Featured Homeschooler: Jennifer

Posted by Nikowa Lee | 0 comments

Please welcome this week’s featured homeschooler – Jennifer of Pigpens, Pencils, and Presbyterians

1. Tell us about your homeschool.

I’m a tweaker at heart, so we follow a very eclectic approach in our homeschool. We began with the neo-classical approach used by The Well Trained Mind, but as I’ve learned more about all the different ways there are to homeschool, my tweaking heart took over. We’ve now planted our classical roots into a Charlotte Masonesque soil and are growing something a little different. I’m sure as we continue, the Spirit will keep on leading me to tweak away. We’re true Presbyterians, “Reformed and always reforming according to the Spirit.” Mostly though, we live an educational life. That’s what we love, so even if we aren’t “doing school” on a given day, there’s always learning going on. My biggest challenge is relaxing and not burying my kids, and myself, beneath my own expectations. Well, that and keeping the toddler from eating all the crayons.

2. Share with us your funniest homeschooling moment.

Hmmm, that’s a tough one. Humor tends to make its way into most of what we do because, well, we’re kind of weird to begin with, but I’d have to say the funniest moment was the day we tried our hand at Sumo Wrestling.

It was early last fall, and sumo wrestling was one of the suggested activities for our 3rd grader’s history curriculum. We’d planned it for Sunday afternoon and talked it up to the boys. They were pumped. Usually we told them NOT to wrestle in the living room. There was no turning back. We only had one problem. That morning at church, a very sweet lady who’d been having a rough few weeks told us that, along with everything else, her refrigerator had died. We couldn’t let her sit at home feeling sad and lonely without anything decent to eat. We had to invite her over, but did we want her seeing us at our very weirdest?

So there we were, the pastoral family, with pillows tied to the boys’ waists and a circle of tape on the floor. They bowed and growled and stomped and pushed. Many of our congregants would have been appalled at such a display. Praise God, Linda, a public school teacher, laughed right along with us. I think it was just what she needed.

3. I bet 3 boys keep you busy! Tell us about them.

I grew up with 3 brothers and went to a military college (Go Navy!), so when it came time to have children, I was ready for a little girl. I wanted soft pink jammies and frilly lace dresses, but God knew better. My boys are a handful, but they’re a heartful too. Rob (8) is the consummate first born. He’s astoundingly intelligent, has an incredible heart for God, and a yearning to save the planet. He longs to be a leader. He’s an auditory learner who’s always talking, and I can’t wait to hear what God gives him to say. Michael (5) is my court jester. Although he’s also incredibly intelligent, his distinguishing feature is an infectious spirit that lights up every room he enters. He was once called “viciously cute”, and it truly fits. Finally, my Tommy (2) breaks hearts wherever he goes. If he sees someone who looks too serious, he will bend over backward, literally, to make them smile. He’s also annoyingly good at opening things that should be closed, reaching things that are high up, and batting his eyelashes when he gets caught. Really, I could brag on my boys all day long, but the truth is, they’re kids. They’re not perfect. Their intellectual giftedness is a much more difficult challenge than most people think, and their energy and noise often clashes with my need for peaceful surroundings. But, on those days when I’ve been flattened by all the testosterone, God points out the love they have for each other and for me. He gives me glimpses of the men they will one day become, and I’m left in awe. God’s perspective helps me to revel in the noise and mud while it lasts.

4. What do you do in your down time?

I’m sorry to say that I tend to waste my downtime thinking about what I should’ve done during my “uptime”, but, on my good days, I love to read, have deep talks with my hubby, and listen to a great podcast while walking with the only other girls in the family, our dogs, Charlotte and Emily.

5. What made you decide to Homeschool?

One day when my oldest was about 6 months old, I was doing one of my favorite things, browsing in Borders, and I came across an interesting looking book called The Well Trained Mind. I’d never considered homeschooling before that, and the only person I’d ever known who’d homeschooled was not terribly bright and got pregnant at 16. As I read the book, those impressions were blown away by the common sense of the idea. God gently reminded me of my own education. I had been an excellent student, but a great deal had been missing from my education. For me, from about 6th grade on, it had been about the grades, about being the best, and by the time I was a senior in high school, I’d forgotten how to enjoy learning. Honestly, I wasn’t learning anything but how to ace the tests. I didn’t want my kids to live that way. I wanted them to ask every question (sometimes I regret that one). I never wanted them to choose between being “cool” and being smart. I wanted them to have a clear path to their God-given potential, and I wanted to know them better than their teachers did. Our homeschool’s not perfect, but I think we are at least on the right track.

6. If you could have anything no matter the cost, what would it be?

The first thing that pops into my head is a mini-van. We’re rather cramped in our old, beaten up Explorer. One more baby would have us taking 2 cars everywhere, but really, when I let my heart speak, I come up with a very different answer. My husband, John, and I have a dream of owning a large property in the country called Shiloh where we can hold training events for church staffs and allow pastoral families to come to retreat. We’ll have a large organic garden, orchards, horses, and comfortable rooms and cabins linked to a central meeting area. Guests will be invited to work the land with us or just relax in nature. This longing is so deep and has lasted so long that I’m certain God has put it in our hearts. I have no doubt that He will make it come to fruition if we discern and follow His directions. We’re still working on that
last bit.

7. You make toys and costumes, how creative! What got you started?

I’ve always enjoyed making things. I even sold crafts at a farmers market for a while, but as money got tighter, it became more and more difficult to justify spending money on supplies. This financial pinch also made it hard to buy nice presents for our kids. When I put the two together, I was able to make the kids a few nice toys for Christmas and fun Halloween costumes every year, and I was able to happily craft away twice a year. I’ve made puppets and tunnels, dog and lion costumes, but my two favorite creations were a play-mat which has a town with roads and train tracks on one side and the solar system on the other (It rolls up for easy storage.) and a lion costume for Michael. Sadly, life has become too busy in the last few years for me to make much of anything. Maybe it’s time to break out the paints again.

8. What’s your favorite curriculum?

Ooh, well, like I said, I’m a tweaker. My favorite curricula have turned out to be the ones I’ve made myself. I enjoy the creative process, and the results always work just right for our family. I’m creating my own history units this year, and I’ve been working on a pre-K/Kindergarten Sunday School curriculum for our small church that’s turning out pretty well. My favorite, though, would be what I’ve put together to teach my boys to read. My two oldest were each reading easy chapter books by their fourth birthdays without any flashcards or boredom. Honestly, most of the phonics books out there made ME cry! If I had to pick a premade curriculum though, I’d say Singapore Math is the thing I’ve had to tweak the least.

Interview by:

Nikowa is a 2nd year homeschooling mom to two boys. (Ages 8 and 5) With her “learning never ends” philosophy, they have an eclectic year-round approach to learning. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys photography, organizing, cooking, reading, and knitting. She is a #1 LOST fan and watches UGA football too! (Go Dawgs!) You can visit Nikowa at Knowledge House Academy.