Here - Family Christian Academy

Transcription

The Home Educating Family
Published By: Family Christian Academy
Editor: Rebecca Keliher
Graphic Design: Willow Branch Design
Contributors: Chris Davis
Cathy Duffy
Dana Gage
Michael Haverluck
Kari Lewis
Kris Meyers
Address: 487 Myatt Drive
Madison, TN 37115
Telephone: (615) 860-3000
Fax: (615) 860-9475
Advertising: (615) 957-7411
Web Site: www.familychristianacademy.com
EMail: hef@familychristianacademy.com
Copyright: © 2007 Family Christian Academy
Disclaimer: Our mission is to publish articles and information that will help and encourage home educating families.
While we may not agree with every statement and detail of
each article, our policy is to only publish articles that uphold
our Mission Statement and Statement of Faith. These statements may be found on our website.
Subscriptions: The Home Educating Family Magazine is
published quarterly. Family Christian Academy Members
recieve a free subscription with enrollment. Non-members
subscriptions are available for $21.97 per year. To begin
or renew your subscription, please call (615)860-3000 or
email us at hef@familychristianacademy.com
Address Change: Subscribers, please
notify us if your address will be changing.
Magazies sent to outdated addresses
are not forwarded. To avoid missing
issues, please send us your old and
new addresses, and let us know
in advance when the change will
become effective.
Advertising: The Home Educating Family offers a complete
range of advertising options.
For complete details and
deadlines, please contact us at
(615) 957-7411.
FAMILY
the Home Educating
Fall 2007 : volume 2: issue 1
contents
3 On-Campus Classes for Home Educators
2007/2008 Classes and Schedule
4 Write Now!
Helping Our Kids Develop More Advanced Writing Skills - Cathy Duffy
7 FCA’s Fine Arts Friday
2007/2008 Classes, Schedule, and Fees
8 Homeschooling Spells Success - Michael F. Haverluck
10 In the Fullness of His Time - Kari Lewis
12 Apprenticeship Program
2007/2008 Program Schedule
13 9 Important Tips for New Homeschoolers
Getting the Homeschooling Journey Off to a Good Start - Denise Kanter
15 The Price of Children
16 Classical Education
That Was Then, What About Now? - Dana Gage
19 Online Academy
20 Unlocking Your Child’s Potential
A School for the Animals! - Chris Davis
22 Beyond the ABCs
Nuturing the Love of Reading - Kris Meyers
24 Blink* Blink* ...And It Will Be Time
Get Ready for a New School Year!
30 2007 Field Trips and Events
31 2007 Seminar Schedule
Back To School Issue...
ACADEMIC DAYS AT FCA
On-Campus Classes Available to Home-Educated Students
FOR GRADES K-12
BIBLE
ENGLISH I-IV
ALGEBRA I & II
GEOMETRY
TRIGONOMETRY
CONSUMER MATH
WORLD HISTORY
WORLD GEOGRAPHY
U.S. HISTORY
FA MI LY C H R I S T I A N A C A DE MY
GOVERNMENT
On-campus classes at FCA are designed to help parents with the home education process. It’s like
having the best of both worlds. Your student still has the freedom and flexibility that home education
ECONOMICS
provides, plus the added help of a teacher.
FCA provides high tech online curriculum, lesson planning, on campus teaching two days a week,
online teacher support Monday-Friday, grading, testing, field trips, and activities. Academic students
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
meet on campus on Monday and Wednesday from 8:30-3:30. Call (615) 860-3000 ext. 202 to schedule an on-campus visit.
BIOLOGY
CHEMISTRY
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
TYPING
HEALTH
PHYSICS
Academic Days Fee Schedule
Enrollment Fee .............................................................$200.00
Placement Testing* ...................................................... $100.00
Books & Materials Fee (K-8) ...........................................$400.00
Books & Materials Fee (9-12) .........................................$500.00
Tuition Fees (K-8) .........................................................$250.00 per month
Tuition Fee (9-12) ........................................................$300.00 per month
COMBINE ACADEMIC DAYS & FINE ARTS FRIDAY TO SAVE!
Academic Day & Fine Arts Friday Fee Schedule
Enrollment Fee .................................................................$200.00
Placement Testing* ........................................................... $100.00
Book & Material Fee (K-8) ..............................................$600.00
Book & Material Fee (9-12) .........................................$700.00
Tuition Fees (K-8) .........................................................$350.00 per month
Tuition Fees (9-12) .......................................................$450.00 per month
*not required for K, 1st or fine arts students
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
D O N ’ T R E LY O N W O R K B O O K E X E R C I S E S
TO TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE HOW TO WRITE
E F F E C T I V E L Y, O R Y O U A R E L I K E L Y T O B E
DISAPPOINTED. WRITING NEEDS TO BE AN
INTERACTIVE, SHARED PROCESS.
Write Now!
By Cathy Duffy
My guess is that a lot of us parents are stymied two ways when it comes to helping our kids develop more advanced writing skills.
First, we do not perceive ourselves as writers -- possibly because of inexperience, poor grades in school, or disinclination. We find it difficult to help our
children go beyond where we feel competent. We often feel that we just are not
equipped to evaluate what they write or address methods of improvement.
Secondly, many of us have an unfortunate tendency to rely on the textbook to
teach the subject. However, writing is a subject that is taught through interaction
much more than through textbook exercises.
We assume that our kids know how to prepare an outline, because they encounter roman numeral outlines in the grammar textbook once each year. We overlook the need to apply that outlining skill in subsequent writing projects unless it
is emphasized in the text.
As each writer begins to develop his or her own style of writing, it becomes even
more difficult to generalize about what constitutes good and bad writing.
These are real difficulties that many of us face, but they are surmountable.
OUTLINING
Let’s start at the beginning with outlining. Roman numeral outlines are the old
standard for outline format. There’s nothing wrong with that method, but it just
does not connect with some children. I found the question/box/map method of
Mary Lou Ward from her book Writing Step by Step to be a more successful
outlining method for a greater number of children.
Ward helps children frame their topic sentence as a question so that supporting
sentences are actually answering the topic sentence. The logic is much more
obvious, especially when the key questions and answers are written in boxes
connected by lines. As children reach the point where they can add supporting
information for their “answers,” the subpoints are then listed under the appropriate boxes. A number of different reproducible “maps” are included in the book
to use at the various stages of skill development as well as for some different
forms of writing.
ESSAY WRITING
Once your children have learned to organize their material, it is time to help them
develop their essay-writing skills. After all, essays are one of the primary places
students need to apply those outlining talents.
Many of us recall our lessons in essay writing from our school days. “Summarize
what this paper is about in a topic sentence, write three paragraphs supporting
the topic sentence, then tack on a conclusion that restates the topic sentence.”
In reality, following that formula as most of us did in school makes for a very boring essay. Professional writers realize that they have to grab their audience with
the first sentence or two. A boring topic sentence is likely to discourage readers
before they have a chance to find out if the writer has something interesting to
convey. Look at a magazine or commentary article in the newspaper. Is the first
sentence a “school style” topic sentence, or is it a “grabber” sentence? Most of
the time it will be the latter. (See Professional “Grabber Sentences” see page 6)
Homeschooled students write the cutest stories! You can see them in newsletters, magazines, presentation nights, and on our refrigerators. But something
seems to happen when these same kids hit older levels and need to write essays
and purposeful reports (as opposed to reports that merely summarize five different things the child knows about some topic). Logical argumentation, comparison
and contrast, and orderly progression demand skills beyond the elementary story-writing level. This is where I see a chink in the wall of homeschool excellence.
Why not teach our children to write this way from the beginning? It is more fun
to write and definitely more fun to read. Don’t expect professional grabber sentences from elementary or even junior high students, but do urge them to stretch
beyond the boring. Suggest opening with dialogue, a quotation, a description of
an incident, or a startling remark rather than something dull. Writing With A Point
is a helpful resource for helping students develop grabber sentences (known as
“point sentences” in this book). It is also great for style development in general.
Now that they’ve got a great opening, what next? Good writers have a bag of
4
Fall 2007 • the Home Educating Family
by Cathy Duffy
tricks that get their point across without boring their audience. Two key strategies
can best be labeled as questions: “What’s your angle?” and “So what?”
“What’s your angle?” directs the writer to come up with a fresh or interesting
way to present information. If the assignment is to write about summer vacation
(ugh!), the writer narrows the topic down to a single interesting experience rather
than a list of “what I did.” The result is an entertaining essay about the struggles
of learning to get along with an unlikable cabin-mate at camp or the woes of
year-round home schooling without a real summer vacation like everyone else.
Children are unlikely to come up with the narrower, more interesting topics on
their own. We need to spend time talking through the topics until we hit on one
specific angle that sparks enthusiasm.
typical half-hearted, boring version our children so often presented to us. When
Matt read that version to the group, they were hard pressed to come up with any
positive comments. (We always ask for positive comments before accepting any
constructive criticism!) We then discussed how to improve the essay, emphasizing “painting a picture” rather than simply stating a list of facts. Although I had
made some of the same suggestions to Matt privately before class, he was much
more receptive when the rest of the group confirmed that the paper did indeed
need help. The revised version was a major improvement.
In situations where group classes are not possible and no help seems to be
available, take advantage of long distance help. There are a number of online
“So what?” helps give the writer direction and
drives the paper to closure. It provides a clearly
identifiable goal or focus. The writer must ask
himself what it is he wants to convey to the reader. The reader needs to be left with a challenge, a
motivation, or information that he can put to use.
If the goal is simply to entertain, this can best
be accomplished by including a subtle lesson or
message. For example, in the piece about getting along with the unlikable cabin-mate, humorous conflicts can buttress the subtle point that we
grow when we try to “love the unlovable person.”
Students need to keep their outline (or organizational “map”) handy while they write so that the
essay flows logically. It is very easy for an inexperienced writer to begin talking about the struggles
involved in getting along with a difficult person at
camp, but digress into getting along with a younger brother at home. One guideline which helps
prevent such diversions is to keep the essays
short until your children develop skill in keeping
on target. I too often hear of parents assigning
five-page reports to children who cannot write
an essay. These children lack the organizational
skills to write a coherent report of such length.
The usual product of such assignments reads
like snippets from an encyclopedia, glued together in random order. Any report assignments for
younger students should be short and narrowly
focused. For example, instead of a report about
Texas, the topic should be narrowed drastically to
a single person, place, or event.
EVALUATION
So now we have our students practicing the writing process. But how do we evaluate their writing
if we are not good at spotting problems? Try enlisting the help of a friend who is more proficient
than you are to either work with your child individually or, even better, with a group class. I have
found group classes wonderful for motivation and
stimulation of ideas. A group class can be used
as co-editors to help with improving and polishing written pieces, and as an audience for sharing
and encouraging.
A good example of the motivational value of group
classes are the two samples in the sidebar from
my son Matt’s original and revised versions of an
essay on Constantine. The first version was the
by Cathy Duffy
the Home Educating Family • Fall 2007
5
PROFESSIONAL “GRABBER SENTENCES”
You can find good examples on almost any commentary/editorial page of
the newspaper. I found the following two examples simply by picking up
today’s paper (The Registore, August 10, 1993).
“There’s many a slip between the cup and lip. That old clich?, one of the
many Anglo-Americanisms that are disappearing from our TV-drenched
vocabulary, aptly sums up the caution that any seasoned observer is
bound to apply to the Middle East.” (Eldon Griffiths, “A Glimmer of Hope
for Peace in the Mideast.”)
“The fraud has worked. Congress has now passed President Clinton’s
so-called ‘deficit reduction’ bill, with retroactive tax rate increases and
‘spending cuts’ postponed for years, while total federal spending continues increasing every year.” (Thomas Sowell, “Fraud is the Core of
Clinton’s Budget.”)
STUDENT EXAMPLE
The assignment was to write a brief report about a person about whom
they were studying in history. My son Matt (at about age 11) chose to
write about Constantine. Below are the beginnings of his initial and revised versions.
First version:
Constantine came to power after his father died. In 306 he was pronounced Caesar or Roman Emperor. In the West, Flavius Valerius Severus was overthrown and Maxentius became Caesar.
Constantine and Licinius went to Italy to fight Maxentius. Constantine
got Verona. During the campaign Constantine saw a vision. He saw a
flaming cross, and on the cross were the words, “In this sign you will
conquer.” At the sight of it he became a Christian.
Revised version:
It was night. An army of about 30,000 men lay asleep ready for the battle
next day. Constantine, their leader, was concerned about the battle and
could not sleep. But soon he fell asleep and had a vision -- a flaming
cross appeared in the sky, and on it were the words, “In this sign you will
conquer.”
services that will assist students with writing projects. Home Page Writing Tutorial
Services and Writing Assessment Services are just two of which I am aware that work
with homeschoolers.
Don’t rely on workbook exercises to teach young
people how to write effectively, or you are likely to
be disappointed. Writing needs to be an interactive, shared process. That will not happen unless
we make development of writing skills a priority in
junior and senior high children. This means that
we take extra time and seek out the resources
and assistance we need to make that happen.
RESOURCE ADDRESSES
Home Page Writing Tutorial Services, by Michelle Van Loon:
www.homepagewriting.com
Writing Assessment Services, by Cindy Marsch:
www.writingassessment.com
Writing Step by Step, by Mary Lou Ward, Builder Books, P.O. Box 5789,
Lynnwood, WA 98046-5789, (800) 260-5461,
www.bbhomeschoolcatalog.com
Practicing the Writing Process: The Essay, Educational Design, Inc., 47
West 13 St., New York, NY 10011, (800) 221-9372.
Cathy Duffy is the author of 100 Top Picks for
Homeschool Curriculum, published by B & H
Group. Pick up your copy at FCA’s bookstore.
Writing With A Point, Educators Publishing Service, 75 Moulton St., Cambridge, MA 02138-1104, (800) 225-5750.
WRITING CLASS HELD AT FCA FINE ARTS FRIDAY!
6
By Cathy Duffy
Fine Arts Friday
Free Class
Let your child experience
the fun and enrichment
of Fine Arts Friday.
Mention Code: 8734 and
receive a free class!
Call (615) 860-3000 ext. 202
to reserve your child’s place!
Hola!
FCA offers a way to enhance your home educating experience through hands-on, interactive enrichment classes and social interaction with
other students and families in a Christian environment. Fine Arts Friday is based on the premise that while home educators may be the best
teachers for their children, benefits can be gained through additional resources coming from outside the home. Students may sign up for
one, two, or a full day of classes. Please call (615) 860-3000 ext. 202 for complete details. Schedule subject to change without notice.
Class Schedule K-2nd
8:30 - 8:55 Chapel
9:00 - 10:25 Cooking
Music
3rd-5th
Chapel
State History
Typing
Kids Lit
Mad Science
6th-8th
Chapel
State History
Typing
Spanish
10:30 - 11:55 Spanish
Art
12:00 - 12:30 Lunch
12:35 - 2:00 Art
Lunch
Cooking
Band
Spanish
Photography
Lit/Writing
Music
Lunch
Computer
Band
Art
2:00 - 3:25 Kids Lit
Mad Science
9th-12th
Chapel
Writing & Speech
Personal Finance
Art
Health or Typing
Driver’s Ed
Culinary Arts
Computer/Yearbook
Music
Lunch
Photography
Band
Physical Education
Yearbook
Fine Arts Friday
Book Fee
Monthly Tuition
K-8 Full Day
$225
$125
9-12 Full Day
$250
$175
K-8 Per Subject
$75
$65 1st class,
$20 each additional class
9-12 Per Subject $100
$85 1st class,
$20 each additional class
Combine Fine Arts & Academic Days To SAVE!
Details on page 3.
SAVE!
200 7 Scri p p s
Nationa l Sp el l i ng Bee
Homeschool Spells
S-U-C-C-E-S-S!
Homeschoolers aren’t immersed in a structured classroom setting
amidst dozens of other students. Most of them don’t even have
credentialed teachers or state-approved curricula.
But homeschoolers Evan O’Dorney and Caitlin Snaring don’t feel
deprived. In fact, their education at home has given them the
freedom and passion to pursue the thing they love to do most...
learn.
Homeschoolers swept this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee
and National Geographic Bee.
Beating the Odds
Even though homeschoolers represent about 3 percent of this
nation’s students, they comprised nearly 13 percent, or 36 of the
286 contestants, in this year’s national spelling bee.
What’s more, first, second and third place went to homeschoolers
in 2000, with one winning the bee the following year, as well. They
have been in the top 10 every year this decade.
This year’s favorite, homeschooler Samir Patel, appeared in his
fifth consecutive bee.
But Samir ended up giving way to another homeschooler, Evan
O’Dorney, of Danville, California.
Like many homeschoolers, Evan pursues his passions without the
restrictions that his traditionally schooled peers face in standardized instruction. He is by no means your one-dimensional dictionary worm.
Among his many talents, the child prodigy enjoys composing piano concertos and studies classical music at the San Francisco
Conservatory of Music.
Evan’s instrument of choice is the piano because it allows him to
play a number of notes simultaneously.
“I like it because I’m hearing chords in my head and I can get it
all out,” said the champion.
Jennifer O’Dorney helped prepare her son for the contest by going
over Latin roots and complex words from the dictionary, but spelling isn’t the only thing that triggers Evan’s interest.
“He’s like a sponge; early on, he always wanted to learn more and
more,” she said. “He’s so fun to be with and work with.”
Despite his tenacity for putting letters together, the gifted 13 year
old has an even greater passion for numbers. His eyes beamed
brightly when he shared about his upcoming summer math camp
and University of California at Berkeley calculus class.
“My favorite things to do are math and music, and with the math,
I really like the way the numbers fit together,” Evan said. “And
with the music, I like to let out ideas by composing notes, and the
spelling is just a bunch of memorization.”
Evan also enjoys juggling. When asked how long it took him to
learn, the whiz kid wisely replied, “I don’t think you can assign
any specific beginning or end to learning.”
Evan had no problem juggling the letters at this year’s contest in
Washington D.C., as he correctly spelled “serrefine,” to take the
2007 title. What does it mean? Small forceps.
A Showcase of Talent
Spelling bees provide an avenue for home learners to demonstrate
their academic merit against traditionally schooled students.
“In a competitive situation like a spelling bee, kids can measure their
skills, and it gives them some sort of concrete feeling of accomplishment,” said Cato Institute education researcher Andrew Coulson.
Twelve-year-old Josiah Wright of North Carolina has a love for both
spelling and homeschooling.
The formidable competitor, who won a regional bee, touts ‘humuhumunukunukuapuaa’ as his favorite word, which is a fish found in
Hawaii.
Josiah’s mother doesn’t give him any special spelling training because she has her hands full with three younger adopted children,
diagnosed with Downs syndrome, and a two-year-old daughter.
“I have never taught him spelling,” said Anne. “We never sat down
and said, ‘I before E except after C.’ Every year we would go through
the spelling words provided in the curriculum, and he would just nail
them.”
If there’s anyone who appreciates the opportunity to learn from
home, it’s Josiah.
“I can finish my school work early rather than be stuck in a classroom
for several hours a day,” said the spelling whiz, who noted another
perk, “No bullies.”
Another homeschooler, 12-year-old Rebecca of Virginia, whose mother organized a local homeschool spelling bee, trained for this year’s
big event.
“I study one-on-one with Mom a lot,” Rebecca said. “She calls out
the words, and I spell them and put them into the computer so I can
study them later.”
The extra instructional time allows Rebecca to apportion two-anda-half hours to her spelling daily, while leaving more than adequate
time for other subjects.
“You can’t drop history and math and study spelling all day,” Rebecca’s mom added. “When we finish with a subject, we move on to the
next one. You don’t have to wait for 30 kids to get finished.”
Regional spelling bee champion, Florida’s Justin Murdock, also sees
the advantages of homeschooling.
“I don’t miss going to school with the other kids,” the 12 year old
said. “I can do my school work really fast if I’m by myself and then
have a whole lot of time to do my spelling.”
And who says learning isn’t fun?
“Sometimes I catch myself making up words, using what I know
about prefixes and suffixes,” Justin said. “Then I look them up in the
dictionary to see if they’re real words.”
There’s No Place Like Homeschool
Homeschoolers also know their geography. Redmond, Washington’s
Caitlin Snaring won this year’s National Georgraphic Bee in the nation’s capital on May 23.
The relentless 14 year old answered every question correctly during
the two-day competition.
Caitlin’s vigorous homeschool routine lets her allot four to six hours a
day to geography. The devoted competitor can even be seen studying
after church, at her brother’s baseball games, and in her bed with a
flashlight.
She beat out nine boys in the finals to take home a $25,000 college
scholarship.
Here is the question Caitlin answered to win the 2007 title:
“A city that is divided by a river of the same name was the imperial
capital of Vietnam for more than a century. Name this city, which is
still an important cultural center.”
She answered Hué. The rest is history.
Homeschool advocates say this proves students taught at home can
easily compete with their traditionally schooled peers.
By: Michael F. Haverluck Sources: Washington Dateline, The Danville Weekly, AP
Considering Homes ch ooling?
HOME EDUCATION SERVICES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
No Monthly Tuition
Complete Online Services
Immediate Enrollment
On Campus Enrichment Classes
Reporting & Recordkeeping
Curriculum Consultation
Computer Courses
by Michael F. Haverluck
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dual Enrollment
Graduation @ Grand Ole Opry
Prom & School Pictures
Bookstore & Support Center
Athletic Programs
Field Trips
Testing & Tutoring
FAMILY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Providing Complete Home Education Services for Grades K-12
487 MYATT DRIVE • MADISON, TN 37115
(615) 860-3000 • M-F 10 AM - 5 PM
www.familychristianacademy.com
9
By Kari Lewis
In the Fullness of His Time
T
he last week of September, we took a short family vacation up
to the north shore of Lake Superior - a favorite place of ours.
Life had seemed much more stressful than usual leading up to the trip.
Many things had descended upon us calling for time and energies that
we felt were already near the breaking point. We had eagerly looked
forward to this brief break of travel to cooler weather and beautiful
nature surroundings.
Indeed, we thoroughly enjoyed a wonderful time of hiking and soaking
up the beauty of the Minnesota northwoods, and quietly sitting on the
rocks by the lake together as a family, watching the waves roll in and
crash thunderously against the shoreline. We even got to spend three
nights in a little cabin right on the shoreline! The sunrises over the
lake were some of the most spectacular that we have ever witnessed,
and we enjoyed them out on the rocky shore, cameras in hand. One
cold morning, as a misty rain showered down over our tiny cabin, we
gathered around the breakfast table and watched the sunrise through
the big picture window overlooking the lake. The clouds had not yet
reached to the east side of the lake and the sunrise was beautiful,
10
even though it was raining on our cabin. The cool evenings were spent
at the cabin, eating, talking and playing games - covered up in soft
quilts.
On our return trip, driving home through northern Wisconsin, the
leaves seemed to be at their absolute, most gorgeous peak of color.
Quaint farms were nestled in seemingly endless rolling green and gold
hills surrounded by a myriad of colors from flaming reds, vivid oranges and vibrant yellows, to the more muted shades of brown, mauve,
burnt orange and rust - all interspersed with the contrasting darker
greens of the evergreen trees. It was almost breathtakingly beautiful!
I’m not sure we have ever seen a more magnificent array of fall color
in our entire lives. The sweeping countryside, as far as our eyes could
see, looked like a wonderfully huge, brilliant, picture postcard!
On the trip up to Lake Superior, we had been a little disappointed as
we drove through Wisconsin making our way up to the shore. There
seemed to be very little color and we thought we would miss the peak
for sure, which was something we had not counted on. However, during those few intervening days while we were at the lake, “the fullness
by Kari Lewis
of the time” was accomplished for the Wisconsin leaves, and the beauty of the season became apparent for all to see, much to our delight.
Driving home we were awed, blessed and refreshed just looking at the
scenery God had created! We became deeply aware, once again, that
can count on God and rest in His care. We can be thankful that He does
not sleep or slumber. We can be thankful that He is not strapped to
earthly time. We can be thankful that He is not bound by the realm of
human possibilities. He is never frazzled, He is never worried and He
our God is awesomely creative, and our hearts were truly stirred.
is never panicked about our situation. He has it all under control, and
As homeschooling parents ourselves, it wouldn’t surprise us one little
And that’s something to be truly thankful for!
bit if you, another homeschooling parent, know just “how” the leaves
change color in the fall. We enjoyed some extremely interesting studies about it in our homeschool over the years. But the fact of the matter is that, although there are scientific processes involved, God is the
One who put the processes in place, and the leaves change color in
the beauty of His plan will be revealed to us in the fullness of His time!
Kari Lewis and her husband, Frank, homeschooled their two sons
through their highschool graduations. The Lewis’ now publish Home
School Enrichment Magazine, a bi-monthly print publication dedicated
to encouraging and inspiring Christian homeschoolers.
HIS “fullness of the time.” Our
desire to speed up the process,
or to see the outcome early,
has no bearing whatsoever on
when the leaves will actually
change color.
It is the same in life. So often
our timetable has not matched
up with God’s timetable. Sometimes we have been disappointed or anxious over what
we saw as a delay in an answer,
solution, or provision from God.
We have worried and fretted,
time and again, and sometimes
almost wondered if “this time”
...when the fullness of time had been
accomplished, according to God’s
will and timing, the answer or
provision would come...
God either was not listening to
us, was unconcerned, or just
simply was being too slow to act
on our behalf. It seemed to us
that we HAD to have this or that
answer or help . . . right NOW.
Finally, however, when the fullness of time had been accomplished, according to God’s will
and timing, the answer or provision would come, and looking back we
could see that, indeed, God had known best (again)!
This is a very helpful principle to remember as a homeschooling parent. While there are some things along the way that we can do to facilitate the process, quite truthfully, life and learning are time-intensive.
It is a fact of life that simply cannot be escaped. It takes time to raise
Godly children. It takes time to build solid family relationships. It takes
time to acquire skills. It takes time to break bad habits and replace
them with good habits. It takes time to learn academic information.
But, we’re so thankful that homeschooling allows us to have that time
with our children to accomplish these things. Thankfully, it is all very
important to the Lord too, and if we will have patience and faith in God
as we live in obedience to His leading and commands, we will see the
fruit of our labors in His fullness of the time!
As the leaves are turning, the harvest is being gathered in, and our
hearts and minds are preparing for Thanksgiving Day, we have many
things for which to be thankful. First of all, while trying not to sound
trite, we are thankful for God. We’re thankful that He is so wise, powerful and loving (and even more thankful that He is so patient). We’re
thankful that though we may feel pressure, or sense an urgency for
something right now, God does not. He is not stressed out about our
problems, though He does care deeply and intimately about us. We
by Kari Lewis
11
APPRENTICE PROGRAM
EARN
WHILE
YOU
LEARN
WORK
STUDY
PROGRAM
Students in FCA’s Apprentice Program participate in
the adult world of work while learning the practical and
academic skills that continually improve their value to
their employers. Classes are held two evenings per week
at FCA’s on-campus location. Call (615) 860-3000 ext.
202 to schedule an on-campus visit.
Enrollment Fee
$200
Curriculum & Testing Fee $500
Monthly Tuition
$250
Getting the Homeschooling
Journey Off to a Good Start
It is not uncommon for families to
feel “buyer’s remorse” after the first
few weeks or months as new homeschoolers, and maybe with good
reason. With every change or new
beginning there will be struggles,
some big, some small, and some
monstrous. Maybe the in-laws are
furious with your decision. Maybe
you just can’t seem to find time to
finish all that you had planned in
your day. Maybe cooperation has
only seen a few moments or your
house has seen better days. Sometimes, life just takes an unexpected
turn.
We homeschooled all through the
preschool years and continued with
homeschooling for kindergarten
shortly before our firstborn child
turned five. We also had a preschooler and a toddler, an I was two
months pregnant with our fourth. I
truly loved homeschooling. For me
it was just a short step from what
I had already been doing all through the preschool years (which is why I strongly encourage preschool at home). Everything was going
so smoothly. Then, seven months later, just
after the birth of our fourth child, our routine was brought to an immediate halt. Amy
had an extremely dangerous infection in the
brain. She was only 19 days old. After spending weeks in the ICU, we realized that she had
severe tissue damage. Medical advances could
not increase the likelihood of normal development. I must confess, the thought lingered in
my mind that there was no way I could continue homeschooling our kindergartner, preschooling the next child, and keeping the toddler busy while taking care of the huge needs
this child was going to have.
I prayed and prayed, and finally brought my
fears to my husband. He greatly encouraged
me, telling me that God would provide what
we couldn’t and that He would continue to
bless us, our children, and our home if we
committed our children to Him. My husband
was right. God’s Word is filled with promises of
the blessings He will bestow upon us when we
serve Him with all our hearts, minds and souls,
and allow our children the same opportunity.
Yes, our life took an unexpected turn, but we
relied on His promises and continued homeby Denise Kanter
9 Important Tips for
New Homeschoolers
by Denise Kanter
schooling in spite of the challenges, knowing
that God would always provide.
Do you recall what brought you to the idea
of homeschooling? There are many reasons
that compel parents to seek this excellent
form of education, but are your goals today
to use homeschooling to give God glory? Are
you using homeschooling first and foremost to
strengthen your child’s relationship with Jesus
in every way possible? Homeschooling with
the right foundation is the best opportunity
ever granted to us by God to fulfill our responsibility in directing our children to a lifelong
relationship with Christ.
“And that from a child thou hast known the
holy scriptures, which are able to make thee
wise unto salvation through faith which is in
Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
2 Timothy 3:15-17
Practically, though, how can you set the course
in those first few months of your new homeschool endeavor in order to win spiritually,
academically, emotionally, and physically (and
perhaps keep the house clean too)?
Today there are hundreds of thousands of
homeschoolers in America. Included in this
number are numerous single parents, widows,
and grandparents who have chosen against all
odds to homeschool their children or grandchildren. Collectively, these families have endured every challenge possible and overcome
them with God’s help. And so can you. Here
are some ideas to help you stay the course
and run with endurance, right from the beginning.
1. Moms, start your day with a quiet time of
prayer and reflection. In the time you used to
spend making a mad dash to get the kids to
school, you can now get refreshed in the Lord
with morning devotions. Let the kids sleep an
extra hour if necessary, or let them do their
devotions in their room until you’re ready for
them to come out.
13
2. Do not start any day
without a heart and mind
willing to change your
schedule at a moment’s
notice. If you start your
homeschool off with
too much structure and
do not allow time and
patience for those unexpected events that
come every day, you will
be frustrated and inevitably feel like a failure.
3. The average government-schooled child only
spends 5 to 15 minutes
per day one-on-one with
their teacher. That’s all.
Can you match that?
Although
increased
amounts of one-on-one
time is one of the top
benefits to homeschooling, your children do not
need eight hours of personal daily tutoring. If
you allow them the opportunity to learn to teach themselves, they
wil develop skills they would not get in any
institution, such as self-sufficiencey, self-direction, and logical thinking.
4. Focus the beginning months on discovering
your child’s learning style and your teaching
style, keeping in mind that both will need a
little tweaking here and there as the years go
by.
5. If restlessness or aggravation set in, turn on
some Christian music, sing, or do something
else to lighten the mood (I suggest putting a
CD player and music collection right next to
you for easy convenience). After a few songs,
a joyful attitude will return and you will be
ready to restart schooling.
6. What part does the Bible have in your
school day? It must be the primary part of
your child’s education. There are many wonderful one-year devotionals that divide the entire Bible into morning and evening readings.
Also, consider having your children write out
the New Testament in one year. They can do
this by writing out just 30 or so verses a day.
Be sure to create a special binder for these
writings. It will be an accomplishment to treasure for a lifetime.
7. Use Christian curriculum! I cannot stress
enough how diametricaly opposed the government schools’ textbooks are to God’s Word.
14
They are designed to teach your child that God
does not exist. There is really no reason to
have our homeschool designed around the use
of secular textbooks or secular homeschool
programs. Review the ads in this magazine,
find a Christian homeschol convention, or visit
a Homeschool Headquarters section in your
Christian bookstore. There are just too many
Christian programs and curricula to settle for
secular.
8. Being “super-woman” is an emotional
struggle for every mom. Having a clean house
often allows us to feel as if we’ve had a successful day because we have something visually concrete to show we accomplished something. However, a sparkling clean house is not
what God is looking for from us. Yes, He likes
order, and it is healthy and important, but it
should not become the focus of your day. Letting your house look like you have kids is all
right. Straightening up a little before husband
comes home will keep you from burning out
and feeling overworked.
9. The biggest aspect in making the homeschool years peaceful and joyful is to make
sure you and your husband are on the same
page. Take some time to ask your husband
what he would like to see you accomplish in
your day. I think you will find that what he
expects is a lot less than what you expect of
yourself. Let him know what your struggles
are. Set realistic goals with your husband so
at the end of the day no one feels frustrated or
tired. Remember, your children are only with
you for a short time. Enjoy spending time with
them and your husband rather than building
up long lists of to-dos for everyone. Nurture
your children, but don’t forget to nurture your
marriage, too.
Remember to relax and enjoy the journey. You
only have to please God, and that is so easy
to do. If you focus on bringing Christ into every part of your child’s educaion, everything
else will fall into place. God has promised to
guide us all the way to seeing Him face to
face. Is He not then able to guide us in our
homeschool? Yes, He is, and He does not fail.
Stand sure on His promises, and stand on
your knees for His guidance.
“For this God is our God for ever and ever:
he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalms
48:14
Denise Kanter is a homeschooling mom of
four children, ages 11,9,8, and 6. She lives in
California with her husband Gary, where they
operate Considering Homeschooling Ministry,
a national outreach with local chapters across
the United States. (Learn more at www.consideringhomeschooling.org.) The Kanters are
also involved in a creation science ministry
(www.worldsbiggestdinosaurs.com).
Printed by permission from The Home School Enrichment
Magazine. www.homeschoolenrichment.com
by Denise Kanter
The Price of Children
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child
from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn’t even touch
college tuition.
But $160,140 isn’t so bad if you break it down. It translates
into:
• $8,896.66 a year,
• $741.38 a month, or
• $171.08 a week..
• That’s a mere $24.24 a day!
• Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is don’t have
children if you want to be “rich.” Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?
Naming rights - first, middle and last! Glimpses of God everyday. Giggles under the covers every night. More love than
your heart can hold. Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. Endless
wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. A hand
to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate. A partner for
blowing bubbles, flying kites. Someone to laugh yourself silly
with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to fingerpaint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning
bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet
and Pooh, watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars.
You get to frame rainbow, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for
Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother’s Day, and cards
with backward letters for Father’s Day.
For $160,140 there is no greater bang for your buck. You get
to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
taking the training wheels off a bike, removing a splinter, filling a wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and
coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets
treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step,
first word, first date, and first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your
family tree, and if you’re lucky, a long list of limbs in your
obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get
an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You
have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters
under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party,
ground them forever, and love them without limits, So.... one
day they will like you, and love without counting the cost. That
is quite a deal for the price!!!!!
Love and enjoy your children & grandchildren!!!!!
Author Unkown
Classical Education
That Was Then, What About Now?
by Dana Gage
Y
our garage was cluttered with unit
study projects and your bookshelves
were a visual history of the summer
homeschool trends for the past eight
years. You meticulously arranged the day’s
schedule, catering to each of your children’s
unique learning styles and environments. Your
eldest child was learning Finnish with Rosetta Stone, and your youngest was learning to
play a violin that was the appropriate size for
a mouse. So, when you heard about classical
education, you just laughed and decided that
when the latest educational fad was over, you
would not be the one selling half-finished Latin
books on eBay.
Classical education can be faddish. Sticking a
Roman column on your newsletter with a few
Latin phrases is now the best way to look cool
and sound smart, to boot. The current interest in ivy-decorated architecture and Latin
and Greek sounding titles probably will fade
out as soon as something newer and trendier
comes along, for these are simply the externals of classical education, the easily-imitated
trappings that marketers can use to give the
appearance of offering something substantial.
The essence of classical education, however, is
not a fad. Far from fading, this movement has
been gaining steam for the past twenty years
and shows no signs of slowing down. Classical education has claimed a large segment of
homeschooling and has been the philosophical
impetus for an entirely new model for Christian schools. There is even a new list of colleges and universities that can legitimately
be labeled as “classical.” Realizing the deep
impact and significance of this movement, we
should, as parents and educators, try to understand classical education and identify any
potential benefits or downfalls for our Christian communities.
WHAT IS CLASSICAL EDUCATION?
To understand classical education, we must
first be able to define it. This is hard to do
sometimes because the word classical has
many different meanings; for example, “the
classics” often refers to the great body of literature written during the apex of Greek and
Roman civilization, or more generally, to the
body of literature that has withstood the test
of time in Western Civilization. Classical can
refer to a time-proven tradition in any civilization. And lastly, classical can refer to a particular period of time, often a “golden era” of
development in art and scholarship.
The term “classical education” probably pulls
from all three of these definitions. Reading great literature, including the classics,
is a staple in classical education. As a timeproved tradition, classical education is the
standard in Western Civilization; in fact, it’s
difficult to separate classical education from
Western Civilization: the two are inextricably
linked together. Classical education was born
along with Western Civilization, beginning with
the Greeks and Romans, continuing into the
Middle Ages, and unchallenged in the United
by Dana Gage
States until the late 1800s. The most precise
definition of classical education, however, is
probably most related to the third definition.
Classical education is a course of study that,
as in the Middle Ages, has as its curriculum the
set of subjects known as the trivium and the
quadrivium. These subjects were identified by
the Greeks and Romans and further developed
and classified by Christians in the Middle Ages.
A student who mastered these core subjects
was considered an educated person.
The trivium consisted of grammar, logic, and
rhetoric, and the quadrivium contained mathematics, geometry, music, and astronomy.
These seven subjects were known as the seven “liberal arts.” Liberal comes from the Latin
word liber, which means free. A liberal arts
education was for free citizens, not slaves,
who could rightly govern themselves. Mastering these subjects was crucial in order to be
educated, and if one had not mastered these
subjects, he was not considered educated and
his opinions had little bearing on important
matters. These subjects were foundation to
higher learning. For the Greeks, philosophy
was the apex of all learning; for the Medieval
Christian, theology reigned as Queen of the
Sciences. And unlike our day, no one would
od, but by a curriculum. Other homeschool
“approaches” address the method of teaching.
Classical education is much more concerned
about what is being taught than how it is being
taught. Mastery of, not just exposure to, the
liberal arts is the goal of classical education.
THAT WAS THEN, WHAT ABOUT NOW?
Classical education enthusiasts see its long
history as a source of credibility, but others
do not. Why should we chain ourselves to an
educational system that worked two thousand
years ago? Can we even trust someone who
did not have access to Wikipedia?
If we fast forward 1,500 years from the ancients, we come to the Reformers. Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, and others like them pitted themselves against virtually everything the leaders
of the Later Medieval world defended. Besides
heretical teaching, the Reformers decried abusive authority, elitism, worship services that
did not communicate to the average man (e.g.
reading the Scriptures in Latin) and every kind
of excessive pomp and religious extravagance.
When it came to education, the Reformers, especially Luther, had a lot to say. Luther thought
Classical education is much more
concerned about what is being taught
than how it is being taught.
attempt to write or speculate on important
matters of theology without first mastering
the liberal arts.
his own education had contained much that
was excessive and oppressive, so he advocated for a clean approach to the liberal arts:
All of the liberal arts can be broadly categorized into language and mathematics. The
trivium deals mainly with the nature of language and how we communicate through
language. The quadrivium deals mainly with
mathematics, or the orderly and rhythmic patterns in God’s universe. It’s important for us
to remember that although these subject areas may have been recognized and labeled by
the Greeks and Romans, the Greeks and Romans did not invent them. Classical education
does not equal pagan education. The Hebrews
were masters of the written word, poetry, and
song long before the Greeks recognized grammar as a foundation subject for learning. We
don’t have to worship Zeus to appreciate the
Greek language and the contributions that a
brilliant civilization had on our Western world.
From the language of our New Testament to
the architecture of our nation’s capitol buildings, the glory that was Greece is everywhere.
We don’t have to surrender our rights to any
part of God’s creation because unbelievers appreciated them or developed them. Every inch
of the world and every fact about the world
belongs to God. We are free to enjoy all that
God has given and humbly recognize the accomplishments of other people in other times.
Defined as the traditional liberal arts, classical
education is correctly defined, not as a meth-
For my part, if I had children and could manage it, I would have them study not only languages and history, but also singing and music
together with the whole of mathematics….The
ancient Greeks trained their children in these
disciplines; yet they grew up to be people of
wondrous ability, subsequently fit for everything. (AE 45:369-370)
Luther’s extensive writings on education advocate a liberal arts education for, not only
wealthy children, but for all Christian children.
Luther viewed ignorance as a wide-open door
for false teaching and insisted that rigorous
studies in the ancient languages were crucial
to preserving the gospel. He warned parents
not to view an education as a means to make
money, but rather to view an education as a
means to develop a generation for the glory
of God.
So the liberal arts tradition lived on and was
carried over the Atlantic Ocean where its students founded a new democracy of liber citizens; a lot like the old ones, except this time
the founders recognized the Source of their
freedom.
continued on next page....
17
WHAT WENT WRONG?
With 2,000 years of history on its side, how
did the liberal arts lose their former place of
glory in our current educational system? In
1762, Jean Jacques Rousseau published his
philosophy of education. In On Education, he
denies the inherent sinfulness and ignorance
of children. Unlike John Milton, who defines
education as “repairing the ruins” of our first
parents, Rousseau says that “God makes all
things good; man meddles with them and they
become evil.” He sees reading as “the greatest plague of childhood.” Rather than imposing standards of greatness from the outside,
Rousseau thought that greatness came from
the inside and advocated for methods of “natural development.” Natural development became the cornerstone principle for the leaders,
including John Dewey, of the later progressive
education movement in America.
Rousseau’s ideas were largely ignored for at
least another century while Latin schools,
grammar schools, and rural one-room schoolhouses continued educating American citizens
in the traditional liberal arts. In the late 1880s,
Rousseau’s ideas were resurrected and the
progressive education movement finally got
a foothold in America. The movement directly
opposed the academic curriculum of the liberal arts; instead, its advocates emphasized
natural development. In 1901, G. Stanley Hall
addressed the NEA (National Educator’s Association) with the foundational principle of progressive education: “Childhood, as it comes
fresh from God, is not corrupt.” John Dewey
later outlined several tenets of the progressive movement, including the teacher being a
guide, rather than an authority, all of which
stem from a whole-hearted belief in the innate
goodness of mankind.
Progressive education continued to make its
way into American education. The war on the
traditional curriculum, including Greek, Latin,
mathematics, and classical literature contin-
18
ued, and educational disasters, such as the
“look-say” reading methods taught in the 50s
did nothing to stop the assault. Activists such
as Mortimer Adler fought to restore classical
literature to its rightful place in American culture, but although his “Great Books” collection
was published, it still remains largely unread.
THE RETURN OF CLASSICAL EDUCATION
In 1942, Dorothy Sayers, gave a now-famous
lecture at Oxford University entitled “The Lost
Tools of Learning.” Pointing out the mass ignorance and absence of thinking skills prevalent all around her, Sayers advocated a return
to the traditional liberal arts by emphasizing
the trivium. Her particular way of implementing the trivium was to teach its three subjects,
grammar, logic, and rhetoric according to
three stages of a student’s development. She
advocated that the elementary student would
learn best by studying the “grammar” of each
subject, or the basic skills required for further
study. The middle school student would then
be ready for the “logic” stage, in which he or
she would now begin to see the connections
between facts and the logical sequences of
events. After mastering these two phases, the
high school student would now be ready for
the rhetoric stage in which he would learn how
to express himself with skill and eloquence.
Dorothy Sayers doubted that her ideas would
ever be implemented, but in the 1980s, Douglas Wilson, a pastor in Moscow, Idaho, opened
Logos School, a classical school built on Sayers’s model of the trivium. Since then, Logos
School has served as a model for schools all
over the country. The book The Well-Trained
Mind by Jesse Wise and Susan Wise Bauer,
a homeschool mother and daughter team,
opened up classical education for homeschoolers and created a market for all kinds of material for “classical educators.”
model, may be a new way to implement the
liberal arts curriculum, but the curriculum itself has withstood the test of time as the necessary material for educating young minds. As
a homeschooler, you are free to choose among
different teaching “approaches,” but we need
to be aware that all approaches are not equal.
You may not choose to read the Iliad each year
and you may decide to forego the Latin, but a
short look at the history of education should
show us that the mastery of grammar, mathematics, and writing, steeped in history and
classic literature should be the goal in our educational endeavors. The Greek ivy and Roman
columns may be gone in a few summers, but
the liberal arts curriculum, we hope, is here
to stay.
If you are new to classical education and you
would like to begin implementing a classical
curriculum for your students, then The WellTrained Mind is a great place to start. TWTM
gives a simple, and yet thorough outline for
each subject in each grade level and annotates
many different educational materials from
which to choose.
The Well Trained Mind
by Susan Wise
available at FCA Bookstore
Classical education is not new. The movement,
especially using the trivium as a pedagogical
by Dana Gage
Fa mily Christian’s
ON L I N E A C A DEMY
The Best of Home, Private, and Computer Education in One Program
Family Christian’s Online Academy is a comprehensive, Biblically-based curriculum
that offers computer-based learning for grades 3-12. The Online Academy provides
an interactive learning environment with 3-D animation, video clips, and other fascinating multimedia. It also provides automatic grading, record keeping, and lesson
planning with the click of a mouse.
Online Academy Complete Course Fees
The Online Academy’s curriculum, is written on the principle of “mastery learning.”
This means that students truly master the content and skills of one unit before
progressing to the next. Different students learn at different speeds, thus mastery
learning ensures success by allowing each student to spend as much time as necessary in one subject area prior to moving on.
With the instant grading feature, students and parents have same day feedback regarding student progress. Our teachers grade the paragraph answers, essays, and
projects, then transfer the grades along with comments back to the student. Due
dates and past due notices will help keep your child on schedule according to his or
her customized lesson plan.
Students excel using Family Christian’s Online Academy. The stimulating multimedia and interactive format infuse the learning process with plenty of excitement.
The five core subjects -- Bible, Language Arts, Math, History and Geography, and
Science -- plus a variety of electives are available.
Call
Today
(includes 4 subjects, 5th subject free)
Enrollment Fee
$200
Placement Testing
$100
Curriculum/Software Setup
$500
Monthly Tuition (x10)
$200
Individual Subjects
Subject Setup
$125
Monthly Tuition (x10)
$ 75
(615) 860-3000
to Schedule an Online Academy Presentation
w w w . f a m i l y c h r i s t i a n a c a d e m y . c o m
Unlocking Your Child’s Learning Potential
by Chris Davis
a school for the animals
A
young homeschool mom approached me at a
homeschool bookfair.
“I have learned something really important,” she
said. “I have discovered why my son has been resisting my attempts to homeschool him these past
few years. I suddenly realized that I was trying to
teach him according to the way I like to learn even
though his learning style is completely different
from mine. When I began to respect how God had
created him to learn, an immediate change came
into our homeschooling and in our relationship.
The School for the Animals
An old story tells of a school created exclusively for
animals. In this school, every animal had to take the
same four courses: flying, swimming, climbing, and
running. The first to enter the school were a duck,
a flying squirrel, a fox, and an elephant. These four
were highly motivated, and wanted to get good
grades, so they all tried very hard.
The duck did fantastically well in swimming and flying, but he lagged behind his classmates in climbing and running, so he focused special attention
on those two subjects. However, his feet became
so sore from trying to run and his wings were so
bedraggled from trying to climb that by the end of
the year he not only failed both those subjects, but
made C’s in swimming and flying, which were his
two best subjects.
20
At the beginning of the school year, the squirrel was
first in his class in climbing and running and was
second only to the duck at flying. But as the months
wore on, he caught pneumonia from swimming
class and missed so much school that he failed
everything.
To make matters even worse, because the squirrel constantly squirmed and chattered in class, and
had difficulty paying attention, he was diagnosed
with a learning disorder. The squirrel eventually
was placed in remedial classes and had to be medicated in order to continue with his school work.
The fox was a natural in his running class and
scored well in climbing and swimming, but became
so frustrated at his inability to get good grades in
flying that he began assaulting his classmates. He
even tried to eat the duck. After being expelled from
school, he fell in with a rough crowd and eventually
wound up in a center for animal delinquents.
The elephant was quick to develop low self-esteem
from not being able to do well in any of the subjects. The school counselor told his parents that he
wouldn’t be good at anything except Lifting & Carrying, and so he signed up for this course at which he
immediately excelled. However, the elephant was
disappointed, because careers in Lifting & Carrying
were not as prestigious as careers in flying, swimming, climbing, or running. Even though he always
felt inferior, the elephant still managed to make a
decent living and support his family.
Our Children as Individuals
This silly story was written to demonstrate how most
public schools treat their human students. If every
child does learn exactly the same as every other
child, educational approaches would not need to
be different for different children. And, that’s why
educational approaches in public schools aren’t different.
But, if children are different—if everyone learns differently—then there must be different learning approaches available to choose from.
The two major learning differences among children
(which are most often ignored)—and, therefore,
which cause the most frustration to school-age children—have to do with learning styles and learning
readiness. In a future article, we will discuss learning readiness. For now, we will cover why understanding learning styles will smooth the way for
your homeschooling process.
Conditions That Affect Learning
Every person (and this includes you as well as your
children) has a dominant way that information is
most easily received; which also means that each
person has other ways in which receiving information is not so easy received. And, if you are requiring
your children to receive information in ways which
are not so easy for them to receive, a whole group
of difficulties arise for both you and your children.
There are basically 4 different ways children (and
grown ups, too) receive information most easily:
A Visual Learner is one who learns best through
by Chris Davis
images, pictures, diagrams, etc. and by watching
others do something. Visual learners tend to be
print oriented and can learn by reading about a subject. Some learners are so visual-learner oriented,
they have difficulty understanding unless they can
read about it.
Auditory Learners learn best when they attend
lectures, hear (or sing) songs, listen to books on
tape, hear (not read) stories and other oral material. Some learners are so auditory-learner oriented,
they have difficulty understanding what they are
learning unless they can hear it.
tion to the largest number of students within that
budget. Because the most cost-effective instruction
is verbal and oral, schools can’t afford to offer instruction that is either kinesthetic or social.
Therefore, in institutional schools, Kinesthetic and
Social Learners lose. Many fail because they have
so much difficulty trying to learn using a “learning
language” created for someone else. Others simply
quit school. Most will consider themselves failures
until they discover areas of success that change
their concept of themselves.
However, by choosing to home educate your children, you have created the opportunity to 1) determine the way your children learn best, and 2)
purchase curricula that is created for that learning
style. That should be welcome news for every parent who cares that their children receive an education!
Kinesthetic Learners favor interacting with what
they are learning by doing, touching, building, putting together and taking apart, and collecting. Some
learners are so kinesthetic-learner oriented, they
have difficulty understanding unless they can interact physically with it.
Very young children are mostly kinesthetic learners,
but tend to move toward one of the other modes of
learning as they mature. However, boys often never
move beyond this style of learning and will continue
to need “hands-on” materials even when they are
older.
Social or Group-Interactive Learners is the 4th
Learning Style. These students learn best through
group participation, conversations, and discussion.
This kind of learner is difficult to diagnose, but if
you have this kind of learner, be prepared for lots
of dialog, or you may need to form learning groups
for this child. Some learners are so social-learner
oriented, they have difficulty understanding unless
they can ask questions, interact with other’s input,
or discuss the topic at hand.
How Can I Tell Which One?
A child will give you clues as to which kind of a
learner he is, not only in his activities but also in the
words he uses to express himself.
If a child observes and remembers details, likes
beautiful things and bright illustrations, and tends
to express himself with phrases such as “Look at
this!” or “I see what you mean,” that child is probably a visual learner.
If the child often sings to himself or makes up songs,
can remember what people say, and uses expressions like, “Listen to this!” or “I hear what you’re
saying” (to mean he understands), he is probably
an auditory learner.
The child who likes to touch everything, take things
apart, build things, use his hands, and uses expressions like, “I get it” and “I want that” (as in “I want to
play with that”), is most likely a kinesthetic learner.
Institutional (public & private) schools have just so
much money to work with and so must offer instrucby Chris Davis
21
Beyond the
‘
s
Nurturing the Love of Reading
when they are young,
n recent years, parents
My name is Kris Meyers and I am the creator of Beyond the
and nurture a love of
have heard a lot in the mereading at home by movABCs. Beyond the ABCs offers parents specialized training,
dia about what is lacking in
ing beyond phonics, beadvice, support, and resources so they can take an active role
our school system, and how
yond the basics, beyond
in raising kids who love to read, write and learn.
so many of today’s kids can’t
the ABCs.
read. When I worked with 3rd,
4th and 5th grade students as an elementary Reading Specialist, the
Teaching Children to Be Thoughtful Readers
truth was almost all of my students could technically read. They had
learned phonics and appeared to be readers. But what many of them
Making Connections
didn’t have was an understanding of what they were reading. Instead
Have you ever been reading and thought, “ That reminds me of….…..”?
of more phonics instruction, these students primarily needed help
If so, then you were doing something that all good readers do! Good
with reading comprehension. They needed to learn how to think.
readers make connections before, during and after reading to enhance their understanding of what they are reading.
As reading becomes more complex many children begin to struggle
simply because they focus too much on sounding out words and they
As parents, we need to encourage our children to make connections
don’t take the time to think about what they are reading. When this
to help them discover how personal the reading experience can be.
happens, reading becomes something kids feel they have to do rathPersonal connections can help children remember what they’ve read
er than something they want to do. Today there are simply too many
and increase the likelihood that they will be more thoughtful readchildren who would rather spend time watching TV or playing video
ers down the road. But most of all, children who make connections
games, than spend time reading, or learning something new, just for
when they read are more likely to enjoy the reading experience and
the fun of it.
develop a lifetime reading habit.
I
Parents naturally want their children to learn how to read well, but
are often given mixed messages about what is the best way to help
kids learn how to read. In the last decade, the number of “educational” toys, videos and computer games has increased greatly, and
expensive phonics and tutoring programs for children have become
common. These products and programs may promise to help children
learn to read, but the reality is most of them focus only on teaching
basic phonics and reading skills and do little to develop a lifelong love
of reading and learning.
To encourage your child to make connections, try using some of the
following phrases when reading aloud to your child:
The good news is, parents can teach their children how to think, even
or prompt them with a question like…
22
-“That reminds me of….”
-“That is just like …..”
-“This is the same as ….”
-“I remember when….”
-“One time I felt just like that character …..”
by Kris Meyers
-“Do you remember when we did that….”?
-“Does that remind you of anything?
-“Have you ever felt that way?”
Asking Questions
Young children are naturally curious. They constantly ask us questions as they try to make sense out of their world. Good readers
(young and old) also ask themselves questions before, during and
after they read as they try to make sense of what they are reading.
Being curious, asking questions and wondering about things are the
foundation to developing an inner desire to read and learn. Our personal questions make us want to read and learn more so we can
figure things out.
One way parents can encourage children to think and ask their own
questions when reading is to use the phrase, “I’m wondering…..” This
phrase provides children with a model of what good thinking sounds
like and, over time, children will eventually use this phrase themselves. Here are some examples of what an adult might say during
a read aloud:
- Before reading - “I’m wondering what this story is going to be
about.”
- During reading - “I’m wondering how the little boy is going to solve
this problem.”
- After reading - “I’m wondering if the dog is going to do that again
next time.”
You can also prompt children to ask thoughtful questions, by simply
saying, “What are you wondering about?” Your child’s question might
lead to a good discussion, or you might simply respond with “Great
question. Let’s keep reading and maybe we’ll find out.”
Here are some more tips for helping children learn to visualize and
create their own mental images….
1.Use lots of expression and interesting character voices when you
read aloud. Doing this helps bring the story to life.
2.Tell stories orally. Make up a story or tell a true story about something that happened to you in the past.
3.Read poetry. Poetry tends to have fewer pictures and a lot of descriptive words, making it great for visualizing.
4.Listen to books on CD or cassettes (audio books) and call them
“movies for your mind.”
Making Predictions
Before you ever open a book, you probably have an idea of what it
might be about because of the title and picture on the cover. And
as you read the book, you probably think about what might happen
next. Making predictions is exactly what good readers do when they
are actively involved with a story.
A prediction is basically a guess, based on previous knowledge and
the clues given in the story. When a reader makes a prediction it
means they are paying attention to the details in the story and thinking beyond the words on the page. As they continue to read, good
readers will confirm or dismiss old predictions and make new ones,
when appropriate.
When reading aloud, parents and teachers can encourage children
to make predictions by simply asking, “What do you think is going
to happen next?” Parents and teachers should also make their own
predictions when reading with children to demonstrate what good
readers do. Here are some helpful words & phrases you can use when
making a prediction.
“I bet he’s going to….”
Visualizing
“Maybe he will ….”
If you have ever laughed out loud when reading something to yourself, it’s probably because you had a clear picture in your mind of the
funny event you were reading about. Good readers visualize (make
pictures or images in their minds) when they are actively thinking
about what they are reading.
“He’s probably going to …”
Visualizing personalizes reading and helps keep readers engaged in
the story. Visualizing requires young children to listen closely to the
words of the story, because it is the words that help bring the pictures to life. As children transition to longer texts there are fewer
pictures, or none at all, and they must pay attention to the details to
create an interesting image in their mind.
Parents can encourage children to visualize by using the phrase, “In
my mind I see….” Using this phrase after reading a descriptive passage provides children with a model of what good readers do. An
adult might also say, “Close your eyes and listen while I read. Then
tell me what you see in your mind.”
by Kris Meyers
“I think he might…..”
After making a prediction, try to explain why you made that guess.
This will help children learn that a good prediction isn’t a random
guess, rather it’s an educated guess based on logical thinking.
Remember, reading is much more than sounding out words; reading is thinking. When children learn how to think about what they
are reading, they are able to be successful learners in school and
beyond!
About the author:
Kris Meyers is a PCI Certified Parent Coach™ and Reading Specialist with over
14 years of working with children, teachers and parents. You can visit Kris’s
website www.beyondtheabcs.com to learn more about the services Kris offers
to support parents including, personal coaching, group seminars and telecourses. On her website you can also sign up for a FREE monthly newsletter which
focuses on strategies parents can use to nurture a love of reading, writing &
learning at home. You can contact Kris by email at meyerskm@beyondtheabcs.
com
23
blink* blink*
...and it will be time
The biggest obstacle to overcome at
the beginning of the school year is getting kids into a new schedule and you
will find that if you begin day one with
laying out the gridwork of what each
day will look like, it’ll be so much easier
to get your kids on board.
get ready for a new school year...
The summer months are slowly fading away. Autumn is right around
the corner and there’s no better time than right now to set up your
school year. Let’s get started!
Set Up Your School Calendar
For starters, purchase or print out a school year calendar. You can
find a free comprehensive online interactive calendar at www.google.
com/calendar. Plot out the starting and endingdate of your school year.
Make sure you check with your state’s regulations regarding the number of school days that must be in your academic year. You don’t have
to follow your local school district’s calendar, but some homeschoolers
like to use the same on/off days for easy scheduling and so their kids
are out on the same days as neighborhood kids.
Schedule holidays that
you want to take off, such
as Columbus Day, and
breaks for Thanksgiving,
Christmas, and Easter.
Give your kids an unexpected thrill by giving
your schedule a change
- up and take a day off
for each child’s birthday. Depending on the
season, plan a day at a
nearby park, sledding,
or take a special trip to
explore a new restaurant
for a birthday lunch.
If grandparent’s live
far away, now is the time
to plan a visiting schedule and log it into your
calendar. Grandparents
will love the fact that you have pre-planned time off from your school
schedule and this will also allow them to buy airline tickets or make
general travel arrangements in advance.
Also, many homeschoolers set aside time in their school schedules to
plan a vacation during the typical September-May school year. Travel
costs are generally reduced and often, hotels and resorts have special
incentives for traveling during the off-season when crowds are virtually nonexistent. Take advantage! October and late February - early
March are perfect months to find a week to rent a house at the beach.
Weekly rates are a fraction of what they are in the summer and weather
is usually perfectly warm. Keep your eye out in Homeschooling Parent
throughout the year as there are many advertisers that invite homeschoolers to travel during these months with special rates.
As you plan out your calendar, another fun idea for scheduling a
‘change-up’ day is to plan a party for the halfway mark in the school
year.
Once you have your school year calendar established, print off copies
for each of your children and pass them out the first day of school. It’s
a great introduction to seeding a mindset of “getting down to business”
and your kids will appreciate seeing fun days and vacation breaks that
from Homeschooling Parent Magazine
you have planned throughout the year. Once the school year gets rolling, have your kids cross off each day so they have a sense of progress and can visually see that there is an end in sight. Around the end
of January, everyone, including you, the teacher, can get a little overwhelmed. Looking back over the days that have been completed will
give everyone a little pick-up to keep on moving.
2. Daily Schedule
Start off by planning when you want your school day to begin and end.
Where it gets a bit tricky is helping you plan out your school day. Every family has individual nuances to accommodate in daily schedules.
Therefore, here are a few general items to keep in mind while planning
a schedule:
Identify subjects for each
child.
Establish the
markers of accomplishment
that must be
met by end
of the school
year.
Write down
each subject’s
teaching and
homework
schedule on a
weekly grid so
that at the end
of the year,
learning objectives are met.
Determine how you will periodically measure if learning objectives
are being met and work that time into the schedule.
A homework log is a great tool to track completion of independent
work. This prevents a pitfall that looms over parents who have children that tend to get distracted or are simply not driven to complete
their work. You can use your computer or hand draw out a homework
log form. Think about categories such as subject, assignment, date assigned, when it is to be completed, and the date completed (where you
will also initial). Run copies and set up in a divider in your child’s work
notebook or create one homework log to be used for all your children
which is kept accessible for everyone. A homework log is a great tool
to keep kids on task and it also prevents an accumulation of days (or
weeks) of incomplete work which is not only a nasty surprise for you,
but creates undue havoc for the entire family when one child isn’t performing.
Plan your units of study and schedule field trips and other learning
venues. Get creative! Your kids will be thrilled with a periodic change
to the school day.
Make a list of titles that you want to check out from the library and
25
mark dates in your calendar to reserve books, along with title and
author. Also mark the dates to make a trip to the library for pickup. Don’t forget to use your school calendar to mark the return date
and titles so that you aren’t plagued with overdue fees throughout the
year.
If your children are enrolled in outside classes or are part of a co-op
program, mark these dates in your calendar.
Think about working house chores into the schedule before school,
during lunch, and after school. The biggest obstacle to overcome at
the beginning of the school year is getting kids into a new schedule
and you will find that if you begin day one with laying out the grid
work of what each day will look like, it’ll be so much easier to get
your kids on board. You’ll be delighted with how smoothly your days
are running within a few weeks.
If you need a system for chores, we recommend a great product
called the Practical Encouragement & Guidance System (PEGS) by
Family Tools (www.familytools.com). It’s a pegboard system that
comes with all the necessary pieces to identify tasks (and behaviors).
Instructions are provided to help you set up a system that is personalized for your family. Two products are offered, one for small families
and another for large. Prices start at $50 for the small family system.
Quite a bargain when you divvy it out over an entire school year - less
than $1.50 per week - a deal when you consider the reduction of stress
it will provide in teaching your children how to stay on task and keep
your home organized! While we’re on the subject of organization....
26
3. Organization
This is another area where every family has to come up with their
own approach to stay organized. However, what’s most important is
that you have something in place to keep books, papers, school records,
etc., in order. If you have a school room in your house where each of
your kids has a work space and a place to keep their books and such,
consider yourself extremely fortunate! However, it’s so important that
from day one, you teach your children to keep their work area neat and
tidy. In fact, a great rule to have from the get-go is that the school day
doesn’t come to a close until work is complete (of course) and the work
area is organized for the following day. And mom, that means you, too.
Homeschooling parents juggle so many tasks, it’s oftentimes a little too
easy to move from the school day to fixing dinner, attending to general
home management duties, or running out the door to chauffeur kids to
activities, without getting teacher items put back in place.
Don’t fall into the “do as I say not as I do” vacuum. You’ll find if you
discipline yourself from the beginning to stay organized, you’ll reduce
your stress level (and your family’s) exponentially.
For those of you that don’t have a school room, we suggest three
items that will provide you with tremendous assistance in staying organized.
A plastic tub, crate, or sizable basket for each of your children. This
is to be used for everything in their possession for school - textbooks,
reading books, library books, notebooks, projects they are working
on...you get the picture.
There’s
nothing
worse than sitting
down to teach a subject only to have a
child announce he
can’t find his book!
There isn’t a homeschooling family out
there that hasn’t been
plagued by a child
who is notorious for
losing books. Stop
this chaos causing
dilemma by gladly
opening your purse
strings and purchasing tubs. From day
one, let your kids
know that the school
day doesn’t come
to a close until everything , and that
means e-v-e-r-y-th-i-n-g is in the tub.
You might have to do
a little chasing on the
front end to get this
habit established, but
you will be thankful
in the long run.
If your kids are
like most, when it comes to getting the school day started, for some
reason pencils and pens suddenly scamper into hidey-holes and can’t
be located. Purchase a cheapo pencil bag for each child and mark their
name with a permanent marker on the outside. Fill it with pens and
pencils, a hand pencil sharpener, and incidentals that are needed, such
as marker, colored pencils, ruler, protractor, and calculator. If the items
have enough area for writing, personalize everything! It goes without
saying that if you have more than one child, there is always someone
who will help themselves to another’s items - and it’s usually the child
who stays organized that’s the victim. Personalizing is a super chaos
reducer!
Another item that will help you stay organized is a work notebook.
Don’t fall into the trap of buying spiral notebooks or folders for every
subject. If you are teaching five subjects, then you have simply created
five items that have to be located and put away. Your children will find
that keeping one notebook with dividers for each subject will keep your
school days in order. On the first day of school pass out notebooks (don’t
forget to personalize on the spine and front cover) along with notebook
paper and dividers. You will pay a little more for a larger notebook but
keep in mind this is a tool for the entire school year. Create a divider
for each subject and also the homework log, which should be put at the
front of the notebook so that it’s a constant reminder of what needs to
be done. You’ll find that the best way to utilize a notebook system is
to have your children place required homework in the notebook under the homework log. This way, when it’s time to go off to do indefrom Homeschooling Parent Magazine
pendent work, they
know right where to
go and they have the
log to use as a guide
for what needs to be
accomplished. This
system works best if
you create a ‘completed homework’
divider that is placed
directly behind the
homework log divider. Once your child
has completed a
homework item, it is
then moved into the
‘completed homework’ section of the
notebook ad is ready
for your review. Daily (maybe at night
after the kids are
in bed) you can review homework and
sign off on the log
for each task. After
you have reviewed
homework you move
it to the front of the
notebook. The next
school day, your
child will take completed homework and move it to the top spot under
the respective subject divider, which will keep work in chronological
order, by subject. If you have homework that requires correction or is
incomplete, write in what is the necessary task on the homework log
under a new line and place the work at the front of the notebook on
top of the homework log where other ‘to-do’ items are to be filed. Your
child will add that to his homework load the following day.
If you have a child who you’re constantly chasing to get homework
completed, check work before you dismiss for the school day. A great
way to bring the day to an end is to check notebooks and then give the
green light to close the school down for the day.
A notebook system, along with a homework log, takes discipline on
everyone’s part. However, if you are a stickler about using this system
in its entirety, you’ll find that your school days will run very smoothly.
There are so many components to teaching your children at home and
it’s not only the teaching aspect that you have to stay on top of - if
you don’t have a follow-up system in place for what’s to happen after
instruction time is over, you will be ready to pull your hair out tackling
discipline issues such as losing work or not getting work done on time.
One of the keys to successful homeschooling is how well you’re organized. When homeschooling parents are ready to throw in the towel
because they’re frustrated, lack of organization is often the root issue.
Work space, organization, and providing an environment where your
kids can concentrate and get their work done, all go hand-in-hand.
If you’re homeschooling one child, working at the kitchen table is a
27
perfect solution. However, if you are schooling more than one child,
putting several children at the same work place can be a recipe for
disaster. Two, three, four, or more children sitting around a table means
that you likely have an entertainer in your midst who will feel compelled to keep everyone in stitches. A great solution is to provide each
child with a portable laptop bean bag table. This allows you to place
children in separate rooms where they can sit comfortably with a lap
desk. These lap tables are made with a hard top surface and a bead
pillow underside for easy lap positioning. Lap tables can be found at
most large craft stores, but if you would like to save time searching the
stores, visit Levenger’s website (www.levenger.com) and search the
keywords ‘featherweight Laplander lap desk’ to locate the page with
the item. Priced at $40, this desk provides a soft neoprene cushion that
conforms to a lap and has a smooth laminated surface that cleans easily.
This particular desk is also equipped with elastic straps to keep papers
in place, has cutouts for easy carrying, and weighs just over a pound.
For an additional $24, you can also purchase a lap desk lamp which has
a clip, maneuverable neck, and rotating shade. To order a free catalog
from Lavenger, sign-up online or call (800) 667-8034. While $40 may
seem a bit steep, especially while you are shelling out so many hardearned dollars at the beginning of the school year, keep in mind that it
works out to a little over a dollar per each school week.
Purchasing curriculum is vitally important as you are planning out
your budget. However, if your children don’t have the right learning
and workspace, it’s all for naught. There are other solutions to work
space when you don’t have a classroom in your home and it goes without saying that homeschooling parents are extremely creative when it
comes to finding the right solution to fit a given budget. Particularly if
you have a large family, above all, keep in mind, while you’re planning
the school year that your children need a place to work productively.
28
4. Curriculum
After you have identified the subjects that need to be tackled this
school year, there is one very important question you have to pose to
yourself about each child, “How does this child learn?”
If you have yet to determine the answer to that question, pick up
‘Discover Your Child’s Learning Style’ (Prima Publishing, 1999). This
book will show you how to assess and nurture your child’s individual
learning potential based on his or her talents, interest, disposition, preferred environment, and more. You will find a step-by-step program of
self-awareness tests that guide you to a better understanding of your
child’s unique strengths and weaknesses, goals, and interests.
Does your child prefer verbal instructions over a written list? If
you know how children think and learn, you can really begin to help
your child succeed in school and life. Another title that will help you
solve the learning style question is “Talkers, Watchers, Doers: Unlocking Your Child’s Unique Learning Style’ (Pinon Press, 2004). Author
Cheri Fuller helps you decipher targeted teaching techniques that will
be most effective for your child. You will find tools to help you create a
tailor-made learning environment for each of your children, equipping
them with specialized study skills for their unique personalities. Cheri
also shows you how your own learning style can affect your child’s
education and success.
Once you have determined your child’s learning style, it’s time to
identify what curriculum you will use for each subject. There are so
many learning products on the market, you have more choices than you
can imagine! Here are some questions you need to ask yourself before
you make purchases:
What learning objectives does my state require for each subject I am
teaching this year?
Do I want to directly deliver the material myself or utilize a long
distance learning program?
Do I want a boxed curriculum where the textbook, scope and sequence, seat work, quizzes, and tests are provided?
Do I want to have a free learning environment? For more information, visit:
www.unschooling.com
www.naturalchild.com
www.unschooling.org
Do I want my children to use computer driven curriculum?
Do I want to use unit studies for some or all of my subjects?
Do I want a comprehensive curriculum that uses a root such as history to teach all subjects? Note: Usually you will need to supplement
math from another source.
Do I want to enroll my children in local outside classes for homeschoolers (if available)?
6. Getting Started On The Good Foot
The beginning of a school year is such an exciting time! New learning
material, fun activities, field trips - it’s all part of the homeschooling
experience that draws us to keep our children at home year after year.
The summer weeks that you spend planning your school year will make
all the difference in how your kids view school, keeping the chaos level
at a minimum through organizational pre-planning, and generally, fueling up for the long stretch. If you haven’t started planning the school
year yet, today is the day. Buzz out to your local office supply store (or
hop online) and find the right calendar that you can embrace and use
from now until the end of the school year. Make sure you have enough
writing space!
Scheduling the year is a perfect place to start to get this project off the
launch pad. From there, your creative juices will be flowing and you’ll
be off and running.
Do I want to join a homeschooling co-op where parents share the
teaching load?
Once you have determined what teaching tools you will use, stick
with your initial purchase and plan. One of the biggest traps, for new
homeschoolers in particular, is to second-guess choices some time during the early part of the school year. Unless you absolutely detest the
material, don’t bail ship. More times than not, it simply takes finding
the right rhythm of delivery to embrace a new curriculum. If you take
the time to do your research on the front end, and this should include
asking other parents for recommendations, you will be in good shape
once the school year rolls out. We have great teaching tools and learning products advertised within the pages of the magazine. While we
want you to read the articles, it would be beneficial to start at the beginning of each magazine and comb through the advertisements. In fact,
during this school year, when you find an advertising product or service
that catches your attention, jot it down in your school calendar or cut it
out and tape it to the inside cover for easy reference as you begin next
year’s research and purchasing.
5. Outside Activities
Most homeschoolers are involved in a wide array of outside activities - from music lessons, to sports programs, theater -- you name it,
homeschooled kids are involved and on the move! Just a word of caution as you are planning out your school year: make sure you aren’t
spending a chunk of your day running from one activity to another and
shortchanging yourself (and your child) on school time. Everything in
moderation! Make sure you’re leaving enough time for your child to
get homework done in a quiet learning space and not from the back
seat of the car or in the waiting room for dance lessons. Too many
homeschooling families get sucked into schooling on the run. Be smart
about balancing schedules and not causing your children undue hardship by asking them to academically perform within the constraints of
unbearable schedules that seed too many distraction to let information
properly digest.
Used by permission from The Homeschooling Parent, volume 7: issue 2. For subscription information on the The Homeschooling Parent magazine, go to www.homeschoolingparent.com. Write to PO
Box 628 • Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Call (765)361-0360
29
N e w s & Announcements
2 0 0 7 F i e l d Trips & Events
MUSICAL
Discovery Science Center
September 27, 2007
Nashville Adventure Science Center
offers themed programming that gives
your home school lots of educational
experiences all in one day!
Family Christian Academy will be taking
a field trip on September 27th. Look
for more detailed information on our
website in August! Cost $15 plus lunch.
&
Camping & Canoeing
GOD’S TREEHOUSE
From the movie and the Kipling novel, this
stirring musical tells of a spoiled wealthy
boy who falls from his father’s yacht. He
is rescued by a Portuguese fisherman
and learns lessons for living from weeks
of working with the rough, hardworking
crew. Cost $18 plus lunch.
Cumberland County Playhouse
presents...
AND
Visit the
TENNESSEAN
NEWSPAPER
Where Science Is An Adventure
Isr ael
Picture
Day
April 17 - May 1
at FCA
October 5th
10:30 am
October 17
Fort Nashboro
Music Hall of Fame
Take a tour of the reconstructed Fort
Nashboro located in downtown Nashville.
High on limestone bluffs along the river,
a crude log fort, originally built in 1779
to protect and shelter early settlers,
overlooks Nashville. This painstaking
re-creation, built in 1962, serves as a
monument to courageous city founders.
In five log cabins, costumed interpreters evoke the indomitable spirit of the
American age of settlement.
Cost $18 plus lunch.
November 29, 2007
Get your student’s school pictures made at
FCA! Photo package includes: 1 - 8X10, 2
- 5X7, 8 - wallets, and personalized bookmarks and keepsakes. Complete package
for $40, or customize your package. Pictures will be used in the school year book.
A great outdoor trip for the whole family.
Students will explore the Buffalo River in
a canoe, spend the night in a tent, have a
campfire, and then come home tired.
Cost $42
October 19-20
December 14, 2007
Don’t miss the “Quest for Knowledge”
at the best laser tag place in town,
Laser Quest in Nashville. Students will
be placed on teams and then let loose
to shoot lasers at their opponents. This
electronic, interactive game and a maze
for an obstacle course will be an exciting
day for your student!
Look for complete details on our web site
Cost: $28
Laser Tag
YEARBOOK DEADLINE: If you would like
to be in the FCA yearbook, please submit
your school picture and yearbook money
by January 7, 2008 to FCA Yearbook,
487 Myatt Drive, Madison, TN 37115.
30
News/Announcements
N e w s & Announcements
2007 Seminar Schedule/ Announcements
2007 Seminar Schedule
Hosted by Chris Davis
$20 per person, $15 per family
Teaching the Different Subjects
Date: Sept. 11, 2007
Chris discusses how to teach reading, language arts, penmanship, history, science,
math and creative writing.
ISRAEL
TRIP
There is a Bigger Picture
Oct. 9, 2007
Chris discusses what should (and should
not) be included in homeschooling our
children. What is a “Scope & Sequence”?
What are “bottom line” skills? What
should we do with young children? How
do we “create a context”? What is “academics”? What are the four relationships
has God given each of us?
The “Dream Poster”
Nov. 13, 2007
Bring the children and let’s all make a
Dream Poster and discuss how we use our
children’s dreams to create their futures.
Turning the Hearts of the Fathers
Dec. 11, 2007
A seminar for Dads discusses how we
have moved away from the model of
fatherhood and raising children. What
does it mean to grow up without Dad?
How do fathers identify the next generation? Why is homeschooling so difficult for
mothers?
All FCA Seminars are held at
487 Myatt Drive
Madison, TN 37115
To reserve seating, please call
(615) 860-3000 ext. 206.
News/Announcements
July 13th - July 29th
Join other home educating families next summer, as your students earn a
complete credit in “Archeology & Middle Eastern Studies.”
Visit www.homeschooltravel.com for itinerary and cost.
NOT JUST A TOUR BUT THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!
COACHES AND
PLAYERS WANTED
for Basketball, Football, Cheerleading, Golf, and Baseball. If you are interested in
participating in FCA’s athletics program, please contact us at (615) 860-3000 ext. 205.
31
The FCA
has a
Bookstore
New Look
IN STORE COUPON
25% Off
any one item
one coupon per family
expires: Dec. 15, 2007
487 MYATT DRIVE
MADISON, TN 37115
(615) 860-3000
Prsrt Std
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #31
Goodlettsville, TN 37072
w w w . f a m i l y c h r i s t i a n a c a d e m y . c o m

Here - Family Christian Academy

Transcription

Similar documents

Help the Silly Bus kids get to school!

LASHMASTER® - Flashmaster

Untitled - Sarah Mae

Daycroft Online Learning Community

The Link v8i6.indd - The Link Homeschool Magazine

Drop off the kids...JUST FUN! GUESS WHO? Your Host Beetlejuice

Read - Outset Media

Click - Association of Peoria Area Christian Home Educators

Motivate Unmotivated Kids - Nysmith School for the Gifted

School`s Out for