2009 Homeschool Blog Awards

The Homeschool Post is hosting the 5th Annual Homeschool Blog Awards!

THE BUTTON:

Feel free to snag it from this post. We’ll be updating the button as the awards take place. Right now it says ‘coming soon’, but after the awards start, we’ll change it up a bit!

THE SCHEDULE:

OCT 17 – Prize page up
OCT 19 – Nominations begin
OCT 30 – Nominations end
NOV 9 – Voting begins
NOV 20 – Voting ends
NOV 23 – Winners announced
Winners have 1 week to email their information
DEC 11 – Info emailed to prize awarders
JAN 30 – Prizes awarded by

THE FAQS

While our site brings encouragement and and great parenting and homeschool-related content to the web all year round, we especially enjoy rewarding our fellow community bloggers during the annual awards season. We are partnering with some wonderful homeschool-friendly products and services to bring our winners prizes and introduce the homeschool community to a whole world of excellent blogs. Be watching for our prize page to pop up so you can see what the winner loot will be!

For those of you who haven’t been a part of the blog awards before (and I’m sure there are a lot of you since blogs tend to multiply and many don’t have a long shelf-life), here are a few FAQs about the Homeschool Blog Awards that you might not know:

1. There are 25 categories (see below) and we’ll have that many winners. Not all categories will win the same prizes.

2. You can nominate yourself and you can even vote for yourself. We won’t tell.

2. Authors of this site (whose faces you see on the sidebar) are not eligible to win the awards, nor can the collaborative sites they write on if there are more than one Homeschool Post author writing on the site. Blogs that are nominated must abide by simple rules – to be stated when nominations begin – but the main rule is that the blogs must be ‘family friendly’.

5. This year, to make it easier to manage votes and make sure all is fair, we might require a brief registration. This will be decided as the polling begins – and depends entirely on whether there’s a great new poll widget for the new version of Word Press or not. If we do require this, it will be as easy and painless as leaving a comment.

6. You can purchase ad space on the site or offer prizes to the winners. If you are a homeschool entrepreneur, or have a home-based business, you can buy an inexpensive ad to go on the sidebar of The Homeschool Post or offer your products to one or all of the category winners. Just email us for more details if you are interested. Our talented Darcy will even make you a 125×125 box ad if you don’t have one! All money made goes to site maintenance, design, hosting, and hopefully a small gift certificate to reward my awesome authors for all their hard work they do on this site year-round (especially since they all have great blogs and are not able to win).

7. If this is your first time visiting the Homeschool Post, please don’t just stick around for the awards. We’re here ‘encouraging, informing and connecting’ with the homeschool community all year long. Not to mention we offer give-aways every month. You can even guest post here! Shoot us a comment to find out how.

8. You can subscribe to our feed by email and join our facebook page on the sidebar so you don’t miss out on important updates during the awards season (and all year long). You can also follow @hsbapost on twitter.

9. Check out our legal page for specifics on the rules of the contest (we’ll be updating it with 2009 links very soon), and you can check out our About page and the individual bios of our authors to find out more about who we are here at the Homeschool Post. We even have a page dedicated to our past blog winners for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. You’ll find a lot of great blogs there – and that’s what the awards are about – getting us connected to all the great homeschool blogs on the net.

10. Check back here at THIS post for updates (see update section above) that pertain to the awards and link to THIS post for the awards season to share information. We’ll be compiling all of the information you need here so you’ll only be one click away from everything awards-related.

THE CATEGORIES

The only difference in the categories this year is that we separated unschooling and ecclectic, since not every ecclectic homeschooler is an unschooler. [Thanks, Beth, for the suggestion.] Be taking notes as you surf the web and make a list of your favorite bloggers that fit these descriptions below. You’ll be able to nominate them together – all in one comment – when we open nominations on October 19th!

2009 Homeschool Blog Award Categories:

1. Best Homeschool Mom Blog
Everyone is the best homeschool mom for their own children. With thousands of homeschool bloggers out there, please know that there will only be one winner online – but EACH OF US are winners in our own homes. If there’s a blogging mom out there that has been a particularly good example to you and you want to let her know… consider her for this nomination! [Her blog does not have to be exclusively about motherhood or homeschooling.]

2. Best Homeschool Dad Blog
We love to hear what dad has to say. Especially if he includes homeschool posts off and on. [Blog doesn’t have to be exclusively about homeschooling.]

3. Best Blog Design
Here’s your chance to nominate your favorite blog design and give your favorite blogger a pat on the back for her talent (or give her web designer some credit!).

4. Best Photos and Artistic Content Blog
This blogger has an eye-catching and interesting variety of graphics and photos in posts and in the general design that you enjoy. We want to thank those of you who post pictures and graphics that inspire us!

5. Best Crafts, Plans & Projects Blog
Do you turn to the blogosphere for a steady supply of great craft ideas, lesson plans or projects that you can do with your homeschoolers? Why not share your favorite how-to blogs that provide us with things to be inspired by and ideas to use with our kids and in our homes.

6. Best Family or Group Blog
Nominate your favorite Homeschool Family blog or your favorite group blog that is either run by Homeschoolers or discusses homeschool issues. [Blog doesn’t have to be exclusively about homeschooling. Remember that if more than one of our authors are part of the group blog, it is not qualified to win.]

7. Best Encourager
It is time to say thanks to those bloggers out there who lift you up out of the homeschool “blahs” and help you get back on track. The winner of this category doesn’t have to be perfect or always in a good mood… just someone who makes you feel as if someone else cares and has a positive attitude overall.

8. ‘Live-What-You-Believe’ Homeschool Blog
A large percentage of homeschoolers are Christians, but this doesn’t have to mean Christianity only. Other religions or even strictly secular homeschool blogs can be nominated here. The person just has to do a good job marrying their beliefs with their posts on homeschooling… and inspiring others to do the same. I for one am thankful that we live in a land that is FREE to worship (or not) any way we see fit… and to homeschool our kids accordingly.

9. Best Unschooling Blog
Life and learning go hand in hand. There are a lot of different unschooling methods, but all of them are adamant about not being tied in to a traditional school method. What unschooling blog provides you with encouragement in your own unschooling journey?

10. Best Eclectic Homeschooling
Not every eclectic homeschooler is an unschooler. Yet there are a lot of us out there who are unique in our approach to learning and beat to our own drum. Nominate your favorite colorful, mix-matched curricular mama.

11. Best Geographical Blog
You can nominate a blog from ANY geographical place that you find interesting. If you are interested in a blog in Russia, Romania, Canada, Turkey, New Zealand, Texas or Washington D.C. – and your favorite blogger from that area talks a bit about that place in-between homeschool posts, PLEASE let us know! Be sure to let us know when you nominate the Best Geographical Blog that you TELL us WHERE the place is!

12. Best Current Events, Opinions or Politics Blog
We don’t want a strictly political blog that is run by a homeschooler unless quite a few posts have relevant information pertaining to homeschooling. News clips that affect our freedoms as homeschoolers and how homeschooling is portrayed in the media are ideal. We love to hear what other homeschool teachers are thinking and reading and their views on things that affect us all. [This blog does not have to be exclusively about homeschooling, current events, or politics… just a blog that often shares opinions on matters that you enjoy learning from.]

13. Best Homemaking or Recipes Blog
This blog should have content regarding homemaking, housekeeping, tips, ideas for making your life easier, information about raising multiple kids, or recipes that you enjoy trying. [This person should be a homeschooler but the blog doesn’t have to be exclusively about homeschooling, homemaking or recipes.]

14, 15, 16. Best Teen Girl Blog, Teen Guy Blog, Teen Group Blog
Let’s encourage those young bloggers to speak up and be a good example for their peers. I have seen so many wonderful teen blogs out there that deserve recognition. Let us know what some of your favorites are! Teen blogs can be any blogs run by teens who are at least 12 years of age. The winners will have to submit permission slips signed by their parents – see legal page at HSBA for more details. [This blog does not have to be exclusively about homeschooling, but homeschooling should be mentioned often or it should be obvious from the template that the teen is a homeschooler.]

17. Funniest Homeschool Blog
We all need a laugh in-between laundry, lesson plans and loosing our cool. It is nice to get your smile back so you can share it with your students (who can only take “so much gloom” as Ma Walton said so eloquently on Little House on the Prairie). Nominate your favorite crack-pot or crack-up homeschool blog here.

18. Best Cyber-Buddy Blogger
A blogger that you haven’t met, but you think you would enjoy meeting and hanging out with. She/he is a person that you would love to co-op with or live next door to. Who knows, maybe one day we will get together somewhere at one of these bloggy meetings I hear about. I’m so jealous!

19. Best Curriculum or Business Blog
Let us know your favorite homeschool business or curriculum blogs so we can read them, too!

20. Best Variety
This blogger is one that could fit in any of these categories … but they just can’t be pinned down in ONE. This type of blogger is the ADD hyper-focused type… always moving on from one thing to the next… and always keeping you interested in coming back for more!

21. Best Thrifty Homeschooler
Most of us are homeschooling on a shoe-string. Nominate your favorite money-saving blogger so you can share her tips with the blogosphere and bless a bunch of homeschool children in the process! [Blog doesn't have to be exclusively about frugality.]

22. Best SUPER-HOMESCHOOLER
Ever feel like a looser after reading someone else’s lesson plans, seeing their field trip photos, listening to them talk about what they got done today, or seeing pictures of their children’s accomplishments? You were probably feeling the effects of visiting a SUPER-HOMESCHOOLER’s blog. These are the A-list homeschool parents that just BLOW YOU AWAY with their enthusiasm. We all have our good days, but this blogger has us all beat.

23. Best Nitty-Gritty Homeschool Blog
Since we included a category for the Super-Homeschooler… I figured we would add one in for the homeschooler who is brutally honest and open about her mistakes and failures. These are the moms that make you feel better and let you know that it is OK that we aren’t perfect. What would we do without them???

24. Best NEW Homeschool Blog
It is hard making a name for yourself in the blogosphere. A lot of times, you feel as if you are writing and no one is out there. If you have stumbled upon a great new blogger who has a lot of potential and you want to share them with the rest of us… please consider nominating them for this category! [A new blog is one that appeared on the scene during or after last awards season.]

25. Best Homeschooling Methods Blog
There are a lot of methods used to homeschool. Not all of them fit nicely in to eclectic or unschooling. Those two types won’t be considered for this award, so branch out and share some of your ‘other’ favorites! Make sure you tell us what TYPE of method this blog showcases so we can list it on the voting page!

Now get your thinking caps on so you can dazzle us with your 2009 nominations! Oh… and SPREAD THE WORD!

Tags: Eclectic Homeschooling, Homeschool 2009 Blog Awards, Homeschool Categories, Homeschool Politics, Homeschooling Methods, Nominate Homeschool Blogs, Thrifty Homeschooling, unschooling

Heartstrings and Homeschooling

The Garden of the Heart

Proverbs 4:23 ~ Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

The heart is the center of homeschooling – and homeschooling is a “choice of the heart”. Chances are if you are reading this, your heart is already tied in some way with Jesus and your kids. You probably already know what a Homeschool day looks like. You might have even been homeschooling for a while now. No matter what stage of home education you find yourself in… the newbie, the elementary 3-5 year homeschooler, the old pro with high-schoolers and graduates… we all need to have our hearts recharged. It never hurts to stop and reflect to see what our heart’s purposes are.

The Bible asks that we “guard” our hearts – not to keep them under lock and key – but to carefully and deliberately choose the things we allow our hearts to focus on. Homeschool moms are the heart of our homes… another reason to be watchful of what our hearts are set on. Are we hiding God’s word in our hearts? Are we weaving cords of loving-kindness for our mate? Are we looking for ways to bond with our kids and show them our love? Or have we allowed the holy calling of God to educate our children to become a list we are checking off or a rushed routine? Are we seeing God in the details of our daily moments?

“In raising children, everything depends on the love relationship between the parent and child. Nothing works well if a child’s love needs are not met. Only the child who feels genuinely loved and cared for can do her best. You may truly love your child, but unless she feels it – unless you speak the love language that communicates to her your love – she will not feel loved.” ~ Gary Chapman & Ross Campbell, M.D. – The Five Love Languages of Children

So What are Heartstrings?

Heartstrings are the things that keep you tied together… the things that connect you to the Lord, to your purposes for Him, to your husband and children’s hearts… and to the joy that living in Christ can bring. Heartstrings don’t grow undirected. Thought, purpose and selfless service go in to the nurturing of the heart. If we aren’t careful with the garden in our hearts, we could find even after a life of keeping our homes… that there are more weeds in our garden than blooming flowers and fruits.

Proverbs 14:10 ~ Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

Our lives are on one hand full of togetherness, and on the other very isolated. Just look at our society – the inner city neighborhoods of our grandparent’s generation has given way to the cookie-cutter suburbs of today where it is rare for people to know any of their neighbors. Even within our own homes, it is easy to be distracted by the television, the gameboy, the business of chores and school, and even the computer. Moments of quality time where hearts are mingling are so precious and often overlooked for the other pressing duties that engulf us.

So how can we plant the seeds that will grow into fruitful heartstrings? How can we fill the “love tanks” in our family? How can we have time to purpose a plan of loving action when there are lesson plans to make… babies to feed… laundry to wash… a house to clean… dinners to cook… disasters to tend to? How can we keep everyone in the family (not just the kids) plugged in to the Lord and to each other?

Here are some steps to making strong and healthy heartstrings:

1. Seek the Lord and teach His word to our children:

This one goes without saying, and yet can’t be said enough. The master gardener is waiting to rub a little of his Godly Green Thumb off on us every morning. He’s watching the sunrise with anticipation for each day… because He created us to know, love, believe, and worship Him. Many times we burn our hands in nettle and bleed from sticker-burrs because we just won’t find time to sit down with Him (so He can put our garden gloves on: The Holy Spirit).

Deuteronomy 4:9 ~ Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Psalm 27:8 ~ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Psalm 86:11 ~ Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

2. Allow our hearts to move (and pray for God to move them):

Life is stressful. Praying yourself up ahead of time in the day can offer you fresh eyes to see a moment as it happens… one you don’t want to miss. I find that if I’m focused on myself, I tend to overlook the love that is blooming all around me. I would hate to be the one who lives in the garden but never stops to smell the flowers. How about you? The great thing is, God can give you supernatural power to set down the dishrag and pick up the child to enjoy a hug. He can show you the bruised knee you overlooked because it wasn’t bleeding… and open your own heart to the opportunity to create a heartstring by “being there” for your babies. Isn’t it sad that we can all be in the same house and still not be THERE? Allowing your heart to move is letting the focus turn outward rather than inward. It is the heart of the gospel of Christ. Loving His sheep.

Ezra 1:5 ~ Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.

3. Communicate (seek to be a better listener and share your heart):

Communicating with each other is easier said than done. I know for me, I tend to tune those knock-knock jokes out after about the fifth one. Listening to every little game-play on x-box that seems so interesting to my son is another quick way to turn mommy’s brain off. Sometimes I just don’t WANT to know how my husband’s day was at work (particularly if mine was rotten at home). Sometimes attitude is in the way of our ears. Remind yourself (and continue to pray through the day) that you want “ears to hear” and “eyes to see”. Make a note in your dayplanner each day to spend some one-on-one time with each family member… even the cat. You’ll find that if you prepare your ears to listen your heart will follow.

Psalm 49:3 ~ My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.

4. Give of yourself (find a way to serve the ones you love):

Serving your child or husband doesn’t mean enabling them. Every kid needs to know how to cook and clean for themselves. Seeking ways to show your love might mean taking on one of their chores for the night, doing something for them that only you could do: bake a favorite dessert, make a quilt, help them learn a new hobby, or just spend time down on the floor playing with them. Sometimes your presence is all they need to know that you are choosing to love them right at that moment.

Psalm 21:2 ~ You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

5. Sing and laugh together (not just academics are necessary in life):

Life is short. Live a little. I got some great advice on a Walton’s show once that I think should be on every homeschool mother’s refrigerator: “A person can only handle so much gloom.” How often do your kids ask you “Mommy, what’s wrong?” We are quick to point a finger across the kitchen table when the kids give us a knitted brow after we ask them to do a Math worksheet, but how often are we moms a smiling example of joy for the kids to model? Maybe if we smiled more, it would become easier to laugh and be a kid at heart. It might just help to schedule time for singing if we aren’t already breaking in to song because we are having fun. Just like in Mary Poppins, maybe it is time to go “fly a kite” before the kids are grown and we have run out of time.

Psalm 28:7 ~ The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

Psalm 97:11 ~ Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

Psalm 105:3 ~ Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Proverbs 15:13 ~ A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

The focus of this column is the heart of homeschooling. In the months to come, I plan to bring you a touch of the joy I have found through learning to see the beauty in a moment. Life is a series of moments that were given to us by our creator… each one unique and fleeting… a smile, a laugh, a tear, a sigh. I’ve found that even on those awful days when everything is going wrong, you can still pick out a moment that was beautiful. You never know what each day of Homeschool will bring… but if you are tending the garden, you’ll be amazed at the delicious fruits that will grow from your labor of love. May the Son shine on your soil and raise up a crop of loveliness in the hearts of your home.

Sprittibee (Heather) has been homeschooling for 6 years and has one crazy husband, 3 crazy kids (ages 11 and 9 and a newborn) and 2 crazy cats. When she isn’t making Tex-Mex, learning web design, homeschooling, or rubbing her face on the cat’s belly… she loves to blog. In her writings, she reminds us to stop and smell the proverbial flowers on this journey we call homeschooling. Not every day will be a great one. She admonishes us to learn to focus on the beauty of the moments God has blessed us with – for better or for worse… because our hearts are shaped by the memories we are making.

Tags: children, christian living, communication, Encouragement, Family Life, focusing our hearts, Healthy Relationships, heart of homeschooling, heartstrings, nurturing our hearts, Parenting, relationships with our children, serving our family

Autumn Tree Craft

With only four days of school left before Christmas break in our house (yipee!), I know that this particular post is a bit “late”. However, in an effort to finish up my last formal week of “fall” here on Sprittibee, I’m trying to get all of the season neatly filed away. I am planning to change the template to winter next week when we leave for vacation (we will be gone for two weeks!!! Wooohooo!)… just before the first day of winter officially begins.

We have already tossed the little tree you see above. We made this tree to use with our “Seasons Unit Study” last school year and dressed it for autumn this past October. We hung construction paper “drawn” leaves as well as laminated fall leaves from different trees outside. We used raffia to hang them all because it reminds me of scarecrows – another fall icon. I plan to repeat this project in future years. Hopefully mine will look a lot more like my friend Patricia’s next time!

Although we enjoyed our tree, Daddy was sick of it sitting on the kitchen bar after six months! Maybe the next time we build one, we will make it a bit smaller and more permanent – not just twigs in a glass vase. After a while, you just need a change… so last week, we took those twigs back to the park where we got them… and put the vase away back under the sink.

You could adapt this little tree to Christmas or winter just as easily. You can really do just about any season or holiday on an adaptable twig tree! You could even spray-paint it with glitter or colored paint… and if you get twigs large enough, you could even add Christmas lights. They sell those little tiny lights at places like Garden Ridge Pottery also. If you are gifted with things of that nature, you could wrap the tree yourself. I think it would be pretty with white lights so that it would fit any season. Just add or remove the ornaments of your choice… it’s that easy. Use your imagination!

Enjoy your holiday, fall, spring, winter, or summer tree!

Tags: holidays, Projects

Russian Matryoshka Doll Ornaments

We studied Russia in our co-op in 2004 as part of our ‘home’-school curriculum. I happened to be the mom that taught that class, so I got to put my craftiness in to play when we did these lovely Matryoshka ornaments. A Matryoshka doll is the obvious choice for a Russian craft. I chose ornaments because it would have been too intricate with fourteen 7-9 year olds to paint an actual set of nesting dolls.

This project is really easier than it looks. You only need to buy pre-made paper bell ornaments at your local craft store (usually around 75 cents each or so). They come with gold hanging loops already, so all you have to do is paint and seal. I had an idea of what I wanted them to look like before we started, and to make the craft go quicker, I painted their bodies red with metallic acrylic paint (aside from a circle for the face). I painted a white (or creamy colored) face on the dolls in a circle also (before the kids began working on them). I drew a large face of a doll on the blackboard in front of the class to show them what I wanted them to paint: pink cheeks, green or blue eyes, a letter on the front (either in Cyrillic or Latin alphabets), and dots along the edge of the bell on the bottom.

After we took the bells up from the kids, they were still not finished. I went in and added the scarves, and all of the black outlining. I added a few dots and head-dressing, and put a white “sparkle” in the eyes. I also added lips and a black line for the mouth that went between the pink cheeks that the kids had painted on. If you work with older children, you can just let them look at a finished doll and demonstrate the steps for them while they do ALL of the painting for themselves. This is a very fun project to paint… and a really wonderful Christmas treasure to keep for years to come. Be sure and remember to paint your child’s name and the year on the bottom of the bell. After the paint is completely dry, paint a layer or two of Mod Podge sealant (high-gloss) over the bells and let it dry completely. Store ornaments in cloth (not tissue) and in a humidity-free environment or the sealant will ruin or stick to other papers or ornaments – we learned this the hard way!

Above is a photo of my son with two of his classmates in Russian head-gear. One of the girls is holding a Matryoshka doll that she brought for show-and-tell. These hats were given to our family pastor when he went on a mission trip overseas. He was gracious enough to share them with the class for a few hours. He said that when he went to Russia and visited with some of the people, if he commented about something in their home being pretty (out of politeness), they would take it off the wall and GIVE IT TO HIM. They are so generous and kind (the common folk there). The military hat came from a man who had nothing to give my pastor, yet he would not let my pastor leave his house without something of cherished value – his own uniform that would have been passed down as an heirloom (since he was retired).

As an early Christmas present to you, I will share with you a few ideas from my Russia unit study (when I can afford to buy Adobe Acrobat Professional, I’ll upload the actual worksheets…$tips anyone?$):

RUSSIAN UNIT STUDY LESSON PLANS:

1. Have you been to Russia? What do you think of when you think of Russia? Show kids pictures of Russia in library books (make sure to show them St. Basil’s Cathedral). Discuss Russian Ballet and Ice Skaters, the movie Anastasia… and Nesting Dolls.

2. Where is Russia on a map? Discuss how Russia is the largest country and has more land than any other country (show kids where it is on a globe). Discuss Eastern vs. Western Hemisphere and how it is day here while it is night there. Discuss how Russia is split into two parts (Europe and Asia) and how the capitol city is Moscow. Make a map as you go along and place a star sticker on it and label Moscow. Glue a printed graphic of St. Basil’s Cathedral on the map.

3. Discuss Siberia and the climate and living conditions (how criminals were sent there as punishment, the diamond and gold mines, and the average life expectancy).

4. Label the oceans and seas surrounding Russia (color them on the map). Discuss the North Pole and see how close it is to the tip of Russia. Talk briefly about the types of animals that live there. Glue a printed image of an Arctic Fox (or other arctic animal of your choice) on the tip of your maps. Discuss bordering countries (label if you wish).

5. Discuss current events in Russia (at the time we did this study, the Beslan terrorist attack had just happened and we prayed for the children and their families there). I showed them appropriate photos of mourners and children who were praying for those hurt (so they could see what Russian children looked like and associate with them). We talked about the similarities between the Russian terrorism and the NY attacks. We talked about how it is important to pray for others in need – even if they are around the world from us. We read Isaiah 56:7 (“my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”). We put a sticker for Beslan on the maps in the shape of a heart to remind us to pray for them.

6. We compared the Russian Federation flag to the US flag (both are ‘red, white & blue’). We looked at a book which had a Russian family photo and discussed how many of them look just like Americans. We glued a small Russian flag to our map. We talked about how they also have been in rockets and outer-space, and about Yuri – the first person to go into outer space. We talked about some of the crops they grow.

7. We listened to a Russian tape from the library (language). We talked about their alphabet and looked at a chart. We sounded out the letters to show that even if they look like ours, they don’t always make the same sounds. We glued the word Russia in Cyrillic on the map. I gave them an assignment to go home and have their moms help them write their name in Cyrillic for extra credit.

8. We discussed the history of Russia in a nut shell (how it used to be the capitol of Christendom, the Czars, the Revolution, the Romanovs, Stalin, the decline of the church and communism… etc, etc.)

9. We defined the word “history” and talked about what we benefit from learning it. We reviewed the quick history we had learned the previous week with a few new details added in to keep it interesting.

10. We read the book Babushka and the Three Kings and discussed the Christmas story in Russia as compared to the way we celebrate Christmas. (This was an EXCELLENT part of the lesson plan – I highly recommend that book… there is a sermon in there just waiting to be written!)

11. We discussed my pastor’s mission work in Russia and some of the stories behind his visits and showed all of his hats and souvenirs. I let the kids try on the hats before they left the class.

11. We discussed a brief history of Matryoshka dolls and how they are made. We looked at show and tell Matryoshka dolls from Russia and a Russian Barbie doll in traditional clothing (hand made). We discussed how they would need to wear lots of fur because the winters were so harsh and I showed them many photos of Matryoshka dolls.

12. We did our Matryoshka craft and the kids sent them home with me for finishing touches and to be sealed.

Tags: history, holidays, Projects

Giveaway: Alone With God – Bible Study

**The winner is Renae at Keeper at Home

Bible Study is a big part of our life at the Bee Hive. We do Bible study at our small groups Sunday night, Bible Lessons in our classes at church Sunday morning and Wednesday nights, and we read the Bible most mornings as a part of our school. We have always used a devotional, too. In the past I have been involved in most of the home bible study with the children, but I started to feel as if they needed time to study alone. My son has recently told us that he wants to be baptized and study with the youth minister at our church, so I feel like it is time to let them step out on their own faith and gain some deeper knowledge of God’s word that isn’t spoon-fed to them by mama.

When told about Karen Mohs (author of ‘Hey Andrew, Teach Me Some Greek’) Bible Studies for kids, I was thrilled to have the kids try one. One of the mistakes I made was that after offering to review it, I decided that we would do the study “together”. I figured if all of us were doing the study, it would make it easier for ME to review it. That definitely wasn’t the best way to accomplish a study with “Alone With God” in the title. You would think I could have figured that out up front.

My children have been in war mode lately. Maybe it is just their ages? They are 9 and 11. Hopefully it is a phase they will outgrow?! It seems that any time we do chores or school they seem to find things to fight about. This Bible study, unfortunately wasn’t the exception. Monday through Friday they fought over who would read the Bible study book and who would read the Bible. The Bible study is set up so that you are supposed to do Monday through Saturday, but we always take Saturday off from school and didn’t do it on that day. When we did use it, they had sour faces and poor attitudes. Mom did, too – because I was upset at them for theirs. Our beginnings with the study did not get off on the right foot.

Then, they started to loose their place because they weren’t “consuming” the workbook. Since both of them were doing it, I asked them to write their answers on paper instead of inside the workbook. That was another huge mistake. My son is notorious for not writing his name, page numbers, or dates on anything. So there was more than one day that they did the same lesson over again due to poor record keeping.

Starting Over
One day in a particularly hostile moment, I asked them to start the study over. “WHAT?” they protested. I told them that they needed to have a proper respect for God’s Word and to stop turning Bible time into a battle. I gave them a new mandate… Fill out the consumable workbook and do the entire study ALONE (but do it out loud so we could hear it). That meant one person was using the workbook and the Bible… one person was doing the writing and the reading. The only difference was that we were doing it together by listening. This worked much better and the study began to take on the shape that I feel the author intended.

Saving Time and Ink
Previous to using this study I had gone through different chapters and written my own questions out – but it took up so much time that we didn’t do it as often as we should have. I’m thrilled that Karen Mohs has taken the time to sell an affordable product that offers personal Bible study for children. It saves me time and ink – all the secretarial work I would have spent producing my own worksheets one by one. It is nice to have these studies that are done for children so you don’t have to make them up as you go.

Specifics About the Study
With each day the children were to review their memory verse, pray and ask God to help them understand His Word, and do between 2 and 5 questions that are taken from scripture readings. The portions of scripture studied are small and easily digestible for kids. There are also “think and pray boxes” where the author shares some insight she had when writing the study and asks the children to consider these things and talk to God about them. There are thirty-nine weeks for this study if done as suggested. I Can Study 1 Samuel Alone With God makes for a wonderful curriculum to add to your Bible reading and gives mom time for her own study while the children are in God’s Word. My children really are enjoying the study and I think they would be learning and enjoying it even more if it truly were being done “ALONE” as the title suggests.

Final Opinion
When we finish this book, I think I’ll invest in another in the series and purchase TWO books so that each of them can have their own “alone time” with the Lord. I think it is a great idea to inspire children to set aside time to honor the Lord apart from their parents at a young age. Another positive thing about these Bible studies is that she doesn’t share a whole lot of personal doctrine or commentary – she sticks very closely to the scripture and asks the children to think and pray for themselves. I think Jesus (who spent quite a lot of time ‘Alone with God’ while He was on Earth) is completely in approval of this type of product. I hope it continues to bring children closer to Him and give them the ability to stand on their OWN faith – not tag along on their parent’s. We are looking forward to our next Karen Mohs Bible study.

Sprittibee (Heather)has been homeschooling for 6 years and has one crazy husband, 2 crazy kids (ages 9 and 11) and 2 crazy cats. When she isn’t making Tex-Mex, learning web design, teaching the kids, or rubbing her face on the cat’s belly, she loves to blog. Heather reminds us to stop and smell the proverbial flowers on this journey we call homeschooling. Not every day will be a great one. She admonishes us to learn to focus on the beauty of the moments God has blessed us with – for better or for worse – because our hearts are shaped by the memories we are making.

We are pleased to offer one blessed reader the chance to win a copy of I Can Study Esther Alone With God – KJV Version. To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below. Comments will be closed Friday, October 3rd at 10pm EST and the winner will be announced on Sunday in our new weekly newsletter. You can sign up by entering your email address in over in the right sidebar.

As always please make sure you leave your email address or that it is clearly listed on your profile or blog. If we can’t email you, you can’t win.

Tags: Devotional Study, Giveaways, Literature, Reviews, Scripture

Why Homeschool? Part 2

PART 1 RECAP
Last month I talked about how homeschooling moms don’t have to feel like lonely islands out at sea. There are over 2 million¹ homeschooling families in the United States and most homeschool mothers are more than willing to share their encouragement and how to tips. I also discussed the excuses we make for not homeschooling, the reasons many of us are loathe to even look into taking on such a challenge. It certainly isn’t the easiest or most financially rewarding lifestyle. As for other rewards, if you are after the BEST kind of rewards (those that are worth more than money), homeschooling is definitely the best way to educate. That’s because homeschooling is, as I said last month in Part 1 of this series, “an affair of the heart.” If things get difficult, God is able to make you stand. If your goals are to honor Him, the only outcome can be success. Pray about the calling for your family to homeschool and see where God leads you. Faith first, then the rest of the details will fall in line.

Isaiah 40:11 (NIV) ~
He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT – PRIVATE SCHOOL
Unfortunately some of us have to take awhile claiming peace with our decisions. We second guess ourselves and wonder if that gut instinct and strong desire really is the voice of God. We were one of those families – the ones that had to try other options first before we could let go of school “in the box.” I was sold on homeschool pretty quick, but my husband wasn’t on the bandwagon. So if you are not in agreement (yet) with Dad on keeping the kids home, I can certainly sympathize. Keep praying and God will lead you both into unity on whatever is best for your child.

After homeschooling my kids when they were just 4 and 2, we hit some financial pitfalls. This wasn’t anything new. Living on one income has never been easy. We weren’t gifted in budgeting, so the money seemed to never be there. My husband asked me to go back to work when things got tight and summer had rolled around after our first year of homeschool. My son had just completed kindergarten at home. I was not thrilled. Being a Christian, I reluctantly submitted – because that’s how Christian wives should act (even if our hearts aren’t in it). Obedience pays off. God had other ideas on how to win my husband over to homeschooling. While waiting on God to bring us to the same conclusions in answer to my pleas, I was offered a job at a private school affiliated with a church. We figured we would give Christian private school a try since both of us were not excited about public school as an option.

I just happened to end up working as the school’s registrar and kept their database of student records. I saw the applicants’ files, their essays and test scores, their personal information, and medical information. I knew who was accepted and who was declined. I saw differences in the applicants who were from public schools, other private schools, and homeschool settings. I was able to see just from these applications what kind of fruit homeschooling produces. This wasn’t news to me (since I was the one who WANTED to homeschool). It was my husband who needed to know this stuff.

Then there was the eye-opening behavioral problems ON campus and at school functions. I knew who was expelled at our school (yes, they have discipline problems in private schools, too!) and for what reasons (the same reasons you would expect in a public school). While my kids attended school on their elementary campus, I worked on the junior high/high school campus. I saw most of the kids every day and interacted with many of them. Ours was a large private school, and very expensive (thousands of dollars a year per kid). If I hadn’t gotten a whale of a deal on tuition, I would never have been able to afford this type of education. And even if I could have afforded it, it still wouldn’t have lasted long once I discovered the many other pitfalls associated with “in the box” schooling (schooling that mimics public school).

While there were many benefits to private school as opposed to public school (less competition and more ability to excel in sports and clubs, better quality of academics and teachers, more Christian values than public schools had to offer), I still saw a lot of the same problems and downsides in the private school setting as I saw with the public schools. One of the main problems being negative socialization skills. My daughter (then only three years old) came home with a new trick she had learned in preschool class: eye-rolling. My son followed around another child who was sent to the principal every week, and ended up being extremely distracted by this “friendship” for most of the entire year. This child was later requested to leave the school (a kindergartener!) because of behavioral issues (and in my opinion, the kid needed to be homeschooled and cared for by mom. But not every mom has that option. – it broke my heart!). Social skills are meant to be learned through imitation and you can’t control the variables with a school full of little kids who are all parented in different ways. That’s what public or private schools afford you: lots of opportunities for needing to UN-LEARN negative behaviors (or worse).

Not only was social “skill instruction” (peer example) a problem, but boredom crept in – and boredom is the gateway to negative character. As grandma always says, “Idle time is the devil’s playground.” It did not help matters that we had already covered all the Kindergarten material at home (and more). When things were not taking him as long to do as his peers, he had more time to focus on negative friendships and daydreaming. I was very thankful that we had such a lively and interesting teacher for him that year. She went out of her way to keep him engaged, and I was so grateful for her. Of course, in any school situation, there will always be positives and negatives, and I in no way want to cast all blame to any particular schooling method or group. We just learn as we go and make choices based on what we feel is best for our family. After being publicly educated, having our children attend a private school, and trying homeschool out. we made the educated choice of the latter as the method that would be best for our family.

WORLDVIEWS: TRUTH IN SCIENCE
One of our biggest reasons for homeschooling is to combat relativism and instill a biblical worldview in our children. We believe that the Bible is paramount for morality and truth. We believe what most of the founding fathers of America believed when they penned The Declaration of Independence. In fact, I find this truth to be “self-evident” that public schools are leaning towards the left, and when a government institution (in this case an education system) becomes destructive of my rights to bring up a moral and Christian child, it is my right to “abolish” it in my life. So I took it as my duty to “throw off such Government and to provide new Guards for their future security”² (‘their’ in this case meaning my kids). I think homeschooling is a path that returns us to the principles of the truly freethinker – and the method that makes the most room for instilling a moral compass. Why in the world would I want to raise a child that was completely opposed to my worldview? Turning them over to the public schools would do just that. After all, studies show that up to 67% of Christian children who attend secular colleges will lose their faith by the time they graduate (“students coming from more conservative religious backgrounds lose their faith at a higher rate”)³. The fact is: secular education has a huge God-sized hole. If you believe in God, why would you want to educate the kids without Him?

When I found out that the private school I worked at was using secular science books (the same that the public school uses, in fact), I was astounded. I firmly believe that one of the leading ways American public schools erase the reality of God is through the teaching of humanism and evolution. While evolution can’t be proven as factual because no person was there to witness the creation of the world, it is taught as fact (and larger than fiction in full color “artist rendered” illustration). This may or may not be true in a private school setting, but it is most certainly the case in public schools (even if the teacher is a Christian). I asked the administrator of the elementary school’s office how the evolution material would be presented to the children and her answer to me was even more surprising than the fact that they were using those books in the first place, “It is up to the individual teacher how they present the material”. With no official policy regarding the teaching of evolution, I would be forced each year to confront my child’s new teacher (who was busy with her other 20 students and their parents) and interview her on her beliefs. In homeschooling, I am the primary teacher, so I am able to teach from many different sources, and explain each subject in light of the Truth (and being a Christian, I do believe in absolute Truth). We still learn about the theory of evolution, I admit, but it is taught in accordance with fact (without the lies in most textbooks). We include the “theory” of Creation and have a lot of interesting discussion about popular opinion and current articles in National Geographic and Answers, too. I feel that this is a balanced view of science that my children may or may not get in private school, and most assuredly would NOT get in public school.

I happen to believe that God really did “speak” the universe in to existence (uni-verse = one spoken sentence). It is just as plausible as all the other stories about how we got here. Aliens, rocks and time, or God? If we are speculating, why not allow my side of the story to be told alongside the others? If you are a Christian who believes in Creation, secular books without mom’s explanations are a slippery slope. The textbooks aren’t the only problem, either – magazines, books, and even teachers promote this diametric worldview (sometimes without even knowing it). Even children’s science and history books are full of macro-evolution and humanistic view points. I’m sure you’ve seen the Kindergarten Dinosaur book that starts off with “millions of years ago.” Who will be there to discuss the topic with your children when they have honest questions? My decision was to be the one who stood in the culture-gap so their minds wouldn’t be offered up on Darwin’s altar.

SUMMING IT UP
While Christian private schools are a much better option than public schools, they just can’t equal a homeschool education (even with all your personal faults as a teacher). If you believe in God and hope to instill your faith and worldview to your child, the best instruction for your child will come from YOU. No matter how imperfect you are, God had a purpose in choosing YOU to be the parent of your child(ren). The Old Testament is rich with examples of imperfect parents and God was able to use all of them for His purposes. He’s delightfully concerned with the details of your child’s education and the quality of your child’s life. He wants us to have the best of the best of the best. The best mind, the best heart, the best friends and mentors that He has for us. Purposeful thought about our path is biblically recommended. That includes the books we read, the spiritual instruction we get, the food we eat, and the people we associate with. Our children are looking at an uncertain future in modern times, so we owe it to them to make sure one thing is certain: their faith and foundation. May we aspire to take the hand of God and walk with Him where he leads us as we bring Him our offering: the children He entrusted to us.

To Be Continued…
Be sure to join me next month for part 3 of Why Homeschool? I’ll discuss the academics, the ‘cafeteria’ and even more reasons why we chose to educate the kids at home. I promise, this article series will end (with part 3), but our reasons for homeschooling probably won’t stop popping up!

REFERENCES
1. http://nheri.org/: “National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI)”. Retrieved on 2008-7-4.
2. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html: “The Declaration of Independence”; U.S. CONGRESS, July 4, 1776 (transcription). Retrieved on 2008-7-4.
3. Kingsriter, Dayton A., Ed.D. (2007). “Is the Lower Cost Worth the High Price? Part I
Why Choose a Christian College?” (PDF) Gospel Publishing House. p 5.

Sprittibee (Heather)has been homeschooling for 6 years and has one crazy husband, 2 crazy kids (ages 9 and 11) and 2 crazy cats. When she isn’t making Tex-Mex, learning web design, teaching the kids, or rubbing her face on the cat’s belly, she loves to blog. Heather reminds us to stop and smell the proverbial flowers on this journey we call homeschooling. Not every day will be a great one. She admonishes us to learn to focus on the beauty of the moments God has blessed us with – for better or for worse – because our hearts are shaped by the memories we are making.

Tags: Encouragement, homeschool life, Homeschool Methods, Parenting

Why Homeschool?

GOING IT ALONE?

It is a common misunderstanding that homeschoolers are isolated at their kitchen tables. Somehow the word on the street seems to be tainted with completely false ideas about what a homeschool day might look like, and the general public is left to think that homeschoolers are scattered and alone in their unsocial ‘little worlds.’ After all, it was not long ago that Wolfgang Drautz (consul general for the Federal Republic of Germany) stated that he believed homeschooling to be a “rise of parallel societies… based on religion.” While each homeschooler may very well be as unique as a snowflake in one sense – many of us are certainly not alone. We have a higher calling – a calling that is louder than the lack of cash flow and lack of convenience. Most of us are plugged in to a deeper truth than popular culture. This enables us to educate our children at home despite culture’s critique and criticism. We teach them academics ALONG with values and character (to bring up productive and whole children who have a moral compass and an academic advantage). God must have had His hand in our collective-yet-solo decisions: otherwise there might not be over 2 million people in the United States homeschooling today. How else would so many families find the strength to swim upstream against the tide of society?

Although my choice to homeschool at first made me feel like I was a ‘Lone Ranger,’ I began to find that I wasn’t alone. Not only was the Lord there to guide my steps, but other Christian homeschoolers were abundant! I immediately found another mom who was more than willing to share what she knew. Sure, homeschool mothers are somewhat isolated in that they each are individuals who teach in a unique way to their own unique children, but most of them are socially adept and generous with their friendship. It was amazing to find the network of hundreds of families that lived within driving distance – ready and willing to help me along my homeschool journey.

John 15:5 ~ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

“The Solution” ©iStockphoto.com/fpm

THE NITTY GRITTY
Of course the first thing I wanted to know was HOW I could teach my children at home. I wanted a chance to be a fly on the wall in another homeschooler’s house. I wanted to see how the other moms did it. Most homeschooling moms would agree that one of the most interesting things we discuss when we get together is how everyone else is getting things done at home. You can’t leave two homeschool mothers alone for ten minutes without the subject of schedules and curriculum coming up in casual conversation. We want to read about other homeschoolers’ days in magazines, talk about our co-op buddies’ days when we meet together, and research curriculum at book fairs. Does Kelly teach Latin? What grades are Susie’s kids are in? We are constantly summing up and comparing to make sure we are on track. If ever there was a teacher who critically examined their skills and competence; let it be said that it was a homeschool mother.

Then there are the logistics of keeping a school within a home. How do you manage to do it all? How do you keep the toddler busy while the older children are learning? How do you keep the laundry caught up and the house clean? Do you have time to get dinner on the table every night? How do you get your husband to be supportive if he isn’t on the band-wagon? What do you do when your family members disapprove? It is completely understandable that we would desire this kind of information. After all, humans are creatures who desire to bond and fellowship. We all want to make sure we are doing things right, doing them well, and keeping up with a normal pace of learning. Embarking on the homeschool journey seems like blazing a trail in the wilderness, but it doesn’t have to. There have been many who have gone before us with great success. A simple discussion with another homeschooler, a read through America’s providential history, or a study of Scripture can tell us that we are not alone – and that God can turn our fears into a bright future.

Psalms 1-41 ~
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

TO CONFORM OR NOT TO CONFORM
Before we begin homeschooling, the main thing we want to know is WHY other moms homeschool. We all started there – looking at the black and white – society, faith, academics, social skills, all the questions bouncing around in our minds. Many of us thought we couldn’t do it when we first were introduced to the idea of homeschooling. After a hundred or so years of public schools it seems strange to consider private tutoring (or “individual schooling”). Our society seems to have forgotten the long eras of tutorship, apprenticeship, home study and self-led education that forged so many great thinkers in our past. Maybe it is due to the glossing over of history. Maybe it is due to other things taking the place of reading (video games/TV/text-messaging). Homeschooling seems weird because it isn’t the norm any more. If you do it, you are suddenly a square peg, a bull in the politically correct china store, upsetting the delicate balance of all the people who like life in the box.

NOT THE EASY CHOICE
Even though most of us who have chosen the homeschool lifestyle would not say homeschooling is easy, most would agree that it is the most natural thing in the world. In fact, now that I homeschool, I shudder to think of how public schooled children’s moms find time to work, keep up with laundry and housework, make sure that their kids did their homework, schedule time to bond with the children, keep dinner on the table all week, find time for Bible Study, worship and prayer, and keep the romance alive. I remember our days of private school and my own bout with a “normal” schedule. I felt like I was spinning my wheels. I may not have been out of touch with the world, but I was certainly much more distant from my husband and children. We were passing ships. It was a more difficult and dangerous way to live – even though it was ‘easier’ due to familiarity. Life before homeschooling was a life consumed with business and busyness – and a lack of togetherness and involvement with the people that meant the most to me eternally.

So what are the reasons a mom would give up her chance to keep up with the Jones’ and not be the talk of the family/church/town? I’m sure if you are new to homeschooling or considering it for the first time you are on the edge of your seat wanting to know. Not all reasons for every homeschooler will be the same, but I would love to share with you the reasons why our family gave homeschooling a shot. I’m sure that there are quite a few homeschooling families out there who share many of my reasons and could add their own stories to the pot. Our reasons continue to grow every day that I read the news and see the results of homeschooling in my children. The list is too long to be contained in one article or even one magazine after six years at home with my children.

While I began with only a limited amount of understanding about homeschooling and a strong belief that God had called me to choose this lifestyle, I no longer ONLY homeschool on faith. I carry on with a treasured memory box full of exceptional test scores, amazing experiences, cherished photographs, and testimony from convinced family and friends who were once skeptics. I am here to encourage you that if you begin with only faith, God will faithfully bless you. Faith is enough. The rest will come. Don’t just take my word for it. If you are new to homeschooling, find someone locally who will share even more stories with you. Find a mentor and build a friendship. Get to know her kids. The more you learn, the more you will understand that God can take your meager efforts and small faith and work a miracle in your family. God can make you stand.

Romans 14:4 ~ Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

“Success” ©iStockphoto.com/ayzek

EXCUSES, EXCUSES
Originally when I first wrote down my “Why I Homeschool” story, I had just been in a discussion with a friend who told me why she COULDN’T homeschool. Her excuse was that she felt like she was too disorganized to attempt homeschooling, and she was afraid she would procrastinate the year away. Personal fears are probably the #1 reason why moms don’t start when they feel called to homeschool. Many moms begin with fear of the unknown and the false assumption that they have to be a rocket scientist with an education masters to teach their children. Even veteran homeschoolers get cold feet now and then. Some of the worries you have about your final results with homeschooling will stay with you as long as you choose to homeschool. Every year you might get the jitters when you give those standardized tests. Most of the time, the anxieties are unfounded – but not because we are all such talented and intelligent educators. We succeed despite fears because our real strength and success lies with the One who answers our prayers. God doesn’t require us to be perfect. He requires our obedience and reliance upon Him. Only He can give the success we desire when raising our kids.

“God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.”

NOT THE EASY CHOICE
Just like everything in life, homeschooling requires an amount of FAITH. At some point, each homeschool mother has looked at a dwindling checkbook, a loss of free time, and a load of work dead in the eye and took that first step off the homeschooling cliff! If I told you that homeschooling is an easy choice, I would be lying. It is an arduous task that requires your full self to be poured into it. You have to plan, set goals, and carry through. You must study your children and learn how they can best be taught. You have to organize yourself, your school supplies, and your time. Each day is a new adventure. And for every perfect school day you have, there are at least three or four days where you wonder if anything sank in those little minds you are leading. The key to homeschooling is lots of prayer. And somehow, on your worst days, you will get a little hint from Heaven that makes the entire process worthwhile when your child will say something that lets you know he or she has truly learned what you have been trying to teach them. Or you will get a comment from a neighbor or friend about how well behaved and intelligent your children are. It is so wonderful to get encouragement – especially when you are your own worst critic. When you receive these small rewards, you will know that God is smiling on you and patting you on the back for your sacrifice. Even though you will have burnout and bad days ahead, there will also be times of refreshing to keep you motivated to march on with the task you feel that God has called you to do.

AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART
Homeschooling is a heart choice, because if it were only a head choice, many of us would have abandoned the ranks long ago! It is much easier to drop your children off on someone else’s doorstep and work an eight hour job in the adult world. It is much more financially rewarding as well! There are many days when you have to budget luxuries out of the schedule. Not only are you making this sacrifice, but you are paying school taxes in to the public system anyway, and getting none of the high-dollar benefits. But for all its hard work and sacrifice, homeschooling is its own sweet reward. The excitement in your child’s eyes, the ability to be there and see them learn something new, the laughter and tears you’ll share along the way: these are the beautiful gifts you receive as a homeschool parent. So if you asked me why I homeschool, in just a few short words, I would tell you this: “Because I love my kids, and because God entrusted their minds and hearts to me, and I want to honor Him by everything I put into them.”

To Be Continued…
Be sure to join me next month for part 2 of Why Homeschool? I’ll discuss our experiences with private school, and other reasons why we chose to educate the kids at home.

Sprittibee (Heather) has been homeschooling for 6 years and has one crazy husband, 2 crazy kids (ages 9 and 11) and 2 crazy cats. When she isn’t making Tex-Mex, learning web design, teaching the kids, or rubbing her face on the cat’s belly, she loves to blog. In her column “Heartstrings for Homeschoolers,” she reminds us to stop and smell the proverbial flowers on this journey we call homeschooling. Not every day will be a great one. She admonishes us to learn to focus on the beauty of the moments God has blessed us with – for better or for worse – because our hearts are shaped by the memories we are making.

Tags: Encouragement, homeschool life, Homeschool Methods, Parenting

Field Trip Friday

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Steam Train Field Trip
Originally posted May 13, 2006

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Have you gone on an exciting field trip recently? Tell us all about it and be sure to link back to this post so others can visit!

Tags: field trips, homeschool life, Homeschool Methods

When Winning ‘Does Not Compute’

When Winning ‘Does Not Compute’

To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.
~ William M. Thackeray

It is many a young boy’s dream to play with robots and build things. It has been one of my son’s dreams since he was five years old. The very first time I heard about robotics from a homeschool list I was on, he started begging me to get involved with it. At first he was too young, then we had trouble finding a group, then we moved and it wasn’t available in our new area. There was always some extra excuse, but mostly the reason we hesitated to participate was because it just wasn’t affordable for us on one income. Robotics kits are not cheap.

I think God knew Kaden needed a helping hand if he was ever going to get involved with robotics. This year He brought us together with a sweet family in our local co-op that had participated in these sort of events before, and lucky for us, they were looking for another team member for 2008. They even offered to pay the entry fees and already had the supplies the team needed. I just couldn’t say no. Kaden was beside himself with glee. Finally, his dream come true! He was going to be a part of a robotics team!

The boys created a small team of two and began to practice together twice a week, an hour or two each time. We made it a part of our weekly routine to be sure they had enough time to work on the ‘bots.’ Kaden didn’t even use the bot that he owns because his buddy already had two bots out of the box and had begun building them. This would be a learning experience for him as his first year in robotics. He hadn’t been previously trained, even though he did have an NXT Lego kit that his grandparents got him a year before over the holidays. We were excited that he was going to get to finally enjoy robotics and had no expectations of him winning anything.

Winning in the regional competition was the icing on the cake – and a shock to both us and Kaden’s friend’s parents. Competition was long and hard. The boys competed in two rounds and ended up with a winning score. They won the regional qualifying championships and we had only two weeks to prepare for a trip to the World Championship games in Michigan. After a bit of fundraising and planning, we set out for Detroit. Kaden’s teammate flew and we drove. It would have been easier to fly, but ticket prices and the threat of layovers scared us away. With one win under our belt we wondered if we could pull off another win in Michigan.

At 7:30 AM Saturday morning we signed in at the college so the boys could practice. It was a grueling day for Kaden (after only 3 hours of sleep and 18+ hours in the car the day/night before). We got to see a lot of great robots and there were 36 teams competing against our team in the Junior level. There were many different attractions to the day: an exhibition displaying creative autonomous robots designed for many different purposes, a robot fashion show, RoboSumo (a competition with robots fighting to push other robots out of a ring), awards for many different categories (even for best team photo!), etc. We even got to listen to a highschool band play. It was a busy day!

The next best thing to winning is losing! At least you’ve been in the race.
~ Nellie Hershey Tullis

Our scores had been pretty high in regionals, so we were disappointed to come in 13th overall in the World Competition. 13th place isn’t so bad when you consider that those were the best teams in the world (3 different countries competed in the Junior division: America, Canada, and South Korea). Although the BIG trophy didn’t come home with us, we sure gained a lot of knowledge and experience. We scored an “E” for effort in my book, and not only did Kaden learn a lot about robots, Lego Mindstorm kits, programming, and competing in Robofest, he also got to drive through a total of nine states and have a few other adventures along the way.

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.
~ Auguste Rodin

Who knows if there will be a next time for Robofest or not. Right now we are just savoring the memories. It isn’t every day that you get to claim you are the regional Robofest champion. And it isn’t every day that you get to travel over 3,000 miles across the USA. We’ll worry about other robot ventures later. We were all just thankful we got to participate! Winning isn’t the ‘heart of the matter’ anyway . . . enjoying the journey and being a champion in all you set out to do along the way is much more important.

Sprittibee (Heather) has been homeschooling for 6 years and has one crazy husband, 2 crazy kids (ages 9 and 11) and 2 crazy cats. When she isn’t making Tex-Mex, learning web design, teaching the kids, or rubbing her face on the cat’s belly… she loves to blog. In her column “Heartstrings for Homeschoolers,” she reminds us to stop and smell the proverbial flowers on this journey we call homeschooling. Not every day will be a great one. She admonishes us to learn to focus on the beauty of the moments God has blessed us with – for better or for worse… because our hearts are shaped by the memories we are making.

Tags: Encouragement, field trips, homeschool life, Parenting

Field Trip Tuesday: Houston Ship Channel Tour

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Sprittibee’s Houston Ship Channel Tour
Originally posted May 05, 2006

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Tags: field trips, homeschool life, Homeschool Methods

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