Encouraging the Homeschool Heart
• Sep. 19, 2006 - Field Trip Day!
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School was officially in for one week and we just HAD to have a field trip! This was actually on the schedule long before we started school anyway, but a GREAT kick off to the year.
A wonderful lady from our local support group informed everyone over the summer of Homeschool Days at Biltmore. Biltmore is the largest privately owned residence in America. To say it's a Castle is actually an understatement. My daughter who is obsessed with the 1800's was in History heaven! To see it come to life and walk where all the original stones, paintings and furniture still resides is awe inspiring.
Her favorite room was hard to pick. They were all so ornate and grand. The bust of Napoleon (the historical figure she is currently studying) was quite impressive, but better yet was that it resided in a room that also held his (Napoleon's) actual Chess Set.
We will likely be going back to Biltmore Estate and taking our time to meander through, gasp and stare at our own leisure and pretend what life in a 175,000 square foot home with 35 servants must have been like!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna L Miller
Come by and see us at: HOMESCHOOL HEART and sign up for your free monthly encouragement letter |
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• Sep. 5, 2006 - New School Year Goals. Goal 1 - Scheduling
At the start of each new school year, we set new goals. We set not only academic goals, but also character trait goals, spiritual goals, physical goals as well as general goals.
By the word "we", I mean my students and I. It is important for our homeschooled children, regardless of their age, to feel they have at least a small part in the planning for their school year. As they age, this amount of participation in planning becomes more vital.
In the following articles, we will touch on some of the topics needed to focus on as we approach this new school year. These topics may seem to be either detailed or simplistic, but either way, they require our attention and our students' commitment.
Scheduling: How scheduled should you be? The 'real world' and 'work world' requires structure. We would be remiss to make our homeschooling adventure void of this vital skill of working within a time frame. Just how tight your schedule will be is up to you and your student. While they are young, it often helps to break the day down into 'before lunch' and 'after lunch' blocks. As they age, you may need to shift to 'before breakfast' (to get chores done), 'after breakfast' (to focus on hardest or most time exhaustive subjects), 'after lunch' (easier subjects, more self directed) and 'before dinner' (extra curricular, enrichment and/or elective activities). As our student's approached middle school years, the time restraints became hour long blocks. Then in high school they planned in half hour blocks with a mild bit of flexibility.
As you can see, your child will need to be 'on board' and understand that this is not only for self discipline purposes, but it is also a vital training ground to be productive in any given work force, college or entrepreneurial endeavor after graduation. There is more to be taught through following through and staying on task than meets the eye.
If you are adverse to scheduling, I urge you to try it in bite sized chunks. Don't give up on scheduling at least a portion of each day. After that is mastered add more time until you are comfortable with the structure while it still presses you and your student to work within deadlines.
The next topic of new year goal setting is "Organization of Space".
Blessings to your Family!
Donna L. Miller
Donna L. Miller is a homeschooling mother of soon to be two (2) homeschool graduates and one remaining highschooler. A former preschool teacher, School Age Camp and Family Program Director with YMCAs, and current business owner, Donna's vision is to encourage other homeschooling families. She owns and maintains the popular site for homeschool encouragement and resources: Homeschool Heart |
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• Aug. 22, 2006 - Do creativity and learning conflict?
In our family we have had three totally different learning styles: one kinesthetic, hands-on son; one text-book oriented, organized daughter; and one abstract thinking, artistic daughter. All three have varying degrees of creativity in music, writing, graphics and computer imaging, but they all use that creativity to learn and expand their interests.
Is creativity a separate aspect from learning? In our household we have found them to virtually be one and the same. It is the creative force that has caused many of our Biology and Chemistry experiments to go beyond the plans in the curriculum. It is the creative force that has driven one child to learn to write her own music and learn guitar, and compel one child to take up photography and research the lighting, filters and shutter speed for her favorite types of photos to capture, and to motivate another to write a creative story on a blog and learn how to publish his own work. For our family, creativity sparks the learning process...learning does not always spark creativity.
Harnessing the creative aspects of learning, while also disciplining one's self to DO the work are both necessary to utilize this driving force behind the joy of learning. There are times that creativity does inspire a new topic or deeper learning of an assigned one, but it should not be the ONLY thing that propels a student to learn. Learning self discipline and the nuts and bolts of "simply 'buckling down' and just doing your best" is also a very important lesson on which to build a strong learner.
As we see it, these two elements of education, creativity and learning go hand in hand. If we could find a way to creatively learn self discipline - it would be a match made in heaven!
Blessings in the Risen Messiah to your family!
Donna Miller
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• Aug. 7, 2006 - Gearing up to plan next year!
Summer has been sort of short for us. With my youngest trying to make up lost time in Algebra II, both older kids and I as camp counselors and the possibility of moving again, our summer has flown by with little thought to my youngest’s next year!
Now the time has come to plan and prepare. Most of her curriculum is actually in our home that is about to be sold, so I cannot sort or look at exactly what she does have until we go back to pack. This would have caused me great stress a few months ago, but God has been teaching me much about stressing over things that I cannot or should not try to control…so, it’s a no sweat situation now.
We are just going to start school on September 4th. It’s a few weeks later than we would like, but it is unavoidable for now. She hasn’t really HAD a summer. She needs to have the break. So do I.
Preparing to plan - looking forward to another year and planning the calendar!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna L. Miller
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• Jul. 31, 2006 - Starting a Highschool Group
Today we have an official 'Group' on our states homeschooling website!
We have formed a group specific for High School only. Since High School has a different 'feel' to it - even at home - I felt like the students needed to feel like they have their own entitiy. This is what our group plans to be like:
High schoolers have such DIFFERENT needs than other homeschoolers. There is a 'uniqueness' to going through high school at home and the students themselves need to be instrumental in overcoming the unique obstacles that they face.
This is a HIGH SCHOOL activity-based group. Activities such as cook-outs, skating, bowling, day ski trips will be sprinkled in with some more meaningful projects (chosen BY the HIGH SCHOOLERS themselves) that we hope to be something like: work in a food bank/homeless shelter, do yard work for housebound or elderly or adopt a highway. Primarily it is a safe-haven for the teens to interact with each other, under the facilitating eye of parents, but without being directed BY parents.
The vision for it is, that they are accountable to a group of peers (who of course are accountable to parents who are accountable to God!) and THEY develop the flavor of the group. It is not primarily a place for parents and teens to bond, but for teens to learn the accountability of being on their own with peers and standing on their own convictions. Practice for life after graduation ;)
Come to my home page at HOMESCHOOL HEART and email me...if you're in the NC Region 3 area...and have a homeschooled highschooler...come join us! |
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• Jul. 28, 2006 - Summer School Stinks (to quote my youngest)!
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Yes, she knows she messed up. Yes, she knows her summer has been 'wasted' by having to re-do Algebra II. So this is the first year any one of my kids has had work to do ALL SUMMER LONG, and I must say, I know now why we planned at least a brief summer every year.
We all seem to need a starting and stopping point. We seem to need to know that there is a time everything 'gears up' and a time everything 'halts'. Dragging homeschool work out over the summer has been a little too much of 'blurring the lines' for us. So...this is how we are handling it now.
She will take TWO maths in her Junior year...both Geometry and Algebra II. She will have no Science this Fall, since Chemistry is better done after Algebra II (for us anyway). She will have to discipline herself quite a bit over this upcoming year, because she HATES math (in all forms) and now is facing double duty in her least favorite subject.
To me...it is worth it though, in order to give her a few weeks of NO SCHOOL and break for the summer. I am hoping she sees it the same way!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna
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• Jul. 25, 2006 - Only two summer planning seasons left....*sigh*....
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My dear daughter, the last one to homeschool, will be in 11th grade this year! Although I've known what a Junior in high school would need, since two others have been there and done that, she is a different type of learner and her curriculum needs tweaking to hold her interest.
She is very artsy! So aside from the basics, we must do much hands on, get creative work for her to stay focused and engaged with her school. Along with texts and reading, I also have to find activities that will hold her interest and enhance what she has read.
For math...this is difficult. This is just one area where she has to push through. The Switched on Schoolhouse by Alpha Omega publications gives her enough stimuli to hold her interest. Teaching Textbooks is the same thing, the lectures hold her interest and the examples (even for Algebra II) are real life examples that make sense to her creative side. Math was always a big struggle for her to stay engaged in until we found these two sources.
All other courses...well...the appeal to her busy hands and creative head. English and History often are easiest to incorporate 'projects' into. Science in high school also has built in hands-on with lab work. She enjoys all extra-curricular work such as music and art, so those are a given plus to her schedule this year.
While I look forward to my 'baby' finishing school, I know I will miss these planning sessions in my mind each summer when she is graduated. It won't be long now. The key is cherishing the time left!!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna
Come see my site: HOMESCHOOL HEART |
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• Jul. 23, 2006 - Learning my roll during uncertainty...
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Lessons learned at a young age can be so easily forgotten or warped by time. I am finding the lessons I am learning in my 40's to not only be harder to learn, but they seem to leave a more lasting impression.
One thing I have recently learned is that the roll of wife and homeschool mom does not (okay - should not) revolve around a location. We have been on the move for over 3 years. Our 'home' that the kids grew up in most of their lives, is not a place where we can live and my husband make a living, yet we have held on to it in hopes of going back to it some day. That 'someday' came to a crashing halt on Tuesday.
The house appears to be selling and we don't know where we are going. I have let that throw me and put me in a tail spin for 5 days now. Today...I recognized that I have not handled this well. Today...I need to ask my family for forgiveness.
My roll as a wife and homeschooling mom (even if it is for only two more years of homeschool) should not be defined nor determined by where (location) we live, but it should be the stabilizing force, when deeply rooted in Adonai, that makes a home anywhere....that teaches anywhere...that nurtures and 'mothers' anywhere.
Now this may be a 'duh' moment for some people...but for me it's been a hard lesson to learn. When one is in the thick of things and doesn't know where the path is leading (physically [location or health], emotionally, mentally, and spiritually) after prolonged limbo, one tends to look at the surroundings for some direction. The hypothetical 'one' I am speaking of has been me!
Today, although I've *known* it...I realize that my roll is not dependant upon where my house is located, what support groups or libraries are near by, if the grocery store is scary or not...but my it is rooted in the fact that I have been called by Adonai to be IN that ROLL...not IN a place. The roll of wife and homeschool mom never alters...even if it's in a tent in the desert.
To wait to create a home, or to give up or to cave in because of not knowing where things are leading does great damage to my example as that roll for all my children. It also does not create a very good help-mate for my husband who has his own struggles with the future.
The cliche' "Home is where the Heart is" is holding a new meaning for me as we face a very uncertain future of house and location, but with the Grace of God....and by HIS Strength...I can and will find joy in my roll...even in a tent in the desert.
Blessings to your Family!
Donna Miller
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• Jul. 19, 2006 - Summer Stream-lining! Moving that old curriculum.
Summer is the time I clean closets and try to clear out all the books, teaching tools and items my kids have either outgrown or finished using. There are SO many ways that we can do this that it seems there is no reason to have idle homeschooling supplies cluttering up our homes. The following are five suggestions:
5. Give it away on a free homeschool swap…you can find these groups on yahoo.
4. Swap with friends who have children who are both older than yours (so you can use their items) and younger than yours (so they can use YOUR items).
3. Find a ‘before school’ curriculum sale - or if you can’t find one in your area - CREATE one!
2. Look up classified websites that specialize in homeschooling items. DON’T BE AFRAID TO POST ITEMS ON MORE THAN ONE CLASSIFIED OR FORUM…. just keep all the info the same!
1. Go to our FORUM and post what you have for sale there! THIS is my favorite…of course…because it keeps our site growing!
Aside from Amazon or Ebay which take their own ‘cut’ - these are very helpful and viable options to clean out your stash of curriculum!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna
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• Jul. 4, 2006 - A praise report for repentance!
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My youngest (10th grade) came to me only a month before the end of school and told me she did not get Algebra II AT ALL. She had been using the same course with a companion CD that my two older ones had also used. However, she also knew that she could 'cheat' and grade herself easier than I would have so her grades reflected that she was doing better than she actually was.
I have to say, that this was a hard lesson in accountability. She knew that I trusted her. She had told me she was NOT grading easy or cheating. She had to come to grips with the fact that she knew she was cheating herself by making it too easy. She may have been 'getting done' but she knew very little . First came conviction, followed by repentance then restitution! This is a sign of maturing! Yay!
So we had to change Algebra II curriculums near the end of the year.
I would like to highly endorse Teaching Textbooks. Not only is the grading minimized since tests are all that the teacher needs to record, but the student really is learning mastery of the subject on thier own. THIS (mastery) is what my darling (yet deceptive) daughter realized she had NOT learned and was willing to brave the consequences (a summer of Algebra II) to gain the knowledge.
Blessings in the Risen Messiah !
Donna L. Miller
Come join in the discussions! HOMESCHOOLHEART FORUM
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• Jun. 27, 2006 - Away at Camp!!
My kids are all away at camp this week!
I have grandiose intentions of filing all my school papers, finishing a transcript and cleaning all closets. Even looking at that list, I’m not sure I’ll get to them all.
This spare time seems to be best spent with my husband! We have found that we can make dinner plans, driving plans and just talk at the spur of the moment! Not that our kids EVER stopped or hindered us doing things together, there just is a new link between the two of us with out the additional inputs and opinions of our three almost adult children.
It is likely that my house will not get spotless, at least one closet will remain a ‘black hole’ for unclaimed items and my filing system will still be the box on the floor for now…but I sure will enjoy the in interupted couple time that we can have this week!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna |
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• Jun. 22, 2006 -
Last year was the first year my kids (at the time 18, 16, 14) EVER went off to summer camp! Yes, I am a stereo-typical over-protective homeschool mom! This year one is a counselor and another has been asked to come back and work with some younger campers later in the summer!
We again will go on a mini-shopping spree and buy all those cute little trial sized toiletries and such. Flashlights, bug spray and sunscreen are top on the list.
This is a time that my almost adult children will be able to be completely independant of parental input. It seems that it is also the time that God speaks the most to them. No distractions of television, computers or even CD players or watches...they are focused on their time with the Father. Time without a parent to run to makes their hearts and minds turn to their Heavenly Father and grow in ways that humble me when they come home.
Blessings to your Family!
Donna Miller
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• Jun. 15, 2006 - You know I may have errored...but...
I was told that the 'mailing list' was not my 'friends' list....but if I sent you my blog inadvertently...I am so sorry (I AM sending this to my 'mailing list' - so I hope it also goes where I want it too! - STILL learning this system!)
I had done a 'search' for other homeschoolbloggers who had similar Faiths and age children as mine (high school) so I just had added a few of you as 'friends' - so if I barged in with a blog on you, I am so sorry!!!
I also have another blog here at 'RestoringHebrewRoots' ...so I have two and kind of compartmentalize things - although they DO blend always - I often write about then separately!
Anyway - sorry if it was an intrusion!
Blessings in our Risen Messiah!
Donna
http://www.homeschoolheart.net/forum
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Restoring_Hebrew_Roots/
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• Jun. 14, 2006 - What do you mean...Plan for Summer?
Now before you and all your children start a revolt at this topic, let me share with you what a child who is in public school said to me the other day. I had called to talk with her mother and she had JUMPED to answer the phone!
Upon asking how her summer was going, she said: "I wish I was still in school! I'm so bored!"
School kids are bombarded with social, auditory, visual and mental stimuli every day of school. Now the stimuli of 8 hours in classes, voices, hall-ways and clamor differs greatly for those who are in public school to now face...the resounding quiet and accountability for time spent out of one's own choosing. This can be overwhelming to kids who suddenly have to 'put on the brakes' for the summer.
Unlike students in the school system, homeschoolers have had to adjust to making their own schedules and filling the void of noise with some meaningful activity or work. But does this mean that they handle 'summer time' any better? Often, no!
A loose schedule is usually the answer for the homeschooler who wants to have a 'summer'. Many of us school year round, or do at least one subject during the summer to avoid this chasm of boredom...but even taking time off and reading a good book (yes, just for fun) or a missions trip, or a part-time job is still productive time that can keep boredom at bay!
Summer (or at least planned breaks in school) really shouldn't be a rigorous schedule...but it also runs the risk of being a dreaded break if there is no plan what so ever!
EnJOY your Summer!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna
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• Jun. 12, 2006 - Help!!! It's reallly summer!!!
It's already happening...." There's nothing to do!"
Here are some cheap suggestions for the summer:
1. Keep up with reading aloud with your kids. My kids enjoyed this well into their highschool years.
2. Take a picnic to the lake, beach or park. The cost of gas (although an arm and leg) is not as much as amusement park tickets.
3. Get a summer job! Either you as the parent, find a camp to volunteer at - or if your student is of age, many places are hiring for the summer. Yes, by now those places have already had some staff changes...so there may be an open door!
4. Check out your community calendar! Community colleges, parks and recreational facilities often have activities, classes and contests going on all summer at a minimal fee.
5. OR....start on next year's school work! This may not go over well with your homeschooler, but...they may really enjoy just doing one subject and then freedom the rest of the day! And they get ahead for next year!
Just some thoughts on the summers of home school.
Blessings to your Family!
Donna L. Miller
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• Jun. 10, 2006 - Get on the Call to discuss the Hidden Flaws of Homeschooling....
We will be having our FIRST of at least MONTHLY phone calls at the end of JUNE!
Our first topic is " The Hidden Flaws of Homeschooling"...
The Call will be Thursday, June 22 @ 5:00pm EST - Phone number mailed to Newsletter Members.
There really ARE Flaws with homeschooling! Don't believe me? Disagree with me? GREAT! Get on the call and find out what I'm talking about!
If you are worried that there are flaws or are getting told what those flaws are....become a member of the FORUM and post it your question/concern and we'll try to cover it on the call!
I will email the whole list the phone number a few days before the call...so make sure you go to the HOMESCHOOL HEART HOME PAGE and sign up if you are not already a member of the Newsletter ....also, feel free to invite friends to sign up for the Newsletter so that THEY can come find out the flaws in homeschooling too! All new members will also recieve a FREE Homeschool Report!!
Looking forward to talking with you all and Encouraging your Homeschool Heart on Thursday, June 22nd at 5:00pm EST!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna Miller
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• Jun. 6, 2006 - Day two of the Family challenge....oy vey....
My kids are certainly doing better than I am!
Each of the girls have earned more points and been more committed than I have been in the short two days of the challenge. It's hard to see it right in front of yourself as they tally up the scores and I tally up mine and they have smoked me!
Sigh...tomorrow is a new day...still time to rack up more points!
Blessings in the Risen Messiah to your Family !
Donna L. Miller
http://www.homeschoolheart.net |
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• Jun. 5, 2006 - Our Family Challenge!
Well, summer is upon us and my kids (all teenagers) have come up with a plan to avoid boredom! We are doing a family challenge!
For 6 weeks each family member will earn a point each day by doing each/any of the following:
1. Exercising for 45 minutes or more.
2. Eating healthy all day.
3. Doing responsibilities without being reminded.
4. Up and awake before 7AM (Remember it IS summer) daily.
BONUS POINT: Doing one TANGIBLE/MEASURABLE step toward personal goals (those are specified to each person)
IF a person DOES all 4 of the positive actions he/she ALSO gets to put his/her name in a jar for a drawing at the end of 6 weeks for a special prize!
For 6 weeks each family member will LOSE a point for each/any of the following:
1. Having a bad attitude. Includes moping, pouting, selfish, rebellious, argumentative, etc.
2. Judgmental statements about others in the family or outside the family.
3. Insults, cuts or 'digs' to other family members.
4. Going over your Summer TV/Computer time limits.
Total number of points to earn - possible - 210 points!
Object = to get the most points and get your name in the jar to draw for the special prize and NOT TO LOSE any points.
So far, day one, has been a blast!
I couldn't be happier that THEY came up with this incentive and are inspiring me to a more productive summer!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna L. Miller
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• Jun. 3, 2006 - High School Peer Groups....
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One thing I noticed after graduating my second child - peer groups are important. Grant it, not as important as 'school' makes it...but they mustn't be avoided either! We have to come up with options for homeschooled high schoolers to have that unique experience that can only be lived-out with other peers.
While homeschoolers are more adept at the real-life task of interacting with people of different ages, much more so than students who are corralled into 'classes' of their peers for 180 days/7 hours a day, there are peer issues that are better dealt with only upon interacting ONLY with those of similar age. How does your homeschooler handle these pressures? Isn't it best to give them the chance to handle them while they are IN your home rather when they are on their own in college?
Pressures unique to high school involve:
How do I look?
Am I 'accepted' by my peers?
Do I CARE if I am accepted by my peers?
What is proper Guy/Girl interaction?
How do I handle rejection?
How do I overcome adversity among my peers?
Do I cave in to negative peer pressure?
Do I exhibit positive peer pressure?
This list is only the TIP of the ice burg. All the emotions, thought patterns, character traits that are attached to them make wading though peer groups a potential land mine. Who better to be around to help encourage and guide them as they go through that dangerous territory than the loving parents that have taught them so many other things...YOU.
Give your teens the opportunity unique to their age group while you are still available for advice. Once they are in college, they are in that situation of peer interaction. Without that experience before hand, they are likely to flounder and make some irrational decisions.
Not to mention...high schoolers really are a LOT of fun! So gather a few, have a party, go bowling, plan a trip...a dance...a project....your teen will be better off for it in the long run!
Blessings to your Family!
Donna L. Miller
Visit my site: HOMESCHOOL HEART! |
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• Jun. 1, 2006 - Graduation is OVER!
My second born is graduated!
Many changes are upon us and we are planning for Fall - two in college and one left at home!
There is not much to blog on at this point...just going to recoup for a couple of days!
Blessings to your Family....be back with more when unpacking is done!
Donna L. Miller
Come visit my site: http://www.homeschoolheart.net |
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