Astonishing! What Does a Spoon Have to do with Science? Inside: How simple household items can be the breakthrough you need to teach science. My son was staring at his spoon. It was strange. “Mom, I’ve always wondered why my reflection is upside down in my spoon. What’s even more confusing is that when I turn it around, my reflection is right-side-up.” I laughed aloud. Not at him. … Read More »
3 Proven Ways to Homeschool LAZY Boys without Losing Your Mind Photo by Agnieszka Bladzik Sitting by a warm fire. Drinking coffee. In my jammies. Jealous? Don’t be. I just don’t feel like doing anything today. I have my lazy turned up to high. Since I am not characterized by being lazy, my family is simply pleasantly surprised that I am “chilling”. They are curled up with books or movies in this same room. Heaven. When dinner comes around, I will not win friends and influence people if I say, “I forgot to make dinner” though will I? Not in my house full of men. They want to eat:). Laziness is one of those strange things. It is so appealing on a rainy afternoon, like today as I write this. But laziness to the point that responsibilities are neglected is simply intolerable. photo by Seth Doyle Now three things personify laziness: A male lion lazing in the shade, An overfed house cat, And a 12-year-old boy…. Read More »
What do comic books have to do with learning? Spiders and bug spray were meant to be introduced. Don’t you think? Sure, we need spiders. Lots of them in fact. Why? Because spiders eat flies. That’s why! I hate flies almost as much as these 8 legged wonders. OK, I don’t HATE spiders. I think they are pretty amazing. I just do not want to share the same space with them. Is that too much to ask? But what do spiders have to do with anything homeschool related? My boys would roll their eyes at us and scream, “Spiderman!”. While I try to teach them the abilities of arachnids, they would be trying to invent that cool webbing stuff that comes out of Peter Parkers wrists that enables him to swing through New York above rush hour traffic. But now that I have the boys’ attention, I’m going to try to keep it. Why not find some way to science and comics? When I heard there were comic books that could help my children learn science, I was excited. My kids love comic books and the magic of Manga learning tools seem like a perfect fit! What is Manga? It’s a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children. Why does it matter? And what does it have to do with learning? I’ve discovered this tremendous resource for teaching kids science and all about the human body. Rather than a dry text and diagram textbook, concepts are covered in a story-based format that’s also visual, so learners of all kinds have more to glom onto, and it’s easier to recall. Sort of like our trusted and true pal Ms. Frizzle of the Magic School Bus, but for a slightly older children depending on the book. Last but certainly not least – it makes learning fun! Imagine if your child requested to re-read a science text book. That’s what these amazing books can inspire. We started on the Survive! Inside the Human Body series, and even I am learning! Topics covered in this book series about the human body: Human Body (anatomy), Digestive System, Circulatory System, Nervous System, Personal Wellness, Effects of Food on the Body, Medicine & technology, and Genetics. But there are also advanced topics in this format like the Universe, Physics, Linear Algebra, and more available from Shockingly Awesome Learning on Educents.com. See inside the books in this cute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmpxhYmBAaM (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]=’EMAIL’;ftypes[0]=’email’;fnames[1]=’FNAME’;ftypes[1]=’text’;}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true);
“What I Have Learned Teaching” Guest Author- (Me!) What if our smartest kids are lazy, egotistical, thieving brats? What if they ace the test, but bully the kids next to them? Jessica with “What I Have Learned Teaching” writes, As a teacher, we often focus on what students know, the facts, details, the content. But really, what is our goal? What counts when raising up the next generation? It’s about how our children live and learn. Can we create lifelong learners? Bekki from A Better Way to Home School is here today to help us consider our focus when teaching and homeschooling. Her broader, bigger perspective is refreshing in this world of standards, test scores, and always meeting the next tangible goal. Read how to avoid raising brilliant brats here. Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.
Bible Studies with Kids I love studying the Bible. God is truly amazing and wonderful. He faithfully takes whatever I am reading about on any given day and gives me very practical ways to apply what I am learning. Is anyone else with me here? I know that some of my readers are not Christians, and I respect your beliefs. Me personally, I love teaching our kids about the Lord. Funny, we have very few formal learning materials so far. We rely on the Bible itself and then life unfolds and makes it practical. I am in the process of writing and creating units to share with my children, my future grandchildren, and all the sweet faces I am blessed to teach during Sunday School. It’s a lot of fun. How do you teach your kids about the Word of God? More Bible Studies for Kids: Bible Study Printables: Romans 15:13 Days of Creation Board Game Days of Creation Printables Days of Creation Food Ideas (free) Sunday School Activities: Fruits of the Spirit Bible Study BUNDLE #1 Daniel 1: Bible Study and Children’s Ministry Activities Bible Object Lessons for Kids: Waterfalls Bible Fun for Kids: ABCs of God’s Character Advent Activities for Kids: Freebie Advent Activities for Kids- Complete Bible Study: What Can I Learn from the Camel Bible Study: Pearl of Great Price- Matthew 13:45-46 Bible Study: Transfiguration of Jesus- Matthew 17 Daniel 4: King Nebuchadnezzar’s Tree Dream Sunday School Lessons on Prayer for Preschoolers Bible Study for Kids: What Can I Learn From the Ant? Memory verse for kids: Exodus 14:14 My personal statement of faith: I believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. I believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory. I believe “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and that we are saved by faith in Jesus. My favorite Bible teachers are my husband (Craig Sayler), Pastor Jon Courson, Pastor Chuck Smith, CH Spurgeon.
Ready for Geology? We are going to have 1 or two kids studying geology this year. We haven’t quite decided yet. In preparation I’ve been studying all about rocks, minerals, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and the like. Can I just confess that science isn’t my subject. Well, I love science, I just don’t do so well at teaching it. And then I created an Oreo lab for plate tectonics. OREOS. You know, the cookies? Ok, I’m in now. (As long as there’s milk too…) Although I am nowhere near ready for school, I am ready to jump into geology with at least one son. That’s a start! Are you ready for school? Are you teaching geology this year? You may want to take a look at this resource. Download your FREE “Science is Curiosity” {Printable}
Reading and Hammocks- A Match Made in Heaven My brilliant husband is in the process of outfitting all five of our sons with hammock for relaxing and backpack camping. What a delight these hammocks have been. The biggest benefits of hammocking so far have been: Fellowship. The Boys LOVE hammocking and will spend hours together “hanging” out. Relaxing. Nothing defines chilling out better than a hammock. Reading. This one caught me by surprise. The hammock has become the favorite reading spot at home. Big brother has turned it into special cozy and read-aloud time too. My husband has hooked the boys up with Special gear to make their hammocks easy to hang. Here’s his gear list so far: The Ultimate Hang (book- Because we homeschool… There’s a book for everything:)) Hammocks- Hennessey Hammock Expedition Asym Straps- To extend the distance between trees Carabiner hooks Snake Skins– These make set up a synch! For kicks and giggles, you can enjoy all about hammocking with our favorite hammocking YouTuber Shug Emery. Former Ringling Brother Clown and all around funny guy, he loves to share all about the art of hammocking. So if you, like me, are always on the lookout for new ways to encourage reading, I would suggest looking into getting a hammock for your kids. What a fun, quiet place to curl up with a great book!
Losing Our Beloved Dog Silence. Dead silence. Just over three weeks ago we unexpectedly lost our beloved Australian Shepherd Buck. We were all completely unprepared for how much his loss would impact us. Buck was 7 years old and a big ball of fluffy. Two days before he died my 18 year old son was petting him and playing with him and I said, “Boy are you going to miss that dog someday.” He said, “I know, right?” I don’t know why I said it. In the moment I was simply keenly aware of the bond between that dog and the boy. We had no idea Buck was so sick. We knew we loved him, but we had no idea how much “life” he brought to our home. When we came home without the dog I was overwhelmed with the knowledge that the unconditional love giver was gone. All five of our boys went to the dog for hugs when they were sad or down. Buck was a hugger. He would wrap his paws around your leg and use his neck and head to engulf you in his fluffy hug. It’s been a hard three weeks. Lots of tears. Lots of hugs. Lots of big sighs. I never bonded with a dog before Buck. Our boys never bonded with a dog before either. We learned so much from our fluffy friend: unconditional love prancing makes everyone smile smart dogs understand your language it’s fun to play hugs and cuddles are never outgrown love is the core Here is a tribute from our son to his dog… There are different types of friends. There are friends who you talk to every once in a while and are able to catch up with immediately no matter what has happened. There are friends who will do everything with you: goof off, go to the movies, read books… Then there is another kind of friend, the one that adores you despite your flaws, the one that gives you hugs at random intervals, the one that constantly wants to play and hang out with you and your family. In fact, this type of friend is so loving and so close to you that he or she is a member of your family. My dog, Buck, was a beautiful example of this kind of friend. For the past seven years we laughed at his goofy and energetic attitude, his loving cuddles, and his passion to stick with his pack in any situation. Yesterday, Buck was being as ornery as usual: giving us hugs, pawing to play, and running around the house (which always drives my mother crazy). At around lunchtime he came up to me and gave me a paw and a look that said he wanted attention. As usual, I couldn’t refuse those gentle brown eyes. Then dinner came and Buck threw up his dinner. He wasn’t doing well, that was clear: shaky body and pink rings around his eyes. So naturally we brought him to the vet. Once we arrived, he started to act better out of mere excitement, tail wagging and all. But of course we knew he still wasn’t feeling himself. A couple of X-rays later, we discovered what made him feel this way: a tumor. Oh the irony! Out of all the people in the family to love on the most, out of all the dogs my family could get, we got one with a tumor and he was sure I was his master. We were the tumor buddies without even knowing it. But different from my situation, Buck was in pain and there was very little we could do about it. With one look at those X-rays I think we all knew what was coming. We talked with the vet, who was very supportive and understanding. She agreed it was probably the best and most loving option. He was brought in, tail slightly wagging when he saw us not understanding my our eyes were getting teary. We had a couple minutes to say our reluctant goodbyes. He walked over and laid down, putting a weak paw in my hand as I lay next to him and looked into his beautiful eyes. Then, when we were as ready as we were going to get, we called over the vet. Buck peacefully passed away last night at around 10:45, knowing that we loved him very much. Though I am still saddened from watching one of my best friends pass, I am more thankful than I thought I would be. This experience made me remember all of the little things, the little memories that we love about our dog. We wished we had named him “Prancer” because he would constantly do just that whenever he played or got excited. Buck would sneeze whenever he got excited about something. Buck would smile by curling his lips away from his front teeth whenever he got nervous or really excited/relieved. The goofy dog would shake his butt whenever he relieved himself. He drove us all crazy at times, but he still loved us and we, him. But the best memory I have of him is his love for my family and me. He adored us no matter what and was always there to make us smile when he tried to love on us. This dog was a hugger: he would walk up to me, sit down at my feet, and rub the side of his head against my leg. What I am getting at is that Buck was a beautiful example of the type of people we should be: people who love everyone around them and have a passionate love for their Master. Everyone agreed that Buck considered me to be his master, something I tried not to openly agree to because he was such a wonderful family dog. You see, we could all learn from Buck. He loved his family, was excited and loving to any new person he met, and he adored and wanted to please his master. My friends, we are called to do the exact same thing. We are meant to be like Buck: loving everyone we meet, loving on our family and the Body of Christ, and following and adoring our wonderful Master, Jesus Christ the One True God and the Creator of Everything. To you who believe, I challenge you to love as my dog loved my family. I challenge you to not be afraid to show your love and passion for Our Perfect Master. To you who do not believe, know that I am praying for you and know that you are missing out on the greatest Gift anyone can ever give you: Salvation. God is Our perfect and loving Master and He sent His Only Son, whom He loved, to pay the penalty of our sins. Jesus Christ died on the cross for this purpose and rose three days later as a promise of eternity with Him if you accept His gift. Also know that I do love you, despite your imperfections and flaws because you were beautifully and wonderfully created by God. And above all else, know that God loves you and me more than we can possibly imagine. Thank you Jesus for Buck’s life and love that You fabricated into his being. Thank You for showing Your love and life through him. Thank you Father for the past 7 years. Even though he was taken sooner than we wished, thank You for loving Buck enough to let Him pass before he went under more pain. Lord, thank you for Buck. And though my good friend has passed on, I am very grateful for the spirit and example he left in our hearts and minds. I love you buddy and I miss you very much! Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.
Pokemon Go: Why I Love this New Game My name is Bekki and I play Pokemon Go. Sounds like an AA confession, right? So Here’s my Pokemon confession. Important information: · I have been married for over 25 year to a wonderful man. · We have 5 boys ages 10-23. · I HATE video games. · I mean I HATE video games. When I was a kid and my parents took us to an arcade, I would pocket the quarters my dad would dish out rather than play the games. * The night before the release of this new app, our 10 year old showed my husband something he had created and then cheerfully ran to create something else. My husband whispered to me, “Sometimes I forget how young he still is. I need to remember he is still a little kid.” That comment was burned into my heart. The next day, our oldest (23) can home and excitedly announced that “The Pokemon App was released” and he had accidentally lost his ‘Pikachu’. (That’s a character in the game… hang with me for a second). By Monday the two memories had merged. Our youngest is still little, and our oldest is fully fascinated by this new game. So, sitting at the doctor’s office with son #3 I downloaded the app. I was convinced I could shock all five sons simultaneously. I had no idea what was about to happen. Son #3 exclaimed, “YOU are downloading Pokemon?!” The nurse saw my phone and gasped, “You’re playing Pokemon Go? I was out all over my neighborhood last night catching Pokemon!” I came home and quietly talked with my husband. I said, “You will be tempted to roll your eyes and dismiss what I am about to say, but please listen for a second. I decided today to download the Pokemon Go app and be “cool mom” and embrace this game with the kids. I think we should do it as a family.” He stared at me blankly for a second and said, “Really?” I said, “All I ask is that you pray about it.” Well the game has been out a week. Here are my favorite moments: · The look on my oldest sons’ faces when they were talking about the game and I casually shared that I was on level 3. There are no words to describe that moment when your kids suddenly see that you are not an alien from a different time period. Priceless. · The joy that oozed from all five sons when my husband said, “Let’s go catch Pokemon!” They all started running and talking to themselves… “Did he just say what I think he said?” · Watching our sons teach their dad (and I) how to play the game. They are so eager to have us understand. · Relating the game to our loves as Christians: o We should be looking for God’s fingerprints more intensely than we hunt for Pokemon. o We should pray for the people we see playing the game. o We should be light. · Seeing hundreds of people out and about, exploring and playing as groups. · Smiling, laughing and talking with people in the community. · Seeing new places. (The game sends you to landmarks, signs, churches, libraries, parks, and more). · The time with my family. For this short period of time, all 7 of us are playing the same game, going to the same places, experiencing the same fun at the same time. Since my husband and I are “all in” we are included in their circle of fun. It’s crazy. Pokemon? I know there are many great reasons to avoid such “silliness”. Remember I HATE video games. I HATE wastefulness. But this is not wasteful. This is spending time with our kids, exercising, exploring, socializing, teaching, and witnessing all wrapped up in a bouncing Pokeball. Thinking about going all in for a week too? Let me give you some insider tips to help you blow your kids’ socks off as well.
Backyard Water Fun Due to unseasonally warm weather, the swimming area at our local lake closed. (flashback to 2015) To say our boys were bummed when we walked toward the water is an UNDERstatement! My husband said, “I have an idea! My sister and I did this when we were little… Go buy some huge garbage bags.” I baulked. I gave him the look. Yet he insisted… “Trust Me,” he said. So I did. Voila! A memory was born. Recipe For ‘Fun In a Garbage Bag’ Materials: hot kids large garbage bags a hose a flat place Directions: Have hot kids stand or sit on the inside seam of the bag. Have “volunteer” Spray them fill the bags with water from the hose. Observe the fun. Confession: I was absolutely sure the kids would hate this activity. I was absolutely positive they would not participate. I was absolutely, positively, completely wrong! Lessons learned: Trust husband. Don’t take life so seriously that I neglect the overly simple. Divide “I’m too cool to try” kids from the “Sounds awesome!” kids. This varies in each home. Our 22, 17, and 13 year olds said, “No way.” Our 11 and 9 year old reluctantly tried and loved it. Warning: The water was from our well. We stopped when the boys truly began to shiver in the 95 degree yard. This activity would have been better in the shade. ALL water activities should be supervised. Use discretion with younger children. Good luck getting your older kids to try!!
Summer Fun Dragonflies Free is good, right? Here’s a fun freebie for you! You will find this product in my store. 14 Fun Facts about Dragonflies More Dragonfly Fun
Father’s Day Craft Father’s Day is a few days away… I am so blessed by my husband! He helps cast a vision for our homeschooling. He keeps me focused on the Lord. He reminds me that character trumps curriculum. Every. Single. Time. He reminds me to focus on life skills and “an attitude of learning” rather than any particular topic. He helps me regulate my own schedule so I do not spin myself into the ground. He trusts me to choose curriculum and teaching topics that align with our family while educating our boys. Here are two Father’s Day Crafts for you! More: Father’s Day Ideas Father’s Day Crafts for Toddlers Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.
Hindsight: 18 Years of Homeschooling If I could rewind the tape and begin homeschooling my kids today with the benefit of my 18 years of experience, what would I do differently? 1. I would spend the first 6-12 months to a year organizing my home, working on establishing a daily rhythm, and study my children. 2. I’d go to the library at least once a week allowing them to choose books that interest them, and hand picking random books for me to read aloud. I would be watching for what they are interested in, what makes them excited, what they find boring, etc. 3. I would rely on my husband more in creating a vision for our children, rather than trying to figure out what everyone else is doing. I wouldn’t waste a second trying to make what works for your kids work for mine. I’d keep my husband in the loop about our daily escapades and accept his advice more quickly. I mistakenly thought that because he worked outside the home all day he would be unable to see what the kids needed. This piece of humble pie would have been better to consume early in homeschooling. 4. Rather than spending countless hours worrying about this curriculum or that, I would begin with the family goals we have now: Put the highest priority on sharing our love for Jesus with our children. To insure the kids know their math facts inside and out. Period. Forget learning them, they need to over learn them. To inspire a love for literature by exposing the kids to a steady flow of great books. (I would read aloud daily no matter what their ages). I’d be picking the brains of the veteran homeschoolers, librarians, and authors that are in my sphere of influence for suggestions and I would prioritize a daily reading habit. I would focus all learning to develop excellent written and oral communication skills. I would find my children pen pals so they could perfect the friendly letter. I would have them do copy work from the masters and discuss why the sentences, paragraphs, essays, or stories are so great. I would understand that excellence in writing really comes from being well read and practice, tactics, practice. 5. I would find opportunities for my kids to stand and share in front of others, whether it is during a family BBQ or performing with the local theater- giving them the skill and confidence to speak in front of others. 6. I would view curriculum, tests, quizzes, and state tests as resources to help me customize each of the kids education, not the substance of their learning. 7. I would relax more. I’d let the kids get dirtier. I would get dirtier. We would play in the rain, build in the snow, chase rainbows, cloud watch, visit the farm, play at the beach, collect more leaves, examine more bugs, watch more plays, attend the theater, interview our doctors and dentists, locate inspirational guests like missionaries, mechanical engineers, artists, poets, and ace mechanics to share their passions with the kids. I would put a map of the US and the world under glass or plastic across my kitchen table and every single time we read or heard about a place we would locate it on the map and discuss how close/far it is from us. 8. I would hide the duct tape… 9. I would do it all over again. And again. And again. I know my children so much more intimately because of homeschooling. I am forever grateful for the vision my husband was given for our family. How about you? What are the top few things you would change if you could rewind the tape and homeschool those beginning years with the wisdom you have today? Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.
Teenagers: Secure Their Parachutes By the time our kids reach high school, we can bend to the pressure to “let them go” and “cut the cords”.Teenagers need the help, guidance, and strength of their parents even more than toddlers do at times. The transition from middle schooler to adulthood is like running a medieval gauntlet. While some kids skate through their adolescence unscathed, many need extra care and attention. Unfortunately we do not get to pick and and choose which kids need extra help, and which ones do not. As parents we need to “go the distance” with each and every child and teen. Our job does not slow down when our kids hit high school, actually this is when the real “fun” begins. Truth’s About Parenting and Teaching Teens This is not the time to loosen the reigns. Honestly, adolescence is the time when kids really buck against authority, but should not be the time we let go. With the crazy flooding of hormones, teen brains can really struggle with rational thought and emotion. They need us desperately. Letting them make their own mistakes in their own educational journey should not mean we “Let Them Utterly Fail”. While we cannot complete their homework assignments for them, we need to stay on top of our teens. Some students flourish during this time and become “Captain of their Own Destinies”- even conquering the world. But, many students put on a realistic smoke screen that implies that they have the world by the tail, but are drowning in the amount of responsibility and work required in their life. By the time parents become aware of the fact that their students are struggling, they are facing a mountain of makeup work. Not fun on any continent. What does this mean? We stay on top of our kids. Continue to monitor their eating and sleeping habits. Maintain (or regain) parental control over things like tv and screen time so that we help them learn to manage these time-vacuum activities. While each family establishes what is acceptable to them, parents should be in control. Many teens need us to be firm over these things so they can safely flourish. Not doing acceptably in school should dictate less “fun time” with technology, social media, and texting. Be willing to go the distance WITH our kids. They are struggling in math? Either tutor them or find them one. Sit at the table while they finish their assignments. Model what it looks like to be confused, but to press through confusion to comprehension. There are adults who are willing to sit and mentor/coach not only our kids, but us parents as well. If you do not understand an assignment, concept, or assignment reach out and find help. Even You tube can be a great resource! Some kids will be easy to guide, others will be challenging, but all of our kids need us. They need to know that they are not stranded on a deserted island, abandoned to figure out how to create a flowchart demonstrating how to name a chemical formula from its scientific name, write an expository essay, or solve a quadratic equation alone. There is a whole team of adults, teachers, and mentors ready to help them, but first they need us. Do not be intimidated by the amount or subject of material they need to assimilate. Let them see you confused. Let them see you research solutions. Let them see you ask for help. Let them protest as you take them to a tutor. Just do not give up and let go. God gave us the responsibility to secure their parachutes, no matter how loudly they protest! Print this free homeschool mom reminder. This post comes with a free printable reminder list to help keep your heart focused on the heart of homeschooling. I always have the hardest staying focused. This printable simplifies it! Here is a sneak preview… Download Your Free Printable Download the checklist. You’ll get the printable, plus join 9,000+ homeschool moms who receive my weekly parenting tips and ideas! Print. Any paper will do the trick, but card stock would be ideal. Place it on your refrigerator as a helpful reminder.
Science: Water Rocket I pretty much fail at teaching science. I try. I really do. But we just can’t be great at everything. On my list of “Things I am not great at Doing” is teaching science. My saving gracing, besides Jesus, is childhood ingenuity. With the help of a teacher friend, my 8th grader not only made a water rocket, but launched it successfully. While I may not be the best “science teacher”, but kids are the best independent learners! Here are some easy instructions for building your own Water Rocket. Be safe, and have a “BLAST”! New from my Store: Buy now Download your FREE “Science is Curiosity” {Printable}
Insects and Spring: The Perfect Homeschool Pair Spring has sprung! We live in the Pacific Northwest and there is no doubt that spring is in the air (Ah-choo!).While everything is covered in pollen so thick that you leave footprints in the yellow, the boys are in heaven. Sunshine Warmth Birds Bees Flowers Trees Take advantage of the spring in your area and do a unit study on one or more aspects of God’s Creation. This is a read along video about BUGS! Great for emerging readers! Unit Study on Insects Insect Documentary 50 Art Projects for Spring! Science Experiments! Have Fun! Download your FREE “Science is Curiosity” {Printable}
Brain Teasers for Kids Don’t you just love whiteboards? Recently I began writing a brain teaser of the day on the whiteboard for the kids to solve. They love it. Photo by Pietro De Grandi SAMPLE BRAIN TEASER What is greater than God, more evil than the devil, the poor have it, the rich need it, and if you eat it, you’ll die? … Read More »
Teaching the U.S. Constitution Teaching the U.S. Constitution Confession. I was not excited to teach the boys about the Constitution. I have never been interested in this precious document. Terrible, I know. Funny how your heart changes as you study something… We have fallen in love with this document as we read and discuss our Constitution and the power of what was written. This past week, we were studying t and foche first few sections of the Constitution and have focused on the fact that the founding fathers kept journals of all their meetings. My boys keep journals, so I thought it would be fun to dig back through the House of Representative and Senate Journals. What a treasure! I had the boys choose a period of time in our country’s history that interested them. (They chose the Great Depression) We then searched the journals to see what was going on in the legislature at that time. Things the boys discovered: Just a few… The members of the legislature had to wait until a voting majority arrived before discussing any governmental business. (It took weeks for them to assemble enough voting members) Most of the action items we boring everyday necessities: Like budget. You can glean what was happening at the time by reading through the journals: The need to improve highway safety Death penalty revisions What a treasure to dig through historical documents with the boys! I would highly recommend seizing opportunities to dive in deeper with your own kids: regardless of what you are studying together. Do you want to browse the journals of the House of Representatives and Senate? Follow the links and see what you can discover about our nation! United States Journals
New Year; Renewed Focus I have a love/hate relationship with the New Year. Every year I fall in love with Christmas break. I mean, I fall in love with the break… Late nights. Late mornings. Long walks. Christmas. Lights. Lots of coffee and cocoa. Celebrating Jesus. Family. Ahhh… heaven. Then comes the longest day of the year for me. New Year’s Eve. I am not a late night owl. (Yes, I said late nights were on my love list just a few sentences ago, but I meant late like ten o’clock). My kids seem to think that it is awesome to stay up until midnight to ring in the New Year. Me? Not so much. I hate New Year’s Day because it reminds me that Christmas break is over and that I have not thought about school for a few weeks. Drat. Well, we are now three days into this year and I am less prepared than ever. Each morning I am scrambling to make a to do list for each of the boys. As I remind myself of my priorities, I thought I would share them with whoever may be in the same boat with me. If you are brand new to homeschooling, you may find comfort in knowing that even us seasoned homeschoolers short circuit at times! New Year Resolutions Reminders My attitude sets the tone for the entire home: Make time to spend with the Lord each morning. My relationship with my husband trumps every other relationship: Focus on blessing, encouraging and loving my man. My kid’s character is waaaay more important than curriculum: focus on diligence, discipline, integrity, kindness, and love. Plan. This is a big one for me. I need to set aside at least a couple of hours every week to wrap my head around where I am leading the boys in “school”. I am behind. I need a big chunk of time to plan the rest of the year. Kids can smell when I do not have a plan… Relax. The best lessons in homeschool are found off the beaten path. Loosen up on the to do list and keep my eyes open for opportunities! Look ahead. I have one child graduating High school and another entering high school this year. I need to wrap my head around that. Make time (and a cup of coffee). Focus on the eternal. Yes, I am a Christian. I believe the Lord is coming back, just like He said He would. The daily news could have been taken right out of Old Testament Prophecy. I need to share my faith with urgency-especially with my kids! Take care of me. I am usually the last person on the list of people to help. I need to make sure I do not forget me. I tend to forget to eat and drink water. I need to lace up my shoes and get outside. I need to lose a few pounds. How about you? What would you remind yourself?