conf wkend!

i can't believe that i attended my 3rd! home school conference!  crazy!  we are home and settling in.  i didn't take a pic the whole wkend because i was focused on home education.

the speaker was dr. jay wile.  he's the author of popular science curriculum books.  i was surprised by how easy he was to listen to, down to earth and no scientific gargon was used so i was fully able to listen and understand .haha

i sat in on a few insightful seminars.  i left the conf feeling normal! not stressed, upset, over or underwhelmed, home school mom guilt. nothing!  i left feeling and knowing that i was on the right track, doing well. i've done my best and i think i've done a great job....having no clue what i am doing. bawahhhhh

i did learn a few things and though i'd share them!  point form cause that's just easier. haha

-the difference between an activity and education is the review!  basically, anything you do with your child if reviewed the right way can be a learning experience. so true!

-it's not what you cover, it's how you cover it.  meaning-relax! books are a great tool but relationship is first!

one class i sat in on, i was surprised that i didn't 'learn' much if anything, instead what dr. wile spoke on i had already agreed or my thinking/.thoughts lined up with his. which was funny cause if you know me, i ain't no scholar! haha!

for example

i have surprised a few ppl by saying i don't think university is a must. i don't!  i do believe that you should 100% do what god created you to do.  university is great for specific areas of study.  e.g a doctor, or scientist.  but not everyone needs to go.  i do think it's wise to have some trade

as my kids get older my role as a home educator will change.  and because i have home schooled from the start there are a lot of loops and bumps i won't have to go through that others may when pulling their kids out of government/private schools to home, which is a nice to think about

my roles as a home educator change! they start out as a teacher but will change to a tutor then to a fellow learner, learning right along with them  (which i have noticed already....hahahaha)

as i look back on this past year. we've come along way!  i've had the joy of learning what works and the misery of what doesn't, i've changed plans, skipped over topics and mixed up things. i've learnt to throw the clock out the window and go with a flexible routine.  i've cried, laughed, yelled, quit! and started, hugged, panicked, hid, cried, spent hours with nate, hours alone preparing but most of all i've snuggled. lots and lots of hugs, i love you's and kisses

i can proudly say that we are finishing off better than we started! ha!

and have even come up with our home school mandate for next year

what is it?  here ya go!

Home education is my responsibility to trains and raise up my own kids (prov 22:6) by strengthening my family while emphasizing the importance of education, resulting in stronger relationships

and i shocked chris.  big time.  i spent a total of 18.00.  yep.  18.00.  i have however a huge wish list for next year and a few books i really want.....i will wait for a sale ;)

thanks mom and dad for watching the kids.  it was nice to be able to take the conf in knowing they were in great hands!

and now to do my LAST sunday prep for the week. i told nate as soon as he finishes his math unit test he's done till sept!

oh and no pics for a few days. i store my pics on chris's hard drive and they bloody thing crashed this morning.  so it will take a few days to fix!

Posted by mel at 2:09 PM