I am working with Tim Oliver to set up a free craft day at The Meeting Place (Their Christian book store in New Carlisle) We will be providing crafts, and art supplies to allow neighborhood children to make Christmas gifts for their families. Several different crafts to choose from - some simple painting and some requiring a glue gun. Many photo gifts to make too. The craft day is Thursday, Dec. 17th from 6-8:00 or while supplies last. The Meeting Place is at 415 South Main Street, New Carlisle, Ohio Their Phone Number is 937-670-5200 The store looks like a large two story house near Wot-a-Dog. Open as a service to the public anyone is invited! Hope to see you there Thanks, Heather Phipps

Washington Times Op-ed—Socialization not a Problem

by J. Michael Smith
HSLDA President

One of the most persistent criticisms of homeschooling is the accusation that homeschoolers will not be able to fully participate in society because they lack “socialization.” It’s a challenge that reaches right to the heart of homeschooling, because if a child isn’t properly socialized, how will that child be able to contribute to society?

Since the re-emergence of the homeschool movement in the late 1970s, critics of homeschooling have perpetuated two myths. The first concerns the ability of parents to adequately teach their own children at home; the second is whether homeschooled children will be well-adjusted socially.

Proving academic success is relatively straightforward. Today, it is accepted that homeschoolers, on average, outperform their public school peers. The most recent study, “Homeschool Progress Report 2009,” conducted by Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute, surveyed more than 11,000 homeschooled students. It showed that the average homeschooler scored 37 percentile points higher on standardized achievement tests than the public school average.

The second myth, however, is more difficult to address because children who were homeschooled in appreciable numbers in the late 1980s and early 1990s are only now coming of age and in a position to demonstrate they can succeed as adults.

Homeschool families across the nation knew criticisms about adequate socialization were ill-founded—they had the evidence right in their own homes. In part to address this question from a research perspective, the Home School Legal Defense Association commissioned a study in 2003 titled “Homeschooling Grows Up,” conducted by Mr. Ray, to discover how homeschoolers were faring as adults. The news was good for homeschooling. In all areas of life, from gaining employment, to being satisfied with their homeschooling, to participating in community activities, to voting, homeschoolers were more active and involved than their public school counterparts.

Until recently, “Homeschooling Grows Up” was the only study that addressed the socialization of home-schooled adults. Now we have a new longitudinal study titled “Fifteen Years Later: Home-Educated Canadian Adults” from the Canadian Centre for Home Education. This study surveyed homeschooled students whose parents participated in a comprehensive study on home education in 1994. The study compared homeschoolers who are now adults with their peers. The results are astounding.

When measured against the average Canadians ages 15 to 34 years old, home-educated Canadian adults ages 15 to 34 were more socially engaged (69 percent participated in organized activities at least once per week, compared with 48 percent of the comparable population). Average income for homeschoolers also was higher, but perhaps more significantly, while 11 percent of Canadians ages 15 to 34 rely on welfare, there were no cases of government support as the primary source of income for homeschoolers. Homeschoolers also were happier; 67.3 percent described themselves as very happy, compared with 43.8 percent of the comparable population. Almost all of the homeschoolers—96 percent—thought homeschooling had prepared them well for life.

This new study should cause many critics to rethink their position on the issue of socialization. Not only are homeschoolers actively engaged in civic life, they also are succeeding in all walks of life. Many critics believed, and some parents feared, that homeschoolers would not be able to compete in the job market. But the new study shows homeschoolers are found in a wide variety of professions. Being homeschooled has not closed doors on career choices.

The results are a great encouragement to all homeschooling families and to parents thinking about homeschooling. Homeschoolers, typically identified as being high academic achievers, also can make the grade in society.

Both “Homeschooling Grows Up” and “Fifteen Years Later” amply demonstrate homeschool graduates are active, involved, productive citizens. Homeschool families are leading the way in Canadian and American education, and this new study clearly demonstrates homeschool parents are on the right path.

Michael Smith is the president of the Home School Legal Defense Association. He may be contacted at (540)338-5600; or send email to media@hslda.org.

"There is no evidence that this part of the Bill is needed; in fact, the reverse is very much the truth. We have just had the chief inspector saying that 1/3 of state schooling is unsatisfactory, while the true figures on home education say that maybe 1% of home education is unsatisfactory. The phrase involving beams, motes and eyes comes to mind."

~Lord Lucas's, House of Lords - 26 November 2009 [emphasis mine ~ KW]

Encouragement & blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf

Prov. 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one man [family] sharpens another.”

When you began your homeschool adventure, where was it that you went to ask questions, get answers, find the camaraderie of many shoulders to cry on and find out that your child wasn’t a freak because he was having trouble with his nine times-tables?  Where was it that you could count on someone with experience to be there for you?

Does “support group” ring a bell to anyone?

I hate to say it, but in many areas support groups are going the way of snow in summer-time…they seem to be melting away and fading into the atmosphere.  And I say, “what a shame!”

It’s come to my attention that many of our precious experienced homeschoolers are starting to drift away from attending their area support group meetings.  Do they feel that they have out-grown them?

Look at it this way:  if I take two pieces of rusty, dull iron – I have two pieces of rust, dull iron!  J  But if I rub them together, something great happens; they start to change.  They become a little sharper, they become a little brighter and shinier.  They become something usable.  Iron can’t sharpen iron unless there is friction between the two…they have to meet together.

As I asked you in the beginning, think about when you were a new homeschooler and your child just wasn’t catching on to a concept and, at your wit’s end, you went to your homeschool support group and started asking around for help.  Lo and behold!  There was a wonderful, experienced mom there who had actually “been there, done that”!  You went home, tried her advice and it worked!

Now…think of this:  A new homeschool mom, full of hopes and dreams and fears comes to your homeschool support group.  Her child just isn’t catching on to a concept and she’s at her wit’s end; and after coming to your support group she starts asking around for help.  Lo and behold!  Does she find it from you…OR is this one of those nights when you decided you just didn’t want to go tonight?  After all, what more do YOU need to learn about homeschooling since you’ve done it for so long?

Well, what if the reason you are to STILL attend your group has changed?  What if it’s now a ministry?  What if the reason that new homeschool mom leaves the meeting a little sadder and a little more fearful and discouraged is because YOU weren’t there to answer her questions the way someone was there for you?

Isn’t it time for us to be there for a new generation of homeschoolers?  Isn’t it time for us to share our experiences, our triumphs, our joys and even our failures with the new crowd?  Isn’t that part of our Titus 2 duty?  Did the Lord really make you a part of your group JUST so you could get a newsletter, go to gym or co-op or field trips, find out about curriculum sales and legislative updates?  I don’t think so.

This is a new season in our lives and an opportunity to shine as examples of experienced homeschool moms!

Let’s not be a part of the “me, me, me” crowd…we’re past that.  Let’s be the Lord’s hands and feet and minister to our sisters and their families and ease some of those fears and build some dreams!  After all, a long time ago someone cared enough to be there for you.  Now it’s your turn.

Blessings,

Kim Wolf<><

Using wooly worms (Pyrrharctia isabella) to predict winter is old American folklore that traces its history back to early Americana. Supposedly, Native Americans taught the pioneers to read wooly worms to predict winter weather. Wooly worm is the common name for the larval stage of the Isabella Tiger Moth. They are also called wooly bears.

Step 1
Look for wooly worms under rocks and inside hollow logs.
Step 2
Examine the wooly worm, paying attention to its bands of colors. The wooly worm will curl into a ball when touched or threatened. When they crawl, they can crawl very quickly!
Step 3
Wooly worm forecasters say that the size of the brown band of color will tell you what kind of winter is coming. Legend says that the thinner the brownish red bands, the harsher the winter will be. If the wooly worm is mostly brownish red in the middle, winter will be mild.
Step 4
Wooly worm enthusiasts claim an 85 percent success rate over the last few decades. Scientists tend to disagree and say wooly worm weather prediction is as unscientific as using groundhogs to predict winter weather. The groundhogs likely side with the wooly worms.
Step 5
Whether or not you believe in the power of wooly worms, they can be a fun project for children and adults.

{from www.ehow.com}

A Quiet Sun, a Cold Winter

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a colder-than-normal winter. One contributing factor is sunspots—or the lack of them!

This year and next, sunspot activity will be very, very light. Whenever this phenomenon has occurred in the past, the result has been a cooling influence on Earth. Solar experts believe that the Sun will remain calm for another year.
See sunspot activity for 2009.

Robert B. Thomas, who founded this Almanac in 1792, believed that weather on Earth was influenced by sunspots and solar radiation. Sunspots are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun. Click here to read “What Are Sunspots?”


To this day, the Almanac uses three disciplines to predict the weather: meteorology, climatology, and solar activity. (See How We Predict the Weather.)

If you’re interested in learning more about the Sun’s effect on our climate, read “The Influence of Solar Activity on the Weather.”

Or, join this forum: “Are Sunspots Disappearing?”

Seasons of the Sun

Learn about the discovery of the 11-year solar cycle and its importance in predicting the frequency of sun spots and the strength of solar storms.

Hello Everyone, The date for the Scripps Howard Local Homeschool Spelling Bee has been set for Tuesday, January 5, 2010. It will be held at the Troy Christian Church located at 1440 E. St. Rt. 55, Troy, OH 45373. We will begin at 10:00 am so please arrive 15-20 minutes ahead to check in and get settled. Also, I will be sending an e-mail in November with some dates for practices. These are not required, but may be helpful for your spellers to learn how a bee is ran and to practice spelling with the other participants. These practices will take place in December at the Troy Public Library when we are closer to the bee. Thank you for your support of the bee and encouraging your children to participate. We do our best to make it a fun time for all. Please e-mail or call with any questions. Happy Spelling, Carol Hacker 698-3686

On Saturday, October 24th Christian Life Center will be having an event called CLC University. Lisa Cox will be teaching a class called Homeschooling 101: Myths, Legalities, Opportunities and Excitement Sign in and continental breakfast start at 8:30 in the CLC gym. Children's Ministry is provided for birth -5th grade. The cost is $4 which includes class materials, breakfast and snacks during the break (very important!!) The event continues until 12:30. Perhaps you know someone who is thinking about homeschooling. Invite them! Perhaps you are new to homeschooling and would like to become more connected. Perhaps you are a veteran homeschooler who would like to come for fellowship and sharing. Perhaps you are a group leader and will be able to post this on your blog or email loop! Please do so! During this time together we will look at biblical support for homeschooling. We will discuss the myths and truths about this lifestyle. We will talk a small bit about what the state requires and how to easily meet (and surpass) these requirements, we will talk about the pros and cons of homeschooling. We will also explore "To Test or Not to Test" dilemma that many struggle with from time to time. I will have many examples of educational portfolios for you to browse. Area opportunities will be outlined. And finally, during the last hour, I will have some information about how to bring learning excitement into your homeschool with the use of lapbooks, notebooking, unit studies and field trips galore! $4 is pretty reasonable for all of that...breakfast and snacks...children's ministry...wonderful fellowship and time for learning. Please contact Sheila at 898-8811 extension 203 to register or go to http://clcdayton.org/442324.ihtml

As I write this, it is nearly 4p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 & I just received word that Chris Klicka - one of HSLDA's original lawyers & a great friend to millions of homeschoolers - lost his long, hard battle w/MS just over an hour ago.  Below is Tracy's (his wife) final CarePages entry, written mere moments after is passing...Blessings, Kim<><

PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS...

Dear praying friends,

There is a part of me that would have liked to keep this news to ourselves for a little while. Chris' journey toward home has been very public, which has been a blessing to us through your intercession and words of love and encouragement. Yet, at this moment, while his loss is so fresh, I had hoped to savor his last moments with us and his passing all to ourselves, but such is not the case.

So with great sadness and with a joy that we can barely contain, we announce that our husband/father Chris has gone home to be with the Lord. He slept peacefully lsat night, though his breathing was shallow and very rapid. Then this morning when the hospice nurse came to check him over, she commented specifically how low his blood pressure had gotten and that with the mottling around his knees and ankles, grayer skin tone and coldness in his face, that he didn't have much time left with us.

I had been sitting with Chris this morning telling him about Megan and her wedding dress and how kind God was to let all us girls be together when she found it. I told him I had so hoped he could see her in her dress before he went Home, and as I was talking two little tears trickled down his cheeks. I know he would have loved to see her! I know, too, he so wanted to be able to communicate with us at the end. It broke my heart to see his sadness. I imagine, though, too, that his tears were mingled with joy for Megan's future with Brendan.

After Anna (the hospice nurse) took Chris' vitals a second time, his blood pressure having dropped some more, she recommended that I get our kids down to see and talk to their dad.

I called them all from whereever they all were around the house, and when the last child came, Bethany announced, "Hey, Dad, we're all here. We love you!" Chris took one more breath and was gone.

I know to try and describe our sadness--the longing and aching in our hearts right now--would be impossible, so I won't try. I will share a picture the Lord gave within minutes after Chris' departure.

I saw him with his old western boots and jeans on (like he used to wear at Grove City College when he would run over to see me at my dorm--he was a senior and I was a freshman when we met there), running at top speed in Heaven. I pictured a huge smile (the one I love best) on his face and fellow saints yelling out greetings of welcome to him, some even asking him to stop and visit with them, and heard his reply, "I've got to run for the Lord up here. I'm making up for lost time down on Earth. I'm praising God and have to use my legs to do it. Stop me in about 100 years, and we'll sit down and have a nice long visit!"

Two days before God brought Chris home the Lord gave me this short verse to encourage me:

"No longer cloaked in frail humanity,
His spirit soars to gain Celestial joys,
Unimpeded by death's dark night
And free from the weight of sin's alloys.

My beloved sings! The object of his song
Is the One who bled and died for him,
No sweeter name did e'er he speak
Or treasure in his inner man."

Thank you, for both grieving AND rejoicing with us, and for your continued prayers for us these next weeks and months!

Looking forward to that day, when we too, shall see our beloved Jesus face to face,
Tracy, for Chris (one last time) and the whole Klickaclan

I want to take a moment to introduce myself as the new coordinator for McCheo. My name is Amy Welborn and I am super excited for this year! I am the wife to an amazingly patient man, Brent. We are blessed beyond measure and have five wonderful children: Bennett is 7 years old and will be continuing on in 1st grade, Eve is 4 years old God graciously placed her in our family through adoption. Johanna is 3 years old, Kent is 18 months and Lucy is 6 weeks! I will be honest to say I never imagined I'd be homeschooling. The Lord changed my heart after my pregnancy required me to be on bed-rest with Kent and we were unable to send Bennett to pre-K as planned. It's funny how His plan doesn't always line up with ours but it always prevails! Praise Him for that!! I can say, however, that I sure am glad His plan came through. I enjoy teaching the children and seeing how much the are learning and often learning along with them! With the vacancy of a coordinator, the need of a support group and lots and lots of prayer I felt led to jump in as county coordinator. I continue to pray that this group will glorify His name and that we will be able to encourage one another, "as iron sharpens iron"(Proverbs 27:17). Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions or comments. In Him, amy welborn

Quick & easy...

~1/2 c. baking soda

~Liquid Castile Soap

1)  In a bowl, add Castile Soap to baking soda until mixture is creamy & thick.

2)  Dip dampened cleaning cloth (or homemade dish cloth) as needed into mixture, wash dirty surface, rinse.  Leaves no grit!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Lisa Cox ~
Waves of Mercy Homeschool Co-Op Coordinator
Homeschool Portfolio Assessor
BIG Used Curriculum Sale Coordinator

I Cor. 1:1&2 – “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.  I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed them on to you.”

 

Have you ever stopped to take the time to thank the person(s) who first educated you on the subject of homeschooling?

 

Where would we (and our families) be without them and the concern they showed us by taking the time to explain this godly plan of education?

 

Think of all the things you would have missed in your children’s lives.  Wasn’t it wonderful to watch that light come on in their eyes when they finally realized that the numeral 3 represented three things?  Wasn’t it exciting when she was so inspired by a book she had just read to sit down and write a story of fiction herself?...And it was good!  Wasn’t it incredible when he found that cicada shell on the tree, got out his magnifying glass and really got excited about pointing our that he knew where the head, thorax and abdomen were without being asked?  Wasn’t it thrilling when your family went to the beach for the first time (remember, I’m from Ohio!) and your kids couldn’t collect enough seashells because they finally, fully realized that God made each and every one of them and that there were no two alike?  Oh, the things we would have missed if not for these faithful friends who told us that our kids could stay home for school!

 

Think of the relationship you have with each child that you would not have if they had spent 6-8 hours a day, over 24,000 hours, away from you each day during their school career.  Aren’t you grateful that you could instill your values and the teachings of Scripture to them instead of “de-programming” them every night?  Or that they are not caught “between the rock and the hard place” of having to “divide allegiances”?  By that I mean that they don’t have to be seduced  by the pressure of believing that “cool” socialist Humanities teacher or that smug, self-assured atheistic Biology teacher vs. Dad, Mom and the Bible.  Think of the heartache, and possible harassment, they have been spared so that they can be nurtured in the Truth of the Gospel and taught to defend their faith in the proper time.  (I can find  no place in Scripture where God sent a child out to evangelize.)  By the time they complete their home education, by God’s grace, they will be mature and secure enough in their faith that they can defend themselves against the “cool” socialist and the smug, self-assured atheist.  I must be frank and tell you that I know very few Christian kids in public schools who are secure enough in their faith that they can properly defend it.  Thanks to God’s faithfulness and those dear friends who told us about homeschooling, you and I have had the opportunity to instruct our  children “in the way they should go.”  (Prov. 22:6 & Deut. 6:4-9)

 

Titus 2:7 says, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and  soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose  you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about you.”  Now it’s our turn.  If you have a year or more of homeschooling under your belt, then welcome to The Example Club!  Just as those who blazed the trails ahead of us, just as those who lovingly mentored us, just as those who set that godly example for us to follow…let us not miss the chance to encourage a nervous mom full of questions, hopes and dreams.  Don’t be afraid to be used by God!...If God used Balaam’s donkey, I KNOW He can use me…and you, too!  Someone is watching and wants what you have, just as you watched someone else at one time.

 

Thank the dear ones who God used to get you on the road to homeschooling and don’t be afraid for Him to use you in the same way.

 

Blessings from Ohio,

Kim Wolf<><

P.S.  Thanks Sono and Gregg!!