A few weeks ago I asked if anyone had any questions, thinking it might be fun to answer them in a post. There were so many questions (both emailed privately and posted) that I thought I would do a part 1 and 2. It’s not too late. If you have a question, feel free to email me or post a comment. I feel like I am having coffee with many of you… which is just way too fun!

Here goes:

Q. Why do I do an asterisk (*) in certain words?

I put an asterisk in words when I do not want them to be able to be google searched by creepy people. How’s that for shooting straight? =)

For instance, there are people out there who might want to know that our son is in the Special Forc*s and anything he might be up to…….so we put an asterisk in the word and it won’t come up in a google search. Even though I do not talk about specifics with our son, we have been told by people in the know that it is best to be very vague overall and downright tricky with the *. So if you see an * in a word, I just don’t want it searched.

Q. How do you homeschool with so many different ages?

A. Very trickily I’d say. I am about to complete my 21st year homeschooling our kids. This is as good an opportunity as any to mention something. When I started homeschooling 21 years ago it was not a popular thing to do. People would frown and say, “You’re gonna’ what?” Followed by: “Is that legal?” And then perhaps the most famous question of all time: “What about socialization?”

When I first started homeschooling I did so because I couldn’t imagine parting with my treasured possessions day after day for the rest of my life. Each of our kids has come home with alot of blood, sweat and tears – why would I want someone else to have the fun of spending the day with them? Not a chance!!

I also couldn’t imagine sending my kids off for the day and having them come home after 6-8 hours away and me saying, “What did you do all day?” And then hearing them say, “Nothing.” One word to account for hours and hours?? Yeah, not a chance.

We have lots of fun. When we do Bible we often have warm chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven. We talk about all kinds of things. Over the years it has evolved into a lifestyle and a conviction (although it really didn’t start out that way).

My prayer is that I raise mighty warriors for Jesus Christ. If they should backslide, then I figure they will become “nice little Christians.” I can’t figure out how to raise mighty warriors for Jesus Christ without spending my days investing in their lives. To those who use the public schools or private schools – it’s a personal decision between a parent and God. We have lots of fun who do it different ways.

I guess the best way to put it is that I am hopelessly addicted to my kids. I love spending any chance I can with them, and homeschooling gives me that opportunity.

When Abigail graduated I couldn’t stop grinning. We had done it!! She had an academic scholarship to a private girls college (which she declined)….but we had successfully made it through. I am not a rocket scientist, Biblical scholar nor was I class valedictorian. I just love my kids and want to invest in them, so that prayerfully, they will become God-fearing, America-loving, passionate followers of Jesus Christ who are world changers.

So back to the original question: Truly, there have been years where I had a round kitchen table. Emma was 18 months old and Graham was a very colicky newborn. I put Abi, Tyler and Autumn around the table doing their work. I had toys in the center of the table that Emma would sit on the table and play with (kind of my own version of a people playpen). I would sit at the table and nurse Graham (who was happy to nurse all day long), moving around the table helping each kiddo one at a time, while Emma played in the center of the table. Good thing Graham doesn’t read my blog or he would be completely grossed out that I said that about him…..LOL.

Now we have shifts that different older kids take breaks from their school work and play with the babies while I work with others on their subjects. We just make due….this season will sadly pass all too quickly.

Q. What cirriculum do we use?

A. We have tried several approaches over the years. My very most favoritest cirriculum of all is the years we did Unit Studies, such as Weav*r or Kon*s. They were so stinkin’ fun. They are, no doubt, lots of work for mom, but so worth all the rewards of learning together.

Different years I have used the textbook approach with workbooks, video cirriculum, Unit studies and currently we have switched all together. All have worked well for that particular season.

But a year ago I was pretty tired and burned out. I needed a different approach and so after much prayer we switched to Switched On Scho*lhouse (also known as SOS). So Liberty, Emma and Graham all have their cirriculum on computers. The program generates what school work is due, when it is due and a grade. I do have to correct some things, but it is minimal. I don’t have to lesson plan – the computer program does all that. (Can anyone out there say a hearty Yippee Jesus?)

SOS has been a welcomed relief. With the fire, it was so good that I was using this program. We took some time off and when the kids jumped back in, we just generated it to get what needed to be done in time for the school year to end.

I still would rather be doing a Unit study with all of them, but when a child gets in the upper grades, it needs to be supplemented anyway. I do hope that one day, when the babies are bigger (and our other ones yet to come home are home) I can go back to unit studies again. But we’ll see.

As far as Math goes, I cannot say enough about Sax*n math. It is the best explained, incremental Math program I have ever seen. S*xon makes sense and to someone, like me, who wasn’t all that great in Math, it is easy to help a child who is struggling. So if you are looking for a textbook Math program, I would highly recommend Sax*n from 4th grade on.