Leveraging debt to fulfill a dream of graduate school gets 2 thumbs up from this gal who thinks Dave Ramsey is mostly right on. We've leverage scads of debt to fulfill our long term financial goals with real estate. It would probably take Dave Ramsey himself, working our numbers in front of my nose before I'd be convinced that debt can't be used wisely and well to create the world you dream of . . . It only makes sense for a gifted woman to do whatever she has to do to secure the platform needed to fulfill her destiny. Perhaps I'm biased because it was from you that I started to unfold the mother I really wanted to be . . . I think you're gifted with communication, seeing clearly a situation, speaking to the nitty-gritty instead of getting caught up in the crazy. Go for it, Joanne. Cheering you on!

Pre-standardized testing, I wasn't as super keen about recommending the program because I remained nervous about how much mathematical thinking they were absorbing. Post testing: MEP gets 2 thumbs up and a flashing green light as our math curr. of choice. We don't do anything else . . . I spend a couple hours a day doing MEP math with my boys. It's a great program; it's free; well supported by a great yahoo group; imho, no reason not to use MEP. I have one super academic kid and one working-hard-at-it kid . . . they both scored in the 90's percentile ranking. Warmly, Tricia

Re-re-re-re-re-thinking your curriculum is making some of you crazy. Yes? Ears plugged-not-not-not-not going there-knot in my stomach-scared to even start thinking about the next bit is- probably equally unhealthy and brings a healthy dose of crazy. That's me. Could some of you re-re-re-re thinkers send some of your crazy to me and I'll send some of my can't get there attitude to you. Deal? I've decided the Peachey Academy will open its doors again in October. I've not even started to unwind from those stupid standardized tests and we're in the third week of July already. T

Hey Chris, thanks for your pearls. I'm definitely still in the process of figuring how I can meet with Jesus, both personally and in community while also being super busy Sunday mornings. I understand that Jesus meets with us and we with Him 24/7 -- this isn't a church thing on a Sunday morning but a lifestyle. It's just harder than I imagined. I was pretty spoiled in my Sunday morning church experience but I feel honoured to partner with our leaders and give more of myself into the Kingdom Work! It's just a transition. I knew some of you here would get that, all the way! In the wee early morning hours when I couldn't sleep and dh was snoring peacefully, I snuck down here and found a forum to say: "ahhhhhhhhh, this is harder than I thought!" Warmly, Tricia

Howdy Hivers! Just giving a round of love and applause to our Boardie Pastors, PW and people in church leadership. :hurray: :thumbup: I really love our church family, pastors, leadership team but I'm still coming to terms with how much my life has become inward looking in terms of church life. In January 09, our pastors asked me to come on staff to bring some leadership to our Children's Ministry. It's only part-time (10 hrs/wk); I love the little people; managing the scheduling; serving our "Little People Lovers" but I just had no idea how much my church life/experience would change. On Sunday mornings, I'm in "serve & love" mode and my own church experience has really changed. We have a great church with good-willed people and beyond lovely pastors and I feel deeply supported as I find my feet in this. Part of me is deeply grieving how church "used to be" - I could go, sit, listen, pray for people (or not) but it seemed like I was more outward looking in my church experience. Advancing the Kingdom and partnering with God outside church seems to take a backseat now, simply because I'm so busy with keeping things rolling inside the church walls. I didn't realize how much personal effort it would take to make sure stuff didn't stick to me and to have the wisdom to know what to speak up about and what to let fly. It's been a steep learning curve. I know some of you here can relate. I only do this part-time and not for a long time. For you folks that live life as ministry in a full-time church setting - hats off. Warmly, Tricia

I have a professional opinion about the meaning behind your 3 year old riding his bike independantly, no training wheels and no Mom & Dad! He's a . . . ***SUPERSTAR***

Momof7, I really enjoy reading your ideas. Our hs is pretty self-motivated and our only hard&fast rule is no screens Monday - Thursday. They read what they want; they both enjoy the mommy-kid part of school. The sitting down together and working it through . . . Our school time is lovely. We rarely butt heads, graceful with each other when we're a little off and I've learned over the years that busy kids = happy kids. Part of my struggle is getting myself to the next level of self-discipline. We happily did school right up until the middle of June and I celebrated that victory. (It was a huge victory). The littles are getting bigger and I absolutely want to do right by them. Right now, it takes us all morning to get Math, spelling, LL, GWG finished. We do history/science in the afternoon which makes us feel busy. More school means more teacher-time means less time for me, the Mr, the house, the church and friendships. I love teaching and learning beside my kids. I want to turn up the heat (so to speak) in an age-appropriate manner so that we continue to be challenged and stretched in our learning without me becoming a "do this now - do that now" teacher/mother. After our testing results, I'm also convinced that the teacher has to teach and stay plugged in. I've been laissez-faire about a few subjects and it burned us. Now, if I could only learn to multi-quote so I could respond to Nan in Mass. :) Love, T

Hi Colleen, glad Lucy is feeling ok. Sounds like a crazy day you all had. Thank you for carefully explaining the pruning process when deciding what to teach. It's the "making them do it" part that my heart really struggles with. Remember back to when our littles were toddlers. If they decided they weren't going to eat, then they weren't going to eat. There was little I could do about it. In my mind, the push/pull of schooling at home is the same thing. In the past, when I've tried to force my kids to do something, the something might get done but the relationship is invariably harmed. I'm trying to figure the best of both worlds but it's definitely the long term investment I'm looking for. I can make them do whatever I want them to do. I'm bigger then them. My heart longs to point the Peachlets to a life path that values life-long learning, goal setting, academic possibilities, to do the hard work because God tells us we're created to work and stretch our muscles! I'm coming to see that passionate self-discipline is a much needed tool for the journey. First, figuring that out for me. :confused: Warmly, Tricia

Nan in Mass, your post was incredibly helpful. Now, I could do it justice with a proper response if I knew how to multi-quote in one reply. :) I'll figure that out and be back! Warmly, Tricia

Sahamamama: This post zingered right into the depths of my heart. *Disciplined Passion* - I can work with this. I know the trouble isn't with my littles - I gotta start with the woman in the mirror (a little MJ, Dave Ramsey to start the day!) and figure out how I can best reach them. This post is going in my journal! Many many blessings and I'll touch back again when I've had a chance to processs what this idea of "disciplined passion" could mean for ME and for our homeschooling experience. Thank you for explaining why "rigour" wasn't working for me; something in me does cringe when I hear that word. Warmly, Tricia

I don't think your response is obnoxious. As you start this journey, keep alive your ideals and always remember what you hoped it could be. We've dipped in and out of living our best selves as a homeschooling family but I keep in mind the joys of those early glorious days . . . there have been stretches when the only thing that kept me going were the memories of those beautiful, beginning days. I've never given up on the dream of both/and in our homeschooling experience. All the best for your homeschooling journey! Tricia

Momof7, can't you just come for tea? This learning lifestyle in a balanced way is a hard hill for me to climb. I value learning. I value relationship. I need ligaments connecting the two. The CM Habits make sense to me. The truth is, I need to CM myself with proper habits and model such for my kids. In many ways, I'm just lucky that the kids are blossoming academically . . . This is always about that, in my mind. The angst of tackling the grammar/LA/writing parts of school is really about my fear of being a hs'ing tyrant. I want rigour and relationship. We love our days together and I don't want to trade one for the other. I have to figure out how this rigour/relationship can be a both/and instead of either/or. I understand this is something I have to figure out in me, but it's a hill worth climbing because I want my kids to have the tools they need. I want to supply them with tools in a way that's loving, kind, age-appropriate (all the things you listed, Momof 7!) I believe there is a path to follow. I just have to get there. Thank you, Lovelies, for being a soft place to fall in the midst of a crazy stretch. xoxox T

Hive, I'm sure this has been discussed a million times. I'll need to change my strategy in the fall to take into consideration more LA, grammar study. I'm up for the challenge and I feel we need to add more elements into our homeschooling environment.. I still believe that the "whole person" is important when it comes to our hs experience. I have this bias that rigour = control. I fight the control beast, both as a mother and a teacher. Speak into this please: I know I need to add in more rigour with grammar/LA. I know it will take a bit more time, energy, focus . . . on my part and theirs. I know I can't battle school. I know I can force, contrive, punish, control to make school happen. I don't know how to add more rigour/raise expectations without bringing an atmosphere of me against them. This is about grammar but this is also about me and how I feel in my role as mother/teacher. I can't battle. It makes me crazy. Who has a rigourous school atmosphere and has negotiated a sand box that everyone can live in happily? I know that some things just aren't fun to do. I get that. I don't want to be a burdensome task-master. I want to fight for their hearts and their brains without alienating one for the other. At the end of the day, I don't want kids that can spout of this, that and the other thing but have resented me driving a serious agenda. I'm walking the tension between strong academics and heart-level relationships. Ah, the radical middle. How do I walk the middle ground of cherishing my children and challenging them at the same time? Hmmmmm. Tricia

Hi Michelle, I clearly stated earlier in the thread that the standardized test isn't the be all and end all of why we do what we do. My son achieved high 90's percentile rankings in everything but grammar. The truth of it is, homeschooled kids have to perform on standardized tests if they are to be accepted into university. The below grade level performance on one small sliver of a test is an indication that I need to spend more time with grammar. Each person makes decisions for their kids based on what's important to them. It's important for me to supply my children with all the academic tools they need so that navigating standardized testing doesn't become a hill to die on when university applications are processed. Of course, my son reads, writes and speaks well. He's a bright young man. With regards to the test, however, I care about the results. Had I been more engaged with his grammar study, he wouldn't have been left blank during test time. Since I've been a voice of "who cares about grammar" for a few years now on this board, I felt it necessary to be honest and real about the results of holding that position. For us. Standardized test marks are important for Canadian students looking to gain admission into undergraduate programs. I can balk at that all I want, but it is what it is. There are some things I'm not willing to take a chance with. I'm not trying to change your mind. I felt a duty to share. Warmly, Tricia

Colleen, we'll certainly have to talk and thank you for your kind offer. I need to qualify my comments about the workbook not doing what it needed to do for us. My oldest completed Yr 3 and Yr 4 of GWG. The hard part is I think GWG is a great program, thorough and in-depth. The problem isn't the program. The problem is the teacher who expected her boys to dig into grammar independantly. It didn't happen. That's not the fault of GWG. It's my fault. I don't want people here ditching GWG for the next best thing. It's a solid program. I needed to be more engaged with their grammar learning. T

Well, here it goes. I'll attempt to explain without hopping from one soap box to the next! End-of-year testing results changed my mind. I don't believe testing is the be all, end all for how a kid is performing but I do believe those test results are indicative of global strengths and weakness. Deep sigh as I confess that my oldest son performed amazingly on the standardized testing . . . way above grade level in every single category except grammar. I'm sad to say that his mark reflected *below* grade level mastery for grammar. Obviously, he's a bright kid. Obviously, I haven't done my job of teaching him what he needed to know. I can't ignore that red flag. We homeschool for academic reasons in tandem with developing family life/heart level relationships. I've failed in this area of the academics of grammar. I've not taught any formal grammar and the grammar my oldest did wasn't discussed, talked about . . . I assumed he was getting what he needed via a workbook. Sadly, it hasn't worked out for us. I don't think grammar has to be the backbone of a homeschool morning but it will certainly be getting much more of my attention in the fall. I will teach my kids grammar and it will get the same attention as math. School will take longer next year and I guess it just is what it is. Now, to decide what grammar. I've looked at KISS many times. I've hard of JAG, R&S, Winston . . . and we are plugging away with Lively Latin which will reinforce the English grammar concepts. Part of being a life-long-learner is being able to say: "I was wrong. I have to change my approach." So I was wrong. There it is . . .

Hanging my head in shame as I confess that yes, I now believe grammar is important. I've spent 4 years here, shaking my head, on my soap-box about grammar not being super important . . . yada yada yada . . . and now I'm standing up tall and confessing to the Hive that I was wrong. It is important. I've done a disservice to my kids by not making it a priority. Deep Sigh. Got that off my chest. Return to your scheduled browsing/planning/researching. Warmly, Tricia Edit: There is no "might" about swallowing the humble pill. I'm crunching it back, the whole thing.

Almost 11, 9, 6. Spanked ds#1 until he was 3ish. Realized this wasn't working at all. Found Joanne and her GOYB parenting style. Researched more about Grace-Based Parenting. Happy to say that the other two haven't been spanked. I'm not a wimpy mother. I think spanking is unnecessary and it deeply offends me. Yup, I'm one of "those" parents who thinks sand boxes can be tightly drawn without using physical force as the punishment. It's just a whole lot more work for the parents. Disicpline = to teach. I can't imagine how spanking could ever be used as an effective teaching tool. It's very effectively used as a "don't do that ever again" tool, but the heart-level of being in relationship with your children, I really don't think spanking gets you anywhere. I spanked my first . . . for a stretch . . . but that yucky residue in my heart told me that I had to change my tactics. I'm forever thankful that I found Joanne's site via the WTM board. Warmly, Tricia

Thank you, Elizabeth. I'll be checking out some of your resources. T

I've always been pretty laissez-faire about the grammar end of things. Test results aren't the be all, end all (of that I'm sure) but we recently had our boys tested with the Canadian Achievement Test and I was shocked at how poorly my oldest did on the grammar end of things. He does grammar independantly and I haven't formally taught him anything. Well, to make a long story short, he *outdid* himself on every area of the test with the exception of language/grammar. Couldn't find a subject/verb if it jumped off the page and bit him. I was shocked by this . . . we do GWG and Lively Latin. GWG independantly, LL as teacher-led. He's been more than exposed to subjects, verbs, predicates . . . Go figure. Is grammar study important? If you aren't worried about testing or placement marks, I think kids can manage in the world just fine without knowing grammar. If you're relying on test marks for academic placement, I would suspect grammar needs to be formally taught. I'll certainly be changing my strategy in the fall and looking at KISS grammar as my spine as well as other options to make up what we've missed. Warmly, Tricia

I was happy with the results but more importantly, I felt a wave of relief about the decision to use MEP. There are parts of MEP that I don't understand, even at YR 4. I have to use the yahoo group, a math friend, my civil engineering DH to get through MEP. As the "teacher" who doesn't understand every little bit and struggles with teaching the kids the finer, trickier parts, the test results show me that they're getting what they need. MEP takes an hour out of every school day and it's teacher intensive, but I'm thinking worth the angst and sweat I personally pour into the program and the mountains of self-doubt when it comes to my math abilities. Different people have inboxed me asking my opinion about MEP. I've always hesitated to do the rah-rah cheerleader bit. Post-testing results make me a bit more confident to speak about our journey with MEP and the depth of the program. Cheerio, MEP'ers. Tricia

Hi, this is the size we use. It works just fine. I found a similiar deal so we make do. Tricia

Hello Hive Friends, Quickly touching in with some great news about MEP . . . the free math curr. out of the UK. I had my boys tested using the Canadian Achievement Test. I don't know anything about this test or how it would stack up against other standardized tests. We use MEP as our only math curriculum. My oldest son tested at the 97th percentile for his age and grade level. No surprise, truthfully, because he's an able student and I don't think it would matter which math curr. we used. I can toot the MEP horn based on the results of my second son. He struggles with the academic end of school in a way that my older son does not. He scored in the 93rd percentile and at a 6th grade level after finishing Year 2. :) If you're wondering about MEP . . . is it enough, is the math strong etc etc . . . these tests results tell me we'll be alright with MEP for a few more years. Warmly, Tricia

Do you have a proper name for this little plastic thing? I think I need to buy one for my son. T

You can take Colleen in NS's words to the bank . . . she's amazing in more ways than just figuring out how to educate classically. If I could stretch a buck like Colleen, well . . . we'd own our house in a jiffy as well. Happy Dancing over here! T