T.H.E.S.I.S.

Spelling Fun

2012-02-01T18:36:00.003-05:00

Discovery Education's Puzzlemaker is a great way to give your child some practice with their spelling words, in a way that doesn't seem like school.

At this site, you can create your own word search from whatever words you want to use. You can decide how big you want it to be, whether the words overlap in the puzzle, and if the letters are upper or lower case.

If your kids like puzzles, this is a fun way to learn, and can break up the monotony of spelling drills. Check it out! :)

Moms' Forum this Saturday

2012-02-01T09:24:00.003-05:00

The Moms' Forum on Portfolio Evaluations will be this Saturday, Feb 4th, at 11:00, in the Cafe by the Kidz Church area.

Sandwiches and drinks are provided, and attendees are asked to bring a dessert or side snack.

If you haven't already signed up, please contact Liz or Selena, asap.

Thanks!

Curriculum Need

2012-01-31T19:36:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-24T17:05:00.005-05:00

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

2012-01-20T05:44:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-17T12:48:00.005-05:00

"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

2012-01-13T17:39:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-13T07:23:00.003-05:00

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

2012-01-01T17:35:00.001-05:00

"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.

12 Days of Homeschool

2011-12-22T10:40:00.002-05:00

This Friday

2011-12-08T17:54:00.001-05:00

Dear THESIS Families,

Friday is our last co-op class day for the semester.  It went by fast!  If you
have a Talent Show participant in the family, remember to bring any props, CDs,
etc. to rehearse with this Friday.

Please bring a tray of cookies or finger foods for our Christmas reception in
the Trinity Cafe, which begins at 6:30 pm, before the stage show.

Warmly,
Liz, for THESIS

Class This Friday

2011-11-28T15:14:00.008-05:00

Hopefully everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving day celebrations with family and friends. The Campbell kids had a great time with their dad on vacation...until today, when Mom helped to decorate the church and Dad did school. (heehee)

This Friday, we are back on track with co-op classes. As usual, we will start with announcements around 12:45.

December 2nd is the last day to sign up for the Christmas Talent Show! The signup sheet will be on the counter in the cafe area. If you want to participate, be sure to put down your name this Friday. (Just so you know, you don't have to put down what you are doing.)

Speaking of the Talent Show, if you aren't already committed during co-op, please think about helping with the talent show practice on Dec 9th (the Talent Show is that evening, Dec. 9th, at 6:30). We need two moms to help (preferably at least one who knows the drill)--one to keep the practice sessions moving along, and one to ferry kids back and forth between classes and the kidz church practice area. If you are interested, please let Liz or Selena know this Friday.

And by the way, if you bring anything to co-op for giveaway, please don't forget to check the cafe before you leave so you can take home any unclaimed items.

See you Friday!

Come Ye, to Give Thanks

2011-11-18T09:34:00.002-05:00

Hear ye, hear ye!

You and your household are invited to attend the observance of a Thanksgiving Feaste at high noon

on the eighteenth day of November

in the year of our LORD 1621.

We will gather in the Hall of Fellowship.

We celebrate the freedom we enjoy in this land and the abundant harvest which the LORD supplies.

Do come in your finest Pilgrim or Wampanoag attire, and do bring the best your hearth may supply for authentic Thanksgiving fare.

Please, no green bean casserole!

Trenchers & large napkins will be supplied you.

Do linger after the feast for fellowship and wholesome recreation.

God be with you.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For our after-dinner learning fun, we are pleased to have this year the Traveling History Trunk, “The Life of a Civil War Soldier.” There will be learning stations set up among the fellowship hall, with opportunities for our members to both join in the learning and assist with the presentation of this material. This should be a fun and interesting experience, so please check it out!

Notes for Friday, October 21 Co-op

2011-10-20T16:11:00.003-04:00

Hopefully, everyone is enjoying the cool, brisk, windy fall days we have had this week. Even though it is rainy today, I love this time of year and the way autumn feels.

Please remember that tomorrow is the last day to sign up and pay for the Rich Farms field trip, which is the following Friday, October 28th. You can make your check payable to Selena Campbell, and put it in my mail folder.

If you have any "Box Tops for Education" or Campbell's "Labels for Education," please bring them in tomorrow. Bring your box tops and labels--separately, please-- in a baggie or envelope, and put box tops in Janine Tomko's folder and the labels in Selena Campbell's folder.

If you are taking the drama class, don't forget to come to class with your tongue twister!

See you tomorrow!

2011-10-07T09:05:00.002-04:00

Hello Homeschooling Families!

Those of us who went to the Pittsburgh Aviary had a great time, and pictures
of our trip will be posted soon.

Today, a sign-up sheet for our October field trip to Rich Farms' will be on the counter. 
Please check it out and sign up to join us on October 28th.


Today, Friday, October 7th, we are back to regular--although still fun!--co-op
classes. Here are some notes for today's gathering:
 
 
First,  if your 6-12th grader has not yet signed up for their 2 pm elective 
class, please do so at the counter!  They begin next week!  Descriptions can be 
found on the counter. 
 
Second, Group C (grades 4-5) gym class, please bring your marked soccer ball if 
you own one! 
 
All gym class students, remember your gym shoes and water!! It should be a 
beautiful day!

Lastly, if you are a middle school student in the non-fiction writing class, 
and you (or your parent) own a Thesaurus, please bring it to class with you
today.

See you soon!

Reminders for Classes

2011-09-14T12:25:00.003-04:00

Some reminders for this coming Friday;

1.  Each family try to bring a bag of apples for Saturday's
Harvest Fest booth. This is THESIS' contribution to this
community outreach, and also functions as a modest raiser of funds,
since we ask for dollar donations.

2.  If you have a balance due on your registration fees, please make
arrangements to pay it.  You'll find a notice in your folder if you
have a balance due.  Please remit cash (in an envelope with your name
on it) or check to Liz DeRoos.

3.  Friday the 16th is the last day to sign up for the Aviary field trip.
Payment due by enveloped cash or check to Liz DeRoos by the 23rd.

4.  All children who take gym, remember to wear appropriate shoes and
bring only water in your bottle.

5.  The gym is open for upper grade students (who no longer have a gym
class) from 12 noon till 12:45 on Fridays.

Lastly, here's a review of the rules for THESIS. These apply before,
during and after classes. 

Parents, please make sure your children know and follow these rules
during co-op:

1.  No talking when your teacher is talking.
2.  Hands and feet to yourself at all times.
3.  No gum.
4.  Hold it--until the bathroom break.
5.  Three Strikes, your out--on the third warning, the child goes
to the parent for the remainder of that class.
6.  No drinks, except water.
7.  Have fun!!

THESIS Registration Closed

2011-09-12T12:21:00.003-04:00

Well, our first THESIS classes were held this past Friday afternoon, and
it was pretty exciting!  What a great crowd of homeschooling families
we have this year!

As a result of our rapidly expanding size and teacher-to-students ratio,
we find it necessary, for the first time, to close registration for all
classes.

Effective immediately, registration for THESIS classes is officially
closed for the 2011-2012 school year.

Other homeschooling families wishing to join can do so as event/field trip
members, and a waiting list will be created for class membership.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact a leader.

Have a great week!

September Field Trip Info

2011-09-08T09:55:00.004-04:00

Pittsburgh National Aviary field trip
Friday, September 30

Anyone wishing to travel together can join the caravan leaving
Trinity's parking lot at 9 am sharp.  We will make one rest stop
before Pittsburgh. Parking is free in their lot; if full, street
parking available.Bring your lunch from home; there will be a
place for us to eat there. They will have a schedule for each
age group.  Families may depart for home in the afternoon whenever
they like.

Class fee includes general admission for students.  All other
attendees over the ages of 2 pay $9 discounted admission.  You
may want to bring extra money for the gift shop and buying food
to feed the lorries!

**Please pay Liz in cash or check for your family by Friday, the 23rd**

The Aviary will hold the following classes for us:

PK to 4th Grade "What's For Lunch?"  $9 per student  1 hour

Fruit and seeds, meat and leaves...what does a bird look for when
it comes to mealtime?  Discover there is more than meets the eye
when it comes to dining with the birds.  Students will examine model
beaks and feet, as well as live birds, to understand how birds use
their beaks and feet like tools to eat all different kinds of food!

Grades 5-8  "Carnivores!"  $9.50 per student  1.5 hours

Learn about the meat eaters of the avian world and what makes them
different from other birds.  Through the use of biofacts and live birds,
students will appreciate the important role that carnivores play in
the wild.  This class includes owl pellet dissection, during which
students have the opportunity to discover what owls eat in the wild!

Grades 9-12 "Training 101" $10 per student 1.5 hours

Through bird demonstrations, games, and a multi-media presentation,
students learn hands-on about the positive reinforcement and classical
conditioning techniques used by trainers to interact with wild animals.
They will also discover that these training concepts can be applied to
their pets at home.

Perspective

2011-09-01T18:04:00.001-04:00

Have you started homeschooling this week? How's that going for you?

It is easy to get out of balance in life, whether it be with your Christian walk, your housekeeping, or homeschooling (to name a few).

Here's something from my friend, Audrey's, blog, which may help you if you are feeling overwhelmed with school already:

Homeschooling is great, but homeschooling didn't save me.

Homeschooling didn't pull me out of the pit of death.

Homeschooling isn't the Rock on which I stand.

Homeschooling doesn't give me a joy that strengthens my limbs.

Homeschooling doesn't mend my wounded heart.

Homeschooling doesn't rescue and redeem and reconcile those around me.

Homeschooling is a good way to live, but homeschooling is not the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I hope everyone is having a great week, but if you aren't then remember this: Jesus is the center from which all things flow. Bathe everything in prayer, keep your focus on the true source of your strength, and you will be fine. :)

Back 2 School Kick-off Family Dinner

2011-08-26T09:27:00.000-04:00

Anyone who came to the registration meeting on Tuesday knows what a great crowd of homeschooling families we have this year!

To celebrate the beginning of the new school year, we will have a "back 2 school" dinner for the whole family.

When: Friday, September 2, 2011, at 6:00 pm

Where: Fellowship Hall of Trinity Assembly of God (same place that registration was located, only we get to spread out more!)

What: Food, fun, and fellowship!

§ Gourmet pizza and beverages will be provided.

· Families whose name ends in A-L, please bring dessert for 12

· Families whose name ends in M-Z, please bring salad for 12

§ There will be a scavenger hunt for the kids!

§ If you haven’t registered for classes yet, you may do so at this dinner.

Questions? Please contact Liz DeRoos at 304.534.5822 or Selena Campbell at 304.363.0944

See you then!

Homeschooling in WV

2011-08-25T11:54:00.000-04:00

"By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established," (Proverbs 24:3).

Homeschooling in West Virginia is being attacked by the State Superintendent's office. Go here to read about it.

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), is an organization dedicated to fighting legal battles on behalf of homeschoolers, and to helping defend our right and privilege to teach our children at home. If you are not currently a member, I strongly encourage you to join, in light of the recent developments in West Virginia regarding homeschooling.

Don't know what's going on? HSLDA Staff Attorney Mike Donnelly is hosting a free e-conference for HSLDA members, on Thursday, September 8, 2011, at 2:00 pm.

Click here for more info on the conference.

Click here to join HSLDA.

If you are a member of Christian Home Educators West Virginia** (CHEWV), then you get a discount on membership with HSLDA.

Confused? Contact one of the THESIS administrators and we'll be glad to answer any questions you may have.

**You must be a member of CHEWV in order to participate in year-end standardized testing with THESIS homeschool co-op.

Registration & Used Curriculum Sale

2011-08-22T07:23:00.000-04:00

Yes, believe it or not, registration is upon us!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 23, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Trinity Assembly of God, THESIS administrators (and some teachers) will be available to assist you in registering for new classes and signing up to assist with our co-op.

During this time, you will also be able to sell and/or peruse used curriculum. If you have not already done so, please be sure to notify Liz DeRoos or Selena Campbell that you are selling something, so we can be sure to have a table available for your items.

At registration, you will receive the normal new school year packet of info, with class descriptions and a schedule, along with the fall THESIS newsletter. There will be signup sheets for helping in various areas, as well as a signup for our first field trip of the year to the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.

See you then!

Investment and Reward

2011-08-17T04:54:00.000-04:00

The Campbell family is the new owner of a yellow lab puppy, named Daisy. Those of you who have experienced training a dog from early puppy-hood are thinking, "Is she nuts?" I'll answer that question for you: yes. Or, maybe the answer is I'm going nuts. I love to get uninterrupted sleep, and I have not been doing that since Saturday night. I feel nuts when I am fatigued.

I made the comment to my husband the other evening that the investment (in this dog) isn't worth the reward (Kyla's joy, well-trained dog later). He didn't respond to that comment, although scriptures about dripping faucets were going through my mind.

As much as I hate to admit it, this puppy is good for our family. I've replayed that comment that I made over and over again in my mind. And, what a selfish comment it is. Nothing that takes time, effort, blood, sweat, tears--and steals your sleep--seems like it is going to be worth it at the time, whatever the ultimate goal. When your flesh wants its own way, it dearly hates to be inconvenienced.

Homeschooling is one of those things that can cause you to think, on occasion, "Is the investment really worth the reward?" Or maybe, "Will the reward be worth the investment?" This is especially true when you are going over the same math concept for the umpteenth time, or struggling to plan lessons for science and history for all your kids collectively to save time so you won't have to clone yourself to get things done during the day. It basically boils down to your sinful flesh screaming about inconvenience. Your "life" isn't going the way you planned.

Maybe you never saw yourself as a homeschooler (I never saw myself as a mother, let alone a homeschooling mom), so the endless days of required patience that is needed to diligently instruct your child(ren) in the ways of the Lord, while interweaving reading, writing, math, science and social studies, can make you want to scream, "Is this really worth it?"

Regardless of the outcome of your child--who from said child's behavior, you know has a free will and can choose to go their own way instead of God's--the investment is worth the reward.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness," (Hebrews 12:11 NASB).

God has set before us an incredible task: Not just to care for and train our children, ever pointing them in His direction, but for us to grow more Christ-like as He sanctifies us through daily living the life He has called us to live, saturated with His grace.

When your children are with you 24/7, the opportunities for life-lessons abound. I have a huge one before me right now--a lesson in patient endurance, with the goal being not to whine about the road on the way. God is showing me more each day how He is shaping me into the image of Christ through homeschooling my children.

Some days will be harder than others, but all of them count toward the ultimate goal of running the race and getting to the end. Keep your eyes on Jesus as you start the new year, and you will do great!

On Socialization

2011-08-12T08:50:00.000-04:00

Even if you haven't officially started homeschooling yet, just mentioning that you are considering it (let alone have made the decision to do it) can bring a standard response from people. The first thing you will hear is, "What about socialization?"

My dear friend from high school called me yesterday, and I hadn't talked with her for months. We were trying to quickly catch up so I could finish getting dinner ready, and the conversation included what was in store for our coming school year. When I mentioned our co-op, and the potential class sizes (21+ in my middle school class alone!), she responded by saying, "Can you do that? I mean, isn't the whole point of homeschooling to avoid that kind of environment?"

I say this to show you one thing -- you have nothing to "prove" to anyone in relation to your decision to homeschool. People will believe things about homeschoolers no matter how you seek to enlighten them. If you don't do things with others, you are weird. If you are doing things as a group, it is still weird.

The definition of socialize is:

"To make fit for living in a group; to subject to governmental ownership or control."

Those who say homeschoolers aren't socialized just mean that they are different, i.e., they don't have a herd mentality, following the "in" crowd (and driving you nuts about having all the latest fashions and tech-toys). And they are usually able to have an intelligent conversation with people of all ages, not just their peers.

Do not allow comments about a lack of socialization scare you! Your children will be fine as they grow up in your home as lovers of learning, self-confident that God has an amazing purpose for their life that He will equip them to accomplish.

Imperfect Homeschooling

2011-08-11T12:36:00.000-04:00

The featured book for this month is, "The Imperfect Homeschooler's Guide to Homeschooling," by Barbara Frank.

I don't have my copy of this book at hand because I loaned it out to someone, so I can't post any quotes of her wisdom. But I will tell you that Barbara Frank is a 20-year homeschooling veteran, and her wonderful book is full of practical and sanity-saving suggestions for running your homeschool.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with the thought of "doing it all" and perfectly, this is definitely the book for you. I had a "moment" a couple of years ago, and I know that God lead me to read this book. I highly recommend it, especially if you struggle with wanting to "do it right" and you are worried about not doing enough.

Proposed Class Schedule & More

2011-08-09T11:53:00.000-04:00

I hope that everyone is wringing out every last drop of summer from the days that we have left because before we know it, fall will be upon us. Although it wasn't quite as cool as a true fall day, it felt like fall as I sat out in my garage-porch listening to the rain showers this morning. I do love fall, so I'm not sad about the heat passing. I will, however, sorely miss my garden veggies!

If you haven't already taken a look, our proposed class schedule is available now under the "Class Schedule" tab at the top of this blog. We are excited about the new classes, and the new format for this year. Hopefully, things will move along smoothly and the weather won't interfere much with our schedule. I once heard that the water table has to be at a certain level for the year, meaning that a great deal of rain in spring and summer means little snowfall in winter. We shall see!

I also want to remind everyone that registration is fast approaching, and with it will be our first (annual?) used curriculum sale. Tuesday, August 23rd, we will have open registration and a curriculum sale from 1-4. You can come when you like, leave when you like. Just be sure to RSVP to Liz DeRoos (304.534.5822), if you plan to sell something, so we can reserve a table for you. You don't have to stay the whole time, but if you are selling, make sure that you come back to pick up your money and any unsold items!

Speaking of curriculum, maybe you are struggling to get your lessons planned, or just to wrap your mind around this great responsibility of educating your children. THESIS, being a faith-based group, believes that God is the center from whom all things flow. Here are some thoughts, based on that philosophy:

Science -- God created the world and all the amazing things in it
Math -- things work in an orderly fashion because God designed them that way
History -- history is all about God sending Jesus to redeem us, and His master plan
Language Arts -- the great commission is to tell others about Jesus, and writing and reading help us to do that well (always be prepared to give an answer for the faith you profess)
Literature -- reading about the lives of others helps us to see God's power at work
Economics -- we are called to be good stewards
Government -- governments and rulers are in place because God put them there (so we should be praying for our president, whether or not we like him!)
Arts -- God has given us different ways to express worship to Him, through music, art, dance, etc.
Health -- God's plan for our health, both physically and spiritually

Life Schooling

2011-07-31T17:43:00.000-04:00

"In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,"

(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

One of the great things about homeschooling is the opportunity to capture so many teaching moments--those times when life experiences are the best teachers. Think of it as the difference between "theory" and "practice." Things will often seem easy to implement "in theory" but are actually much harder when put into practice. Thus the beauty of all-day, hands-on teaching of our children.

Such a teaching moment manifested for us Saturday evening when a pickup truck plowed into the back of our van. We were stopped while waiting for the car two ahead of us to make a left turn. The truck came flying up behind us and hit us hard enough to open the inside cover of our moon roof and knock both side mirrors out of alignment.

I was driving because my husband had just finished working, and the kids and I decided to go to Lowe's with him since we hadn't seen him all day. We were all tired, and hot, and obviously having a car accident wasn't in our plans.

When the truck hit us, Sara (who was in the third-row passenger seat, where the impact was) immediately burst into tears and said, "Ow, my back hurts!" That obviously scared me.

Our children, as always, were watching us. How did we handle this? What words did we say, what actions did they see? What were we more concerned about--our safety or the condition of the car? I think we did a good job responding in a Christ-like manner. My husband's first words to the driver of the car that hit us were, "Are you okay?" I was (am) proud of him.

God tells us to give thanks for everything. I just finished reading Corrie Ten Boom's story, The Hiding Place, to my children. She inspired me by going through the depravity of the Nazi death camp that she was in, yet still being thankful to God for everything-- even the fleas in her barracks.

Homeschooling is often an imperfect mess. We are human, and we will fail as we attempt to teach things to our children. There will be gaps (just like in the public education system!), there will be tough subjects to teach, tough days to get through. But, if we remember to always thank God for every day, and each moment--no matter how stressful or inconvenient--we will teach our children about God's Sovereignty, which is more imporant than anything they'll ever learn from a textbook.

Above Rubies Devotional: Order in the Home

2011-07-28T11:23:00.000-04:00

“According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it” (Exodus 25:9, 40; Hebrews 8:5).

God has given to women the privilege and responsibility of being the manager of their home. We have as an important a task as the manager of any business. Just as a business can’t run well without order, nor can a home. I don’t know about you, but I can’t run my home efficiently without some order. Here are a few of my thoughts.

O ORGANIZATION

One of my favorite sayings is, “Things don’t just happen; you have to make them happen.” We cannot make our home run efficiently unless we organize. This will be different in every home. Some women are high-powered organizers; others are laid back. Whatever our personality, we must have a certain amount of organization. The blatant fact is that if you just let life happen, chaos eventuates! You must plan your meals, make sure supper is ready in time for your husband coming home each evening, organize your cleaning and laundry, and of course, train your children to do their specific tasks. To organize a home does not mean that you are a slave in the home. You are the organizer, making it happen by getting everyone involved. (1 Timothy 5:14).

R ROUTINE

A routine keeps order in the home. In our home I expect everyone to be up in time for breakfast. We have our Family Devotions at 8.00 am. Anyone who has not finished their breakfast before this time misses out on breakfast. It is over. We can’t keep meals going all day. We have to clean up and get on with the day. We have lunch at a certain time and supper at a certain time. I am aghast when I hear of mothers allowing their children, and especially their teens, to sleep in and get up whenever they want. This is poor training and does not prepare them for life. It does not prepare them for a career and how to get to work on time and does not prepare daughters for running a home. Children should learn to get up at a certain time. The day is for work and adventure, the night is for sleeping! (Proverbs 6:6-11; 13:4; 24:3-34; 26:14).

Of course, children need their sleep, but if they cannot get up in the morning they are obviously going to bed too late the night before. I am still old fashioned enough to believe in the old adage, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

However, in saying this, I don’t believe in legality and rigidity either, and allow everyone to sleep in in the weekends. I don’t enjoy sleeping in myself, but am happy to give everyone else that privilege. And also there are different seasons in life and things change when a new little baby comes into the home.

D DISCIPLINE

Order can only happen with discipline, firstly in our own lives and then teaching it to our children. We also must try to get to bed at a reasonable hour so we can get up early and be ready to face the day—to prepare breakfast, put in a load of laundry, organize schooling and each child to their various tasks.

One of my best disciplines in regard to cleaning is my weekly Preparation Day. Every Friday we clean the whole house from top to bottom. Cleaning once a week keeps the home in good shape. (Luke 23:54).

E ENCOURAGEMENT

Keeping a home running smoothly is easier said than done! Children lag behind. They disobey and complain. But they’ll get tired of you nagging. Inspire and encourage your children instead. When you train your young children you may need to use some “carrots” to get them motivated. You will have your different ideas that work in your family. However, you may want to print up a schedule on the fridge. Each child who is up on time each morning gets a star. Each child who does their appointed task without complaining gets a star. The one who gets the most stars at the end of the week gets a prize—something worthwhile. This gives them incentive and encouragement to do what is right and to get into the habit of doing it.

R RESISTANCE

Resisting what? I’m talking about resisting the resistance that comes from your children and teens. They may want to keep sleeping. They will naturally be lazy. They will muddle around instead of doing their chores. Don’t give in! Keep up your plan. Keep the order until it is a habit in the home. Training doesn’t happen in a day. It takes time, but it will become a habit if you are consistent and don’t give in! (Isaiah 28:9-10).

However, in the midst of keeping order, we must also have freedom; freedom to change our plans if something special is happening; to halt our schedule if someone needs help or arrives at our home and needs encouragement, or freedom to do something unexpected and different, just for the spice of life. Keeping a basic sense of order in the home gives freedom to do fun things. If your home is out of order, you will not have a springboard on which to jump off and do something different.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“I thank you, dear Father, that you are a God of order. Please teach me how to keep order in my home just as you have order in your heavenly home. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

The beauty of my home is order!

Teachers Needed

2011-07-21T12:25:00.000-04:00

Is everyone getting excited about THESIS starting again soon? Are you curious about what classes will be taught?

We will be posting the schedule soon, but we have one more slot to fill. The 4th-5th grade middle period (from 1:40-2:20) still has an opening for two teachers. Have you considered teaching a class, but you are waiting to be asked?

There's a great class that Liz DeRoos taught a few years ago that is math-based but feels more like arts & crafts. The kids who took that class had a blast learning math in a fun way. If you would like to teach this class, Liz will gladly help you to plan out the lessons for the year.

Or, do you have a desire to teach but you have something else in mind? Well, that's great! As I mentioned, this one class is the only slot we've yet to staff.

We've added three more classes to our class schedule this year--so we need your help!If this is not your first year as a member of THESIS, and you have ever considered teaching--now is the time to step up!

Please call Liz DeRoos, at 304.534.5822, or Selena Campbell, at 304.363.0944, if you are interested in teaching this 4th-5th grade class this year.

Class Schedule & Used Curriculum Sale

2011-07-15T22:03:00.000-04:00

Our tab with the label "Class Schedule" will be eventually filled in with an actual table of classes--hopefully by the end of the month. I have the table created, but I need to tweak it because it is showing up too wide.

In the meantime, we are excited about what is happening with THESIS this year! We've changed the class sizes for the lower grades, and we've got a few electives that the 6th-12th graders can choose from. Hopefully, these new changes will work well.

Our first field trip of the year will be to the Pittsburgh National Aviary. More details will be forthcoming on this blog, and in our first newsletter. We will need to plan that trip soon, so if you are interested in going, please send me an email at campbells(at)ma(dot)rr(dot)com. (Fill in the @ sign and the dots that are spelled out in parentheses...the way I typed it keeps trolling software from picking up my email and spamming my account).

As a reminder, we are doing a used curriculum sale in the fellowship hall during this year's drop-in registration on Tuesday, August 23rd. Whether you are planning to buy or sell, it is truly right around the corner, so don't forget to mark your calendars!

Parenting with Scripture

2011-06-28T22:29:00.000-04:00

This is an excellent book to use in teaching godly character traits to your children. The topics are in alphabetical order ranging from anger to worry (and there is an indexed list, as well), with key symbols that mark familiar Bible passages, such as a cluster of grapes for fruit of the Spirit.

Each topic starts off with a basic definition, and then lists four to six applicable scriptures for memorization. There are a few discussion questions, followed by "Take Action," points--ways to apply scripture to the issue being covered.

I've used this book many times in the several years since I bought it, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in working on discipline issues, or for use as a type of Bible-based devotional.

You can find this book at ChristianBook.com as a paperback or an e-book.

Blessings,
Selena

Registration & Used Curriculum Sale

2011-06-27T11:09:00.000-04:00

Does anyone else think that summer is flying by? I can't believe that we've already peaked at the longest day of the year. When the weather is cool and breezy, I find my heart already beginning to yearn for fall...And, speaking of time flying, our registration for next year is less than two months away!

We are trying something new this year. On Tuesday, August 23rd, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the fellowship hall at Trinity, we will be holding a drop-in registration. You can "drop in" anytime during that period to sign up for THESIS membership and classes, and to select an area in which to help out. We hope this format will limit some of the chaos of having everyone there at the same time, and that it will allow for members (new and returning) to get questions answered. (There will not be child care during this registration period. Your child(ren) may play on the playground outside the fellowship hall, but everyone is responsible for their own child(ren).)

Also during that time, we will have a cash-n-carry used curriculum sale. This will also be held in the fellowship hall, and sellers will be responsible for clearly labeling anything they put out by using this method:

Label a small envelope with owner's name, the title of item(s) for sale, and the price.
Tuck envelope inside for-sale item and place it on the table.

Anyone who wants to purchase an item will remove the envelope and fill it with cash, then place it in the designated area. (Please, no checks or IOU's without approval of the specific person selling the item.)

Sellers may stay with their curriculum, or they can come back at the end of the sale and pick up their money and/or unsold items. All sellers displaying things for sale are responsible for retrieving their unsold things by 3:45 p.m.

**Please note: sets of encyclopedias, and other dinosaur-era learning materials that are highly unlikely to be sold should not be brought to this event!**

If you want to sell something, you may come to the fellowship hall as early as 12:45 p.m. to display things. If you are looking for something particular, just post the item as a comment to this blog entry, and hopefully someone will have it to sell!

Questions? Just give one of the administrators a call.

Blessings,
Selena

Curriculum Chaos

2011-06-25T09:00:00.001-04:00

Anyone who has seen the Rainbow Resource catalog -- a full two inches thick -- knows how overwhelming the curriculum choices can be to homeschoolers. There are literature-based curricula, unit-studies, classical method and scripted curricula, to name a few. And you may ask, "Who is Charlotte Mason and what is a living book?"

All homeschoolers, even the seasoned ones, have curriculum quandaries at times. If you are new to homeschooling, the endless sea of materials and styles can be bewildering. With that in mind, click here for a website that can help you peruse some of your options.

More importantly, THESIS is a support group, and we want to support our homeschooling families by helping each other with this all-important decision--what and how to teach our children.

Future posts will address some basic styles of curriculum, and cover different teaching approaches. If you have any questions or concerns about something, feel free to comment and we'll do our best to get you an answer promptly!

Blessings,
Selena

Year-End Assessments

2011-06-22T18:58:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone!

Just a quick reminder -- if you submitted a letter of intent to your county school board for this past school year, your year-end assessment results are due to your county Superintendent by June 30th.

It is helpful (for record keeping and peace of mind) if you send these via certified mail with return receipt requested. Then, staple the receipt to your copy of the assessment.

Also helpful is including your next year's letter of intent along with the assessment.

Questions about this? See one of THESIS's administrators for help.

THESIS is a Co-Op

2011-06-21T19:49:00.000-04:00

Did you know that our homeschool group, THESIS, is a co-op, or cooperative?

The definition of a cooperative is:

something owned collectively by members who share in its benefits.

And, of course, cooperative comes from the word cooperate, which means: to work together with others.

Therefore, the definition of THESIS is:

a homeschool group where we all work together and collectively share in the benefits of doing so.

And so, here comes the wonderful part -- Moms, we need you!

If you have some amazing ability when it comes to teaching a certain subject--math, art, basket-weaving--please let us know! As of the writing of this post, five elementary classes still need teachers, which includes two classes each for grades K-1 and 2-3, and one class for grades 4-5.

And, senior high students--are you proficient in a subject? Are you well organized? Please feel free to volunteer to teach a class (as long as it is okay with your parent).

Please know that we have an amazing year coming up, with more classes to be taught than ever before, and possibly even more families joining our group (we had 50 families representing ~100 children this past year). While this is exciting, it definitely requires that we emphasize that we are a co-op, and we all need to pitch in and help out, in some way.

With that in mind, when the registration happens in August (which is going to be different this year--more about that in a later post), we will have sign-up sheets for class helpers. Please take time to review these sheets and choose a class (or two) to help out with. Due to the volume of students that we have, we will be assigning helpers for each class, if we don't fill all the blanks with volunteers. So, if you'd like to pick out the class where you want to help, be sure to take a look at those sign-up sheets. (There will be a reminder of this, closer to registration.)

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer--the days are going to start getting shorter after today--and that you are keeping cool. When you are inside enjoying some a/c on the super-hot days, please give some thought to possibly teaching a class this year, or helping to coordinate an area of our group.

If you have any questions, or want to teach a class/be a coordinator, please give Selena (304-363-0944) or Liz (304-534-5822) a call.

Blessings!
Selena

Propaganda vs. Reality

2011-06-14T10:26:00.001-04:00

You Will Survive!

2011-06-04T22:33:00.000-04:00

A little comic relief for the end of the year: