HORATIUS... (Who's that?)

I really wanted to write down about our last little lesson that we had with our Family School curriculum.  I like to pick and choose lessons and focus on specific things for a period of time with this curriculum.  We have had a really fun time studying together as a family and I have learned so much.  Right now we are focusing on studying about Rome.  I want to share with you our last lesson.

I've taught my kids the process of learning that is taught in the family school which is called the 4R's.   I believe that applying these 4R's to anything that we study makes our studies more meaningful and truly great.  The 4R's  are: Research, Reason, Relate and Record.  I really like this because I just ask my kids.  What's the first R.  They always say "research"  and know what we do.  I tell them that we can apply these 4 R's to anything that we study.

The first "R" Research

I started out by giving my kids a coloring page at breakfast and told them that they could color this picture for our lesson because today we were going to do a little research about a man named Horatius.

This caught their attention because they asked "Hora what?",  I told them that there was a Roman man name Horatius that was quite a good example.  So they asked me to tell them some more.

I told them to color their picture while I read them the story of Horatius.  The Family School had a short story for me to read to my kids and I read  Here is a brief summary.

"  Roman History started out as a kingdom.  For a period of time there were 7 kings that ruled Rome,  however,  the last king was named "Tarquin the Proud",  he was an evil king and the Romans did not like him.  He made the people pay a lot of taxes and was unfair.  So, the Roman people expulsed him out of their city .  Tarquin managed to get an army and was on his way back to overtake Rome.  Horatius was one of the Roman citizens that did not want his city overtaken by the evil king.  Many people were too afraid to fight the king,  but Horatius was brave and managed to get two other men to help fight the king.  

Now,  there were only 3 men to fight against a whole army of the king.  Horatius had a plan.  The Tiber river was a river that surrounded Rome.  There was only one bridge that crossed the river that allowed people to enter the city of Rome.  Horatius believed that if he and these other 2 men could destroy the bridge then the king could not enter the city with his army and they would be free from his rule.  

So, Horatius set out with 3 men to destroy this bridge.  However, the king and his army showed up and began to laugh when they saw that there were only 3 men defending the bridge.  Horatius was courageous and stood up for freedom and managed to fight off the army and destroy the bridge all alone.  In the process he lost an eye and so everyone called him "Horatius Cocles (One eyed Hoaratius)."  

My kids thought that was a pretty cool story.  

Now, I said the second "R"  is reason.  

There should always be a reason to why we are studying about this subject.  I asked them  what could be the reason we are studying about Horatius?  They had some good answers.  The family school has some situations that the kids can tell me what they would do in those situations.  I asked my kids several questions like:  "What would you do if you went to a friends house and he/she was watching a show that you don't feel comfortable watching?"  Of course,  I get some great answers because they want to to do the right thing.

I am Only One

by Edward Everett Hale

I am only one but I am one.

I cannot do everything

But I can do Something.

What I can do,

I ought to do;

And what I ought to do

By the Grace of God,

I will do.

So,  the reason that we were learning about Horatius was because he was willing to stand for what he believed to be true even if he was the only one.  I gave them the above poem, "I am Only One".  We talked about what it means to have the grace of God.  It means that by the power of God,  we can do great things if we stand up for what we believe in even if we are only "One".  They were very intrigued by this little poem.  

Then, the 3rd "R"

 I asked them how can we relate this to our lives?  We watched this Mormon  Message. 

This message is about a boy who did not like hearing so many swear words at school.  He talked to his parents and told his friend that he didn't like all the swear words he was hearing.  They told him to be an example.  He decided to start "The No Cussing Club".  He got people from all over the country who signed a pledge to quit swearing and he goes around to various schools talking about this club.  

My kids loved this message and were so excited to join this club.  Luckily they don't know too many swear words.  We talked about how we can be only one and stand up for what we believe to be true and the Lord will help us make a difference like Horatius and like this one boy. 

It was a great lesson.

Finally, the 4th  "R" 

I let my kids choose what they want to write down for their record.  They all chose to copy this poem and a brief little summary about Horatius for their binder.  I tell them that Record is very important because it helps us remember what we learned and it is a record that we are saving to share with our kids someday.  They each have a binder that I save for them from the entire year where they have all of their recordings.  

It was a great day and great lesson.  I love days like this where we have a wonderful meaningful lesson that stays with us for life.  I heart the Family School.

Walt Disney

We went to Disneyland!!!.... and had a great time.   Something that made our time even more meaningful was this book.  We read this on our way home from Disneyland.  We had an 8 hour drive, so plenty of time to read.  Walt Disney really was a remarkable person.  It is so interesting to me as a parent to see that our kids are truly born with natural talents and it is up to us as parents to accept those talents or not.

Walt Disney's Dad did not think he would earn enough money as an artist, but Walt Disney had a passion for art.  He started out as a cartoonist, then film maker and eventually made Disneyland.  What a great book.  We really loved reading about Walt Disney.

Ben Carson

We read this book together as a family.  My kids fell in love with Ben Carson and with the idea of reading.  A few of them even want to be neurosurgeons when they grow up.  We all hope that he runs for president.

I'm  glad that this book explains his life and all the things that he went through to get where he got.  He had to study long and hard to become one of the best neuro surgeons in the world and to go to Yale.  I especially loved how his Mom told him that they would spend all of their freetime reading and no more TV.  He learned to love learning and reading.  If only I can be this inspirational for my own kids.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Book Review:  By Georgie Porgie
The author was only 15 when he wrote this book.  I really liked this book.  Even though it's a pretty long book it's worth the time.  My favorite part was when he found the egg.  I think the author did a very good job describing everything.  I recommend it to people who've been reading for at least two years.  I'm excited to read the next ones.

Stories Are Where it's at!!

I've been thinking a lot lately (I do that a lot)....
What is an education??

We recently finished reading "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory", by Roald Dahl.  This was a wonderful book that provoked so many discussions from too much TV to overeating to creativity and to how Charlie won in the end,  because he was willing to listen to Mr. Wonka.  I love reading with my kids and discussing and learning.  It is so much fun.  To celebrate we watched the movie and had a family sleepover in the family room.  

I love learning,  in fact I would much rather be learning than doing anything else in this world.  I know that is not normal in todays' world,  but I wish it was.  Learning is fun and so interesting to me.

Right now we are reading a story about Ben Carson.  Ben Carson is a famous neuro -surgeon, who when he was younger was known as the dumbest kid in school.  His Mom prayed and asked the Lord to help her know what to do to help her boys be smarter.  She got her answer and told her boys that they were only allowed to watch 3 TV shows a week.  The rest of their free-time was to be spent reading.
Ben and his brother were told to give their Mom 2 book reports per week.  He attributes his learning to his Mom and he was able to go to Yale because he spent so much time loving to learn and read.  He also, became the smartest kid in school in high school.  It is a wonderful story and so inspiring.

In the book it tells how he prays and asks heavenly father for help in order to perform the surgeries that he performs.  Last night we read about a surgery that he performed in seperating twin boys that were siamese twins and joined at the head.  In the book it tells how he prays and is amazed by the miracles heavenly father helps him do by having faith.  My kids are loving this book and I can't wait to finish it today.

So,  how do we go about getting an education,  and what is an education?  These thoughts have been on my mind a lot lately.

Today I looked up the meaning of education online and found this on Wikipedia...

"Education in its general sense is a form of learning in which the knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits of a group of people are transferred from one generation to the next through storytelling, discussion, teaching, training, and or research. Education may also include informal transmission of such information from one human being to another. Education frequently takes place under the guidance of others, but learners may also educate themselves (autodidactic learning).^[1] Any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational."

I used to believe that all education was based on facts and research,  but from what I've been feeling lately and researched,  it seems that education is so much more than facts and research,  its storytelling, discussion; it is  "The knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits transferred from one generation to the next".  Wow, that makes me think I have a lot of work to do.  I believe  parents are primarily responsible for the education of their children.  Not necessarily their schooling,  but their education.  So how are we giving our kids an education??

Education is a culmination of experiences that shape us and allow us to become who we become.  In modern society most people think education is your schooling,  but from this definition and from my personal experience education is so much more than schooling.  Education to me is life. 

Didn't heavenly Father place us here on the earth to learn and to grow so that we could be tested?  I believe that we are here to grow and be tested and that is our true education.  

"Any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts may be considered educational."

So, how can we get the best education possible.  I believe the answer is found in the scriptures.  

In Matthew 13: 10-13

" 10 And the disciples, came and said unto him,  Why speakest unto them in parables? 

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance:  but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even he that hath. 

13 Therefore, speak I unto them in parables:  because they seeing see not;  and hearing hear not, neither do they understand." 

I believe Jesus spake in parables or stories because he wanted us to dig deeper and find out the true meaning behind His stories and then apply them to our lives.  He knew how to educate.  It wasn't by handing us the platter and telling us directly what it was we needed to do, but it was through stories. If we so desire to know we would dig and find out for ourselves what he was teaching and then, by digging deeper we would be changed and given experiences that would change us.  Wow,  that is education.  We can learn so much from the scriptures.

So,  I choose to study stories, the scriptures and books to educate myself and my children. What better way to educate than by doing it the way the Savior taught.

But...  just reading a book or story is not going to educate us.  We have to dig deeper and find the true meaning and discuss.  Then we can learn and grow. 

When I first began homeschooling I fell upon " The Family School".  In this curriculum they teach using the 4 r's  Reason, Research, Relate, and Record. 

I like this Principle of  "You, not Them" from Leadership Education: Principles of Great Teaching.  

So, I decided to apply the 4 r's to my own education.  I have been studying this curriculum and wanting to teach it to my kids,  but struggling,  because my kids love stories, but not so much listening to me talk.  So, I decided to apply the principle of the 4 r's to my life.  It has changed me and the way I think and study, and hopefully by applying this principle to myself it can help my kids.  

The 4 r's

So,  when I read,  I try to find a reason for what I am reading or studying,  then I try to research and dig deeper into topics that provoke my interest,  then I relate it to my life and to my values which are grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ and then, I record on my blog or in my journal.  This process has solidified my experiences and I truly believe that this process is helping me receive a  great education.

I am so grateful  for the things that have fallen into my path as I have embarked into this journey of education.  I have learned more than I could have ever dreamed and have enjoyed the experiences that I get to create with my family.  If experiences are what shapes our education,  why not have those experiences with those whom you love and receive a great "family education"?

SPIRIT ANIMALS

Hooray for Georgie Porgie!!!  He recently finished the Special Edition of this series.  He loved it!! He said  "It was amazing".  I think he has enjoyed all of these books immensely.  He says they're about kids that when they turn eleven years old,  they drink a special magic potion, otherwise they might get sick or go mad.  This potion sometimes yields the result of a natural bond to a certain animal  so that you don't get sick.  The kids begin to have powers with those animals and can call animals into a passive state.

This book was mainly about the great beasts of Eridas.  It tells about their characteristics and how they fight.   Needless to say  I think this is a great book for Boys and Girls ages 8-12 years old.  I'mm glad to find a series that I think all my kids will enjoy.

My Quest for Strength

" And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."  Ether 12:27

This morning I had a chance to squeeze in one verse of scripture study.  It was a sleepless night and a stressful morning,always happens when I wake up late, but I have a goal to read every morning no matter what because the scriptures give me strength to face anything.

When my oldest son woke up this morning he said that he wants to move to a new house.  I told him that I want to move as well, but we need to learn to be happy in the moment.  "Come what May and Love it."  Joseph B. Wirthlin.

"Secure not Stressed", 

 is a principle of Leadership Education, that I am working on at the moment.  

When I tell people that I home-school, I inevitably hear "I am not patient enough for that",  or "I could never do that".  A question that comes to my mind is one that comes to a lot of Mom's minds that home-school.  

When are we planning on acquiring the attribute of patience?

  Jesus said "Be ye therefore perfect."  It is a commandment that Jesus is giving us to constantly be striving for perfection.  

I believe no one is born patient,  believe me, I know that.  My babies are not patient (when they want to eat,  they do not wait).  

So, it is up to us to learn patience through our experiences in life.  We can either accept the fact that Heavenly Father is going to give us weaknesses and decide that we need to learn how to make those weaknesses into strengths or Heavenly Father will teach us those lessons in other ways.  

No matter what....

He will teach us patience and give us many experiences to learn to be patient.  Because this is what life is all about.

 I chose to learn how to develop this attribute of patience through spending time with my kids.

I love being a Mom, and homeschooling,  but the idea of 

"Secure not Stressed"  is vital...

Today,  when my kids were not listening to me,  I decided to go upstairs and take a shower. 

I took care of myself.  Then I came downstairs calmly and said "Let's have some free time for 20 minutes and then we will do family jobs.  They needed that and so did I!!!


No one wants to spend time with someone who is yelling at them and nagging them to do something.  When homeschooling you need to spend a lot of time with eachother and your kids should enjoy being with their Mom.  

One thing I've learned instead of saying "Go do this..."  or "Go do that..."  I say "Let's do this...."  or "How about we do this..."  This way it's a joint venture instead of my kids singling them out telling them what to do.  They shut down when I'm ordering them around,  but when I get down and do things with them,  then they love it,  and then usually,  they will begin to enjoy whatever it was that I needed them to do. 

FAMILY JOBS

Another,  aspect of being "Secure, not Stressed"  for me is having a clean house.  I believe that when homeschooling  you really need to get to know yourself and know your triggers. 

Mine is a messy house.  I don't believe learning can take place in a messy house .  So, we have Family Jobs.  It would be a lot easier for me to tell my kids " Do this job or do that job",  but again they do not like to be nagged, plus they don't know how to do most jobs the way I do them,  Instead,  I say we have 30 minutes to do our family jobs,  they each have a job in an area of our house that I am working on with them,  I help them with their jobs and we learn to work together and work fast.  This has helped me become a lot more "Secure not Stressed".  I sometimes offer them an incentive for when the time is up and if we have completed our task, then we can read and have a snack like popcorn.  This usually works.  Family Jobs are great!!!

One last aspect of being  "Secure not Stressed" , is I have to have time for myself.  I try to do this by waking up early,  but with a baby this doesn't always happen.  When I have a good day,  I wake up do the elliptical, read my scriptures, read my book while I'm doing the elliptical or when it's nice outside I listen to LDS conference talks or TJED audio seminars while I go for a jog.  
Then,  I come back take a shower,  make my bed, do makeup and hair and then I am ready for the day. My kids know that I need this time in the morning, so my older kids usually help with the babies while I get ready.

Finally,  I divided up morning jobs to two kids emptying the dishwasher and 1 kid is in charge of putting one load of laundry each morning.  All of them would rather take laundry than dishwasher, so I assign them the laundry job for a week at a time.  This has worked great,

Having routines, not necessarily scheduled times,  timers, family jobs and taking care of myself have all helped me be "Secure not Stressed".  

I am grateful that I am given weaknesses so that they might become strengths unto me. 

I better go get to work now...