For 27 Years The Teaching Home Has Been Providing Families
Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement from a Distinctively Christian Perspective. Cindy Short and Sue Welch, Co-Editors
_________________________________________________________________________________
Sidebar Contents
• The Role of Spies
in Early U.S. History
• TTH Back Issues
• Sunnyside Up
• Free Reprints
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The course of history was changed on September 17, 1787——the day the U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 men. Fifty-five delegates attended the Constitutional Convention, but only 39 dared to sign. They risked a great deal, their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, for our freedoms.
"We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." – Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
Spies
There are so many fascinating stories that led to this fateful date. Yet there is also the unknown, secret history of the history for the War of Independence——intelligence, counterintelligence, and espionage. In a word: spies.
A great deal of risk was incurred by Patriot spies. Twenty-one-year-old Nathaniel Hale’s famous statement before his execution for his patriotic spying was, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country!
Thomas Jefferson had successful privateering enterprises. Spies learned the semaphore code which helped them to falsely identify themselves as British ships and smuggle in weapons, munitions, and other important goods—frequently from the Dutch Republic. They listened to secret Tory war plans.
Spies risked all.
The Commission for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies was a counterintelligence organization and the forerunner of the secret service. Their mission was to uncover enemy spies and discover traitors to the Patriot cause. The 1776 Articles of War gave them their rules of operation.
Covert operations like blockade running were imperative to the struggling government waiting to operate freely. Spy saboteurs targeted munitions factories, shipyards, and weapons storage facilities. Some were caught and executed; others continued this dangerous work.
Goods contaminated with small pox and other dangerous diseases were traded back and forth between Tories and Patriots with the goal of infecting the other side.
Complex codes, ciphers, secret writing, invisible inks, and cryptology were used. Tory and Patriot spies worked hard to capture the code books of their opponents, so many committed these codes to memory.
Lydia Darragh
In British-occupied Philadelphia, Lydia Darragh, like Betsy Ross, supported the American war effort.
General Howe was quartered in the home of her neighbor, John Cadwalader, and sent a soldier to tell Quaker Lydia Darragh she had to move out of her home so British officers could use it. She informed him that she had two children to care for and had no place to go. Her two youngest children were already living with relatives.
Captain Barrington, her cousin from Ireland, intervened with Lord Howe on her behalf. Lydia would be allowed to stay in her home if she kept a room available for British officers to hold meetings.
Darragh risked everything to overhear the ultra-secret plans of Lord Howe to attack and, hopefully, capture Washington at Whitemarsh by hiding in a linen closet in another room. If all went well, the British held, the war would soon be over.
Through extraordinary courage, Lydia Darragh warned Washington of his impending danger.
Secret List of Spies
Many today do not realize that a secret list of spies, Patriot and Tory, existed in the city of divided loyalties, Philadelphia. Both sides wanted this list destroyed. We know it exists, but we do not know what happened to it.
British General Sir William Howe astonished all when he occupied the city. Washington was baffled at Howe'’s move and relocated to Valley Forge. Seemingly, confusion reigned on the Patriot side. Intrigue was everywhere——I spy, you spy, he spies, she spies, they spy, we all spy.
Learn about this mysterious time in C.D. Baker'’s The List, a riveting, meticulously researched story that integrates historical facts in an interesting and easy-to-follow plot.
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Offer Great Resources!
These free newsletters are made possible by the fine suppliers who advertise in them and the accompanying e-mails.
Please visit their websites and consider if their products and services can benefit your family.
Newsletter Archives
Visit our newsletter archives and read more than 180 previous issues filled with:
• In-depth information on all aspects of home education.
• Practical ideas to use with your children.
• Dozens of Internet links for more information!
Some of our subscribers have printed out past issues and filed them in a notebook for future reference!
The Teaching Home
Back Issues
"I cannot tell you how far I have come as a result of the encouragement I have received from The Teaching Home.
"I have gone from surviving to thriving; from enduring to enjoying." – Karen, Missouri
Always-Relevant Teaching Home Back Issues
Many home schoolers have found information, inspiration, and support from the writers who have contributed to The Teaching Home magazine over the last 23 years.
Fifty-one back issues are offered online or by mail order.
After our 5-year-old son had learned about money, we began giving him an allowance.
We carefully explained our guidelines: give at least the first nickel to God, save some for a rainy day, and then the rest you may spend wisely.
We stressed the importance of being faithful to God as we use the money He gives us. To make sure he understood, we asked, "What are you supposed to do with your allowance?"
William said with enthusiasm, "Spend it faithfully!"
Because we have been separated from God by sin, Jesus Christ died in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust Him as our Savior and Lord, He will forgive our sin and give us eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
FREE Reprints
We want to help as many families as possible to teach and train their children for the Lord's glory.
Please help us to help other families by sharing this entire newsletter, or individual articles.
• Forward to your friends and support group.
• Reprint in an e-mail or print publication.
• Post online.
Please observe our copyright:
1. Do not change the wording.
2. Include "by Cindy Short and Sue Welch" (or other author).
3. Add: "Copyright 2007 by www.TeachingHome.com. Reprinted by permission."
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Please help us make this a great newsletter; we want it to be interactive.
Constitution Week, September 17- 23 1. President's Comments on the Constitution
2. Studying Our Constitution
3. Studying Our Government
4. Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws
5. Resources
Recommended Resources
• Doorposts: Applying Scripture in Your Home
• How Great Thou Art (Christian Art Programs)
• AVKO Multi-Sensory Language Arts
Greetings,
1. President's Comments on the Constitution
by George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
The following are excepts from a former Citizenship Day and Constitution Week Proclamation.
Today, we marvel at the wisdom of the Framers who toiled through a long summer of learned and contentious debates.
Their work produced a document that upholds high ideals, while answering the most practical questions of governance. The charter they crafted — with its separate branches of Government, enumerated powers, checks and balances, and later the specific protections provided by our Bill of Rights — guides our Nation and inspires others around the world.
Twin Foundations
As the delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia began working on what would become the United States Constitution, they grasped that a great democracy must be built on the twin foundations of:
• National consent to a Federal Government
• Respect for individual rights.
Balance of Powers
In creating our Nation's Constitutional framework, the Convention's delegates recognized the dangers inherent in concentrating too much power in one person, branch, or institution.
They wisely crafted a Government that balanced the functions and authority of a Federal system among three separate but equal branches:
• The Executive
• The Legislative
• The Judicial.
As a further check on central power, the Framers granted citizens the right to vote, giving them the power to express their political preferences peacefully and thereby to effect change in the Government.
The Convention delegates ratified the Constitution on September 17, 1787, and submitted it to the States for approval.
Bill of Rights
After much deliberation and discussion at the State level, the following two concerns emerged from among those who feared the Constitution's proposed centralization of Federal power:
• The threat of tyranny
• The loss of local control.
To address these fears, our Founders amended the Constitution by adding a Bill of Rights.
These ten amendments provided a series of clear limits on Federal power and a litany of protective rights to citizens.
Today, our Nation celebrates the longest-lived written Constitution in world history.
End of Summer Sale at Doorposts.
Use discount code 070910 for 10% off all orders.
Doorposts: Bible-Based, Parent-Designed, Family-Tested
Products To Help You Apply Scripture in Your Home
Find practical resources that will help you train your children to love and obey God and His Word, as well as prepare them for life as responsible adults.
Books, charts, and other resources include biblical discipline, character training, Scripture memorizing, and more.
Toll Free: (888) 433-4749 www.Doorposts.net.
The Constitution of the United States is the foundation of our American Government. As the supreme law of the land, no law may be passed that contradicts its principles, and no person or government in the nation is exempt from following it.
The First Amendment to the Constitution does not include the phrase "separation of church and state." Nowhere does it suggest that Christianity cannot be heard in the public square.
In fact, the first act of the United States Congress was to authorize the printing of 20,000 Bibles for the Indians. Read more.
Judicial Interpretation of the Constitution
The subject of constitutional interpretation is a valid and practical concern today that will reach into many areas of our lives for years to come.
Two competing viewpoints have emerged:
1. To follow the original intent of the Constitution.
2. To allow judges to interpret the Constitution as they will.
• Read "A Tale of Two Constitutions" by David Barton as well as a variety of articles from Wall Builders on the moral, religious, and constitutional foundation on which America was built.
The Center for Civic Education offers free lessons for Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
These are beautifully produced pdf files with illustrated stories, questions, worksheets, activities, and teacher's guides. You may download and print them. Audio guides are also available.
• Kindergarten - study of authority. (30 pages)
• Level 1-2 - study of authority. (34 pages)
• Level 3-4 - Preamble to the Constitution. (10 pages)
• Level 5-6 - Preamble to the Constitution. (12 pages)
• Level 7-8 - the federal system of government. (12 pages)
• Level 9-10 - the Constitution as a framework for the government. (14 pages)
• Level 11-12 - involves students in critical thinking exercises involving fundamental principles of the Constitution. (17 pages)
Give Your Children
an Excellent Art Education
with How Great Thou Art
Choose from 14 curriculums that teach students of all ages the fundamentals of drawing, painting, color theory, and art appreciation. Written by Christian artist and art instructor Barry Stebbing.
See quality supplies, art gallery, sample lessons, and class schedules at www.HowGreatThouArt.com.
3. Studying Our Government
The Teaching Home Newsletters #66-68 (which you can read online or print for personal use) addressed the topic of teaching your children about governments in general and the United States government in particular.
This series offers much practical information, Internet links for further study, and application for Christians. It would make an excellent study for Constitution Week.
Following is an outline of what each issue contains.
AVKO (Audio, Visual, Kinesthetic, and Oral) Offers a Multi-Sensory Approach
to Language Arts through Phonics
and Word Families.
• Individualized Keyboarding teaches reading and spelling skills as your child masters the keyboard.
• Let's Write Right teaches reading/spelling as the alphabet is learned.
• Sequential Spelling builds self-esteem.
• To Teach a Dyslexic is the readable and enjoyable autobiography of Don McCabe, a dyslexic who has become a widely recognized expert on dyslexia and head of AVKO.
To try it before you buy it, or for information on dyslexia, visit our website. Complimentary samples and downloads. www.spelling.org / 1-866-285-612
4. Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws
Excerpted and reprinted by permission from an article by Charles and Cindy Meek, Faith Facts.
Christians believe that the Bible offers ultimate, objective, and absolute truth. There was a general consensus on this point in America from the earliest settlers until only very recently.
Thus it was natural for the early Americans to turn to the Bible for guidance as to how to make civil law. This was the standard for law beginning with the Mayflower Compact all the way through the constitutions of all 50 states.
State Constitutions
For example, the first state constitution was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639). Read this document.
The framers of this document desired that every aspect of it be based on the Bible. This document was a model for other constitutions including the U.S. Constitution which followed it. (See other Preambles to State Constitutions.)
Rule of Law
Another aspect of our system of government is that it is based on the Rule of Law. This concept is a direct descendant of Hebrew law and the Ten Commandments.
Together with the concept of inalienable rights from God, these concepts helped ensure a way of life that respected the dignity of every individual.
The True Nature of Man
Another important aspect of America's constitution is that it has as its basis the distinctly Christian idea that man is basically sinful. Every one of our founding fathers understood this truth. The result was that the founders built into the Constitution an elaborate system of checks and balances.
This is evident in the horizontal plane of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. It is also evident in the vertical plane of federalism - states' powers versus federal powers.
See a chart of the influence of Biblical thought on America's legal system with Bible references.
5. Resources
Constitution Day Package
• "A More Perfect Union," DVD, depicting the Federal Convention of 1787 ( See a preview online).
• Beautiful reproductions of the U.S. Constitution and the painting depicting the Convention
• 30 student booklets including the founding documents plus quotes;
• A miniature version of the 24-image Freedom Gallery.
From Home School Legal Defense Association. Includes: Founding Fathers, Introduction to Constitutional Law, The Federalist Papers, Declaration of Independence, and more.
The Federalist Papers Online
One of the most important works on political theory ever written.
America's Godly Heritage
Video clearly sets forth the beliefs of many of the famous Founding Fathers concerning the proper role of Christian principles in education, in government, and in the public affairs of the nation.
A Nation Adrift
"A Chronicle of America's Providential Heritage" DVD is the true story of how God's sovereign hand guided the founders of America.
Enlightened Democracy
by Tara Ross. Understand the Constitution and the basic tenets that undergird America's republican democracy. Free Study Guide. Colonial Press
Naturalization Self Test
Could your children (or you) pass the test to become a citizen? Test your knowledge of United States History and the structure of our government on this easy-to-use online question and answer interactive site.
: Our Responsibilities in Government: United States Government: Introduction to Government
Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.
It is important to teach your children about our nation's Constitution and how it affects our lives. Constitution Week, September 17-23, is also a great time to study our government and our Christian heritage with your family!
May the Lord bless you and your family for His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a home-school, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.
This is a rare find, even in homeschool circles - someone who believes that the urgency expressed for all the socialization needs are hype. What a blessing to read this - thank you HSLDA!
Program Offer
In Dr. Robert Epstein’s book, he raises some profoundly important problems with America’s view of young people today. His research is a valuable starting point for better understanding the years we call adolescence.
The Home School Foundation supports homeschool families in need. Whether it's a widow or a family suffering after a natural disaster, HSF is there to help. You can give directly to HSF, or through our Clicks For Homeschooling program, online merchants contribute to HSF when you shop!
Start your shopping at Click4HS to contribute to HSF at no cost to you!
What role does socialization play in shaping the behavior of your teen? Would it surprise you to hear that research suggests the peer dependent culture fostered by the media and the public school system, does not contribute to a healthy social life? On today’s Home School Heartbeat, join HSLDA president Mike Smith, as he talks about this important issue with Dr. Robert Epstein, former Editor-in-Chief of Psychology Today magazine and author of the book The Case against Adolescence: Rediscovering the Adult in Every Teen.
Mike Smith:
Dr. Epstein, homeschoolers are always asked, what about socialization? And implied in that is that homeschoolers are not getting good socialization. What would your response be to that?
Dr. Robert Epstein:
Mike, I hear this all the time; it is so frustrating to me. I don’t know where this crazy idea came from that teenagers have to be socialized with each other. That makes no sense whatsoever. Teens in our country spend about seventy hours a week with each other. Teens in other countries, where there’s a strong connection between young people and adults, spend five hours a week with their peers. This system we have is crazy. The fact is, when you’re a teen you need to be learning to become an adult and you need to spend quality time with adults. The last people on earth that you should be hanging out with, and learning from, is peers. So positively, homeschooling in that respect is a very positive thing for young people because it creates a meaningful connection between young people and adults.
Mike:
Well amen, and I couldn’t agree with you more and thank you for being with us this week. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.
"Home School Heartbeat" is a production of the Home School Legal Defense Association. All rights reserved. For more information on Home School Heartbeat or the Home School Legal Defense Association please contact us at:
Home School Heartbeat • P.O. Box 3000 • Purcellville, Virginia 20134-9000
Phone: (866) 338-8614 • Fax: (540) 338-8609 • Email: heartbeat@hslda.org
Web: http://www.homeschoolheartbeat.org
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For the teaching week of August 27
Welcome to Evan-Moor's NEW Education Newsletter, where you’ll get all the FREE resources you need to help children learn. We’ve changed more than just our look...exciting new features include:
Downloadable lesson plan activities and ideas. We've pulled some of your favorite activities straight from our books. Now, there’s no need to print the entire newsletter. Just click and print the activity. You save time and paper!
An easier-to-use format. Links at the beginning of the newsletter take you right where you want to go—we've customized your experience.
Grades PreK-K lesson plans
Visual Discriminatin and Math Activities
Visual Discrimination
Caterpillars
Students practice readiness skills as they put together a colorful caterpillar puzzle and find caterpillars hiding among leaves.
Math Counts!
Fishing for Numbers
These colorful fish-themed math activities make students feel like they are completing an art project and singing a funny chant rather than practicing their math skills!
Grades 1-3 lesson plans
Phonics and Word Family Activities
Word Families
-ig, -og, -ug
-ig, -og, -ug. Sound like a friendly giant? It's not! It two pages of word family practice! Activities with illustrations are a giant hit in every primary classroom!
Little Phonics Reader
The Big Dig
The -ig family is a BIG hit in a Little Phonics Reader mini-book!
U.S. Facts and Fun
Yosemite National Park
Didn't make it to Yosemite National Park this summer? Don't worry, we'll take you there! This informational article presents many facts about one of America's most well-known national parks.
Social Studies
Moving West
This engaging history lesson with activities for every type of learner teaches your students the history of America's first pioneers!
I have made every effort to try and convert the text color in the e-newsletter below. But regardless of my efforts, the text in many of the block remains "white" because of my default text color normally on "chalkboard" style background.
So.......if you capture the text in areas that you are unable to read by left clicking and holding while swiping over an area - you should be able to read the blocks of info ~
The Teaching Home is an excellent resource and I highly recommend it to anyone homeschooling; you can subscribe online and receive your own copy each month.
For 26 Years The Teaching Home Has Been Providing Families
Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement from a Distinctively Christian Perspective. Cindy Short and Sue Welch, Co-Editors
_________________________________________________________________________________
Sidebar Contents
• Your Summer Photos
• TTH Back Issues
• Sunnyside Up
• Free Reprints
Save and Share
Your Summer Photos
1. Take Family Photos
Create family memories by taking lots of photos to preserve and display! You can take:
• Regular photos to show your family's growth.
• Photos of ordinary, everyday settings and activities you will appreciate seeing in the future.
• Photos of special occasions and friends.
Improve your photos by studying about the technical aspects and composition of photography.
Gather, sort, and display your new and old print photos so that you can preserve them and share them with others.
• Gather old photos from your relatives and select a few of each family or era; restore any important photos that are badly damaged.
• Compile an album of family photos. Ask your older relatives to identify people and tell you stories about them that you can tape record or write down.
3. Use Free Online Programs
for Your Digital Photos
• Microsoft Photo Story 3 for Windows XP. Create slideshows using your digital photos. You can touch-up, crop, or rotate pictures. Add special effects, soundtracks, and your own voice narration to your photo stories. Then, personalize them with titles and captions. Small file sizes make it easy to send your photo stories in an e-mail. Watch them on your TV, a computer, or a Windows Mobile-based portable device.
• Picasa 2 is a free software download from Google that helps you locate and organize all the photos on your computer. You can edit and add effects to your photos and share them with others through e-mail, prints, and the web.
• Smilebox. Put your electronic photos or videos into postcards, slideshows, or scrapbooks, add words and music, and then share them with others.
• GIMP: High-Tech Photo Editing. This free image and photo editing program works like Adobe Photoshop. It takes some study to learn how to use it.
Tell a Friend!
• If you find this free newsletter to be helpful, please recommend it to a friend - or your entire support group!
• Use the link at the end of this e-mail to forward this issue to a friend.
• If this issue has been forwarded to you, you can sign up here to receive your own free newsletter subscription.
Thank you!
Newsletter Archives
Visit our newsletter archives and read more than 180 previous issues filled with:
• In-depth information on all aspects of home education.
• Practical ideas to use with your children.
• Dozens of Internet links for more information!
Some of our subscribers have printed out past issues and filed them in a notebook for future reference!
The Teaching Home
Back Issues
"I cannot tell you how far I have come as a result of the encouragement I have received from The Teaching Home.
"I have gone from surviving to thriving; from enduring to enjoying." – Karen, Missouri
Always-Relevant Teaching Home Back Issues
Many home schoolers have found information, inspiration, and support from the writers who have contributed to The Teaching Home magazine over the last 23 years.
Fifty-one back issues are offered online or by mail order.
Advertisers Who Sponsor
This Free Newsletter
Offer Great Resources!
These free newsletters are made possible by the fine suppliers who advertise in them and the accompanying e-mails.
Please visit their websites and consider if their products and services can benefit your family.
Sunnyside Up
The Bible on Line
As our 6-year-old son and I sat by the pool one hot summer day, I decided to spark some "critical thinking" in him by asking, "Did Adam and Eve have a bellybutton?"
Our son looked at me as if he were amazed that I would be so naive and said, "Of course not!"
Surprised by his quick response, I asked, "Why not?" and as serious as can be he responded, "Because they didn't have a biblical cord!"
Because we have been separated from God by sin, Jesus Christ died in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust Him as our Savior and Lord, He will forgive our sin and give us eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
FREE Reprints
We want to help as many families as possible to teach and train their children for the Lord's glory.
Please help us to help other families by sharing this entire newsletter, or individual articles.
• Forward to your friends and support group.
• Reprint in an e-mail or print publication.
• Post online.
Please observe our copyright:
1. Do not change the wording.
2. Include "by Cindy Short and Sue Welch" (or other author).
3. Add: "Copyright 2007 by www.TeachingHome.com. Reprinted by permission."
Back to Home School, Part 1 1. Set Specific Objectives for Each Child 2. Plan Multilevel Classes for Fall 3. Gather Your Curriculum 4. Help Someone Start Homeschooling
Recommended Resources
• Oxford Tutorial Service
• AVKO Multi-Sensory Language Arts
• Birch Court Books
• NorthStar Academy and NorthStar HomeSchool
Greetings,
It's time to get ready to go back to home school. We hope that you will look forward to this opportunity of teaching and training your children with anticipation — and that the suggestions and reminders in this and the next three issues will help and encourage you!
May the Lord bless you and your family for His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a home-school, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.
Study the Classics Online!
Weekly Tutorials with a Ph.D.
Classic Christian Worldview
College Prep for High School
Oxford Tutorials offers college preparation classes over the Internet in Latin, Great Books, Shakespeare, Classic Literature, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Logic, and Rhetoric.
• Follows a classical, Christian worldview and approach.
• Teaches the history of ideas which shaped our culture.
425-402-9624 www.oxfordtutorials.com
1. Set Specific Objectives for Each Child
After you have set and reviewed your long-range goals for your children's education and training in all areas of their lives (see last issue), you are ready to determine specific goals and objectives for each of your children for the coming school year.
For goals to be useful, they need to be:
• Specific - what exactly are you aiming for?
• Measurable - how much and when.
• Obtainable - realistic, not overwhelming, yet challenging.
• Reviewed and revised frequently.
Examples:
• Daniel/Language arts - Learn to read this year.
• Jane/Life skills - Learn to make a main dish each month.
• Ryan/Math - Learn times tables.
• Kayla/Character - Be loving and helpful to little brother.
These specific goals will take your children towards the long-range life goals you have set for them (see last issue). See more complete information in newsletter #81.
AVKO (Audio, Visual, Kinesthetic, and Oral) Offers a Multi-Sensory Approach
to Language Arts through Phonics
and Word Families.
• Individualized Keyboarding teaches reading and spelling skills as your child masters the keyboard.
• Let's Write Right teaches reading/spelling as the alphabet is learned.
• Sequential Spelling builds self-esteem.
• To Teach a Dyslexic is the readable and enjoyable autobiography of Don McCabe, a dyslexic who has become a widely recognized expert on dyslexia and head of AVKO.
To try it before you buy it, or for information on dyslexia, visit our website. Complimentary samples and downloads. www.spelling.org / 1-866-285-612
2. Plan Multilevel Classes for Fall
Teaching several of your children together with the same material at the same time can be the most efficient use of your time and effort. Consider the following:
Separate Classes
• For basic skills such as reading, handwriting, and math during the early grades.
• For a student who needs individual attention.
• For an older student who can work independently.
Combined Classes
• For history, science, literature, and Bible.
Present lessons in an amplified manner with explanations and extra resources that enable all children to understand.
Combined Classes and Subjects
• For most of your subjects, using unit studies that integrate literature, history, science, Bible, and other subjects around a theme.
Create a Curriculum or Enhance
Your Own Packaged Curriculum.
Complete lines of Common Sense Press, Beautiful Feet Books, Draw-Write-Now, Key to... Workbooks, CalcuLadder, Learning Magnets, and much more!
Free Media Mail shipping with online order of $20. www.BirchCourtBooks.com
It's time to gather your resources for the coming school year - right around the calendar corner!
• Consider which classes will be taught to more than one of your children (see above), so you know what materials you need.
• Consider using elements from a variety of approaches including traditional textbooks, worktexts, the classical approach, the principle approach, unit studies, books, and life experiences. See information in Newsletter #82.
• Consider using a variety of media to add interest and motivation for all your children and at the same time enhance each child's learning according to his preferred learning style.
• Include books, printed materials, videos and DVDs, supervised Internet studies, computer software, educational games, tools, and manipulatives.
• Order, borrow, or buy any materials needed in addition to what you already have.
• Collect supplemental materials for your family's library such as reference books, time lines, maps, globes, math manipulatives, educational games, and software.
NorthStar Academy
and NorthStar HomeSchool
Two options enable homeschool students to study at their own pace.
• NorthStar Academy is a teacher-led, nationally accredited, online school.
• NorthStar HomeSchool is a parent-led, homeschool and independent study program.
See NorthStar's website or the accompanying e-mail to learn more about these two programs!
4. Help Someone Start Homeschooling —
Maybe Even Yourself!
Look around you at your church, support group, relatives, or neighbors. Is there anyone who would appreciate a little help in considering or starting to homeschool? Here are ways you can help.
Tell Your Story
Realistically give your convictions and reasons to homeschool and your experience - both challenges and successes.
Provide Information
Point your friend to information. The Teaching Home website offers the most frequently asked Questions & Answers, a series of articles on starting to homeschool, and a Checklist for starting a school year.
Give a Sample
Schedule a day or a week of homeschooling together (call it a Day Camp or something fun!). You could do a simple unit study, work on basic skills, and/or explore just one subject area of interest.
A field trip on the last day would round out a good sampling of homeschool opportunities.
Of course the best way to help someone is to pray for them and be there to answer questions and give encouragement!
For 26 Years The Teaching Home Has Been Providing Families
Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement from a Distinctively Christian Perspective.
Cindy Short and Sue Welch, Co-Editors
Sidebar Contents • Patriotic Evangelism
• Outdoor Games
• TTH Back Issue
• Sunnyside Up
• Free Reprints
Patriotic Evangelism
With the 4th of July coming up soon, it's time to start thinking about how you can reach out to the unsaved in your community.
Festivals are great locations for passing out tracts, witnessing one-on-one, and setting up booths.
People at festivals are enjoying themselves and planning to stay a while. For this reason they will usually take time to talk to you.
Most small towns have at least one fireworks show and a parade; in some larger cities you may be able to attend three or four fireworks shows.
It's easy to pass out patriotic tracts — you simply start walking through the crowd saying, "Happy Independence Day," "God bless America," or even "Help save America," as you give them out.
If anyone seems particularly friendly, stop and chat with him a little bit, and then take him through the Gospel.
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Learn To Play
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Teach your children some of these games that you might have played when you were young!
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These games can provide hours of outdoor fun and exercise — the old fashioned way!
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Because we have been separated from God by sin, Jesus Christ died in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust Him as our Savior and Lord, He will forgive our sin and give us eternal life.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." (Eph. 2:8, 9)
» Read, see, and hear the salvation message with special presentations for children, teens, twenties, women, and men at www.needhim.org.
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In This Issue: Get a Great Start to Summer 1. Show Dad Your Love and Appreciation 2. Keep Learning a Little Each Day 3. Be a Good Neighbor 4. Read Aloud Together
Recommended Resources
• Birch Court Books
• NorthStar Academy and NorthStar HomeSchool
• Reading Made Easy by Valerie Bendt
• Oxford Tutorials: Classic Christian College Prep Online
Greetings,
In this issue we offer you four ways to get a good start
to a summer that you will look back on with fondness and satisfactions!
May the Lord bless you and your family for His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a home-school, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.
For good summer reading with character-building stories,
check out the Miller series! Create a Curriculum or Enhance
Your Own Packaged Curriculum.
Complete lines of Common Sense Press, Beautiful Feet Books, Draw-Write- Now, Key to... Workbooks, CalcuLadder, Learning Magnets, and much more!
Free Media Mail shipping with online order of $20. www.BirchCourtBooks.com
Free catalog: 800-655-1811 / BirchCourtBooks@aol.com.
____________________________________________
Show Dad Your Love and Appreciation
Often the deepest feelings of our hearts are not expressed in words. This applies to spouses, parents, and children as well as others.
Help your family learn to communicate their love and appreciation to each other by writing frequent letters or notes to each other. Father's Day is a good time to start!
Whether you buy a ready-made Father's Day card or make your own, add a personal note or enclose a letter that tells Dad exactly how you appreciate and love him.
Be specific in telling Dad what you admire about his character and actions, with examples such as:
"I like the way you show interest in me and what I do. When you ask me what I did today, I feel that you care for me."
"It was great that you helped our neighbors when their car wouldn't start! You are a good example of loving others."
We are all apt to take Dad for granted. The list below may help you realize how much you have to say to him (even if every item does not apply).
Things You Can Thank Dad for:
• Supporting your family's home education efforts.
• Being a good leader.
• Seeking wisdom from the Lord.
• Listening to the children and to Mom's concerns.
• Praying with and for the family.
• Spending one-on-one time with each one in the family.
• Letting children help him work around the house.
• Taking children with him on errands.
• His smile, good humor, and encouragement.
Things a Wife Can Say to Her Husband:
1. Express your purpose to follow the Lord and to be a good wife to him.
2. Tell him of your love, gratitude, and admiration (be specific).
3. Tell him that you want to help your children love and honor him.
4. Tell him that you are praying for him and all the issues that you know he faces.
5. Thank him for his faithfulness to your family.
6. Tell him that you want to keep your home in order and thank him for his patience when other priorities (like your children) prevent that from happening.
You may have heard stories of people whose dearest possession is a letter from a departed parent or a note of too-often-neglected thanks. You can be sure that Dad will treasure your words of love and appreciation!
Read practical suggestions on "How To Make Every Day Father's Day" in Newsletter #8.
Keep Learning a Little Each Day
These regularly repeated activities can help your child review or retain the skills learned during the past school year and even gain some new ones, giving him a big boost for the coming year. Each of the following academic habits can be done in a few minutes per day.
The secret is to use the power of habit and tie short learning activities to other regularly scheduled events. Small amounts done regularly add up to quite a bonus.
You can do each activity each day or alternate and do just one or two each day.
These are just a few examples. The goal is to make it simple, fast, and fun.
1. Reading
• Encourage your child to read a variety of good books during a quiet time set aside each day for personal reading.
• Read together as a family (see below).
2. Writing
• Ask your child to write a sentence, paragraph, or journal entry every day.
• Have him write a brief report of something interesting he has learned which he could read to Father at dinner.
Learn a vocabulary and/or spelling word each day. You can use the same word for both or learn two different words.
Spelling
Choose spelling words from your child's misspelled words or from the following:
• Lists in a spelling book you are using.
• "300 Most Commonly Used Words" (making up 65% of written material)
• 1,000 Most Commonly Used Words.
• Most Often Misspelled Words (for older students) with a mnemonic help to remember each.
• See spelling teaching tips and a list of 100 most commonly used words in Newsletter #32.
Vocabulary
Choose words from your reading or from the following lists for your older students:
• Vocabulary List from the SAT practice test.
• 5000 Collegiate Words with Brief Definitions.
• See vocabulary teaching tips and a list of common prefixes and suffixes in Newsletter #21.
Learning Procedure
• Read the word, then pronounce and spell it together.
• Write it out and place it where everyone can see it.
• Define the word and use it in a sentence.
• Review the words often.
You can adapt this procedure to the learning of a foreign language or sign language.
4. Basic Math Facts
Success and speed in mathematics depends on instant recall of the basic math facts and operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).
Frequent repetition (drill) is the key to learning them thoroughly and retaining them.
You can also review last year's math by doing one problem from the workbook each day.
5. Globe, Map, or Time-Line Study
Keep a globe, map, and time-line in a central location and do one of these activities.
• Have a 5- or 10-minute map search and check off a list of objectives (continents, oceans, countries, major cities, rivers, lakes, mountains; see Newsletter #146 or one of your textbooks).
• Locate times and places that you encounter in your reading, in the news, in missionary prayer letters, etc. or methodically work through a list of geographical or historical items from one of your school books.
• Do the above activity with a time-line and list of events or people.
6. Bible Memory
• Take a minute or two before each meal to say a Bible memory verse together.
Be a Good Neighbor
As light in this dark world, our first assignment (after our own family) is the area nearest us — our neighborhood! ("You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8)
How can you be a witness to your neighbors and still protect your children from harmful influences?
1. Schedule and limit playtime with neighbors so that everyone will know what to expect. State this as an invitation to children and their parents (e.g., "You are welcome to come play from 2:00 to 4:00, Monday through Thursday.)
2. Discuss your house rules in simple terms (e.g., no bad language or attitudes, be kind and considerate to all). Appropriate consequences might be time out or end of playtime.
3. Add some activities to your children's free play, such as old fashioned games like those in the left-hand column, marbles, jacks, or hopscotch or an art project.
4. Ask your neighbor if it is OK to include her child in your family's read-aloud time (Bible or Christian stories) or light academic studies (see above). She might appreciate some help for her child in a needed area.
5. Supervise (by sight and hearing) all interaction between children so that you can correct attitudes and maintain the standards of your family.
6. Invite your neighbors to dinner or maybe a 4th of July barbecue or picnic. Prepare by praying for them, and being ready to share the Gospel with them.
Your neighbors might ask about why you are home schooling. This is an excellent opportunity to share the Gospel.
You will probably have to go outside your comfort zone to be a light in your community, but that is, after all, why we are teaching and training our children for the Lord.
7. You might also organize a block party for later in the summer and set up a neighborhood watch.
Read Aloud Together
Reading is a pleasurable summer activity with many benefits. Reading aloud together as a family makes it that much better!
• Bible Reading. In just 5 minutes per day your family can read the entire New Testament through in a year (See a Bible reading schedule).
• Select a worthwhile book that will keep the interest of all family members. If your family has not read the all-time greatest Christian classic, Pilgrim's Progress, start with that or the "Little House" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, or an exciting historical fiction book by G.A. Henty, such as The Cat of Bubastes, set in ancient Egypt (a study guide is also available).
• Make this time relaxed and enjoyable, but stop to explain or discuss items that come up.
• Read with expression and at a slightly slower pace.
• Read together before or after a family activity, such as a meal, Bible reading, or bed time.
• Read at the table, sitting together on the couch, or outside.
• An alternative is to listen together (at home or in the car) to an audio recording of good literature, such as those from your local library or Sing 'n Learn.
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NorthStar Academy
and NorthStar HomeSchool
Two options enable homeschool students to study at their own pace.
NorthStar Academy is a teacher-led, nationally accredited, online school.
NorthStar HomeSchool is a parent-led, homeschool and independent study program.
See NorthStar's website or the accompanying e-mail to learn more about these two programs!
____________________________________________
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Free: Frances Series Study Guide ($16) when ordering Reading Made Easy. ( E-mail mentioning this ad for online orders.) Reading Made Easy:
A Guide To Teach Your Child To Read
by Valerie Bendt
Complete Phonics Curriculum:
• 108 lessons (30 mins. ea., 3 days/week)
• Christian content
• Instructions and dialog to read to your child
• Writing, drawing, and hands-on activities
Read more and see samples at www.ValerieBendt.com. Free Shipping in USA. 813-758-6793 Also:Unit Studies Made Easy, Making Most of the Preschool Years
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Study the Classics Online!
Weekly Tutorials with a Ph.D.
Classic Christian Worldview
College Prep for High School
Oxford Tutorials offers college preparation classes over the Internet in Latin, Great Books, Shakespeare, Classic Literature, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Logic, and Rhetoric.
• Follows a classical, Christian worldview and approach.
• Teaches the history of ideas which shaped our culture.
425-402-9624 www.oxfordtutorials.com
If you have found this free newsletter to be helpful, please recommend it to a friend. Use the link at the end of this e-mail to forward this issue. If this issue has been forwarded to you, you can sign up here to receive your own free newsletter subscription. Thank you!
________________________
Upcoming Newsletter Topics
Christian Worldview Teaching Different Age Groups Learning Difficulties
You're Invited! You are invited to contribute to this newsletter. Send e-mails to Publisher@TeachingHome.com. We also invite you to send us suggestions, questions you would like to see answered, and anything else of interest to the thousands of home schoolers who subscribe to this newsletter. Thank You!
________________________
"The Teaching Home Back Issues"
The Teaching Home magazine back issues are still relevant and applicable today! Fifty-one Back Issues are offered for sale online. In each issue an average of 58 home schoolers contribute: Practical how-to articles Encouraging letters Ready-to-use teaching tips
________________________
Please Support Our Sponsoring Advertisers!
These free newsletters are made possible by the fine suppliers who advertise in them and the accompanying e-mails.
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Sunnyside Up
Old Before Her Time As 3-year-old Heather and 7-year-old Jill were helping in the kitchen, Heather went on and on about things she planned to do when she was grown up. Finally, Jill replied, "You will have to be very patient, because it takes a long, long time to grow up. I know. It took me seven years!" Submitted by Connie R., Texas
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God Loves You.
Because we have been separated from God by sin, Jesus Christ died in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust Him as our Savior and Lord, He will give us eternal life.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." (Eph. 2:8, 9)
See a beautiful, expanded Plan of Salvation online, available in 18 languages.
________________________
Pass It On!
This newsletter is copyright 2006 by The Teaching Home. You may pass this newsletter on in its entirety or by complete, individual articles by: Forwarding Printing and distributing Reprinting in an e-mail or print publication Posting on a website (with a link to our website)
Provided that you: 1. Do not change the wording, 2. Include "by Cindy Short and Sue Welch" (or other author) 3. Add: "Copyright 2006 by www.TeachingHome.com. Reprinted by permission."
For reprints from The Teaching Home Magazine, fill out a Request Form. To advertise in this newsletter, request information.
In This Issue: Thanksgiving Activities 1. Thanking God: Thanksgiving Day 2. Thanking God: Throughout the Year 3. Thanking Others: Thanksgiving Day 4. Thanking Others: Throughout the Year
Greetings,
Are you busy with Thanksgiving Day preparations with extended family, guests, food, and more?
In this issue we offer you some ready-made, practical ideas for activities that will ensure that the reason for this season giving thanks is not neglected.
All ages can join in and enjoy these fun and meaningful ways of expressing thanks!
May the Lord bless your family for His glory.
Cordially, The Pat Welch Family, Publishers Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a home-school, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.
Thanking God: Thanksgiving Day
"Count Your Blessings" Visuals
Poster Make a poster, cut out objects and write a blessing for which you are thankful on each one, and then tape or glue them on the poster. For example: Poster of a tree with leaf cutouts Poster of a cornucopia with fruit and vegetable cutouts Poster of an umbrella with raindrop cutouts (showers of blessings)
Basket or Box Alternatively, decorate a box or basket to hold notes written by family members expressing thankfulness for various blessings, great or small. Throughout the year you can add more notes. Review them occasionally or read one before each meal, as well as on next Thanksgiving Day. One family's tradition is to start a box on Thanksgiving into which family members put notes of thanks to each other with specific things they appreciate about each other. Then they add to this box until Christmas and open the notes to each other before they share their gifts.
Activity: "What I'm Thankful For" (with Charades and/or Pictionary) Have Ready: a whiteboard with dry or wet-erase pens, or a large pad of paper with felt markers. The idea is for everyone to tell what they are thankful for by using the rules of charades or pictionary. Everyone gets a turn as others guess. This is not a points or winning game just fun! The game can continue after everyone has one turn as long as there is interest.
Your Family Thanksgiving Service After your Thanksgiving feast, gather your family and friends for a time of: Singing hymns and songs of praise. See words and hear the music to many hymns of thanksgiving at Cyberhymnal. Recounting to each other the blessings of the Lord. Thanking Him together in prayer. Reading or quoting Bible verses or passages on thankfulness and God's blessings (many of the Psalms and Psalm 100).
Nature Friend Monthly Magazine Encourages Children To Appreciate Gods Handiwork in Nature. This high-quality, beautiful full-color magazine contains 24 pages of: Learning by Doing: Science-related feature You Can Draw art lesson and photo tips Articles, stories, activities, puzzles Childrens letters, drawings, writings, photos www.naturefriendmagazine.com 1-877-434-0765
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Thanking God: Throughout the Year
1. Private Prayer Talking to God in prayer throughout the day is how we can "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
2. Modeling Private, Constant Prayer Since your children cannot know your constant and silent prayers to the Lord, you may want to occasionally say them out loud in their presence, such as "Thank you, Lord, that we have the freedom to home school and had such an interesting history lesson today."
3. Family Prayers During your daily family prayer time, ask your children to think of one specific thing that happened that day for which they can thank the Lord.
4. Singing Hymns and Spiritual Songs Throughout Scripture, thankfulness to the Lord is expressed not only in words, but through music. "I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving" (Psalms 69:30). Learn (memorize) and sing hymns and songs of praise. Sing praises: Alone, either aloud or silently in your mind as you work or travel. As a family, at meals, devotional times, and in the car. Corporately, as a church congregation, choir, or ensemble. For others, such as at a rest home or rescue mission.
5. Tell Others. Part of our giving thanks to God is to do it before others as a testimony of His goodness to all mankind and our appreciation of Him. This can be a simple phrase inserted into our conversations where appropriate, like, "I'm really thankful that the Lord loves and cares for me," or "I'm thankful that I can take my cares to the Lord in prayer," etc.
6. Direct the Praise to God. "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth" (Psalms 115:1). Teach your children by your own example that when we are praised by others, we should acknowledge the Lord's grace that enables us. In this way we give the glory and praise to Him.
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Sick of Health Insurance? Christian families can deal with rising health care costs without using insurance. As of November 2006, the monthly share amount has never exceeded $248 per family even less for couples and singles. Call 888-2-OTHERS (268-4377). www.SamaritanMinistries.org.
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Thanking Others: Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day Activity: Thanking Others Around the Room
Write everyone's name on a slip of paper, fold it, and place it in a dish. Everyone draws a name and thanks that person for something that they have done this past year. Thanks can be just one sentence, either written or spoken. Go around the room reading or saying your thanks.
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Thanking Others: Throughout the Year
There are many people in our lives to whom we owe our gratitude.
1. Parents and Other Family Members Model and teach your children the habit of noticing, appreciating, and thanking family members. Not only is this right and proper, but it also motivates good behavior and a pleasant atmosphere. Thank the cook after each meal and the person who does the laundry for clean clothes. Thank children for doing their chores, for being kind to each other, for going beyond their assigned duties, etc. Thank Dad each night for working for the family. Besides spoken thanks, surprise one another with a note in Dad's lunch or under your child's pillows, etc.
2. Friends These are those who love us and our family, encourage us, stand by us, and help us. We might be tempted to take our friends for granted, but how it warms the heart to receive a note like: "Thank you for all your love, support, and friendship over the years. Your family means so much to our family. I just want you to know that when I say 'I love you guys,' I do mean it from the bottom of my heart. One of God's greatest blessings is having friends like you!" Remember, too, your Pastor and fellow Church members. One church that we attended provided space on an attendance card in which to write a note of appreciation to a fellow church member. Then the notes were placed in the offering plate and mailed to the recipient during the week.
3. Those That Serve Us Even though the mailman, garbage collector, and newspaper carrier are paid for their service, they deserve and appreciate thanks. This is why many people give them a small gift at Christmas. Include an attractive tract to enrich your gift with God's offer of eternal life. Remember also statesmen, authors, and teachers.
How To Write a Thank-You Note There are many ways to express your thanks to others: A Phone Call or a Personal Visit Thoughtful Gifts and Service Letters, Notes, and Cards A thank-you note is a very important expression of gratitude after you have been a guest at someone's house for dinner or overnight, received a gift, or been treated with special kindness and generosity.
1. Write Promptly Part of the value of a thank-you note is that it is received soon after the gift or service. Procrastination often leads to an embarrassing lapse of time that can discourage you from writing at all.
2. Use Appropriate Materials Choose a nice card or stationary. You can buy a preprinted Thank-You card or make your own. See how to make cards from many materials. Keep a supply of cards or stationary on hand so that you are prepared to send a thank you immediately. Always use a pen (not a pencil). Your child may need to first write out his message on plain paper and then copy it into the card.
3. Be Specific Mention the gift or service by name when thanking the sender. Say why you like the gift and what you plan to do with it or how you will enjoy it. If you enjoyed someone's hospitality, tell them something specifically that you appreciated.
4. Mail It! Follow through with putting an address and stamp on your note or letter and putting it in the mail.
"Holiday Reading Sale" is the subject line of the e-mail accompanying and sponsoring this newsletter.
Make Your Family Reading Exciting and Character-Building for the Whole Family! Find more than 80 wonderful books written in yesteryear with appeal and truth for today. All on sale until year's end! Keepers of the Faith Read Book Reviews & Order.
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Tell a Friend
If you have found this free newsletter to be helpful, please recommend it to a friend. Use the link at the end of this e-mail to forward this issue to a friend. If this issue has been forwarded to you, you can sign up here to receive your own free newsletter subscription. Thank you!
________________________
Upcoming Newsletter Topics
Christian Worldview, 2-Part Series Thanksgiving Teaching Different Age Groups, 4-Part Series Learning Difficulties
You're Invited! You are invited to contribute to this free newsletter. Send your e-mails to Publisher@TeachingHome.com:
We also invite you to send us suggestions, questions you would like to see answered, and anything else of interest to the thousands of home schoolers who subscribe to this newsletter.
Thank You!
________________________
Prepare To Vote November 7th!
Voter Guides and Congressional Scorecards can help you make informed decisions on Election Day based on where candidates stand on important issues. Share these guides with family, friends, or fellow church members and urge them to vote. Who is elected may determine what freedoms you will keep and what freedoms you will lose. Exercising your right to vote is crucial. And don't forget to pray! See suggestions on the National Day of Prayer website.
"I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
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Reformation Day: October 31st
Unit Study on the Reformation
Newsletter #53 contains a unit study on the Reformation that can lead up to Reformation Day and/or follow it. This unit study includes: Teaching Our Children the Whole Truth Bible study Internet links A timeline Suggestions for studies in writing, reading, history, geography, art, vocabulary, speech, music, science, and more.
Fall Back! Set your clock back one hour and enjoy an extra hour of sleep. Read the history of daylight- saving time in the U.S. on the Naval Observatory website. (Did you know that standard time in time zones was instituted by the railroads in 1883 and was not established in U.S. law until 1918? Or that daylight-saving time was not standardized until 1966 and will begin about one month earlier in 2007?)
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Teaching Websites
Keyboarding/Typing Skills
Keyboarding has become an essential life skill for your children to learn. With a good typing program, your child can learn correct finger placement, accuracy, and speed.
Practice is essential in building this skill, so set aside a few minutes each day for your child to learn and practice typing before he does anything else on the computer (a little incentive will work wonders).
Free Typing Lessons Online All of these free online lessons have many features not listed below. So check them out and use one (or more) that fits your needs the best. Learn 2 Type. Typing Certification available; also 10 Key. Senselang. Hebrew language included. Power Typing. Typing lessons for, and information about, both the Qwerty (standard) keyboard and Dvorak (alternate) keyboard. Peter's Online Typing Course. Includes principles of typing and ergonomics. Firefox offers an add-on for "Addictive Typing Lessons."
Practice with Fun Typing Games Typing Tutor. Characters are falling down the screen; you have to stop them before they reach the bottom by pressing the corresponding key on the keyboard. Typer Shark from Yahoo Games.
Fun Typing Facts "Typewriter" is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard. "Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left hand. "Lollipop" is the longest word typed with only your right hand. From Frode Jensen, author of "Jensen's Grammar" and other fine language books.Wordsmiths
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The Teaching Home Back Issues
The Teaching Home magazine back issues are still relevant and applicable today!
In each issue an average of 58 home schoolers contribute: Practical how-to articles Encouraging letters Ready-to-use teaching tips
________________________
Please Support Our Sponsoring Advertisers!
These free newsletters are made possible by the fine suppliers who advertise in them and the accompanying e-mails.
________________________
Sunnyside Up
Babies Are Forever When I was pregnant with our third child, Allison was 3 years old. While telling a friend that we were having another baby, she announced that her mom now "gets to wear eternity clothes"! Submitted by Paula M., South Dakota
________________________
God Loves You.
Because we have been separated from God by sin, Jesus Christ died in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust Him as our Savior and Lord, He will give us eternal life.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." (Eph. 2:8, 9)
See a beautiful, expanded Plan of Salvation online, available in 18 languages.
________________________
Pass It On!
This newsletter is copyright 2006 by The Teaching Home. You may pass this newsletter on in its entirety or by complete, individual articles by: Forwarding Printing and distributing Reprinting in an e-mail or print publication Posting on a website (with a link to our website)
Provided that you: 1. Do not change the wording, 2. Include "by Cindy Short and Sue Welch" (or other author) 3. Add: "Copyright 2006 by www.TeachingHome.com. Reprinted by permission."
For reprints from The Teaching Home Magazine, fill out a Request Form.
2. What Is the Occult? 3. What Does God Say? 4. Does It Affect My Family? 5. What Should We Do? 6. Helpful Resources 7. Conclusion
Greetings,
As our culture is bombarded with the celebration of Halloween, we have an appropriate and compelling opportunity to teach our children about the occult and its dangers. In most public schools a wide range of occultic practices are taught as harmless, as something to try out, or as something to tolerate. However, we need to teach our children what God says about the occult. The following thoughts are intended to raise your consciousness about the occult in our society and to suggest appropriate responses for Christian families.
May the Lord bless your family for His glory.
Cordially, The Pat Welch Family, Publishers Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a home-school, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.
You Never Forget What You Sing! Award-Winning, Catchy Sing-Alongs Teach: World Geography U.S. History States & Capitals Punctuation Bible Math Facts Grammar. Cassettes, videos, DVDs, CDs, books, posters. Free Catalog. Hear 40 samples at www.audiomemory.com. CD sampler/12 songs, only $5 States and Capitals DVD - $15 New on DVD/Video: Intelligent Design; Dramatic Performances of the lives of John Wesley and St. Patrick. Info: (800) 365-SING.
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Warnings The study of the occult can become oppressive and should not be taken lightly. Any contact with, even studying, the occult can progressively draw a person into a fascination with the occult and place him in a vulnerable position. God warns us of Satan's overt and covert attacks: "Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14) "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) Because of this very real danger, we need to teach our children to keep their distance from anything remotely connected with Satan and his power. Instead we are told to "Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:7, 8)
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What Is the Occult?
The occult is real, not imagined or made up. We are in a spiritual battle "against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)
The occult refers to secret knowledge and practices involving the supernatural. Occultism has been rapidly growing in its influence and acceptability. Read many informative articles on the Christian Answers and Spotlight Ministries websites.
Wicca (another word for Witchcraft) and Paganism are now recognized "religions" listed and described in manuals for chaplains in the U.S. military and correctional services.
The list of 78 occultic practices on Christian Answers' website will open your eyes to the many forms of the occult. Some examples are astrology, magic, spells, enchantments, charms, sorcery, wizardry, witchcraft, divination, fortune-telling, mediums, spiritism, necromancy, familiar spirits, wizardry, seances, channeling, clairvoyance, and spirit-guides.
The occult is also a part of yoga and transcendental meditation (a form of yoga). In an online article about yoga, Dave Hunt says, "the greatest yoga teachers all declare that the repetition of a mantra is a call to that god (i.e., the demon it represents) to come and possess the meditator."
Any time a person gives up control of himself, except for a deliberate yielding to the Lord, he opens himself to be taken over by the control of Satan. This can include some martial arts, some "Christian" (non-biblical) forms of meditation, hypnotism, and Theosophy.
Man seeks and hungers for a power higher than himself. When he refuses to accept the true God, he is open to the alternative power of Satan.
All real super-human power is either from God or Satan. There is no neutral power, nor is there any good power that comes from Satan (e.g., there are no good witches). This should be remembered when encountering attempts to call good "evil" and evil "good," to blur the lines between good and evil (the so-called gray areas), or to condone choosing a "lesser" evil as a way of avoiding something "worse."
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What Does God Say? God has zero tolerance for the occult and treats it very seriously. "There shall not be found among you anyone who . . . practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord." (Deuteronomy 18: 10-12) "You shall not . . . practice divination or soothsaying. Do not turn to mediums or spiritists." (Leviticus 19:26, 31)
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Does It Affect My Family? Both children and adults are being constantly exposed to the pervading presence of the occult in books, movies, and games. Even the seemingly supernatural power in some religious experiences need to be identified. "But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons." (1 Timothy 4:1) "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1) When studying pagan cultures, be aware that many ethnic objects and practices are actually satanic. We must take the occult's presence in our homes and children's lives seriously. It is not just innocent fun. We never know where a very little influence or involvement can lead.
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Books To Encourage and Strengthen Your Family in Your Faith Teach and train godly character into your children with these time- and family-tested classics that are sure to become your family's favorites. Lamplighter Books are set in the early 1500-1900's and have been beautifully re-printed in the timeless style of the originals. Stories are based upon a character quality and how the main character grows in it. 1-847-526-3867. www.faithandfamilybooks.com
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What Should We Do?
1. Teach Your Children What God Says about the Occult (see above) Do a Bible study, reading and discussing the Scripture passages in this newsletter and others that are chain-linked in your Bible (or use a concordance).
2. Identify the Occult in Your Home As an exercise, identify and list any occultic influences in your home. They may come mainly through books, gaming, movies, and music.
Fantasy in Books and Movies. Writers such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, while accepted by many Christians (read online article), can provide an initiation into the genre of fantasy. As the line between acceptable and unacceptable fantasy keeps being pushed further and further, this can lead to many works of dubious value and potential danger, still being rationalized by "good conquering evil." On their website, Spotlight Ministries points out "A big area where the occult realm is making headway these days is the whole realm of fiction and fantasy. Young people, especially, are being drawn to witchcraft and other areas of the occult initially by becoming interested in fictional aspects of it. From this, the jump into the real world of the occult is an easy, more familiar one to make."
Gaming. Many video games involve the occult, even though the "good" occult is fighting to conquer the "bad." A good rule for games is that a child should not pretend to do something that would be wrong to do in real life.
3. Guide and Supervise You may determine that some things are not really occultic, but need to be explained and controlled. Fairy Tales. Provide parental guidance to your children when they encounter impossible or supernatural things in fairy tales. "Magic". Explain the difference between "magic" tricks (illusions) and the supernatural power of either God or Satan. Limit Involvement. It is important to limit the amount of time that a child is immersed in such questionable reading, watching, or playing. He should not read only fantasy or spend hours playing a fantasy game.
4. Remove Objectionable Material and Activities You may need to do a purge of over-the-line or too-close-to-the line items from your home.
Discuss. Talk about these items with your children, explain why you believe it would be better for them and please the Lord if they were removed from your home.
Pray. Pray together to ask for the Lord's wisdom and power to do His will. If your children are unwilling to give up a questionable activity, that might be a sign that it needs more attention.
Completely Remove. The world derides "book burning," but the Lord records in His Word for our edification that after an evil spirit was sent out of a man in Ephesus, "Fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing." (Acts 19:17-20)
Of course, overtly satanic games such as the ouija board and tarot cards must be strictly forbidden.
5. Fill Your Home with Godly Influences When we remove undesirable activities from our family's lives, we must fill the vacuum with Godly influences (see Christ's parable of the unclean spirit who was banished, then replaced with seven more wicked spirits in Matthew 12:43-45). Fill your home and children's lives with: God's Word reading, discussing, studying, memorizing Good Christian music, such as the old hymns of the faith. Check out music sold by Sound Forth or listen to Christian music online. Wholesome reading materials and images. Everything in our lives should meet God's standards: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
6. Arm Your Children with God's Word Teach your children to resist Satan, his temptations, and his power as Christ did with Scriptures that they have memorized. "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil . . . having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God with all prayer and . . . be on the alert with all perseverance." (Ephesians 6:10-18)
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Halloween - Trick or Treat? DVD Informative DVD traces the pagan origins, history and rituals of Halloween, one of the highest holy days of the Pagan/Occult calendar of Druids, Witches, and Satanists. The rituals seen in this documentary are real (too graphic for young children). Order online.
Reviews from a Christian Worldview You might not agree 100% with these reviews, but they are a place to start and to alert you to undesirable elements. Plugged-in Online. Reviews of movies, video/DVD, music, and television. Christian Spotlight on Entertainment. Reviews of movies, Christian films, television, and games.
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Conclusion We need to recognize, but not fear, the power of Satan and his demons, which is nothing compared to God's power.
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God "And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him."
"At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (Philippians 2:10)
"And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world . . . Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come . . . And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.'" (Revelation 12:9-11)
If you have found this free newsletter helpful, please recommend it to a friend. Forward this issue to a friend (use link at end of e-mail). If this issue has been forwarded to you, sign up here. Thank you!
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Upcoming E-Mail Newsletter Topics
2-Part Series on Christian Worldview Christian Worldview, part 1 Philosophies, World Religions, and Education Christian Worldview, part 2 Issues: Abortion, Homosexuality, Euthanasia, Marriage, and Pornography
The Occult Teaching Our Children To Recognize Satanic Elements
4- Part Series on Age Groups (Preschool, Elementary, Middle, High School, Post High School) Age Groups, part 1 Spiritual and Character Training Age Groups, part 2 Academics: The 3 Rs Age Groups, part 3 Academics: Other Subjects Age Groups, part 4 Social and Family Life, Physical Training, and Life Skills
Learning Difficulties How To Identify and Solve
Thanksgiving Devotionals and Activities
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New Features and an Invitation To Contribute
We have added several new features to our free e-mail newsletter and invite you to contribute by e-mail to Publisher@TeachingHome.com:
Main Topic (see list above): Information, links, teaching tips, or resources.
Sunnyside Up Humorous anecdotes.
Fun Website Anything of interest to home-school families, especially children (e.g., educational or craft ideas).
Online Article of Interest Articles of interest that can be read on the Internet. (These can be more academic in nature.)
News News affecting home education, parental rights, or religious freedom.
We also invite you to send us suggestions, questions you would like to see answered (by us and/or our readers), and anything else of interest to the thousands of home schoolers who subscribe to this newsletter.
Thank You!
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Enjoy the Fall Season
Fall is a great time of year to enjoy and appreciate the bounty of the harvest God provides and the beauty of Autumn in His creation.
"Global Warming" Non-Technical Article by Michael Oard "Many articles and books have been written in recent years on the subject of global warmingmuch of the information confusing. . . ."But how is this information to be evaluated? We should first check the data. As with the creation/evolution issue, we need to separate interpretations from facts. . . Read Article.
"Human-Caused Global Warming Slight So Far" Technical Article by Michael Oard "Abstract: Reasons why Christians should be cautious about the controversial topic of global warming are listed. . . Read Article.
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The Teaching Home Back Issues
The Teaching Home magazine back issues are still relevant and applicable today!
In each issue an average of 58 home schoolers contribute: Practical how-to articles Encouraging letters Ready-to-use teaching tips
Featured Issue: January/February 2001
Contents:
Special Section: Home-School Basics (10 pages). Questions & Answers Concerning Home Schooling; Setting Goals for Excellence; 20 Elements of Success in Christian Home Education; Educational Approaches and Methods; Teaching Several Children at Once; Combining Methods and Materials; Teaching Academic Basics; Educational Media; Home-School Support; Evaluate Curriculum from a Christian World View; Organization and Planning; Child Training; and Checklist for Starting a School Year.
Regular Features: Our Readers Write (letters, 5 pages); Cover Story; Sunny Side Up
Teaching Tips (5 pages): Contests for Learning; Teaching Art at Home: Beginning Painting; Early Childhood: Bible Teaching; Read Through the Bible in a Year; The Third Commandment.
Columns and Articles: Teens: Training Minds Through Formal Debate; Support Groups: Let's Communicate Biblically; Computer Literacy 101.
These free newsletters are made possible by the fine suppliers who advertise in them and the accompanying e-mails. Please consider those that advertised in our last issue (below) as well as the ones in this issue.
Phonetic Spelling After a spelling test, I was checking for mistakes when our 4-year-old daughter gave me her paper. She had written NDN, her version of Indian. Submitted by Donna S., Nevada
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God Loves You.
Because we have been separated from God by sin, Jesus Christ died in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust Him as our Savior and Lord, He will give us eternal life. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." (Eph. 2:8, 9) Read God's Plan of Salvation.
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E-Mail Newsletter Reprint Policy. This newsletter is copyright 2006 by The Teaching Home. Permission is given to forward or to print and distribute this e-mail in its entirety. Individual articles from this E-Mail Newsletter may also be reprinted unedited in their entirety. Please include "by Cindy Short and Sue Welch" (or other author) and print the following at the end of the article(s): "Copyright 2006 by The Teaching Home, www.TeachingHome.com. Reprinted by permission." Please Note: We do not give permission to post articles on a website. For reprints from The Teaching Home Magazine, fill out a Request Form. To advertise in this newsletter, request information.
In This Issue: Troubleshooting Your Back-to-School
1. Can't Seem To Get Started? Something always interferes with your home schooling. You keep thinking you'll do better tomorrow, but . . . Five Solutions!
2. Can't Juggle Students and Preschoolers? Needs of your littlest ones are as important as education of your older ones, but you can't be everywhere at once. Six Solutions!
3. Can't Keep Up with the Housework? Both school and housework are important, but there don't seem to be enough hours in the day. Seven Solutions!
Greetings,
A home-school Mom wrote:
"We attempted to begin our home-school year and failed miserably. I've been broken up about it all week and am actually physically sick over it.
"After checking out local schools and talking things over with my dear husband, I still believe home schooling is our best option. God has provided a friend to help us out. Just wanted to thank you for your encouragement."
We trust that the practical suggestions in this newsletter will encourage you to take the next step in getting started or enable you to help someone else that needs assistance or encouragement.
May the Lord bless your family for His glory.
Cordially, The Pat Welch Family, Publishers Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a home-school, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.
Troubleshooting Your Back-to-School
The school year has just started, but some home schoolers are already feeling overwhelmed. Before you despair, read on for some practical ways to get off the starting line and regain your confidence. Bear in mind that everything doesn't need to fall into place at once just because it is September. Most schools spend a while in review each year before studying new material, and they also have to take extra time to accommodate the many achievement levels of their students. Be encouraged the efficiency of home schooling will allow you to catch up easily.
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Reading Made Easy: A Guide To Teach Your Child To Read by Valerie Bendt
Complete Phonics Curriculum: 108 lessons (30 minutes each, three days a week) Christian content Instructions and dialog to read to your child Writing, drawing, and hands-on activities Read more and see samples at www.ValerieBendt.com.
Also Available:Unit Studies Made Easy, Making the Most of the Preschool Years, Frances Series Study Guide, Making Books and Puppets ____________________________________________
Can't Seem To Get Started?
The Problem Something always "comes up" time after time that interferes with your home schooling. Either the day or the hour you wanted to start comes and goes with nothing happening. You have multiple interruptions, and little or nothing is accomplished. You keep thinking you'll do better tomorrow, but you're beginning to feel like you're swimming upstream against a current stronger than you.
Five Solutions
1. Get a Perspective Realize that's exactly what you're doing swimming against the current! By choosing to teach your children at home from a Christian worldview, you are taking a stand against the spiritual darkness of the world today. Thousands of other Christian home-school families have faced and overcome the same struggles with the Lord's help!
2. Arm Yourself As Christian soldiers, you can expect resistance, or even attacks, from your Enemy. Prepare for spiritual combat as directed in Eph. 6:10-18:
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Make your quiet time with the Lord a priority as you read His Word and pray for your family's specific needs. Cast all your cares upon the Lord for He cares for you (I Peter 5:7). Ask the Lord for His promised wisdom (James 1:5). Count on the Lord's presence and help (Hebrews 13:5-6).
3. Start Slow and Steady Make plans to begin. Set an easily attainable goal for your first day or week. Start with just one subject and introduce one new class into your schedule every few days over a week or two. Begin with Bible; then add the basics (3 Rs). Consider concentrating on fewer subjects at a time (e.g., study science for half a year and history the other half). See suggestions in Newsletter #48.
4. Eliminate the Unnecessary Remove any activity of lesser importance that keeps getting in your way. This may include eliminating good opportunities for extra activities in favor of the best use of your family's time and energy.
5. Don't Give Up Persevere towards your goal, even when you get behind. Return to your schedule after each interruption. Do not waste time or energy crying over spilt milk!
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)
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Enlightened Democracy by Tara Ross
Understand the Constitution and the basic tenets that undergird America's republican democracy as you never have before and learn a little history along the way! Free Study Guide Also Available. www.colonialpressonline.com
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Can't Juggle Students and Preschoolers?
The Problem You truly believe the needs of your littlest ones are as important as the education of your older ones, but you can't be everywhere at once.
Six Solutions
1. Identify Your Children's Needs Identify each of your children's needs for your time and attention. Also identify which needs could be met by someone else (e.g., You must nurse the baby and hug the toddler frequently, but an older child could feed the toddler lunch or read him a story). Make sure no one is left without attention longer than he can reasonably be content. A moment with you at the right time is worth more than several minutes when it's too late.
2. Be Prepared Provide alternative activities for each child to do when you are needed by another child. Make a list of alternative activities and have supplies handy (e.g., a box of toys; learning games, puzzles, or coloring books; school assignments; or chores).
3. Do More Things Together Your baby may be happy on your lap while you read history lessons to your older children and your toddler plays with Legos on the floor. Teach subjects like Bible, science, and history to all your children together. Assign extra reading and work for your older children; explain more and supplement with picture books for your younger ones. See Newsletter #44.
4. Take Advantage of Naptimes Whether your little ones nap on schedule or not, be ready to drop everything and do phonics or math with your beginning students or needed one-on-one tutoring with your older students whenever this "prime time" occurs.
5. Let Your Students Teach Each Other Your children can help each other. For example: An older child can drill flashcards with a younger child. A younger child can practice reading to an older child. An older child can help a younger child with math.
6. Multitask Look for opportunities to teach your children concepts or discuss their studies while you are doing something else. Teach and practice math while cooking or cleaning. Practice reading signs when you go on errands. Talk about things on your walks or drives. These mini-lessons can either replace or accelerate regular lessons. You will find that informal teaching at opportune moments accumulates into a respectable store of knowledge over time.
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Complete High School Math Courses: New! Calculus Algebra II with Trigonometry Coming January '07 Geometry These courses will develop your childs skill in math and prepare him for higher levels of high school or college math. Guaranteed to increase SAT/ACT math scores DVD teaching videos by Dr. Dale Callahan College-level textbooks for better explanations Free U.S. shipping www.askdrcallahan.com
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Can't Keep Up with the Housework?
The Problem When you attempt to teach your children their lessons, you find your housework falling further and further behind. You know both school and housework are important, but there don't seem to be enough hours in the day.
Seven Solutions
1. Make Simple Meals Make simple, nutritious meals (e.g. stew in a crock pot or toasted cheese sandwiches and veggies) on school days and save your special menus for the weekend or for company. Teach your children to make one meal each week (even if it is the same one every time!).
2. Cut Down on Laundry Are you washing clothes unnecessarily? Make sure your children don't throw clothes in the wash that are clean enough to wear again instead of hanging them up.
3. De-Clutter Spend just 15 minutes each day, or longer once a week, to de-clutter. Nothing makes your house easier to keep neat and clean. See suggestions in Newsletter #42.
4. Find Something New Look for some new tools, containers, or procedures that can save you valuable time. See suggestions at: The Organized Home, Fly Lady, and Don Aslett's Cleaning Center.
5. Delegate! You might be amazed at how much your children can do (almost as well as you). And the younger they are, the more excited they'll be about helping. Take time (out of schooltime if necessary) to train your children to do chores to your standards and on time. Read "7 Ways To Teach Responsibility through Chores" in Newsletter #45.
6. Prevent Messes Train all family members to pick up after themselves, plus a little extra, whenever they leave a room.
7. Schedule Time To Do Your Housework Set aside certain hours in your daily or weekly schedule for housework. Accomplish what you can within that time, then move on to your next activity. You can pick up where you left off next time "housework" is on your schedule. Follow the same scheduling procedure with schooltime, errands, free time, etc. Otherwise one "priority" can eat up all your time, leaving no room for other important needs.
1. Celebrate Constitution Week, Sept. 17- 23 2. President's Comments on the Constitution 3. Studying Our Constitution 4. Online Resources 5. Studying Our Government 6. Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws 7. More Resources
Greetings,
Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.
It is important to teach your children about our nation's Constitution and how it affects our lives. Constitution Week, September 17-23, is also a great time to study our government and our Christian heritage with your family!
May the Lord bless your family for His glory.
Cordially, The Pat Welch Family, Publishers Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a home-school, family-run business operated in our home since 1980.
1. Celebrate Constitution Week, Sept. 17- 23
In remembrance of the signing of the Constitution and in recognition of the Americans who strive to uphold the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress has designated September 17 as "Constitution Day" and "Citizenship Day," and requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as "Constitution Week."
Resource: Constitution Day Package Includes: "A More Perfect Union," DVD, depicting the Federal Convention of 1787 ( See an online preview); Beautiful reproductions of the U.S. Constitution and the painting depicting the Convention 30 student booklets including the founding documents plus quotes; A miniature version of the 24-image Freedom Gallery. $34.95 (reg. $140) 1-877-917-1787. Roots of Freedom
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2. President's Comments on the Constitution by George W. Bush President of the United States of America
The following are excepts from the President's 2004 Citizenship Day and Constitution Week Proclamation.
Today, we marvel at the wisdom of the Framers who toiled through a long summer of learned and contentious debates.
Their work produced a document that upholds high ideals, while answering the most practical questions of governance. The charter they crafted with its separate branches of Government, enumerated powers, checks and balances, and later the specific protections provided by our Bill of Rights guides our Nation and inspires others around the world.
Twin Foundations As the delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia began working on what would become the United States Constitution, they grasped that a great democracy must be built on the twin foundations of National consent to a Federal Government Respect for individual rights.
Balance of Powers In creating our Nation's Constitutional framework, the Convention's delegates recognized the dangers inherent in concentrating too much power in one person, branch, or institution.
They wisely crafted a Government that balanced the functions and authority of a Federal system among three separate but equal branches: The Executive The Legislative The Judicial.
As a further check on central power, the Framers granted citizens the right to vote, giving them the power to express their political preferences peacefully and thereby to effect change in the Government.
The Convention delegates ratified the Constitution on September 17, 1787, and submitted it to the States for approval.
Bill of Rights After much deliberation and discussion at the State level, the following two concerns emerged from among those who feared the Constitution's proposed centralization of Federal power: The threat of tyranny The loss of local control.
To address these fears, our Founders amended the Constitution by adding a Bill of Rights.
These ten amendments provided a series of clear limits on Federal power and a litany of protective rights to citizens.
Today, our Nation celebrates the longest-lived written Constitution in world history.
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3. Studying Our Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the foundation of our American Government. As the supreme law of the land, no law may be passed that contradicts its principles, and no person or government in the nation is exempt from following it. Read, study and discuss the Constitution. Read the Constitution along with explanations. See Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Students.
The First Amendment The First Amendment to the Constitution does not include the phrase "separation of church and state." Nowhere does it suggest that Christianity cannot be heard in the public square.
In fact, the first act of the United States Congress was to authorize the printing of 20,000 Bibles for the Indians. Read more..
Judicial Interpretation of the Constitution The subject of constitutional interpretation is a valid and practical concern today that will reach into many areas of our lives for years to come.
Two competing viewpoints have emerged: To follow the original intent of the Constitution. To allow judges to interpret the Constitution as they will.
Naturalization Self Test Could your children (or you) pass the test to become a citizen? Included are such questions as: In what year was the Constitution written? What do we call a change to the Constitution? What is the Bill of Rights? Can the Constitution be changed? Test your knowledge of United States History and the structure of our government on this easy-to-use online question and answer interactive site.
Wall Builders Read a variety of articles from Wall Builders on the moral, religious, and constitutional foundation on which America was built.
The Federalist Papers Online One of the most important works on political theory ever written.
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5. Studying Our Government
The Teaching Home Newsletters #66-68 (which you can read online or printed for personal use) addressed the topic of teaching about governments in general and the United States government in particular.
This series offers much practical information, Internet links for further study, and application for Christians. It would make an excellent study for Constitution Week.
Following is an outline of what each issue contains.
Newsletter #66: Introduction to Government 1. What and How To Teach 2. The Biblical Basis of Government 3. Forms of Government
Newsletter #67: United States Government 1. We are a Republic, not a Democracy 2. The Constitution 3. The Three Branches of Government; Checks and Balances 4. Distribution of Government Powers 5. How a Bill Becomes a Law 6. Our Heritage of Freedom; Our Christian Heritage
Newsletter #68: Our Responsibilities in Government 1. The Spiritual Aspect of Political Action 2. Political Action 3. Guidelines for Any Lobbying Effort
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6. Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws
Excerpted and reprinted by permission from an article by Charles and Cindy Meek, Faith Facts.
Christians believe that the Bible offers ultimate, objective, and absolute truth. There was a general consensus on this point in America from the earliest settlers until only very recently.
So it was natural for the early Americans to turn to the Bible for guidance as to how to make civil law. This was the standard for law beginning with the Mayflower Compact all the way through the constitutions of all 50 states.
State Constitutions For example, the first state constitution was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639). Read this document.
The framers of this document desired that every aspect of it be based on the Bible. This document was a model for other constitutions including the U.S. Constitution which followed it. (See other Preambles to State Constitutions.)
Rule of Law Another aspect of our system of government is that it is based on the Rule of Law. This concept is a direct descendant of Hebrew law and the Ten Commandments.
Together with the concept of inalienable rights from God, these concepts helped ensure a way of life that respected the dignity of every individual.
The True Nature of Man Another important aspect of America's constitution is that it has as its basis the distinctly Christian idea that man is basically sinful. Every one of our founding fathers understood this truth. The result was that the founders built into the Constitution an elaborate system of checks and balances.
This is evident in the horizontal plane of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. It is also evident in the vertical plane of federalism states' powers versus federal powers.
See a chart of the influence of Biblical thought on America's legal system with Bible references.
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7. More Resources
Civics Education Courses from Home School Legal Defense Association, including: Founding Fathers, Introduction to Constitutional Law, The Federalist Papers, Declaration of Independence. www.hslda.org
"America's Godly Heritage" video clearly sets forth the beliefs of many of the famous Founding Fathers concerning the proper role of Christian principles in education, in government, and in the public affairs of the nation.
"A Nation Adrift, A Chronicle of Americas Providential Heritage" DVD is the true story of how Gods sovereign hand guided the founders of America.
Remember when you first heard of home education? You may have thought it was a bit strange, but when the Lord started nudging your heart you may have given in to this new conviction with trepidation and a little bit of fear.
"Can I do this? Am I going to ruin my children for life? Is this the right thing to do?" you may have asked yourself a dozen times. Then the Lord graciously started building you up with His strength and you finally learned that you can do ANYTHING through Christ who strengthens you, including home educating your children!
Each of us has a unique Learning Style. Yet, such differences in perceptual style often lead to conflict, fear, threat and intimidation in learning new skills, strategies and processes of improvement. Weve all heard complaints, such as, I told Jane ten times and she still doesnt understand! or What do I have to do, draw Billy a picture? Well, the truth is that some people dont get it by listening and others do require a word picture to process information ...
Answering a series of questions will determine your learning preferences and will give you information which has been proven by world-wide research to make a significant difference in your personal gains in learning, work and personal life ...
Dear Debra, I have a question about homeschooing and running a business. I have four children, ages 11, 8, 6 and 4. I am thinking about starting a bakery business with a friend who also homeschools. Are we nuts?
Recommended New Products ... for Teaching Responsibility, Gaining Wisdom, and Online Learning!
LESSONS IN RESPONSIBILITY FOR BOYS is a unique curriculum designed to help parents instill Christian values and ethics regarding work, organization, handling money wisely, relationships, and more, in young lads as young as six. Get your copy at: www.pearables.com.
The Big Question is guaranteed to generate a discussion of faith, Biblical truth, and why it is that others may not believe as we do. Interwoven with the scenes and sets from The Passion of the Christ, the cast and crew were interviewed about their concepts of spirituality; an opportunity to hear what Mel Gibson and Jim Caviezel really believe, along with those that were not Christians. Contact your Distributor, vist us online, or call 905-399-3746.
Give Wisdom's Edge 4 minutes and 37 seconds a week ... and you'll save (and make) more money, improve your health, get more organized, and improve your relationships. Best-selling author Bruce Wilkinson says, "Wisdom's Edge has cutting-edge insights for our fast-paced life. You don't have time to miss even one issue!" And these insights won't cost you a dime. Visit www.wisdomsedge.com
Harvest Prep Virtual Academy offers Christian college preparatory curriculum, official transcript and high school diploma, access to certified teachers & technical support team, automatic lesson plans, grading, and record-keeping, and an affordable financing plan. Find out more at www.harvestprepva.org.
Other Helpful Resourcesfor your Christian Family!
Here's a nice way to bring joy to children and remind us that we are linked to one another. Each doll has a special message of hope, and can be donated through the church, ministry or organization of your choosing. Check out www.ReminderDolls.com
Free Stuff is always cool! This site offers lots of different things ... such as free Christian books, Christian magazines, Bible software, and more! Whether you're already a Christian or just want to learn more about Christianity, there's much to see at www.christianityfreebies.com
The Dollar Stretcher -- The web's largest selection of Free money-saving articles. Updated weekly since 1996, dedicated to simple living, well organized, with massive archives and a powerful search engine. See for yourself at www.stretcher.com.
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The articles contained herein are offered only as suggested reading. The thoughts, views, opinions, concepts and ideas expressed are those of the author(s), and the Editor makes no claim as to the accuracy or effectiveness of the information contained therein. Please direct all article submissions, questions or comments to the Editor.
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Give Your Children
AVKO (Audio, Visual, Kinesthetic, and Oral)
Create a Curriculum or Enhance
With the 4th of July coming up soon, it's time to start thinking about how you can reach out to the unsaved in your community.
See more ideas and order tracts at 
Prepare To Vote
You Never Forget What You Sing!
Enlightened Democracy
