It is so sad that events occurred yesterday at Fort Hood, north of state capital Austin, near Killeen, Texas, during the same week that we had chosen to honor our Veterans and write about honoring them. I'm assuming by now everyone has heard that a shooter, a psychiatrist major, opened fire upon his fellow soldiers, killing 12 and wounding 31. Thankfully, he was stopped before the statistics became higher, and in this case, he survived and is in stable condition (as of Thursday night). It is sad that for whatever reason he snapped. Sadder still that he happens to have an ethnic name, helping others to automatically put blame towards domestic terrorism. (Although things are coming out that his religion, Islam, might have contributed to his thoughts and actions.)

Last night, I was at my dog class, which is held at an National Guard Armory in Fort Worth. In fact, due to the Fort Hood event, they were asking us to lock the front door behind us as we came and went. We voiced our support to them. Being there and having to be in a "lock-down" situation helped to put a face on those who serve us by being willing to protect us and our country.

You never know when your path will cross with those who have served (or who are serving). I want to encourage you to voice your support and appreciation for and to them. It can be a simple "thank you for your service;" it doesn't have to be anything elaborate or overly formal. (I usually include our police officers and fire-fighters also, since they serve and protect us "closer to home.")

Reach out to those who come across your path and show them your appreciation for their service. They deserve our respect and gratitude.

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

First off, apologies to all the readers! For the last 2 weeks, we've been moving my son downstairs so that he & my mother wouldn't have to share a room any longer. Mom moved in with us in June 2008 and has been sharing Mike's room since then. Both have been great sports with it all, but the time had come where it was time for a change. I've been helping my son and helping my mom get some storage things as well as dusting and helping to organize my mom's space. I missed last week's column and have hit this week's, most probably past the wire... but I wanted to let you all know why I was missing!

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I thought I'd share a craft I've done in the past (both as a gift as well as for myself). I like book bags. There are inexpensive canvas bags easily obtained & ready for your creation. You will need some fabric and some Stitch Witchery® by Dritz®. Stitch Witchery® has paper on one side and then something like a fabric glue that you iron onto the wrong side of your fabric, then peel the paper and iron onto the bag. If you use a patterned material, be sure to look for the part of the pattern you want to show when you cut out whatever item, and don't forget to cut it out "backwards" so when you iron it on, it will be looking the way you want it.

If you or the kids are not artsy, you can get some stencils to use with the fusible web. I made a sweatshirt for myself using one cat stencil for 2 cats (using the stencil right side up and then again wrong side up), along with a decorative heart stencil. Then posed each cat looking at each other with the heart between them. On my website you can see what I did for a friend who likes dachshunds. For a friend's book bag, I found some picture/photos online (2 different dogs) that looked like they would fit well and then I printed them enlarged and used the copy as a basis for my stencil when cutting out the fabric. You can find my patchwork dachshunds book bag here, along with other artwork I've done. I added a strip of lace at the top of the bag to give it a nice finished look.

It's pretty fast and easy, and you can do some fun stuff, especially if the one who is getting the book bag has special interests, hobbies, or collects certain things that can be used on a book bag (or a sweat shirt, or...). A coffee or tea drinker could have tea cups, for example. You can also paint directly on the bags with acrylic paints, whether using stencils or just free hand. I hope you have fun with it! I certainly have over the years.

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

When it comes to sports, I'm more a fan of dog-type sports (obedience, agility, flyball, etc.), equestrian events (Olympic types), and beyond that, sports that I enjoy watching (bowling, billiards, archery, etc.). Not a really big participator or have much interest in "sports-in-general." (I have a friend who took me to a baseball game [Go, TX Rangers!] so she could help me understand all the terminology and at least talk with her intelligently about it. Next step is watching a prerecorded football game so I can understand that games' rules & philosophy.)

When homeschooling, I'd say get them to walk, study some of the different sports and possibly take community recreation classes. Or you can get together with other homeschoolers to learn basketball, baseball, football, volleyball, or the like. If you need them to get physical - require outdoor play, "kick" them out of the house and into the yard to run, kick a ball, and so forth. Or do it as a family activity and walk, walk, walk!

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

Ahh, mathematics… blech…well, at least personally. But that’s the theme for this week. Instead of sharing what math programs we used in our 13 years of homeschooling, or various math curricula available out there, or some nifty math trick (which I don’t know), I’ll focus on the fun aspect of having to adapt curricula when you have only one student (esp. math, it seems).

Invariably, you will come across a graphing problem that expect a classroom of students (or a family with several children). “Graph the class’ favorite color.” If Dad was at work, then it was green for me and red for my class. Not exactly a good way to visualize how graphing works. This is where adapting comes in handy and you get to become creative. Do you have a collection of drinking cups from different restaurants (we do)—graph the colors (use the primary color you see when you see the cup and ignore the logo, etc.). If you are close to a relatively busy street, set up your blanket under a tree and tally car colors you see, then graph the colors...maybe set a specific time, a half hour or an hour for watching cars. (If the child is younger, maybe 15 minutes.) Or this could be done while driving around doing errands; have the child tally the car colors he/she can see. Not only will it serve for your math after you get home, but it keeps the child busy while you are driving.

You might come across a problem that asks you to divide the class in groups to illustrate fractions. Maybe brown-eyes, blue eyes, and hazel eyes. Again, you have to be creative and think of other things that could be used instead of classmates. You could have the middle school child call friends and ask them their eye color. Or when he/she goes to church (Sunday School, Bible Study, etc.) or to a play date, and do the same. If you’ve got a friendly child, you could allow them to ask people they meet at the grocery store as you do the shopping (having them ask the people you pass in the aisles).

Another example would be estimation. Having the class estimate numbers of something (how many liters a container holds), then testing the estimates by actual measurements. So often this kind of experiment in mathematics is more fun when a group of children are doing it. (Adults may get closer to the mark due to their experience and it can deflate a child’s confidence in their own abilities if mom or dad are constantly getting it “right” or getting closer to the answer than they are.) If you belong to a homeschool support group and want to invest in some M&M'S® and a jar with a lid, you can have a contest. Don’t drag it out for weeks though, have the children work on their estimations and then count out the goodies. I’d suggest using  various items of differing sizes, at least three. Consider using marbles and even several inexpensive plastic horses or cars (winner can take them home). Using both uniform things (M&M'S® or marbles) and irregular shaped objects helps to show that different shapes, as well as sizes (marbles & M&M'S®), help to determine how much a container can hold. Do the M&M'S® last as the grand finale!

A lesson in measurement can also be difficult to do when the math book asks the class to measure each other with differing units of measurement (inches, centimeters, yards, meters, etc.), then convert the measurements into the other system. This can be made fun by allowing the child to choose different things in the house to compare with his/her height or even his/her width (e.g. doors & windows for height, a couch for width), but even so, a child enjoys working with a group of children, too. And it is a good way to compare the accuracy of each system if the things compared (like other children) are similar heights. You may need to resort to bringing a cloth tape measure or two or three to play dates and have some “organized fun.” I’ve seen a snippet of a PBS show where the class decided to measure their classroom width using one of the children lying down on the floor as a unit of measurement, so that may be another way to engage your child—name the measurement a “Joey unit” or a “Claire unit.” A chest of drawers may be 1 Claire wide (or 48 inches or 4 feet or 121.92 centimeters or 1.2192 meters in length), whereas a loveseat might be 1 Joey wide (or 66 inches or 5.5 feet or 167.64 centimeters or 1.6764 meters).

We do have to adapt some curriculum (not just math) to the one-student classroom. Sometimes it can be done in our own home with no other children involved and sometimes we have to seek out alternative places to do these kind of exercises. Either way it can still be made to be fun for your student. It may not always be easy to come up with alternative ways to accomplish the problem before you, but if you give it some thought, you can be creative. If you have trouble adapting the material you are using, ask others who are homeschooling only one to get their input. If you don’t know any in your area, please feel free to join us at HOOville—an online message board specifically for those who are educating one student. You will always find support and help there from those who are in the same boat as you are!

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

People can be confused when discussing “writing” as there can be two different meanings meant by the word. One is the actual nuts-and-bolts term for picking up a pencil or pen and making lines on a surface. The other is more creative, as in writing out stories or reports. Sometimes when asked about writing, you have to answer with a question as to which is referred. Most will assume creative, but it never hurts to ask.

Mingo, a “HOO’ing” mom shared the following:

One thing I'm learning about the mechanics of writing is that speed and legibility are the battles, not necessarily "beautiful penmanship." Yes, the latter is great to strive for, but for some students (like my Dd), we'll take the needed skills first, thank you. Keyboarding for those who have trouble with speed is important.

Also, don't underestimate/short-change student creative writing when it's tied to mechanics, especially if it's a bright student who, in general, seems creative. Some really creative students have enough trouble with writing mechanics that they will "dumb down" their writing, just to make the physical task of writing less daunting. If your gut says they can "do better" - don't be afraid to help them by writing or typing for them, offering the keyboard, or a tape or video option instead. Taping their stories verbally, typing them up, then asking them to edit may be the way to their creative "best product."

And here’s a few other tips on teaching writing:

*Use photos or pictures to inspire—show them a picture and ask them to write a story about what’s going on. Ann (author & freelance reporter, former homeschool mom & tutor), expanded this idea:

I found pictures of their particular interest (and kept a picture file for each child to choose from)... glued in the centre of a plain sheet of paper. Then they brainstormed. (If they got stuck, I asked prompt questions to expand their thinking.) For example, for one of my kids, I had a picture of a cabin in the woods in the winter with a saddle horse and pack horse on a picket line. All around the picture we added words. Anything about the picture:  snow, horse, cabin, wood smoke, pine trees, winter, picket line, cowboy, cow camp. The child would continue adding words:  cold, firewood, resting, cooking supper. She, or we together, would add some "unknowns":  cowboy hiding out, early calving, extreme cold weather, and so forth. Afterwards, we would do some grammar exercises with those words:  circle all the nouns with red; put a green line under the verbs; do you need some adjectives? Add them, highlight with yellow, and so forth. We would then discuss the construction of the story:  Beginning, middle, and end. “SO, what goes first? Then what happens?"

* Have them write sentences and or paragraphs (depending on their age) using their spelling words (if you use a list method for spelling). Crazy storylines allowed! Depending on the spelling words, it could be really strange. And that's OK!

* Use a tape recorder for them to “write” their stories, or you be their secretary, writing their story down.

* Rough Draft, rough draft, rough draft. My son  (3rd grade) writes what he wants, how he wants. Then he goes back, using editing markups and makes grammar and spelling corrections. (Robin, a homeschool mom)

* Have a good first sentence, one that has 2-3 of the 5W's in it. The rest of the paragraph will follow easier. Also, stay on topic. Don't wander or the reader will lose interest. This takes alot of practice for the child and dedication on the parents part. (From Karen, a public school teacher who’s taught middle school English and high school)

* Write about what interests you, if it is an option. (Esther, homeschool mom)

* Keep a journal and write something every day, even if it's only one sentence.  (Esther, homeschool mom )

*Another important thing to remember for creative writing... Show, don't tell. For example:  “Telling = Jenny was hot. It was summer.” and “Showing = Jenny's face was red and sweat dripped into her collar. The sound of laughter came from the creek, but Jenny kept hoeing the potatoes.” (Ann, author & freelance reporter, former homeschool mom & tutor)

What ideas do you have? What ways have you made teaching writing fun and creative? Post a reply and share here!

Fill your home with music!

Music lessons are fairly easily found. Check the phone book, friend recommendations, and your church’s music minister. If you have a college in town, you might even contact their music department and see if they can suggest an available student to give lessons.

Even if you are not able to give your child music lessons, they do not have to grow up in a vacuum. There are lots of CDs out there that are compilations of great masterpieces and/or music genres. Research the music of the historical era you are studying and play that music in the background. Listen to it a bit more purposefully during lunch or during the child’s playtime. Mention the composer and connect the dots historically. (For example, Beethoven was 6 years old in 1776; Mozart was 20 that same year.) Play one particular composer one week, discussing his life and work over lunch or dinner time, changing to another the next week.

Work your way from medieval chant to baroque to classical to jazz. Bring in Broadway and the musicals. Notice what popular songs were played during wartime. From the Trojan War came the epic poem (originally a song perhaps?) The Iliad. America’s Civil War produced its share of popular compositions, (The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Oh I’m a Good Old Rebel, When This Cruel War Is Over).  World War I saw Over There, Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning, Long Boy (Good Bye, Pa! Good Bye, Ma! Good Bye, Mule!).  World War II songs included I’ll Be Seeing You, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer. Swing music and big band were the sound of the day with Glenn Miller among others. Bing Crosby crooned White Christmas. (Other WWII music) Music during the Vietnam War years ranged from love ballads to patriotic themes. http://www.ichiban1.org/html/music.htm (Ballad of the Green Berets hit #1 on the charts in 1966; Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night was #3.) 

A great site to read and compare history with music of the times is Classical Score. Even though the name sounds like it only covers one section of history, it has a historical timeline covering the history of the era (Ancient, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth Century). Then there are links to the different musical styles of those eras. Then it has a listing of the master composers of each of those periods. It will really help you and your family connect to both the music and what was going on in the world at the same time. Another site that gives you plenty of websites to peruse in search of the different music styles of the ages is one at Sound Piper. It has an online music and art history course along with other music history sites, but beyond that has links that encompass musical, ethnic, and early instruments.

Find different radio stations to play on trips out and about. I think the biggest help can be to expose your child to as much varying styles of music that has been created. A couple of great books to use in conjunction with listening to the various eras of music are The Gift Of Music by Jane Stuart Smith & Betty Carlson, 101 Hymn Stories and 101 More Hymn Stories by Kenneth Osbeck. For some composers, their life was not very glorifying to God, but even this is a lesson for children. We are made in His image. Humans, those living for God and those who are not, can make beautiful music. The music itself can mirror their soul however, reflecting back if there was joy or despair. This is in itself a life lesson for your child.

Try to be open-minded in some of the music you share. For me, I’m not a big country & western fan, but there are some great songs out there. (Check out Roy Rogers, the Sons of the Pioneers, the Light Crust Dough Boys, etc. for the older country music.) You will most likely want to check the lyrics prior to listening to any kind of song to make sure it is acceptable for your family’s values. I wouldn’t play anything that included inappropriate lyrics. The music might not be your cup of tea but might show your child the way a certain period of time viewed the world, but the lyrics (whether you can understand them or not while the song is playing) are extremely important.

Bring music into your homeschool--into your life!

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

Apologies to readers that my column didn’t appear last Friday. I wasn’t being very organized! (Our theme last week.) My dad had an unexpected hospital stay (just overnight) the week before and a stress test last week. Everything came out fine and instead of a heart issue, we believe it was actually a broken recliner that gave him shoulder pain that mimicked heart issues. I felt that I might “drop” a ball I was juggling and I sure did!

This week in Texas we were pleased to have a high in the mid-80s and even if it was on the last day of August, it was a very happy surprise. Government schools have been in session for over a week now and at least we have a hint of Fall temperatures for which to look forward. (The end of the week has gone back into the 90s—no surprise for Texas.)

Getting all your ducks in order for a new school year isn’t too hard. Hopefully, you’ve been looking over catalogs for the past several months and have already made orders for materials you feel your children will need this year. Even more hopefully, you’ve received your orders! (Of course those that go year-round, are unschoolers, or start their school year during nontraditional times march to a different drummer and will organize their school year in a different manner.)

For the first half of our school years, I would write down at the end of the day what we covered. I never wrote lesson plans...well, OK, I did at the beginning and then learned that my eraser and I were getting too well acquainted! I knew where to start each day by where we had finished the day before. When my son got older (around 12 years old), he wanted to get more independent, starting his day before I was up, so I had to figure out what was an appropriate amount of work for each day.

When getting back into the swing of things after a break, you can hit a few snags. First day of school (or at the very least, the first day for the public school in your area) should be a day to rejoice and celebrate the freedom to homeschool. If you can make it a field trip day or just a plain "holiday," that’s so fun for the child. They need to see that homeschooling has some benefits to them (and to you) over having to get up when it’s still dark, eat breakfast, pack a lunch, and walk or ride to school. It’s even better if you can make your way to pass in front of the school and point our that there really is a freedom in homeschooling and not being tied to a desk. Your first week or two don’t even have to cover every single subject. Ease your way back into a schedule or routine with a few classes, adding another in each week until you are covering all the subjects. Be sure to intersperse sitting/desk type classes with ones where the child can move. As they get older, allow them to choose which order their classes should be. (If you feel they’ll never get to a particular subject, you can make an exception when one or two particular classes need to fall in the day, as I did with math for my son.)

Having a place to keep your materials and having the child return those materials to that same place at the end of your day can help you stay organized. We kept ours in a plastic milk crate. When getting back to school, don’t forget to schedule in the house chores and outside errands. Including the child in such things helps them to be a part of the family dynamics and also is laying a good foundation for them in life skills.

I hope your school years have (or will) start smoothly and you have a great new year!

As Wikipedia states, Bibliophilia is the love of books and a bibliophile is a lover of books.  The classic bibliophile is one who loves to read, admire, and collect books, often nurturing a large and specialized collection. As an example of a bibliophile, Samuel Pepys, at his death, had more than 3,000 volumes. They form one of the most important surviving 17th century private libraries.

Almost every single homeschooler I’ve come across has been a bibliophile, either needing to have and keep their own library of books, or at the very least, collecting an extensive library of the classics. I am definitely in the bibliophile camp!

I want to address must-have books for those homeschooling. As the old email adage goes, your mileage may vary, so take what sparks your interest, perhaps research those tomes that you’ve not seen before, and then make your own must-have list. My focus will be good-basic-how-to homeschool books.

First off, I have to mention two wonderful authors:  Ruth Beechick and Mary Hood. I can almost guarantee you that anything by either author will be a good read and most helpful in your homeschooling journey.

Starting my list would be 401 Ways to Get Your Children to Work at Home, by Bonnie Runyan McCullough & Susan Walker Monson (ISBN:  0-312-30147-2). This book has extremely helpful lists, especially if you have only one child! They are life skills that a child needs to have by the time they are 18. The lists have the chore listed, then says at what age one could start work on this chore and what age one should have it mastered. It’s helpful for those HOO because, at least in my own case, I didn’t have a clue that I could have allowed my 6 year old to use a table knife to make his own peanut butter & jelly sandwich. I started him at 9 only due to a friend making a comment. With one, we don’t always know when they are capable of working on something. These lists include Personal & Clothing Care; Household, Cooking, Money, Navigation & Auto Skills, as well as a category for Other Skills (such as how to swim, making an emergency call, first-aid procedures, plan a pantry, hang something on the wall, repair wall holes, and arrange for services needed, trash or extermination, etc.) A great handy book for every family!

A Survivor's Guide to Home Schooling by Luanne Shackelford and Susan White (ISBN:  0891075038) This book has humor infused within its pages and is practical as well as informative.  A great book for those beginning this journey, but also a good one to help the veteran overcome any doldrums.

How to Home School by Gayle Graham (ISBN:  1880892405) — this book was the best book I found for the actual nuts and bolts of teaching at home when I first began. There is plenty of margin space and I’ve filled my copy with my own notes. Mrs. Graham’s writing style is easy to read and follow. She has many children and so I did have to adapt it, leaving some suggestions for those who have more children, but it was a wonderful resource!

Beyond Survival: A Guide to Abundant-Life Homeschooling by Diana Waring (ISBN:  1883002370) is a great study. Helpful and engaging to get beyond day-to-day homeschool survival.

The Relaxed Home School: A Family Production by Mary Hood (ISBN:  0963974009), as well as her The Joyful Homeschooler, The Enthusiastic Home Schooler, and anything else she’s written. She shows you don’t have to recreate school at home; mom is not “teacher” and dad is not the “principal.” Your home is a home and not a “school.” Your role of mom & dad are enough to encompass the teaching roles without you having to “change hats” as it were.

Teach Me Lord That I May Teach: What We Learned Homeschooling the Kids by Douglas and Barbara Smith (ISBN:  187814006X) This book is an excellent Bible study of Nehemiah for the homeschooling parent.

Both Teaching Children: A Curriculum Guide to What Children Need to Know at Each Level Through Sixth Grade by Diane Lopez (ISBN:  0891074899) and What Your Child Needs to Know When: According to the Bible/According to the State by Robin Scarlata Sampson (ISBN:  0970181612) are helpful books to help you get a feel for what the majority of children are learning at what grade level. Another great free resource is from the World Book Encyclopedia people, called A Typical Course of Study. You can receive this booklet, with no obligation to listen to a sales person, by looking in your local phone book under businesses, “World Book” — call a representative and ask for it by name. Another helpful book about what children are learning at what grade is What Your “Xth” Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch (6th grader: ISBN:  0385314671). This book is more detailed, although you might still need to find actual books from the library or to buy to cover the subjects a bit more in depth. But the What Your Grader series is a wonderful supplement for your normal curricula. I used 1st thru 6th Grade as an “on the shelf” resource ready for Mike to peruse on his own time. He loved reading the literature it provided as well as exploring the science and geography sections.

Anything by Ruth Beechick is extremely helpful. The Three R's - Grades K-3 by Ruth Beechick (ISBN:  0-940319-06-3) and You Can Teach Your Child Successfully: Grades 4-8 by Ruth Beechick (ISBN:  0-940319-04-7) are both books that can help you cover not only the early elementary grades, but thru junior high school also. With these two books, it would be possible to homeschool your child from K thru 8th grade without having to buy any other curricula and using the library as your primary resource. Even if you choose to go with a curriculum for each of those grades (as I did), these are wonderful resources to help you use the curricula you chose. Mrs. Beechick has a style that is easy to read and provides real “nuts & bolts” to the teaching of children.

I used Curriculum Manual: Elementary Grades by Cathy Duffy (ISBN:  092932031) as a resource the first several years of homeschooling, to compare materials from different sources. I didn’t end up using her manual for Junior & Senior Grades, but can wholeheartedly recommend these two books, as well as any of her other books.  She gives good, balanced reviews, not like those you might read from a publisher who wants to sell you their line of curricula.

The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias (ISBN:  1561794147) concerns learning styles. We have a tendency to teach the way we ourselves learn. This book helps you identify your children’s strongest learning style, and helps you to teach them to that style. Young children will be a lot more kinesthetic in their approach to learning—very hands-on, but as they get older, you’ll see one style presenting itself as their strongest. It’s good to approach your teaching in this strongest learning style for the things that they have trouble with, but you don’t want to ignore the other learning styles either. If they have coping measures for these other learning styles, they can become more well-rounded and ready for their future. Most people have one main learning style, but being able to learn with the other methods is a helpful thing. Anyone may find themselves in a situation where they need to be more visually attuned by taking notes, instead of being able to go about a hands-on approach which might be their strongest suit.

A great book to educate yourself is The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto (ISBN:  0945700040). Informative, fairly easy to read, this book is helpful for you to realize how the public school system was created and how it has been quietly adjusting the public’s point of view. It truly shows you that the public school system was a societal experiment. Once you read it, you may want to share it with your parents and/or others who are not homeschooling advocates. It will start a lively discussion and hopefully open some eyes on the way.

All Through the Ages by Christine Miller is a wonderful resource, a extensive book list, to learn about various eras of time through historical fiction. This is the best book list that I’ve ever found and highly recommend it. You can easily find literature that reflects the time frame your child is studying. Quoting from Mrs. Miller’s website:  It doesn’t matter whether the children are pre-readers or college-bound seniors; books of every reading level are included for every era, from picture books and beginning readers through the great books of Western Civilization. She even has books listed by geographical location! I can’t say enough about this “book of books” which you can use to buy books or to take with you to the library.

Another great resource to take to the library is Who Should We Then Read by Jan Bloom (ISBN:  0-9709628-1-9). Jan Bloom has profiled Newberry winners and best-selling authors telling the reader who they were and in what they believed. She also included lists of various series (Landmark, Childhood of Famous Americans, First Books, Signature Biographies, etc.), has reading level suggestions and reading interest suggestions, so that you may find good books for your child to read. This is a great resource to take with you to the library!

There are few books out there dealing with homeschooling one student, so I would be remiss in not mentioning my own book, Homeschooling Only One (ISBN:  0-9747591-0-4). I cover a lot of basic information on homeschooling, but bring it into the focus of those who home educate only one:  how to adapt curriculum that is geared for a classroom of students, finding a support group, how a typical day may look, and so forth. Lots of information (book lists, suppliers, etc.) listed in the appendix.

These books just scratch the surface of my homeschool library. As I said last week, I am definitely a bibliophile and love both discussing books with others and sharing what books that I’ve come to love, enjoy, and use almost on a daily basis!

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

"Having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave..."

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Packing heat

In the heat of the moment

In a dead heat

It's not the heat, it's the humidity!

Taking the heat for someone else

Turn the heat up....

There's a lot of heat to be found in idioms, those expressions whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of their individual elements, as kick the bucket or hang one's head.

Then there is the heat of the refining fire... and there is a refining fire when one homeschools, I think. At first, one is challenged to view the world in a different way--to research education choices, being willing to change one's preconceptions. Those preconceptions may be based on our own educational experiences, and may involve some rose-colored glasses, looking back with a warm and happy nostalgia (or the complete opposite!). Once the decision to homeschool is made, the fire consists of learning how to be parent and teacher, even though a parent has always been a teacher and no transformation is really needed. Then in the process of homeschooling, the parent is refined in how to "do it all"----teaching, housework, day-to-day errands, meal planning & implementing. The fire can get hot and things can be dropped on the wayside until the parent gains their "homeschooling sea legs."

Not only is the fire refining the "nuts and bolts" of one's days, but one's spiritual life as well. Christian homeschooling parents are challenged to make sure that they are raising their children in the nurture of the Lord, guiding, training, and showing them the way they should go. That comes on top of being concerned that they are teaching them what the children need to live in this world. 

A new homeschooler tends to be very nervous at the beginning of their journey but as the time goes by, a few years pass, they are truly refined by the process. As homeschoolers we have to embrace the refining to our own betterment. It's not an easy process but our children and ourselves will gain by it.

Remember that refining is a process of purifying and the things that are removed in the purification process are not necessarily evil, nasty, horrible things. Sometimes they are good things that simply distract us from being our best. Homeschooling is a lifestyle and when that lifestyle is refined/purified, it will have a much more successful outcome. (Granted all of our best intentions and actions ultimately carry no guarantees, but being willingly refined greatly increases the odds in our favor.)

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

In light of the current political situation (new Supreme Court Justice, Health Care/ObamaCare, vacine issues, our continued freedom in several areas at risk, etc.), I think it's important to remember that we do not need to fear. The end of the Book has been written. If you know Jesus, the future is secure, although the immediate future (between here and Eternity) might be a bit bumpy.

Remember the old song, "I never promised you a Rose Garden"? Well, we've been promised peace in the midst of the storm, an Eternity reconciled with Father God, as well as persecution because of Who's we are. We may not live in a Rose Garden. We may end up as the "Church Underground" here in America. We have to be prepared for the fight ahead and for an outcome we may not want. (We can always rejoice if Revival hits the land, but it's good to be prepared for hardship.)

My whole point in today's column is to remember we have the Ultimate Family Reunion to look forward--on Streets of Gold.

And on a more specific note, a clarion call for the more immediate future, I quote a friend, Author of DiamondDust :

There are several positions to be held during this crisis. And it is a crisis, not just politically, not just socially, but spiritually. But each must ascertain from the Lord Himself what his role is. Some will carry "swords," some will carry trumpets, pitchers and lamps (Judges 6:16-22), and some will remain on top of the hill lifting holy hands (Exodus 17:10-13). All are an essential part of the battle.

In regard to this issue, be alert for a "crisis" that would distract people's attention from the health care vote. The more it appears possible that we might actually generate enough active opposition to the bill to defeat it, the more likely I believe it is that a huge distraction will be engineered. When it comes, deal with it, but hold your position.

It is important when a distraction comes in any arena that we not lose sight of the battle to which the Lord has summoned us.

There was a popular phase during WWW II that later inspired a song: Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition.

I believe that phrase should mark our efforts now. Keep praising, keep praying, keep rejoicing, but keep the enemy (Reminder: People are not the enemy) in our sights.

If you'd like to read more from my friend, email stricker@netscorp.net for a free subscription to DiamondDust.

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

Every homeschool mom is an integral part of the homeschooling community. As this generation of children are homeschooled and graduated, I am concerned that we are losing mentors and Titus 2 women.

What happens to the moms who retire from homeschooling? They may need to enter the workforce. They may take some time to explore what they'd like to do "when they grow up" and start new businesses. They may just kick back and take a break! But do they look back to those coming up in the ranks of homeschoolers? These moms whether mothers of one or many have loads of wisdom to share.

You are that woman--whether you have a few years before you consider yourself a veteran or if you are a year away before you graduate your last child. You know, you are that woman even if you just finished your first year of homeschooling! There are those  you can encourage who are just thinking about homeschooling. Even with one year under your belt, you can grab someone's hand and help them start their journey into a new land.

Those who have one child need to be encouraged that they can be successful in this journey. Those who have many children also need to be encouraged to stay the course, as they have many more years than just thirteen ahead of them. Those starting on the road after taking their child or children from the government public schools. Those beginning the journey, those towards the end, and all of the ones in between--all need a friend, a mentor, someone to extend a hand of friendship and support.

This week we're talking about Friendship Day. We all need a friend. We all need encouragement. I know that in each of your homeschools you are busy. You tote children to outside classes; there are doctors' appointments and grocery shopping, housework, and actual homeschooling to be done. Hopefully you've found a homeschool group. Hopefully that homeschool group has Moms Nights Out available. Not only does getting connected with a support group help you, but attending can be the first steps you take in becoming a mentor to another mom. MNOs can be a great way to make friends, be supported, and give support. Don't sell yourself short. You have something to offer. The homeschooling community needs you.

Have you homeschooled more than 5 or 6 years? You can consider yourself a veteran! You have experience and knowledge that can be imparted to others! May I challenge you to make some time for a "newbie"? May I challenge you, no matter how many years (or months... or days!) you've homeschooled? Or if you've completed your own homeschooling journey?  Reach out and be available to be a friend... be a mentor... encourage the homeschool moms around you... They can stay the course; they can begin a new journey. YOU can help them! Consider your own place the homeschooling community.  

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

It's getting very close to the deadline for enrolling children into  public school. If you're thinking of homeschooling, it's getting possibly past time to do your research. But you still have time! If you are fearful about whether you are capable of teaching your own children, you don't have to be. There are some great articles on the internet for you to read to calm those fears.

The first one I want to point you to is by Barbara Frank, on the Home Educators' website.  The article is entitled "No Teaching Certificate? No Problem." Her first paragraph follows...

One of the most common fears I hear from new homeschooling moms is that they're afraid they won't do well at homeschooling because they weren't trained as teachers. This comment is usually made apologetically, as though homeschooling without a teaching certificate means you're doomed as a homeschooling parent. .... Nothing could be further from the truth!

Another good article on Home Educator is "The Parents Must Decide" by Shirley M.R. Minster. Her second paragraph accentuates why the educational decision is so vital.

An interesting occurrence happens when the child is 5 years old. It’s time for school and the child is handed over to a system of influence that very often lasts 13 years. Beginning in kindergarten, during those formative years for educational training, religious ideas and ideals, societal rules, and philosophical tutelage, the child will be indoctrinated. He leaves home early in the morning and returns home in mid afternoon, a time of over seven hours. What happens in those hours away from home is what he carries into adulthood. If the parent does not agree with the philosophies of the school system, the child does not see this because he is in the system for hours, days, and years. The student’s childlike reasoning is that if he is being sent there, then it must be where his parents want him to be and where they want him to excel.

And if you find yourself in the corner of the homeschooling comunity, having only one student, you might peruse some of my old columns here on Homeschool Blogger. (Archives may be found here.)  A few titles that might help you know you can homeschool only one are: Challenges of HOO'ing, Benefits & Drawbacks of HOO'ing, Center of the Universe, Online HOO Support, and a dual column: Must Have Books, Part I and Part II

Finishing up this quick perusal of past columns is HOO'villite-written guest column highlighting the Top 5 Reasons for HOO'ing. They are good reasons!

Don't forget to check you the HOO'ville Message Board for "real-time" support...

Homeschooling Only One ~ A Message Board for those who homeschool only one student to come and network with one another. Affectionately called “HOOville” where a family is a family, no matter how small!©

You don't have to automatically sign your child up for the local public school. Put some thought and prayer into your decision... Homeschooling is both enriching and successful, no matter how many children you have.

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

Vacation.

Everyone needs one.

Sometimes the length does not matter.

As moms, and especially as homeschool moms, we have a 24/7/365 type job.

Dads usually have two jobs -that which they being home income and as dads.

Everyone needs a break.

In the midst of these hot summer months, whether you homeschool year-round or take the summer off (even though you are still on-duty and children learn constantly and don't turn off their brains for a couple of months), be sure to take some true time off.

Go to a Moms Night Out.

Go to your bedroom and close the door, letting your children know that they need to ask Dad.

Get a babysitter and take your man out for a date. (This should be done regularly throughout the year, as our marriages are important and need nurturing as much as our children do.)

Even when your "child" as a young adult (like my 19-almost-20-year-old), it's good to get away.

This week, my husband is using a free night at a hotel to take me away.

(Ok, it's Motel 6, but this one has a pool!)

An overnighter can definitely help to rejuvenate you.

To keep yourself afloat on the sometimes-choppy waters we call homelife and homeschooling, it's good to take the time away to rest.

So don't forget that just as a family as a whole needs to vacation, vacate "regular" life and have fun, so do moms. Puts a smile on your face and a spring to your step.

Make plans today. It's important!

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. You can find these free resources, including a message board for those who HOO, on her website at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.

Some classics should be revisted when we homeschool. Some not so much. I remember reading Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham. I'm sorry but that did nothing for me in public high school. (And I was the one who rejoiced quietly to herself when we studied Shakespeare, since I had read him for enjoyment for years!) I would never ask a child/young adult to read that book. Apologies to those who may have found deep truths in that book.

The theme this week has been "Water" and I couldn't help myself but recite the famous lines, "Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink," from the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner. Now that epic poem, I found interesting. 

So when you get to homeschooling high school, dust off your old high school text books (or go looking at your local library) and check out the "classics" that were studied back then... Don't necessarily teach everything willy-nilly, but do some prayer and consideration, and don't throw out all of those old classics. There are some gems to be found.

Donna Conner lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband, Glenn, their son, Mike, Donna's mother, Charlotte, and their dog, Lucia. Donna and Glenn have been homeschooling their son since the beginning of his education. Mike completed his homeschooling in the fall of 2008. Donna is an artist and has always enjoyed writing. She wrote Homeschooling Only One in 2003, after discovering that there were many other families homeschooling only one child. Her website is devoted to those with only one student in their homeschool, with listings of online resources. Her website is at  http://donnac.com and read her blog at: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/DonnaC

copyright © 2009 Donna Conner ~~ All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of author, except in the case of brief passages embodied in critical reviews and articles where the title and author are listed.