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I would love to congratulate all of you who have perfect children. I see you at conferences. You are really amazing. Really. Your fourteen children, and some grandchildren, follow you placidly around the hall. An outsider would ask, "Are they drugged?" The rest of us often feel like huge failures in comparison. NO, don't stop what you are doing, but perhaps encourage the rest of us and give us insight into your techniques. I'm sure many of you are doing that, but not all of you. Some of us have extremely bad marriages. Some of us make and made the mistake of staying in a marriage for the kids. Don't KID yourself. Some of us stay or stayed in marriages like this because we were afraid to step out since he was, after all, providing for us. Where's the love? If there is no love between the parents, how are the children to learn it? Don't be suprised if one day soon, they will not even know how to love YOU. Not every child will go to college. Not every homeschooled child excels in academics. Most do better than public schooled children, but some don't. Big deal. I try to encourage in my books, to be patient, and hang on, keep doing your best and expect the harvest.
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Christy says: We have been using the Drawing with Children and it has taught us to look and things differently for our drawing. My dd used to fill notebooks with her wordless stories and sometimes they were from the stories we read. My DH is an excellent drawer and he helps them sometimes. Glad to see you blogging!
Yes, Drawing with Children is a book we used and I recommended in Techniques. My children won purple ribbons at our fairs when very young, using the principles in this book. ~ Lorraine
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Sketch your nature finds. The first step in sketching is to really look at
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Summer! Are the kids getting bored already? Add some fun studies. Along with combining travel with study (see Easy Homeschooling Techniques), summer is the perfect time to spend time in Creation. Along with actually looking at, sketching and identifying plants, butterflys, birds, and so on, find nature poetry (see list of nature literature in Easy Homeschooling Curriuclum) and have your children do copywork in the cool house on the hottest of days.
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The best and easiest thing to do with preschool and young children is to read to them. The next thing to do is to let them tell back what you read (narration) and tell their own stories as you record or write down. Don't worry about a curriculum at this point. Keep it simple. It really can be "parent-friendly." There is a step by step sequence in teaching young children that can make things so much easier. You really do not need to spend a dime but can do it all yourself. After the two things I mentioned you can go on to phonics teaching (you know the letter sounds!), handwriting and then some math. All subjects can be covered by these simple techniques (esp. reading aloud and reporting NO MATTER what age the child). Find more Easy Homeschooling ideas here |
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Use the library,to get books to read aloud which is the first and best activity, very foundational to all learning. More than anything a young child needs to play, to be read to and especially to spend time with you, learning by doing, such things as cooking and baking. :) If he is slow at speaking, talk to him a lot and be sure and give all your children time to answer. Read aloud. Read aloud. Enjoy him or her. Focus on the now. Enjoy this special time. Easy Homeschooling |
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You might wish to look into other methods before saddling your young child with a structured curriculum. In my long experience (children 20-25 now) it seemed that a structured curriculum often caused burn out and that the children did not retain anything that they learned that way. A more beneficial method is literature based with lots of reading aloud and then having your child tell back. Easy Homeschooling |
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You can definitely combine these related subjects and cover many even less-connected subjects by using the basic techniques of reading and reporting. For instance here are several options although you do not have to do them all: 1) Read a scientific book (or historical, etc.) Cover science, literature, reading. 2) Have your child narrate (tell back) or write on what they learned. Composition, Writing, Speech. 3) Check for spelling, etc. Grammar/English. 4) Research and do more reporting/writing. 5) Cover art by drawing something, such as a plant, or the parts of a plant. 6) Learn geography, by studying the area the scientist is from (if you have studied a particular scientist). 7) And so on! See more ideas in the Easy Homeschooling books. |
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I recently attended the Apache conference in Peoria IL. I am exhibiting this spring for Bolchazy-Carducci (as well as myself). Latin is the top foreign language for raising SAT scores and the Artes Latinae team have created a great product. It is so nice when the materials do the teaching (such as the Easy Homeschooling literary method, with classic books doing the teaching)! I love the Artes Latinae demo which is available at their site.
If you have opportunity, take advantage of conferences in your area. They have wonderful workshops that will help solidify your planning and schooling and parenting as well as great products, up close and personal. I will be at MassHope, TEACH in VA, ICHE in IL and CHEC in Denver. Stop by and say hi! |
I dwell in the path of Perfect Peace always because the Prince of Peace dwells in me. I am walking the path of Perfect Peace. Along the path are many thieves and robbers. Their names are Worry, Doubt, Fear, Unworthiness, Sorrow and Hate. There are others. I see these enemies reach out to me in all their ugliness, but they cannot touch me because there is a clear shield along the path. Because this shield stops them, I continue walking and dwelling on this path of Perfect Peace. The path is clearly and brightly lighted. I am surrounded by unconditional love. I don't see what's up ahead, but as far as I do see, I see the shield along the path. I don't have to see what's ahead, because on this path of Perfect Peace I am enfolded in Divine Presence of God. I know my life and my future are truly in His good and extremely loving hands.
Fields with God Devotional |
Posted in Homeschooling
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Reading is sooo important. History and Science can also be learned by lots of reading and reporting (narrating, writing, etc.). Your materials can be anything from classic books to picture books from the libraries' kids' section. OR you can just do nature study and research... soo much can be learned that way. I have a new title (Curriculum) that suggests that History and Nature Study are the absolute most important subjects for morality training and gives a lot of suggested titles for historical reading in particular. Easy Homeschooling Curriculum |
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In you, Lord, I always have hope. Thy will be done! Thy will is always good - always best for me - and that Will is that I be happy in You - that my life is full in every way - that each day flows with blessing! (The thief cometh not… John 10:10) I pray for Christians - help us get in touch with the real You - help us really believe your Word and walk in it. Help us realize putting condemnation and judgment on others only condemns and judges ourselves, for no man is without sin. When we focus on on others’ “missing the mark” we are really missing it ourselves. “He that be without sin, cast the first stone.” I pray for Muslims. Let them see you, as the answer to their daily cry to God for mercy and salvation. Answer and reveal yourself to them - whether by dreams, visions or personal witness. You are God and many such miracles in the Muslim world prove that you are not willing that any should persish, but that all should come to repentance and faith in You. I pray for the rest of the world. Let us be like You. Let us be love - let our Light (You in us) shine. Let us never be “condemnation” but always “love” for the letter killeth but the spirit giveth life and light. We jump in your arms, Father, knowing full well that when we have to start walking into the unknown, you grasp our hand and are right there with us for “you will NEVER, leave or forsake us.”
<a href="http://www.easyhomeschooling.com/">Easy Homeschoolinga>.<br /> |
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"To journal" originally meant the log, or diary kept on a "journey." In my own journals, I record my journey through life, day by day. What better use of a journal than for prayer! God-JESUS, I adore you! You are God and no one else! You are Creator! You made the birds I heard this morning with their wonderful spring songs-thank You! You made my life-and you have a wonderful plan for it, whether I "have" it yet or not. Give me clear and beautful and perfect vision! I willl not perish! (Prov. 29:18) Help me see your plan and walk in that vision, knowing full well that it is coming to pass quickly in my life. Help me never fall from faith-but be consistent in TRUST, knowing that I have been made worthy by the blood of the Lamb!Worthy for Your best. The absolute best. I stand righteous in You, Jesus Christ. I will never accept condemnation. I will not allow man to negate what you have done in my heart and life. You paid too dearly! I am your lamb and I hear your voice and follow you! To be continued...
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Posted in Homeschooling
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Whether Charlotte Mason or Robinson or a simple do-it-yourself with etexts and the library, I vote for literature-based studies! No other method will produce as much for as little (time and money expenditures). IMHO, only literature-based will produce a literate, thinking adult. Moreover, it is so SIMPLE for the parent. Start with and continue reading aloud on a wide range of subject areas. Let your child feed back by writing or narrating. Later let them read silently and study independently. What could be easier? EASY homeschooling |
Posted in Homeschooling
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You really do not have to spend tons of money trying all kinds of different curricula. You can design your own curriculum. Just decide what you want to teach or your child wants to learn and then categorize those things into subject areas. All you need is a simple plan, choosing subject areas and topics to cover, then read and write or narrate on what has been read. You can even use the library or etexts. Add a math program and perhaps science and there you have it. It really can be simple. EASY homeschooling |
Posted in Believing God
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Posted in Believing God
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Trusting God Why is it so easy to fall into doubt, unbelief, worry and fear? Even faith giants seem to stumble sometimes. I think it is because we base our perception of God on humanity's nature. In other words, we limit Him because of our experiences with people. We know how humans sometime fail us. Many seem to be trustworthy, but some aren't. Sometimes it seems like people love us, and other times it doesn't seem like anyone does! We all have been hurt, neglected, and let down by people, sometimes even the ones closest to us. But... "God is not a man, that He should lie..." God is not a man, that He should..
I know and can testify that He has never let me down, yes I said NEVER. However sometimes I forget that, forgot his perfect unconditional, love. Turn the doubts around and decide to fully trust him. Let the fears go, and lie in his arms. Think about all those times that He came through in the past. Every month there are miracles, even every day. In my own life, I look back on the last couple years and don't know how the bills got paid, but they did! Why should I doubt Him now? What has changed? I've had huge expenses, but they were not bigger than my God! Never! He's always bigger than the issue, no matter how big it seems to be. He never changes and YOU are never out of His thoughts nor his heart. Trust him wholeheartedly. Don't let go of that trust, and you will see your miracles!
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Posted in Believing God
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God is in you, with you. Full awareness of this truth will revolutionize your life. This is the biggest life-changer, a most important fact. You are never alone. You never need worry. God is all-powerful. He loves you. You can trust Him and He can make happen all that you desire in you life and most importantly He wants to do these things for you, just as you want to do for your children. Why have you laid down your life to homeschool? You get it. Exactly. Well, your Father loves you far more than you love your children. So what do you need today? Healing? Strength? Encouragement? Joy? Blessing? Money? He is God. He is there. He is really there. He is enough. Believe. That's all you have to do. Rom. 10:16 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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Posted in Marriage
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Today is a Good Day
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The man said every night before he goes to bed, he lists 3 things that happened to him that day, that he knew were from God. He meditated on them and slept sweetly, and awoke with joy and anticipation. He shared just one day's miracles, emphasizing that it was only one day. His three miracles included freedom from back pain he had been experiencing and being able to set up a plan for a client of his company to begin paying a large amount of money that they had refused to even communicate about previously. I prayed more than usual in church. Before I even left town, a friend called informing me that he and others would be cleaning up the property. A miracle, as I had attempted to have it done for over two years, with no success. Sure enough I came home and things were beginning to look very good. Miracle #1 "R" called and we talked all afternoon on and off, then I went and checked my mail. "A" just happened to be online at the exact minute that I was there so we had a short but good chat. Miracle #2. "R" called again. It just seemed that there was a three story Victorian house available in a city near her for a very good price. She has been praying a long time about getting out of her job in industrial management--her hearts desire is to start a specialty bakery. We were both excited about the potential opportunities with this house for events, a bed and breakfast, a coffee shop and so on. The Lord is bringing the right people together to make the dream a reality. I believe it. Her relatives are offering help as am I. I was so excited for her that I told her, I was claiming this for my #3 miracle today too. All of these things were direct from God. We knew it. None of them could have happened unless He had orchestrated them. Hadn't we tried before in our own strength? We also talked about timing, like my friend being online "just for a minute" at the exact minute I went on, and how we need to step out of the boat, when God says go, not later... how we need to be aware of God's timing, so we do not miss the blessing. |