I'm an Unschooling mom in Las Vegas, NV. I have all boys! A 14 yr old, a 7 yr old, a 1 yr old and 2 teenage stepsons.
4 of the 5 have some special need or another, and the 5th would be termed "gifted" if he was in school. They all have their own interests and abilities.
Join me as I blog about our Christ-led learning approach...things that work, things that don't, and the antics of family life!
Nurturing our children in the freedom of Christ
#1, Nov, 01 1999
Sr. Editor & Publisher : Elissa Henry
Assistant Editor: Teri Brown
Contributing Editor: Patricia Moon
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IN THIS ISSUE
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1. Welcome from the Editor
2. "Just The Basics, Ma'am" by Patricia Moon
3. "Unschooling how-to" Poem by Starfreedom
4. "Unschooling Our Faith" by Teri Brown
5. Featured Homeschool Magazines
6. List of Homeschool Magazines
7. Poll: How Many Books have YOU bought??
8. Contest for subscribers...with a great prize!!
9. Closing letter from the editor
10. Subscription Information
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1. Welcome from the editor
Hi all, hope this newsletter is received in the manner it was sent..in love
and through God!!
This e-zine was "birthed" as a part of our upcoming book..Christian
Unschooling: Growing your children in the freedom of Christ. Like always, we
are wanting to help educate other Christians about unschooling. It is an
equally Godly way to homeschool. How did Christ teach the disciples? With
curriculum? Or did He just teach them by using things around them each and
every day? When using what the learner is interested in, and expanding on
that.....that is unschooling! I feel very strongly about not hiding the fact
that I unschool, and NEVER hiding the fact that I love and serve God.
Sometimes, these topics seem to not go quite hand in hand. We will keep you
updated on the progress of the book, and ask that you cover it in prayer!!
This is our premier issue...welcome to what we hope will become a wonderful
joint effort between you, our readers, and Teri and I.
All issues, sent out through email, will also be able to be found on the
website. They will be archived, by issue. The benefits to this are great!!
If someone joins later, they are able to see past issues, we do the storing
so you need not, AND there will be graphics available online that I cannot
send out via email!!
You will notice a plethora (huge amount) of the Christian fish symbol
adorning the e-zine. This is because I PROCLAIM LOUDLY I am a Christian. I
want to share with you the origin of the fishy symbol!!
The fish has been a symbol of Christianity for a very long time. We must look
to the Greek language for the explanation. In Greek, the words "Jesus Christ
God's Son Savior" look very different than they do in English. The first
letter of each Greek word was taken (a game called acrostic) and the letters
formed the word "fish", or "ichthys"in Greek.
You can look to the book of Acts to find some times in the Christian church
where it was unsafe to openly proclaim a belief in Jesus. As such, the symbol
of the fish took on an important job of identifying other Christians. If you
were to meet someone, u could just nonchalantly swipe 1/2 the fish, an arch,
in the sand.....if the other party were also a Christian, they could finish
it off. If not, no harm..the other person would not recognize it!!
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2. Just The Basics, Ma'am
Patricia Moon
"That sounds so nice, but do they know the basics?"
My palms no longer get sweaty when I hear that question from well meaning
friends, family, and even strangers concerning our unschooling family. I
laugh to myself, thinking about what their reaction would be if they only
knew how very unstructured our scholarly pursuits are. Instead, of my
snickers, they get my standard, "Oh, they are ahead in some things, and
behind in others, just like public school children..."
Basics? Whose basics? We learn the 3-R's and far beyond, while living as very
active members of our community. At the same time, we try to stay out of the
sign-up-for-every-activity-offered loop. Sara (12) and Jon (10) have very
good discernment about how to choose to join or not to join an activity. And
Hindsight lives on a high pedestal in our family.
There was the year that they both joined different sports teams and we were
kept hopping from games to practices 6 days a week! We were all worn out and
no one really enjoyed the season. The next year, consulting Hindsight, they
both took a break from organized sports (and gave mom & dad one too!).
This year, Jon is in soccer and Sara is taking care of the team's candy fund
raiser; instead of the Candy Mom, she is the Candy Sister and she keeps track
of the candy and the bookkeeping. Next week Sara and her dad will do the
concession stand volunteer work for Jon's team. We all get to truly enjoy
this soccer season.
My aunt owns an antique mall and the children and I work there a few times a
week. I'm sure some of those so-called basics are being used when the
children walk the sales floor helping customers, mark price tags for
merchandise, and look up current prices in the catalogs? They do the dirty
work too, which are lessons in themselves. Sara is begging to ring up sales
and I'm sure I will relent one of these days. My proudest mom moment
recently, now that you asked, was the first time I saw one of them walk up to
a new customer and ask if they could help them find anything. If these aren't
basics, I just don't know a basic when I see it.
My children are able to function in society now, not when they graduate from
one level of school or another. Our daily life puts them in contact with many
adults in the work-a-day-world. When the butcher had a pig hanging ready to
cut and pack, Jon asked some questions about it. The butcher took us back and
showed us all the organs and talked about their functions and how all parts
used to be utilized. The same thing happened a few months later at the
grocery store when we saw someone in the meat department packaging meat. That
man was wonderful. He invited us to the back where we watched the conveyor
belt process of weighing and packaging the meat.
There's a lot of 3-R's in them thar activities.
Secretly, I think public, private and school-at-home parents are just fearful
of the unknown. Do they really think that we sit around, eat Bon-Bons and
watch cartoons all day? Possibly. The thing is that they don't KNOW what we
do all day and they aren't privy to the children's test scores.
Even armed with our daily schedule and test scores, do you suppose they would
be satisfied? No...they would be, well... they may be upset. I hate upsetting
people, so I just give them my vague answers and carry on.
I can't imagine going up to parents who are not unschoolers and saying,
"That's sounds so nice, but do they know the basics?"
Bake something, make something, go somewhere, clean something, read
something-anything, take a nap-dream,
Look up a word-something absurd, have a big bowl of ice-cream.
Life is for learning, living, doing. How far will your imagination go?
Be, see, climb a tree. Beyond texts there is so much to know.
Life is an education, a journey where anything goes.
And the only limits that slow you down are the ones that are self imposed.
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4. "Unschooling our Faith" by Teri Brown
Sometimes I sit and ponder Jesus and how he taught the disciples. If you
think about it, they were in a sense, unschoolers. They followed Him, ate
with Him, worked with Him, and listened to Him. It is important to realize
here that he didn't teach them to read and write, He taught them about faith.
He taught them about His Father.
In attempting to follow Christ I have emulated his example in teaching the
Christian faith to my children. The things of the Spirit are so intertwined
in our lives that just in the course of the day's activities I find many
chances to teach my children of Christ. Why should I get my children a packet
to teach my faith when Christ did not have one for His decibels? How can you
teach a living, breathing faith if you are teaching out of a book that is not
the Bible? How the Word addresses our day is what makes it relevant to our
children. How can we please God today with our actions? That is what they
need to know.
To bestow my children the gift of my faith is why the Lord has given them to
me. It is my most important mission, not something to take lightly. So I look
to the bible to find the clearest illustration of this process, the years
that Christ took a crew of, mostly uneducated, men and turned them into men
of faith. Men that our God used for his perfect purpose. I know I cannot be
like the most perfect of teachers....... but I will try to imitate him. That
is why I am here.
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5. Featured Homeschool Magazines!!
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Greetings---the Blessed Mother is a quarterly postal magazine dedicated
to encouraging women in the lost art of mothering. We are a SUBSCRIBER
written magazine that focuses on mothering from a natural/attachment
parenting (but PRO spanking) philosophy. Past issues have included
letting God plan your family, the dangers of vaccinations, family bed,
non circumcision, extended breastfeeding, unschooling, age integration
(instead of segregation), homebirth, honoring your husband, and modest
dressing (I'm not speaking about "dresses only" but rather clothes that
conceal what is underneath them.)
Subscription price for the magazine is "pray about what the Lord would
have you give and talk it over with your husband" :) If you would like
to receive sample issues please send a check (made out to "the Blessed
Mother") or cash in the amount of $3. You can also visit our web site at http://members.easyspace.com/blessed
Blessings,
Shannon Schermerhorn
10353 Trabuco Street
Bellflower, CA 90706-5081
TEACH ("To Encourage And Challenge Homeschoolers"), a 28 page quarterly
publication, where you will hear from some experienced "keepers of the
home" and prominent homeschoolers. We desire to offer specific ideas to
increase your enjoyment in learning with your children.
At-Home Mother Magazine Subscriptions
A wonderful friend to the mother at home, filled with personal experience articles dealing with
an array of issues including a mother's self-esteem, parenting,
homeschooling, earning and saving money at home and much more.
BackHome
Our readers share stories on homeschooling and home business successes and failures. We'll put you in
touch with experts that will help you become more energy independent or live
completely off the grid with solar, wind, and hydro power. Each issue of the
magazine highlights sensible products and vehicles that won't waste your
hard-earned dollars. If you're ready to do more for yourself and others, join
our growing family of readers.
Family Unschoolers Network - Home for Unschooling Support
unschoolers newsletter,
1688 Belhaven Woods Ct, Pasadena, MD 21122-3727, 888-386-7020 (orders only) or
410-360-7330, -fun learning for the whole family, online sample issue, back
issues available
Holt ; Growing Without Schooling
2380 Massachusetts Ave.,
Suite 104, Cambridge, MA 02140 617-864-3100 The magazine & group founded by
John Holt. Unschooling focus, $25/yr (6 issues)
Home Education Magazine
P.O. Box 1083, Tonasket, WA 98855 $4.50 sample $20/6 issues/yr. 800-236-3278
wide ranging, unschool flavored
Home Educator's Family Times
Box 708, Gray, ME 04039, 207-657-2800, $15/ 6 issues, samples online
HomeSchool Dad Magazine
609 Starlight Drive, Grand Junction, CO 81504, 970-434-6946, $18/y6 (6 issues),
subscription discounts/offers available. educational activities and
encouragement for Dads and the whole family. Articles, opinions, adventures,
free email newsletter as well
Homeschool Digest
PO Box 374, Covert, MI 49043 $18/yr -
quarterly, Christian, practical tips, simple suggestions and bold biblical
challenges
Homeschool Gazette
Mark and Kathy Reynolds from Colville, Washington are publishers of the Homeschool
Gazette, a great new magazine "to encourage Christian homeschooled youth in
reading and creative writing skills." Their charming website provides
"interactive fun for homeschooled youth." Be sure to visit their home page,
and you may decide to subscribe to their hard copy edition!
Home School Headlines
Bush Publications, 650 Company Farm Road , Aspers, PA 17304, 717-528-8850, Free
($12/4 isues in print form) online publication to support, inform, and
empower homeschoolers
Homeschooling Today
PO Box 1680, Ft Collins, CO (954)
962-1930, Christian Perspective, pull out art lesson in each issue, also
features on literature, science, unit studies, much more, $20/6 issues
Hope Chest
includes subscription link and selected articles from Hope Chest Home School
News (a free monthly e-mail newsletter with lots of inspiration and
information for home education) and myriad web links.
I LOVE HOMESCHOOL Newsletter
NHERI Nat. Home Education Research Institute,
Box 13939, Salem, OR 97309, 503-364-1490, $25/4 issues. Somewhat technical
social science research edited by Dr. Brian Ray
How To Homeschool Newsletter
5903 Grove Ave, Richmond VA 23226, 804-288-6402, newsletter, quarterly, print version-$4
MOORE REPORT INTERNATIONAL
Box 1, Camas, WA 98607, 800-891-5255, latest research, homeschool testimonials, and
up-to-date counsel from the Moores ("Where Homeschool Began") and much more,
$15/6 issues
New Attitude Magazine
Joshua Harris has anchored his highly acclaimed New Attitude Magazine to a
visually spectacular World Wide Web location, and you will not want to miss
this! Many of you will know Josh's father, Gregg Harris, popular long-time
homeschooling author and seminar speaker. Gregg Harris's book, The Christian
Home School, was the first homeschooling book we read. Now, it's always the
first one we recommend. Trained by his father and mother in their own
homeschool, Joshua Harris is bringing a timely message to other young men and
women who are homeschooled. Visit this site, and get the latest on Joshua's
speaking schedule, subscription info, back issues, and much more.
Practical Homeschooling
PO Box 1250,
Fenton, MO 63026-1850. 800-346-6322, $20/ 6 issues. This is Mary Pride's
magazine and looks very attractive, also Home Life catalog site and resources
Quit You Like Men
152 Maple Lane, Harriman, TN 37748 - helps men who want to fulfill their role as the
provider for the family; strong emphasis on land-based lifestyles.
Enter Seedling's first contest. (in honor of our first edition:) Just send us
a 150 word essay on the theme of Stupid Parent Tricks. You know the things
you can't believe you did that your children managed to survive? Like the
time I kept shoving Oreo cookie crumbs back in my toddler's mouth only to
find out that it was bark dust! No wonder the poor kid kept spitting them out
and looking at me like I was nuts. The funniest story will receive a year's
subscription to TEACH Magazine!! Entries must be received by Nov. 20th and
winners will be announced in the next edition of Seedling!
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9. Closing Letter from the editor.
Next month's Seedling issue will carry a theme of Christmas!! We need
submissions: Christmas stories, family traditions, links, crafts, you get the
idea!! Submissions can be sent to Unschoolr@aol.com
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Look for big changes on the main page of our website Christian Unschooling
at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/8049 . We plan on keeping you
up to date on the progress of the book, but in addition, we also hope to make
the site more interactive and user friendly. Please cover this in prayer
because we are thinking of moving domains. We were blessed with a GRAND
offer, use of a domain without pup-up ads, and more incredibly, a
professional webmaster to create it!! (current webmaster, Elissa, goes
::sigh::)
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The other night I was trying to choose a book to read to my son for bedtime,
when I came across a book entitled The Seeds That Grew and Grew .It is a
Bible story based on Matthew 13:1-9; 18-23
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Matthew 13
1. That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
2. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in
it, while all the people stood on the shore.
3. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to
sow his seed.
4. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds
came and ate it up.
5. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up
quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered
because they had no root.
7. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred,
sixty or thirty times what was sown.
9. He who has ears, let him hear."
18. "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19. When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand
it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is
the seed sown along the path.
20. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who
hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or
persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who
hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth
choke it, making it unfruitful.
23. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who
hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred,
sixty or thirty times what was sown."
( http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible )
Our children are the SEEDS!!!!!!!!!! A Seedling is a precious thing, that
with the right "ingredients" can be wondrous!! Let's continue to grow our
children in the "good soil", in Jesus Christ.
