And that is what we have going on in our family right now.

We have done the cookie bake, we have set up the tree, we have sought out those special giving and ministry opportunities, and we are winding up the various Christmas productions next week.

But we have not even tackled the Christmas shopping yet.  Imagine how wound up these kids are going to be after they purchase their gifts for one another? ARGH!

For them, there is something magical about this season.  And it is magical even though we haven’t focused on buying gifts for one another yet.  Perhaps it is because we often discuss Christ’s birth and the real reason behind this season.  I’d like to say they are just so on fire for the Lord that they are excited about what He did for us.  But I think despite the fact that they are excited about Christ our discussions about the Wonder of Christmas keep them focused on the upcoming special day and that has them wound up as they think about the gifts, the food and the family.

But I look forward to piling on the couch, reading the Christmas story and hearing from them what Christ has meant to them this year.

If you have any suggestions on how to tone down the energy level, PLEASE comment. I am not sure my floors can take any more!

Technorati Tags: Christmas, December homeschool ideas, Homeschooling in December

And many of them do.  Why?  Because the JOYS of homeschooling  always outweigh the “joys”.

Check out this article on the 10 JOYS of Homeschooling.

At the end of the day, you know that what you are doing has changed your life and the lives of your children.  Remember that during those rough days and/or weeks and . . .

Keep on keeping on!

Technorati Tags: Homeschool Encouragment, homeschool reasons, Joys of Homeschooling, Reasons for homeschooling

Did you know that nearly one million members of our military are parents?

This means that there are at least one million children in our country who face the uncertainty that comes with having a mom or dad away at war.  And there are countless men and women in our country today who face the challenges of single parenting combined with the worry of whether their loved one will make it home from active duty.

Combine that with those who find themselves transferred often and moving from place to place and it is clear that our military families are constantly sacrificing for our country.  Time, certainty, watching their children grow and learn, the arms of their husband or wife . . . these are just a few of the many things they sacrifice on a daily basis.

And during this holiday season I imagine the miles between them must seem impossible.

Many of these military families choose to homeschool their children.  For some, it is an opportunity to provide stability; for others it is a necessary reality; for still others it is a way to keep their family together.  But for all, homeschooling is a commitment that is both rewarding and tough.

This year, please consider supporting a military family with your love, your friendship, your time, and your heart. Their commitment to our freedom requires huge sacrifice.  Sacrifice that none of us who are not members of the military can possibly understand.  But we can thank them and we can demonstrate Christ’s love to them.

So please find ways to thank them during this holiday season.  A card, a care package, a night out for those left behind, friendships for the children, support, help with homeschooling, repairs around the house . . . imagine the encouragement your little acts of kindness will bring to our families who give so much.

If you are a Bridgeway Academy family and would like to reach out to one of our homeschooling families in the military, please contact us. We would love to help you support them.

Learn more about Bridgeway Academy’s homeschool scholarships for military families.

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Do you sometimes feel that there are just not enough hours in the day?  Do you roll out of bed at the crack of dawn, fall back into bed long after the entire neighborhood has gone off to sleep and still feel like you need a few more hours to get everything accomplished that you set out to do? Read More. 

I remember when my 3 children were all under 8 years old. I felt as if I really could use a few more hands and another set of eyes. The house was always screaming that it needed to be cleaned or at the very least, straightened up. The dishes would pile up so high in the course of a day that the dishwasher wouldn’t hold them and I’m not going to burden you with the woes of my laundry situation. I have not even mentioned that there were meals to prepare, school to accomplish and sometimes I just wanted to check my email!

I had friends who were so thrilled that I was now an “at home”  mom that they would call me “just to chat” in the middle of the school day!  I was so starved for adult conversation that I would leap over the toys, the dog  and the children in order to grab the phone. This would be some kind of covert signal to the children to leave their school work and  run rampant through the house. I think you can guess all the different scenarios that occurred after that!

Daily Chores:
I want to encourage you in this season of busyness. Take a  little time over this  weekend and get away somewhere quiet with scheduler, or daily planner or big block calendar, a note book and a pencil.   Then:

1. Write down all the “at home” things you think must get done in one day.
2. Now, number them in order of importance to you.
3. Try to schedule  “10 minute tidy times” twice or three times each day in which everyone helps to straighten up and put things in order  before you all transition to a different activity.

Keeping Up with that Ever Looming Laundry:
Vow to do only 1 load of laundry either before breakfast or before bed – Toss it in the washer before you go to bed and ask your husband to turn it on before he leaves in the morning. It will be ready for the dryer when you are finished with your shower. Toss it in the dryer and forget about it till the kids are in bed.

Make Lunch Easy:
Use paper plates for lunch during the week, or have your children help pack their own lunch in brown bags each evening after dinner. Pop it in the fridge and when it is lunch time  just have them grab it and go. This is a huge time saver.

Special Days:
Pick only one afternoon  during the week to schedule those dentist and check up appointments and stick to it. Make that the day that you plan to clean up the house. This is a good day for the children to work on art, read on their own,  or work  with their enrichments kits.

Make Sure You Get a Break:
If you have close friends or grandparents nearby, pack the kids up with a back pack full of educational fun or send them off for a few hours one afternoon a week. You can clean (take a nap) or catch up with a friend and they can get a change of scenery.

The joy of homeschooling your children is that they learn not only from books but from experiencing day to day life with Mom and Dad.

Take a few minutes to make  memories with your children today.

The laundry will be there tomorrow!

Technorati Tags: homeschool frazzle, homeschool help, homeschool moms, homeschoolers survival guide, homeschooling help, homeschooling moms, How to do it all

These words of wisdom were delivered to my daughters’ soccer team by their soccer coach this weekend just before they headed out on the field to their championship game.

This was his motto all season.  Work hard–reap the rewards.  And they did.  They ran for miles; they did uphill suicides; and they practiced four days a week.  This was a team of varying skill.  Some had been playing for years; others took up soccer for the first time this year; and still others were building skills that they began developing during the season last year.  But all of them were held to the same standard–work hard.

And his training paid off.  Our team finished the season as season champs.  Undefeated all year, they celebrated their championship win on Saturday with elation.

Matched against the second place team for the final game in the championships, they were facing an all boys team full of talented athletes.  It could be said that man to man both teams had an equal amount of talent.

But what set our team apart was a season of hard work.  A season of building endurance; a season of learning to work together; and a season inspired by a coach so loved by his team that they were willing to do what it took to meet his expectations.

This is what made them champions.

You know, this same motto should be applied to everything we do.  As we work with our children, we seek to help them become successful adults.  And that means learning to work hard now–especially when the going gets tough.

They will have struggles; they will have days when things just don’t click; and they will have those moments when nothing comes easily. But if we develop in them a willingness to work hard–they will succeed. If we teach them that they can do it, they can.  If we encourage them that even those subjects that they find difficult can be mastered if they choose to work hard and stick with it, they will do it.  And if we work hard when the going gets tough and take the time to adjust to their needs, we too will succeed.

Because in the end, hard work beats talent!

Technorati Tags: hard work in homeschooling, homeschool and talent, homeschooling work

I hear that question so many times.  Many times it comes from a parent considering homeschooling who has had to field that question over and over again; other times it comes from those who just don’t understand homeschooling at all. Read More

But ask any homeschooler and they will tell you the same thing: it is a misnomer to think that your child will not get the socialization he or she needs just because you are homeschooling.

In fact the opposite is true.  In homeschooling, your child will receive a stronger and much better socialization experience than their peers in school.  Why?  Because in homeschooling, “socialization” does not mean spending your day with a room full of kids the same age.  Instead, it means “socializing” with people of all ages and stages in life.  This is real life.  Where in life other than school do you ever spend all of your time with peers of the exact same age?   And how is that training a student for success?

When you homeschool your child you will likely get involved in a homeschool support group, a community club or activity, local classes. . . these will become part of your day.  And when they do, your child will begin to socialize with individuals of all ages.

That socialization will mean that your child will learn from those who are older, will be a leader to those who are younger and will have the opportunity to socialize in a much more realistic environment.

If you seek ministry and community service opportunities, your child will begin to work with adults as well as students of all ages.  If you get him or her involved with a local drama group, church, music school, etc., you will see many opportunities for “homeschool socialization.”  And you will begin to see your child mature as he or she takes on leadership roles and develops his or her talents and abilities.

Why “the homeschool way” for socialization is better

Did you know that college admissions officers say that homeschoolers are much more prepared to interact with adults and professors at an intelligent level than those coming from public and private schools?

Why? Because homeschoolers are interacting with individuals of all ages all the time!  Therefore it is nothing new when they move on to the responsibilities of college or university.  In addition, many have been leaders and mentors to those who are younger for so long that their leadership skills are already well developed.

And this kind of real socialization is making them more successful.  In fact, many business owners are actively seeking homeschoolers to help them succeed..

Chick-Fil-A is a prime example.  Did you know that this restaurant chain makes a concerted effort to hire high school and college aged homeschoolers?   Andy Lorenzen, who is in charge of recruiting front line workers for the chain of restaurants  says that his success depends on the quality of his hires.  That is why prefers to tap into homeschoolers.   “They’re smart, ambitious and very driven,” Lorenzen says of his homeschooled employees. “They have a high level of loyalty to the business, are diligent and have a good work ethic.”

Homeschoolers are also finding their niche in college and the workplace, in internships and entry-level professional jobs.  They also often become entrepreneurs.

Statistics verify that homeschoolers are far more prepared academically—in fact they score 25% higher on standardized tests than those who attend school.  But their success is in more than just academics—their unique socialization opportunities are making them successful beyond academics.

Bottom line–homeschool socialization is a non-issue–don’t let it become one for you

Technorati Tags: getting homeschoolers involved, Homeschool socialization, homeschool success

By giving them a sense of value in who they are and what they can do, you are building their confidence and helping them to grow as individuals.  From there, keeping them interested in their studies improves because it becomes a means to an end–to taking their skill or passion or ministry further.

Another great strategy is to have your teen determine what she will complete each day.  By setting her own goals and working to achieve them, she gains ownership over what she is doing (not to mention she is learning goal setting and time management skills).  This alone can be motivational to the right kids.

Sometimes a lack of interest can also be due to a sense of overwhelming.  If he is struggling in a particular subject, he may respond with a seemingly “I don’t care” attitude.  It can be very discouraging to find that every day is a struggle to succeed.  (Imagine if we were in those shoes with our jobs?)  Does he need a review of concepts before tackling his current subject?  Are there core concepts that he has missed that would make all of the difference in the world?

Or, if he is studying something that does not interest him at all, it might be good to reassess.  Is it a course that he really needs this year or could it be put off to next?  Obviously, there are some courses that he will just need to buckle down and take; but others may be able to wait.

I always find that using enrichments can also generate interest.  Many kids now love YouTube.  Can you have her create little YouTube lessons for what she is learning?  Imagine the amount of research, writing and public speaking skills she would need for such a project!

Ask her what you can do to make her homeschooling more interesting.  Does she like cooking, photography, sports, music, art?  Try to find her passions and let her find a way to build them into what she is doing.  If cooking, have her research and make a recipe from the country or time period she is studying in history; if music, have her compile a CD of songs that represent a period in history or literature . . . the possibilities are endless and she is probably the best one to come up with them.

And of course, don’t forget the power of friends.  Having a buddy to work with or hang out with when the studying is done can be a huge motivator!

Hope this helps.  And remember, homeschooling will have its ups and downs so enjoy the ups and hang in there through the downs. In the end, you cannot help but call it an adventure!

Technorati Tags: homeschool motivation, homeschool tips and ideas, how to make homeschooling fun, keeping kids interested in homeschooling

I have a few favorites that depend on what you are looking for!

If you are looking for a focused study of just one topic:

Apologia is wonderful, especially if you want to teach several different levels the same thing AND if you love hands on projects. You focus on one specific subject for the year and your kids get to dig in deep.  Each text requires students to keep a science notebook for the year where they record their findings, answer questions, do experiments and place diagrams.  There are also a number of web links that you can access to make the learning even more in depth.

Choose between a study of Astronomy, Botany (wouldn’t use this one for really early grade levels), and Zoology I (Flying Creatures), II (Swimming Creatures), or III (Land Animals).  All are written from a creation perspective and are a great way to engage your student in a full year study of something they are passionate about.   Apologia receives rave reviews from many homeschoolers. Purchase it here. www.curriculumexpress.com

Pearson Science Explorer is a public school science curriculum that also provides different texts for different focused topics.  Written for middle school, this program could be used down to about the fourth grade level if you choose your titles right.

Each text includes hands on activities and chapter projects as well as a number of web links for more on each subject.

Topics include Animals, Astronomy, Water, Weather, Technology, Botany and a bunch more.

The only homeschool curriculum seller I know of who carries this product is Curriculum Express.

If you are looking for more of a general science, where you cover a bit of physical science, life science and earth science all in one year, then there are different options:

For a colorful program that just provides the key information with lots of experiments to make the learning come alive, check out Singapore Science.

This one is broken down into five units for the year, each covering a different area of science and is awesome for the visual student.

Titles each year include Interactions, Systems, Cycles, Diversity and Energy.

You can view a description and sample pages here http://www.singaporemath.com/MPH_Science_s/66.htm by clicking on a title.

Order it for a discount here www.curriculumexpress.com.

This is not a Bible-based Science course.

For a Christian based program that takes the scientific principles you are learning and applies them to the Bible and Christian living, check out ACE Science.

This one is written from the perspective of a teacher and student interacting, includes a few experiments and is filled with Biblical application.

Students receive 12 workbooks for the year–in each they learn a specific character trait and a memory verse. I do not know of any site where you can see the program, but you can purchase this program here www.curriculumexpress.com.

Hope this helps!

Technorati Tags: ACE Science curriculum, Apologia homeschool science, homeschool science curriculum, pearson science explorer, Singapore Science homeschool curriculum

We have fought this battle with one of our kids who just hates to take the time to read the instructions first.  Instead, she will set out to do the work that she thinks they want.  In fact, there are many occasions where she doesn’t even review the sample problems.  Before she knows it she has completed an entire assignment incorrectly or she hits a problem that she cannot do and we discover that once again she forgot to read the instructions . . .

We have used a variety of methods to curb this problem (which I will share in a moment) but this recent event (I hope) will provide a lasting impact that no amount of training or systems could provide.

Hannah wears eyeglasses and has been asking for contacts for quite some time.  So we recently caved and told her she could get the free trial pair and see how they work for her.  Unfortunately, when we picked them up the individual in charge of training the kids in how to use contacts had left early due to illness.  Not a problem for us (we thought) because my husband has been wearing contacts for years.  He would train her.

And he did.  He showed her how to put them in; what to watch out for; and what to do if she struggles.  Together they got the contacts into her eyes and off she went.

But on day two, he was at work when she was ready to put them into her eyes again.  And I don’t wear contacts.  I could explain to her what I had heard but I couldn’t really teach her what to do.

After about 20 minutes of struggle, I finally pulled out the bag that came from the eye doctor and found an instruction sheet.  This one had clear step by step instructions with a picture for every step.  In no time, she had the contacts safely in her eyes and was ready to go.

Her response . . .”The Power of Directions!”

Of course I took that moment to draw an analogy to how powerful directions are in homeschooling as well!  So far, so good.  All I need to say when she hits the books is “Where is the power?” and she knows just what I mean.

Will it last?  Who knows?  But at least it has made the last few weeks a success.

Other methods we have tried in the past:

1. Underline the instructions
   This worked at first but soon she was simply underlining without really paying attention
2. Highlight the key words in the instructions
   Works much better–also helps to teach how to find the main point
3. Summarize what you must do before you begin (either verbally or in writing)
   This works great but requires me to be on hand if she is doing it verbally
4. Write in 5 words or less what you are supposed to do
   (The writing teacher in me trying to teach two concepts at once–reading the directions and writing concisely)

Anyway, for now we are simply using the “Where is the Power?” question and hoping that with consistency we won’t have to go back to these methods.  Bottom line is, it all comes back to taking responsibility for what you are doing.

Technorati Tags: homeschool directions, homeschooling instructions, responsibiilty in homeschool academics, teaching homeschoolers

Click on this link.

My additional verse for the homeschool mom:

If you set aside your needs to teach your kids to read, you’re a Homeschool Mom
If addition and subtraction were much more than a distraction, you’re a Homeschool Mom
If your dining room slab looks like a science lab, you’re a Homeschool Mom

It is an unbelievably challenging, fun, overwhelming, and rewarding job!  Let’s enjoy it!

Technorati Tags: fun for homeschoolers, homeschool commitments, homeschool encouragement, homeschool moms