homeschooling – Page 4 – Letters from Home

Things to remember and things to improve

Our kitchen is where I have decided to set up our home school because it has the best windows and Mark hasn’t had any windows at school for two years.

It’s day #4 of school at home. Mark and I are adjusting to the schedule and he is learning my expectations for quality and focus during class.

He asked me, “What shall I call you during school… Mrs. Ross or Mom?”

I replied, “Mom, because that title is more important than any other.”

(Mild indoctrination. Good for me.)

There are a few things I have had to remember about a home school. Here are a few:

1. I need to be physically and mentally present while he works. No housework during school. I make lists of “10-minute jobs” that I do during his breaks.

2. I need to be ready with plans, books, and supplies in advance.

3. I need to have more books from the library for reference and for fun. As a home school parent I have more time to read and that is a happy thing.

There are two things I am doing differently because of what I have learned from sending kids to public school. I have added more exercise to our routine and I am using timers more often. I want to keep Mark outdoors and moving. When he goes back to public school he will not have slow, relaxed habits. He will be able to write under pressure, be quick at math facts, and able to type.

My 1000th Post and a Milestone

It’s probably because people know that I am a sentimental person that I have been asked many times this week how I feel about Paige turning 18. I have been taken off guard by this because I feel just fine.

I think I feel just fine because I see who she has become, and I know she’s moving in a good direction. I feel blessed that I was able to have so much extra time with her because of home schooling. I feel happy that she is doing well in high school. I look forward to our time together during this last year at home and the adventures she will have when she moves away for college. Our time together is a joy to me, and although it’s evolving to fewer hours together, we still have a foundation of peace and friendship that is a comfort to me. I’ve seen her shine through the change in schools, perform well under pressure, and create beauty with words, paint, music, and dance. She’s arrived at age 18 with grace and continually elevates the title of “The Best Young Woman I Know.”

First Day Photos

Timothy is in sixth grade at Eastmont Middle School. He can open his locker like a boss.We have a Senior and a Freshman at Jordan High. It’s Paige’s birthday today! What a great present: she gets to go to school! Paige drives herself and Daniel to school and he doesn’t look like a Freshman to me.And Mark is being home schooled for his 3rd grade year. He didn’t want a doorway shot; he wanted the mountains from our morning walk in the background for his picture.

Magnificent Paige

Paige worked hard this year studying Medieval classics, chemistry, advanced mathematics, German, and more.

She is a reader.

She practiced the piano faithfully and received the Outstanding Student Trophy from her piano studio.

She worked faithfully on Personal Progress and earned 3 ribbons this year.

She is loved by the children around her. She is patient, loving, and always has candy in her room.

She can leap quite high.

She was a glorious Snow Queen in the Nutcracker.

Her piano compositions earned high marks in the contest she entered.

She played to new heights of speed and excellence for the piano ensemble concert.

She passed me up in height.

She belongs more with the women now. She is learning to drive, too.

Dear Paige,
You worked hard this year and grow more capable,
independent, and lovey each day. I am proud of 
you and I love you.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
-Mom

Daniel, you made it!

Dear Daniel,

You are officially finished with another year of school. It’s been a big year for you with many milestones and academic excellence.

You are a trusted and beloved friend. You even stay in touch with friends and relatives in Texas.

You take your priesthood responsibilities seriously and I love having discussions with you about the scriptures.

You’re a great ball player. You learned great sportsmanship and showed honor on the field, despite some disappointment.

We don’t have many photos of you because you’re often one step ahead of the rest of us! You have an adventurous spirit.

You outgrew our homeschool group, but you were a good sport and came to support me when I taught art class. You’re a great artist.

Grandpa John would be proud of you in golf.

Someday I hope to hear your piano composition performed by a bell choir. It would be perfect played on bells.

You did it! You earned a place on one of the front pianos in your concert.

You’re a great Boy Scout. Remember how you rescued that woman’s glasses in this pool beneath the waterfall?

You worked on family history and helped find some names for temple work.

It was good to see you in the temple this year.

You were a great assistant when I taught science class.

I think your best subject this year was math. You read around 50 books, did research papers about George Washington and James Madison, and continued to volunteer at the community pond. You achieved the rank of First Class in Scouting, and your Lego engineering still amazes us. I know you’re growing up and you don’t want a lot of attention, but I hope you know that we are so proud of you. XOXOXOXOXOX -Mom

Congratulations to our Third grader!

Dear Timothy,

Wow, you are finished with third grade! You are so smart and so funny.

You are understanding, kind, and respectful of others.

You nearly dodged this picture, but it reminds me how good you are at math and how you don't like a lot of attention.

I love your art work, especially the Star Wars battle scenes.

I hope you continue to study animals. I like them, too.

You turned nine and got to have a pocket knife this year. That's impressive.

This was the day that you gave the pledge at the Community Breakfast. You were brave to do it!

You and Dad made a really nice Pinewood Derby Car.

You won the People's Choice award for your car!

It was good to see you begin golf lessons. You were so friendly to everybody in your class.

You performed on the piano for 2500 people at Centennial Hall.

I'm proud of you for taking charge of your Cub Scout rank advancement. You'll be a Bear in no time.

You're a member of one of the best baseball teams in town!

You read the entire Harry Potter series, you memorized 10 pieces for Piano Guild auditions and you are amazing.

Congratulations! You’re ready for 4th grade. I love you. XOXOXOXOX -Mom

A letter to my Kindergarten boy

Dear Mark,

I am so proud of you. You have had a great Kindergarten year! Sometimes people can’t remember Kindergarten very well. Here are some things that I remember about this special year in your life.

Here's how you look when you're happy in the woods.

You came with us on all of our hikes and you were filled with wonder.

I like how you always help out when we make things in the kitchen.

Remember how we helped you learn your math facts? You learned them so well!

You had good times outside with the dog.

You painted a lot of sunsets. You are good at that!

You worked hard to learn how to write your letters well.

You learned a scary lesson when you got lost: "Stay with the pack!"

You saw the Hoover Dam from the bridge that shook with each passing car.

We didn't think you cared, but months later when we were talking about Geronimo, you said, "I saw his rifle!"

You did a good job in art class. Here is the day you made a mosaic with tiles.

Here is your mosaic. It's a sunset, of course!

T-ball was an important milestone for you.

You have a nifty red helmet and bat and you played really well!

Some mornings you did school in your pajamas, and that's kind of fun, isn't it?

You worked hard each Saturday to earn some time on the Wii.

You made a goal to read the Boxcar Children and you did it!

You have been such a smart, dedicated, and happy student. I love you!

I know you are looking forward to adding history and spelling to your subjects next year. You will be a great first grader! I love you, I love you, XOXOXOX -Mom

Busy

It’s the end of the school year. We’re so busy.

You’ve got to have fun

I teach Newton’s Laws of motion using a hovercraft. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to teach a large group of elementary age children. One of the parents snapped these photos and I am so glad to have them. It was just a fun day. Daniel was my helper.

We had a father and a grandfather there and I was so glad that they were willing to help. Timothy, Mark, and Daniel all took rides, but I don’t have photos of all of them.

I think this picture is hilarious. My favorite part of the class was after the kids left and all of the adults took a turn on the hovercraft.

The Bunker after battle

This is a picture of what I saw when I walked into the school room this morning. It’s such a messy, useful room! I keep meaning to take a picture of it when it’s clean, but it doesn’t happen very often. I’m okay with that. I’ve discovered that most of us in this family like to arrange our projects about us and hunker down for battle within our book bunkers.

I have one person who has abandoned the school room altogether. He does his work in his bedroom where it’s quiet. He wears his pajamas while doing his math facts, his pillows arranged carefully behind him. What a life.