Homeschooling in the Sticks and Bricks

As we prepare to launch in our RV, I'm thinking back on the past 2 years of homeschooling. I explain why here. My oldest three at home have even started college. Our first year, we strictly roadschooled and unschooled. We roadschooled in every eastern state from NJ to FL, later adding the states up through MA, stopping at state welcome centers, national parks, museums, and anything we see of interest.
When we unschooled, my only requirement was that the kids read something, anything (within reason and at their reading level), learn something, anything, and tell me about it. They loved this and my one son, who barely passed each year in public school and who rarely, if ever, passed a standardized test, learned enough in that one year to pass every section of the GED test except for math (ok, we read nothing math-related) and he taught himself how to fix computers, play keyboard, and record music, things he NEVER would've learned in public school. The reason for the unschooling was twofold: first, I was busy gutting and rebuilding several rooms in the sticks and bricks house to prepare it for sale and, second, to 'detox' the kids from public school learning. However, I do still have some nonreaders in the house and I learned they were avoiding key subjects, like math, so I felt the need to add some organized, structured learning.
This year, I tried many approaches and curriculums, experimenting with things to see how they fit our needs. I found many free online websites to print out worksheets from or that have online learning activities, which we use sometimes. I did buy the Life of Fred math series. They loved the elementary books, couldn't wait to do math each day, and couldn't put it down once they did start it. I ended up using math as a rewaard for finishing other work because I found, once they started their math, they didn't get to anything else! My only complaint is that the correct answers aren't really hidden and, even though I covered up the answers, it is easy for them to 'cheat' and I had to watch them more closely. My older boys are now into the high school books, which apparently aren't as interesting or fun and they are harder. My boys struggle with these but I think it's because of their language barriers and not necessarily the math itself and, for obvious reasons, my nonreaders can't use them yet at all until they learn to read well.
I discovered Easy Peasy Free All In One Homeschool and never looked back. At first, I was so frustrated. What should have been one day's worth of work took my cherubs a week or more to do but after a few weeks of trial and error, they finally 'got it' for the most part. They are not good at all at following instructions, so easy peasy wasn't that easy but I still love it as it provides most of what I wanted for us educationally. These days, our homeschooling looks like this:

1. practice math facts on Xtramath.com
2. read a story, answer the questions, & write a 1-paragraph summary from K12 Reader
3. do the day & year work on easy peasy
4. Watch CNN Student News and write summaries and questions

Sounds easy? I think so but some days it takes them all day because they are so distracted, off-task, unmotivated or what-have-you. My 2 nonreaders do the first grade learning with their 2 similar-leveled siblings, who read everything to them, and they also do the Getting Ready phonics levels with me. My 4 oldest started with 5th grade then, once they got the hang of it I added 6th grade so my older 4 actually do 3 sections each day: 5th grade, 6th grade, and year 1. I did this so they could make up for any previously missed learning. I learned that the topics they all cover are the same each day. For example, they all start with reading, altho they read different stories/books, then do math, which they do at their own individual levels mostly from Khan Academy but not exclusively, then some thinking or logic and writing. In the year work, they start with a bible story, they all read the same book or chapter but the older ones read longer sections and have more in-depth questions. Then they do history, again, all the same topic (for example, ancient Rome) just with different resources and quizzes, etc. They finish the day with science or PE, again, the same for all elementary levels just with more details for the older grades. It makes it so easy for me to discuss topics with them or for them to discuss things amongst themselves.
I will miss using Easy Peasy once we launch full-time, which is now delayed because the tow dolly just arrived and is still sitting in the crate outside ... in the freezing cold, in the newly fallen snow, behind the not-quite-completely rebuilt RV. ugh. Looking forward to launching within the next week, though. We MUST if we are to make Florida before homeschool day at Legoland, FL and music camp at Spirit of Suwanee!

Often, we do our learning elsewhere, even at the sticks and bricks house:



building Home Depot craft

taking computer apart



Spirit of Suwanee Music Camp

exploring nature center ... or, how to put your shirt on correctly!

This is how it looks in the house:

Bigs HSing in the dining room

Littles HSing in the living room

PE - dancing

PE - crab walk

counting by 10s song on youtube

Our First Trip Down the East Coast

Our first major road trip was from NJ to TX with a van and a tent. We made a big loop around much of the US and LOVED it! We knew we needed an RV.
We attended our first RV rally in Florida 2 years ago. We had intended on launching full-time then but the RV broke down just a few days before launch and couldn't be fixed in time. So, my (then) 6 kids and I took the van and a tent, determined to go anyway. We lived in that van for a month before almost killing each other. This was back in the 'good ol' days' when my raddish garden was blooming like mad. We were exhausted but had some fun times, between tantrums and meltdowns.

We roadschooled the entire trip. We stopped at every state welcome center to learn something new. One of our favorite stops is South of the Border, but that's usually just to get a snack! One of my favorite cities to visit is Baltimore, MD. After the rally, we visited the Everglades. We took some ranger-led tours, completed junior ranger activities, found some free camping sites (for future reference when we could be safe inside the RV) and met a family there with a teenaged girl who was very excited to meet my 3 teenaged boys. Camping in the Everglades is all pretty primitive and there's no running water anywhere. Bring your own water. We opted to pay the $20 for the state campground along alligator alley. Still no running water but we felt pretty safe sleeping in a tent there. We also attended homeschool day at Leggoland, an activity we look forward to each year.

We did some learning on the Florida Keys. We spent a night sleeping behind the Walmart in Florida City then camped 2 nights at Bahia Honda, a lovely campground with junior ranger activity booklets and a visitor center. We explored the beach, bought snorkles so the boys could check out the coral reefs visible along the shores, and took a glass bottom boat tour at Pennekamp. It wasn't as pricy as I expected and the education was well worth the price. We also visited a turtle hospital on the Keys. We had to pay for the tour but I found a coupon in a visitors guide ... an education also well worth the price. We all agreed to try a food we've never had before at a White Harbor Seafood Buffet. Yumm. We went all the way to the tip of Key West, a place I wouldn't want my children to enjoy the night life in, although we didn't get to visit Dry Tortugas National Park. You need to plan ahead a little to catch a boat out there. We did read about it, though. Maybe next time ...

We also visited a few friends while in Florida before we started heading north again. We visited several churches and were involved with a youth group we enjoyed very much. We found shark teeth on the Gulf coast and visited Daytona Beach.

We decided to do another adoption, or two, so we have been bound to the sticks and bricks for 2 years, taking short RV trips for up to a month or two at a time and looking forward to our launch date.

Preparing for Launch

The nervousness is kicking in full gear, with a twinge of excitement and, occasionally, a little sadness about what we will miss. Will I have everything I need? Will I forget something important? Do I have a plan A, B, or plan C, if the RV breaks down? Will I be able to tow my van on the new dolly or will I scrape it up against a rail or perhaps lose it off a cliff? Hey, it can happen like this.
We have been traveling PT in our RV for 2 years now, looking forward to the opportunity to launch FT. We *think* this is it. We waited this long because God called me to do an, a few, OK, several adoptions, which required being in a sticks and bricks house. I've participated in an adoption every year for the past 5 years, a process that takes approximately a year or more. First, I adopted 3 boys, then a brother/sister set, then a teen boy, then I attempted to add another boy that hasn't quite panned out yet, then another brother/sister set. At this point, we have no adoption in the works so, when we decided to join the the FTF rally annd homeschool day at Leggoland again in FL, we realized we had no reason we *had* to be at the house.
For a year, I got the house ready to sell. We conveniently had a pipe break in the upstairs bathroom resulting in damage. When the homeowner's insurance payment wasn't even enough to fix the bathroom, I took the payment and did all work myself: gutting both bathrooms, the kitchen and the laundry room and rebuilding it myself. Well, that didn't help the house sell. Actually, we got almost no traffic what-so-ever. We continued to purge anyway. I sold what I could on craigslist, gave away what friends could use, freecycled a bunch, and continued to donate the rest to VVA or Purple Heart, who will conveniently come pick up what we leave on our porch. Today's pile is small in comparison to the 8767657988979089088 other piles we've left out there this past year or two.

Aside from purging the house, I had already started homeschooling 2 years ago, so we've had plenty of time tweaking that routine for ourselves. We started off unschooling, then I toyed with many schedules and curriculums (mostly free and online) until I found a system that works for us, both while on the road and off. I have been scanning all of our important documents onto a flashdrive with Internet back-up. I gutted the RV completely inside and am rebuilding it to accommodate all 9 of us. I reused everything I took out of the RV, rearranging and rebuilding it. I also reused furniture from the house that didn't sell and tweaked it to fit into the RV, so I spent very little money for the actual rebuild materials. We hope to launch in about a week and are so excited.

If you're still struggling with how to follow your RVing dreams, you can check out this book: How to Hit the Road.

It's a New Year

I am so blessed and thankful for what God has done in our lives in 2013 and am happily anticipating what He has in store for us this coming year. I am excited about the gifts and blessings and excited about the trials, struggles, and new learning He will provide. I am so thankful He loves us the way He does.

2+ years of earnestly seeking God has yielded this family:
4+ months without the use of police, crisis workers, hospitals, or psychiatrists
4+ months without signs of PTSD, depression, or behavior disorders of any kind
2+ months with most of us functioning well without any medications of any kind

What the Bible has to say about seeking God:
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deut. 4:29

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Prov. 8:17

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matt. 7:7-8

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lam. 3:25

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jer. 29:13

The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chron. 16:11

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” Psalm 40:16

Have a Blessed 2014



Thankful for Much

All month I have reflected on things I am thankful for. There are so many things, too numerous to name, but I'll list a few.

Above all else, I am thankful for God's undying love for me and my family and His complete faithfulness to us. It is because of this that I have received all else to be thankful for.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13

That we are chosen and saved, despite the fact that we fall short.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7

And that He has always had a plan for me.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

When one of my sons joined this family, he asked me to read to him about love from the bible. He had never felt loved, had never known love, and wanted to know what God had to say about it. I read him this:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

It was then I realized just how much I all fall short of this standard. I certainly am not very patient or kind, at times, and I certainly can be rude, self-seeking, and easily angered! My tongue is not still! Certainly, love has not always protected him, he could never trust in it, and love has failed him many times in his young life. So, we had a little discussion about how we all fall short of this and that God is the only one who loves this perfectly. We are called to love. Above all else, love. Deeply.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

We can never love perfectly on our own but we can love if we let Jesus's love pass through us, then others will know of it.

For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

I am thankful that we are God seekers. I have known no greater peace in my life before knowing Him, even though life around me hasn't changed a great deal, I am changed, my perspective is changed, and I see much less anxiety, hyperactivity, and fear in my children as they learn who God is and Trust in Him.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-8

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

I am so very thankful that I have not had to enlist the aid of any police officers, psychiatrists, therapists, mobile response units, or crisis hospitals for over 3 months now. That is a record and truly a blessing as a result of God's love and grace as we seek to know Him and obey His Word. I'm also thankful that most of my children no longer require medication to function on a day-to-day basis. Most of my adopted children came to me taking several medications per day. Usually 2-5; however, one came at 7 years old taking 21 pills per day of 4-5 different medications! At first, I was afraid to mention it. I didn't want to 'jinx' it, but I trust in the Lord that all will continue according to His good plan because He loves my children more perfectly than I ever could.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:4-7

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

For all His blessings, I hope I remain forever thankful.

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. Psalms 63:3-5

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Thankful for Fulltime Families and Dads

      Although we are a FTF member, we are not *yet* a FULLtime family. We are a family with a "sticks and bricks" house who RVs several months of the year. We attend FTF rallies and meet up with other FTF members as often as we can in our travels.

some families at the PA RenFest

      It occurred to me during our last 'outing' to PA, as my boys were giving me the play-by-play of every move one of our male members made at his camper, how much the FTF dads mean to my children. My current 8 are all adopted & got only a mom out of the deal. In some ways, it was better for some of them not to have 2 parents, as expert triangulators will pit one parent against another to manipulate to get their way, but one of my boys cried when he met me and found out there was no dad in this family. They know God as their dad, and He's the only one I ever had, as well.

Some families at game time

      The FTF dads who spend time with my children provide a good example of what a dad should be. My children have truly enjoyed playing football, playing instruments, exploring, riding rides at theme parks, sharing pot luck suppers, sitting around the campfire, and just chatting about Christianity, music, sports, motors, and whatever else it is you guys have chatted with my children about. They are learning so much about a man's/father's role in life. Thank you to all the FTF community and the dads who will knowingly, or unknowingly, exert a positive influence on my children as we travel.

my daughter's drawing of our RV

Life in a Dealership Lot

While on the road, silly me let the RV run out of gas. Then, I allowed some "nice passerby" to try to "help" me move off to the side of the road. He popped my steering box and Good Sam couldn't find a tow service so the police had to secure one. After 3 hours we were towed back to the campground. After 2 days of searching for a mechanic to fix the RV, we were towed to a dealership for the repairs; however, Good Sam, again, took forever to secure a tow company then we were towed to the wrong place. By the time we arrived at the right place Friday afternoon, it was too late to start work on the RV. So, our 5 days living at a dealership began. We've stayed at gas stations, truck stops, rest areas, and Walmarts overnight before, so it wasn't completely new for us.

this was 'home' for 5 days



So many things went wrong. I'll spare you the details but, suffice it to say, it could've been way worse than it was. We were given food and a heater by other RVing family friends for our stay. We were greeted Sat. morning by the dealership workers and 18 McDonald's breakfast sandwiches. We had free popcorn, cookies and cakes, water, tea, coffee and hot chocolate daily, free electricity, and free wi-fi. So, we were able to eat, drink, homeschool, and keep in touch with others online for the duration. I actually got a lot of homeschooling done while there. We were fixed and ready to leave Mon., and a few kiddos were not happy about leaving there and one even had a tantrum, but we broke down 7 miles up the road and had to be towed back for an additional night and day. The kiddos rejoiced, even though we still weren't at a campground with the families we had been with. The dealership needed to replace the ignition assembly and that night we were sent pizza by the dealership workers.

our home



We finally left Hershey Tue. afternoon, stopped by Chocolate World for a bit, stopped at home base for necessities, then headed to Lancaster to meet up with the friends we had been with in Hershey. We went trick-or-treating and had pot luck dinners around the campfire, roasted marshmallows, played instruments, and laughed the night away with other FTF. We had a great time and forged new friendships along the way. I so value our FTF community. God is good. He provided for our needs and what could have been a stressful, hectic, negative experience turned out to be quite a pleasant one even though it didn't work out exactly as originally planned (as if it ever does). The kiddos even handled all of the unexpected disappointments very well.