And on the 7th day.....

• We are in our second week here in Katy, Texas. There are so many things I have learned just in the last 7 days.
• Prepare to print ALOT.
• Use a Daily Lesson Plan.
• Remember to have your kids do ALL work before submitting the assessment at the end. (they have all sorts of things in there that will carry over to the next lesson.)
• Schedule breaks away from the computer and take them, no matter where they are at in the process of the lesson.
• GO OUTSIDE!
• Sit in the floor and have fun with your kids. We have our desks, but they all seem to end up in the middle of the room sprawled out in the floor for workbook and reading activities. (My guess is this must have been a privilege in B&M)
• Have a Goodie Box. We have nickel and dimes stuff in there, and things like hot cocoa and mints. They earn 2 hearts on the board for every A and 1 heart on the board for every B. They lose 2 hearts for any failing grades. When they reach 10 hearts on the board, they earn a prize from the goodie box.
• This has been the cause of several happy dances.
• If you have multiple grade levels like I do, remember, even the High school student needs some extra love and care. They may seem big and bad, but inside, they still need that word of encouragement to help them progress.
• Overall, our first 7 days have been pretty good.
• So far, the score is Melt downs 6, Happy dances 20+
• How was your first week of school?

Arizona Connections on the News

Ma'am, I'll Need To See Your Credentials

http://drseusscoloringpages.blogspot.com/

Have you ever felt small? Well, maybe small's not quite the word I'm looking for, how about tiny, really, really tiny. JoJo from Horton Hears a Who, kind of tiny. That's where I've been at for the last day or so, feeling the size of JoJo the Who. Not really knowing what to do. Even you might say, a little blue and confused.

I know what it is, and I know why, now it's the Who that I must find. So I've decided to make a list of everything I've been in order to discover Who I can become.

Daughter,

Child,

Student,

Teenager,

Wife,

Mother,

Soldier,

School Bus Driver,
Private School Teacher,
Leasing Consultant,
Sales Trainer,
Editor,
Sunday School Teacher,
Marketing Consultant,
Salesman,
Church Team Leader,

Mentor,

Owner,
Recruiter,
Social Media Consultant,
Candy Wrapper Maker,
Graphic Designer,
Beauty Consultant.
All around 'Fire Starter'

The ability to perform in the majority of these fields was developed through self education, hard headedness and an extreme willingness to learn. If an idea intrigues me to the point of exploration, I have been known to start a company that revolves around it. Some have been successful, others not so much. In the end, its the love of learning that has fueled my endeavours.

In several of the many titles listed above, I have inspired others to find and explore their passions just as I have. It excites me to see someones eyes light up and the wheels start to turn when they are able to nail down what it is they want to do for the rest of their life. Men and Women devastated by tragedy have turned their whole outlook and circumstances around, just by allowing themselves to dream. I have taught them that when you know who you are, you are who you are, no matter where you are, you are you.

 It's in this very moment that I am realizing Who this Who really is. Its not a Who, but a What I have discovered, hiding deep inside. A Motivator, a Teacher and a Mommy within me reside.

Hey there, If anyone is listening, if you can hear the sound of my voice.

THIS MOMMY'S

A REAL TEACHER

AFTER ALL!

So, I'll take a deep breath and sit a little taller. I'll smile at this victory, the fear is finally smaller.

http://reneeheiss.com/Works_in_Progress.html

(In the end it is a "very small shirker named JoJo" whose final addition to the volume creates enough lift for the jungle to hear the sound, thus reinforcing the moral of the story: "a person’s a person, no matter how small". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horton_Hears_a_Who!)

Mommy Rhapsody

Borrowed this from BloggyMoms website!! Too Cute.

Their Excitement, My Anxiety

Don't you just hate alarms!  You know, when you are so comfy cozy that you feel as though you are melded with the bed?  You have become one. Mmmm bed..(Homer Simpson drooley voice). That's where I was this morning.  Then like a Banshee from Haiti, that annoying thing goes off.  I know what you are thinking...well, not really, but I have a pretty good idea.  "Why on Earth have you set an alarm? Its summer, and you stay home with your kids. Whats wrong with you woman" ? 

Well, my only explanation is its the last Thursday of Summer.  We have all slept in, loafed around and pretty much been Potatoes this entire Summer.  The only time we have really been on a tight schedule was a few weeks ago when we traveled to Illinos to see our oldest daughter graduate from Navy boot camp. 2000 miles there, 2000 miles back!  Yes, I drove. I'm still tired.  Now, back to today.

I've decided that when we do something we really don't want to do, we must find someone else to blame. So, I'm blaming FlyLady.  Yep, it's all her fault. My timer has been set for 15 minute intervals for the last 3 days.  I've been dressed to my shoes, my hair is brushed, breakfast is cooked and my sink is shiny. As I dust mop my floors and do a 27 boogie fling, I have done so begrudgingly and with a sour puss face. (you know the one).  Well, yesterday, while swiffering and sweeping, my oldest comes to me and says, "Hey Mom, can I clean out the front closet?" I stood there, mouth agape, stunned.  Not risking the loss of this monumental moment, I exclaimed, "YES, ehem, Yes you can sweetheart!"

What was happening here?  Did someone switch out my kids? Have they been brain washed, but not dried? Whats going on!?!

The wheels in my head started to turn.  If one was eager to help, what about the others? Would they want to do the same?  So I decided to do a little reward test.  I placed a single dollar bill in the back of the bowl cabinet and asked my son to help me out by straightening it out for me. He looks at me and says, "Ok, do you want me to do all of them?"  He was serious!  Back to the mouth agape stance.  "YES!" I joyfully exclaimed.  He was completely unaware of the dollar in the cabinet.  So I told him to run upstairs and get something, and while he was gone I tossed a quarter into the back of each cabinet and drawer in the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes into his straightening, he gasps, "Mom, I found a Dollar in the cabinet....(long dramatic pause)"!  I smile at him lovingly, bat my eyes, head cocked slightly to the side and say, "Really?" He looks puzzled at this point, not knowing what to do at this point with this potential treasure he has just discovered. So I tell him, "You know, if you do a great job, with no complaints, and you promise not to brag to your sisters, you can keep that dol...".  Before the words were out of my mouth, the dollar bill was deep in the recesses of his pockets.  "Really?" he whispered excitedly.  "Yes, really.  Now would you consider straightening out the rest of the cabinets? You are welcome to keep whatever you happen to find."  He all but dove into the cabinets and went to town.  Each cabinet presenting a new found treasure.  Within one hour, all of the cabinets in my kitchen were beautiful.

So, here I am today, drinking my coffee, eating homemade pancakes and writing this blog.  No worries about discombobulated cabinets or hall closets. My home is starting to get a little sparkly, and my Honey has just kissed me good bye for the day. Why the 'Anxiety' part of the title, you may be asking.  Well, school starts on Monday.  Not just any school, OUR school.  Cyber School.  Texas Connections Academy Cyber School, here in our house School! I would be lying if I said I was cool as a cucumber and ready to roll the moment the bell rings.  I'm not!  Quite frankly, it scares the poo out of me.  Do I have everything we need? Will I be organized enough to keep up with an Elementary, Junior High and Highschool curriculum?  What if I can't understand Algebra and they ask me a question? What if....?

My 'what if's' are becoming nerve racking.  I've been taught that I'm not to wait for opportunity to come, but to be prepared for when it gets here.  Thats what I'm doing right now.  Preparing.  So, the alarm goes off, I get up and the day of routines begins.  I'm doing the things I know to do to create order and peace in our home.  Hopefuly, Cyber School will just be drizzled into our days, kind of like chocolate sauce on an icecream sundae.  So I guess I'm preparing the icecream.  Now, I'm off to wake up my 'little nuts'.  Wish me luck, today...the classroom closet needs to be emptied! (3 companies worth of left over junk is hiding in there).

There Are Aliens Among Us

Super Hero In Training (LC) Log: August 16 the year 2010 1100 hours

We are here in a room surrounded by desks and school supplies.  Its a futuristic Classroom, that only a few J17 Aliens (Students Set Apart, to save and empower lives. John 17:16) are chosen to attend. The computer systems are running A-OK, with more than enough Dilithiam Crystals to sustain us for our 270 day journey.  Thanks to Mr. Justin (dad), our handy Computer Technical Genius, we now have 3 of these fabulous devices. At one point, I had to insist he get more surfing energy to the futuristic class, so he's researching providers as we speak. We are expecting a delivery from a galaxy traveler from the UPS alliance. Once this package is recieved, the oldest of the J17 Aliens will be able to start her studies.

Today we are really looking forward to a Meet the Teacher and Student picnic. We will let you know how it goes! We hope to see you there.

To Cyber School Or Not To Cyber School...That Is The Question?

One of the missing parts we are really looking forward to.

During the last 5 weeks of school last year, our family was in complete turmoil.  Our high school daughter had experienced things in school that no child should.  The bullying had gotten so out of control for her, the Principal of her school suggested we have our daughter placed in ISS (in school suspension) for her own well being.  I couldn't believe this was the solution to the problem......

It was at that point that we decided to look into alternative forms of education.  Now, I must tell you, I am by no means an expert on anything I'm about to discuss.  My area of knowledge comes from first hand experience and the deliberate hours upon hours of research that it took to bring our little family to our present situation.

After scouring the Internet for more than 2 weeks, researching every book I could get my hands on from the library and speaking with every parent that I knew who had chosen to home school, we made our decision.

Texas Connections Academy offered everything we were looking for.  The education that is offered is top notch.  It has been stated that the educational style used at Texas Connections Academy is that of a college preparatory school. 

Most people we speak to about our decision ask us the same questions..."What about socialization, and all stuff they will miss out on like dances, sports, friends?" Heck, our kids asked the same question as did we.  Our answer is simple to give now.  Our kids are very outgoing, fun loving, and active.  There are times when we wish they were not so social.  They have many opportunities to socialize after school at Karate, at the playground, at church, etc.,.   I know it may seem like a radical change, and out of the norm, but we quite frankly are looking forward to many of the missing parts to a traditional brick and mortar Public School.

For us, at this point, the choice seems like it was a simple one, kind of a no brainer. Yeah right!!! Only after WEEKS and WEEKS of research and agonizing!!  Our kids education, safety, well being and self image are hugely important to us.  As parents our decision is made.  This year we will begin a new journey in cyber school. 

Hang with us, we will keep you posted on the progress, the melt downs and the excitement we expect to witness during this new adventure with Texas Connections Academy and The Kilby's!