FYI... I've got a new website in the works:

http://www.HomeschoolLibrarian.info/

It's still under construction, so let me know what you'd like to see there.

Check back in a while and I'll let you know when it's ready. ;)

If you are a wife, mother, and home educator struggling to balance home, school, and family, Homeschooling at the Speed of Life is the perfect book for you! It offers encouragement and practical advice for creating the peaceful and relaxed home that you long for. This book is written in a friendly, gentle manner by Marilyn Rockett, a veteran homeschool mom who has "been there, done that" – thus reassuring readers that even though we're only human, we can still manage to bring order to our homes while increasing productivity and decreasing stress.

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life provides an introduction to basic home management principles, common sense suggestions for clutter control and tackling those piles of papers, creative ideas for developing life skills in your children, encouraging ways to build relationships by using the home as a center for hospitality, and practical tips on how to keep organized records. The book also includes a bonus CD-ROM with 32 useful forms to assist busy homeschool moms in keeping up with activities and records. Perhaps more importantly, it tells how to make wise use of the time that God has given you, so that you can enjoy being with your family without being preoccupied with things.

Homeschooling at the Speed of Life is unique among organizational books since it can be used as a devotional or Bible study. At the end of each chapter there are Scripture references to look up, questions to discuss, practical hands-on exercises, and thoughts to ponder. Upon reading this book, I was delighted to realize that Marilyn and I are kindred spirits. She even intersperses inspirational quotations and Bible verses throughout her text just like I do. In fact, some of the quotes that she uses – and many similar ones – can be found in my Learning for Life: Educational Words of Wisdom book.

Regardless of where you are in your homeschool journey and no matter how organized you are, you are bound to gain some valuable insights from Homeschooling at the Speed of Life. Click here to read my complete review: www.knowledgehouse.info/review_rockett.html

Classical Astronomy: Newsletter, Website, and Curriculum

Jay Ryan is a homeschool dad who lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Jay has been involved in astronomy writing since 1995. He was a contributing editor to Sky & Telescope magazine, he wrote an astronomy comic book called Cycles, he publishes an e-mail newsletter, and he has written articles for several homeschool magazines.

 

I’ve been a longtime subscriber to the Classical Astronomy e-mail newsletter. It’s very informative – both timely and historical at the same time! You can read all about The Astronomy of Easter by going to www.classicalastronomy.com/The_Sky_This_Month.asp and scrolling down to the bottom of the page. You can also sign up for his free newsletter at the website.

 

Jay’s website, www.classicalastronomy.com, is dedicated to helping the next generation rediscover our lost astronomical traditions. Classical Astronomy represents the traditional study of the sky as it has been done for centuries. Essentially, the starry sky offers an excellent opportunity to observe logic and order applied in a natural system.

New! Classical Astronomy Curriculum

 

Signs & Seasons: Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy by Jay Ryan is an awesome new Christian homeschool curriculum! Unlike the vast majority of astronomy books that focus on popular “Modern Astronomy,” Signs & Seasons teaches “Classical Astronomy.” This is the traditional, historical approach to studying the sky. Astronomy is the most ancient science and was part of the Quadrivium – one of Seven Liberal Arts of a classical education. Throughout history, people have told time and found direction from the Sun, Moon, and stars. This is the purpose for which the Lord created the celestial bodies – for signs and seasons, and days and years (Genesis 1:14). Signs & Seasons is a fascinating evolution-free curriculum that teaches this traditional, biblical basis for timekeeping and navigation. It features lavish illustrations, extensive field activities, and a large glossary – you are sure to love it! This is a golden opportunity for Christian homeschoolers who respect God’s creation to rediscover the lost traditions of a bygone era.

Signs & Seasons is $39.99 from Fourth Day Press. Pre-orders are only $29.99 – a 25% savings – if ordered before April 21, 2007. www.classicalastronomy.com/On_Line_Ordering.asp

See Also: Jay Ryan’s SkyWise – a series of colorful, educational, comic strips about astronomy. Originally published in Sky & Telescope magazine from 1997-2001, they are grouped by subject and order of appearance. http://www.mangobay.cc/users/moonfinder

A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM

By Joe Oswald

 

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ~Matthew 19:14

 

•  Have you ever wondered who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

•  Do you yearn for a more child-like simplicity in your life or wish you could feel young again?

•  Do you want to know how to experience deeper faith, trust, joy, hope, love, and creativity?

•  Would you like to revitalize your walk with God and gain a fresh new outlook on life?

•  Are you looking for a devotional book that the whole family can enjoy together?

 

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, then A Little Child Shall Lead Them is perfect for you! Coach and Pastor Joe Oswald wrote this devotional resource, which is filled with inspiration and quotes from homeschooled students that he instructed over the years. In his book, Oswald identifies those child-like qualities that should never be outgrown and reinforces them with Biblical references. A Little Child Shall Lead Them will lift your spirits and awaken the child within you while encouraging you to rejoice in the world around you.

 

A Little Child Shall Lead Them is a short book that imparts a big message. Even though it only takes about an hour to read all 73 pages, it would be a good idea to read it more slowly while pausing and reflecting on the lessons learned. I read through it quickly at first to get a general overview, then I read it again over a longer period while contemplating each chapter, and next I plan to use it during our family devotional time. The book will work well for this because Scripture references are woven throughout the pages. Plus, it has discussion questions at the end of every chapter as well as quotes to consider, principles to practice, and suggestions for digging deeper into God’s Word through additional readings and activities.

 

As a side note, it seems like the only time I ever have time to sit down and read anything on my own is while working out on my exercise bike at home. So it seemed quite fitting that A Little Child Shall Lead Them focuses a lot on the author’s experience coaching P.E. classes. My own boys had Joe Oswald as their P.E. instructor several years ago, so I was able to personally observe his excellent rapport with the kids. Being children of God, we are called to love and serve Him with all of ourselves, including our bodies. But I used to hate and even fear P.E. in school when I was a girl. So I really admired the way Coach Joe emphasized the fun in fitness, while bringing a healthy spiritual dimension to physical education. He definitely found his calling there. If only all coaches were more like him!

 

Anyway, it’s hard to underline sentences in a book when riding an exercise bike, so I kept a supply of Post-it Notes on hand to mark the pages that I wanted to come back to. By the time I was done, almost every page was marked! That’s how jam-packed this little book is with wisdom to remember. Inspired by real children and their responses to life, A Little Child Shall Lead Them uses the children’s stories and quotes to provide examples of what it means to be childlike in our own faith, joy, teachableness, and transparency. Although it’s full of cute sayings from children, this is not just a “kids-say-the-darndest-things” book. The message is much more significant than that. A Little Child Shall Lead Them will show you how child-likeness is Christ-likeness!
 

Nowadays there is a battle going on for the hearts and minds of our children. In this materialistic culture of dysfunctional families, broken homes, provocative media and immodest fashion, kids are being forced to grow up too quickly. How sad that we think it’s great when a child behaves “sophisticatedly” like an adult. Children don’t have enough time these days to simply be a child. They deserve to play, dream, and wonder, things grown-ups forget they need! One of my favorite passages from the book is: “I remember hearing a preacher talk about a teacher who approached one of her young students while he was drawing a picture. She asked who he was drawing. He replied, ‘God.’ She then replied, ‘No one knows what God looks like.’ The little lad said with childlike confidence, ‘They will when I get through!’” It would be wise for adults to stop and look at the world through the eyes of a child more often.

 

Young-at-heart Joe Oswald was definitely the right person to write this book. Having met him in person and witnessing his own childlike passion for life, I can attest to the fact that he practices what he preaches. Joe’s cheerful enthusiasm blesses and brightens the day of everyone he meets. It would be a much happier world indeed if everyone were to follow the simple advice he gives in A Little Child Shall Lead Them. Reading this book will challenge and transform your outlook on life, making a big difference in your attitude toward other people and the world around you. This little life-changing book is a must-have for every Christian library. Teachers, parents, grandparents, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, coaches, pastors, and anyone who works with children will gain much insight in applying the truth of this book. It’s also ideal for families to read together, as it will help you grow closer to Christ and to each other.

 

Joe Oswald is a husband, father of two, and grandpa as well. He has over ten years experience working with children as a coach and youth pastor. He coached P.E. classes for Athletes in Training of Phoenix for over five years, and served as the Director of Home School Programs for AIT. Coach Joe’s expertise in physical training and his passion for teaching earned the trust of hundreds of homeschool parents and children. Joe also conducted an annual “Hero Camp” where nearly 600 homeschooled youth ages 9-15 interacted socially, increased their physical fitness, and had fun together in a Christian setting while learning that heroes are honest, helpful, humble, helpful, healthy and holy. Currently, he is the Senior Pastor of Compass Christian Fellowship in Glendale, Arizona. Joe enjoys reading, writing, watching and playing sports of all kinds, but he especially loves hanging out with children. They were the ones who inspired him most to write this book!

 

A Little Child Shall Lead Them is available for just $10 plus $1 for shipping and handling ($11 total per book) Soft Cover, Perfect Bound, 73 pages, 5 3/8" x 8 3/8"

 

TO ORDER: Send a check payable to Joe Oswald, 13194 W. Saguaro Lane, Surprise AZ 85374

 

Christian Net is a family-friendly internet service provider based in Ohio. Christian Net is especially suitable for Christian homeschool families because of the parental controls and Christian content. They also provide friendly technical and customer service. At only $17.95/month, Christian Net is by far the best value for filtered internet access anywhere! We've been using them for over a year now. Christian Net lets us access the good sites on the Internet while blocking the bad ones. Plus, their mail filters block spam and virus-infected messages before they can enter our home. They are now offering a 10-day free trial for all new subscribers, so you can try their service with absolutely no risk. Surf the net with confidence!  Click here to learn more. 

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Dover's collection of clip art and design images on CD-ROM offer hundreds of
permission-free images for your use on a wide range of subjects. Decorative
patterns, Victorian designs, Civil War illustrations, and much more. All for
half the price of a single piece of clip art found elsewhere!
http://store.doverpublications.com/pa0304.html

Also, if you like old books as I do, be sure to visit www.fromoldbooks.org . This site contains scanned images, engravings and pictures from antiquarian books (b&w and color), as well as photos of the books themselves. Each image is linked from an HTML page that tells you the copyright status of the image: public domain; permission required; non-commercial use only, etc. You will find lots of English castles, old churches, country cottages, the Geneva Bible, Sir John Tenniel's illustrations from "Alice in Wonderland," colorful illustrations by Arthur Rackham (the famous children's book illustrator), Medieval and Gothic images, Elizabethan art, Roman architecture, illustrations from "Torments and Tortures of the Christian Martyrs," page details from the illuminated "Book of Hours," ornamental alphabets, etc. Even if you don't need any pictures, this site is interesting just to look at!

Did you know that during the Medieval Era, young people used to enter the university between the ages of 14-16? Although most of today’s students pursue a far less rigorous course of study than did medieval students, some are completely ready in their mid teens to undertake the challenge of college-level learning.

 

It seems to me that despite the dumbing down of modern education, many students are capable of much more than is expected of them. So why take a class that only provides a high school credit when the student can work just a little bit harder and receive college credit at the same time? By getting the basic college core classes out of the way while still in high school, the student can then jump right into the higher-level classes in the specific subject areas he or she is really interested in.

 

Janice Campbell’s Get a Jump Start on College is a 54-page how-to guide for teenagers who want to get a head start on their college degrees while still in high school. In these days of educational choice, there are several good alternatives to the traditional route of going to school for twelve years and then heading off to college. It’s especially nice to know that non-traditional ways of earning college credit can save thousands of dollars!

 

I think this handbook is most useful for homeschool students who understand that the value of hard work in high school is worth more than just getting a diploma. Since many homeschoolers are ahead of their grade level anyway, it is clear that they are intellectually ready to do college work even though they may not yet be emotionally mature enough to be set loose on campus. This doesn’t mean they have to be held back, however, because “Doing at least a few college classes at home allows parents to continue their nurturing and mentoring roles well into the teen years.”

 

In Get a Jump Start on College, Janice Campbell describes her personal experience and that of her sons in obtaining college credit. She compares the cost of 30 credit hours at a community college, public college, private college, and shows how much money is saved by testing out of introductory classes. She covers basic degree requirements and the number of credit hours required to earn different degrees. She tells how to transfer credits. She shows how taking CLEP (College Level Examination Program) exams and other tests save time, and also gives ideas for what to do with that extra time. Imagine spending three hours in a testing center and emerging with twelve credits! That’s what she did!

 

I especially like the section that explains about “clustering” the subjects you are studying so that you get maximum benefit from your study time. Certain subjects naturally go together so that if you study one, you already have the basic foundation down for the next one. For example, when studying American History you already have a head start on the concepts and ideas in American Government or American Literature, so you may as well go ahead and earn credit in those also. “Once you start making the connections between subjects and ideas,” Campbell says, “it will make your entire study process simpler.” That seems to me like the best way to study, actually. The book contains a chart of suggested subject clusters, which makes it easy.

 

The author points out that if you want to earn credit for a subject, be sure it is a subject taught at the college level. “A student who has learned American history, for example, at the high-school level can probably provide a rough chronology of major events and the people who participated in them (or maybe not!). Once he or she understands the same material at the college-level, the student will know not just the chronological outline, but also many of the details that paint an interesting and memorable picture. More importantly, he or she will also understand the underlying causes of events and be able to apply that understanding to analysis and interpretation of current events.”

 

In addition to testing, another alternative means of obtaining college credit is the building of a portfolio. Not all colleges accept portfolios for credit, and those that do usually have very specific submission guidelines, but Campbell does give examples of some basic items to include in a portfolio. It looks like creating a portfolio can be fun, but it’s also a lot of work with all of the documentation you have to provide.

 

Many college classes can be taken online or through distance learning programs. This allows for flexibility in scheduling, and is an effective method of learning for students with initiative who are self-starters and who prefer to work at their own pace. They have to be disciplined enough, however, to keep on track so that they will be able to complete the course within the required time period. In some of these courses you attend audio or video lectures, or participate in message board or forum discussions. You may communicate with your professor via e-mail or an online message board system.

 

There are some courses (such as lab science) for which specialized equipment is needed, and perhaps a few subjects that may be more easily learned with an instructor in a traditional classroom setting. These can be taken at a local community college campus. Community colleges generally welcome high school students, homeschoolers, and other part-time and non-traditional students. Credits earned at the community college can be transferred to a four-year university.

 

If you plan on earning college credits through non-traditional means and then transferring them to a traditional university, you will want to seek out colleges ahead of time that accept non-traditional transcripts. There are a lot of things to think about when considering which college to attend. The College Comparison Worksheet included in this book makes it easy for you to summarize and compare the information you receive from the various colleges on admissions requirements, tuition costs, etc. Get a Jump Start on College also provides reproducible worksheets to help you plan your degree program and track your own progress. The author even provides information on applying for financial aid.

 

Some high school students know exactly what they want to major in at college, while others aren’t so sure. As the author points out, the nice thing is: “You don’t have to choose your major before you start earning credit, though— just begin with basic core classes. As you work through the basics, you’ll learn more about what interests you, and what might be the best field for you to pursue. If you are undecided about your major, try taking a class in each of the disciplines you are considering. It may help you decide, and you will be earning credit that can be applied toward your degree.”

 

In Get a Jump Start on College, the author also talks about the importance of reading great literature and the benefits of lifelong learning. She even has a chapter on specific skills the student will need to succeed in college. These include: essay and report writing, online research, personal organization, time management, and test-taking skills. Be sure to see “The Jump Start Checklist” at the back of the book, and the annotated list of Recommended Resources for further study.

 

About the Author

 

Janice Campbell is a lifelong learner, writer, and conference speaker who has enjoyed homeschooling since the late 1980’s. Two of her sons graduated early from college, and two are still homeschooling through high school. Her website at www.EverydayEducation.com offers additional information, inspiration, resources, and a free e-newsletter. Many of her workshops are available as audio recordings. Topics include: Homeschooling Through High School; Paying for College: Strategies for Graduating Debt-Free; Micro-Business: Hands-On Entrepreneurship; Teaching Language Arts The Easy, Natural Way; The Essential Essay; Evaluating Student Writing, and more. If you need help making transcripts, be sure to visit Janice’s other website, www.TranscriptsMadeEasy.com. She also posts a list of colleges that accept nontraditional credits at www.DoingCollegeYourWay.com.

Homeschooling the High Schooler: From Transcripts to Graduation, compiled by Nancy Carter for The Old Schoolhouse, is a compilation of advice from selected homeschool authors, parents, and graduates as they discuss preparing students for college and for life.

 

Homeschooling the High Schooler is 73 pages long and consists of three parts. Part One is entitled You Can Homeschool Through The High School Years. Part II is called Options and Resources to Help You. Part Three is about Preparing for the Future.

 

Chapters in Part One:

• Growing a Heart for Homeschool High School, by Christine Field.
• High School at Home: A Practical Approach, by Maggie Hogan.
• Windows of Opportunity, by Jill Novak.
• Just Jump In! by Coie Igarashi.
• Real Life, Real School, Real World, by Claire Novak.

Chapters in Part Two:

• Options for the High School Journey, by Paula Moldenhauer.
• How to Finish High School in Half the Time, by Rebecca Kochenderfer.
• “Keeping it Real”: Building Your Own High School Program, by Dawn Sutherland.
• Dual Enrollment, by Ann Zeise.
• A Primer for Higher Level Math, by Steve Clark.
• Teaching Higher Level Math Without Anxiety, by Michael Badgley.
• High School Science, by Penni Hill.
• Language Arts For High School, by Debbie Locklin.

Chapters in Part Three:

• Why Transcripts are Crucial for Homeschooled High School Graduates, by Inge Cannon.
• How to Convert Extracurricular Activities into Credit Courses, by Cindy Downes.
• A College Selection Checklist for Christians, by Dr. Ronald Jay Cannon.
• Exploring the Apprenticeship Option for Vocational Training, by Inge Cannon.
• Creating Entrepreneurs at the Backside of Nowhere, by Rhea Perry.

In Homeschooling the High Schooler, it’s interesting how several of the different contributors raise the same points and reach the same conclusions. In general, they offer thoughtful suggestions on how to focus on God’s calling for your teen and help prepare him or her for the future that God has intended for them. This may be achieved through early college classes, dual enrollment, distance education, apprenticeship, volunteerism, entrepreneurship, or a combination of the above.

 

The main objectives for a student’s high school education include: 1.) learning how to learn; 2.) developing a sense of life purpose in their quest toward a fulfilling vocation; 3.) interacting with real life situations; 4.) developing good character traits and godly wisdom. Individual interests and learning styles continue to be important during high school. If their hearts aren’t in it, their minds won’t be either. So encourage them to pursue their interests and channel their unique talents into useful outlets rather than forcing them to fit a certain mold.

 

If you think your son or daughter will attend college, the first thing you should do is check the admission requirements of several likely colleges as early as possible in your child’s high school career. Then you can plan out a sequence of courses for them to take in high school to make sure they will be able to meet those entrance requirements. Over and over again, Homeschooling the High Schooler contributors emphasize the importance of setting goals and keeping good records during high school. A carefully prepared transcript is much more meaningful and useful than the symbolic high school diploma. While none of the chapters go into detail on how to format an official transcript, references are provided for anyone who wants to find out.

 

It’s good to know that as the “principal” of your homeschool, you have the ability to create your own courses and assign your own credit values. You do not have to follow a certain scope and sequence to produce a well rounded student. I was relieved to have well-known writers assuring me that it’s okay to be a little creative when listing high school courses on transcripts. Now I don’t have to feel like I’m cheating when I give a drama credit for performing in a church musical, or call my son’s summer reading list a “Survey of Contemporary Literature.” Colleges of course will not accept extracurricular courses as meeting the requirements of high school math, science, history, and English, but they can be used as credits for electives.

 

Whatever you do, failure is not an option. Your child must keep his or her goal in mind – even when circumstances are less than perfect. The Lord has a plan for your child’s life, and that plan may be completely beyond your preconceived notions. Homeschool graduate Claire Novak quotes Andy Stanley in saying, “Your present circumstances are part of the vision…. It may be difficult or you to make the connection at this point. But in time, it will come together. It always does.” The most important factor in making any decision about your child’s high school career is seeking and following God’s direction – so by all means, pray! Because like it or not, you’re in partnership with the Lord to meet the desires that He has placed in your child’s heart. As Dr. Ronald Cannon states: “The bottom line: when God is pleased, it does not matter who is displeased. If God is displeased, it does not matter who is pleased.”

I just finished reading two new e-books: Homeschooling the High Schooler: From Transcripts to Graduation, compiled by Nancy Carter for The Old Schoolhouse; and Get a Jump Start on College, by Janice Campbell.

 

Homeschooling the High Schooler is a compilation of advice from selected homeschool authors, parents, and graduates as they discuss preparing students for college and for life. Get a Jump Start on College is a how-to guide in which a homeschool mom shares her firsthand experience with college enrollment. She describes how to earn college credit independently through exams, portfolios, and classes.

 

Homeschooling the High Schooler and Get a Jump Start on College both contain lots of practical information and encouraging inspiration for anyone with teenagers. These two books go together well, and are essential references for any family with high school students. I could have really used these books a few years ago. My oldest son just turned 16 already, but I don’t think it’s too late to incorporate into his education some of the lessons that I’ve learned.

 

I’ve printed out each of these resources to place in a three-ring binder for immediate use as well as future reference. Judging by the number of sentences and paragraphs I’ve highlighted, I will be referring back to them again and again! Quite a few additional resources are mentioned throughout the various chapters, too, so the next thing I do will be looking up the books and websites that were recommended.

 

Important Note: One more must-have resource that would be a perfect addition to these other high school e-books is Janice Campbell’s Transcripts Made Easy. It contains everything you need to know about recordkeeping and transcripts for your high school student in one compact, easy-to-use book.

“With God all things are possible.” ~Matthew 19:26

Grandma’s Wisdom is a high quality storybook, children’s activity book, and devotional exercise all in one. At first glance, it is eye-catching because the hard cover is imprinted with the image of a colorful patchwork quilt. Inside, the text on the 8x10" pages is also printed in color. This 32-page book would make a nice gift for a special child in your life, and it is a perfect present for a grandmother to give to a grandchild.

Each culture, each place, has its own wisdom for living, as well as “grandma’s wisdom” descended from past generations. I remember how my grandmother always offered support and guidance through the trials of life. Grandma’s wisdom is like that of a sage; she always points you in the right direction and provides the best advice. Of course, the reason Grandma has all the answers is because she has His wisdom to glean from and share with her grandchildren to help them with their problems.

In this book, grandma’s scripturally sound instruction comes in the form of two historical fiction stories: “Joy” and “Faith.” Each story is followed by a page of thoughtful discussion questions. Grandma’s Wisdom also contains an introduction to Amish history and the Central Illinois Amish way of life. While the stories focus on two particular adventures in the Yoder family, they are based on situations that could happen to anyone at any time.

“Joy” is a touching story about an Amish girl, teaching us that inner beauty is more important than outward appearances. “Faith” is an exciting story about an Amish boy, showing us that even when we are feeling afraid and alone, God is always with us to help us overcome our fears. Both stories are told from grandma’s wise point of view, and her wisdom always includes a Bible verse or two. She explains, “As you continue to learn the scriptures in your heart, you will grow to be the children He wants you to be.”

In addition to the two stories, Grandma’s Wisdom includes five whole pages of paper dolls to color and cut out. There is a pocket inside the back cover so children can keep them neatly in the book so they will be ready to be played with each time the stories are read. The directions say that you can write on the pages with crayon or dry erase markers which you can then wipe off with a tissue. I haven’t tried it, but the pages are smooth and glossy, so it looks like it would work. The instructions also tell how to color the characters’ clothes in proper Amish colors.

Ideas are provided for activities in which the paper dolls are used for role-playing, creating 3-D scenes, and on magnetic boards illustrated with drawings of farmhouses, barns, etc. After reading the stories, children can answer the questions, then reenact the stories. This interactive hands-on approach helps to reinforce the priceless lessons learned. It is suggested to glue the cut-outs onto cardboard, but the paper is sturdy enough that you may not even need to. Or if you’re like me and don’t have the heart to cut such a beautiful book apart, you can simply photocopy the paper doll pages onto heavy card stock.

One other idea that is not mentioned in the book: the cut-out figures are the perfect size and shape for making into popsicle stick puppets. Simply cut out the figures, glue a popsicle stick onto the backs, make a puppet stage out of a curtain hung across a doorway or a big box, and act out the scenes. That’s what my kids like to do, and they also like to make up their own stories.

Grandma’s Wisdom is unique in that it isn’t just a collection of wise sayings and advice, but it is an interactive book that focuses on the positive relationship that is shared between a grandmother and her grandchildren. Grandparents are important members of the family. Their influence should never be underestimated. Children who live close to their grandparents are less fearful of old age and more respectful of the elderly. They also feel more connected to their family history and heritage, since grandparents are a direct link to the past. Open communication between grandparents and grandchildren helps to lessen the generational gap. Grandparents serve as role models, mentors, and supporters for their grandchildren. Grandparents have been around for a long time. Listen to them, and you may be surprised at how much you can learn from them.

Susan J. Fuller, the author of Grandma’s Wisdom, is a schoolteacher in Central Illinois who lives with her husband and son on the family farm. Mrs. Fuller would like to see all children realize their strength is in God. She says, “It's wonderful to learn the 3 R's and more, in order to be ready to work and live in this world, but knowing His Word and applying it to your life is what will make you truly fulfilled.” The lovely character illustrations in Grandma’s Wisdom were made by the author’s mother, Anna Jane Sager.  

Grandma’s Wisdom is an ideal read-aloud for homeschoolers or families that want a unique learning experience for their children. The suggested age range for this book is 8-12, or it could be even younger with parental assistance.

Grandma’s Wisdom was published by Selah Publishing Group in February 2004.

ISBN: 1-58930-104-4

 

Would you like to turn your family’s Bible study time into an engaging interactive adventure? Draw your way through the Bible to see the people, places, and events come to life right before your eyes! John and Dianna Wiebe, homeschool parents of four children, developed this unique Bible study method out of a desire to lead their children to a deeper relationship with God. They found that by illustrating Bible passages using simple stick figures, symbols, colors, and words, their children became enthusiastically immersed in the Scriptures. The Wiebes are now making this program available to everyone through their family business, Grapevine Studies.

 

The Grapevine Studies curriculum is written for ages 5 and up. It works well with young children, as well as children with learning disabilities or attention deficit disorders. Visual aids, timelines, and hands-on lessons in a chronological format help easily distracted students to pay attention better and retain more of the information since they are active participants rather than a passive audience. This curriculum appeals to many learning styles since it involves reading, listening, drawing and coloring. The Stick Figuring Curriculum is divided into several levels, covering both Old and New Testaments. Each level increases the amount of information covered and the skills needed.

 

If you are just starting this program, you don’t have to begin with the first book but will place each student at their appropriate level. Sample lessons are available at www.grapevinestudies.com if you’re not sure and want to see what each level looks like before you buy it. The books that I reviewed were the Beginner Teacher Edition, Beginner Student Edition, and Level 5 Student Edition. The curriculum was not written for a particular denomination but is meant to be trans-denominational, although the Wiebe family’s Statement of Faith is posted on their website. The Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version although it looks like the curriculum can be easily tailored to use with any translation.

 

Beginners (ages 5-7) will learn about major characters and events of the Bible and memorize verses. Level 1 students (grades 1-2) will begin to learn the Old or New Testament timeline, and be able to tell several facts about each character or event on the timeline. Level 2 students (grades 3-4) will expand their knowledge of the Old or New Testament timeline and memorize important Bible facts. Level 3 students (grades 5-8) should be able to complete the Old or New Testament Timeline on their own and will be introduced to basic biblical geography. Level 4 students (teens and adults) will master the Old or New Testament Timeline, know where the books of the Bible fit into the chronology, and will be introduced to basic Bible study tools (Concordance, Dictionary, and Topical Bible).

 

Each of the Stick Figure curriculums contain 38 - 40 lessons that consist of reading, drawing, reviewing, and memorizing. Every lesson begins by teaching the timeline for that series, and each subsequent lesson starts with a timeline review up to the point of that lesson. This makes the Bible verses, characters and events much easier to place within their context. With each lesson, the students will read a Bible passage, answer a set of review questions, and learn a Bible memory verse that is related to the lesson and the timeline. The parent or teacher can determine how to apply the lesson based upon prayer, the type of class, the needs of the students, and what the parent or teacher feels led to emphasize.

 

For those who are teaching both younger and older children, Grapevine Studies makes multi-level teaching simple. If you have students in Level 1 to Level 4, all you have to do is purchase the teacher manual at the highest level being taught. The teacher notes for each level are designed to teach that level, and with minimal teacher adjustment are also compatible with the levels below. Each student will need his or her own student book. The Student Book is a workbook on high-quality paper, which when completed will become a permanent record of what they have learned in their Bible study, as well as a personalized keepsake of their work. The books are also available on a CD in Adobe Acrobat PDF format which enables you to print pages at your convenience.

 

For older students, the Wiebes have developed a Blueprints curriculum that is designed to build upon the foundation of the Stick Figure curriculum by taking a deeper look into the Word of God. Level 5 is a self-directed chronological overview of the Old or New Testament for teens and adults. Students will be taking notes, mapping, charting, using Bible study tools, answering challenging critical thinking questions, doing hands-on activities and research projects. A Teacher’s Manual is not needed for the Blueprints course. This curriculum is great for individual studies or can be used in a group setting. The organized layout will make it a useful reference resource when completed.

 

Grapevine Studies also offers a “Biblical Feasts and Holy Days” curriculum. Have you ever wondered why God established the feasts and holy days of the Old Testament? This unique 13-week study of the original holidays teaches students about the seven feasts of the Lord, the Sabbath, and Purim. Learn what God expected from His people when they celebrated and observed the feasts and holy days. Also read about New Testament references to the feasts and holy days. “Biblical Feasts and Holy Days” studies are available in both Stick Figure and Blueprint formats.

 

All of these Bible study lessons are well-planned, nicely laid out, and user-friendly. The curriculum is easy to follow and teach, making it perfect for homeschoolers. It is also useful for Christian schools, Sunday school, small group studies, and family devotions. The 15-20 minute lessons require little preparation time. Children will need crayons or colored pencils for the Student Workbooks. A dry erase board with colored markers is recommended for use by the teacher, but in our own homeschool I think we may be able to get by without it. The Teacher’s Book contains helpful tips, lesson plans, discussion questions, and suggestions for simple drawings. Of course, for children that have an artistic bent, by all means let them demonstrate their own creativity in their illustrations.

 

Stick figuring through the Bible is more like doodling than creating detailed illuminated manuscripts, but who knows, it may inspire your student to become another Gustave Doré. He was a 19th-century book illustrator, most famous for his depictions of numerous scenes from the Bible. The Doré Bible as it was called was mentioned in Chapter 4 of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain wrote, “How many of my readers would have the industry and application to memorize two thousand verses, even for a Doré Bible?” Well, these Grapevine Studies will give your students a good head start on both illustrating and memorizing the Bible!

 

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And What About College? by Cafi Cohen. (This book shows how unschoolers can present their education and learning in a way to make it understandable for college admission officers.)

Christian Unschooling : Growing Your Children in the Freedom of Christ, by Teri J. Brown and Elissa M. Wahl.

Coloring Outside the Lines, by Roger Schank.

Deschooling Our Lives, by Matt Hern.

Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling, by John Taylor Gatto.

Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think And What We Can Do About It, by Jane M. Healy.

For the Children's Sake, by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.

Guerrilla Learning: How to Give Your Kids a Real Education With or Without School, by Grace Llewellyn and Amy Silver.

Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self-Discovery, by David Albert.

Homeschooling Our Children Unschooling Ourselves, by Alison McKee.

How Chidren Learn, by John Holt.

How Children Fail, by John Holt.

How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Everyday Genius, by Michael J. Gelb.

In Their Own Way: Discovering and Encouraging Your Child's Multiple Intelligences, by Thomas Armstrong.

Learning All The Time, by John Holt.

Learning For Life: Educational Words of Wisdom, by Teri Ann Berg Olsen.

Magical Child, by Joseph Chilton Pearce.

No Homework and Recess All Day: How to Have Freedom and Democracy in Education, by Jerry Mintz.

Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go To School, by Grace Llewellyn.

The Relaxed Homeschool, by Mary Hood.

School Can Wait, by Raymond S. & Dorothy N. Moore.

The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook: A Creative and Stress-Free Approach to Homeschooling, by Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore.

Summerhill School : A New View of Childhood, by Alexander S. Neill.

Teach Your Own, by John Holt.

The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How To Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education, by Grace Llewellyn.

The Underground History of Education, by John Taylor Gatto.

The Unprocessed Child: Living Without School, by Valerie Fitzenreiter.

The Unschooled Mind, by Howard Gardner.

The Unschooling Handbook, by Mary Griffith.

Homeschooling Preschoolers: Recommended Books

Preschool ABC series, by Rod & Staff Publishers. (Adventures with Books, Bible Pictures to Color, Bible Stories to Read, Counting with Numbers, Do it Carefully, Everywhere We Go, Finding the Answers. Click here to read my complete review.)

Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills: Preschool, by American Education Publishing Company. (A complete basic skills workbook with carefully structured lessons, sequentially organized so the student can master each skill in the order of importance. Each lesson is prepared for easy teaching and a complete answer key is provided along with additional suggestions and a bibliography.)

Get Ready to Learn, by Nancy Champion Chupp. (This is a step-by-step learning program for prekindergarten children. The practical, easy-to-implement activities in this book will help you teach your child a solid base of skills. The book suggests using typical household items in activities that are already part of your daily routine. Each concept is presented many times to ensure that your child masters it. The book contains 11 weeks of activities, with several mental and physical activities for each day of the week.)

Learning at Home: Preschool and Kindergarten, by Ann Ward. (A Christian parents’ guide with day-by-day lesson plans using the library as a resource. This is a comprehensive, yet easy to use program for educating young children. It provides all of the essential basics to early learning combined with lots of ideas to make learning fun. Includes complete lessons for 36 weeks, 4 days per week. The introduction includes a scope and sequence; developmental profiles of 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds; sample schedules; recommended resources; and basic equipment needed.)

Teaching Your Child Concentration: a Playskool Guide, by Lee Hausner and Jeremy Schlosberg. (The author shows you how easy and fun it can be to teach your child the essential skills of concentration with simple, enjoyable games and activities that you can play anywhere, even in the car. By fostering your child's ability to concentrate, you can help him or her to succeed in learning and life. Especially useful in this age of television and video games, with activities for preschoolers and older. Even though this book is sponsored by Playskool, the activities in this book use common household objects. Playskool toys are not required.)

Teach Your Children Well: A First Grade Teacher’s Guide for Parents, by Jay Davidson. (The author encourages parents to take an active role in their children’s education to help them become lifelong learners and responsible citizens. You will see how easy it is to include learning experiences as part of your everyday family life, build a strong foundation early in your child’s education, connect your child’s learning to all areas of school curriculum, and mold your child’s attitude to become a lifelong learner.)

Teaching Preschoolers: First Steps Toward Faith, by Thomas Sanders and Mary Ann Bradberry. (This book is designed to help preschool teachers understand how preschoolers learn and what teaching methods are best. It also helps teachers understand the importance of laying strong spiritual foundations in the lives of preschoolers.)

Reading is a cool way to spend a lazy, hot summer afternoon. Reading aloud is also a great family activity for those long summer evenings. You can even take reading on the road by getting some audio books for listening to in the car. The following reading list features enjoyable stories set at the seashore, mountains, campground, countryside and backyard, as well as some fantastic adventures that will take you away in true “Reading Rainbow” fashion.
 

Preschool-Kindergarten (Age 5 and under)

 

Deegan, Bruce. Sailaway Home. (A little pig’s toy sailboat sets him on a course of imaginary journeys that involve sailing the high seas, meeting pirates, and journeying to the clouds in this cheerful rhyming book with colorful summertime illustrations.)

Henkes, Kevin. Bailey Goes Camping. (Toddlers who are too young to go away to camp will enjoy this stay-at-home camping adventure.)

Potter, Beatrix. The Tale of Peter Rabbit. (This charming animal story with its wonderful watercolor illustrations, and others by the same author, are loved by children everywhere.)

Rosen, Michael. We're Going On A Bear Hunt. (A picture book based on the old camp chant follows a family as they travel through grass, a river, mud, forest, and snowstorm before reaching a bear cave.)

Sendak, Maurice. Where the Wild Things Are. (A lyrical tale of a small boy and his wild imagination.)

 

Grades 1-3 (Age 6-8)

 

Hesse, Karen. Come On, Rain. (Lovely watercolor illustrations and poetic prose bring to life the joy of anticipating a summer rainstorm in the city.)

Lasky, Kathryn. My Island Gramma. (A little girl, her parents and grandmother spend every summer on an island off the coast of Maine.)

McCloskey, Robert. Blueberries for Sal. (A charming story focusing on the simple pleasures of picking wild berries in the great outdoors.)

McCloskey, Robert. Time of Wonder. (Experience an unforgettable Maine summer in this Caldecott classic.)

Milne, A.A. Winnie-the-Pooh. (Visit the Hundred Acre Wood in these amusing stories.)

Stevenson, Robert Louis. A Child’s Garden of Verses. (These poems perfectly capture the child's world of sunshine, stars, dreams, toy boats, gardens, swings, apple tarts, fairies, flowers, and far-away places.)

Grades 4-6 (Age 9-11)

 

Byars, Betsy. Summer of the Swans. (Sara is dissatisfied with her family, her looks, and life in general. But when her little brother disappears, she learns what is truly important.)

Enright, Elizabeth. Gone-Away Lake and Return to Gone-Away Lake. (Julian and his cousin explore the area around their summer home and make some surprising discoveries.)

Enright, Elizabeth. Thimble Summer. (Play, work, adventure, and dream during a long hot summer on a farm in the 1930’s.)

Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows. (A perfect read-aloud, the adventures of these small animals on the river and in the woods are told with beauty and humor.)
Pearce, Philippa. Tom’s Midnight Garden. (An enjoyable fantasy about a boy who makes a magical discovery that turns his boring summer into an amazing adventure.)
Peck, Richard. A Long Way From Chicago. (Two city kids spend their annual summer vacation at grandma’s house in this Newbery Honor book that spans the years 1929–1942.)
Scieszka, Jon. Summer Reading Is Killing Me! (A summer reading list accidentally gets stuck in the pages of a magical time-warping book. Bad characters start fighting good characters, and three boys must save the heroes of children's literature. Kids will enjoy the funny situations that occur when familiar characters from different books interact with each other in this riotous Time Warp Trio book.)

Streatfeild, Noel. The Magic Summer. (Four children are anticipating an exciting summer holiday but plans change when their father becomes critically ill.)

 

Grades 7-9 (Age 12-14)

 

Burnford, Sheila. The Incredible Journey. (Follow two dogs and a cat on a 250-mile trek through the Canadian wilderness.)

Defoe, Daniel. Robinson Crusoe. (A story of survival after being shipwrecked and cast ashore on a desert island.)

George, Jean Craighead. My Side of the Mountain and On the Far Side of the Mountain. (Reading this first-person account of a modern boy’s experiences living by himself on a mountain is like taking a vacation from civilization.)

O’Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins. (The Newbery Award-winning story of an Indian girl - sort of like a female Robinson Crusoe - who is left alone for 18 years on an island off the coast of California.)
Rawls, Wilson. Summer of the Monkeys. (When a 14-year-old boy spends the summer trying to catch 29 monkeys that escaped from a traveling circus, the results are often humorous.)
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Treasure Island. (This exciting tale of the sea, pirates, and buried treasure is a classic adventure story for young people.)
Twain, Mark. Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. (The hilarious and hair-raising adventures of Tom and Huck have been favorites for generations.)

Wyss, Johann David. Swiss Family Robinson. (How a family that is shipwrecked on an island survives.)

Grades 10-12 (Age 15 and up)

 

Dana, Richard Henry. Two Years Before the Mast. (A detailed autobiographical account of a two-year trip out of Boston and around Cape Horn to California circa 1834. For an extra touch of authenticity, bring it along on a cruise or read it in a hammock.)

Thoreau, Henry David. Walden; or, Life in the Woods. (This journal covers a two-year period when the author lived a simple life in a cabin on Walden’s Pond surrounded by nature, where he had plenty of time to think and reflect.)
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. (Tolkien’s lengthy fantasy, with its underlying theme of good vs. evil, features unique characters, action, suspense, adventure, and humor.)
Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. (In Northern European countries, the evening of June 23, “Midsummer Eve,” is traditionally a time for lighting bonfires to frighten away evil spirits. This comedy by the famous English playwright tells about the antics of mischievous fairies on that magical evening.)

Verne, Jules. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. (Go on an underwater voyage with Captain Nemo.)

Readerware is a useful tool for book lovers, collectors, researchers, homeschoolers, church librarians, or anyone who wants to catalog and maintain a library. It's easy to use yet powerful enough to manage the largest collections. I used Readerware to create a database for our homeschool library at Crossroads Christian Fellowship church.

Readerware is truly impressive! I had previously tried BookCAT but couldn't figure out how to use the program. Readerware, on the other hand, was easy to download and it's so user-friendly that I was able to jump right in and begin cataloging items immediately. With the auto catalog feature I can walk away and do something else while all of the data is being added. The information is amazingly accurate and it includes complete descriptions, reviews, and a cover photo when available. Readerware has built-in access to The Library of Congress and The British Library, along with Amazon.com, Christian Book Distributors, and many more. You can choose your favorite sources or utilize them all.

I have a barcode reader (the CueCat was easy to install and works great), but even typing in the ISBN's by hand doesn't take very long. The original Readerware version could only automatically catalog books by International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN's). In new books, ISBN bar codes are usually found on the back cover. In older books, the ISBN may be printed on the title page with no bar code. Books that are more than 20 years old will not have ISBN's.

The newest version of Readerware can automatically catalog books by Library of Congress numbers as well. I downloaded the upgrade and it is a tremendous time-saver! Most every book has an LC number, meaning that I don't have to enter the older non-ISBN books by hand anymore. Some self-published books and books from small specialty publishers may not have ISBN or LC numbers. In these cases, you will have to manually type in the author, title, publisher, date, keyword, etc.

In addition to books, the Readerware auto-catalog feature will search the internet and automatically catalog your CDs, DVDs, Laserdiscs, and video tapes. (ReaderwareAW and ReaderwareVW can be purchased individually or as part of the standard Readerware package.)

Readerware contains many other useful features such as the ability to keep track of loans and due dates, print out hard copy pages, and publish all or parts of your catalog on the internet. It's just a list, however - you can't put books on hold, check on an item's status from home, or search this online catalog as you would at the public library.

A client/server edition is available to allow multiple users access to your database on a network. For example, if I were to have a home network with a computer in my first-floor home office and another upstairs in our home library, I could check on and update the status and location of a book wherever I happened to be and know that it's always up to date. Or if we had several computers running in client/server mode at church (one in the pastor's office, one in the main office, and one in the library), more than one person could be logging onto the database at the same time to look up a book, check out a book, or add a book to the database.

As it is now, I don't have a computer in the church library, so people sign the items out on a check-out sheet, and then I update the database at home later. If we had a computer on site, the pastor’s wife could use Readerware to check out books for someone at the church when I’m not there. This way the data would be instantaneously updated. (Keep in mind that anyone who has access to the database also has access to the data, giving them the ability to change or delete something.)

A Palm edition is also available so that you can carry your library with you wherever you go. This comes in really handy for people like me who get all the way across town to a used book sale or curriculum fair and forget if we already have a particular book or not. Just look it up on your Palm Pilot and find out instantly right where you're standing!

I am convinced that Readerware is the best product of its kind available for the general public, at a fraction of the cost of professional library software. If you work in a small church or specialty library, you might want to give Readerware a try. If you have an extensive collection of books, music, and videos at home, this program is ideal even if you simply want to quickly and easily record the contents of your collection for insurance purposes.

My own home library contains more than 5,000 books, 100 audiotapes, 200 software titles, 200 videos/DVD's, and 200 music CD's. Maybe someday I'll have time to get them all cataloged. Ha!

My church, Crossroads Christian Fellowship, already had a nice library which had been there for many years. Then in January 2003, we rearranged the books and added a homeschool section to that library. This was my own idea actually. I was tripping over boxes of books in our school room at home because I had run out of space in the bookcase, so that's when I first thought of creating a homeschool section in the church library. Before I knew it, everything kind of fell into place to turn it into a homeschool resource center.

The lady who was coordinating the Iowa Test for our local homeschool group was wishing she had a nearby location to do the standardized testing. She needed a building with several different rooms (which we have at our church, in a separate building behind the main sanctuary). A few days later, a friend of mine from another homeschool group mentioned that she was having trouble finding places to hold her workshops. (We’re out in a rural desert area and there aren’t a lot of community centers or places with meeting rooms. We didn’t even have a local public library.) So in addition to a homeschool section in the church library, we came up with the idea of creating a homeschool resource center at our church. The pastor and his wife homeschool their own children and they thought it was a good idea.

I brought about 200 of my own books to the church to start with. My friend and I also contacted different publishers and asked them if they would care to donate some books or other educational materials to our homeschool resource center. Several companies were extremely generous, so I would suggest contacting educational publishers both locally and nationally to see if you can get some donations that way. If the homeschool resource center is run directly by the church, these companies can deduct their donation as a charitable contribution. It’s also free publicity for them. I put the company’s logo and link on the resource center website and list them as sponsors.

Even companies who don’t want to give away any books will send you their catalogs for free. Thus, we also have a shelf of catalogs from various curriculum publishers and distributors. Having the catalogs available helps people who are looking for various items or who want to compare the different curriculums that are available. We also have an assortment of homeschool magazines on display. Everyone looks forward to seeing the latest issue of The Old Schoolhouse!

As word spread through the local homeschool groups that we were creating a homeschool library, many homeschoolers brought in their own books to add to the collection. (In particular, families with children in high school or recently graduated are often happy to donate all of their old school books to help other homeschoolers.) We received not only books, but educational games, magazines, auidiotapes, videos, and software as well.

We currently have over 800 items in the homeschool section of the church library, which means we are actually starting to run out of room! We have also been getting some duplicates, but those items that we don’t need will still be of benefit. By selling them at a book sale, we can raise funds for certain items that we could use and don’t have yet. As a  homeschool resource center, we also qualify as an educational organization for Campbell’s Labels for Education and General Mills Boxtops for Education. So we are collecting and saving those labels and boxtops to use toward additional items such as a microscope, playground equipment, etc.

The church’s library books are on the honor system so they were never cataloged, but I’m cataloging all of the homeschool items using a database called Readerware. The software also keeps track of loans and due dates, although I haven’t been assigning due dates yet. I just tell people to bring the items back as soon as they’re done with them, and they can keep curriculum for a whole year. However, as the library gets more well-used I will probably have to start putting down due dates, at least for the non-curriculum items.

While our homeschool resource center is officially a ministry of the church, we have a very small congregation so we open it up to all homeschoolers in the area. Thus, the need for a registration form and a nominal $5 fee to become a member and be able to check out books from the library. The library is basically open whenever homeschool classes or other activities are going on, which is about once or twice a week. Since the church membership is so small, there aren’t enough volunteers available to keep the library open more often, although I have met people there at other times by special arrangement.

I provide members with a library card, which several people have also used as a homeschool ID card to obtain educator discounts at local bookstores. At the top it says “Home Educator ID/Library Card” in red letters. Below that is our resource center logo and name (you could use your church name and logo). Then there is a line for their name, and underneath is a line for their signature. It says: “By signing this card, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the library policy, and I agree to return all materials on time, in good condition, as per the resource center’s rules.” The resource center/church contact info is at the very bottom of the card.

The library is busiest at the times of year when people are looking for curriculum. The homeschool classes that we offer are popular all year round. Various classes that we have had include: Geography, Creative Writing, Drama, Art, Music, Sign Language, and High Tech Kids. Other activities have included standardized testing, fire safety presentations and first aid course. The local homeschool honor society and a homeschool support group also hold their meetings there. We have a playroom with educational toys for the littlest homeschoolers, and an outdoor fenced-in playground. Some moms drop their kids off and pick them up after class, a few stay and observe the class, and others chat in the playroom while they watch the little kids play. Moms also like to browse through the books in the library while they’re there. The church has been very flexible and accommodating with all of our classes and activities “taking over” their building. Of course, a church member has to be present whenever something is going on, so when it’s a homeschool-related event that’s usually me!

Stay tuned for my review of the Readerware program. In the meantime, feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions or if you would like to see a copy of the registration form/survey that I made up to determine people’s needs and interests.

In this weblog I will be discussing books, libraries, and reading in general, as well as reviewing specific educational materials including curriculum, homeschool how-to's, reference books, historical fiction, literature study guides, science kits, videos/DVDs, audio tapes/CDs, computer software, board games, etc. As for my qualifications, I'm an experienced home educator, church librarian, published book author and newspaper columnist. In addition to library technology, I studied children's literature, creative writing and poetry in college. I've been writing reviews for a local homeschool group since 1999. Depending on the item and subject matter, I may review it by myself, with my husband, or have our children try it out. My husband is a scientist, certified quality engineer, and math tutor. Our three boys range in age from preschooler to preteen and teenager. Each of our sons is strong-willed, easily distracted, and gifted - so any learning materials with which they are presented are put to the ultimate test! As a homeschooling family of bibliophiles, we have almost 5,000 books in our home library as well as an extensive collection of audiotapes, videos, CDs and DVDs. When purchasing a product, I look at its general quality, instructional content, innovation, kid appeal, ease of use and long-term value. While the length of my reviews can range from 100-1500 words, I always give each item serious consideration, as I strive to be accurate and honest. Personally, I like to find unique products that are useful and educational, yet are not necessarily well-known among the mainstream homeschool community.

I’m a homeschool mom, church librarian, Arizona State Coordinator for The Old Schoolhouse, leader of Desert Hills Christian Homeschoolers, and founder of the Knowledge House Learning Resource Center. I write a weekly newspaper column, “Not Just For Kids,” and recently published a 420-page book of quotations entitled Learning for Life: Educational Words of Wisdom. I’ve loved books, poetry, reading and writing ever since I can remember. Throughout school, my favorite subjects were English and literature. In addition to Library Technology, I studied children's literature, creative writing and poetry in college. I’ve been writing homeschool reviews since 1999.

Please visit my website at www.knowledgehouse.info for homeschool information and resources, articles and reviews, mini unit studies, a library of links, and much more!