"Life Learning"
Education is most effective when it is lived. I truly believe this. When I look back on this last year, it is interesting to note that despite the significant lack of “table and workbook” teaching, my children have learned more than they ever have before. I wish that everybody had the benefit of ‘farm life’ – no matter how limited it may be. Honestly, working together as a family is a rich and meaningful way for children (and parents!) to grow. And you don’t need a farm for this sort of learning, any family project would do. As a matter of fact, my friend, Jacque has a great easy gardening project that any family could do. I’ve always wanted to be more of an unschooler, but have never had the confidence to break out of the mold. My definition of unschooling doesn’t mean replacing academics with ‘hands on projects’. My kids are still learning to identify prepositional phrases and compound verbs and infinitives within a sentence, and they are also acquiring needed math skills, etc. I guess what I am discovering is that I can choose the context in which they learn – learning while living or learning while chained to the table. I am thankful that we’ve had the opportunity to see our kids thrive this year with the former model. What a blessing. Why is this working so well for us? I believe relationship is the key. And isn’t that the same model we have with our Lord? It all starts with relationship – not a list of do’s and don’ts. It is about us fully looking into His face, loving Him, seeking Him, and longing to obey and do right because we love Him – because we know Him. If relationship is our foundation with our Lord and with our family, life becomes sweet and fully satisfying – Relationship will cause us to want to obey and learn more about our Lord in the same way our relationship will cause our children to want to obey their parents and trust that what we are teaching them is right and good. What a good and loving Lord we serve. I hope you have a blessed week as you serve your family and our Lord. Coie and her Daddems making a door frame for the greenhouse
The finished product! The back door of the green house opens into our basement, where there is a sink for washing veggies (when the time comes)
We were blessed with a ton of racks, which Geoff lined up in the inside. This is a perfect set up for me. My husband is so brilliant. What a wonderful gift.
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March 14th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments No Responses to ' "Life Learning" 'Leave a reply |
on March 14th, 2007 at 9:07 am
Oh Jee, Jen..
You said that so well!!!
I agree…
I'm an Unschooler at heart too…
And thank you so much for pics of your greenhouse!
Isn't it fun to learn all the nifty tricks of homesteading as a family??
( ; -J
on March 14th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Hhhhmmmmmm?
Have I seen those racks somewhere before? Like maybe in the Suarez's basement? That is quite a lesson in recycleing too!! 😉
on March 14th, 2007 at 10:44 am
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I am reading the winter TOS, and then your post and the message I am consistently getting is that I have lost my focus. After 13 years of home schooling, instead of loving life and learning, we are reluctantly forcing school and duty. Thanks for the redirect. No wonder the sparkle is gone, our relationships are being neglected for the to-do list. Time for a change.
on March 14th, 2007 at 10:47 am
PS
And what a great greenhouse!!!
on March 14th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Simple…yet oh, so Profound!
Thanks for your post. I know that when our family isn't "relating" to one another things just go amuck! It is such a blessing to see ALL of our relationships flourish (mother/daughter, father daughter, mother/son, father/son, sister/sister, brother/sister) when we just spend time together, love together, and learn together…all of which is made possible by our amazing God!!!!!!
I "chatted" with Coie (aka Colie ha-ha) the other day…she is quite witty and had me giggling uncontrolably at my computer!
Blessings A-Plenty to Your Family!
Shay
on March 14th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Getting caught up..
Been away from the blogging world a few days and what fun to catch up with the "happen'ns' around there – looks like lots of fun! Yes, I understand getting excited over a new vacuum and yes, I understand about relationships – a great message to me the summer before I began homeschooling many, many years ago by a Godly women was "worry about the Big R's before the three R's" – Big R's being relationship with God, then hubby, then children. Somehow with standardized testing looming over us in the next few weeks I had lost sight of the "Big R's" – thanks for the much-needed reminder! And BTW – I think it's neat the way you attached the greenhouse to your basement entrance!
-Faye
Edited by creech7s on Mar. 14, 2007 at 12:05 PM
on March 14th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
WONDERFUL post
I am wondering…how is it that beauty, humor, wit, AND smarts can be wrapped all up in one person!?!? I mean, good golly, share the wealth already! 😉
Thanks for this post. It is fantastic and well said. Something that I have been TRYING to say for a long time but never could get it out right. Nicely done.
Rebecca from http://www.zeahrenaissance.blogspot.com
PS-Loving all the pictures. I can't WAIT to get my hands dirty with garden dirt again!
on March 14th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
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Great post!
It reminded me of the saying:
Discipline without relationship
equals rebellion.
Candy
on March 14th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
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You are too cool for me! Blew my farm chick skills away quite a while back, didn'tcha??
on March 15th, 2007 at 12:35 am
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Want to see some cool goat birth pictures… check out this new blog… http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/littleredhouse
on March 15th, 2007 at 12:52 am
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What a clever setup. Since I kill most plants (and animals come to think of it) I won't be having a garden any time soon, so I'll live vicariously through other peoples.
I loved your idea that it all comes down to relationship. The longer I do this, the more that sinks in.
I am so thankful to have a loving Father who wants to know me. thanks for the reminder.
on March 15th, 2007 at 6:51 am
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That looks SO cool!.
Every year there is an older farmer that comes into the co-op and asks Mark if he would like to have a garden on his land. This year, with the absence of classes, we took him up on his offer! Mark and the kids have planted potatoes, cabbage, beets and radishes. They are having a blast. I can't wait to make a trip to the farm and see all the changes you guys have made. 🙂
~Annemarie
on March 15th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
A Visiting Husband
Jealous as it would make me not to be there (ha-ha),I'm sure Richard would LOVE to come see your place!! Maybe he could pick up a few farm life tips for our family…you all are QUITE industrious…good for you!!!!!!
on March 15th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Amen!!!
I really appreciate what you said about relationships!! And I love the greenhouse…. WAY COOL!!!!:):)
on March 15th, 2007 at 6:42 pm
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That is just so neat! I have really enjoyed watching you and your family transform from California living to homesteading. Of course it has its ups&downs, but you have the committment and perseverance to succeed. I also like how you compared our family relationships to our heavenly. This really helps when trying to figure out how to react to a family member… whether it's how we treat our children (like God toward us) or how we train our children to react toward us (us toward God). There are so many similarities. Hope you have an abundant harvest… and plenty of canning jars! 🙂
~Connie
on March 15th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
YOu've made me pea green with envy!
Now I'm very much missing our old rural turf. Well done to you on your greenhouse! How fun and really, what a great accomplishment! Real work, for a real purpose in real life! enjoy!!!
on March 16th, 2007 at 12:55 am
Wow, Jen!
All these pictures are so beautiful and inspiring. I have to figure out a way to conquer our Bermuda grass. All the veggies we plant get lost in its triangle.
I miss you SO much looking at all these wonderful pictures!!
Love,
Kate
on March 16th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Hi
This is the first time I'm leaving a comment, I just set up my first blog. 🙂 I'm having a great time. Those pictures are quite a site. Though we're not a big, homesteading family, your point is well taken. We need to be in this as a family, not seperate lives living together.
JoAnn
on March 17th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Hello Again!
Wow, I loved reading your post and looking at your pics earlier this week….
But – I had to come back and read your comments, too!
You have the neatest readers! The comments are usually as encouraging as your posts are!
I love visiting…
Took a few minutes to catch up on Coie's… she is something, isn't she? What a great gal! I'd be jealous, if I wasn't blessed with such great girls too!
Blessings Jen!
-J
on March 17th, 2007 at 10:44 am
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yep, Jacque, i agree completely. i am so encouraged by the friends who show up here. i just wished everybody lived in my neighborhood so we could get together for chicken curry parties (i don't do 'tea parties')
on March 20th, 2007 at 2:38 am
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Hey Jen, if you have not yet, get ahold of Ruth Beechick's newest (and wonderful) book, "A Biblical Home Education." Read what she says about such things as grammer – such great practical advice.
You are right on the money with the life learning. Things never went so well with me getting around to grammar, but we did read quite a lot – my kids have always maxed out on the language sections of the annual tests, with no formal grammar. Good Ol' Abe Lincoln wrote some pretty eloquent speeches without that formal grammar.
Just a thought –
Deb
on March 24th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
You are so cool.
I am in awe. 🙂 What a great post. 🙂 I have missed you, Jen. I keep promising myself to chill out a little and read more, but I'm doing everything I can to stay on top of homeschooling and blogging…. UGH. Sometimes I wish I had some free time. Anyway, it looks like you are doing well and adapting to farm life wonderfully! If you are ever down South, look me up!!! I'm nominating you for "Nitty Gritty" (especially after these pictures) in the HSBawards! 🙂 Love your blog. Like I said, you are so cool. 🙂 My best buddy is from California, too.