Learning for Him

March 16th CHEG - Final Meeting Summary

2010-03-20T18:53:00.000-07:00

Our LAST MEETING of the 2009-2010 School Year
"COMMON EDUCATIONAL APPROACHES AND MATERIALS FOR HOMESCHOOLING"

ANNOUNCEMENTS from March 16th CHEG meeting:
Did your child get good grades this year? The following businesses want to reward them (and you!)

Shelly Sigafoos announced that a number of businesses have "Incentive" programs for children who achieved good grades on their report card (usually A's).
They generally accept home-produced homeschool report cards (check Google search for a format you like, or ask Shelly for how she produces hers). Take your child(ren) to these stores and get your free or discounted products! To learn what each store offers, check out the website for each individual store, or talk to your local store manager. Here are some good ones in our area: Graeter's, Chuck E Cheese's, Krispy Kreme, Family Video.
If you have a favorite restaurant where your kids love to eat, it might not hurt to ask if they offer any 'Good Student' rewards!

DEVOTIONAL: Linda Thiel

At the 3/16 meeting, we heard an edifying testimony of God's faithfulness from Linda Thiel. She shared how God has blessed her in helping her to see how her attitude needs to be kept in check on good days, but even more on the 'not-so-easy' school days by remembering the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and its application to her schoolday. Linda reminded us all that when our focus is properly on the Gospel, we will recognize ourselves and our kids as sinners in need of a Savior. We must ask Christ to help us, for we are utterly dependent upon Him for the grace to love our children and nurture them as individuals. We need to remember that we truly cannnot homeschool or train-up our children successfully without God's help in everything.

Thanks so much, Linda, for your transparency and this much-needed reminder that we can only educate our kids well, or be the kinds of wives and mothers who please the Lord unless we do it by remembering the glorious Gospel, and homeschool for God's glory!

TOPIC TIME: Crystal Syring and Kathy Bloom

Our topic for this meeting was a summary of some common educational approaches and curriculum used by home educators. Included were: Traditional, Classical, Charlotte Mason, Eclectic, Literature Based, and Unschooling. Handouts with an abbreviated version of this information were distributed to all CHEG attenders. Anyone desiring a more detailed information, including weblinks and some fact-lists, please contact Kathy Bloom at futureandahope84@gmail.com. The document will be sent to you in electronic form unless you specify otherwise that you need a paper-copy.

CURRICULUM DISPLAY:

Curriculum was brought in for display by a number of our Clifton home educators, representing almost all of the above educational approaches. THANKS to all who took the time to box-up materials to share with other parents. We had time to peruse the books and supplies, and to ask one another questions.

SHOUT OUTS!!!
Every meeting this year, our CHEG attenders could be seen milling around with treats and drinks provided by Denise Swicegood and her "aides"! Here's a HUGE SHOUT OUT to Denise, for making sure we had goodies at every meeting! HOO-RAY, Denise!

Thanks also go to our sweet junior high girls who cheerfully served every meeting watching the little ones in the nursery, so the moms could learn and encourage one another! WE LOVE YOU, GIRLS!

Our gratitude also to Lauren Ward (and other moms throughout the school year) for serving our littlest children during CHEG meetings - checking-in and supervising the nursery for us,and making sure it got cleaned up afterwards! Bless you, Lauren!

[I was reminded how important this ministry is childcare was when a mom recently told me, "I can only come to meetings when there's someone there to watch the kids - otherwise I'd have to stay home." THANK YOU!]

Finally, a huge word of gratitude for the ideas and motivation provided on the Steering Team this year by Shelly Sigafoos and Margaret Sexton! They have encouraged me, prayed for CHEG members and our meetings, remembered when meetings were approaching (and tactfully reminded forgetful-me!), faithfully written-up and sent off announcements to the Bulletin and Messenger, and have supported this ministry in many, many ways! May God grant you both grace and blessing for these acts of love and service, ladies!

Have a wonderful remainder of the school year, and a fun (and educational) summer!

~Kathy

We Need YOU!

2010-01-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

YOU ARE NEEDED! CAN YOU HELP WITH THESE CHEG ACTIVITIES?

FEB 27-8 OR MAR 6-7 - Sugarbush Maple Sugar Festival, Salem, IN
One or two parents needed to be the contact person for this event - simply gathering names of other CHEG members who hope to attend, and plan to meet out there for a fellowship time, or to see the demonstrations together?

MAR 16 - NEXT CHEG MEETING
Curriculum Display - we need parents to offer their curriculum items for display, and a willingness to answer individual questions about their books at the tables.
No public speaking involved!

Apr 8-10 OHIO Homeschool Conference - Cincinnati, OH
One-two parents needed to take names of those parents interested in attending this conference. Arrange carpool/rides/hotel.

Apr 24 - Spring Saturday Showcase
Gretchen Wright is the contact person for this event, but she needs the names of your children who are interested in participating with their music, art, speech, poetry, lego-creations, science displays, etc...
She'd probably love an "assistant" to help with set-up/tear-down as well!
(Great opportunity for an older student!)

1/19/10 - Adult Homeschoolers Panel

2010-01-22T11:04:00.000-08:00

Huge thanks go to the five adults from Clifton were spoke on our Adult Homeschoolers Panel on Tues, 1/19/10:

Melissa Munger, Jeremy Pellum, Elise McIntosh, Beth Bloom, and Mara Tucker!

We asked them many questions about their years as students under the training of their parents, and found they had quite a variety of educational experiences.

It was clear that different curriculum choices are needed to meet the individual needs of each unique student. Some of the panelists loved a particular math curriculum, while others disliked it. Panelist's parents had also chosen to enrich their children's educations in a variety of ways: cottage schools, public school in the later years of high school, sports programs, 4-H, music lessons, speech and debate club, dance competition, college and online coursework, etc.

All five panelists agreed on the benefits of homeschooling as it provided opportunities for spiritual growth and family closeness. All agreed that some time spent with non-homeschooled peers, especially in the high school years, was very important to prepare them for a college setting and adulthood. One panelist pointed out that one significant advantage to homeschooling is that children learn to relate comfortably with adults in conversations without awkwardness.

Our panelists were asked questions by the audience regarding: discipline in the home, managing daily schoolwork and responsibilities in the home, dad's involvement in their homeschool, and how their mothers multi-tasked as they were growing up. One panelist even called her mother "Superwoman!" :)

Again, our WARMEST thanks to our five panelists for their willingness to share their real-life stories and experiences with us! We hope our kids all grow up to be just like YOU!

The devotion-time and panel discussion were both audio-taped for those who could not attend. To obtain a copy of these, please contact Kathy at (812-944-2210).

CHEG Steering Team

Report: First CHEG meeting of the Year - 8/25/09

2009-09-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

The Clifton Homeschool Encouragement Group met for their first official meeting of the school year on 8/25/09 in the Clifton Baptist Library.

The meeting began with announcements by new CHEG coordinator, Kathy Bloom.
Gretchen Wright, mom of 5 boys, shared devotions from Psalm 33. This Psalm is a great song of praise to God by King David in which he acknowledges that those who trust in Yahweh have a new song of praise because of GRACE! We too have access to grace and the Father who loves us - He has made a way for us to be right with God.
He has come near to us in Christ. Verses 4-5 say His Word is upright, His work is faithful, and He continually shows us His steadfast love.

As we consider our BIG God, Gretchen said that "His bigness puts our little problems in proper perspective." How true. Though our plans are weak, his plans never fail.

She shared how, from verses 13-15, this mighty, enthroned God looks down from heaven onto Earth, and he observes the deeds of us, whom HE fashioned. Nothing is hidden from Him. From a practical perspective, if we are trusting in earthly things, we must learn that His will always prevails. We must not trust in resources like aptitude, curriculum, or our homeschooling experience, but in Christ alone.

As an exercise, Gretchen asked everyone to pray for one thing on a card for another person near us in the room that evening - something that seemed 'impossible' to us at the moment. What a blessing to share these burdens with one another and with the Lord with Whom NOTHING is impossible.

Thank you, Gretchen for these good reminders of God's love and might, and care of us.

Our special presentation for the night was Panel Discussion by five veteran homeschooling moms from Clifton: Shelly Sigafoos, Michele Murray, Ana Kotter, Coco Briggs, and Beth Schakat. Between them, this group of moms have 22 children! They shared a wealth of knowledge, and experience, and encouragement! Questions for the Panel were written by Margaret Sexton, and she graciously moderated our panel discussion.

Topics discussed included:
- Differences in teaching boys versus girls - learning styles, tendencies, strengths and weaknesses of each gender, most helpful types of discipline and structure
- Teaching children of multiple ages - what subjects taught together/separately, keeping little ones content, incorporating older kids as 'teachers' of youngers.
- Preparing/organizing your school day - before the year starts, record-keeping, grading and attendance, maximizing naptimes, 'prime' teaching hours, etc.
- Managing household and homeschool tasks - chores, teaching children responsibility, 'tricks' to keep things tidy, staying focused while staying flexible
- Various: Realistic homecare-expectations, finding ways to make things work, having a school room versus meeting at the dining room table
- What's REALLY important?

In case you had to miss the panel discussion, notes from the group's discussion can be obtained from Kathy Bloom, email: futureandahope@insightbb.com.

2009-2010 CHEG CALENDAR

2009-09-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

July 2009

28 - Reading Workshop - Crystal Syring

Aug

25 - First CHEG meeting of the year - Panel: Five Veteran Homeschool Moms

Oct

Field Trip - Date TBA (possibly 10/10/09)

20 - CHEG Meeting - 7 PM Teaching Science and Math (speaker TBA)
Nov

Fall Saturday Showcase at Clifton - Contact: Gretchen Wright 502.266.5958

Dec

13 - Family Christmas Party after Sunday church services

Jan 2010

19 - CHEG MEETING - 7 PM Panel: Clifton Adults Who were Home Educated

Feb

27-28 - Salem Sugarbush Festival - possible field trip (organizer needed)

Mar

6-7 - Salem Sugarbush Festival - possible field trip (organizer needed)

16 - CHEG MEETING - 7 PM Curriculum Display and Discussion

Apr
8 - Homeschool Days at Conner Prairie - possible field trip (Contact: Tama Gray at tamag97@sbcglobal.net)

8-10 OHIO Homeschool Conference - Cincinnati, OH

24 - Spring Saturday Showcase

Clifton Baptist Hosts Homeschool Graduation

2009-09-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Class of 2009 (l-r)
Sidra Zimmerman, Ashley Langen, Kristin Broaddus, Elizabeth Bloom

On May 23, 2009, four Kentuckiana homeschooled students held their 2009 high school graduation ceremony at Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville. All four of the students came from families associated with the Heart 'n Homeschool support group in New Albany, IN, and one of the graduates, Elizabeth Jane Bloom, is a member at Clifton.

About 150 people attended the graduation, which included music selections by Andrew Case, a Clifton member, a charge to the graduates by Pastor Tom Schreiner, and a musical Powerpoint presentation created by Beth Bloom. In addition, the graduates' parents each spoke to their daughters as they thanked the many family and friends who had a positive influence on their child. Graduates received their diplomas, and in turn, expressed their gratitude with red roses to parents and special persons in the audience.

Guests were invited to a reception in the Clifton Fellowship Hall after the graduation, where display boards by each graduate were available for viewing.

Special thanks to the many who helped with decorating, lending needed items, serving food, running the soundboard and video camera, helping with set-up/clean-up, and helping make it a beautiful day celebrating God's goodness to the four graduates.

Spring Saturday Showcase on Apr 25th

2009-04-29T08:07:00.001-07:00

Spring Saturday Showcase on Apr 25th

God's grace was very apparent in the lives of 17 Clifton kids on Saturday, April 25, as they participated in the Spring Saturday Showcase!

Here's some of what they did:

- Told narrative stories
- Performed "The Gospel Song" on cornet

- Gave speeches on ---
* Idioms and the Cincinnati Reds
* Recitations of Scripture and Catechism Questions
* Skateboarding and its Value as a Tool for Evangelism
* The Pledge of Allegiance, Pride or Oppression?
* Used Visual aides for several Expository speeches
* The Battle of Perryville, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
* "Pippi Longstocking", "Willy Wonka", and "Yellow and Pink" - literature interps
In the last half of the program, six students from the Apologetics class honored the Lord by demonstrating their understanding of theological topics, including:
"What is the Essential Duty of Man?"
"God's Sovereignty"
"Jesus' Belief in Scriptural Authority"
"Was Jesus Just a Good Man or Teacher, but not the Son of God?"
"God's Revelation of Himself to Man"

Finally...
Big thank-you's go to:
Mrs. Gretchen Wright for organizing this event and being our m.c.
Parents, for your loving perseverance - encouraging your students' in learning a diversity of subjects!
The parents and teachers also want to express our heartfelt appreciation
For the STUDENTS who worked SO hard this past year learning to communicate valuable information to others! Grace and Truth Speech Club kids (GATSC) have been busy for months writing, editing, studying characters, tweaking, developing physicality and visual aides, receiving critique from parents and peers, and finally, dealing with their nervousness about public speaking at the Showcase! All of this took ongoing effort and prayer, and we have learned together what God graciously will do to strengthen you in your diligent pursuit of sharing HIS truth!
We pray each Clifton home-educating family will continue to grow in faith, and develop YOUR communications skills to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ!
We hope that if you are a visiting Clifton homeschooler to our Learning for Him blog, YOU will consider joining us next year in GATSC!

NOTE: If your child's photo is missing in the photo-posts below, it is because the photographer missed them while holding babies! OOPS!
If you have a photo to send the blog writer she would LOVE to include them! :)

Spring Saturday Showcase (photos)

2009-04-29T07:12:00.001-07:00

Spring Saturday Showcase (photos)

2009-04-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

Sugarbush Maple Festival Field Trip

2009-04-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

Clifton homeschooled students and their families attended the Sugarbush Maple Festival in Salem, IN in early March. Thank you to Kathy Nelson for publicizing this event to Clifton families. At the Festival, kids and their parents experienced Indian and pioneer syrup-making evaporator, the sugarhouse, and tasted fresh maple syrup, candy, maple cream and cotton candy.

The festival also featured Indian and pioneer syrup making demonstrations, and offered a children's game area, mule-drawn wagon, and llama-petting area. Sugarbush staff demonstrate crosscut saws in operation, fiddle, gospel, and dulcimer music, as well as tomahawk-throwing.

If you missed this year's field trip, the Sugarbush Festival is an ANNUAL event! Plan to attend with friends and family NEXT spring!

Thanks to the Homeschooled Adults Panel!

2009-01-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Tuesday night's CHEG meeting included several homeschooled adults who shared their stories of homeschool life in their respective families. They expressed gratitude for having had the opportunity to learn at home and offered encouragement to those of us who are currently seeking to raise kids who will look a LOT like them!!!

Moms attending have said that they are especially appreciative of panel members' willingness to share the challenges as well as the joys of being a homeschooler, and the impact the homeschool lifestyle and their parents' example had on their spiritual lives.

Special thanks to:
Ericia Dykes
Josh Greever
Amelia Greever
Timothy Taylor
Tara Beth Townsend
Ellie McIntosh - devotional

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS!

2009-01-22T08:25:00.000-08:00

Institute for Excellence Writing Workshop with Bonnie Erickson
Tues, Feb 10th at 7 pm
Clifton Library (childcare available)
The workshop is free, and you are welcome to bring interested guests to hear about this exciting and encouraging way to teach children writing skills.
More information about this workshop will be send out via email to all CHEG families in the next week.

Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival
Salem, IN (35 min from Louisville)
Sat, March 7 at 9:30 am -- FREE
Bring the whole family and meet at the festival by 9:30
tours, crafts, wagon rides, games, food
www.lmsugarbush.com
Contact Kathy Nelson with questions

March 17, 7 pm - Next CHEG meeting (last of the school year)
Topic: "Choosing Curriculum" (more details forthcoming)
NOTE: We still need childcare help that night AND a Childcare Coordinator
to oversee the CHEG childcare for our meetings (but not miss the meetings)

Homeschool Conventions in our Area!
These gatherings are great opportunities to hear speakers, attend workshops, visit with curriculum providers, and purchase curriculum (no shipping fees!) as well as enjoy the fellowship of fellow CHEG attenders. A small group of ladies is currently hoping to attend the Ohio Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati - talk to Beth Schakat or Kathy Bloom.

See the following links to look over the convention workshops and to get registered.
Link to the Midwest Homeschool Conference in Cincinnati, OH: http://www.cincinnatihomeschoolconvention.com/

Link to the IAHE Conference in Indianapolis, IN: http://www.inhomeeducators.org/events/conference/index.cfm

Saturday Showcase

2008-11-23T12:35:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to Kami McKanna for arranging and hosting our second annual Saturday Showcase event at Clifton Baptist! It was a great success - everyone thought it was encouraging to see what the homeschoolers in CHEG have been doing all semester!

Our morning of entertainment included a number of the students who provided us with memorized recitations, original expository speeches, literature interpretations, storytelling, and performances of music. There was also a display room for various hands-on learning projects, including historical relief maps, an impressive timeline, original oil paintings, history summaries with drawings, a wooden trebuchet (Medieval catapult), etc. (Any parents with photos of the display area are asked to send these to the blog-lady, Kathy Bloom, for posting!)

Thanks so much to all the hard-working CHEG kids who prepared for this special event! May God bless you as you continue on in the schoolyear with your learning and creativity. The Lord was glorified through your perseverance and efforts to learn about his world!

Saturday Showcase list of participants (see PHOTOS in blogpost below):

Daniel Sexton - Bible recitation
Caleb Syring - Catechism recitation with his mom
Stephen Wright - Expository speech - "George Washington"
Joshua Sexton - Bible recitation
Chelsea and Eric McKanna - Poetry duo
Nathan Wright - Storytelling
Eric McKanna - Poem
Matthew Sexton - Geography speech
Will and Emmi Schakat - Expository Speech "Idioms"
Gavin Syring - Storytelling to an Audience
David Bloom - Speech "The Roman Army and the Family - a Comparison"
Aaron Wright - Speech "Ronald Reagan"
Christina Sexton - Interpretation: "Blueberries for Sal"
Benjamin Wright - Guitar performance - original song and Blues melodies
Christine Bloom - Piano Performance - "Dawn" from Pride and Prejudice

Saturday Showcase

2008-11-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

Limited Funds for Homeschool? God will Supply!

2008-11-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

Bonnie Erickson spoke on the topic:
Effective Homeschooling on a Limited Budget

Bonnie introduced her subject by reminding us of God’s goodness and the importance of being good stewards of all God has given us. The basis for this exhortation: Matt 25:15 – 30.

Bonnie said she chose to homeschool her own sons for several reasons. Despite a difficult time in school, she loved to learn and received grace from God through his provision for college. She learned that homeschooling was a better alternative for her family than what she found available for them in classroom schools. Bonnie pointed out that after praying for God’s help to provide her with what she needed to home educate, He blessed her with ideas to create what she needed and a willingness to settle for less-expensive means to teach her two boys. She has been very pleased with the results of this frugal way of homeschooling, and wanted to share with the group a number of ways homeschooling can be done on a limited budget.

Some of Bonnie’s favorite ways to equip her homeschool have included: extensive use of library resources, free samples, and leftovers from others. She has used basic texts as her core curricula, supplemented with items like math manipulatives and workbooks from other inexpensive sources. Bonnie has also made many games and simple learning tools herself.

Some of her favorite purchases which could be used at a variety of levels for her students have been: Hands on Math, Institute for Excellence in Writing curriculum, the Well-Trained Mind, Spelling Power, and Bible Study for All Ages. In addition, Bonnie created her own curriculum at various times, by combining resources from the library, her own materials, and ideas from the Internet.

One of Bonnie’s best tips for keeping costs down is: Do it yourself! One can make good use of freebies, yard sales, and even nature. There are MANY things ourdoors which kids can collect and study that are right out your back door!

At times Bonnie wondered if she was harming her children by using less expensive curriculum choices, but she praises God that standardized testing has proven her creative, hands-on method of teaching has been very successful.

A few words of encouragement to the moms in CHEG included a warning not be be too activity-oriented, rather than focusing on the basics. Too much time out of the home doing extra-curricular activities can be a distraction from the daily routine, as well as expensive financially. Some of these ‘extras’ are fine, but most of us end up with regrets if we do too much “running”.

Bonnie remembers a time when she became quite stressed during a slow period of learning for her students, but has since learned that there will always be future times for them to catch up. She encouraged parents to watch for signs that a child is struggling with learning, and to give both the student and the teacher a break occasionally in order to re-evaluate and perhaps try a different learning-approach to cover material. Bonnie also admonished moms not to compare their students with one another too much, since learning styles, needs, and goals will differ, even within one family. Negative comments from others about using a ‘creative curriculum’ should also not be a reason for worry, if the basic learning of a child is progressing.

Bonnie made her own self-created curriculum available to the group for viewing. As a final word of encouragement, she reminded everyone to never stop learning, as we seek to glorify God in our home schools with the abundant resources He provides.

Thanks so much, Bonnie, for your practical encouragement to be good stewards of God’s gifts!

CHEG Calendar

2008-10-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

2008
Aug
8/19 First Meeting, 7-9 PM- Tues
Becky Konemann, speaker "How to Begin a Successful Trip"

Sept

Oct
10/21 Meeting, 7-9 PM - Tues
"Homeschool on a Budget"
Speaker: Bonnie Erickson

Nov

11/1 Deadline: Nov 1st - for Saturday Showcase -
Contact Kami McKanna at bkmckanna@gmail.com

11/8 - Saturday Showcase 10 AM-Noon, Clifton Baptist Church

11/14 - Field Trip - NAILE North American International Livestock Expo
KY Fair and Expo Center - 10:30 AM
Pay Shelly Sigafoos $2/ticket by 10/14 (+ $6 for parking - paid at the gate)
Tour begins 10:45 am

Dec

TBA - Christmas party? "Jingle...jingle...fa la la la la" -- (Who'd like to PLAN this?)

2009
Jan
1/20 Panel, 7-9 PM - Tues
Homeschooled Adults - Panel Discussion/Q & A

Feb (late Feb or early Mar)
Field Trip - Maple Sugar Festival field trip (TBA) - Salem, Indiana For more info, see http://www.lmsugarbush.com/ourfestival.html

Mar
3/17 Meeting, 7-9 PM - Tues
Curriculum Discussion

Apr
Cincinnati Homeschool Convention

Field Trips Available!

2008-09-13T13:02:00.001-07:00

A BIG THANK YOU to three ladies, Crystal Syring, Shelly Sigafoos, and Kathy Nelson, who have offered to organize our fall and spring field trips for the CHEG group. (Clifton Homeschool Encouragement Group)

Attenders have said that the Oct 10 Speed Art Museum fieldtrip was a big success.

If anyone has photos they'd like to post HERE, send them to Kathy Bloom at futureandahope@insightbb.com. Maybe a student who attended the museum tour would also like to post a quick write-up for a Language Arts assignment!

**************************************************************

Field Trip to NAILE - North American International Livestock Expo

Who: Clifton families with children of all ages
When: Friday, November 14 at 10:30 am
Where: KY Fair & Expo Center
Cost: $2 each (adults & children same price; 2 & under are FREE) & $6 per vehicle to park
"Like a day on a farm ... only better." (see www.livestockexpo.org for more details) The Sigafoos family is planning a homeschool field trip to attend the NAILE Educational Program next month and thought we'd open it up to any Clifton families who would like to go with us. We'll meet at the Expo Center at 10:30 am. There will be a guided tour at 10:45. Children can see hatching chicks, pet animals, learn how wool is made into fabric, and much more. Bring a bag lunch because after our tour, we'll eat lunch together, then walk through the self-guided barn areas and exhibits. You are free to stay the rest of the day, or leave at whatever time you like after the tour.

If you are interested in joining the Sigafoos family, please contact Shelly at502-939-6458 or shelly.sigafoos@gmail.com) ASAP. Room for 40 students on the tour. But I was only given 10 days notice to return the reservation confirmation with my payment for the tickets. So if you'd like to come, please let me know right away, then get me your $2 per ticket by Oct. 14. (Please do NOT send $6 for parking, payable in cash at the Fair gate upon arrival.) Mail pymt to Shelly at 4514 Dove Park Blvd, Lsville, KY 40299. If you're interested in carpooling, let Shelly know that also and she coordinate rides.

**********************************************************************************
NOTE: Kathy Nelson will be organizing our Maple Syrup Festival field trip in Feb/Mar to Salem, IN. More details to follow as the time nears. THANKS, Kathy!

The pencil boxes are loaded, the books bought, and we're OFF!

2008-08-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

We're OFF and running for the 2008-2009 school year!

Our first Clifton Homeschool Encouragement Group meeting on Aug 19th was attended by over 20 homeschool parents. Our time was a God-centered and helpful time. Michele Murray led off with her devotional, "Keeping our Focus on Him" in which she talked about II Tim 3:14-15 where Paul admonishes Timothy to 'continue in the faith and preach the Word." Like Timothy, this is our biblical mandate, and we can rejoice that as we keep our focus on the truth of the Gospel of Christ, we can expect God to accomplish great things in our efforts to homeschool our children.

Becky Konemann presented on "How to Begin a Successful Trip" where she likened educating our children at home to taking a journey. For this journey to be a successful one, we need to prepare, pack for the trip, organize our homes, and realistically and humbly assess both our methods and our children's unique progress, gifts, and interests.

Becky pointed out that we can expect bumps and detours along the way, but cautioned us against attitudes of irritability and rigidness as a response to the unpredictability of homeschooling. Becky also wisely reminded us that our journey is ultimately headed toward ETERNITY! Therefore, we have a great privilege and opportunity to fulfill God's purpose for our lives, which is to Glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We can trust Him to help us as we fully depend upon Christ for strength, wisdom, and help along the way.

We are so thankful to God for the wisdom and grace granted to both Becky and Michele as experienced homeschooling moms, and for the godly example of their families to our body at Clifton.

(If anyone would like a full transcript of Becky's talk, just contact Kathy by email at futureandahope@insightbb.com)

Does your child have NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER?

2008-08-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

In his article entitled, “A Generation of Nature Know-Nothings,” R. Albert Mohler (link below) discusses a troubling new study out of the UK. It reveals that this generation of children is shockingly unaware of the outdoors. Instead, they are opting for that which can be plugged in, turned on, and booted-up. One writer has even coined a new term to describe the extent to which many kids are ignorant of the natural world (i.e., 38% of kids in the study could not identify a common frog!)

They have what is now called by some (with an inclination to assign labels) ---- “Nature Deficit Disorder.”

Here’s the link:

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog.php

Home educators have a unique opportunity here --- we can easily fit nature-study into our school day. By going for simple half-hour ‘nature walks’ with our children, we can simultaneously cover P.E., Science, and Art.

However, we parents are also influenced by the culture and the “pull” of electronics – It is often easier to point our kids to a computer game than to take them outdoors. Dr. Mohler’s article was a good reminder to me to look at our own family’s habits this summer, and to re-visit some of the resources we have found inspiring and helpful through the years:

Reader’s Digest “North American Wildlife” book
– our favorite all-in-one nature guidebook. This one includes EVERYTHING!

Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock –
B & W photos and ink drawings are not all the best, but the descriptions, prompting questions for mom, and accompanying quality poetry makes it worth owning this older book.

Keeping a Nature Journal – Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You
- This book has been a huge inspiration for one of our daughters who learned early to combine nature study with art – at the encouragement of a home-schooling friend she started at about age 8 drawing backyard plants and insects, with accompanying short captions. One thing led to another, and she’s now the family gardener, an avid bird-watcher, and loves painting florals and birds in oils (even a common Barn Swallow like the one above, is fair game for painting!)

Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible – a great book for bird-watching – we learned about this one from Grandpa who lives on the Chesapeake Bay.

Birds of Indiana (or Kentucky) – by Stan Tekiela

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Indiana-Field-Guide-Tekiela/dp/1885061900
State-by-state series of field guides - beautiful photographs and descriptions of local birdlife. It’s under $7 used on Amazon Marketplace and is also available at local bookstores in Louisville.

Articles regarding the value and how-to’s of nature study will inspire dads and moms. From the Charlotte-Mason inspired online curriculum, Ambleside Online:
http://www.amblesideonline.org/NatureSch.shtml (Don’t miss the ‘dry-brush tutorial’ on how to do step-by-step watercolor illustrations from nature).

Try creating a 'special little place' in your home (even a corner), for children to create nature-art or start some seedlings in egg cartons or tin cans. Two children in our household paint in a dormer window where there is natural light. It's sometimes a mess, with birds' nests and potting soil and bits of bark lying around, but they love it!

God bless you today as you enjoy HIS beautiful world! ~ Kathy

Homeschool link - a fun homeschool blog

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http://bonavita.wordpress.com/

The Bona Vita blog (see web address above) is written by Kathy Adams, a homeschooling mother of 9 kids in Southern Indiana. Her blog includes some good tips and sample schedules for homeschooling with little ones around. I also enjoyed her recipes and the post on CHORES, which she calls "An Expert in His Field" - very creative.) Enjoy!

Grace and Truth Speech Club - 5/08

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Riverview Towers in New Albany, IN
(Click to enlarge)

GATSC Speeches included:

M.C. and Introductions - Beth Bloom;
Tom Sawyer - Jonathan and Benjamin Wright;
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins - Kara and Christine Bloom;
Caddie Woodlawn - Caitlin Murray;
Amelia Bedelia - Chelsea Murray;
Soccer Expos - Aaron Wright;
Hank the Cow Dog - Will Schakat and David Bloom;
Chocolate Expos - Emmi Schakat;
Betsy Tacy and Tib - Corey Murray.

The kids did a great job and the audience loved it. We had a nice opportunity to visit and share snacks with the residents afterwards. We thank our Lord for this good experience!

INFO on Clifton Homeschool Encouragment Group

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_______________________________________________________________

CHEG meetings are held in the Fellowship Hall of Clifton Baptist Church, 1947 Frankfort Ave., in Louisville.

Please join us if you are:

A parent of a homeschooled child of any age, or
Are considering homeschooling as an educational option in the future, or
A grandparent, aunt, uncle, or Clifton member who just wants to learn more! : )

For more information about the Clifton Homeschool Encouragement Group or upcoming activities, please email Kathy Bloom at futureandahope@insightbb.com or call (812) 944-2210.

For more information about Clifton Baptist Church, please email:
info@cliftonbaptist.org or see our website at: www.cliftonbaptist.org.

Clifton Homeschool Support Group - The 2008-2009 School year is almost upon us!

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Clifton Homeschool Parents - Fall is almost here! Many of us are filling our bookshelves with shiny new curriculum, tracking down school supply bargains at Teacher Appreciation Day sales, and enjoying these last few weeks of summer BBQ's, swimming, and camping.

In an effort to inform Clifton families of the Clifton Homeschool Support Group schedule of activities, we have created this blog. Hopefully, it will provide a clearinghouse for information to make your job as a home-instructor easier and more efficient.

On this blog, you will find a regularly updated 2008-2009 school year calendar, including support group meetings, Saturday showcase, and scheduled field trips. We may occasionally post photos of field trips and events, as well as helpful articles written by our own members.

The goal of our group is to glorify God in all things, enjoy Him, and to edify one another as we encourage each other in the lifestyle of educating our precious children at home. He has commanded us to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph 6:4). We need His grace and strength, as well as the help and prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ to fulfill this important calling.

Feel free to offer comments or suggestions as you think of ways we can improve the blog along the way.

- Your servant in "Communications, " Kathy