Coffee Talk: Enjoying the Harvest - Part 4

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 count our blessings, naming them one by one in my journal. The list is growing, right along with my faith.

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 listening to the morning news. 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 these Enjoying the Harvest posts have 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.

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!

Blessings,
Amanda B.

Coffee Talk: Enjoying the Harvest - Part 3

Given some time to think about it, you can probably "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 really 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 have 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
• 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.

Until next time,
Amanda B.

Coffee Talk: Enjoying the Harvest - Part 2

Let's take a look at the definition of harvest from the 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 can get 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:

• 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.

Many times over the years, I've had to force myself to back away from the worry and frustrations that the days can bring. Backing up, I make myself find the good - the place where we are in the season of each child's life. It is easy to get so over-focused on the things that aren't done exactly right, that we lose focus on the progress that has been made.

See you next time, coffee in hand, when we'll be talking about keeping a harvest journal to help keep perspective and count it all joy…

Blessings,
Amanda B.

Coffee Talk: Enjoying the Harvest - Part 1

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. It is a season of reflection, gathering in, enjoying the fruits of your labor.

One of the most valuable lessons I've learned over the years of homeschooling is 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.

When we first started homeschooling, we were keeping our eye on the "finished product" goal, completely overlooking 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.

In the next Coffee Talk, we'll talk about harvest moments in homeschooling. Enjoy these days, and savor the moments. You are getting there! There are days that feel like you are riding in bumper cars instead of walking a smooth and level trail, you know - the one that you were expecting when you started homeschooling. ;) Stop for a minute, catch your breath, and thank Him for having the ultimate plan!

Blessings,
Amanda B.

Combining Download N Go, Unit Study Adventures, and Passport Geography in Your Homeschool

We often hear from homeschool moms who love Download N Go (DNG) and love Unit Study Adventures (USA), and are crazy about our Passport Geography titles, and are trying to find ways to combine them all. Perhaps you are homeschooling several children of all ages. You want to use DNG with your younger children, but they're not age-appropriate for your 8th-grader. Yet, you desire to keep the subject matter of your homeschool similar for all of your children. 

I thought it would help if I put together some ideas for you to use, to make this process easier. Each subject category will list one or more 4-week USA studies with a few DNG units that mesh well with them. I’ve also matched up the Passport titles with the topics. Hope this helps!

Subject:  Oceans
USA: Oceans, Sailing Ships, Lighthouses
DNG: Whale Tales, Dolphin Days, Sunny Seashells, Summer Sensations, Sensational Sharks

Subject: US History
USA: Patriotic Holidays, Trains, Lighthouses, Sailing Ships
DNG: George Washington, Davy Crockett, Prairie Pioneers, Lewis & Clark

Subject:  US Government
USA: American Government, Patriotic Holidays
DNG: Constitution Celebration, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Independence Day, Flag Day
 
Subject: Space
USA:  Space
DNG: Magnificent Moon

Subject: Flight
USA: Flight
DNG: Amelia Earhart, Kite Capers, Magnificent Moon

Subject: Thanksgiving
USA: Thanksgiving
DNG: Autumn Treasures, Prairie Pioneers, Hoppin' Popcorn

Subject: Christmas
USA: Christmas
DNG: Expedition Israel, Crunchy Cookies, Winter Wonders, Bountiful Bread

Subject: Easter
USA: Easter
DNG: Easter Promise, Expedition Israel, Spring Surprises, Bountiful Bread

Subject: Animals
USA: Horses, Dogs, Oceans
DNG: Handsome Horses, Astonishing Animals, Terrific Tigers, Creation Camouflage, Sensational Sharks, Incredible Insects, Goofy Gecko, Dynamic Ducks
Passport: PP France, PP Germany, PP Italy, PP United Kingdom

Subject: Art & Creativity
USA:  Scrapbooking
DNG:  Crazy Cartoons, Creative Composers
Passport: PP France (Louvre, Monet), PP Germany (Mozart, Beethoven), PP Italy (Michelangelo, da Vinci), PP United Kingdom (Beatrix Potter, C.S. Lewis)

Subject: Sports
USA:  Baseball, Olympics 2014
DNG: Simply Soccer, Football Frenzy, Discover the Brain, Discover the Senses

Subject: Food
USA: Gardens
DNG: Pizza Party, Chocolate Challenge, Hoppin' Popcorn, Bountiful Bread, Crunchy Cookies

Subject: Outdoors
USA: Gardens, Pioneers
DNG: Roller Coasters, Cavernous Caves, Twisting Tornadoes, Volatile Volcanoes

Subject: Technology
USA: Digital Photography, Auto Racing
DNG: Rocking Robots, Roller Coasters, Creative Composers

I hope this helps get you started imagining how you can use both Unit Study Adventures, Download N Go®, and Passport Geography™ titles together in your homeschool--creating exciting days and making things easier on you, the homeschool teacher!

Blessings,
Amanda B.

Getting Ready For Thanksgiving Adventures

With the weather turning cooler and the leaves starting to turn beautiful colors, it's time to look ahead to Thanksgiving learning adventures! Here are a few tips to help get ready:

1. In the Thanksgiving Unit Study, go through the book resource lists and choose a few that sound interesting and match with the reading levels of your children. Don't forget to choose one or two for family reading - it's a wonderful time to read together, with cups of hot apple cider and bowls of popcorn.
2. Go through the Family Project Ideas in the study, and choose one or two that "fit" your family.
3. On your nature walks, begin gathering things like pine cones, acorns, and other things that you can use on Thanksgiving projects.
4. Pick up things like construction paper, glue sticks, and modeling clay at a local dollar store - it's always good to have a ready supply in this season.

In just a few weeks, we'll be starting our free Thanksgiving Co-op on our Facebook page. Make sure to sign up here, and mark it on your calendar - October 28th, the fun begins!

Blessings, 
Amanda B.

Taking Care of YOU - it is so important!

We hug them, love them, teach them, and share with them, wiping away tears, assuring

them that monsters are not in the closet or under the bed, even helping them through algebra. We are our children's caretakers, and we care for them so deeply and completely that we sometimes forget to care for ourselves. If we get too stretched out and burned out, we aren't as effective at taking care of others.

One of the things that I learned through my early years of homeschooling and being a full-time mom was that I had to take care of MOM first. One of the best analogies for this is the statement that is made when you are going through the safety talk before takeoff on an airplane: when the oxygen masks drop in an emergency, the adult should put her mask on first, then assist the child with his. We can't help our child if we are incapacitated—that's my interpretation. And this holds true in all that we do, particularly when it comes to parental well-being and the individual feeling of fulfillment.
 
Take time to make time for yourself - not being selfish, but remembering that we are so quickly drained if we keep running without a break. Begin by blocking off an hour each week that is YOUR time, no exceptions. Even if you go and sit in the library and read a magazine, just go! I learned early in my adventures at home that I had to make time for myself. I would have one night a week that I would go to the library--to read, enjoy the silence, and pray, all alone in the conference room. It can be so hard to make time for ourselves; there are so many other pressing needs that get in line ahead of our own. Just as in days gone by when folks would talk about having to "prime the pump" to get it working, we parents are the same way. We have to read, rest, relax, and get some “alone time.” We have to refill our own wells from time to time, re-priming the pump so that we are at our best.

You are capable of so many things, and with a little rest and lots of prayer, you can handle this precious responsibility. Remember, we're not asked to be perfect, but to be His, listening for His answers.

Blessings,
Amanda B.

Twenty Years From Now

When we were in our first year of homeschooling, I was so overwhelmed at times with the whole scene, and battled to keep my priorities straight. I found a poem that spoke to my heart, so I put it just over the kitchen sink, on the windowsill – a reminder when I was having one of “those” days. It is still there today, and now, almost 20 years later, I can say that I’m glad that I had to keep looking at it over and over again. Here’s what it says, just in case you need a reminder, too:

Things that twenty years from now I will be glad I did today:

• Thought good thoughts
• Spoke kindly and listened
• Lifted another up
• Served without return
• Paused to praise
• Exercised
• Spent more time with family
• Laughed
• Said “I love you” more often
• Prayed
• Daydreamed
• Relaxed

I added Praise God and Give Thanks to the list. What would you add?

Blessings,

Amanda B.

Beat the Winter Meltdown!

It’s that time of year—the holidays are over, the novelty of snow is gone, and cabin fever is setting in. It’s obvious the children need an outlet, but what can you do? Now is the perfect time to open the doors of imagination in your home and get the creative juices flowing!

Even though you might not be particularly artistic or creative, your children are. I can tell you from experience that marker masterpieces don’t easily wash off walls (or siblings). Take this opportunity to focus their creativity as they explore the things that hold their interest.

From scrapbooking to photography to learning about how cartoons are made, every child can benefit from taking some time to be creative. Who knew that flip books could be made so easily and on almost any topic? Try something new and fun in your homeschool—you may be raising the next Beatrix Potter or Monet!

Blessings,

Amanda B.

P.S. Don't miss our big Winter Family Fun Giveaway! Click HERE to enter!

Get the following studies on sale this week: 

Have fun with the art of cartooning, check out different types of cartoons and animation, hands on fun flip books and more, & meet some famous cartoonists like Walt Disney!

$5 Through 1/19/13

Take a ride on a double-decker bus, ride the London Eye Ferris wheel, get to know the peregrine falcon and other native UK animals, take time for tea, scones, bubbles and squeak, & meet Beatrix Potter & Queen Victoria!

$5 Each Level, Through 1/19/13

Take a virtual stroll through Paris, learn the history of the Eiffel Tower, investigate the art of the Louvre, meet famous Frenchmen like Claude Monet and Louis Braille, & enjoy some authentic French food, like crepes and cheese!

$5 Each Level, Through 1/19/13

Learn about the history of scrapbooking, basics of color theory and more, how to scrapbook family history, & meet famous scrapbookers like Mark Twain, Lucy M. Montgomery, and Thomas Jefferson!

$6 Through 1/19/13

Discover the science of light and lenses, history of photography, camera basics, meet some famous photographers, photo composition, and more!

$6 Through 1/19/13

Meet some of the early inventors that shaped science and innovation: Archimedes, Gutenberg, James Watt, The Montgolfier Brothers,and many more!

$6 Through 1/19/13

Save even more when you purchase the entire Artistic Adventures set!

$25 Through 1/19/13

Visit www.UnitStudy.com/Specials.html for more information.

Each Winter Family Fun Prize Package ($42.21 value) consists of:

1 - A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels e-Book ($19.99 value) 1 - 48 Soft Drawing Pastels in Brilliant Assorted Colors($14.99 value) 1 - Strathmore Pastel Pad 9 in. x 12 in. sheets, pad of 24 ($7.23 value)

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When It’s Time for a Change: What Are the Clues?

How do you know when it’s time to get new shoes for your children? When they complain that their feet hurt when they wear their shoes. How about new clothes? How do you know when it’s time to replace the old ones? When their clothes just don’t fit anymore—sleeves too short, shirts not long enough. How about replacing their bikes? When their knees hit the handlebar and their legs are just too long.

In other words, when something doesn't fit or they outgrow it, you replace it. You know when its time for a change by taking note of the visual or audible cues. You don’t make them wear shoes that don’t fit—you change them, without giving it another thought.

Curriculum should be treated the same way, but so often we stay the course simply because we've made the investment and it is easier than trying something different. This is the time of year that so many people have approached me with the same question, asking “When is it a good time to change the way we homeschool? The kids hate what we are doing, and so do I.”

Why don’t they like it?

It’s boring.

There are too many papers to grade.

Kids hate the books.

Moms hate the daily struggles and battles.

Don’t kill the joy of learning for these young minds. If you are getting clues that it is time to make a change, pray about the possibilities. Ask questions. Try a unit study. Photography? Cartooning? Pizza? Just one. Textbooks and workbooks and naysayers will always be there.

It is possible to store the mind with a million facts

and still be entirely uneducated.

—Alec Bourne

Go take a peek over at our Specials page to see today’s 12 Days of Christmas specials. We have made the prices very low to make change affordable and within reach. Go ahead! And then come back and let me know what scares you most about change. What are YOUR questions? I’m here to help!

Blessings,

Amanda B.

Bottle Brushes and Life Lessons

Years ago, back when our kids were younger, I had my own collection of baby bottle brushes. No, not for bottles – but for cleaning hard-to-clean things like Mason jars, test tubes, and Lego pieces that got stuck in places that they shouldn’t have been, like chocolate cake or mashed potatoes. Oh, the places that they go, but that’s a story for a different day.

I recently discovered that somehow, over the years, the bottle brushes had gotten lost or tossed. I was trying to clean up some recently discovered wayward Lego people and pieces that I discovered in the basement. As a speaker at online events, I like to line the Lego people up on my laptop during online speeches, so that I have an audience to talk to – it’s awful to try to give a presentation to hundreds and hundreds of people and only have a screen to stare at!

Lesson learned – sometimes the tools of early childhood can be very useful later in life, so hang onto them! From action figures to bottle brushes, I am still learning. Heading out now to buy a set of baby bottle brushes. That should get everyone in town talking, and make my family wonder what I’m up to…

Amanda Bennett

April Surprises and Priorities

Rain + kids = so much fun!

I don’t know about you, but some of our favorite memories of raising our kids come from those rainy days when there was no lightning, just tons of big, fat, juicy raindrops and three kids with umbrellas and rain boots.

Living in Florida, we had surprise afternoons of rain that were perfect for these kinds of adventures. They would play on the sidewalk, building dams and splashing through any and all puddles that they could find–my fearless explorers.

That these times were so memorable had something to do with the element of surprise and spur of the moment freedom. They involved no electronics or planning–they could just go outside and play. I have learned so much from our kids, and one of the most important lessons was the importance of going with the flow and living with a bit of spontaneity, seizing the day for all it is worth.

As much comfort as we gain from plans and planners, don’t lose site of the goal. One of my favorite quotes about raising kids and having fun came from the famous baseball player, Harmon Killebrew:

“My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard.
Mother would come out and say, ‘You're tearing up the grass.’
‘We're not raising grass,’ Dad would reply. ‘We're raising boys.’”

Combining Download N Go with Unit Study Adventures in Your Homeschool

We often hear from homeschool moms who love Download N Go (DNG) and love Unit Study Adventures (USA), and are trying to find ways to combine the two.  Perhaps you are homeschooling several children of all ages.  You want to use DNG with your younger children, but they're not age-appropriate for your 8th-grader.  Yet, you desire to keep the subject matter of your homeschool similar for all of your children.

I thought I would put together some ideas for you to use, to make this process easier.  I hope you find it useful! Each subject category will list one 4-week USA with 1-4 DNG units that will mesh well with them.

Subject:  Oceans

USA: Oceans

DNG: Whale Tales, Dophin Days, Sunny Seashells, Summer Sensations

Subject: US History

USA: Patriotic Holidays

DNG: George Washington, Davy Crockett, Prairie Pioneers, Lewis & Clark

Subject:  US Government

USA: American Government

DNG: Constitution Celebration, Ben Franklin

Subject: Space

USA:  Space

DNG: Magnificent Moon

Subject: Flight

USA: Flight

DNG: Amelia Earhart, Kite Capers, Magnificent Moon

Subject: Thanksgiving

USA: Thanksgiving

DNG: Autumn Treasures, Prairie Pioneers, Hoppin' Popcorn

Subject: Christmas

USA: Christmas

DNG: Expedition Israel, Crunchy Cookies, Winter Wonders

Subject: Easter

USA: Easter

DNG: Expedition Israel, Spring Surprises

Subject: Horses

USA: Horses

DNG: Handsome Horses

Subject: Sports

USA:  Baseball

DNG: Simply Soccer

Subject: Food

USA: Gardens

DNG: Pizza Party, Chocolate Challenge, Hoppin' Popcorn

Subject: Technology

USA: Digital Photography

DNG: Rocking Robots, Roller Coasters

I hope that gets you started imagining how you can use both Unit Study Adventures and Download N Go together in your homeschool--creating exciting days and making things easier on you, the homeschool teacher!

Combining Download N Go with Unit Study Adventures in Your Homeschool

We often hear from homeschool moms who love Download N Go (DNG) and love Unit Study Adventures (USA), and are trying to find ways to combine the two.  Perhaps you are homeschooling several children of all ages.  You want to use DNG with your younger children, but they're not age-appropriate for your 8th-grader.  Yet, you desire to keep the subject matter of your homeschool similar for all of your children.

I thought I would put together some ideas for you to use, to make this process easier.  I hope you find it useful! Each subject category will list one 4-week USA with 1-4 DNG units that will mesh well with them.

Subject:  Oceans
USA: Oceans
DNG: Whale Tales, Dophin Days, Sunny Seashells, Summer Sensations

Subject: US History
USA: Patriotic Holidays
DNG: George Washington, Davy Crockett, Prairie Pioneers, Lewis & Clark

Subject:  US Government
USA: American Government
DNG: Constitution Celebration, Ben Franklin

Subject: Space
USA:  Space
DNG: Magnificent Moon

Subject: Flight
USA: Flight
DNG: Amelia Earhart, Kite Capers, Magnificent Moon

Subject: Thanksgiving
USA: Thanksgiving
DNG: Autumn Treasures, Prairie Pioneers, Hoppin' Popcorn

Subject: Christmas
USA: Christmas
DNG: Expedition Israel, Crunchy Cookies, Winter Wonders

Subject: Easter
USA: Easter
DNG: Expedition Israel, Spring Surprises

Subject: Horses
USA: Horses
DNG: Handsome Horses

Subject: Sports
USA:  Baseball
DNG: Simply Soccer

Subject: Food
USA: Gardens
DNG: Pizza Party, Chocolate Challenge, Hoppin' Popcorn

Subject: Technology
USA: Digital Photography
DNG: Rocking Robots, Roller Coasters

I hope that gets you started imagining how you can use both Unit Study Adventures and Download N Go together in your homeschool--creating exciting days and making things easier on you, the homeschool teacher!