LivingHeritageUK

Coming next month to a cinema near you is the film ‘Amazing Grace’ , the true story of the Slave abolitionist William Wilberforce. Slavery, and it’s abolition ,is a significant part of history that I believe we are duty bound to explore with our children. If we only ever look at history’s heroes, yet ignore history’s mistakes, we’re not giving them the true picture.

Ideas and resources

Check out the story of Wilberforce by typing ‘Wllberforce’ into wikipedia.com. I just read this to my eight year old and he was really moved.He is currently reading the biography of Livingstone as preparation for our look at slavery next month.

www.setallfree.net/resources_current.html

www.freetheslaves.net/slavery/

www.antislavery.org  Thisnwebsites offer a host ofpractical ideas for groups to help further the struggle against slavery and similar abuses today. It also offers a very useful month by month 2007 guide to events all over UK

www.stopthetraffik.org

Try and see if you can see the film ‘Amistad – Steven Spielburgs film about the courage of American Christians, inspired by Wilberforces work, just a few years later.

For actual taped reminisces of aged American slaves :  http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/voices/

For hundreds of historical images: http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu/Slavery/index.php

God Bless

Jane

Over the last few weeks of reading many blogs I have come to the conclusion that many of us are having a pretty tough time, maybe not with the homeschooling of our kids as such but with other pressures and problems in life. I know I for one have had a rough ride over the last few months. As a family we have felt  strong attack and a weakening in resolve.

I want this entry though to be one of encouragement for all you life battered mums and dads who just want to serve God, your families, church and friends. Here in the UK homeschooling hasn’t taken off anywhere as much as in America but we are a band of trail blazers for a concept that is growing quickly. We may not have all the curriculums at hand and large homeschooling groups to attend, but we have strength and resoursefulness that I now for myself I often lose sight of.

Homeschoolblogger has also been a major source of encouragement and inspiration for me and my family and I’m hoping that it will grow in its usage amongst UK homeschoolers. It is a great opportunity to reach out and befriend like minded people all over the world but I would like to think that as a country here we can do that for each other through the blog. I know blogging hasn’t taken off the same here but it will follow suit eventually and I can imagine a big group of homeschoolers using it to encourage and build each other up.

For those who are considering homeschooling in the future but are concerned that there will be no one else near by, get in touch with one of the UK bloggers here at HSB I’m sure one of us will be able to point you in the right direction. I’m sure I speak for all of us in saying we want to help and encourage all who want to walk this particular path. We have all been there at sometime as we have started out on this journey.

Before I finish this entry I also want to encourage everyone to use this wonderful medium of HSB to find new friends and to support and pray for each other. Spread the word!!!!

Have a great rest of the week,

Love Deb

The kind of day I am having today makes the subject of motivation quite hard to think about. But you know it’s in my head anyway and I kind of think I need to say something on the subject even if it just gets some good stuff into my head.

Today all my kids are in a grump, the type of mood that makes you suspicious that maybe they are coming down with something. They have been niggling each other all day, any work has had to be drawn out of them like pulling teeth and I have to admit I have had one of my " that’s it I’m giving up" days!!!! So you wouldn’t set my lovely offspring up or me as the epitome of motivation today. I’m smiling as I write this because actually as the day draws into evening it doesn’t seem anywhere near as bad as it did this morning at about 11am. It never does though does it?

Where do we draw our motivation from each day? Do we wake up feeling full of beans and raring to go with the most wonderful, exciting plans that you know are going to have the kids engrossed. Or like today for me, is it one of those days when you just want to go back to bed!!! I know I always feel loads better if I have had chance to do some good planning and got all my materials together. The subject matter needs to inspire me for it to have a knock on effect for the kids. But probably top of my list for motivating me and my tribe to have a productive, unstressful day is if we have plans to see people that day or if the children have extra activities planned.Breaking out of routine works wonders to head off the " I don’t want to work" bug. My kids are at the age when the highlight of any day is the opportunity to see their friends and it always has a good effect on their motivation to work hard at their lessons.

But bottom line, the one thing that has pulled me back today has been a good chat with God. He is able above all else to motivate our little homeschool into action. Prayer has worked wonders so many times and I’m thrilled that my kids have seen for themselves just how powerful talking to their Father God is.

Anyway I hope my ramblings have been of some help and encouragement. I know I’m not on my own, we all have days when motivation seems to be non-existent and we just can’t wait to get into bed again. I’m going to keep bringing it back to God, he has helped loads today.

Deb

Happy New Year !

Wishing you and your family a year of Jubilee. A year of growth, adventure and learning. Go for it!

Today is my birthday and I’m whiling the afternoon away with a box of Thorntons chocolates and my three children doing their *best* to make it a great afternoon. Sheesh.

Surfing the net, I just stumbled upon a totally awesome bargain….

 A huge set of audio cds by the BBC that includes dramatised versions of my all time favourite read alouds…We’re talking Treasure Island,The Secret garden,Heidi,Swallows and Amazons, Tom’s Midnight garden. This full set,  is reduced from around £50 to  just £17. Fabulous for car journeys and some fresh inspiration as we kick into the new term. Here’s the link:

http://www.bbcshop/invt/056352546&bklist=icat,4,,januarysale,audiobooksale

The link is to the BBC shop, audiobook section.

Also coming up this term there is the ‘Education Show’ held at the NEC, Birmingham in March,  (type ‘education show NEC’ into google and it’ll take you there)This is a fabulous opportunity to pick up freebies and great educational material. If your going, and you want to meet up for a coffee…let us know!

love

Jane

I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy, peaceful Christmas and and great New Year. I pray that God richly blesses you and your family at this wonderful, precious time of year.

We are going to have a two week break here at Living Heritage but we look forward to hearing from you all in the New Year.

God Bless

Deb