TOS Crew Blog Walk Week 9

More blogs from our TOS First Mates. These are blogs that other homeschooling families will really enjoy visiting. All these mommy bloggers share what they do with their families plus, of course, you can read all their product reviews. Click on anyone of these and enjoy!

1. Creative Learners
2. The Homeschool Desk
3. Ramblin' Roads
4. The Stewards Steno
5. Mama Manuscripts
6. Train Up a Child
7. We Love to Homeschool
8. Day by Day in Our World
9. Acorns - or Homeschooling Nuggets of Gold
10. The Berry Patch

Book Review: The Real Prince Charming by Michelle Raftery

At first look, I didn’t think that The Real Prince Charming by Michelle Raftery was very interesting. The cover did not catch my eye. However, when I opened it and started reading, I did not stop reading until I was already in the middle of the book. Now, for me that is something else. Having four kids to care for, homeschooling the three, managing the household and caring for my hubby, I’m a very busy mom with very little downtime. The only time I can really get to read a book straight through is when I go out by myself. So reading The Real Prince Charming up to the middle of the book in one sitting means that it is very interesting.

The Real Prince Charming is geared towards Christian young ladies who are already within the world of dating. It is actually a very short book with only 100 pages but filled with real, practical and Biblical advice for young women. I love this book and wish that I had read it when I was still a young lady looking for my forever love. Michelle Raftery gives great advice to young women looking for love.

I agree with all that she said and would refer to this book often in teaching my three girls about finding their own true love. She really does a great job of directing the reader towards the love of God for us and how a young woman can find her true love based on the way God loves His own children.

I recommend this book to be read by young adults. Mothers with daughters entering their teens should read this book with their young teens.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bring It On! Communications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: Speak Up with Confidence by Carol Kent

Speak Up with Confidence: A Step-by-Step Guide for Speakers and Leaders

When I received this book for review from NavPress, I was pleasantly surprised and excited. The surprise was because I did not request this book but received it and the excitement because I dream of becoming a speaker one day. Carol Kent is an international public speaker and a world-reknowned author. So Speak Up with Confidence, A Step-by-Step Guide for Speakers and Leaders is such a blessing to me.

I find that this book does not disappoint when it comes to teaching us how to prepare for a talk step-by-step. The book begins with an encouragement to believe in yourself first before anything else. Believe that you have it in you to speak in front of people. Then she follows it up with the how-to’s of preparing your talk. First, it’s how to choose your topic, then set a goal, then how to collect materials, how to write your material and so on. The book is full of details and ideas on preparing for a talk, and even how to be presentable in front of a group of people. It is peppered with humorous anecdotes of her life stories which keeps the reading interesting.

What I like most about Speak Up with Confidence is the section about preparing your personal testimony. This one spoke to me personally because I feel that I have a lot to share about how the Lord works in my life, but I don’t know how and where to start. She also has a chapter on leading a Bible Study group. Having lead Bible study groups in the past, I thought that I would not need this section anymore, but surprisingly, I still learned a lot from her.

Speak Up with Confidence – A Step-by-Step Guide for Speakers and Leaders is an excellent reference book for those who want to become speakers. It is also a great guide for more material for those who are already more experienced in speaking.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Question and Answer Time: Letter from Missionary Mom Part 2 and Inquiring Mom

This is the second part of my answer to the missionary mom’s letter which I blogged here and here. However, I got another letter from another mom and I’m posting her note here because I would be giving similar answer to both questions. My answers are printed in blue italics.

Letter from Missionary Mom:

Just wanted to ask about your homeschooling system i.e. how you got the kids "enrolled", what age did you start each kid, do they take regular tests sa DepEd to get accredited, etc etc.

Letter from Inquiring Mom (I called her this because the subject of her email is “INQUIRY”) :)

Hi Miss Michelle! I've read some of your great and inspiring blogs! May I please ask where you enrolled your kids? How do you go about homeschooling?

Your insights will be a big help for our family! Thanks so much!

The question “How do you go about homeschooling?” seems like a very general question that can have a lot of answers. Homeschooling is different for every family just because every family is different. So there’s really just no point of comparison. But just to answer this question, I’ll share a few things about us.

First, we started with a goal in mind. One of the goals we had was that we wanted our children to be educated at home because we wanted to be their main influencers in life. We believe that sending them to school would also mean giving up our reins to their teachers. Every family who is considering to homeschool must begin with a goal. This goal would carry them through all the trials that they would be experiencing. The goal must be deeper than just saving a few thousand pesos. Because if that is the only goal, then as soon as you have the money to pay the tuition fee of a regular school, off to school your child will go.

Then, I read all I can about homeschooling and I still do until now. I researched a lot that’s how I found so many sites online about it. You have to be aware, though, that the research can actually overwhelm you because of all the information that is available. But the continuous reading on my part has helped me tremendously in my homeschooling philosophy.

I spoke to a lot of Filipino homeschool families, attended orientations and studied the available materials available here. My children have gone through two homeschool providers then studied independently, and this is now our 3rd year with Kreative Kids, Moms and Dads.

I started homeschooling when Guitar Babe was 7 years old. We used Alpha Omega Lifepacs which are very good. Artsy Princess was only 4 years old then and I did not formally teach her anything until she was 7 years old. I did not enroll Artsy Princess when I started teaching her. What I did was to buy workbooks from Powerbooks. I did purchase Sing, Spell, Read, Write for her and it went great. She only learned to read when she was past 7 years old because I did not believe in starting her academics too early. It’s a different case with Sunshine Girl now, because she really wants to learn. So I’m already teaching her now even if she is only 5 years old. They have not yet taken any DepEd tests and when they do, I will share it here.

Our homeschool at home is not as consistent as I would like it to be. I mean that I try to follow a schedule as much as we can, but life really just happens. I always have to remind myself that my priority is to teach my children at home. However, I’ve also learned to view the life experiences as opportunities for my kids to learn about real life.

The one thing I’ve found that helped me is to always have a plan, no matter how loose it is. Plan what the children will study for the school year, what materials to use, how long they will study, the days of school, the holidays. The quote “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail” is just as applicable to homeschool.

Finally, the best thing that I believe I can do is to pray and commit our homeschool to the Lord.

Proverbs 16:3 (New Living Translation)

Commit your actions to the Lord,
      and your plans will succeed.

Missionary Mom and Inquiring Mom, I hope that I have somehow answered your questions and that I have been of help to you and your family.

God bless you!

 

Question and Answer Time: Answering Missionary Mom’s Unasked Question

I’ve just reread my blog post answering Missionary Mom’s letter if I ever sent my kids to regular school. I believe the next logical question to ask would be if I would ever consider sending my kids to regular school again. Missionary Mom did not ask this question but it just seems like the unasked question in her letter.

After seven years of homeschooling, going through all its ups and downs, I would still gladly keep on teaching my children at home. Up until my last child, Flash Boy, finishes high school, at least. If you do the math, that’ll mean another 15 long years - and this is just fine with me. I’ve written in my previous post why this is our conviction.

Some people tell me right out that my children will miss a lot of the experiences that children going to regular school have. Well, let’s see now exactly what those experiences are that my children are missing.

1. They’ll miss the daily commute to and from school, in the middle of traffic, pollution, rains and floods.

2. They’ll miss the daily rush and the intense pressure in the morning of getting everyone fed, clothed and sent to school.

3. They’ll miss the peer pressure from other children in their school.

4. They’ll miss having to do tons of assignment after they have been to school for eight hours.

5. They’ll miss having to compete with 50 other students for one teacher’s attention if they don’t understand the current topic of study.

6. They’ll miss the influence and authority of other adult figures in school, whether positive or negative.

7. They’ll miss being forced to rush through a topic that they barely understood just to get in with the teacher’s schedule for the day.

8. They’ll miss the friends that they will make in school.

Below are a few good things that they will really miss because they are not going to school:

9. They’ll miss the teachings of a really, really good teacher who is an expert on her subject.

10. …

So far, I can’t think of anymore to put in number 10. My point here is this, if those are the things that my children are missing, then they are not missing much. Even number 9 is also not a big deal because there are so many in the family and among friends that are experts in their own right with whom our children are exposed to.

My children tell me that sometimes friends ask them if they don’t miss school. They will ask back with this question, “What’s there to miss?” Their friends would respond with having school friends, the prom, etc. When Guitar Babe had this conversation, she said that she’s not missing much. She has lots of friends in church and among our homeschool group. As for the prom, she asked, “What’s the big deal about proms?” I replied that they get to wear nice gowns or outfits and party with their friends. Both Guitar Babe and Artsy Princess said, “But the prom is not the only place you get to wear a nice outfit and party with your friends!”

To end with, my husband and I firmly believe that whatever it is our children are “missing” are definitely not as valuable as teaching them at home. We place great value in family and our faith in God. And we are able to impart these values everyday in our homeschool and daily life.

Question and Answer Time: Letter from a Missionary Mom Part 1

I received a short note from another mommy that I met online. I’m sharing it here for others who may have the same question. This is only the first part of my answer to her letter because I don’t want this to be such a long post. I’ll be answering the rest of her questions in another post.

Hi Mommy Michelle! :) Once again, I really thank GOD for allowing us to meet kahit virtually lang. :) Anyway, I know you've got a lot on your plate now, but I'd like to get some tips from you sana, if you don't mind. :) Just wanted to ask about your homeschooling system i.e. how you got the kids "enrolled", what age did you start each kid, do they take regular tests sa DepEd to get accredited, etc etc. Did you ever try regular school before? :) We're leaving for mission again soon and I just want to get all my facts straight even if (mys son) is only turning 4 in October. :) Thanks so much! God bless always!

Hi Mommy! Thanks for the note. I guess you’re not able to catch me online lately so you decided to write me instead, right? Well, that’s just fine because it actually gives me more time to answer. I hope you don’t mind that I answered you here on my blog, as I also would like to share letters like yours here, in case another mom has the same question. So here goes:

Did you ever try regular school before?

When my eldest, Guitar Babe, was 5 years old, we enrolled her in our church school for two years. It went fine, she learned how to read and how to count and all the other stuff they teach in schools. My beef with them was that it was a necessity for me to tutor her at home everyday after having been to school for three hours. I was still working full time then with another business on the side. There came time when I was spending so much time on my sideline business that I was unable to tutor her at home. Sadly, her grades dropped and her teacher blamed me for it.

I felt so bad and guilty but inside I was also fuming mad. I send my child to school where the teachers should have been the ones responsible for making sure that their students learn, and yet I’m being blamed for her low grades. Aside from that, another teacher had bad English diction. My daughter learned to say “es-nake” for snake and “es-cool” for school When I complained to the school administrator about this, she said she can’t do anything about it. The worst is that when I tried to correct Guitar Babe, she answered that this is how her teacher taught her, so her teacher is right and I’m wrong. Here is where I started to feel that I have lost authority in my child’s life with regard to her academics. She believes in her teacher more than she does me.

After two years, she graduated and was ready for Grade 1. It was also about this time when I heard about homeschool.

TOS Crew Blog Walk Week 8

This week’s blogs for our Blog Walk are blogs by our First Mates. First Mates are those that have been part of the TOS Review Crew for two or three years. Which means that their blogs are full of homeschool reviews and other product reviews. It’ll be great going through the blogs especially if you’re looking for opinions on particular products or curriculums. Enjoy! Online casino Ireland. ###

1. Ramblings from the Crazy House 2
2. Chicagoland Homeschool Network
3. Marine Corps Nomads
4. Faith, Family and Fun
5. Books and Bairns
6. Chatter, Clatter and Things That Matter
7. Canadianladybug Reviews!
8. Life at oak Grove
9. Home Sweet Home(school)
10. a glimpse of our life

Super Mom – Are You For Real?

I always look forward to Saturdays. Saturdays are when I bring my kids to their homeschool co-op classes at Kreative Kids, Moms and Dads. Saturdays are also when I get to be with my fellow homeschooling moms. We trade stories, give advice, help each other, watch out for each other’s children and pray for each other. We share our books, parenting styles, and homeschool stories. I love it!

Just this past Saturday, one of the newbie moms, who also happens to be an event coordinator, said that one day soon she’ll plan a homeschool event and she’ll have us as guests and exhibitors. She’ll call us “The Supermommies”. She said that ever since she’s met us, she just can’t help but just be in awe of everything we do. Aside from homeschooling multiple children, most of us have our own income generating activities that we do on the side.

I can’t help but chuckle about this when I remembered it later on. Me, a supermom? How can I be super when I’m so organizationally-challenged? Believe me, there are many times that I berate myself for not preparing well for our homeschool. At this time last year, I was so smug in reporting to the group that we are already well into our studies. This schoolyear, it’s different. I feel like I can’t get a grip on my schedule that I can’t even finish organizing my children’s books and subjects! So much for the supermom!

Add to that the fact that I haven’t written a blog post or a review in the last two weeks. I’m feeling very inadequate already. I’ve been praying hard asking the Lord to bless my planning for the homeschool, asking Him to give me wisdom in setting my priorities,  but I’m constantly attacked by thoughts of inadequacy. These thoughts of inadequacy have been my constant companions these past few days. I’ve been berating myself about the one thousand and one things that I needed to do, but I can’t or am not doing. Phew, it’s tiring.

Speaking of tired, I have been tired lately just by my going around and around. By that I mean that I’ve been out constantly getting errands done. I shared with my husband earlier today how I feel guilty over having to leave the children in the care of our househelp. He told me to stop berating myself because it’s not like I’ve been irresponsible, I’ve simply been doing what had to be done.

Well, supermom I’m certainly not. In fact, it’s not even what I want to be at this point in my life. When I was younger, I must admit that I really tried to be the “Supermom”. I did everything that I thought a mom should do and more. When hubby went abroad to work while I was pregnant with Flash Boy and left me with three kids, I smiled bravely and declared to the world that “I can do it!” He came home for the birth of Flash Boy but left after two weeks. Again, I smiled bravely and declared, “I can do it!”

Three weeks after hubby left, I was teaching Guitar Babe and Artsy Princess while breastfeeding Flash Boy, my then three year old Sunshine Girl started acting up. Suddenly all these thoughts came zooming into my head one after the other so that a few minutes later, I was trembling and on the verge of tears. I didn’t know it then but I was already experiencing an anxiety attack. My psychotherapist sister told me that these attacks come because I am already overwhelmed by all the things that I am doing and I don’t get any breaks.

Since then, I’ve had a number of attacks, one even landed me in the hospital ER. The hospital sent me home, of course, after I calmed down. There wasn’t anything wrong with me physically but spiritually and emotionally, I was drained trying to play supermom, superwife, superwoman.

Did God really call us women and moms to be super? Is it what He wanted us to do? I have to wonder. I listened to Dr. Charles Stanley’s audio message the other night (after having another attack yet again) and he said that there are things we expect of ourselves that God does not even expect of us. He also said that living with anxieties is also living in bondage.

My take on this is found in Philippians 2:12-13

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

I don’t believe God meant for me to be supermom. I believe that He meant for me to be the kind of mommy who would love and care for my children as best as I can replicate God’s love for His children. In this, He has already given me the power to do so. And during those times, when I am tired and overwhelmed, I can rest and know that God’s grace is sufficient for me.

The Old Schoolhouse Mag’s October Schoolhouse Expo

It's back to homeschool time and registration is open for the online Schoolhouse Expo, October 4-8. It's five days of top homeschool speakers, fellowship, and fun door prizes.

Save $5 per ticket! Register between August 16 and midnight August 22, and you'll pay only $19.99. Plus you'll receive over $200 in free E-Books.
You'll be inspired by speakers including: Zan Tyler, Dr. Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright,Carol Barnier, Diana Waring, Todd Wilson, Davis Carman, Kim Kautzer, Lee Binz, and many more!

A special teen track is planned--the entire family will definitely want to listen to these special sessions. We've also planned a special focus on a topic that touches every homeschool--writing. Plus, an array of other topics that will inform and inspire you throughout your homeschooling years.

Don't forget, MP3 copies of each session comes with your LIVE event ticket.

Two special preconference shows on August 24 and September 21 with Dr. Jay Wile, Jeannie Fulbright, and Kim Kautzer!

Register starting 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 16.

The theme this fall is "Celebrate Homeschooling!" We're going to celebrate the unique blessings of homeschooling, the beginning of another school year, our families, and the freedom to tailor our children's education to best meet their needs.

If you cannot make the Live event,  then the October Expo To Go is just your ticket! You'll reserve MP3s from all of the workshops. This week only, pay just $14.95!

You can visit either of these links to get more information.
http://www.SchoolhouseExpo.com
or
http://bit.ly/aWHFiL

Discolosure: I am posting this ad for The Old Schoolhouse Magazine in exchange for a free ticket to the Schoolhouse Expo.

3rd Philippine Homeschool Conference

 

I’ll be posting more info once it is available.