Category Archives: Our Homeschool

The Great Barrier Reef

June 11 is the anniversary of the discovery of the Great Barrier Reef (1770). Also, the third week in July is “Coral Reef Awareness Week”! Here’s the links we will be following in our homeschooling summer school lesson of the day (and maybe tomorrow’s lesson too).

About the reef from the Marine Park Authority of Australia http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-the-reef

Photo Gallery https://www.livescience.com/23611-image-gallery-great-barrier-reef-through-time.html

Lapbooking materials http://www.homeschoolshare.com/coral_reef.php

documentary here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_d3LFvc8HQ

It is going to be a “G’ Day” of homeschooling with this Great Barrier Reef Study!

betty jo

Attentiveness

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This past school year I added some character development studies to our homeschooling lessons. These studies have proved to be a great opportunity for our family. Homelife Ministries has wonderful family character quality guides. E and B found much to notebook and journal about and as a family, we found much to discuss, memorize, and put into practice. J, Z, and I made several lapbooks of the same studies from Homeschool Share. The Homeschool Helper Online has some good ideas for character studies, too. (Links are at the end)

I was able to include the subjects of Bible, History, Science, Music and Language Arts into each study making for simplified days with lots of time to pursue elective interests. These charactier development lessons were a welcome break in between topics in our usual history studies. We completed six such studies this past year. We will be adding more next school year.

“Pay attention! ” “Watch what you’re doing.” “Listen.” These are things parents say to their children on a regular basis. I know I say these often during our homeschooling days, whether it is during math, cooking, art, or whatever. If I would listen, I would hear the Father saying those same words to me just as often. Attentiveness seems to be an across the board kind of character trait that both my children and myself need to further develop. Attentiveness was good place to start with our new studies. Though all of our character development lessons were good, this one was my favorite. This one is also the most reviewed one.

This is J’s and Z’s attentiveness lapbook. I covered the back with clear contact paper so they can do the wordsearch puzzle with washable markers again and again.

Below are the free resources I used for this and our other character development studies. These are the links I’ll be going to again as we continue our lessons when our homeschooling starts back full time in the fall.

Hymns, Scriptures, application, examples, and science connections for copywork, notebooking, journaling, and discussion from http://www.characterjournal.com/ (scroll down a little bit then select the character quality from the list on the right sidebar)

Lapbooking and notebooking materials http://www.homeschoolshare.com/character_lapbook.php

A few more ideas from http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/character_studies.shtml

For other posts about character development https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/08/keeping-the-code/ and https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/10/calling-for-reinforcements/ and https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/05/10/but-he-has-a-good-heart/ and https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/06/10/1654/

betty jo

Rewinding

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I did not just “fall off the turnip truck”, and I have “been around the block a few times”, meaning that I’m not naive, inexperienced, or immature.

I know that from time to time I will be in a disagreement with others. I am aware that conflicts happen within families, churches, neighborhoods, and groups. I find myself currently involved in yet another conflict that the outcome will affect others. This time the differences in opinions have left me shocked, angry and hurt.

It has been a week since the disagreement and I am still devoting too much of my time and energy dwelling on it. Dwelling on the disagreement, not the solution. My family knows about this situation that I’m having a difficult time with. My kids are watching me and my reactions. I realize that lately I have not been “practicing what I preach” or “walking the walk”. I’m showing my kids what not to do instead of showing the right thing to do.

As of this very moment I am prayerfully changing my attitude. The Holy Spirit is reminding me of the Scriptures I should be applying. First there is this one,

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I desire to be a blessed child of God. I will allow peace to take over my attitude so that the hurt and anger will no longer have a place.

Next, the Word reminds me of more principles to apply,

1 Corinthians 13:5It [love] does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Ouch! I’m guilty of not acting in love. I have dishonored those I’ve disagreed with. I’ve thought badly of them. I’ve spoken some of those dishonorable thoughts out loud. I have been rather self-seeking, self righteous, and closed minded. I was easily, very easily, angered. I know why, too. It’s because of the records of wrongs I keep against them. It’s true, I keep a mental list of everything, both little and big, that has ever offended me. This list is not helping with finding solutions. It is keeping my focus off of the matters at hand ,therefore keeping us from resolving the issue. I’m laying my list down and will try not to pick it up again.

Proverbs 19:11 A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

I’ll be getting over my hurt ego now and letting go of the anger. I’ll be moving forward toward a resolution with both wisdom and patience. This new and improved attitude is not just for my own benefit, but for the group of people this disagreement affects. I also want my kids to see me doing what is right, setting a good example for them to follow. They will always be involved in conflicts, too. It’s just part of life.

God isn’t done with us any of us yet. He guides and equips us through conflict. He forgives us. He encourages us with hope. He reminds us of who we are and sometimes rewinds us to start over with the right attitudes.

betty jo

Our Homeschooling Week Ending June 7

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The highlight from our week was Graduation/Achievement Night. My daughter and I were on the decorating committee for our homeschooling support group’s year end celebration.

We had an expected head count of 120 guests for the reception. We planned for more, which was a good thing because we had close to 200 guests attend!

SALT (homeschool creative ministries) and Silver Lining (homeschool color guard) performed for the night’s entertainment.

As part of this celebration, families set up display tables featuring awards, photos and projects from the year. This was our homeschool’s display.

Also, as part of the celebration, parents present their kids with awards for something well done during the year. These are the ones my husband presented to our kids.

He gave our homeschool a history award for our unit studies of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

E17 received Honor Roll and Supergirl awards.

B15 was awarded for “Scriptural Character Studies and Application”. J10 earned the “All Around Improvement” award.

Z7 was given the “Independent Study” award. I wasn’t left out of the awards. My family gave me one too, “Computer Achievement”.

Saturday morning we awoke to a flash flood! Our front yard looked like this.

Our back yard was worse.

The water poured into our cellar and flooded our garage. Thank goodness we had access to a pump. It took nearly 6 hours to get the water out from under our house.

We were quite concerned about our garden when we saw it. Our pepper plants were partially uprooted and leaning over. The box floating away in this photo was our homeschool’s weather station. I’m still not sure where it ended up. We found some of our yard things in the empty lot on the next street over, but not the weather station.

By Sunday afternoon, all looked fine. The yard barely even had a puddle left in it.

The garden recovered from the down pour. We even have some baby tomatoes and peppers growing now.

Monday and Tuesday we put summer school on hold to dry out some of our things we had stored in the garage. Our Christmas books got the worst damage, but most will be alright. We feel blessed not to have had more ruined.

June 5 was the anniversary of the first hot air balloon flight (1783). Last year as part of our summer school calendar studies Z, J, and I decided to learn everything we could about hot air balloons. Last year’s lapbook made a good review for us this year.

We are hoping for the upcoming weekend and next week to be uneventful and peaceful. And maybe we’ll start a new art project for our chalkboard wall. We erased the last mural and now our kitchen/school room looks very plain. I’m thinking we need something summery and fun, maybe a summer camp scene?

Here’s the links to related posts:

Year End Celebration https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/06/04/year-end-celebration/

Homeschool creative ministries https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/05/20/salt/

Homeschool color guard https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/16/silver-lining/

Homeschool Gardening https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/14/homeschool-gardening/

Our one day study on Hot Air Balloons https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/06/05/hot-air-balloons/

Our chalkboard wall murals https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/one-of-our-favorite-things-the-wall/

betty jo

Hot Air Balloons

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June 5 is the anniversary of the first hot air balloon flight (1783). Last year as part of summer school calendar studies Z, J, and I decided to learn everything we could about hot air balloons.

Fantastic Resource and Activity List! https://www.franw.com/2014/06/hot-air-balloons.html

We made this lapbook from

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/hot_air.php

and added a few of our own ideas.

Our library had a few children’s books about hot air balloons. These two were our favorites.

Here is a link to a cute craft idea we tried, of course we had to use batman action figures in the basket instead of the child picture http://www.dltk-holidays.com/summer/mballoon.html

We thought this video from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta was fascinating!

betty jo

Year End Celebration

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Every May, our homescholling support group celebrates the end of another year of homeschooling. This celebration includes a graduation ceremony for those leaving kindergarten, eighth grade, and twelfth grade. This year our group had twelve graduates, two kindergarten, four 8th grade, four high school, and for the first time in our group’s history, a mom and son graduating homeschool college.

There were senior and college graduate speeches. One senior sang and was accompanied by his dad on guitar and younger sister on piano. Our Creative Ministries troop, SALT, performed during the program.

This family in the next photo is so special. Our families have known each other for years. They have been most active and helpful with our groups activities for since they began their homescooling journey. And we have gotten together many time outside of the support group. They invite my B15 to go to events with them. They come to special church events with us. Seven years ago, this boy was in a 5th grade special education class in a public elementary school. He was taking several behavioral medications. The school evaluated him at a 1st grade level. Therapists had told her that he probably would not be able to learn to read, write, perform math, or be a self sufficient adult someday. She took her son’s education into her own hands. She took him off the medications. She taught him to read, write, do math, drive a car, get a job, and manage his own finances! It’s been a difficult for them to get to this point. They have not had family support. The mom is currently battling cancer for the second time. He takes care of her. There wasn’t a dry eye in the audience by the time they finished their presentation.

Families without graduates still participate in the ceremony by presenting their children with awards for something they have achieved during the year. My husband presented awards to our kids. He gave our homeschool a history award for our studies of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

Z7 was given the “Independent Study” award.

J10 earned the “All Around Improvement” award.

B15 was awarded for “Scriptural Character Studies and Application”.

E17 received an “Honor Roll” award and the “Super Girl” award for academics and extra curricular activities.

I wasn’t left out of the awards. My family gave me one too, “Computer Achievement”.

Families also set up display tables featuring awards, photos and projects from the year. This was our homeschool’s display.

E17 and I had been on the decorating committee. We had an expected head count of 120 guests for the reception. We planned for more, which was a good thing because we had close to 200 guests attend!

Several of our group’s members brought potluck style finger foods and drinks which made for a delicious, four table long buffet. We had a bakery cake made for dessert.

Silver Lining, the homeschool color guard, was the entertainment during the reception.

Graduation/Acheivement Night is always my favorite homeschooling event of the year. I’m so proud of all the families in our homeschooling support group and love to hear about their accomplishments and see what they’ve been up to throughout the school year.

For more about our homeschool creative ministries click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/05/20/salt/

For more about our homeschool color guard click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/16/silver-lining/

Here’s the link to free custom awards printables http://www.dltk-cards.com/award/

betty jo

Special Days in June

Johannes Gutenberg

1 Reply

This week we are concluding our Middle Ages/Renaissance unit studies. We were privileged to add Gutenberg to our Bible, history, science, literature, vocabulary, and writing lessons. (I love it when one subject covers several classes)

Johannes Gutenberg is one of my heroes! He invented the printing press and printed the first Bible! Some of those early Bibles still exist and are among our world’s greatest treasures. My printed Bible as well as several favorite books are among my greatest personal treasures.

This lovely book, Johannes Gutenberg, Inventor of the Printing Press by Fran Rees, is from our local library. We enjoyed the photos of Gutenberg’s earliest projects.

Below are the links we followed for our study.

Gutenberg biography, worksheets, quizzes, online games http://www.gardenofpraise.com/ibdguten.htm

Tracing Gutenberg’s Footsteps, a photo tour of Mainz, Gutenberg’s home http://www.mainz.de/WGAPublisher/online/html/galerie/akah-6jkjgl.en.html?foreachgaleriebildPage=5

Demonstration of the Gutenberg press http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XLWleZgU3s

Project Gutenberg offers 42,720 free e-books to download. I have this site bookmarked for the next time I hear “I’m bored, Mom”. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/

betty jo

Memorial Day

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John 15:13 ^“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Just in case you are homeschooling on Memorial Day, here’s some teaching resources for online games, crafts, historic information, and printables:

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/memorial-day/

http://fun.familyeducation.com/memorial-day/holidays/33548.html

http://www.lilesnet.com/patriotic/cards/index.htm

betty jo

Preparing the Defense

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When we started our homeschooling journey some 16 years ago, it wasn’t as popular of an idea as it is now. I had some awesome seasoned homeschooling moms prepare me with what to say when, not if, but when, I would face negativity about our family’s choice for education.

“What about socialization?” “Do you have a teaching certificate?” “Don’t you want them to go to college?” “They are going to miss so many opportunities.” “But your kids will be weird.” “Is that legal?” These questions have come from church members, neighbors, public school teachers, strangers, and even family members. There’s been hard days/weeks/months that I have questioned our homeschooling decision and have had to remind myself why we do this!

I’m glad to have had a “heads up” that these questions would be coming. And, I am so thankful that I had some ideas about how to handle them. There’s a good chance that if your family homeschools, you have already had to defend your choice or will at some point. If you’re a new homeschooler, expect these questions and prepare for them.

Answer with Scripture:

Deuteronomy 6:6-7^“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

For more Scripture concerning home education http://biblereasons.com/homeschooling/

and http://biblereasons.com/biblical-reasons-homeschool/

Homeschooling is most logical way my family can fall into obedience to these parenting instructions from the LORD.

Answer with facts and statistics:

According to http://www.homeschoolfacts.com/index.php :

Ninety-five percent of homeschoolers had an adequate comprehension of politics and government, compared to 65% of U.S. adults.
Seventy-one percent of homeschool graduates participate in ongoing community service activities, including politics, compared to 37% of adults in similar ages.
Eighty-eight percent of HS graduates are members of organizations (community groups, church, or professional organizations) compared to 50% of U.S. adults.
Significantly, 76% of homeschool graduates voted in a national or state election within the past 5 years, compared to 29 percent of similar U.S. adults.

Answer with, “I do not agree with what public schools teach”

Answer with a list of successful and famous homeschoolers: https://jaizhijourney.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/famous-authors-who-were-once-homeschooled/

Recently I saw a Youtube video series that covers excellent answers to those pesky questions that homeschoolers face. These videos are animated, and quite clever. Even if you are well prepared with Scriptures, facts, and statistics, I still recommend viewing for the fun of it.

For parents