When I first began home schooling, I didn’t really know anyone who home schooled their children. I knew 2 families, and one of them was and is my dearest friend ever, but it was just us. Now this was ok mind you, but then she moved out of State, and I was very alone. She left in 1997/98, I cant remember the exact year.
Not to long after that we were given our first computer! "Insert screaming of excitement here". The world began to open up a little bit. I found many things online to help us, and encourage me as a home schooler, but still no "real" people. My kids were very young, and I had a desire to have friends who were home schoolers. It seemed we had all we needed to have a great home school, but what about resources and relationships locally?
So I began my search online for local resources. well I found something. It was a Christian support group. I emailed the woman who organized it and we soon became close friends, and we still are. Our boys have had a sweet privilege to also grow up as good friends and will soon graduate together.
A little side humor, when this friend and I are at gatherings and we introduce ourselves and how we met each other, my friend and I get the biggest kick because we can honestly share, we met online. *Ü*
Other relationships have grown and developed, friends have also moved away, but its been that local home school group that has encouraged me to be better than I am, and encourage other moms as well.
Seasons change and kids grow, play dates at the park are harder to get to because of commitments the older kids have, but I still desire to stay connected. So for the past 4 years I have had the privilege to organize a used curriculum sale locally for our County. I was asked if I was interested in taking this task over form the ladies who had been organizing it 9 years prior! I jumped at the chance! Books, curriculum, discounts, people... Um ya! What female would not love any of those things! Right?
When I took it over and began talking with folks I realized people really were at a loss for local support. A little like I was some years back. As I began to share things we do or have done, or something I was involved in, they would be surprised and want to know how to get information. That is when I decided this sale can not just be a used curriculum sale. It should be more.
The desire that welled up within me was to make it more than a sale. My desire is to offer fellowship and access to local resources that people can use. Resources like Classes, co-ops, plays, music lessons that are all local. My hearts desire is that people will find people. My hope is that they can find support locally to come along side them and encourage them on this journey.
The sale has become a time of fellowship and encouragement and not just because of something I do but its because of the people who come, share and reach out. Im just a small link in a very large chain.
If you have a desire to also get connected or begin something like a used curriculum sale in your community and dont know where to start,leave a coment so I can contact you via email or your blog.I would love to offer you my help in getting things rolling in your hometown.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Homeschool Community and Fellowship
Friday, April 25, 2008
Happy Habits of a Homeschooler Meme
Please link directly to your "Happy Habbits of a Homeschooler" post. Failure to leave a direct link will result in the removal of your name from Mr. Linky.
The schedule for the theme of the homeschool meme is located in the right column under "Blog With Us". Please check it out to view upcoming themes.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Showin' Off
In my last article, I offered up some ideas on how I've engaged my attention-challenged littles around here with mini-units and lapbooking. I promised a "show off" of the extended units we've tried and a "how-to" on planning. And some of you asked how much work I had to do up front. Good question. Not as much as I was putting into pulling their proverbial teeth in our traditional "school work." Also with 3 learners between the ages of 2 and 6 right now, I like that I can do so much more with them all together. Which also equals less work than what I was doing, plus nobody feels like the other is getting to do the cooler work - we're all doin' about the same things. And, I think I must admit here one of my dirty little secrets: I'm a geek that loves (way too much, by the way) the research and printing and organizing of the upcoming study.
Once I decide on a topic I make all copies that I will need for the week. Since I teach all 3 of the older kiddos at one time I make 3 copies of everything and then just tailor how I teach it according to their ages. After I decide what I'll cover on which day, I then separate the material into file folders labelled with each day of the week. I make a list of further research or printables that I'll need and sticky note them to the front of the appropriate folder to look up and print off on that day. I have 3 Ziplocs, gallon-sized, that I collect all of their finished work in until the unit is over. I keep all of these things stashed in a 3 ring binder to be the "teacher's guide" for our units. I print off the lesson, put it in the binder for current teaching and future reference, and separate each lesson with (none other than...) a file folder! So far, I'm only planning for the next week. I'm rollin' with whatever tickles their fancy. I printed off a scope and sequence check list that I refer to from time to time to keep me on track.
These extended lessons all began with watching "A Bee Movie" a couple of weeks ago. My girl kept asking why the flowers all died. So I did what any self-respecting homeschoolin' mama would do. I looked up honey bees and then found a good story to read to my little honeys. We then jumped into a literature-based unit study turned lapbook "Winnie the Pooh and Some Bees" by A.A. Milne. And incredibly my short-attention spanned lovebugs stayed on task daily for a whole WEEK!
Homeschool Share provided both the Winnie the Pooh and Some Bees unit and the Honey Bee unit. Enchanted Learning gave great worksheets. A Bee Movie - the official site provided some very cool learning activities.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Take Back the Hours
A common complaint among homeschooling moms is that there are not enough hours in the day. Busy schedules, loaded with events and appointments, can easily turn homeschoolers into road scholars, leaving important things undone. Many moms feel stretched too thin as they grasp to reach their goals.
Over the years my husband and I have reworked and rethought our schedules, priorities and goals numerous times. Taking into account the size of our family, the ages of our kids, and our own energy levels, has helped to find balance in the way we use our time.
One mistake that we have made in the past has been to schedule our lives according to the things that seem to scream for our attention---and I am not talking about toddlers! The need to put out constant fires may be a sign that you are overextended and that you need to cut back on your commitments. Working hard, putting your kids in too many activities, hanging out with friends too often, and even church work can end up keeping you far away from your priorities. By themselves, none of these activities are wrong, but if you are struggling to get to the important things in life, you may need to rethink the way you spend your time.
Another common mistake is to simply avoid making goals or having a plan to reach them. It is commendable to desire a close relationship with your husband and children, but if your actions speak otherwise to them, your desire is worth nothing.
Here are some tips for using your time wisely and reaching your goals:
---Be specific about your goals. Make long-range goals and short-range goals.Everyone is given 24 hours per day. Taking back those hours and rescuing them from busyness is a good first step in prioritizing your life and reaching your goals. Plus, your family will thank you for it!
---Keep a list of ways to acheive those goals and reread it occassioanlly. Be honest with yourself about whether or not you are making progress.
---Write important things on your calendar, even if they seem small
*Read a book with Aubry
*Ask Micah about the bridge he is building down by the fort
*Take Josiah out for ice cream this week
*Walk with Craig in the evenings
---Don't take on extra things until the "first things" are being done on a regular basis, even if those extra things are good and worthwhile.
---Leave a margin of time for life to happen. Unexpected events can turn your life upside-down if your calendar is filled to the max, with no room for surprises.
See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time... Ephesians 5:15-16
Monday, April 21, 2008
Commitment
Believe it or not, I didn't have a topic for this week's HOTM post. I have battled with writer's block for a few weeks now so I had asked the Lord to give me something to share with you but no answer. At least, that's what I had thought. I have been meditating on some things in which the Lord has been revealing to me lately. One matter in particular was that of commitment. Yes, the big C. I can see many areas in my life for improvement on this subject.
Last week, I had stumbled across a blog post concerning commitment then one of our pastors had chosen the very same topic for his sermon during the week. There was no escape! Finally, I stumbled upon some notes in my Bible from my pastor's sermon which were dated January 15, 2006 and what was the topic two years ago you ask? Commitment! Nothing happens by accident, right? So I knew this was definitely for me but I felt that I should share some of this with others as well. So I hope this will bless someone just as much as it has blessed me.
Commitment.
- is what makes a dream a reality.
- is the action that speaks louder than words.
- means making a firm choice.
- is a need and not an option. Some people only want to serve until they are treated like a servant.
- is usually discovered in the midst of adversity.
- does not depend upon gifts or abilities. It is harder for talented people to commit. They must learn to rely on God's abilities and not of their own.
- comes as a result of choice and not condition.
- lasts when it is based on values.
- gives you a chance to succeed.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24(KJV)
Why do we need to commit?
We must keep in mind that we will always have a cloud of witnesses. There is a race set before us and the race is never easy. There will be hindrances that will entangle us yet someone is always watching your spiritual walk.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and fainth in your minds. Hebrews 12:1-3(KJV)
Sometimes we tend to get so comfortable in our positions or state that we become slack in certain areas of our life. Not long ago, I had the opportunity to hear a speaker who made an interesting comparison of the people of America with other countries.
"We live in a free country with many privileges. Sometimes it appears as if we have too much freedom. Other countries are tested by hardship while Americans are tested by freedom."
It is so easy to take our freedom for granted each day. We can do what we want and when we want to do it. We can worship who and how we choose and God has placed that little thing in all of us called "will". That small little word can be such a big problem for us, can't it? Whatever you are finding as a challenge to commit, I pray that this encourages and reminds you of your first commitment above all others which is your walk in Christ.
One Year Subscription to Taste of Home Magazine Giveaway!
Be sure to come back every Monday for a new giveaway!!!
For your chance to win this one year subscription, just leave a comment on this post. We'll leave the comments open until this Saturday, April 26th. We'll use a random number generator to draw a winner and post it no later than Monday, April 28th. Don't forget to head over to Bloggy Giveaways for the master list of participants. Have fun!
This giveaway is opened to the US only.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Happy Birthday Amy Bayliss!
We would like to wish our wonderful co-founder Amy B. a very blessed birthday. Everyone here at Heart of the Matter is very grateful for Amy's love, encouragement, inspiration, humor and friendship. In honor of her (ahem) 21st birthday, we would like to send you on a scavenger hunt of her blog, In Pursuit of Proverbs 31.
The winner of the scavenger hunt will receive a copy of Sheila Wray Gregoire's book To Love, Honor and Vacuum. Here is what we want you to find:
1. What 2 websites (other than her personal blog and Heart of the Matter) can you find Amy at?
2. How many children does Amy have?
3. What very special event took place on September 8, 2007?
4. Take a look at Amy's 101 in 1001 list. What is one goal that you have in common with her?
5. Where is the place that Amy hears God best? Here's a hint: look in her Testimony.
Please email your answers to homeschoolinghearts@gmail.com. The contest will close on Friday the 25th.
~Don't forget to leave Amy a birthday comment. ~
Winner
Thank you to all who particpated in the Latin's Not So Tough giveaway. The winner was comment #12, Katrina. Congratulations Katrina!
I want to give props to our hilarious Marsha for the funniest answer:
- Lethargic without coffee
- Argumentative without coffee
- Testy without coffee
- Irritable without coffee
- Needs lots of coffee!