Deanna Rabe

I'm sorry that I've disappeared!  I caught quite a cold. As we end our school year I want to encourage you to see just how much your children have learned, the progress they've made as individual people. Its easy to compare our homeschools with our friends homeschools.  Its easy to see so many outside activities that one family does, and compare with the few that you do. Can I encourage you to look to the Lord for His direction for your family?  He knows just what each child needs.  Maybe one year it is a co-op, but another year it is time to be home together, and let them play a team sport.  Don't get caught in the trap that each child has to do every activity or sport or lesson that they want! This is especially difficult when you have many small children.  We allowed our kids to do one thing.  They tried team sports and didn't really enjoy them.  A few did riding lessons for a few years.  Most have taken music lessons for several years.  We've t

By law in Pennsylvania we have to do 180 days of school each year.  We could count hours, but that would be harder to track for us, so we count days. Today is day 180 of our 22 year of homeschooling! We have four science lessons to finish up, and the kids will keep reading and doing math, but we've finished the required days for this school year. Its been an interesting year. We studied the Medieval time period, learned European geography, read a lot of books, Sarah has enjoyed pre-algebra (she does not normally like math), she took an online course through Hillsdale College.  Kyle has improved in his note taking, is doing well in math, loves science (we are finishing up Anatomy and Physiology). We all enjoyed being back at our co-op this year. I have a long term perspective on my children's learning.  I know that if they are struggling with a subject, that by the end of the year, they will have made progress.  The tears of earlier months will be long gone.  The

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Are you excited?   I am!  We have nine days left! As much as we enjoy home education, we also love our summer break!  Of course, the break is from 'formal studies' and not learning!  We are always learning! A trip to the creek provides great opportunities to enjoy the water but also to see what kind of creatures live in the water or near it.  What kinds of plants are growing along the banks?  We can practice our rock skipping skills (mine are non existent!). Gardening allows our children to learn how plants grow, and to enjoy the results of their labor! Summer gives us more time to slow down and to enjoy each other.   What are you looking forward to this summer?