LivingHeritageUK - Homeschool Blogger

Amazing Grace (Wilberforce)

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 13:35:00 -0600

Coming next month to a cinema near you is the film 'Amazing Grace' , the true story of the Slave abolitionist William Wilberforce. Slavery, and it's abolition ,is a significant part of history that I believe we are duty bound to explore with our children. If we only ever look at history's heroes, yet ignore history's mistakes, we're not giving them the true picture.

Ideas and resources

Check out the story of Wilberforce by typing 'Wllberforce' into wikipedia.com. I just read this to my eight year old and he was really moved.He is currently reading the biography of Livingstone as preparation for our look at slavery next month.

www.setallfree.net/resources_current.html

www.freetheslaves.net/slavery/

www.antislavery.org Thisnwebsites offer a host ofpractical ideas for groups to help further the struggle against slavery and similar abuses today. It also offers a very useful month by month 2007 guide to events all over UK

www.stopthetraffik.org

Try and see if you can see the film 'Amistad - Steven Spielburgs film about the courage of American Christians, inspired by Wilberforces work, just a few years later.

For actual taped reminisces of aged American slaves : http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/voices/

For hundreds of historical images: http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu/Slavery/index.php

God Bless

Jane

Encouragement

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:38:00 -0600

Over the last few weeks of reading many blogs I have come to the conclusion that many of us are having a pretty tough time, maybe not with the homeschooling of our kids as such but with other pressures and problems in life. I know I for one have had a rough ride over the last few months. As a family we have felt strong attack and a weakening in resolve.

I want this entry though to be one of encouragement for all you life battered mums and dads who just want to serve God, your families, church and friends. Here in the UK homeschooling hasn't taken off anywhere as much as in America but we are a band of trail blazers for a concept that is growing quickly. We may not have all the curriculums at hand and large homeschooling groups to attend, but we have strength and resoursefulness that I now for myself I often lose sight of.

Homeschoolblogger has also been a major source of encouragement and inspiration for me and my family and I'm hoping that it will grow in its usage amongst UK homeschoolers. It is a great opportunity to reach out and befriend like minded people all over the world but I would like to think that as a country here we can do that for each other through the blog. I know blogging hasn't taken off the same here but it will follow suit eventually and I can imagine a big group of homeschoolers using it to encourage and build each other up.

For those who are considering homeschooling in the future but are concerned that there will be no one else near by, get in touch with one of the UK bloggers here at HSB I'm sure one of us will be able to point you in the right direction. I'm sure I speak for all of us in saying we want to help and encourage all who want to walk this particular path. We have all been there at sometime as we have started out on this journey.

Before I finish this entry I also want to encourage everyone to use this wonderful medium of HSB to find new friends and to support and pray for each other. Spread the word!!!!

Have a great rest of the week,

Love Deb

Motivation

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 09:59:00 -0600

The kind of day I am having today makes the subject of motivation quite hard to think about. But you know it's in my head anyway and I kind of think I need to say something on the subject even if it just gets some good stuff into my head.

Today all my kids are in a grump, the type of mood that makes you suspicious that maybe they are coming down with something. They have been niggling each other all day, any work has had to be drawn out of them like pulling teeth and I have to admit I have had one of my " that's it I'm giving up" days!!!! So you wouldn't set my lovely offspring up or me as the epitome of motivation today. I'm smiling as I write this because actually as the day draws into evening it doesn't seem anywhere near as bad as it did this morning at about 11am. It never does though does it?

Where do we draw our motivation from each day? Do we wake up feeling full of beans and raring to go with the most wonderful, exciting plans that you know are going to have the kids engrossed. Or like today for me, is it one of those days when you just want to go back to bed!!! I know I always feel loads better if I have had chance to do some good planning and got all my materials together. The subject matter needs to inspire me for it to have a knock on effect for the kids. But probably top of my list for motivating me and my tribe to have a productive, unstressful day is if we have plans to see people that day or if the children have extra activities planned.Breaking out of routine works wonders to head off the " I don't want to work" bug. My kids are at the age when the highlight of any day is the opportunity to see their friends and it always has a good effect on their motivation to work hard at their lessons.

But bottom line, the one thing that has pulled me back today has been a good chat with God. He is able above all else to motivate our little homeschool into action. Prayer has worked wonders so many times and I'm thrilled that my kids have seen for themselves just how powerful talking to their Father God is.

Anyway I hope my ramblings have been of some help and encouragement. I know I'm not on my own, we all have days when motivation seems to be non-existent and we just can't wait to get into bed again. I'm going to keep bringing it back to God, he has helped loads today.

Deb

Check this bargain out!

Thu, 4 Jan 2007 10:24:00 -0600

Happy New Year !

Wishing you and your family a year of Jubilee. A year of growth, adventure and learning. Go for it!

Today is my birthday and I'm whiling the afternoon away with a box of Thorntons chocolates and my three children doing their *best* to make it a great afternoon. Sheesh.

Surfing the net, I just stumbled upon a totally awesome bargain....

A huge set of audio cds by the BBC that includes dramatised versions of my all time favourite read alouds...We're talking Treasure Island,The Secret garden,Heidi,Swallows and Amazons, Tom's Midnight garden. This full set, is reduced from around £50 to just £17. Fabulous for car journeys and some fresh inspiration as we kick into the new term. Here's the link:

http://www.bbcshop/invt/056352546&bklist=icat,4,,januarysale,audiobooksale

The link is to the BBC shop, audiobook section.

Also coming up this term there is the 'Education Show' held at the NEC, Birmingham in March, (type 'education show NEC' into google and it'll take you there)This is a fabulous opportunity to pick up freebies and great educational material. If your going, and you want to meet up for a coffee...let us know!

love

Jane

Christmas Greetings

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 03:49:00 -0600

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy, peaceful Christmas and and great New Year. I pray that God richly blesses you and your family at this wonderful, precious time of year.

We are going to have a two week break here at Living Heritage but we look forward to hearing from you all in the New Year.

God Bless

Deb

Living Heritage UK.....What do you think?

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:27:00 -0600

Hey Folks,

We hope you've enjoyed the last 6 months of posting from the Living Heritage team. This blog is for the support and inspiration of UK homeschoolers, choosing to raise their kids in the Lord in the robust environment of home and local community. We are one of a very small number of UK home education support organisations, all with a common goal of building the UK homeschooling community.

So, what do you think of Living Heritage thus far? Any questions? Any subject we need to cover? Do you have groups to recommend? Resources? Comments?

Please drop us a quick email at admin@livingheritage.org.uk or drop us a comment on the blog (you don't have to be a blog member to comment, just click on' 'post a comment', it's easy)

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Jane

Make a Christmas Christingle/Jesse Tree

Thu, 7 Dec 2006 01:34:00 -0600

Hi folks!

Check out the fab link below for making a Christmas Christingle or Jesse Tree.

I've just opened the curtains and it looks like today is going to be oh so windy (brrrrr) Oh well, fear not, intrepid Jane and her little trible are going to a local park to pick up some twisted willow. We're going to sprinkle glitter on it and make it our Jesse Tree (see link).

http://www.msgr.ca/msgr-2/christingle.htm

Jane

Beating Boredom!

Tue, 5 Dec 2006 00:43:00 -0600

Hi folks,

The 'I'm BORED' whine from my children is one I could really do without. Yup, after a day cuttng glueing, reading,teaching, pretending to be a shop customer a dozen times for my youngest, cooking, researching, cleaning ....those words are like a slap in the face to a homeschool parent OR we could see them as a swifty chance for a spot of character building (heh heh)

Our role, rather than immediately 'entertain' them out of their boredom is to allow them to gain the self discipline habits to lift themselves out of their boredom. This morning, I have skulked downstairs to get some swifty housework done while everyone else sleeps. I had a quick check of emails, and a good friend of mine posted some great quotes about beating boredom. I'm always on the look out for good quotes as I have my kids start their day by writing out and memorizing poems/quotes/scriptures/lyrics. The following give us some really great foundations for beating boredom:

"Your true traveller finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty - his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure." Aldous Huxley

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity." Ellen Parr

"Nobody is bored when he is trying to make something that is beautiful or to discover something that is true." W. R. Inge

"Boredom is not an end-product, is comparatively rather an early stage in life and art. You've got to go by or past or through boredom, as through a filter, before the clear product emerges." unknown

Have a great day!

Jane

Christmas

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:59:00 -0600

Yes I know it's still over three weeks away and I apologise to all those who this reminder sends them into a frenzy of agitation. But I wanted to share how we are spending these last weeks up to Christmas in our Home-school.

We love all things christmasy in our house. I am like a big kid as it gets nearer and the "ceremony" of the Christmas Tree decorating is always a biggy. We spend a fair amount of time making lots of craft and baking yummy things. I love taking the kids into the city centre to see the lights and any party on offer bring it on!!!

However I have been very saddened this year at just how dumbed down the real meaning of Christmas as got. There have been stories of the huge increase in red tape to make it hard for local comminuties to put up Christmas lights. Schools are not only refusing to serve traditional turkey for the christmas lunch but are also nolonger doing nativity plays in order not to cause offense. How far will this country go before people start to wake up to just how much is at stake.

Anyway, this year I have chosen a Christmas unit study from www.homeschoolestore.com to do with my two oldest and combining it with a look at christmas around the world. The Unit study is a biblical exploration of Jesus' birth and they are building up their own journals with pictures and and crafts so they still get to indulge in all things gluey and glittery. There are two levels that I am doing with my 8 year old and 6 year old. It is good to spend our time doing real Christmas study. It is so easy to get caught up in the secular stuff but bringing it back to where it should be is vital.

Deb

Education system sneers at intelligent design

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:10:00 -0600

Science teaching materials discussing intelligent design rather than evolution have beendeemed "not appropriate" by the UK education officials.

DNA BY DESIGN

The Department for Education and Skills said they not supportive of the science curriculum. However, supporters of the 'Truth in Science' courses says they are "very scholarly" and could be extremely useful in helping children understand the importance of scientific debate

A Truth in Science supporter said"Darwin has for many people become a sacred cow.

"There's a sense that if you criticise Darwin you must be some kind of religious nut case.

"We might has well have said Einstein shouldn't have said what he did because it criticised Newton."

Surely, science only moves forward by reviewing and reworking previous theories and that these materials foster an understanding of this. There is no doubt, however, 'intelligent design' is fast becoming abhorent to the education system

The chairman of the parliamentary science and technology committee, Phil Willis, said using the packs in science classes "elevated creationism" to the same level of debate as Darwinism and that there was no justification for entertaing creationism.

He added: "There's little enough time with the school curriculum to deal with real science like climate change, energy and the weather.

And the final humdinger..

"This is quite frankly a distraction that science teachers can well do without."

Parents, don't be blind to the worldview that the education system is sadly being built on. Sound foundations are crucial to our children. Truth matters!

Jane

Info sourced from BBC news website