Homeschool

A Sense Of History

October 26, 2009 By Sylvia 8 Comments

“History is the ship carrying living memories to the future.” Stephen Spender

Our family has been reenacting American history since about 1987. Lately we’ve been working on a good portrayal of 1860 and 1838. Before that we represented the American Revolutionary War period from 1770-1780.

The main reason we do it is that we find it interesting to know how people lived so many years ago. From their clothes, to their religion, their occupations to their food…. its all interesting to us. Another reason is that we know that other people find it interesting too, and since we learn so much from our study, its fun and exciting to share that knowledge with other not just through talking about it, but by living it out for them to see. We learn from reenacting, too. We learn about people, their decisions, and about God’s plan for mankind through the ages.

This past weekend, my husband, youngest daughter and I, and my oldest son, went to the Tennessee History Festival in Nashville, Tennessee. Right there in downtown Nashville at Bi-Centennial park we camped out in 1838 fashion and set up all our wares for children and adults to come by and take a look. We talked all day long for two days.

The History Festival begins with Hernando DeSoto and works all the way through World War II. There are re-enactors for all eras.

Here are some photos for you to enjoy of the Tennessee History Festival…

Filed Under: Homeschool, Improve Your Mind

Would You Like To Have Your Own Blog?

August 20, 2009 By Sylvia Leave a Comment

Traci Knoppe, one of the original founders of this ministry, launched a brand new eCourse to help people who are anxious to set up a blog but have no technical knowledge. Traci has been a web designer for many years and has helped countless clients get up and going with their own blogs and websites. She’s rolled up all her best advice and processes into a 4-week eCourse – Beginner to Blogger in 4 Weeks.

You will be taken through a simple step-by-step progression to building a blog. Beginner to Blogger in 4 Weeks covers exactly what you need to know, and when you need to do to it, to get your blog online and get YOU blogging. With this e-course, you will have a road map to follow that will guide you in maximizing your and your blog’s potential.

Here are just a few things you will learn…

What a blog is and other ‘lingo’
You’ll register your own domain name
Setup your own web hosting account
Learn how to create a web site with your blog
Learn how to use WordPress and how to actually blog
You’ll learn about themes, plugins & widgets
You’ll learn how to customize a theme and much more
Surprise bonuses too!

In Traci’s own words,

I have worked from home as a web designer for many years. However, working on the clock for one client at a time is not always the wisest use of my time, when my true heart’s desire is to help people. That’s why Traci’s Christian Cottage blog exists – to help and encourage women. Same is true for me in my area of business, I usually find myself (and the teacher side of my personality) online in message forums, email lists, on Twitter, etc… answering questions for others on WordPress, blogging, Twitter, etc… usually for free. While this is good – when your husband is out of work, well… ya gotta eat and pay the bills.

So the Lord gave me the idea to take the knowledge and skills that I have, the very thing I have been doing one-on-one with clients and others for years and turn it into an eCourse and sell it where I can then help masses of people all at once! God is good and definitely smarter than me when it comes to helping people.

I followed the Lord’s leading and created the Beginner to Blogger in 4 Weeks eCourse. This is an online step-by-step eCourse geared toward someone who is new to blogging and wants to get started. I’ll guide you through every step from registering your own domain name, setting up hosting, installing a WordPress blog to widgets, plugins and customizing a theme. Four weekly lessons to get you from beginner to blogger.

I know many of you have wanted to blog, but weren’t sure how to get started – help has arrived! Even if you aren’t wanting to get a blog online for a business, having your own domain for personal blogging gives you full control over your content – you do not have to worry about a free blog system shutting down your blog without warning and you losing any of your content (believe me – it does happen!).

The Beginner to Blogger in 4 Weeks eCourse opened for enrollment this morning at 8 am EST. The course is limited to 1,000 students, period. The cost of the course is $39.95 and Traci offers a 30-day money back guarantee.

If you’ve always wanted to blog, but didn’t know how, here’s your chance! No matter what anyone has told you, you do NOT need to be a web designer to have a great blog or website. You don’t need to know HTML. You need all the how-to’s that Traci will share in 20 lessons over the course of 4 weeks.

Filed Under: CHK News, Improve Your Mind

Classical Reading Lists And More For Kids and Parents

August 9, 2009 By Sylvia Leave a Comment

Passing along a great resource from the Classical Christian Education Support Group.

Here is what they offer:

CE Support Loop Setup Information
As a service to other moms educating classically who may want to join a CE Support Loop, this page is the story of our Loop, which includes our experiences in setting up a loop and our guidelines; and a Meeting Place for those desiring to contact other CE Support Loops that are still taking members.

Reading and Literature
Our Loop discussions on Reading and Literature and how we approach these subjects in the various stages; John Senior’s 1000 good books – 100 great books theory; why we include fantasy, fairy tales, and mythology in our children’s literature; why the classics are not too hard for our children; and other issues that we have discussed.

Plundering the Egyptians
This article is by Wes Callihan of Schola Classical Tutorials, whose wife is a loop member. He graciously sent us the text when we asked him why he feels it is important to include secular great books in a classical Christian education.

The 1000 Good Books List
As a loop we came up with a list of 1000 good books following the parameters of John Senior’s theory. We have divided it by reading level, picture books through high school level, and have it posted here.

The 100 Great Books List
We have had so many requests for a list of 100 Great Books to accompany the 1000 Good Books, that we have posted this list. It is incomplete and under construction as we ourselves are still learning to discern between book and book, but includes the books we feel must belong on such a list.

Learning Latin New!
Our experiences and preferences with learning Latin as homeschoolers and non-Latin scholars ourselves. This section includes articles about Latin, reviews of Latin Curriculums that we have used, and an extensive set of links to Latin and Greek language resources. Every page, and all the links in this section have been newly updated (February 2003).

100 Pivotal Events of Western History New!
Memorizing every date encountered in history class is not feasible in the grammar stage. We have narrowed Western History down to its 100 most pivotal dates, which every child should know.

Homeschooling Helps
Out of all the homeschooling books that the mothers on the CE Loop have bought over the years, these are the ones that have stood out; that have most helped in learning and encouragment in homeschooling; in learning and encouragement in classical education; in motivation and inspiration; and provided resources to enable us to do our jobs better.

CE Loop Members’ Pages
Many of the CE Loop members have webpages of their own, offering further help to homeschooling families through various ways and means. These links to all our members’ pages will be sure to bless and enlighten you.

Filed Under: Homeschool, Improve Your Mind Tagged With: Improve Your Mind

A Household Notebook

August 8, 2009 By Sylvia 1 Comment

For many years, even before I was homeschooling, I have had a yearly notebook for my household. Since we started homeschooling, I have combined the household and school notebooks. I highly recommend building your own Household/School Notebook. It can save you loads of time and stress throughout the year. If you include page dividers with pockets, you can keep receipts and all kinds of papers all together where you can find them.

A Household Notebook can be as simple or elaborate and all-encompassing as you like. I include a calendar, an emergency number list, a shopping list including a weekly running grocery list and a list of important phone numbers. some people like to include financial planning, bills and insurance information in their household notebook.

For the School Notebook I include the calendar, class schedules, lesson plans, library book lists so we won’t forget what we have brought home and when it is due, a Curriculum Key, Reading lists and Chore Lists.

Here are a few pictures of my Household Notebook. I am using the same art work my daughters did last year until they decide on their theme for this year.

The Notebook Title Page and the Yearly Calendar.

The Emergency Numbers Title Page and the Emergency Numbers page.

This is one of the dividers with pockets. I keep at least one with each section of the Notebook.

The Daily Schedule Title Page and each child’s Daily Schedule.

The next section is Shopping Lists. I printed off forms from DonnaYoung.org for shopping.

The Menu Plans section includes plans for lunches as well as as family meals. Again I used Donna Young.org to get forms that I like for planning meals.

The Chores Title Page and the Chores List. Each child has his and her own list.

More forms/lists that I use (explained below).

Library List – we have a way of forgetting how many books we have checked out from the library. This list helps us remember what we have and when it is due. We sometimes use our Public Library’s online system as well.

Reading List – each child has a list of books that he/she is required to read each year. We keep this simple list and check off what is read and when.

A Curriculum Key – this is handy for me. I write down the names of the books the children use in school and an abbreviation for each book’s name. Then when I plan I can use the abbreviation instead of writing the name out. Very handy especially when you are talking about books with titles like The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales = OX

Do you make a Household/School Notebook? Would you share here?

Filed Under: Homekeeping, Homeschool, Organizing and De-cluttering