GIVEAWAY & Review: Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten and First Grade!

Am I really doing enough? If my girls were in a group with other children that were in a traditional school setting, would mine stand out like a sore thumb? Is there an easy way to make sure they are learning the essential skills for this age group while allowing me to still use the methods that we love? These are the typical “worry” questions that pop in my head from time to time as I navigate through the journey that is homeschooling. If you are like me and have had similar concerns, I am SO happy to tell you that YES, you can learn alongside your children in the style and method that our Heavenly Father has placed on your heart and still ensure they are learning the skills typical for their age group!

I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to review both the Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten and Let’s Get Ready for First Grade books written by Linda Desimowich and Stacey Kannenberg. I have read about these books in The Old Schoolhouse, and seen them at my local homeschool stores. I had considered purchasing them several times, yet I always stopped myself, thinking, “Well, my children aren’t going into Kindergarten or First Grade, at least not in a typical school environment, so these books aren’t really meant for me.” Well, when I am wrong, I will admit it. . .These books are exactly what I needed!

First off, let me just thank the publishers for the actual construction of the books. All of the pages are that sturdy, dry erase marker/wipe-off friendly material that is also TEAR proof! Considering I have destructo preschoolers, this is PERFECT! The pages are also glossy and full of color, so my girls turn the pages with excitement, oohing and ahhing over the shininess of it all! (Are all young girls like this, or do I have future J-Lo “bling- bling” lovers on my hands?) Hey, anything that gets them EXCITED about learning, right? Each time they turn those shiny pages, they also comment on the information provided and they LEARN!

I must admit that I was a little concerned reviewing both books, as my girls are only three and two. However, I can easily tell that the books cover all of the information needed to prepare you for Kindergarten and First Grade (and it is all presented in a fun and engaging way that doesn’t feel “schooly”), and I can also tell you that I was amazed at how much both of my girls knew from BOTH books! This quickly went from a “Lets look at these books for a good idea so I can review them,” to a “Let’s give Mommy a big pat on the back for doing a pretty decent job, after all!” Yes, I know it isn’t all me – the girls learn so much from the world around them, the many people they come in contact with, educational programming (gasp!), and all of the wonderful lessons God places before us, but THEY ARE LEARNING!! My favorite part about these books is that sense of relief they gave me!

I also gave these books to a good friend of mine who is homeschooling three boys, one of which is in first grade and another just slightly older than my own girls. She is also a former elementary teacher, so I really value and trust her opinion. Her boys devoured the books! She felt the books were very thorough in the information they covered and were a great help for moms to know what kinds of information to teach their children. These books are not meant to stand alone, however. Children will need a lot of repetition and hands-on practice and supplementation. But these books will give you a wonderful jumping off point for your own studies, or will serve as a wonderful mid-year and end-of-year review!

The Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten book starts on the very first page giving you a list of skills to work on. This has been written by women after my own heart. I LOVE easy to read bulleted lists that tell me what I need to focus on! So right off the bat, I have a quick list to use as a check point throughout the year! Actually looking further into the book, you see that the style remains the same. It isn’t full of fluff – it is a quick and easy read that you can use, maybe one section at a time, reviewing and reinforcing those important skills. Without giving too much away, these skills are VERY inclusive, covering letters and numbers, left and right differentiation, tons of beginning math skills and language skills, motor skills and more! The back cover is even a chart to use for beginning handwriting practice!

Let’s Get Ready for First Grade begins the same way with that wonderful list that I love, only targeted for this age group. This book goes into a lot of detail on beginning phonics skills, and is very thorough in the information it provides for language skills and beginning grammar! It also has more advanced math skills, but all presented in that engaging way that doesn’t feel as though you are doing “school” but having fun. It even covers beginning science and social studies topics! There are many skills that I would have known to cover on my own (but it still is good to have a colorful source for review), but it also includes several topics I wouldn’t have thought of as First Grade material!

I definitely recommend these books, if nothing else than a sense of relief in knowing you are doing enough, and to help fill in any of those areas you might not have thought of yourself. This is like a wonderful consultation with another educator that you can use any time or day that you want! So, dig in and kick those worries to the curb. . . and have fun with your children!

We are giving away one copy of Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten and one copy of Let’s Get Ready for First Grade. To enter this giveaway, give us one of your best tips for getting kids ready for Kindergarten "homeschool style."

Comments will be closed Friday, July 25th 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 listed on your profile or blog. If we can't email you, you can't win.



Rachel is a wife and a preschool homeschooling mom of two little princesses, Jordan Faith (3) and Carolina "Cali" Grace (2). She has a passion for instilling a love of learning. She loves to create her own unit studies, as well encourage moms to experience Joy in the MINISTRY of Motherhood. Visit Rachel at Keep The Way.

Win tickets to our conference!

We are so excited to offer 5 of our lucky readers a chance to win a ticket to the upcoming Virtual Conference. We have tons of discounts, freebies and door prizes to offer you along with your free ticket. ALL conference attendees will receive a positively fabulous goodie bag. Currently, the freebie package is valued at over $80 and growing! It includes a $30 downloadable package of ebooks from Currclick as well as goodies from several of our speakers. You will also have a chance to win some gift cards to your favorite online stores, autographed copies of some of our speakers' books, and many other great prizes. Please visit our new FAQ page to receive answers to all your questions, and view or download a schedule.

To enter this giveaway, simply tell us one reason why you would like to attend! Comments will be closed Wednesday, July 23rd at 10pm EST and the winners will be announced on Thursday. If you would like a double chance at winning, announce this contest on your blog, or send the link to a few friends and cc us on the email.

Giveaway!!

What little boy isn’t enthralled by knights? The Barefoot Book of Knights is written by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Manna, and published by Barefoot Books. I’ve said it before, but I simply love Barefoot Books. Every book I have had the privilege of reviewing is of the highest quality, adhering to both my standards and my son’s. This book is no exception. My 6 year old LOVES it!

This book is actually a very clever series of stories within a story. Tom of Warwick is a young boy of 10 who is on his way to becoming a full-fledged knight. He must first go through the stages of knighthood by becoming a page and then a squire. During his time as a page serving Sir Brian, he learns the code of chivalry. His trainer, Master William teaches him lessons through historical storytelling.

These stories will help to teach your young boy about loyalty, strength, honor, respect, bravery, hard work, and more. Along with Tom of Warwick, my son and I both learned much about the steps to knighthood, the code of chivalry, and the way of life in the Middle Ages.

You’ll hear adventurous medieval tales of brave knights from Britain, Germany, Russia, Persia, Japan, France and Brittany. This book is not only a set of action-packed tales about knights, each story and its introduction teaches a moral. What parent and young boy would love that!

Did I mention that this book was a Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award winner in 2003?

The book may be purchased with or without a CD narrated by actor Anthony Held. It is suited for ages 6-12.

Want a peek into the book?


Another Barefoot Book I want to share with you is Shakespeare’s Storybook: Folk Tales that Inspired the Bard. This book was written by Patrick Ryan and illustrated by James Matthew.

Shakespeare’s Storybook is a collection of 7 stories from around the world that inspired the writings of the famous playwright William Shakespeare. Did you know that Romeo and Juliet may have been inspired by a 1474 Italian tale called Il Novellina?

The author traces stories back through history to reveal to the folk tales, ballads, and poems which may have kindled Shakespeare’s creativity which led to his beloved tales.

Each chapter includes the author’s introduction to Shakespeare’s plot, followed by the original story of which Shakespeare might have been influenced by. The stories are short and easy for a child to understand and follow.

The book may be purchased with or without a 2-CD set narrated by the author, who has been a professional storyteller for more than 20 years. It is suited for ages 6-12.

Want a peek into the book?

Barefoot Books is offering our conference attendees a chance to win a copy of each of these wonderful books. Barefoot Books is also offering you special discounts on their books! But you have to come to the conference to receive these benefits...

In addition to the discounts and giveaways from Barefoot Books, we have TONS more discounts, freebies and door prizes to give away at the conference. ALL conference attendees will receive a positively fabulous goodie bag. Currently, the freebie package is valued at over $80 and growing! It includes a $30 downloadable package of ebooks from Currclick as well as goodies from several of our speakers. You will also have a chance to win some gift cards to your favorite online stores, autographed copies of some of our speakers' books, and many other great prizes.

So what are you waiting for? Go buy your ticket. Please visit our new FAQ page to receive answers to all your questions, and view or download a schedule.

Giveaway Monday!

Dolphin Lady is the winner of this giveaway-- congratulations!

Would you like the opportunity to win a one year subscription to The Family Handyman Magazine? To enter this giveaway, tell us one household repair/improvement thing you wish you knew how to do yourself. Personally, I wish I knew how to unclog the garbage disposal. As my handyman would say, "If you wouldn't jam so much food in there at once, it wouldn't get clogged."

The "Family Handyman Magazine" is an indispensable guide to home improvement and repair. Fool proof, step-by-step photo instructions help amateurs turn out professional results on a wide variety of home projects. In every issue: Reviews of new products; using tools safely; auto and appliance repair and other handy hints.

Comments will be closed Friday, July 18th 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 listed on your profile or blog. If we can't email you, you can't win.

GIVEAWAY! Mouse and Mom Reviews: Hey, Andrew! Teach me some Greek!

Welcome to Mouse and Mom Reviews, where my nine year old daughter and I each provide our perspectives on a product or service. If you have any questions for either Mouse or me, feel free to leave a comment and one of us will respond.

Mouse Says...

Hey, Andrew! Teach me some Greek! is a workbook to teach you biblical Greek. I liked it because it is really easy and I can do it myself. My mom said I should do at least a page a day, but I preferred to do several pages at once and then take a break. It comes with flash cards to help learn the Greek letters which are way different than English letters. It also came with a Greek alphabet song but I did not like the song very much.

The book we worked through is level 2, but you can easily learn from this book even without level 1. Later in the book, you also learn some vocabulary but I only had time to get mostly through the alphabet before writing this review.

I think it is a good book for anyone who wants to learn a little Greek.


Mom Says...

Hey, Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek! by Karen Mohs is a biblical Greek worktext which helps students learn the Greek alphabet along with some simple vocabulary. It is a workbook with simple worksheets to practice the Greek letters, sounds and vocabulary. At times, it can be a little repetitive, but that is more than made up for in the fact that it is laid out in a manner that a child can virtually teach him or herself from the text. No prior knowledge of Greek is necessary for the child or the parent teaching the child. Level 2 is intended for early elementary school students.

I particularly appreciated the flash cards and the pronunciation key. The pronunciation of the letters was clearly explained so that we were both able to learn the Greek alphabet together.

The first two levels of this series focus on the Greek alphabet and simple vocabulary. Greek grammar is introduced in Level 3. By the time a student completes Level 8 [now being written], he or she will have covered all of Greek grammar.



Greek n’ Stuff has generously donated a short set of Andrew Teach Me Some Greek Level 1 for us to give way to a lucky reader! This set includes: Student workbook, "Answers Only" answer key, Quizzes/Exams, Flashcards on a Ring. To enter this contest, you are going to have to use a little creativity. In the comment section, tell us 5 words that describe you using each letter in the word T.E.A.C.H. For example...I (Amy S.) believe I am Thankful, Easily amused, Addicted to chocolate, Cheerful, Harmonious.

Comments will be closed Friday, July 11th at 10pm EST and the winner will be announced on Sunday in our new weekly newsletter. So please go subscribe!

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

Master Plan Review! (GIVEAWAY too)

Congratulations to Michelle of Northofthe49 on winning a copy of The Master Plan!

Anybody an organizer out there?

Anybody in NEED of organization in their life?

Everyonce in awhile a little piece of heaven lands in your lap!
That is what happened with The Master Plan by Julie Forsythe!
When the opportunity to review an organizational planner presented itself, I jumped at the chance....I LOVE planners, I LOVE organizers...
When I was a kid, the bigger the organizer the better....
THIS is just the type of thing that intrigues me. I have to tell you, that USUALLY I am not impressed with online organizers...they just aren't CUTE enough for me..

UNTIL NOW!!

(click on the book to go directly to the site)

I've GOTTA tell you....
If you are looking for a HIP, and COMPLETE home organizer, whether you homeschool or not(there are sections for both) this is a FABULOUS resource and did I mention it's CUTE!
This gal thought of EVERYTHING!!
Julie states in the introduction:

The Master Plan is very special. It not only provides a multitude of pages for organizing every aspect of your life, but it is also an interactive PDF. This interactivity means that you can either print out the blank planner pages you need for your own customizable planner that fits nicely in a 3-ring binder of your choosing, OR you can use the interactive fields to type in your own personalized information and either print out the completed pages or– here’s the best part– use it fully on your computer. To use the interactive tools, you simply click your mouse into any field, and type in the necessary information. You can print the Week-at-a-Glance page and stick it in your husband’s lunch box on Monday, stick a copy of the weekly menu or grocery list to the side of the fridge, or
print out sermon note pages to tuck inside your Bible for you and our children.

Do you get that??
You can USE it directly from your computer, click and type and print...or if you are OLD SCHOOL, you can print and WRITE and keep it in a notebook. The interactive feature is wonderful because you can plan and type on the computer and print it ALL out!

The contents of this 381 pages include:

Master Plan by Season
Monthly, weekly and daily calendar pages
A Plan to Nurture Your Spirit
Household Budget Pages
Menu Plan and Grocery Lists
Master Grocery List Page
8 Great Ways to Save
It’s a Crock! Menu Plan
Grocery Lists
Can You Afford Healthy?
Homeschool Planning Pages
Family Medical Records
General Household Organizational Forms
Vacation and Travel Planning
Holidays and Entertaining Pages
Address Book
Cyber Stuff
Project Planning
School Planning Pages

Here is what a sample page looks like!

I am an organizer by nature...and I have to tell you I WAS IMPRESSED by this compilation!
Julie thought of things that I have thought about but have never gotten around to, like medical records ALL in one place.

I was completely HOOKED! I am excited to finish this post and get on to some SERIOUS Re-vamping of my PLANNERS!
Thanks Julie!
If this sounds TOO good to be true, head over to Julie's site where you can find out more, and purchase a copy for your household!

Hurry up, go on....
Time's a wastin'!!
There's organizing to do this summer!
Oh and did I mention that it's so CUTE that you'll WANT to use it...no boring FONTS here!

(and ya'll know, as far as I'm concerned...it all begins with the FONT!!)



Would you like to win a copy of this amazing planner? To enter the giveaway, simple leave us a comment and tell us one of your best organizational tips.

Comments will be closed Friday, July 4th at 10pm EST and the winner will be announced on Sunday in our new weekly newsletter. So please go subscribe!

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

Biology 101 (Giveaway included!!)

Did you know that Beatrix Potter was a scientific illustrator or that Solomon was a biologist who gave lectures on plant and animal life? Did you know that Carolus Linnaeus developed taxonomy, the classification system that we use in order to divide our animal and plant life today?

I didn't know this information until viewing Biology 101. Biology 101: Biology According To The Days of Creation is a video series that gives an overview of Biology from the Biblical perspective. It comprises four DVDs covering Plants, Aquatics Creatures, Avian Creatures, Land Animals, Mankind and Genetics. All based on the days of creation. The total length of the series is 4 1/2 hours and a guidebook which includes quizzes accompanies the series also. The creator of this wonderful series has geared it toward 15 year olds and higher but my science loving 3rd and 4th graders loved it! Wes Olson, a Bible college graduate and homeschooling father, developed and hosted this great series. He is very knowledgeable of Biology and we absolutely loved his sense of humor.

Initially, I was afraid that this would be another boring video series that someone had conjured up with their family's video camera. Boy, was I ever wrong! These videos are very professionally prepared with colorful photography, clear and understandable illustrations such as the anatomy of the bird and digestion system of cud chewing mammals, and brief scientists biographies. I especially loved the way that each area of study had been divided according to the classification system then thoroughly discussed and illustrated. These videos are very informative and would be a great addition to any Biology curriculum.

You can learn more information about this series at http://www.the101series.com/. Biology 101 is a set of 4 DVDs, with a combined total running time of 4 hours and 37 minutes. Included with the DVDs (on Disc #4) is a 114-page illustrated printable (pdf) guidebook packed with information and quizzes, and a 12-page accreditation booklet (pdf). Together, the DVDs and guidebook can serve as a high-school level biology course or provide a foundation on which to build a curriculum of your own design.

We feel very blessed to give THREE of you the opportunity to win a copy of this amazing dvd curriculum, which is valued at $69.95! You have three ways to enter:

1. leave a comment and tell us your favorite animal
2. post about this contest on your blog. (be sure to leave the URL of your post in the comments section)
3.

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

The newsletter features the week in review, current news, contest winners, and links to freebies! Sign up now and have your first newsletter delivered on Sunday!
And guess what? You can do all three for THREE chances to win this amazing DVD set!

Comments will be closed Friday, June 27th at 10pm EST and the winner will be announced on Sunday in our new weekly newsletter.

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



Kysha is the wife of a paramedic/businessman and homeschool mom of five beautiful children from ages 2 to 18. She enjoys blogging, fishing, reading, working in children's ministry, and snuggling with her hubby while watching sunsets or romantic comedies. You can find her at Love's School.

Is Homeschooling for Everyone?

Winner of this giveaway is HSB Suzanne- Congratulations!

By Jim Bob Howard
Editor-in-Chief of Homeschooling Today magazine

I recently received an email from the National Congress of State Legislators, touting their excitement over states having increased spending over the last year by over $1,000,000,000 (I prefer to put all the zeroes on there to show how big a billion actually is) on early education, meaning day care and preschool programs. That's a lot of money to increase spending for children who aren't even in school yet!

But I have a question: What did the states spend last year? What percentage increase was this, really? The report didn't say. On the one hand, if the states were already spending $50,000,000,000, then this is really only a 2% increase. Hardly enough for those who are excited to actually be excited about. If they were already spending $1,000,000,000, then it doubled! Whoa! Can they show some figures of the effectiveness of throwing twice as much money into the program in one year's time? So, knowing the dollar amount doesn’t give any perspective on the scope of the change. But $1,000,000,000 is a heck of a lot of money now matter how you slice it.

Salt and Light?

Why is this much being spent on children under the compulsory attendance age? If you're a Christian parent, let me ask you: Until you put your child in a "head start" program, or kindergarten, what had you been doing with them? Many parents of young children will say they are "thinking about" homeschooling, but their child is "only three" so they "haven't started, yet."

What have they been doing all that time? Haven't they trained them to walk, to eat, to say "Thank You," to brush their teeth, to tie their shoes, to chew with their mouths closed, to go potty by themselves, to sleep through the night, to say "Yes, Ma'am" and "Yes, Sir;" to count to ten, to say their ABCs, to pray, to sing, to play pat-a-cake, to finger-paint, to eat Goldfish, to clean up after themselves, etc.? Where do we get the idea that when a child turns five (or four these days... what's next?), now they need formal schooling? And what do they do in pre-school and kindergarten? They spend a couple of hours away from home, finger-painting and eating Goldfish. They could have done that at home... and learned to empty the dishwasher, sweep the floor, share with their siblings, take care of a puppy, and a pray "Now I lay me down to sleep" before their nap.

When we send our children off to a classroom, what they really learn is: "Education" is administered by "professionals" and takes place in a room separate from the "real world" with a bunch of people who are the same age and socio-economic status as me. And so for the next twelve to fifteen years (depending on how much of a "head start" you give them), they spend the majority of their time with people who are the exact age and class as they are. This is called "socialization." When those years are over, they might extend it for another four years by going to State U. And then they are NEVER in that situation again... Never again will they only be around people that are exactly their age, except... in Sunday School! Is the Church impacting culture? Or is culture impacting the Church?

So That’s Where All of This is Leading!

Let's face it: the institutional school as we know it today acts as a massive eugenics program. That's what Margaret Sanger and Adolf Hitler were seeking to implement with Planned Parenthood and the Nazi Party's "Final Solution" for the Jews.

I hear what you're saying: "Wait just a minute! How does the current school system perpetuate those atrocities?"

Simple. Just as Sanger and Hitler placed a value on a certain class of people and called the rest "useless eaters" or "subhuman," we act the same way when we age-segregate everyone out by their birthday and tell them which "grade" they're in by their age. Once in their grade, if they don't perform to the mean (the fiftieth percentile), they go into "Special Ed" classes, or are "held back" a grade. If they excel, they're given special treatment, a special designation, and the ability to address their class at graduation.

But what about the "average" student? There are none. God has given gifts to all men (1 Corinthians 12:11) and expects them to use their talents wisely (Matthew 25:14-30).

The truth is that some children excel in math, others in science, while others excel in mercy, and still others in grace. And yet, as a society, we don't reward those who excel in godliness; only those who do well in the eyes of men, academically or athletically.

And then there are all of the social cliques (maybe this is what people mean when they ask homeschoolers about "socialization": they are concerned that our children don't have the "benefit" of trying to be popular among their peers). Institutional schooling—from age-segregation, to advanced placement and special education classes, to socialization, to standardized tests and SAT scores—is all about survival of the "fittest" and putting aside those who don't "measure up." No wonder divorce, abortion, euthanasia, and the warehousing of the elderly are so prominent! (Not to mention: the sending away of our four-year-olds to pre-school.) If you're not in this minute's most popular class, you can't have any real worth. (We're told that the "Seniors of '08 rule," but last year it was the Seniors of '07 that ruled.) So, those "other" people can be done away with. They are "useless eaters" in our minds even if we don't say it out loud.

This even applies to Christian schools that segregate by age and academic or athletic performance. And it applies to Sunday Schools that do the same thing. Had Paul been writing today to the church in Galatia, IL, or Galatia, KS, or Galatia, NC, his famous line about there being neither Jew nor Greek might have read something like this: “There is neither Empty Nester nor Crawler, Junior nor Senior, College Ministry nor Singles Ministry, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (paraphrased from Galatians 3:28-29).

What Shall We Then Teach?

A wise father once told me that he and his wife had sat down and written down all the things they wanted their children to know before they left home. Among those things were: how to read the Bible; how to balance a checkbook; how to change the oil on the car; how to write a persuasive essay; how the political process works (and how it is supposed to work); how to wash, fold, and put away laundry; how to plan a menu and buy groceries; childcare; home maintenance; how to find and study primary source documents to understand the true events of history; and how to put out a kitchen fire. Along with these, they wanted their children to have a love for their neighbor (saved and unsaved); a respect for authority; a biblical view of marriage; pure hearts, minds, and bodies on their wedding days; honor and respect for their parents; and most importantly that they would love the Lord with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength. Since only a couple of those would they learn in an institutional school setting, they decided they should keep their children at home, so they didn’t get only a partial “education.”

God's Appointed Teacher: Dad

I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children;
That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments;
And may not be like their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not set its heart aright,
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.

—Psalm 78:2-8

Jim Bob Howard is the Editor-in-Chief of Homeschooling Today magazine. He believes God has chosen this generation for such a time as time as this, to rise up and start a new Great Awakening in our land. That will only happen when God works in the hearts of fathers, to turn their hearts toward their children. If they don’t, His promises are sure: He will smite the land with a curse. We are already reaping what we have sown.

Homeschooling Today magazine has recently launched an eNewsletter for fathers, named The Father-Led Home. An encouragement to fathers from some of today's best Christian writers, The Father-Led Home joins the popular Homeschooling Helper eNewsletter for moms (and dads alike). To sign up for either of these encouraging newsletters, go to http://www.homeschooltoday.com/newsletters/sub.

Would you like the opportunity to win a one-year subscription to Homeschooling Today magazine? One winner will be chosen to receive six beautiful issues of what has been called, "the most comprehensive journal of home discipleship available." To enter, please leave a comment and answer the question, "What do you want your children to learn before they leave home that they cannot learn in an institutional setting?" The editors at Homeschooling Today and here at HOTM are also curious to know if there is a skill or character trait that you would want your children to learn that you feel can only be achieved in an institutional setting. This second part is optional, but we are curious to hear your answers.

Raising Your Own Superheroes

The winner of this giveaway is De'Etta at Choosing Joy-- Congrats!

By Matt Binz
Husband of HOTM writer Lee Binz and otherwise known as Mr. HomeScholar

Step One: Observing Passion

The 2004 Pixar film "The Incredibles" poses the intriguing question: "What would happen if superheroes lived among us as normal citizens?" In this film, a couple of former superheroes, Mr. Incredible and Elasti-girl, marry and then, as a result of a class-action lawsuit against all superheroes, are forced deep undercover using the alter-egos, Bob and Helen Parr. The movie explores how this true "power couple" deals with suppressing their superpowers in order to live a "normal" life.

As a homeschooling father, one of the most intriguing aspects of this film is how Bob and Helen deal with their children, two of whom have nascent superpowers. The aptly named son, Dash has super-speed. His older sister, Violet, has the ability to disappear and cast force fields. The baby of the family, Jack-Jack, has not displayed any super-powers and the family is slowly accepting that he is, perhaps, not "super" at all.

Like many of the Pixar films, there are some profound lessons just under the surface waiting to be discovered. The Incredibles has much to teach us concerning raising our children, specifically, how to nurture and develop the "super-abilities" that lie dormant within each of them.

That's right -- each of them. I firmly believe that each of our children is a budding "superhero" waiting to be discovered and developed. Their abilities are likely not as dramatic as our fictional friends, but that does not diminish the potential of each of our kids to change the world in their own way. The goal of this series of articles is to provide some insights on how to grow our children from undiscovered Jack-Jacks, to full-blown Mr. Incredibles and Elasti-girls.

Jack Jack's Story

Baby Jack-Jack is a mystery. His parents must realize that he has to be "special" - he has the right DNA - but yet he displays no superpowers. There is absolutely nothing mom and dad can do to force superpowers into him. All they can do is wait and watch. That is one of our primary roles as homeschooling parents. Gifts are discovered, not created. We need to be students of our students in order to discover the secrets that lie deep within. Eventually, Jack-Jack's superpower is hilariously revealed to an unsuspecting babysitter. Similarly, you also may be surprised at the gifts displayed by your children. Even the most normal kids will often reveal themselves as "super" in one or more areas of their life. In our family, our kid's gifts revealed themselves in areas that neither Lee nor I would ever have imagined.

Kevin's Story

Our oldest son exhibited a sudden and profound talent in Chess when he was fourteen years old. Chess was something I taught my kids when they were five and seven. "Taught" in the loosest sense of the word - just how the pieces move. This lesson lay dormant in my eldest for years. For his fourteenth birthday, Kevin requested a chess book. I looked at him as if he had requested Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations." I was clueless where this desire came from. None of our ancestors played chess and we had not spoken of it for years. On his birthday he received lots of presents, but only one made it back to his room that day: "Play Winning Chess" by Yasser Seirawan. Kevin emerged from his room about two weeks later and proclaimed: "I'm ready to play in a tournament." Before I acceded to this, I told him he would have to beat me first. I detected the slightest trace of a smile on his face as he quickly ripped my position apart and stomped enthusiastically on my King. After that, I was quite willing to let him pick on someone more his intellectual size, so off to a chess tournament we went.

The tournament director looked at me with disdain. He was convinced that I was one of those parents that pushed my children to hide my own shortcomings. A few minutes of interrogation, however, convinced him that chess was probably the least likely place I would choose to bolster my self-esteem. I was utterly lost. Kevin, however, felt right at home. He ripped through a series of adult opponents with enthusiasm normally reserved for a box of Krispy Kremes. He left his first tournament with a provisional rating that placed him among the elite of Washington State high school chess players, almost all of whom had professional coaches and had been playing competitively for years. Lee and I spent the next four years feeding him chess books and driving him to tournaments. He finished his high school chess career in 2006 by finishing second in state. Not bad for a late starting, self-taught chess player with no documented chess DNA.

Alex's Story

A couple of years after the surprise birthday request of my eldest, my youngest son did, in fact, ask me for Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations." Again, Lee and I never saw it coming. I hated economics. Lee actually failed economics in college. Both of us were nonplussed at this request. "Wealth of Nations" was followed by "Democracy in America" and various other ancient tomes on political economics and philosophy. We learned not to ask too many "why" questions and just fork over the books. We figured it was a good investment.

That is exactly the way it turned out. For reasons known only to God, my youngest son had "caught fire" with economics. This led to amazing opportunities for him with scholarships, fellowships and meaningful employment. None of which would have been possible if we had attempted to force his passion into areas where we, his parents, felt more comfortable.

Such is the nature of children and superheroes. Who they are and what they become may not be what you think. It may not even be in the realm of imagination. In fact, with Kevin and Alex, the only way it made any sense at all was in retrospect. Kevin had always been quiet and analytical as a child so, now, chess seems a somewhat logical source of his enchantment. Alex was always our little academic, so philosophy made some sense in hindsight. We still, however, scratch our heads about economics.

Conclusions

The message: be students of your students. Observe their passions. Don't be too skeptical or try to force them to love what you love. They are individuals and will spend their lives striving to become who God intended them to be. You play a critical role in shaping and guiding, but not in defining or forcing. Some of your children may exhibit "superpowers" in chess, math, economics and philosophy. Others will flex their muscles in sports, writing, dance or music. In Lee's work, she has encountered children who demonstrate leadership in areas as diverse as acting, mycology and fiddling. The first step in raising your own superheroes is to discover where their super-powers reside. It will require your most focused attention, and will frequently demand that most elusive of all superpowers: patience.

You can do it.

The world needs them.

Your superheroes are counting on you!

Matt and Lee are veteran homeschooling parents of two and the owner of The HomeScholar, whose mission is "Helping parents homeschool through high school". You can sign up for their free email newsletter The HomeScholar Record and get your daily dose of wisdom via e-mail from The HomeScholar Blog.

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