Author: Ann

Blessed to homeschool in rural east Texas. Two graduated, one to go!

Inspiration and Helpful Tips for Homeschool Fathers

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We don’t talk enough about homeschooling fathers.  Nor inspire or encourage them enough, especially since most of them must leave the home each day to provide for the family.  Fathers, add these links to your summer reading list, and be reminded of the important role you play in your children’s lives.

“Children neeMan and Child Having fun in the park.d more of their fathers and fathers need more of their children.“The first sentence of Gary Wyatt’s article is so true!  The habits that Wyatt encourages homeschooling fathers to develop are timeless.

It is a challenge for a working father to stay closely involved in homeschooling his children.  The title of Sarah Toney’s article, Involving Dad: Tips for the Working Father focuses on Dad, but her tips also give Mom some work to do.  A great read for both parents.

The late Chris Klicka has left a lasting spiritual legacy in his Top Ten Tips for Homeschool Dads article.  He was a lawyer for the HSLDA at the time of his death, which gives the foundation for his 10th tip.  His tips are ones that Christian homeschooling fathers should read and re-read often.

Homeschooling Fathers: How Dads Can Help Struggling Readers gives 5 ways a father can help his children with reading.  You don’t have to wait until the school year starts to implement these tips – now is a great time to start.

 

Motivation Monday

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house“The effort to make the home what it should be—a symbol of the home in heaven—prepares us for work in a larger sphere. The education received by showing a tender regard for each other enables us to know how to reach hearts that need to be taught the principles of true religion. The church needs all the cultivated spiritual force which can be obtained, that all, and especially the younger members of the Lord’s family, may be carefully guarded. The truth lived at home makes itself felt in disinterested labor abroad. He who lives Christianity in the home will be a bright and shining light everywhere.”

The Signs of the Times, September 1, 1898.

A Fruitful Adventure

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blueberries

 

Blueberries and blackberries are ready in east Texas.  That means the you-pick farms are open.  Time to pick berries!

Heading out to a “you-pick-the fruit” farm is a great summertime field trip.   With one trip you can take time to enjoy time nature, learn up-close about how our food grows and return home with something yummy to eat!   Many you-pick farm offer a tours and  picnic areas, so plan to make a day of your fruitful adventure.

Don’t know of any you-pick farms in your area?   Pick-Your-Own is a great online directory of farms organized by U.S. state as well as 13 countries besides the U.S.   You can also ask at farmer’s markets or your local farm/feed store.

 

If you’ve never visited a you-pick farm before, here are a few tips:

*Wear a hat and sturdy closed toe shoes.   Save your summer sandals for later.

* Bring a cooler to transport your goodies home.

*You need your camera to capture memories of summer fun!

* Take time to ask a few questions and learn about how produce in your area is grown.

 

 

 

 

 

Motivation Monday

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Family Portrait“I cannot see why we should not the more earnestly try to bring the peace of Christ right into our family than to labor for those that have no living connection with us; but if we have religion in the home, it will extend outside of the home. You will have it everywhere.  The heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences.”

The Ministry of Healing, 349

Motivation Monday

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heart on wood“The heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences.”

The Ministry of Healing, 349

Hymns and Scripture Songs as Music Study

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An interesting way to add music to your home school curriculum is with the study of hymns  and/or the memorization of Scripture songs.       The use hymns and Scripture songs for music can easily be tailored to fit your family.

 The value of song as a means of education should never be lost sight of. Let there be singing in the home, of songs that are sweet and pure, and there will be fewer words of censure, and more of cheerfulness and hope and joy.

Messages to Young People, 292

Organize Your Study

Choose the number of hymns and/or scripture songs that you would like to study for the year.  Some families prefer to concentrate on just one hymn or song per month, others may rotate through two or three at one time.  You could further refine your hymn/song study to align with your Bible curriculum or a particular period in history.  It might be interesting to study several hymns from one author, or choose hymns that fit a particular theme. You could select the hymns sung by church pioneers  or choose to learn  new hymns to add to your family’s worship repertoire.

In regards to hymn study, there are so many details to choose from that will make your study interesting:choirbook21
*Author of the hymn
*Composer of the music
*History of the tune if is a traditional tune
*Scriptural reference that goes with the tune
*Date and circumstances behind the hymn
*The hymn as poetry
*Memorize the hymn
*Learn to play the hymn on whatever instrument you choose
*Object lessons that the hymn may teach
*Using the lyrics for handwriting practice/copy work
*Listening to both instrumental and vocal versions of the hymn

 

Hymn & Scripture Song Resources

Sing A Bible Verse–  Free sheet music for more than 300 original songs by Wayne Hooper provide an easy way for children – and adults – to memorize Bible verses.

Thy Word Creations – Sells books and CDs for Scripture memorization with music.

Adventist Book Center – Don’t forget there is a companion book to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal that gives background information for each hymn.  There is also Early Advent Singing, which includes a history and story about each hymn from early Adventist history.

The SDA Digital Hymnal website is a collection of midi files and other resources based on the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal.
The Cyber Hymnal website contains over 8,000 hymns.  It is an excellent hymn study resource with lots of author and composer biographies.

Hymns for Kid’s Heart features free sheet music as well as free mp3 files for a nice selection of hymns.  You can also purchase the full-featured book that includes author biographies and a devotional for each hymn.

The best free hymn study resource that I’ve found on the web is the Squidoo lens by  blogger and  homeschooling mom, Jimmie.  She shares some great free hymn study note booking pages that she created, as well as a web page full of good ideas.

Here is  a printable/downloadable .pdf  version of this post  to add to your notes:   Hymn Study pdf

 

 

 

The value of song as a means of education should never be lost sight of. Let there be singing in the home, of songs that are sweet and pure, and there will be fewer words of censure, and more of cheerfulness and hope and joy.

Messages to Young People, 292

Get Your Toes Wet! {Ocean Unit Study Resource Links}

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Does an Ocean unit study sound like fun?  Here are six resource links to get you started.  Add in a trip to an aquarium or to the beach and you will have a unit study to remember!

whale awardWhale Adventurer Award-  A good place to start with seven activities that cover several curricular areas.

Fish Adventurer Award–  Another fun award that starts with a hunt for “fish stories” in the Bible.

Marine Invertebrates Pathfinder honor–  Looking for something a bit more advanced?  Try this honor’s requirements.  There are several other ocean-related honors in the Nature category of Pathfinder honors.

LearningPage.com’s  Oceans Funsheets-  Free ocean-themed math, science and language printables for PreK-grade 3.  Don’t miss the printable mural!  Requires signup, but that is also free.

Free ocean unit study lapbooks and literature-based printables from Homeschoolshare.com.  Includes a helpful library book list as well.

What’s an ocean unit study without some free starfish, seahorse and squid coloring pages to decorate with?

Table Coral