from my friend Nicole…

 

"Be careful of reading health books. You may die of a misprint."

Mark Twain

what education should make you…

***snagged from this webpage - http://backyardfarming.blogspot.com/2010/08/education.html***

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Education

"Whatever education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which would be your road map through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important: how to live and how to die."

-John Taylor Gotto

A large part of why I homeschool is out of the hope that my children will find themselves as they study and learn.  That instead of heading to college without any clue what they are good at or what they like, they will have spent their adolescence unearthing their talents and skills.  And that in that process they will discover the world.  That they will feel a part of the community - that they will know what contribution they can make - and are able to make one even before they are adults.  I hope that they will learn how to live.  I love being a part of that miraculous process.  A process that may happen in a public school, but in my opinion, in spite of it not because of it. 

Megan

a lifestyle of learning….

 

home education and graduation

 

I like what this mom has to say about graduation… that the intangibles are more important than grades and such. 

http://harmonyartmom.blogspot.com/2011/05/weekly-wrap-up-graduation-with-capital.html

“I have been reflecting over the past week about homeschooling and "graduating" our children from our homeschool. If all we were doing was preparing them academically, then this would be an easy task....we could administer a test to measure if they had met the graduation goals. I guess you could count up credits and decide if they were academically ready for graduation as well. But after all my reflecting and meditating about Graduation (yes, a capital G), my husband and I decided that the intangibles were more important than anything else as far as deciding if a child is ready to graduate. The qualities and attitudes of the child in the end seem more important than any grade or score we have recorded in Homeschool Tracker. This is something to remember when I get caught up in particulars of texts and courses. Mr. B will reap the benefits of our new found goals in homeschooling.”

getting ready for my facilitator visit…

SCHROCK FAMILY HOME EDUCATION  ---  

Traditional Home School – Program Plan

OVERALL GOALS:

1. To achieve the outcomes contained in the Schedule included in the Home Education Regulation (page 38 in this document - http://education.alberta.ca/media/1225757/home%20education%20handbook-v2010.pdf)

2. To facilitate the exploration and pursuit of Jordan and Deanna's personal interests and passions.

GOALS:

1. Reading for understanding, information and enjoyment (covering many topics in social studies, science, literature and more).

2. Communication, written and spoken. (Typing skills, handwriting, discussions, research, note-taking, email, journals, letters, etc)

3. Mathematics (simple math, Algebra, consumer math, etc). (books, games, projects)

4. Life skills – personal and home management, work experience (volunteer and employment). (exercise, health, money management, time management, cooking, computer and information technologies, etc)

5. Relationships with self and others (fellowship, Mug Up, social events, etc)

LEARNING METHODS AND TOOLS:

Independent reading, discussions, research, direct instruction (classes), workshops, co-op learning, field trips, projects, people/mentors, internet, TV, videos, and more

ASSESMENT METHODS:

Observation, discussions, daily marking, oral questioning, supervision and evaluation by our facilitator/school board.

OUTLOOK OF THE YEAR'S ACTIVITIES:

September to February – major focus on academics, work experience, project with homeschool group

March and April – work experience (employment) with 43 Ranch Ltd, light academics

May and June – light academics, field trips, camping, work experience

July and August – family holiday, gardening, projects, summer employment

________________________________________________________

 

Schedule
Learning Outcomes for Students
Receiving Home Education Programs That
Do Not Follow the Alberta Programs of Study
1 A basic education must provide students with a solid core program including language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
2 Students are expected to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that will prepare them for life after high school. A basic education will allow students to
(a) read for information, understanding and enjoyment,
(b) write and speak clearly, accurately and appropriately for the context,
(c) use mathematics to solve problems in business, science and daily life situations,
(d) understand the physical world, ecology and the diversity of life,
(e) understand the scientific method, the nature of science and technology and their application to daily life,
(f) know the history and geography of Canada and have a general understanding of world history and geography,
(g) understand Canada’s political, social and economic systems within a global context,
(h) respect the cultural diversity, the religious diversity and the common values of Canada,
(i) demonstrate desirable personal characteristics such as respect, responsibility, fairness, honesty, caring, loyalty and commitment to democratic ideals,
(j) recognize the importance of personal well-being and appreciate how family and others contribute to that well-being,
(k) know the basic requirements of an active, healthful lifestyle,
(l) understand and appreciate literature, the arts and the creative process,
(m) research an issue thoroughly and evaluate the credibility and reliability of information sources,
(n) demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills in problem solving and decision making,
(o) demonstrate competence in using information technologies,
(p) know how to work independently and as part of a team,
(q) manage time and other resources needed to complete a task,
(r) demonstrate initiative, leadership, flexibility and persistence,
(s) evaluate their own endeavours and continually strive to improve, and
(t) have the desire and realize the need for life-long learning.

quote

 

“Strong role models and unconditional love can heal even the most emotionally impoverished person, and that goes for adults as well as youngsters.”
-Ann Landers

boys and writing

 

I was frustrated yesterday because of a writing assignment I gave Jordan.  He is so resistant to writing, to putting his thoughts in written form.  So I went on a Google search to find some help with this and found this quote:

 

“The I.B.S.C. on boys' writing:

"Their ability to write a well structured, well organised, thoughtful, cogent, coherent essay is frequently poor. Boys have difficulty in responding to questions in examinations appropriately, constructing essays, researching topics in sufficient depth and detail and taking and keeping useful sets of notes. "

Source: I.B.S.C. Website”

http://motivatingboywriters.blogspot.com/

 

So how do I help him get past this?

SCHROCK FAMILY HOME EDUCATION: Year End Report 2010 – 2011

 

The 2010 – 2011 school year has been a very relaxed learning year. We had no formal curriculum or program plan. It was the year of learning from the ‘University of Life’, which one never graduates from, only continues learning from until their days on earth are done.

We kept in mind the TRADITIONAL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES and I think addressed many of them in various ways this year of learning.

_________________

SELF EVALUATION:

Although this year has not been our best year for focusing on academic learning, I do feel my kids have grown as people. They have moved forward as the people they are now and who they are becoming, following their interests and passions to the best of their abilities. I remember one morning Wes watching the kids out the window. Deanna was with her little zoo of animals and Jordan was riding his horse with his Papa, and Wes said out loud - “our kids are living their dreams.” And it is true. This is one of the reasons I first wanted to home school my children (before I actually had any children, myself just finishing high school). I wanted my kids to have the freedom to pursue a life without the shackles of school attendance. The teen years are such an opportunity to explore the world and what it has to offer before the responsibilities of adult life limit you. And that is what this year has been for Jordan and Deanna. They have had the opportunity to try out life and follow their dreams – and it has been a great year of growth and accomplishment.

_________________

Here are my notes of what we have been doing from December 2010 till May 2011.

REAL LEARNING TAKES PLACE EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY. And it is hard to record all the learning that takes place in everyday life.

BOTH STUDENTS

1. Work experience and employment with 43 Ranch Ltd.

2. Attended numerous Christmas concerts.

3. Swimming

4. On Your Own learning Co-op (Jan – Feb 2011)

5. Cow Whispering class (Feb 2011)

6. Red Cross Babysitting Course (Feb 2011)

7. Play – Kokonut Kapers – performed by home school students (Red Deer) (so good we went to watch it twice)

8. Unschool Your Teen seminar (April 2011)

9. Attended the AHEA convention in Red Deer (April 2011)

10. Sundre Community Passover service (an in depth look at the characters at the last supper)

11. Spring cattle drive

12. Hosting a petting Zoo Mug Up (June 8^th) – show off their animals, horse rides

13. Discussions: 1. high school options, 2. options for income (career, job/employee, self-employed, -- pros and cons of these different options, discussed people we know and what choices they made and how it affects their life)

JORDAN

1. Lazer tag with F.L.T. In January.

2. Teaching assistant for Paul Desrosiers (Lego Class in Red Deer) (January and February 2011)

3. Horse Auction (bought one horse) January 2011

4. Sportsman Show (Red Deer – Feb 2011)

5. Attended THE MANE EVENT (Red Deer – April 2011) – horse convention/classes

6. Read various novels (from personal book shelves and public library)

7. Bought second horse (Kijiji sale) in Feb 2011

8. Math – working through the book “MASTERING ESSENTIAL MATH SKILLS (middle grades/high school) by Richard W. Fisher”

9. Worked 322.5 hours from Dec 2010 – May 2011

10. Used horses for cattle work on 43 Ranch.

11. Watched video series on horse training by Stacey Westfall.

DEANNA

1. Volunteered weekly at the local Thrift Store.

2. Joined the Sundre Community Choir (weekly practices and numerous performances in Sundre, Olds and Red Deer).

3. Babysitting for friends and family.

4. Optometrist check up – needed glasses

5. Scrapbooking

6. Odd and Unusual Auction Sale (April 2011) – sold 2 llamas, bought 10 chicks

7. Gifted 5 goats and 2 llamas in Dec 2010.

8. Goat kidding season (May 2011) – 8 babies born

9. Attending the horse show CAVALIA in Calgary (May 31, 2011)

10. Read various novels (from personal book shelves and public library)

11. Math – working through the book “MASTERING ESSENTIAL MATH SKILLS (middle grades/high school) by Richard W. Fisher”

12. Worked 212.5 hours from Dec 2010 – May 2011

13. Breeding rabbits project with her friend Nicole.

--------------------

waiting on God

 

Waiting on God is like waiting for a flower to bloom. If you try to do it yourself, you'll mess it all up.

from Terry on my homeschool e-group…

 

Have you made your summer to do list (with the kids) yet?

Inspired by this blog:

http://www.mommycoddle.com/2010/06/the-summer-list.html

Here is a list to give you inspiration!

http://www.digitalreflections.typepad.com/digital_reflections/2009/06/100-free-things-to-do-with-your-kids-this-summer.html

CATTLE DRIVE–SPRING 2011

 

An “Insider Perspective”: Do You Need a University Degree to Succeed?

 

Read the article here - http://www.upgradereality.com/an-insider-perspective-do-you-need-a-university-degree-to-succeed

 

“If you’re willing to work harder than others (be the first to arrive and the last to leave), if you’re willing to put in time and effort to improve, then there is no doubt that you will succeed whether you have a degree or not.”

 

What is your opinion on this subject? Did you study? Do you think that you needed to? Are you doing what you studied to become?

"When you're younger, think less and do more; when you're older, do less and think more."

 

"When you're younger, think less and do more; when you're older, do less and think more."

 

this quote found here: http://www.number27.org/etc.html

“I'm just getting started — can you offer any advice?
A wise mentor once told me: "When you're younger, think less and do more; when you're older, do less and think more." I see a lot of (especially young) people get frozen by the paralysis of indecision. Just start making stuff until something catches. Once you've tried a number of things, it will be easier to see which ones have a future. Another bit of encouraging advice I like very much is what Ira Glass has to say about taste. Here are a few other insights that may be useful as well.”

Life is about not knowing

 

Marc and Angel Hack Life - Practical Tips for Productive Living

Everyone wants a perfect ending. But over the years I’ve learned that some of the best poems don’t rhyme, and many great stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, or end. Life is about not knowing, embracing change, and taking a moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next. - via http://www.marcandangel.com/

36 Character Qualities

TO STUDY WITH THE KIDS…

http://www.characterfirst.com/programs/students-families/

36 Character Qualities

The Character First Education curriculum is organized into four series—each series includes nine character qualities—for a total of 36 carefully selected traits.

Most schools focus on one character quality per month, so a series of curriculum can easily fit one school year. With many resources to choose from, let an education specialist help you find the curriculum best suited for your needs and values.

Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
Series 4

Attentiveness 
Responsibility
Diligence
Dependability

Obedience
Patience
Loyalty
Thoroughness

Truthfulness
Initiative
Hospitality
Determination

Gratefulness
Self-Control
Sensitivity
Thriftiness

Generosity
Punctuality
Enthusiasm
Availability

Orderliness
Resourcefulness
Flexibility
Deference

Forgiveness
Tolerance
Discernment  
Compassion

Sincerity
Creativity
Cautiousness  
Persuasiveness

Virtue
Discretion
Boldness
Wisdom

The Life I Should Have Had

 

 

The Life I Should Have Had

click on the link to read this great article… http://charlottesiems.com/thislovelyplace/life

 

“In the final analysis, it is not our experiences that change us. It is always and only our responses to those experiences.” ~ Elisabeth Elliott

the Christian life

 

‘The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it.

It comes the very moment you wake up each morning.

All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals.

And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back, in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view…

Letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.

And so on, all day.

Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings

Coming in out of the wind.” ~C.S. Lewis

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/05/weekends-are-for-coming-in-out-of-the-wind

our daily bread

 

Wayne and Brad talk about religion’s downfall

 

Religion’s Downfall

According to some the rapture is at hand, so this may be our last podcast. But Wayne and Brad share a conversation about how the priorities of religion separate people instead of unifying them in the love of Christ. A recent interview with Eugene Peterson about the conflict he has suffered since writing an endorsement for Love Wins, and and excerpt from Robert Farrar Campon’s book about The Parables of Grace provide the backdrop to discuss why religion is such a force humanity and how easily it draws our hearts away from things of first importance. The power of religion collapses in the human heart when we are settled in the love God has for us.

http://thegodjourney.com/2011/05/20/religions-downfall/

the mystery of chronic pain

 

apple cheddar melts

These look really yummy! - http://www.menus4moms.com/notesfromthekitchen/stepbysteprecipes/apple-cheddar-melt/

feed one

 

"If you can't feed 100 people,

feed one"

~Mother Teresa

a friend

 

"A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."
- Proverb

from facebook -

 

Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys

Trying so hard to teach our boys this: "A stiff apology is a second insult... The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt." - G. K. Chesterton

101 Things To Do This Summer–from my HS newsletter

 

1. Have an old fashioned weenie roast - and make your own mustard. There are over 100 recipes for mustard in the following
link. http://www.melborponsti.com/inxmtd.html
2. Interview your grandparents. They're interesting people! Find out what games they played when they were young, what
their parents were like (your great-grandparents), what kind of clothes they wore, etc. If you can, record the interview. You'll
be glad you did. http://genealogy.about.com/cs/oralhistory/a/interview.htm
3. Learn a new talent. What do you really wish you could do? Talk to your parents about it--they can help you achieve your
goals.
4. Build a fort. This can be in your living room--made out of blankets, or in a tree with wood and braces. If actual
construction is involved, you will need an adult's supervision--and depending on where you live, you might even need a
building permit or approval from a Homeowner's Association. But think of how much fun it will be!
5. Learn to play an instrument. Many music teachers are reaching out to homeschoolers on our Local Homeschooling pages.
http://www.homeschool.com/supportgroups/ Piano, violin, guitar, voice and more! And yes--your voice is a beautiful
instrument!
6. Slide down a hill on a piece of cardboard--but first, check out this link!
http://wings.avkids.com/Curriculums/Forces_Motion/sliding_howto.html
7. Learn about musicals. Watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof. Note how
modern music has incorporated musical lyrics from these productions. Discuss how these musicals would be different if
made today. These are FUN musicals--you will enjoy them.
8. Read The Little Prince. This is a phenomenal piece of literature with multiple layers, and it's a short read. Discover why it
has been translated into more than 180 languages and why it has sold more than 80 million copies making it one of the bestselling
books ever.
9. Go to the beach or the lake and build a sandcastle. Get your family and friends involved.
http://www.ehow.com/how_7470_build-sand-castle.html
10. Lie outside at night and watch the sky for shooting stars. Find out why shooting stars aren't really stars at all.
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question12.html
11. With your parent's permission, redecorate and rearrange your bedroom. You can purchase Oops paint for as little as a
dollar a gallon at your local paint/hardware store.
12. Make your own play dough. There are lots of fun variations at the following link.
http://www.simplymoms.com/art/playdoh.html
13. Spend one afternoon of quality time with each individual in your family. Have a tea party with your little sister, play
cards with you brother, and hang out with your Dad. Enjoy spending time with those that love you.
14. Go camping--even if it's in your backyard! If you happen to have a trampoline--trampolines make great sleeping surfaces.
15. Turn into an expert. Pick a topic you're really interested in and research it online. Better yet, pick one subject per week.
You'll be impressed with all you've learned by the end of the summer.
16. Read Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene and watch the video starring Kristi McNichol and Bruce
Davidson.
17. Check out your local paper to discover any neighborhood, free-admission activities. Lots will be going on in your
community and you don't want to miss a thing.
18. Get up at dawn and appreciate the coolness and peaceful feeling of the early morning. Compare it to the sweltering
afternoon.
19. With your family, float down a slow river on an inner tube. Or maybe, a not so slow river--tubing is a blast!
20. Play badminton. It's a fun game. Compare it to ping pong and tennis. Just because you're good at one doesn't mean you're
good at the others. Why is that? http://www.badminton.org/badminton-rules.html
21. Learn about bats, why they are important and why they are beneficial. Did you know that a bat can eat as many as 1,200
mosquitoes in an hour? Try building a bat house. http://wildlife.state.co.us
22. Have a piñata party. First, make your own piñata. http://www.makepinatas.com/
23. Take a fencing class! Did you know that fencing is a source of college scholarships? Many fencing teachers are reaching
out to homeschoolers. http://www.homeschool.com/supportgroups/
24. Attend your sibling's game and REALLY root for him/her.
25. Bake a cake and then decorate it. There are a number of cake decorating shows on television--watch a few and then see
what you can do. Have fun with it. http://www.wilton.com/decorating/decorating-basics
26. Designate theme days--Blue Day, Backward Day, Funny Hair Day, etc. The options are endless.
27. Have a Silly String fight, a water balloon fight or a pillow fight. Have some raucous fun! Get permission first.
28. Spoil your pet for a day. Give your dog a bath, play ball with him, and take him for a walk. Likewise, cuddle your cat, pet
your hamster, talk to your bird, etc. Spoil your pet several times over the summer. Turn it into a habit.
29. Do something especially nice for Father's Day (June 19th). Show your Dad how much he means to you. Write him a letter
expressing your love or make him something he'll enjoy. Possible craft ideas can be found at the following link.
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/7-easy-to-make-gifts-for-fathers-day?pnid=109116
30. Roast marshmallows and make S'mores. If you can't roast the marshmallows over a fire, a broiler will do!
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Broiler-Smores/Detail.aspx
31. With your parent's permission, get a job or an internship.
32. Learn to sew, embroider or crochet. Maybe your grandmother can teach you.
33. Every day, look up and learn 2 new words from the dictionary.
34. Lounge on a hammock. Better yet, make one first! http://www.ehow.com/how_2180458_improvise-a-hammock.html
35. Have a neighborhood outdoor game day. Revisit 4-square, Red Rover Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose, Mother May I and
Hide and Go Seek.
36. Attend a first aid class. You never know when this knowledge will come in handy.
37. Tour a college campus. There are pros and cons to touring during the summer months and you can read some of these at
the following link. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/62655-college-tours-summer.html
38. Choose a day--or two--and perform random acts of kindness. See how others respond. It's very rewarding.
http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/
39. Talk to your parents about what you'd like to learn next year in your homeschool program. Chances are your parents are
looking at curriculum now--so now is the time to speak up!
40. Find a mentor. Want to learn a specific skill or knowledge? See if someone in the community can be your mentor. This
can be a family member, family friend, or someone you don't even know yet.
41. Make a work of art in your driveway using multi-color chalk. Get permission first though. Did you know you can draw
with wet chalk? http://www.wikihow.com/Create-Wet-Chalk-Drawings Or, did you know that professional artists have done
some amazing chalk art? http://www.rense.com/general67/street.htm
42. Learn about cotton candy. There's not nearly as much sugar in cotton candy as you might think.
http://www.cottoncandy.net/
43. On a really hot day, go to the dollar movies and enjoy the air conditioning!
44. Learn how to French braid. http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-french-braid-hair-2
45. BE a mentor!
46. Check out the website www.sporcle.com . See how quickly you can fill in the 50 states.
http://www.sporcle.com/games/states.php
47. Learn jump rope tricks. Find jump roping videos on the internet to give you inspiration. It's AMAZING what people can
do with a jump rope! http://www.buzzle.com/articles/jump-rope-tricks.html
48. Do some crazy fun science experiments (explosions, etc), with your parent's permission of course.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html
49. Learn how to make pickles. Did you know they come from cucumbers? http://picklethis.com/taxonomy/term/26/9
50. Blow bubbles with bubble gum--gigantic, wonderful, BIG pink bubbles. Have blowing contests with your siblings. You
can even learn how to blow one bubble within another! http://www.ehow.com/how_2105861_blow-bubble-gum-bubble.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2222361_blow-one-bubble-gum-bubble.html
51. Swing on a tire swing or a rope swing. Don't have one? That's an easy fix! http://www.ehow.com/how_2085185_tireswing.
html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2105748_make-rope-swing.html
52. Decorate your bike... spruce it up... and ride with friends.
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/howtodecoratebikebicyclescraftskids.html
53. Learn how to do the backstroke.
54. Run through the sprinklers--this never gets old! Or participate in the fun celebration of Slip-n-Slide!
55. Make "custom" Kool-Aid by mixing flavors.
56. Jump on a trampoline. It can be a backyard trampoline or a trampoline fun center. Trampoline fun centers seem to be a
new craze and are popping up all over the country.
57. Find a museum that interests you. Many museums have homeschool programs and summer camps. Some of these are
FUN! See if a museum in your area is reaching out to homeschoolers. A good place to start is our Local Homeschooling
pages.
58. Volunteer!
59. Make a new friend. Reach out to someone who has just moved into your neighborhood or to someone that maybe doesn't
have a lot of friends. They might end up being your best buddy.
60. Give your grandparents a big hug for no reason!
61. Take an etiquette class. Learn when to use specific forks and how to be polite at all times.
62. Learn the physics of skateboarding. http://www.exploratorium.edu/skateboarding
63. Barter your services. Want to ride a horse? Offer to clean out stalls in return for riding time. Want to take guitar lessons?
Offer to mow the instructor's lawn in return for lessons. Get your parent's permission and then make sure you follow through
on your end.
64. Think about what you want to be when you grow up and find out what type of education is required. Go online and
determine the demand for the field and the starting salary. Some adults do what they love regardless of the compensation,
others go into a field because of the pay. http://www.careeronestop.org/
65. Go to the drive-in movies with your family. Drive-ins are disappearing. Enjoy them while you can.
66. Learn how to do a cartwheel.
67. Celebrate the first day of Summer (June 21) by listening to songs with the word summer in them. What songs can you
come up with?
68. Go to a garage sale... or two... or three. They're great fun.
69. Exercise in the pool. It's so much easier than on dry land--and more enjoyable too.
70. Clean your room for absolutely no reason, other than to surprise your Mom.
71. Play hide and go seek--in the DARK! Turn off all the lights in the house... and play for hours. Warning--this can get a bit
raucous. Parental permission required.
72. Do yard work for an elderly neighbor. Cut the grass. Plant some flowers. Make a difference.
73. Try a food you've never tasted before. Go on... take a bite!
74. Dream big!
75. Check out the website www.freerice.com . Learn and help people at the same time.
76. With your parent's permission, have a yard sale and donate the proceeds to charity.
77. Learn to whistle.
78. Understand the science behind fireworks. http://www.howstuffworks.com/fireworks.htm
79. Learn to hula hoop and learn some fun tricks! http://www.ehow.com/how_2239194_do-simple-hula-hoop-tricks.html
80. Make a bird feeder out of a used milk container. Learn what kinds of seeds will attract the birds you want (make sure
there are lots of dark sunflower seeds in the mix).
81. Eat breakfast for dinner.
82. Start a collection. What do you like? Rocks, stamps, figurines?
83. Go a day without phone calls, texts, TV, radio or computers.
84. Make banana splits. http://www.ehow.com/how_2011_make-banana-split.html
85. Prevent brain drain withTime4Learning's online education program. Summer should be fun. With Time4Learning, it can
be!
86. Devise a fire plan for your home.
http://earlychildhood.suite101.com/article.cfm/developing_a_fire_safety_plan_with_kids
87. Become a tourist in your own town. What do tourists see when visiting your area? Have you seen these same attractions?
88. Make up with someone. Go ahead, end the feud!
89. Make a bucket list of things you want to do before you are 12, 16, and 18. Share this with your parents. See how you can
start crossing things off your list.
90. Learn all about wolves. http://www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/learn.asp
91. Understand the physics behind roller coasters. They aren't as dangerous as they seem!
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/parkphysics
92. Eat healthy! http://helpguide.org/life/healthy_eating_diet.htm
93. Find out how hot air balloons work. Depending on where you live, you might be able to go on one or at least watch them
take off. Did you know they actually make a lot of noise? http://www.howstuffworks.com/hot-air-balloon.htm
94. Read the book The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter. If you can, watch the 1958 feature film adaptation produced by
Walt Disney Productions and then compare the two.
95. Play hop scotch with your young siblings.
96. Learn how to bowl. http://www.wikihow.com/Bowl . Many bowling establishments have homeschool hours, homeschool
days, youth leagues, etc. Many are advertising in our Local Homeschooling section.
http://www.homeschool.com/supportgroups/default.asp
97. Make pink lemonade bars. http://www.kitchendaily.com/recipe/pink-lemonade-bars-83236
98. Do something... anything you choose... to make you a better you.
99. Learn to read music.
100. Make and fly a kite. There are 19 kite possibilities at: http://www.howtomakeandflykites.com
101. Last but not least... get ready for school to resume. Summer is GREAT but so is the fall!

here and there and the rabbit trail…

 

 

Fatigue Be Gone!
Natural Energy Boosting Breakfast Recipes – (* A 12 yr-old who skips breakfast has the reaction time and mental agility of a 70 year old in the classroom. (Wonder how that ages adults in the office, in the car, in relationships ...)) - http://www.fatiguebegone.com/breakfast.htm

-----

A SABBATH EXPERIMENT - http://www.undercovermother.net/2011/05/sabbath-experiment-scheduling.html

-----

THE LIFTED VEIL LIFE - http://www.thatmom.com/2011/05/16/6197/

The Obedience-based Life vs. The Grace-based Life

You live to please God vs. You live to trust God
A performance vs. A relationship
A duty vs. A delight
Predictable vs. Fluid
Promotes fear vs. Promotes faith
Creates worry vs. Creates calm
Masked vs. Transparent
Critical Spirit vs. Compassionate Spirit
Sense a lot of guilt vs. Sense a lot of freedom
Inclines towards pridefulness vs. Inclines you towards humility
Outside-in management vs. Inside-out surrender
For “church” people vs. For everybody
More natural vs. More supernatural
Focuses on being good vs. Focuses on being connected
Lends itself to self-righteousness vs. Lends itself to organic obedience

-----

GUARDING AGAINST WORLDLINESS - http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/2011/05/guarding-against-worldliness.html

-----

CHARACTER FIRST - http://www.characterfirst.com/programs/students-families/

-----

Curiosity Journal - http://comewearymoms.blogspot.com/2011/05/friday-favorites-6-and-curiosity.html

A typical Curiosity Journal includes sections for what you are reading, playing, learning, reacting, and writing.

-----

CURIOSITY JOURNAL #2 - http://annkroeker.com/2011/05/10/curiosity-journal-may-11-2011/

-----

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Study Course
Youth Discipleship Training Course in the Hebrew Roots of the Christian Faith - http://www.hoshanarabbah.org/bar_mitzvah.html

-----

BLUEPRINT FOR A MODERN DAY TEMPLE OF GOD

http://www.alanknox.net/2011/05/blueprint-for-a-modern-day-temple-of-god/

http://jonjourney.blogspot.com/2011/05/temple-blueprint.html

-----

111 LESSONS LIFE TAUGHT US - http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/05/15/111-lessons-life-taught-us/

-----

RAPID SKILL BUILDING

 

“

Our whole lives we’ve been trained to think that gaining knowledge, building skills, and simply learning how to do stuff takes a lot of time.

The traditional education system for most people lasts about 16 years.  Sure much of that is spent in your younger years learning the essentials of communication, math, basic history – but imagine if right now you spent 16 years learning nothing but things directly relevant to your life.

The amount you could accomplish is nothing short of mind-blowing.

However, no one thinks 16 years in advance these days.  Hell, people hardly think 16 hours ahead.

One of the most underrated and valuable concepts in life is that of rapid skill building.

”

TO READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:

http://www.seanogle.com/headline/rapid-skill-building

 

 

FROM THE COMMENTS SECTION:

Justin Hamlin said:

I will preface this by saying I have worked as an IT consultant for almost 10 years. When I started out, I thought I needed to know EVERYTHING off top of my head. I studied books, websites, shadowed other engineers. Within 4 years I went from a telemarketer to a Sr. Engineer making 6 figures. You want to know the most important skill that I learned? How to talk to people and how to find the information you need.

It has nothing to do with being an expert of everything all at once. It is more important to be proficient in a lot of things and have the knowledge how to take 48 hours and turn a topic you know nothing about into something you are proficient at and can sell.

The Dad Life

 

Mommy Rhapsody -- LOL!

 

CAFFEINE POSTER

Source: coolinfographics.com via Robin on Pinterest

reading lists–what is on yours?

 

Reading List

Schools don’t have a monopoly on knowledge: you can teach yourself everything you need to know to succeed in life.  You can get a world-class education by reading the books listed below.  However, don’t forget that once you learn something you have to go out and apply it!

Without further ado, here are the top books about education, communication, culture, neuroscience, business, and design.

to read the list, click on the link: http://uncollege.org/reading-list/

CHECKLISTS

 

Checklists

Checklists help to keep you organized and sane. Why try to remember everything you need to do for a big event or a small grocery shopping trip when you can easily print out a complete list of what you need to do or buy?

Use our handy checklists for all the big and small things in your life and you'll be more organized in no time, without forgetting a thing!

 

FIND ALL THEIR CHECKLISTS HERE –> http://www.momswhothink.com/checklists/checklists.html

When a church building is just one place among many

 

When a church building is just one place among many

by Alan Knox

I’ve already suggested that it would be more healthy for churches if Sunday became just one day among other days and leaders became just one person among the church.

There’s another focus for many modern churches that can be dangerous: the focus on a particular place or building.

read his article here –> http://www.alanknox.net/2011/05/when-a-church-building-is-just-one-place-among-the-many/

Pictures May 2011

books

 

Even when reading is impossible, the presence of books acquired produces such an ecstasy that the buying of more books than one can read is nothing less than the soul reaching towards infinity… we cherish books even if unread, their mere presence exudes comfort, their ready access, reassurance. –A. E. Newton (1863-1940)

a quiz

 

1. Inside, I feel like I'm (what age): pretty old lately 

2. A goal I'm working on right now: decluttering my bedroom

3. My most recent achievement: didn’t participate in a fight someone was trying to start with me  (my tongue really hurts now though).  LOL!

4. The last gift I bought for someone: some new shirts for my niece Selina’s birthday

5. The last CD I bought: I didn’t buy it, but I did get the new Johnny Reid CD for Mother’s Day on Sunday.

6. My current favorite song: Teenage Daughter’s by Martina McBride (it makes me laugh).

7. The last *great* meal I ate: bbq steak, baked potato and caesar salad on Saturday night

8. The last book I read: So You Don’t Want to go to Church Anymore (well actually the whole family has been listening to it while we drive in the car).

9. The last new thing I learned: I learned one should NOT stay up till 4am talking, the recovery at this age could kill you!  LOL!

10. What I'm wearing right now: I am still in my pj’s at the moment 

11. The last person I talked to on the phone: Carrie

12. What I ate for breakfast today: So far I have only had coffee but I plan to have the last piece of chicken pizza from last night’s supper.  (read this quote the other day:  I am not addicted to coffee, we are in a committed relationship!)

13. What I thought I'd be doing by this age: I never really think ahead in my own life (and yet agonize over my children’s future lives…. weird huh?).  I guess I would have thought I would be employed somewhere outside the home, kids in high school, getting ready for them to graduate, or some version of that.

14. Something I'm saving up for right now: our family holiday

15. Someone I think about a lot: people, relationships, family, my kids and their future, how I am doing as a parent.  (really my mind is pretty cluttered and moves at lightening speeds… it is scary in there.  LOL!)

16. The last person I helped: Deanna… I helped her move her chicks to the outside pen, and I helped her with her baby goats (who are absolutely adorable!)

17. The last thing I apologized for:  the behavior of individuals in our family (I didn’t have to but I was so sorry she got dragged into the chaos that makes up the fabric of our relatives.  sigh… )

 
18. Something I'm worried about: my kids future (have I done everything I can to prepare them for their life???)

19. What I wish for when I see a shooting star: for everyone to experience real love <3

20. What my plans are for the rest of this day:  to rest mostly, be lazy, maybe work on the mountain of laundry piled up (but no promises… hee hee).

 

8 ALTERNATIVES TO COLLEGE - http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/01/8-alternatives-to-college/

 

FROM DAVE BLACK’S BLOG:

10:40 AM Kevin Brown's first book is due out later this month. Its title is Rite of Passage in the Home and Church: Raising Christ-Centered Young Adults. Today I finished writing writing the foreword.

I am often asked for advice from young pastors and seminarians about how to implement New Testament truth into the life of a local church. I usually refer them to members of their own generation. There are a handful of younger adults who seem to understand the church, our culture, and how to apply biblical truth to both. Writers like Eric Carpenter, Alan Knox, Arthur Sido, and Kevin Brown are people who will help the Christian community find its way forward. These men are precious gifts from God, and their contributions to the church are greatly appreciated by their blog readers. They are engaged, informed, and ready and able to offer well-reasoned and biblical responses to the issues churches face today.

How often are we wrong about our suppositions! Mary supposed Jesus was the gardener. The disciples in the boat thought He was a ghost. Joseph and Mary assumed He was traveling with them when actually He was back in Jerusalem. And how many times do we in the church assume His presence in our programs when He is nowhere to be found.

God has provided instruction on how we should raise our children. If we are to love Him with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind, then there is a right way by which to honor Him. The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, and so we must always go back to the Scriptures if we are to understand His ways correctly. Today we draw up our blueprints for "youth ministry" and seek divine endorsement instead of seeking first the divine Word. We do not inquire, as we should, "Lord, what do you want me to do?" It is high time we reported to His headquarters for our marching orders.

The last invitation of the Bible says, "Let the one who is thirsty come" (Rev. 22:17). My friend Kevin Brown is a pastor who hungers and thirsts desperately after God. He is conscious, deeply conscious, that there is only one source of Truth when it comes to our youth. If we drink of this Truth and receive it by faith, we will overflow to the glory of God and the blessing of others.

What a blessed pattern for youth is set forth in Scripture! Our greatest delight as parents should be to see our children living for Christ. There is indeed a biblical pattern to parenting, but there are many impediments, not least our enslavement to tradition. Our Lord was careful to stress that children were important to Him. It is a mistaken notion that youth require entertainment and games. There is no adult Holy Spirit and teenage Holy Spirit. There's just the Holy Spirit, and all who possess Christ are to love and serve Him. Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 12. It is of first importance that the church stop marginalizing its youth. How ridiculous to act as though the Gospel could not transform our teenagers' lives!

You will observe that this book does not claim to be the answer to every question you might have about parenting or youth ministry. Raising responsible teenagers is a work of God. Only He can transform our lives. Except the Lord build the house we labor in vain who build it. Kevin Brown says the time for flimsy alibis is over. It will take rugged tenacity and inspired stubbornness to see it through. But the pay-off comes when the world is obliged to acknowledge that the work was performed by the Lord.

Yes, says brother Kevin, Christian young men and women can be "strong" (1 John 2:14). The tragedy of today is that our sights are too low. Have you ever considered what the Scriptures have to say about the matter? If not, I urge you to make a start of it now, by reading this excellent book. Our Father would be pleased to give us so much more if we only had the faith to ask for it.

Look for an announcement shortly from Energion Publications about the book's exact release date.

 

- http://www.churchtaskforce.org/blog/2010/11/20/discipleship-speaking-about-christians-versus-speaking-to-christians/ – “In the book of Acts, Luke is speaking about Christians as he continues to “set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us” to Theophilus.  The chart below identifies the most frequently used words that refer to Christians. These are the words that the Holy Spirit chose to describe Christians to others.”

“While we have each other as living examples, we are together disciples of Jesus Christ. So, maybe it is not so much “who are you discipling” as it is “who is your brother with whom you are laboring alongside?””

 

Learning to Live in the Broader Traditional Church Culture - http://eric-carpenter.blogspot.com/2011/05/learning-to-live-in-broader-traditional.html

“This is a learning process. I'm still trying to figure out how to embrace the people but not the institutional structure. That can be tricky. One thing I'm trying to do is almost immediately look past the traditions to their hearts. I want to discuss things like fellowship, service, and sharing Christ with others. If they see these things through institutional structures, then I may have to listen to those things but focus on them as people.”

 

RAISING CHRIST CENTERED YOUNG ADULTS - http://dkevinbrown.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/raising-christ-centered-children/

 

WHAT CAREER ADVICE WILL YOU GIVE YOUR CHILDREN? - http://parentables.howstuffworks.com/family-matters/what-career-advice-will-you-give-your-children.html

 

PHOTO SCANNING SERVICE - http://photoscanning.ca/whatwedo

 

HOMEMADE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE WASH - http://networkedblogs.com/hoGJs

 

FOREGIVENESS IS A CHOICE - http://www.graceisforsinners.com/life/tell-their-story/

 

NINE THINGS SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO DIFFERENTLY - http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2011/02/nine_things_successful_people.html

 

A Compilation of Sing-Along, Folk, & Rock Guitar Songs - (with chords and lyrics) - http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/~aparsons/guitar/guitar1.html

 

HARD STOPS, NEW STARTS - http://inspiredtoaction.com/2011/03/inspired-to-action-stories-christa-wells/

 

THE CHURCH LIVING TOGETHER AS FAMILY - http://www.alanknox.net/2011/04/the-church-living-as-family-together/