Training Hearts At Home - Homeschool Blogger

Life of Fred Math?

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:33:00 -0500

Have any of you used Life of Fred math? I've just recently discovered this and it sounds exactly like what our oldest daughter needs, but I'd like to hear from some who have actually used it before.

Something I'm Considering...

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 16:32:00 -0500

I have a confession to make...

...I have not done a very good job training my children to keep their rooms clean. And from the looks of our home right this minute, evidentally they haven't learned the importance of helping mom keep the rest of the house picked up either!

If the truth be known, while my mom did the very best job she could do raising me (which wasn't bad at all I must say), cleaning and keeping a home wasn't exactly an area that I was trained in nor had a very good example of while growing up. So while I love a nice, clean, comfortable home, it's something that I really have to work at and push myself to do. I don't want to pass on the same lack-of-training to my own children, so I know I have to begin by making changes in myself.

This is something I've seen a few times and am seriously considering purchasing, not only for the kids but for me too! We have, and LOVE, Times Tales and this product, Zone Cleaning for Kids and Laundry Basket Cleaning was created by the same wonderful people. Because of how great Times Tales is, I'm thinking that their Clean & Flip charts would be a great blessing to our family.

Check it out, and if anyone has used this and has an opinion on it, please leave me a comment here and tell me what you think!

What If A Member of Social Services Shows Up At My Door?

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 16:11:00 -0500

While most of us may never have to deal with Social Services, there are plenty of stories out there of families who have been the target of unfair invasion by those who do not agree with their decision to homeschool and who think they are harming their children by doing so.

So what can we do to protect ourselves from those who would like to interfere in our lives and cause us unnecessary problems simply because we homeschool? First of all, I can not recommend enough that every homeschooling family join HSLDA, the Homeschool Legal Defense Association. HSLDA is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Through annual memberships, HSLDA is tens of thousands of families united in service together, providing a strong voice when and where needed.

And if you are ever faced with a social services worker at your front door, here are the steps you need to take:

Stay calm.
Be polite and friendly. Smile.
Get his name and business card.
Do not let him into your home. The only legal ways into your home are with:
- an emergency situation (immediate and obvious danger to life and limb),
- your permission, or
- a search warrant.
Do not allow him to interview your children.
Tell him you are willing to cooperate if he will tell you what the charges are.
When he tells you, tell him you will take your child(ren) to your physician and have him write a report to CPS.
Repeat the above statements as often as necessary. Do not be afraid of silence.
After he leaves, write down everything that occurred and call Home School Legal Defense Asociation (HSLDA) and/or your attorney.

Did you participate in Heartschooling Day? Please share your story!

Sun, 4 Mar 2007 16:00:00 -0600

If you participated in honoring Missey Gray by having your own 'Heartschooling Day' please make sure you share your story of what your family did. Please also include any pictures if you took any of what you did that day. I will be printing these stories and pictures off and sending them to Missey's husband Tom and their five children so they can see just how Missey's life impacted so many other families around the country by encouraging them to take advantage of the precious time we have with our children and have fun making special memories together.

Join Us In Honoring Missey Gray

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 22:17:00 -0600

This Thursday, March 1st, will be the 1-year anniversary of the passing of our dear Missey Gray. If you didn't have the priviledge of knowing Missey, you can peek into her life at her blog here. (I just want to say a big thank you to the wonderful people here at HSB for leaving Missey's blog up so we can all continue to glean from it. I hope it remains available for a very long time).

If you are unfamiliar with Missey's story, last March 1st she underwent a C-section to deliver her 5th child and died from an amniotic embolism. Moms around the country were shocked and hearts were broken as Missey had touched so many lives and helped so many other homeschoolers with her wisdom and kind spirit.

In honor of Missey and all that she represented, homeschoolers around the globe are celebrating 'Heartschooling Day' this Thursday, March 1st and hope to continue doing so every year on (or around) this day. One of Missey's entries on her blog talks of how she is she is putting away all the formal school work and just enjoying the holiday season with her children... playing, baking, etc. So Heartschooling Day is a day to just put away all the formal stuff and just enjoy being with our children. Do what THEY want to do. Cuddle and read, go to the park, bake something together, get down on the floor and play Barbies or trucks. Whatever! As long as you're ALL laughing and making precious memories together.

Please join us in honoring this much-loved and very-missed momma. I know it will touch her husband and children's hearts to know that Missey touched so many lives and that she has not been forgotten, but instead is being honored.

If you do participate, please return here and tell about your day (Just leave a 'Comment' to this post). I will be printing off all the stories and sending them to Tom and the children to let them know just how much Missey touched so many lives and that she is not forgotten.