Homeschool Help - Homeschool Blogger

Veteran's Day

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:39:00 -0600

I know this is a day late, but I'm posting it anyway. I really like this and for more details on this teacher, you can read about it on http://www.snopes.com/glurge/nodesks.asp. As far as I can tell, it's a true story.

Back in September 2005, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock AK, did something memorable.

On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks from her classroom.

When the first period kids entered the room, they discovered that there were no desks. “Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?”

She replied, “You can’t have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.”

They thought, “Well, maybe it’s our grades.”

“No,” she said.

“Maybe it’s our behavior.”

She told them, “No, it’s not even your behavior.”

And so, they came and went: the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon, television news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren’s classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came, and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, “Throughout the day, no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.”

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.

Twenty-seven U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk.

The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand along the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place, those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, “You didn’t earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it’s up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don’t ever forget it.”

Homemaker's Heartburn

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:50:00 -0500

Do You Have Homemaker's Heartburn?
by Blair Massey

We all have our "off" days. It goes something like this: You wake up late and you just can't seem to get motivated to do anything. Simple tasks like doing the dishes seem too big to tackle and you don't even want to think about that mountain of laundry calling your name from the laundry room. The kids wear you down and you wish you could escape to someplace quiet. Instead of having a heart that burns to be a great homemaker, you feel more like your heart has a case of homemaker's heartburn. If this is where you're at, it's time for some refueling and refocusing.

Christ or Man?

Ephesians 6:7 "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men..."

It's very easy to become discouraged about your homemaking tasks when you focus on your family as the motivation for what you do. When they make messes, destroy things, postpone progress and cause pandemonium, it is easy to become discouraged and even resentful. But when you focus on Christ as the one you are serving, it puts a whole new perspective on things. Then when you look at the day's tasks you see them as serving Christ, not man. It is the Lord who has given you your role as the manager of your home and it is Christ who you are serving when you serve your family. That's an assignment you can sink your teeth into!

Rested or Burdened?

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)

Whenever I feel weary and in need of rest it always helps to give my burdens to Jesus. When I pray for strength He gives an ample supply. When I pray for patience He sustains me. When I need rest He provides it, whether it is through a change of plans or a change of attitude. Life can beat you down but Jesus is there to refuel you when you need it. Take Him up on His offer. You'll find the rest that you need in Him.

Busy or Buried?

Titus 2:4-5 "Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." (NIV)

Often the cause of my discouragement is the mismanagement of my time. I spend way too much time doing things that I really should do after I have my housework completed. Then wonder why I am so buried.

Take a step back and ask yourself if a lack of proper time management is causing housework buildup for you. If the answer is yes, then you need to get busy with your homekeeping. It may seem awkward at first, but if you get your work done when you should, you will have plenty of time to do the things you like to do.

As I always say, "Do what you're supposed to do, when you're supposed to do it and you'll be victorious every time."

We all have times when we fall short of the mark. To get back on track make sure that you focus on Christ, find rest in Him and get busy with your homekeeping. Then your homemaker's heartburn will be transformed into a flame that burns brightly, lighting up your home with the love of Christ.

© 2002 - 2009 Blair Massey

Christian Lifestyle expert Blair Massey is devoted to helping Christian women around the world get their home, family and life organized. To get your home organized and start living the amazing life you were created by God to enjoy, sign up for her FREE newsletter now at www.christian-homemaking.com

Rate the Professors

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:54:00 -0500

With two sons taking dual-credit classes and college years approaching quickly, here are two websites that might come in handy.

RateMyProfessors.com - This one is easy to search by school (don't have to know the professors name).

RateYourProf.com - Not as easy to use because you need to know the professor's name, but might come in handy.

Organization

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:43:00 -0500

Flylady's Monthly Focus - Paper Clutter

Organizing Junkie - Link-tastic

Organizing Your Way Notebook Printables

Flylady.net

Organizing Junkie

Organizing Your Way

Garden of Praise

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:41:00 -0500

Free educational material for Christian homeschoolers -- great website!

Garden of Praise

Online Flashcards and Games

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 11:16:00 -0500

www.studystack.com

Online flashcards and games for elementary through high school -- even studying for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT.

Some I have found that I like so far . . .

A Big Word Within the Word

Bill of Rights

Latin & Greek Roots List

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 08:26:00 -0500

Buncha Roots

Educational Websites

Sun, 6 Sep 2009 18:00:00 -0500

The Top 100 Educational Websites of 2009

Paula's Archives

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 22:02:00 -0500

Paula's Archives

Sonlight

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 21:53:00 -0500

Sonlight Core 3+4

Sonlight Core 6

Things that go along with Core 3

Things that go along with Core 4

Things that go along with Core 6

Mr. Donn's Ancient History Page

Knights, Castles, and Crusades

Home Crusaders

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:27:00 -0500

Home Crusaders Homeschool Forms - free to download. This link takes you to the home page and then you have to scroll down and click on the "HS Forms" link. I have used the "Course of Study" form for years when planning out our curriculum each year.

Homemakers By Choice

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:40:00 -0500

Homemakers By Choice - Home Page

HBC Podcast

HBC Free Forms

Menu Planning Forms

24 Passages Regarding Your Heavenly Father

Wise Parenting

Old & New Testament - what they are about

Having Dinner Together

Shame-Free Parenting

12 Rules for Raising Delinquent Children (love this!)

Book of James - Bible Study

Book of James - Part 2

Evidences of Faith

Wet Oatmeal Kisses (poem)

Purpose of this blog changing . . .

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:37:00 -0500

I have pretty much stopped updating this blog about our homeschool. We are still homeschooling and plan to continue through high school -- we actually have our first one graduating this year! I don't know that I have many "readers" and will plan to basically keep links to websites here that I don't want to lose. I know I can bookmark them -- but then I forget about them. This way, I can share them with whoever comes across this blog also (and hopefully find them when I need them). Happy Homeschooling!

Work

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 09:15:00 -0600

The natural thing to do is to work--to recognize that prosperity and happiness can be obtained only through honest effort. Human ills flow largely from attempting to escape from this natural course. I have no suggestion which goes beyond accepting in its fullest this principle of nature. I take it for granted that we must work. All that we have done comes as the result of a certain insistence that since we must work it is better to work intelligently and forehandedly; that the better we do our work the better off we shall be. All of which I conceive to be merely elemental common sense.
~ Henry Ford

Richard J. Maybury Interview

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:09:00 -0500

Thought this was a very interesting interview with Richard J. Maybury, author of the "Uncle Eric" books. Check out these books and study guides by Bluestocking Press. I haven't seen any of the study guides, but all of the "Uncle Eric" books are great to add to the list of books for your junior high and high school age kids to read!

Scheduling Success

Mon, 8 Sep 2008 14:26:00 -0500

I have been listening to lots of seminars from the Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2008 and thoroughly enjoying it! Thought I would post an article here by Cindy Rushton about scheduling our time here at the beginning of the new school year. Enjoy!

Psst! A Secret to Scheduling Success!
by Cindy Rushton

Want to know one of my biggest secrets to homeschooling the easy way? Want to know one of my biggest secrets to scheduling success? This one secret can make your daily schedule finally fit. It can end your scheduling frustrations forever.

I am not a "schedule by the minute" type of person. (GRIN) I fail with schedules like that. They don't meet my needs. My life includes too many areas that have different needs daily. Timed schedules just do not work for me.

So, what has worked for me? Setting up a framework to my day. This is one incredibly powerful tip. It can make a HUGE difference in your day as well. It just might be the secret that has alluded you through the years.

Wondering what I mean by a "framework" for your day? By framework, I mean a general flow to each day that includes all of the areas of my life that I juggle. But, how do I do that? Here are some quick tips:

1. Decide what should be included in your daily schedule. Look at what you are all about. Look at your goals, activities, values, priorities. Look at your husband's schedule--wrap everything around him. Look at what you need to include in your day to get everything done--quiet times, lessons, homemaking, read alouds, work, etc. This is important. Otherwise, you will include things in your schedule that may not be the very best choices. And...one big risk...you may never get around to the things that matter the most. Decide what really needs to be a part of each and every day for your day to be successful.

2. Decide the best time for the tasks you need to complete each day. This will help you get a good flow to your day. For me, quiet times are just best at the beginning of the day. Chores are great right after them--I need them completed so my brain can focus on the table time. Our business work and errands need to be done in the early afternoon. Read alouds are best before bedtime. You get the picture. When I tried to read aloud over lunch, we had so many distractions that we could never fit it in. Trying to work the business in the morning would never work...and of course, we couldn't take care of business errands at night. See how important it is to really look at the best time to get tasks done. Look at the best time for all of the tasks that need to be done. Look at the best flow to get everything done easily each day. You may not get this right at the beginning, but you will get closer and closer each day. You will love it!

3. Balance your day. Don't let any one area of your life get out of balance. Everything that we do in our day has a tendency to grow into a big time thief--homeschooling, homemaking, home business. Those important aspects of our life can easily grow out of their boundaries. While I love each of them, they can get rather exhausting if we don't keep them in balance with the other things that we have to do. The best way for me to stay balanced is to be reasonable about what I expect for each day, keep things simplified and easy, and keep everything inside of its time of the day. I don't mind those days that we want to dig deeper in a topic that we are studying. I also don't mind those days that we tackle a messy room. I don't even mind those days that we have a special business project that needs more time. But, if those areas were demanding extra time every day, it would be easy to get burned-out, frustrated and battle with our time each day. Want to make it work? Find a balance for your day.

4. Set up routines. Talk about a HUGE help for me. Without routines, things can get so frustrating every day--there are constant decisions, there is more strife in the family, there is no consistency. Routines help us to make things go faster, without the strife and struggle of figuring things out DAILY. Routines reduce the stress of making decisions daily. Routines help our children to know what to expect so they can move through all of the things that they need to do each day. Routines are crucial. They assure a smooth ride. They keep us on track. They keep us out of the ruts. They take us in the direction that we want to go. One of the toughest things I ever did was develop routines in my home. However, one of the most rewarding things that I ever did was develop routines in my home. When I got very, very sick, everything kept going. During those times that I have been stretched, things kept on going. All because of routines. Set up routines. Then, your children will know what to expect. They will learn what is next and next and next. The decisions will be made for you. They will be able to "just do it" with or without you. Set up routines for your family. Develop one set of routines at a time--look for the time of day that things go haywire. If it is morning, for example, look at all that needs to be done. Brainstorm. Make a to-do list for that routine. Write it out. Work it as a checklist until it becomes a habit. If you see other things that need to be added into that set of routines, add them. Tweak it until it is smooth. Then, move to the next troublespot. Do this for all of the times of your day. Watch to see how much it helps!

5. Prune anything that is not necessary. Truth is, we cannot do everything. What we do in our day keeps us from doing other things. It zaps our time, energy, strength. We need to be picky about what we add to our day. Every single thing that we do costs us something. We need to constantly prune those things that are not necessary. Prune anything that hinders, distracts. Be honest. Be ruthless. Prune. Even the good things! Go for the best!

6. Take the squeeze out of your schedule. Watch out for the squeeze in your schedule. Don't fill every minute of your day with something to do. Why? Because there are always going to be crisis situations, interruptions, melt-downs, delays. If we have our schedule maxed out, we will constantly be overwhelmed, overworked, and squeezed. Find ways to take the squeeze out of your daily schedule--cut out extra running, watch out for time thieves, prioritize your daily to-do's (and eliminate any that make the day too tight), cut out extras that are unnecessary, keep the day simple and easy. Keep a relaxed atmosphere. Constantly, take the squeeze out of your daily schedule.

7. Stay flexible! Stay adaptable! Actually, one of the reasons that we really want to develop a framework to our day is so we have more flexibility, so we have more "space" in our day to be adaptable. We want to be able to seize opportunities that come our way. We want to be able to slow down and enjoy our children. We don't want to miss teachable moments. These days just go by too fast. We want to enjoy every second. We want to make sweet, sweet memories. This requires that we stay flexible and adaptable. So, take the time to develop your own framework to your day. Do the tough work. Get your plans together. Work on these suggestions. Then, stay flexible. Stay adaptable. Grasp on to all that God has in store for you!

*******************************

About Cindy Rushton…

Cindy Rushton is the hostess of the Back to School Blast, her annual back to school fling for homeschool mothers around the world. Get your ticket NOW and receive her awesome A Quick Start for Notebooking Mini-Set FREE today! Check out all of the details here.

Parenting Tip

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:53:00 -0500

I need to put this into practice more -- it's a good reminder . . .

Teach Kids To Do More

One of the parts of our honor definition is that we do more than what's expected. That means seeing what needs to be done and doing it. It means solving problems instead leaving them for others. One family had a sign in their kitchen that read:

If it’s broken, fix it.
If it’s empty, fill it up.
If it’s open, shut it.
If it’s out, put it away.
If it’s messy, clean it up.
If you can’t, then report it.
That’s honor.

Take time to teach children that they don't have to be asked in order to do a job. Honor means that we’re all contributing to family life. In fact, you may ask a child to go around the house and look for one job that needs to be done and do it, then report back to you.

These kinds of discussions and exercises will help children think outside of their little box and discover that they have a responsibility to the family. They can contribute to family life by just seeing something that needs to be done and doing it.

Of course, that's what makes a valuable employee so you can teach your children something more important than just how to get along better in your family. You may be preparing them to be outstanding employees as they get older.

This parenting tip comes from the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids.

If you'd like to continue to receive tips yourself, you can sign up at www.biblicalparenting.org.

Complaining

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 10:10:00 -0500

This is one of Laine's Letters and it was too good not to share. (I did get permission first). Her website and subscription information is at the end. Enjoy!

"Do everything without complaining or arguing." Philippians 2:14

How I hear these Words in my mind over and over, especially when I want to do one or the other. Mostly the complaining part. So within the last year I have had this imaginary conversation with a woman from the mid 1800's; and when I am tempted to complain, rather than to thank God for His many goodnesses, I say this silently to her in her era:

How can I complain when I can hold the whole counsel of God in my hands and read it any time I want?

How can I complain when I can go to the sink and hot and cold water pours out for me at the flick of my wrist?

How can I complain when at the push of a button I can have instant heat on my stove?

How can I complain when it takes me minutes to load my washer and at the push of a button all the work is done for me?

How can I complain when I can get into my car and be at a market within 15 minutes?

How can I complain when I can have hot or cold air piped into my car while driving?

How can I complain when I can listen to the most beautiful music while driving?

How can I complain when I can see the doctor or the dentist on the same day I am suffering?

How can I complain when I can write a letter and send it to be received on the same day I sent it?

How can I complain when the shelves are so full of good things at my supermarket?

How can I complain when I can use double coupons to take off more than half of the price of an item?

How can I complain when I can buy clothes cheaper than the cost of just the thread at garage sales and thrift shops?

How can I complain when I can turn on this machine called a vacuum and it sucks up all the dirt for me in my house?

How can I complain when I can turn my oven on and have a fresh cake in thirty minutes using a mixer first to mix it?

How can I complain when I can sleep in front of a fan in the hottest time of summer?

How can I complain when I can go to the air conditioned library in the summer and use their computers for free?

How can I complain when I can talk to my mother in another state on a moment's notice over a hands free phone?

How can I complain when all my trash is picked up every week by this huge truck?

How can I complain when I can soak away my aches and pains in hot water piped right into my tub?

How can I complain when I don't have to use an outhouse, rather a lovely bathroom right inside my home?

How can I complain when I have this big above ground pool right in my backyard to jump into when it is so hot?

How can I complain when with the flick of a switch I can listen to Christian music on my radio while cleaning?

How can I complain when I have a closet full of clothes for my whole family?

How can I complain when I can turn on my t.v. and learn a whole new recipe from a celebrated chef for free?

How can I complain when I can go "shopping" from my freezer?

How can I complain when I can buy canned food for my winter pantry already canned for me?

How can I complain when I can lay fully back in my chaise lounge chair on a heating pad when I am ill?

How can I complain when I want to go to a concert that I can listen to it right in my kitchen on a CD?

How can I complain when at the flick of a switch I can light up a whole room?

How can I complain when at the flick of a switch my bread machine starts mixing my ingredients for me?

How can I complain when I can go to the library and obtain any book, CD, magazine, or recipe I want?

How can I complain when I can open a door and all kinds of foods are kept cold for me in my fridge?

How can I complain when at the flick of a switch I can blend a wonderful drink or batter?

How can I complain when at the flick of another switch my iron is hot and ready to smooth out the wrinkles before church?

How can I complain when I can add numerous long numbers accurately with a calculator I bought for a dollar?

How can I complain when I need glasses now to read when I bought them for a dollar at the Dollar Store?

How can I complain when I have so many competitive stores to shop from?

How can I complain when I just turn on a hose to water my plants?

How can I complain when there are so many beautiful parks to behold?

How can I complain when the roads are so smooth and easily traveled?

How can I complain when I can fly anywhere at a moment's notice if need be on an airplane.

How can I complain when there are shampoos, toothpastes, soaps, and cleansers of all kind to clean, clean, clean?

How can I complain when I can flick a switch and a crockpot slowly cooks my food all day while I am away?

How can I complain when I can warm our bed before we get into it with the softest electric blanket?

How can I complain when my family is far away who I can talk to on a cell phone?

How can I complain when not having a vacation because I've got one whole day a week to enjoy?

How can I complain?

How can I possibly complain?

"For if a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness...I say that a stillborn child is better than he...though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, even if he lives a thousand years twice - but has not seen goodness." Eccl. 6:3-6

How can I complain when every day is such Sweet Sabbath Rest with Him?

Love,

Laine

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Laine's official website: http://www.lainesletters.com

To subscribe send a blank e-mail to: Laines_Letters-subscribe@welovegod.org

Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2008

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:55:00 -0500

Cindy Rushton is at it again! I am so excited!

I have been attending some of her Ultimate Homeschool Expo Preview Chats. They are GREAT! Every topic you could fathom is being addresssed.

Wonder what it is all about? Let me share what Cindy is doing...

For a long time, Cindy has had a vision of setting up a homeschool
convention online. When she began teaching her Talk-a-Latte Online
Seminars, she knew that she had everything in place to go for the
dream. So, last year she gave it a try to host the very first
Ultimate Homeschool Expo. It was a huge success. But, even that event pales in comparison to this year's event. It is truly the ULTIMATE event. Now, we are counting down weeks until the big event!

Well, we say till the big event, but Cindy is actually offering
Preview Chats featuring her 2008 speakers. Those are free each
week. If you have never joined an online class, don't toss this
offer! Join us -- it is well worth your time!

Each session features a free seminar by one of the speakers. You
can listen to the speaker on your computer and you can also "text
chat" with other moms. I have learned so much and gained an enourmous amount of encouragement throught these online seminars!

Get the details here:

Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2008

One Minute Each Night

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:44:00 -0500

Received this in an e-mail and thought it was worth posting . . .

During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and peace. This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped.

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America .

If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the up-coming election, and for the revival of Christianity in this great country.

If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along.

Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.

SPREAD THE WORD!