~HOME LIFE NEWS~
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Wake Up! It's a New Year
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Greetings!
IT'S PUSH-UP TIME!! Well, you might not make your kids start out with push-ups but it is a new year and it's time to get down to business. But what is this "business" of homeschooling? Is it work or is it play? Is it fun or is it boring? And most importantly, does it lead to knowledge or to love?
In this newsletter we've included a couple of good articles to help you think about these questions. Push-ups are not necessarily necessary! But LOVE most certainly is! Enjoy. And have a great start to your new year. -david
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DETOX!
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by Barbara Frederick
Someone once said that beginning to homeschool was like moving to
another country. In many ways, they were right. When traveling to
another country, it is important for all new citizens to take
inoculations. When traveling to Homeschooolland, it is necessary for
all new citizens to "detox"--to rid themselves of the deleterious
effects that Publicschoolland has had on their education.
Before beginning this "detox" process, one must carefully analyze
the learning environment that exists in Publicschoolland and take note
of it's inherent qualities. In Publicschoolland all of the citizens are
carefully controlled. All movement occurs at the sound of a bell.
Performing necessary bodily functions is discouraged, and access to the
bathroom is monitored by a teacher. The citizens are told what to
learn, when to begin learning, and when to stop learning. Failure to
learn at the proscribed pace (be it too slow or too fast) is punishable
with failing grades and/or sheer boredom. Citizens are not permitted to
leave Publischoolland for 12 years, unless they obtain an exit visa and
travel to Homeschoolland. Once Publicschoolland citizens obtain their
exit visa, they will need help acclimating themselves to the new
learning environment of Homeschoolland. These new citizens will need
the following things from the Homeschoolland "Consulate General" (the
parent) to aid in this "detox" process.
Click here to read more...
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| HOW TO NOT HATE SCHOOL...
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I Hate School: How to Help Your Child Love Learning
What do you do when your child hates school?
When
little Sarah cries herself to sleep at night, when Johnny has tummy
aches in the morning, something is clearly wrong. An occasional problem
at school is one thing. But what do you do when school is the problem?
When your child hates school because school doesnt like your child,
you've got to act. Don't let a one-size-fits-all educational system steal
the joys and riches of learning from your son or daughter.
Your
child is unique, with a personal learning style that needs to be
understood and respected. In this groundbreaking book, learning expert
Cynthia Ulrich Tobias shows how you can work with your childs school
and teachers to tailor an education your child will love, not hate.
Here are practical ways to craft an approach that draws out your son or
daughters giftedness and minimizes the things that frustrate.
Filled
with practical applications and insights as commonsense as they are
revolutionary, I Hate School includes a Learning Styles Profile Summary
on which to base your plans and actions. So dont waste time. Today,
starting now, you can take steps toward an education for your child
that will replace the words I hate school with Is it time to go to
school yet?
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE GREAT BOOK SUGGESTIONS...
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| TIE THEM AS SYMBOLS
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by David Parkerson
In January of 1994, I embarked on a nine day "pilgrimage"
(as they call it) to the Holy Land. It was absolutely incredible -- to
walk where Jesus walked and see the places he touched with his presence
on Earth. At every turn my faith was strengthened. As I re-read the
Bible the scriptures leaped off the page with new meaning. We saw so
many amazing things, all of which reminded me of our Amazing God!
One thing I will never forget, and something I did not expect to see, was Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem wearing the
scriptures. After writing so small one can hardly see it, they roll up the tiny piece of paper stick it in a box called a phylactery, and then tie it to their
foreheads and wrists. They do so even today because of the following
commandment:
These
are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to
teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to
possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may
fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees
and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life... 4
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon
your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you
sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and
when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands nd bind them on
your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on
your gates.
Jesus later refers to verse five as the greatest commandment of all (read
Mark 12:28-34 and Luke 10:25-27). And God sees it as so important that
he commands to "tie them as symbols." I'm not convinced "tie them as
symbols" was to be taken literally; however, you must admire the
dedication of the Jews, as well as their high esteem for the
commandments. In doing so, I see two very important applications:
First, the greatest commandment -- "to love the Lord your God" --
is so important that God's point here is to love Him all the time,
impress it upon your children, and set reminders for yourself all
around your house, even on your own person.
Have you ever written something on your hand so you would not
forget it? Sure. What if you wrote it on your forehead and your
forearm?! I would sure remember it if it were attached to my body and
every door frame in my house. It would be a constant reminder to LOVE
THE LORD WITH ALL MY HEART, SOUL, AND STRENGTH! This is the point, not
that doing so is any work unto righteousness, but that it is a reminder
that we are to LOVE GOD with our whole being and teach this love to our
children, ALL THE TIME!
So we decided to do it. We
decided to print some signs and hang them around the house. Having the signs taped up reminds us
quite well. We encourage you to do the same. Have your kids help make
the signs and hang them up. Remember, this is about loving the Lord God
with all our heart, soul, and strength. These signs are just symbols to
help us remember. God said "Tie them as symbols." So we are! Actually,
we're taping them as symbols.
Second, there is application to the nature of education as well.
Education is on-going, all day, everyday: notice that God says "when
you walk...lie down...and get up." God commands us to show our children
how to love the Lord all day long, every day of the week. He does not
mean to simply quote the passage and make our children memorize it.
This goes way beyond Sunday school. This is a lifestyle where our
children learn this, and many other things, by seeing us in action.
Regardless of our circumstances, whether they are good or bad, we can
always love the Lord and show this love to our children. After all, He
first loved us.
God loves us so much he made the ultimate sacrifice to give us new life.
What He desires in return begins with a heart which seeks to love with Him all the time. Teaching this to our children is not a
matter of imparting knowledge but of continual example. It is caught,
not taught. I think this is why God chooses the word "impress." He
invites us to "impress them on your children." To impress is to go much
deeper than simply teaching a bit of information. To impress means "To
affect strongly, often favorably." It also means, "To mark or stamp
with or as if with pressure." Our love for the Lord should be so great
that it makes an impression upon our children, all the time!
I would love to return to the Holy Land someday, Lord willing. Even
if I do not, I will forever remember the important lesson when I saw
the scriptures written on their foreheads. May we all "Tie them as symbols" so that our children will see them and rejoice in the Lord.
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JUMP IN!
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 Push-ups are done. Now it's time to jump in!!!Don't worry about making mistakes. Just jump in there and do your best. Your kids will always be blessed by your INVOLVEMENT in their lives. If it's your first year with home education .... welcome to orientation! This first year will be a try and see for you. But hang in there through year number two and you'll be amazed how much fruit will come. And, of course, don't hesitate to call or email us anytime. We're here to serve.
- David Parkerson and the HLA Staff.
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Home Life News is a monthly newsletter
resource provided to all HLA teachers. HomeLifeAcademy offers parents
the freedom to choose their own books and custom design a
learner-centered educational plan to meet the interests and needs of
each individual student. From Kindergarten to graduation, HLA provides
record keeping, transcript, counseling, resource links, college
placement and more, allowing parents to do what they do best, lead
their children into a life-long love for learning!
http://www.homelifeacademy.com
We
believe God gives every child unique and wonderful gifts to use for His
glory and honor. Our mission is to inspire and equip parents to help
develop those gifts. |
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