Friday, May 13, 2011

Homeschooler Meets Debbie Downer...

Homeschooler Meets Debbie Downer...

Recently, I was in a heated debate over the issue of State Registration.  I was accused of being overly defensive.  I pondered that and realised I was being overly defensive.  In an attempt to explain why I was overly defensive, I ended up making this video.  It is a good example of what I encounter quite often when talking to people, most of the time it is with complete strangers.  I am sure most homeschoolers can totally relate to the conversation in this video...enjoy!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Twisting Tornadoes

  ®One week of hands-on learning adventures for kids from K – 4th grade.

Spring is such a wonderful season, is it not?  Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, the drab, gray, cold, stark, bitterness of winter melts away to bluer skies, warmer days, green grass, and the promise of newness and longer funfilled days.  Ah, but then there is that looming green sky and the "W" on the screen of our T.V.'s that remind us to take the good with the bad.
                                     T O R N A D O E S !!!

We all cringe at the word, many of us spelling it out for young prereader ears to not hear and panic.  Memories of a youth spent terrified of the beast flood our mind.  Children are fascinated with the awesome force.  Why not learn about them in a fun, safe, lapbook study?Twisting Tornadoes lapbook—building wonderful memories that can be shared for years to come. 

In this study, your child will investigate how tornadoes form, where they typically form, how they work, and how to watch for the signs of tornado weather, as well as what to do in an emergency and how to stay safe. Each day he will explore and investigate, creating and adding more learning components to his lapbook.

If you have never done lapbook studies before, you are in for a real treat!  These are so much fun, and your child will think he is on a break!


Click here to view more details

Download N Go™ Series
By Amanda Bennett and The Old Schoolhouse

Friday, April 22, 2011

Homeschool Conferences and Other Wonders of the World

Yes, I feel like I am in blogger confession right now, (or at least what I imagine it's like) It has been October since my last blogfession!  I admit, I am great at NOT practicing what I preach! 

So, it happens, I got busy with schooling, holidays, depression (mild) lots of illness (nothing major)  It is soooo hard to get back into the swing of things, when you have taken such a long break.  We are "behind."  Behind OUR schedule,  at least.  I am rerouting our course to include schooling this summer, and I think from now on we will just break from Dec- Feb.  We seem to do that anyway, as it is.  No biggee, we have that luxury.

I had the great privilege to go to a Homeschool Convention this year!  WOW!  I really needed that!  What a great booster!  Plus I got next years curriculum there, and that has NEVER happened in all our years of homeschooling.  We are usually scrambling at the last minute to get our books in the fall.



I was able to go with my wonderful husband for both Friday and Saturday; a weekend getaway!
It was fantastic!  I took some awesome workshops, absolutely LOVED the keynote speaker sessions with Norm Wakefield and John Stonestreet, and thoroughly enjoyed shopping the vendor's booths.  I feel renewed and refreshed and ready to get on with it.  So, here is what I learned at the conference in top 10 form



10.)   I absolutely MUST keep in mind that I am training up children to someday be Heirs of the Kingdom.

9.)  No one else is going to give my children a proper Biblical Worldview.

8.)  A proper Biblical Worldview is VERY IMPORTANT.

7.)  As diverse as us homeschoolers are, we are all very odd nonconformists, and I am happy to be one.

6.)  I am wild and crazy in love with my husband.

5.)  Never again let years and years pass until the next convention/weekend getaway.

4.)  Never ever again question whether or not to go to any workshop if the speaker is Jeannie Bauer.

3.)  Pray more diligently for my children. 

2.)  Do not be so overly critical that when the children are grown, they have any reason to say, "Nothing we ever did was good enough for you."

1.)  But I think the best part about being away for the weekend was this, I was able to brush my teeth, go to the bathroom, and put on my make-up with out having to to swat at little hands, tell little people to, "Give me just one minute, PLEASE!" or settle a squabble with toothpaste dripping from my mouth!  Someday, I will miss all that, I know.  It sure was nice to NOT miss it for a couple of days, though, let me just tell you!

I really gleaned a lot of great information, and I advise anyone, especially newbies, to go to a convention even if it's just for the day.  It can really work wonders on your MEPS! (mentally, emotionally, physically,& spiritually)  I hope to post a little more regularly again.  Please let me know what you think of the new blog look!