Sep. 11, 2006
Where I'll Be This Week ~

Nancy Carter, Senior Editor for HomesteadBlogger, will be on vacation all this week!  This is the first vacation she and her family have been on in quite some time!  While she is away soaking up the sun and sand, she has asked me to tend to the Front Porch ~ well, y'all know I was thrilled!  So I've got a brand new broom and I'm planning to keep the porch over at HomesteadBlogger swept clean and water all the plants every morning!  I don't want any spider webs and dead plants on the porch when Nancy gets back from the beach - no way!  Please pray for Nancy and her family for safe travels while they are on the road, for their family fellowship while they enjoy some down time at the beach and for the family who will be tending to their home, farm and animals while they are away.  We all know how important it is to have reliable help and care for our animals so we can travel without worrying about the farm back home. Meanwhile, I look forward to having morning coffee on the porch and winding down each day with a glass of tea in the rocking chair! Today is the 5th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and on America.  Take time to reflect on your memories of the event and your thoughts today.  Be sure and fly your flags at home and here on your blogs - may we never forget those who lost their lives and may we never forget those who have died in military combat to protect our freedoms!     Harriette

 

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Aug. 30, 2006
MILK: May NOT do a Body Good

 

We are in the midst of trying to determine why our oldest son is suddenly suffering from iron deficiency anemia.  While it is one of the most common forms of anemia diagnosed in the U.S., Canada and worldwide, it is still very upsetting to this mother that her son is losing iron and his red blood cell production is way down.

 

Even more concerning is what I have just recently learned about cow's milk: it PREVENTS the absorption of iron into the body.

 

Huh?

 

Yes - you read that right.

 

Cow's milk acts as a blocker to the body's ability to absorb iron.  Our blood must have iron in order to produce red blood cells.  Without the normal production of red blood cells, oxygen is not properly distributed throughout the bloodstream and throughout the body.  Further, when there is too much consumption of cow's milk and other dairy (cow) products, there can also be a subtle internal bleeding in the lining of the stomach and in the intestines that may go undetected until circumstances like we are dealing with arise; we won't know if this is a factor until further tests are run.

 

The strange thing is, the Got Milk? ads don't bother to educate the public on the dangers of too much milk consumption.  It's not so strange when you consider it's all about promoting big ag-dairy sales all for the bottom line of  increasing profits.  Makes my temper flare.....

 

Likewise, women and young teen girls are at high risk for iron deficiency anemia due to menstrual cycles.  All you hear lately is that women need to drink milk for calcium to prevent osteoporosis and to maintain healthy and strong bones..........nevermind the entire time you're drinking all this milk, your body isn't absorbing any iron.

 

Meanwhile, my son, now 14,  is in the midst of a major growth spurt - this too can play a factoring role in low iron.  Rapid growth phases can deplete the body's iron supply.  We are not big or tall people, but rapid growing is rapid growing.  Last Wednesday, the doctor's office measured him at 5'1"; yesterday the doctor's office measured him at 5'2".  Notwithstanding what we've already witnessed in his recent growth, he's grown an inch in just this one week.

 

The shocking surprise is that this is a boy who eats voraciously and eats very well - he would eat brussel sprouts at every meal if we could stand it!  But all the while he's cooking everyone a 4 course breakfast every morning at 7 a.m. - he's downing it all with lots and lots of - you guessed it - milk.

 

We are working closely with our physician and a specialist with a plan of action that includes prescribed iron supplements and, to the grave disappointment of my son, limiting his intake of milk.  When we illustrated what three 8 ounce servings of milk really were - he was in shock!  He's not a big juice drinker (he never has been) and can easily consume 1/2 gallon of milk or more per day.

 

Meanwhile, this Momma has rolled her sleeves up to do some research on dairy goats and organic gardening and we have someone on their way out this afternoon to test our well water also.

 

Parents beware: what you don't know can hurt your children - even milk!  All things in moderation has a greater application than we all too often don't stop and think about in today's fast paced lifestyles - even life, here, on the Dirt Road.

 

Harriette

 

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Aug. 3, 2006
Welcome to the Newly Renovated Jacobs Academy

 

Welcome to the newly renovated Jacobs Academy ~ just in time for our new school year!

 

I want to give a HUGE, HUGE, HUMONGOUS (there are not enough adjectives to use here.....) thank you to the endearing and sweet Kris Price who took over the renovating project.  I don't know how she does all that stuff ~ but I am so thankful she does and is willing to do so!  Guess what?  She's having a contest to give away a free blog design - but you better hurry - the contest ends tomorrow!  CLICK HERE for the details!  She is an amazing and generous woman; no wonder the TOS head honchos have her!

 

Meanwhile, I have a surprise for Kris ~ shhhhhh ~ don't tell.  I'll let you in on it soon enough.........

 

Harriette

 

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Jul. 26, 2006
Pardon the Dust ~

 

"Cough - !"

 

"Hack!"

 

Whew, please pardon all the dust around here while Jacobs Academy is preparing for a new school year.

 

 

 

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Jul. 23, 2006
Until Further Notice

 

 

 

I will not be posting until further notice.

 

Friends and associates who need/want to remain in touch have my email.

 

                  

 

Have a great summer.

Harriette

 

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Apr. 16, 2006
Carnival of Kid Comedy ~ #6

 

Life in a Shoe is hosting the 6th Carnival of Kid Comedy ~ Check it out.  And while you're there, you may want to check out the previous 5 carnivals listed over in her side column and consider submitting a Kid Comedy moment you've had for her  to include in her next carnival - you know you do......

 

 

 

;-)

hkj

 

 

 

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Apr. 3, 2006
Homeschooling in Augusta Seminar - Overview

 

Truthfully, I thought winter 2006 was going to last forever – physically and mentally.  The pages of my calendar just would not flip fast enough.

 

Then along came the Homeschooling in Augusta seminar featuring Ruth Martin.  She proved to be the promise of spring – the spring cleaning of my mind - which I needed!  As a veteran homeschooler, Ruth shared her wit and wisdom that seemingly has no end to her expertise and generous desire to encourage all homeschooling parents.  She wants every homeschooling family to succeed.

 

Having already graduated all three of her children from homeschooling, Ruth continues to be a strong advocate and support for Georgia homeschoolers.  In this seminar she not only advised and encouraged but was a HUGE inspiration that fell at the right time for me, among others I’m certain, to be rejuvenated during what is deemed a typical time of year when we all need a boost in our homeschooling morale.

 

Ruth opened with the history of homeschooling in Georgia, emphasizing our need to ensure that our autonomous legal obligations are met diligently and that we are careful to guard our homeschooling freedoms here in Georgia.  She then challenged us to revisit not only our reasons for homeschooling but also to ensure that our goals are kept in clear view while not comparing ourselves to public school standards.  A repetitive theme that wove throughout topic after topic was that of “what are the needs of your family, your children individually?” and “how are these needs and goals being met by: our homeschooling families’ care groups, umbrella associations, co-op’s, curriculums, extra-curricular activities…..?” – the list is truly endless.  She emphasized that our focus should be to keep our goals and needs clear and if they are not met, consider “cleaning house” and moving forward to meet those goals and needs, even if it means starting your own homeschool group.  She and the GHEA provide tools for homeschoolers to start new groups and want to be there for future support as well.

 

The sometimes controversial subject of “accreditation” was another highlighted topic -  one of which I truthfully have had flippant passing thoughts about – but nothing that lingered and I will expound on this topic in a separate post.  It is one worth recognizing as a not too all important issue in the education of our children.  I was amazed listening to the dissection of what this actually represents.

 

Likewise, Ruth brought the topic of co-op’s to the floor for open discussion, providing her personal opinion about these, yet returning to her day-long theme: what are the goals of each family’s homeschooling, what are the individual goals for your children?  Whether you choose to participate in a co-op or not, make sure these goals come first.

 

While Ruth also provides private consultations and testing, she continues to schedule a variety of workshops for homeschoolers statewide.  I look forward to a possible homeschooling high school workshop for the Augusta area soon.  Thank you to Jayne Crown, Susan Cady and the CSRA HEA for hosting this seminar opportunity!

 

 

 

Harriette K. Jacobs

Copyright © 2006

All Rights Reserved.

 

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Mar. 16, 2006
Homeschooling in Augusta Seminar

Saturday is only two days away and I can NOT wait - I'm so excited about this seminar.........it will be great to hear Ruth Martin speak again! and to be uplifted and rejuvenated by those I know are a part of this event.  If you live in the greater Augusta, Georgia region and are interested in this event, please email me and I will send you the contact information.  Meanwhile, I look forward to posting all about this event this weekend!  I can tell you that the Lord is already working on many things before this seminar has even opened the doors.....if you have a blank place on your prayer list - please pray for this event, the organizers, the speaker(s) and that those attending will be blessed and that God will be honored and that this seminar will be a testimony to His will in the lives of everyone involved and in attendance!

___________________________________________________

 

Homeschooling in Augusta Seminar--TWO DAYS LEFT TO PRE-REGISTER

 

"March is definitely a transition month.  The weather changes, winter sports come to a close, tired homeschooling parents begin to burn out, students get bored and restless as they long for a spring break...  March is a great month to mix things up a bit and do something different" so why not come to HOMESCHOOLING IN AUGUSTA 2006 SEMINAR.

Get refreshed and renewed.  There is a special offer is for caregroup leaders. The cost is $10.00 to pre-register and $15.00 at the door and includes one free Georgia Home School Leadership Manual for each group represented. Additional copies may be purchased for $15.00.

Other information about the seminar is listed below.

See you there.

The quote above is from  http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/article11.htm

 

HOMESCHOOLING IN

AUGUSTA

2006 SEMINAR

Sponsored by

The Central Savannah River Area Home Education Association (CSRA HEA)

The Georgia Home Education Association (GHEA) 

 

IF YOU ARE A SEASONED HOMESCHOOLER, NEW HOMESCHOOLER OR WANNA BE HOMESCHOOLER, THIS SEMINAR IS FOR YOU.

COME MEET OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS, NETWORK WITH OTHER HOMESCHOOLERS, AND GET FRESH NEW IDEAS.

 

DATE: MARCH 18, 2006

LOCATION: DAYSPRING BAPTIST CHURCH,

4220 FRONTAGE RD,  NEAR BEL-AIR RD. (Off of I-20)

AUGUSTA, GA.

TIME: 10:00 AM to 4:00PM

Lunch will be from 12  – 1 PM. (On your own)

COST: $10.00 PRE-REGISTER***

           $15.00 AT THE DOOR***

****This includes one free Georgia Home School Leadership Manual for each caregroup represented.  Additional copies may be purchased for $15.00.

 

TOPICS :

• Avoiding Burnout
• Brainstorming Session (Time for questions and answers for your personal needs, concern, or ideas)
• The Changing Face of Home Schooling
• Motivating Your Group to Participate
• Networking
• Encouraging Veterans to Share Their Wisdom
• Legislative Updates
• Mentoring New Leadership
• The Responsibilities of Freedom – The History of Home Schooling

SPEAKER:

Ruth Martin, State Support Group Coordinator for the Georgia Home Education Association (GHEA) and GHEA Board Officer. 

Ruth is a featured speaker and writer for GHEA and a representative to the annual National Home School Conference. She is an educational consultant in private practice working with parents and students.

 

Ruth Martin is the mother of three children, ages 25, 23 and 18. Her two oldest sons have graduated from home schooling, gone on to college on scholarships and the oldest graduated with honors from Florida State University College of Law. The second son graduated with honors from Piedmont College.  Both sons have recently married and are attending seminary. Her daughter has graduated from home schooling and is attending college on academic scholarship.  Ruth has a Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities and spent many years in public and private school classrooms, both teaching and testing children with learning disorders, attention deficit disorders and emotional disorders.  She was working on a Ph. D. when she and her husband began home schooling in 1983.  She is the founder of more than ten home school support groups located in and around metro Atlanta, has helped establish several more throughout the state, and served as president of the Fellowship of Christian Family Educators, Inc. in Gwinnett County for six years.  She conducts workshops and seminars for new and veteran home schoolers, for home school leadership and for those families home schooling through high school. 

 

 

We are also planning a Homeschool Conference Retreat. We will be going to the GHEA Conference, May 5-6, 2006 as a group. This retreat will be a time to meet new friends and have a great, refreshing time away. You can sign up at the seminar for the retreat.

 

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Mar. 15, 2006
Jacobs Academy: Featured Blogger on AtHomeschool.com

 

I'd like to send out a HUGE thank you to AtHomeschool.com for including Jacobs Academy: A Dirt Road Education as one of the featured bloggers this month - WOW!  And thank you for including South of the Gnat Line as well!  I am truly humbled and grateful.

 

Be sure and check all the resources and articles at AtHomeschool.com!

 

 

hkj

 

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Feb. 20, 2006
Soliciting Suggested Text - Curriculum - Unit Studies

 

I am soliciting suggestions for an in depth study on botany/plant biology.

 

I have a number of resources for supplemental materials and plan to add internet sources as well, but I really want a thorough and sound text or number of texts and welcome suggestions, especially for those parents who are currently homeschooling middle/high schoolers.  While our boys are "technically" middle schoolers, I have no problem using high school materials and adapting for each (and actually prefer) - I am more concerned with an in depth coverage of this area of study - rather than a "lite" one.

 

I am planning to start this unit of study in April and hope to be able to order texts and materials by mid-March at the latest.

 

Any input and suggestions are graciously appreciated - please include your likes) as well as any dislikes) of a particular text and materials.

 

Thanks to anyone willing to comment and leave suggestions.

 

Blessings,

Harriette

 

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