On Setting Goals
As I mentioned earlier, the hour consultation I had with Laura Berquist was one of the highlights of my trip to the Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference.A few months ago, I was ready to put all my kids in school. I felt like such a failure as a mother and a home educator. No matter which program I used, I could not teach Captain to read… No matter how many hours we spent each day on “school work,” we could not get to it all… And no matter how hard I tried I could not achieve my goals.
My hubby
As I sat there telling her how unorganized I am, while showing her my binder containing my schedules and curriculum lists, pointing out what we have done in the past, the goals I had set for this year, and how little of those goals were achieved, she listened, and then responded by saying:
She went on to say that, if I continue at this rate I will burn out
What we did achieve this year, was more than enough, especially given the circumstances, namely dealing with an Auditory Processing Challenge, and when I look at the overall year, even though we didn’t finish everything I set out to achieve, my children have been learning and they have made wonderful progress! I should be a happy with our accomplishments!!
Laura told me that in the future, I need to set realistic goals, so that I can feel good about our progress, especially when we are able to go above and beyond those goals. Imagine that!!!
The problem is, that I want to do it all!! I want to design my own curriculum
, and pick my favorite courses from each provider, and then add to that all the fun crafts that we do as we celebrate the liturgical year, and so on… But, I am finding that there are reasons that this program has extensive history, or that program has more science… It’s because you CAN’T specialize in it ALL, every day.Laura and I also talked about the various curricula. She basically told me that at this stage (K-3rd) the important thing, is that we are focusing on three things:
- Memorizing
- Sequencing
- Observation
If we are doing these three things every day, it won’t matter so much which program, or mix thereof, that we are using — since the content is great in all the Catholic Curriculum’s. (Content will matter more in later years.)
As far as scheduling goes, she suggested that I start our day with my youngest children. This will help these children to not feel neglected, as well as get them started on something to keep them busy while I am working with the older children. She suggested spending 15 minutes working of some sort of memorization work: memorizing a poem or working on art appreciation., and then getting them started on a workbook, coloring, or learning game. She also recommended having certain toys available to them only during “school” time — which I do already.
The one thing that our current curriculum is lacking in is music. She told me that I need to work on making music a priority. I am not a big fan of Classical Music… I know, I should be!!! Laura actually game me a summer assignment. I am to start listening to Classical Music on a regular basic so that eventually I will be able to complete the chart of page 177 of her book
. (Determine whether certain pieces are Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Modern? Can you tell who the composer probably is?) This should be interesting! She said that unless I can develop a love of Classical Music, it will be very hard to pass one on to my children… That makes sense. Luckily, my hubby loves Classical!One of the biggest changes I plan on making this coming year will be cutting back on the quantity of subjects we are studying daily. I have decided that each morning we will focus on our core subjects, and then each afternoon we will work on “One Thing.” I haven’t planned it out yet, but I am thinking along the lines of History on Monday, Science on Tuesday, Art on Wednesday, etc… That way, we can delve into that one subject, and study it well for the week, rather than working on multiple subjects quickly and poorly.
Anyhow, this post is getting long, but I had told you all that I would share a bit about the conference… I will try and share a bit more later, but this is all I have time for now. I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic!
God Bless!
A First Holy Communion Fair
We have decided to start a series of Fairs over at Catholic Cuisine titled From Thy Bounty. The theme for our very first fair will be First Holy Communions. It will be taking place on May 15th. We would like to invite everyone participate. So, if you have something to share in regards to First Communion Foods, Feasts and Celebrations, please click here for more details!
Speaking of First Communions, Captain will be receiving his on May 31st, at his Uncle/Godfather’s First Mass! (Hubby’s brother will be ordained on May 30th.) We are all very excited, and finalizing preparations.
This past Sunday our local Pastor tested Captain, since he has learned his catechism at home and has not attended our parish’s classes. As a mother, I was so nervous for him. He tends to be very shy, and I was unsure of just what Father would ask him. Well, he passed with flying colors!!! I am so proud of him.
Father started the test by asking him: What is a Sacrament? Captain responded by saying, “A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.” Good job Captain! Gotta love the Baltimore Catechism!
On Modesty
I just read a wonderful article written by Mary Ellen on modesty:
“Spring is such a wonderful time of year. May is the month of Mary, mothers and lately, I’ve noticed, immodesty.
A few weeks ago at church I found myself sitting behind a beautiful young lady who was dressed in pajama pants and a spaghetti strapped top that did not meet the top of her pants. She spent the entire Mass slouched in the pew picking her fingernails. Her long, fake fingernails. In spite of how annoying this was, I wasn’t really upset with the girl. It was her mother I had the issue with.”
Read the rest here. Well said, Mary Ellen!! Thank you!
Trip Pictures!!
This first picture was taken by Christine. It is of (from left to right) Me, Trina and Christy! Trina and I have been friends since I was about 14. I was devastated when she met her hubby and moved 11 hours away!! It was such a treat to be able to see her at the conference! Christy and Trina have been friends forever too. I have gotten to meet her online, but it was so nice to finally meet her in person. It is so funny how you picture people different when you haven’t actually met… I was picture a tall long haired blond for some reason? :0 I just love her short hair cut though — it is darling!!!
The next few pictures were taken by my Aunt. This one is of Snuggles playing, at my cousin Heathers home, with her little boy. Her 2 children were both born within weeks of my last 2 children! Actually her son, and Chiquita were due within days of each other, but I delivered early, and she delivered late! 🙂 (Snuggles has been loving playing with his socks lately.)
Saturday night my Aunt Roxanne and my cousins threw a surprise “Mexican Fiesta” birthday party for Heather, since she is turning 30 tomorrow! Heather & I are the oldest grandchildren on my dads side. She was born just 4 months after I was born!
Happy Birthday Heather!! I can’t believe we are THIRTY now!!
Don’t you just love what they made her wear! You should have seen my cousins Ryan and Luke with there pretend mustaches! It was hilarious! I just added a flower to my hair, and left it at that! 🙂 It was so fun! And I loved being able to see all of my Washington cousins!
Here is a picture of my Aunt Bridget and I. She traveled with me and helped with Snuggles during part of the conference, which was great. She also took care of getting my car window fixed so I wouldn’t need to miss my consultation with Laura Berquist! Thanks Auntie B!Have a great day!
Just for fun…
Somebody has to save our skins!
So, WHO are YOU???
Just Swingin’
My dear hubby surprised me last night, by hanging up our porch swing!! I was so excited!
I just love our swing! It is so inviting. I love sitting out there to read while the kids play in the yard… Hubby and I both love “escaping” to the swing in the evening for a little quite time… And, this time of year, the kids love listening to their read-a-louds on the swing! I’m so glad it is SPRING!!
The kids are loving it too, and they lost no time in grabbing a couple books for me to read to them today!
WoW ~ Week 10
Well… I got on the scale this morning and said, “That’s it… I quit!!!”
I was UP another 1.5 pounds, which makes for an overall gain of 2 pounds in the last 3 weeks, and a grand total of a whopping THREE POUNDS LOST in the last TWO AND A HALF MONTHS!!!
Yep… I was seriously ready to quit… and depressed about it too! In fact, I even left Regina a comment letting her know that I was quiting. 🙂 That comment inspired Michelle, who is doing awesome, to pay me a visit and leave me a comment on last weeks post. She said:
I just saw your post over at Regina’s blog. Don’t quit! If you had a setback, you can recover. If it’s tough because of nursing, I’m with you. And recovering from baby #6 is just simply harder, too, let me tell you. You’ve been doing fine. You can keep it up. Just have patience, honey.
Thank you Michelle, I needed to hear that. And, I wasn’t really going to quit! I just haven’t taken any CraveArrest since Friday — and it is catching up with me. It really does help control not only my cravings, but my mood swings as well… To top it off, it hasn’t been the easiest week to be dieting… I traveled out of state, was slightly stressed about losing my cameras, and definitely drank way too many Venti White Chocolate Mochas in an attempt to calm my nerves! YIKES!!! 630 calories each!! I’m lucky I didn’t gain even more.. I guess I should have checked the calorie content, before ordering them each day of my trip. Oh! And that bag of Moose Munch didn’t help either, I sure! What is it about traveling that makes one feel like it is ok to eat junk? I have to cut that out!!!
OK… Enough excuses. I have another trip coming up in two weeks, so I will start over tomorrow right now! I would love to be able to lose at least 5 pounds (of my 20 pound goal). Wish me luck!
Plans for Pentecost Sunday
The feast of Pentecost, also known as Whitsunday, ranks among the great feasts of Christianity. “It commemorates not only the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and Disciples, but also the fruits and effects of that event: the completion of the work of redemption, the fullness of grace for the Church and its children, and the gift of faith for all nations.”
Here is a list of ideas that could be done for this day!
(Disclaimer: We will not get to all of these, but I thought I would share the ideas with you just the same!)
Prayer:
- Pentecost Sunday Mass.
- Sing Veni Creator Spiritus (aka: Come Holy Ghost).
- Say some of these Prayers for Pentecost.
Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Ghost, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Ghost we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Food/Snacks:
- I listed a few ideas over at Catholic Cuisine, and Amy posted the recipe for Holy Ghost Sopas!
- Set the table with a red tablecloth and white plates.
- For breakfast we will be having powdered sugar doughnuts and white hot chocolate.
- An afternoon snack of Milk and Macaroons.
- For dinner we will be having Cornish Game Hens, Pasta Alfredo, Cauliflower and Twelve-Fruit Salad.
- For dessert, A Cake for Pentecost!!
Reading:
- Read Song of Songs 2:8-17 for the Garden of the Good Shepherd theme of the day: The Dove.
- Read about The Descent of the Holy Spirit pages 226-227 in the New Catholic Picture Bible.
- Read The Very First Christians
- Read I Believe: The Nicene Creed
- Read The Twelve Apostles
- Read The Twelve Apostles by Father Lovasik.
Copy work:
My Lord and My God!
–traditional Eucharistic exclamation.
Craft:
- Make a centerpiece for our school room. Cut out seven flame shapes from either felt or construction paper and label them with the names of the Fruits of the Holy Ghost.
- Make the Pentecost kite found in The Big Book of Catholic Customs and Traditions
- Make Dawn’s Pentecost Windsock!
- Here is a cute Holy Spirit Mobile. (pdf)
Activities:
- Do a Pentecost Cross Word Puzzle, Decoder, Word Jumble, Word Search, or a Twelve Disciples Word Search.
- Color this Pentecost Coloring Page, or any of these.
- Jamie also listed a couple more great links!
What are your plans for Pentecost? I would love to hear any ideas that you all have as well!
Another Loss…
Well, today Princess passed away. Twinkle Toes was not near as sad as Captain had been (and still is!). She responded with an “Aaahhh! Poor Princess!” and went back to her coloring.
I had noticed that Princess was not doing so well last night… She kept hiding in the plant for some reason, and sometime during the night she died. Rascal was quickly reminded of how he had wanted to rename his fish “Bully,” so I immediately removed Princess from the tank, and she is awaiting her burial.
Speaking of burials… Last week I was talking to the kids about how some saints are incorrupt.
Here is a brief conversation that took place the following day:
Captain: “Mom. Rascal wanted to see if Mr. Peter Nemo was incorrupt, but he couldn’t find him!”
Me: “WHAT!”
Captain: “Yeah, he looked everywhere and couldn’t find him in the dirt.”
Me–thinking to myself: “I THOUGHT the spot look torn up… Was that Rascal, or did the neighbor’s CAT get him?? HOW do I respond to this?”
Me — out loud: “He is probably still there… You boys really shouldn’t bother Mr. Peter Nemo, ok!?”
I wasn’t sure HOW to respond! How would you have responded? The things boys think up… I mean, really, who would dig up a dead goldfish!?
How did he do it???
Like I mentioned yesterday, I came home from my trip to an amazingly clean home. I was SO excited! However, last night, I was wishing it wouldn’t have been so clean. How is he able to do it, and I am NOT?
When hubby got home from work yesterday, he asked, “WHAT happened here?”
I hope to sit down with hubby and go over our budget, to see if it is at all possible, but, in the meantime, I am going to try harder… Speaking of which, I had better get busy!!
I hope you all have a very productive day!!! God Bless!
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