College/vocation
Paying for College
A few years back I was just overwhelmed at the thought of the price of 4 years at a university. Fortunately, I didn't let that stop me from starting a little bitty credit union account putting aside at least *some* money for college. My thought was, even if I only have $1000.00, it's like getting a $1000.00 discount on the total price. I certainly wouldn't turn that down!
In just the last year, we've realized that our daughter has no firm plans for her future career that either require or do not require a bachelor's degree. In fact, she felt pressured to make decisions she's not ready to make. So, I offered her a deal: If she goes to community college and gets an associates degree, we would pay every cent of it. We'll share the car, pay books, tuition, fees, mascara and sweat socks. This deal buys her two more years to mature and keeps her gen ed costs down versus doing those first two years at university.
From September 2011 I'll have nearly 4 more years to come up with some cash for her future education. Our agreed upon family plan took the pressure to define her adult life before she can off our child. It also took the pressure off my early-60's husband to fund an education she may or may not pursue. It also has her set to go should she end up choosing a career that requires a university degree. Everybody wins.
This is the *very best* we can do at this time. I'm happy knowing we're doing all we can.
P.S. After my daughter came home from her ACT prep class just *overwhelmed*, I told her if she mastered the Bible and Dave Ramsey, a college degree was just icing on the cake. | | sallyc |
Lang arts: spelling/vocab
Getting Grandparents Involved
Technology is a wonderful thing! If your child's grandparents are supportive of homeschooling, ask for their help. Send them your child's spelling words. Ask them to video record themselves giving a spelling test.
Later, when it's time, your child can click on that computer file, and have Grandma or Grandpa give the spelling test. You could also do this with math drills. This frees up some of your time, can be used over for younger children later, and helps to cement that bond between grandparents and grandchildren. This isn't limited to grandparents. Any willing supportive friends or relatives can help! | | hwplady |
| | Other
Teach with Authority
Be careful about a curriculum that uses mainly secular books with unbiblical philosophies (i.e. evolution, Greek mythology, etc). Although these curriculum claim to teach students to think about material presented to them, it can be dangerous for young children to have to discern when they are still ungrounded in truth. The pictures and appearance of a professionally printed book often speak more powerfully to their minds than a parent’s word can.
Truth must be instilled in their hearts and minds, “precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little.” (Isaiah 28:10). Teach them the truth systematically and provide persuasive materials that back up the Bible. This will reinforce their beliefs and later as they mature and their roots grow deeper, they can discern and defend the faith with confidence.
There will be many opportunities in life you can use to discuss literature that opposes Scripture without your having to buy it. Discuss books from the library, newspaper articles, political philosophies of government leaders or candidates, signs at museums, documentaries, magazine articles, etc. Just make sure that first your children are: “Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving (Col. 2:7). | | ilary |
Bible & Spiritual growth
Hide God's Word in Their Heart
I help teach Sunday School with my best friend. She has developed a way for the kids to REALLY remember their Word. She gives one scripture a week. The next Sunday, they quote their scripture, and are given another. The next Sunday, they say them both, and so on. She usually does 12 in a row before stopping. She awards ''Bible Bucks'' for saying them correctly, and buys small awards for them ''to purchase'' with their bucks. The one (or more than one!) that can say all 12 verses correctly at the end wins a grand prize!
The age group we teach are 10-12 year olds. My friend has been doing this scripture contest for over 20 years now. We are very picky that they get each word correct when repeating God's word to us!
One Sunday, one of my friend's previous students, who is in her late 20's now, visited our church. My friend gathered up our class, and asked the young woman to quote scripture to them that she had learned using this method. She absolutely AMAZED the kids (and teacher)! It has been hidden in her heart all of these years! :)
There are many ways to memorize scripture. I wanted to share one of the ways that I KNOW from experience really works! | | kimberly66 |
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