top ten tuesday

Every Tuesday for the 10 weeks, I will be praticipating in the “Ten Weeks of Top Ten Lists.” Each week a different top ten list will be posted. Please visit iHomeschool Network for all of the participants’ top ten! I am sure you will be blessed by finding many new sites to enjoy. Also visit Angie of Many Little Blessings  to link up your own top ten list with her Top Ten Tuesday.

I am not rushing summer away, but I am looking ahead to our fall plans. I have been completely convicted about how we will be going about our studies this fall. With a middle-school age- daughter, two elementary schoolers, and a preschooler it is quite a task to plan. Yet, I have been convicted that we must use the Bible as our main text.  I want our studies to flow from His Word. It is the most important book to know in life. It is where our education starts. I firmly believe God will work an amazing transformation in our family if we devote our studies to His teaching.
{Matthew 6:33}


So currently I am working on how all this will look come September.  I want my middle schooler to have much more independent work this year, and will be giving her lots of assignments based on our Bible studies.


Right now I plan on committing at least 10-12 weeks on this. We are going to go through Genesis, really digging into the Word, breaking it down, and learning. We will also use it for science, geography, and history. We will all work together each morning for however long it takes to truly study the Word. We don’t just want to hear it-we want to actively take it in and study it. To know it. To know God.


From there, I have individual work for each child. We will do math and language arts separately, but will also add in other assignments all based on our studies. Copywork from scripture, research projects, and language lessons can all be taken from our lessons in the Word, as well as history, science, and geography.

1.Family centered in Bible each day. How can we go wrong if we are all studying God’s Word as a family? What an a amazing opportunity to grow together as a family.


2. Letting God lead our studies. As homeschoolers we are constantly chasing down the best curriculum, the best  schedules, and the best systems.  I am convinced that God is in charge of our homeschool and if we seek Him first, He will provide all we need to know. He IS the best resource we have and the ultimate source of wisdom.
Proverbs 1:7  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”


3. Activities for all ages. We will be starting with Genesis and there are tons of things we can do for the different age groups. My oldest daughter can delve into the plants and animals created by God, contrast evolution vs. creation, understand Adam’s sin and the fall of man, study the true historical facts of Noah’s ark, study ancient maps, and perhaps learn some new Greek words. The younger ones can do these things on their own level.


4. Great resources. I am currently compiling my information and printing things out, bookmarking, ordering, etc. It is exciting to have so much wonderful resources. My favorites right now are Answers in Genesis and Vision Forum.


5. What I can learn. Learning alongside my children is wonderful. I know God will be teaching me just as much through this process.


6. Discipleship. Discipleship starts at home. Learning as a family how to truly study the Word is far more important than learning it elsewhere.


7. Following Matthew 6:33. Truly seeking Him first in all we do, especially in our education is of utmost importance.


8. Schedule. I am always excited for a new schedule in the fall. Right now I am planning on having our family time in the mornings. Afterwards the children will do their individual work. For my middle schooler, I will be using the Student Planner from Apologia to assign work ahead. I want her to take more responsibility for deadlines, planning, etc.


9. Giving my children a strong foundation for their spiritual life. What a beautiful inheritance to gain biblical wisdom!
“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance”
Psalm16:6 


10. Know their worth is found in him. I want my children to know God. Truly know Him. And by knowing Him they will know that their worth only comes from Him. Growing up knowing that truth is a huge goal of mine, especially as I have a daughter entering those oh-so tough middle school years. I don’t want them ever to doubt that their identity lies anywhere else but in Him and what He has done.

We must know God above all, and then we will be truly wise.

Unplug Your Mind and ReCharge Your Soul is free on facebook! Go over to the facebook page, and “like” it.  Then click on the  “only likers” tab to download!  Not on facebook? Subscribe here and email me to let me know. I will send it over directly!

Every Tuesday for the next 10 weeks, I will be praticipating in the “Ten Weeks of Top Ten Lists.” Each week a different top ten list will be posted. Today’s list is “Top 10 Must Have Items for Homeschooling.” Please visit iHomeschool Network for all of the participants’ top ten! I am sure you will be blessed by finding many new sites to enjoy. Also visit Angie of Many Little Blessings  to link up your own top ten list with her Top Ten Tuesday.


Summer is here. It is my very favorite time of year. All of the burdens of the year are behind us and our schedule is much looser. At times there is no schedule at all…and that is much needed for all of us!  Schedule or no schedule, the learning never stops. I try to strategize ways to continue our life lesson learning, while enjoying the freedom of summer.


Here are my top ten reasons I love summer schooling!

1. No pressure to get things done. We learn as we go, and often when there aren’t any “forced” lessons, the kids learn more effectively.  For example, a day at the beach exploring as kids without an agenda can still provide so much learning. Make sure to use your child’s natural excitement and curiosity to spark conversations to inspire learning. We found a horseshoe crab shell on our recent trip to Assateague Island, so now at home we can look up information about the horseshoe crab. All because they want to. Not because they have to.

2. Kids can be kids. As I always say, learning takes place from the time we wake up until the time we go to bed. In summer the kids can be much freer to explore their own interests, and also just to be kids. Run, jump, play, explore. It is all part of the learning process.


3. Organizing and planning for me are so much easier! With no lesson to plan or formal outside activities, I use this time to really organize. I plan as much as I can for the upcoming school year and even make a meal plan for September and October. This is always our smoothest time of year as far as household “stuff.”

4. Field trips. Anyone who knows me knows that I love field trips. Local trips to the zoo, historical sites, farms, etc. There are so many opportunities for field trips!

5. Connecting with each other. I feel like now that things have finally settled down for summer I am conneting with my kids more. We have laughed more and enjoyed each other’s company more. The stress of traveling is over, and we are much more relaxed. I am going to take this opportunity to connect with each child individually more and make sure I am focused on looking them in the eye and hearing them. Not just trying to listen as I mulit-task other things. 😉

6.  Gardening. I love using gardening with my kids. Unfortunately, this year we did not plant, but normally at this time we are all very excited as we begin to harvest tons of tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans. Everyone loves picking the veggies each day and watching the garden change over the summer. Lots of lessons involved in gardening. A complete summer science course right in your backyard! (and no one really will think if it as “school.”)


7. Longer days. I love summer schooing for the mere fact that at this time of year, the sun shines longer! It truly makes our moods better and I feel definitely improves learning.

8. Adventure boxes. I haven’t done this yet, but I love the idea of a child choosing what they want to study over the summer. Then you can fill a box with books, activities, and crafts all revolving around that subject. Once a week, once a day…whatever you choose, you can have adventure box time! (maybe next year we’ll do this…)

9.  Nature. Nature abounds in summer time and there is so much to learn. From the flowers blooming, to the weather patterns, to the bugs and critters out and about. Take a daily hike or just sit in your backyard and there is bound to be lots of nature study. Take a sketch book with you and just sit under a tree observing this pleasant time of year. Or when one of those summer storms strikes up, learn firsthand about lightning and hail. Sit with a camera and observe a storm out the window. You are showing your child firsthand God’s immense power.

10. S’mores and marshmallows! What better reason to love summer schooling than the fun treats it brings! I’m sure there is a lesson to be found in s’more making isn’t there?

Unplug Your Mind and ReCharge Your Soul is free on facebook! Go over to the facebook page, and “like” it.  Then click on the  “only likers” tab to download!  Not on facebook? Subscribe here and email me to let me know. I will send it over directly!

If I knew then what I know now…how many of us think that all the time?  I sure do.  Many of you know my story about how I was called to homeschool…how I went kicking and screaming. Yet I knew God was calling me.  Looking back if I could give myself advice, there would be many, many things I would have done differently. That is part of the reason I feel so compelled to write, speak, and be open about homeschooling…I love being able to share what I have learned with others, espcially to help avoid any of the mistakes I made along the way.