Blog
A Quiet Blog Week
It was been a quiet week on the AHE blog. One lonely post. The other posts in my head just did not get written.
That’s okay.
My days were overflowing this week with homeschooling and home-keeping. Multiplying fractions, getting laundry on and off the line, and peanut butter sandwiches. Piano recitals, descriptive writing and watercolor painting. Days so full, there was no room for blogging.
That’s okay.
When our days fill up with more responsibilities than hours in the day, it becomes vitally important that we take time to prioritize. Home is our first work, our missionary field. The teaching and training of our children that God has called us to must always come first, along with the proper governance of our homes follows. That means that there will be times when we have to leave other interests and tasks behind.
That’s okay.
“There is no more important field of effort than that committed to the founders and guardians of the home. No work entrusted to human beings involves greater or more far-reaching results than does the work of fathers and mothers.”
Adventist Home,182.
Motivation Monday
“God has given inquiring minds to youth and children. Their reasoning powers are entrusted to them as precious talents. It is the duty of parents to keep the matter of their education before them in its true meaning; for it comprehends many lines. They should be taught to improve every talent and organ, expecting that they will be used in the service of Christ for the uplifting of fallen humanity.”
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 368
Making Maximum Use of the Library
The local public library can be a homeschooling family’s best resource. Here are some ideas for taking maximum advantage of libraries in your area:
- Don’t just try the nearest library, make an effort to visit all of the libraries available to you in your area. Different amenities may be available at each location. Get cards from multiple libraries if necessary. Don’t forget to see if the colleges and universities in your area will allow you to check out materials. Colleges with teacher education programs often have excellent educational materials.
- Be sure to pick up fliers listing the resources and activities available at each library. What classes, story times, lecture series and tutoring programs are available?
- Take time to meet the children’s librarian as well as the reference librarian. These librarians are excellent resources for unit study ideas and research projects. They can alert you to resources that you may not know about. Share what you are planning to study for the year. Many times children’s and reference librarians are looking for ideas on new books to order, and your curriculum plans may help.
- Check to see if your library offers inter-library loans for books and videos.
- What online resources does your library offer? Online catalogs are very helpful for searching from the comfort of home. Can you renew your library books online? Does your library give out passwords for special online collections and sites?
- If your library does not give receipts for books checked out, make it a habit to have your children complete a library book log to keep track of how many books to return. Assign a child to mark the due date on a calendar as soon as you return home.
- Are there conference or meeting rooms available for you to reserve to work on a project? A conference room may be a more comfortable space to work in if you are also bringing younger children along.
- Does the library have display space available for larger homeschool projects? Perhaps your library may allow your child to display his science project for a week or two.
- Are there special library privileges for teachers that you can also use, such as longer check-out dates, or sets of themed materials. It never hurts to ask!
- Are there library-related service projects available for your child to participate in? Sorting books for a book sale, organizing display cases, etc.
Motivation Monday
“Educate the children and youth to consider the works of the great Master Artist, and to imitate the attractive graces of nature in their character building. As the love of God wins their hearts, let them bring into their lives the beauty of holiness. So shall they use their capabilities to bless others and to honor God.”
Child Guidance, 48
Do You See What I See? Free Unit Study Printable
There has been a great discussion on the AHE-List about how to create unit studies. I was inspired to create a printable of ideas for creating a fun multi-disciplinary unit study based on the Adventurer Club award Spotter. Print the requirements for the Spotter award first, and then this spotter unit study idea list for additional activities.
Join the AHE-List if you’d like to ask questions and share ideas about homeschooling from a Seventh-day Adventist perspective.
Do You See What I See? Free Unit Study Printable
There has been a great discussion on the AHE-List about how to create unit studies. I was inspired to create a printable of ideas for creating a fun multi-disciplinary unit study based on the Adventurer Club award Spotter. Print the requirements for the Spotter award first, and then this spotter unit study idea list for additional activities.
Join the AHE-List if you’d like to ask questions and share ideas about homeschooling from a Seventh-day Adventist perspective.
The Adventist Home Educator 