Curriculum Need

Fellow Homeschooling Families,

If anyone has any curriculum for 10th grade that you would be willing to pass along (or sell at a deep discount) to a new homeschooler in need of supplies, please contact me directly, or put a comment on this post.

Thank you!

Selena Campbell

Creative Idea Sans Writing

First, a poem for comic relief:

"A peanut sat on the railroad track,
Its heart was all a-flutter---
Choo-choo train
Comes round the bend,
Toot toot!

Peanut butter!

(by Anonymous, from "Surprises," poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins)


I came up with an idea to spark creative thinking in my kids, which will also (hopefully) liven up our school days. Even though we have fun curriculum, the kids get frustrated with the routine (which would go smoother if they would just listen and do their work!).

I'm sick of having them stand up and run around the house a few times or do some jumping jacks, so this is a fun alternative to get the wiggles out. Select three to five items and allow your child to choose one. He or she will then proceed to do an impromptu (but brief) commercial for the item. For older kids, you can shake things up by limiting the words they can use in their dialog (such as prohibiting use of amazing, guaranteed, etc). You can also time them to keep it short (I'm allowing 5 minutes). Since I have three kids, I'll let them take turns doing commercials throughout the day, with a coin flip deciding who goes first.

Some suggestions are a colander, garlic press, Windex, dog treats, lotion, toilet paper (with instructions to keep your commercial clean--which should illicit some chuckles), a broom, a cell phone . . . you get the idea. This could also be educational for younger kids, if you pick some household items they aren't familiar with.

If you try it out, be sure to leave a comment with how it goes! :)

Two In A Row

Yes, that's right--Marion County has canceled school for today, Friday, January 20th, so we will not be meeting for co-op classes today.

If any teachers have info they'd like me to post regarding classes, you may post a comment to this blog post, or contact me here, if you'd like me to create a separate blog post for your class assignment(s).

Any snowmen built today will probably not last the weekend, since it is supposed to be almost 50 degrees by Sunday! We are having a wild winter, to say the least.

Once again, enjoy your day off from co-op!

Standing Firm and Letting Go

"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary," (Galatians 6:9 NASB).

I read a Proverbs 31 devotional for today, which talked about doing things alone, or feeling like you are alone. This part caught my attention:

"I’ve sat in frustration rather than standing firm. I know what weary feels like when it seems my efforts aren’t making a significant difference. I’ve felt cornered rather than like a conqueror."

Sounds like it could be a homeschooling devotional, doesn't it? Have you ever felt this way? I have. I've felt frustrated, and I've given up on days when things just aren't doing according to my plan, especially when the kids are frustrated, too. On days like that, it feels like I'm not making the difference in their lives that I want to make through homeschooling. Then I tend to feel all alone and I assume that everyone else has it all together and they are doing fine.

The truth is, we all struggle. There will always be tough days, even after you've been doing this for many years. But, if we stand firm in our faith, we will see results because the beauty of sowing and reaping is that you reap a huge harvest compared to the volume of seeds that you plant. God promises.

Here's one thing that will help you tremendously--don't compare yourself to others! When you start thinking thoughts like, "I'm not good enough...I don't do enough...I'm not smart enough..." you have to ask yourself: compared to what? Or, better yet, compared to whom? If you are comparing yourself to other people, other homeschooling moms, you are destined to feel inadequate. Just like there are bound to be gaps because no one can cover EVERY subject thoroughly (even public schools), there is no one person who does it all thoroughly and perfectly. There are areas of your housekeeping that need to slide, areas of school that won't be addressed every year. And that's okay!

Today's tip for dealing with perfectionism -- make a chore list for your kids (those old enough to walk) and let them all help you with the house. Just let them do it! If your son or daughter does a hit and miss job of sweeping the carpets every day, that's better than one thorough vacuuming once a week! Plus, they are learning!

Pray and ask God to show you ways in which you can relax your control around the home. The tension of trying to do everything right all the time really does effect your sense of worth. You are not valued based on the amount you can check off your daily to-do list. You are valued because you are a precious child of God made in His image. Let it go!

Sports Opportunity for Homeschoolers

Please note that this is not a THESIS-sponsored activity. Below is a summary of an email that we received regarding this opportunity, and we are passing it on to you:

A local newspaper reported that there are two lacrosse teams in Harrison County that homeschoolers (and public/private schoolers) can participate in, one team for middle-school, and another for high school. The person who spoke with the coordinator said that he sounded very happy to have homeschoolers.

Practice is in Bridgeport, and registration is today (Friday, January 13) from 6 to 8 pm and Sunday, January 15 from 1 to 4 pm at Meadowbrook Mall Community Booth (near Elder Beerman).

The cost is $25 for middle schoolers, and $50 for high schoolers, in addition to equipment costs. For further info, call Jim Mullen at 672-0213 or laxcoachjim@gmail.com

No Co-op Classes Today

In case you didn't check yet, Marion County (and the surrounding counties) have canceled public school for today. Therefore, we will not meet for co-op classes.

Although the standard two-hour delays do not effect us, whenever Marion County closes school, it is our policy to cancel co-op for the day.

You can go here to check for school closings in our area. This link also appears under the "classes" tab of our blog.

Stay inside and drink some cocoa and enjoy your free day! :)

A Re-Newed Year

"Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth...put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him," (Colossians 3:2,10 NASB).

With a new year comes pressure to make resolutions--firm determinations to change. But we need to keep perspective when doing so, or we will soon fail and give up--as I'm sure many of you, like me, have experienced before.

In the verse above, the word that is translated "renewed" literally means "renovated." Now, if you've been through a home renovation, you may be groaning at the thought of that meaning. But, it's exciting to me.

When our previous home's bathroom was being redone, it took a long time. We started the work ourselves and ended up overwhelmed, so we called a contractor to finish it. It wasn't fun during the process--it was painful, at times (especially when the oil-based paint forced a pregnant me into a hotel because of fumes)--but the end result was wonderful. I would go into the room and just sigh, loving the whole look and feel of it.

The temptation to reform ourselves with resolutions usually doesn't work because it takes work to stick to them, and often it takes more work than we are prepared to face. But, when we ask God to do the work--to renew, to renovate--our lives, He gives us the strength, and He goes at a pace we can handle without being overwhelmed. Isn't that exciting?

The pastor who spoke at our church this morning talked about Haggai chapter 1, where God informed the people that He was basically frustrating their plans because they were not doing what He wanted them to do. I took that as confirmation of what God has been telling me for a while now--I have to put Him first, to seek Him first, if I want to succeed at anything. And furthermore, if I do manage to succeed in accomplishing something, nothing really matters for eternity, if my goals don't align with His plans.