this week.  We went Mexican.  And it was just wonderful.  The food.  The fellowship.  Everything!  So much so...that she and I decided we're going to try and launch a monthly Homeschool Mommy's Night Out in our area.  Yikes?!  

Fave Thing This Week 

Holding hands and walking laps with my Hubby.  Cheering my Baseball Boy (he has a 909 batting average.  I know this for a fact.  He reminds me a gazillion times a day :).  Snuggling my Binti (Swahili for daughter.  I like to randomly show off my bi-lingual-ness :)  And listening to my Miracle Boy sporadically linking two words together.  In spite of the Life Drama chewing me up and spitting me out...it's been a sweet week.  I find that sometimes the drama helps give clarity for the blessings.  Ya know.  

What's Working/Not Working for Us

Writing.  Bleh.  He hates it.  I hate that he hates it.  We both wind up thoroughly frustrated.  I really need to find something that works for both of us. 

Homeschool Questions Thoughts I Have 

Next year's curriculum!  What to do...  What to dooooooo...


And am I totally insane to think I can actually homeschool two of them?!


These are the questions keeping me up nights.  






I thought it was hilarious that she was all bundled up in hat, mittens, and winter coat.  With bare feet!










Spring has been playing hide n' seek with us.  More hiding than anything!


But today is sunny and 60ish.


Maybe I can finally put those mittens away and she can keep naked tootsies without risking frost bite? 

workboxing our style

We're using (and loving) the IKEA Trofast system for our workbox set up.

Toby (the 4th Grader) owns the green boxes.  Because there are only six drawers I double up subjects in each box. 

We've been using ACE for Science this year.  I've heard others poo-poo ACE as not rich enough.  It always makes me smile.  I graduated from an all ACE Christian School (from 4th -12th grades) and went on to do well in both college and my career (when I was running the rat race).  I like how Scripture is incorporated into each workbook.  I like the student paced learning.  I like the colorful pictures and we both like the little character building comic strips.  

I may use it again.  Next year's choices are still being hashed out.


His Saxon Math wasn't in the drawer.  I'd pulled it out because I knew we'd be working on it together.  He's such a lazy bum praise appreciator!  When I "hold his hand" through the lesson he makes zilcho mistakes with zilcho help.  When I have him work on his own...I'm rewarded with writer's cramp during the grading process!  I was worried that maybe he wasn't getting the concepts.  He totally understands this stuff.  He just likes mommy time.      

Language Arts is computer based this year.  I'm using Monarch by AOP.  Not a big fan for this particular subject.  

We also joined a Post Card Swap!  Um, actually, I just spent 30 minutes working on our first postcard to be sent out.  Am I the only one whose 4th Grader loathes writing of any kind?!  We were just this side of tears over it!  And a postcard is ,like, what?  4 sentences?  Sheesh! 

Piano (I'm so jealous of his naturally perfect timing) and Reading.  He's digging The Silver Chair so much that he asked if he could finish the chapter even though his time was up!  Which was nice.  Cause Reading isn't typically a fave subject either.  

::smile::

Language Skills.  I had to purchase a worksheet book to help supplement the Monarch program. 

And lastly, we're studying Rhode Island more in depth this month.  I checked a bunch of books out of our library.  My personal favorite is the one on top.  If you're going to be traveling anywhere, I would definitely recommend buying one of these books!  They're great!  Click here to see for yourself. 

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The K-ster has the middle row of drawers.  Although Bri-bee isn't homeschooled this year, I'm still using workboxes with her in preparation for next year. 

She's also taking piano lessons.  She started off so strong that I thought she just might be a prodigy.  But, alas, as goes most things with her...the interest faded fast.  Now it's like pulling teeth to get her to practice.  

Who knew being a mommy could be relate-able to dentistry?!  

::sigh::

A handful of Math-ish things for us to work on together. 

I adore her little reading box that they created in school. 

It's filled up with all kinds of little books that she made herself.  Most of them were downloaded and printed off of ABCTeach.com. 

She's doing so wonderful at reading that we took a special trip to Barnes & Nobel.  I let her pick out the phonics kit of her choice.  She's in loooove with Biscuit!

*********

Trevy (the Pre-K-ster) also has workboxes.  

He attends a special class and receives gobs of special therapies.  Cause he's a pretty special kiddo! 

But that doesn't let me off the mommy-hook.  

::smile::

We have lots of things to work on at home.  Like his PECS communication system.  He is significantly speech delayed.  He just turned 4, but his speech (both what he understands and what he says) is functionally around 2.1 years.  Not bad for a little guy missing the Speech portion of his brain!   PECS is just one of the many tools we use to help saturate him with language. 

The two key concepts we're working on are: 

I want (fill in the blank) 

and

First (work of some kind) Then (play, snack or activity of his choice) 

He's really seeming to grasp both ideas and doing wonderful using them to communicate!

Trevor's motor skills have always been his strong point.  But as a direct result of his radical brain surgery he has significant right sided weakness.  This is a little activity with a resistance band to help strengthen his little muscles. 

I wish I could take credit for the Fishy game above.  One of his therapists created it just for him!  She even cut, colored and laminated all the fishies!  Each Fish has a different command like:  Jump, Give Hi-Five, Make a Silly Face.  We take turns choosing a Fishy and then everyone does the action together.  It's SO fun that he'll bring them to me even when we're not working! 

And that's how we're workboxing this week!  I'd love to check out your workbox style! 

more about math with a side of geography

Thanks to Cindy (love2learn2day) for the fab-o tip! 

The United States Mint offers wonderful lesson plans for each of the State quarters.  I love that the lessons are already subdivided by grades.  Because I'm all about easy peasy! 

If you missed the link above you can click here to check out the lesson plans for yourself. 

math with a side of geography (or visa versa :)

I couldn't resist picking up a little 50 States quarter collector board booklet the other day.  I thought it was a steal at under 5 buckaroos.  AC Moore, I think.   

compliments of photobucket

And since we have a (hoping to go someday) Disney fund over-flowing with quarters + two kids who looooove sorting, I just knew it would be a great activity for them. 

And sure enough.  They're working together at this very moment.  Sorting.  Counting.  Together.  Recounting.  Multiplying.  Adding.  Subtracting.  Busy trying to fill up our booklet.   Did I mention they're working together?  Cause that's a really big deal when you're the mommy!   

They currently have 29 states.

Oh wait...make that 30!

I'm getting the play-by-play.  

If they can just locate Indiana in the booklet...they'll have 31. 

Now Minnesota's on the board!  But still can't seem to find Indiana's home in the book.

Now they're really excited!  A random pick-up turned out to be super lucky.  They found Rhode Island!  Which is a very big deal when you live there...   

It's a fun project.  Although I do wish I'd found a cuter booklet like the one below!  Mine is a boring green thing.  

compliments of photobucket

Oh and BTW click here for State quarter coordinated lessons plans compliments of the US Mint.  They're great.  They're grade divided.  They're already prepped.  And best of all...they're free! 

I'm linked in over at love2learn2day.  Thanks to, Cyndi, the Math Monday Blog Hop hostess for the lesson plan tip!  Hop over there for more fun math-ish ideas! 

bubbling brooks and creepy stairs

Let me start by saying, I do not typically take all three kids on field trips without extra (Trevy wrangling) hands.  I have more sense than that!  Seriously!  But I felt so guilty.  Bristel was desperate (her words) to go on our promised nature hike.  The one we missed (the day before, when I had a Trevy sitter lined up) because she had a nasty case of the sickies.  We'd missed both of our planned Spring Break fun days because of that darn bug.   Which, by the way, is exactly why I never plan things! 

But Friday was fever free and the sun was bright and cheerful.   

So I said to myself.  What the heck.  Let's (pack the Trevy leash and) give it a go.  You know, see what happens. 

As much as I complain about the Eskimo weather, we really do live in a beautiful, historically rich area.  

And it turns out that Fort Barton is ,like, the coolest park ever!   

The big kids packed their lunch boxes and nature journals.  Also, I gave Toby (the 10 year old) free reign of the camera.  

His first subject was that bird shaped tree up there ^.  He thought it was just too cool.  He's very into birds, that one. 

Cute story.  Bristel collected a pine cone and a few other treasures.  When we got home she opened her lunch pail to further examine her finds.  Which was not supposed to include the ginormous spider who judging by her scream must have leaped at her eyes with evil intent!  She totally freaked.  It was sooooo funny!  Especially her emphatic promise that she'll "never go on another nature hike again!"

Toby loved reading all the postings and carved maps.  He's lover of all things historical and science-ish.

Fort Barton is the best of both!     

In fact, Toby was in love with everything about the hike and loved taking pictures of all the "habitats" (his words).  Actually, so was Trevy.  He can even say "hike" perfectly!

Those stairs are much more impressive (and creepy) in person.  The path starts at the tippy top of large ravine.  Creepy stairs going down and back up again.  

It took some serious convincing on my part (and I'm the one who's petrified of heights!) to get the kids to agree that this whole hike idea was really going to be fun.  Toby & Bristel both balked claiming to feel a fever coming on.  Trevy did the forty pound "wet noodle" move.  You know the one.  Where the toddler just completely relaxes all his muscles and lays down on the ground in protest of whatever it is a toddler wants to protest.  Which is usually everything.  He kept shaking his head "no" while I worked up a sweat trying to upright the noodle boy.  A sense of humor helps in these kinds of situations.  I'm glad I have one.  

::smile::  

I finally convinced them all to just go down a few stairs and see how it felt.  

Pretty soon we were forging along at a nice clip!  Because really...it's pretty cool to climb down creepy stairs and have an interesting story to tell your friends later. 

Also, it helped that the paths were marked.  We took red.

We were really just trucking along.  I'm sure the kids wanted to touch more things but I have a poison ivy phobia.  Kinda like Bristel's spider one. 

Another funny story.  There was a babbling brook just trickling happily along below us.  I called the kids into a huddle and said Shhhhhhhh...let's listen and see what we can hear.  I was using my best teacher voice.  I thought it would be educational to listen to the bubbling below together.  Three pairs of big blue-green eyes stared at me unblinking.  One sparkling mischieviously.  Trevy's.  Two seconds into our listening project his toot (forced, I'm sure) cut the quiet of the forest followed by his howling laughter.  He is very into body noises, that one. 

There was really neat rocks to touch and observe.  A sensory seekers delight. 

The cameraman made me snap this picture of him next to a rock.  I guess when you're 10 it's a big deal to find a rock taller than yourself.

We probably trekked half a mile or so.  Impressive, if you ask me.


I meant to do more nature journaling.  But.  You did see that I solo trekked three kids half a mile down creepy stairs and winding bug infested woods, right?  

It was really a lot of fun.  

So much fun that the kiddos convinced the daddy that we needed to go for an Easter afternoon Fort Barton hike.  Daddy gives it two thumbs up too. 

Opening Day

As much as I complain about the schleps to and from practice.  As much as I gripe while stain sticking the dirty knees and boots out of the baseball pants.  As much as it drives me crazy finding heart-played-out holes in brand new uniforms.  As much as I roll my eyes at the play by play I must endure for the entirety of the day after a game.  And all those in between the next.  As much as I like to pretend it's a sacrifice and I'd rather be knitting.


The truth is...


I love being a Baseball mommy.  I love being Toby's mommy.   


And  besides I can't knit anyway. 


Opening Day was celebrated last weekend in weather more fit for Eskimos than Little Leaguers.  Followed up by two games this week in equally freezing weather.  Toby's five for five at the plate, made some great fielding moves, pitched his little heart out and is credited for the save (a very big deal when you're 10) in the most recent game.  He was brought on the mound with no outs and the bases loaded.  A fact which both dad and son make sure to point out when rehashing.  And Grams (my mom) is working out a schedule to watch The Littles so the hubs and I can cuddle up on the bleachers together.  Is it silly that my favorite date nights are spent at the diamond.  Snuggled up with my best friend.  Watching our first born having the time of his life.

for all the moms who've ever tried to potty train a Special Needs child

Bleh.  Bleh.  Bleh.


In case you were wondering how I feel about the topic. 

I am not a potty mommy.  Never have been.  Not even with the other two neuro typical rugrats.  Which is to say, I was not all dancing a jig about potty training my not-so-neuro-typical Trevy.  It's just that I was convinced he was ready.   

And things started off so well too.  No accidents at school the very first "try it out" day.  Which was a Friday and also why I don't count the accident brimming weekend that followed.  Because the week next chased with only an accident or two a day.  Pretty soon I was bragging that he was going to be a piece of cake.  Easy. Breezy. Peasy. Mommy knows best, after all.  He's totally ready.  

Um.  Yeah.  Right.  Maybe not so much? 

And it's driving me bonkers!  The constant inner questioning of my Trevy mommy skills is on overdrive.  The constant wondering if I'm pushing too soon.  Or using the wrong technique.  Reading the wrong books.  Buying the wrong undies.  And for the love of all that is holy just how did I manage training the other two?  Maybe I should take another Building Patience Workshop before going all in on the potty thing.   Or maybe I should just cut my losses.  Maybe Trevy's (mommy is) just not ready! 

The past two months have been a (tinkle soaked Super Why undies) bag of mixed emotions and second guessing.  And it does not bring out the best of my Trevy's mommy colors, either.     

 I so want to be the kinda potty mommy that inspires this scene...

Instead...I find myself fighting off the urge to give this technique a go...

That said, Trevy is probably at a 75% pee pee on the potty success rate between home & school.   And he's mastered the art of the forced...ahem...toot.  For the Trevy record, the bathtub boofs are the best.  Boys. So, it's not all a wash.  Unless you're the keeper of the laundry.  Which I am.  Then it feels like it actually is all nothing but a load of accident (and disappointment) drenched character sporting smelly big boy pants.       

Furthermore.  Because, yes...I'm allowed to use my one free grump-fest a month card if I want to!  As I was saying, furthermore...he still isn't telling us when he has to tinkle.   And by telling I mean...signing, approximating, grunting, groaning, pointing, leg crossing, hiding, guilty faced.  Nuthin.  Not a peep.  Despite my reminding him a thousand times a day to "tell mommy if you have to go potty" and "don't pee pee on Mickey Mouse's face, Trevy, that wouldn't be nice".  Despite the over the top happy dancing when he's successful.  Despite the m&ms.  Despite the stickers.   Despite the hawk-eyes I have on him all day long. Does he care that I'm hoarse with all the potty mommy coaching?  Nope.  He doesn't even bother to tell us when he has an accident.  He just waddles around in wet pants until somebody either slips in a puddle or sits in one.  Where he left it to marinate.  On the couch.  My new couch.  Which coincidentally...will not fit in the wash. 

I've been second guessing myself on his potty readiness.   I've been second guessing myself on my readiness!  I've been second guessing everything. 

A few weeks ago I was just so sure. 

You know...

that he was...

ready. 

Because I'm mommy.  His mommy.  And I'm fluent in Trevy reading.  Aren't I? 

I'm not so sure anymore. 

But then most everything when it comes to Trevy is a guessing game.  A constant tug of war with trial and error. Sometimes I get overly confident and think what a master at reading his body language (because his verbal language  likes playing hide-n-seek sometimes) I've become.  Only to go and get it all wrong.  When I get it all wrong I go to my back-up plan.  Ask the other mommies about how they did such n' such.   How their child accomplished such n' such. Which can be depressing if it took longer than anticipated.  Or worse if it took less than where we're at.  But as much as I value their input.  Crave it.  Lean on it.  Believe it's a valuable tool on this journey.  The idea that I keep coming back to is...


Trevy is writing his own story.  Which if I were choosing the name would absolutely be Happy Being Trevy. 


It suits him so well.


And yet I keep trying to write it for him.  I keep trying to erase this.  Add that.  Grasping for the ending of my dreams.  Not his.  Not His.  

So, you ask, is Trevy potty ready?

I really couldn't say.  I have not a clue!   

But I do know this.  I'm not giving up.  We'll keep working at this until he gets it.  Until he moves from partly ready...to totally ready.  On his timeline.  The one he's using to write his story.  The one that was Written for him.  The one where I'm just his mommy.  And he's just happy being Trevy.  And while he saturates my couch (Among other things.  Which, at this rate, is likely to be everything.) I'm going to  work on saturating him with unconditional love and encouragement.  I'm going to try to plug up the oozing potty mommy stress!  And mostly banish the foul moods over accidents.  Or temptations to try barbaric methods.  I hope.  Just unconditional love.  Gobs of patience.  And stock in...   

Cause I am not above using a Toy Story crutch if I have to.  While we pass through Or Not on our way to  Destination totally Potty Ready.   Waiting for us somewhere on Trevy's timeline.

BackYard Therapy: Easter Sensory Tub

Every where I go Easter stuff has been flashing sale sale sale until I couldn't resist anymore! 

I just had to make an Easter sensory tub for Trevy & gang.  

Not sure what a sensory tub is or how to make one of your own?  Click here.

Materials:  

• 1 tub (whatever style works best for you) 
• Easter grass  (again...you can use other sensory input like sand or rice or beans.  I just liked the idea of grass for Easter)
• Easter manipulatives of your choice.  I chose to have a specific number of each item so that we could work on counting as well.  But you don't have to.  Be creative with what you think would work for your little munchkins.  In our tub: 1 froggie eraser, 2 little lambs, 3 character eggs, 4 purple bunnies, 5 foam chickies, 6 laminated paper butterflies, and 7 flowers
• A Hide n' Seek sheet if you want to work on your child's receptive language skills  (ie. "Find the bunnies, Trevy" while pointing at a picture of the bunnies.)  Or use a variation of PECS or Boardmaker cards. This is in the works for me as my printer is on the fritz. 

Targets: 

• Sensory integration 
• Fine Motor skills 
• Preschool Math concepts
• Sorting & Matching 
• Receptive & Expressive Language

I picked up these super cute little lambs at AC Moore for just .50 cents for a package of two.  

5 foams chickies for .50 cents.  Again...AC Moore. 











4 little purple (mommy's fave color) bunnies to hide in the straw!  Just $1 at AC Moore. 

 1 bouquet of flowers at AC Moore for .99 cents.

The flower heads were a cinch to pop off making 1 bouquet magically turn into 7 flowers to find. 

These little eggs & Sesame Street characters were actually from Trevy's birthday party last year. 

I use them often for our OT time.

But thought they'd be perfect in the bin.

The green & yellow paper grass was one of my fave finds.

Just .25 cents a package at Target.

I love the texture.  And it's safer for Trevy.  Who likes to at a minimum lick everything.  And often...if licking isn't enough...he'll eat it too!






Plop it all in the tub.  Mix it up.   

And enjoy! 

Trevy played with it for about 2 minutes before losing interest. 

He was definitely more into the character eggs than anything else.

Although I hope the picture guide will help hold his interest longer by clearly communicating what he's hunting for.  Trevy's visual communication is much stronger than his verbal.   

Bristel loved the whole sha-bang.  And probably would have played with it for hours.

::smile::

I bought my bin at Target.  It was more pricey than just a dish tub.  But I wanted something with a lid.  And I loved how the square shape fits perfectly on my shelves.