Soaring Mountains Academy

A couple steps closer

Kristi — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:44:26 +0000

I have taken a couple more steps towards homeschooling again. Tyler & I are moving at the end of the month and it would mean a change of school systems in the fall. So I went to what could possibly be the new school to register Tyler. That did not go well. I posted a little about it on FaceBook, but the bottom line is that I was treated badly until I mentioned that my child is high ability, then it was a 180. This did not please me at all. So I am looking into a virtual public school. I liked what I saw and Tyler was overjoyed that I’m still looking into homeschooling. He really wants to be homeschooled again and thinks the curriculum and clubs look really fun. It was great to see him smile about school and get excited about learning. I haven’t seen that for awhile.

My main concern about homeschooling comes from my work. I don’t have a j.o.b. anymore and am back into the self-employed world. However, that comes with responsibility and can be scary. I wouldn’t want to start homeschooling Tyler, then something change, and have to put him back into school. Basically all those typical doubts of whether I’m doing the right thing or not. I’m overwhelmingly feeling like homeschooling is the right choice for us and I usually follow feelings like this. I just have to make sure I’ve explored all the angles for my own piece of mind.

Hey homeschooling world!

Kristi — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:07:12 +0000

I’ve missed you!! Really, truly, deeply missed you!! Tyler’s been missing you, too, since he went to public school. Almost daily he asks to come back to the homeschooling world. I’m trying to make that a reality. Not sure how it will all work out, but I am trying very hard. So if you have any advice for how a single parent who is also starting up another business can fit it all together, I’d be glad to hear it. Right now the plan is to let him finish the school year in public school and then make a decision about how it is all going to work out.

In the meantime, I’m going to get this blog cleaned up, reconnect with my old friends and find some new ones (I’m open to suggestions.)

Did I mention I missed you?!? I did. OK, then it’s good to see you again.

6 months later

Kristi — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:15:37 +0000

I can’t believe that it is 6 months since my last post. Things have changed so greatly. It’s still hard not being actual homeschoolers (you know I’ll always be one in my heart.) So I’ll give you a quick run-down.

Tyler did great in school!!! He made honor roll, he won awards, he did amazing on his I-STEP testing after only being in school a month (yep, you guessed it, pass & pass plus; so hard sometimes to not rub it in the faces of all those people who doubted how well I was doing with homeschooling), he was recommended for the PEP program (which is the highest level of Gifted & Talented at his school) but I decided to keep him out of it & in the Cluster program because they really segregate the PEP kids and I don’t want that, his teacher loved him, and best of all he made good friends. Our only big issue came with all the repetitiveness of school. Once he learned it, he didn’t want to keep doing worksheets and stuff on the same stuff. Overall he says that school is a 5 or 6 and that it is mostly based on the friends & fun he had, not the actual school learning.

He’s in summer camp at the Y this summer & is having a blast. They keep the kids active with planned activities around a theme every week, swimming a couple of times a week & a field trip every week. I want to go to summer camp. He’s made great friends. His leader tells me every day how much she loves him & wishes she had a whole group of Tyler’s because she never has to tell him anything twice, he’s always picking up things without being asked and is always helping the other kids. You know it makes a momma proud.

His recent accomplishments include winning an art contest on Friday and finding out that he got a blue ribbon on his 4-H fishing club poster & model and he got an honor on his 4-H rocket.

Now since this blog was about our homeschooling adventures & we are no longer homeschooling, I’m not going to be posting out here. If you would like to keep in touch & up-to-date on what’s going on then, send me a friend request on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kmblu or follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/outdoorkristi. These 2 places are where I’ve been updating things.

Thank you to everyone who has touched our lives over the years. You are our friends and we truly appreciate you!

Pubic School

Kristi — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:35:55 +0000

Today is Tyler’s first day on the new adventure we are calling public school. This morning he was excited, nervous & scared. I have no doubt that he’ll do great & come home with lots of stories.

This does not mean an end to our homeschooling. It just means we’ve added a component of public schooling to our lives. I will still have him working on things here at home and there are plenty of life lessons that still need to be taught.

The school that he’s attending seems good. Everyone we met on Friday while registering was very friendly. His teacher is male, which was really cool for Tyler. He’s excited about having art class and gym class and going to the library. Overall, he will learn things that I can’t teach him here at home, just like there are things I can teach him that school can’t. It is all about balance and opportunities. This will be an opportunity for him to spread his wings and experience some new things.

Mixed Bag

Kristi — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:28:58 +0000

Starting school back up was rough, for both of us. We started off slow and eased back into it, but there was complaining and procrastinating and all out “I’m not going to do that.” In the end, though, we got everything done and we both survived. Remind me to not take a break ever again!!

We did have to make some decisions about 4-H because the meetings are starting up. 1st up was the fact that we currently live in one county, but will probably be moving to a different county. That was solved by deciding that since Daddy would still be living in the current county that we could still use that address for this year and then figure things out for next year when the time came. 2nd was Rabbit Club. We got the rabbit (yes, she is adorable & is part of the family now) because he wanted to participate in Rabbit Club. However, having an animal at the fair is a huge responsibility. And not knowing my job situation at this time, I don’t know how much time I will have to be taking Tyler out to the fairgrounds to care for Blackie, which then makes things unfair for her, and have him participate in all the activities surrounding Rabbit Club. So in the end, we’ve decided to table Rabbit Club until next year. 3rd was which projects he was still going to do. He cut a few of them because he lost interest in them and there is so much going on right now that he’s overwhelmed, but he still has quite a few so I’m not worried about it.

We did have a class this past weekend that we attended. Parents attended one class & kids another. At the end, the teacher talked with the parents about how each kid did in the class. These were the first things the teacher told us, “Tyler was an exceptional student and a joy to have in class. I’m not sure if you’re aware of this or not, but he is very mature for his age.” You all know I was thinking “Duh! I’ve only been raising him for the last 9 years of his life, but sure I missed that.” Now in my defense I had sat through an extremely boring class for 3 hours, so I was a little edgy, but do you think people really miss that about their kids? Even so, I’m not one of them.

In a good note, Tyler did make a friend in the class and invited him to go sledding with us later that afternoon. Yes, you did hear that correctly, my son is breaking out of his shell and starting to make friends all on his own. I know that part of the next phase for Tyler to go through, the pre-teen phase, is related to his breaking away from his parents more so that he develops his own identity and that he is going to start looking toward peers more and more. I’m hoping that I’ve given him enough of a basis in the years leading up to this time that he continues to make good decisions with each new step that he takes.

2010

Kristi — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:01:55 +0000

Welcome to 2010! Big changes in store for us this year. Still don’t know what they will all be at this time. Cross your fingers that I hear about a job soon. We are starting back to our regular routine today, which includes homeschooling. We’ve already done 155 days this school year, so I know we’re not behind in any way. We’re going to start back in a little slowly since we did take the time off. Today is logic puzzles, just to get the brain warmed up. He got the 3 of them complete, but is working on redoing his graphing right now. One little miscount and it’s all messed up.

I have decided to keep this blog going, no matter what changes happen in our situation. Thank you to all who have contacted me with their support, thoughts and prayers. I appreciate it more than you will ever know.

Still unsure

Kristi — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:05:37 +0000

There are a lot of things that are still up in the air for Tyler & I right now. For the time being, we are on a semi-break from homeschooling. He’s at least a year ahead of other kids his age in public school, so I’m not worried about taking a few weeks off at this point while we figure things out. I’m looking for a job, which is hard to come by in this area and during this time of the year, but I know the right job will come along at just the right time so that everything works out. We’ve started the process of packing so that Tyler & I are ready to move when it is time (hopefully after I find a job.)

On the schooling front, I have been researching the local public schools to see what my options are, just in case he does need to go to school. Breaks my heart to think about it, but it might have to happen. I’ve also been reaching out to the local homeschooling community to see if there is a possibility of another homeschooling family letting Tyler hang out with them during the day and then I would do the actual teaching in the evenings & on the weekends. I’ve also been tossing around the idea of seeing if there are any grandma-types out there who maybe want to a have a companion a few days a week so that Tyler’s time is spread out over a few people. Yes, they sound like unconventional ideas, but this is me and I rarely do anything too conventional.

I do have one new venture. I am now a published author (not just a blogger.) Check me out here: http://www.examiner.com/x-33366-Indianapolis-Outdoor-Recreation-Examiner I’m going to be posting article about 3 times a week so make sure that you subscribe so that you know when new articles have been published.

We’re alive

Kristi — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:58:17 +0000

Yes, we are alive. Yes, for the time being we are still homeschooling. No, I don’t know if we are going to get to continue. Yes, there are lots of changes going on in our lives. No, I don’t feel this is the platform to get into all the details. As soon as a decision regarding Tyler’s continued schooling is made, I will let you know.

Exciting!

Kristi — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:41:08 +0000

I know I haven’t posted lately, but we’ve been out living life and I’ve been running out of time to blog. I will try to get back here more regularly. But I have exciting news today!!! Debbie from Homeschooling: Freedom and Fun for Your Family interviewed me about a month ago and today is the day that I appear on her blog. Check it out here: http://homeschoolingisfreedom.blogspot.com/2009/11/possibilities-for-fun-are-endless.html And while you are over there, check out all the wonderful interviews of other homeschoolers. Thank you Debbie!!

The Simple Woman’s Daybook

Kristi — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:19:44 +0000

FOR TODAY, With special thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook who created the daybook.

October 26, 2009

Outside my window… the trees have either lost their leaves or they are displaying beautiful colors.

I am thinking… that sleep would be a wonderful thing if it actually happened. Feeling really drained today.

I am thankful… for my wonderful friends.

From the learning rooms… probably not much today. Tyler has a headache and I’m wore out, so I’ll just give in to his wanting a break.

From the kitchen… we’re having bacon burgers tonight.

I am wearing… jeans, long-sleeve shirt.

I am creating… my future.

I am going… to Loveway a little later then I’ll be home for the rest of the day.

I am reading… nothing right now. Read some interesting books on CFS (or CFIDS, whichever you want to call it) yesterday at the bookstore.

I am hoping… that all the sickness stays away from my house.

I am hearing… the songs playing on Pandora.

Around the house… there is always a To-Do List.

One of my favorite things… catching up with a good friend.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Tues: TKD; Wed: Pet Refuge, riding lesson, pick up things for my Halloween costume; Thurs: Monster Hike at EEC, TKD; Fri: volunteer at Black Pine; Sat: Halloween at Black Pine with some good friends

Here is picture I am sharing… Tyler’s going to be a ninja again this year since his costume still fits. He’s what he looked like last year:

My ninja