Spring Fever Unit Study Sale! Gardens, Easter, Baseball...

Just in case you've been BUSY during the holidays, :-)

I thought you might want to know that there are just 2 more days to catch the Spring Fever Special, which includes Gardens, Baseball, and Easter Unit Studies for a special package price of only $24.95:

Spring Fever Unit Study Package

Looking forward to the promise of spring,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Spring Fever just around the bend...

Christmas 2008 is now a page in history, and hopefully you and your crew had a blessed Christmas and are enjoying a peaceful holiday. It is raining here today, and I see that many parts of the country are experiencing winter weather that keeps everyone indoors and, well, cabin feverish!

Always the optimist, I decided to look ahead through my new 2009 calendar for some bright spots in the coming months. I discovered:

Spring training for baseball begins in just five short weeks - hurray!

Indoor seed planting for this year's garden will begin at about the same time, and this will be the year to carefully plan a productive family garden, to save money and get everyone working toward a common goal.

Easter is celebrated on April 12th this year, so the time to begin the Easter Unit Study will be in early March this year. This is my favorite study of all of the holiday unit studies, and I hope it will become a favorite of yours, as well.

With these three calendar observations along with hints of cabin fever just beginning to surface here, I put together a special unit study package at great savings for this last week of 2008. It includes three unit studies for only $24.95 - Baseball, Gardens, and Easter Unit Studies on CDROM. Follow this link to learn more:

Spring Fever Unit Study Package 

Looking forward to the promise of spring,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Interesting perspective on family life and today's economy

Here's an interesting article that I ran across while working on my new book about family vacations:

The Roaring Twenties & the Roaring Nineties

I like this line:
"We will still need to tap our own natural resources, to repeal the massive regulatory chokehold on the economy, to return education to the states and local communities, and away from the straight jacket of federal mandates."

Keep learning!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Spring Fever Unit Study Package

Plan now for an awesome start to the New Year! 

Spring Fever Unit Study Package

Easter
Gardens
Baseball

All three studies (12 weeks of daily lessons) for only  $24.95 *

Retail Value: $44.85
Savings of $20 - more than 40% off!
* Spring Fever Package special offer is good
through 12/31/08

Facebook, anyone?

After much poking and prodding, I have finally set up a Facebook page:

Unit Studies

Now, to begin to figure out how it works - give me a few days.

Drop by and say Hi if you are on Facebook, and no laughing at my page,
OK? :-)

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

What are your children's ten favorite fiction books?

Books, books, books - a favorite topic here! I was trying to list what I think are probably our children's favorite, most-read, top ten fiction books, and here's my list:

My Side of the Mountain
The Bee Tree
Oh, the Places You'll Go
And the Relatives Came
One Wintry Night
My Rotten Red-Headed Older Brother
Thunder Cake
Little House in the Big Woods
Where the Wild Things Are
Green Eggs and Ham
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

And how did I choose these? Well, let's just put it like this - I know almost all of the words to most of these books! :-)

What are the favorites at your house?

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Trying times and tender memories...

I know that these days are very trying times for families, as well as times that our children will remember for the rest of their lives. There are always going to be trials, and our children learn to weather the trials by watching their parents. I was thinking back to my own childhood today, during a time when I was experiencing double ear infections, and the doctor could not get them to clear up. Week after week, I would struggle with rupturing eardrums, and at the ripe old age of eight, I was sure that things could not get much worse.

Christmas was approaching, I had missed most of the crafts and festivities at school in past weeks, and there I was, confined to bed and totally miserable. I will never forget one very special day with my mom, though. On the day of my class Christmas party, my mom got all of the other kids off to the school bus, and then came in to the bedroom with a sly look. Times were so tough for our family then, and the financial outlook for a festive Christmas was grim. However, my mom had splurged on a small package of styrofoam balls, a bottle of white glue, and two tubes of red and green glitter, and we had a blast that day. While she taught me how to drizzle the glue onto the ornament in patterns and then sprinkle the glitter onto the glue, she shared some stories of Christmas when she was a child during the Depression. I loved the ornaments, but I was mesmerized to hear about her life "back in the olden days."

I will never forget that day or the love that my mom showed just by sitting there with me, sharing her stories and passing the day with me, when I knew that there were many other things she could have been doing. That's what love is all about, isn't it? As parents, it is sometimes difficult to see just how much our worries and concerns impact our children. It isn't until we actually catch our breath, sit down, and share some time as well as some of ourselves that we all begin to realize that love is the key ingredient.

Now, everytime I see styrofoam balls, I am reminded of that time and the lesson of love. Think about it today, and try to trust Him. I read a great message on a church sign recently: "You cannot worry and trust God at the same time!" I like that.

Blessings,
Amanda B.

Phil. 4:6-7
www.unitstudy.com

Christmas: A Study of Love

  The warm feeling of love, the snug feeling of togetherness and family,
and the joy and excitement of celebration --
all to be found in many American homes this time of year.

From the preparation and celebration of harvest and Thanksgiving to the last day of the Twelve Days of Christmas, there is a wonderful feeling of love everywhere, and as homeschooling families, we can take this time to learn, prepare our homes and our hearts, and share with others throughout the year.

At our house, we begin planning for the holiday season by preparing unit studies on both Thanksgiving and Christmas. This has become a regular tradition here, and one that is eagerly anticipated year after year. With each year of holidays comes a new slant or area of interest for our learning adventures, and we have never worked on any unit study in the same way twice! We use these holiday studies to help us grow in our knowledge as well as giving the children more time to thoroughly prepare for and understand the meaning of the holidays -- the history, literature, geography, science and music represented within the holiday theme.

In this article, I would like to focus on studying Christmas as a family unit. What does Christmas mean to you and your family? Ever take a close look with your family, asking them what they think? Write down their comments without criticism or discussion. Then, ask them what they like best about Christmas and then what their favorite holiday tradition is -- if they are old enough to understand. This is a great way to begin the Christmas season, and is usually a real eye-opener! What significance do you give to the true meaning of Christmas?

I first wrote the Christmas Unit Study to meet this need in our own home. We wanted to study this with the children, learning together and drawing us all closer in your own celebration. We were tired of the commercialism that had worked its way into Christmas and had to reflect very closely on what and how we had celebrated in the past, as well as finding ways to focus on the true meaning of Christmas -- the reason for the celebration -- His birth. We worked with the children to define what Christmas means to our family and what we would like to change. How could we celebrate Christmas with our family, our church, our neighbors and our community with the right emphasis? After all, this event we are celebrating was foretold in almost 400 different prophecies in the Old Testament - quite a fulfilling event when our Savior was born! Why shouldn't we celebrate it as least as much as we do the birth of one of our own babies?

Like me, you probably get overwhelmed with catalogs in the mail this time of year. But recently, one that we received really caught the attention of one of the children. It has a picture of Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus on the front cover, but it is somehow very different. My son looked at it and said, "Look, Mom -- they had a baby! Look at how happy they are!" Unlike so many other nativity scenes where Mary and Joseph have rather nondescript faces, this one shows them as parents getting a first good look at their new baby -- utmost joy and pride and awe and love. Their expressions also reflect what I imagine that God felt about then, too -- pride and love for His own Son.

We have tried to look back at the expectations we had before each baby was born -- the joy, the fear, the concerns and the love. As we talk about these feelings of expectations, we can connect them to the feelings of God's children as they heard for so many years about the coming of the Savior and their own feelings of expectation. Then, how Mary and Joseph must have felt with their own special knowledge about this baby and Who He was. You can celebrate Advent to take a close look at the prophecies, the Birth and what His coming means to you as Christians. We do things like learning some of the prophecies of the Old Testament, and having the older children look to find where each of these prophecies were fulfilled. God does keep His promises, doesn't He!

We also include some geography, following the path of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, and try to understand what their trip was probably like. They had to travel just under one hundred miles over rough roads, using their feet and a donkey for transportation. It took them at least a week to make the journey -- contrast this for the children, using some other trip that they remember that was about that far, and how you covered the distance in under two hours.

We study what the area was like during that time of year -- quite a bit like where we lived in Florida several years ago -- no snow! It would have been a warmer climate, and citrus would have been getting ripe, with plenty of olive, date and palm trees. The children were so amazed to find out that the first Christmas weather was so much like that of Florida -- so then they asked, why do we associate so much snow with Christmas?

Another big question -- why exactly do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th, anyway? After hearing both sides of the argument over whether Christmas is a Christian or a pagan holiday, I decided to do some research of my own to include in the study and the findings were very interesting. Before the fourth century, Jesus' birth was celebrated on January 6th, along with the Epiphany. Then, as Christianity moved through Rome, Pope Liberius of Rome, in 353 A.D., researched historical records to try to establish the actual day of Christ's birth. Remember -- the whole journey to Bethlehem was to participate in a census and pay appropriate taxes -- record keeping! As a result of his work, the Pope decided to make December 25th the official day of celebrating Christ's birth.

Now, for the 12 days of Christmas. I was reading a beautifully written book recently, The Christmas Book by Alice Lawhead. The author has a whole section about slowing down the frenzy and focusing on the meaning of Christmas. She offers ideas like celebrating Christmas throughout the original 12 days of Christmas, which begin on Christmas Eve and continue until January 6th, which is the celebration of Epiphany, marking the Wise Men's visit to the Baby, the first visit of Gentiles to see the new King. Why not make cookies and have more of the festivities throughout those 12 days with family, instead of spending December in a flat-out rush to get it all ready for that one day, and be so eager to have it all out of the house! This way, we can avoid the let-down of December 26th and keep the focus of the celebration where it should be. We also use this study to learn more about the many Christmas traditions, those celebrated in this country as well as other countries. These might include the Yule Log, mumming, the days of posadas, and on and on. Have the children help with the research and then share their findings.

Use the season to read some classics aloud in the evenings while everyone is working on Christmas projects. Consider books like The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates by Mary Dodge, and, of course, we read the Gospels of the Bible.

As children get older, there are two books that they might enjoy, Two from Galilee, Love Story of Mary and Joseph and Three from Galilee, the Young Man from Nazareth both by Majorie Holmes. These books have made the people and the nativity so much more real to all of us, and added new depth and understanding to the event on a human level.

There are so many books about Christmas available now and most of my favorites can be found at local Christian bookstores. Some of them are One Wintry Night, by Ruth Bell Graham, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson, 101 Ways to Have a Christian Christmas by Brenda Verner, and The Scriptures Sing of Christmas: An Advent Study of Christmas, by J. Ellsworth Kalas.

It is my hope that you all relax and enjoy the holidays, learning and sharing as a family, and that the adventures will bring you many happy memories in the years to come. May God bless you and your family abundantly!

May the Lord bless you and keep you; 
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you;
 May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

Blessings,
Amanda B.

www.unitstudy.com

Copyright 2008 Amanda Bennett

Kids and Christmas Business

In my spare time, I am working on a book about Kids and Business, having raised three entrepreneurs here at our house. They have had many great adventures in business, and this time of year brings some of their seasonal ideas to the forefront - here are two:

Ship a Holiday Gift Tree 

Merry CHRISTmas Bumper Stickers 

This year, I had the opportunity to speak on kids and business at the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati - and it was GREAT! I met so many young entrepreneurs, full of ideas and energy, and asking plenty of questions. I am expanding my topic, addressing the questions that they raised as well as adding some of our insights collected along the way.

I will be speaking at the Midwest Homeschool Convention in 2009, and look forward to meeting many of you there in Cincinnati. This convention has developed into one of the finest - including a broad spectrum of homeschooling and parenting resources and speakers, and the attention given to meeting the needs of Christian homeschoolers is among the best. 

So, as I continue to write and prepare for the next season of conventions, I am wondering - are your children developing their own businesses? What kinds of things are they promoting or creating, and how is it going?

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com  

What is Advent?

Today is the first day of Advent, my favorite time of year. This is the season of reflecting on the first coming of Jesus as well as preparing our hearts for His second coming. During these weeks of reading and preparation, we are reminded that God ALWAYS keeps His promises. In writing my Christmas Unit Study, I wanted to make sure that children learned about the Old Testament prophecies and God's fulfillment of each one through His Son. They need a clear picture of God's commitment to us, and His love that knows no bounds. If you are wondering what Advent is all about, here are a few great resources for learning more about this special time:

What is Advent?

The Season of Advent and Hope

Advent Wreath Prayers and Scriptures

All About Advent

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Make some EASY Christmas gifts!

How are things going at your house as we are now one week from Thanksgiving? I'm sure that the "crisis cleaning" has begun in many homes just like ours! :-)  That is one added benefit of having the big annual clan gathering at our house -- everything gets cleaned and scrubbed thoroughly as we head into this season of blessings.

I mentioned yesterday that I would be sharing holiday gift ideas over the next few weeks, and here are today's fun and simple projects that will make much-appreciated gifts:

Making Potholders from Worn Towels and Washcloths

How to Make a Denim Pocket Potholder

How to Make Quilted Pot Holders with Recycled Towels and Fabric Scraps

Hanging Pocket Tool Holder: Vintage Sewing Tutorial
I want this one for MY kitchen!

10 Clever Dish Towel Crafts

54 Free Apron Patterns You Can Make

What a great bunch of ideas that are practical and look like fun! Hope they help your crew with some ideas. Also, remember that many of these gifts would be much appreciated at the nursing home, VA hospital, by neighbors and in the church kitchen.

Counting my blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

 

 

Ideas for a Homemade Christmas

With Thanksgiving just a week away, I've started gathering ideas for those of us who are looking at enjoying the special season in a meaningful and affordable way. I will be blogging about some of my finds over the next few weeks, and more are included in my Christmas Unit Study (which is now downloadable at the TOS store).

This is such a beautiful time of year, a time to be amazed at how our heavenly Father unfolded His plans for us - and how He always keeps His promises. The story of Christmas, the birth of His Son, is rich with characters that we can all learn so much from - here's a website that tells the stories of these twelve in both text and through some wonderful online audio files:  The Twelve Voices of Christmas from Back to the Bible. Don't miss this site!

I recently discovered a great project for kids of all ages, for some gift ideas that can be made around the kitchen table:  Watercolor and Crayon Name. These can be made and placed in inexpensive frames for family and loved ones - using their names!

Then, I had a great idea - what if we used the Watercolor and Crayon Name project and used the names of those Twelve Voices of Christmas? They can then be placed around the house throughout the holidays, as reminders of the real meaning of Christmas. The children could create the drawings for Gabriel, Zacharias, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph, and the others. The drawings could be brought out, year after year, and enjoyed for holidays in the years to come.

Stay tuned -- I am gathering quite a collection of ideas for a wonderful homemade Christmas season! Share your own ideas here in the comments, and THANKS!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

 

Fun online Thanksgiving art project!

This is a fun project, and the outline of the turkey is there to download - wonderful!

Turkey Scratch Drawing

While this project recommends using oil pastels, we have always done these scratch drawings with regular crayons, and the results have been beautiful.

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Favorite Christmas children's book now on sale

I am often asked for a list of our favorite Christmas books for the family, and the one of these is One Wintry Night, by Ruth Bell Graham. Right now, CBD has the gift edition of this book on sale for only $6.99, a savings of $6.00 off of the regular price. This is a beautiful story book, written and illustrated to grab the attention of children and adults alike - it is a must-have for this season. Here's the link and description:

One Wintry Night
By Ruth Bell Graham

"One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham blends a contemporary story with the whole history of God's redeeming love, and is brought to life by rich, beautiful illustrations. When a young mountain boy is caught alone in a sudden snowstorm, he takes refuge in a cabin his grandfather had helped build many years before. The woman living there shelters the boy and attends to his badly swollen ankle. She passes the hours they are snowbound by telling the whole panorama of God's involvement in human history from creation to the resurrection. The rich texture of Richard Jesse Watson's illustrations makes One Wintry Night a captivating reading experience and a family treasure. With both instant appeal and an aura of timelessness, this book will fascinate both those who have heard the Bible story many times as well as those who know only a few details."

Mrs. Graham wrote a lasting story that explains God and His plan, leaving readers and listeners with an unforgettable picture of the reason for our Hope!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

I found the perfect Christmas craft & recipe book!

While getting this year's Christmas Unit Study ready, I came across the best Christmas-for-everyone book:

Gooseberry Patch: Christmas All Around the House

The book will be a keeper here - filled with EASY crafts for folks like me who can be craft-challenged, recipes that are actually SIMPLE, and loads of easy-to-make gifts for the whole family. There are gifts-in-a-jar recipes and ideas that I've never seen, as well as things to make that are practical and definitely affordable - things like neck-warmers, and much more.

I am listening to Christmas music today as I work on my holiday newsletter, and checking out the projects in this great book that we can work on when the house is filled with company for Thanksgiving. Some of these crafts will be perfect for this big clan of family and friends as we gather together to thank the Lord for His abundant blessings!

Giving thanks always,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

 

Pine Cone Turkeys & Pine Cone Bird Feeders!

I know that some of you have  been busy with the Thanksgiving unit, and
making the PInecone Turkeys for decoration. For those of you who aren't familiar with this fun craft, here's the link:

Pine Cone Turkeys

Now, when you get finished with these, your children can use the
leftover pine cones to make some fun bird feeders, and here are a few
links that will help:

Pine Cone Birdfeeder 1

Pine Cone Birdfeeder 2

We made these when I was a child, and the birds loved these feeders. We also strung popcorn to hang on the trees for the birds, which was also a big hit with our feathered friends. Be creative, and see what your children can do! Then, when the feeders are in place outside, have them keep track of the kinds of birds that visit the feeders, writing it in their journals and identifying the birds.

More Thanksgiving Fun Crafts

No matter what a day holds, it is never boring in a home that
homeschools!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Thanksgiving Learning - Gratitude?

With so much going on this time of year and the rapid approach of Thanksgiving, the lessons of gratitude and giving thanks can sometimes get lost in the shuffle of family life. I was on an airplane last week, listening to a small child and his mother having a loud verbal debate in the seat behind mine, and it was quite entertaining from where I sat!  I always learn SO much when I travel by plane. :-)

It crossed my mind that in this world of growing instant gratification, the lessons on being thankful get so easily overlooked as parents juggle so much and kids begin to expect so much. I have observed that homeschooled children are typically very grateful when working around them at conferences. They have to be learning this somewhere! I know that when our children were small, we focused on being thankful always, particularly around the holidays. We participated in the Operation Christmas Child boxes, food drives, children's shelters, and other ministry opportunities.  

When working on the Thanksgiving study, I made sure that I kept asking about how they thought the Pilgrims might have felt, along with the natives like Squanto and Samoset. The reason was to make them aware of these people and their feelings, along with the feelings of gratitude and thanksgiving that the Pilgrims must have felt after such a long journey, extremely difficult winter, and trying season of planting and harvesting.

What do you do to help your children develop an understanding of gratitude and thanksgiving, especially during this special season?

 Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

New song for veterans from Steven Curtis Chapman!

Drop by this site to hear the song that he wrote for a wounded veteran that he met recently - it is perfect for this day:

Hear the New Song By Steven Curtis Chapman, “Thomas McBride”

God Bless all of our veterans!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Special Veterans Day Site

On this special day when we honor and remember those that have fought for America, take a moment to visit this website:

www.honorandremember.org

Today, we remember and give thanks for those very special people that we call "veterans." A dear family member passed away recently - one of my biggest fans and supporters. He fought bravely in World War II and came back from the war with a commitment to make sure that children learned about our veterans and honored their service. Visiting schools all over Michigan, he and a fellow veteran talked to classroom after classroom over the years - sharing their stories and bearing the torch of patriotism. I miss his smile and nod of reassurance, as well as knowing he was there, talking to kids and sharing his love of this great country.

He was a man to remember, and a man that I am proud to have counted among my friends. When he first read my book on Patriotic Holidays, he went on and on about how this was needed - promoting it with the VFW, teachers, and other veterans. He kept pushing me to keep on writing, and he loved to tell me how much it meant to him to have kids remember the veterans.

So today, we honor Jack, Billy, Patrick, Ken, and all of their fellow veterans - for their service to this great country, and for their service to support America's veterans.

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

 

Holiday Unit Studies now downloadable in the Schoolhouse Store!

Come celebrate - our Thanksgiving and Christmas Unit Studies are now downloadable at the Schoolhouse Store!

The TOS store is growing so quickly and they are working hard to offer SO MUCH to homeschoolers. Make sure you take a minute to check out their offerings and take a look at all that they have on their shelves!

Remember - it's only 2.5 weeks until Thanksgiving - get started making memories as you and your family learn together!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Time to Give Thanks and Make Memories

The leaves are changing, the mornings are crisp, the apple butter is in the crockpot, and it is that time again - time to gather together and give thanks for our many blessings. I want to take a minute to thank YOU for your commitment to your children. I know just how much it takes to do what you are doing, as I've done it myself for sixteen years. It isn't always easy, and we have to wear many hats - my favorite being the one labeled "Brave and Daring!" :-)

Over the years, I have received many letters and emails, thanking me for the Thanksgiving Unit Study and the lessons and learning that families have ventured through with the study. People have shared lapbooks, journals, photos of costumed Pilgrim and Native American children, and so much more that have all blessed my heart. And the lessons learned seem to have staying power - older and graduate homeschooled kids love to stop me and describe Thanksgiving adventures that they will never forget. They are always smiling when they share their memories, and that's a good sign! You all will never know how much your sharing has blessed ME!

The Blessings Tree concept that I began writing about in the very first edition of this book has now become a lasting memory for children around the globe, according to my mail. I've received some great "Blessings Tree" leaf messages that would melt your heart and others that would make you laugh until the tears flowed. It was a simple concept that has kept us focused on gratitude for our many blessings, and I thank the LORD for the success of this project.

So, let's get busy and get ready - time to give thanks and count our blessings as we go back almost 400 years to the journey of the Mayflower and the courage of those who came to find freedom. The efforts and commitment of a small group people so long ago planted the seeds of freedom that would grow and prosper. Here are a few things that you can do to get ready:

Gather some special Thanksgiving books together from your own bookshelves, the library, the thrift store and garage sales, and put them in a big wicker laundry basket in the living room, and begin a Thanksgiving reading festival. Talk about your blessings, count them and name them, one by one! What are some of YOUR favorite Thanksgiving books? I'll share a few of ours in another post.

Go on a pinecone hunt with the whole crew, from the backyard to the local park, see if you can collect some pinecones for holiday projects like Pine Cone Turkeys and Christmas Bird Feeders.

Find an empty parking lot and chalk out the dimensions of the Mayflower to see just how small that ship was to make such a brave and daring journey!

Bake some autumn food favorites, like gingersnaps or apple butter or caramel corn or pumpkin pie. Share them with friends, neighbors, the local nursing home and especially with others who need a lift.

Hug those kids, and know that your efforts are appreciated!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

It is here at last! We get to VOTE!

Hello everyone! It has been wonderful to hear the good news about the Elections study and how much it has been enjoyed by kids of all ages. Thanks to everyone that has emailed or posted their great reviews and fun. I am so proud of you! Just a few things about the BIG day tomorrow: 1. VOTE, please! So many Americans have fought and died to protect this special freedom over the past 232 years, and we owe them so much for their bravery, courage and ultimate sacrifice. Also, if possible, take your children when you vote so that they can see the whole process and understand the importance that so many people place on this duty and responsibility of American citizens. 2. HELP those that are working with the election process tomorrow. If you can, go to the campaign headquarters of your choice and see what you and your children can do to help. Please realize that the folks there are mainly volunteers and everyone there will be tired and stressed as they wrap up this campaign season. They are tired and can use all kinds of volunteers! Also, think about taking food by the campaign headquarters and the election polling places. They've all been living on too much coffee and not enough sleep, and some regular healthy food, cold bottled water, and special treats would probably be greatly appreciated. 3. REMEMBER that this election process takes place in America year after year, at all levels - local, state, and national. While the office of President is only up for election every four years, the offices of Congress as well as many other positions rotate in and out of our voting ballots every year. If your candidates are not elected, there will be many other opportunities to make your voice heard - never forget that our government was structured for long-term success. 4. THANK a soldier if you see one tomorrow - let them know that their commitment and convictions are appreciated! 5. GRACE - His grace is sufficient to cover all that might happen. I was just reading an article that was pointing out that half of our population will be very disappointed on Wednesday, while the other half will be elated. While Americans tend to be very fair-minded and just, we tend to all want to be winners. We can't all win, but we can do our part and accept the outcome with grace. Now, go and celebrate America, land of the free and home of the brave! Blessings, Amanda B. www.unitstudy.com

Handmade Holidays 2008 online

For those of you getting ready to work on our Thanksgiving and
Christmas Unit Studies, there's a fun month-long, holiday-themed
project that you and your crew might enjoy - here's the link:

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=636

Gearing up for a handmade holiday season here! With Thanksgiving on November 27th this year, I know that many of you are getting ready to begin the Thanksgiving study next week - get ready for a fun learning adventure!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Enjoying the Homeschool Harvest

Harvest....the end of the growing season....clearly signaled by bright orange pumpkins piled high at roadside stands, the spicy tart smell of apple butter cooking at local orchards, and the excitement of local fall harvest festivals. At the festivals, you can see the county's largest sunflowers, the prettiest canned tomatoes you've ever seen, and the artwork so painstakingly created by children of all ages. It is a season of reflection, gathering in, and enjoying the fruits of your labor. I'm writing this today to share some of the lessons I've learned over the past years of homeschooling -- the importance of enjoying each moment of harvest in our lives, whether it is the accomplishment of a child finally learning to tie their own shoes, the excitement of reading their first book all by themselves, the time "they" point out how pretty the trees look, and many other times where the end product slowly but surely peeks out in the midst of daily life.

As some of you know, we have had our share of challenging years following two car accidents and many repair surgeries during our homeschooling adventures. Through it all, we've homeschooled and I'm not sure who has learned more, the parents or the children! Before these accidents, we were driven by a goal of homeschooling them through high school, keeping our eye on the "finished product" goal, instead of the daily accomplishments or "moments of harvest." It is these moments of harvest that I wanted to make you aware of -- that they should be recognized, savored, and remembered. Our "harvest" is not seasonal like a farmer's crop -- our harvest is lifelong, as we love, nurture and encourage our family each and every day. And yes, there are days when this is a TALL order, and it is those days that we can recall the good "harvest moments", days when goals were reached, or thanks was given, or smiles and laughter rippled around the dinner table.

But before we go on, let me take a moment to share the definition of "harvest" with you, taken from Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: harvest -- to gather in (a crop). A farmer plans for his crop all through the winter, then prepares (cultivates) the soil in spring, and finally plants the seeds of a new crop as the spring ends. Throughout the summer, he works on maintaining and protecting his crop, from drought, insects, and weeds. And then at the end of the summer, he finally begins his harvest, gathering in this precious crop that he has worked so hard to grow. Can you see the similarities to our efforts as parents? We plan, plant, grow, nurture, and somewhere along the way, the "harvest" concept kind of gets lost in the search for both shoes, the car keys, the "right" curriculum, and on and on.

Just like raising a stand of fruit trees (or maple trees, pecan trees, etc.), so goes the way of raising a child, in a way:

• A season to prune and maintain the plants themselves (the physical needs as well as the emotional needs).


• A season to fertilize to invigorate the plant's production of fruit (talking, reading, sharing, putting information and caring into their lives).


• A season to tend the fruits as they develop (keeping an eye on their interests, activities, etc.).


• A season of harvest, when the fruit is enjoyed and preserved, keeping an eye towards the future for the next season of growth (protecting them from harm during tough times and planning the next season of growth).


• And then, of course, the cycle begins anew, as the cycle of life thankfully continues.

Given some time for reflection, you can "see" back through this past year and remember some prime "harvest moments", both educational as well as emotional and spiritual. There are also some moments or events that strengthened and united your family, as well. I've made myself keep a small journal of these kinds of harvest insights, both for encouragement and so that I can realize the progress being made for our efforts. I know it is hard to find time to write down these kinds of things, and I am one of the worst when it comes to finding time for extra efforts like this. BUT, I  MADE myself do this with a journal -- for all of us. Here are some ideas in each harvest moment category that I mentioned above, to help you "see" what I record:

        Breakthroughs in their education:

• First word read all by themselves


• First book read independently


• First time they read a book with interest "without" having it assigned


• Mastery of multiplication tables...FINALLY!


• Breakthrough on long division


• Moments of realization when they really "understand" a concept -- like gravity!


• They begin to connect the things that they are learning with the world around us.
  
  Breakthroughs in their emotional development:
   


• They slow down to help younger siblings voluntarily


• Refusal to "follow the crowd" based on principle or belief


• Doing the "right" thing even when you are not around!


• Helping others without being asked


• Appreciating grandparents and other family members


• Welcoming guests wholeheartedly and caring for their needs


• Asking if you can "all" go do something together...amazing!
  
  And last, but not least -- moments that strengthen and unite your family:
   


• When one parent is ill or injured, and they all work together to share the burden


• A death in the family or extended family, where they learn the real value of love and family, as well as the role of faith in assurance


• When times are financially strained, everyone comes together to conserve, plan, and help ease the struggle.


• Projects for the family tend to provide long memories as well -- working together to add a room to the house, helping a neighbor, etc.

These kinds of things are all what I call those "harvest moments". Golden, reflective and rewarding of our efforts. They may be brief, like a shooting star, but they are just as joyous when we take time from our hectic schedules and plans to see them and realize that progress is being made and our efforts are bringing on a "good" harvest.

This season of harvest is bright and fruitful, both in our lives as parents and as we approach the season of Thanksgiving. Not only have I learned to see the harvest moments in our lives, but I've also learned to really count our blessings, naming them one by one in my journal. The list is growing, right along with my faith. And do you know what else? I'm watching the importance of this blessing counting grow in our children. What an amazing offshoot of my own lessons -- that they, too, are really "seeing" the important things in life. As I sit and reflect on this now, perhaps that IS the most important lesson from all of this -- that they see what really is important, instead of material things and day to day trials.

This "enjoying the harvest" does not just apply to our children's growth and education, by the way. Try to take time to take a walk -- really walking, not just speeding through another task. Notice the color of the sky, and the birds that you see -- can you identify them? And when you are making that apple butter in a slow-cooker this year, don't forget to add some savory spices and then enjoy the taste on hot buttered biscuits! Put on some classical music and really listen to how lifting Mozart can be with your morning coffee...a much better way to start the day than the morning news, too. In other words, YOU have got to slow down and "smell the roses" too. As they say around my house, "when mama ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy!" :-) And I'm trying to remedy that, working on it on a daily basis.

It is my prayer that this article has helped you see that the fruits of our labors are ongoing and lifelong. The harvest is never-ending, and we need to enjoy the harvest moments, right in the midst of the chores and labors of love in teaching and learning and sharing in our family lives. Live, really live, each day that God gives you. I have a saying that I keep on my dresser that reads "Today is a precious gift from God. Say thank you -- and tear into it!", and I try to do just that.

May you have a bountiful and joyous harvest season, and may you find peace in the quiet moments that you can catch in the mayhem and noise of family life! Happy Thanksgiving, and don't forget to count those blessings!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Loss of the Republic? Interesting and thought-provoking...

Food for thought article that reminds us of American history and dreams as the general election approaches:

The Big Picture: Loss of a Republic

Many of the people, quotes, and history presented in this article are covered in our Elections Unit Study, but this article presents them in a way that brings new light to the issues of this election.

Keeping in prayer for our nation as we approach this pivotal moment,
Amanda B.
WWW.unitstudy.com

 

Thanksgiving Charger Plate Project - more info...

To learn more about charger plates for this project, read on!

What is a charger plate? I didn't know what these were until a
few years ago, when they were used at a formal dinner event - they
look like coasters for dinner plates! :-) They are basically
oversized plates, and come in both round and square shapes. They
dress up the table, and serve a great purpose - they do protect the
table and/or tablecloth from Thanksgiving gravy or Christmas
cranberry spills. I've found plastic ones like those used in this
project at several dollar-type stores, as well as places like Hobby
Lobby and Kohls over the years.

Here are a few links that describe chargers and their history - very
interesting:

What is a Charger Plate?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-decorative-charger-plate.htm

Charger (good picture)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_charger

I hope these help - this is going to be a very interesting project. I
can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! I've saved some of my
children's Blessing Tree leaves over the years and plan to make some
color copies to use for this project.

It will be interesting to see what your children want to do to
decorate the plates - I love the imagination of children when they
are learning new things. Ask them questions as they are learning
about a topic - what do you think it would have been like to sail on
the Mayflower, what do you think their children did to pass the time
while onboard the ship, and on and on. Let them know that they will
be choosing things to decorate the plates as Thanksgiving approaches,
and see what they would like to include on the plates. Learning never
ends...

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Here's the plate project information once again, in case you missed it:

I discovered a great Thanksgiving craft project for kids on youtube
for creating Thanksgiving decoupage charger plates with kids at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kR4sD4fors

While the video leaves much to your imagination, I think we can
figure out how to do this project!

The basic concept is to glue pictures, leaves, and other images to
inexpensive charger plates (about $1 each at many discount stores).
After the glue dries, the kids can take glitter paint to go over the
plate. You could preserve the plates with a spray-on clear finish
when everything is dry. These charger plates are then placed on the
Thanskgiving table, almost like name cards. The charger plate is used
like a placemat to hold each dinner plate during the meal, and these
special chargers can then be saved as Thanksgiving keepsakes.

You can take this one step further by making each charger plate
unique:
* Personalizing a charger plate for each expected Thanksgiving dinner guest
* Using some of the Blessing Tree leaves mentioned in the Thanksgiving Unit Study
* Letting the kids cut out autumn pictures from magazines and newspapers to include on their plates
* Using scrapbooking letters to create names and special images on each plate
* Including copies of drawings and photos from their work on the Thanksgiving Unit Study (remember that you can reduce the size of the drawing/photos when making copies)

New Autumn Pictures on Life in the Country

Just wanted to let you know that I have finally updated the Life in the Country web page with some of my autumn pictures from here on the farm. Slowly but surely, autumn is creeping up the mountain. The farmers are busy bringing in the last of the hay and harvest, and the peaceful view is just that - very peaceful and calming.

This web view on the Appalachians is one of my most popular pages, and I hope you enjoy the pictures as well as my entries. 

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

James 1:12

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

Receive the 1st week of the Elections Study via email when...

you purchase the Autumn 2008 Unit Study Package! We will email the first week and introductory materials so that you and your crew can start the Elections Study right away while you wait for your American Government, Elections, Thanksgiving and Christmas Unit Study CDROMs to arrive in the mail.

This package sale ends at midnight(CST) Monday, October 13th.

Jump into this autumn with savings and look forward to some wonderful and interesting learning adventures!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Fun and easy Thanksgiving craft!

I discovered a great Thanksgiving craft project for kids on youtube
for creating Thanksgiving decoupage charger plates with kids at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kR4sD4fors

While the video leaves much to your imagination, I think we can
figure out how to do this project!

The basic concept is to glue pictures, leaves, and other images to
inexpensive charger plates (about $1 each at many discount stores).
After the glue dries, the kids can take glitter paint to go over the
plate. You could preserve the plates with a spray-on clear finish
when everything is dry. These charger plates are then placed on the
Thanskgiving table, almost like name cards. The charger plate is used
like a placemat to hold each dinner plate during the meal, and these
special chargers can then be saved as Thanksgiving keepsakes.

You can take this one step further by making each charger plate
unique:
* Personalizing a charger plate for each expected Thanksgiving
dinner guest
* Using some of the Blessing Tree leaves mentioned in the
Thanksgiving Unit Study
* Letting the kids cut out autumn pictures from magazines and
newspapers to include on their plates
* Using scrapbooking letters to create names and special images on
each plate
* Including copies of drawings and photos from their work on the
Thanksgiving Unit Study (remember that you can reduce the size of the
drawing/photos when making copies)

What do you think? If anyone has experience with decoupage, do you
have suggestions for the types of glue and finshes that we should use?

Many thanks,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Great homeschooling quote from Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon:

People often ask me to speak on one of my favorite topics - nurturing a child's gifts and talents. As homeschooling parents, we are given a very special opportunity to do just this, with amazing possibilities and unimaginable results. When I read this quote from Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon, I knew it was one worth passing along to those of you who are interested in this topic:

 

"And I think one of the other advantages to being homeschooled is you don't have the experience of being ridiculed or made fun of for who you are and what you're interested in. You never learn to be afraid to pursue your own interests."

I love that part about not learning to be afraid to pursue your own interests - BINGO! :-)

You can read the entire interview at:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24435244-5003424,00.html

I have not read any of his books, but I was interested in learning more about his story and homeschooling experience!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Stargazing and campfires and FUN!

The nights are getting cooler and the stars have been spectacular for the past few nights - hope you've had a chance to go outside and check out the night sky. This is the time of year when we have the perfect opportunity to become familiar with the stars and do some serious stargazing.

This is also the time of year that we turn our weekend evenings into campfire nights and stargazing adventures. I recently read a wonderful article in the September/October issue of Grit magazine - the article is "Spectacular Stargazing" by Letitia L. Star, and the subtitle is "The sun goes down, stars come out, wonder begins." If you can find this issue, check out this article, along with several other very interesting articles - like the one on birdwatching.

From the time we moved to the country, we have always made a tradition of weekend campfires and trying to spot shooting stars and orbiting satellites. We invite friends and make smores, and enjoy the spectacular view of the Milky Way. Even if you live in a city, perhaps there is a park on the outskirts of town where you can have a cookout and get away from the bright city lights to see things like the Big Dipper and Orion.

Enjoy these days and starry nights,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

 

Thanksgiving book suggestions on sale at BookCloseouts.com

Just wanted to share the good news that some favorite Thanksgiving books are now listed on BookCloseouts:

The First Thanksgiving
Author: George, Jean Craighead

Thanksgiving, What Makes It Special?  - Boardbook
Author(s): Kurisu, Jane (Ilt), Myra, Harold 

Thanksgiving: What Makes It Special?
Author(s): Kurisu, Jane (Ilt), Myra, Harold 

Squanto and The Miracle Of Thanksgiving
Author: Metaxas, Eric  

Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation 
 Author(s): Berry, Holly (Ilt), Stanley, Diane  

The Very First Thanksgiving Day 
Author:  Gaber, Susan (Ilt), Greene, Rhonda Gowler 

The Night Before Thanksgiving 
Author:  Lyon, Tammie (Ilt), Wing, Natasha  

Off to Plymouth Rock 
Author:  Barretta, Gene (Ilt), Mackall, Dandi Daley

The Kids' Holiday Baking Book 
Author:  Black, Rosemary

Hope these help,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Finally, a cookbook with EASY recipes that are GREAT!

For those of you that are good cooks, please just skip this entry. I recently discovered a wonderful new paperback cookbook at WalMart called "Mom's Best Meals" from Taste of Home magazine. So far, every single recipe that I have tried has turned out beautifully, and the recipes call for affordable ingredients that are around most homes. The magazine has almost 30 sets of recipes for Mom's best meals from around the country - and the results are exciting meals that are simple to prepare, AND the family loves them! Please recall that cooking is not one of my better-known skills. :-) I tend to cook using the smoke-detector method - when the smoke detector goes off, dinner must be done!

I;ve tried many of the recipes - including "Pillowtop Rolls" (I cheated and made the recipe in my bread machine - fantastic!), upside down strawberry shortcake, baked ziti, and many more - magnificent and the guys here are now cruising the kitchen with their noses working, trying to figure out what smells so good!

I don't know about you, but I tend to get in a rut with recipe and menu selection after a while, and infusions like those from this book are a great motivator for me.

I found mine at the checkout rack in a local WalMart - look for yours and enjoy!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Autumn Unit Study Package sale ends soon...

Don't miss this exciting and timely package which includes the Elections, American Government, Thanksgiving and Christmas Unit Studies for a very special price! Sixteen weeks of learning adventures for only $39.95 --  the package includes all four unit studies as well as the companion notebooking pages. Follow this link to learn more:

Autumn Unit Study Package

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

 

September Learning Links

Symbols of the American Government Activity Booklet

Project Vote Smart

Presidential Seal Coloring Page

Campaign Games

Hitting the Campaign Trail for Kids

Kids in the House (of Representatives)

Activity Pages for Kids about the House of Representatives

The Living Room Candidate – Presidential Commercials from 1952 – 2004

Quiz for Kids – Presidents and Baseball

Quiz for Kids – White House Pets 

Play Presidential Baseball Online

Labor Day Recipes from AllRecipes (I think the Bucket Salad sounds like our speed!

 _____________________________

Autumn 2008 Unit Study Package    $39.95
Retail value if purchased separately: $59.80
Sale ends September 2, 2008

 Get ready for an exciting season of learning with this new unit study package!

This package includes sixteen weeks of daily lessons, ready to use on arrival -
no other books required. The following studies and their companion notebooking pages are  included in this CDROM package:

 American Government

 Elections

Thanksgiving

Christmas

  _________________________________

20/20 hindsight tips for homeschooling success

When I am on the road speaking at conventions, I am often asked about what I would differently if I could do it all over again - and here's my list:

1. Have less textbook stress, more individualized focus. 

2. Focus on the child, not the information lists

3. Expand the family's horizons – as individuals and as a family 

4. Listen more, talk less – avoiding the "transmit only" mode

5. Encourage more often, instead of being judgmental or comparative

 

I wish I had known to relax and enjoy the time together as a family more. In the beginning, we were so nervous about covering everything, using all of the workbook pages, filling up the plan book ahead of time and sticking with it rigidly. So much stress, so little long-term learning, and so little enjoyment of the educational process. 

The more we homeschool, the broader our interests become. No longer pursuing narrow, society-defined topics alone, we enjoy the freedom to investigate topics like horticulture, sports fitness, glass painting, business and economic concepts for kids, personalized pursuits of art, music, and so much more.

You will never be able to completely fill their minds with absolutely every bit of available information – but you CAN teach them or learn WITH them about how to FIND all kinds of information that they might need to know – research skills are vital for this next generation. The overabundance of information on the internet is so overwhelming, and at the same time – provides priceless access to things that we could never have found through a local library. Give them the gift of thinking skills and research ability. 

Remember, homeschooling is not just about learning academic material. It is about opening the envelop of each child's imagination with wonder and awe – feeding their desire to learn more, to investigate, to discover and pursue their unique God-given gifts and talents.

What do I know now that I wish we had known when we first started homeschooling?

1. The things that count can't be counted.


2. Time goes by too quickly to worry about or obsess over small things, like whether or not my child can read by the time they are five years old, etc.


3. Keep the big picture in the forefront – getting from point A (beginning homeschooling) to point B (finish homeschooling) – remember that perspective is key to success. While we might miss algebra this week due to family illness, we will still focus on the desired outcome – a well-rounded and enthusiastic learner by the time high school is complete.

 I hope you are encouraged - and know that I believe in YOU!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

Launching into September!

It is back to schooling time these days, and summer vacation is drawing to an end. Someone asked recently if we schooled year-round and I had to laugh – I don’t think that homeschooling families ever “stop” homeschooling. Once homeschooling becomes an integral part of family life, the learning seems to carry on regardless of what the calendar indicates. The kids still love to read and go to the library and bookstores – can you imagine telling them to stop reading now that it is time for summer break? Projects seem to multiply rapidly over the summer months in their areas of interest – including areas like electronics, insect collecting, quilting, entrepreneurial interests (lawn care, babysitting, jewelry making, etc), cooking adventures, and much more. No, learning seems to accelerate during the summer breaks!

As you move into a new season of learning, there is plenty of distraction to contend with as we try to invigorate these young minds to absorb things like algebra and long division. With so much going on in the world these days, the pace of life seems to becoming a bit more frantic as more people are becoming concerned with both national and world politics. As your children get old enough to be aware of current events, they begin to notice and ask excellent questions. Help them find the answers and get a solid understanding of the issues. With the upcoming elections, talk about which issues are important for your family and why, and help them find out how the candidates stand on these issues.  

This is a time of year when we are still enjoying the blessings of summer, knowing that the next season is just around the corner. The autumn signals are gathering as leaves begin to show changes and the nights grow a bit cooler. Catch on to the blessings of each day and enjoy them with your family. The lessons will go on and the learning will continue, just make sure to enjoy the people that you call “family” along the way!

I hope you and your crew are enjoying a long and peaceful Labor Day weekend. While most of us will be relaxing this weekend, some will be evacuating ahead of Hurricane Gustav. For those of you along the Gulf Coast, please know that you’ve got our prayers for your safety through this storm and the days that follow.  

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com

______________________

Labor Day S-A-L-E

Holiday Combo Package
 ONLY  $19.95   (through 09/02/08)
 Contains:

  Thanksgiving Unit Study CDROM

  Christmas Unit Study CDROM

________________________________

Kicking off a new school year, and what to do with toddlers while homeschooling!

First, let me say to all of you who have just begun a new school year -- way to go! I remember when we first began homeschooling, you know - back in the LAST century, we kept the kids inside during regular school hours so that folks in the surrounding area wouldn't call the truant officer. The beginning of a new school year meant that we had to move our daily adventures indoors for a good part of the day, so launching a new school year took some creative convincing that this was going to be a great year!

In addition to our topics of interest for our studies, I learned to allow room for IFTs - Ideas from Television - favorite shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy and ZoomKids kept providing all kinds of great things to investigate, build, and try out. I'll never forget the time when they were working on an experiment that was demonstrating the ability of a plant to seek sunlight even from far inside of a dark box. The experiment called for a box with corrugated inserts (to create a maze for the plant to grow through to find sunlight) - and the best that I could find was packing boxes from the liquor store! Those boxes had great inserts that created the perfect mazes for the experiment. However, the external printing on the boxes was a bit disconcerting to the pastor when he dropped by one day and saw their boxes stacked up on the sunny end of the front porch! :-) His eyes were big round circles as he turned when I answered the door. As I recall, we were his first exposure to homeschooling, too!

Our three children cover a ten year age span, so I know just what it means to try to keep a VERY active toddler busy while the older kids are studying. I learned to plan our school day around the toddler's nap schedule. When he slept (or was supposed to be sleeping), I worked one on one with the older kids with subject areas that required individual attention with each child. When the toddler was up and roaming, and yes - he was a very VERY busy toddler - I learned how to entertain him while we worked on unit studies. He might be busy with building blocks or rearranging magnetic letters on a cookie sheet, or he might be enjoying a math lesson with an older sibling from books like "M&M Addition" or "M&M Multiplication." Matchbox cars were constantly zipping across the floor during reading time, as he couldn't sit still for long, but he would quietly send the cars flying across the room or around the Hot Wheels track! I learned to remove many of these toy cars and only leave a few out at a time - recycling them so that there were always a few he hadn't seen in a while.

I also made sure that some of our school projects included things for him to do - whether it involved log cabin construction with popsicle craft sticks or creating Plymouth Plantation using modeling clay on the kitchen table. After teaching several ages at once, I learned the importance of keeping a toddler involved with the big kids - better learning opportunities for everyone. And memories more precious than gold, with plenty of pictures to keep us laughing for years to come.

This is a great time to be homeschooling - there are so many opportunities to share and learn, and people are much more encouraged about homeschooling families. When I am on the road speaking at conventions, I am often asked about what I would differently if I could do it all over again - and here's my list:

1.                  Have less textbook stress, more individualized focus.

2.                  Focus on the child, not the information lists

3.                  Expand the family's horizons – as individuals and as a family

4.                  Listen more, talk less – avoiding the "transmit only" mode

5.                  Encourage more often, instead of being judgmental or comparative

I wish I had known to relax and enjoy the time together as a family more. In the beginning, we were so nervous about covering everything, using all of the workbook pages, filling up the plan book ahead of time and sticking with it rigidly. So much stress, so little long-time learning, and so little enjoyment of the educational process.

The more we homeschool, the broader our interests become. No longer pursuing narrow, society-defined topics alone, we enjoy the freedom to investigate topics like horticulture, sports fitness, glass painting, business and economic concepts for kids, personalized pursuits of art, music, and so much more.

You will never be able to completely fill their minds with absolutely every bit of available information – but you CAN teach them or learn WITH them about how to FIND all kinds of information that they might need to know – research skills are vital for this next generation.The overabundance of information on the internet is so overwhelming, and at the same time – provides priceless access to things that we could never have found through a local library. Give them the gift of thinking skills and research ability.

Remember, homeschooling is not just about learning academic materials. It is about opening the envelop of each child's imagination with wonder and awe – feeding their desire to learn more, to investigate, to discover and pursue their unique God-given gifts and talents. I think that Leonardo da Vinci had a good point when he said:

"Just as eating against one's will is injurious to health, so studying without a liking for it spoils the memory, and it retains nothing it takes in."

What do I know now that I wish we had known when we first started homeschooling?

1.  The things that count can't be counted.    
2.  Time goes by too quickly to worry about or obsess over small things, like whether or not my child can read by the time they are five years old, etc.    
3.  Keep the big picture in the forefront – getting from point A (beginning homeschooling) to point B (finish homeschooling) – remember that perspective is key to success. While we might miss algebra for this week due to family illness, we will still focus on the desired outcome – a well-rounded and enthusiastic learner by the time high school is complete.

I hope you are encouraged - and know that I believe in YOU!

Blessings,
Amanda B.
www.unitstudy.com