Teaching the Young Child to Write~Creatively!

When my children were younger, one method I used to bud the creativity in them in their writing is an idea that my friend, Julie gave me.  She had written a guide to writing with the emphasis on enlisting a love for writing within the child's heart first by journal writing each day and systematically teaching editing and the grammar rules as the child journals.  The secret "arsenal" was to have the child write in the journal each day of school, but only weekly to "conference" with the child about his writing.  This was not a critical feast of condemning the child's efforts, but one where the parent/teacher reads with interest and support, validation picking only ONE error to focus upon.  Just ONE! Now this was hard for me initially, but in seeing this method work, the child is not discouraged by hearing how so much is wrong, but that their flow of creative ideas is wonderful, GREAT, and accepted!

When our children were encouraged to write in the manner, they wrote creative stories and accounts of things that they thought without the struggles of the "mechanics" if you will allow me to call it that~the FREE-FLOW of IDEAS is what's most important in the developing thinker and writer . . .

Even the youngest child who has learned to form his letters and write simple sentences through copy work can journal each day.  If your child isn't able to write many sentences independently, then assign ONE each day . . . My son wrote, "I love a cat; I have a cat; My cat is Tiger." You can get the idea that it was a incremental process that TOOK TIME!

Just as  it takes time for a child to learn to read, it will take time for your little to write and write well!

For the very young child, you can "scribe" for him until he is able to write his sentence independently.  Use a journal.  Let your child pick out his own style and color~his preference! I love the Dollar Tree for having these so affordable and often they are so unique! My son's had a frog on it in the shape of a frog!!  Scribe and then have him copy~but don't overwhelm.

Please see the bigger picture that your child is growing and WILL get it!

Our family is proof of this! I have posted our current writing methods/processes
Strategy I


Planning Past the EvalsStrategy 3
Playing Our Way to Writing! and you can see we are well beyond my scribing and the one sentence journal method.

Play some games to encourage language development!

Games for the Young Child:

1. Sentence starters are great. Make up your own (as simple as your child needs it to be . . .)
2. Finish the story: writing game.  Have your children around the table. Start with one line, something like: "There once was . . ." OR "Once upon a time, there was . . ." OR "Hello said the little kitten to . . ." Of course change the kitten to whichever animal your child adores. Is it his dog or a bunny or turtle? ;-)) Make it fun! And then each child and yourself will take a turn adding a word! Allow yourself to write them as you go around, OR pass a sheet of paper for older children. For a fun, fast passed game, do sentences.  Pass this with the olders and they will giggle, get silly and soo creative!
3. Give your child a picture.  Have him tell you what he sees.  You can write it down on his appropriate age level lined paper every other line so now it becomes copy-work, which will reinforce not only what the thought and what was said, but also strengthen those fine motor skills in the mechanics of physcal writing as well as demonstrate just how sentence properly are put together (grammar.)

I hope you will find these methods incouraging and helpful.  Remember like reading, the ability to write is one that takes incramental practice over years to develop.

The biggest goal at a young age is to foster the thinking, creative mind! 

Writing for successful writers!

Is It Easy to Homeschool?

This question, asked by the Trivium Pursuit FaceBook Fan Page FREEBIE  was answered by several homeschooling moms, but I know Julieanne who is a fellow blogger and a sweet gal I worked with on the maiden voyage of The Old Schoolhouse Crew doing product reviews.  Julieanne gave a comprehensive answer to this question I think, and I couldn't agree with her more. With her permission, I want to share her remarks with you. Oh, read on, there's some real wisdom here and honest evaluation of the task~not so much mushy gooshy stuff, but some of the real nuts and bolts of the task!

Thanks Julieanne!
Go visit her blog http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/iLoveHomeschooling/

Sometimes, homeschooling is very hard, even when done in the Lord's strength. I love teaching my children at home, and I haven't found it all that hard because they are bright, and they are also eager learners. But, some people would say what I do is very hard, because we are very careful with our $$ spending, our personal free time is much more ... Read sic (Way) more limited as adults, our extra room is full of books, supplies, and materials instead of a craft room or study. Things are just different! But not hard for me. It takes up most of my personal time, and since I love what I'm doing with my children, it's fine with me. But for moms who have children with learning disabilities, or they are used to having extra money to do whatever they want, or they are used to having a lot of free time to explore their hobbies and interests, or socialize with their friends all the time, then homeschooling may be very, very hard for them.

It's the best "job" (aka "ministry") that I've ever had, and I wouldn't trade it for anything! But a lot of moms I know who don't homeschool would think it would be too hard because they don't want to learn patience, they don't want to give up their finances, and their free time, and some aren't willing to work hard with children who have learning disabilities. Those moms would find homeschooling extremely hard!

I couldn't agree with her more! Homeschooling isn't easy.  It comes with the everyday struggles/sacrifices of learning to live within a family, navigating the world around us and teaching as we go our children. Do-able? Yes, for those who are God called.  I don't believe everyone should homeschool, but probably not for the reasons you might think...this will be another post I think ;-)) I also don't think public school is so great either.  You can read about my experiences HERE.

Julieanne, Thank you for allowing me to share your insights into homeschooling!

If you are thinking about homeschooling, then just know there will be tough times and sacrifices, but the rewards are out of this world!
blessings,

Importance of Reading

Are you a book lover? I hate to admit this, but my book cases have overflowed, and now my hubby has built some new ones that are double deep~meaning they are five book cases two wide horizontally with three in the front that slide back and forth so that we can shelve all of our books! Recently as we were shelving and cataloging them~oh now this was a pain, I pulled out about 200 from our collection. We have found books to be very important in our lives. I remember reading information sheets encouraging reading to the children and parents to demonstrate a value for reading.  Too late!  We already loved books!

Reading is crucial for a child in ways unimaginable!

Reading builds vocabulary skills,listening skills, writing skills, speech skills, cognitive processes and more!

When our children were little, we read Dr. Suess's ABC  so much we ALL could recite it by heart! I love that book to this day, and look forward to reading it to my grandchildren!

If you have a young child, read to your little person. Talk to your little person and teach them to love books! Of course the love for reading is developed over time and with skill. Children learn  to read when they want to KNOW the story~the book's contents! Frequent library trips, read alouds, books on tape, mp3 download stories for children all develop those wonderful skills!

My friend N. told me about her family's study of Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Tonight her children saw the caterpillar emerge from its cocoon. I heard the wonderment and joy of her young children who witnessed their little caterpillar changing into the beautiful moth or butterfly it was becoming.

THIS IS HOMESCHOOLING at its best!!!!!!!!

Read, Read, Read, and Read some more! 

You can't read enough to your children!

If you are like me and have older children who are independent learners, have them read to you.  I continued reading to them until last year, but on occasion I STILL read to them! I use audio books and downloads as well as dictation to hone in those listening skills for strengthening in auditory processing!

Do you need the mega book case?
Do you make trips to the library?
Do you have a co-op resource for books?

Tap it! 

The importance of reading can't be overstated! AND in a few years, you will see your own littles emerge from their cocoons and stretching their wings to flight as beautiful creatures of joy and delight!

Reading is Fantastic! Oh wait, I need my book . . .
(Don't forget that the TOS Magazine $7.95 SALE til the 18th!)

Everyone is Special!

I was offered Someplace Called Special produced by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for review.

This is a heartwarming source of encouragement for parents of children who experience challenges, often living within the label of "special needs."  This is a compilation of the stories of ten Moms who share from their perspective what it's like and how they are blessed by their child.  In eBook, easy to navigate form, you will find honesty and hope concerning children with differences, "special needs."

Included are:

Aspburger's Syndrome
ADHD
Deafness
Dyslexia
Cerebral Palsy
Sensory Processing Disorder
Lupus
Giftedness
Down's Syndrome

(Please note that there are other differences discussed as generally there are accompanying issues within these diagnosis presentations.)


Within the eBook, there are links to each diagnosis giving readers clear meanings of them along with many interventions that are discussed.  The Moms discuss opening what they have tried, what works and what has not with their children. 

Along with the stories, there is a section of 10 reasons for to homeschool a special learner with explanations! IEP (Individualized Educational Plans) are discussed as well as public schol and private interventions.  Specific insights are shared in a question and answer formate that will inform of the benefits of homeschooling special needs kids. 

I find Someplace Called Special a must read for any parent, Mom or Dad navigating the waters of differences in their special needs child.  As a Mom of special learners, I can identify with some of these Mom's experiences, struggles and perspectives.  "Been there and done that" in some of the areas discussed!  After years of educating and being in the trenches myself,

I found NEW information that I had not previously attained!  Check out this resource!

If you are not the parent of a special learner, but want to know more, you can also benefit by a greater understanding of the issues involved and what the real needs of children can be beyond a label.  As I was reading, I remembered a situation where our special learner was "friends" with a child who showed insensitivity to the special needs issue, and think that if everyone could read a book or find some way to understand, much could be gained for everyone involved!

Someplace Called Special is such a book  for understanding!  Normal is just a town in IL, not anywhere I've personally been or most anyone I know as been...We are all "different," and as has been pointed out by contributing author, Heather Allen, everyone has special needs!

Click on the sidebar to get Someplace Called Special offered by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

Yours for ALL of us with differences, "special needs,"

American Family Radio Webcast Thoughts

American Family Radio which is part of the American Family Association hosted a webcast on the program, Nothing But Truth last evening called American Education: Do You Know What You Are Paying For?  Guests included Dr. Richard Land of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Ken Ham, Founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis and Creation Museum who joined both by phone show host, Crane Durham.  In studio, Geoffery Botkin, Western Conservatory of the Arts and Sciences, William J. Federer, Author, Speaker, Commentator, Historian of AmericanMinute(dot)com, Stephen M. Crampton, General Counsel, Liberty Counsel were very informative and inspiring!  Congressman Pete Hoekstra of 2nd District of MI, and CongressmanTodd Aiken, 2nd District of MS who also joined by phone.  WOW! What a night! 

The information flew as Mr. Botkin and Mr. Federer gave a history of public education in America.  Since I love history so much, it was wonderful to hear the truth of how our nation's system of education has been put into place.  Attorney Crampton shared some of the historic court cases that have established policies that effect us today.

There was no educational choice bashing on this panel, but a discussion of what has become of public education, the intent of it, and how in some ways it has changed.

The panel discussed  where most Christians are educating their children. Dr. Ken Ham stated a Barna Group statistic (which is documented in his book, Already Gone, Ham's newest publication) that 90% of all church children are public school educated and that 2/3 will leave the church after high school.   I knew the numbers were staggering, and it grieved me to hear them again! We have so much work to do to pass our Christian heritage on to our children, which is conversely the issue that the author of the book in my earlier post has with homeschooling. . . but you can scroll on down and read all about that. . .  Educators, particularly Christian educators were encouraged to continue their efforts in their jobs of helping children in their classrooms and empathy for the battle was expressed. There are around 2 million homeschoolers in our nation we were told.

I was given the opportunity to call in and make comments concerning homeschooling into the upper grades and asked the panel to address results of homeschooling considering the concerns of some that homeschooled children are not "socialized, brought into the main stream or ARE somehow guarded into dysfunction." I asked the panel IF there are any homeschoolers in the prison system! I received a chuckle with the last part of my question, but was given a wonderful answer sending me to HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense) for statistics, that getting to know wonderful homeschooling families would alleviate fears, and that children who have been homeschooled are proving to become wonderful citizens past their homeschooling experiences.   This is awesome news for homeschoolers from such a panel of distinguished guests!

Chris Klicka, HSLDA champion was lauded for his efforts in defending homeschooling rights in the nation.  He has recently passed October 12, 2009 with condolences offered to his family.  


If you didn't get to listen or watch, then go to American Family Radio webcast.  It's a dignified discussion of the needs in education and of all the possibilities to remedy them.

Homeschooling is not for every family, but it is a viable and reasonable option for Christian families to give children a distinctly Christian education and to assure that children are educated. This is a choice our family has obviously embraced.  You may be thinking about homeschooling for your family.  Leave me a comment or question if I can help you in any way.  Remember that life is a journey; homeschooling is part of life, a natural part of life that occurs as we rise up and lay down we instruct and teach our children.  I wasn't homeschooled.  It's a decision that came as part of my journey . . .

My Education
I was public and private school educated in a time of turmoil in the 1970's when segregation ended, and in our community violence made havoc of the school system.  Parents protested the busing of children away from neighborhood schools.  Ten-foot fences with barbed wire were erected around middle and high schools to contain the violent disruptions as students battled who, for the first time, were attending school together.  I was in third grade when this began.  By the time I was in the eighth grade, I had been attacked by a group of girls in the gym locker room, and inappropriately touched by another student who was not punished because as my mother was told, "he was already on probation" and this offense would have sent him to "jail."  This was my last year in public education at which time I attended a private Christian school.  While I am very proud of my Christian school and my years there, I want to say that not all children attending are Christian or Christ-like in their behaviors.  I learned that drunken parties and other misdeeds were prevalent among my classmates as about 1/2 of our junior class was expelled for a party they attended...I don't know any more than that it tore up our class... but we had signed behavior covenants.  Rules were broken.  I was not involved.  I won't make any other commentary about this other than that I realized that just because you attended a Christian school that taught Bible everyday and had chapel each week, there was going to be those who were there for reasons other than my own which was to get a Christian education.

Did I want this for my own children?  I had lived "that" life . . . The one time dream of becoming  a "Christian school teacher" had long alluded me for nursing and now motherhood.  Two precious gifts needed educating. I will share more of our story another time, but God led us to home education!

Go check out that webcast.  The Homeschooling Channel is coming on SkyAngel for those who like TV...
blessings,

Homeschooling ATTACKED in Book~

The book, Write These Laws on Your Children: Inside the World of Conservative Christian Homeschooling by Robert Kuzman of Indiana State University is noted to be a book that's created much looking into the world of conservative Christian homeschooling.  Mr. Kunzman  in his interview on State of Belief, the radio show of Interfaith Alliance with Welton Gaddy says that he followed six families over time from CA to TN to see what trends and differences there are in homeschooling in these families.  I have not read this book, but I would like to read all of his "insights" as I fit into or identify with the description of a "conservative Christian homeschooling family."

Please be aware that there are apparently people in our society who have concerns to the extent that they are looking into and critiquing home ed~one noted fact is that homeschooling as per the radio interview on State of Belief is that the trend to homeschooling rose by 75% while public education only rose by 12% in the last year! Wonder WHY???  In this radio interview (almost 1/3 through the radio bar, first one) you will hear what is outrageous and unbelievable in an attack on Christianity and home education.  There is a distinction made for the secularists who homeschool.  They discussed an apparent distrust of public education and that homeschooling encompasses the entire life of the family, as well as  HSLDA, Michael Farris and the Generation Joshua which is a political activist homeschooling group in negative tones.   

This is a MUST listen interview!

I hope that you are aware that there are forces at work to deny Christians the liberties of faith: distinctive faith and values.  The concerns voiced over the ability of children to interact in diversity and the position homeschooling  was discussed, it was not seen as a necessarily positive thing. 

Please, pray for our nation's leaders and those who seek to remove our parental rights to train our children.  I have often wondered as I wrote my post questioning where is the EVIDENCE that homeschooling is bad? If you will take the time, please fill out my survey on homeschooling results and send others here to do it as well.  The fight is on, and we must understand that while we are neither understood nor appreciated for our efforts to raise good citizens of our nation.

Thank you to Home Education Magazine for bringing this book and now radio interview to light.

Blessings,

It's The End of The Line~Finishing UP!

Beginning our journey in homeschooling in HOPE~just where do we want to be when we are done?  DONE! Just the word makes me tremble inside, not because I want them gone or don't want to finish, it's the awesome responsibility that I have to do a good job~to "finish well" with them and for them that has me feeling so! But the HOPE is wrapped up in dreams and processes that will bring us to the finish line~final days, hours and minutes of home education~but really the learning NEVER will stop nor will the parenting~Like my mother of almost seventy likes to remind this mid-forty gal~YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY CHILD~and I will always KNOW more than you! Such wisdom, but I remember when I did not believe such was posssible, that I would NEVER know as much as my Mama~she's always going to have lived and expereinced more than me. . .so much knowledge and judgement!

Our children will find this out one day too, if they haven't already.  When they were young, we were their heroes, but now in the teen years I am seeing the rise of their own independence and ideas...it's not all bad~tough as the teen years are for so many reasons!  But where does this all lead us?

Our children and ourselves must come together as families to discover their dreams and goals for the journey and finish of homeschooling in their lives! We cannot educate them if they refuse, nor can they become educated as well without parents.  It's a partnership to the FINISH LINE~to the end of it. 

Goals, dreams wrapped in HOPE will bring about processes to get to the end.  Just like a good athlete, measurable goals and marks are set and strived for~reached for~desired!

Where do we want to end up?  Do our children share our desires and vision?  It starts here and ends somewhere down the road after all the effort and time has passed. . .but HOPE will remain for the future; it won't leave just because one stop along our journey is completed.  Oh no! HOPE will continue to be with us as long as life gives rise to breath and we continue to move. . .forward. . .

Finishing up? Just beginning?  HOPE won't leave even after...happily ever after...

HOPE~It's Where We Start. . .

Since homeschooling is a journey for each family that will change over time whether it's adding a new baby or as our children age, where do we begin? The process is as important as the end result, but the beginning is the underpinning to the whole adventure!

HOPE

It is hope that propells most of us in home educating our children.  Why can't the nay-sayers understand that we are not some deviant bunch of anti-social do gooders who guard dog our kids from society?  Can't they see the results of children who are socialized in such a way that they become well grounded and productive citizens in our society, not participating in the social ilks that plague it?  But since the nay sayers can not see our intentions, but rather our actions, we must press on~in hope for our children's futures.   

HOPE is where we all began with dreams and prayers that tomorrow will be better for our family, that our family will be loving, loyal, tighnight, bonded, sound, faithful, honest, good and godly.  HOPE. . .the wings that have helped us upward towards such lofty goals in the hearts of each mother and daddy as we press on.  Pressing often through tough circumstances such as illness or finances, but continuing in HOPE~seeing and believing with hope!

The naysayer can not see what under girds the homeschool effort, will be able to recognize the result of years of faithful diligence in educating the children entrusted to us.  AND what does HOPE look like in the life of homeschoolers? It's moms continuing to do the job day in and day out, loving, instructing, and enjoying the family~each unique little person God has entrusted to her care, and daddys the same, in his own unique role as DAD of the family. . .each family as God designed. . .going forth in HOPE for those dreams and goals, those heights to be attained!

We are all on different places on the journey, but one thing I know, we all began in HOPE~and with God, HOPE continues to carry us forward, onward and upward!
blessings as we continue in HOPE~

(The baby is my friend's grandbaby born just a few weeks ago.)

FREE Homeschooling eBook ~ Wonderful!

This is awesome, and if you didn't get this FREEBIE from
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, here's a wonderful opportunity to PDF download their generous gift for you

The New School Year eBook

Inside you will find encouragement and information from well known and seasoned homeschoolers who offer their perspective wishing you the best this year with your child!

Thank You~TOS for thinking of us!

Upper Level Homeschool eCourse~Find ALL the Insight to Do High School Right!

Teaching high school does NOT need to be intimidating! You can feel confident knowing you are doing everything right!  Terri Johnson, Knowledge Quest/Bramley Books has an eCourse designed to give you all the skills to get through these difficult years! I have had a sneak peak with a five day
FREEBIE:  5 Keys to Successfully Homeschooling Your Teen Through High School
and it's got loads on insight and information! Don't be left out wondering when it comes to homeschooling THROUGH high school~ 

Yes! You can do this!!

Join literally thousands who are homechooling through high school!   

You are NOT alone!
GO GET THIS FREE RESOURCE:

http://www.upperlevelhomeschool.com/

Here's a link to a FREE high school transcript calculator:
http://www.everyday-education.com/gpacalc/index.shtml

Our children are high school now~yeah, at first it was a bit daunting to think that we really don't have much longer with them and that higher education is just around the bend...but Terri offers some awesome advice along with others who have been there! Go check out the eCourse! I am soo looking forward to graduation for our little people...hey, I can STILL call them "little", right?? Won't they always be my babies? 

Go check out the high school resources on the left sidebar to help you on your way!
blessings,

Free Museum Day TODAY~

The Smithsonian Magazine is partnering with museums all over the nation for a free visit TODAY for one household member and a guest with a pass you can download from their website.
There is a way on the Smithsonian site to search your state:

Here is my state's participants: 
Museum Day
Grant Boyhood Home, GEORGETOWN, Harding Home, MARION, National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, WILBERFORCE, Ohio Historical Center, COLUMBUS, Rankin House, RIPLEY, Serpent Mound, PEEBLES, Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor, YOUNGSTOWN, Zoar Village, ZOAR
Open Hours for each site
Enjoy a free day at participating OHS historical sites and museums at the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine. A celebration of history, culture and learning, admission is FREE at more than 1,000 museums and cultural institutions nationwide. Visit www.smithsonian.com/museumday to download your Museum Day Admission Card. Attendees must present the Museum Day Admission Card to gain free entry to participating institutions. Each card provides museum access for two people, limit one per household. For hours of operation of participating OHS sites, click on the links above.

EXTRA: Need a FREE source for maps of all kinds from state to world? (Check out that left side bar!)
http://printable-maps.blogspot.com/search/label/World%20maps


 Homeschooling is EVERYWHERE! Have a great time!

Free Notebooking/Copywork Sites and How I Did It~

Copy work is a wonderful tool to teach much about language arts.  I have used this method, and IT WORKS! I actually did not use copy work pages such as these, but used initially, the K three lined paper and moved to wide rule notebook paper.  I wrote every other line for my son to copy.  The advantage of using ordinary paper over the "pretty" notebooking/copywork pages is that it makes the practice more like the real world of writing, and I could easily place his work in a notebook, or at one point I even used a regular composition style notebook.  Initially I gave my young son one sentence to copy when he was kindergarten age.  As he progressed, I increased the sentences to three, then five, and finally moved up to a full page of content on various subjects relating to the things we were studying, good study habits, or Scripture. I focused on mastery not volume.  I did only one nice long sentence adding words that first year.  The sentences increased incrementally in difficulty so that the complexity of the sentences increased over time.  This gave him the example to copy above his writing line on his level, so that he could carefully reproduce just what I had done.  I made sure I read with him the sentences, and we discussed the meaning and its applications.  This process of teaching my son sure made my handwriting nicer as I wanted to be a good example!  This method has really paid off in many skills for my son!

Here are free copywork resources from some great websites where you can print out sheets if this is the way you want to go:

http://www.homeschoolnotebooking.com/Free_Pages.htm

 http://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/manucopywork/

http://www.guesthollow.com/homeschool/printables/printablescopywork.html 

http://www.freelyeducate.com/copywork/ 

Here's to copywork!

As a sidebar, here is a  
website with handwriting instructions and tips
http://www.gmbservices.ca/Jr/Handwriting.htm

Creation Museum~and the Duggers!

Our family was able to get to Ken Ham's Creation Museum this June! You can read
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SisterTipster/702692/
about our visit! 

Thanks Michelle for sharing with me the Dugger family's visit.  I am amazed at those without the faith to believe, but the Bible does say that without faith it is impossible to please God.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen. . .For by faith, Abraham... Faith is crucial in beliefs about origins.

Here's the video:


If you haven't seen Ken Ham's Creation Museum, get to Northern KY to see it!
Bless you as you teach Truth to your children concerning origins and God.

FREE Home School Enrichment digital magazine online PLUS...

I am purely giddy! I just got the word that HSE is offering in addition to their free online magazine http://mail.google.com/mail/?zx=vknbvoor3a9l&shva=1#inbox/123a07dd216f450c

a discounted print edition with a HUGE FREEBIE~
https://homeschoolenrichment.com/magazine/subscribe/subscribe.php?offerid=1029/

for $14.57....

with
a
one year FREE membership to

Homeschool Legal Advantage
http://www.homeschoollegaladvantage.com/Home.html
the Christian Law Association's homeschooling arm~oh my goodness!

This is a savings of $86.40 which is HUGE considering you get a PRINT copy of this beautiful full color homeschooling magazine AND the legal representation we all might need! Go check out Homeschool Legal Advantage to see the FREEBIES they offer new members~oh my goodness~this is so unbelievable AND you won't be sorry!

This offer ends Monday, September 21, 2009 9:00PM CST so I'm heading over TODAY! ALL THIS for $14.57 AMAZING! Pass the word!!
WooHoo!

Solid Freebies Without the Sell!

I love freebies, but the constant barrage of ads drives me crazy! I am not so dumb as to not view most everything that comes across my screen, but the constant marketing of products by some FREEBIE vendors is just a good ole fashioned ploy~but hey...who can blame a gal for wanting something for nothing or a vendor peddling wares, even if veiled in FREEness? Well, just consider it "paying" when you read the advertisements, and that IF you should purchase, you have solidified the FREEBIE vendor's advertising strategy in gaining more customers! I have on occasion purchased from an ad attached in something else, like a newsletter or blog, but not often.  If I do, you can bet it's a bonafied DEAL, and I've checked ALL my sources for the best price possible...

If you are ad-ed-out, and love FREEBIES, visit the Erskine Family of KY.  They offer Homeschool Freebie of the Day and Homeschool Resource of the Day, along with Homeschool Radio Shows.
http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/
which are absolutely awesome! They even offer a FREE audio download per week of wonderful old timey radio show dramas usually about a famous person or event~wonderful stuff!!
http://www.homeschoolradioshows.com/
Now you will see that they have been offering a huge resource for one price kind of deal for a period of time and will be changing formats to this next year, so this huge deal will be gone...but go check this part out for yourself~I like the weekly radio FREEBIE they offer~you can sign up on the page to see if your kids would even enjoy an audio learning experience.  Often there are guides too in PDF download in the FREEBIE~these are absolutely free; I love it!!

I enjoy sharing without the hype~so here's a resource you can get without the sell~
blessings

Drama and Homeschooling!

This title could be deceiving! NO I'm not discussing family life, I know some of us have "drama" in our lives to last our life times, but I am actually talking about theater in the life of a homeschooler! 

Our children's personalities are God given and developed by everyone they encounter.  Parents have the major roles to play out, but everyone leaves something for everyone in this area...So some are naturally "out there" with gregorious laughter and not minding to be in the spotlight, while others snuggle shyly into our skirts or jeans leg as a new opportunity to present themselves is more than they want to encounter. . .

I have one of each.  Girl Thing One has danced her way to gospel music in church since she was old enough to walk.  When my children were preschoolers, my youngest son would set at our piano and finger the keys (any wonder he has natural gift for it??) and say to his sister, "Dance__! Dance!" And she did right along to his rhythms. . .on her toes, moving her feet as fast as she could with the biggest smile on her face.  He was grinning too~while he didn't want the spotlight, she did and his ability to "play" (this was light banging on the keys, really..." brought each of them joy.

Today as teenagers who are both musicicans, she is singing a hymn in Japanese, and he is playing it on his trumpet.  Again the stage is set for one to take a center spot and the other to accompany.  But not only has this continued in music, Girl Thing One is not in a homeschool drama club, well they both are~but she tried out for a part and got it, while he's happy working on props and costuming! Differences gallore for sure, but both active in their God given ways!

I want to encourage you to take your littles or bigs into areas that will bring confidence to them as they are exposed to this world we live in. 

It was interesting that yesterday in church because my daughter is reserved and very quiet most of the time that my Sunday School class was surprised to know that she is in a theatre production, and that this is her fifth or sixth.  She doesn't dance the church aisles anymore! But she does still enjoy the theature and performing~now a homeschool drama group. 

Please consider drama activities for your children.  The benefits can be huge in terms of their lives. . .will Boy Thing One continue to be a support and faithful back up to those who are more outgoing? But without opportunities, he may never take that center stage. . .and will Girl Thing One continue to work the parts?  Only the Lord knows the future of our children, but opportunities such as drama and other arts such as music are pieces in the building of positive life experiences.

If you don't have a drama group in your area, what about your co-op group? Can you along with them start one? Try your church too.  Often there are many opportunities for children in the form of Children's Choirs, Drama Teams, and more! I learned to sing in our church choir.  I've had about 2 years of piano most of which was as a seven year old, but I can sing and even simply play melody on the piano enough to get the notes for singing! Look around~there are opportunities~and often where was seek, we will find...but if not, let's consider starting!
BTW~the picture is an actual production with my daughter!
blessings,

Remembering 9/11~a tribute and film...

I remember it. Don't you? If you were near a television at that precise hour, then you along with many of us watched in horror as some of the most vicious attacks on our nation unfolded before our eyes...I was home with my children. Our daughter the had been in public kindergarten , and this day as I sat dismayed at what I was seeing, I offered up a prayer of thanksgiving in knowing both my children were home with us, and we were not in fear as many parents who were so concerned that they ran to the schools to get their children...homeschooling took on a new meaning for me. It was a new commitment in our lives, our second year!

Love of God and country has been a huge theme in our schooling. We believe in patriotism! We believe is a just, holy and righteous God! And we believe in our duty to serve both!! In home education is our mechanism for gaining and performing both~

A few years ago, I accidently found the film, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXnA9F 9/11 The Falling Man. This is a documentary about one of the photographs of a man who like many that day became known as a "jumper," and the attempts by some to identify him, put a dignity to his situation and bring closure by by finding his family and for them closure and dignity. THIS IS NOT for the faint or weak as this film shows many disturbing images of the horror of WHAT those no good devils did to our nation, our people and each and every bit of our way of life.

I am chosing to share such with you because it is my belief that to gloss over it's shock, tragedy, and horror does NOT serve us today, but will in the long run harm us in a way that can effect generations to come! Lest We Forget...we may be doomed to repeat the past! It's my prayer that God gives us all the courage, strength and integrity to stand against tyranny in whatever form we find it, to defend and protect our United States Constitution and to BOLDLY say:
God Bless America! Land of the Free and the Brave!

It will take you over an hour to watch. I could have put up a "nice" pic, but in our nation today, we all need to be reminded...Lest We Forget...

http://attacked911.tripod.com/ This was put up by Nichole and it's a tribute that will either make you mad or resolved to DO something in the name of freedom. Let's be patriots and stand strong for our nation!

Loving my country, my countrymen, and my God by remembering in solemness 9/11!

Joy Comes in the Morning!

After a long struggle or process or effort, VICTORY~JOY~SATISFACTION
~ACHIEVEMENT~RESULTS
can be so fulfilling! Without the work though, the sweetness of the end result is less, for if we are just handed the victory, joy, satisfaction, achievement or results then somehow it is not as savory, not as valuable, not as appreciated.

Have you ever struggled or longed and worked, set a goal to meet then step by step met that goal? In the words of an old comedic actor, "How sweet it is!" Yes, we feel that in our accomplishment and pursuit pushes the end result to a higher estimated value for we KNOW what it took to achieve and gain...

Getting started this year, gearing up, roaring up our engines for another year of pursuit, effort, struggle, process, steps, work we can keep our eye on the end result knowing that in a not too distant future with the sweet savor of victory, our child who we have meticulously planned their education, prayed for without reserve, loved unconditionally and cheered onward will find for themselves the life that God has for them as well developed, seasoned, educated citizens who can do what other generations of great worth have done~have achieved~have become!

I encourage you, as these first few weeks get into gear to keep your eye on the end of the days when it's a final curtain call, "this is it" day,their graduation from your homeschooling efforts, to know that every little itty bitty effort will bring fruit for a brighter world and God's glory! Homeschooling in its very nature is a process, and we can be confident that our efforts will bring what is sown, and God can be praised because joy does come in the morning~and how sweet the savoring after the process for both we parents and our precious children!

Savoring the thought of the Joy to come!

Learning Styles~Strengths and Weaknesses

"I don't learn that way," my daughter told me when we were discussing a method of learning just the other day...actually over this same method, she has said this before, but this time I had an answer for her. An answer that I want to share with you about learning styles, whether it's your child's strength or weakness.

We all have learning styles. And actually we all learn at varied rates within each of the styles: auditory, visual, tactile or kinesthetic. Just a brief definition of each is that auditory is listening, visual is seeing, tactile is touching and kinesthetic is doing so that we are all on the same page here...and what my child was telling me is what is true for everyone. There are ways we learn better than others, but of course if you are deaf or blind then you wouldn't learn by hearing or seeing...but the other learning styles would be increased by heightened sensory receptors. Ever realize that many piano tuners have vision impairments? I've known two wonderful such people, and their weakness in one sensory area led to strengths in another! So with our typically developing children, there are bound to be strengths and weaknesses in their learning styles.

Strengths and weaknesses need not be a boundry for learning in the lesser learning area. This is an opportunity to build skills. With my daughter my answer was this, "yes, I know it's a weakened area, but we are going to build upon it and exercise it so you will have strength in that area." This was specifically the auditory learning style and the actual skill was note taking. I further explained that she would need this skill in college and would not be able to tell the professor that because she didn't learn this way, to please just give her the notes from which the lecture was drawn...I could imagine just how well this might go over~not! So with this said, we are skill building...the idea of learning styles sis not to focus on the strength necessarily in all of a child's learning, but to built upon them to strengthen the weakened areas to bring those up to speed.

If you have an active hands on child, of course let them hop and skip and sing to learn...but also expect some and build gradually the practice of listening with auditory and visual learning~these areas must be exercised. A child must learn to use all styles to be highly successful educationally. Information is taught in so many different ways, and to be able to fully engage that information is very beneficial.

Just remember to build on the strengths by working some of the weakened areas so that skills are increased.

blessings,

Singing to Learn~A fun and stress free way to enjoy schooling

I got purely giddy over a blast I got today from Homeschool Enrichment Magazine
http://homeschoolenrichment.com/
You can get a free sample too!

Today we are looking at homeschooling from an older age, we are now 8th and 9th graders, but way back when, in the early days when some of the conventional methods we tried, like workbooks and text books were not working, I found singing and physical activities~kinesthetic methods of learning to be very useful! VERY! Young children generally like to sing and dance! They are you know are much more active and hands on than some when they get older, while this learning style can remain, sometimes it will also "evolve" into visual and still auditory, but in different ways without a true need to move and sing...
but for the littles or
those who learn this way best~Sing to Learn
http://singnlearn.org/ is a resource site with LOADS of auditory singing learning materials...I saw Sing Spell Read and Write by Sue Dickson who we used with our struggling reader when he was second grade. It was fun, and most importantly it gave him a sense of accomplishment: It has a RACE TRACK board with vinyl magnetic cars that move around the track as each level is accomplished. It's colorful, durable, and we put it on the side of our fridge so my son could track his progress. There are learning games to accompany a reader, and writing phonics text which will focus on sounds, blends, diphthongs, and more...there is a spelling list and even songs to teach all of this...I adored it~and it WORKED! Another product I see they carry is called Skip Count Kid's Bible Heroes which was hugely successful in teaching the multiplication tables to my children with really cute songs~Bible based! There's a song about Noah and the ark with the animals coming on the ark by two's...we loved this one too! Go check out this website~you can listen to samples and order a catalog...the listening samples is HUGELY HELPFUL~

I found this so helpful when teaching my children in the early years and believe that these were very helpful in the foundations to learning that my children now possess!

Unsolicited, as most of my sharing is~It's purely for your benefit~I hope this helps!
blessings,