Spontaneous lessons
I asked the boys to set up my speakers on a different computer today. with John home on holidays, has has moved my laptop into his study so that we could be together. Isn't that sweet? 😎 However, while cleaning the home school study today, I wanted to listen to...
Dreamworld Narration
John has given me permission to share his narration of our trip to Dreamworld. At the time of writing, John was 12 years old and has had no to little formal writing instruction, although he is quite widely read for his age. I have left it complete with grammar and...
Dreamworld Narration – 10yo
'Master C' has given me permission to share his first attempts at written narration. This is not a narration from a book but from an event. It is of a day that we went, as a family, to Dreamworld. I have left it complete with grammar and spelling errors but I have...
Home Education in Australia, the Last 10 Years
We started learning at home in 1998- actually I made the girls do diagnostic testing, bought their books and get started on them in December, 1997. How do I remember this? Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of my mother's graduation. It is 10 years since she passed...
Teaching Character or a Code
I don’t use the word of God to teach a set rules/code of behaviour but I will proclaim the message of God and trust that the Holy Spirit will teach them what He wants to teach them. Their salvation is not dependent upon me teaching every character trait. It is dependent upon God! I can’t teach someone into salvation. What is the point, the goal of teaching the children? Is it that they become fine, moral, upstanding citizens or to usher them into the presence of the Almighty God? Two different issues and two different ways to go about it.
First job, resumes and all that…
When my daughter turned 15 we stopped paying for softball. Now softball is 'Miss A' 's delight. It is her passion. It is something that she has learned many valuable life lessons and skills from. She has worked hard and has reaped the rewards of that diligence....
What's a blog and why are they popular?
Ever wondered what the big craze with blogging is? Or how a blog works? What system lies behind the success of the blogosphere? well, if you're interested in starting a blog or curious as to the what,when, where, how and why of blogging you might like to watch this...
Activity Sheets Narration Freebie
I use a teaching method that I learnt from Heart of Wisdom called the 4mat system. I have modified it slightly to suit the needs of our family. I have found these steps to be very beneficial in not only our Bible study but when approaching all lessons. I have created...
My tomboy athlete is growing up!
Over the last two weeks, 'Miss A' and I have been dress shopping. This is a very rare occurrence for her. When she was younger, I tried to dress her in skirts or dresses all the time, much to her annoyance. As she got older, and I started allowing her more...
William Wilberforce on a Real Christian
Just spotted this over at Mrs. Nancy Wilson's blog and wanted to share it. William Wilberforce writing about his wife: ?I believe her to be a real Christian,? he wrote, ?affectionate, sensible, rational in habits, moderate in desires and pursuits, capable of bearing...
Mother of a Prodigal
Parenting teens is exciting & adventurous to downright difficult. A time of growing & relearning for a parent. Being challenged is not always easy but always valuable. Through it we learn perspective and discernment.
Dealing with Shyness
I am naturally quite shy. Yes, it can quite hard to believe because I can be verbose when online. But I really am shy in real life. I find it very hard to go into groups of people or even to meet people one on one. But I force myself. I have taught myself over the...
Reviewing the Year
Reviewing the current year Well, it's that time of the year where I start to look back and reflect upon the growth and change in the members of our family, including myself. While we don?t have school report cards or achievement cards I will be writing letters to each...
Homeschoolers Told They Have No Rights
I don't wish to start debate or controversy but I have to wonder how far away we are, as Australians, from scenes such as this? Read here for the full article: http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/ny/200710300.asp Homeschooler Told by Police ?You Have No Rights? In September...
My Journey to Middle Earth
I wouldn’t go near it with a ten foot pole. All I knew of it was that there was a wizard. I wanted to stay well away from anything like that. I did not like fairy tales, myths and legends, or anything with magic, mainly due to my interest in occultish things when I was a teen. And then John hired the movie.
How We 'Do' Christmas
We don't 'do' Christmas. Years ago when the children were small, we tried. But we would get a knot in the pits of our stomach. A few years ago, the commercialism of it all used to be a huge bother to me...now I've pretty much accepted that is the way it is and I'm not...
Church History: History Lives series
History Lives series Peril and Peace: Chronicles of the Ancient Church Volume 1 by Mindy and Brandon Withrow Isbn: 1845500822 * This series is written from a Protestant perspective Suggested age: 8-12 but I would easily say a student of 16 would be quite happy to read...
Super Simple Spiritual Sunday
Do Your Feelings Have Veto-Power Over Scripture? http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.636 Church Growth Movie http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.239 What Value Does The Bible Have, To You? http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.443 Teaching Teens How to...
Emotionally Absent
The lights are on but nobody’s home. I was physically present but emotionally absent from my home and the lives of those most precious to me.
Homeschooling with Young Children
I write about my experience with our toddlers and young ones while trying to homeschool. It was hard work! It was fantastic!! It was draining and monotonous!!! It was fun!!!!