The Monthly Chat


<< Previous editions   April, 2009   Next edition >>

Printable bits of wisdom, ideas, and reflections for your friends and
homeschool group, from the members of HomeschoolClassifieds.com
Opinions expressed are those of the individual authors.
©1997-2009 HomeschoolClassifieds.com, Knoxville, TN

 
Baby & infant
Early Learners

Don't be afraid to let your child learn and explore beyond what other kids their age normally do. The 4th kid in line in my family was always eager to do what her big brothers were doing, rather than playing with the baby. She ended up starting piano lessons the day after her 4th birthday and also did her kindergarden work a year early. She always been a grade ahead of other kids her age and went to college a year early too and had no problem adjusting.
The 7th kid in the family didn't start school early, but had the advantage of being able to watch the BJU home sat videos that the older kids were watching for their classes, up to the point that she started her own kindergarden classes. She would travel around the house all day picking and choosing which classes she would want to watch, anywhere from 2nd grade math, bible, etc. all the way to geometry, biology, and other classes from the highschoolers in the family. We have no idea how much information she actually comprehended in that year from the classes, but she had fun and it helped her get ready for her own classes. When she did get into schoolwork, she was good at both reading and math and would give both of her older brothers, who were 2 and 4 years older than her, competition. They didn't want their little sister to be better at something than they were, so it made them work harder at it and she enjoyed making them work harder to beat her.
Holding kids back to be with kids their own age has no benefit for them. Let them explore and learn as fast as they want to. Who knows what great things will come of these kids. They might one day be of great benefit to the whole world.
quoddygirl

Reference: general
Absolutely Free!

Probably a lot of you know this already, but for you newcomers to homeschooling, I thought I would note some wonderful FREE stuff you can get each week! Currclick.com gives away a free item each week. There are also other free items if you dig for them:)http://www.homeschoolfreebie.wholesomechildhood.com/ also gives away items, 1 EACH DAY, MON-FRI!! And they send out a free audio listening program on Tuesdays. Just sign up on these websites and they will send you an email of what is coming up. Great service for homeschoolers!
Also, if you are going to do any notebooking, notebookingpages.com, and notebookingnook.com have free pages for you to download. Have fun!
kimberly66
 
Other
Mailing USPS - Don't Reuse Priority Supplies

Hello-
I ran into a dilemma this past week. A set of books I ordered was being held ''captive'' by the USPS, awaiting $16 EXTRA in postage from me to be delivered. (Likewise, the seller/sender would have had to pay $16 just to receive the box back, had I refused it.)
The problem stemmed from the fact that the seller/sender had re-used a PRIORITY MAIL box. The sender markered over the words ''Priority Mail'' and put a Media Mail online-purchased label on the box. However, according to our local USPS, ''this is STILL a Priority Mail box, and needs Priority mail postage on it.''
Here is what else I learned: Do not RE-USE Priority Mailing supplies in any manner - or you could end up paying the higher shipping! It is not OK to turn those Tyvek Priority Mail envelopes inside-out...it is not OK to recycle the box and wrap it in brown paper to do so.... I was instructed that the USPS has the authority to open mail if Priority packaging is suspected...and, of course, you will be charged the additional cost for using Priority.
To add insult to my situation....the package that needed the extra $16 wasn't treated as Priority Mail! It took 7 days to get to me!
Hope this advice helps you from getting stuck paying extra!
~athomemama
athomemama

Bible & Spiritual growth
Teach to the Heart or Teach to the Head

Do you think in our quest for learning, testing and grading, we have made a god out of education? I realize we must dot the 'i's' and cross the 't's' and jump through certain hoops to gain access to certain careers the world holds out to us. In all of that I hope we don't lose sight in to what is truly valuable. I would like to recommend this website: www.heartofwisdom.com. Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you will see a heading: Most Popular Posts. Click on ''Classical Education?'' and it will take you to the article. Read it and see what happens to your heart, you may be crying with joy!

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
lndrjndr
 
Marriage & parenting
The Impossible

This was in our last co-op newsletter, and it's good for even us veterans to remember. (It's from ''Anonymous'') Mothers must take care of the possible and trust God for the impossible. Mothers are to love, affirm, teach, listen and care for their families. We cannot convict of sin, create hunger and thirst after god, or convert. These are the miracles, and miracles aren’t in our job description.
My part (the possible)
Love-expressed
To pray
Enjoy being a mother
Provide a warm home
Minister to their physical and emotional needs, as I am able

God's Part
Conviction of sin
Creating a hunger for righteousness
Conversion
Showing us ourselves as we really are
Filling us with his Holy Spirit, for sanctification & service
beckybooks

Finance/Econ
Teaching children about finances

Some of us struggle to make ends meet on a weekly basis. With my oldest child, I have found that when she is resposible for something financially, she learns to budget her money quickly.

She get opportunities to earn money weekly by doing chores around the house. She has set chores that she must complete without pay and a list of chores that she can get paid for. The amount she gets paid per chore is based upon the work and skill involved and the amount of money we can afford to pay her. It is sort of like working a job for us grown-ups.

She always wanted rabbits. So reluctanly we allowed her to buy two. She had to pay for the rabbits, buy the material to build their cage, help build their cage, and buy everything they need to eat and bed in. If she fails to do any of these, she loses her rabbits. She also has to take responsiblity for caring for them daily. She know that if she doesn't do what is needed to care for them, we will give them away.

I am amazed at how a 12 year old girl has taken to budgeting and showing responsibility. God has given her a heart for these animals and a brain to responsibily care for them.
harriettm
 
Homeschool helps
Grace and God's View of Me and my Children

Lately, at best, I have to admit that I have been beaten down. Then, yesterday, I went to a home school conference and used book sale in Loveland (Colorado.) After tending a table with my friend for awhile, and a lap around the vendor hall, I decided to hear a friend of mine speak in a workshop. Oh my goodness!! Right between the eyes, I heard what the thing was that was beating on me. . . myself!! Or rather, the expectation I had placed on my children, particularly, my dear daughter. The unconscience expectation that I thought that the child(ren) are an extension of me and my teaching/parenting ability and what others would think. And not allowing them to be who they are. The very person that God intended them to be from the beginning. And the person God intended them to be to impact the world around them. Touching people that only they could reach for Christ. Not the image of them being dressed a particular way, {stunning} manners and {emaculate} behavior. I am in the process of backing off of the kids. And give them over (again) to the Heavenly Father. What a great time to refocus and decide what kind of mom do I want to be and let the kids discover who they are as well as who they are in Christ. That's where I want us to be in the Grace of being in Christ.
pockets

Math: fundamentals
Easy to do math games

I have found that playing math games gets my youngest child interested in math. We play two simple games that all you need is a deck of cards. Take out the face cards (Jack, Queen, King, and Ace). You are now ready to play.

The two games are based upon the card game war. First, deal out all the cards between you and your student, face down. For addition war, each player turns face up two cards. The student will then add up the two cards they turned up and tell you if it beat your hand or not. The person with the highest set wins all the cards in play (face up). This game can go on for a long time or just a few minutes depending on the time alloted during your school day. The second game is similar except you do it with multiplying the two cards.

My child loves to play this both ways. It gets her excited about practicing her addition and multiplication tables. She even wants to play outside of school hours.
harriettm

Homeschool helps
Keep It Simple!

It's amazing how much kids learn when left somewhat alone. My 11yo is diving into US History like there's no tomorrow and I never tried to teach this until now. Well I am not really even teaching it, just showing him where the books and resources are about it. I was never so interested in History when I was in public school!
michiganmom
 
Other
How Health Became Science, Math, and Bible

As my son and I were studying how excercise helps keep the heart strong, we learned that the heart of an average 3rd grader beats about 100 times per minute, pumping about 5 quarts of blood through their young bodies. My son , who is new to multiplication, decided to find out how many times per day that added up to, but he didn't stop there! Using 100 as his guide, (no need to take into account that heart rates change as aging occurs while he is directing his own learning process!) he figured out that the heart beats 6000 times per hour, 144,00 times per day, 525,560,000 per year, and 3 billion, 679 million, 200 thousand times in a 70 year lifespan. Wow!

Then, we entered the kitchen, where we filled a large pot with 5 qts. using a glass measuring quart container. It was exciting to see the look on his face at how much blood pumps through his body in one minute! Then, in a sobering tone, he poured one more quart into the pot, and said quietly, ''That's how much blood Jesus shed for me.''
jcoulter

Homeschool helps
Hard to Wait

As a mom who has been planning to homeschool since before I was a mother at all, I have the hardest time waiting to begin school. I've been looking at curricula for years, anticipating the fun and excitement of helping my little ones explore the world of learning. Next year should be Kindergarten, but I kept catching myself thinking ''but she could do 1st grade''. Until I finally pulled myself up short with the realization--This is about me! I want to read those books, I want to tell people we are doing ''real'' schoolwork.

It's time to put the focus back where it belongs, on my children. Watching them discover the natural world has just as much wonder (more really) as the academic world will. And everything will go much more smoothly and be less frustrating if they are ready to learn.
cedailey

Other
Classical Education

I have homeschooled for a lot of years. I first started in 1991. I pulled 4 children out of school and ran a motel. It was not easy but was so much better than dealing with the school over special ed. I have used a lot of different books over the years and always looking for something better until last year. I found amblesideonline.org. It is a classical education. Just like the great men before have used. I love it! I have two younger children I am still helping. I love the information I have learned and love the books we have read. My older children love it. It is worth looking into.
leeland
 
Hist/Geog/SS: US
History Comes Alive

We love a hands-on approach to history, so we checked out videos and
read various books on the Battle of Gettysburg and major characters who
participated in it, then planned a few days at the Gettysburg National
Park actually walking the trails, viewing the monuments and sites. This
brought history to life for our kids and they loved walking the field where
Pickett charged and climbing the roundtop where Joshua Chamberlain
fought so valiantly. This made for marvelous memories.
jandusman

Other
A Big Thank You!

I wanted to thank homeschoolclasssifieds.com for making my book shopping a pleasant experience! This website has been such a blessing to me - I have sold most of my items, and have gained many more! I have tried other websites, but this one is the easiest to use. I no longer have to wait for our yearly homeschool convention to sell my books - what a relief!! No more long lines and crowds trying to ''get the book first'', or having to pay a fee to sell them. Thanks so much you guys!
kimberly66

Other
With God all things are Possible

I've been discouraged and I haven't given up. I truly know that I'm on the right track and it's my faith that tells me this. My son tonight told me that he was told that he couldn't be a science engineer and it's because we homeschool he knows he can do it. He amazes me ever day with all that he has gone through and when he says he is going to prove them wrong, I smile because of that determination.
my4boysmom

Organization/time management
Daily / Weekly Charts

Daily charts work wonderfully in our home. I fill out a spreadsheet chart with everything the children need to do for the week for each subject and assignment filled in. They know exactly what to do and cross it off when it's completed. No more, ''Mom, what do I have to do for History today?'' Hurray for charts!
jaydkay
 
Other
Getting it Right

While doing research for a kitchen remodel I came across the following: Everyone has money to do it again, but you never have money to do it right the first time. Since then, I've always tried to plan projects, so I get it right the first time and not have to waste time and money doing it over.
kluci

Baby & infant
Pre-school age during school hours

When homeschooling older siblings, make sure to fix a special play package for your pre-school aged children. It can have any kind of special toys or activities that he/she can only play with during school hours. This will help keep them busy while you work with the other school aged child.
harriettm

Bible & Spiritual growth
Prayer

Help us, Lord, to enjoy walking with You in liberty as we homeschool. We trust You will give us insights into our particular children so we can choose what will minister to them.Thank You for the opportunity to share knowledge with each other as we learn from each other
litbit

Other
Legal Issues

Please pay attention to the case in South Carolina where a judge has ordered 3 children must go to public school. Even though this was part of a child custody case, we need to make sure we need to make sure we watch our legislators.
wilson6