My son is learning about ecosystems in the first chapter of BJU Science 4, and it’s been a fun study for him. He was, however, having a little trouble straightening out the different terms in his mind. To help him remember the terms and their meanings as well as better understand how it all works together, I got out my trusty markers, cardstock, and scissors to create 1) a Chart that helps him get the big idea and 2) Manipulative Pieces so he could “build” his own ecosystem.
Until we moved to our current house, our classroom was located in a separate room of the house where we could decorate and learn and make messes during our school time, and then when school was over, we simply shut the door and lived peacefully (okay, happily) in the rest of the house. When company came, they never had to see our classroom unless I wanted them to see it. It was the ideal setup for me. When we moved, however, the houses we considered did not have an extra “hidden” space where we could spend our school time. Quite the opposite, actually. If you visit our house, our classroom will be the first room you’ll see, and you will definitely see it, because it is located at the front door and is completely open to the rest of the house.
Time is a gift, given by God
Not to be squandered or lost but enjoyed.
Enjoy it in earnest, with purpose and intent
Because you can’t purchase more
When it all has been spent.
As homeschoolers, should we follow the law? Absolutely. If you are unsure about the laws for homeschoolers in your state, a great starting place is to find the website for your state-wide homeschool group (Note that “State Homeschool Group” is referring to the location of the state, not to the government). You can also click on your state on HSLDA’s map to find out the homeschooling laws in your state.
Now that we have that settled and none of us are going to be penalized, fined, or put in jail :), let’s talk about those letters and forms that the school district may send out periodically to some of us. They may ask things like if you have a college degree, what the exact dates are that you will be in school, if your child has learning disabilities, or what specific topics will be covered in each subject. They may request that you fill out a form about your family or educational choices. If this info is not required by law, don’t answer. Don’t disclose any information beyond what you are required by law to disclose. And I’ll tell you why…
Most states require homeschool students to study for a certain number of instructional days. For 30 of the states, that number of days is 180, but the number of days for the rest of the states varies between a little under 170 to 181 days, and in a few states, the regulation doesn’t apply at all. Respecting this law is important, because breaking it can mean penalties, fines, or sentences.
Fortunately, tracking our number of school days is much easier than actually getting through them, right? While I do use a planner/calendar to keep track of our daily and monthly responsibilities, I prefer to keep our number of instructional days on a separate paper that I can easily slip into my “Master Binder” at the end of the year. My “Master Binder,” as I refer to it, is where I keep important and legal documentation related to our home school.
Raise your hand if you remember Trapper-Keepers, lots of spiral notebooks, and cardboard pencil boxes from your school days. Anything I could do to personalize these school materials and put my own stamp on them, I did. In first grade, I went so far as to ask my mom to cover my pencil box in pretty wrapping paper so it would look different from everyone else’s on the planet. I guess that need to turn the boring, mass-produced product into my own creative masterpiece still lingers, because here I am as an adult teaching my own kids, and I’m still doing the same thing! I love it when we turn the boring cover of their binder or notebook into something they want to see every day.
Welcome to our super fun Snack Shop, where my kids get in some practical money-math and walk away with a snack for later. Some mornings we open The Snack Shop before the school day kicks off. After I have chosen the snack options and the prices (so they will be forced to work with change), the kids use play money and their cash register to take turns buying a snack. So this activity gives them practice with money-math, and it also gives them a snack that they don’t complain about (because they chose it). If you don’t have a play cash register or play money, no problem! Your kids can use a little bit of real cash and change and have a notepad and paper handy, in case they need it.
There are so many wonderful songs and Scriptures about God’s grace and His faithfulness. We are right to be so thankful for these amazing and undeserved works of God which every child of God knows about first hand! We enjoy thinking, studying, and shouting about God’s gifts to us, but are we skipping out on the importance of what we as God’s children should be giving to Him?
When our oldest was getting ready to start kindergarten, my mom made a wonderful suggestion! She recommended getting journals for our kids that they could keep into adulthood, and these journals would be for recording the books they read. So I selected classic journals for them, and we have been keeping them ever since.
