Quote from Forum Archives on July 3, 2002, 7:15 pm

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE HOPE CHEST:

Ideas and Inspiration for Home Education

Issue #50 part 3

July 2002

With Liberty and Justice for All

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In this section:

• Real Life Record Keeping
• What We're Using for Curriculum This Year
• What's New at the Knowles House?

• Resource Ordering Information
• Reprint Permission

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REAL LIFE RECORD KEEPING

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like many home school moms, I experimented for several years with different methods of record keeping, before I found one flexible enough to work for almost all of my children from year to year.

I found that I needed record pages that could be combined with lesson planning for easy check-off of assignments. I needed something with enough room to write, and a single place to record all the resources we used during the week. In this "resource log" section, I wanted a spot to note the topic and format of the resource, since this isn't always apparent from the title. For example, "Beyond the Next Mountain" is a video about native missions in India. This helps us to see whether we have covered a good variety or not.

As far as the physical format, I tried keeping our record sheets in the children's notebooks, but always had to remember to give them a new sheet each week. With all of the opening and closing, flipping back and forth, the pages often got damaged. I needed to have records kept in a book form. Having it separate from their notebook also made it easier for me to sit next to them an update their records while they were doing their school work. Of course, it's easy enough to use that the older ones can keep their own records.

As you've probably guessed, this is a little bit of an advertisement for our Learner's Journal, which dozens of families have been using (and improving) for the last three years. But really, like me, you can design your own if you want. Mine is just convenient for those who don't want to have to twiddle with it. Please note that I only print these during the summer time, so if you want one, let me know as soon as possible! (I do occasionally have a few left over throughout the year, so it doesn't hurt to ask later. I just can't guarantee anything.)

To see sample page formats, visit: www.hopechest.homestead.com/learnersjournal.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHAT WE'RE USING FOR CURRICULUM THIS YEAR

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have noticed an interesting phenomena recently. I usually have our next year's curriculum all planned out in the early spring, and get excited about exploring new products. To be honest, this year it has taken me a LONG time to warm up to the curriculum hunt. I've just recently gotten around to making out my wish list, and wasn't even able to make it to the huge FPEA convention this year. That's not too much of a problem, since we've been home schooling so long and are aware of what is out there. And I have been leafing through my favorite catalogs, and visited a local home school bookstore. I even got to discuss curriculum choices with our school administrators, who did our annual evaluations this morning. I'm feeling pretty good about it at the moment! We're making a shift to a bit more traditional curriculum (BJU and A Beka) and group learning at this season of life. Yep, the Unit Study Queen is starting to slip off her throne -- but hasn't abdicated yet!

Many people ask what curriculum we use, so I'll try to tell you right here what we'll be doing this year, grade by grade. I will order much of it from ROCK Solid (www.rocksolidinc.com) which has great prices and free shipping on orders over $75.

10th grade: Mary is going back to Smith Prep, a classical education program, one day per week. They will provide almost all of her core subject materials, except for math. She is taking Brit Lit, World History (probably A Beka), Chemistry (probably BJU), and Speech. Her math course will be BJU Geometry. Her elective choices are Driver's Ed (probably Driver's Ed in a Box at www.driveredtraining.com), Contemporary History (with Understanding the Times by David Nobel for the worldview component), Personal Fitness and Home Ec (with classes at a local sewing store). Our school administrator and I have researched many of the course outlines on the Florida Department of Education web site (www.firn.edu/doe/curriculum/crscode/ ) and also consulted the Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook (call 800-342-9271 to obtain a copy for $10).

8th grade: Julia will be enrolled in EXCEL, a new weekly program offered by our local support group. They are hiring two teachers, so we will pay tuition and lab fees. She will use Apologia General Science and A Beka or BJU American History. Creative writing, public speaking, and American literature are integrated into the history section of the class. She will finish the second half of Saxon Algebra 1/2 and do a BJU Writing and Grammar worktext. I'm sure she will also continue with as many hands-on activities (piano, sign language and basketball) as she can.

6th grade: Rachel will also be enrolled in EXCEL for science, history and writing/speaking, sharing those text and literature books with Julia. For math, she will do the second half of Saxon 76. She LOVES to browse through home school catalogs and choose curriculum. She actually LIKES workbooks. She has already selected A Reason for Handwriting, Write Source 2000 (text and workbook) for grammar and creative writing, Bible Quest, and The Body Book by Nancy Rue for health. Power Glide Spanish is on her wish list, but I'm not sure of the financial logistics of that right now!

4th grade: Joanna will be in the NHE Plus parent-taught co-op that meets at the same time and place as EXCEL. That will give her Art, Music, Science (mainly inventors), Spanish and P.E. She will also do Horizons math, A Beka Language Arts (her first formal language arts text), and A Reason for Handwriting. For history, I MAY invest in Beautiful Feet, but if not she will still read a lot of great literature (historical fiction and biographies) from the library. I think I will also have her read through an A Beka science book, as she did last year.

2nd grade: Lydia will be in the same co-op as Joanna. She will also do Horizons math, A Reason for Handwriting, and Write Away. Since she's a fluent reader now, she will do just about everything else with good library books. I'm sure also she'll be learning a lot about babies this year!

Kindergarten: Andrew is going to learn to read this year! We are already using a variety of approaches described in Common Sense Excellence with good success. I have some Dr. Maggie's phonics readers that I think will appeal to him. He will probably use Horizons math in conjunction with the Cuisenaire manipulatives that he already loves so much. We're going to try him out with A Reason for Handwriting, like his sisters. Other than that, we'll read piles of fantastic picture books. He's an eager learner with a clever mind, so I'm totally looking forward to kindergarten with him!

Preschool: Micah and Naomi are content with puzzles, books and blocks, so this shouldn't be too hard. The main challenge is to keep them out of mischief. They love to make messes!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHAT'S NEW AT THE KNOWLES HOUSE?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you carefully read the review of Among the Hidden, you might have noticed the wee little announcement that we are expecting our 9th baby next February, about a week after Naomi's second birthday. Thad's dear Bahamian grandfather used to say, "Have babies! Have lots of babies!" We only had Mary and Julia when he passed away in 1989, but I think it's safe to say that we've followed his advice. Thankfully for us, there are no family size laws in the United States! Lest you all think WE are overpopulating, I once counted all of Thad's and my siblings and cousins of childbearing age. There are 27. At a replacement rate of slightly over 2 children per couple, there "should" be about 57 offspring. There are only 18, with very few predicted for the future. Even with our soon-to-be 9 children, there will only be 27 children for 28 couples, which is less than HALF the ZPG (Zero Population Growth) replacement rate! Anyway, babies are such a blessing! I tell myself that over and over as I get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

Speaking of bathrooms (or WCs for our British readers), a few weeks ago, Thad announced that it was time to potty train Micah, who turned three on July 2. I must confess that I immediately laughed at the idea since I was in the thick of editing Common Sense Excellence and preparing to speak at a workshop. Was he crazy or something? Just to prove my point, I brought out a pair of little boy undies and attempted to put them on a squirming Micah, who was, as if on cue, screeching, "I WANT MY DIAPERS! I WANT MY DIAPERS!" Dad, not to be deterred by the show of blatant resistance from wife and son, bribed him with a glazed doughnut if he would "just wear them for breakfast!" Hmmph. It worked. I headed off to the grocery store to buy a bag of disposable training pants and a bag of chocolates. I found the bag of training pants on the clearance table for $2 -- never mind that they were pink! The sweets were carefully rationed out for successes and they sure went fast. By the time we ran out of that one bag of training pants, the boy was dry day AND night, with only an occasional little leak here and there. (The "solid waste" skills still leave something to be desired!) I guess this goes to show that sometimes a child may not SEEM ready for a new skill, but still may need a little push in the right direction. This can apply to so many areas of education, not just potty training!

My mother, Mary Quarrier, came for a visit about a week ago, and spoiled us rotten as usual with new clothes. She took Joanna, who is 9, back home to Maryland for two weeks. Joanna's having lots of fun with her three home schooled cousins! I have often taken for granted Joanna's ability to get the little boys to bed with her fantastic and original bedtime stories, but I've really noticed it in her absence! Oh, Joanna, come on back! I need you down here!

Well, that's all for this month. I expect that the issues from now on will be a bit shorter, but I guess I've said that before! Let me know what you think of this issue!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RESOURCE ORDERING INFORMATION

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more information on some of these resources, you can log onto the Resource page of my web site: www.hopechest.homestead.com/resourceorders.html

I will forewarn you though, that the site is not totally up to date, and I don't have time to mess with it at the moment. (I'm just being honest here. That's real life! My newest book isn't on the site at all!) But, I can give you the personal touch that you won't always get from a fancy web site. If you have a question, just e-mail and ask me!

RESOURCES BY VIRGINIA KNOWLES

Common Sense Excellence: Faith-Filled Home Education for Preschool to 5th Grade is a comprehensive subject-by-subject teaching guide with teaching methods, Scriptural inspiration, resource recommendations, scope and sequence, and much more. It has 231 jam packed pages. If you would like a more complete description, including table of contents, e-mail me and ask for it! $20

The Learner's Journal is an easy to use lesson planner and resource log containing enough pages for 50 weeks for one child. It has been used by over 100 children, with great results. There are annual pages in the front to record major resources, notable literature, field trips, special accomplishments and skills samples. Weekly page spreads feature 9 subject blocks (Character Training, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art and 3 unlabeled blocks), a small five day calendar (undated), a list to record resources used, and a note area. It comes in lunar blue, rocket red, solar yellow, terra green and pulsar pink. The simple, attractive cover is suitable for all ages. You can see sample pages at: http://www.hopechest.homestead.com/learnersjournal.html  The Learner's Journal costs $10

The Real Life Home School Mom: A Book of Help and Hope ministers to a mother's heart with encouragement and practical tips. Chapters include Blessed and Stressed, In Search of Sanity, The Hallmarks of a Gentle Spirit, Abide in Christ, Theory and Practicality: How Does Education Really Work?, Your Support Network, Life Management 101, A Vision for the Future, Busy at Home, Excellent Work!, Building the Family Home, Cherishing Your Marriage, Little People, The Transitions of Life and The Home Schooled Mom. List price is $16. Discount price is $14.

Salt & Light: An Anthology of Poems in Honor of Martin and Gracia Burnham is filled with stirring lines from notable poets such as Edgar Guest, Longfellow, Whittier, Amy Carmichael. The poem "I Am An American" by Elias Lieberman brings me to tears! Proceeds will be donated to a New Tribes Mission fund in memory of Martin Burnham, who was killed on June 7 by the Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines after more than a year in jungle captivity. There are 40 poems in this 26 page book, and some of them are by me! My hope is to encourage hearts for missions, justice, and mercy. $6

Cassette tape containing two audio messages: Nurturing Naomi (How to Help Yourself or Someone Else Overcome Discouragement) AND Common Sense Excellence. 75 minutes total. $4 (no shipping charge if this is ordered by itself)

BOOKS ABOUT TEACHING CHILDREN

105 Questions Children Ask about Money Matters by various authors with a foreword by Larry Burkett presents Biblical answers in a child-friendly format. List price is $10.99. Discount price is $6.

How to Raise a Reader: You Can Help Your Child Read Well and Enjoy it More!, by Elaine K. McEwan, gives practical tips and recommended reading list for parents who want to see their children become strong readers. $6

Ministering to the Heart of Your Child, by Cindy Rushton, is not just about teaching, but nurturing a child's heart. List price $14.95. Discount price $12.

Homeschooling... Digging Into ALL of the Options, by Cindy Rushton, takes a practical tour through the major teaching approaches. List price is $12. Discount price is $10.

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

My Little Bible Promises, published by Word, is a sweet hardbound book with simplified Bible verses about God's kind intentions toward his children. It is perfect for new readers. $4

The following four workbooks make for delightful summer learning!

Look for the Differences: Sticker Fun Book in the City is a visual treat with reusable stickers. $2

Seeds and Plants by School Zone is an attractive 32-page unit study workbook for grades 2-3. Skills include making hypotheses, using correct terms, estimating & measuring, understanding plant adaptations, observing & recording, and evaluating results.

Weather by School Zone is also a 32-page unit study workbook for grades 2-3. Skills include making hypotheses, using correct terms, estimating & measuring, evaluating results, observing weather & climate, and understanding the water cycle. $2

Space and the Planets by School Zone is a skill-builder workbook for ages 5-6. It includes phonics, basic arithmetic and science, and has 24 pages. $2.BOOKS FOR DAD

GIFT BOOKS

 

A Father's Legacy: Your Life Story in Your Own Words gives dads a chance to record some of their memories as a heritage for their children. This is the smaller paperback edition. List price is $4.99. Discount price is $3.

In My Father's Vineyard by Wayne Jacobsen is a lush book, filled with lovely photographs and inspirational prose about the concepts of the vineyard as presented in the Bible. Grow into fruitfulness! List price is $14.99. Discount price is $7.

The Carpenter's Cloth: Christ's Journey to the Cross and Beyond by Sigmund Brouwer is told from the perspective of a master novelist. The book is laced with song lyrics by his wife, Cindy Morgan, and with art masterpieces by El Greco, Durer, Rubens, Millais and more notables. It's a beautiful gift book fit for any coffee table! List price is $12.99. Discount price is $7.

The Gentle Art of a Servant's Heart by Charles R. Swindoll is a gift book filled with fine art and inspiration on humility, compassion, gentleness, justice, mercy, purity, peacemaking and patience. List price is $9.99. Discount price is $5.

BOOKS BY NANCY CAMPBELL

The Family Meal Table and Hospitality by Nancy Campbell is a Biblical study manual on these vital topics. $18

The Power of Motherhood is a thick Biblical study manual on the myriad facets of motherhood. $18 (profits from this sale have already been donated, in faith, to a crisis pregnancy center)

ORDERING INFORMATION:

QUANTITY DISCOUNTS! If you order any three items or more that are over $10 each, take $1 off the price of each item.

SHIPPING: Shipping to USA addresses is $2.50 minimum and 10% after that. Florida residents pay 6% sales tax AFTER computing shipping. (Contact me for foreign shipping rates, rush shipping rates, or quantity pricing.)

TO ORDER ANY OF THE RESOURCES: Send me a list of which books you want and how many, and compute the subtotal. It is best to check with me by e-mail to make sure I have everything in stock. My own titles can be reprinted as necessary on fairly short notice, but the others may or may not be reordered. Mail your check, order and e-mail address to:

Virginia Knowles / 1925 Blossom Lane / Maitland, FL 32751

If you prefer to order with a credit or debit card on the web, go to the PayPal web site at www.paypal.com and send the payment to [email protected]. Be sure to get the e-mail address correct! Also be sure to include your name, address and other order information. This is the ONLY way I can accept credit/debit card payment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REPRINT PERMISSION

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You may freely copy material from this newsletter in other non-profit publications (unless otherwise marked in the article), but you MUST include the author's name (not necessarily mine) and this entire notice:

Reprinted with permission of Virginia Knowles from the Hope Chest Home School News. For a free subscription, send an e-mail message to [email protected] or visit www.hopechest.homestead.com/welcome.html

Please send me a copy of the publication which includes the material.

Virginia Knowles / 1925 Blossom Lane / Maitland, FL 32751

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~