Quiet Time

Miss.SingSong is in that murky phase of sometimes still wanting two naps, but sometimes only wanting one nap.  She's also in that phase of crying for dear life if she is not in the exact same place as I am.  She literally is not happy unless she is sitting on my feet, or in my lap if it's available.  Anyone else know what I'm talking about, or is this unique in our home?

Time Change

We have had a long month during which at least one person in this house has been sick.  Anyone else?  On top of that, Miss.SingSong has a tooth coming in, and she's decided that she has to be right where I am at all times.  Is this what toddlerhood is all about?  As long as she continues to sleep 13 hours each night and I'm getting my sleep I've been able to keep my humor about it...  Surely nothing will change that.  Right?

Preparing Miss.SingSong for Math

In The Well-Trained Mind Jessie Wise shares the cautionary tale of two sixteen-year-old students in her sixth grade class who hadn't yet learned to read.  She vowed that her children would never be in such a situation, and so taught her young son to read at age four.  This is how she began homeschooling.  I had a similar experience my last year teaching, but it had more to do with math.

Learning about Baby Proofing and Rules

I have always believed that babies can learn rules, and that children, even young children, can learn to exist in an adult world.  Indeed, they need to learn that so that when they grow up they can be adults instead of behaving like children.  I'm trying to raise a good person, not a good baby.  And so I've always been of the thought that you don't need to baby-proof, you need to teach!  I've changed my mind.

Baby Miss.SingSong at Church

I loved listening to the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last weekend.  I love hearing the inspired words that comfort my soul and lead me to feel that I really can do better as I learn to rely on the Savior.  What I really listen for, though, is when we are counseled about how we can teach and protect our families in this world.

MamaB Creates the Learning Environment

You will be forgiven for not remembering that Miss.SingSong is not actually the main topic of this blog.  This blog is, after all, the story of a mom who chose to homeschool.  Thus, it is my story.  But she is such a big part of my life!  Part of my story as I choose to homeschool (and what parent doesn't do at least some teaching at home??), is how I keep things organized for better learning.

Preparing Miss.SingSong for Literacy - Reading

I served a Mormon mission in Russia.  By the end of my mission I could read and comprehend most non-technical articles written for adults in the Russian language.  I could not read to understand a children's book to save my life.  The variety of words used in children's books is immense.

Preparing Miss.SingSong for Literacy - Talking and The Well-Trained Mind

In The Well-Trained Mind, we are taught that from the day you bring your baby home you should be talking to her constantly.  I like the idea, and I try to talk a lot to Miss.SingSong, but I'm an introvert and I need quiet time!  Motherhood is filled with guilt about how much we can or can't do for our children, it seems.

Rules for Miss.SingSong

Most of the teaching books I read while I was a teacher discussed classroom management and engagement more than they did teaching.  There's a reason for that.  Students simply can't be expected to learn if there are 29 other students jumping around, talking, throwing things, or - as I personally know - having fistfights in the classroom.  But even if everyone is in their seats and sitting quietly, students won't learn if they have never been taught focus and discipline.

Meet Miss.SingSong

 Little Miss.SingSong came into the world rather unexpectedly at 34weeks.  She then spent two weeks in the NICU.  I look back at that time and know that I was so stressed and worried and in love and tired and happy, but I only remember the love and that happiness with any real clarity.  The rest of it just fades away because those things that were so stressful get resolved, and then don't matter anymore.

Well-Trained Mind

Mr. Perfect and I knew that we wanted to homeschool our children before we even knew that we were going to get married.  Rather, I should say that I knew I would homeschool my children, and I let him know it before I let the relationship get too serious.  He really liked the idea, and that helped progress the relationship toward a more serious stage.

A New Teacher, 2011-2012

Our family's journey into the home school world begins one early August morning.  It was my first official work day as a public school teacher.  There weren't any students yet, but the teachers and administrators were having meetings to prepare for the new school year.  Within half an hour I had decided that I would homeschool my children.