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"Christian Online Classes
for Jr. and Sr. High School" is the subject
line of the e-mail accompanying and sponsoring this newsletter.
Two options enable homeschool
students to study at their own pace:
NorthStar Academy teacher-led, nationally
accredited, online school.
NorthStar HomeSchool parent-led, homeschool
and independent
study program.
_______________________________________________________________
View this
newsletter online.
_______________________________________________________________
Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement
From
a Distinctively Christian Perspective of Home Education
Cindy Short and Sue Welch,
Co-Editors /
www.TeachingHome.com
_______________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
Three Steps To Finish Your School Year
(with Checklists included)
• Step 1. Record
• Step 2. Evaluate
• Step 3. Celebrate
Recommended Resources
• Your State Home-School Convention
• Christian Liberty
Academy School
System
• 7 Wonders Museum of Mount St. Helens
• The Teaching Home Back Issues
Sunnyside Up: Humorous Anecdote
Greetings,
As the end of your school year draws near, don't just fade
away, perhaps in discouragement over perceived failure to reach
all your goals.
If you are not finished with the studies you had planned to
do this school year, you are not alone! (Even most school
teachers do not finish all their plans.)
So do not panic, feel guilty, or envy those who did finish
on schedule.
Talk to the Lord and your husband and consider continuing
a few selected studies at a more relaxed pace during the summer.
We hope that you will be able to focus on the progress you
made this year and the many good times your family has had
together.
Don't forget to thank the Lord for the opportunity and
freedom to home school, and for the guidance, wisdom, and
strength He provides.
May the Lord bless you and your family for
His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a home-school, family-run business
operated in our home since 1980.
_______________________________________________________
Your State Home-School Convention
Renew and expand your vision for teaching and training your
children by attending your state home-school convention!
Follow link
for your state to get convention information.
May (some this weekend!). AR, IL, MS, MT, NC, NJ, WI
June. CO, CT, IA, ID, IL, KS, NY, OH, SC, VA, WV
July. AL, AZ, CA, KY / August. OR, TX
Read "Getting
the Most Out of Home-School Events."
_______________________________________________________
Christian Liberty
Academy School
System
Can Help You
Succeed in
Homeschooling
Since 1967 we have provided families like
yours a
flexible, affordable partnership offering Godly education
and academic excellence for K-12.
Our CLASS Plan includes books, teacher manuals, tests,
answer keys, grading services, report cards, diploma, and
transcript. CLASS homeschools.org
_______________________________________________________
Three Steps To Finish Your School Year
The three steps described below are important for you to
take in finishing your school year.
Step 1
Record Your Accomplishments
Set aside a day or more to do the necessary
task of
gathering, filing, and recording the year's schoolwork. The
rewards are that:
• You can find your records easily.
• Your children have meaningful memorabilia.
• You get more space for more books and materials.
• You might even be able to sell books you don't need anymore
for some extra cash to (you guessed it) buy
more books!
Gather up all your schoolwork for the year,
then sort and
dispose of everything appropriately.
Schoolwork
• Select samples of work for each child in each area of
their
studies to put in their permanent files.
• Send some samples to grandparents (with the clear
understanding that they are free to toss them after enjoying
them for awhile).
• Give each child a certain amount of space in which to
keep
what he wants.
• Throw out the rest.
Books
• Store some books for younger siblings.
• Shelve some books for reference.
• Give some away (to a family who needs them, your support
group's library, or a thrift store).
• Trade some with another family.
• Sell some at a local used curriculum sale.
Records
You might need to keep a record or a portfolio
of your
children's studies to comply with your state's laws or an
umbrella organization, as well as for your own benefit.
Choose any or all of the following options. Depending on
their ages, your children may be able to help you with some.
[_] Record the date and student's name after he finishes
each
concept on your scope and sequence chart or
list of
educational goals.
• A Beka Scope
and Sequence
• The Typical
Courses of Study by World Book
• Standards
and Testing by State
[_] Use lesson plans as records, checking off and dating
each
assignment or objective as it is done.
• See record keeping supplies at ATCO online.
[_] Keep track of hours spent by subject if you are required
to
do so by your state law or wish to for your own
information (e.g., for a high school transcript).
• Education PLUS carries
many resources on transcripts.
[_] Copy records of family projects, unit studies, field
trips,
etc. for each child's individual file as applicable.
[_] Keep a journal for each day of a unit study, briefly
listing
books read or activities done.
[_] List all books read by the family or individual
students,
including the title, author, and publisher. (A brief
description of contents and your personal evaluation will
make this list more valuable to you and your children in
the future.)
[_] Place artwork and writing assignments in a notebook or
file.
[_] Take photos of art, craft, and science projects and
activities such as plays, costumes, and field trips. You
can use a computer scanner or digital camera to create a
CD containing these photos as well as pages of school
work, compositions, etc.
[_] Put your records in a labeled box for the year or for each
child.
Yearbook
Create a yearbook by placing photos, sample work, and other
memorabilia in a scrapbook.
• See Creative Memories' idea center.
Sound Record
Tape record some of your family's answers to the evaluation
questions below (especially the positive ones!) as a sound
recording of your school year.
_______________________________________________________
Visiting Mount St. Helens this
Summer?
Be Sure To Stop by
the 7 Wonders Museum!
Dedicated to creation science studies at Mount St.
Helens, the 7 Wonders
Museum offers online information,
displays, slide presentation, and a large number of Creation
books and videos. Drop by (call first) or schedule a group
tour or guided hike. 360-274-5737. 7wonders.nwcreation.net
_______________________________________________________
Step 2
Evaluate Your School Year
Use this checklist or make your own to see
what went right
and what went wrong this year so that you can adjust for next
year.
This needs to be done now, while things are fresh in your
mind!
You might want to discuss these items as a
family and/or do
a private interview with each member to get a complete picture.
Be sure to include your husband and each child
for their
individual perspectives. You will need to adapt the questions
for each one (e.g., Dad: Do you know what our children learned
this year? What would you have liked them to learn that they
did
not learn?).
Please do not let this evaluation discourage
you! Rejoice
and thank the Lord for what went well and learn from weak areas
so that you do even better next year.
--------------------- Evaluation Checklist ---------------------
General
[_] What did you like best about our home school this year?
[_] What did you like least about our home school this year?
[_] What did you learn?
[_] What did you not learn that you would have liked to?
Academics
[_] Were basic foundational skills of reading, language, and
math improved, mastered, reviewed, and practiced enough?
[_] Were specific facts connected to the big picture of overall
knowledge through the use of a globe, maps, timelines,
charts, and related information?
[_] Did we use a variety of teaching methods and materials,
(e.g., textbooks, workbooks, unit studies, hands-on
activities, computer software, library or supervised
Internet research, field trips, oral and written reports)?
[_] Were thinking skills taught and encouraged by the types of
discussions we had (e.g., comprehension, knowledge,
analysis, synthesis, application, and evaluation)?
• See Newsletters
23, 25-26, and 28-30.
[_] Were various educational resources available and their use
encouraged and modeled (e.g., reference books, videos,
tapes, educational games, software, and supervised
Internet use)?
[_] Was there enough good supplemental reading done as a family
or independently?
[_] Was there time, resources, and encouragement available to
pursue individual interests?
Spiritual
[_] Did your family read God's Word and pray together daily?
[_] Was Bible knowledge and Bible study skills increased?
[_] Were Bible reading and memorization given at least as much
importance as academic studies?
[_] Were subjects taught from a Christian worldview?
Character Development
[_] Was character development an important part of our school
(e.g., honor and obedience to mother as the teacher and
parent; kindness to siblings; diligence; truthfulness; and
attention to details in studies)?
[_] Was child discipline maintained in a simple, straightforward,
and kind manner? Were the rules
and consequences clear and
consistently carried out?
[_] Were there enough positive motivations and negative
consequences?
Life Skills
[_] Were life skills included in your training and related to
academic subjects (e.g., budgeting, cooking, shopping,
driving, cleaning, organizing, scheduling, repairing,
maintaining a house, yard, and car, voting, finding
information by phone, letter, or supervised Internet use)?
Logistics
[_] Was the schedule realistic and easy to keep? Too strict or
too lax? Was doing schoolwork a regular, daily habit
(along with chores and personal grooming)?
[_] Did we have a good balance between group and independent
study?
[_] Were the classes we did as a group interesting, and did they
allow each student to learn?
[_] Was mother available for help when needed? Was there a need
for alternative activities or procedures when she was
unavailable?
[_] Did we care for our toddlers and babies in the best way for
them and for our studies?
[_] Were the settings for our studies appropriate and conducive
to learning (e.g., dining room table, couch, individual desks)?
[_] Did we have enough, not enough, or too much independent
study? Was there enough time, space, supervision, and help
available for these studies?
[_] What got bogged down that could have gone more quickly?
[_] Was there enough organization and planning for space,
materials, schedule, and chores?
[_] Were there enough varied experiences or too many outside
activities? Were our supplemental and outside activities
worth the time and effort?
[_] Was the atmosphere of our home warm, loving, and supportive?
Bottom Line
[_] What do you want to do the same or differently next year?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Use Your Evaluation To Plan Your Next Year
Use your evaluation outcomes to make general, broad plans
for next year and for your summer studies. You can do specific
and detailed planning later; this is just to be sure you include
the valuable input from this year's evaluation.
Make quick notes beside certain answers on your evaluation
forms. Then set dates for your comprehensive planning for next
year, allowing time to purchase and become familiar with any new
curriculum.
_______________________________________________________
The Teaching Home Magazine
Back Issues
Are Still
Relevant
and Applicable to Your Needs Today!
Many home schoolers have found information, inspiration,
and
support from the writers who have contributed to The Teaching
Home magazine over the last 26 years. Fifty-one Back Issues are
offered
for sale online.
In each issue an average of 58 home schoolers contribute:
• Practical how-to articles
• Encouraging letters
• Ready-to-use teaching tips
"The Teaching Home has been a part of my continuing education
since I started home schooling, and I have kept every issue. I
often
go back to old issues to find creative, helpful hints or inspiration."
Meredith C., Florida
_______________________________________________________
Step 3
Celebrate and Share
A celebration gives a nice closure to this
section of your
studies and ends the school year on a positive note which will
help propel you
forward into your next scheduled studies or
activities.
1. Praise the Lord!
As a family, thank the Lord for your
family, for
the
opportunity and freedom to home school, and for the guidance,
wisdom, and strength He provided this year.
2. Plan an Event
[_] Invite neighbors, friends, or relatives to an open house.
This can be combined with another family if
desired.
• Show displays
of schoolwork, projects, and art.
• Give oral, musical,
or dramatic presentations.
• Serve refreshments.
[_] Have a party, dinner, or picnic with another home-school
family or families.
[_] Take an educational field trip or an outing just for
fun
with your family or others.
3. Find someone else that you can encourage and help.
Reach out to another family that is home schooling
or
is
considering home schooling. Point them to the Lord to find the
guidance, wisdom, and strength that they need. Offer moral
support and practical help.
_______________________________________________________
Please Thank and Support
Our Sponsoring Advertisers!
These free newsletters are made possible financially
by the
fine suppliers who advertise in them and in the accompanying
e-mail. Please consider those that advertised in our last issue
(below) as well as the ones in this issue.
• Keyboard Enterprises:
Firebaugh's
Algebra I and Algebra II Courses
• Rhea's Entrepreneur Days
• Library
& Educational Services Wholesale Books and Supplies
• Oxford Tutorials
Online College Prep
• Jean Welles Worship Guitar
Class and Kid's
Guitar Lessons
• Speedy Spanish &
Bechtel Books
_______________________________________________________
Sunnyside Up: Primary Vote
As I was on my way to vote in our state's primaries, I was
explaining to Caleb, who was almost 5, about the voting process
and the need to choose candidates who follow scriptural
principles.
The frown deepened on Caleb's face as he queried, "Mom, are
the names hard to read?"
"No," I replied, perplexed. "Why?"
"Will you help me read my paper if I can't figure out the
names?" he begged.
How relieved Caleb was to find out that one must be 18 years
old to vote.
Submitted by Jane H., Michigan
_______________________________________________________
God Loves You.
Because we have been separated from God by
sin, Jesus
Christ died in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust
Him as our Savior and Lord, He will give us eternal life.
"For by grace you have been saved through
faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of
works, that no one should boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
www.TeachingHome.com/about/Salvation.cfm
_______________________________________________________
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