Having a "Missions" mindset!

I'm working on my curriculum plans for this next school year and am really desiring to incorporate more of a "Missions" mindset into our daily routine!  I have been doing lots of research and wanted to share with you some of the great links I have come across!  (scroll down for the links)

Our family may not be traveling to a foreign country anytime soon, but there is no time like the present to teach our children the qualities of a missionary: selfLESSness, contentment, compassion, courage, obedience, perseverance, love for others, and a giving heart!  My hope is for my children to be filled with excitement as they listen to the stories of men and women who obeyed the call to "go", who stepped out in faith, and who put their trust in God.   Did you know it is illegal to be a Christian in many parts of the world and those who choose to live for Christ do so in hiding or face persecution?  We are blessed to live in a nation where we are free to read our Bibles, worship Jesus, and tell others about Him.  I want my children to grasp how privileged we are and to never take it for granted!   If I accomplish one thing it would be for my children to know they are never to young to make a difference in this world, and it starts with friends, neighbors, & our community!  One incredible story of how God used a child to make an impact in this world is Austin Gutwein , who founded "Hoops of Hope"! 

This is just a Papau New Guinea photo I found online! 
I don't have any of mine uploaded on a computer.

I did not have alot of exposure to other cultures growing up.   My worldview was as big as the town I lived in.  When I was 18 though, my life was forever changed when I went on a missions trip to Papau New Guinea.   I remember stepping off the airplane and feeling a humidity unlike anything I had ever experienced before.  As we drove to our destination we passed a "tribal group" covered in mud.  I will never forget the sound of a woman crying, as she mourned the death of a loved one.  They covered themselves in mud as a way of mourning.   We spent our days working on a building project and our evenings traveling to villages.  The roads were dirt roads with the biggest potholes ever.   We got stuck once on a huge incline.  Our vehicle kept sliding back down the muddy hill with a deep ravine on one side (scary stuff!).  We traveled to villages, where many had never seen a white person before.   They would gather around us and want to feel our hair, especially my friend Bethany, with her long wavy blond hair!  We ate food so different (yet so good) than anything I had tasted before.  I remember seeing men walking hand in hand and learning this was a normal thing among male friends....but you would never see a man holding his wife's hand in public.   One of my friends, Charlie, who was on the trip would tell elaborate stories and would be so animated he had the crowd laughing so hard, even though they couldn't understand a word of what he was saying.  I came back from that trip absolutely changed.   I made heart to heart connections with people despite the language barrier and cultural differences!  It was an amazing and eye-opening trip!

I'm thankful that my girls are surrounded by family who have a heart for missions! 1) Their dad, who has been to both Mexico and Fiji three times each 2) Grandma Ginger (age 71), who lived overseas in Romania for a year and is preparing to go to Fiji for a 2nd time, and 3) Aunt Cindy & Cousin Hannah (age 13), who lived in Romania for 4 years and are also preparing to return to Fiji.

My husband, Sam, with 3 friends in Fiji!

Here are websites that can help you incorporate "missions" in your home:

Christian Heroes: Than & Now

YWAM Publishing
*Kids of Courage
*Kids on Mission
Harvest Ministry
Mission Kids
*Caravan Friends
World Champions for God
Wycliffe
My Passport to India

Curriculum with a "Missions" emphasis:
*Expedition Earth   (K-3rd)
Exploring Countries & Cultures (3rd-8th grade)
Children Around the World (2nd-6th grade)
Sonlight

Great books about being a "Missions" minded family:
Mission Minded Family
*Becoming a World Changing Family
One Million Arrows
Operation World
Take Your Best Shot

Other Missions resources:
*Window on the World
* Beginners World Atlas (I preordered the 2011 revised version from cbd.com)
*Children Just Like Me
*Passport to the World
National Geographic: Kid World Atlas
You Can Change the World
Expedition Earth
Bringing the World to Life (Queen Homeschool Website, found under geography category)
*Homeschool Creations Geography
Global Art
*GeoPuzzles
*GeoCards
*Wee Sing Around the World
Torchlighters DVD's
Discipleland: Adventure (Ages 6-12)

Read Alouds
Christian Heroes:Then & Now (Ages 10+)
*Heroes for Young Readers (Ages 5-10)
International Adventures Series (Ages 14+)
Airquest Adventures (Ages 8-12)
Ten Girls & Ten Boys (Ages 8-12)
Real Kids-Real Stories-Real Change (Ages 9-12)
Around the World (Ages 7-12)
Jungle Doctor (Ages 10-12+)
Heavens Heroes
Missionary Stories with the Millers

* - items/resources I am personally using this next school year!

There are many ways we can get our kids involved in missions!  Here are a few ideas:

• Operation Christmas Child (Plan a shoe box packing party)
• Have them make Christmas Cards/Valentines Cards and take them to elderly people at a Senior Center!   We did this last Christmas!

Local senior center we visited!

• Find a missionary kid for your child to be Pen Pals with!
• Do a fund raising project for a missions organization (lemonade stand, sewing project, selling some toys on ebay, garage sale)
• Pray for missionaries and specific people groups.

• Asante Children's Choir

  Invite Missionary/former missionaries into your home.
• Attend cross-cultural events right where you live!  Our church hosted an African Children's Choir this past December!
• Sponsor a Child and/or support a missionary!
• If you live in a very diverse/cross-cultural community get to know some new people!
• Eat out at some authentic restaurants!
• If you have traveled to other countries or gone on a missions trip, share those memories/pictures with your kids!
• Hang up a world map in your "classroom" and purchase a globe.
• Visit a cross-cultural church.
• If you have close friends who are missionaries, share the newsletters/updates with your kids.

I am looking forward to using many of these resources and ideas in my home in the coming years and I hope you will do the same!! 

(100+ ways for your family to make a difference)

Homeschool Co-ops

When I first began looking into homeschooling, I found out about a local homeschool co-op that met near my home.   At the time I was pregnant with my third, and didn't want to take on too much, so decided I should wait to get involved with a co-op.  Well as it got closer and closer to the fall I suddenly had a change of mind.  I wanted my girls to have opportunities to make new friends (just like they would if they were going to public school) and experience a classroom environment.  So I contacted the local co-op (the night before their orientation day) and asked if they could squeeze us in for the fall?  And they said YES!

Being apart of our co-op has been a huge blessing and offers so many benefits.  It may not be for everyone, but I wanted to share reasons to consider getting plugged into a local co-op.   We are involved with First Class Homeschool Ministries.  If you don't see one in your area click here to learn how you can start one. 

Here are the benefits of a Homeschool Co-op:
1) Friendships with other homeschool families (for yourself and your children).
2) Someplace fun you can look forward to going to each week and have a break from the home.
3) Gives your kids a chance to be in a classroom atmosphere and learn to take instruction from someone other than their parents. They also learn how to share, interact with their peers and be a friend.
4) Co-op field trips are so much fun!
5) You have an opportunity to get involved and teach things you are passionate about to not only your own kids but others as well! 
6) If you are weak in a particular subject another homeschooling parent can teach that subject!
7) Fees are very minimal!
8) Your child has a reason to pack a school lunch (we always stay afterwards and eat lunch with other families).
9) You get to gleam ideas from others, share/trade curriculum, give and receive encouragement!
10) It is a great support system and helps you to not feel alone in your decision to homeschool!

I also want to mention that a Homeschool Co-op may NOT be right for your family if:
1) You were hoping it is a place to DROP-OFF your children.  Parents must take resonsibility for teaching or helping in some capacity.
2) You already have an overabundance of commitments and this would create more stress for your family.
3) If you have babies/toddlers who still nap and you are not flexible about their napping schedule.

Our Co-op has grown steadily every semester I have been there.  We now have over 80 families.  I have made so many incredible friends and so have my girls.   Some of the fun classes my oldest has enjoyed over the past few years are: Container Gardening, Girls just wanna dance, A human body class, 7 Continents, God's Little Princesses, a science class and a Mother Goose class. 

I also had my first opportunity to teach a class this past session.  I taught a class for 6-8 year olds called "Adventures on Circle C Ranch", which centered around a series of beginner chapter books.  The books are about a little girl named Andi, who lives on a horse ranch in the late 1800's.  We would read a few of the short chapters each week followed by coloring, activities, crafts, and games.  The website offers free coloring pages and activity packs.  I bought all my crafts at Oriental Trading Company.  The kids in my class loved it so much that I am continuing the class in the fall with more books in the series!

Being apart of our local co-op has been a wonderful addition and enhanced our homeschool experience!!

Hands-on Learning!

If you have children than most likely you have a hands-on learner!  What child doesn't like something tangible in their hands to be feeling, touching, playing with, manipulating, creating, or building.   Hands on learning is also a great method for the child with a short attention span!

I wanted to highlight a few great products that we use and love perfect for my hands-on learner! 

All About Spelling

I can't remember how I stumbled across All About Spelling but I am so thankful I did!!  It's been a lifesaver.  All About Spelling is multi sensory, logical, No gaps, mastery-based, continual review, clear, and scripted lesson plans!

A friend who I had referred to AAS wrote this to me recently, "We are 1/3 of the way through the All About Spelling level 1. It's so awesome! Even better than I expected. And, it's perfect having the reading books to go along with it. Keegan is really enjoying it. Thanks again!"  For more testimonies click here.

I love the short, easy lessons.  I love that it's scripted.  I love the beautiful readers that go along for reinforcement.  And I love the magnetic tiles and the fun, hands-on approach!   The rules really do sink in for my daughter and she applies what she has learned when sounding out words and when having to spell words!  

They also started an All About Reading program!  Here is the Story behind the start of the spelling program!

XTB Devotionals!

Another favorite in our home is the XTB Devotionals.  These Bible devotionals are beautifully presented with full-color illustrations and are intended for children ages 7-11.  Each lesson is short, but jam packed full of solid Biblical truth!  Each day the child looks up a specific chapter and verse in their own Bible (which I love).  The lessons offer fun, hands on activities such as: fill in the blank, crossword puzzles, decoding a message,  matching, circling correct answers, and much more.  Everyday ends with a prayer/application as well!  Highly recommend these!  For a preview click here.

GEOPUZZLES

You can't go wrong with ordering products from Timberdoodle.  They offer tons of hands-on products!!  One of my favorite purchases was a set of 5 Geopuzzles!   What a FUN way to learn geography!  Children ages 4-12 will learn with amazing accuracy the countries of Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia and the USA.

I love how the puzzles are shaped like the states/countries and have the capital printed on it as well as the name of the state/country.  You also learn how the entire continent fits together!

LAPBOOKING

"A lapbook is a project book or file folder, laid out in a creative manner, that fits in the child’s lap" 

Lapbooks can be used for preschool age all the way up to high school.  Mine are obviously for younger learners but I have seen some amazing lapbooks created by older students!

This is a free lapbook based on the story "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and you can see the outside cover here.  And when you open up the flaps you can see different pockets that emphasize shapes, ABC's, numbers and colors.  This lapbook, along with many other great ones, can be found at 1+1+1=1 Blog

  

Some other lapbook websites are: Homeschool Creations, Lapbook Lessons, Homeschool Share, and A Journey through Learning!

GRAMMAR PUNK

Grammar Punk is an entirely new way to teach grammar!  They have curriculum for grades K-12 and you can view all your options here.   Here are a few highlights of the program:

• Grammar punk uses dice and cards to make it feel more like a game! 
• The dice introduce the grammar & punctuation concepts one at a time.
• Helps spark creativity and strengthen vocabulary.
• It is FUN and Hands-On!

The lessons start out with introducing words, then words into sentences, and finally sentences into paragraphs.  Subjects covered are too many to list but here are a few: consonant blends, vowels, vowel pairs, words ending in -er, er, ing, syllables, antonyms, synonyms, homonyms, capitalization, periods, commas, subjects, question marks, quotation marks, exclamation points, and much more!

If there is anything I have learned since beginning the homeschool journey, it is that learning can and SHOULD be fun!!!



Homeschooling on a Budget!

One thing you learn quickly when you sign up to homeschool your children is that there are many costs involved.  Yes there are those amazing folks out there who will say they homeschool with virtually no cost out of their pockets.  It is possible (or so I've heard).   However for many families out there, the reality is there are alot of expenses that come along with the decision to homeschool:  curriculum, school supplies, field trips, co-op fees, music/art lessons, and purchasing office supplies (laminator, printer, ink, bookshelves, etc).

For this next school year I have been determined to make my money stretch as far as possible.  And wanted to share a few tips with you that I have learned along the way!

1) Buy used when possible - from craigslist we purchased a gently used Pottery Barn Wall Storage Unit, table, 4 chairs, and a chalkboard for 1/2 the price of what it would cost brand new.  I have also been purchasing majority of my curriculum for next school year off of a used curriculum website called Homeschool Classifieds.  There are many other wonderful used curriculum websites out there as well! Check around for any used curriculum sales going on in your area too!

2) Borrow nonconsumable resources- I am so thankful for friends, whose kids are a year or two ahead of mine, who have allowed me to borrow things when they are not needing them.  It never hurts to ask!

3) Do not be a compulsive buyer.  There are SO many tempting curriculum/resources out there both online and at homeschool curriculum exhibits.  Give yourself plenty of time to plan and prepare for the next school year and ask yourself  "Do I absolutely need this for my child?" or "Are we really going to use this art curriculum or is it most likely going to sit on the shelf?"   For a younger child, start with the essentials (reading, writing, & math) and then add extra's only if you know you will make the time for it!

4) Set a budget!  I worked on a budget for this next school year and it definately helps to know what amount you have to work with!  If you are constantly buying little things here and there and not paying attention to the cost....it can add up quickly.

5) Don't fill your schedule with a million activities - I have had moments where I feel like I should have my child signed up for various activities (aka - soccer, piano, gymnastics, ballet, etc...).   All those things also can add up very quickly especially when you have a handful of kids.   Not to mention you feel like you are going insane with all the hustle and bustle.   My philosophy in my home is "keep it simple because they are still so little".  I have chosen not to commit to things that take up our evenings/weekends or anything that require more than once a week of their time.  Our one exception is Awanas which takes place 1x week in the evenings. 

6) Invest in a Laminator - if you want to protect pages and be able to use things over and over with all your kids!

7) Take full advantage of the library!  Free is a very good price!

8) Out with the old and in with the new - sell anything that is just sitting and you have no plans to use.  Take the money you make and turn around and purchase things you are going to use!

9) There are many free online resources you can take advantage of such as: Starfall, Super Teacher Worksheets, Preschool Palace, and so much more (check out my A-Z curriculum for more free resources)

10) Check to see if  a curriculum company offers a payment plan option.  That way you are still getting what you want and making small, affordable, monthly payments (Sonlight & Winter Promise are two companies I know of who offer payment plans).

It's not Rocket Science!

At the start of this school year I can remember thinking "how in the world am I going to teach my middle daughter, Lover Girl, how to read?".  When my oldest was her age she already knew her letters and sounds and was starting to read (plus my oldest attended a preschool for 2 years and now I was doing preschool at home).  There I sat with Lover Girl on our first official day of school and it felt like such an impossible task to accomplish.   I thought to myself "this is going to be a LONG year".  I am so thankful for a free online preschool program I came across called Preschool Palace.  It teaches 3 letters, 1 color, 1 shape, and 1 number each month and its FREE.  So I started this our second week of school.  I also decided to hang up a pocket wall chart as a visual reference.  If you have a hands-on/visual child like mine I highly recommend something like this!

Every week when a new letter was introduced we would add it to the pocket chart.  I would then print 4 pictures of words that started with that letter.  Once a week dd2 would take all the cards out, mix them up, and then have to figure out the right letter they went with. 

Also at the start of each month I would print up everything for the month from Preschool Palace and put them in 4 file folders (1 for each week of the month).  I also cut out pictures from magazines and put them in sandwich baggies and into the corresponding folders.  I would cut out words that started with the letters we would be focusing on that month, cut out pictures to go along with the color we would be learning, and cut out pictures with the same number of items of the number we were learning.  I preferred to cut everything out myself to make things go quickly and easily.

And of course we did lots of crafts related to the letter we were learning!

I got all my ABC craft ideas from Homeschool Creations and Moments of Mommyhood. 

We also added in the Language Lesson Book by Queen homeschool.  And I purchased a writing tablet with the wider lines so she could practice writing her letters and numbers.  I spent about 30 minutes 4x week doing sit down school with her....and now drumroll please....she just started reading Bob Books!

 (Yes I am patting myself on the back right now!).  Teaching your child to read may feel overwhelming, like you're trying to teach them rocket science, but it really doesn't have to be that complicated (of course I can tell you that now not 9 months ago!)