A New Calling for our Family

This is a post I never thought I would actually get to type.  I see many others type on the subject, but never thought I would be doing it.  We have been brought to the world of homeschooling!!!!!! EEEK!!!!!!!

A little background: I have my teaching degree in elementary education. I soon realized after graduation and substituting some, that it was not something I had a huge love for. You see, this is because I graduated college with a 16 month old and newborn. How I got through that time in my life, I still don't know.  With God's help.

My heart was at home with my babies. There was NO way I could leave them to go teach in a classroom all day. So I didn't. I stayed home.  I will say that some years, the world got me. It sucked me in saying "Stacy, you have a degree for this you must do something with it." I listened, and was miserable. I was away from my boys and we were all miserable.  So off the teaching wagon I went. Back home to my happy place.  When our oldest son (we have 3 boys 9,7,2) was in Kindergarten I brought up the idea to my husband that we should look into homeschooling. He shot that idea down.  Would not even talk to me about it.  I asked again when my son was in 1st grade. He shot it down again.  It wasn't until the end of my son's 1st grade year when the transgender bathroom issue hit the news. He said, you may be right on this. Let's look into it. At that point, I got scared. Our good friends who have 6 children were pulling their children out of public school and so we had the support. However, I got cold feet. So I dismissed the idea.  The next school year came (my boys were in 2nd and 1st) and the thoughts would come to mind about homeschooling, but I really was scared and worried that I couldn't do it all. I would become a failure. 

My oldest son had a very hard year. With a teacher with no compassion and love. It was super hard to hear his stories each day, but we survived.  It wasn't until this year come November (boys are in 3rd and 2nd grade now) that we are both ready for this new calling. Many circumstances have come and we feel this is best for our boys. I don't want to share many details in our reasons why because I wouldn't want to down our public school system. Even though I don't agree with their ways, I also know many great teachers who give 100%. Sadly, not all of them love teaching and it only hurts the children.  First my husband and I said, well we will pull them out at the end of this year. Let's let them finish the year and then pull them so it's a quiet leave. Then as time went on in December, we realized we were only keeping them miserable week by week, day by day. My husband actually made the choice to pull them out.  In our state of WV we must give the 2 week notice of intent to homeschool. We drove while they were in school and did that. So we now are waiting out our 2 weeks. This coming week is our last week of public school. I can't tell you how freeing it feels, and how excited and ready our whole family is. I feel ready, not scared or worried like before. My husband is fully on board. It is just a wonderful feeling.  Our boys do not know. We have ordered the curriculum and supplies needed and we will give it to them on Christmas morning. I believe this will be the best Christmas we have ever had. That is my prayer. Attached to the supplies and books, we will write a letter saying that they will not be returning.  We are thrilled, and so excited for just 9 more days. It has been quite hard for me to keep quiet. I like to share everything with my kids, and it's been hard keeping this from them. 

If any of you, have read this long post and are still awake :) please let me know if you homeschool. I would love and like any advice you have. I have met some awesome women in the blogging world that have just shared and prayed for us. I am so thankful for these Godly women.  I hope that your December is filled with love and peace during this season.  I will update everyone with pictures once they open this package :)

Happy Saturday! *I share these pictures with you, because it warmed my heart to see our family in the past and present. We have all grown so much. Physically and spiritually. Boy am I thankful.* My husband was driving us home from his parents yesterday evening after we went for a visit. Out of now where he said "Isn't it so great how God gives to those who are patient? I am in awe that once we started living out the bible, things were just easy." Not to say our life is a piece of cake, but I think he means that everything has fallen into place. With his job, homeschool, etc. I just couldn't help but cry. Tears just streaming down my face. Here is this man who was not raised or brought up in church, and was the farthest from the Lord when we first met. He has changed and turned his life around. I am so blessed and thankful for what prayer can do. 

Teaching your child to read: (Part II)

I began a series on "Teaching your child to Read". I am not a Reading Specialist, but a mom with an Elementary teaching degree who stays home. 

We have a 4 year old son, who is ready and wanting to read. So I wanted to share some tips to other mom bloggers, who feel their child is ready to begin with the next steps towards reading. My first post of this series is HERE. Please read it first, if you are new. 

As I mentioned in post one. I really use this Alphabet Book a lot with my boys. I made it in my student teaching in college, and it's been a great tool. (laminating cards make it WAY better)

After learning all of the letters with lots and lots of practice, we moved onto letter sounds. I am currently on the stages of teaching this step to Kipton (3), but Karson (4) already knows them.

I flip through my ABC book and I'll have them say the letter and I say the sound it makes. 

The letter K says kkkkkkk. (It's hard to show you how each letter sounds, but you can YouTube it if your stuck on one). The boys and I say that C is very tricky. It says the "S" sound for circle, then it says the "k" sound when you say cat. So I start with the letters that are easy and only have one sound, like M. M says mmmmm. One of the biggest things to remember when teaching letter sounds is not to add an A on the end of a sound. It's very easy to do. When you say K says k-k-k-k, don't sound it out like ka-ka-ka. Make sure you "nip it in the bud" as my college professors used to say. Make sure to cut off the sound and not add that A to the end. 

It will later be harder to get your child to stop that when reading. 

I try to keep working on letter sounds every chance I get. In the car, in the bath, the grocery store. "Hey Karson, I see pretzels, what does the letter sound P make?" 

I also make games while we drive in the car like "give me a word that starts with m-m-m-m" but I don't tell them I want a M word. I have them make that connection. Then hopefully they will say words like mom, moon, Monday, etc. 

This takes practice. It's not something they will get in 1 week, 2 weeks, or even months. It takes lots and lots of practice, but thankfully you don't have to be sitting in a chair to do this type of work. Do it ANY and EVERY where. Boys especially don't like to sit. This is one of the best things you can do to get ready for reading. 

This video below, is basically my whole post summed up but I LOVE it. I know all of you as adults, can read. However, if you haven't really thought about letter sounds, maybe you need to brush up? I sure had to in college. 

Stay tuned for post III where we will get into sight words, and chunking.