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The Art of Argument: Learning Logical Fallicies

Jimmie Lanley — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:04:17 +0000

This post does contain Amazon affiliate links, but I don’t have any special relationship with Classical Academic Press other than being a happy customer.

I’m a sucker for elective courses that are important but don’t fit neatly into a label of history or language arts. The Art of Argument is a perfect example. Logical fallacies? What kind of thing is that to study?

My husband loves philosophy, and we have heard him talk about straw man arguments, ad hominem attacks, and equivocation. After going through The Art of Argument, now we know exactly what those mean!

I bought The Art of Argument (student book and teacher’s guide) by Classical Academic Press at the Great Homeschool Convention in Memphis in 2012. We used it this last semester of eighth grade as a study in logical argumentation.

About Art of Argument Curriculum

The teacher’s guide has all the answers to the discussion questions, chapter reviews, and cumulative reviews. The front and back inside covers have handy lists of all the different fallacies covered in the course. That chart was invaluable to us as we did the chapter reviews, and I loved that both teacher’s guide and student book had that same chart.

These fallacies have fancy names (often in Latin), and having a concise reference helped us to learn the distinctions between very similar types of arguments.

A huge plus of the book is the ample use of examples of the fallacies. Not only are there text examples that are fully explained, but there are also contrived advertisements, often very humorous or ridiculous, which drive home the points. With the combination of my reading aloud and the visual aids, this curriculum was a good fit for Emma’s learning style. And I have to admit, I really enjoyed learning the technical names of arguments that intuitively seemed wrong to me.

I didn’t make it a formal study with lots of writing. We typically did the exercises aloud instead of writing them down. I wanted the material to be more of a life skill course than an academic one. That may seem ironic since the logical fallacies suit a rigorous classical educator. But on my part, I see the fallacies as practical life skills.

The book is a bit wordy. Sometimes I simplified the explanations to state more concisely what the authors rambled around to say. I guess I prefer a more direct style of communication. In my opinion, the authors sometimes used too much repetition and too many words to get their points across.

The Art of Argument as Life Skills

1. Christian apologetics

Defending the faith will probably be a large part of Emma’s future, so understanding how to argue with precision and logic will be an important ability. (Note that argue does not mean quarrel but to convincingly state a position. You could also use the synonyms discuss or debate.)

2. Understanding marketing, advertising, and political campaigns

With so much propaganda surrounding us online, on television, and in print, it is critical that we recognize how we may be duped or misled by faulty arguments. One of the highlights of this course was hearing Emma identify fallacies from other places — conversations at church, television commercials, at The Creation Museum, and in books.

We did a study of advertising in sixth grade, but The Art of Argument takes those basic ideas to a much deeper level. Eighth grade is a perfect time for such a study as she has the maturity and experience to understand the examples in the book and then identify them in real life.

3. Communication skills

Knowing the right and wrong ways to argue can only help Emma’s overall communication skills. This is one of her strengths already, and The Art of Argument made her an stronger communicator by labeling logical arguments.

Preparing to Homeschool High School

Jimmie Lanley — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:24:01 +0000

This week marks the end of eighth grade, the end of middle school for my only child. That season of life is over, and I have only four more years of home education with Emma — high school.

Although I taught in a public high school many years ago, I do admit that moving into ninth grade has given me some anxiety. My (required by state of TN) umbrella school says I have to have a clear plan before I start the school year with recognized curriculum names. The thought that I can’t homeschool on the fly makes me feel boxed in and nervous.

Deciphering what is required by the state and what is required by colleges is a bit confusing. And then there is the whole issue of a transcript and the record keeping that goes with it. The stakes are just a bit higher now, and there is more accountability from outsiders who may not see eye to eye with my take on what home education should look like for my own daughter.

One of my strategies for dealing with anxiety is to look backwards and see how God led me through the past, knowing he will do the same in the future. We’ve had crazy years when we got “behind” and had loads of emotional trauma. But Emma is still on track.

Her recent standardized test scores reflect that she is at or above grade level.
She is articulate, able to handle herself in all kinds of situations, and has great people skills.
She is a good writer and has a love for foreign language and art.

In meditating on our situation, I sensed these convictions about homeschooling high school. They may be counter to popular opinion, but that seems to be how God normally leads me — that narrow path.

1. Invest in strengths not weaknesses.

My plan is to invest both time and money into Emma’s strengths and passions — writing, art, and foreign language — instead of paying tutors to help her with the areas in which she may be less enthusiastic about or less proficient in.

For those harder or less liked areas, we will do what is required but no more.

I want her passions to blossom during these four years of high school, and I’m willing to sacrifice other areas to make that happen.

2. Trust God to work out the details.

I refuse to be anxious about curriculum choices and grades. Our path has worked so far. It will not fail us now.

I will be diligent to make good choices and keep Emma accountable to her learning goals. God will fill in any gaps we leave.

Armed with those two messages about homeschooling through the high school years, I sat through two sessions this weekend by two amazing homeschool speakers — Debra Bell and Heidi St. John. You won’t be surprised to hear that the messages they shared were exactly in line with what I was already feeling about our homeschool path.

High School Lessons from Debra Bell

I have read my copy of The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens, but I still wanted to hear from the author Debra Bell in person once again. I heard her at Real Refreshment Retreat Atlanta and felt an immediate connection to her. She speaks truth in a very sincere and not preachy way.

This weekend she shared story after story of how God ordained different experiences in her children’s lives that have worked to prepare them precisely for the role they now have in life. Sometimes those experiences were sought after and deliberate, but more often than not, they were accidental or providential, I should say.

Her bottom line was be open to possibilities. Plan but hold the plan loosely because you don’t know the fullness of God’s plan for your child.

High School Lessons from Heidi St. John

Heidi is another person I connected with at Real Refreshment Retreat Atlanta, so when I saw she was talking about high school, I made a beeline for her session.

She emphasized relationship over academics and listening to your children to make high school a special time for them. She was very empowering, encouraging all the moms that we can homeschool high school. It is not as scary as we think it is.

High School Lessons from Lee Binz

I didn’t meet Lee Binz this weekend, but I listened to a webinar by her many months ago. I love her no nonsense approach to high school that left me feeling empowered to conquer this task.

I am going to be using her Total Transcript Solution to keep me on track for Emma’s high school requirements. And I am so excited to share that on June 25 Lee will be giving a free webinar about high school especially for my readers. If you have a child in grades 6th or up, I suggest you come listen to her. She will reassure you that you can homeschool high school.I’ll be sharing more about it in the weeks to come.

An Imperfect Homeschool: Revelations From Behind the Blog

Jimmie Lanley — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:10:31 +0000

Edited to add: I have to share the irony of my blogging blunder. My post was live and being shared via social media, and I suddenly realized I never added an image. This is one of the cardinal rules of blogging: always have an image or graphic. And I forgot. Imperfect Homeschool and Imperfect Blogging. (But now there’s a nice pinnable graphic for you.)

Blogging is a tricky thing. I want to be uplifting. I don’t want to be a whiner or complainer. And ranting or arguing online is just not my style. That means that the content on this blog stays pretty upbeat and focused on mostly uncontroversial topics.

That might lead you to believe that my life is all roses and picture perfect homeschool projects. That would be wrong.

I choose not to write about the disappointments and failures because I don’t think they will help to build you up. However, sometimes this rosy picture a homeschool blogger paints may work the opposite result. Some readers don’t know that there is a fumbling man (or woman, in this case) behind the curtain, pulling switches and pushing levers to make the magic happen.

So it’s confession time. Here’s the real deal, not all of it because, goodness, I want you to keep reading and the whole bag of reality might be way too disillusioning.

1. My daughter does not like to read.

I wrote an entire post about my daughter’s distaste for reading and how I’ve come to terms with it. It’s okay not to love reading. Really.

2. Sometimes my daughter doesn’t use the printables I create.

As a toddler Emma preferred plain paper to coloring books. She has simply never been a color in the lines kind of kid. She’s more of a give me a pack of 24 oil pastels and stand back while I make some lines kind of kid.

So a lot of the time, she looks at my printable pages as one of many potential ways to express her thoughts. She might take an idea from my layout, but often she rejects my plan and comes up with her own. And I’m okay with that. In fact, I’m quite proud of her for making the work her own.

I used to worry that she wouldn’t be able to fit in, to adapt to outside direction, to color inside the lines, so to speak. But really? Those things are far easier than coming up with original ideas. She can conform when necessary. Creativity is much harder to generate than conformity. So I let her be creative.

I really like making the printables, so I share them with you even when Emma rejects them.

3. Sometimes we fall off the bandwagon and get really lax.

I hinted at this in my WAHM (work at home mom) post. When Emma had her big surgery, it took us a long, long time to get back into the school groove. Then we moved, and that was yet another distraction. It was really easy to let school slide into a bare minimum that let me honestly say that we did school while not really investing a lot of brain power.

Sometimes I toy with the idea of becoming unschoolers, and to be honest, there were a few weeks when we really were. Sometimes I throw out Charlotte Mason’s principles and do it my way.

I don’t feel guilty about our lax weeks. There are seasons for everything. But it does make it hard to have material for a homeschool blog when you aren’t doing more than some Rosetta Stone lessons, reading a novel from Heritage History, and doing Teaching Textbooks math.

The solution for us is normally using a new book or resource that injects energy back into our routine.

4. I don’t fit into my local homeschool group and they don’t even know I’m a homeschool blogger.

Surprised? When I went to the Cincinnati Great Homeschool Convention and Real Refreshment Retreats and saw readers and fellow bloggers who consider me famous, it cracked me up. Only a few ladies at my church know about my online work. No one in my homeschool group considers me an expert or a celebrity. I’ve only been here two years, and it felt awkward to come in like a movie star, claiming to be an expert with a fancy blog and multiple ebooks. So I said nothing. And no one asked.

And I really am a misfit here. Most of the homeschoolers in this area are either a very rigorous classical style or a traditional “school at home” textbook style. Neither fits me. My style of Charlotte Mason education looks more like unschooling in contrast to the homeschoolers around me.

5. My daughter often wants to finish school more than she wants to learn.

Yes, this is the sad truth. Along with not loving to read, this urgency to get school done for the day breaks my heart. Where is the passion for learning that I saw in my little third grader?

Actually it is still there, but it is reserved for the things she is truly passionate about, not the things I select for her or that the state deems required. Her desire to get done is normal for her age and not something I should take personally as an insult or as an indicator of failure.

We do have days when school is a chore. But we have days when it is enjoyable too. Humans have moods. (Teenage girls and 40-something moms have moods!) And it’s ridiculous to think that we should both be excited to do our studies every single day. Some days you just plod through. It’s okay. It’s life. In the grand scheme of things, I believe I am instilling a love of learning and a curiosity about the world that will serve her well.

So do you feel better, knowing these insider secrets? Do you now know without a shadow of a doubt that we are normal people with good days and bad days, personal strengths and quirks? We are just like you — imperfect homeschoolers.

Read more stories of imperfections from other very real homeschool moms.

When Your Homeschooled Child Doesn’t Like to Read

Jimmie Lanley — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:36:54 +0000

(image credit)

Today I want to shatter the stereotype of the bookish homeschool kid. Guess what? Not all homeschooled children like to read.

Yes, it’s the truth. And my daughter is one of those.

My daughter doesn’t like to read.

Making it a big heading like that makes me feel better, like I’m confessing a dark secret that is too shameful to be spoken aloud.

The fact that Emma dislikes reading is a huge disappointment of mine and sometimes makes me feel like a failure as a homeschool mom. We assume that surrounding our children with an environment rich in books, magazines, newspapers, and maps will result in a child who loves to read. I read to Emma from her birth, and she had her own bookcase full of board books before she could walk. I honestly did my part.

And yet the truth is that she dislikes reading.

My daughter has many talents and strengths, and she can read just fine. She is not a struggling reader. But she does not chose to read for recreation. Reading is not her preferred method for learning.

As I child, I was a voracious reader, and it’s hard for me to understand how she does not enjoy such a simple pleasure of getting lost in a good story. She loves being read to and listening to audio books, though, so it’s not as if she hates books altogether.

I’ve offered all kinds of books through the years thinking that she simply hadn’t found the genre that suited her — fantasy, mystery, adventure, historic fiction. In early years, I even allowed her to even read a some twaddle to encourage that love of reading. But it never clicked. She has never chosen to read of her own accord without my prompting or forcing. Emma is going into high school this fall, and I have finally come to accept that she is simply not a person who loves to read.

But let me tell you the revelation I’ve had.

It’s Okay Not to Like Reading

I confided to my friend Stacey Lane that Emma doesn’t like reading. She said, “I like Emma!” I was surprised and asked if she meant that she liked her because she didn’t like to read. Stacey said something very profound.

Yes, I like her because she is like me. I don’t like to read either. What’s wrong with not liking to read? Everyone doesn’t have to like to read.

It was as if she had smacked me with her radical thought. I froze for a minute thinking of what she had said – it’s okay not to like reading.

After all, my daughter doesn’t like sports, and I feel no sadness over that. She prefers foreign language, art, and music over history and science. And I’m okay with that. I feel no shame or sense of failure there. So why does it bother me that she dislikes reading?

Stacey’s words helped me realize that I harbor a prejudice against non-readers. And it’s silly. I can let her not like reading without interpreting it as a failure on my part or thinking she’s less intelligent.

She is unique. She is wonderful. And who she is does not include (right now) reading books for pleasure.

Maybe one day she will awaken to a love of reading. She certainly loves literature and books. After all, she spent hours on the road to Cincinnati Great Homeschool Convention listening to the audio version of A Tale of Two Cities. She understood it, enjoyed it. It’s just the task of reading that she dislikes.

If you have a child who dislikes reading, do not consider that the scarlet letter of homeschool failure. It is not. Not at all.

How to Handle a Child Who Dislikes Reading

Require Daily Reading Time

I still think that “readers are leaders.” And just because Emma doesn’t like reading doesn’t mean that she gets a free pass. She must read. In fact, I am probably more diligent to enforce reading time because she dislikes it. I make her use a reading log to record her time or pages.

Allow for Modifications

I still read a good bit of her history and science to her, and we rely on audio resources for teaching (Teaching Texbooks for math, for example). I will not allow her distaste for reading to keep her from learning. There are other ways to absorb content besides reading it.

Keep the Flow of Resources

I still take her to the library and buy her magazine subscriptions to encourage leisure reading. I’m not giving up, but I am releasing my prejudice and shame.

Recognize and Invest in Passions

My daughter has other talents and passions that are equally as important as reading. Instead of harping on her distaste for reading, I need to invest in her love of art, music, and foreign language. (And I do!) I need to build her up as the creative, brilliant young woman that she is instead of worrying about reading as if it is the single factor of academic success.

Yes, I realize that children who are strong readers do better in school, but that is because school is set up to be based on reading. Our school looks different. We homeschool precisely for this reason — to make her education work for her strengths not against them.

Be Honest

I have explained to Emma that not enjoying reading may make college a huge challenge. She will have to compensate with great note taking skills during class lectures. And I often remind her that God chose the written word to reveal himself to mankind. So we have a duty to read well so that we can enjoy the Bible independently of preachers or teachers.

If you have a child who doesn’t like reading, by all means, keep trying! But in the meantime, accept your child for who he or she is. It’s okay not to like to read.

Figures of Speech and Poetic Devices Free Printable Mini-posters

Jimmie Lanley — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:32:06 +0000

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My Poetic Devices Reference Minibook is wildly popular thanks to Pinterest pins. Unfortunately, the original printable I used to make that minibook has been removed from the Internet.

So I made my own version of it with twelve different poetic devices or figures of speech. These printables can be use in many different ways. Print one per page for mini-posters. Print two per page for notebooking pages. Print four per page for memory cards or a minibook.

In my original post, I printed four pages per sheet, laminated them, and connected them with a paper brad in the corner. Later I switched out the brad for a metal ring [affiliate link] which made the pages easier to flip.

For my version of the printable mini-posters, I left the example section blank. It’s always better for children to make their own notes than read someone else’s. So with my figures of speech printables, you can add in an example of each device taken from something you are reading or let your child create her own.

That original post is now three years old, and we still refer to these figures of speech regularly. Of course, understanding these devices is foundational to understanding all great literature. Most recently we have been using Walch Toolbook Series: Prose And Poetry as our guide for this topic. It is a good fit for middle school and high school students.

To get these freebies, I have just one request. Would you please subscribe to my updates via email? You can unsubscribe at any time after you get your free printables if you choose. But I hope you’ll stay on as a regular reader. Even if you have already subscribed, you need to input your name and email again to get this special full-color printable.

Homeschool Field Trip to The Creation Museum

Jimmie Lanley — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:21:56 +0000

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On April 3 Emma and I toured the Creation Museum in Kentucky. [Disclosure: We received free tickets to the museum, planetarium, and workshop in exchange for an honest review of our experience.] There were two other iHomeschool Network bloggers in our group — Laurie Bostwick and Cindy West. We three blogging moms and our eight children enjoyed a full day of fun at this one-of-a-kind site.

To give you the punchline right away — it was incredible! The museum far surpassed my expectations.

What Does the Creation Museum Cover?

Much broader than just creation, the Creation Museum covers Bible history in Genesis and beyond. We walked through exhibits of creation, the Garden of Eden, the fall of man, Noah, Moses, and the sacrificial system. There is even a section about the history of the Bible. Video presentations are interspersed among the displays. I really appreciated those spots to sit down and rest because the museum is quite large.

The premise of the museum is the 7 Cs: Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, Consummation.

Creation is emphasized because as the characters in the 4D special effects theater said, “If you can discount the Genesis record, then you can discount God.” The entire museum exists to demonstrate how reliable the Bible is and how much God loves science.

I fully expected there to be displays contrasting evolution with creationism, and I was not disappointed. All those evolutionary diagrams we learned in school were juxtaposed with fresh visuals that demonstrate the Biblical truth of creation. I had never seen creationism in that way, and it really communicated effectively to me.

A common theme throughout the museum was that we do not know what early man (such as Lucy) or dinosaurs really looked like. The humble admission that there is a lot of guess work involved in science was very refreshing to hear.

There are hands-on exhibits, and I only saw a single do not touch sign the whole time I was there. (I don’t mean to imply that every exhibit could be touched but that there was a very inviting and free atmosphere there. Some museums are stuffy and guarded by cranky docents who can’t wait to reprimand a child. The Creation Museum was the polar opposite.) We could take photos anywhere in the facility.

One of my favorite parts of the entire day was the hands-on T-rex workshop by Buddy Davis. He sculpts models of dinosaurs, and taught us how to do the same in two-dimension on paper. It was a very fun and instructive activity.

What is there to see at the Creation Museum?

a petting zoo
a garden with ponds, plants, and two suspended bridges
a planetarium (delightfully free of the millions and billions of years propaganda)
hands-on workshops
museum exhibits
the gift shop
a special effects theater
photo ops (atop a stegasaurus or with a digital dinosaur background)
a dinosaur stamp collection

The museum is far more than a museum. There is a large outside area that is landscaped beautifully with water, suspension bridges, and plants.

A petting zoo features unique animals such as the zedonk and zorse, animals that remind us how God created “each according to their kind.”

Throughout the park, are inspiring yet tasteful reminders of the Creator.

Where is the Creation Museum?

The Creation Museum is in KY about three hours from Nashville, TN and about 20 minutes from Cincinnati, OH. If you are in Nashville, it is absolutely worth the drive. But make sure to leave a whole day to tour, especially if the weather is nice. The outside portion of the museum was delightful and not to be missed.

Tips for Visiting the Creation Museum

There is a great restaurant inside the museum. It has plenty of options and is not as expensive as you might expect. There is also a coffee stall and ice cream stand as well as other snack areas with pizza and such fare. You don’t have to worry about bringing food to the museum. I snacked on a banana, though, and no one chastised me for doing so.
Just an exit down, in Hebron, is a wonderful Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic outlet. If you have any energy left after visiting the Creation Museum, stop by for a few bargains. I stocked up on $1 and $2 t shirts for my Operation Christmas Child boxes.
Look for Ken Ham’s dinosaur stamp collection down a long hall in the lower level.

Your museum passes are valid for two days, so you can stretch out your visit if you like. We felt that a single day was enough to see everything, though, and that included a workshop and a planetarium visit.
Do not miss the workshop with Buddy Davis. It’s outstanding!
I had a very hard time getting and keeping a phone and wireless signal at the Creation Museum. There is free wifi, but in my experience, it is not accessible in most of the building. So if you are uploading images, do it in the lobby or outside where the signal is better.
Save some money for buying books in the gift shop. There is a plethora of curriculum choices from publishers like MasterBooks and Answers in Genesis among others.
Call your visit school for the day. You covered science, Bible, history, math, and art. The Creation Museum is one of those places I call an Ultimate Field Trip. You are bombarded with so much educational goodness that you don’t even have to follow up or school-ify it. Just enjoy it!

How to Read Jimmie’s Collage

Jimmie Lanley — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:13:07 +0000

Although my blogging frequency has declined, I have no intentions of giving up blogging. I have decided to let go of blog guilt and blog when I really have something to say, something that makes a difference. If life is too busy for blogging, so be it. Life gets priority over blogging.

My goal is to provide posts that are meaty and useful instead of fluff used to fill a weekly quota of posts.

With all that in mind, I want to make sure that you can find me online. Sure, you can come directly to my site and read the latest posts, but you might prefer subscribing so you never miss a thing. Here are some ways you can do that. I’ve put them in order from most recommended because of being most reliable to least recommended. Remember that you can subscribe via multiple methods, especially if you are using the less reliable methods lower on the list.

1. Subscribe to Jimmie’s Collage via email.

I am moving my subscription from Feedburner (a free and dying service) to Aweber (a paid and fully supported service). The only downside for you is that if you were already subscribed to my email feed, you will very soon be receiving an email that asks you to opt in again. I apologize about that inconvenience. But it’s the law. And besides that, I want to be sure that you still want to see me in your inbox. So when you get that email, please opt back in to my email updates.

I’ll be shutting down the Feedburner service eventually, but there could be a few duplicates as we get things worked out.

If you have not been getting email updates but would like to, you certainly can. Just sign up with the box in the sidebar on any page here at Jimmie’s Collage.

2. Subscribe via Feedly

Feedly is a great alternative to Google Reader (which is sadly going away very soon). It is free to use and has both iOS, Android, and Kindle apps. My favorite part about using the iOS app is that little button that says remove clutter. Ahh… it leaves just the content of the article without any distractions. Bliss.

To find me in Feedly, click on add content in left hand column and type in Jimmie’s Collage. Voila, you will find me.

3. Subscribe via Bloglovin

Bloglovin can be used as an online readers similar to Google Reader and Feedly. You can find Jimmie’s Collage here on Bloglovin.

Two of my favorite features in Bloglovin are

1. daily digest emails of headlines from all the blogs you subscribe to

2. suggestions of similar blogs to follow

4. Follow via social media.

This is not a very reliable method unless you hang out on social media 24-7. But it is a great way to catch snippets when you have a few spare moments. So feel free to follow me on Facebook and Twitter where new posts are automatically broadcast.

Even less reliable methods would be following me on Pinterest or Google Plus. I love those platforms but often forget to share my own blog posts there!

Whatever methods you choose to keep in touch with me here at Jimmie’s Collage, I want to thank you for being a loyal reader. It means so much to me.

Extending Special Grace: Lessons Learned from Real Refreshment Retreat

Jimmie Lanley — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:08:40 +0000

Disclosure: My ticket and accommodations to Real Refreshment Retreat were provided by Apologia Ministries in exchange for authentic social media coverage of the event. I was not instructed what to say or how to express my views. I genuinely desired to attend this event, and all of my statements about RRR are my own opinion.

During my trip to Real Refreshment Atlanta I had one of those deep thoughts like Jack Handy from Saturday Night Live (except with real depth). So first the story to get us to the revelation.

On my trip home, my Delta flight was delayed a total of six hours and involved two gate changes. That meant that we started at Terminal T, were instructed to move to Terminal A, and then had to return to Terminal T for our actual flight. Because of the long six hour wait, though, I had plenty of time to find Starbucks in Terminal C and grab an iced caramel macchiato. Once we got on the plane, we had to wait for a pilot to drive to the airport to fly our plane. I was headed home and had no connecting flight, so although it was inconvenient, the long delays weren’t a huge problem for me.

But other passengers were not as laid back about the problems. One particularly loud dad with three very rambunctious preschoolers looked most miserable about the wandering and waiting in the Atlanta airport.

What impressed me about the whole experience was the way Delta handled the passengers. They kept us informed, apologized, kept their cool, and offered us vouchers. We each got a $50 credit towards our next Delta flight and a $25 credit we could spend on food in the airport. I missed the news of the credit because I took my time getting to the last terminal assignment. (Remember Starbucks?) But as we were boarding, the Delta workers made a point to ask if we received our vouchers.

I ended up getting mine in Memphis where the attendant helped me understand exactly how to use it. (I bought a Starbucks gift card.)

While we waited on the plane for our pilot to arrive, the attendants gave out extra water and pretzels. Free blankets and headphones were being freely distributed. (My friend texted me that those blankets normally cost $7!)

The attendants had a cheerful, apologetic manner that didn’t minimize our inconvenience or frustration. They even made a few jokes about the situation themselves.

I realized that Delta was doing an amazing job at offering us special grace so that we would do the same. They knew they had disappointed their customers, and they were trying to do all they could to make it right.

I was impressed.

Then I thought of my friend Jenn, who is walking through a family tragedy yet came to the Real Refreshment Retreat. Everyone around her at the event was extending special grace. No extra demands were placed on her. People were careful with their words and their questions. She was hugged and comforted but not made a spectacle of.

She got extra grace because she is in the midst of a very tough life situation.

We got extra grace from Delta because of the inconvenience we faced.

I started thinking what a beautiful world it would be if we always extended and received this kind of grace. I know Delta can’t hand out $25 food vouchers to everyone who flies their planes, but their attention to our dissatisfaction was authentic. Maybe it was only to avert a riot. Who knows? But it worked! And it felt genuine to me.

But in terms of personal relationships, it doesn’t cost us more than our pride and our time to assume the best of people, interpret their actions through the lens of grace, and extend sympathetic encouragement to them.

I went to Real Refreshment Retreat to get pumped up about parenting and homeschooling. I did.

I expected to meet old friends and new. I did.

But I also came home with a new vision for extending special grace to people in my life. That was a valuable lesson to hear once again.

Online Homeschool Classes with CurrClick

Jimmie Lanley — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:08:08 +0000

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Although I love a routine, things can get bogged down in a rut if we aren’t careful to inject variety. I have just become a fan of a new way of learning — online classes, specifically CurrClick’s live, online, homeschool classes. I have used online webinars for several years for my own continuing education. Now Emma is using online learning too.

For the past four weeks, Emma has been attending Swashbuckler Vikings! by Mrs. P of 4 Little Penguins. It has been a great experience for us, and I’d like to share exactly why.

Benefits of Online Classes for Homeschool

The subject options are varied.
There are classes for everything from math to science to foreign language. If a child is feeling stuck in an area, an online class might revive interest or present information in a fresh way that makes it click. I also see these classes as a great way to inject some elective learning that is so easy to push to the side. CurrClick has classes for Taekwondo, Legos, and an American Girl Club. It’s not all serious academics although there is plenty of that as well.

And don’t be misled as I once was. Online classes are not only for high school level. At CurrClick, there are classes for all ages and grades, elementary through high school.

You don’t have to prepare or plan.
It feels great to turn over some of my job to someone else, knowing that the CurrClick teacher is going to be prepared for class and have the lessons all mapped out. This means that I have a little more time for my work at home or for housework.

working online at my desk

It gives my child a taste of the classroom experience.

Although online classes are very different from in person classes, there are some commonalities. There is interaction between students and the teacher and among the students. Kids have to learn the quirks of another teacher and meet deadlines.

Having an outsider teach my daughter is a valuable experience. I want her to encounter as many different kinds of teachers and teaching methods as possible before heading to college.

Taking me out of the picture also moves her one step closer to independent learning, a definite goal for these middle school years.

It is motivating for the student.
My daughter is not easily impressed, but she enjoyed the CurrClick online class and was motivated each week to attend. Some of that could be attributed to novelty, but I have no problem with using variety to inject interest into our homeschool day. Online homeschool lessons are just one more tool I can use to teach her. I love having options.

If your kids are balking at school, sit them down with a list of available online classes and let them choose one. I think it would revive their love for learning.

working at her desk in her bedroom

They are affordable.
Of course, online classes can really run the range from less than $10 to several hundred depending on what you get. The CurrClick classes are some of the most affordable options available with entire semester classes costing only $150. The class we took was around $30, however. So there is something for everyone’s budget.

interacting with her teacher and classmates via the chat option

They are a great supplement to our normal routine.
Online classes can preview, reinforce, or review. That means they are a great supplement to what we are already doing. In our case, we have not been studying Vikings, but we used this class as a fun review of things we had studied in previous years.

Online classes work with our schedule.

Most of the classes do not require a huge time commitment. Some are one-time classes that meet for a single hour. Others are weekly sessions for 4-8 weeks. Each class is different. Some meet in the morning; others meet at night. And at CurrClick, if you miss a class, you can always watch the recorded version to catch up.

Proof that you can do online homeschool in pajamas

Better yet, you are learning at home. There is no need to drive anywhere or even to get dressed. Although you can see the teacher, she cannot see you. So pajama classes are totally acceptable. (A major perk for my teen!)

You can see more photos of Emma at work on her CurrClick class at Google Plus.

Anatomy of an Online Class at CurrClick

The format of the online classes allows for plenty of instruction and interaction.

The teacher is always visible in a live video feed in the upper left-hand corner. We can see her facial expressions as she teaches.
The main part of the screen is the teacher’s presentation which includes photos, diagrams, and text.
On the right is a chat box where the students can interact with the teacher and with each other. (In the image, I blurred out the students’ names, but you can see some of them chose Viking names for attending the class. Love their spunk!)

The teacher for our class did a great job asking questions and responding to what the children typed into the chat box for their answers. This interactive feature is one of the best parts of the class because it keeps the students attentive and gives the teacher feedback so she knows if her lessons are making an impact.

Want to Know More About CurrClick Live Online Classes?

My two blogging friends Carlie and Jen have also written about CurrClick online classes. I encourage you to see what they have to say about the classes.

Also follow CurrClick on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

Disclosure

I am a long-time affiliate of CurrClick because I love their instant downloads. This post does contain affiliate links. Furthermore, I received both the Vikings class and compensation in exchange for my honest review. I would never lead you astray for the sake of a free class or a few dollars. These classes are a great supplement to your homeschool experience. Read my entire disclosure policy here.

I Can’t Homeschool Because I’m a Work at Home Mom

Jimmie Lanley — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:05:30 +0000

There are plenty of challenges in homeschooling. But there are very few true obstacles that keep a family from homeschooling.

I’m joining up with the bloggers and friends of iHomsechool Network to address the most commonly used reasons people think they can’t homeschool. Of course, we think that most of these, although valid challenges, are not absolute barriers to homeschooling.

I am going to tackle the situation of being a working mom, more specifically a work at home mom (WAHM) while homeschooling.

Can You Homeschool and Work at Home?

In short, yes. You can work at home and still homeschool your children. In fact, working at home, versus working in a traditional office setting, can prevent the pain of giving up two incomes that is expected in a homeschool family.

Economic factors really do matter when it comes to choosing to homeschool. I have heard some families attacked because they are too “selfish” to make the sacrifices necessary to homeschool, namely giving up mom’s income. But without knowing the financial situation of a family, those are dangerous assumptions to make. Some families truly need two incomes. And if a single mom chooses to homeschool, she normally must find a way to work at home.

Other moms may truly enjoy working and find that being a WAHM makes life more fulfilling overall. Whatever reason you choose to work at home, you can do it and still homeschool your children.

Outside Opposition to Being a WAHM

Know that some homeschool moms will judge or misunderstand your decision to work at home. Working moms for the most part will applaud you and understand how difficult it is to work at home and homeschool. But be prepared to be misunderstood by stay at home moms who do not earn an income. They may not understand why you cannot volunteer for every church activity or attend social functions. Some moms may even criticize your choice to work at all even if it is right at home, alongside your family.

Just like the choice to homeschool draws questions and sometimes criticism, the choice to work at home can also be confusing for outsiders. You have to be convinced that it is the right decision for your family so that you can withstand any outside pressure. It helps greatly if your husband can be a vocal supporter of your working at home so that others know you are not supplanting his authority but operating with his full approval.

Working at Home and the Housework

I will admit that my current situation is fairly easy because my daughter is older. And I only have one child. For moms of many little ones, working at home is a far greater challenge. My advice is to start with what time you do have and work towards creating more time. Realize that if your children are very needy, you will have less time to invest in your business or job. But children do grow up and can be trained to add value to the functioning of a household.

Never feel guilty that your children have to do chores while you are working. Housekeeping is a valuable life skill that teaches responsibility.

Homemaking and money making both have to happen. It makes more sense for children to do more housework to free you for profitable work. While children complete simpler tasks such as dishes and laundry, you can be earning money to buy groceries.

Remember that 200 years ago children spent most of their days at the kinds of household tasks that we today feel guilty about having our children do. And today we have time saving devices that make most jobs very easy. A life only of play and constant entertainment is not healthy for children (or adults). So do not feel guilty for asking your children to take on the tasks that free up more time for for you to work.

Working at Home and Meal Planning

Being a WAHM means that you must be ruthless with time management. Everyone is different, but to make working at home and homeschooling successful, you must have some routines in place.

Meal planning is a huge issue. After working and homeschooling all day, planning a meal and cooking it can feel overwhelming. But if you repeatedly fall back on eating out or consuming convenience foods, not only will your health suffer but your budget will as well.

There is huge temptation to eat out, especially when you are busy with work. Therefore you must learn to plan weekly menus, schedule time to grocery shop, and fall in love with your slow cooker. When meals are planned, your day runs far more smoothly, and you save money.

Working at Home and Actually Homeschooling

I am going to be honest with you. I have other WAHM friends, and we all admit that it is far too easy to let the kids slide while you are working on a big work project.

If you are going to be a WAHM who homeschools, you have to actually homeschool. That means that you plan it into your schedule just like you plan for meals and for your clients or work tasks.

One day Emma asked me about my to do notebook. (I have far more than just a list. It’s a multi-page notebook where I record the tasks I need to get done for the different roles I have.) She asked me a tough question, “Mom, do you have a page for my homeschool in that notebook?”

Actually, I do not. I have a whole binder devoted to her education. But her point is valid. Do I get so focused on work that I forget to homeschool? It can happen very easily.

Fortunately, my daughter is old enough that most of her work is done independently anyway. We meet together each day for an hour or so to do our “together work” and conference on her other tasks. But for the most part, she is working alone. This is appropriate for eighth grade, and not anything that I should feel guilty about.

When she needs help, I am right there to assist. But she also needs accountability. She needs me to check to see that she is working and is working with excellence. And this is where it’s easy to slide.

If you chose to homeschool while working at home, by all means, make the homeschool part a top priority.

Working at Home and Changing Expectations

If you work at home, you need to set realistic expectations. Here are some things I’ve learned as a WAHM.

1. It’s okay if dishes stay in the sink overnight.

2. It’s okay if the guest bed is piled with clean laundry for three or more days. After all, it is clean.

3. It’s okay if you work and do school in pajamas.

4. You don’t have to wash your clothes after a single wearing.

5. It’s okay to use the towels until they start to smell bad.

6. It’s okay to stay up late, working on a project.

7. It’s okay to sleep in the next morning and start school at noon if necessary.

8. It’s good for the family to make do without you while you are on an occasional weekend business trip.

Keeping Some Things Non-Negotiable

Your expectations may be different from mine. You may require everyone to be dressed before the day begins, and that’s fine. But you will have to let something else slide. The reality is that you cannot do it all well all of the time. Embrace that fact, and your life will be less stressful.

Here are some non-negotiables for me as a WAHM.

1. We eat real food, and we eat it at the table as a family.

2. We do some school at least four days a week.

3. When my daughter needs help or wants to chat, I stop what I’m doing and go to her.

Work Flow as a Work at Home Mom

In my situation, I am self-employed. I have my own social media marketing business iHomeschool Network and also work for different clients as a consultant or social media manager. That means I can set my own work hours. It’s one of the best perks of working at home and being self-employed.

One of my secrets to working at home is creative or productive procrastination.

I have learned that to maximize my performance and keep my sanity, I work on projects when I want to. I chose to start my own business so that I can earn money doing what I love. And working with desire makes the job so much easier than plodding through a difficult chore.

Of course, there are time sensitive jobs that have to be done according to schedule, but I normally work far enough out that I can choose the projects that I am interested in for that day. This freedom keeps me motivated to show up at my desk day after day and even enjoying my work.

When I am in the flow with a certain task, I keep doing it until the flow stops. If I don’t feel like working on a certain project, I don’t. My to do lists are long and many, so there is always plenty to work on. I can normally find something I want to do.

Then when I get tired of “work,” I take a “break” by cooking or running an errand. My daughter says I’m the strangest person ever because my breaks are still work. But I see a break more as a diversion from the task at hand than as a period of inactivity. A break for me means working on a different task to freshen my mind, stretch my body, and strike off another line from that to do notebook.

And when I’m burned out on work altogether, I don’t do any for two or three days. I go offline and focus on sewing projects, take a field trip with Emma, complete a household improvement project, or visit with my mom. Anything but work. After those unplugged episodes, I always return to work with fresh ideas and renewed passion. They are a key to my success as a homeschooling WAHM.

Having a Work Station

For some reason, my physical work area has always been important to me. I’m the kind of person who cannot begin cooking when there is a sink full of dishes. I can’t concentrate on homeschool when the table is scattered with craft supplies. Likewise, having a dedicated work area that is all mine helps me to work more efficiently.

This is one of those best case scenarios that not everyone can afford in terms of space or furniture. But I am a firm believer in having a work station as a WAHM. When we moved into our home, I was given a huge banker’s desk and chair. (What a blessing!) We converted the formal living room into what we call a library. It has my desk, a piano, bookshelves, and upholstered chairs. I can close it off from the rest of the house for concentrated work hours or conference calls.

I have worked at a $59 pressboard desk in the living room with a hand-me-down computer. So I have not always had it this good. But the point is to have a dedicated work space that mentally prepares me for work and indicates to my family and friends that I’m a WAHM.

Bottom Line for Homeschooling as a WAHM

At the core, the answer to being a WAHM who homeschools is to be disciplined. For some people that may mean a military style adherence to checklists and schedules. For me it a flexible outer manifestation but a very firm mental resolve that keeps me focused on my goals. That discipline makes it easier for me to say no to non-essential projects that might distract me. My internal discipline also helps me stand strong in my choice both to homeschool and to be a work at home mom.

Are you a WAHM who homeschools? Are you considering it? I’d love to connect with you. Leave me a comment here.

And be sure to visit my good friend Joan Otto’s post on this topic. Hers is called The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling as a Working Mom. It’s a fantastic resource!