She Blinded Me With Science!

Over the years we have had much fun with science in our homeschool. When my girls were smaller we adopted a classical approach to educating in all things scientific. That entailed studying all four major science categories over a span of four years, as opposed to squeezing all four in each school year.

In other words, it looked like this:

Year one: Life Science (plants, animals, human body)
Year two: Astronomy & Earth science (weather, geology & land formations)
Year three: Chemistry (atoms & molecules, basic chemical reactions, scientific notation)
Year four: Physics (natural laws, forces, motions structures etc.)

The idea of classical education is that you repeat this four year structure twice more through grade 12. I'm sharing this with you, because with little children who are still learning how to read and write it is often science that seems to get left behind. Adopting this classical approach to science helped us gain the luxury of time to explore and investigate with a much more relaxed and natural outlook.

It is relatively easy with children K to first grade, to go on a nature walk, collect specimens for further investigation or record them in a nature notebook. It is natural to go to the library and investigate animals and insects as interests abound. Second to third graders are very curious to learn about the solar system, visit a planetarium, learn about volcanoes or start a rock collection - learning to classify rocks and minerals along the way. Third to fourth graders can usually start to grasp the idea of molecular structures and the different states of matter. Lastly, fourth to fifth graders who are now able to think more abstractly, can then proceed to laws of force & motion, understanding strength in structures etc. At age 10-11, elementary level chemistry and physics can now be readily observed through an experimental cause and effect approach. An approach which, in my humble opinion, is not developmentally appropriate for most 6-7 year olds who are not yet able to accurately hypothesise cause and effect.

If your eyes are starting to gloss over, fear not. My point in sharing this with you is so you can step back and look at various approaches to teaching elementary science objectively and developmentally. Too often we try to mimic a system of teaching that was designed for institutions - not homeschool. If this method makes sense to you or your child is still struggling in the areas of reading and writing, why not consider an alternate way to introduce your child to the world of science. Science could and should be an exciting and fascinating subject for children to explore. Why not give them the keys to unlock it?

Heart of the Matter Online Meme

Today, our meme will be based on what your thoughts are on the following quote:

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.”

~Tom Bodett

Post your thoughts on your blog and then please come back here and link directly to your Heart of the Matter Online meme post.

Circle Time at Home

Homeschooling can be a challenge with lots of littles, we have our backbone of a schedule and we have our routines and still no two days are alike. Our homeschool can be unpredictable depending on the day but if there is any consistency at all, it will be our circle time! When all else fails and we are not able to tackle the days lessons or schedule for one reason or another we always have our circle time!

Right now circle time is probably the most important part of our day, the two youngest might not pay close attention the whole time but we are able to interact with them and make them a real part of our “Homeschool” where they feel like they too are doing “lessons”.

We do our Circle time a bit after breakfast and it gives us time to pray together and get the day started off on the right foot.

We might do any of the following during our Circle Time…

• Review the weeks Bible verse
• Bible reading for the day. (From our Children’s Read & Learn Study Bible)
• Character trait (Fun songs and activities from Hubbard's Cupboard)
• Poem or song (FREE online book~ Music and Circle Time: Using Music, Rhythm, Rhyme and Song)
• Circle Time starters ~ I may ask questions pertaining to the lessons, Bible, character issues etc…
• If time allows and if they are up to it we will continue to read from a picture book if the littles are interested or a chapter book if the littles are occupied.
  

It is very simple to get started. Find a comfy place where all can sit

• Plan circle time as part of your daily routine


• Activities should be fun and engaging


• Length is determined by the ages and interests of your children

Yes, our boys are young with the oldest being 6, but “Circle Time” is something our family enjoys and looks forward to and God willing we will continue to do it throughout our homeschool years.

Crawling Into His Lap

The essence of peace. Complete security and comfort. Rest. These are words that describe my memory of lying across my father’s lap as a child, rocking softly in his blue Lazy-Boy recliner while he lightly rubbed my back. That was my cherished spot because in those moments, I knew I was cherished.

I was at a spiritual retreat in December, and toward the end of the weekend, we were led in making a covenant with our Lord for the upcoming year. We were asked several questions, the most important being, “How would you describe what you would like your relationship with God to look like?” As I was waiting for my turn, I reflected back on the things I had learned during the retreat. One of the recurring themes was that our relationship with our earthly father, and how we view him, is often intimately tied to and resemble how we view our Heavenly Father. Unfortunately, for most attendees, this was a negative relationship, so the focus of that statement was normally tied to overcoming the past, and letting go of the harbored anger and anguish. But that was not my experience.

Growing up, my father always worked so hard to be able to provide a comfortable home for our family. As hard as he worked, he put even more effort into creating quality family experiences with me, my mother and brother. Playing putt-putt in freezing temperatures (completely alone, I might add, since no one else was crazy enough to be outside in that weather), playing board games, having crawfish boils and barbeques, and dancing around our kitchen table on Christmas morning. We went on tons of family vacations, and for each of them, the fun shared during the long drive in the confines of the mini-van was better than arriving at the destination! But for me, none of those experiences compared to the memory of lying in my daddy’s lap, feeling completely secure and loved.

When it was my turn to create my covenant, and to say how I wanted my relationship with my Heavenly Father to look like this year, I chose to honor the earthly father that He blessed me with. I realized that God knew me before I was born, someone who has always accepted His unconditional love for others but have struggled with believing in it for myself, and knew that I would need that example in my life to really start to grasp and understand His personal, intimate love for ME! That reality is so amazing, so precious, that it is still difficult to believe at times, and hard to put into words, yet I tried. The statement that I created, my covenant for this year (and beyond) is that I will “Crawl into my Heavenly Father’s lap and LET Him love on me daily.” Don’t we all need to do that???

As a home schooling mom, it is tempting to think it is my job to lead my two little princesses to God. After all, I am the one that is with them all day, everyday, teaching them His word, singing songs about His love and faithfulness, reading bible stories and acting them out. All these things are great – and necessary! – but the reality is that their relationship with their daddy will have the most impact on their Christian walk. I have realized that in everything I do, in everything I say, I need to remember that fact and honor my husband. I need to continue to build him up in their presence, make sure that they know how much he does for us and how much he desperately loves them. I need to create opportunities to allow him to share in our learning experiences and adventures, and not feel left out when they have special ‘Daddy dates.’ I need to respect the relationship they share and do all that I can to help cultivate our own special family memories that they can later look back on and reflect onto their ultimate relationship, the one with their Heavenly Father.

Father, God, I thank you for loving me before I was born and giving me such a beautiful example of that love. I realize today, God, that many may be reading this who do not share those wonderful memories of their earthly fathers, and I pray a special blessing upon them. Let them experience Your presence today in an intimate way and bring healing to their hurting hearts. And, Lord, I pray that you give all of the parents reading this wisdom in how to help lead the little ones you have entrusted to our care back to You. That they see Your love for them shining through all of our words and actions. Help us to all learn how to set time aside to just crawl into Your lap and allow You to love on us daily. It is in Your Son’s precious name I pray, Amen.

The Gift of Grandparents

When considering whether or not to homeschool and entering into research about curriculum, extracurricular activities, socialization, etc, one resource which is often overlooked in the whole homeschooling discussion is grandparents. Realizing that not everyone has supportive sets of grandparents, I hope this will possibly encourage you to include them to be more involved in your homeschooling or to seek out an older couple in your church who may be willing to fulfill this role in your family.

Our family was blessed at the beginning of our homeschool journey by grandparents who were supportive. Cautiously and quietly supportive, I should say. We began homeschooling in the days when it was still a rather radical thing to do as it was a philosophy about education which was new to the general public. My husband and I shared our position with our parents as we began our journey. They asked a few questions and watched over the years gradually becoming our biggest and most enthusiastic supporters.

Not only can grandparents be supportive in helping in every day life, but they are a resource in many other ways. They are abundant in wisdom, time, and often financially secure which allows them to support their grandchildren in a variety of ways. Special homeschool needs were given in the form of Christmas or children's birthday gifts such a when we received a microscope, a treasured set of books, or having the cost of music lessons covered for a season. Often they enjoyed taking the children on field trips which included museums and zoos or traveling to other states into historical areas. They encouraged hobbies such as coin and stamp collections which they helped add to with rare items they found or they taught handcrafting skills sitting side by side. And you couldn't find bigger fans at summer baseball games or soccer matches. Other times it was simply lunch out to spend some one-on-one time with a grandchild and to give mom a break at the same time :-)

Possibly that is one of the finest gifts grandparents give to their grandchildren. Themselves. It is a gift of love as they spend precious moments of time connecting with their grandchildren. The knowledge they share of their past, the silly jokes they tell, the special items found only at grandpa and grandma's house, the leisurely activities of puttering in the garden, baiting a fishhook, or eating a bowl of ice cream together. Priceless gifts of love.

What is inspiring now is witnessing parents who have homeschooled their own children now become involved in homeschooling their grandchildren. What a treasure of experience, knowledge, and wisdom they bring into this process! Ahhh, yes, but perhaps the greatest legacy that can be shared by a grandparent with their grandchildren is their faith. Grandchildren get the benefit of a witnessing a life that has not only matured physically and mentally, but spiritually as well.

"I will sing of the LORD'S great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself." ~ Psalm 89:1-2

And isn't that really the heart of the matter?

Giveaway

Homeschool Sports Insider Magazine is generously donating a one-year subscription to one of our lucky readers. All you have to do to be entered in the drawing is subscribe to Heart of the Matter by Feedburner. Simply enter your email address over there <------ in our left side bar and then check your email for a verification message. For those of you who have already subscribed, your work is already done! This could be the easiest contest you've ever entered! The contest will close Friday the 29th at 10:00 pm EST and the winner will be announced on Saturday.

Homeschool Sports Insider is a quarterly published magazine that promotes and advocates Homeschool sports and its unique student athletes and alumni from across the country. We're here to represent The Homeschool Nation and to be their voice in today's fast paced media. Our ultimate mission is to legitimize Homeschooling as an excellent educational alternative, and to honor the achievements, hard work and dedication of the Homeschool student athlete. The overall driving force of Homeschool Sports Insider is to provide the most comprehensive coverage of Homeschool sports in the country.

Each issue features athlete profiles, national Homeschool sports news and original editorial content. We direct a large editorial focus toward the academic transition from high school to college from the Homeschool perspective.

Featured Homeschooler: Alana

Please allow me to introduce this week's Featured Homeschooler: Alana of Finding the Way Home.

Tell us a little about your family.

My husband and I have been married for 12 years, we have 2 boys...ages 7.5 and 5.5, and a 4 yo daughter.

How long have you been homeschooling?

Technically I suppose since birth. I firmly believe that a parent is a childs primary teacher. Our children have never been enrolled into any sort of school.

What led to your decision to homeschool?

Originally it developed due to my husbands work schedule. For a few years my husband worked noon till 10pm, and had our children gone to school, he wouldn't have been able to spend the time with them he wanted to. Also, at some point when our firstborn was around 2, we met some homeschoolers, and I started to research. That was when we knew it was right for our family and the path we would embark on.

So, you recently moved into your dream house. Tell us a little about that.

My house. I love my house! Our home is an old farm house, over 100 years old, that has been completely rehabbed. Our property is over 2 acres, but surrounded by 70 acres of woods and fields. We also have a huge old barn. Since I was a little girl I have wanted to have a small farm, and that is what we are doing now. I am so excited that we will be able to grow our own food, raise our own chickens for eggs and meat, and goats for milk. My biggest hope is that the vegetables grow, and the chickens and goats dont die! The children are very excited about what we will be doing this year.

Do you have a special “set aside” place to homeschool?

We have a room that is off our living room. It is the "Homeschool room" I love having it because when we are done I can close the door and be DONE! Plus...all the mess that my very creative children make is confined to one room and not all over my house. LOL!

What is the strangest thing anyone has said to you about homeschooling?

The Strangest? I have had all sorts of things said to me...but I think they pretty much fall under the typical categories of socialization, concern about not being a certified teacher, that I must have a lot of patience (um..NO...I really don't! But, I have found that homeschooling FORCES me to have patience and to really grow in that area) One comment that I always find interesting is the "All the homeschoolers I knew in college were socially backward and rebelled heavily and partied a lot" Okay...and the kids who went to Public School studied all the time, never rebelled and never partied?

You are the “in real life” best friend of one of our editors, Amy S. Tell us how you met.

We met at a park. I was supposed to go meet up with another mom at the library for a concert, and was late. So, I met up with her at the park. She and Amy had known each for awhile, and I was new to town. Amy and I started talking, and our boys really hit it off, and things grew from there.

Tell us about some of your passions.

Oh boy, this could get long as I have a lot of passions. Homeschooling, of course. But along with that I continue to educate myself on so many different things. I love learning, I love reading, I love the smell of dusty old books. In my "prior life" the one before I met my husband I was an avid photographer, and planned to get into fashion photography. Obviously, my plans changed, but I recently (maybe because now that my youngest is 4 and have the time!) have picked photography back up. I also love to write.

Aside from those things, I am an advocate for supporting local farmers and businesses, and do my best to buy as many things as possible from local sources.

I have several social justice issues that are very important to me.

I also love being outside, hiking, sitting and (hopefully) observing wildlife. Conservation and utilization of resources is important to our family, and we are trying to improve our uses of things. The latest edict to go into effect is to not throw away toilet paper rolls, as we are turning them into little pots for our seedlings. The seedlings will then be planted with the roll...which will decompose. Little things like that wind up making a difference.

Happy Birthday Lee

We would like to wish our wonderful Lee a very blessed birthday. Please stop by her blog at The HomeScholar and leave her a birthday comment.