By Jeannie Fulbright

Why are you here? Why am I here? What is our reason for existing? The Word tells us that God created each of us and our children for a specific purpose in life.

I am convinced that one of our most valuable jobs as parents is to convey to our children the unfathomable love God has for them. In addition, we should make it known that God has fashioned each one of them uniquely with a forordained plan for their lives; and He has planted specific passions in their hearts, fueling their desire to fulfill His special intentions for them.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10


How does God move us to do the things that He prepared in advance for us to do? He does this by moving our hearts towards those things. We find joy and peace when we are doing those things God has given us to do. We find a sense of bewilderment when we follow a different path.

What confidence it would bring our children if they could grasp the fact that they were created to fulfill a tremendous role in God's Kingdom.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

This mindset is the foundation for a Biblical Worldview - we were created by God, for God, and for a specific purpose. We are not accidents or masters of our own destiny. We belong to God.

Many times, people begin to exhibit signs of their God-given purpose early in life. A child destined to a field where artistic talent is needed, will show artistic talent early. A child destined to become a zoologist or a vet may begin to show an unusual interest and tenderness towards animals as a toddler. A child that was meant to wield the pen will write lengthy (sometimes boring) stories before they can even spell. As parents, we can help them excel in their areas of strength so that they can better fulfill their predestined role.

In whatever field God leads our children, they should always be taught that the reason for their gift, their talent, and their passion is to bring Him glory. Their gifts are not given to them so that they can glorify themselves - it's to bring honor to the LORD, to serve others and bless them with their gifts, and to draw the lost to our Holy God, who loves them and gave each one of them a special purpose for living.

It's important that we, as parents, are always praying and seeking God to show us the way each of our children are bent. In doing so, we can steer them in the direction that will best fortify the skills needed in their God-given calling. Tim Echols, founder of Teenpact, writes "Windy and I prayed before each of our children was born that God might give us some hint about how to steer them. In five of seven of those cases, we are confident that we have received specific direction on which we have acted and continue to act."

Tucked away in the hearts of each of our children is their reason for living - a big dream for their future. If they pursue this dream, and learn how to serve others and serve God's glorious purpose with their gifts, talents, and passions, they will find peace and fulfillment.

We, as homeschoolers, have the distinct opportunity to actually direct our children's studies and lives in the exclusive and unique path they have been designed to follow. Let us diligently seek and lead them in the way they should go.

Homeschooling on a Shoestring

Homeschool Convention

A to Z Teacher Stuff (great themes)

From The Teaching Home. Activities for summer...

1. Take Walks Together
Benefit from Daily Walks
Walking out-of-doors with your children is a wonderful daily habit with many benefits, such as the following:

• An invigorating change of pace, fresh perspective, and stress reduction.

• Health benefits include breathing deeply of fresh, oxygen-rich air and getting much-needed, absorbable vitamin D from the sunlight (avoid the brightest time of the day).

• An excellent form of low-impact exercise.

• A walk is a great time to visit with and teach your children in a more relaxed atmosphere away from other distractions. You might discuss suggested topics or upcoming events, or ask questions to draw out your children's thinking.

• Perform community service by occasionally taking a heavy-duty trash bag and protective gloves to clean up along the road or trail where you are walking.

• An opportunity to observe and appreciate nature. You can notice and comment on things in nature from time to time as you walk along, or you can plan a nature walk (see below).

Plan a Nature Walk
By word and example, you can teach your children to be aware of their surroundings and see the beauty of God's creation all around them. Following are some suggestions.

Be Courteous and Safe
Wherever you go, be sure you know and observe posted rules, common courtesy, and safety. Stay on the paths; no loud talking or running around other people; no picking plants or removing wildlife; avoid poisonous plants or snakes, etc. See safety pointers at www.fs.fed.us/safety.

What To Take Along
Be prepared to observe nature and make your longer walks safe and comfortable by bringing:

• Your curiosity. On the way, talk about things you might see and raise questions about them.
• Snacks and water.
• First aid kit.
• Magnifying glass for a closer look at details. A large size is handier for small things like bugs.
• Binoculars for long-distance items like birds. See information for selecting binoculars and smaller kid-friendly and lower priced binoculars.
• Camera to capture images of nature.
• Plastic jar with mesh lid for insects.
• Plastic bag to collect items such as small rocks, shells, leaves, pine cones, or sticks.
• Sketch book or small notebook for notes.
• Regular No. 2 pencil and/or good quality colored pencils and a good eraser. (See information about keeping a nature notebook and doing nature art in Newsletter #115.)
• Nature field guides of birds, insects, mammals, trees, plants, wildflowers, rocks, shells, etc. Look for those that specialize in species found in your state or region.

Fun Walks
You can add variety to your nature walks and learn more by trying some of the following:
• Penny Walk. Flip a penny at each corner, and turn right with heads and left with tails.
• A to Z Walk. Look for an item in nature for every letter of the alphabet.
• Rainbow Walk. Try to find items of every color of the rainbow.
• Leave-It-Where-You-Find-It Scavenger Hunt Walk."
Find more ideas and print worksheets.

Your family may find that they want to make a serious hobby (at least for the summer) of one of the following:

Bird Watching
Start a bird list and see how many different birds you can see during the summer.
Get lots of information: Free Online Bird Guide for bird species identifications and in-depth information, including sounds, video, and distribution maps. Cornell Lab of Ornithology; National Audubon Society.

Entomology
Gather, study, and display insects or photos of insects. Collections can be entered in state fairs.
Get information: Beautiful photos and information on many insects; Teaching Tips on Insect Observation and Collection, Introduction to Insects, and Keeping a Bug Zoo.

A Collection
See more information in the sidebar about making a collection of something like shells, stones, pressed flowers or leaves, etc. Then learn all you can about each specimen.

2. Learn with Summer Short Courses
Summer provides more time to spend in areas of study that may get crowded out by the basics during the regular school year.

Do you have a student that wants to explore a subject or area of interest more deeply than time allows during the school year? This is a good time to help your children find out how to learn more about their interests through supervised Internet searches and/or library hunts.

Your children can master a lot of material in a 4-week short course this summer. Choose from:

• Finishing an unfinished subject.
• Working on basics mastery and/or review.
• Getting a head start on a future subject.
• Selecting a topic of interest or an elective such as music, art, or a foreign language.
• A unit study, perhaps based on a book (Progeny Press literature study guides; the Frances series; classics).
• Present oral reports or speech and drama projects; do an art project together. See "100+ Creative Book Reports and Unit Study Activities" in Newsletter #26.

3. Don't Miss Daily Devotions

Spend Time Together as a Family with the Lord Every Day!

Be sure your family's summer schedule includes daily time with the Lord. Family Bible Time, or Devotions, do not need to be long or complicated. Just do it!

• Set aside a time each day, perhaps while everyone is still at the breakfast or dinner table or before going to bed at night.

• Let God talk to you by reading His Word. You can read through the Bible each year in only about 15 minutes a day — and you can start at any time (not only Jan. 1!). (See schedules).

• Take a few minutes to discuss what you've read. Recall facts, test comprehension by paraphrasing, and make applications. (See Newsletter #29.)

• Pray, sing a song, or review a memory verse.

If you don't do anything else this summer, bring your family together to meet with the Lord each day!

Help Your Children with Their Personal Devotions

Teach your children how to have their own daily quiet times with God, following these principles.

• Read God's Word
Choose a book of the Bible or a section such as the four Gospels and read some each day.

• Meditate
Think about what you have read. Consider writing notes in a journal. You might look for attributes of God, instructions or good examples to follow, sins to avoid, etc.

• Apply
Determine to do something about what you have read, such as share the truth with someone or change something in your life.

• Pray
Thank the Lord for what He has done for you; ask God for forgiveness; ask Him for what you need and to show you what He wants you to do.

Tips
• Set aside a regular time each day (e.g., before breakfast).
• Choose a quiet location where you won't be interrupted.
• Keep your devotional materials all together, easy to find.
• Don't do your devotions in bed.

Sharing with your children what you have learned in your own personal devotions will encourage them as well!

4. Consider the Benefits and Goals of Home Schooling

The Benefits
Whether you are reaffirming or reevaluating your decision to educate your children at home or are considering this option for the first time, reviewing the unique benefits of home education will provide the conviction, confidence, and commitment that you will need in order to persevere.

For a Christian, the decision to home school should be based on a determination that this is how you can best fulfill God's mandate to teach and train your children.

Teaching and training your children at home can provide the optimum environment for your children's spiritual training and character development as well as their social and academic welfare. (Read more specifics of the benefits of home schooling in Newsletter #122.)

Your Goals
It is easy to get caught up in the nitty-gritty of homeschooling and lose sight of what is most important.

One way to focus on your family's goals is to consider the question: When our children leave our home to begin their own families:

• What kind of people do we want them to be?
• What values do we want them to embrace?
• What knowledge and skills do we want them to possess?
• How do we want them to behave?

As you prayerfully consider all aspects of your children's teaching and training, write out a family mission statement and long-range goals for your children. This will give purpose, direction, and balance to your efforts. (For more information on writing your family mission statement and goals, see Newsletters #80 and #81.)

Your goals may include the following:

• Spiritual: Know God's Word, come to salvation, grow spiritually in faith and obedience to God's Word, minister to others, and spread the Gospel.

• Character: Development of characteristics of love, integrity, responsibility, and joy; manners; and discipline. (See more information on character development in Newsletters #87 and #88.)

• Social: Family unity and social skills.

• Academic: A Christian worldview in all areas, a solid foundation in basic skills (reading, writing, math), an excellent, well-rounded education, and the ability to find information and keep learning throughout life.

• Life Skills: Practical preparation for adult life.
As you plan for the next school year, you can use these life goals to schedule specific goals and objectives for each of your children.

#21. Make Bubbles

Bubble making is a lot of fun! Buy extra large containers of bubble solution or make your own.

Recipe
2 quarts distilled water
Slowly stir in:
6 oz. non-ultra Dawn, original scent
(or 4.5 oz. ultra dish detergent)
1.5 tablespoons glycerin
(use 3 tablespoons if using ultra detergent)

You can cut this recipe in half or double it.
See more recipes, instructions, and explanations.
Some recipes use Karo syrup instead of glycerin.

Items To Use To Make Bubbles
You can blow bubbles through a wand or dip and wave one of the following items through the air. There are lots of things around you which can be used to make bubbles.
• Construct a high-tech bubble blowing tube
• Plastic berry basket or colander
• Plastic holder on six-pack of pop
• Funnel
• Plastic straw cut on a slant or several taped together
• Piece of tubing
• Paper cup with a hole punched in the bottom
• Paper towel tube
• Wire coat hanger bent into a hoop and tightly wrapped with yarn.
Note: Bubbles do best when humidity is 30% or greater.

Go to bubble school and learn all about the science of bubbles!


#22. Wash Your Car Together
Your family can wash your car, play in the water, and cool down at the same time!
As good home educators, first go over "How To Wash a Car" and "How to Keep Your Car Clean and Orderly" (interior).
You might also volunteer to wash the cars of neighbors or church members who are elderly, busy, or physically challenged.

#23. Enter the Fair

Submitting an entry in your county or state fair can be challenging and rewarding.
The study and skill-building needed to produce your entry provides motivation and opportunity to hone a life skill, and the recognition can encourage your child.

Entry Categories
Almost any accomplishment can be entered. You can enter your family's favorite cookie, your child's artwork or science fair project, a cross-stitched sampler, a flower or vegetable, etc. in one of these typical categories:
• Flowers, fruits, and vegetables
• Needlework, handcrafts, and garment making
• Baking and canning
• Collections
• School projects
There are usually age levels from under 5 years to seniors over 65 years.

Find Your Fair
Contact your county or state fair for entry deadlines and information.
• Contact your local newspaper or Extension Office of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
• See a list of all 50 state fairs with links to their websites.

There are all kinds of things to see and do at your state fair. If you don't submit an entry this year, go check out the possibilities for next year.

#24. Help Someone Start Homeschooling

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!

#25. Bible Read-a-Thon

The Bible is the spiritual nourishment that our families need to grow in the Lord.
If you have never experienced the blessing of reading larger sections of Scripture, this summer may be a good time to try it. Following this daily schedule will enable your family to read the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs in 31 or 62 days.
Take turns reading aloud as a family or follow along while listening to a recorded tape or CD of the Bible.
Use one of these options (estimated reading times are based on recorded readings).

• Read it all at once in 31 days. (50 minutes each day)
• Read half as much each day and take 62 days to complete it. (25 minutes each day)
• Divide the daily readings into morning and evening segments. (25 minutes twice each day for 31 days; 12.5 minutes twice each day for 62 days)


1. __Matt. 1-7 __Rom. 1-3 __Ps. 1-5 __Prov. 1
2. __Matt. 8-11 __Rom. 4-8 __Ps. 6-10 __Prov. 2
3. __ Matt. 12-15 __Rom. 9-11 __Ps. 11-15 __Prov. 3
4. __ Matt. 16-20 __Rom. 12-16 __Ps. 16-20 __Prov. 4
5. __ Matt. 21-24 __1 Cor. 1-4 __Ps. 21-25 __Prov. 5
6. __ Matt. 25-28 __1 Cor. 5-8 __Ps. 26-30 __Prov. 6
7. __ Mark 1-5 __1 Cor. 9-11 __Ps. 31-35 __Prov. 7
8. __ Mark 6-8 __1 Cor. 12-16 __Ps. 36-40 __Prov. 8
9. __ Mark 9-12 __2 Cor. 1-5 __Ps. 41-45 __Prov. 9
10. __ Mark 13-16 __2 Cor. 6-10 __Ps. 46-50 __Prov. 10
11. __ Luke 1-3 __2 Cor. 11-13, Gal. 1-2 __Ps. 51-55 __Prov. 11
12. __ Luke 4-7 __ Gal. 3-6 __Ps. 56-60 __Prov. 12
13. __ Luke 8-9 __Eph. __Ps. 61-65 __Prov. 13
14. __ Luke 10-12 __Phil. __Ps. 66-70 __Prov. 14
15. __ Luke 13-17 __Col. __Ps. 71-75 __Prov. 15
16. __ Luke 18-21 __1 & 2 Thess. __Ps. 76-80 __Prov. 16
17. __ Luke 22-24 __1 Tim. __Ps. 81-85 __Prov. 17
18. __ John 1-4 __2 Tim., 1 & 2 Titus __Ps. 86-90 __Prov. 18
19. __ John 5-7 __Philem., Heb. 1-5 __Ps. 91-95 __Prov. 19
20. __ John 8-10 __Heb. 6-10 __Ps. 96-100 __Prov. 20
21. __ John 11-14 __Heb. 11-13 __Ps. 101-105 __Prov. 21
22. __ John 15-19 __James __Ps. 106-110 __Prov. 22
23. __ John 20-21, Acts 1-3 __1 Peter __Ps. 111-115 __Prov. 23
24. __ Acts 4-7 __2 Peter, 1 John 1-2 __Ps. 116-118, 120 __Prov. 24
25. __ Acts 8-10 __1 John 3-5, 2 & 3 John __Ps. 119 __Prov. 25
26. __ Acts 11-14 __Jude, Rev. 1-3 __Ps. 121-125 __Prov. 26
27. __ Acts 15-18 __Rev. 4-8 __Ps. 126-130 __Prov. 27
28. __ Acts 19-21 __Rev. 9-13 __Ps. 131-135 __Prov. 28
29. __ Acts 22-25 __Rev. 14-18 __Ps. 136-140 __Prov. 29
30. __ Acts 26-28 __Rev. 19-22 __Ps. 141-145 __Prov. 30
31. __ Ps. 146-150 __Prov. 31


Also see The Teaching Home's unique Bible-in-a-year reading schedule and tips.

#26. Do Daily Math

Investing a few minutes each day in practice will add up to a big boost in your children's math skills. The benefits are twofold:
Review. Your child will retain knowledge and be able to start right in on his next math level this fall. He might be able to skip the usual review lessons and have more time to learn the new material.
Remedial. If your child is not up to speed on his math facts and functions, this is a great time to catch up and be ready for the next level.

• Spend just five minutes to drill the basic math facts with flashcards or software.
• Have your child do one problem each day from his last-year's math book.
• Reinforce math with games and practical problems in your daily life (e.g., cooking, shopping, home-maintenance projects).

The secret to forming this daily math habit is hooking the activity onto one that is regularly scheduled, such as after breakfast or before lunch each day.

#27. Form a Reading Club

Your reading club can be an informal meeting once a week, twice a month, or just one Book Party. It can consist of members of your own family or a group of other homeschoolers. Here are a few ideas.

• Exchange recommendations for favorite books and why you like them.

• Present oral reports or speech and drama projects; do an art project together. See "100+ Creative Book Reports / Unit Study Activities" in Newsletter #26.

• Have a book party or presentation with each child giving a five-minute book report (traditional or an idea from the list in Newsletter #26), perhaps dressed and acting as a character in his book. Set up a table to display books and projects. Refreshments can include some suggested by the books.

• Have everyone read the same book and discuss it, using some of the questions from past newsletters on reading comprehension: inferences, analysis, application, and evaluation.

• Use a literature study guide.

Sharing your book with friends or family will make it more enjoyable!


#28. Attend Free Outdoor Performances

Check with your local newspaper for a list of free outdoor performances such as concerts, plays, historic reenactments, and zoo exhibits.
This is a great opportunity to introduce children to cultural events that would otherwise be too expensive or too long for them to sit through.

• Take sleeping bags or folding chairs to sit on and snacks that are not messy or complicated to serve.
• Introduce your children to the main plot and background of a play or opera before attending so they can follow it better and get more out of it.


#29. Evaluate Child Discipline

One of the most important areas of a father's involvement is to establish, reaffirm, and carry out basic child training and discipline.
God tells parents: "Chasten your son while there is hope" (Prov. 19:18), and "Bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4).
God's word to children is: "Obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother." (Eph 6:1-2).

Eight Guidelines
1. Get your child's attention before giving him an instruction.
2. Your child should meet your eyes and answer, "Yes, Mother/Father."
3. Require instant, willing obedience.
4. Be consistent. Your children must know you mean what you say.
5. Affirmation should follow obedience; negative consequences are appropriate when a child disobeys or rebels.
6. Make clear rules and require your child to remember and obey them.
7. Use Scripture to show your child the principles behind your rules.
8. Lead your child to salvation. Only after he is born again can God's Spirit within produce true godly character.

Child Training Resources
• "What the Bible Says about Child Training" by J. Richard Fugate. Book and online excerpts.
• Videos, DVDs, and audio tapes by Dr. S.M. Davis. Biblical solutions to family problems.


#30. Set Goals

It is easy to get caught up in the nitty-gritty of homeschooling and lose sight of what is most important. So the first thing to do in preparing for next year is to step back and take a look at the big picture.
Consider the question: When our children leave our home to begin their own families:

• What kind of people do we want them to be?
• What values do we want them to embrace?
• What knowledge do we want them to possess?
• How do we want them to behave?

As you prayerfully consider all aspects of your children's teaching and training, write out long-range goals for your children. This will give purpose, direction, and balance to your efforts. For example:
• Spiritual: Know God's Word, come to salvation, and grow spiritually.
• Character: Development, good manners, and discipline.
• Social: Family unity, social skills.
• Academic: A Christian worldview in all areas, a solid foundation in basic skills (reading, writing, math), and an excellent, well-rounded education.
• Life Skills: Practical preparation for adult life.

During your next steps of planning, you will use these big goals to schedule specific goals and objectives for each child for the coming year.

On the KCLS website, go to databases, click alphabetical list of databases, click "S" and find the Smithsonian Global Sound. It's a collection of music from all over the world, and you can search it any way you like. Great tie in for Window on the World and other such Sonlight books!

By Jeanie Fulbright...
Teaching art is a nice thing to do; of course we want our children to be cultured citizens. However, are there any other benefits? Studies suggest that the answer is a resounding "Yes."

A Guggenheim study found that teaching art on a regular basis actually increased students' academic performance in cognitive, critical thinking, and oral language skills. The long-term study suggested that children with regular exposure to the arts were four times more likely to be elected to class office, four times more likely to be in a math or science fair, and four times more likely to win a writing award.

An Art Education:
Develops the ability to imagine what might be.

Develops a sense of craftsmanship, quality task performance, and goal setting, skills needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond.

Helps children accept responsibility to complete tasks from start to finish.

Helps level the "learning field" across socioeconomic boundaries.

Impacts the developmental growth of every child in a tremendous way by teaching them life skills.


Nurtures important values, including team-building skills.

Stimulates and develops both the imagination and critical thinking, refining creative and cognitive skills.

Strengthens problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, adding to overall academic achievement and school success.

Teaches children how to solve problems and make decisions, building their self-confidence and self-discipline.

Teaches children how to respect alternative viewpoints, and appreciate different cultures and traditions.

Source: Americans for the Arts, 2002

Sadly, the government hasn't read the studies, and continues to remove art from the public school curricula. Without intervention, children who graduate from these institutions won't be able to tell the work of Michelangelo from Matisse, or Raphael from Rockwell. I can attest to this truth, since Normal Rockwell was the only artist I knew with any certainty upon graduating from high school. Alas!

Thankfully, homeschooling continues to afford me the education I missed (or slept through). So, instead of adding an extra page of math, or requiring a longer, more creative essay, take a few minutes to study an artist or a composer, and review his or her work. An art education might just benefit your child more, sparking the creativity needed to churn out better writing or learn higher mathematical skills.

Picture Study

Studying art is easy, especially when you utilize the effective and enjoyable techniques taught by Charlotte Mason. I do the method called Pictorial Study in Charlotte Mason's Original Homeschooling Series with my own children; we always find it delightful and memorably educational.

Often, people that do not appreciate art have not been taught to notice art. Mason's method surreptitiously teaches art appreciation, though it really feels like a game to your children. Using the procedure below can turn your children into art enthusiasts.

Choose
First choose a particular artist to study. You can study one artist per week, month or quarter, depending on how often you plan to implement the following method. You can choose to study art chronologically (I've provided a timeline to the left), by genre (also outlined to the left), or simply choose an artist whose work you like. One method is not superior to another; the exposure to an artist and his work is the most important point, and what is extremely educational and beneficial.

Preview
Then, procure some basic information about the artist's life and works. You can find this information on the Internet or from books at the library. I personally like the Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series. Go over the information with the children, looking at some of this works before you actually study them.

Study
In order to study the artwork, obtain images of some of their work. The bigger the better, in my opinion. You can either get large art books from the library, or, if you don't mind using printer ink, you can print 8 x 10 photos found on the Internet. I have a slide projector and order slides from the National Gallery of Art library loan program, which is a free program.

I then choose one work from the artist for us to study at a time. I place the artwork before my children. We discuss the time of day it may be representing and other details. I then tell them they have five minutes to memorize the picture. After five minutes, I remove it from view and ask the children, one at a time, to describe every detail they can remember from the work.

It's delightful for the kids, and the things they notice will amaze you. In one Monet, one of my children described a green umbrella. I was certain it was black. However, when the work was put back up, the umbrella was unmistakably green. So much for my ability to appreciate art! My kids have become the experts!

After we check our details by putting the work back up, we study another work from the same artist. We then discuss the similarities between the two works. By studying the similarities in the different works of that artist, they are often able to identify other works by the same artist because of the special characteristics the artist commonly uses. For example, they notice Picasso's use of the stacked front facing and side facing view, Renoir's love of hats and crowded groups of people, Monet's affinity for water gardens, reflections and hazy, difficult to define humans. These things become obvious to your children, especially as they begin studying more artists and take note of the differences in their work.

Experience
After we study several of the artist's works, we then pull out our art supplies and try our hand at imitating the artist's work. After all, this is how many of the masters learned to paint - by sitting in the museum and copying the works of others.

We use a variety of media: watercolor, acrylics, chalk or whatever I have on hand. I usually allow the children to choose one work they want to replicate and give them some time to do this. I give them some nice art paper and quality art supplies (don't skimp on brushes or they'll hate their finished product).

After the kids are done, they have a beautiful Monet or Raphael of their own!

Studying art in this way takes less than fifteen minutes each session, but your children will beg for more.

We tend to do this in chunks, studying an artist several times a week for a few weeks. Then, if all goes well, we'll begin a new artist the next month. This schedule gives us the opportunity to study at least nine, maybe ten artists in one year. However, if you only cover two, you have done well.

Drawing
Many fine art curricula use different media and methods for teaching the elements of art - composition, line, texture, form, space and shape. Although these are wonderful aspects of art, the foundation of fine art will always be drawing - no matter what the "modern" artists with their splish-splash of paint on canvas think.

For some, drawing comes naturally, to an extent. To most others, it must be taught. Thus, to become a true artist, most children must master the basics of drawing. Without an ability to form specific shapes, they will eventually grow to dislike producing art. They can become frustrated when what they draw on paper doesn't look like what they saw in their mind.

However, even for the gifted artist, drawing lessons are essential to learn how to shade, convey depth, and represent movement. These skills can be taught through the use of art curricula. There are several different art curricula that teach a child to draw. In this newsletter, I will review a few of them.

If your child is unable to draw at all, begin with the step-by-step art books, such as Draw Write Now or Usborne's I Can Draw series. As they develop skill, occasionally add art instruction with a drawing curriculum into their week. Without much effort on your part, your child can graduate into a wonderful illustrator and artist - producing beautiful pieces of work for your history timeline, their science notebook or an art fair!

Photography

Last year when I spoke at the Southeast Flower Show, I spent more than an hour perusing the beautiful nature photographs submitted to the photography contest. The Junior Division was sparse - perhaps four photographs submitted in all.

With the realization that photography is an important field of art often neglected, I resolved that I would encourage my daughter in her artistic pursuits by allowing her to adopt my digital camera. She and her friend spent several days photographing animals and flowers, emerging with some beautiful images. The dogwood shown below is an example.

When I took photography in school, it was focused on film and developing. Today, the digital camera is king. If our children can learn to capture the essence of God's creatures and creation through photography, forming a clear understanding about light, shadows, color, and all the other important elements of photography, they could be building a lifelong hobby, or a profitable career.

There are so many ways to profit from photography: portrait photography, nature photography, photojournalism, wedding photography, landscape photography, underwater photography, school photography and even...the very lucrative field of photography ... food photography.

For a bright middle school or high school child interested in photography, I recommend you accompany them to a community education class on photography as a starting point, and then check out every possible book at the library you can find. Invest in the best equipment you can afford and see where God leads!

Composer and Music Study
Studying the composers of classical music is a little like the picture study method, except it is easier because it can be done in the car.

Choose one composer to study. Plan to extend your studies of a composer over a few months, because learning each composer will take a while. You want your children to discover the nuances of each composer's style, and develop a listening ear for classical music in general.

Discuss the composer's life with your children and choose a biography or video of his life. Many of the great composers were strong in faith and wrote inspirational pieces for God. Sadly, most biographies don't portray each composer's faith as fully as they should. However, one company called Color the Classics has a wonderful program entitled Godly Composers, which interestingly covers the biographies of the Christian composers. Click the link to purchase it.

Once you've studied all the Godly composers, you can move on with the Color the Classic biographies or just choose books from your local library (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers has a nice selection, for example). To make notebook pages to go along with your composers, you can purchase composer templates from www.notebookingpages.com, or do a lapbook on composers and music from Knowledge Box Central.

To learn the music of a composer, begin playing selections from that composer's work. Ask your children to sit quietly with their eyes closed and listen. Ask them how the music makes them feel, and what goes through their imaginations as they listen to the music. You can begin by telling them what you feel or imagine; doing so will help them understand what to do. Discuss how movies use background music - often classical music - to give the audience certain feelings about what is happening in the movie. As they listen and "narrate" the music's effect, they will begin to appreciate the music, even if they didn't like it at first.

After the initial teaching phase, have your children listen to the composer's music quietly in the car or while the children are doing math. The music will begin to make sense and sound familiar to the children, and they will begin to identify each composer's work when they are in stores and, of course, elevators.

In a few months, they will begin to know the works of the composer by heart. Not only will they have a newfound appreciation for classical music, but studies show their thinking skills are sure to improve with continued exposure to classical music!

This is all from a series of emails by Simply Charlotte Mason

Nature Projects

Charlotte described at least five great nature projects that you and your children can do together to learn more about God's creation.

1. Ant Farm
Charlotte described how to make a glass container to hold the ant farm in Volume 1, pages 57 and 58. These days you can also order ready-made ant farms in the traditional style or the new cool gel type that costs a bit more but is easier to care for: www.hometrainingtools.com...m+antworks

2. Caterpillar to Butterfly
Watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly is a wonderful experience that every child should have the privilege of observing. Charlotte talked about this nature project in Volume 1, pages 60 and 61. You can do this nature project with something as simple as a glass jar or as elaborate as a Butterfly Pavilion: www.hometrainingtools.com...lypav.html

3. Pressing Wild Flowers
Collecting and pressing wild flowers is another great nature project that you and your children can do together, whether you use heavy books or an authentic Hiker's Plant Press: www.hometrainingtools.com...ress2.html
See Charlotte's comments in Volume 1, pages 63 and 64.

4. Tadpoles to Frogs
As Charlotte mentioned in Volume 1, page 56, you can scoop up tadpoles in a nearby lake or pond and watch them turn into frogs. If you don't live near a pond, Frog Hatchery Kits are available, complete with tadpoles: www.hometrainingtools.com...ogkit.html

5. Bird Stalking
"Bird 'stalking,' to adapt a name, is a great deal more exciting and delightful than bird’s-nesting, and we get our joy at no cost of pain to other living things. All the skill of a good scout comes into play. Think, how exciting to creep noiselessly as shadows behind river-side bushes on hands and knees without disturbing a twig or a pebble till you get within a yard of a pair of sandpipers, and then, lying low, to watch their dainty little runs, pretty tricks of head and tail, and to hear the music of their call. And here comes in the real joy of bird-stalking. If in the winter months the children have become fairly familiar with the notes of our resident birds, they will be able in the early summer to 'stalk' to some purpose. The notes and songs in June are bewildering, but the plan is to single out those you are quite sure of, and then follow up the others. The key to a knowledge of birds is knowledge of their notes, and the only way to get this is to follow any note of which you are not sure. The joy of tracking a song or note to its source is the joy of a 'find,' a possession for life" (Vol. 1, pp. 89–92).

Nature Object Lessons
When I hear the phrase "object lesson," I think of several little presentations that I watched when I was a child. In those presentations the speaker would perform some kind of attention-grabbing trick with an object and then use that trick as an illustration to teach a moral lesson.

Let's make it perfectly clear right away: that is not the kind of object lesson that Charlotte Mason advocated!

When Charlotte encouraged us to use object lessons to supplement nature study, she was talking about noticing a natural object in its natural setting and challenging your child to focus on one particular aspect of it in order to sharpen his senses.

Charlotte's kind of object lessons were almost like games that cultivated the habit of observation. For example, a mother out in the woods with her children might ask, "What sounds do you hear? Close your eyes and see if you can mention them in order from loudest to quietest." A father on a walk with his child might stumble upon a snake's skin and challenge the child to tell all he can about what he sees in that skin.

Here are some of Charlotte's key comments on object lessons.

1. Occasionally draw your child’s attention to one aspect of a natural object in order to sharpen his senses and skills of observation. "We supplement this direct 'nature walk' by occasional object-lessons, as, on the hairs of plants, on diversity of wings" (Vol. 3, pp. 237, 23 .

2. Object lessons should be incidental and spontaneous as objects and opportunities occur. "Object-lessons should be incidental; and this is where the family enjoys so great an advantage over the school. It is almost impossible that the school should give any but set lessons; but this sort of teaching in the family falls in with the occurrence of the object. The child who finds that wonderful and beautiful object, a 'paper' wasp’s nest, attached to a larch-twig, has his object-lesson on the spot from father or mother" (Vol. 2, pp. 182, 183).

3. The way to secure your child’s interest is to be interested in the object yourself. "Our constant care must be to secure that they do look, and listen, touch, and smell; and the way to this is by sympathetic action on our part: what we look at they will look at; the odours we perceive, they, too, will get" (Vol. 2, pp. 192, 193).

4. Focus on one quality per object lesson, rather than everything you can think of about that object. "It is unnecessary in the family to give an exhaustive examination to every object; one quality might be discussed in this, another quality in that" (Vol. 2, p. 183). For example, you could practice
* making mental comparisons and contrasts,
* measuring by sight,
* distinguishing sounds,
* identifying odors,
* describing flavors.

5. A child whose senses have been trained through object lessons will observe and learn more during nature study. "An acquaintance with Nature and natural objects is another thing, and is to be approached in a slightly different way. A boy who is observing a beetle does not consciously apply his several senses to the beetle, but lets the beetle take the initiative, which the boy reverently follows: but the boy who is in the habit of doing sensory daily gymnastics will learn a great deal more about the beetle than he who is not so trained" (Vol. 2, p. 189).

The Nature Handbook
Where do I find a nature notebook?"
"What does it look like?"
"How do we go about creating a nature notebook? Is there a template somewhere?"

Questions like these cross my desk regularly. So let's reveal the secret of the mysterious nature notebook. The secret is: it's empty. That's right. When you first get a nature notebook, it will be empty. A nature notebook is simply a blank notebook with stiff covers and heavy paper for writing, drawing, and painting. A sketchbook works well.

Give each child his or her own nature notebook, and of course, get one for yourself! Then whenever you go outside to do nature study, make an entry or two in your notebooks. Charlotte Mason explained: "As soon as he is able to keep it himself, a nature-diary is a source of delight to a child. Every day’s walk gives him something to enter: three squirrels in a larch tree, a jay flying across such a field, a caterpillar climbing up a nettle, a snail eating a cabbage leaf, a spider dropping suddenly to the ground, where he found ground ivy, how it was growing and what plants were growing with it, how bindweed or ivy manages to climb" (Vol. 1, p. 54).

Record in your nature notebook
* what you see,
* where you see it, and
* any other observations from nature. Then
* embellish your notes with illustrations. And
* add appropriate poetry, as desired.

In other words, make the notebook your own. Each child can enter whatever he prefers; they don't all have to be the same. In fact, each nature notebook will be different -- and that's okay.

Just keep in mind that these notebooks are designed to help cultivate within your child the joy of nature and discovery, not to become a source of irritation, frustration, or competition. If your child finds writing difficult, offer to write his comments in his notebook as he dictates them. And whatever you do, don't grade or correct a nature notebook! "The children keep a dated record of what they see in their nature note-books, which are left to their own management and are not corrected. These note-books are a source of pride and joy, and are freely illustrated by drawings (brushwork) of twig, flower, insect, etc." (Vol. 3, p. 236).

So there you have it -- the secret to the nature notebook. A simple idea that can reap wonderful benefits for you and your child!

If you would like to see a sample of a beautiful nature notebook, take a look at "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" by Edith Holden. apps.simplycharlottemason...etail/1124

This book is a replica of a 1906 nature notebook that contains dated entries, detailed illustrations, and selected poetry and quotes. A word to the wise: look at it for inspiration, not for comparison. If it makes you or your child feel inadequate, put it away! Your nature notebook will become "a source of pride and joy" as you make it a personal reflection of your own nature experiences and growing interest.

Nature Study in a Nutshell
"OK, I'm convinced that nature study is a great thing! We're ready to go outside and do nature study! . . . Uh, . . . what do we do when we get out there?" Here are some of Charlotte's key descriptions of how to do nature study.

1. Make the acquaintance of wild flowers, trees, creatures -- all natural objects near your home. "Let him know, with friendly intimacy, the out-of-door objects that come in his way -- the redstart, the rosechaffer, the ways of the caddis-worm, forest trees, field flowers -- all natural objects, common and curious, near his home. No other knowledge is so delightful as this common acquaintance with natural objects" (Vol. 2, p. 77).

2. Watch creatures patiently and quietly until you learn their ways, "until they learn something of the habits and history of bee, ant, wasp, spider, hairy caterpillar, dragon-fly, and whatever of larger growth comes in their way" (Vol. 1, p. 57).

3. Let your child observe what he will without making a big deal of it. "Let him do just so much as he takes to of his own accord; but never urge, never applaud, never show him off" (Vol. 2, p. 77). (Note: In Volume 1, page 54, Charlotte did encourage parents to share the joy of discovery with their children. Here she is warning us to be careful that we don't give our children the idea that nature study is a performance or a show.)

4. Notice things as they occur. "All is incidental, easy, and things are noticed as they occur" (Vol. 3, p. 237). In other words, nature study is not an outdoor structured, organized, and pre-planned science class lesson.

5. Give additional information as your child is ready for it. "They notice for themselves, and the teacher gives a name or other information as it is asked for, and it is surprising what a range of knowledge a child of nine or ten acquires" (Vol. 3, p. 237).

6. Take nature walks so your child can notice weather, clouds, rocks, the course of the sun, and the lay of the land. If desired, invite a knowledgeable friend to accompany you on your nature walks to provide information that you may not know as your child requires it. (Volume 3, page 237 gives a great description of a nature walk.)

7. Record your observations in a nature notebook. (We will talk more about the nature notebook next time.)

8. Remember, even if you live in the city, you can
* Observe pets;
* Take a field trip to a pond to gather tadpoles in a bottle;
* Observe an ant farm;
* Observe other insects, such as flies, crickets, and spiders;
* Watch the sparrows or other local birds;
* Look at clouds, trees, hills, streams, or flowers (Vol. 1, p. 56, 60; Vol. 4, Book 1, p. 42).

Karen Andreola has written a delightful living book that allows you to follow one family as they do nature study: "Pocketful of Pinecones." Parents will learn a lot about what nature study looks like by reading this story and will be inspired to "go and do likewise." (Note: Pocketful of Pinecones is designed to be an instructional book for parents, not to use as a read-aloud to the children.) Look for "Pocketful of Pinecones" at your local library or follow this link: apps.simplycharlottemason...detail/726

When to do Nature Study
If you bring up the subject of "when to do nature study," different moms have different ideas in mind. "Yes, how old should my child be to start nature study, and how long should we spend outside?" one mom asks. While another mom says, "This will be helpful; I've always wondered which seasons of the year Charlotte did nature study."

So let's address both sides of the subject. Here are Charlotte Mason's comments on when to do nature study.

1. Begin when your child is young. "There is no knowledge so appropriate to the early years of a child as that of the name and look and behaviour in situ of every natural object he can get at" (Vol. 1, p. 32).

2. Younger children should have hours outdoors daily; while school-age children should have at least one half-day a week outside. "It is infinitely well worth the mother's while to take some pains every day to secure, in the first place, that her children spend hours daily amongst rural and natural objects" (Vol. 1, p. 71). "It seems to me a sine quâ non of a living education that all school children of whatever grade should have one half-day in the week, throughout the year, in the fields" (Vol. 3, p. 237). Which leads us to number 3 . . .

3. Do nature study all year round. Charlotte had some great ideas for year-round nature study.

* Keep a nature calendar throughout the year. You can record the children's observations of all the "firsts" -- the first oak leaf, the first snowfall, the first robin, the first ripe blackberries. Then the next year they will know when and where to look for their favorites. (See Vol. 1, p. 54.)

* Do month-by-month studies to discern how the same nature object or location changes as the seasons progress. (See Vol. 6, p. 219.)

* In winter months, learn to identify birds and their songs. Charlotte explained, "Many birds come into view the more freely in the cold weather that they are driven forth in search of food" (Vol. 1, p. 86).

* Select a few trees to follow throughout the year. "Children should be made early intimate with the trees, too; should pick out half a dozen trees, oak, elm, ash, beech, in their winter nakedness, and take these to be their year-long friends" (Vol. 1, p. 52).

8 Reasons to do Nature Study
Nature study is one of those aspects of the Charlotte Mason method that is often mentioned but rarely studied in-depth. Just what, exactly, did Charlotte mean by "nature study"? We've been combing her writings and compiling her comments, and a beautiful picture is unfolding! Over the next few weeks we will share that beautiful, encompassing picture with you.

If you had asked me, "Why do nature study?" when my children were young, I would have replied, "To get them outside and burn up some of that energy" (that we all wish we could tap into now at our age!). If you had asked the same question when they got a little older, I would have answered, "To increase their skills of observation . . . and the fresh air doesn't hurt either." Just last year my answer would have been, "To cultivate a love for God as creator."

While those answers are all true, the reasons to do nature study are so much more! Let's look at eight benefits that Charlotte wrote about.

1. Nature study lays the foundation for formal science studies (Vol. 3, p. 281). The child lays in a store, as it were, of images and ideas to access and use in making personal connections when he reads about them in a science book later.

2. Nature study makes science interesting. Charlotte lamented, "For the most part science as she is taught leaves us cold" (Vol. 6, p. 31 . But a child who has the advantage of nature study, an "appreciative knowledge of things to begin with," can easily reach the "living science" level (Vol. 3, p. 77).

3. Nature study increases your child's capacity to understand the unknown. "By-and-by he will have to conceive of things he has never seen: how can he do it except by comparison with things he has seen and knows?" (Vol. 1, p. 66).

4. Nature study cultivates a love of investigation. And Charlotte encouraged mothers to "infuse into" our children, "or rather, to cherish in them, the love of investigation" (Vol. 1, p. 71).

5. Nature study gives your child a sense of ownership and stewardship of the Earth. "Here is a duty that lies upon us all; for we all enter on the inheritance of the heavens and the earth, the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. These are things to which we have right, no one can take them from us; but, until we get as much as a nodding and naming acquaintance with the things of Nature, they are a cause rather of irritation and depression than of joy" (Vol. 4, Book 2, p. 97).

6. Nature study prepares your child's heart to worship God. "From the flower in the crannied wall to the glorious firmament on high, all the things of Nature proclaim without ceasing, 'Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty' " (Vol. 4, Book 2, p. 100).

7. Nature study enriches your child's life. "A love of Nature, implanted so early that it will seem to them hereafter to have been born in them, will enrich their lives with pure interests, absorbing pursuits, health, and good humour" (Vol. 1, p. 71).

8. Nature study increases your child's intellect and makes him a more interesting person. "Consider, too, what an unequalled mental training the child-naturalist is getting for any study or calling under the sun -- the powers of attention, of discrimination, of patient pursuit, growing with his growth, what will they not fit him for?" (Vol. 1, p. 61).

Do's and Dont's of Nature Study
Here are ten do's and don'ts that will help you guide your child in nature study.

1. Do schedule regular time outdoors and encourage a spirit of investigation. "It is infinitely well worth the mother’s while to take some pains every day to secure, in the first place, that her children spend hours daily amongst rural and natural objects; and, in the second place, to infuse into them, or rather to cherish in them, the love of investigation" (Vol. 1, p. 71).

2. Do encourage your child to try to figure out answers to his questions rather than expecting you to do all the reasoning for him. "He must be accustomed to ask why -- Why does the wind blow? Why does the river flow? Why is a leaf-bud sticky? And do not hurry to answer his questions for him; let him think his difficulties out so far as his small experience will carry him" (Vol. 1, p. 264).

3. When you answer his questions, do make the answer living—not just facts from a textbook. "Above all, when you come to the rescue, let it not be in the 'cut and dried' formula of some miserable little text-book; let him have all the insight available, and you will find that on many scientific questions the child may be brought at once to the level of modern thought" (Vol. 1, p. 264).

4. Don’t overwhelm your child with too much scientific terminology too soon. "Do not embarrass him with too much scientific nomenclature. If he discover for himself (helped, perhaps, by a leading question or two), by comparing an oyster and his cat, that some animals have backbones and some have not, it is less important that he should learn the terms vertebrate and invertebrate than that he should class the animals he meets with according to this difference" (Vol. 1, p. 265).

5. Do give direction, sympathy, encouragement, and help with experiments. "The teacher affords direction, sympathy in studies, a vivifying word here and there, help in the making of experiments, etc." (Vol. 6, p. 19).

6. Do teach science through a combination of nature study, laboratory work, and living books, using both random and structured studies. "The only sound method of teaching science is to afford a due combination of field or laboratory work, with such literary comments and amplifications as the subject affords" (Vol. 6, p. 223).

7. Do remember that dabbling in random scientific information is not the same as learning careful observation and understanding. "We may not confound a glib knowledge of scientific text-books with the patient investigation carried on by ourselves of some one order of natural objects; and it is this sort of investigation, in one direction or another, that is due from each of us. We can only cover a mere inch of the field of Science, it is true; but the attitude of mind we get in our own little bit of work helps us to the understanding of what is being done elsewhere, and we no longer conduct ourselves in this world of wonders like a gaping rustic at a fair" (Vol. 4, Book 2, p. 101).

8. Don't show your fear or distaste of something that interests your child. "If they see that the things which interest them are indifferent or disgusting to you, their pleasure in them vanishes, and that chapter in the book of Nature is closed to them" (Vol. 1, p. 58).

9. Do share your child’s wonder and admiration for his nature discoveries. "One of the secrets of the educator is to present nothing as stale knowledge, but to put himself in the position of the child, and wonder and admire with him" (Vol. 1, p. 54).

10. Do keep learning about science and nature yourself so you will have information to give your child as he desires it. "The mother cannot devote herself too much to this kind of reading, not only that she may read tit-bits to her children about matters they have come across, but that she may be able to answer their queries and direct their observation" (Vol. 1, pp. 64, 65).

I don't know if you would consider this a foreign language...but it's defenitely another language other than english that is becoming more popular even with people who can hear. We are learning and teaching our boys sign language because Carson is almost deaf without hearing aides. With aides, he has a much better response. (we go in for more testing on the 9th to see how well he actually does hear with the bone conduction hearing aide). But we want him to have "total" communication since we aren't sure how well he will be able to hear and speak.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in teaching their kids sign language....I HIGHLY recommend the "Signing Time" DVD/VHS series. The website for this set is at www.signingtime.com I think you can also rent them from the library. Owen is picking sign language up very quickly. I'm also seeing that he responds more positively to me when I tell him to "stop" doing something or to "be careful" (etc) when I also sign the words to him. It is also giving a whole new dimension to reading him books as well. It's alot of fun!

Megan

This is from an email sent by Simply Charlotte Mason

Schedules. On some days they seem to have a mind of their own. So here are some quick Charlotte Mason-style reminders to help us all keep on track as we use our schedules to navigate through the year.

1. Is my schedule my servant or my master?
Schedules make great servants, but lousy masters. If you find yourself stressing out about fitting everything into its appointed time-slot, you might be leaning toward the infamous my-schedule-is-my-master syndrome. Take a planning day and evaluate what is working well and what needs to be changed in order to keep your sanity intact and your children enjoying the benefits of home education.

2. Am I keeping lessons short?
Fifteen minutes of complete concentration is far more effective than forty-five minutes of dawdling and daydreaming. Encourage complete attention by keeping lessons short and focused. Of course, as children get older they may need more time to cover more material in a lesson, but keep lessons short as much as possible: 15-20 minutes for younger children, 20-30 minutes for intermediate children, 30-45 minutes for older children.

3. Am I alternating active and less-active lessons?
Alternating types of lessons can help keep everyone's brains fresh. For example, you could do a mentally intense lesson like dictation, then do a lesson that requires a different kind of concentration, like picture study. Read a history book and require an oral narration, then do a map drill. And don't forget to use the tool of physical activity to refresh a tired brain. A quick walk outside can do wonders! And speaking of getting outside . . .

4. Are picture study, music study, poetry, or nature study getting left out? It's so easy to let these subjects slip if we don't make a conscious effort to plan for them. Yet these are the subjects that add delight to the day and help educate the whole child. Picture study, music study, and poetry take just a few minutes each week. And wouldn't you enjoy an afternoon outside? Make plans now for next week!

5. When should I change my schedule?
Charlotte Mason's schools changed schedules each term -- about every three months. Don't be afraid to mix and match and rearrange every few months. You can change the order in which you cover subjects each day or change the days of the week on which you do certain subjects (or both!). And feel free to throw in a special emphasis every once in a while, like a game day each week for one term. You'll find more Daily and Weekly schedule ideas at simplycharlottemason.com/planning/

This came from a Sonlight email...

The vast majority of homeschool parents do not have formal training in education. If this is you, we'd like to pass on a few helpful hints that might make the teaching portion of your job a little easier.

The Narration Method
We encourage you to use the narration method to test your children and to help them learn. Narration differs from the more classroom method of testing random ideas, and might seem strange at first, but if you try it I believe you will come to appreciate it.

In the narration method, you read the material together with your children, and then have your children tell you (or, for older children, write) five things that they remember from the reading. (I really believe that it is helpful to have written records of the things you--or, rather, your children--have learned. If some of your children struggle with the mechanics of writing, please act as their scribe.)

I have used this method with my own children, and believe it is very effective. I believe they remember more than a worksheet can test, because they have to listen intently if they are to have enough material to record five sentences.

When I did narrations with my children, I collected their daily sheets in a notebook. That meant my kids had a record of all they had learned.

As for the notes in the Guides: they are "merely" samples of the kinds of things we would expect your children to notice and/or remember.


Modeling
When you discover a topic you and/or your children want to study in greater depth, do at least some of the study together. Take your children along when you go to the library to do a research project. Encourage them to look up a subject in the encyclopedia. Children learn by doing and by observation. Let them see how you do it (whatever "it" may be). And explain to them why you do things as you do. How do you take notes? Why do you take them as you do? How do you do an outline? Why do you outline as you do? How do you find a book that will really help you in your study and not simply be "somewhat related" to your topic of interest? How do you locate the specific place in the book where your subject is dealt with? These skills can hardly be transferred by written communication. Someone pretty well has to be there to walk children through the various steps and to help them think through why those steps and those particular choices make sense.

While reading the main texts, make sure your children locate places on a map. They should know where whatever it is that is being referred to is located. If an event took place within a certain mountain range, make sure they know where those mountains are. If your children have any questions that could be answered by looking at a map or reading a chart, take the time to do those things. If they need some help, be there to guide them through it, but guide them so that they can do it on their own using resources that are around them.

Whenever you read you and your children should take notes on any special achievements or other facts of interest about the person, country and/or people(s) they are studying. If some of your children can't write well, you should probably do the writing, but help them to take on the responsibility of formulating what should go in the notes. When you do this you are developing good study habits even as you go along. You are modeling note-taking. You will be helping your children learn to formulate adequate notes. You will be taking them along as an apprentice in study skills.

From The Teaching Home.

Where To Find the Support You Need To Home School This Year


1. Look to the Lord as Your First and Best Support
2. How To Avail Yourself of the Lord's Support
3. Look for Support at Home
4. Look for Support from Other People



Look to the Lord as Your First and Best Support


Others may let you down or fail to fulfill your needs, but not God. Go to Him first for the support you need.


"My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation:
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.

In God is my salvation and my glory:
the rock of my strength,
and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people,
pour out your heart before him:
God is a refuge for us."
(Psalms 62:5-

"I waited patiently for the Lord;
and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust."
(Psalms 40:1, 4a)

1. The Lord Is Always There 24/7.

You don't have to wait for next month's support group meeting or until someone else is available to help you. You can call on the Lord at any time, day or night. His invitations and promises to you assure that you will never become a burden to Him.


"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:2

"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)

2. The Lord Is All-Knowing and All-Wise.

The Lord knows exactly what you are going through and how you feel. He knows precisely what your family needs, both now and in the future. He is willing to share this wisdom with you; all you have to do is ask.


"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." (James 1:5-6a)

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need."
(Hebrews 4:15-16)

3. The Lord Is Loving and Kind.

The Lord loves you and your family with unfathomable, pure, and unfailing love.


"Behold, what manner of love the Father
hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God." (I John 3:1)

"Casting all your care upon him;
for he careth for you." (I Peter 5:7)


He will give you what is best in His time and in His way.
This is where our trust in Him must be implicit.


"But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)."
(Hebrews 11:6)

"And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God." (Romans 8:2)




How To Avail Yourself of the Lord's Wonderful Support

Sadly enough, we all too often fail to receive the gracious gifts of our Lord for various reasons.

• We get into the habit of trying to meet our own needs, forgetting to turn to the Lord.

• The physical world can seem more real to us than the unseen spiritual world.

We can correct this habit and misperception and find our Lord's aid and fellowship in the following ways:


1. Spend time daily in reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on God's Word.

Morning, noon, and night is not too much.

• Morning - Have your private time with the Lord.

• Noon - Read, study, or memorize Scripture in your school time or at the lunch table.

• Evening - Have family Bible reading at the table or before bed with Dad.

It is in His written revelation to us that we meet the Lord and He speaks to us.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
Restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure,
Making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
Rejoicing the heart
Psalms 19:7-8a

Resource


The Teaching Home's online Bible Reading Schedule can be started at any time and is divided into three readings each day for six days per week.


2. Fill your life with good Christian music.

Music is a powerful influence in our lives. Both the words and the style of the old hymns of the faith carry a message that honors the Lord and reminds you of Him and His attributes.

Although constant background music can be distracting and lose its impact, there are many times during the day that listening to, or singing, Christian songs can turn your thoughts to the Lord.

You might want to lead your children in a chorus or hymn each time you read from God's Word.


"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
(Colossians 3:16)

Resource

Old Fashioned Christian Music Radio is a free online station with conservative (not "old fashioned") music played 24 hours a day. You can also purchase the music you hear in their online store.


3. Talk to the Lord frequently throughout the day.

It might be hard to visualize the Lord beside you all day long, but if you engage in conversational prayer with Him throughout the day, you will be reminded of, and comforted by, His presence.


Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6


Look for Support at Home

Your family comprises a support group for you, your husband, and your children. Here is how you can give and receive support right at home.


1. Start with Yourself

Set Realistic Expectations

God does not ask us to do more than we are able. It is up to us to make sure we don't load ourselves down with extra projects of our own devising that he did not intend.

• Don't get carried away with extra-curricular activities; you need to be home to home school!

• If you are overwhelmed already, consider some of our suggestions for efficient school schedules in our Back-to-Home-School Checklist.

• Cut back and slow down until you can manage your goals. It is better to do a few subjects well (such as Bible and the academic basics of reading, writing, and math) and then add more subjects back into your schedule as you can. It might also help you simplify your school schedule to study history one semester and science the next.


Maintain Your Health

We must also be good stewards of the resources He has given us, including our own health. We are not free to indulge in excesses, but must eat, work, and rest in ways that preserve our ability to accomplish His purposes.

• Eat healthily and maintain your ideal weight.

• Drink enough water.

• Exercise regularly, but reasonably. A daily walk with your family promotes family unity as well as physical health.

• Deal with stress and problems God's way, don't let them build up.

• Take time to relax and enjoy your family.

• Get your full amount of sleep every night.

You cannot get enough support from others to make up for a disregard of the laws of cause and effect that God has ordained.


2. Don't Overlook Your Spouse

Maintaining a loving relationship with your spouse will naturally be a great support to you. And remember, you are his support system as well.

While your spouse is your closest human support and should be kept aware of your thoughts and feelings, problems and struggles, he should not feel that he is solely responsible to "fix" everything. Let him know that you have other resources, and discuss options together with the confidence you gain from trusting the Lord.

Your spouse may need some practical suggestions for ways to support you.

• Perhaps you only need 15 or 20 minutes at the end of each day to debrief each other and pray about any situations that have arisen.

• Agree on standards for your children's behavior and a system for their consistent discipline.

• Plan times to relax together.


3. Look to Your Family

Home schoolers recognize the value of the family unit. Let it support you. Enlist the help and support of your children. Grandparents or other relatives may offer support as well.

Your family will need help in knowing how to support you.

You may need to tell your children, "I really love you and love teaching you, but I need a little extra help in keeping up with the chores. A word of encouragement or a hug would sure come in handy too!"

Be sure you model support and encouragement in the way you interact with your family at all times.

Family members can, and should, be each others' best friends and supporters. Talk to your children about helping each other in this way. A focus on the positive can replace problems.


Look for Support from Other People

1. Look to Good Friends

Just one faithful, sympathetic, and praying friend can offer a tremendous amount of support. This informal "support group" can meet on the phone whenever the need or opportunity arises or once a week at a specified time.

Caution: Don't let this good friend take the place of the Lord or your spouse.

When like-minded home-school families spend time together, they provide needed support and encouragement for the whole family.


2. Consider Mentoring

Veteran home educators should consider what they have to offer beginners. New home schoolers can look for veteran home educators to mentor them. A regular time together or an occasional phone call can make a big difference!

A local support group may be able to help you find a mentor.


3. Look to a Support Group

Support Groups may consist of only two families, or they may be large and offer many functions and activities.

Involvement with your local Christian home-school group can provide encouragement, fellowship, educational opportunities, field trips, academic training and information, solutions to your problems, and answers for your questions.


Cautions

• Don't become overwhelmed by trying to participate in all the activities offered by your support group.

• Look for a group that will support your family's standards.


Resource

To find a local support group in your area, go to our website and link to the website of an organization in your state.


4. Look to Your Local Church

The fellowship and teaching of your local church provides important support for your spiritual life.

An ideal home-school support group might also be formed within your church if fellow members are home schooling. It is an added blessing to have a pastor who encourages you in your home-school efforts.


"And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another:
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
(Hebrews 10:24-25)