Nearing First Semester End

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

Due to a promotion at work, I have been unable to keep up on our blog here at Narrow Path. I think I would very much like to revamp the site, but am also very unsure how to integrate it into the children's INCA work.

INCA has not gone as well as I had hoped. Between one child's refusal to spend quality time on their work and the other is easily distracted and beginning their own refusal to cooperate and my promotion, I have not been able to give them the attention their education deserves. I am further frustrated by my husband's willingness to let the children's education slide the way it has. Their grades are the worst they have ever been, in danger of failing the grade altogether even though we are only at the halfway mark.

When I have the time to work with them, their grades improve. So why can't the three of them manage while I work to provide them this home and with the things they need?

~Mom on a Narrow Path and At Wit's End.

Week 2 of INCA

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

Week 1 of INCA is officially over and Week 2 has begun. Narrow Path is being largely overlooked unfortunately, however, getting used to the new school has been an eye opener.

Our family has used Google Chrome exclusively for the past four years or so, however we are quickly finding out that despite Chrome's wonderful features, they are going the route of controlling what their users can and cannot download or access. This means that the Windows Media Player Plugin that the children need to view certain videos through school cannot be accessed. How aggravating!
So, although I detest Internet Explorer, Victoria uses it as a backup for when something does not work through Chrome. Alexander is using my desktop, and I had completely ripped out IE years ago. I did this when the newest browser updates required Vista or higher. I also was using Mozilla Firefox exclusively for my web browsing. After some unfortunate side effects of Firefox updates around 2010, I came across Chrome and stripped my computer of Firefox and Safari as well.

While no computer system is without its fair share of problems, I pride myself on keeping a fairly quick running system (though my husband constantly complains about how slow it is running). When there is nothing installed on a computer, of course it will not get bogged down. Of course companies create software that worms its way into the start up processes, making your computer bog down so you will constantly upgrade your RAM. And of course, eventually your motherboard becomes maxed out on the number of bytes of RAM it can handle, so now you have to spend money to upgrade your motherboard. And unless you have gobs of money, are a geek (like me), or a gamer (like I used to be), you have no patience for installing a new motherboard. You will then find it easier to buy a completely new system for several hundred dollars.

Welcome to commerce in the latest century, folks.

Needless to say, I re-installed Firefox for Alexander. The children have been told that they are to use Chrome for school, but if something does not work correctly, try to use their alternate browser. If it still does not work properly, come get a Learning Coach.

Sometimes, technology is ridiculous.

Day 2 of INCA

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

Yesterday I had to work and so Dad was left home alone with the children to start their first day of Indiana Connections Academy. We are still tweaking the computers to allow the pages they need for school.
Lady Victoria seems to be handling it all quite well, though there were some technical difficulties with her Science lesson and she frankly is finding every excuse not to do PE.
Sir Alexander on the other hand is experiencing more anxiety. It boggles the mind since it has nothing to do with his actual schoolwork, but with the LiveLesson he was unable to attend this morning for lack of space in the online chat room. He was so looking forward to participating and sent the request at 9:31 am. It ended before he was ever accepted into the room. And he completely lost it. *sigh*

~Mom on a Narrow Path

Vacation

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

Of sorts. All the kids have to do this week is their Every Week list. This includes typing and math drills, reading and exercise and Connexus (Connections Academy). It will be the same next week as well. Well frankly it will be that way from here on out. I do not want to confuse them between what I am teaching and what their actual school is teaching them. So this is just a quick update in case anyone was wondering about where week 12 was in the pages.

~Mom on a Narrow Path

In Which the UPS Man Made Me Happy...

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

...And Legos Save the Learning Coach!

 I do not think I have ever been so excited to see the UPS man. Then again, I rarely order things that UPS delivers to my home. As soon as the brown truck pulled up and stopped in front of my driveway, I jumped up from my patio chair and set my laptop down. I think I even squealed. Alexander of course muttered, "Oh great!" in an 'I want to roll my eyes and groan' manner, but I was so excited to get those text books and supplies. The children are not excited about this new adventure, yet around every bend in this journey, I keep getting more and more excited. I'm bubbling over with a sense of adventure and curiosity.

     We will probably regret the decision, but I picked up an old computer we gave to my Pop to put in Victoria's room and my desktop will go in Alexander's along with my desk. Before anyone says, "but children should not have their own computers in their rooms like that! The online predators and bullies! Oh no!" I have precautions I am setting in place.

No. 1 The VNC program I mentioned a while back will be installed on all computers so that no matter what computer the adults are on, the children's computers will be accessible and monitored. We can tap into their computer and verify they are working on what they are supposed to and can exit out without the children even noticing.

No. 2 The computers will be password protected as well as their screensavers. Only parents will know the password. When they start working on their Narrow Path or Connexus for the day, a parent or "Learning Coach" will input the password. If they let the computer idle for longer than 30 minutes, the password will need to be reentered.

No. 3 I have set up supervised accounts in Google Chrome, which will be the only browser installed on the computers. I can super restrict the web sites they are able to navigate down to the schooling websites only, or when more trusted, allow them free reign and block inappropriate websites they may stumble into. Either way, we the Learning Coaches can log into the supervisor account and look at what websites they go to, blocking whichever ones we see fit to block.

No. 4 When it boils down to it, because they will connect to the internet via a wireless password protected USB fob and wireless password protected router, we have the ability to change the passwords whenever we wish and also remove the fob to prevent any unauthorized access to the net. These are not stupid or dumb children by any stretch. If they figure out how to circumvent my restrictions, the Wrath of Khan had nothing on me. We will resort to lock-down measures.

No. 5 The locks on their bedroom doors are on the outside. They have no way of locking us out for privacy or for doing things they are not supposed to behind our backs. These two will not be able to hide much from us at all. We will be able to log in and control their computer at any time and check up on what they are doing. I agree this shows a complete and utter lack of the right to privacy. There is a good reason for that.

     There is no trust. No parent should have to not trust their children, but these two have lost our trust many times, and yet we keep giving them opportunities to earn it back. As parents we are supposed to guide, teach, and forgive. We do not have to forget and we do not have to be stupid. We can set up precautions like what I have laid out above. I wish I trusted them enough to not have to resort to these measures. But it is what it is. If all goes well, the restrictions will relax. Until then however, they have to do some major attitude adjusting and a lot of interest displayed in bettering themselves.

     Alexander is getting excited though. It probably has to do with the headphones with mic Connections supplied for them to be able to talk to their teachers and classmates. But either way, he is getting into the idea of learning in the comfort of his own room and having his Learning Coach (me) get into it. I have not played with his Legos with him in a long time. Yesterday though, we drew out a map of ancient Greece, shaded, colored, and labeled it. Then we got the Lego dudes out and used them to explain the movements of key figures during the Trojan War and the Legend of Odysseus in Homer's The Odyssey.

     Proud Mama moment: When my entering-the-fourth-grade son relayed back to me how King Menelaus of the city-state Sparta (played by heat visioned General Zod) had a beautiful wife named Helen (played by Lois Lane). He was tired of fighting wars for his brother King Agamemnon (played by a heat visioned angry Superman), who already controlled most of Greece. So he tried to set up a peace treaty with Priam, the king of Troy (played by a bald and weaponless red/black Ninjago ninja). Priam sent his two sons, Hector (played by a red/black dual katana wielding ninja) and Paris (a red/black crossbow holding ninja) to a party King Menelaus was throwing in honor of their treaty. Paris thought he had fallen in love with Helen, and so kidnapped her. As the story went on, a blue Ninjago played Odysseus, a white Ninjago played Achilles, a bearded sailor played Ajax and we made the Lego men move across the map we had made. After the war, we cleared the board of all the Lego men (and Lois) and picked a Legoman to play Telemachus, Odysseus' son, and played out the Odyssey. He got it, he really got it. Score one for learning with Legos!

~Mom on a Narrow Path

Three Months: No Change

Ok. Didn't get the promotion. College and sleep are in fact mutually exclusive for a working parent. And still rocking the shoe department, increasing sales over last year. MY sales numbers for last year.
#likeaboss

In Which Life Gets In the Way of School

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

Life. Sometimes it is such a pain.
     Last night as I finished my assignments for my college week, I was concerned with the delay for Narrow Path lesson designing. Then today as I took into account the children's dismay at the Social Studies map assignment (SS9.2), I realized we needed a lesson on Map Use.
     I have spent the majority of today arguing with my son about doing his NP work and attempting to make a Powerpoint Presentation for a lesson on Map Use. At the same time, Dad threw his back out a few days ago and needed Victoria's help doing some of his clients' lawn mowing.
     These events threw the schedule for Science Project day all out of whack.
     The massive amounts of work I put into creating these lessons and the lack of perseverance in getting the assignments done simply reinforces the realization that my children hate to learn. They think that because it is summer, they do not have to do anything.
     This does not fully represent real life. At all.
The pace and amount of work they expect is probably what I will do once they start Connections Academy. I am concerned that they will not put any effort into completing their school work with Connections because they are at home. This fear may be unfounded, but it is a fear nonetheless due to their attitudes towards NP.
     I am thinking we will eliminate quite a lot of the weekly work from here on out anyway. I have reasons which are as follows:

1. I work a nearly full-time job.
2. Dad is just not into working with me on this.
3. The children must be pushed to get anything done. He says get it done without offering assistance. I try to help them understand.
4. I am trying to get a degree and have my own homework to do too.

     I am sure I could come up with more.
~Mom on a Narrow Path

Moving to Ancient Greece

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

Not really, but instead of trying to focus a little on each of the 7 Ancient Wonders, I realized how arbitrary the list actually is. Yes. It is an accepted list of history. Is it in any way, shape or form somehow an official list of what was best? NO.

Amazing how when you are learning how to home school your children, how much more of the world YOU learn! The astounding amount of information that has been crammed into my head in the last two and a half weeks is amazing. What is on the site is not even half of what I read through and studied. In between my own coursework of course! Which is BORING in comparison to learning how to teach Victoria and Alexander.

Tonight, I kinda roped David into taking over. Since neither child had completed the back side of the Homework Page, I suggested they all do it together. David would control his computer, which uses our HD TV on the wall as a second monitor, while the two of them read the articles and answered the questions. Of course, Victoria, who is going into the seventh grade, exasperatedly asked why they were always doing fourth grade work. (She caught the fourth grade label on the bottom of the Greek Allusions in Literature presentation at prezi.com.) I attempted to explain that I have been picking fourth grade to make it challenging for Alexander, and get her used to doing home school with things that should be easy enough. I also mentioned to them that both of them are really struggling with it.

I changed the format of the pages again too. I know my family hates it when I change things so much, but it is simply because what we were doing wasn't working. I am trying to make changes as we go, cause hey! I'm learning at this too!

This is also because we got our state standardized test scores back. For starters, what they passed, they were so close to getting into the Pass Plus bracket! What they didn't pass... Well, it was abysmal. I told them to consider Narrow Path during the summer as their "summer school" and that they were lucky they were not being made to go to an actual summer school. I also feel that in at least one of their cases, the teachers have just been continually passing the child so they do not have to deal with trying to teach them again. I am really hoping that with Connections Academy, we can have a more hands on and interactive daily experience with their teachers and work on what they are struggling with.

I know every parent thinks their children are really intelligent, however, I know my two are really intelligent. One just has to learn how to focus the hyperactivity and the other one had to be convinced of their innate intelligence. There is no reason for a parent to convince their child they are stupid in this day and age and I had to undo that damage. I'm still trying to undo that damage. And it is aggravating.

I tried to allow the children to use a guided "unschooling" method, but their participation points dropped tremendously. They would have much rather just sat and played video games or played toys or make the same craft over and over and over again. So while I really admire the Unschooling method, it just really does not work for our children right now. Maybe some day we can follow the great philosopher Plato's advice, but we are not there yet.

Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each. ~ Plato

~ Mom on a Narrow Path

Accidental Vacation

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

We have inadvertently taken a vacation from Narrow Path. Alexander is struggling with completing his TypingWeb and XtraMath. Part of it is sheer laziness. He says it is too hard. What I feel is "too hard" for him is to sit and maintain the attention span it takes to complete anything. We will be talking with the doctor next visit about changing his ADHD meds.

With my new set up of one page of activities for both children, I do not think it is fair to ask Victoria to do parts of her learning while he continues to slack off. To her credit, she has continued to work on her TypingWeb anyway and is almost done with the next level. Without being asked or told to do it!

The other unfortunate part is that I added in some physical activities, but the week I did so, our living room where the game systems are was filled with garage sale items so there was no room to use the Xbox Kinect and the Wii. To make matter worse, for some reason the Wii will not turn on and there is a game disc in it. This takes out the ability to use the Wii Fit Board.

I also started a more difficult course in college and it's taking a lot more of my time than I expected. I was hogging my computer which Alexander usually uses.

For my education, I needed to purchase Microsoft Office, and at this point, I was not going to purchase a version that would become obsolete in a few years. I wanted to go straight for the 2013 version which required Windows 7 or higher. I went for broke and purchased a laptop running 8.1 with a touchscreen using my tax refund when it finally showed up. I then purchased Office 2013 for around $60 through my university. I couldn't be happier with my purchases.

Further, I was able to download and install on my Windows XP desktop and my Windows 8.1 laptop a little program called TightVNC Viewer which allows me to be in my room working on my homework while letting Alexander be on my computer and I can monitor the websites he is actually going to. I see what is on his screen. Really cool. The true purpose of the software is to allow me access to my desktop computer's files. This way the only documents I need to worry about moving to my laptop is... Well, nothing.

I also installed a little network chat program called Simple Chat that allows me to have a little conversation with my son when we are on the computers. If I find I need a file, I can enter into the chat window that I need to access the computer and he lets go of the mouse long enough to allow me to do what I need to do. Alternately, if he has a question how to do something, he can chat me and I can look at exactly what he is doing. If there is a tech issue, I can remotely fix his problem.

I am considering putting these same two programs on my husband's computer in order to help Victoria if she has tech issues with her dad's computer. Some might call me lazy for using this method, but you have not met my kids! Every 5 minutes there is an issue with the computers that so desperately needs my attention, and I waste more time getting up from my homework to deal with simple user error than I do getting work done for school. This is about efficiently using my time.

I also believe that in this age of technology, my children may be comfortable using computers and gaming systems, but they do not know how to type well, nor do they understand the how or why of why it works. Just to put an example of how little the kids pay attention to the world around them: My employer changed our dress code policy almost a year ago to blue jeans, black jeans, or black pants with a black shirt. It has been this way for nearly a year, mind you. On my way out the door this morning, I was asked, "So you get to wear jeans to work now?" Really? Where have you been this past year child??

I think that by allowing them to sit at the computer and watch as I move the mouse around the screen they will get more familiar with how the computer works. Up until now, I would sit in the chair when they had an issue and their attention would wander to something else or they would leave the room entirely. This isn't a perfect solution, but it is a start.

Furthermore, I have the option of sending a tiny package with a one time use code for TightVNC Viewer to my friends and family when they need my assistance with a tech issue. As long as they have internet access working, I can tap into their computer and fix it without the computer having to come to my home or me go to their home. Whew!

Video Games and TV Time

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

We have always had a problem with our kids having too much time on the XBox, Wii, Nintendo DS, computer games, television and movies. I searched around the internet and came across TV tokens. It was usually designed for use with children younger than my own, however I figured I could modify it. One site even had a plastic holder on the wall where the children could move their used tokens down to the used token spot. This uses the Honor System, which means nothing at this point to our children.

Over the years, two of my three grandmothers collected board games and their paraphernalia. That said, I inherited quite a bit of these items. In a Ziploc baggie, one of my grandmothers had a bunch of little red plastic tokens. We decided to give the children a set number of tokens for 30 minutes of video games and a set number for 30 minutes of television. We also told them that there was the opportunity to earn extra 30 minutes for doing what they are told immediately and well. These extra 30 minute tokens could be used for either activity.

This week we found out that the Sharpie used for their initials on the tokens (to keep them from stealing each other's tokens) and TV or VG for type of token (so they cannot try to use TV time for video games or vice versa) rubs off when handled too much. So instead I got out my cordless drill and new drill bits my husband bought me.

I ended up needing to use his drill since my battery was dead, but I also needed to decide how to differentiate the tokens still. Each child has 6 tokens for television, 6 tokens for video games, and a reserve of 5 extra 30 minutes tokens. These 30 minute tokens are kept with the Redeemed Tokens container in my bedroom. This keeps them from stealing back their tokens to use again. (You may think I sound like I do not trust my children. You would be right. We have had our change jars raided, children's candy stashes stolen, etc. As I said, the Honor System means nothing to our children.)

So Victoria's TV tokens have a single hole, video games have three holes, and reserve tokens have five holes. Alexander's TV tokens have two holes, video games four, and reserve six.

 There are also limitations and tolerances on the use of tokens.

1. Tokens must be redeemed by taking tokens to a parent.
2. Family Television time does not require token use.
3. Agreeing on a movie or television show does not require token use.
4. Video Game use must always be accompanied by a token, even if playing together.
5. TV tokens can not be used more than four in a row. (To cover solo movie time.)
6. Video Game tokens can not be used more than two in a row.

This system is being grudgingly accepted, and it has been slow going this first week. There has been a lot of "Did you pay tokens for that?" and a lot of "Dad, where did you put the tokens the kids gave you?" For the past two weeks, tokens were left over for one child and the other monopolized the living room. Trying to keep everything fair for the two children is really tough. They originally started with ten video game and four television tokens. No one has earned extra time yet. We cut out two hours worth of video game time available but added an hour's worth of television.

The next possible step to this is to label some of our movies. My husband is very proud of our movie collection. (722 movies strong. The very large bookcase we bought for the collection last year started out half full. It is now full. He refuses to part with any of them.) The majority of the movies are inappropriate for children to watch in my opinion, but what he wants to let his own children watch, well I cannot stop him, even though the girls' mother agrees with me. There are plenty of family friendly and good action flicks as well, and nearly every superhero movie made in the last two decades.

I'm sure he will have a problem with me labeling his movie cases with how many tokens each will require. I may just write a list of movies and how many tokens each will cost. This will probably be a three column sheet of paper with the movies they typically watch broken into 2, 3, and 4 tokens.

We'll see how the next week goes with the new tokens.

~Mom on a Narrow Path

May 24th, 2014

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

Whew! Week 1 is over! That was pretty intense!

We have had some blow ups this week with children not wanting to do their NP work. There have also been some rough days at school this week and that has definitely contributed to the behavior at home. However! Here's the light at the end of the tunnel. Lady Victoria has actually gotten in the habit already of getting home from school, coming to the nearest available parent and asking "Can I get on Dad's computer to do Narrow Path?"

Be still my beating heart!

I hear a lot of "This is easy!" under her breath. Of course Sir Alexander is usually in the room trying to do his TypingWeb and he is struggling. He gets super super frustrated with his fingers and there's a lot of growling and gnashing of teeth. I think part of the reason Lady Victoria says "Oh this is easy!" so much is to rub it in Alexander's face that she's better at this.

That is right up until I pointed out to her than she is still hunting and pecking keys which makes her accuracy high, but her speed Really Low.

So far though, they have sent me emails for Narrow Path. Alexander and I are corresponding by email and carrying on a conversation that way as well as through notes under his bedroom door (which is helping his handwriting). They have also put library books on hold by themselves, navigated to a World Book website, and printed their own documents as directed. In less than a week, they are already navigating through the items on their to do list without very much direction from me. I'm starting to leave detailed instructions off the pages, and instead of skipping it, they are maturely looking for me and asking me what I meant.

I really think it helped when I insisted I was new to this too. That they were helping me test it out. "Each week something might change," I told them. "Maybe I find a better way to lay out a page or find a new website I want to use."

They often ask if they can play some of the other activities on the sites I've had them go to. I have to tell them no every time. "But Mommy!" is often heard during Video Game time. It gets explained that I want to use some of those activities for NP later on and I don't need them using them up. They also giggle when told that their excitement for learning is awesome, but slow down! I can't keep up!

In other news however, we had a runaway cat for four days and that took up a lot of time as well as working on my own coursework for college. Fingers crossed this all keeps going in the right direction.

~Mom on a Narrow Path

3rd Grade Assessments, Part Two

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

I regretfully graded Victoria's assessment and am very dismayed. She did slightly better than Alexander in three subjects, but quite a bit worse in Language Arts. In order to pass the assessments, they needed at least 70% correct in all subjects. Now that I know they should not pass or should not have passed the third grade, I'm not sure how to proceed. I was truly hoping they would at least be to grade level.

I have gone over the percentages with Dad and we have decided to have them retake the assessments on Sunday, May 25, 2014 in a guided format. After I post this, I will be running through their answer sheets to determine what they struggle with. The first week of Home Study will start them on their online journey as well as go over the areas they struggle with.

All while starting my own paper for college. This will slowly drive me crazy, but it will all come together eventually.

~Mom on a Narrow Path

3rd Grade Assessments

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

Yesterday, the children took a 3rd grade assessment. To say I am disappointed would be a severe understatement. I do not blame the children per se. I blame the schools and my husband and I.

I have not graded Victoria's. Why? Let's get a little background. I have a little artist's easel purchased at Walgreens for $15 dollars last year. My husband found paper trays for a really good deal at Habitat for Humanity's ReStore. In the bottom portion of the easel, three of these paper trays fit perfectly. The top tray is Victoria's since she is taller. The middle is Alexander's since he's shorter. The bottom one is the "Turn In Tray" where anything they need to turn into us their "Teachers" or "Learning Coaches" goes. When I told her to turn in her assessment, she put it in the wrong tray. Am I being ridiculous expected her to put something in it's correct spot? Will high school teachers or college professors look around for everyone's tests or papers? Or will they expect the student to make sure items are turned in properly if they want the grade? She is 12 years old. In my opinion she should not still be able to use the excuse, "Well I didn't know." Alexander, aged 9 turned it into the correct tray. So what gives?

Alexander on the other hand failed 3/4 of the assessment. It was the 3rd grade assessment and he is finishing up the 3rd grade, so I was expecting a lower grade, but a 21% in Social Studies, a 13% in Science, and a 44% in Mathematics? As far as the Social Studies and Science, I have long ago realized that his elementary school does not focus on these subjects the way they should. I have still to go through the assessments and see where he has issues. I am also considering having him retake the assessment at the end of the week one on one. He currently has an F in his Writing portion, yet achieved a 82% on his assessment, so I'm not sure quite where to go with that. I also know that he is struggling with Multiplication and Division.

All in all, this gives me a place to start helping him. My biggest concern is his Core Study Skills which he answered only 6 out of 20 correctly. If a student does not understand where to find correct answers, how are they to learn or teach themselves? This is the first section we will tackle.

~Mom on a Narrow Path

Start Date Edit

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

We have moved back the start date of Session One to May 19, 2014. This allows the first session break to line up with their first week at Connections Academy. I have started to make up Session One Week One for the children. They are daunted by the amount of text on the screen from looking over my shoulder. When I explained to Victoria at dinner the other night that the only reason the text is so long is that I have put specific instructions on how to send an email, how to log into accounts, etc. and that the instructions will not always be there. Eventually the To-Do item will simply state, "Log your start time." rather than the current "Open your binder to the first tab. You will find a Study Time Log. In the first column, write the date. In the second column write the time from the corner of the monitor." You get the drift.

With the use of Gaggle at their current schools, they kind of get the gist of using an email service. Now I am trying to fine tune their knowledge base and give them plenty of practice. They will be able to email their teachers at any time through Connections and I want them to have practice ahead of time.

Victoria was also quite dismayed at being required to do "Home School" during the summer. She seemed very relieved when I told her that the first Session is just like my first College course at Phoenix. The whole point of the class is to learn where things are, how to use them, and how to correctly complete or turn in assignments. I told her I don't want her to sit down for her first day at Connections and not be able to find anything. I asked her if she remembered walking around her Middle School weeks before her actual first day at the school. She sort of understood then why we are doing this.

She also does not like that we will be continuing the Home Study Program after school starts back up again. I tried to explain to her that since I will have access the actual lessons she will be doing for her teachers, the Home Study will be adding to it, WebQuests doing fun things with the knowledge she learns through Connections. I gave her this example:

You did a report on Ireland for your Social Studies class. I printed out some maps and flag coloring pages for you to get acquainted with the country and have some fun coloring them while you were at it. That was ok, right? 

 She gave me the so-so hand gesture with her cute, 'I don't want to say it was fun' smirk. So I grinned and said, "Narrow Path Home Study is going to be like that all the time."

"Oh."

~Mom on a Narrow Path

Welcome to Narrow Path!

(Originally posted to Narrow Path Home Study blog on Weebly, now deleted.)

We finally posted our little Home Study Website. Starting May 12th, the kids will start checking the site for any study projects and/or research they need to do. Since neither child has had much experience with the internet other than to play games, I decided to set up their home study responsibilities as close to their Connections Academy responsibilities as possible. We still have to finish orientation, but we are well on our way to becoming Home School parents, though Connections is still considered a Public School.

May 1st, we attended an Informational Meeting at Indiana Wesleyan University here in Fort Wayne. 90% of the information was not new to me, however, my husband and the children were hearing it for the first time from someone other than me. When I explain things to them, I tend to get tuned out. The main presenter was a 6th and 7th grade Math teacher for INCA. By the end of the session, Victoria was somewhat excited about the idea of going to this school. This is of course after about four weeks of hearing her mouth off about how it was "the Dumbest Idea Ever!" I heard her from the back seat muttering "I hope she's my math teacher!"

Keeping fingers crossed!
~Mom on a Narrow Path

M.I.A. Part Duex

I thought after the first of the year life would slow down.
It didn't.
Normally my hours drop down to less than twenty a week, usually only twelve to fifteen. It is the price I pay for being a peon. This year however, the snow came in droves and schools were closed more than they were open! My few days off were spent entertaining the children and helping the hubby shovel snow. But why did I have so few days off? I'm glad you didn't ask.
After three and a half years with my company I have learned a thing or two. Maybe more than two. In fact, I started as a cashier then moved into the stockroom to accumulate more hours. During that time, I learned how to sort softlines product by department, hardlines product by area, and even how to merchandise product in the front half of the hardlines side. I also took it upon myself to learn how to run our guest services area. I did so in order to keep floor asociates on the floor to deal with stock rather be called up front to help when a return/exchange line formed while I stood with nothing to do.
Before I knew it I was one of the primary guest services associates. Then upon getting passed over twice for the lead position for my department and quitting the stockroom due to too many personal injuries, I set my eyes on the floor departments. Without meaning to, I quickly took the shoe department in hand and raised the department sales over last year by thirty percent. Wow!
During the busiest part of the year, I was tapped for our Cash Office. Within three days of being trained I trained my Cash Office partner and we've been running it ever since. We also took over supply inventory and the layaway audit. Needless to say, I've been a busy girl!
Now I'm trying to break into the home department again and looking forward to finding a promotion to full time there.
Thanks to all those days off from school, my husband and I realized that our children were more pleasant and better mannered when they weren't gone at school all day! Hard to believe but the longer they were home and the more hours we spent in intense monitored interaction wih them, the less defiant, more helpful, happier they became. The first day back to school, one child came home and got disrespectfully defiant with me starting a household war, while the other came home to tell me about getting in trouble for getting into an altercation with another student.
I cried hard and asked them what happened to the wonderful children I sent off to school that morning. While they were home we also noticed that neither had any desire to develop good study habits though we have tried so many ways to encourage it. After several weeks of discussion and research, we have decided to pull them from traditional school after completing this grade.
In the meantime, I have also decided to finally go to college. Hubby and I are also finally getting our business running well.
DIY projects are at a halt though my cooking and baking skills are getting a workout! Yay for strength training!
Stay tuned for more adventures!
As always, I remain,
Her Royal Pinkness, Elizabeth I

Narrow Path Home Study About Us Page

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

~ Matthew 7:13-14

 I have always been a student. Not necessarily always in a classroom because I believe we are never too old to learn new things. Collecting information over the years has made my brain and my home a knowledge repository. I wanted to share my knowledge with others seeking enlightenment or self-improvement. I created a website called The Narrow Path. Though it was never finished or fully published, it was in my mind and heart. The true path for any person is narrow, for you are the only one destined to take that path. You may have a friend or two with you for short legs of the journey, but their paths split off from time to time.

As Matthew records, 'wide is the gate to destruction' and death. Those who follow mass beliefs, walking a wide path with everyone else, have lost the ability to think and reason for themselves. This was never Christ's intent! He gave us the guidelines for how to live, but also gave us free will to make our own way.

With behavior and medication issues, my husband and I are pulling our children from a brick and mortar public school system to a virtual public school. I feel that with a more hands-on interactive approach to teaching, our children will learn how to get along with other people intimately and better as well as learn the necessary impulse controls they are currently lacking.

I also feel that we can finally add study of God's Word. I was raised in a church while my husband and his daughter were not. My son has spent half his life in church environments and has a good grasp on his beliefs even though he doesn't know why. To him, Jesus just is.

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. 

I do and I understand."

                                          -- Confucius

While Christian, I believe that any religious, spiritual, or political leader who has the well-being of the people and the world around them at heart is wise. My role models go beyond the men and women of the bible and I firmly hold to many teachings about love, respect and honor.

Confucius was a wise man. The quote above has proved quite true for myself and my children. Since the three of us have ADHD/ADD, it is far easier to see with our eyes, do with our hands, and say with our tongues than to hear with our ears.

Narrow Path Home Study is a collection of webquests and worksheets I am developing as the summer and 2014-2015 school year progresses. My hope is that my children can use them in conjunction with their public school assignments for extra learning time in a fun and innovative way that also helps them become more comfortable with technology, keyboarding, and social awareness. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at narrowpathhs@gmail.com.