BevK December 23rd, 2006
Wishing all HSBlog readers a Merry Christmas from rural Kansas. My husband keeps reminding us we’re having a country Christmas. Grandma just taught our youngest how to make home made pie crust. Pumpkin pies are in the oven and the aroma is wonderful.
HS Blogging will resume when we return home or I have access to something other than my husband’s PDA. My thumb has a cramp from the tiny keyboard. So I’ll wish you a happy New Year now and be off.
BevK December 15th, 2006
Merry Christmas! This will be the last EHO update until January 15. We traditionally take off the January 1 update. At this hectic time of year, it can be hard to find time for taking care of yourself, especially taking care of yourself spiritually. Our focus for this update is on doing just that. We offer encouragement to put first things first and ideas for helping get there.
We have all our Christmas resources including the Kid’s Christmas Play Space available from our main page. If you’re looking for the words to an old Christmas carol or want to know how Christmas is celebrated in other parts of the world, you’ll find information and links to that and more throughout our Christmas resources. Be sure to download our Christmas coloring book, which features Madonna and child paintings by the masters.
Feature Articles
The Importance of Knowing the Scriptures
While it may be possible to study God’s Word without memorizing it, it is hard to meditate on something day and night when it’s not a part of you.
Eagle Scout an Example for Us All
Houston area homeschool student and Boy Scout Clay Vaughan is currently spreading a little bit of Christmas spirit to hundreds of soldiers with his new Eagle Scout project, Operation Christmas Soldier. While he hoped to have a small movement in the Houston area, he has seen the idea spread throughout the region and hopes that it takes hold throughout the nation in the years to come.
Timewasters 2007
At the Eclectic Homeschool Online, we take time wasting seriously. Only the very best in time wasting activities will do for the serious timewaster. Over the past few years, we’ve managed to compile a serious list, 48 to be exact, of seriously great timewasters. Only those serious about timewasting should even attempt these seriously wasteful timewasters. For those ready for a little more variety, we bring you even more timewasters. Time wasters we think you should seriously consider.
Serious News Alert!
We have recently discovered under the EHO wading pool something we thought was lost forever. Why the pool was still around, I don’t know. It developed a serious leak after the EHO staff spent the summer of 2004 in it drinking iced tea and nibbling bonbons while contemplating whether water feels wetter when you’re sitting in it or when it’s accidentally dumped on you by a clumsy child. We never did come to a conclusion. I don’t think we took the question quite seriously enough. Where was I? Oh, yes, under the wading pool, which we never disposed of because it probably could be used for some kind of science experiment in the future, we found the Timewasters 2003 article. So, we’ve reposted these oldie but goodies for your serious divertissement. Now that’s a serious word if I ever heard one.
Focus – Time for Yourself and Time for Others
Homeschool Comfort
Just as most people love to eat "comfort food,” homeschoolers need their own special dose of comfort from time to time.
How to Become a Patient, Fulfilled, and Happy Homeschool Mom
“Homeschooling is wonderful, I just wouldn’t have the patience to teach my kids.” You’ve probably heard that remark or something akin to it from your non-homeschooling friends. It’s just one of a host of fallacies that non-homeschoolers fall back on to support their decision not to homeschool.
Moments of Joy
Small rewards make a lifetime of memories.
Sleeping for Sorrow – The Cure
I have found that when I battle discouragement in my homeschooling, I also face the temptation to get lax. I often have lofty goals when I enter each new school year, maybe a promising new curriculum or a novel way to teach a difficult subject. My intentions are good and my initial enthusiasm is high, but my expectations are sometimes unreal. My homeschooling goals may clash with the reality of family life.
Avenues of Ministry
My ministry is to be a full-time mother, and to homeschool my children, leaving me little time for outside pursuits. At this season of my life, the Lord wants me home. But that doesn’t mean I remain stagnant spiritually.
Speaking Love to Your Family
In The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman defines the five ways that most people show love to others, not necessarily verbal.
Reviews
Homeschool Encouragement
Resources
Seasons of a Mother’s Heart
Each of the essays in Seasons of a Mother’s Heart is a window on some aspect of the inner life of being a homeschooling mother. Sally brings to each one her experience as a seasoned mother of four children who have been homeschooled from birth. She also brings over 20 years of experience in ministry as a missionary, teacher, and discipler of women, and her personal relationship with the Savior for over 25 years. She opens the windows of the heart to let in the light of God’s truth that alone is able to dispel the darkness that the enemy is spreading. She writes to encourage other mothers to persevere and not to give up. It is a message of hope and gentle admonition that Christian homeschooling mothers need to hear. Sally’s personal encouragement and inspiring insights will lift your heart and help you keep going as a Christian homeschooling mother.
Help for the Harried Homeschooler: A Practical Guide to Balancing Your Child’s Education with the Rest of Your Life
Homeschooling moms and dads can be overwhelmed by the demands on their time. Between their children’s educational needs; their roles as spouse, parent, and more; and their own individual desires and goals, these mothers and fathers struggle to accomplish all that must be done. In Help for the Harried Homeschooler, experienced homeschooler, author, and mother of four Christine Field offers sound advice for parents who want not only to achieve homeschooling success but also to reach a balance in their lives.
Science Spot
Back to the Moon
NASA unveiled its plans for establishing a base on the moon by the year 2024.
The reviews in this update are a combination of curriculum and the extras that make homeschooling a delight. We’ve got a little history, geography, biography, poetry, reading, literature, and a homeschooling how to book as sugar on top.
* Augustus Caesar’s World
* Carnival of the Animals with CD: Poems Inspired by Saint-Saens’ Music
* Cooking Up a Storm: The Teen Survival Cookbook
* History Pockets: Explorers of North America
* Homeschooling Methods: Seasoned Advice on Learning Styles
* Hot Dots Reading Comprehension Cards, Set 3: Drawing Conclusions and Predicting Outcomes
* John Muir: America’s First Environmentalist
* Literary Child (emagazine)
* Mini Masters (Board Book Set)
* No More! Stories and Songs of Slave Resistance
* Rhymes for Annie Rose
* Steve Irwin: The Crocodile Hunter
* The Story of the Middle Ages
* Tools of Navigation: A Kid’s Guide to the History and Science of Finding Your Way
* The World of Columbus and Sons
If you’re looking for good reading for boys, I’ll be reviewing the second in the A Sirius Mystery series in the January 15 update. I’ve added that book and the first in the series to the store. The third book will be out in March 2007. These books can be read in any order, since they don’t depend on the previous book for story line.
DogStar
by Beverley Wood, Chris Wood
Juneau, Alaska, 1933. This is where 13-year-old Jeff Beacon gets stranded when his parents take him on a cruise to help him get over the death of his beloved dog, Buddy. The problem: Jeff is a millennium kid, with a laptop computer and hightop sneakers. Why has he been transported to the Alaskan frontier? And how can he find his way home? Jeff must answer these questions quickly - and his only help is the town’s bull terrier, Patsy Ann. With Patsy Ann as his guide, Jeff befriends the gruff Captain of the DogStar and an adventurous girl named Rose, and uncovers a dangerous secret. When the Captain, Rose, and Jeff hatch a plan to set things right in Juneau, Jeff must make a surprising choice about going home - and Patsy Ann holds the key. A time-travel adventure story, DogStar contains plenty of fast-paced action involving counterfeit money, sunken ships, and lost treasure. But its theme is more serious. Returning to the present helps Jeff discover the true treasure - his ability to keep Buddy alive in his heart forever.
I’m also in the process of adding the History Pockets series from Evan Moor. There are books in the 1-3rd grade range and the 4-6th grade range. We’ve reviewed Explorers of North America in this update.
Our December Featured Resources
Nature Friend Magazine
Helping Children Explore the Wonders of God’s Creation
If you’ve been looking for a nature magazine for your children that gives God the glory for the wonders and beauty of creation, then Nature Friend is the magazine for you. Nature Friend is a full color glossy magazine offering similar features and spectacular photos just like secular nature magazines for children. There are stories, a hidden picture page, nature crafts and activities, in depth articles, and a "You Can Draw" section that teaches nature illustration. Top quality production is married to well written Christian oriented content.
Zoobooks
Simply written and beautifully illustrated. Each monthly issue "captures" one of 60 different animals through magnificent photography, illustrations, diagrams, descriptions and includes interactive activity pages. Kids get "up close and personal" with the world’s most amazing creatures.
Christmas Shopping Deadline at EHO
To get your packages by December 22, the last working day before Christmas, follow these deadlines.
December 15 Last day for free Super Saver Shipping
December 18 Last day for Standard Shipping
December 19 Last day for Two-Day Shipping
December 20 Last day for One-Day Shipping
December 21 Last day for One-Day Shipping by 3 pm PST but only items that say this option is available.
Thank you for using the Eclectic Homeschool Resource Center for purchasing your homeschool resources and using our store as your entry point into the Amazon.com system. By following a link or search box from our site, you provide EHO with a small percentage of the total sale and help us stay online. We, and the thousands of homeschoolers we help free of charge each month, thank you.
Why the Chimes Rang
Why the Chimes Rang is a new ebook reprint of an old children’s Christmas storybook. It’s the moving story of a remarkable church, its congregation, two young boys, and a Christmas miracle.
If you’d like to learn more about taking care of your computer, we invite you to visit HelpMyComputer.info. This site has information about things you can do right now that will keep your system up and running. A little preventive maintenance can save you time and money. HelpMyComputer.info makes it easy enough for even a beginning computer user.
Stop by TammyCardwell.net for the latest offerings from CJ Press and access to all Tammy’s articles about homeschooling and Christian living. Currently, CJ Press is offering God Doesn’t Want Volunteers as a free eBook and has just published Some Successful Americans, a collection of biographies of self-made, successful Americans, as an eBook. You can find both books at tammycardwell.net
Have a very blessed and merry Christmas! Have some eggnog and fruitcake for me. I love both. And, may Jesus always be the center of your Christmas celebration. He is our celebration, not only his birth but his death and resurrection, too. At Christmas, we’re reminded that he’s Emmanuel, God with us. But at all times, he is the Savior, Christ the Lord.
The Lord bless and keep you,
Beverly Krueger
Eclectic Homeschool Online
http://eclectichomeschool.org
If you have a friend that would like to start receiving this newsletter, they can subscribe at
eclectichomeschool-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
BevK December 13th, 2006
Well, after fighting and fighting against a barrage of spammers using our old blogging software, I finally decided to port the whole blog into Word Press. Which means that the old permalinks no longer work. You can still navigate within the site, but those following links to specific blog posts from outside the site will get redirected to the main page.
The feed has also changed. I did install a redirect that is supposed to update the feed for you, but I can’t guarantee it will work. Of course if you got this blog post via your news feed, you’ll know it worked. If you didn’t, this probably won’t help until you come to the blog to see if we’re still here.
New RSS 2.0 Feed: http://hsblog.org/index.php/feed/
If you’re wondering what a news feed it and how you can subscribe via one, try Bloglines.
Now I really hope this is all working like I think it’s working, and I can just blog on happily into the sunset.
BevK December 12th, 2006
http://www.news-journal.c…_make_wish.html
The next time you have a hard day homeschooling think of this family. It’ll help you buck up.
The good news is a welcome relief to what Joel said was a tough year. In June, the month before Joel’s birthday, his youngest brother, Micah, died from complications related to Engelmann’s Disease.
“I don’t go to public school, so we’re much closer as a family,” he said. “Our siblings are our best friends.”
Joel’s three remaining siblings, Rachel, 22; Anna, 16; and Joshua, 13, also have the disease, which was inherited from their father, Gary.
“There are about 130 cases in the world. We had five of those cases, but Micah passed away in June of this year,” said the 48-year-old dad. “It’s like muscular dystrophy in that it depletes the immune system. Micah died from just a very simple stomach bug…. one that everybody gets a couple of times a year.”
“It’s primarily a bone disease that also affects the muscular and neuro systems,” added Gina, Gary’s wife of 25 years.
The same fatal illness that took the life of Micah, almost claimed the life of Joshua and Anna on the same day, said the couple, who homeschool all of their children.
It was through that situation that Dr. Jennifer Steeger of the Trinity Clinic in Tyler suggested the family apply with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
“It was a stressful summer,” Gary said. “Dr. Steeger said we needed something fun in our lives.”
Make-A-Wish acted swiftly and granted not only Joel’s wish, but also those of Anna and Joshua. Anna selected a trip to San Antonio, including a visit to Sea World, which will take place in April. Joshua is on a waiting list to meet with President Bush.
BevK December 12th, 2006
http://www.miami.com/mld/…es/16197814.htm
I was reading about Will Smith’s next movie which has his real life son playing the role of his character’s son. Smith and his wife Jada homeschool. In talking about Jaden and acting, Smith had this to say,
‘He just understands emotion. He just has a natural empathy. And we can’t even take credit for it. We can’t be like, `Oh, it’s because of the way we parent. We talk to our children a certain way, and we homeschool.’ Nah, he just came here like that. All we did was go to Mexico and get some tequila. Nine months later, he showed up. That’s the extent of our contribution.”
Yes, he came the way he is, but give yourself credit for doing two things. You nurtured him and you let him be himself. That’s a gift not all children receive. That’s one of the blessings of homeschooling. Parents can nurture a child into being who he was born to be rather molding him into the cookie cutter image of all children attending the first grade in Mrs. Peabody’s class. Growing up in a loving nurturing home doesn’t happen by accident thanks to a bottle of tequila.
BevK December 9th, 2006
http://www.news14charlott…=131201&AC=True
With all the pretty good press homeschooling gets most of the time, this article made me feel a little like I’d stepped into a time warp. The author asks the old questions ofwhether parents are capable of educating their children and can homeschooled children be properly socialized. Teacher Diane Birdwell shares her wisdom with us.
High school history teacher Diane Birdwell says there are some lessons parents aren’t qualified to teach.
"We are professionals, we know how to teach and you need to be their parents," said high school history teacher Diane Birdwell.
"I have seen the results of when they don’t do it right and they fail or give up and the kids come into the public school system and they are behind their peers both socially and academically," Birdwell said.
But most teachers say parents can give Bible lessons after school, as long as they leave the reading, writing and arithmetic to them.
BevK December 9th, 2006
http://www.fortwayne.com/…el/16203249.htm
In a time when standardized test scores can dictate the success or failure of a public school, parents who home school their children are increasingly testing their children as well. Fort Wayne Area Home Schools, a Christian-based organization but open to families of any denomination, offers the Stanford Achievement Test each May. "Every year (participation) grows," said test proctor Shellie Burden, who estimates more than 100 children in the organization take the test annually. While there are "no concrete stats, the majority of home schoolers do give some form of testing," said Ian Slatter, spokesman for the Home School Legal Defense Association, a Virginia nonprofit support group for home-school families with about 82,000 members nationwide. Regulations vary, but only six states require home-schooled students to take an achievement test.
I will be testing this year because we live in a state that requires it. I stopped testing years ago. I did it at first to verify that we were doing "OK." When I no longer needed that validation, we get testing. Testing only seemed to confirm what I already knew about where my children excelled and where they struggled.
BevK December 9th, 2006
http://ledger.southofbost…news/news01.txt
Anna Finklestein left Sharon High School after the ninth grade because she was bored and felt she could put her time to better use. She started a professional theater company for young adults, interned at Boston?s Huntington Theater and took college courses at the Harvard Extension School. This year, she got a part-time job at Ward?s Berry Farm. At 16, she spends her spare time thinking up future projects and how to accomplish them - like starting a coffee shop, a homeless shelter or a baby-sitting service. "I’m unschooled. I basically control what I do," said Finklestein, whose second theater production ,"The Laramie Project," closes this weekend.
BevK December 9th, 2006
http://www.nwaonline.net/…eschooltest.txt
The state attorney general’s office issued an opinion Friday that says school authorities have limited options for tracking the testing of home-schooled students.
Education Commissioner Ken James presented a set of questions to the AG’s office, seeking guidance on how school districts can get results of standardized tests taken by children who are educated at home.
The opinion said that, while students who do not get tested are considered truant, “the statute is silent regarding which agency will determine compliance or how this determination will be made.”
BevK December 6th, 2006
http://www.courierpostonl…063/1004/LIVING
This article on Latinos homeschooling in New Jersey gave me a mild case of whiplash, but at least they’re talking homeschooling.
The preacher offered the parents classroom and meeting space at Bethel United Methodist and Rosedale Baptist churches, both in Pennsauken, resources such as curriculum books, access to computers and guidance on creating a coalition of parent-teachers.
At age 16, he said, the students can even take classes at Camden County College.
But, he said, parents need to do the bulk of the work.
“We’re not proposing we open a school, we’re proposing that if parents want to educate their children at home we have a network to provide the resources,” he said.
He said it didn’t matter to him that some of the kids in the room claimed they were being victimized in school largely by blacks.
“Camden people have grown up together,” he said. “We suffer together. We celebrate together. We get in trouble together.”
“If we’re not effectively educating our children,” then it’s going to “victimize black, Asian, Hispanic and white children,” he said.
Cordero has already recruited two teachers, including one who is a substitute teacher in the Camden district. He said home schooling won’t last forever.
“This will be temporary until the schools are safe,” he said. “If your neighborhood schools are dangerous and not teaching our students, that’s a violation of our constitutional rights.”
