Last Month:
FCHM's 2nd Annual Benefit Dessert
We were privileged to have our friends Gregg Harris and Paul Anderson speak at this year's benefit. It was incredible!
The event was well-attended and brought in over $7000.00 for First Class. Thank you to everyone who gave and who is part of the ongoing support team at First Class! Your monthly giving is so important to the growth and sustainability of this ministry!
Your support is helps us make ministry to homeschooling parents a reality in local churches across the United States and around the world!
To date, we have received requests from over 2000 families about starting a homeschool co-op with FCHM.
Co-ops provide homeschooling families with an opportunity to come together for learning, friendship and fun once a week for an average of 18 mornings each year.
Does your church have a ministry to homeschoolers? If not, contact us today and get connected through FCHM!
Announcing the newest FCHM
Co-ops:
Welcome!United States:
Folsom, CA
Happy Valley, OR
Lake Newman, WA
START A HOMESCHOOL CO-OP WHERE YOU LIVE!
|
Pass it On!
Are you excited about ministry to homeschooling families? Spread the word by forwarding this ezine to your homeschooling friends and help our First Class network grow!
|
Coming Soon!
Homeschool Drive Thru
Calling all Ebook writers!
Are you an ebook writer or aspire to be one?
Moms: What do you do with your own kids that others could benefit from? Ebook it!
 Teachers: What do you do in your co-op classrooms that other teachers could benefit from? Ebook it!
If you are interested, send your contact information as well as a short description of your ebook writing experience, ideas or plans. Email me at zindra@fchm.org, adding "ebook" to the subject line.
|
We grow through your giving.
Every gift you make to FCHM helps us plant homeschool co-ops around the world.
Thank you for supporting the ministry of FCHM.
Homeschooling families need your support. Click here to become part of the support team for FCHM.
| |
 Thank You!
Five Reasons FCHM is Praising God this Thanksgiving... Join us! Thank you, Lord, for ...
5. An incredible volunteer staff. FCHM is run almost entirely by a team of amazing people who give of their time and talents to help First Class bring real-life support and encouragement to homeschoolers around the world. From answering emails and phone calls to sorting bulk mail and website help, these folks are at the heart of who we are as a ministry.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pictured: Summer, Savannah, Spencer and Sydney St. John
(two of the six!)
Special thanks to the FCHM Board for
their vision and dedication, Vancouver-area volunteers and to Zindra Nelson for the countless hours spent on the ezines!
4. Growth. First Class has grown over 400% in the past year and now has 27 co-ops from coast to coast.
3. Co-op directors. These wonderful parents have invested their lives in the homeschoolng families in their communities. They minister grace and encouragement to those they serve through their local First Class Homeschool Co-op.
2. Vision Casters. We have had so many wonderful businesses and ministries catch the vision of FCHM this year. They have told their friends about the ministry and helped us spread the word. The internet has been huge part of what we use to share the vision of FCHM so thanks to everyone who has blogged about the ministry, and spread the word through ads and articles. We are so thankful! Special thanks to our friends at Five in a Row and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for all your support and encouragement. We have been blessed!
1. Prayer and Financial Support. Without it, we couldn't do the work to which we have been called. Thank you so much!
We hope your Thanksgiving is filled with memories of God's goodness to you! May He bless you as you train up your children to walk in His ways!
On behalf of the board and staff at FCHM,
Jay and Heidi St. John have been married for 19 years and are the homeschooling parents of six children who range in age from seventeen to three. Heidi speaks to mothers with humor and grace on many subjects dealing with homeschooling. If you are interested in having the St. Johns speak at your event, please contact them through FCHM.
|
 Homeschooling doesn't have to mean home alone!
Join the growing community FCHM members online and at
your local First Class!
*NEW* First Class on Facebook:
we're over 150 members now! Link to FCHM on Facebook
FCHM members who are also part of facebook can join this
group and post on the wall, get to know each other, write about their
group, post pictures.
*NEW* First Class "Causes" on
Facebook:
First Class "Causes" Link
You can support FCHM in our mission of planting homeschool co-ops
around the world through the local church. You can comment, and even
donate to FCHM here!
First Class Homeschool Ministries'
Message Boards
http://www.firstclasshomeschool.org/forum/index.php
Now this is a really cool thing - if we can get it to
get some more traffic. Hmm. Still thinking about how to do that.
There are 246 members on the message boards now, but they are
not very busy. We'd love to hear your thoughts on how to increase
visits and really use these boards to encourage homeschoolers!
First Class Homeschool
Chat on Google
http://groups.google.com/group/fchm-homeschoolchat?hl=en
This is the national "chat". Most co-ops also have local
chats as well. Subscribe to it, and you can share email back and forth
with the group. Members decide how they want their emails to come so
that they don't get a bunch of unwanted emails.
First Class Member Downloads
http://www.firstclasshomeschool.org/pages/members/member-downloads.html
Have you accessed your member
downloads at the FCHM website? All you need is your email and
password. FCHM is easy to contact if a password is lost or forgotten.
|
 Spotlight on 
Meighan G.
Meighan is a member of First Class in Skagit County, WA!
We asked Meighan about 20 questions, and here are her responses.
Why
did you begin homeschooling?
When we discovered some special needs with my oldest, we knew that he needed to
be home with me, where he would be safe and in a comforting environment.
Why
do you homeschool today? 
It is clear to me that God has led me to do it, no doubt in my mind. Our
babies are precious and so innocent, the way God intended, and I intend it to
stay that way. I believe that only my husband and I can teach them themost important thing and that is Godly character and how to build that
relationship with God. Homeschooling gives us that time to instill those
things, and besides, I love being with my kids and can't imagine sending them
to someone else for 6 hours a day. What if your child was hurt or sad or
just needed you and someone had to CALL you to come and comfort them.
They don't have to when they are at home with those who love them most and
provide the comfort and support that only family can give.
How
do you homeschool?
I have no idea!
I just do it and hope for the best. We are a little laid back at ou r house,
we don't adhere to many schedules right now. We focus on getting the
basics done, play outside, enjoy nature, read together, garden and take care of
our animals, which all have great teachable moments. I try to make it
natural, to encourage learning as being a natural part of daily life.
Incorporating Godly character is an important part of our days, as this is the
most important lesson. We generally have the state of mind that children
are naturally like sponges and absorb more than we will ever know. When I
stress about what they are "supposed" to be learning, I remind myself
of this and have faith in my kids, in ourselves as parents and in God for
the peace of mind that I need.
What
has First Class done for your family?
It has given my children friends, fun and knowledge; It has given me peace of
mind, friendships, relief and fellowship. My husband loves to hear about
their day at Friday school, and the kids love to tell him.
What
does First Class mean to you?
Support. That
simple.
How
has First Class encouraged you to continue homeschooling?
 Seeing others being
successful, is encouraging to me, it gives me ideas and new ways to try
things. Being able to fellowship with other moms who may or may not have
it "all together" keeps me grounded. Those who are seasoned
give me hope and renewed motivation. Those who are struggling or are new
at homeschooling are just as necessary and comforting.
Before
First Class, where did you find homeschooling support?
NOWHERE! This has been a blessing to me.
and last but not least...
What is the value of homeschooling to you?
Priceless. Absolutely priceless. It is a blessing, an honor and a
big responsibility, but would God have called us to do it if He did not think
we could do it? The opportunity to savor their childhood, preserve their
innocence, build amazing memories, help shape their lives to be Godly men and
women, see every milestone, provide that safety net away from peer pressure and
bullying and immorality, which is running rampant though the schools, is
priceless and imperative. It is our way of life and I love it.
Meighan
Graham and Randy, her husband of 15 years, live at Camp Brotherhood in South
Mount Vernon. They have been homeschooling their three children, Kolby
10, Julia 7 and Benny 5, for two years. They are members of First
Class Skagit County, in
Mt. Vernon, WA.
|
|
The Old Schoolhouse Planner: November Module - Amusing Mathematics
By Zindra Nelson
The Old Schoolhouse Store has come out with another monthly module to accompany the original planner.
The November Module: Amusing Mathematics is an addition to the TOS Planner. You do not have to have the original planner to be able to use the November Module.
The
November Module: Amusing Mathematics, lives up to it's name! You can
use Amusing Mathematics all year round. It may have come out in
November, but it is not have a November theme (Thanksgiving, Turkeys,
etc.).
What's inside? Tangrams, musical math, patterns, math
jokes and more mathematical games. Coloring pages and copy work for the
younger ones and soduku and worksheets for the older ones. November
recipes for Mom. It also includes the answer keys.
Lots
of fun filled activities for - everyone in the family. Supplement your
regular homeschool materials with something fun (& educational)!!
Cost is $7.95 Click Here to visit the schoolhouse store.
Click Here if you'd like to see a sneak peak of Amusing Mathematics.
Family time with Tangrams out of Amusing Mathematics:
 
Rod and Zindra Nelson have been married for 12 years and
they have exclusively homeschooled their four children ages ten to three. They both serve on the Board of First Class
Skagit County. Zindra is the editor of
Connections, the First Class Homeschool Ministries Ezine as well as the editor
of First Class News, the newsletter for First Class Skagit County, WA. Currently, she is also a TOS homeschool
product reviewer. You can visit her blog
and see reviews on many other products at www.homeschooling4life.com
|
|
|
