~ August 2010 ~

Dear Readers,

August is Family Fun Month and Back-to-School Month... although as homeschoolers we're always having fun as a family and doing some sort of schooling aren't we! Just be sure to stock up on your supplies now while all of the stores have the stuff on sale! Even those homeschoolers who are taught all year round will appreciate having a brand new set of school supplies when moving up to the next grade. ;)

Still haven't decided on all of your curriculum yet? You may want to check my homeschool curriculum recommendations by grade level. These pages contain suggested books and curriculum, reviews of our personal favorites, and even an extensive list of high school electives complete with course descriptions.

I’ve also added some additional providers to my online education page – from individual courses to complete programs – and many of them are free!

Featured Article

It’s that time of year to stock up on school supplies! Get your kids involved in the planning process. Then go to the store as a family and let your children choose their own supplies from the wide variety of styles and themes that are available. This way they can express their individuality, and they will be more likely to enjoy using those items that they had a say in picking out.

Essential school supplies will vary depending on the type of curriculum and grade level. In general, however, if you have school-age children it’s a good idea to always have the following basic supplies on hand: dictionary, thesaurus, pencils, pencil sharpener, erasers, paperclips, stapler, scissors, clear adhesive tape, masking tape, computer, printer, ink cartridges, paper.

Preschool to elementary students will need: pencils, crayons, pencil and crayon sharpener, eraser, washable markers, safety scissors, white glue, glue stick, colored construction paper, drawing paper, notebooks, pocket folders, lined penmanship paper, math manipulatives, chalk, lunch tote (for field trips), and magazines with colorful pictures to cut out.

Middle to High School will need: pens, mechanical pencils, colored pencils, No. 2 pencils, fine-line markers, highlighters, ruler, scientific calculator, graph paper, three-ring binders, spiral notebooks (one for each subject), lined loose-leaf paper, pocket folders, composition book, journal, calendar, wristwatch, bookbag or backpack.

You might think your pre-teen child has outgrown the crayons, markers, and other art and craft supplies, but older children still do research projects, science fair entries, book reports, skits and plays that require visual presentations. You don’t want to find out that your supply closet is empty the night before a project is due, so keep some tag board, glue stick, construction paper, and colored markers in there, too.

One more thing - in addition to checking your inventory, this is a good time of year to have the kids test all of their glue sticks, white glue, markers, etc. to make sure these items haven't dried out just in case they need to replaced. There's nothing worse than being in the middle of a project and going to use something but finding out that it doesn't work!

Book of the Month

Well, a new school year is right around the corner! This is a perfect time to think ahead about how to make the most of those back-to-school days--especially if you homeschool.

The beginning of a school year is an exciting time of opening new curriculum, planning your upcoming schedule, etc. You want this to be your best year ever, right? So while you’re at it, why not write a homeschool mission statement! My e-book will show you how.

How to Write a Homeschool Mission Statement is an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide that explains in practical terms how to create, utilize, and display a homeschool mission statement. It includes: Examples, Discussion Questions, Worksheets, Keyword List, Scriptures, Quotations, Mottoes, Things to Do, and more!

If you are a new homeschooler, the reasons for homeschooling your children are probably still fresh in your mind. This e-book will help you clarify those reasons and put your educational plan in writing to ensure that your homeschool starts out on a strong foundation and continues to function well into the future.

If you have been homeschooling for a while, you may have noticed that the busyness of daily life often seems to distract you from the principles that matter most. Your family can get back on track by preparing a homeschool mission statement to assist in guiding you from this day forward.

Download your copy of How to Write a Homeschool Mission Statement, a 36-page e-book for only $4.95! (WAS $8.50)

OR get this e-book FREE in the "Back-to-Homeschool" set!

Famous Homeschoolers

Did you know...? Two Pairs of Famous Homeschoolers Have August Birthdays!

William Clark and Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis & Clark Expedition were both born this month (August 1, 1770 and August 18, 1774, respectively). http://www.famoushomeschoolers.net/bio_lewisclark.html

Wilbur Wright was born on August 16, 1867, and his brother Orville was born on August 19, 1871. National Aviation Day is also celebrated on Orville Wright’s birthday. http://www.famoushomeschoolers.net/bio_wrightbros.html

Also, don't forget Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell in honor of National Inventors Month! Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb as well as many other things. Alexander Graham Bell is most famous for inventing the telephone, but he was also a teacher of deaf people.

Reading Between the Lines

In keeping with the back-to-school theme of this issue, I would like to tell you about my book, Learning for Life: Educational Words of Wisdom.

This 420-page treasury contains almost 3,000 quotations by more than 1,000 people on teaching, learning, and the pursuit of knowledge. The quotes are categorized by subject, covering both traditional and nontraditional forms of education. Many of these quotations are from Christian sources, harkening back to our schools’ Christian heritage and reflecting a strong biblical perspective.

The book begins with a selection of Bible verses, which serves as a reminder to not become so preoccupied with academics that one forgets the fundamental godly principles with which children should be nurtured. Following this, Learning for Life features quotations by a diverse spectrum of philosophers, scientists, religious leaders, statesmen, writers, educators, and others from throughout history. These observations on education and child training range from witty to wise, practical to profound, and informational to inspirational.

In this same educational spirit, Learning for Life contains biographical notes on each author so the reader can find out about a quotation’s source, the individual’s background, time period, and interesting facts such as whether he or she was self-educated or schooled at home. The volume also includes an appendix, index, and blank pages for writing down additional quotes.

Learning for Life is a testimony to the long-lasting influence that parents and educators have on children and on the future. The book is a useful reference in the classroom, home, and library for reading, reference, newsletters, reports and presentations. It is an ideal resource for parents, teachers, college students, speakers, writers, history buffs, book lovers, and lifelong learners.

For more information, please visit my Learning for Life page: http://www.knowledgehouse.info/learningforlife.html

Learning for Life is part of my "Back-to-Homeschool" sale!

Learning Links

Summer Movies (Wind down the summer and celebrate Family Fun month with some popcorn, lemonade, and one or more of these movies. Some of them have summer themes and others just evoke the feeling of a summer adventure.)

Meteors (The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks on August 12.)

Meteorites (How to recognize a meteorite.)

Lemonade (August 20 is Lemonade Day.)

Monarch Butterflies (The Monarch Butterfly's fall migration generally begins around August 21.)

National Parks (The National Park Service was established on August 25, 1916.)

I Have a Dream (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave this famous speech on August 28, 1963.)

Labor Day (Labor Day is coming up on September 6 this year, if you want to start planning ahead.)

Education Through the Ages (Homeschooling is taking us back to our educational roots.)

Teachers & Teaching (Almost everyone, at one time or another, has taught another person something.)

Famous Educators (Many famous people throughout history have made significant contributions to education.)

Freebie of the Month

I made a checklist of basic homeschool supplies that our family found useful, which you can download and print out: http://www.knowledgehouse.info/HomeschoolSupplyList.pdf

(Requires Adobe Reader: click here for free download.)

Quote of the Month

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” ~Thomas Edison

A Note From Teri...

Don't forget the special package I’ve put together for you - save almost 50% on this exclusive Back-to-Homeschool set!

Happy Homeschooling!