I know my kids would love this book!  So I thought I would share it with you too!

E-Book: Munchable Math 

Problem solving with pasta, exploring possibilities with popcorn, and other delicious math lessons require students to use their noodles as they discover kernels of mathematical truths. This book includes an Appetizer section that dishes out the upcoming math concept; a Main Dish section with lesson preparations, management tips, reproducible activities, recording sheets, and a math journal; a Dessert section that tops off the main lesson with literature links; and more.

You can download a sample HERE. 

In one year we traveled through all 9 of the Little House books…from the Big Woods of Wisconsin to De Smet, South Dakota…from about the time Laura was 4 years old to the First Four Years of Laura and Almonzo’s marriage.  And all the joys and tears in between. 

Margie has done a great job in incorporating all the things we love about unit studies into one of the most enjoyable, fascinating studies our family has ever done.  The topics are interesting and varied.  They range from: Bible Concepts and Building Character (Comparing Ourselves, God’s Umbrella of Protection, Struggle with Sin Nature…), Bible Memory (various verses), Crafts (Candle Making, Moccasin Making…), Health (Causes of Diseases, Effects of Tobacco and Alcohol, Food Groups, Rabies…), History, Government, Social Studies and Geography (American Folk Songs, Family History, Geographical Terms, Indians, Louisiana Purchase, Presidents, States and Capitals, Woman’s Suffrage…), History – Biographies (Clara Barton, Abraham Lincoln, Noah Webster…), Literature and Language Arts (Composition, Foreshadowing, Vocabulary…), Living (Cooking, Guns and Gun Safety…), Science (Bacteria and Viruses, Electricity, Simple Machines…), Science – Animal Kingdom (Animal Classification, Leeches, Grasshoppers…), Science – Human Body (Blood, Eyes, Genetics…).  It’s a very full year!  

This study is most appropriate for grades 3 – 6; but our family has done it twice…as mentioned above, our girls were in K and 3 the first year we did the study and in 4 and 7 the last time.  It was quite easily adapted to lower or upper grades.  Very easy to work with.  When our girls were in the upper grades there was so much time that had passed, and since the subjects were covered more deeply, it seemed like a whole new study.  

The Prairie Primer was by far one of our favorite studies.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

 
Deb Turner (Homeschooling From the Heart)
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
Featured Graduates and Alumni

Jamin

Here is one customer's response: "The ad-libs are great! I enjoyed Mad Libs as a kid, but it's hard to find "family-friendly" ones, and making them yourselves is such a good idea. We really appreciate that yours are practical and teach life issues (and grammar, of course) as well as entertain."

As with everything else, the times have changed and so have what employers require. 

These days most students, especially young men, will find out that a college degree is a must-have in order to gain the most benefit from your career choice.  Not to say that life-experience counts for nothing, many colleges will take a sharp look at the temporary jobs, clubs, sports and any community involvement a student has.  My friend, Mavis Koon, wisely said, "God does not waste anything that you experience or go through -- that includes education." 

Even in this politically correct world there really are some differences in what is expected, and the life goals, of the sexes... 

Young men need to take their futures into consideration as to earning potential in order to be the major bread-winner for his family.  His degree, or lack there-of, will undoubtedly effect such things as what type of job, or ministry, he may decide to embark on.  With this vision of his future rolling around in his head he needs to consider how this choice of "degree or no degree" will effect his pay scale and the stepping stones to a better paying job via promotions. 

Young women may want to decide how serious they are about their futures in the job market.  Is this something she wants to do as a life-long career?  Is this something she wants to do to help her husband, financially, for the first few years of marriage...until they buy their first home...until they start a family?  Our daughters may also want to consider how her college or tech school choice might help her in managing her future home. 

Many careers can be useful in her home life.  Accounting and bookkeeping are of major use in her home life.  Nursing and hair design skills benefit her whole family their whole lives (free medical assessments and haircuts can be a huge savings!).  Connie Robertson reminds us that we never know what the future holds, "We don't know if God has a husband for our daughter.   And if He does, they may not meet until they're 30."  She certainly needs to earn a living in the meantime. 

UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE? 

Many factors other than career choice go into choosing the type of higher education one needs or desires. 

One decision is your choice of major, others are cost and location.  Are you a resident of that state?  That county?  Are you taking courses on-line?  How will all this effect your choices?  How will this effect your costs? 

There is a trend for some to attend a community college for their first two years.  In going this route, many students have decided that they can still live at home and enjoy the support, encouragement and protection of the family while they are in the emotional transition between the teen years and adult-hood. 

While enjoying the support of home for one or two more years, they may also work off some of the "minor," general requirements in the community college setting while saving money to finish and acquire their formal degree at a major University. 

This course would allow a student who is having trouble declaring a major a little more time to decide without the higher cost of University.  Many students may appreciate the opportunity to gain a little more life experience and having the time to listen to the experience of older friends who are in college ahead of them.  What are they finding are necessary steps...what are they finding are foolish or unnecessary steps? 

BENEFITS FOR MINISTRY 

Any pastor who take his leadership path seriously needs to take much care in their choice of higher education.  Many decide to attend seminaries specifically backed by their chosen denomination. 

When asked about a specific benefit higher education had in his choice as a pastor, Rev. Thomas H. Sager (C&MA) said, "College shocked me out of my narrow-mindedness."  He went on to explain that higher education for the student thinking of ministry as a vocation will gain by being exposed to other world-views.  By associating with others of differing backgrounds one may better understand other perspectives; the reasons others make the choices they make.  This will greatly benefit ministry students when they become pastors, in that a modern-day pastor does much more than sermonize on Sunday mornings.  The modern pastor is much in need of relational skills and reasoning skills when counseling, much less research skills and acquired knowledge of any topic he must discuss or teach on. 

Rev. Sager also believes, "When preparing for ministry at the graduate level, the choice of seminary, the theology of your seminary, are vitally important." 

Wrapping it Up 

Was Mavis Koon correct when she said, "God does not waste anything that you experience or go through -- that includes education"?  Yes, I believe she was.  However, when anticipating your life's career - whether it be on the professional level, technical, industrial, agricultural, and even the choice a daughter may make to stay home after marriage - take serious consideration regarding your higher education. 

No longer is the employer's mantra "experience required."  It is now "education required." 

A college degree affects your future.  It effects and influences pay scale, possible promotions and can be the stepping stone to a more fulfilling, better paying position.

Kim Wolf