Ready to take Flight....

So have you ever had one of those seasons where you wondered where you were going and what you had gotten yourself into?

I have plenty of times- especially this summer. The things that I held near and dear to my heart were always there, but unexpected good things definitely fogged my navigation window. Much like this picture of my son being at the pilot's seat, I felt like I had all these buttons to learn, but I was left alone with only God on a radio and me as the pilot.

God is really good at surprising me and I usually love surprises. I'm the kinda gal that loves spontaneity and adventure filled agendas with nothing on the menu but fun. But once in a while, my life takes a turn and I am just shocked by my unrealistic expectations of reality.

First off, I thought I would never have another child. Although I wanted a quiver full, I was under the impression that we wouldn't have any more (not due to physical limitations- just due to other factors.) And I was feeling kinda okay with it- afterall I was getting older, my kids were getting independent and I was thinking of how I would educate them till I transitioned them to school one day. All of which fit perfectly in "my new plan." Then God moved and fogged my window in the future. 

I was pregnant. Simple as that, we were expecting our third. I went through a surreal moment different from the others because this was truly a GOD moment. I felt overwhelmed that He had heard my prayers and confused about what this meant for us and my family. Silly I know, but its true. 

Then we moved. Much like all military families you know the date, you know the place, and you move right into a..... hotel! It's fun while you search around the new neighborhood and then at the end of the day, you just really wish you were back at home (which happened to not be here). And of course while we are cleaning out the new place and accepting our tagged items - one by painstakingly one, I think of all the things I have to do to make this place a home. Not just the aesthetics, as most military wives can do that with their eyes shut, but the real stuff- the church, the community, the connecting, and making new friends. 

You see I've learned that even though I move to a new place, not everyone there is waiting for me to get here. I know shocking. And they also have their own lives and friends. Imagine... But it's true. So although my sweet aunt basically told me to buck up and make new friends when I whined on FB. And even though I was trying, real friends just don't come in a box when you move into a new neighborhood. You can't go to a restaurant and order up a new batch of friends for you and your family. Your kids don't always have a best buddy across the alley for them to yell to and no matter the times we went to the local park there was no guarantee we would find them there.

We are people and we all take time. So we waited.
I searched every outlet available. I befriended dog walkers and people who mistakenly smiled my direction. I tried. And at the end of the day, my pregnant self and sweet kids just missed our home and friends. My husband was gone on a "work up" (jargon for military work trip) just days after we unpacked and I was left listening to all the cracks and creeks of a new house- wishing it could be a home, our home.

I would pull them close at night just to make sure if I had to leave (because someone saw us alone that day) that I could gather them up in a hurry and get out right away. I didn't sleep. I just laid there, waiting for the sun. 

I never doubted God was near. I always knew He heard me. But I was just waiting to make this our home. I went to every Bible Study available, I signed them up to every camp available, I called every person who gave me their number, I dove right into volunteering at our VBS, I organized play dates and park dates with any group I could. 

I knew God was listening, but I just wanted a peace about the journey. Some clarity at my window- but nothing, still fog.

Slowly as the summer gave out it's beautiful fresh sun rays, I knew the question of, " When would I feel a peace about school?" needed to be answered. I knew I wanted to home school, but I also knew I had limitations. I had a new baby on the way and a husband headed out to sea almost every month. I knew my kids loved being at home, but I also knew I had to get them out and organize much more than I could provide on my own.  I needed time to exercise while alone and still make time to rest each night. I was aware that my house needed more hours than I could give when I was schooling, yet without a "paying job" could I justify to hire out? And why couldn't I do it all? I mean isn't that what every other home schooling momma did?

So I prayed and searched. And prayed some more and searched more.  Finally I was coming to a vision of ahead but it wasn't CC? What??? Hold the phone?
How could God call me to be so involved and yet not confirm this? I mean CC was the only thing I knew. It was the only certain thing I had planned for in the new place.
It was my comfort, my forte, my one good plan. 

But the more time I spent praying the more I felt we needed to move in a different direction. However, this momma didn't want to branch out on her own, for heaven sakes, I was already in a new city.  I'm an extrovert with plenty of extrovert needs, and to think I would do a home school curriculum without a CC community was just plain SCARY! 

But the window cleared and I started to see God would lead us through the fog.  I once again lived out the scripture that says, "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." Phil 1:6.

So I got busy searching schools, home school co ops, charter schools, everything out there and NOTHING fit! Nothing. I kept thinking I must be making this too hard. Why is everyone else getting all this confirmation and not me? Ever feel like God might not answer in time? I did. The slots were getting filled. I was waiting for two months already...

Then it happened. I started trusting again. Once I was able to take his Hand and allow Him to lead me into a new trust relationship, I was really becoming okay with anything. Even.... public school! I know, imagine that! I was totally open to whatever and where ever He wanted, I just needed it to be confirmed it was His plan and not ours. Then I thought, Lord, how could you call us to a public school? I thought this wasn't Your plan?

Finally He answered. Slowly, He began to confirm in me who my kids were, who my husband was, who I was- when I was busy and when I was not. How the blog was great, but maybe not for all the right reasons. I started to see that I was truly a "unit approach" person. Always was and likely will be for a while. I had my curriculum for the year, but had to be open to tossing it out the window, because obedience was what He wanted most. 

Obedience. Simple Obedience.

So I sat and waited.  

Finally He spoke again.

Thankfully, my husband and I are still on this journey of educating our kids (as all parents are) and I did find a school that organizes all the social activities for me so we can just be social when we need to be. It's kinda my dream program. I get to teach the subjects and curriculum I want and we get to attend as many elective classes as we want or none at all. And best yet, unlike all the other schools at this time, this one still has room. Plus it was the smallest ratio for Kinder and it was FREE!

So I hope I haven't lost you as a reader since I'm not doing CC, I hope you aren't going to think I am giving my children to strangers to raise since he will be in a "regular" classroom setting for 3 hours a week. And I hope you know that all of us, no matter where we are on this road to education need to listen to God everyday, every moment. Obedience is what He wants, not perfection, just obedience. I pray that for each of you this year. 

And finally I can honestly say, I'm ready to take flight! 

I look forward to where God will lead my family and yours.  I pray I can still be a part of your lives as well. Your comments enrich me and I am learning each day what it means to be "educated."

I am planning to teach along side the Classical subjects and will follow the same basic themes this second year, but do it differently. So if you want to come along, I invite you. I think we will have a blast learning about Newton's laws, Outer-space, The Biomes, all of it! For we are all on such a wild ride, I pray you enjoy the adventure with God and with your little ones- regardless of where He has called you.

Many blessings as you start your new year!

-Crecia

All About Reading Review

This is a long over due review that needs to come first before any other post I make regarding my absence from the blog world...

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Lucy and Ziggy are ALL ABOUT READING!

With a myriad of reading curriculum choices out there, picking the right one for you and your family can be quite daunting. I remember when I started this journey a year ago, I spent months researching and asking others what they are doing.

I started the year with what I thought were good fits. Soon after we began I realized a few things that weren't. One of which was my reading program. After talking and looking some more, I made a new purchase for a new program and the transition was amazing. No longer did I have a child that disliked learning to read, but instead I had someone that was content with the lesson time and the activities presented.

My oldest child (Tony) already knew the alphabet and sounds so I started on "All About Reading"- Level 1 and within a couple of weeks he was reading in the provided reader. The excitement and jump we made to reading was truly a huge testament to the program. It took the frustration and anxiety out of reading and made phonics such an enjoyable experience for him. One of the things that drew me to this curriculum was the provided "readers." If you have done any searching for books at the library you will find "Level 1" readers, but often they are published by companies who have a high influence in "Whole Literacy" or "Balanced Literacy." What this means is it is an educational term for having a varied approach to reading. It's basis might be phonetic in part, but it is not solely phonetic.

For an early reader, this can be somewhat frustrating. My son knew his sounds early on, but was not "blending" them together. Each book I picked up was usually a book of the "at" family and provided such a limited storyline that he quickly lost interest and preferred other books. The All About Reading readers are truly phonetic and focus on vowel sounds rather than word families. So instead of the "at" family we had the short "a" sounds. Thus providing a better book of interest.

I finally felt like we had made a break through. Reading was coming together and I knew it was the right fit.

Around December I started to feel the nudge to have a curriculum for my 3 year old daughter. I needed focused and simply laid out lesson plans. I needed to make letter recognition a goal in which I could not be deterred. So I spoke to some friends again and decided to try the All About Reading Pre Reading Level. At the generosity of the owner I received that level for review on this site.

So by spring I had the "All About Reading- Deluxe Package- Pre Reading Level", which you can get through the link on my page. With my daughter I felt the pressure to catch her up" to where her brother was at age 3. This curriculum helped me to alleviate that pressure and relax in my hurried approach. 

Here are the details of the package...

She absolutely LOVED "Ziggy" the puppet. Although we have many puppets, I was impressed with the high quality in "Ziggy." I was also completely surprised at how much she loved learning the letters because of "Ziggy." By the end of the first week, I knew this was a perfect fit.

The Student Packet includes an activity book with age appropriate activities for kids 3-5. She loves doing the assignments and felt like she was a "big girl" doing school like her brother. 

The books provided are rhyming books that allow them to hear the sounds of the letter they just learned. The Picture cards are great easy activities that offer her pre reading practice with rhyming and simple matching activities.

Lucy was excited and motivated to learn and study right along side her brother. The fact that she had a set curriculum also helped me to give her adequate time throughout the day.

I know many moms do not start any reading curriculum till their kids are 4 and sometimes 5. Each family makes those decisions of when you are ready to bring in that child. However if you have an eager learner and a child that is sitting at the table for 10- 15 min, they should be ready for this program. I'd recommend this for any child that doesn't know all their sounds and letters. We will continue to use this curriculum for this next year, as she is soon to be a 4 year old.

Before Ziggy gets busy teaching, she always gives Lucy hugs and kisses. These are such sweet pics because I love seeing her affection for this reading puppet. Precious memories were made in our house with Ziggy.

For Tony, I had him in the Level 1 Materials and Reading Interactive Kit- Basic Package. He continues to want to read with this and we are taking it very slow, it will last us through his Kinder year. Once we are half way through the Level 1, 

I will start the All about Spelling Level 1 for him as well. 

Something that makes it different from other reading programs is it's a "mastery" program. What that means is instead of a grade level program it actually wants you to start from the beginning as to make sure your child has all the foundations laid down for them. If you had your child in schools prior to home schooling, chances are they were taught with a "whole literacy" approach. This program is completely "phonetic" and for that reason is important to start from the level they suggest on their site. They have placement tests that are easy and simple for your child.

Do not be deceived about the numbers, as a former teacher, half way through Level 1, I'd say this closely matches a beginning first grade reading level or exiting Kinder level. Most importantly, it's so solid I don't want to skip a lesson and always love how easy the teacher manual is for me to follow. It's truly a pick up and go manual. 

Best of all they offer a full money back guarantee. They allow you to try it for a year and if you don't like it return it. AMAZING, I know. But if I wrote this curriculum I'd be that confident that you will be so happy you wouldn't return it. 

If you are one of the few that hasn't bought your reading curriculum yet, I'd recommend this curriculum without any hesitations. You can go to my home page and get their direct link from my sidebar. If you already have your curriculum for the year, just file this post in your head as a great alternative in case yours doesn't work for you. Curriculum junkies and procrastinators unite! I'm proudly a member of both of groups.

My last words of advice is don't hesitate to make your reading program the best- it's well worth the investment. In my opinion, this one will always be right up there.

If you already use this and have any comments about your experience, I'd love to hear it! 

If you have more questions, you can contact me via email or on FB. My email is ccingit@gmail.com.

Blessings to all!

-Crecia

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My next posts will be about a book I read months ago, our personal update of the move, and coming into a great place in which God wants us and the freedom He offers us all! 

As for CC, we decided not to do it again this year :( 

and therefore I will not be doing lessons plans that correlate. 

My desire is to do unit study approach. Whatever I make and create I will put up on the website for free. The units will correspond with CC's subject matter, but not follow their calendar perfectly. I will explain all of this more in coming posts.