Az LDS Homeschool

Got Sunshine?

2010-12-01T13:28:00.004-07:00

I love flowers.. especially sunflowers. I feel well... like they represent me in a way. How they strive.. stretching tall and beautiful towards the sunshine. Growing right before your eyes....Thats how I want to be... striving.. stretching.... growing on a daily basis.... though sometimes I know I dont see it right away.

Its that time of year... the time of year when many of us reflect on how things are going... how we are doing with our schooling, how we are doing spiritually.. how we are doing in general. Its a time to move things around and try something new... or to stick with whats working. A time for new growth... a time for sharing.. a time for reflecting and making the most of mistakes and moving forward.

We have had several changes within the last few months that have definitely encouraged our growth as individuals, as a family, and as home schoolers. The lessons learned have not all been easy.. but they have helped us reach higher for the sunshine. In the end.. I guess thats whats most important right?.. That we keep reaching....

SOme Hands on Learning...

2010-06-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

We have been learning a lot about snakes over here.... Todd was working on an abandoned home and found some water snakes in the pond.....Ribbon Water snakes to be specific.

Called such because of that pretty "ribbon" running down the back....

We have four of them..... We "might" keep one or two of the smaller ones.... we shall see... right now its just fun to watch them and to learn about them.

We went to petco and paid $4 for a brick of Eco Earth..

You put the brick into the bucket and add water... then you let it absorb and expand.

Its supposed to expand so much that it fills the bucket...then you use what you need and leave the rest in the bucket.... it dries out and when you need more you just add water to it again....

Of course I added a little too much water.... to it didnt work totally correctly for me... but lesson learned... better luck next time.

Anyhows.... this is good for the tank/container/whatever your keeping your creature in....especially when they are reptile in nature... =)

Snakes really like it because they can burrow under it and if you keep it moist its keeps them from getting too hot...or cold....

You have to clean their cage/tank/whatever out, replace the eco earth once per month.

Hmmmm? What do they eat? I am so glad you asked that!

They eat small fish!

Minnows and comets to be exact.

All they need is one or two fish to eat.. PER WEEK!!

How is that for low maintenance!! =)

You just drop the fish into the water dish... live or dead... and they will come and gobble it right up!!

We had some gold fish on hand... that had been rescued... lived long enough for me to buy some fish food.. just to gobble it up.. and then keel over.... so it goes... But at least they died with full tummys right?!

So we figured "circle of life".. and passed them on... =)

I do have to say it IS pretty cool to watch them eat... and yes it DOES look just like the movie Anaconda but smaller version... and using fish instead of people....

The lady at Petco... she said they make awesome pets... and are easy to tame when young. She said 15 minutes per day of holding them is enough to get them used to you... which settles them down...and then walla... your own pet ribbon watersnake!!

I have two big ones that I dont want to keep as they are so much bigger... they kind of freak me out....

You want them?

THings we have learned this last week...

2010-06-05T19:32:00.003-07:00

1. We learned that Poppy Apricots are best when soft

2. We learned that people will spend hours and hours wandering the farm... picking peaches... eating peaches.... and that they WILL go home that day weighing at least five pounds more than when they arrived...

3. We learned it takes 4-6 months to move a transposed tooth one whole space

4. We learned that there is a very detailed process involved with milking/taking care of/and feeding goats

5. We also learned that there are things called platelets in the blood... they form scabs... and that when the white blood cells come to a owie... and kill all the bad germs trying to invade the site... they form icky pus...

What did you learn last week?

TJED Home Companion....review

2010-04-26T22:14:00.000-07:00

SO I recently borrowed this book... while I await my copy coming in the mail.

I found it very interesting...and really enjoyed how it broke things down to implement in the TJED Home.

I always hear about making a Master Plan... and I always hear about how hard it is... and how important it is... and how awesome a resource it is to have ready when you need it. However... I have yet to find a resource that explained it... in laymans terms... because that is what I needed.

Until I read this book.

I am going to share some of the info I learned from this book about having a Master Plan.

Nine Key Elements of an Effective Master Plan

1. Classics: Your List

2. Cultural Literacy, Breadth & Depth

3. Academic Programs

4. Adult Skills

5. Organizational Programs

6. Experience

7. God

8. Family Relationships

9. Places to go

Let me tell you... having a simple breakdown of things to include in my plan have made such a huge difference!

After reading this book, I have been re inspired on what I am doing for our daily schedule.... I have been inspired to simplify a couple of things we were doing the hard way, and I have been inspired on how to do some other things in a way that I had not thought of before.

I highly recommend it to anyone interested in developing a Master Plan and not knowing quite where to start....

I am now looking to borrow another book... Phases of Learning... so I can learn more!! Dont worry... I will come back and share when I read that one too... =)

April Showers bring May Flowers....

2010-04-12T09:51:00.001-07:00

My girls and I love to go on photography/nature walks.

We walk down our street on both sides of the road... and look for plants, animals, anything new and pretty. Sometimes the neighbors have added to their flower beds... and sometimes little plants that were just beginning to grow are springing forth in colorful blooms. Many a time we have come across rabbits, and different types of birds. We have even come across a couple of coyotes.

We recently won a bunch of awesome books in a raffle for our baseball team. I saw the basket with all the books and said... "oh... I want THAT one.... we could use a science experiments book... and a preschool art for B... and a nature activity book.. how fun is that!!"

And we won it. I was so stoked!

It came with the Hooked on Phonics program for K and 1st grade... a fun math learning book, preschool art book, unplugged activities book and a book called... "I Love Dirt".

Which is what I thought I'd share about today. This book is by Jennifer Ward... and is compiled of 52 open ended activities "to help engage your child in the outdoors.. no matter your location.." You can read more about it HERE

Now we normally talk about whatever when we go on our walks.. how things are going with friends, how things are going at home.... just general stuff. I am really looking forward to using some of the conversation prompts that are listed in this book... there are a few in there that I hadn't thought of before. Score!! =)

We don't keep nature journals.... instead we just have a big binder... and there is a section in there for art... most of the time... the kids will draw something or color something and put it in there....

What do you do to help learn/explore nature? How do you do it? I would love to hear from your side!

Inspire Not Require and how it relates to Conference....

2010-04-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

I was so inspired this last General Conference...(if you dont know what that is... stop by my blog and read more about it there... =0) I have been going back and forth on what we are doing... and I have been struggling with knowing that what I was doing was right ... for sure.

There were so many things I felt were directly related to me and the questions I was struggling with in regards to our schooling. My biggest struggle being the "Inspire Not Require" principle of TJED. I have children who need a little sitting upon once in awhile.

When it was all said and done I had a small list of things I would be implementing in our daily routines.

Little things that would turn into the big things when needed.

Here is my list:

Use personal prayer/revelation to prioritize and navigate thru my daily life
Seek affirmation & appreciation from appropriate sources
Give affirmation/appreciation, daily outpourings of love to my kids
have regular family scripture & prayer
have FHE (family home evening)
read books together and discuss openly what we have read
sit down together at meal times
as parents teach by example and precept
as parents/mentors bear testimony spontaneously
invite our children to action vs letting them be acted upon

"A journey of a 1,000 miles begins with one step".......

The messages of HOPE and FAITH and the things I have felt in my heart during this conference... these are the things that are helping me along my journey... one step at a time. It was comforting to know that Heavenly Father knows of my struggles... and that I am on the right track. =)

Just adding some color.... =)

2010-04-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

Ten Reasons...to Home School

2010-03-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the lists going around?.... They are on FB... here in blog land.... the tell me 10 of your favorite things list... or 10 things about you no one else knows... Yea.. those types of lists....

Well Im adding a new category! No, no... no need to thank me... =)

Here we go:

Ten Reasons to Home School

1. No set schedule...(unless you want one of course...)
2. No long lines at the museums/water parks/McDonalds...
3. No having to go out and spend extra money on clothes/supplies...
4. No having to find a babysitter for your 2 yr old so you can go on a field trip with your 7 yr old
5. No state testing..(again... this is an optional... you CAN do testing if YOU want to..)
6. You get to sleep in... and so do the kids...= everyone is rested.. and gets along..
7. More one on one with your child.... no one will ever know him or her like you do/will..
8. You know how you didn't want to miss those special toddler moments... the first step... first word and so forth.. well now you wont miss... that finished science project, listening to them read aloud, watching it click when working out a long division problem...
9. It's all worth it... when your out in public... and someone does something reallllly stupid...and your kids turn and look at you and say..." What are they thinking? That's so NOT cool.... and I would NEVER do that!!DUH!!!"..
10. And last but not least.. one my favorite reasons to home school is because you CAN. If you have graduated from high school... maybe had some college.... read a book or two in your life time... labored thru 10 hours of delivery after 9 months of growing a baby inside you.... there is not ONE single reason I can think of that would mean you COULDN'T teach your own child the skills to become a productive human being.

(Note.... I know many people who say they can't/couldn't home school because they don't know what they would do... or lack patience....and believe me you...I understand those feelings... but feelings... are not physically stopping you from doing it... kwim?..If you had the time, the desire... some guidance and support.... you would soon see you have just enough patience... and can at least school your child up to 7th or 8th grade before needing help.) =)

I would love to hear what you all have to add to the list... I know there are SOO many more things we can put on here!

My struggle... can you relate?

2010-03-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Today I am writing a little to share in my struggles with Home schooling.... Im sure some of you can relate. It is a daily battle of wills... mine against the worlds... to maintain the process of thinking that I am covering all my bases. I KNOW I can teach my children, and give them a great education. Without a doubt! Yet some days.. I still find myself questioning... fervently praying that I am making the most of that day and that they are getting it all.

We are a TJED family. What does this mean? I would be happy to share this with you.

Its called Thomas Jefferson Education. It is a education based on principles. There are 7 Key principles. Here they are:

1. Classics Not Textbooks.... we focus on reading classics...discussing them,... writing about them.... applying them to daily life as appropriate.

2. Mentors, Not Professors. I think this one says it all.

3. Inspire, Not Require

4. Structure Time, Not Content

5. Quality, Not Conformity

6. Simplicity, Not Complexity

7. You , Not Them.

There are Phases in learning this way..... I will summarize them for you below..:

Core Phase... I have one child in this phase..... it is generally from ages birth to about 8 yrs of age. In this phase... learning is about playing, interacting together. Learning good and bad, right and wrong, how to make good choices, how to work and be responsible, about who God is and what the relation to Him is about... This is a time for love and nurturing.

LOL (Love of Learning) Phase....I have 2 kiddos in this phase... tho one of them would probably state that he doesn't love learning.. hahaha....... this is generally from ages 8 to 12 or so... give or take a yr or two...In this phase...what we do looks like study but maintains the spontaneity and curiosity of playing. Study is about whatever the interests are..there are educational toys/tools/materials present in the environment and as the parent I strive to lead by example and model how much "fun" it is to be learning.

Scholar Phase.... this is from ages about 12 to 16 or so..... There are three categories within this phase..
.... Practice scholar.... Apprentice scholar.... and Self directed scholar.... I'm not going to go into depth here as I am not there yet with any of my kids... lol.....

My point in sharing this all today is that I have come to a point where I have realized... that we veered a sharp left and are doing our school conveyor belt ways again...For us it is one of those things where if we get busy... wait let me clarify... if I get busy.... I find myself feeling like I have failed my kids... as if I have shorted them somehow on that day... when in reality... Im not... they are not... we are not.

This post is about sharing with you how things are supposed to be going.. and to remind me of the path I started on... but that we have somehow side stepped somewhere along the way....Its ok to have specific daily things to do... but thats it... the rest should be about nurturing each of the phases of learning my kids are in. Once in awhile I must step back.. review what we are doing... evaluate how it is working..pray about it.. and come back to the board refreshed, inspired and ready to go again.

And thats what I am doing today. Boy aren't my kiddos going to be surprised... lol...AS with anything worthwhile in this life.... it is an ongoing work... striving for perfection.... and its hard work. Thank you to those of you who have been my cheer leaders, my constant supporters in my home schooling journey...I know its one of the best things I will do in my life for my children.. and I am thankful for your understanding that.

Have you heard this one?

2010-03-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him an leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him

harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.

It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.

He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone.

Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, Sitting on the stump beside us.

When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

If you liked this story, pass it on.

If not, you took off your blindfold before dawn.

Moral of the story:

Just because you can't see God,

Doesn't mean He is not there.

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

I think this is something we as Home schooling parents, moms, wives, humans in general... should be reminded of often... so we don't forget.

Homeschool Week Proclamation

2010-03-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

I thought this was wayyyy to cool to not share... and so Im sharing it here as well.... =)

How awesome is it that we live in a state that makes it easy for us to be parents who home school... students who home school... a state where for now.... it is so accepted that we now even have a Home School Week!! Love it!!!

Read the email I received about this below...

Dear T & J....

Homeschool Day at the Capitol hosted by AFHE on Tuesday, March 2 was a wonderful event! With over 1,000 people in attendance on a beautiful spring day, we enjoyed special presentations by homeschooled students, heard from several legislators, and enjoyed a picnic lunch together on the lawn. The highlight of the day was when Governor Jan Brewer addressed the crowd and declared March 1-5, 2010 Homeschool Week in Arizona. Governor Brewer read the following Homeschool Week Proclamation to a standing ovation.

Office of the Governor

HOMESCHOOL WEEK

WHEREAS, many

Arizona parents choose to homeschool their children sacrificing their time and talent to provide for their children'd educational needs, including academic, fine arts, social and extra-curricular needs, at their own expense; and

WHEREAS, homeschooled children work diligently to learn their lessons, honor their authorities, and fully participate in their education; and

WHEREAS, the State of Arizona benefits from homeschooled students' achievements at the collegiate and post-graduate levels as well as through their contributions to the workforce in a wide variety of professional fields; and

WHEREAS, homeschooling has been enjoying a resurgence in our state since the mid 1980's and today over 25,000 students are homeschooled by their parents or legal guardians; and

WHEREAS, our great state has historically supported homeschooling and a number of our early state leaders were homeschooled such as Governor Safford, Sharlot Hall, and Senator Henry Fountain Ashurst.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Janice K. Brewer, Governor of the State of Arizona, do hereby proclaim March 1-5, 2010 as HOMESCHOOL WEEK.

Tuesday, March 2 was a day of celebrating freedom and home education in the great state of Arizona!

AFHE Board of Directors

Questions and Answers

2010-02-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

In the June 2009 Ensign, I found a wonderful Question and Answer article. The question is as follows:
"I love and am grateful for my young children, but I sometimes get distracted or discouraged by the practical details of raising a family and I struggle to remember what an important work it is. How can I better align my day-to-day actions and attitudes with gospel truths about family?" This article goes on to list some great responses from mothers and fathers from around the country. One of my favorite responses comes from a lady named Jean Knight Pace from Indiana. She says "...Focus on what you do well. With so much that we could do better, it's easy to lose sight of our strengths...when we're focused on what we're doing badly, it's hard to feel the Spirit and, consequently, to experience joy.
Don't run faster than you have strength. Too much of a good thing is, well, too much. It's hard for me to feel happy when I'm tired and over scheduled. And when we're not happy, it's hard to enjoy the quirky chaos children bring to our lives. Occasionally, it seems we're trying so hard to be good examples of diligence, hard work and service that we forget to bless our children with an example of calm, happy peacefulness.
Try to keep the big picture in sight. As my children get older, I realize there are good and bad parts to each stage of our lives together. Many of the challenges pass with them. So do some of the joys. I try to take stock of the joys, to imprint them on my memory for the days when the long, sleepless nights have passed---and with them the sweet, soft smell of a baby's warm head against my neck."
Another response from Nanette Rasband Hilton of Nevada, lists some things that have brought peace to her life"...Perspective, Scripture Study, Writing (in a journal), and taking time away from her children."

As mothers of young children, or any age children for that matter, it's okay for us to ask for help from our Heavenly Father. He has given us commandments, but stands ready to help us do what He has asked of us! As we strive each day, to help our children learn about chores and scriptures and academics and whatever worthy pursuits we have for them, let us remember to not to take on too much, but to take on those very important things that will help us and our children reach our goals for a Christ-centered life and a well-rounded, full and rich education! Please take time to read this wonderful article! :0)

Time Management... review....

2010-02-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

With it being a new year and all.... I'm sure I am not the only one thinking of how I can improve on what I am doing and how I am doing it. I was looking back through my 2009 stuff and came across this post I had written from a webinar I participated in. I'm sharing it here as a review as I feel that the concepts shared are timeless and can be applied and thought of on a regular basis.

How is your time management??

Do you get things done when you need and want them to be done??

Are you accomplishing your goals?? Are you clear on what your goals are??

I participated in a time management webinar titled: "Achieve your goals this year."
It was very thought provoking...... here are a few of my notes I thought I would pass on:

6 Key Principles Successful People use for time management:

1. They use planning tools effectively;

they have lists, a daily written To Do list, a planner, a calendar, they are using Outlook, or some other program...it doesn’t matter what they are using but that they have what they need done out of their head and clearly spelled out....

2. They know the difference between IMPORTANT and URGENT;

Urgent is when the network crashes and the only other person who can fix it is out of town but YOU have a key to get into the office...

IMPORTANT in the dictionary means: something with positive payoff, impact, or consequences.

3. They fight Message Madness; did you know the average person spends 1-3 hours per day dealing with messages??

Most people over prioritize messages. Turn off your alerts, schedule a time to check your email messages, and let them build up until that time...set up your filters and your junk boxes.... Messages should turn into something else...they should be notes or for your calendar, or contact info, what are the opportunities lost when you’re going thru emails and such??

Turn your email from overload to proactive... make it do its job and help your progress along.

4. They work on LONG TERM goals regularly:

"Most people have no goals, have too many goals, or have conflicting goals...”

Break up into categories...what are my goals for today, for this week, for this month, this year, in five years??

Write it down!!! Break it into little steps, and work on that step till its done, then move on to the next one. Many people run their goals out of the back of their heads.... how stressful is that?

Get it out...let your brain relax a little.... keep it from being overwhelming by keeping the steps small.

5. Their values and roles are linked to their priorities:

If you know your values, then you have a base for your priorities...

Example: a mother has her role, and has her values as a mother, so her priorities are set accordingly.

Is the way your managing your time right now reflect what your true values and priorities are??

6. They plan EVERYDAY: the 3 most important DAILY habits to have are:

A. Take 10 minutes BEFORE your day gets busy and write a list of things you have to do that day....

B. Take a mid day break; even prisoners in jail take a mid day break and go for a walk or get some fresh air....

C. Get the sleep you need...or none of the other stuff will work... =)

"Where you start your day, is where you will stay"... Aristotle

Make your plan for your day first, then check your messages and see if anything in your inbox changes your plans.
Planning your day, is one of the keys to good time management.... it will allow you to not stress as you can look at your list and see what you have accomplished and not have to worry about what you think you didn’t get done so much...
Remember..."Your time is Your life."

“We all have the same amount of time every day… what will you do with yours?”

Christ Centered Motivation

2010-02-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

How grateful I am for my Savior, Jesus Christ and His perfect example. His love is constant and His promises are sure! As I think about this new year, I think about staying motivated! I don't want to fizzle out with my goals for our home school, half way through the year! This thought, has spurred some heartfelt pondering about how to stay motivated. The key to staying motivated, for me, is to keep it centered on Christ. When we think about every aspect of our life, and how things should be, one thing remains true, no matter what we are talking about; the motivation should always be our Savior! We should always want to do everything in our lives, the way our Savior would want us to do them, and the way He would do them Himself, if He were here! One of the wonderful things about TJEd, is a weekly meeting between husband and wife, called a Family Executive Council. This is held every Sunday, and is a time to go over the schedule for the upcoming week, (doctor's appt's, play dates, meetings, etc.) and just a general way to get on the same page with each other. This is also a time to talk about and with each of your children, and check in with them. Having a weekly meeting with your spouse, is a great way to stay motivated, and to keep your vision un-clouded! I love a saying that my mom has always had on a magnet on the front of her refrigerator! It pictures the Savior with the words, "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it." This saying is often in the back of my mind! When things become harder to do, we can remember that it will be SO worth it, in the end! May we each remember how much our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us! May we remember that we are participating in the noble work of raising up our children to His glory! May we remember how much we can learn from our children, if we will let ourselves, and may we be motivated to keep a Christ-like attitude about the joys of motherhood and home schooling!

About Love... a Gem to share and then some

2010-02-05T08:00:00.001-07:00

“Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Love of God,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 21

Can you imagine the changes that could be made if everyone followed this ideal?

I mean really truelly tried to follow it.There would be no poor, no needy. The world would NOT be perfect... but wouldn't be nice to live in harmony and not have so many things to have to worry and stress about. Wouldn't it be nice to love someone SOOOO much that you forgive all misuse and back biting and are able to come together as one big happy family with your loved ones. All of them?!

I think it would be. I have a problem with loving from a distance. I love everyone! I really do! If you needed something, I would do all I could to help you out... I try to be there when my friends need me no matter what... as best as I can. However.. I tend to wait for the call.. I have but a few people whom I would know what to do without a call.. but for most everyone else I would wait for a phone call. If you ask I will help all I can.

It is one of my goals this year to show more love to those around me. Not just my own family and friends but extended ones as well. It is my prayer that by trying to show more love.. those who judge and hold grudges will have softened hearts and not be so inclined to be negative.... that they will choose to try to love back. That they will see the bigger picture and strive for the greater good. What a difference this can make!

Apply this same concept to our school days and the possibilities are endless! So what are you waiting for? Get on out there and show some love!

For those interested....

2010-01-29T17:05:00.000-07:00

Upcoming events in the San Tan Mountain Regional Park....for the month of February... 2010

Their website: www.maricopa.gov/parks

Park fee= $6 per car... (I have a van... we can all smoosh in... and park your cars at my house or whatever... and only pay the one fee.. lol..)

Feb 6th
@ 9am
3 trails-4 miles

@2pm
Saguaros of San Tan

Feb 13th
9am Scene it @san tan

Feb 18th
@10 am Movie- Cloudy with a chance for meatballs

Feb 18th
7pm walk in the desert

Feb 20th
@5:30pm Sunset Hike
@7:30 pm stargazing for everyone

Feb 27th
@7pm Full Moon Hike

Nature Walk

2010-01-29T16:33:00.001-07:00

"As soon as he can keep it himself, a nature diary is a source of delight to a child. Every days walk gives him something to enter." ~Charlotte Mason

I gotta' admit that letting my kids play outside takes more energy than I would like! Because they are so hard on clothes, I have play clothes put in a specific drawer for them to wear outside, and they have play shoes (so that their everyday ones don't get muddy) and it's a big production! A never-ending muddy spot in the backyard, will do that to a mom! It's like the whole "moth to a flame" thing...they just can't stay away from it! Thank goodness for a husband who grabs the camera and takes pictures of their cute muddy faces, while I worry too much about cleaning up the mess! Well,no more! I have resolved to not let my fear of messes keep us from nature! :0) We have slowly been adding nature journaling into our day. In the past, this has usually just involved myself and my children drawing pictures of things from our backyard. This year, my goal is to take them on a walk, at least once a week, and let them collect things that they find or take pictures of things they see, that they express an interest in! I will write down their narration of he things they have drawn, and find joy in the lessons that can be taught through nature journaling!

Forgetting the Kids

2010-01-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest principles of A Thomas Jefferson Education to come to grips with, is focusing on your own education and allowing yourself to stop focusing on the kids so much. The conveyor belt way of thinking, tells us to focus all our efforts on making sure that our children learn the facts that they need to know, to pass them off to the next grade, etc. I have a stronger resolve this year, to forget the kids and focus on my own education! My goal is to be better at inspiring my children by example! I am organizing a plan for myself, so that I can keep sight of my personal goals to further my education! I have a goal to read my scriptures every day, and write about what I learn from them! I am compiling a list of books that I want to read and then write about, this year! I have a strong desire to show my children how much I love to learn! Then, each day, as I spend time with my children, I will share what's mine! My goal is to have some really great things that are "mine" to share with them, because I have been studying them! I have always thought that I needed to be more prepared with fun things to do with the kids. I was conflicted with the thought of trying to plan some sort of "lesson" for me to teach. This is because I was still trying to ride the conveyor belt. In placing the focus on my own education, I know that I will inspire the future education of my children, and in doing so, I will be better prepared to mentor them! This will bring a new and wonderful meaning to the phrase "Forget the Kids!" :0)

Southwest TJED Forum

2010-01-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

We have several conferences coming up in the next few months to enrich our homeschool, rejuvenate our commitment to educating our children, and meet others who are treading the same path as we are. One of the ones I have attended that benefited me the most is the Southwest TJED Forum. It is coming up on February 20, 2010. Early registration is taking place NOW so check it our and see what they have to offer.

http://www.swtjedforum.info/

For more info on TJED check out - http://www.tjed.org/ and http://tjedtrenches.blogspot.com/.

There is also a TJED Forum taking place in Salt Lake City on March 19th-20th, 2010.

Saxon Math 5/4.. a review

2010-01-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

So we have been using Saxon Math the last few months.... Let me tell you... this has been the best decision I could have made for my kids relating to what to do for our Math.

We have the text book and the teachers manual. We are using the Home school version.

I have the kids do a lesson per day... they copy the problems and do the work on regular paper and then turn it in to my turn in drawer when they are done. We do this so that when they miss something, I can see what the problem was, as well as how they worked it without having to get the book out. This makes it very easy to go back and rework that problem with them, explaining as I go until they understand it.

The fact that each lesson reviews what was done previously as we go has been awesome. We don't do any testing, I'm still debating on whether to do any sort of end of year testing or not.... I am leaning very much so to waiting until they are a little higher grade and then working on the ACT's and such then... they have plenty of time ahead of them...so I will continue to ponder it all. =)

I find it very easy to read and understand, as do the kids. The only thing they had bad to say about our math program was that they wish we could afford to get work books for each of them as they hate having to copy so much every day... lol... I figure if that's the worst complaint woohooo!!

Anyways.. I know that there are lots of people who love AND who hate Saxon Math. My name can definetly be added to the LOVE side of the poll. I highly recommend it to those who want to make sure their kids are learning all they need to math wise... who don't know where to start, and who want something pretty self explanatory in what to do each day. Of course as I said before.. this is MY opinion. =)

If you would like to know more about how we do our math... or have any other questions about it... shoot me an email and I will do my best to answer.

2010 Schedule

2010-01-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

We have gone through many "types" of schedules in our Home schooling time. We have tried many ways and are constantly adapting what we are doing to what is going on for our family. This "year" we have again tweaked our schedule and I am going to share what we will now be doing. Are you excited?? I know I am.. lol..

We start each day with 7 am wake up and breakfast. We work until we are done. Sometimes we get done by noon, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter...I like to say we practice a mix between TJED and Un schooling... as we have a set time of day to do our work.. and we have set requirements to do each day... BUT then we have the option to work at our own pace, and we do a lot of reading as well. With my kids they have to know EXACTLY what is required of them... we tried to do the "Inspire not require" thing around here and it was a zoo!! =)

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: Devotional, math, writing, grammar, history, reading

Tuesday and Thursdays: Devotional, math, writing, grammar, geography, science and reading

What we will be using for each subject:

Devotional - KJV scriptures, Gospel Hymns, Preach my gospel book

Math- Saxon Math, 1 lesson per day

Writing- write in journal, or do a page of handwriting practice, 1 page per day

Grammer- 1 page of spelling/vocab work... I bought a bunch of word finds, and cross words to use as a supplement for this subject...

History- we are still working through the Kingfisher Encyclopedia of History, 1 section together per day and then discuss

Geography- we have been working on the individual states.. and now we are going to change our focus to learning the placement of each state on the map.... we have some puzzles and other activities to use for this...

Reading- 30 minutes per day or personal reading or reading to little sister..

Science- I really like Froguts!! I checked it out and as soon as I have $30 we are so buying a years subscription to use for our science work! (see the link under the science button....)

And of course.. I am all about earning extra points...so if the kids want to do extra work for "extra credit" also known as get out of trouble free credit.. lol.. they can read extra time.... do sudoku puzzles, write a poem or short story and turn it in.

I use the grades and attendance worksheet from www.donnayoung.org to keep track of our attendance and our grades. I have it adjusted to keep track of 6 week terms as we pretty much school all the time. We take time off for the holidays and birthdays but thats it.

I have a plastic bin with three doors ( from Walmart) and one of those drawers is labeled Turn In.... The kids do their work and turn it in... I go through it and correct stuff and review stuff with them as needed. Then everything that is done goes into a big three ring folder for that years work.

That is what we do. For now. I am sure we will change things as we go through out our year.. and adjust accordingly. That is one of the bonuses of home schooling. We can take each situation, each child, and adapt accordingly to what is best for right then... or for that child.

I am so thankful for being able to home school. I am going on my third year of home schooling on my own. It has been an amazing journey to here and I know I have much to still l earn. I have met many wonderful people who have inspired and encouraged and become good friends whom I may not see in real life often but whom I know I can count on to be supportive and understanding when I need them to and vice versa.

So I am off now... to finalize those last minute prep things I have to do, to be ready for Monday so that I can enjoy my weekend!

Year Round Education

2010-01-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

One of the beauties of educating our children at home is the ability to move our schedule around to what works best for our family. We have changed ours a few times, often taking a week here or there off when there is sickness or other major life event. We now take December and June off. June because it seems like Scout Camp and Girls camp are always in June where we live. December for somewhat obvious reasons. Mostly, to help us have a better Christmas Season. This allows us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas -- Service!

We have time to create homemade gifts, bake goodies, and serve each other and where ever we find a need. We have done this the last two years and found that the Spirit is more present in our home. Our family feels closer and we are less stressed. Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year for many people...it used to be for me too.

I'm finding that by taking this month off from focused edcuation, that my children actually spend quite a bit of time educating themselves in a more project oriented way. They display they talents through homemade crafts and gifts. They have extra time to read books and learn about topics that excite them. My children also find new interests as we have "down time" in between Christmas parties and holiday events.

Points to ponder...for the New Year

2009-12-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

"This is God's work, and God's work will not be frustrated. But there is still much to be done before the Great Jehovah can announce that the work is done. While we praise and honor those faithful Saints who have brought us to this point of public prominence, we cannot afford, my brothers and sisters, to be comfortable or content."We are all needed to finish the work that was begun by those pioneering Saints over 175 years ago and carried out through the subsequent decades by faithful Saints of every generation. We need to believe as they believed. We need to work as they worked. We need to serve as they served. And we need to overcome as they overcame."Of course, our challenges are different today, but they are no less demanding. Instead of angry mobs, we face those who constantly try to defame. Instead of extreme exposure and hardship, we face alcohol and drug abuse, pornography, all kinds of filth, sleaze, greed, dishonesty, and spiritual apathy. Instead of families being uprooted and torn from their homes, we see the institution of the family, including the divine institution of marriage, under attack as groups and individuals seek to define away the prominent and divine role of the family in society."This is not to suggest that our challenges today are more severe than the challenges faced by those who have gone before us. They are just different. The Lord isn't asking us to load up a handcart; He's asking us to fortify our faith. He isn't asking us to walk across a continent; He's asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He isn't asking us to give all of our worldly possessions to build a temple; He's asking us to give of our means and our time despite the pressures of modern living to continue to build temples and then to attend regularly the temples already built. He isn't asking us to die a martyr's death; He's asking us to live a disciple's life."

M. Russell Ballard, "The Truth of God Shall Go Forth," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 83–84

I really love this quote..... it reminds me exactly of what I am being asked to do..... So tonight especially... as I am sitting here thinking of the New Year, 2010, that is just hours away... and what I want to do for my resolutions, I find this quote to be very calming.

I want for my kids to understand this. To be these kinds of people. I want to be like this. I am going to make it my goal to focus more on becoming as such this new school year, which for us starts at 7:30 am on this next Monday.

Its not going to be easy. I am sure that I will stop and question myself again, many times along the way... as I have been for the last two years. But I know in my heart... that if I am striving to do as I am asked, to be the best Disciple of Christ I can be.... then I cant go wrong. And that will reflect to my children.

Holiday Traditions

2009-12-03T12:15:00.002-07:00

We always enjoy the holidays! We especially enjoy family traditions! Pete and I have some really great traditions that come from each of our families. From my side of the family (specifically from Denmark) we have cow bell that is rung on Christmas morning, by the first person to wake up on Christmas day. This, of course, wakes up the rest of the house and we start our Christmas morning festivities. From Pete's side of the family (since he is a quarter german) we always have german pancakes for breakfast. We have tried to incorporate these traditions into our family, as well as add new traditions! One of the traditions we have added this year is The Service Tree. My husband, Pete, thought of a great idea to promote service in our family. When our children do chores without being asked or when they are especially kind to one another or when they make responsible choices, they get to pick a "service cookie" off of the tree to eat. "Service Cookies" are just cut-out sugar cookies that have been wrapped in plastic wrap and tied with a bow at the top, to hang on the tree like an ornament! We didn't even frost ours, this year. The kids love em' and we love seeing the small acts of service and love they are performing for us and for each other! This can serve as a great way to teach life skills to your children! Another thing we did for kids school the other day, was to make Christmas countdown chains to hang on the wall. Every day, the kids can take off a piece of the paper chain and count down the days til' Christmas. Another fun tradition that Pete and I started a couple of years ago, was The Toy Box Fairy. We found that each Christmas, our kids got so many toys and that their toy boxes were overflowing with too many items! On Christmas Eve, the Toy Box Fairy comes and cleans out the toy box, ridding it of any toys that are broken and can't be fixed or that are missing parts or that we know the kids don't ever play with anymore. The kids always enjoy having room for the new and fun things they receive for Christmas! At our family Christmas party, we always read a story about the birth of our Savior. We have a "Little People" Nativity, so that the kids can touch the figurines and really experience the Nativity story. This is always an awesome experience for everyone!
What kinds of traditions do you have? Think about researching your family history (maybe as part of your schooling) to see what kinds of traditions would be fun to incorporate into your family Christmas festivities! Family Traditions are SO important, and as home schoolers, we have a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about their family heritage, by incorporating these wonderful traditions into our holiday experiences! Merry Christmas!

A family Gem to share...

2009-11-30T11:31:00.001-07:00

“Good choices are especially important in our family life. For example, how do family members spend their free time together? Time together is necessary but not sufficient. Priorities should govern us in the precious time we give to our family relationships. Compare the impact of time spent merely in the same room as spectators for television viewing with the significance of time spent communicating with one another individually and as a family.”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Focus and Priorities,” Liahona, July 2001, 101

Another Gem...

2009-11-12T11:33:00.000-07:00

“Meanwhile, mortal misunderstandings can make mischief in a marriage. In fact, each marriage starts with two built-in handicaps. It involves two imperfect people. Happiness can come to them only through their earnest effort. Just as harmony comes from an orchestra only when its members make a concerted effort, so harmony in marriage also requires a concerted effort. That effort will succeed if each partner will minimize personal demands and maximize actions of loving selflessness.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Celestial Marriage,” Liahona, Nov. 2008, 94

What are you reading about?

2009-11-09T11:28:00.001-07:00

I have managed to keep up even if it was slower than normal with my reading... =)

Books I finished this last week:

The 5,000 yr leap

Healing the Inner

I read for the second time.. 10 Secrets Wise Parents Know..

I also picked up from the library... The Fourth Turning... by W. Strauss and N. Howe
(Reading this book leaves me with only two more books to read to complete the Level II on my 5 Pillars Book list. Woohoo!! )

I waited about 3 months to get this book so I am stoked to finally have it!

I am almost done with The Lords Way..

If you have any good books to recommend let me know... Im always open to a new read! =)

What are you reading about?

Gratitude

2009-11-02T17:45:00.008-07:00

As I think about our homeschooling experience, I recognize just what a blessing it is to be a homeschooling family! Homeschooling is SO hard! It is SO fun! It is SO daunting, sometimes! I know that my Heavenly Father wants me to do this! That makes it easier to do! I know that as I choose to have an attitude of gratitude, Heavenly Father blesses us in our homeschooling experiences! I am grateful for a supportive husband and amazing kids who have been willing to come with me on this journey! I am grateful that every day is a new day and that if things don't go great today, I can try again tomorrow! I am grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and for the assurance that families are eternal! I often tell my children, that our knowledge and our family, is the only thing that we can take with us into the next life! I am grateful for their sweet understanding and acceptance of this wonderful truth! I am grateful for their enthusiasm and excitement! As I think about my blessings this month, I hope to glean more understanding of my mission and my role in life and in the lives of my family members and friends. I am grateful for new responsibilities in the home school community, and for new friendships made! I am passionate about homeschooling, and grateful for seasons in life, that always seem to change when the time is just right! As I sit here and type this post, my beautiful little 5 yr. old daughter is hanging upside down off of the couch and singing loudly, "We see...the things we can enjoy!" I don't know where she got that song from, but I think she says it perfectly! When we home school, we see the things we can enjoy; our families, our communities, our friends and if we look closely, we can see what our Father in Heaven sees when He looks at us! Joy!

Have you heard of NaNoWrimo?

2009-10-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year again!! Yep... Nov 1st is almost upon us folks!! If you have never heard of it before... let me be the first to share it with you! Its called NanoWrimo. National Novel Writing Month. For on month, every year, a bunch of people from around the globe, gather together and share in a 30 day writing expeireince extrordinaire! (forgive the spelling mistakes tonight... Im tired and to lazy to do a spell check right now.. lol..)

You can sign up for yourself by visiting the site... www.nanowrimo.com

Its a ton of fun... and if you like to write short stories, poetry, whatever... you might find something that will help you there. They even have a seperate site for the kiddos to play along with!

So check it out if your up to it... and look me up.. you can connect with your friends so that you can encourage each other to hit that 50K mark. Im on there as JessLeonard, look me up! =)

Ok folks.. there you have it.... its up to you... the pen is in your court now. heeehee....

Musical Internet Freebies

2009-10-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to teach my children more about music and the great composers, I am using "Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers" by Patrick Kavanaugh. I decided that in addition to reading about these composers, we must also listen to their music. The Internet has so many great things to offer, and in this area it was difficult to find free resources, but I prevailed after much searching and felt it was wise to share this research.

Online Resources for listening to these composers mentioned in the book:

Johann Sebastian Bach - Musopen - Incompetech
George Frederic Handel - Musopen
Franz Jospeh Hayden - Musopen
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Musopen
Ludwig van Beethoven - Musopen
Franz Peter Schubert - Musopen
Felix Mendelssohn - Musopen
Frederic Chopin - Musopen
Franz Liszt - Musopen
Richard Wagner - Musopen
Charles Gounod - FreeScores
Cesar Franck - FreeScores
Anton Bruckner - FreeScores
Johannes Brahms - Musopen
Antonin Dvorak - Musopen
Edward Elgar - Musopen
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Charles Ives
Igor Stravinsky - Musopen
Olivier Messiaen

I was not able to find much on a couple of the composers, probably because they are more recent and do not have much royalty free music out there.

Jess- A little about my why...

2009-10-12T10:13:00.002-07:00

Do you see those smiling faces above.... they are the reason we home school. To keep those sweet smiling faces aglow with love, happiness and innocence..

In the beginning, we did home school preschool. It was tons of fun, and I loved being involved in helping my babies learn their colors, numbers, shapes, and so forth.

We went then to a public/ charter school... They wore uniforms, had great teachers, classes were like 20 kids to 1 teacher... there were a lot of dance and singing classes offered as the school we were going to was performing arts related. We did the summer school program they had every year. We went there from kindergarten till my oldest was in 2nd grade.

Then we moved out to California for exactly one year. Out there we went to public school. It was the only option as there were no charter schools or private schools in the area we were in at the time that we could go to. We tried two different schools out there. In one.. my kids were the minority. The majority of children in that school were Vietnamese. Nothing wrong with that. Except that there were about 30-35 kids in each class room with one teacher. Not everyone could speak English, or read or write. So you have one teacher trying to teach some of the kids the English language, and then trying to micro manage her remaining time to teach the other kids in the class as well.

We switched from there when we moved to a different part of town. The school we transferred from was public. It was decent. Teachers were nice, class size was borderline.. typical pubic school experience.

I want to note here that I attended public school all my school years. I was an honors student, took college courses, I loved school! I did not love the social aspect of it all... which is why I did so well academically.. but that's OK.

So anyways... back to the ranch. When we moved back to AZ, we went back to our charter school. In the year we had been gone, several teachers moved on, and the student body had increased a few hundred. We got back in time for the end of third grade. When we did the assessment testing on our oldest, we were told that he was a 3rd grader with a kindergarten reading level. What??

We were confused. This school had had him since kindergarten. Every summer in between, and had only not had him for the beginning of this last year and a few months of the previous year end. He reads fine for me at home... and you have had him most of his years... why would you not tell me these concerns sooner? I asked this question and never once got a reasonable answer.

So we went on a mission.. to help find someone who could tell us exactly what our kids needed if they needed anything at that. We checked into tutoring, couldn't afford it, we checked into switching to a different school... but didn't really want to do full on public school. We found a long distance learning option.

It was a perfect match! At first. My kids loved the online curriculum, they did amazingly well with it. Every child was tested and put on THEIR OWN LEARNING PATH.... so some work might be 5th gr. level and some might be 4th grade level.. depending on the child and what they did and did not know.

We were able to work from home, on the computer, and have a teacher to report to or ask questions of. It was great! We got to a point where we would stay home two weeks, and then go in for two weeks. The kids loved it... it worked for all of us. We could go out of town and stay longer as the work was online!

But then... as with anything in this world, changes started happening. The performing arts aspect of the school started to get more political and not what we had in the beginning... kids from public schools who had been kicked out and had no where else to go enrolled in our school.

It was changing before our eyes... and not to something we for sure wanted to be involved in. Then to top that... they all of a sudden began expressing concerns for G... he isn't able to sit still for long times, he doesn't stay focused... blah blah blah... We took him in and found out he has mild A.D.D... We put him on medication long enough for him to be able to do the AIMS testing...(which by the way both years my kids have done this... they did well.. the first year they were above average and the second year they were average... )

However, as soon as testing was over, we went off the medication. It was not even an option that it was going to be long term. He was only on it for about two weeks... and the teachers said they saw a huge difference in him... (he took it in the morning before school so it was worn off by the time he got home supposedly...) but I'm here to tell you.. that as SOON as he went off it... I could see the difference... of what it was doing to his system!

So then we began searching again. Many nights of prayer, by myself, with my hubby... talking with the kids, researching, asking questions, we kept coming back to the same answers. Home school.

As I said before... I was an honors student all thru high school. I loved to read and have devoured many books in my lifetime... though I am NOT a certified teacher. I am the mother, and I am pretty dang intelligent, if I do say so myself. I am fully capable of teaching my kids everything they need to know up to at least 8th grade.

I find it rather insulting to my intelligence when people who don't know me, ask "you're not a teacher are you? How do you know what to teach them?" I know many ask because they really cant see it... how it works... its beyond their understanding. But sheesh!! =)

So anyways... we decided at that point.. to withdraw from the long distance school and go to home schooling on our own.

We started with a schedule...and lots of work books. I started, being very aware that we would try many different things before finding what works for us. My kids each have their own learning style. G is hands on... doesn't like to read, and would rather create things, to get him to sit and do work sometimes I have to sit on him... where as T is my book worm.. she likes to read and write and will take it upon herself to sit and get work done....

We did a lot of print out work books from free online resources. Then we went and bought work books from the school supply stores... for things like vocab and spelling. We had a set time each day that we worked on a specific lesson. It worked. It was a fight sometimes... but we got thru it.

Then we found some great information in a curriculum called Charlotte Mason. There are 12 daily dozen... which we love the idea of... it sort of provides a check list for each day. Then we came upon lap booking... and note booking. After awhile I began reading about UnSchooling and TJED (Thomas Jefferson Education) schooling. We do a little of each... it just depends on what we are doing that day and how we feel like doing the work.

One of the things about TJED that I love is the concept of "Inspire Not Require." In my house... that doesn't totally work the way it sounds like it should. I do require certain things from the kids each day. They have their schedule in their books and it is up to them to know what to do, on what day and then get it done.. the rest from there is up to them. And guess what.. it works. My kids are happy, and healthy. They are smart, and sweet. They can carry on a conversation with a 2 yr old just as easily as a 40 yr old.

Sometimes they complain about homeschooling... They miss the friends and the "busy feeling" of being in regular school. But then I remind them of the friends they have in the area they get to play with whenever they want to... and how fun it is to go on our field trips and excursions and not have to deal with crowds and lines. They get to sleep in until 8 or 9 am... and with no interruptions they have their work all done within 2 -3 hours and then the rest of the day to enjoy!

I know every state is different... but I'm going to take a minute here and share the basic guidelines according to my understanding for homeschooling in Arizona.

You send in an affidavit (if you choose.. I know some who don't do this part..) stating that you are the parent, and that you are going to school your children on your own.

You agree to teach the basics of writing, math, reading, history, science, social studies. Your children are allowed to participate in school sports if they choose at your local public school.

They can go and try out for the high school football or cheer team, and not be denied because they home school. If you live in the boundaries for that school... they can try out.

There is no testing required, and no reporting you have to do. I keep track of some of the things we do in order to have some sort of record to use for our activities like Pop Warner football and cheer.. These organizations require report cards. The kids turn their work into a turn in drawer. I look it over and put it into their folder for the year. They each have a three ring binder with all the work they did for that year as a reference of the things they have accomplished. If they have done work that needs to be corrected, we go over it together to make sure they understand.

I suppose many people want to be able to test the kids and "see" where they are at compared to other kids... but why would you do that? Your not on the same "learning path" as other kids... and so the results can not correctly be compared to each other.

We do not test here. There is really no purpose in my own opinion. We do spelling tests each week but that's it. Later on when they want to go to college.. we will do the SAT and ACT tests. Some people will test and get GED's.. and some people don't even bother.. they go straight to the SAT and ACT's to get their graduating "scores". You have to find what works for your family. I feel that daily life.. that's enough of a test for my kids.

The benefits of homeschooling for our family? We are a very tight knit, loving family. We have lots of fun together. My kids are very responsible kids for their ages, they are free thinkers.. they are not exposed daily to the ugliness of the world. They know of it... but because it is not a daily occurrence... they are able to recognize things for what they are... and respond accordingly.

They are "life smart".. We call ourselves LIFE LEARNERS.. as we go with the flow.. and learn from daily life.. hands on.. and about things that we are interested in.

I will home school till graduation. Of course not all on my own... unless that works... but we have support groups, and friends who are homeschooling that we can share and work with. We will supplement when necessary however we need to. We know several successful, well rounded, awesome ADULTS... who were home schooled all their lives, went on to college, and have done well with their lives.

I home school, because I can. Because my children are my lifes best creations and I want to do everything I can to help them along. There are many other reasons... but I will end with these.

Many people think... I can't do that... I have no patience... I wouldn't know where to start..... I'm not smart enough.

You can, you are, and you could. So what are you waiting for?

How we came to be a homeschool family!

2009-10-03T22:56:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have been married for almost 9 1/2 years! We became foster parents in the year 2004 and will be closing our foster care license this Novem During that time we have loved 22 adorable children between the ages of 1 day old to 4 years old, at the time of their placement in our care. We have had 17 kiddo's leave us, some after one day and some after 4 months or 6 months. We love them all and keep their pictures in a collage frame in our hallway. Fast forward back to now, and that means we have a beautiful, trans-racial family including our 5 precious children. We have a 6 year old son named Gannon, a daughter named Zoie who is almost 5 yrs. old, and three 3 year old's who are 2 mos. and three months apart from each other in birth... 2 boys named Joshua and Jace (no they're not twins) and a daughter named Lynzie. Our children were all adopted...4 of them through foster care and 1 of them through private adoption. None of them are biologically related, but are connected at the heart and the hip! :) We are all sealed for eternity as a family and this is so very special for us, as our kiddo's have each gone inside the temple to see their siblings be sealed to our family! We are currently looking to adopt our last baby, a girl, through LDS Family Services through private adoption...(so if you hear of any situations, we'd LOVE to know about them).

I could go on and on, listing all of the medical, developmental and sensory issues that most of our children deal with, but let's keep it short and just say that some have mild cerebral palsy, some have genetic disorders,one really struggles with impulsivity and anxiety, some have been drug-exposed (Meth) and most of them have sensory issues of some sort. These special needs were the initial reason we decided to become a home schooling family. Let's just say that our local public school (and really the whole school district) let us down, two years in a row, by taking services away from our oldest son. No one seemed to care, and when I addressed my concerns with his teacher, that he wasn't getting his occupational therapy (for example), she said "Oh honey, don't worry...if his OT misses any school days with him, we'll just do play-dough". This was the straw that broke the camels back! We have LOTS of therapists in our home on a weekly basis. I have been trained in deep-pressure and joint-compression therapies by my in-home therapists. When my son's priority preschool teacher said that to me, I decided that if play-dough OT was acceptable to her, he needed to be home with me. For goodness sake, I can DO play-dough, and not only THAT, but I can do BETTER than play-dough for him! :0) We found that our kids need what I like to call, " A Happy-Medium Education"! At public school, our son was either treated like he had no issues or difficulties at all, or like he was completely incapable of learning and not worth anyone's time. Our children need and deserve an education tailor made for them, that allows them the help where they need it, while also celebrating their amazing potential and achievements! A "Happy-Medium Education!" So we pulled him out of public school on Easter Break of 2008 and we haven't looked back.
Our home school method of choice is A Thomas Jefferson Education. It makes so much sense to me and has not only worked well for my son and all of my children, but my husband and I are getting a leadership education as well, and actively pursuing our own personal missions! I am learning more each day, to trust the process and trust that I really DO know what my kiddo's need and how to help them receive an education that they are passionate about and that allows them to reach their full potential! We are currently reading The Little House On the Prairie series. We are enjoying it very much and the kids are amazing me with how much they are understanding, their questions, and their drawings about what we read! I am planning to start a Mom School, possibly in November, that would meet at our home in the afternoon, one day a week. It will be fun... but I'll save that for another post! :0)
A little background info about me: I have danced and competed and performed since I was four years old. I did all kinds of dance, but my favorite is tap! I have taught at a few different studios, and have thought about possibly having a home school tap class, combo classes, or even a musical theater class for kiddo's if the interest is there. I enjoy writing poetry, reading, date nights with my hubby, Pete, and being with our 5 kiddo's! I am not shy. I am quirky, creative and fun-loving. I firmly believe that for most things in life, there is more than one way to do something, and I can usually be found using my creativity to help me accomplish tasks! I am so very grateful to be living the life I am living, with my wonderful, handsome husband, 3 handsome sons and 2 beautiful daughters! I know that we have the family that Heavenly Father meant for Pete and I to have, and that it's not by chance that we are a home school family! The hand of the Lord has led us down this path and it has truly blessed our lives! :0)

AZ State Law, Home schooling & Pop Warner

2009-09-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

Recently we have run into an issue regarding our home schooling and participating in group sports. The kids enjoy playing Pop Warner Football and Cheer. This is the time when they make new friends, hang out with old friends and learn to work towards goals with others.

We are going on our third year this year. This year has been the first year that we are playing while home schooling. Before we had only been home schooling on our own a few months, with the previous time being schooled with the long distance learning charter school we were doing.

One of the requirements for registering is academics. They want to see report cards.

According to AZ State Law; we as home schoolers, don't HAVE to have records/report cards. This can create a problem. Because the law doesn't require us to keep records, how do we know who is fudging grades and who isn't? I know we all like to think that everyone is honest and trustworthy. But in reality, how would we know? I mean really, I can remember what subjects we did last year in July, but I wouldn't be able to honestly give a "grade" for how well they did on it.

In our home school we use the Grades & Attendance excel spreadsheet found at DonnaYoung.org . We also use many of the printable charts and check sheets she offers there.

This year they have more than one home school family participating in the Pop Warner program. In my opinion its just another reason why even though we don't HAVE to, we SHOULD keep track of what we are doing. Not only for our own peace of mind that if ever questioned we can stand up for ourselves and have the necessary documentation to prove what we are doing, but also to use so the kids can participate in things like Pop Warner, and any other activities that might require documentation of their academics.

For my kids, they also like having some sort of report card to show off to Grandma and Grandpa. So what if we have our own subjects, all they care about is how many A's and how many B's they got... not whether it says Math, or Time Management. =)

SO tell me, what do you do and how do you do it?

A few more site links...

2009-09-29T22:59:00.002-07:00

There are so many groups out there you can join. It is very important to have a good support system in place for those times when you need it. Believe me... you will have them. =)

Here are a few more places to visit...

Arizona Families for Home Education...

HERO (Happily Educating Our Own)

This is a Google group..... called Home school Share

I will add more as I come across them,,,, feel free to let us know if you know of one that we dont have listed here...

Celeste Batchelor - Blog Author

2009-09-28T09:00:00.001-07:00

How We Came to Homeschool

I have been educating my two younger children for 5 years now. The first year we used Arizona Virtual Academy, which uses the k12 curriculum. Then we used Arizona Connections Academy, which uses the Calvert curriculum. Neither of these met the needs of my son and so I made the leap to homeschool traditionally. I searched for LDS homeschool support groups in Arizona and realized there was not a statewide group. I found plenty of things in other states that had wonderful information.

I studied homeschool methods and curriculum, purchased several things, most of which we no longer use, and made the leap of faith. I read books like "The Well-trained Mind", "Homeschooling on a Shoestring", and "The Old Schoolhouse Magazine". I felt drawn to a Classical Method and soon started on a very strict schedule. After a few months I felt very frustrated that nothing seemed to work for my son. I realized that I was still doing what the online schools has done - school at home.

I then came upon "A Thomas Jefferson Education" (TJEd) and some online readings about Charlotte Mason and Montessori. I felt largely drawn to TJEd and decided to try implementing the principles taught there. It made a tremendous difference in the tone and feel of our homeschool. I let go of keeping up with the public schools and just focused on each child. We have been following this method ever since, with little tweaks and adjustments as needed.

Inspiration!

2009-08-14T14:21:00.004-07:00

I just realized it was supposed to be my turn to post, yesterday. Well I guess I'am a day late and a dollar short! :0)
I have to admit I have been in kind of a slump lately. Just trying to keep conveyor belt thinking out of my head, I guess. I am at that point where I know I need to get a better plan for what we learn on a consistent basis, but I still struggle as to how to balance some good planning with too much planning. I have been thinking a lot today about inspiration. I have decided that I will put it to prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help me receive the inspiration I need, for what to work on with the kids. I also need to ask Him to help me approach this all in a way that will inspire my children and allow them to take the inspiration and fuel their further desires to learn. I know that Heavenly Father wants what's best for my kiddo's! I know that He will lead me right! I just have to put forth the effort and align myself with His will. I am interested to hear others' thought processes about this! How do you re-charge? What are some of the ways you have found to inspire your young children? What kinds of things help you to re-group so that you can keep a fresh perspective?

Faith to find the answers!

2009-07-28T16:00:00.002-07:00

I love listening to music by Cherie Call, an LDS contemporary artist! She has a song called "Faith To Find The Answers". This one phrase is how I would describe the events that have lead us to be a homeschool family! Our children have special needs. Some have cerebral palsy, some have sensory issues, some have sleep issues and cognitive delays. Some have all of the above, in varying forms. It has taken me about a year to really know for sure that I could find the answers as to how to give my children the best education. We have already found out that the public school system couldn't do it. They took therapies and services from our son, repeatedly. Our homeschool experience has been a leap of faith, and one that I wouldn't take back EVER! It has been such a great thing for our young family! I know I have lots to learn about learning styles, but I have already seen the benefits of teaching children through various sensory experiences. It's wonderful to see the look on my kiddos' faces when they learn something through song or through sand and water play or over a sink full of soapy dishes! It is wonderful to have the faith to find the answers! It is my prayer that we will continue to be faithful, and it's my humble belief that our Heavenly Father truly has called us to teach our children! It is this call that truly gives me the faith I need to continually seek, and eventually find...the answers!

Getting Ready for the School Year

2009-07-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Planning for a new school year is a lot of work! I often find things that I love and want to try out, so, I keep all of these in a notebook that I lovingly call "My Brain" with the following tabs: Curriculum, Planner, Each Child's Name, and My Name.

Curriculum Tab

Course of Study - I type in all the books I plan on using for the family by subject and print it out. These can also be made for each individual child.
Curriculum Key - to keep track of what I abbreviated each item to be. (Ex. - Story of the World, Volume 1 = STOW1 in our planners.)
Book Lists - Classics For Young Children, Classics for Youth, Classics for Adults
Curriculum Purchasing - I love this form to help me choose where to buy and the cheapest price I find it for.
Other Curriculum Lists - this is the place for all those items I might want to use or just lists of curriculum from other sources like School of Abraham Good Books List

Planner Tab

Weekly Planner - I like a weekly planner because it has boxes for different subjects, different children, etc. It allows me to see in more detail what we are accomplishing. Some of you may want to put a planner in each child's tab, which would also work well.
Monthly Calendar - sometimes having a monthly calendar helps in long term planning, for example, to coincide with local holidays or to plan units of study.

Each Child's Tabs

Book Lists - I fill in the books, journals, videos, etc. that each person uses.
Individual Forms - Scouting or Church Achievements or Awards that they are working towards. I have checksheets for the things each person is working on.
Misc. things that apply to each person.

My Name

This is where I keep track of all the things I am doing.
Seminar, Homeschooling Conference, and Homeschooling Retreat Notes - so I can refer back to my thoughts and impressions at these events. It is helpful to review my notes to keep my enthusiasm high and to stay on track for the year.
Book Lists (same as children's) - I want to be an example of life long learning, so to me keeping track of my own education is key.
Book Notes - I have several homeschooling books that I have read in which I also took notes.

Other

I have to have a catch-all place for stuff I might need.

A little bit Thankful....

2009-07-24T07:00:00.001-07:00

I have been home schooling on my own with my husband now for almost a year. Before that we were working with an online charter school. We worked on our own for two weeks at home, and then went into the class room on campus for two weeks. Rotating this way made me feel secure in how I was doing things, as well as allowed me to have some one with more experience and knowledge than I had to check in with. One day I asked my son to do a long division problem for me. He couldn't do it. He said, " if its on the computer mom I can do it.. but not on paper."

That was all I needed. We finished that semester, went on our own and have never looked back. It was good though. It was enough time for me to realize that I am not an idiot. That I could do it on my own with my kids. I realized, who knows them better than I do? Who knows how they learn or what they want to learn about if I don't?

I realized I was organized and driven, and very capable with Heavenly Fathers help of home schooling my kids. I talked with my husband, we came up with some what of a plan, and we jumped for it. It has been an amazing journey. One I will always cherish and that I am so thankful to have taken with my children.

I want to share some more things I am grateful for starting with my husband Todd. He is the bomb diggity. He is loving, and caring, and my best friend in the whole world. We tell each other everything. I know he is always on my side, and always has my back no matter what.

We have been through a lot of things both good and bad in the last 14 years, and we have stuck it out. Our love for each other has carried us through some really tough times. I am thankful for the husband he is, the father to our kids he chooses to be, and for the provider for our family he strives everyday as.

I am especially thankful for his hard work and love for us, which helped him to overcome personal addictions so that we could be sealed together as an eternal family. He always says that he is happy as long as I am happy... and that's really how he is. I cant remember much happiness in my life before him and I cant imagine it without him.

I am also thankful for my kids, G, T and B. I could never imagine unconditional love until I held each of these little babies in my arms for the first time. They aren't so small any more, but they are still my pride and joy, and my utmost joy. They make me laugh, they make me cry. I see in them such potential, and such love. I am so thankful for them and for the examples of child like love for life, the Savior and for the gospel they are. They are far from perfect, but close enough to it in my eyes. I love my babies!

I am thankful for my Heavenly Father and for all he has blessed me with. Coming from a background filled with drugs, sex, abuse in all forms, and all the other stuff I experienced growing up, and growing into the person I am today. I couldn't have become me without my Heavenly Father. The family I have, and the family I get to be a part of because of my wonderful husband.. those are all blessings from my Father. The knowledge that this life is simply a test and when crap happens to figure out what to learn from it all... the peace of knowing there is a next life and that I can have an eternal family with my hubby and kids. Knowing that there is more to this thing called life... those are blessings from my Father that help me to have the attitude of gratitude I have.

In everything that happens... there is brief time for tears and lamenting. But they don't change the outcome. They simply wear one out. So I let it out briefly, and then pull up the boot straps and carry on. Figure out what my part is to do so that Heavenly Father can bless us along the way. I am so thankful for this and hope and pray that HE knows this, that I say it to him enough daily...

I am thankful for my mother in law... Sandy.... She has provided me with the example of a loving mother. Nurturing, caring, and in tune with the Spirit.. she gives the loving motherly type that I craved as a child, and that I strive to be for my own kids now. She and I are very close, we talk all the time, and I couldn't imagine not having her in my life. She is a wonderful example of a loving mother and I am thankful for her.

I am thankful for the Gospel, and for its constant reminder to be Christlike and for the opportunity to return to live with my Heavenly Father. It is the same no matter where you go, or who your with. It is timeless, and it is true.

I am thankful for all my Home school friends, both in real life and online... as a homeschooling mom, it is hard to talk to family and friends who either do not support your decisions, or do not understand. There are a few whom I go to for constant inspiration and edification. They have been there and done that and know just what to say or share to help us over any humps we come up against. I am thankful for their support and constant example.

I share this all with you, because some of you may just be starting out with home schooling. Some of you may have been doing it for awhile now but are still trying to find your groove. It is my desire to show anyone who is interested in looking, that if I can do this, you can do this. I am a regular person, just like you, who wants something better for my kids, and am willing to do whatever I can to make sure they get it.

I am thankful for the opportunity to contribute to this awesome blog.. and look forward to watching it blossom into something truly inspirational for everyone who comes and visits!

Arizona Budget Crisis

2009-07-20T07:00:00.001-07:00

While many parents around the state wonder how their children's education will be affected this coming school year, homeschool parents need not be concerned. Budget cuts will deeply affect many public school programs, including class sizes, textbooks, and the loss of the arts. This is of absolutely no concern to me and my family. Our class size will stay the same, textbooks and reading materials come largely from our home library and our local public library, and we have as much access to the arts as we did previously.

I feel a sense of accomplishment that the outside concerns of the state do not affect my home, my purpose in educating my children, and my children. I can proudly say that my children are not a burden on society. I fund their education and the tax dollars that would have been spent on my children can be used for other things.

My friends and neighbors who are so concerned about the budget cuts on their schools have occasionally made comments to me about the belief that if I returned my children to public schools, it would bring more money to the local school. In theory, they are right. Initially, the school would receive more money this coming school year. That is what we see as an "immediate fix". But, let us consider the big picture.

Where do those tax dollars come from? Property taxes paid by the people of Arizona. If all the homeschoolers in Arizona, estimated to be 23,837 children in 2008-2009, send their children back to public school this year, an additional $6000 per student would need to be spent by the state ($9500 total per student, but only $6000 comes from the State of Arizona - see source). That would total approximately $143,022,000! Where would that extra $143 Million come from? You guessed it, an increase in taxes, burdening the citizens of Arizona even further. Think how much money we are saving the people of Arizona each year! I have been homeschooling for five years, saving the people of Arizona $60,000 so far, not to mention the $35,000 I have saved US Citizens in income tax money.

I have a new crazy idea...let's encourage more people to homeschool! Then we could balance the State's insane budget crisis.

Subjects

2009-07-16T13:32:00.001-07:00

Curriculum Links

Curriculum Resources

Free Online Curriculum

Subjects

Math

Literature

Spelling

Handwriting, Copywork, and Composition

History and Social Studies

Science

Foreign Language

Critical Thinking

Gospel Studies

Arizona State Laws

2009-07-09T14:05:00.001-07:00

Arizona is a wonderful state in which to home school. The main requirement is to file an affidavit with the state within 30 days of beginning instruction at home. Here is the basic requirements:

Fill out an Affidavit for Intent to Homeschool for each child between the ages of 6 to 16 that you will homeschool. (You do not need to register children 5 and under.)
We suggest that you check the box that reads "I elect to not begin formal education until my child is eight years of age." This allows us to keep this right for those who wish to use it.
Take the completed affidavits and a copy of each child's birth certificate to your local Superintendent of Schools. You can either mail these or do it in person. Some offices want you to send the original birth certificate and then they copy it and send it back. Here is a page to find your county's Superintendent.

We have included links below to the actual statues and a copy of a blank affidavit in PDF form provided by AFHE.

Arizona Statutes

15-763. Plan for providing special education; definition

15-745. Children instructed at home; testing; prohibition

15-802.01. Children instructed at home; eligibility to participate in interscholastic activities

15-802. School instruction; exceptions; violations; classification; definitions

15-828. Birth certificate; school records; exception

Blank Affidavit

Am I Crazy? by Marika Connole

2009-07-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

Yes, of course you are. At least mildly so. But don’t worry, you are in good company. Think of how many wonderful things have been accomplished by individuals that the general public thought were crazy. Christopher Columbus and Albert Einstein come quickly to my mind. You may not ever be recognized the world over, but you have chosen a bit of a different path to try to get the results you want. So, let’s talk about a few things that can help make schooling at home work for you, namely patience, organization, and fun. Here we go! This should be great! I am excited to get this down on paper. I can always use a good reminder. I hope I will take my advice!

Patience. What does patience have to do with anything? Actually, a lot! I am not talking about the need to be patient with your children. Naturally, you will need to do that. But, before you can be patient with them, you must be patient with yourself. You are getting started on a new venture. Or, perhaps like me, you are getting restarted. It is good to regroup often.

First, where will you put all your schooling stuff? There’s a lot! We do a lot of our schooling at the kitchen table, but it is not uncommon to find a child sprawled out on the floor with their math book or lying on the couch reading Shakespeare. We have more kids than available space to put things in, so I don’t have everything in one location. Each child has their own shelf or shelves as needed. I put all the art supplies together in another spot and science experiment materials generally remain in their boxes and are put under a bed. But, I am going to have to figure out something new to do with those since we no longer have any kids beds with room to store things underneath.

I have found that the best place to look for great storage and organizational options is at IKEA. I am not just saying this because I am a lover of Swedish things. You can probably find some useful things other places too. IKEA is affordable and creative. You have to find a good way for things to work at your house. There are many different options for setting up your classroom and school supplies. Ask other parents what they do with theirs.

Second, how do you schedule your day? I think that the most important thing that I have learned is that I should not be completely rigid in my scheduling. Remember that your school is not a typical brick and mortar (B&M) school. You don’t need to start at 9:00 and finish at 3:00. In fact, that can get boring awfully quickly! One of the reasons schooling at home is wonderful is because it is flexible! You can choose when to school. Don’t try to copy another family’s schedule. Create your own. I am going to share with you how we organize our time, however, don’t you dare imitate me! Well, I guess you can try, but only if it seems like a good fit for your family. And, if you try it and it doesn’t work, don’t keep doing it! Keep trying things until you find what will work best for you.

On Sunday evening, we gather all the kids to the family room. Wait! Backtrack! Before we gather kids, Kevin and I do some planning. This sometimes becomes very important so that we are in agreement on what activities should take priority for the week. Okay, back to the family room. Each child has their own calendar. Even the little ones if they want one. Dad leads the session as we cover each day, one day at a time. Anyone that has plans for the week better let us know what they are. If events are not on the calendar, they are probably not going to come to pass. As needed, we look a month or two ahead and from time to time we check out our year.

Once our family planning session is done, I try to figure out where school fits in best. Any child in high school doesn’t need this done for them. They know what they will need to do that week by looking at their own schedule. If they want to go play at an Ultimate Frisbee tournament Friday morning, swimming in the afternoon, and hang out with friends at the movies that night, they better be prepared to work a few extra hours Monday through Thursday, or put in some Saturday time.

What I generally do with my junior high school students is to print out their weekly schedule and tape it to the wall. I try to encourage them to do subjects that they might need my assistance with during times that I am available to them; otherwise they can get back logged. Junior high students can do most of their work with little help. I check over work, have discussions and assist as needed. If I know the child has been working hard and isn’t able to get through everything because the one hour science experiment took three hours, or they wrote an especially nice book review, I can certainly cut them a break and have them do one less literature assignment that week, or do a vocabulary lesson in place of something else that takes a long time.

Elementary school students are a little trickier to plan for. I like to figure out what I want them to accomplish for the week and print out their weekly plan as well, but I am a little more flexible with them, because I need to be available a lot more for them. Sometimes things come up (sick baby, extra trip to the grocery store needed, etc.) When this is the case and I am just not able to do what I thought I could, I have them do an easier subject that they can work on without too much assistance from me. Sometimes I find myself just simply cutting out a few things because it just didn’twork. (Hate it when that happens, but happen it does.)

So, that is basically how we organize. Next, it is on to fun! I suppose I shouldn’t say next. We should be trying to have joy all along the way. Not always that easy, I know. I have just a few comments on fun. A boring, dull, same old-same old rut is no fun for anyone. If school is a drag, burnout is likely. Being somewhat flexible with your schedule allows time for adding in fun things like field trips, a day off to go to the pool, going to visit somewhere you learned about in history or go out to lunch with Grandma.

The other thing I want to mention to make school more fun is to get involved with other homeschooling families. As the kids join each other in the sports activities, clubs, outings and other things they form friendships and are able to realize that there are other kids who are doing the same thing as they are.

That was schooling in a nutshell. Just take things a step at a time and be okay with figuring things out as you go. It will come. Now go out there and start! Be patient, organized and have fun, go do it. Go on. Stop reading this and get busy! You will do wonderfully well!

Marika Connole—2007

www.completelee.com

About the Author
Marika Connole

Help! I'm new to all this!

2009-01-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome!

When I first decided to home school, I was overwhelmed with how to go about it. Some thoughts I had circling my mind were:

What should I teach?
How would I find the "right" curriculum?
How much would this cost? (I'm on a budget!)
My children have special needs, how would I be able to meet those needs?
How much does the State of Arizona need to know about my home schooling?
How much time each day would home schooling my children take?
What about socialization?
My life is hectic, how can I possibly home school?

The National LDS Homeschool Association has some excellent insight for new home school families. Make sure to sign up for the newsletters, they are so uplifting and informative. If you have specific questions, search the Sentinel and Quarterly archives.

The biggest thing I have learned is to R E L A X !! Heavenly Father inspired me to be a home school mom and He will provide a way for me to accomplish this call.

Celeste Batchelor

Administrator of AZ-LDS-HSA

Gospel Studies

2009-01-05T13:58:00.002-07:00

Resources

Discover the Scriptures - This collection of workbooks on CD-Rom cover all of the books of scripture and the restoration. The authors are LDS homeschoolers.

Free Life of Thomas S. Monson Packet
Free Printables

LDS.org - the source of so many wonderful things to read including, the four books of scripture and all of the magazines. Don't forget that all of the standard works and most of the magazines are available in audio format as well. Gospel Link - Truly an amazing collection of LDS books and materials. I found many of the classic books I wanted on this website.

Book of Mormon

Book of Mormon Lapbook - Free activities that coincide with the Primary 4 lesson manual.
Book of Mormon Notebook Pages - from ldsnotebookingpages.blogspot.com - We are hosting them here because of occasional inappropriate ads at Media Fire and we did not want to send people there.

Bible

Free Old Testament Worksheets - Heart of Wisdom website.
Free New Testament Worksheets - Heart of Wisdom website.

Church History

Latter-DayProphets.pdf (100 pgs.) - from ldsnotebookingpages.blogspot.com - We are hosting them here because some of the pictures on the hosting service they are using are inappropriate and we did not want to send people there.

Literature

2009-01-04T13:55:00.003-07:00

This is a compilation of online lists of literature, mostly classics, that are age appropriate. There are also some free eBooks listed that are books that are over 75 years old and are no longer copyrighted.

Book Report Ideas

Book reports do not need to be boring or routine. They can be as adventurous as the book itself. Here are some ideas to get you thinking as well as some basic book report forms.

Create a Lapbook
Discussion Group
Act out your favorite scene
Build a Model of your favorite scene
Write a character sketch
Draw pictures of the main characters in the book

Book Report Forms

Copy Work, Handwriting, and Composition

2009-01-03T13:51:00.003-07:00

Handwriting

Handwriting Without Tears
Zaner-Bloser
Handwriting for Kids - Free printable worksheets.
Handwriting Worksheet Maker
ABC Teach - D'Nealian style worksheets
D'Nealian Handwriting Worksheet Generator
Learning Page - Free handwriting worksheets for Zaner-Bloser, D'Nealian, and cursive.
New McGuffey Reading and Writing Copybook

Copywork

Copywork is just that...copying down phrases, scriptures, favorite sayings, proverbs, Articles of Faith, or anything you want. It is helpful for memorizing meaningful verses.

Donna Young - Copywork and Dictation.
Simply Charlotte Mason
Copywork - Article on LDS-NHA website.
New McGuffey Reading and Writing Copybook

Composition

Writing Strands
Wordsmith - Wordsmith Apprentice (4th-6th), Wordsmith (7th-9th), Wordsmith Craftsman (10th & up).
Editor in Chief - by the Critical Thinking Co.

History and Social Studies

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Story of the World - M. B. Synge (Free version)

Story of the World - by M. B. Synge

Story of the World - Susan Wise Bauer version

The Story of the World - by Susan Wise Bauer - Free planner/workbook.

Other Resources

Time Travelers History Studies Series - Homeschool in the Woods
Dan Hunter's Living History Books - for older children.
The World Before Christ, an LDS Perspective - Covers the period from 4000 B.C. to the birth of Jesus Christ.
The World After Christ, an LDS Perspective - Covers the period from the birth of Jesus Christ to the present.
United States History, an LDS Perspective - Covers the period from the signing of the Magna Carta in1215, to the present.
Native American History, an LDS Perspective - Covers the period from the arrival of the Jaredites,as recorded in the Book of Mormon, to the present.

Thinkwell - For high school aged children. CD based instruction with video and white board lessons. American Government, Public Speaking, and Economics available. (Also see math and science) Academic Superstore has the best prices on this product.
Famous Men Series Links

Free Online Curriculum

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Full Packages

Old Fashioned Education - Classical and Christian based.

Ambleside - Charlotte Mason method.

PASS Textbooks - This free resource was developed by a Florida school district. This list shows which books should be used for middle or high school.

Free Online Curriculum - Partial Resources

This is an ever growing list of free online curriculum resources. Please submit any that you find that are not on this list to our contact page. Thank you!

MIT High School Courses - Includes many free introductory classes and AP level courses for test preparation in Biology, Calculus, and Physics.

eBook Websites

The Baldwin Project - Classical books for all ages to print or read online, many with pictures.

Project Gutenberg - Tons of eBooks available, most are not formatted.

Spelling

Spelling Connections - Online games and spelling test.

Math

CIMT - Free from the UK and part of Old Fashioned Education.

Rays Arithmetic - Free from Google eBooks.

MIT High School Courses - Includes many free introductory classes and AP level courses for test preparation in Biology, Calculus, and Physics.

Grammar

Scott Foresman Grammar - Grammar workbooks for 1st through 6th grades.

McGuffey Readers - Free eBooks.

KISS Grammar - K-12 - Includes workbooks and some additional online exercises.

History

Famous Men of Rome - by John H. Haaren

Famous Men of Greece - by John H. Haaren

Story of the World Book 1 - by M. B Synge

Story of the World Book 2 - by M. B. Synge

Science

Discovery Channel Games

Science Channel Interactives

MIT High School Courses - Includes many free introductory classes and AP level courses for test preparation in Biology, Calculus, and Physics.

Science in the Kitchen

Home Science Tools - This catalog provider has an area of free science projects.

Worksheets Creators

Worksheet Works - Math, English Language, Geography, Puzzles, Misc.

Curriculum Resources

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Curriculum is as varied as each individual family. We have worked to provide as many resources as we can that do not directly conflict with the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is important to realize that individuals may find some materials inappropriate for their family's needs.

Full Curriculum Packages

Full curriculum packages usually offer a discount for buying the entire package and have sales periodically through the year. Most full curriculum companies also sell their products piece-meal.

A Beka
Accelerated Achievement
Alpha Omega - LifePAC - Switched-on-Schoolhouse
Calvert
Covenant
Critical Thinking Company
Iron Rod - LDS based curriculum
K12
Kindred Learning - also known as the Four Year Plan - LDS based curriculum that encompasses history, science, English, scriptures, life skills, and family focus.
Robinson Curriculum
Rod and Staff
Sonlight
Veritas Press

Home School Curriculum Reviews

Cathy Duffy

Online Catalogs

Latter-day Family Resources - Wonderful online catalog for LDS families. Sign-up for the print catalogs as they explain everything they sell and include family homeschooling photos.
Rainbow Resources - The most extensive and inexpensive resources I have found to date. Their catalog is the size of a phone book!
Academic Superstore - Tons of software available to homeschooled students at a huge discount!

Home Schooling Methods

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There are many methods of home schooling out there. It is not our purpose to suggest or promote one method of home schooling over another.

Arizona Public Online Schools
Charlotte Mason
Classical Education
Dr. Ruth Beechick - Three R's method
Eclectic - a little of this, a little of that.
Montessori

Cathy Duffy Reviews - approaches to education reviews.

Waldorf Method

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From Waldorf Without Walls:

Waldorf Education is based on the work of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. Its premise is that the human being has three aspects: thinking, feeling and willing, and that education has to come from experiencing the world from all three aspects. Waldorf Education does not use textbooks. The children make their own based on their experiences.

Waldorf Education is particularly adaptable for Homeschooling the independent, hands-on learner, the child with ADD or ADHD or just the child who is frustrated with the time consuming nature of academic schooling.

Waldorf Resources

The Home School Learning Network

Waldorf World

Online Waldorf Library

Unschooling

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Unschooling is the term for child-led education. Children are allowed to freely experience learning in a natural state.

Online Resources

Unschooling.com

Family Unschoolers Network

Unit Studies

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Thematic units that cover the core basics of study centered around the theme. Everything can be covered, except possibly higher maths, within the unit. Unit studies does not have to be purchased. Many families find it more fun and easier to develop their own. To get started it is sometimes nice to try a unit study or two to get the hang of it.

Online Resources

WA LDS Family Educators - Explanation of Unit Studies and tons of resources.
WALDSFE Unit Studies link
Unit Studies - by Amanda Bennet
Five In A Row
Konos - Christian based units for purchase.
Iron Rod - LDS based units.
Heart of Wisdom - Christian based unit studies.
Home School Learning Network - Inexpensive units for download.
Learning Pages - Free downloadable worksheets.

Thomas Jefferson Education

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Thomas Jefferson Education is a set of principles or concepts used to provide a leadership education for children (and adults). These concepts are outlined in the book A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century by Oliver Van DeMille.

The Goals of TJEd Leadership preparation or education has three primary goals (quoted from the book):

To train thinkers, leaders, entrepreneurs, and statesmen – individuals with the character, competence and capacity to do the right thing and do it well in business, government, church, school, family, entertainment, research and other organizations.

To perpetuate freedom, to prepare people who know what freedom is, what is required to maintain it and who exert the will to do what is required.

To teach students how to think. Those who know how to think are able to lead effectively and are able to help society remain free and prosperous.

How Leadership Education is Different

Leadership education is different from other types of learning in that the curriculum is individualized. It requires depth and breadth of knowledge, quality work and real world application. It is obtained through classics and mentors. It is created individually for each student by taking into consideration the Four Phases of Learning and by implementing the Seven Keys of Great Teaching. It is also different in that it requires the parent to lead by example; to be a mentor. The parent is to study each day and show their children that learning is a life-long and worthwhile process.

Online Resources

Thomas Jefferson Education Consortium

Thomas Jefferson Education Classics for Youth List

Thomas Jefferson Education 100 Classics List

5 Pillars List

5 Pillars Certification from George Wythe College

5 Pillar Certification Checksheet

Homeschooling with Intention and Purpose (HIP) - Statewide support group with local chapters throughout the state.

American Youth Leadership Institute

Moor House Academy - Resource for the "Scholar Phase" for adults and youth who are looking for an online mentor or direction to take.

Article Written by Toni Miranda

Montessori

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From www.montessori.edu:

Q. What Montessori ideas can I use for school age children?

A. Here are a few of many:

The child is learning all of the time, from the environment and from the adults in the environment. It is better to put energy into enriching the environment and becoming good models than in teaching the child.

Children learn what they love. Anything forced will probably be detested, or forgotten.

A child must know why he has to learn a required subject.

State educational requirements can be reduced to one page per year and the child needs help in learning to schedule time, develop enjoyable methods, and become responsible for meeting deadlines. This work usually takes no more than two or three hours a day.

Follow the child. Aside from requirements, if the child's choice are respected and facilitated she will learn at a level that can amaze parents.

Montessori Resources

The Montessori Method

Montessori Materials

Home School Learning Network

Montessori Homeschool

Ruth Beechick

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Coming Soon!

Ruth Beechick Resources

Mott Media Books

Basically Beechick - Yahoo! Group

We are looking for contributors who would like to write about the method taught by Dr. Ruth Beechick. Please contact us.

Classical Method

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A Classical Education, also sometimes known as a the Trivium, encompasses learning from classic books. It follows a 4 - year rotation for history starting with the Ancients, Middle Ages, Renaissance through 19th Century, and then 20th Century through present.

From School of Abraham:

Classical liberal education is not only the means necessary to imbue students with the skills to become excellent life-long learners, but also the means to be fully engaged citizens, exercising civic duties from a principled understanding of the issues which confront them daily. These, too, are all qualities shared by free and happy men. A genuine liberal education requires a study of the greatest books in the Western tradition, ordered not only in its method, but also toward realizing human happiness and wisdom. ~Mortimer J. Adler~

Progression Through Educational Stages

During the Grammar Stage (elementary grades), children eagerly learn new words and delight to learn the broad outlines and interesting personalities of history and literature.

The Dialectic Stage typically occurs during junior high. These students are busy asking questions and looking for connections. They want to see how things relate to each other. This is the "ohhhh-hhhhh" age, when facts begin to be organized into matrixes, no longer floating free like unconnected balloons.

In the Rhetoric Stage, well into the High School years, your students are increasingly eager to analyze complex situations, breaking them down into component parts, and then putting the pieces back together in new, interesting ways.

Resources on Classical Education

School of Abraham - Classical education resources, based on an LDS point of view.

The Well-Trained Mind - By Susan Wise Bauer

Well-Trained Mind website - a guide to classical education.

Susan Wise Bauer Blog

Memoria Press - Classical, latin based curriculum.

Veritas Press

Latin-Centered education

Charlotte Mason

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From Simply Charlotte Mason:

Charlotte Mason’s methods are gentle, simple, yet amazingly effective. Some home schoolers use all her methods; others use some of her methods along with some from different approaches.

Online Resources

LDS Homeschooling in CA
Ambleside - Explanation of the Charlotte Mason Method and Free online books lists.
Simply Charlotte Mason
Penny Gardner's Charlotte Mason site

Spelling Resources

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Spelling Connections - Free online spelling resource which has games and a spelling test for grades 1st thru 6th. It can be used alone or in conjunction with Zaner-Bloser books.
Free Reading, Writing, and Spelling Resources
Free Homeschool Spelling
Spelling Time - Interactive online spelling lessons and quizzes.
Spell it Right - Free worksheets and lesson ideas.

Science Resources

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Froguts - Virtual frog dissection.
Quick Study Labs - Online Electronics class - Free 1st Class.
Homeschool Science Kits - Many interesting kits for middle school through high school.
Rainbow Resource - Science books, kits, curriculum, etc.
Real Science 4 Kids - Students also explore real science using hands-on activities that are designed not only to teach the scientific method but also help develop the critical thinking tools necessary for all subjects.
Usborne Internet Linked Science Encyclopedia - includes access to quicklinks for additional online information.

Amazon.com Widgets

Apologia - Science curriculum designed especially for home schoolers and based upon Christian ideals.
Delta Science Kits - Hands-on learning because "children learn by doing" is their motto.
Joy Hakim's "The Story of Science" - Well thought out, sequential science book series for those who like to read about science in the order it was discovered.
Singapore Science
TOPS Science
Nebel's Science - Sold by Press for Learning.
Nature Journaling - From Penny Gardner's website for Charlotte Mason users.
Thinkwell - CD based instruction with video and white board lessons. Biology, Chemistry, and Physics available. Academic Superstore has the best prices on this product. (Also see social studies and math)
Discovery Channel Games - Free online games and interactives
Science Channel Interactives - Free online puzzles, memory games, and quizzes.
Forensic Science - Free forensic illustrated texts, worksheets, and labs. For high school aged children.
Kindred Learning - also known as the Four Year Plan- LDS based curriculum includes Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics.
MIT High School Courses - Includes many free introductory classes and AP level courses for test preparation in Biology, Calculus, and Physics.
Science in the Kitchen
Home Science Tools - This catalog provider has an area of free science projects.

Foreign Language Resources

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Foreign Language Resources

Rosetta Stone - Arizona libraries offer the Rosetta Stone program for free online. The languages offered are:
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Russian
- Spanish

Maricopa County Library link

Latin

Memoria Press - Learn Latin using DVD's, flashcards, CD, and workbooks. This program teaches English along with Latin. Based on a Classical education method.
Latin Primers by Martha Wilson
Textkit - Free Latin and Greek grammars and readers.

Critical Thinking

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Critical Thinking (Logic) Resources

Teaching our children HOW to think.

Critical Thinking Company - All of their products are geared towards logic. Their Mind Bender series are highly acclaimed.

Mind Benders Beginning Book 1 (PreK - K)
Mind Benders Warm Up (K - 2)
Mind Benders - A1 (3 - 6)
Mind Benders - A2 (3 - 6)
Mind Benders - A3 (3 - 6)
Mind Benders - A4 (3 - 6)
Mind Benders - B1 (7 - 12+)
Mind Benders - B2 (7 - 12+)
Mind Benders - B3 (7 - 12+)
Mind Benders - B4 (7 - 12+)

Thomas Jefferson Education - focuses on teaching how to think rather than what to think and when to think it.

Math Resources

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Teaching Textbooks - Grades 5 thru Pre-Calculus on CD's with gradebook feature. Free demos and placement tests offered online.
Math-U-See - Manipulative based method for learning math concepts - K thru 12.
Saxon Math - Popular home school and public school math curriculum. Placement tests are available for proper placement.
Singapore Math - Based upon math methods used in Singapore. They are in English, but use the methods used by the Chinese.
CIMT - Free full math curriculum from the UK.
Rays Arithmetic - Free math texts from Google Books.
Thinkwell - Video & white board presentation of topics on the web and CD's. Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Calculus, and Trigonometry (also see science, and social studies). Academic Superstore has the lowest prices on this product.
MIT High School Courses - Includes many free introductory classes and AP level courses for test preparation in Biology, Calculus, and Physics.

Free Online Math Helps

Funschool - educational games for Preschool-6th grades. Click on "Parents and Teachers" tab to search by grade level.
Timez Attack download - Multiplication game. This has a free version and a paid version.
CIMT - Free math curriculum from the UK.
Internet4classrooms - This site has interactive game links for all grade levels. It also has lists for specific skills.
Education Place - Online math eBooks grades K-6th plus Kids Place with online math games, manipulatives, and extra practice.

Yahoo! Groups

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Yahoo! Groups are very popular among home schooling families. We continue to compile lists submitted by our members. Subscribing to our RSS feed will keep you up-to-date on the latest in support group information. Feel free to search our blogs and forum pages for more support information. Our members can also subscribe to specific support groups listed here.

LDS Homeschool Form Share
Classical LDS Homeschool
Faith In God Activity Days
Gifted LDS Homeschoolers
Homeschooled Scouts - A group for incorporating scouting into your homeschool.
Scout School - Another group for incorporating scouting into your homeschool, not LDS.
LDS Preschool at Home
LDS Curriculum Swap
LDS K-12 - A group for those using the K-12 curriculum, both online schools and homeschoolers.
LDS CMC - A group for those using Charlotte Mason and Classical education methods.
LDS CMers - Another group for those using the Charlotte Mason education method.
LDS Unit Studies

Support Groups

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Don't forget to join our Social Network (similar to Facebook, but private). This is taking the place of our old forums. It is free. Click here to join!

National LDS Support Groups

National LDS Homeschool Association - (LDS-NHA) Newsletters, conferences.

LDS Home Educators Association - Newsletters, bookstore, conferences, and uplifting articles.

LDSHomeschooling.org - Online source to find others by stake.

Arizona LDS Support Groups

Phoenix Area

Latter-Day Homeschoolers—Serving Gilbert and the Southeast Valley. This group provides support for local homeschoolers, help with getting connected with other LDS homeschoolers in the area, and monthly history-based parties.

North & West Homeschoolers—Serving Glendale and Northwest Phoenix area People in this group love the Charlotte Mason Philosophy. They plan a mixture of educational activities (Biography/American/Heritage Days, Science/Math Days, perform selections from a Shakespeare play,service, etc.) and field trips throughout the year.

Ensign Educators—Serving the southeastern Phoenix area (Gilbert, Queen Creek, Chandler, Mesa, and surrounding areas) LDS group that meets twice a month for educational field trips and park days.

East Valley Homeschooling Teens - This group is for teens ages 13-18 in the Phoenix East Valley. Please see their webpage for more information and expectations of attendees.

Tucson

Latter-Day Learners—Serving Tucson. Weekly park days, field trips, sharing curriculum ideas, friendly support of each other, and social interaction.

Bullhead City

Tristate Scholars at Home—Serving Bullhead City, AZ, Laughlin, NV, and Needles, CA area. The majority of members are LDS in this group that gets together weekly for P.E. and outside activities. They also have a weekly library day, a monthly party or celebration of some type, plus a monthly field trip that is educationally-based.

National Secular Groups

Home School Legal Defense Assoc. (HSLDA) - Free newsletters, updates on legal issues, and articles on homeschooling.

Arizona Secular Groups

Homeschooling with Intention and Purpose HIP - A Thomas Jefferson Education method support group.

HENA

Public Online Schools

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The online schools are typically tuition free, but have a public school feel in that students are assigned a teacher, are required to take AIMS testing, and record daily attendance.

List of Schools

Arizona Distance Learning - K-12 tuition free, dual enrollment available. Students have the choice of BYU, University of Missouri, and University of Nebraska high school programs tuition free.
Arizona Conncetions Academy - K thru 12, tuition free, loaner PC, Internet reimbursement, statewide, uses the Calvert curriculum.
Arizona Virtual Academy - K-12 tution free, loaner PC, Internet reimbursement, statewide, uses K12 curriculum.
Mesa Public Schools Distance Learning - tuition free for lower grades, some fees associated with high school. High school students can be dual-enrolled in other high schools and college.
Primavera Online High School - tuition free, students can be dually enrolled in other high schools and college.
Sequoia Choice - tuition free, satellite labs available statewide.

Part-time Public Schools

These schools are considered enrichment programs for home schooled students. They are funded by tax dollars and require AIMS testing.

Eagleridge Enrichment Program- Located in Mesa. Students must take AIMS tests. Grades k thru 9.
C.A.S.A Vida - Kyrene School District. Grades K thru 6.