Back to Homeschool

All across America, whether you have school age children or not, this time of year is often thought of as “back to school.” We had the recent sales tax holiday where many school supplies were tax free for a weekend. We’ve all been inundated with “back to school” ads from various retailers, and most of us are once again seeing the yellow school buses in and around our neighborhoods.

Most homeschools also experience a “back to school” transition this time of year. Even those that homeschool year round often take a shortened summer break or go with a lighter schedule during the summer. Sometimes the transition back to spending more time every day doing school work can be difficult for the whole family. Here are some things you can do to help make that transition smooth and peaceful.

Start your school year in the middle of the week. By starting your school year off later in the week (let’s say Wednesday), you will only have three days of school before the weekend is here and you have a break again. You can make it an even lighter transition, by starting your school year the Wednesday before Labor Day, taking the weekend and Labor Day off, and then you will only have four days of school your second week of school. Even if you don’t start the week before Labor Day, you can still take the next Monday off.

Regardless of when you start cracking the books open again, you most likely will find that there are some supplies that you forgot to purchase. The fast approaching three-day weekend will give you a chance to go out and purchase those supplies that you find you need.

Make your first day of school a day of fun. Instead of cracking the books open right away, take some time to play some educational games. If you use binders or notebooks, let your children make covers for them. Take pictures and record some vital statistics such as your children’s height and weight. Have your children fill out an annual survey asking about all their favorite things. Do very little bookwork on this day. Let your children review and get excited about the materials you plan to use this coming year.

Also remember that you do not have to start all subjects on day one. Another way to transition into the school year is to start with a few subjects and then add a subject or two each week. This method can help the whole family transition back into a regular routine.

Regardless of how your school operates, remember that it’s your school and it is up to you to customize it to fit your family. If something isn’t working (and you will have something that doesn’t), change it or get rid of it. There is nothing that says that you must educate your children Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Education can happen any time of the day and any day of the week, so take advantage of it and do what best fits your children and your family.

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“A Baby can Handle as many as 10,000 Vaccines”

Dr. Offit has gone on record stating that he believes a baby can handle as many as 10,000 vaccines during infancy.

Really?  Why can’t we just admit that we’re all different?  Why can’t we just admit that what’s good for one person might not be good for another?

At one time the MMR vaccine contained enough egg protein that children allergic to eggs were advised not to get the vaccine.  So, no, those children could not handle 10,000 vaccines during infancy if one of those was the MMR vaccine.

It appears that the MMR no longer contains enough egg protein to be a problem to those allergic to eggs but the flu vaccine does.  Beware!

via Children Taken Away from Christian Parents to Receive Forced Vaccinations.

From the Mouth of Cinderella

“I don’t like funerals.  They’re too deadly for me.”

 

Cinderella Was Here

Numbers 32:23b:  and be sure your sin will find you out.

On Top of the World

You can’t help but love the creativity of a young mind.

Another Reason to #Homeschool: The Love of Learning

(Photo credit: Luca Barcellona – Calligraphy & Lettering Arts)

In general, home educators try to give their children a well-rounded education.  This can be done by teaching various subjects, going on various field trips, etc.  At the top of our list, is reading.  If a person can read, they can learn anything.  Underneath it all, I want my kids to love learning and have the desire to continue to learn throughout their lifetime. Without the love of learning, there will be no desire to do so. Without the desire to learn, one will never become a mature christian.

Unfortunately, our government schools don’t always foster this love for learning. Some of the local schools here have begun requiring homework for kindergartners. I can’t help but wonder what they do in class all day if they are now sending homework home. Those that appear to be bright are encouraged to go through testing to determine whether or not they qualify for the “gifted” program. The kids and parents are put under a lot of pressure by the school officials and told that this is a big deal. If the child misses qualifying by a few points, they are pressured to take the test again.

This is done all at the age of 5 or 6, and for many it is their first experience in a school environment. Why would any of these kids want to go back to school? Why would any of them have a positive impression of learning?

Thankfully with home education this can all be avoided. Children can be encouraged to learn at their own pace. Each student can have their own specialized program tailored just for them and not worry about being in special ed, the gifted program, or anything else. They are accepted as the beautiful individual God created them to be, while being stretched and pushed a little by their teacher who knows them better than anyone else in the world. They can actually enjoy learning and develop a desire to learn throughout their lifetime. With that, the possibilities are endless.

“I Don’t Talk in Front of a Group”

That was the response I got when I asked someone to share what they had learned at a recent conference with our small group.

First I was shocked that a grown woman (approaching 40 by my guess) would still be terrified to speak in front of a group.  Actually, I wasn’t even asking her to speak in front of a group.  This was a very casual, sit around a circle meeting where we would go over our notes and share what we learned at a recent homeschool conference.

My next response was sadness for this woman.  Sadness that she does not have the confidence to speak before people.  Sadness that she doesn’t think that any knowledge she has is worthy enough or important enough to share with her fellow homeschoolers.  Sadness that she can’t find the courage to do something she is uncomfortable with in hopes of helping someone else.

My last response was sadness for this woman’s children.  Sadness that they will never see the example or feel the pride in seeing their mother speak before a group.  Sadness that they will probably never be encouraged or even pushed to speak in front of people.  Sadness that these boys will probably do they same and when asked say, “I don’t speak in front of a group.”

This is the very reason I encourage parents, especially homeschool parents, to put their kids in activities such as spelling bees.  Spelling bees, geography bees, Bible quizzing, etc., all have a much bigger lesson than the topic at hand.  Your children can learn study skills as they study for the big day.  They will learn sportsmanship as they learn to be a good loser and to congratulate the winner.  If they are fortunate enough to be a winner, they will learn to accept their award and not be boastful.  They will also learn, gradually, to speak in front of people.

Speaking in front of a group can be terrifying for someone who is inexperienced.  However, as a homeschool parent you can begin with baby steps by giving your children little experiences that will put them in front of a small group of people.  As an adult, your child might have something important to tell the masses.  You can start preparing him now to have the courage to do so.

Related articles

• Local homeschooler wins state Geographic Bee (bismarcktribune.com)

8 Year Old Removed from School Because She Looks Like a Boy

The grandparents and adoptive parents of an 8-year-old little girl have been told that she can no longer attend the Christian school she goes to unless she meets some conditions.

Did she bring a gun to school or make reference to a gun?  No.  Did she do anything violent or bully other children?  No.  Did she bring drugs or a knife to school?  No.

Sunnie’s parents were told that she looks like a boy and that some students have been confused over whether she is a boy or a girl.  (A simple solution to this problem would be for the confused students to be told that Sunnie is a girl.)  Sunnie’s parents were told that unless her boyish appearance changed, that she could no longer attend this school–all in the name of God, of course.

Doris and Carroll Thompson are Sunnie’s grandparents.

They adopted and raised the little girl and took her out of Timberlake Christian School when they received the letter from the K-8 principal.

“You’re probably aware that Timberlake Christian School is a religious, Bible-believing institution providing education in a distinctly Christian environment,” the letter stated.

It goes on to say that students have been confused about whether Sunnie is a boy or a girl. It specifies that administrators can refuse enrollment for condoning sexual immorality, practicing a homosexual lifestyle or alternative gender identity. It even referenced specific Bible verses that affirm these beliefs.

“We believe that unless Sunnie as well as her family clearly understand that God has made her female, and her dress and behavior need to follow suit with her God-ordained identity, that TCS is not the best place for her future education,” the letter goes on.

The Thompsons said they have no desire to re-enroll Sunnie in the school.

via Grandparents take girl from school after objections to clothes – KCTV5.

Clearly, the idea of rigid, zero tolerance has entered the Christian schools. I can’t imagine how this must make this little girl feel and how this might permanently effect her feelings for God and Christianity.

I was a tomboy myself. I don’t remember ever being told that I looked like a boy, but at some times I had long hair and at others time short hair depending on what was the popular style. Anyone remember the Dorothy Hamill?

My number one playmate until 5th grade was the boy next door. I had Tonto, the Lone Ranger, Silver, and Scout. He had GI Joe and a Hot Wheels racetrack. If it was warm enough, we were outside. And my belief as a young child was that if he didn’t have to wear a shirt neither did I.

None of us were scarred. None of us turned out weird. None of us ended up with gender identity confusion. At the young age of eight and below, gender and anything to do with sex was the last thing on our mind. It wasn’t important. It didn’t matter. We just wanted to be kids, and the adults in our lives were happy to let us do just that.

Skeptics add to food allergy burden for parents

No one wants to compromise a child’s health. But some parents of kids with allergies say they’re challenged by people who don’t understand that even trace amounts of a food can trigger a potentially fatal allergic reaction, or anaphylaxis.

via Skeptics add to food allergy burden for parents – Lifestyle – The Boston Globe.

Allergies, especially food allergies, can be a serious matter.  Food allergies are on the rise, and the reaction some experience, especially children, can be severe or even fatal.

I have found that some people just don’t get it.  Try as they may, they do not understand the seriousness of the reaction.  Perhaps they don’t understand how something that is good and nourishing for their body can be deadly and poisonous to someone else.

I also once heard a lady telling a small group of people that what her children had (Celiac disease) was a food allergy.  This concerned me enough that I called her out on it.  Her response was that no one knew or understood Celiac disease, so she told people that her kids had a food allergy since allergies are more common.  I tried to explain to the group that this was very damaging to children that do have true food allergies since for some children a minute amount of allergen could mean death if not treated.

I once had someone ask me about my daughter’s peanut allergy, “It’s not serious is it?”  I asked what she meant be serious. “Well, it’s not fatal or anything?”  I let her know that it could be.  I was glad to have this conversation with this person.  At least now I know to never leave my daughter in her care.

As a parent of a small child with a severe food allergy, leaving my daughter with others is probably my biggest fear.  All children eventually have to learn about their allergy and make sure that the ingredients are checked for everything they consume.  Until then, this is up to the caregivers.  This is old hat in my entire family since I have a younger sister that also had food allergies.  We are quite the spectacle at holiday dinners and special gatherings–swooping in to check the ingredients of all the dishes like a hawk swooping in to capture its prey.  However, I know that most people don’t understand and aren’t as vigilant as we are.

After having allergy shots myself for five years as a child, needles and shots don’t bother me a bit.  I proved that last summer when I had to inject my daughter with her epi-pen and then take her to the emergency room.

As a parent, I must be prepared to check all food ingredients, say no to a lot of things, carry a bag of peanut-free snacks wherever we go, make sure my daughter has medication with her at all times, and handle an emergency situation if need be.  It is also my responsibility to make sure that anyone else taking care of my child can do the same until she is able to do that herself.  It is a big responsibility, and unfortunately there are a lot of people that are not able to take it on.

Related articles

• My kids’ allergies have turned me into a bag lady (theglobeandmail.com)

Planned Parenthood President: Life Begins at Delivery

Planned Parenthood President: Life Begins at Delivery

Jeremiah 1:5 begins, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, . . .”

All of our days are ordained long before we are even born.  From Psalm 139:

“13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.”

As humans can we discern, decide, or even comprehend when life truly begins?  Clearly, God recognizes us and knows us before we were even formed–formed by Him.  Who are we to determine when life begins?  Clearly, we cannot delineate a precise point in time which life begins or in which God recognizes our life.  However, the prideful, all-knowing humanist thinks he can determine these things.  The goal is to keep pushing the date back.  The whole idea is to make life meaningless and of no value.  That will pave the path to all kinds of ideologies such as abortion at any stage during and after pregnancy, euthanasia, etc.