Oct. 28, 2009 - Great Resource for Practice or Testing Spelling Words
Oct. 17, 2009 - You Will Be Blessed To Meet This Family
I have just been tremendously blessed reading about this family. They have adopted twenty two children in addition to their own three children because of their love for God. Check out this link where I first learned about this wonderful family. I can't wait to get their book.
Living By a Leap of Faith
UPDATE: The book looks great. I just received it in the mail. Can't wait to find a moment to read it. I would love to pass it on for a Thanksgiving gift to someone. Just leave a comment and I will draw a name from a hat on Nov. 20th.
Jul. 1, 2009 - Teaching Our Children to Communicate
The bible has the most amazing instruction regarding communication. It helps us to understand how to communicate so that we can glorify the Lord. Let's use it to teach our children to communicate. Provide an empty writing in journal. You can have your children use the following scriptures as: copy work, add personal reflections, memorization, shared practice speech with the family at meal time or family time,etc. You can also set goals for completion with a chart that you create with them. Here are some scriptures to focus on:
1. Speak in a guarded fashion. "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth". Psalm 141:3
Count to ten before you speak; record what you say and review it, particularly those words that brought conflict. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you stop from saying something you should not.
2. Use limited or thoughtful speech. "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19
It is easy to say too much, and like a tube of toothpaste that has squirted out the toothpaste, it is impossible to take it back. You might say something you regret. You might also start talking about something and then shift to gossip or inappropriate topics.
3. Communicate unselfishly. "Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil 2:4.
Do not talk about yourself all the time. Speak about subjects that relate to and will interest your listener. Also, give others a chance to share their stories and hear felt desires. Sharing our conversation is like sharing a toy. I use to have the children hold the salt shaker at the table to practice this. Each time they took a time to share then they had to pass it to another person. The only person allowed to talk was the one holding the item. You could have a special item on the table to do this.
4. Speak pleasant words. "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones Proverbs." 16:24
Make this a family focus to talk about pleasant comments at home each dat. Then practice outside your home by encouraging other home-school families and your organizational leadership. You can also practice this by having the children write a kind encouragement, exhortation, about each of their siblings. Then have each of the children give the written exhorations to their brothers and sisters. Discuss with them about how those exhortations made them feel. Did it make them feel like the exhortations were like a honeycomb to their soul?
5. Use edifying words. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification".Eph. 4:29
Avoid words that tear down and crush the listener. Instead, build up and encourage people today. Your words will bring strength.
6. Speak humbly. "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth". Proverbs 27:2
Do not brag on your own accomplishments. Rejoice with someone who is rejoicing instead.
7. Speak appropriately. "We urge you, bretheren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men." l Thess. 5:14
There are three groups of people in this that require a different type of communication.
Also, discuss boundaries. There are different speach for different relationships. Looking at Jesus, he shared some things only with those closest to him (example: transfiguration), and he shared things less intimate with those who were not so close to him (his last meal and what he communicated with the twelve disciples), and he shared even less intimate with those who were at a further distance (the parables with anyone who wanted to sit in his presence). He didn't spend any time talking with those who were mocking, arrogant, and self righteous (the pharasees), only speaking enough for his listerners to learn from the Pharsees verbal tricks. Jesus handled different groups of people differently according to his relationship boundaries.
Use "solution" words. Instead of being critical of those who are leading and trying to learn a new responsiblility within so that you are "patient" with all men. How can that apply to your brothers and sisters? How does that apply to friends and family?
8. Use "fruit of the Spirit" words. "But the fruit fo the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control." Gal. 5:22
Have the children come up with words that would represent or demonstrate each of these fruits.
9. Give soft soft answers. "A gentle answer turns away wrath." Proverbs 15:1
Often you will be able to turn away pride or wrath that could create a conflict. Such words demonstrate a humble heart that fears the Lord.
10. Hear a matter before you answer it. "He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him". Proverbs 18:13
Listen to what the speaker means, not just what he says. Listen and wait until you hear the facts before you answer. Don't jump to conclusions. You can reply, "so I hear you saying...(repeat back what you heard)." or "are you saying...(repeat back what you heard).
11. Speak timely words. "A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word". Prov. 15:23
Ask God to give you discernment about when to speak in private and when it is necessary to speak in public at a hameschool meeting. Inappropriate timing has often been the source of a wounded spirit.
12. Speak the truth. "Speaking the turth in love." Eph. 4:15
Do not exaggerate or give false information. Make sure that your truthful words are also said in love and in the spirit of
13. Speak with grace. "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted."Gal. 6:1
Don't say, "I told you so..". Don't be haughty in your speech if you see a brother or sister fall into sin. Don't ever say, "I would never do that". You will be sure to undergo some testing in the future with those words with a just God. Stay humble by speaking with grace and love in dealing with a brother or sister that has sinned.
14. Speak gratefully. "In everything give thanks".l Thess. 5:18
How often do you tell others, brother and sisters, how you appreciate kind words or helping hands?
Perhaps, you could have the children come up with way that they can show and tell God that they appreciate what he has done for them. How can they give thanks through their speech or actions.
15. Study how to answer. "The heart of a righterous ponders how to answer" Proverbs 15:28
Know what is fitting. Know scriptures that fit various situations. There is so much that can be gleaned in Proverbs about an apt reply or a man that restrains his tongue as being wise. Have the children find a couple of scriptures that helps them learn how to answer the mocker or the "fool" (should you answer a fool?).
Listening tips: eye contact, affirm you understand, avoid listening in a critical spirit, watch facial and body responses for nonverbal clues, make comment or ask questions to clarify, listen for underlying plea for help, listen for helpful ideas and worthy suggestions, listen for action that is required for the Bible alwys links together listening and hearing with doing, Learn to discern truth from error: know what God's Word says so you can examine the teaching of any speaker.
Commitment: "let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my stength, and my redeemer" Psalm 19:4
(have your children decide to make it their ambition to practice this, making it a commitment to speak in a way that is pleasing to God. My husband is excellent at this as he took the prophet's commitment to heart,not wanting a word to drop to the floor.
* The credit of this article goes to Dennis and Sharon Grimes who shared this in Teaching Home magazine. I changed it around a bit from adult to child to use for homeschooling. I added additional things that I felt would help. I wanted to share this with other moms to help teach our children the truths of God's words, making them stronger arrows for the Lord's hands.
God bless you all,
Missy
May. 14, 2009 - Do You Have Passion in Your Homeschooling?
I have homeschooled over the years with a variety of different curriculums. I kept changing with many different curriculums, trying to use what I found as excellent. However, I was a bit worn out and frayed from trying to homeschool. I mean, it wasn't coming as natural or effortlessly as I had heard some homeschoolers explain it had for them. I kept buying different curriculums and materials. Everything just stayed on my shelves. I didn't know why it was that way. I felt a bit ashamed that I had hated to wake up and start another homeschool day. It, honestly, was boring for me (shhh...you're not suppose to say that right?). More honestly, I dreaded each day. I didn't know what was wrong with me. But, all of this changed when I went to a homeschool conference, in which Dr. Guffanti was speaking.
Dr. Guffanti spoke about homeschool moms that don't like the homeschooling experience. He said that we probably had curriculum materials on the shelves that had collected dust over the years. Had he read my mind? He said that it was important for homeschool moms to pursue their passion. He talked about how the body, mind, and emotions were all affected in an ability to handle more stress than they should be able to because of the passion that made it easy to ride the difficult waves of life. He spoke about his knowledge and experiences as a medical doctor regarding this. It was fascinating to listen to his stories and knowledge.
Do you want to know what I found out mine was?
I came out of the conference a bit stunned. Had I neglected my passion? I couldn't even remember what it was. I went up to Dr. Guffanti. I didn't know what my passion was. He asked me questions, such as: What do you enjoy doing? What really intrigues you or interests you? He then pointed out for someone to ask you a number of questions and to carefully watch for facial changes when you speak. When you see someone start to smile about what they are talking about, that is a key. I had thought that some interests were easier to identify: cooking, dancing, drawing, etc. But, I didn't even have a hint what mine was. Then he started asking questions. He asked me what I enjoyed doing when I had extra time. I replied very hesitantly, "I love studying to find out about my Jewish roots. I love to study about the Bible through a Messianic Jewish style." When he started probing about my interests, he said, "You're smiling when you talk about studying your Jewish roots". I was surprised. I didn't realize it (nor did the other women when he was asking them questions). He told me that that was what I should incorporate in my studies. I told him that I would feel selfish. Isn't that focusing just on me and my interests and not the interests of the children? Dr. Guffanti explained that our children love to enjoy what we enjoy. God designed them to enjoy things together with us. So, he gave me the license to do something I never considered was "okay" to do - to study together with the children. Oh, it changed our homeschooling in ways that are so exciting! Wow, I couldn't believe how free I felt! Could I actually do that? I asked him. I had never considered it before. I had told him that I had not realized it, but my favorite time of the school day was Heart of Wisdom studies. My children always begged me not to stop teaching on those studies. We would sometimes start in with it, and three hours later the children were lost with excitement still begging me not to stop. Then we were late in studying all the other studies because we didn't want to stop with what we were studying. He smiled and said, "Do it". We did.
Apr. 12, 2009 - Easter, Resurrection Day Celebration
I want to thank the homeschoolmagazine.com for these amazing Easter freebie downloads. Our children had so much fun today celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
First, daddy read from the bible today. Then the homeschoolmagazine Easter download, with the idea of the resurrection story in plastic eggs was changed a bit for a fun play. The children had to identify all the different items with their senses (minus one of the senses). The oldest children were blindfolded while the younger children had something over their mouths. All children were at the table with the table papered for them to draw (younger ones) or write. I pulled one item at a time for the older ones to feel, smell, and taste to try and identify the hidden object. Younger ones were able to draw it, but not reveal with speaking to the older children. Daddy read the scripture to go along with each item. If the older children couldn't figure it out, they looked at the drawings from the younger ones to get a hint. Here is the order of items, with a slight change for what we had in the house:
Blinded Finds
#1. Ribbed leaf (or a palm branch). Read Matt 21:1-11 Jesus rode on a donkey and the people waved branches.
#2
Message - Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.
Passage - John 12:2-8
Item - Small cloth with perfume on it.
#3
Message - Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples.
Passage - Matthew 26:17-30
Item - A small piece of bread or cereal.
#4
Message - Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Passage - Matthew 27:3
Item - 2 dimes or nickels
#5
Message - Jesus carried His own cross.
Passage - John 19:17
Item - A small plastic cross, or make your own cross.
#6
Message - Soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.
Passage - John 19:2
Item - a rose stem, A thorn or a piece of a thorny branch.
#7
Message - Soldiers parted Jesus' garments and cast lots for His coat.
Passage - John 19:23
Item - dice
#8
Message - Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.
Passage - John 19:18,37 & John 20:25-29
Item - nail.
#9
Message – Jesus was given vinegar mixed with gall on a sponge to drink.
Passage - Matthew 27:34
Item - A small sponge with vinegar on it
#10
Message - Spices were used to prepare Jesus for burial.
Passage - John 19:40
Item – whole clove (The cloves or spices).
#11
Message - The stone covering Jesus' tomb was rolled away.
Passage - John 20:1
Item - A small rock.
#12
Message - All that was found was Jesus’ burial linens. He was not there. He has
risen!
Passage - John 20:6-7
Item - A scrap of linen-type fabric.
#13
Message-We have a sweet relationship with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
Passage-John 3:16
Item-chocolate candy
This then led into a chocolate hunt in the backyard to find all the small minature chocolate candy bars.
We then made resurrection cookies. Details of cookie recipe from the free web pages. The children and I raced to beat the timer as we did the resurrection word hunt that is also on the downloads. We are later doing a verbal quiz to go after the bedtime reading of the Matthew scriptures, again, which is printable on the download. Click HERE to link to download freebie.
The children said this was the best Easter ever. I agree, we had more fun as a family this Easter than ever before. I can't wait to visit the website and find more things like this. Too much fun!! Thank you, Stephanie Ruby,Charlotte McKinney, and Dawn Merritt for all your hard work!!!
Apr. 7, 2009 - Spring/Summer Reading Fun
It is fun to read and then watch a film, listen to an audio clip,or act it out, etc. Here are some great links to combine with reading:
How about reading a G.A. Henty book and then listening on a free download? Did you know you can go to your library and get a mp3 player with a book on it? The Net Library Media Center allows you to download to your computer or a mp3 player. However, you can also pick up a mp3 player from your library with a book on it.
FREE Audio books
Huge List of FREE audiobooks
FREE audiobooks from libraries
Listen to music of composers after reading about them HERE
We are reading the Grand Canyon A different View by Tom Vail. Then we are going to the Science center to watch the big Imax of the Grand Canyon.
Bedtime Anytime Stories is a film that we hope to see this Friday. Here is a fun link that you can use to add to it.
Read a book and then do a lapbook, like Nim's Island. What a fun way to spend a summer together.
Read about historical periods, such as French Indian war. Then go to youtube and watch a reenactment. You might find us in that reenactment. The children had a lot of fun waching some lego reenactments of the war periods.
Check out your library to find videos to go with your summer books, fiction or nonfiction.
I will post some other great links that I enjoy if you are interested.
Mar. 15, 2009 - Great Time Line, Field Trips, & more for FIAR
I really liked this link. I am using it with my youngest two (We spend two wonderful fun hours together in the mornings working and playing together while the older ones do an independent study.). We are now working on our Blueberries for Sal lapbook. However, I like to incorporate a time line, field trip, and other goodies which you will find on this link. I love freebies.
http://www.fiarcircle.com/downloads/lessons/timeline.htm
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/general_resources.php
Feb. 24, 2009 - Leech's Daughters song
I accidentally downloaded a cd that I wasn't familiar with. It has been found to now be a favorite in our home. I thought you might enjoy it as well. Click HERE and go to the Behmoth website to hear samples. It is too cute. I have never heard of Judy Rogers before, but she is great! It is only $6.95 for the album. You can burn it to cds to play all over the house and not worry that the children scratched up the cd, or play it from your computers or ipods. Fun!!
Feb. 9, 2009 - Abraham Lincoln Free Lapbook
Today we are working on Abraham's Lincoln's Lapbook. Here is the link to the share website: Abe Lapbook
Enchanted learning has some great worksheet print outs for all reading levels. Go to this link: president day
handsofachild has a lapbook that you can purchase for a little over ten dollars. The sample looks good.
Another great link for Lincoln study: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs54367/AbrahamLincolnNtbkpgs.pdf and lapbook for presidents
If you live close to Spring field, IL, there is a great field trip we are doing which includes reenactments and a ton of activities: Lincoln's Farewell Address, program spirituals (old slave songs), Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln visit, Don Pollack (artist of Lincoln's life in paintings), One Destiny (play), Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg address, Abe talks with the children, bell ringing, and so much more. Many other states are doing things to celebrate. You can google your state and Lincoln to find out if they are doing anything to celebrate. It is a really fun field trip if you can do it. Can you believe that everything I listed is all free? Amazing
*free live webcams around the world to connect with your lapbooks or thematicshttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,328428,00.html
.
Feb. 8, 2009 - Immerse Yourself and Children in Good Books
Each tax season, I love to get some new books to add to our library. Here is an old post from last year, that I thought I would link back to: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/momofsix/472542/
My husband just finished reading the first book of the series, Kingdom's Dawn. I don't know who enjoys these books more, the children or my husband. He just came down the steps telling me how wonderful story reading was tonight. He is amazed at the amazing character qualities in the stories. This is a favorite series for our family. Just search the title at graceandtruthbooks.com. Let me know if you enjoy these as much as we have.
Last Page | Next Page
