Take Root and Write

Do I Need A Personal Retreat?

 

 "Please pray for me," a lovely young homeschool mom asked me at church last week. "It's the middle of July and we are still finishing up last year's work. I feel so overwhelmed."

I smiled and offered a word of encouragement.

Later on that night, another mom contacted me on facebook. She was frantic. There was so much going on with discipline issues for her two sons that she could not focus on planning the next year.

"Please pray for me!" she begged.

I could go on and on. The economy has some of my friends who have been raising children, keeping their homes, and homeschooling at home for years, to have to get part-time jobs. Reluctantly, they left their home to earn some extra money. They continue to homeschool, but it is more challenging.

Another friend is dealing with health issues. Does she have cancer or is the lump benign? What do the homeschool books say about that?

Are You Ready?

It is almost time for the new school year to start, time to purchase school supplies, time to start a brand new school year. You may still be recovering from last year. In fact, your children may still be finishing up last year's schoolwork. You may be facing significant issues that are rocking your faith or testing your character.

We can shift into autopilot to do our lesson plans, purchase curriculum, buy supplies, and get everything ready. But is our heart ready for the new year.

I love homeschooling, but I can sometimes find it hard to focus the way I want to. In the past three years, I have lost my mother and father after helping them through difficult health issues. It was hard to take care of my parents and so much harder to lose them. I cannot tell you the miles and hours I logged in my minivan, traveling back and forth to be with my parents for another surgery or medical test. When I lost Mom and Daddy, the emotional pain was, and still is, intense. Nothing prepared me for the sorrow that I would feel after they died.

Homeschooling was hard. It was hard to focus sometimes. Homeschooling was not up to my usual standard of excellence and, often, I felt guilty. Can you homeschool effectively with a heavy heart?

My friend, Miriam, going through a painful relational struggle, admitted to me, "I don't even want to homeschool this year, but I know if I put my children in public school, things will just get worse for my family."

I nodded my head because I agree with Miriam. We sometimes think that everything needs to be "perfect" for us to homeschool effectively. We don't realize how much we are a blessing to our children by being with them 24/7, listening to their dreams, praying with them, reading the Bible together, showing affection, and modeling the Christian life for them.

When times are rough, stay the course. Read books together aloud. Focus on the most important subjects. Major on the majors and minor on the minors. But maybe, you need more than to just hang on. Maybe you need to be refreshed and encouraged by the Lord Himself. What about a personal retreat?

A Personal Retreat

To take a personal retreat, you need a quiet place for a few days, a comfortable place to stay, worship CD's, inspirational books, and your Bible.

Summer is a great time for a personal retreat because you can get last minute deals on nearby hotels who have cancellations. Or you might be able to stay a few nights in a friend's house while her family is on vacation.

Plan to spend plenty of time resting and sleeping so that your body is refreshed. You may consider fasting or, at least, eating healthy while you are away.Don't forget to exercise. Long walks along the beach or in the woods can refresh your spirit and get your blood circulating. 

Spend time worshiping with worship CD's and reading Scripture aloud. You might want to do a personal Bible study on a topic that interests you. Ask the Lord to refresh your spirit. Bring along books that will minister and encourage you--not books that will overwhelm you and add tons of stuff to your "to do" list.

Cover the school year ahead with prayer, committing it to the Lord and asking him to fill your heart with faith. Pray for His perspective and heart for your family and the teaching ahead.

Don't feel awkward or scared if you have never been alone with the Lord before. . .it is wonderful! You might just want to start with a day or half-day. Whatever you choose, get away with God and let him refresh your heart.

Honoring Homeschool Dads

Father's Day is over and life is back to normal. Dad is back at work. You are either homeschooling or taking a much-needed summer break.

It got me thinking about my husband and other homeschooling dads. Here are some things I hear often.

"I can't remember the last time my husband and I had any time alone together."

"I am up late working on the computer and he gets up early to go to work. We never see each other anymore."

"He just doesn't appreciate all the time I spend homeschooling HIS children."

"I wish he had a better job. We can barely get by on his income."

Often, when I talk to homeschooling moms, they ask me for advice on how to get Dad to do more or to be more supportive. Many times, in the hustle and bustle of homeschooling a houseful, romantic life with Dad is put on the shelf and Mom focuses on the children, maybe more than she should.

So, what can we do to honor and appreciate our husbands more and express criticism less.

Helpmates

We are God's girls first, wives second, and homeschooling moms third. Our husband is our second priority in life! We are given to him by our Heavenly Father as a gift to be a companion, help, and blessing. Ask  yourself each day, "How can I serve my husband today and fill his life with joy?" Focus on him and his needs. Teach your children the same thing!

Clutter & Homeschooling

"What are you doing?" my husband asked. "Are you coming to bed soon?  You've been on the computer all night."

"And all day too. I'm making room on my hard drives. They are both full. I deleted 4,000 emails today. Now, I'm deleting duplicate picture files. My camera is 10 megapixels and the files are large. Also, there are a lot of video files from Shine and Phoebe..."

"Okay, Honey. It's fine. Don't explain. I'll see you in the morning."

I have 600 somethings on my computer. My computer friends told me that my computer has enough space that I will never fill it. Hah! Little do they know!

Clutter in my Life

I can fill anything--an empty drawer, an empty bookcase, an empty room, and an empty hard drive. I create piles of papers and books wherever I go. If I walk into a room, I will leave behind a pile of books.

But, filling up my hard drives was a wake-up call to me. I have a problem with clutter. There is clutter in my homeschool room and clutter in my computer. I might join a support group.

"Hi, I'm Meredith Curtis and I'm a pack rat. I hate to get rid of anything because one day I just might need it. How do other people live without collecting piles of things?"

Homeschooling Lessons from the Sound of Music

Mom and I sat spell-bound in the movie theater until the final credits were over in the 1960's when The Sound of Music came out. My little girl's heart thrilled as Maria twirled through the hills of Austria singing. I loved the laughter of the seven children of Captain Von Trapp, the urging of the Reverend Mother for Maria to Climb Every Mountain, and beautiful wedding where the nuns sang "How Do you Solve a Problem like Maria" in the background. My romantic heart thrilled over the white gazebo, the folk dance scene, and final escape over the alps to freedom.

Mom bought the album for me and I played it over and over again while I twirled through the house pretending to be Maria twirling through the alps. I imagined being a governess, a nun, and the mother of seven children. Here are the lesson I have learned from The Sound of Music.

The Sound of Music brings Joy

Once the captain realized that Maria brought music back into his home, his heart softened. "You brought music back into the house. I'd forgotten," the captain said to Maria. His anger toward her melted away when he heard his children singing.

Music brings joy with it. I want to fill my home with the sound of music--from the classical strains of Handel and Bach to the rockin' beat of Hillsong United and Kutless. I want them to sing along with worship songs in the car when we drive and to make up silly songs when they are happy. 

Another High School Graduation

"Which way do you turn the tassel?" (Tassel? Did we order a tassel?)

"Did you send in the bio for the program?" (I just can't remember....so many bios...)

"Don't worry, Mom, making a slide show is easy. I'll help you!" (Thanks, Shine!)

"Do you want to have the party at my house?" (Yes, thanks, Janet!)

Another graduation, my third homeschool graduation, and my head is in a whirl. So busy getting ready, so focused on all the details, that today, at graduation rehearsal, I was taken by surprise. The minute I heard Pomp and Circumstance, tears began to flow. I'm not ready for my sweet daughter to leave the nest. Can God just slow down time?

Our support group has a lovely graduation. The parents award the diploma then the  graduates share a talent or gives a speech. In the reception hall, graduates set up a table with pictures and mementos. On Rosie's table, she had a letter composed for our church. In it, she expresses her love for each member and shares her journey as a pastor's daughter.

She speaks of her resentment in her early years of trying to live up to people's expectations, feeling like she could not measure up to her "perfect" older sisters. Rosie shares how Jesus ministered to her over time, bringing her to a place of submission and joy in Him. Now, she ministers by leading worship, mentoring, and teaching children. In the letter, she describes how love for church family bursts up in her heart! She just wants to squeeze each person.

Honoring Homeschooling Mothers!

This Sunday, we will celebrate all mothers and give them the applause and honor they deserve for their love, sacrifice, and devotion. To all you homeschooling moms out there, this is my applause to each of you. You are my heroes!

Come On Over For a Visit!

If you could come over to my house, I would put the tea kettle on and make you a big mug of herb tea. Then I would serve you a slice of my gooey rich Tunnel of Fudge Cake, rich chocolate cake with a ribbon of creamy fudge running through it. We would sit and talk about life, homeschooling, husbands, children, world affairs. I would encourage you, tell you that you are doing a great job, and remind you that you are the perfect parent for your child. 

Then, I would give you a dozen roses, one for each year of homeschooling your children. I would ask you to smell the lovely fragrance and remind you that we are the fragrance of Christ to our children; and our whole family is the fragrance of Christ to the world.

We would tell each other stories and swap homeschooling tips, maybe even trade recipes. Soon, we would admit the really funny stuff, those stories that make us laugh until tears stream down our faces.

After our visit, we would probably discover that, in spite of all our differences, we have so much in common, especially our heart for our children.

Homeschool Moms are so Cool!

There are many great maternal figures in the world, but, after all, who else but a homeschool mom....

...Gets up early while it is still dark...oops, wait a minute, that's the Proverbs 31 Woman...teaches her children to fix their own breakfast at the age of two so she can grab a few more winks before she hits the ground running. After all, she was up all night nursing the baby.

Is it Time for a Field Trip to the Beach?

 "Can you give me my spelling test?" my 12 year old son asked me, again. He has been trying to get my attention. But I am staring out the window.

"Mom, when can we do writing?" Jenny Rose asks me. We are a few lessons behind in our writing course, One Year Novel Adventure. I really enjoy the course. It actually has helped me in my own writing a lot. I plan to sit down when we are finished the course and watch all the video segments again. But, even though it's a great course. I just don't feel like doing it right now.

"Did you finish grading my persuasive paper yet? Oh, and can you think of any more topics? I can't think of any more topics. In fact, I'm tired of writing persuasive papers. How many more do I have to write?" This is all from my daughter who will IM for hours, persuading her friends on facebook to follow Jesus. I should say something about that to her, but I just don't feel like it.

What is wrong with me? It happens every spring. I just want the school year to be over. I want to do something else besides homeschool today. Maybe I could get a massage or play tennis or get a pedicure or try out a new recipe or write a song.

You see, the problem today is that the sky is just so blue. Florida has these incredible blue skies that captivate my heart and call me outside.

Finish Well

 "The skit was excellent. But, unfortunately, that is exactly how my family is," a man admitted to my husband at the Finish Well conference. He was referring to the skit that opened up the conference on Friday night portraying the communication problems that many homeschooling families experience in their homes. This skit revealed the spiritual battle that occurs when we try to communicate.

After the skit, many fathers listened attentively as Pastor Mike challenged them to lead their homes. Pastor Mike walked the fathers in attendance through the process to win back the heart of a rebellious teen. In fact, you could hear a pin drop. Every eye watched Pastor Mike and listened intently. I never knew the problem was so intense in homeschooling families. People needed hope. When an altar call was given, dads rushed forward to ask the Lord to help them, and anoint them.

Wow! I did not dream the Finish Well Homeschooling High School conference would begin like that. Well, actually, the conference began with airsoft games in the late afternoon. Maybe that was foreshadowing of what was to come. Later, in the evening, the battle in our homes was revealed. Still later, the Lord began to be victorious in men's hearts, winning the battle!

Learning about St. Patrick

Holidays are always a great excuse to get off track a little bit and enjoy a scenic "rabbit trail" from the usual routine. This is especially true when spring fever is attacking even the most disciplined homeschool mom. So, since St. Patrick's Day is coming up. . .

Who is St. Patrick? Isn't he an Irish priest? Is he a leprechaun? Is he a legend or a real person?

St. Patrick was an English missionary and Apostle to the nation of Ireland. He was captured by Irish pirates as a young boy. St. Patrick is a Christian hero that your children will enjoy learning about.

In a day where our heroes are robots, terminators, or men lacking integrity, it is so good to learn about a true hero, brave in every situation.

Kidnapped!

Born in England during Roman times, Patrick enjoyed life in a Roman colony seaside village. His father was a priest in the Celtic church, but Patrick did not want to serve God like his parents did. It took a disaster to bring him to the Lord.

One day, Irish pirates stormed Patrick's seaside village and killed many of the inhabitants. At the young age of fourteen, he was kidnapped, taken as a slave to Ireland, and worked as a shepherd. Ireland was a land of pagans and Druids who worshiped idols. Patrick felt very homesick.

During his captivity, he remembered his parent's faith in God and surrendered his life to Jesus as Lord and Savior. He grew closer to the Lord during these years and did his best to be a shining light for His Messiah.

Beauty Secrets for Homeschool Moms

Who doesn't long to be beautiful? As homeschooling moms, very little times exists in our lives to dedicate to outward beauty. We are rushing, moving, working throughout the day, making the world a better, brighter place for our family.When we finally get some make-up on our face and a pretty outfit on our body, it is more than likely to be spit upon or spilled on by one of our little ones.  

If we have several children, our bodies are not as trim and firm as we would like them to be. There are also those pesky bags under our eyes from sleepless nights of nursing a sick child or comforting someone who's had a bad dream.

Beautiful Moms

Yet, I think that there is nothing more beautiful than a homeschool mom!

Motherhood is beautiful. The gaze of love that a mother gives her child is breathtaking to behold. The look of joy on a young woman's face when her little one learns to read, or pee-pee on the potty, or recite his multiplication tables is lovely.

There is a beauty about pregnancy, nursing, and motherhood that is impossible to duplicate. Moms lugging a load of laundry to the washer, washing dishes at a sink full of suds, or bandaging a boo-boo are pleasing to the eye. How delightful to watch a mother giggle with her toddler or gaze in wonder at a butterfly with her young child.

Lord, Teach Me to Love!

Love is in the air! St. Valentine's Day has just been celebrated and all the chocolate in pink and red wrappers in 50% off. My favorite time of year! Pink and chocolate combined. . .at a great deal! The roses are still lovely, gracing the dining room table. Heart shaped cards are on the buffet, a reminder of being loved by my family.

Love is an emotion that wells up inside my heart when I watch my children sleeping, see them win an award, listen to them. or hear them talk about the Lord. So often, I am proud of them, not just for their achievements, but for who they are and who they are becoming.

Love, of course, is more than an emotion; love is a choice to do good for someone else at cost to your own personal comfort. Love is all about the other person, giving them your best, trusting God to take care of your own needs. We are commanded by God to love one another deeply from our hearts, to seek their good, to lay down our lives, to care about their interests, to honor them above ourselves.

So, we experience love as a daily decision and we experience love as a delightful emotion.

But, of course, there are those times, when it is hard to sing the songs of love and devotion, when I must cry out to the Lord. . .

Teach me to love when my son walks around the house in his socks, wearing them out and getting them filthy dirty, after telling him at least 877 times to put his shoes on or go barefoot. After all, we live in Florida. We really don't need to wear socks and shoes.

Books and Beyond

"I needed to hear what she had to say," Blanche admitted, referring to the speaker. "I brought my children home from public school, but I still treat them as if they are doing homework, rather than homeschooling them. Does that make sense?"

"Well, I think so," I mumbled. I didn't want to admit it, but I wasn't following her yet.

"I don't have the homeschool lifestyle down yet. It's still just about academics, not relationships. It's all about them just getting their work done, not about spending time with them, helping them grow up to be godly men."

"Yes, I understand." I nodded at her reassuringly. "It sometimes takes time to shift your mindset from one thing to another. Don't throw academics out the window, but focus on being with them, learning together, loving them.

(Blanche and I continued our discussion, making plans to follow-up the talk at a later date at sandwich shop. God was breaking through, giving her a paradigm shift. I was excited!)

Where is my Hairbrush?

 "Where is that necklace," I fumed, searching frantically through my dresser drawers. I was rushing off to sound check, running late, trying to get dressed and out the door. Suddenly, I had an inspiration.  Rushing down the hall, I entered my daughter's room, opened her drawer and quickly examined the contents. There was my necklace!  I scooped it up and headed to church!

God has blessed me with four daughters and one son. Life with five children is wonderful! I dreamed of having a big family as a little girl. The Lord has made my dreams come true! I never imagined that Jesus would give me such amazing children. If they weren't mine, I'd want to go out and adopt them!

There are some things, though, about sharing a home with four other women that make life challenging.  For example, if I get a really cute shirt, I'll never see it again...except on one of my daughters. My make-up walks on its own to another bathroom because everyone denies borrowing it. And worst of all, I can never find my hairbrush! 

Over the years I have bought hundreds of hairbrushes. I always put one in my purse and one in my bathroom drawer. Lo and behold, they always disappear within twenty-four hours of purchase! Believe me, I understand why banks have their pens on chains. I have considered chaining my hairbrush!

Learning and Loving and Living At Christmas

Next week is Christmas! There is so much left to do. By now, homeschooling is finished until after New Years Day except for that child that is "catching up" on math or some other subject because they are so behind! But is school ever over? What things does God have to teach us and our precious children this holiday season. Gather around, my dears, and let me share some Christmas lessons. 

There's not always time to do everything we want to do!

So many Christmas dreams beat in our heart! If you are like me, you want to be the "perfect mom" doing all the perfect Christmas things and making our family enjoy the best of everything Christmas has to offer. There is simply not enough time to do it all.  As God to show you what beats in HIS heart and to order your schedule. No one will be heartbroken if you do not make Aunt Edna's Cole Slaw on Christmas Eve, but maybe the homemade eggnog is just too yummy to not make. Try simplifying recipes and traditions so that preparation time is shorter and family togetherness time is longer.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps," (Proverbs 16:3).

God often supersedes our plans for better plans!

We made our plans, tie them snugly to our heart, and put our whole heart into bringing them to pass. When inconveniences or surprises happen, they catch us off-guard, making us hurt or angry. But, God is on the throne of your life! Only what He allows to happen, happens. Even if it is an attack of the enemy, it has to get through God's protective hands, so relax when your plans change. I hate this as much (maybe more!) than you! But I know in my heart of hearts that when God disrupts my plans, He is often testing my heart. Will I respond with a submissive, obedient heart or will I fail the test. Make plans, work to bring them to pass, but, ultimately, leave the results to God. He is good at running your life!

Gift Ideas for Homeschooling Families

Christmas is here and it's time to go Christmas shopping. Yes, our intention was to be finished by now and have the presents neatly wrapped, but, even if we've begun to shop, there are still people on our lists.

Gifts to Give as a Family to Neighbors, Friends and Extended Family

We often do a unit study in December. We also take lots of Christmas field trips. Part of our Christmas unit study is making gifts. We make wreaths, ornaments, quick breads, cookies, and, even, perfume. All the gifts we've made for others fall under the subject of homemaking or art. You can teach sewing, serging, quilting, cross-stitch, baking, cooking, canning, and handwriting during the gift making process. 

Beside the usual fudge and Christmas cookies, here are some ideas for gift giving:

• Pretty dish with a casserole inside that just needs heating up
• Ceramic loaf pan with a loaf of freshly baked bread
• Photo album or frame with pictures in it
• Scrapbook with a page finished by you and the kids
• Inspirational book
• Christmas mugs with hot chocolate packets or herbal tea bags in them

What are the Personalities of the Kids you are Teaching? - Part 2

Let's continue our look at the personalities you are teaching in your home! We talked about Cholerics and Sanguines last time. Now, let's look at the melancholy and phlegmatic personalities.

Matt & Meagan Melancholy

Matt and Meagan like to sleep in because they stayed up late last night writing a brand new song or story. Melancholy personalities tend to be extremely gifted and talented, though often insecure about their abilities.They often focus on what they can't do, rather than what they do well. They will complete a project that looks absolutely perfect to you and dissolve into tears because of some invisible flaw that only they can see.

Idealistic is the word that comes to mind when I think of my melancholy friends. They are often perfectionists who think that something worth doing is worth doing well. (I agree!) But, they will take this to an extreme so that if something isn't done perfectly, it is unacceptable. This makes it difficult for them to try new things that they are not gifted at such as sports, singing, playing an instrument, math, art, driving a car, babysitting, or really anything. They will procrastinate because they fear failure.

What Personalities are You Teaching at Home? - Part 1

We talked last time about your personality and how it affects your teaching in What Homeschooling Personality are You?. But, what about your children's personalities?

Children are each uniquely made in the image of God. There are certain traits to look for in the personality of each of our children that will help us to adapt our teaching style. Let's take a look!

Sam & Sarah Sanguine

Sam wakes up with a bounce! "Who are we going to see today?" he asks as soon as he sees you. He loves co-op day, field trips, and unexpected company. In fact, he loves anything unexpected, especiallyfun surprises!

Sarah loves hanging out with her friends. Her favorite part of homeschooling is co-ops, homeschool classes, social events, and field trips.The more people involved in an activity, the better!

Because Sam and Sarah love meeting new people, keep school work focused on people rather than facts and dates when you teach them about history, science, Bible, character, or English. They want to know who was involved in the events that happened in the past, what people wore, who married who, what friendships existed, and, especially, what people did back then to have fun. Focus on Bible personalities and their relationships with God, rather than details that don't interest them.

What Homeschooling Personality are You? - Part 2

Every homeschool mom is unique and none of us are perfect. There, I've shattered two of the myths of teaching our children at home. Still, we try to fit a mold of the perfect homeschool mother and often feel that we miss the mark. God has a sense of humor--just look at His creation! As part of that fearfully and wonderfully made creation, each one of us is one of kind, a delight to our Heavenly Father of Lights!

Our personalities play a big part in how we educate our children at home, sometimes even why we do it. So, let's have a little fun and talk about homeschooling mother personalities. Then we'll take a look at homeschooling-child personalities. Last week we met homeschool moms, Susie Sanguine and Maggie Melancholic! This week, we'll meet Carol Choleric and Phoebe Phlegmatic.

Carol Choleric

Carol is efficient and energetic. She maintains a schedule with the perfect balance of home and away-from-home activities. She is in only one support group, which she leads. She is a dedicated leader that cares about the other homeschooling moms who come to her for help and advice.  Many  families end up using the same curriculum that Carol does, so she is extra careful in her choices. 

What Homeschooling Personality are You? - Part 1

God made you uniquely you!  There is no one else in the world like you and are the perfect homeschooling mom, carefully chosen by the Father of Lights for your own children.

All homeschooling moms are unique because of their spiritual maturity and their personalities. We can grow in the Lord, but we can also cultivate our personalities. So, let's have a little fun and explore this topic together. Maybe you will see yourself (or your best friend!) or maybe you'll see one of your children. On a more serious note, adapting our homeschooling style to fit our personalities can make a big difference in the joy and success we experience in homeschooling.Today we will meet homeschool moms, Susie Sanguine and Maggie Melancholy! (Next time, we'll meet Carol Choleric and Phoebe Phlegmatic.)

Susie Sanguine

Perky and popular, Susie loves homeschooling, except when she hates it. She is clever and funny, coming up with creative ideas to teach almost any subject. She participates in all kinds of co-ops, support groups, enrichment classes, and extracurricular activities. In fact, she and her children are seldom home. Why join one support group, when you can join three, is Susie's motto.  She has many friends and other children wish their moms were more like Susie.

Building Your Homeschool Library - Part 2

Last time, in Building Your Homeschool Library I, we talked about shopping for children's picture books, classic literature, Christian literature, and historic fiction. Today, we will talk about more genres to add to your growing homeschool library.  The following categories of books will make great additions to your homeschool library, so be sure to investigate these genres. Talk to other homeschool moms about their library suggestions.

Biographies

This is my favorite way to learn about people from other times and places. Biographies, like historical fiction, introduce us to the time and place we are studying by seeing it through the eyes of one person, the subject of the biography. When I close a biography, I feel like I have a new friend. Of course, usually this new acquaintance lives somewhere far away and is no longer alive! When I was a little girl I read every single Childhood of Famous Americans, a series of biographies written for children, that I could get my hands on. Now, my son Jimmy loves to read them. Autobiographies are biographies written about the author. Two autobiographies that our family enjoys are Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin. Closely related are diaries and journals. We read The Log of Christopher Columbus in US History class, his personal account of his famous voyage across the Atlantic in 1492.

Inspirational BooksThese books are for all ages and help us grow closer to the Lord. Purpose Driven Life and Prayer of Jabez and wonderful examples of this category of books. My children have a deep desire to grow in their walks with Jesus in their teen years. They have enjoyed some of my favorite books and have discovered their own favorites. Here are some more Curtis favorites, both classic and modern, to inspire spiritual growth: A Christian's Secret to a Happy Life by Hannah Whittal Smith, Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hannard, Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy, I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Josh Harris, Prison to Praise by Marlin Carothers, Improving Your Serve by Charles Swindoll, Victory over Darkness by Neil Anderson, and Search for Significance by Robert McGee.CookbooksCookbooks are always fun, especially historical or geographical ones with recipes you can use to supplement history class. We have enjoyed The U.S. History Cookbook:  Delicious Recipes and Exciting Events from the Past by Joan D'Amico and Karen Eich Drummond. Another great E-book cookbook is Aunt Sarah's Alaskan Cookbook. Cookbooks usually have interesting food facts and history tidbits to spice them up. Don't underestimate their value in the homeschool library.

Building Your Homeschool Library I

Books, books, and more books! That's the way life is for homeschooling families. Every good school has a good library and home schools are no exception. But what books should you line your shelves with? Here's a quick overview of what kind of books will benefit your children and you during your family's homeschool adventure. 

Remember you can build a library slowly. Don't rush out and buy everything. Look for sales and become a frequent shopper at used book stores and thrift stores. I have picked up many classic books for 25 cents. My favorite place to get books is at public library sales. The libraries often toss out older, more conservative books to make way for modern silliness. That's great for us!  We can pick up expensive classic books for a song.

Here are the kinds of books that you should purchase with examples of quality reading material in each category.

Picture Books for Young Children and Early Readers

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman was my husband's favorite book as a child. It's on our shelves too and my children enjoy it just as much as he did back in the sixties. A picture book purchase should be based on the story and the illustrations. There are picture books in our library that are practically works of art. There is a list of our family's favorite picture books on our website, Joyful and Successful Homeschooling.

Picture Books for Older Children

These books are wonderful for read aloud in unit studies. Do you know that no one is too old to read a well-written, beautifully illustrated picture book? But there are actually picture books written for older children that our family uses for unit studies. The Library of Alexandria by Kelly Trumble is a lovely book about the largest library of the ancient world. The oldest living story, Gilgamesh, is available as a picture book, Gilgamesh, the Hero by Geraldine McCaughrean, that our family has been delighted to listen to as mom reads aloud.

Classic Literature for Children

My mother read Little Women and cried when Beth died. I cried too and so did each of my daughters as the read the well-loved, well-worn pages of this classic by Louisa May Alcott. Swiss Family Robinson is an excellent classic to have available for your children to pick up and read. For several classic book lists, see Joyful and Successful Homeschooling's Reading lists or Classical Christian Homeschooling's 1000 Good Books List.

What School Supplies Do You Need?

It's that time of year when the sale fliers are filled with school supplies at great prices. So, what should you buy? What exactly do you need to have in your schoolhouse to make teaching easy and effective?

Let's start with what you don't need. You don't need anything fancy or expensive. Those things are fine to buy if you like, but plain folders serve the same purpose as fancy ones, so don't get sucked in to buying something that you don't need.

You can stock your home school with supplies as needed, but do take advantage of the sales. A glue stick for 5 cents is a great bargain! Pick up items that are on sale, especially notebook paper and pencils, which seem to be used up at astronomical rates in our home! I pack a grocery cart this time of year with bargains. The secret is to only buy those things that I really do use during the year. Here are some items to consider purchasing eventually for your school supply cabinet.

Paper

Lined notebook paper, computer paper, construction paper, drawing paper, graph paper, card stock, and watercolor or finger painting paper all get used at our house. Paper doesn't wear out, so buy whatever you have room to store. I purchase a year's worth of paper each August.

Writing/Coloring Supplies

Watch out! These items disappear behind couches, under seat cushions, in the van, and inside the dog's mouth. So prepare to purchase these items in bulk:  pencils, pens, washable markers, crayons, colored pencils, and white board markers. Don't forget big crayons and pencils for little fingers.

Globe

We use this all the time.  Make sure it's sturdy. My son and his best friend used ours for a bowling ball during a history unit study and, thankfully, it survived.

Large Laminated World Map

Another item we use all the time in history or geography class. It's great for praying over the nations of the world too. Rand McNally still makes the prettiest large laminated world maps, at a relatively inexpensive price.

What does it Mean to be Educated?

 

Throughout time, cultures have valued an educated man or woman, but that definition has changed throughout the years and is different in various cultures. Let's look at historical differences in the definition of an educated man or woman in our own Western Culture. We are influenced predominately by the Hebrew, Greek, Roman, and Western European Cultures.  

Ancient Greeks

The Ancient Greeks loved to lounge around discussing beauty, art, and philosophy. The ideal for beauty is seen in their lovely statues and beautiful architecture. The ideal for education was the ability to appreciate and discuss beauty, literature, art, and philosophy.  "Wisdom" was esteemed and searched for in those who were educated. 

Ancient Romans

The Romans were men and women of action! Good Roman leaders rallied the troops and people to conquer most of the known world, build roads and bridges, and enforce the Pax Romana (Roman Peace). The ability to speak persuasively in public was highly valued by the Romans. Though they studied many subjects, persuasive public speaking and the ability to win a debate decisively were the marks of an educated man or woman. 

Ancient Hebrews

Although they struggled to remain loyal to the One True God, Hebrews valued obedience to the Lord. Their education focused on learning the Scriptures, memorizing them, and living them out in daily life. They even added more requirements to the Law given to them by God through Moses. To the Hebrews, an educated man or woman knew God's Word and obeyed it.

How to Spot a Homeschooling Mom!

 Back in the early 1990's, when I started homeschooling, it was easy to spot a homeschooling family. They had eighteen children between the ages of 2 and 10 who could all speak fluently in seven languages, plus a nursing baby. Mom, of course, was pregnant, drove a minivan or Suburban, and dressed in jean jumpers.

Nowadays, it's harder to spot a homeschooling mom. She still drives a minivan, but she dresses differently. She might have ten children or only two. So, how do you spot her?

Sneak into her house. She has bookshelves in every room jam-packed with books. There are even bookshelves lining her hallway, making it challenging to navigate your way in the dark.

If you ask her a question, she tells you to go look it up.

She prefers documentaries to television shows and thinks that her children do too!

At holidays, while everyone else is decorating and baking, she is researching the origins of the holiday, how the holiday was celebrated in Colonial America, and turning her family celebration into a unit study.

Even though she never took Latin in school, she thinks all children should take at least one year. 

How Can our Homeschooling Family Make Disciples? III

"And Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I will be with you always, even to the end of the ages'"  (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV).

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. As His ambassadors, it is our privilege to tell the world the Good News! We have talked about building godly character and habits in our children. We also discussed mentoring our children and being planted in a local church. Now it's time to talk about winning the lost and making disciples with our children. What a glorious privilege!

This an extension of both mentoring and being planted in a local church. Local churches are in the business of winning souls and making disciples thus fulfilling the Great Commission. Find out how your local church does it in the city where you live. Get involved!

When our children were very young we taught them a simple Gospel outline so they would remember it clearly. The outline was simply this: God, Man, Jesus, Faith. We started by explaining that God was holy and He loved us, but man had a big problem: SIN, rebellion against a holy God. Because God loved us so much, He became a man, sending His Son, Jesus to die for our sins. We have to respond to the Gospel with faith or rejection. To have faith in Jesus is to trust Him and surrender fully to His lordship in our life. If we don't receive His free gift of eternal life, we are rejecting Him. This is the Gospel in a nutshell.

We taught this to our children over and over. Then we role played sharing the Gospel with people. I would pretend to be a little child on the playground and we would role play a conversation that might lead up to a chance to share the Gospel. We did this many times for several years until our children were confident sharing the Gospel.

How Can our Homeschooling Family Make Disciples? II

"And Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I will be with you always, even to the end of the ages'"  (Matthew 28:1-20 NIV).

We've talked about building godly character and habits in our children's lives. Now, it's time to mentor our children, be planted in a local church, and reach the lost.

Mentor Your Children

Take your children under your wing and teach. Spend lots of time talking and listening to your children. Each child will be different and blessed with varied gifts, talents, strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. Learn to give thanks for each child and make it your ambition to truly know and love them all. Give your child positive feedback as often as possible, affirming and encouraging your child to be the best he/she can be. Look at Jesus and try to imitate his style of mentoring. Take your children with you (one at a time) when you run errands, minister to others, go to conferences or workshops, make lesson plans, and any other thing you can think of. While you are doing what you do, explain why and what you are doing. "I'm reaching out to Sandy because she just had an operation and she feels so lonely. I want to encourage her. I bought her this gift because..." This may sound silly but mentoring is taking someone alongside you while you do what you do, eventually having him/her do the same thing. This is the best way to instill a love of learning, a heart for the lost, a passion for Jesus, healthy relationships, and godly behavior. Your children will be so blessed if they experience a friendship, parenting, and mentoring relationship with you.

How Can our Homeschooling Family Make Disciples? Part One

"And Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I will be with you always, even to the end of the ages'"  (Matthew 28:1-20 NIV).

Christians call these verses "The Great Commission," our glorious purpose while we are on this earth. Homeschooling families who love Jesus desire to fulfill this Great Commission in their lives. But, how can we fulfill this great task?

Our first priority in making disciples is not in the faraway nations of the world, but starting with our children is our first ministry. We want to make disciples of our little ones. Our goal is not converts ("Susie accepted Jesus when she was ten-months old, but doesn't like church anymore), but rather disciples ("Susie accepted Christ as a young girl, and she has been growing closer to Jesus in the past three years, there has been much transformation!). The question we ask about our children is not "Have they accepted Christ?", but "Have they accepted Christ and are they growing in the Lord?".

The responsibility to make disciples in our home does not belong to your pastor, your teen leader, your children's pastor, or your wonderful homeschool curricula. The responsibility to instruct our children in the Lord and His ways belongs to us!  No one can take the place of godly parents who love Jesus, model a godly Christian life, and mentor their children to follow in their footsteps.

Read the Word of God

The Word of God is living and active, able to transform lives. Start reading the Bible to your children as soon as they are born. If you never have begun this practice, start right away. Read the Bible together as a family and teach your children the habit of personal devotions.

Learning Never Takes a Vacation!

We live a lifestyle of learning that never takes a vacation!  We are always learning and growing, discovering God's world around us! Yes, go ahead and put the school books away this summer and have some fun.  But, don't stop learning.

There are a myriad of opportunities for learning and you can probably think of many more.

Walk outside. Walk along the ocean, through the woods, across a field, near a lake, in a garden, or go on a "Wet Walk." Nature is full of interesting things to look at and discover. Let children gather rocks, twigs, shells, or other "neat stuff," as long as it's legal. We once brought home a legally protected box turtle (we rescued it from the middle of a highway) and had to return it where we found it or face a stiff fine.

"My purse is so heavy," I would think to myself when Julianna was a little girl. Cleaning it out, I would discover rocks and more rocks. Julianna collected rocks wherever we went and had the most exciting time adding to her collection when we vacationed in the North Carolina mountains. Jimmy discovered stamp collecting in a homeschool coop and I shared my extensive stamp collection with him. Now, his stamp collection is huge! Let children start a collection. The ideas are endless: stamps, coins, rocks, baseball cards, dolls, tea cups, postcards, spoons, figurines, action figures, or memorabilia. Each collectible has its own history.

Learn a new skill this summer. Take swimming lessons at the local pool, take a ballet class, learn to square dance, take tennis lessons at the recreation center, sign up for summer sports at the Y.M.C.A., take a class at Michael's such as cake decorating or tole painting, sign up for music lessons at the local community college, or take a Bible class at church. What are your childrens interests? Follow that lead and expand their knowledge and skills.

Look for ministry opportunities. Is there a neighbor that is unable to take care of her lawn or do minor repairs around the house. Offer to mow the lawn, weed the garden, or trim the bushes. Is there someone from church in the hospital. Visit with the children, bringing homemade cards and bright smiles. Invite the new family in the neighborhood over for dinner and watch a movies together. There are so many natural ways for your children to learn to serve, reach out in love, and show hospitality. Take advantage of these opportunities while your schedule is less busy.

What is Truly Important

Daddy's surgery had been successful, a result of the many prayers of devoted Christian friends. After two nights in my house, he was back at home in his assisted living apartment. It was the day before my birthday and we were heading to the beach for my annual birthday beach trip. There were three vans full of friends and family members. The sky was bright blue, as only Florida skies can be, and the sun was shining brightly.  My husband called me on my cell phone as I was singing along with Hillsong United. 

"Pull the van over, honey, and then call me back," he replied quickly to my bright "hello."

I obeyed quickly, moving into the right lane and taking a right turn into a residential neighborhood. Had Mike and the children been in a car accident? Was someone hurt? Was Daddy okay?

Daddy had been in the hall talking to his friends, but thirty minutes later when the nurse checked on him, he was gone.  He had quietly died while reading the Sunday paper. He made it through the surgery successfully, healed quickly, was happily enjoying his friends, and suddenly gone.

My sister flew in immediately and we spent my birthday making funeral arrangements. The rest of the week it rained day and night with dark stormy skies--unusual for Florida, but perfect to match the deep sorrow of my heart.

Meet Joyful and Successful Homeschooler Terri Johnson

Terri Johnson is joyfully homeschooling and mentoring new homeschooling moms! Terri founded Knowledge Quest, providing history resources, after making blank outline maps and timelines for her own six children. I met Terri when I received her online mentoring course, Homeschooling ABC's to review and realized you would like her as much as I do.  Let's get to know joyful and successful homeschool mom, Terri Johnson.

Meredith:  Terri, you mentioned that Susan Wise Bauer's The Well Trained Mind inspired you to make blank outline maps for your own children. Are you a classical homeschooler?

Terri:  No, although we do implement some classical concepts into our homechool. Actually I would consider myself an eclectic homeschooler. When we started out, we pursued unit studies. That was a blast! Then I discovered Charlotte Mason and our studies took on this flavor until I stumbled upon The Well-Trained Mind. I became convinced that the classical method was best. I was only schooling two of my kids and they both fit into this mold very well. However, as my next two daughters became old enough to join us in our school studies, I realized that I needed to alter some of the ways that I taught in order to accommodate them. We have gone back to Charlotte Mason methods and unit studies to bring some flair back into our school days. I even use textbooks for a few subjects. I truly am an eclectic homeschooling mom!

Meredith:  What led you to homeschool?

Terri:  Our oldest daughter learned to read a few weeks before she turned four and this put me in a conundrum. We were afraid that she would be terribly bored in school with the major emphasis on phonics instruction for the first couple of years. So, we decided to begin homeschooling and put her into school around 2nd grade when the rest of her peers would be reading and the emphasis would shift into other subject matters.

However, when second grade rolled around, our son was entering kindergarten and  wanted to homeschool just like his sister! So, we decided that if we were teaching one at home, we might as well do both. That was the last year we considered putting our kids into traditional school. In the early years, we just took it one year at a time, a good way to approach homeschooling, because it is the Lord that leads us on our path. We will see all our children through school in this way, as long as the Lord continues to make a way for us to do so.

Continuing Education for Homeschool Moms!

 Doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, and other professionals all continue to learn and grow in their professional lives.  What about homemakers and homeschool moms? Since the task before us is even more important, shouldn't we continue to grow in our role as home educators? There is only one person in the whole world who could do what you do? God did not make anyone else to fill your shoes. No one would be a better mom for your children or a better wife for your husband. God doesn't make mistakes! With that said, we can all keep growing toward maturity in Christ and be equipped for every task that is before us.

The Bible gives us a formula for growing as wives, mothers, and daughters of the King of Kings.

"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God.... so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive" Titus 2:3-5 & 10 NIV).

God's formula for us to grow as wives, mothers, and home educators is to learn from older women who have run the race with good fruit as a result. Before you sit under an older woman's teaching or take advice from a homeschooling book, look at the fruit. What kind of sons and daughters have they raised? Are they the kind of sons and daughters that you would want to send into the world? Keep in mind, there are no perfect families, no perfect homeschooling moms, and no perfect adult children. That's why I suggest asking yourself if the fruit is similar to the fruit you want to see! Also, learn from a humble mom's mistakes. We all have regrets. Listen carefully to those regrets and be warned!

Evaluating Your Homeschool Year & Planning the Next!

Summer is almost here! Time to hit the beach, go on vacation,...and buy next year's curriculum. Maybe you homeschool year round, but our family, loves summer vacation. Before you hit the beach, why not sit down and evaluate the past year so that you can make a wise plan for the coming year. How did this past year go? Were you able to finish all the work you planned at the beginning of the year? Or are you planning to spend the summer "catching up" on this year's work.

Often, we make excuses when things did not go well and assume that next year will be better because it will be different, so we make similar plans. My husband tells his congregation that the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." An honest evaluation will tell us what is working, what is not, and why.

Pull out all your lesson plans, records, and completed schoolwork from the past year. Compare records to lesson plans. More important than finishing work, did the children learn what you wanted them to learn? What helped everyone learn and remember? What unexpected "teaching moments" or "real-life experiences" made the school year memorable? Why? What did you enjoy teaching the most this past year? What were some times that you felt the children really "got it"?  When did the children finish all their schoolwork, but still not "get it"? Do you see any patterns?

Making History Come Alive III

We discussed laying a foundation with personal history, family history, and Bible stories in Making History Come Alive I and using timelines, outline maps, and writing projects in Making History Come Alive II. Ready for more?

Hands-on Projects

Get out the glue, scissors, hammer, paint brush, and sewing machine. It's time to make things!  Children, especially younger children, love to make a mess...I mean, they love to create. Being creative doesn't have to mean complicated. Simple collages requires only magazine pictures, glue, and paper.  We've made models of colonial houses, trebuchets out of wood, simple pouches to carry important papers, wigs out of batting for Charles Wesley, butter, and Roman standards to carry into battle. Some of our hands-on projects were complete disasters. We stained carpets, broke family heirlooms, and damaged trees. However, these fun projects are the things your child will mention in his high school graduation speech...just wait, mine did!

Games are fun! Play Made for Trade, to learn about colonial money, trade, and occupations. You can also make your own board games.

Cooking & Baking

Bake your way through time! Everyone loves to cook and eat! Bake scones, make clotted cream, and enjoy high tea. Studying Japan? Sit on cushions around a low table on the floor enjoying sushi. Learning about Passover? Enjoy a traditional Passover feast. Studying St. Patrick meant corned beef and cabbage, while Martin Luther was celebrated with apple strudel.

If you are interested in more ideas about cooking to learn history, see Cooking & Baking to Learn History, Geography, & Science. Learn about Mongolian BBQ and Viking Smorgasbords.

Music, Art, Literature, Philosophy, & Scientific Discoveries

There is music for every time period in history. Bach's Christ-honoring music followed the Reformation. In fact, Bach was born near the castle where Martin Luther translated the Bible into German! Classical composers and hymn writers all take their place in history. St. Francis, a monk in the Middle Ages, wrote the hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful, still sung in churches today! Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley, lived when the American colonies were being settled and traveled as missionaries to Georgia. Charles composed Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, or Christ the Lord is Risen Today.  We sing these hymns in world history class! We also listen to Gregorian chants, folk songs, and classical music.

Just like music, art takes its place in history. You can check out lovely books of art from the library and visit an art gallery in your living room! Leonardo da Vinci, the poster boy for the Renaissance, was an amazing artist, inventor, and philosopher. To protect his ideas, Leonardo wrote backwards so that you had to hold his writing up to a mirror to read it. Your kids will love to try that hands-on activity! You can also purchase fine art coloring books with post card size reproductions of famous art masterpieces from Dover Publications. While looking at reproductions, your child can color in famous works as art, making their picture look like the original.

The invention of the light bulb, telephone, automobile, and telegraph changed history. Add this to your studies!  Learn about Galileo, Copernicus, Newton, Kepler, and Einstein in world history. Philosophers and theologians changed the world. Thomas More's Utopia, opened the way to do more than dream of perfect societies. Though he loved God, More's works would pave the way for atheists, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Karl Marx. We see the world embracing their philosophies today. We talk about philosophers and scientists, discussing their relationship, or lack of relationship, with the Lord and how that affect their worldview and life work. 

Act it Out

Play-acting is fun long after children will admit it. Even adults love to dress up--just observe a costume party! Dressing up as knights, cowboys, monks, disciples of Jesus, queens, nuns, soldiers, and Roman slaves has been part of history class.  Once we had a Roman slave auction. A chariot race would have been more fun, but I was at a loss of how to do that one!  We have role played historical conversations or speeches, such as Patrick Henry's speech on liberty and compromising at the Constitutional Convention. My children have written short plays or skits, acted them out, and videotaped them.  We have laughed at George Washington, Richard the Lionhearted, and Betsy Ross. When my older girls were little, they loved pretending to be Meg, Beth, and Jo from Little Women; Anne and Diana from Anne of Green Gables; or the Ingalls girls from the Little House on the Prairie series.  The American Girls series was another favorite in our house for pretending and play-acting.

Shaping History through Family Prayer

Your family can participate in shaping history too!  Prayer changes history. Learn about current events and pray. Christians can be praying for the precious lives of unborn children and for God's mercy in the world's economy. As people around the world turn to government for solutions to problems, instead of crying out to God, pray for world-wide revival. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see nations looking to the Word of God for solutions in economics, science, morals, resolving disputes, and running their governments?  What a wonderful world that would be!  Let's shape the future by reading, discussing, and praying about current news issues in history class.

Have fun in history class, but realize you can't do it all.  Pray for wisdom to choose activities for each time period you study. God is the Teacher of your family. Keep His Word central in history class, focus on stories, and add fun. Your children will understand and remember history.  In fact, they just might wake up and say, "What are we doing in history today?" 

Making History Come Alive II

We talked last time about laying a foundation with personal history, family history, and Bible stories to help bring history alive for your children.  Now let's build on that foundation.

Study history as a collection of stories as much as possible. Even if you use a textbook, add stories of people's lives, historical events, and defining moments.  For example, if you are reading the textbook about the Revolutionary War, stop and tell your children a quick story about George Washington's Farewell Address  "And then, George Washington paused and searched for his spectacles. As he put them on, he apologized explaining that his eyes had grown weak in the service of his country. The mood in the room instantly changed..." You can also read picture books aloud that go along with the time period you are studying to bring a story into history class. For specific ideas on using books for history unit studies, see my article, Quick and EZ Unit Study Fun with Living Books I.

Geography & Outline Maps

Geography has a huge influence on history. Most major cities are on natural  harbors because, before planes and trains, ships carried goods back and forth between nations. A mountainous nation with extremely cold winters will produce a different culture than a tropical island nation.

Looking at maps for an understanding of where cities and national borders are in relation to one another helps children picture what is going on in the history stories they are reading or listening to. The more of these borders and relationships they can remember, the easier it will be to understand what happened so long ago. The easiest way to remember rivers and bodies of water, landforms, cities, borders, and relationships is to fill in blank outline maps while they listen to a history CD (Diana Waring's CDs are great!) or watch an historical movie or listen to music from the period in history you are studying. I always encourage my children to make their maps as beautiful and accurate as possible. You can find blank outline maps at Geography Matters or Knowledge Quest Maps.  

It is wonderful to see maps from the time period you are studying alongside maps from present day. Overlay maps are wonderful tools for comparing the time periods. Another great way to get a feel for the place you are studying in history is to watch travel videos, filled with beautiful scenery and interesting tidbits of information. We always watch The Sound of Music when we study World War II because of how well it portrays the way that Nazi Germany slowly infiltrated Austria. But, this movie is also filled with lovely scenery and gives my children a glimpse into Austria. Many movies set in a different time or place do a great job of "showing" your child what the land, people, and customs were like. I often add a movie to history class to give them a clearer picture of life "back then." 

Timelines

Timelines are an easy way to see how events line up chronologically. I have an old roll of paper that a printer was throwing away. It seems to be lasting forever!  I roll out about seven or eight feet of this paper and snip it off.  (You could tape computer paper together instead!)  Then I weight it down with books at each end so that my kids can line up on each side and made a timeline!  What fun!  I encourage them to write and draw to the best of their ability. Making timelines always brings an increased awareness of how events fit together and overlap, as well as where they fit in with one another chronologically.

We own several beautifully illustrated timelines, but it is the act of making their own timeline that helps my children remember time periods and dates.  You can purchase timeline kits from Knowledge Quest Maps. Knowledge Quest sells timeline figures that you can cut and paste on your homemade timeline.    

Writing Projects

Yes, you can write a report on any country, event, or influential person, but there are other writing projects that just might be more fun! Diana Waring's Activity Books introduced us to the world of limericks in history class. She gives the first two lines and we have to finish the next three lines. When we were going through our world history coop, children and moms would finish their limerick and we'd read them aloud. It was hilarious! We have written all kinds of poems. Sense poems, haiku's, and two-word poems were all quick and easy assignments for my elementary children, but it caused them to think a little bit more about history.

Another fun writing activity was writing a travel brochure and make a poster advertisement for the New World for the English people who just might consider making this voyage. This got creative juices flowing and, by accident, my children learned a lot about geography, the Virginia company, Jamestown, Native American tribes, Puritans, and many of the explorer's travels. Short stories set in the time and place we are studying are fun for some children and torture for others. If fiction writing is torture, than try writing a story together. The designated secretary must write quickly and leave space for adding things in later.  Diary entries and letters are easier to write, but still require your student to "put themselves into another time and place."  Rewrite them to make them sound authentic. "She couldn't go to the store to buy bread, Jimmy, she had to bake it herself." 

Make a newspaper for the day after an important event. Include feature articles, interviews, recipes, fashion pages, sports, world news, local news, and more. Making a newspaper is a great way to learn history! 

Enjoy making history come alive!

Making History Come Alive!

History tells us where we have been and where we are going. History is really HIS Story!  It has a beginning:  Creation when time began!  It has an ending:  The New Heavens and the New Earth, when time becomes eternity! It has a climax:  Jesus' death on the cross! I teach history from this perspective, using the Bible as the core of my teaching, weaving Bible and church history in with our study of world history.  

Why is learning about history so important to us? Well, there's a principle I see in the life of Jesus. The night he would be betrayed, He was sharing the Passover with His disciples in the Upper Room. During the meal, He did something that astounded them!  "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off is outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist."  (John 13:3-4 NIV).  Jesus goes on to wash their feet, demonstrating His love and servant's heart.

Jesus knew where He had been (He had come from God) and He knew where He was going (He was returning to God), and so He was able to fulfill His purpose and destiny. He was able to serve the disciples He loved. We need to know where we have come from and where we are going. We need to know our history and our destiny. There is a need to know our personal and family history, but there is also a need to understand the shared history of mankind, where we have come from. It starts with Creation, where a loving God created a people to love Him and fellowship with Him.

Personal History

Teaching history begins when children are tiny with their very own personal history. Every toddler loves to hear about "the day you were born" or "the first time you walked" or "when you were in Mommy's tummy." Children love to look at their baby books, old family movies, and old photo albums. My children will sit for hours watching old family movies, laughing at their own and their sibling's antics. 

Family History

Mom and Dad's courtship, Great-Grandfather John's trip over to America from Germany, and life on Grandma's farm when she was a little girl are all part of my own personal family history. Family history is fun! One of my favorite stories is about my great-grandmother. It was the end of winter and time to sweep the straw that had been kept under the carpet for warmth back outside. A local gal was helping her with this and all the other spring cleaning.

"Should we sweep the straw outside now, Miss Sara?" the young girl asked my great-grandmother.

"No, let's sweep it into the fireplace. The fire's already burning, so it will be easier," Sara replied.

And that is why my grandmother was born in a new house--that first house burned down that day.

Quick & EZ Unit Study Fun with Living Books II

 

Unit studies are like gift bags filled with treasures.  As we pull off the tissue paper, suddenly the bag has turned into Mary Poppins's carpet bag and out pours one thing after another.  We start with a topic such as birds.  We read lovely books on birds, go bird watching with our field guides and sketch book, learn bird calls, make a bird feeder for the back yard, write a poem on birds, learn to care for a pet bird, calculate how much our bird eats, and learn how they fly!  Go over my ideas and list all the school subjects that we covered. (See answer at the end of the article!)  But, now, just as the gift bag seems empty, our little one says, "We know how birds fly.  So, how do planes fly?"  Ah, airplanes!  We begin to pull out more treasures of knowledge about flight.  Our joy in learning just grows and grows!

We talked last time about living books because they will be the foundation of our unit studies.  Now, let's talk about how to plan a unit study. 

Step # 1:  Choose a Topic  (See last column, Quick & EZ Unit Study Fun with Living Books I here )

Step # 2:  Choose Living Books (See last column, Quick & EZ Unit Study Fun with Living Book I here )

Step # 3:  Plan Rhetoric, Writing, and Research Assignments (Keep History, Science & Geography in Mind!)

Once you've chosen your topic and living books, you will find that writing, speaking, and research possibilities are endless.  The hard thing will be narrowing down what you want to do!  Ask the questions...What?...Where?....When?...How?...Why?....and...With Whom? 

Quick & EZ Unit Study Fun with Living Books I

 

We love unit studies in our house!  Even when we use a text books we add so much "stuff" that is could be labeled a unit study.  We have always built our school around living, well-written books that are wholesome and interesting to read.  If you want to take the unit study plunge, then I recommend starting with living books as the core of your unit study.  This is a two part column.  Today we will talk about choosing your topic and books.  Next time, we will focus on adding all the bells and whistles to make it complete and fun!

The best thing about unit studies is that the whole family can learn together!

Step # 1:  Choose a Topic

Start with a topic that interests the entire family.  Your son might love rockets and trains, but your daughter would rather learn about butterflies or flowers.  Try to find topics that appeal to everyone.  What about studying oceans, birds, knights & castles, kings & queens, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Colonial times, The Alamo, traveling west in a covered wagon, inventions, or trees? 

You can choose the topic and share the topic enthusiastically with your children.  Or you can make a list and let the children choose a topic.

Step # 2:  Choose Living Books

Look for books that practically breathe and talk; remember books that you read over and over again as a child.  You might have loved the story or you might have just loved the characters, wanting to spend more time with them!  Maybe you felt like the author was sitting in the room talking just to you.  For young children, the illustrations are as important as the story or writing itself.

We always start with a Bible passage, story or principle, followed up by reading aloud to learn the information of the unit study.  This is followed by everyone's favorite part:  the hands-on activities!  These are reinforcing everything that has been read aloud!  Good books make learning fun!

Literature for Life!

 

"Mrs. Rachel Lynde lived just outside where the Avonlea main road dipped down into a little hollow, fringed with alders and ladies' eardrops and traversed by a brook that had its source away back in the woods of the old Cuthbert place; it was reputed to be an intricate, headlong brook in its earlier course through those woods, with dark secrets of pool and cascade; but by the time it reached Lynde's Hollow it was a quiet, well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Mrs. Rachel Lynde's door without due regard for decency and decorum; it probably was conscious that Mrs. Rachel was sitting at her window, keeping a sharp eye on everything that passed, from brooks and children up, and that if she noticed anything odd or out of place she would never rest until she had ferreted out the whys and wherefores thereof." -- Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery; opening paragraph

From the moment we read this paragraph, we are hooked!  To the little town of Avonlea we go, across the Lake of Shining Waters, greeting beloved folk, especially the inhabitants of Green Gables. Literature takes us to delightful places such as Prince Edward Island.

All people in all places around the world love stories. It must be because our Creator is the Master Storyteller and we live in anticipation of His final climax:  His Glorious Return and the final destruction of our enemy and all those in his bondage! As we gather together with extended family, there are always stories. "I remember when I met your mother...,"  "The first time he ever...,"  "When I was your age..." Once we hear the beginnings of a good story, we are hooked, wanting to hear the rest of the tale. 

We teach our children to read so that they can read the Bible, drawing closer to their Savior and Redeemer, Jesus. That is the most important reason. We also want them to read to learn.  They will read all kinds of writing that brings knowledge and information. There is a third reason we teach our children to read:  we give them a passport. This passport can take them on any adventure they would like to go on, to places where they can meet people they've dreamed of meeting, or to any place in the entire world, real or imaginary.

The Perfect Homeschool Mom Myth

 

It is the dark secret of every home-school mom...feelings of insecurity and failure.  We wonder if we are doing enough. Are we teaching the right thing?  Are our children really learning?  Are we really a good role model?  Are we praying enough?  Are we smart enough?  Are we                          ? (You fill in the blank.)  We don't need to have the enemy beat us up because we do it ourselves. 

We all carry in our hearts the picture of the perfect homeschool mom.  First, we think about her house.  Though she owns the very best of literature, homeschool curriculum, and wholesome music, her house is immaculate.  All her furniture matches and is stain-free.  Though she does unit studies because they are "so fun!" and allows her children to "be creative" with oil paints and wire, her house is in perfect order.  Whenever we see her, she is bubbling over with energy, dressed beautifully, and has make-up on. 

She rises while its still dark, grinds coffee beans, and serves her husband coffee in bed after spending an hour with the Lord digging into His Word and highlighting each new insight.  She has bruises on her knees from the hours she spends in prayer!  There is also time to write in her journal each morning...witty insights that she will later post on her blog.  This amazing woman then wakes the children up with a song in her heart and a smile on her face.  How can they help but remember, without being reminded, to dress in matching clothes, leaving their beds made and room spotless, before they greet her with a kiss at the breakfast table.  After a lengthy prayer from the toddler who quotes three Scripture verses, the four year old reads a passage from the King James Version of the Bible.  As Perfect Homeschool Mom washes the breakfast dishes with her teen daughter, who is also always in a cheerful mood, she glances at the clock.  It is only 7:55 a.m.  They are five minutes ahead of schedule.  And this is only the beginning of her day.

The Family Christmas Photo!

 

"Is this going to take long?" Katie Beth asked for the fifth time that day."We'll take the pictures as quickly as possible," I replied tersely. 

"And why are we wearing blue?  We did blue in 2003." Julianna interrupted.

"Can you help me with my tie?"  Jimmy handed me a tie that was now too small for his ten-year old neck. Trying to remember...I think he got it when he was six.

"Is Daddy ready?" Shine reached for my mascara, thinking I wouldn't notice.  I did, but didn't say anything. 

Today was the annual family Christmas photo--more stressful than a hurricane; less stressful than a war zone.  Wait a minute...maybe as stressful as a war zone. 

There have been moments in those annual photo shoots that lives were in danger.  Ah, our character is revealed to one another and our photographer as we take the picture ONE MORE TIME because someone's eyes were closed.  It is no small miracle to take a good picture with seven or more people in it!  And, of course, I have to admit that I contribute greatly to the tension.  I am so picky about what everyone wears...not just colors, but shades of colors, where they stand, and how they smile. 

But the end result is always so lovely.  There are friends who write me notes in October reminding me that they are looking forward to our Christmas photo.  They must know that I am tempted, sometimes, to skip it this year. 

Christmas Field Trips

 Do you want to combine hands-on-learning with celebrating Christmas?  Then plan some special Christmas field trips for the month of December!  Almost every store, museum, bank, business, and church decorates for Christmas.  Just going on your weekly errands, you can discuss Christmas decorations.  You can observe whether these places are saying, "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays."  You could even collect data and make a bar graph!  But seriously, every place is more fun to visit at this festive time of year because it's all decked out! 

Even Christmas shopping can be educational if you start with a budget.  Your children can make a list and check it twice, comparing sales, and sticking to the money allotted.  They can do the same with holiday grocery shopping!

    We love to visit all the craft fairs that take place this time of year, especially at the church bazaars where the little old ladies bake pies, cakes, and cookies.  Nothing is better than those homemade goodies!  Not only is it fun to look at all the art and crafts, but we often get ideas for making our own Christmas gifts.  There are always special holiday events that can be found in the newspaper or online.  Several cities nearby have "Tour of Homes" where you get to visit lovely homes decorated for Christmas.  Often they serve hot drinks.  Going at night is usually the best because of all the candlelight and twinkle lights.  There is so much history to learn on these tours, as well as information on architecture and remodeling.  We're attending Sanford's Tour of Homes this weekend.

Children Give Thanks For Homeschooling

Let's hear from the children of homeschooling parents!  Are they thankful for your sacrifice and hard work?  Do they appreciate your dedication?  You might be surprised at what they have to say.  I may not have a quote from your child, but I'll betcha they feel the same way...thankful that you invest in them!

And now let's hear from the children. "I'm thankful my mom homeschools me because..."

"...we learn more and it helps our walk with the Lord."  --Phoebe, 13

"...my mom is a great teacher, we get to do more things, and we actually learn things." --Sydney, 13

"...it gives me the opportunity to learn a lot more than most public school students and we get to sleep in later!"  --Kevin, 16.

"...I get to sleep in late!  But, seriously, because it allows me to have a flexible schedule, which allows me to travel more and learn in exciting ways."  --Nikki, 16

"...I can learn at my own pace, according to my own personal interests.  My studies are focused on God."  --Allycia, 18

"...I don't have to deal with bullies and I get to spend more time with my family."  --Saxon, 8

"...I get to spend time with my family while doing school."  --Jimmy, 10

Learning from the Pilgrims and Puritans

 

It is the time of year we think of pumpkin, pilgrims and turkeys.  In our minds, the pilgrims are just another holiday decoration.  What fun to make a pilgrim hat!  Who doesn't want to color in the Mayflower?  My challenge to you this year to learn the WHOLE story, if you don't already know it, of this little Separatist congregation that sailed from England on the Mayflower. 

Back in those days (early 1600's), if you were English, you belonged to the Church of England.  There were still Roman Catholics in England, who refused to let go of their religion when Henry VIII rejected the pope and the church of  England was born, but, everyone else was part of the Anglican Church.  For those inspired and transformed by the Reformation, the Church of England did not go far enough in breaking with Rome.  Puritans wanted to see the Church of England purified, moving closer to based their practices on the Bible alone, rather than tradition.  Separatists, on the other hand, did not hold out hope for the Church of England.  They simply wanted to be free to worship God according to the pattern they saw in Scripture.  There was persecution for all those who rejected the Church of England.

In the little village of Scrooby, a tiny Separatist church met in secret to avoid imprisonment.  Their pastor, John Robinson, preached the Word of God faithfully week after week.  Among those listening to his sermons were William Brewster and young Will Bradford.  After an increase in probing and scrutinizing by royal officials and a time of the men hiding out in Sherwood Forest (Yes!  The same one from Robin Hood!), the little congregation decided to flee to Holland.  Holland granted religious liberty to its citizens and immigrants. 

Picturesque Holland with its lovely cities and quaint canals was a place where the tiny congregation could now worship without fear.  There were problems, though.  Holland had long since passed the days of revival and sin was rampant.  The Separatist children were picking up the ways of the world.  Not only that, they were losing their English culture and starting to speak Dutch! 

"What about the wilderness across the sea?" 

"Virginia?" 

"Could our wives and children make the journey?" 

"Ah, let's pray and see what God's will would be."

Christmas Unit Studies

December is the perfect month to take a break from the schoolwork grind and try a unit study!  Why not celebrate Christmas the ENTIRE month of December?  Though it is harder when teens are in high school, I try to  keep our December schedules light.  Often, we have done a special unit study in December.  When we have done Christmas units, we continued to do math, but every other subject was part of the unit.  It has been a great break for the children, while still getting school days, and learning, into our lives.

We have celebrated Christmas in Colonial America, celebrated Christmas with Anne of Green Gables, celebrated Christmas in Victorian England, and celebrated Christmas back in Roman-occupied Israel.  What wonderful memories we've made:  Christmas teas, amazing recipes, Christmas poems, silly stories, field trip adventures, lovely ornaments that still hang on our tree each year, and all kinds of Christmas decorations!

There are so many neat things to do for Christmas that are actually learning adventures.  If you address Christmas cards (handwriting), write a Christmas letter (creative writing), bake cookies (home economics), make Christmas presents (art), go Christmas caroling (music), celebrate traditions from other countries (geography), or listen to family stories (history), then you are learning!

December is a great time to read aloud.  There are many good Christmas books such as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens or The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson.  They are great to read aloud chapter by chapter.  There are also beautiful picture books to read aloud.  Some of my favorite picture books are Tale of the Three Trees by Angela Ewell Hunt, One Wintry Night by Ruth Graham Bell, and The Crippled Lambby Max Lucado.  No one is ever to old for a well-written, beautifully illustrated picture book.  Don't hesitate to include your high school kids.  Everyone loves reading aloud!  And whether they admit it or not, everybody loves well-written, beautifully illustrated picture books.

When I do units on any subject, I center them around reading aloud both fiction and non-fiction.  Let's look at some possibilities for Christmas unit studies.  We'll look at three different Christmas unit possibilities.

Top Ten Reasons to Homeschool!

Though reasons to homeschool are as numerous as the excuses your children give for not cleaning their room, there are ten top reasons for homeschooling.  Here are the top ten, starting at number ten.

• 10.  You are just not busy enough being a wife, mother, and homemaker, so you need something more to fill up your days.

You know the famous question people ask you, "So, what do you find to do all day?"  Now you can be furious instead of simply annoyed when they ask you!  When people ask me that question, I smile sweetly and bite my tongue.  I'm just not godly enough to speak.

• 9.  Your children don't carry a concealed weapon, so they wouldn't be safe at school.

Schools have become dangerous places with lying, sneaking around, and thoughts of murder...and that's just the teachers.  You simply don't want your children to have to take self-defense classes before they're six years old.

My dear sister is a teacher who loves her students and she is so sad to see the decline of morality year after year.  To many children, she is closer to them relationally than the parents.  As moral standards decrease, it is more important than ever that our children have good role models.  Unfortunately, children become closer to others students than teachers.  Children are not the best role models for other children.  The Bible tells us that "He who walks with the wise grows wise! But a companion of fools suffers harm!"  --Proverbs 13:20

• 8.  The neighbors already think you're crazy, so you want them to REALLY have something to talk about.

You already go to church, not once, but twice, a week and you don't get drunk at the block parties.  Your children pass out tracts at Halloween and go Christmas caroling at nursing home at Christmas.  To the neighbors, you're just plain weird.  Homeschooling gives them MORE to talk about.  Oh, and, just maybe, they will ask you some questions about WHY you do what you do!

Your Home: A Reflection of Heaven!

Do you ever stop to imagine what Heaven is like?  What sounds, smells and sights await us?  What a joyous moment it will be when we finally arrive home!

God has prepared Heaven with His beloved bride (that's us!) in mind!  Though first and foremost, Heaven exists for the GLORY of God, it is also our eternal home where we will live in the very Presence of God!  Unlike earth, where we see through a glass darkly (I Corinthians 13), in Heaven we will see face to face!  While we are on earth, our dear Lord has given us glimpses of eternal things using marriages, families, and homes.

Temporary Models of Eternal Things

Marriage, a temporary relationship, is a picture of the relationship that Jesus has with the church, a permanent relationship that lasts forever!  (See Ephesians 5:22-33 and Revelation 21:2)  Our marriage is a picture for our children of how Jesus loves His bride and how she loves him!  Our marriage gives our little lambs a picture of the love relationship between Jesus, our Risen Lamb, and the church.

Our family, a temporary group, is a picture of the Family of God, a permanent group.  (See Ephesians 2:19-22 and Ephesians 3:14-15).  Our family models to the world what life in the church should look like with strong ties of love, loyalty, and commitment.

Our home, a temporary dwelling, is a picture of Heaven, a permanent home.  (See Philippians 3:20)  We can prepare a small-scale model for our husbands, children, and friends of Heaven itself.  So, let's take a quick look at Heaven and then we'll talk about imitating Heaven in our homes!

"Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

Heaven is a Prepared Place!

Jesus told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them!  When we glimpse Heaven in Revelation 21 and 22, we see a lovely place that has been laid out with order and precision.  Our Heavenly Father started with a plan and carried that plan out completely.  Heaven is clean, sparkling, and in perfect order.

"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am."    John 14:2-3

This side of Heaven, we have an opportunity to reveal Heaven to our little ones.  Cleaning and organizing our home is one way to prepare our homes in imitation of our Heavenly Father.  Our homes don't have to be immaculate, but they should be organized and ready for life to happen.  A realistic schedule also provides security and order to our busy lives.

But beyond, cleaning and organizing--have you ever considered what it is you want your home and family to look like.  What things do you want to do with your husband and children?  Are there dreams you have that you feel are unreachable or unaffordable?  Don't underestimate God!  He may just surprise you!   Or He may have an alternative that is just as wonderful as your dream.  Prayerfully and purposefully, plan your home and family.

So, How Do I Teach IT if I don't Understand IT Myself?

"Geography?  I don't remember ever learning much about geography.  I'm not even sure what hemisphere the Mediterranean Sea is in," the mom of four elementary age boys bemoaned.  We were both watching our children play on the playground.

"I'm a terrible writer.  I don't know where to begin to teach my child to write well," a young mother with two babies on her lap admitted to me over lunch.

"I don't know a thing about good art or good music.  How on earth can I teach my children to appreciate fine art and fine music?" a mom who was considering homeschooling asked me as we discussed the possibilities for taking her children out of public school.

The biggest problem we face as homeschooling moms is not our ability to teach our children, but our confidence level in our ability to teach our children.  We all have areas where we feel inadequate simply because no one can know all there is to know.  In educating our children, we lay a foundation of knowledge in several areas and give them the tools of learning so that they can learn anything they need to learn.

So, know for the question, "How do I teach IT if I don't understand IT myself? That is a great question.  Almost all homeschooling parents will encounter this dilemma.  It might be that you've learned it, but forgotten it.  Or it could be a gap in your education.  Either way, there is an easy solution!

Confessions from a Not-so-Perfect Homeschool Mom!

"The cheerful heart has a continuous feast!"  Proverbs 15:15

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the  bones." Proverbs 17:22

Okay!  It's time to share my deep dark homeschooling secrets with you!  There are many!  Here are my confessions!

I don't fix breakfast for my children.  Yep, it's true.  As soon as my children leave the high chair, they are on their own for breakfast.  If they want a hot meal they have to pull a stool up to the stove and cook it themselves or bribe an older sibling.  My children don't even realize that there are mothers in the world who cook breakfast!

I would rather be shot in the head than teach my teenagers to drive.  There!  I admitted it!  My children are all great drivers, but I am a terrible passenger.  By the time we have backed out of the driveway, I am ready to be committed to a psychiatric hospital. I beg and plead with my husband to teach the children to drive.  They seem to like learning from him better, anyway.  Go figure.

There are millions of paper piles around my house.  When I get rid of one, ten more take its place.  My heart is to keep my home neat and tidy.   File folders in the untold millions are labeled and in file cabinets, but still these piles appear!  You can tell where I am and where I've been--just follow the paper piles.

A day at the beach by any other name is a field trip.  Yes, it's true.  I have put away the school books, loaded up the minivan, and driven over to the Florida coast for a day in the sun.  Forgetting my cares, and sometimes my name, I have fallen sound asleep while the kids play in the sand and body surf in the waves.  Sometimes they look for shells or capture poor innocent sea animals.  I will go home, lather on aloe, and convince my husband that we went on a field trip.  "The field trip was a nature study on marine life."  I can look my husband straight in the eye and say this.  He begins to have doubts after the tenth nature study on marine life in one school year.

The Seven R's of Homeschooling

"There is just so much to cover this year!  How can I get it all done?" has been asked of me more times than I can count. 

  My favorite subjects to teach are music and history!  What fun we have had exploring these subjects over the years.  But I have found that it is important to "major on the majors" and "minor on the minors."  There are subjects and then there are tools and skills that are needed to learn all subjects.  When we give our children the tools of learning, they can explore every subject to their heart's content.  After homeschooling for 21 years with a sixth, eighth, and eleventh grader still being educated at home, I have found that there are seven things (7 R's) that make a big difference in the success of our family's homeschool.  From Kindergarten through twelfth grade, I try to keep these things predominant in my homeschooling: relationships, rhetoric, reading, (w)riting, (a)rithmetic, research, and right living.  I weave them in to all that I teach or that our family explores through unit studies.  These are not the only subjects in our homeschool curriculum, but they are the ones that get priority.

Relationships

Lives are changed in the context of relationships!  People, including your children, hunger and seek to be loved and understood.  The security that comes with healthy relationships allows people to learn and grow, reaching their full potential and destiny. 

The most important relationship that your child will ever have is his/her relationship with the Lord.  Let your little ones see how much you love the Lord, especially by setting aside time each day to spend in prayer and Bible reading.  Be committed to church, tithing, obedience, and serving because you love Jesus with all your heart.  Teach your children to have a relationship with Him too!  Show them how to have a daily Quiet Time and read the Word of God.  Make this about having a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, not something legalistic or boring.  In the beginning, they will share your relationship with Jesus, but eventually they will have their own--the age will vary child to child.

Children (and adults too!) want to model people they admire and trust, especially if they believe those people have their best interest at heart.  When your child enjoys a healthy relationship with you, he/she is more likely to try to imitate your life, as well as attempt to please you!  This desire to please parents is present in almost all children, but ebbs away in teenage years if the relationship does not remain strong.

The Schoolhouse Planner & The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Our very own Heidi Strawser (Reviews by, Heidi!) has teamed up with Kris Price to put together an incredible homeschooling planner!  The Schoolhouse Planner is much more than a planner--it is packed with information, tips, resouces, and recipes.  Published the The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, this homeschooling tool reflects the quality and practicality we have come to expect from this wonderful ministry/business.

Free Give-Away! See Below!

The planner opens up with a 2008 calendar and a 2009 calendar.  The next sections go month by month from July 2008 to June 2009.  Each month has a theme (art, government, geography, history, math, holidays) complete with an encouraging article, list of resoureces, recipes, and extras.  The extras include things like a chart of composers, times and works; USA documents such as the Constitution; timeline of inventions; countries and captials; and kitchen conversions chart.  The recipes look yummy--everything from cheeseburger pie to Amish breakfast casserole. 

The second section is a plethora of forms for the homeschooling mom.  Anual plans, yearly goals, twelve year planning, curriculum planning, and curriculum recording are all here for a mom to put down in writing her yearly strategy.  That is only the beginning.  There are also course of study forms, evaluation pages, and a high school hours tracking log.  Weekly planning sheets, field trip planning pages, and Bible memorization records are there too.  In all there are 40 different types of forms for you to use for homeschool administration.

The final section will help you manage your home:  grocery lists, address book, menu planner, and familly chore sheets.  Garden planning, gift lists, family budgeting, prayer jounel, and vacation planning sheets are there too!  Again, there is more than any single mom will ever use, but what a blessing to have ALL of the pages included.  You can use what you need!   

Is there anything else you could possibly want or need at your fingertips to homeschool?  What a wonderful tool The Schoolhouse Planner is to have available.  I can't imagine any mom using ALL the forms, but isn't it nice to know they are there.  My favorite part of the planner is all those "extras" like the periodic table and history timeline.  What a blessing to have the list of presidents right at your fingertips, along with the Gettysburg Address.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3