Testing Week

So this week is our yearly standardized testing week. I have always opted to order the test from http://www.baysideschoolservices.com/. They are a fabulous company that rent out the testing materials and perform the scoring of your test and mail them back to you. We have never had any issues with them. I administer the test myself in our home. Now I know there are a lot of homeschoolers who may be a little affraid to take on this task themselves and they opt to have a testing group in their area administer the test with their children. My thinking behind chosing to do it myself is keeping my kids in their original school environment and with me, their teacher.

I may recieve some criticism for doing this myself. Like I'm going to cheat with my kids. I am after all trying to raise good peoples here. So what would that teach them. I don't help them with their answers. I repeat my famous line "mark your answer" over and over. LOL!!

After nine years of homeschooling and seven years of administering test at home things have always gone smoothly with nothing major coming up during our test week. But this year was a first. We woke up Monday morning all ready to get started and my 10 year old was not feeling well at all. He was complaining of his head, throat and ear hurting. As you all know that have boys, you know that they feel bad when they willingly lay on the couch all day.

As I started to freak out thinking, "Oh no, we aren't going to be able to get his test done. What am I going to do?" I started franticly looking through all the papers that the testing providers sent, and with a huge sigh of relief found that the company is forgiving if there is sickness and we are allowed to keep the test an extra week to get is finished. "PHEW"

So I'm off to get back to it and work on some more test!

Welcome!!

As I embark on my first blogging experience I'm a little nervous but excited. I have been homeschooling my two children for nine years. I began when my oldest was beginning kindergarten. That seems like forever ago. But when I considered sending her to public school there was no peace in my body to allow me to do so. And so here we are nine years later still going strong. My oldest is 13 years old, going on 21 and my second child is 10. They are as different as night and day in every aspect.
My 13 year old was born with Down Syndrome. And she has been my teacher her whole life. I believe my children have both taught me so much about life and about the person that I want to be and need to be for them and everyone around me.
I was 17 when she was born and had no idea that she had Down Syndrome until the doctors placed her in my arms in the delivery room. I knew right away as I looked at her little face. But eveyone around me wanted to not believe it yet. But my mother instinct had set in immediatley and I knew. She was mine and that was all that mattered. I was a single teen mom who's life had just done a total 360. As I reflect on these moments my heart is softened at those precious moments between a mother and child that you never forget. Even though I was still a child myself there is nothing to stop that instant bond. And instantly creating the need to do whatever necessary to protect and provide for them. Leading me to where I am today.
Homeschooling both of my children has been such a blessing. To watch as those little light bulbs inside their noggins shine so brightly through their eyes when they have read their first sentence. There is nothing in this world that can be bought to replace such happiness and joy. I would love to see a Mastercard commercial done about homeschooling your children because it truly is priceless!