Waiting for Superman

I LOVED this post by Danielle Bean about schooling, all types, and homeschooling. (Click to read)

In my need to tell others why my family felt called to homeschooling I hope I never made people think I did not love our local school, or support teachers and education. In fact, we helped fight to keep it open this past Spring, even though we knew we wanted to home school. Sure, there were things like art, recess, and class size I worried about and l Iove our new home school schedule, but I worry I didn't seem respectful or as clear in my defense of our choice. In my personal life I did, and still do, have to defend it. I'm still a former teacher myself who taught in public and Catholic high schools and LOVED doing so.

But, Danielle wrote it all perfectly, and I wanted to share it as wording how I feel. Thank you so much Danielle.

When I did post about my desire to try homeschooling, a teacher friend (and I should says MASTER teacher...incredible educator and one who is making positive changes) commented that she supported me, but felt defeated that parents are too quick to not fight to change the system if they find it broken. This has always stayed with me (Hi Tess!). I thought about it during our spring fight to keep our school open. I thought about it again watching Oprah yesterday. She profiled the upcoming docu-movie "Waiting for Superman".  I thought of her when watching Oprah about this movie. The filmmaker and Bill Gates were challenging all adults on her show, no matter what school we pay for our kids to attend, or how we educate them, to come together to change the model on which we teach our kids ("a 1954 model in 2010"). I can tell much blame is put on an old system, and teachers who don't care (they make strong effort to say this is not about ALL teachers....but the ones who either don't care, or don't get the help to become great and WANT to be great - one quote from the movie was said "seeing a great teacher in action is like seeing a great piece of art!" or "like seeing a sports star" or other person we look up to).

So yes, while this film has its own bias I'm sure, its own sensationalism, I'm sure it can possibly miss the mark at times, but I think it has a message we all need to ponder. I want to see this movie. Click on any of the above links to see the trailer, or click here to read about the show yesterday.  It is true food for thought. It doesn't answer the problems, nor is it the cure - but it can start the discussion among more and more of us.

I also home school  to include family values and faith, as well as supporting our family unit, but I also home school because of what I desire education to be and many times I find that only in a private school, charter school, method school, or Catholic school. But, not everyone can pay the tuition. Not everyone is chosen in the lottery. I school as Danielle schools - but I too think of the challenge my friend gave me, and the issues raised yesterday, and every day - what can I do to make things better for other children, not just my own. As an educator - I feel so strongly about this. It takes a village!

** Oh - this link shows a story (you can look at all the kids) of one girl whose story hit close to home. It's about a smart girl in a GREAT district with a GREAT high school, but she wants to attend a charter school because she doesn't test well, so her test scores don't reflect her strengths.

** This story shows how education is still not equal. Tax dollars at work also can mean some areas get better funds than others. It isn't equal to me. This little boy and family again depend on a lottery to change the outcome. I just wish we could all work together to make things more equal.

"Houston: We HAVE Successes!"

After sharing lamentations over not really feeling any successes in the last month (aside from homeschooling) in my home - I can report things are looking up on the home front!!! It feels so nice to feel more peace in my home and personal life!

1. The laundry is about caught up with AND folded!!! It is even put away! Lovely still needs to put hers away, but I count the rest as success!!

2. Our den's clutter was conquered! We played with the room arrangement this week, and though the furniture ended up back where it always was (we thought we would change it all up) the kid toys, etc switched areas, so it eases the strain on the eye from toy clutter. We got rid of our old TV stand that also contributed to the over stocked feel to the room, and things feel scaled down. It has brought such peace to my heart! I don't like having "stuff" yet it is so hard to rid myself of it! Why? Anyways, it is a nice change!

3. I've gotten back to cooking again, and on Tuesday I took a few hours for myself (with the baby of course, but with the girls gone - it was the first time in months I've been "alone" and can do things for me or for us). I didn't do anything crazy - I did things like the previous successes, cuddled with the baby, caught up on e-mails (sadly, blog reading has been hard to do of late - sorry!), and watched some TV (gasp!). It was guilt free and felt good!

Bonus 4th - I caught up on home school posts that I've been needing to do.

Bonus 5th - My eldest baby had a birthday!!!!

What are your successes?

Thankful Thursday

This week I am most grateful for...

1. my SEVEN year old daughter!!!!

2. incredible family.

3. incredible friends.

4. a forgiving husband.

5. homeschooling.

6. our co-op, and my mentor moms!

7. faith,

8. health. 

Much love to YOU!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Lovely!!

We've celebrated a seventh birthday this month. My eldest baby is growing up!!!

We celebrated at my sister's house, and Lovely helped her make the cake of her dreams lol. She wanted a frog cake and theme at our family party, and she got it! Why frogs? I'm not sure...but she LOVES them of late...

Her smile makes our world, her laughter makes our day. Lovely, you are growing up without our permission, but you bless us in return. We love you beyond measure.

Happy 7th Birthday!!! We love you!!!

Remember.

Never forget.

Small Successes? Really? Where?

Goodness. Why does Thursday come around so fast? It's time to show something small but great, and I'm at a loss. Life has been about nursing, three kids, and homeschooling. I'm not cooking that much, the laundry piles are almost small inhabited islands piled all over my house. Let's see...what CAN I list?

1. We're healthy, fed (I think I'm overfed lol), and clothed.

2. Schooling is going well. I really love it for our family. I hope others know I don't mean it for everyone. I just felt like I had to defend the choice for me and people we know. I loved teaching when I taught and I love this now too. I hope EVERYONE is having a GREAT school start!

3. We're watching far less TV than we used to. Especially me in the evenings. It's gotten to the point when it is on and I can watch something, it feels indulgent - or foreign. I'm liking our new changes around here.

How is your week?

Thankful Thursday

This week I'm thankful for...

1. the blessing of my children.

2. our good health.

3. communication.

4. my sister.

5. close friends.

6. prayer.

Sorry I haven't been around much. I'm just in that overwhelmed, yet truly ok, place (if that makes sense). I read when I can...no one is far from my mind!

Where I've Been...

hehe! I love them!!

Where I've been....again.

Sorry for the interruption to the 30 Day meme. I've just been very busy with our family and when I blog it is at my other bloggity home with homeschooling, and also the baby has not been sleeping well. I'm a bit overtired. I'll get back to it soon!!

Till then, check us out here.

Blessings!!