BOGO Planner
                
October 1, 2014 Edition 

What about sports?               

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine is YOUR trade magazine for family education. Stay subscribed to this newsletter because this is the place where we give FREE education gifts on a regular basis. Read the magazine anytime, 24/7 at www.TOSMagazine.com. It's the Family Education Magazine!
Mercy Every Minute   

The Wuehler Family

My kids are saddened and appalled by the stories I have told them about my past involving sports. I vividly remember NOT being picked for sports teams in my early public school years so many times that I stopped asking to play. And, required sports at school meant required showers at school which were horrifying and embarrassing to say the least. But as I grew older, I began to enjoy some aspects of P.E. like track and volleyball. So in high school, I signed up for the volleyball team. We had a coach we learned to trust and learn from, and we learned how quickly you can make everyone cheer or let everyone down based on your individual performance.  

 

There is a lot for a child to learn through organized sports. I am still talking about those two years of volleyball today with my children. I am able to use it as an example of how our family can work better as a team. We work hard together, practicing daily basic skills until they are second nature. We benefit from each other's strengths and work on our own weaknesses. We work together as a team so that no one person has too much to do. When one member falls short, the whole family team suffers. When one of us has a victory, we all rejoice. We build each other up with our words and actions as we cheer each other on, especially in the hard times.  

 

Brian Ray of NHERI.org talks about a study that revealed our homeschooled kids are not much healthier or active than their peers in public school, "If public school students are more obese and less physically active than they should be (in general) and there is little difference between their nutrition and physical activity and that of homeschool children, then homeschool parents ought to pay close attention and consider what they should be changing around their families, with their children and with themselves."  

 

We probably want to think about getting our children more active and less like couch potatoes, since obesity and laziness are sadly common terms for most children today. An organized sport would be a good choice. Homeschooled children would benefit from sports in these and other ways. Here are some resources and benefits of participating in and studying sports:

 

Sports are electives that can be put on your child's transcripts.

 

History, news, and bibliographies of sports and sports figures are in abundance at your local libraries.

 

Find out about "Tebow Bills" and access to public school sports.

 

Adding in sports prepares children for college starting in the middle school years.

 

We can even capture sports through art.

 

Whatever decision is made about sports for our families, we need to decide to be the example in how we "run" this race that God has set before us. I need to get off the couch, get off Facebook, get off the computer, and get going in the direction God has for my family team today. I want to receive the prize of hearing my Father say, "Well done!" Don't you? Let's run together.

 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control,lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

 

~Deborah

 [email protected]

 

Advertisement

GiftedandTalented.com

GiftedandTalented.com, offers Stanford research-based online K-12 Math, Science and Language Arts courses. Receive up to 20% off your enrollment period with promo code PEAR

Raising Real Men    
 
Most kids can't resist the temptation to walk on top of a low wall. It's just challenging trying to keep your balance. We think about that whenever someone mentions sports.

We all love sports--watching them. Some of us are super-athletic; others are just not athletic at all. We give everyone a chance to play, though, because you just don't know until you try. If we hadn't done that, we'd have never known one of our boys was a really gifted athlete.   

 

Here's what we've done to keep sports in balance:

 

Wait until the right time. We waited until around 9 to 11 years old to start with most of our children, and we wish we'd done it with the rest. With younger children, it's often parent-driven and kids tend to burn out early--often before they really develop the skills to enjoy the sport. Instead, we encourage lots of informal active play. Read more about waiting here.  

 

Look for healthy environments. A child who's not mature enough to stand on his own in a hostile crowd probably isn't ready for your typical locker room. That's why we love Christian, church, and homeschool teams.

 

Keep family first. We tried out community league sports, but the boys were divided up into three leagues, playing on different fields at the same time. We not only didn't have meals together, we weren't anywhere together. It was too stressful for us, that's for sure. That's why we love the Homeschool Football League. All levels of play practice at the same time on adjacent fields. Games are usually held on Saturdays one after another. Families pitch tents and have an all day picnic with friends. So much fun! Learn more here.

 

Keep it doable. We just can't handle multiple sports and seasons in a year. Maybe your family can, or maybe you need to make some hard decisions. Thankfully, by the time one of ours becomes that gung-ho, he is usually driving or has big brothers that drive. That keeps the whole family from paying the price.

 

Do it. Encourage some kind of sports or activity. It's one of the few areas homeschoolers tend to lag behind in--physical fitness. We've really enjoyed most of the team sports we've played, but there are other things that might be easier for your family. Try tennis, cycling, racquetball, running, weight-lifting, and more until you find something that works. Two of our guys got motivated when their uncle bought them fitbits�. The competition in activity levels did it. Find something.  

 

The Payoff? Well, with all the testosterone we have in our house, football season is a relief! They come home all tired from tackling other people's kids! <grin>

 

Speaking of testosterone, the preteen years can be hard. Sometimes they climb on an emotional rollercoaster and invite you to join them there. Or, school starts taking forever. Here's hope - and help. Join us for Boot Camp 9-12: Getting Geared up for the Teen Years, our popular LIVE webinar series for parents of nine- to twelve-year-old boys. See you there!

 

Your friends,

Hal & Melanie

 
Advertisement
 
Print Planner BOGO


This planner is full of calendars, lists, and charts--all to help you keep your family on schedule. Now you can buy one and get one free!

BOGO Now!

 


The Familyman 
 
FYI: I am a red-blooded American male ... who doesn't care for sports. Growing up, I played them all; I just wasn't very competitive and couldn't wrap myself around the idea that people took it seriously. Seemed like a game to me, but to others, it was far more.

 

Maybe it's one of the reasons my kids don't do much with sports. Not that I'm against them or think less of others who like them, it's just that it doesn't seem all that important to me if my kids play them. Besides, they get plenty of playing on their own and every Tuesday night a group of my kids play pretty competitive volleyball with about 30 other young adults.

 

That said, I sure don't mind NOT having to cart kids to games and practices during the week or weekends. The two years that we played Upward Basketball about did me in, and it was only eight weeks long!!!

 

Some non-sports families feel the pressure from family members. They hear comments like: "You need to have your kids play sports. That's how they learn teamwork. It's fun ... great memories. You're going to ruin them if you don't let them ..."

 

My answer? Whatever. Just do what works best for your family and your children. If you like sports and want them to be involved--do it. And if you don't, don't. Not every kid has to be involved in everything. My kids get to travel all over the country, but that doesn't mean your kids should or are less than mine. You might have horses, but that doesn't mean I need to get them. Others grow gardens, play instruments, build boats, or breed whales, but that doesn't mean everyone should.

 

That said, go play some kickball, basketball, or nuke'em* as a family tonight. 

 

Be real,

Todd

 

*The game is like volleyball except instead of hitting the ball, you throw the ball to the other side. Whoever misses the ball is OUT (and moves off the court). BUT if someone on your team then catches the ball one-handed, they're back in.

 

The game is over when the last team member is out. The great thing about this game is that everyone can play.

 

I'm about ready to head out on my fall speaking loop. If you're in the neighborhood, stop in and say "hey."

 

In October I'll be in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Check my schedule to see if I'll be speaking near you.   
A division of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine 
SchoolhouseTeachers.com

Did you know? Every class is INCLUDED for members! No limits!

schoolhouseteachers.com

SchoolhouseTeachers.com, the curriculum site of The Old Schoolhouse� Magazine is making changes to make our site easier than ever to use. Check out what we've been working on: 
  • We have a new schedule for when content will roll out to make your scheduling and planning easier and faster.
  • We can now offer SchoolhouseTeachers.com memberships to co-ops and small groups! Check out the details.
  • We have a new course breakdown on our menus that shows how much content you can expect from each course, whether a full year or a full semester. In addition, courses that are provided to supplement core curriculum are also noted. You can view this breakdown from either the Pre-K/Elementary or Middle/High School tab on the main menu.

Do you have a suggestion that you feel would make the site even better? Please let us know. Email Bonnie Rose Hudson, executive editor, at [email protected].

 

One membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com serves your entire family, regardless of how many children you are homeschooling or their ages. There are no per-child fees, and courses range from preschool to high school. If you've never had a membership to the site before, you can sign up for a Homeschool Welcome Basket and a free thirty-day trial. You can buy a monthly subscription or purchase an entire year for $139 and save over 10%. Purchase a subscription through October 2, for just $100. Try it today.

     
Announcement

TOS Article
in the latest issue of
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

 

Advertisement
 

Get your copy of the

2014 Annual Print Book
 
Be encouraged, enlightened, and educated with the 2014 Annual Print Book published by The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.

  

You'll get a year's worth of homeschool support in over

280 pages in this full color one-of-a-kind print magazine for homeschoolers, by homeschoolers.

This is a
magazine you'll refer to again and again.

Get your copy of the TOS 2014 Print
Annual Edition
today and pay just $15.

Or you can buy both the 2014 and the
2013 Annual Print issues for $25!


Free shipping to U.S. only.

 

Announcement

Now you can be a TOS affiliate and earn some extra cash!

Would you like to earn 20% commission on TOS items that family and friends purchase through an affiliate website? It's easy, check out this page for more information. Once you are signed up, you simply share your unique affiliate link with family and friends. If anyone purchases anything from the TOS website using your affiliate link, you receive a 20% commission. There are even buttons available to help you promote your affiliate link on your website or blog.

Sign up today here.   

Contest Corner 
For the month of October, 2014

 

Lightning Literature & Composition 

from Hewitt Homeschooling

 

Have you been searching for a literature curriculum that uses classic books and poems to teach writing skills and literacy analysis? Well, look no further than Hewitt Homeschooling to fit the bill. 

 

Lightning Lit & Comp  

 

Hewitt Homeschooling has been around for many years in the homeschooling circle. They strive to serve parents with students from kindergarten through high school with an emphasis on combining excellent academics with character development, by instilling a strong work ethic, and to develop a spirit of community service within the next generation. Firmly believing that reading great literature and then writing about it going hand in hand in preparing students for college-level reading and writing, 100 Crew members have had the opportunity to use several different curriculum over the last six weeks.

 

The Lighting Literature series is available for elementary to junior and senior high students. By using a combination of novels, poetry, plays, and full length autobiographies to teach composition, literature, and other language arts skills by instilling a love of great literature in children.

 

Read the Crew reviews by clicking through the graphic below!

 

Crew Reviews

 

YOU can WIN Hewitt Homeschooling's American Christian Authors Set!

 

TO ENTER: Email Heather with your name, mailing address, and phone number for contact purposes, with the subject line, "Hewitt Homeschooling" for a chance to win* the this literature program for your family!  

 

 

In this week's issue:


Creation Illustrated on Facebook

September Special at STC

Schoolhouse Print Planner

Molly Green

Take a look at
what's new now at
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
 
Read 
in the latest issue of
The Old Schoolhouse� 
  Magazine.

TOS Magazine

Read the magazine free at  www.TOSMagazine.com
or download the free mobile apps at

The Old Schoolhouse
 has MORE for you!

Check out these resources:

Who We Are:

"I am amazed at the number of times I open The Homeschool Minute newsletter and have the opportunity to read EXACTLY what I need that day! Thank you so much for putting a real face on homeschooling." 

 

  --Michelle Sager   

Liberty Twp, OH  

"I really appreciate all the information and the many uplifting articles in your magazines. Invaluable. Thanks for all you're doing to help us homeschoolers.

   

 --Kathy P.
Stanton, TX 

"Only just this past week have I seriously checked into the content of the SchoolhouseTeachers.com site ... May I just say wow?!"  

 

  --Janelle Chille   

Mason City, IA 

"I really enjoy reading all the THM articles. I learn a lot from Todd Wilson's column. [He's a] funny guy who speaks the simple truth! Thank you very much!"

--Charlene   

Brandon, FL  

"I look forward to THM every Wednesday. I really enjoy Deborah's articles. For some reason, it must be God, she always writes about what I am needing to hear. Her ability to put scripture and God in the middle of all her articles keeps me coming back. I recently have been enjoying the Youngs' [articles] because I have a young man (10) in my house. The encouragement of the Youngs is fabulous. I thank God for parents like them that pave the way for parents like myself and my husband."

 

--Racheal Fowler

 Glen Burnie, Maryland

"So love reading TOS on my iPad from cover to cover every month!!!"  
--Leigh Anne McGrady
 Dunwoody, GA

 
"I love the new TOS app! So convenient. So quick. All the encouragement I need at my fingertips ... any place at any time."     

--SpunkyHomeschool

"I absolutely love Todd's column. He always seems to put things in the proper perspective, and it keeps me from getting all stressed and anxious. Thanks Todd, and thanks TOS!!"

 

--Johnne Orelchikov  

East Texas 


Have you been blessed by

The Homeschool Minute™

 

      
 
Read the current issue NOW!
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Copyright � 2014. All Rights Reserved.