This past weekend we pulled out our Christmas ornamentation along with our "get in the Christmas spirit" stories, movies, and music.  Tonight I pulled out a rather old red binder and started to read some of the stories that were in it to my children and I realized that some of these stories are REALLY old.  From the 70's kind of old. I guess that makes them retro.  Who knew I was cool?

Anyway, it struck me that a Christmas Story Binder idea would be so easy to share with all of you, perhaps you already have one, but just in case you don't, get started!
Our Christmas binder has stories that have been ripped out of magazines.  This is one of my mother's favorite hobbies, ripping apart magazines and newspapers and sorting them into her little labled piles, so she can go back and find that article she might need with tips on hiking in the Outback.  At any rate, she also pulled out Christmas stories and kept them together in a folder and later I put them into a binder. 

The neat thing here is that you can also add your own family favorite stories of Uncle Ed feeding the homeless every year on Christmas and how he lost his wedding ring in the meatloaf or how Grandma opened up her gift of a small T.V. and had no idea what it was.  Maybe you could add the cute things your children have said.  It doesn't matter, just make it a book of all your favorite Christmas stories, songs, and memories. 

Then every year you can read them over and over again.  Maybe you could make a copy of your book for gifts to family members. 

Have a Merry Christmas!

Tia Linschied
Senior Editor of HSB

In my last tip, I shared ways a homeschooling family can be a blessing to non-homeschooling friends and extended family.  Today I would like to take it just a step further.  How can you be a spiritual blessing to the the non-homeschoolers and to other homeschoolers in your life? 

I remember the day this concept hit me. I was expecting a baby, had just weaned a one year old, was busy keeping my pre-schooler busy each day while attempting to homeschool my (then undiagnosed) LD 5 year old and my dreamy, non-academic 7 year old.  An old friend, my former college roommate, had come for a visit in my home with her two sons.  As we were sitting on the couch talking, a very high maintenance neighbor dropped in.  After she left, I looked at my friend and said, “I would love to help her more, but right now, I just can’t.” I was shocked when my dear friend blamed my inability to help on the size of my family and the fact that none of them went to school part of the day. 

She didn’t mean to make me feel like I was being a bad Christian.  She was just stating what seemed to her to be the obvious. I began to over-commit my time and resources after that.  I thought that if I was in the choir, taking turns in the nursery, teaching a Sunday School class, making snacks for VBS, helping with large-scale productions, bringing my children to church for nearly every activity available that I would be serving my church family and my community.  

I am sure a few people benefited a little bit from what I did in those busy, busy, hectic, crazy, terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad years.  But my family suffered.  I remember hurrying my children into the car early one Saturday morning for a choir/play dress-rehearsal only to have Noah vomit all over his carseat and himself just as we reached the church.  I had to drag five little ones into the church and try to find someone to take over my responsibilities and then clean up the instant replay of the car event in the church corridor.  Then, I felt guilty for going home and tending to my sick toddler! 

YOU MUST put your own family FIRST, but you must serve your church family and your community too.  You and your family will have to prayerfully consider exactly how this will be demonstrated in your lives, but remember that if you are busy saving the whole world, you may be losing your own family.  And on the flip side, if you are making your family an idol, how can you show others to worship the One, True God?  

There are a lot of good things to do out there, but you and your family need to chose only the best. 

Remember also, that you do not need to physically be there every time the church doors are open!  You can still serve with your whole family from your home.  Avoid over-commitment, but don’t be isolated either!  Make a point of finding ways your family can work TOGETHER to bless others! 

Offer a meal to a family with a new baby:  Plan, Shop, Prepare, Clean-up and Deliver Together!

Extend Hospitality to Others: Invite, Clean, Prepare, Host Together!

Mow or do a neighbor's yard work... FOR FREE!  Little ones can pick up garbage or lawn debris,etc.

Note: Ask first…  some get offended!

Pray for others in your family prayer time and mention to them that you are doing so.  Ask for updates.

Remember the important events in other’s lives and celebrate with a card or a phone call! Think of what a cheering (though probably annoying) phone call my family members receive on their birthday with lots of loud singing from our family!

Use a skill you have to make something for someone.  I crochet and my girls are learning how to.  My husband has fixed brakes and such and is teaching our children all kinds of skills they can use to serve others!

Write a letter that includes drawings, poems and such from your children!

Start a family blog (or blogs) that you can use to bless others! Share a scriptures, poems, songs, etc. that you think the other will find significant.

Invite another family to study a book of the Bible along with your family.  We participated in Quiz Team with one other family last year and came together to study and practice weekly and had a great time of fellowship once every 4-6 weeks after each Quiz Meet!

Share extra produce or outgrown clothes with someone.

Always be ready to share the gospel.

Always be ready to encourage. 

 Above all else, LIVE OUT LOUD.  Try to make sure that your life and your family's life is reflecting what you are learning about the truths of God!  Be honest about your imperfect status and humbly share the joy of what God is teaching you in your daily walk. 

And remember: 

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6b

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

Up until now my tips have been for the members of your immediate family.  I have covered many, but certainly not all, scenarios that may be in any given family and have offered tips that OUR family has found helpful.  For these last two days of tips I would like to stretch out of the 4 walls of your homeschool classroom and give a few ideas about how your homeschooling family can bless others! 

One of the first fears that I had when beginning to homeschool was whether or not the grandparents and others in our lives would approve.  Some of them did, some of them held a wait-and-see stance and a few objected.  I soon realized that with the exception of general and carefully chosen comments that I really did not need to “defend” our choice so much as to be careful not to offend or condemn those who were on another path. 

While our children are not little geniuses, or perfect angels, over the years our family and friends (for the most part) have become supportive or at least accustomed to our lifestyle and some are even our biggest support system! 

Some ways to get/keep your friends and family on your team: 

1. Do NOT  hurt them with opinions that may sound critical and may put them on the defense. I am not saying to compromise what you believe, but choose your words with grace.
2. Involve them when you can! Invite them to the homeschool band concert.  Have your child show their lapbook to Grandma. Teach your child to write thank-you notes for gifts at a very young age.  (I would even just trace around my child’s hand and let them scribble on a first birthday thank-you note.). Take photos of events and activities to share with others.  Grandparents especially love pictures! I have even been known to copy awards or programs to send to grandparents and special loved ones.
3. Enlist their ideas!  When people feel valued they are free to value you in return!  Ask about their areas of expertise when planning a unit study.  Ask them for field trip ideas. Ask them for a fun recipe that the children can try to make.  Ask them for craft directions!  Have someone help you decorate or organize your homeschooling area.

One word of warning: Be cautious about asking for parenting advice unless you are likely to take it!

4. Request educational gifts!  Look over a catalog with them.  Ask for scissors, glue, construction paper and misc. art supplies when they ask for gift suggestions.  Encourage them to help stock your homeschool library with games and books that enhance your school.  At first they may resist, but soon you may be asking them to stop because you are out of room.  That would be a good time to ask for help builing a bookshelf!
5. Allow your child to share their learned skills and knowledge with the grandparents without being boastful or show-offy, but avoid allowing them to QUIZ your child and TEST whether or not they are learning.   Never make your child feel like a performing circus seal!
6. Share the joys, but be cautious about sharing too much of the frustrations with non-homeschoolers.  They will worry about you and probably won’t be very sympathetic when they see an easy “option” down the street at the local public school.
7. Pray for them and their needs.  Ask about THEIR families.  Remember their special events.  Make an effort to make your family available to bless them whenever possible without over-committing your time and resources.
8. Take time to LAUGH together!  Welcome visitors into your home and let people know when is the best time to call you.  (Be flexible when someone calls with a burden or a need, but try not to take too many phone calls during your direct teaching times of the day.)  

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

While this tip isn't really about homeschooling, it is about day to day life.  I believe that addressing these issues will have a real impact on the whole education of your children and I pray that something here will be a blessing to you in your journey. 

I am not fond of the term “TEEN”.  I do not like the imagery that comes to the minds of most people and I do not like the implied license for rebellion that comes with it! I also don’t like how it seems as if the moment they turn 13 they continually get asked whether or not they have a boyfriend/girlfriend.  What?  They can’t even consider marriage until after age 18…  so WHY start down that road so prematurely? Funny how our society expects “teens” to be rebellious, out of control and unable to be responsible, but in the same breath encourages them to pursue romantic relationships at such a tender age!  

From the time, my firstborn began to approach the dreaded TEEN years I started preparing her for OUR FAMILY’S expectation.  My speeches to her (and subsequent speeches to the up and coming younger brothers) went something like this: 

As you get older you will need different things than what you needed when you were littler, but no matter what anyone tells you there is no excuse for your emotions to rule over you and to spill out on others.  As you grow, you should be maturing, not becoming more selfish.  

You may need friend time, but we have family standards about who, when, where, what and how much time will be allowed.  Our decisions are final, but respectful requests will be prayerfully considered. 

You may find that you need a little time to yourself and while you will be expected to help with younger siblings often, WE are their parents and we will respect that you need a little quiet time each day just like we do.

You may feel more tired or more emotional, but you (and I) must continually practice displaying the fruit of the Spirit.  We are to glorify God in ALL that we say and do (and even think!) and then, take it a step further and be a blessing to others so that they may see the glory of God and be encouraged to love and serve Him also!

Rather than falling into the trap that your family is stupid, learn that we are the best friends that God has given us.  We can be your best resource, your truest confidante, your trusted advisor, and counselor. As you get older we will move more and more toward friendship, but that does not mean that I don’t still outrank you! J 

We will hold you to a high and absolute standard of modesty, purity, respect, honesty and all other Biblical values. Our decisions will not be effected by what EVERYONE ELSE is doing.  Our decisions will be made prayerfully and will be firmly enforced. 

We believe you should do what we say because God has placed us in authority over you.  We will try not to just expect you to do what we say because we say so, but will try to teach you the what, the how and the why of our family’s values.  HOWEVER, unless you are being asked to do something potentially harmful or sinful you are expected to submit to our leadership regardless of whether or not we offer you an explanation.  You may ask respectful questions, but whining and complaining is not tolerated.

We will make mistakes and so will you.  We will work through them together. 

Just as when you were a tiny baby you were a child, but just a little, tiny child that had a lot of child-things left to learn…  when you turn 13 you move from the child part of our family into the adult part of our family.  You still have many adult-things to learn, but you are to be in the process of putting away childish things and becoming a Godly Woman/Man.  

At this writing my three oldest children hear this theme and its many variations daily.  And I am sure my two youngest are listening, not only to the words, but to the actions.   

Be prayful.  Be diligent. Be a blessing!  

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

Kaitlyn could write her name at age 3, but now at age 15 would STILL prefer to doodle than focus!

Jordan, while still struggling with legible penmanship at age 13 knows more about computers than most adults that I know! (And I know some very smart adults!)

Ian, age 11, can tell you every fact about Navy Seals that you EVER or NEVER wanted to know, but that is almost ALL he wants to read about!

Noah, not quite 9, is bored with EIGHTH grade spelling lessons, but struggles to hold a pencil properly.

 When Hannah was not quite 4 she BEGGED to be taught to read, but now at 7 is BARELY grasping basic addition! 

Can you recommend a curriculum to accommodate THIS crazy group… otherwise known as: MY FAMILY? 

EVERY GROUP has so many individual differences.  Whether you are homeschooling one child or a classroom full that envies the local public school, there is NO one-size-fits-all lesson plan that you can order online and distribute to your eager offspring!  

In one family you may have GIFTED children AND Learning Delays.

Furthermore…  in one CHILD, EVERY CHILD, you will have individual strengths and weaknesses! 

What works for us?

Well, we are far from having “arrived”, but so far we have found a few things that make the job more of a joy! 

Delight-Directed Learning: Let your child’s interests lead sometimes!

Use Strengths and Interests to motivate weaknesses!

Consider Outside Activities (But be careful NOT to over-commit!!!) 

THE LIBRARY can be your best friend as a free resource! 

Don’t you hate it when someone gives you a list and you find yourself saying YES, but HOW???? 

Since I could never address all of the possible variables within YOUR family, I’ll just tell you some of OUR how and maybe it will spark and idea or two for YOU! 

Kaitlyn:

Spelling is more interesting when given time to illustrate each word!

Science takes on a whole new focus  Kaitlyn when it is through a camera lens!

Composition is a lot less “boring” when it is called BLOGGING! 

Jordan:

Why read fiction when you can read technical bulletins and owner’s manuals?

Working mowing lawns actually becomes exciting when the money saved can be used to buy electronics!

Swimming Lessons are a GREAT way to work on under-developed gross motor skills! 

Ian:

Reading is interesting when we check military books out of the local library!

Since Ancient Egypt is so interesting to him, a lapbook on the subject seemed to be in order!

Ian LOVES to be outside and fresh air and hard work give him a quieter body that is ready to learn!

Here is a Jordan and Ian idea in "action"! http://homeschoolblogger.com/quietcajun/174585/

Noah:

Builds the Eiffel Tower with our Math Manipulatives!

Creates all kinds of interesting things with old shoe boxes, string, masking tape, etc.

Can dictate the longest stories in the world into a hand-held tape recorder! (These will be keepsakes later!)

  

Hannah:

Math is tasty when it involves baking and cooking!

Making hand-made cards for friends is much more satisfying than buying them at the store!

Reading is only allowed for this child IF her bed is made!

 

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!  

 

TO LABEL OR NOT TO LABEL?

THAT IS THE QUESTION.

 

Let me begin this tip with a disclaimer: I DEFINITELY do NOT consider myself an expert on this subject .  Well, I’m not really an expert in any of  the subjects that I have been writing about, but I feel especially compelled to emphasize that point  today!  

My oldest son (who just turned 13 last week) was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome just last year (a form of autism) and there are many clues that point to a similar issue with our third son (turning 9 this week) so we are definitely STILL LEARNING, but here are a few things that have helped me in developing a unique strategy to fit this situation! Maybe some of it will apply to your situation as well.  

To Label or NOT to Label:  I can’t really advise anyone else what is best for their child, but one of the reasons it took us 11 years to get a diagnosis is that I am not a big fan of LABELING children!  Labels are for pre-packaged foods, CDs, DVDs, Video Games and seed packets.

 Putting a label on my son does NOT define his content or even his potential.

 Putting a label on my son does NOT give him or ME excuses to use as a crutch.

Putting a label on my son does NOT quantify what he has to offer the world.

Putting a label on my son does NOT set borders and limitations for him that are finite.

 

BUT…

 

Putting a label on the way my son’s mind learns DOES encourage me that I have not necessarily put the wrong ingredients into this child.

Putting a label on the way my son’s mind learns DOES give me access to information and support on typical behaviors and strategies for success.

Putting a label on the way my son’s mind learns DOES give me guidelines that can lead to creating an organized, but flexible plan for his development.

Putting a label on the way my son’s mind learns DOES give me a way to share with others what my child needs and why his mind works in an way that may seem unfamiliar to them.

Putting a label on the way my son’s mind learns DOES give me opportunities to tap into resources that are designed for unique situations.

Putting a label on the way my son’s mind learns DOES give you a clearer picture of what to avoid, or what may be more detrimental to your child.

Putting a label on the way my son’s mind learns DOES help me as a parent be more consistent as we develop an understanding of the how, when, where, and why of our own life with this wonderful child! 

 

SIMPLY PUT…

Just as in packaging that you will find on the things you buy… labels CAN be a valuable help to you. 

If the label puts your child into a little box or gives him license to get away with more than is justified,

THEN, you may be dangling from an extreme.  Move on down the spectrum to find a balancing point!

 

BUT, if the label empowers your family to better help your child be all that God created him to be…  then, prayerfully consider the evaluation processes that will lead you to this place.

 

  

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

My firstborn was full of ATTITUDE from Day One!  She needed a lot of “Shaping of the Will”, but she (AND I) have come a very long way and for the most part now share a respectful and delightful friendship! 

But…  I am still figuring out how to get her head out of the clouds and her feet solidly on the ground! 

I have a hard time being too terribly provoked by this characteristic, because in this area…  she is SO like ME!  

I, too, was often caught reading in bed LOOONG past my bedtime. 

I, too, was (and AM) a doodle-bug!  You can find my embellishments on grocery lists, sermon notes, letters, cards and just about anywhere my pen has been! 

I, too, will glaze over and respond with the ever intelligent, “HUH?” 

I, too, cry at sappy songs and greeting card commercials.    (Don’t EVEN get me started!) 

I, too, get that far-away look in my eye whenever I see a baby! 

I, too, am disillusioned and hurt easily. 

I, too, am a DREAMER!  

What works to engage this kind of mind? 

1. NARRATION: When a child knows they will be asked to recount what they have learned they will tune in more carefully!  Also, the act of SAYING it will help a child make connections and sort out the facts from their own meanderings.
2. MEMORIZATION: Rote memorization works in much the same way as narration to keep the mind in clear focus and to make a habit of good study traits!  We do a lot of Scripture Memory in our home and let me tell you, it is a lot easier to have a child quote the God-given command back to you than to give a lengthy lecture that will probably be mentally escaped in favor of “dreamland” anyway!
3. HAND-ON ACTIVITIES: One essential way to keep your Dreamer’s attention is to bring the action to the rest of the body… not just the mind.  Whatever you are learning… take it just a step or two further! This could include, (but is definitely not limited to):

a.making up motions for memory verses and songs

b.learning sign language

c. lapbooking and/or scrapbooking

d. nature notebooks

e.  building dioramas and other 3D reports

f. collecting and sorting rocks, shells and other items.

g.learning and practicing baking, sewing, sports, yard work and other useful, but potentially FUN life skills.

h. drama, puppet shows, dance, music…  the performing arts give imagination a focus.   

4. ACCESS to ART SUPPLIES: have a time and a place for creativity.  My children have been known to use scraps of fabric, tape, string, paper, glue, cardboard boxes, markers and glitter to make the most beautiful messes of all.  When given a subject to explore they may learn best this way!  

When her book work is done, I try to give Kaitlyn plenty of room for dreaming…  just so long as she learns to stay focused before she is eligible to get her driver’s permit in just a few months!  YIKES!  

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

NO! NO! NO!  I am not sure who said NO more often… me or my daughter!  I knew she was extra WILLFUL within hours of her birth.  She would not nurse and she did not like to be held against my shoulder (even to be burped)!  

I started reading right away and have not stopped since:  

The Strong-Willed Child by: Dr. James Dobson

I clung to the hope that Dr. Dobson was right when he said that a well-trained willful child will be just as likely to stand up against peer pressure when that time came as to stand up to their parents as a toddler.  Turned out to be true! 

Say Good-Bye to Stop Whining, Complaining and Bad Attitudes In You and Your Kids by: Scott Turansky and Joann Miller

I still laugh every time I read this title!  This book is all about the VERY important concept of HONOR and it gets quoted and referred to almost DAILY in our house when instructing a child how to make a wise appeal, how to act and react properly to one another and how to examine MYSELF as a parent in this crucial area! 

Shepherding a Child's Heart by: Ted Tripp

This book almost swings to the too soft side, but is an excellent balancing of the big picture after reading some stricter titles not mentioned here.   I tend to forget the softer side, personally, and this book was very important to helping me shape a gentle spirit.  

And my personal favorite: THE BIBLE.

From before birth to the end of life and beyond, no one knows how we operate better than our Designer and Maker!  When all else fails…why not read the instructions? I read this best book of all to myself and my children daily.  I consider Scripture memorization to be our ETERNAL daily vitamins!  There is strength in knowing the Biblical prescription for folly, hope in the promises given to those who obey and encouragement to “hang in there when the going gets rough”!  

After all of this reading I would sum up the BASICS of I what I have learned am learning in four tips:

1. CORRECTION: Be gentle, yet firm.  Don’t let things slide…  keep an eye out for the “little foxes” that spoil the grapes.
   
2. CONSISTENCY: even when you are tired…  even when they have been being so good, but are being a little whiny now…  even when you need a break…  stick to your guns! Its also really important to try to be “on the same page” as your spouse. I have noticed the biggest problems in families where the parents present a DIVIDED front to their children!
   
3. CONSEQUENCES: This is REAL life… everything we do has rewards and “punishments”.  Even doing nothing sends a message! Children are always learning.  Make the message CLEAR with a definitive system of rewards and penalties and then STICK TO IT!
    
4. CONSULT YOUR CREATOR: Go to your Maker in prayer!  He knows us better than anyone else. Even when He seems to be quiet there is a gentle strength in knowing that He loves you and your child more than you can fathom!  

Does it help you at  all to know that my daughter is now 15 years old and while imperfect, simply a delight? I don’t think anyone who meets her today would even guess that she had a long history of defiance!  She is now tenderhearted to God and to those in Godly authority above her most of the time! 

Does it discourage you to know that my children who started out “compliant” have each, in turn, been going through a rebellious stage? Thankfully, there is hope in the promises of God and if we are faithful, I know that we will see the fullness of His grace in each of their lives! 

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

 

 

One important concept that I have learned (that I wish would be added to this book) is to take passive rebellion seriously.  I had not previously recognized this pattern in the children in our family who are seemingly “compliant”… believe me, bad attitudes can come wrapped in a pretty package, at times!!!  Without being harsh and inflexible parents must be consistent, swift to correct, patient and loving.  I do NOT endorse abuse of any kind and would strongly warn about the dangers of being too rigid to the point of causing hard-heartedness.

Maybe it’s because he’s the middle child and is trying to establish his unique place in our family.  Maybe it is the Sensory Issues I wrote about in yesterday’s tip.  Maybe I just need to be more firm and insistent with this child.  I am not sure, but this particular son is just a Reluctant Learner for some reason. 

If you have a child who slumps and whines and fusses and complains and you know that:

1. He is not ill.
2. He does not have a Learning Disability.
3. You are doing all you can to discipline lovingly and consistently
4. You are praying for him and with him EVERYday…  

Then try one or all of these tips that have actually brought a smile to my Mr. Cranky: 

1. DELIGHT-DIRECTED LEARNING:  When required lessons are done, allow your child to pick from acceptable choices such as educational books or games, drawing, computer games, etc. Really learn about your child’s likes and dislikes and incorporate his interests into your day.  This could take the form of swimming lessons for the athletic child, a unit study on Egypt for the history buff, a movie marathon on a favorite subject, building or making a project to demonstrate a new skill or going to the library to reserve that book on Navy Seals that he just can’t stop thinking and talking about!
   
2. SHORT LESSONS in the style described by Charlotte Mason are helpful with this personality.  It is kind of like the saying about the weather here where I live, “If you don’t like it now…  just wait awhile and it will change.”  Make your lessons short enough that if they are not enjoying them, they won’t have a chance to become truly bored and sulky.  We try not to spend more than 15-30 minutes on any given subject.
   
3. VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE!  Not only should lessons be short, but I have learned that the same ol’ same ol’ day after day makes all of us irritable.  The way this works for us is to keep the core subjects the same everyday while having a different FOCUS SUBJECT of the day (such as History on Mondays, Art and Music on Tuesdays, Science on Wednesdays, etc.) and a different Life-Skill of the day on a rotating schedule (such as Laundry and Ironing on Mondays, Yard Work on Tuesdays,  Bedroom Inspection Day on Wednesdays,  etc.)  

Hope you find some of this helpful!  

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

I had just given birth to my fourth child and on my first day home my 6-year-old daughter announced, “Daddy took us all to Wal-Mart while you were at the hospital!”

I was duly impressed that my husband would venture out with “the 3 insane people”, as I affectionately called them at that stage!  

“Really?” I wondered out loud. “Why would he do that?” 

“Weeeelll….” Kaitlyn replied, “He had to get Ian some socks with no DEMONS in them!” 

It took me several more minutes of questioning to realize that what my daughter MEANT to say is that my husband had loaded all three children up into our mini van and took a road trip to the nearest Wal-Mart (half an hour away) to buy Ian some sock with no SEAMS in them!!!  

I later heard the story of how try as he might, my dear frustrated husband could not get Ian to stop crying until he found a pair of SEAMLESS SOCKS!  

Ian is now nearly 12 and still has definite opinions about texture, taste, the feel of certain fabrics, smells, sounds, etc.  It took up until last year for me to hear of the terminology Sensory Issues and while Ian is the “SENSITIVE” type, he is not as severely impacted as some children are, but the following tips have been somewhat helpful: 

1. FIND BALANCE!  I do NOT believe in coddling children so it is tough to find just the right balance between being sensitive to a true need and not pampering a “fit”.  Some children really do experience heightened pain and distress at unwanted stimuli.  It was hard for me to recognize this, but then again…  I should have known…  I am the one who will not eat almost any fruit because I cannot stand the fleshy texture or the tiny seeds in my teeth.  *OOOH* I am shuddering just typing this!
2. ACKNOWLEDGE TRIGGERS.  Know your child’s triggers and avoid them, when possible so as to prevent a tantrum or discipline issue. Once you step across a certain line… then you HAVE to discipline, but many times, you can stop it before it starts by being prepared.  i.e. stock up on seamless socks, if need be!
3. CREATE ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS.  My son hates just about every food on the planet (except pizza), but we do not run a short-order café in our home and he is required to take, at least, a “no thank-you” bite of everything I serve and to eat a healthy meal at each sitting. 
4. TRY NOT TO MAKE TOO BIG A DEAL OF IT.  Oftentimes, the more we talk about things the bigger the obstacles become.  If you area nonchalant and upbeat, your child will often pick up on your consistent attitude!
5. ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENCES THAT YOU CAN.  Ian needs a quieter and softer place to learn.  I am still figuring out what our “acceptable standard” is for some parts of the day, but when he accomplishes a certain set of chores and commitments, he is ALLOWED a special privilege. He loves taking his remaining school work into a large closet just off the school room that he has filled with soft pillows and favorite blankets…  it is there that he does his best work!  

I’ll pray for you.  Please pray for me in this area.  It is a bumpy ride, for sure, but it CAN be done!  

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

I can remember it like it was yesterday…  Hannah, then 18 mos., was crying on my hip doubled up with a tummy ache (a result of a birth defect), Noah (3 ½) was scribbling on the freshly painted hallway wall...  with a PERMANENT MARKER! Ian, (age 6) my reluctant reader, was struggling over 100 Easy Lessons.  He was sure t says DUH!  Jordan (then age 7 ½) was running around the room repeating some nonsense phrase over and over and over in his sing-song voice typical of his (at that time undiagnosed) Asperger’s Syndrome.  Kaitlyn, a dreamy almost 10 year old, sat with her head tilted to one side admiring her illustrations on her Spelling Power practice sheet!  I just wanted to QUIT!  

I know someone is reading this and nodding because while the names and ages and specific situations are different you know exactly what I am talking about…  the joys and frustrations of homeschooling a house full of children.  

Public School teachers do it everyday… with 4 to 5 times as many students. However, they usually teach one grade level at a time and are not required to make dinner while planning tomorrow’s lessons. They don’t have to field 23 phone calls, change 2 or 3 dirty diapers, scrape spit up from their shoulder and pay the bills all while singing the ABC song for the zillionth time SIMEOULTANEOUSLY!  Those teachers who do have families don’t usually take them to the classroom with them and they get BREAKS!  Sometimes I think someone should lock me up…  I am insane for trying to do this! 

But with time a few lessons have been learned.  The children are getting something out of it too, I think!  J  All of that was NOT yesterday…  it was about half a decade ago and while new challenges arise everyday, it is definitely NOT like it was then. 

Things I wish I’d known:

 

1. USE POSITIVE PEER PRESSURE to your benefit!  This is a little tip that came to me while contemplating how teachers do it.  When one child succeeds, EVERYONE cheers.  When one child is misbehaving try complimenting the other children before reprimanding the misguided child, when possible.
2. Try UNIT STUDIES for every subject possible!  This is a WONDERFUL invention and I wish I had learned it years earlier!
3. Consider implementing a PREDICTABLE ROUTINE!  Don’t be inflexible, but have a game plan.  Don’t forget to always have a PLAN B and C, as well!  You will be glad you did!
4. Become a LIST MAKER.  I had a list of what to pack in the diaper bag, for instance.  It was laminated and tied to the handle.  It saved me from having to try to remember what I needed when in a rush!  What a life saver!
5. Utilize your older children’s new skills…  not only will having them help teach their siblings lighten your load just a bit, it will reinforce what they have learned in a tangible and meaningful way.  Sometimes, this happens all by itself.  We call it “The Trickle Down Theory" in our house. It is amazing how much younger sibling learn from listening to each other learn!
6. AVOID OVER-COMMITMENT.  It is easy to feel that your children need to be involved in every wonderful class, co-op, and extra curricular activity available, but try to think it terms of not what is GOOD, but what is BEST.  Is it ETERNAL?  Will it have lasting benefits?  How does it fit into the big picture?
7. FIND SUPPORT.  If you don’t have time (or the energy) to attend a local MOPS group or similar organization, set aside an evening a week to check out great websites or blogs! You will be blessed as you are able to both GIVE and RECEIVE encouragement!  My favorite is MOMYS.COM.  You will usually find me there on Wednesday nights chatting with other Mothers Of Many Young Siblings!
8. PRAY.  God WILL give you strength and you’ll be amazed at what He does!  

Next time someone says, “Do you run a daycare?” or “You certainly have your hands full!” or “Are they all yours?”  Just remember that you are most definitely NOT alone and it CAN be done!

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

I have always loved to write. From the time I could, I did! Most of my children were not as quick to embrace this passion of mine, but they have picked up on it as I have figured out a few ways to spark their interest!

From the time they are able have your children draw and write… daily! They usually start by representing action with pictures and eventually will begin to incorporate shaky (and often backwards) letters into their artwork!

Make it a habit to ask them what it says! Even a toddler will tell little stories! I would always write what they dictated on the page. As they became older I was taught (by a public school teacher) to call the correct spelling “The Book Spelling” so that the child did not become intimidated and frustrated by their lack of knowledge and proficiency! My almost 7 year old, Hannah, will still occasionally come to me for “the Book Spelling” of a word, but feels comfortable trying to sound it out for herself!

Another fun early writing activity is Recipes… Give your child a 3x5 card. Have your child make a list of ingredients needed to make a real or imaginary recipe. Make sure they include amounts. Next, have them list the directions for preparing the meal!  These are fun to save for later… I still have recipes that include Baking at 9 degrees for 43 minutes!  Too cute!

Never underestimate the power of COPY WORK…  not only will this improve penmanship, but constantly seeing and writing correct grammar, punctuation and usage will make it second nature to your child! We incorporate this into our Scripture memory time.

A great pre-writing skill is LIST MAKING. A well-written paragraph is really a developed LIST. Give your young child a strip of lined paper when you are making your grocery list and have them write one of their own, just for fun! Have them make lists of things that go together: 

Ocean Animals

Vehicles

Places to Visit

Healthy Foods

Friends (they especially enjoy making a list of potential party guests!) 

You can incorporate list making into whatever your child is learning!

As your child progresses to turning these lists into paragraphs begin with this simple pattern: 

First Sentence: State a fact.

Next 3 or more Sentences: List facts that tell more about the opening sentence.

Last Sentence: Summarize. 

When this moves into longer writings, they can just build on this original pattern by having the supporting paragraphs detail out the information from the middle sentences in the opening paragraph!  Great resources for learning this technique easily is available at The Schoolhouse Store.

 

   

The Five Finger Paragraph

The Five Finger Essay

By: Johnnie Lewis

You may find it helpful to display a writing rubric, but make sure your child always loves writing rather than coming to dread it as being tedious and impossible to do “right”.

One final tip:  Consider allowing your child the instant gratification of seeing their well-written stories PUBLISHED by opening a blog for them!  Seeing this as a reward is a great incentive to polish their work!  My children love getting comments and enjoy sharing their writing with family and friends!  

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

Yesterday’s tip was about Learning to READ, but the next stage is just as important:  Reading to Learn!

Once my children finish Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, we start Pathway Readers.  Again, there are many excellent choices available, but this is an inexpensive option that incorporates good, moral story lessons with solid phonics and  reading comprehension.

Charlotte Mason’s method of narration is useful regardless of your teaching style and lends itself well to the important skill of “making connections” between what is being read and what is being learned from the world around the student! If you can’t always listen to long narrations from the pre-writer think about buying a small tape recorder!  You will later treasure these tapes!  TRUST ME! 

Literature-Based Unit Studies bring each book read into a life of its own.  Five in a Row is a good place to start with younger students, but the choices available are almost without limit. One of my friends is using The Prairie Primer!  I know she is going to have a VERY fun year or two! Once you get the feel for it, you and your child can even create your OWN based on what your children want or need to learn!

Don’t be so quick to answer your children’s questions!  Help them learn to LOOK IT UP!

Referencing Skills are easy to forget about, but don’t underestimate how much this improves a child’s ability to take their learning to the next level.  Invest in a Children’s Dictionary and add to your Reference Shelf from there.  We have a collection of Internet-Linked books from Usborne, An Illustrated World Atlas, and several other treasuries of poems, and such! Our Science Encyclopedia gets so much use that I have had to repair the cover more times than I can remember! 

Always take the opportunity to encourage your child’s interests and hobbies with a trip to the library.  My middle son is fascinated with Navy Seals.  When he has finished his chores he loves taking a trip to our local library to find a new book.  I think the librarians are running out of recommendations for him, but they are definitely impressed with his sustained interest in the subject! 

Once your children are READERS they easily become LEARNERS!  If you feel like you cannot teach them everything they will need…  rejoice in the availability of these brilliant TEACHERS who can instruct your children on every subject from A to Z!  

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!  

 

I have always been told (by my wise mom) that there are two categories of students:  those who are Learning to Read and those who are Reading to Learn!  Both stages come with intimidating challenges.  Let me share some of what I have learned.  Today we will focus on the first stage: Learning to Read!

From the time a baby is very young we talk to them and sing to them…  why not sing the ABCs early and often?  Make sure books are available and a part of EVERY day and enjoy every picture by asking your child to really examine the pictures on the pages! 

Most children can master this song (with perhaps the exception of the tricky “LMNO part” by the age of 3 or 4.  That’s a good time to start pointing out the shapes that match the letter names!  My children enjoyed alphabet tiles, puzzles and refrigerator magnets.  To make it more personal the letters of their own name is a great place to start! You may even be able to invest in a personalized puzzle.

Soon after the natural next step is to add the sounds to these mysterious shapes that have funny names like “Bee” and “Double-You”!  Consider purchasing Sounds like Fun from Discovery Toys or make up a song of your own.  My children usually learned the song after just a few weeks of singing it once or twice a day.

Apple, Apple A A A   Baby, Baby BBB…  etc.

Focusing on one letter at a time reinforces this learning and you can even have art projects and snacks to go with the letter of the day.  Remember to keep reviewing what they have already learned!!!  Taking time to MAKE books is also an enjoyable way of learning and will often result in a precious keepsake!

Labeling your home is a good way to take this to the next level.  Label shelves, drawers and boxes also enables the child to put things away properly while encouraging literacy. 

I like to start “formal” reading lessons around age 4 or 5 with Teach Your Child to Read in 100 EZ Lessons.  There are many other programs on the market, but this is one inexpensive option.  Make sure to keep lessons short and FUN!  Make reading a time of laughter rather than tears.

A great reward is play time on reading websites like STARFALL.COM…  one of our favorites!

In our home another great incentive to read is being allowed to stay up a little later in the evening ONLY if they are reading. Try it, you may find that you will have to scold them to STOP reading!

Most of all, allow reading to be a joyful “get to” not a painful “have to”!   

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

Many people fall into a panic when their child turns five…  as if it is the magical age where all learning must begin!  First, let me remind you that learning begins the first day you meet your baby and never, ever ends.  There are no definite school hours and the learning continues all the time…  that is both a joy (to have a whole life-time of learning) and kind of a scary thought when you realize even every idle moment SOMETHING is being learned whether you like it or not. 

One interesting article about homeschooling a Kindergartener can be found here:

http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/kindergarten/a/kindergarten.htm

 Remember the ol’ 3 R’s of education?

 Here they are with a few more important R’s! 

READING:  make time to read with your child everyday.  read for fun, read to learn, read food boxes, read street signs, READ, READ, READ!   

‘RITING:  encourage your child to write letters, write lists, write thank-you notes…  let writing be a part of everyday even before they know how to do it RIGHT… just WRITE!

 ‘RITHMETIC: Count and do simple addition throughout the day.  Measure a cup of flour for cookies, count out  snack items like raisins or Cheerios, figure out how old they and their friends or siblings will be in one year, two years, etc. Count forks while setting the dinner table, talk about subtraction as you eat a bowl of fresh berries, sort socks by  color, length, and style!  Math will be part of your child’s daily thinking process…  COUNT on it! 

Responsibility: even if you don’t have a pet a child can be given the responsibility of a Virtual Pet:  Webkinz is a fun way to take care of a pet while also learning how to use a computer.  Simple chores also teach responsibility.  A chore chart may be a useful tool at this time!  

Respect: Character should always be a number ONE priority!  Make sure your child learns good manners and uses a pleasant tone of voice.  Don’t indulge too much shyness…  encourage your child to answer questions and make a fun game of greeting people in the grocery store.  While children should be taught about “Stranger Danger” help them also enjoy meeting new people in a safe and fun way.  My children have always loved shaking hands at church and even hugging those who were dearest to our family! 

Remembering:  memorizing Bible verses, poetry and lists are a great way to stretch your child’s mind and your own!  Rehearse the days of the week, the months of the year, the Ten Commandments, maybe even something more challenging like a whole chapter of Scripture or the Preamble to the Constitution.  Music makes this learning time easier and more memorable!  

Above all, at this stage let your child barely even know that he or she is “doing school!”  Let learning just be the most natural and enjoyable part of your daily life!

Happy Learning! 

Lovingly and Prayerfully,

Christina 

Christina and her family are in their 11th year of homeschooling.  They believe that it CAN be done despite the many challenges of life! Every member of a family brings its own unique needs and blessings.  Maybe some of what they have learned can be a blessing to YOU!

Curious about The Old Schoolhouse

Magazine but not quite ready to commit to a subscription without seeing it first? Check it out for FREE! We're so certain you'll love our publication that we'll gladly send a FREE sample to anyone new to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - we even cover the shipping!

... Click here for more information ...