Prayer for your Homeschool

I think praying is one of the most important tools to homeschooling, this is one of my daily prayers.

Bless our homeschool Lord, give me patience and great skills,

Bless me as their teacher,

Show me my childrens learning style,

Guide me each day,

Give me strength to accomplish everything we need to do daily~

Give me endurance!

Show me my teaching style Lord,

help me to be a great teacher to my children.

Fill our days with joy and a love to learn.

Give us fun times and grace during difficult moments.

Show me what to teach, how and when.

I ask in Jesus name that my children will reap in all the advantages of homeschooling.

Bless my children to have patience and a love to learn.

Bless my students with great progress and sucess in all subjects.

Help my children to learn Godly charater and to love one another..

Help me Lord in creating a loving & educational home.

Help me Lord to fulfill all my duties, balancing school, playing, cleaning

and putting my husband first daily.

I commit our homeschool to you lord, may it please you and bring you glory,

fill our homeschooling days with the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus mighty name,

Amen!

Be encouraged homeschooling mothers..the Lord wants His children where He is welcomed and worshipped! Pray over your homeschool and it will be the sweetest days of your life!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it" proverbs 22:6

Linked with

Prayer Basket

Here is an idea I read about in Homeschool Enrichment Magazine. Great Christian magazine!


The idea is a prayer basket. Cut strips of paper in different colors, we cut green, white, red and pink strips.

We used these colors for:
Green: specific prayers for our family and home {peace in our home, kind to one another..ect}
White: Friends
Red: Countries
Pink: Family members

My children and I all grab one from each color. We then pray together. My children find this soo exciting, wondering who and what they will pick! :} Great way to help your children to start praying during the day and feeling excited about prayer! When we have our long break during the day, my children come back to the table grabbing the basket. Its always fun to start the day or resume back to lessons with something fun and powerful!

Blessings,
Sarah beth

Linked up at:
Far Above Rubies
Women Living Well
Our Simple Country Life

First day fun & tips for your Homeschool

Summer is quickly ending {sniff sniff} and when August arrives we slowly begin our homeschool year. I would like to share with you some tips and encourage you! I have a passion for homeschooling, I have to first say that I never planned this for my life, God did. The path for schooling for my children was never prayed for, I had to send my first child to school for a year and half to finally see what the Lord wanted me to do. Pretty sad that he had to YELL for me to hear!

First of all I have to say this, learning is natural. Each day your child is learning. They are processing information, building, using their imaginations, trial and error.. And God created our children to be this way. Children are so incredibly smart and their interest in the world around them facsinates me.. they love to learn!!

Mothers, do not stress yourself and try to make your homeschool a mini public school at home. One of my favorite quotes is by Dr. Ruth Beechick:

"Homeschooling is naturally natural. Dont work too hard on making it artifically schoolish."

First day Fun
Last year we took a field trip to the childrens hands on muesum..it was alot of fun! We have started lessons but our offical day is coming up soon, my children are hoping for another trip to the muesum~ I love making the 1st day special!

We also like to dress up & take 1st day photos~

My goodness my children have grown so much in a year!

A new tradition will be a tasty breakfast! We will be trying Overnight Crockpot Oatmeal & warm Apple Butter on hot biscuits.

Our Routine

First thing, this is not exactly how my day goes everyday. The best thing about homeschooling is being flexible. I use this guide when we get off track and it is my hope for a normal day.  

Our homeschool day begins with two B's: Breakfast & Bible. Its such a joy for me to sit down and enjoy breakfast with my children while discussing a Bible story and scriptures.

After we break for chores. I joyfully clean along side my children praising them for their hard work and help. I also pray over them to have happy hearts. My children know that they are needed in our family and we trully love their help. Stick to age appropriate chores. All of my children are expected to make their beds. More examples is my oldest son checks on all the trash pails, my daughter may sweep or organize the childrens books, my youngest checks our pets water dish.

Next we meet back up at the table, hold hands and pray for our day and for our homeschool. We usually begin with writting and/or spelling moving on to math.

We take another break..my children usually head outside to play in the sand, swings, run around or complete a puzzle. I like to look to my checklist of cleaning, phone calls or maybe preparing a craft, project or experiment. If i havent already would take my shower and dress for the day. All of my goals for the day with cleaning and schooling our wrote on a whiteboard, read why its an important tool for your home!

Everyone is ready for lunch at this time, we gather together, eat and start reading our history or science lesson. As of right now we have science and history everyother day, one day being history, the next science. :}

We move on to our other subjects, my 4 & 5 year are usually done for the day and work on a craft, maze booklet, color, play or watch an educational video. Usually they are ready to just play! ;} I continue to work with my oldest. Our lessons end around 3pm, the goal is 2pm!

Homeschooling is all about balancing..first and foremost my duties are serving my husband~one way I put him first is providing a neat, sweet smelling home so while my children are working on a lesson I can wipe down the counter, throw dinner in the crockpot, light a candle, sweep....ect. right now one day a week I am folding clothes and while I am folding my children are plopped on the ottomen working on their workbooks or reading to me. I love it!

Most Important Tool

Prayer! Pray over your children while they are learning esp during those moments of frustrations! Pray for God's leading and flow of your day. Pray that he shows you your own teaching style and your childrens learning style. Pray your children have happy hearts and good learning attitudes!

Always remember Homeschooling mom's that Jesus wants to help you! Homeschooling is not easy, we have hard days..He is there for you, lean on Him!

Would love to hear other suggestions and tips, your traditions for the 1st day and your routine! Please share!

Linked up with:
Women living well
Far above Rubies
http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/2011/08/homeschool-room-virtual-tour-and-link.html
http://raisinghomemakers.com/2011/homemaking-link-up-39/
Our Simple Country Life
Time Warp Wife

Homeschooling Journal, Entry 2!

Happy Summer Homeschooling Moms! This is my 2nd journal entry..


In my life this week…
I have to say that since we are now on summer break, its weird! lol ;o) ~I find myself not sure what to do so I began to make a list of "to do's" together. The beginning of the week my children caught a flu bug, along with pouring rain we had very cozy days of cuddling, reading, watching old videos and me cooking simple healthy meals for my children. Doing what I could do with keeping the house clean and staying caught up on laundry. On thursday the sun was out and we have a bbq with friends and family, alot of fun!




In our homeschool this week…
With my children resting from the bug we enjoyed reading. My heart was bursting with my oldest reading the word and grinning afterwards, "I feel better." My daughter is learning basic add and subtract. My youngest reviewed his shapes, counting, colors, speech... since we ended school for the summer its been really relaxed, more so because of the flu! I cant wait to study nature this summer :}




Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
We hosted a bbq on thursday, I love opening my home and kitchen and enjoying my friends! The plan this weekend is to take a day trip to the beautiful Lake tahoe!




My favorite thing this week was…
My favorite has to be Monday with the pouring rain, big blankets and all 3 of my children cuddled next to me.. its good to be a mamma!!


What’s working/not working for us…
Working for us is the simple prayer of asking the Lord to guide these summer days! Asking Him to show me how to spend our time..


Questions/thoughts I have…
I would love to know how other mamma's spend summer days.. We usually are busy with beach days and time outside but lately the weather hasnt been  summery as usual.


Things I’m working on…
I am working on spending more time in God's Word. My goal has been starting each day with reading His word..but I really want to keep going back and feasting on His word. pray for me! ;}


Books I’m reading…
Bible & "Created to be his help meet"


A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Sharing a link to my cousins blog.. a beautiful poem that all of us mothers need to read often! ;} hope it blesses you!
http://godshighestcalling.blogspot.com/2011/06/youll-be-wishing.html

Have a wonderful weekend!
 

Homeschool Mother Journal, Entry 1

This is my first homeschool mother entry!



In my life this week: This past week was really different then our normal routine. We had more laid back days due to the holiday on Monday and daddy being able to work at home for a couple days, which was amazing! ;) We also had a dentist apt, next week is my youngest 2 children first dentist apt~yay! We had alot of cooler days... one evening we went to the mtn and enjoyed a ride on our 3wheeler!

My favorite thing this week: enjoying the laid back week with my hubby home more then usual, what a treat!

Places we are going: I know one place we are going so far, Elko Nv. My hubby won a mule deer tag for October..very excited for the trip and hunt! Also anxious for camping trips near Lake Tahoe and northern CA.

Things I am working on: I am working on making more foods and cleaners, homemade. I have perfected things from ranch to laundry soap. Now hope to make mayo and bake some bread!

Books I am reading: Bible, "created to be his helpmeet" and various childrens books! ;}

A quote, a video, a link or pic to share…

My handsome son mixing buttermilk biscuits for a yummy breakfast dinner! He is such a great helper~ I love you Jayce!

Combine and make a lesson!

As a homeschooling mom one of my highest hopes is that my children have beautiful handwritting and memorize scriptures. ;}

The Lord gave me a great idea to combine the two!

My 8year lil boy~

If you homeschool your children or not this is a great way for your children to memorize scriptures by writting them down.

I place scriptures all around my home..oh how they have helped me in a time of trouble! As a mamma our days can be long and reading a scripture, saying it outloud lifts me up! Its a tool for tough times, situations..a guide for anything that comes our way. I recently heard a speech about presenting the Bible to our children as our instruction book..isnt that the truth? It sets me on the right path daily!

I hope you can add this into your child's day. handwritting and scripture memorization in one, love that! :]

Unsocialized Homeschool Mom??!

I have heard of homeschooling children being called "unsocialized" but a homeschooling parent? ~ thats a new one for me! But yes, I was called unsocialized.. and you wouldnt believe by who, a fellow homeschooling mother!


I guess those silly, untrue statements can be made by anyone.


I was accused of being unsocialized at one of our latest field trips. My hubby was with me and to be honest I enjoy being around him and I especially enjoy his company at our field trips! I see these moms atleast once a week so we do enjoy our time to chat. Another reason I didnt want to stand around and chat is because my eyes were glued to my children, rooting for them and admiring their bravery at rock climbing!

"A child is the greatest joy, the ultimate Blessing." Emily Laughton

Unsocialized is choice sometimes! My children are first over friends even when I am around them all week, all day long. These times with my children will soon be memories that I can look back on. Memories that I can bank on to treasure when they are adults!


There is a time to chat with friends..but make wise choices mammas~ your children will look back one day too.. will they remember you cheering them on when rock climbing or pumping their legs on a plain ol swing? Or will they remember you not paying attention? No matter how old your children are, they crave your love and attention. I was not rude to my friends, I was hoping they would stand beside me and root on their children as well! That didnt happen, sadly! I pray that my friends and fellow mothers are more attentive to their children.


Dear heavenly father, please work in me and help me to be the mother that you want me to be. To give more kisses and hugs and create more memories together. Help me to be patient, loving, attentive and to place my family first and myself last. In Jesus name I pray, Amen

[Psalms 127:3]
"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD"

Children are a gift! Lets start treasuring our children, treating them like the gift they are!!!



Blessings, Sarah beth

Homemaking Tip, Whiteboard is a Must!

In the past one of my biggest "stressers" was cleaning. I would let it get to me so much that at night I would do nothing but worry about the next day and ALL I had to do! Blah! I would also let the messes around me change my mood, I was cranky to my hubby and children. I am so glad that my heavenly father spoke to me about this area of my life. I am free from constantly worrying about my home! I have realized that my home is blessed with a mess! I still work hard to keep my home tidy and neat but without the stress. My home is an attempt to be clean and its not perfect.. which makes it perfect to me! :}

Number one is if you are stressing about your cleaning, dont! Give it to God, pray about how you feel.

If you are a homeschooling parent or not, a white board can be such a blessing!!!!

First I write a scripture on the top of the board, one that the children and I are memorizing. Next, I write all my goals for the day, all the cleaning I would like to see done. Such as, sweeping, cleaning out the fridge, mop, windex mirrors, fold laundry, wash laundry, ect.

{I will write the childrens lessons for the day as well}

Then I add my childrens chores: beds made, sweeping, pick up toys, clean table, organize entry way, ect.

When I write it all down it feels so great! As I accomplish my daily goals I cross them off. I do not erase because I want to look back at my day and see what we accomplished..also my hubby can take a glance and see what we did as well. ;}

I do not write a routine or schedule, just because we do not stick to it. I have a routine in mind but we like to let our day flow and pray that the Lord guides how HE wants our day spent. If goals do not get accomplished I leave them for the next day~ Its great to write it down because if you get off task, run errands, ect you can visually see what you had hoped to get done that day.

Its important to place your board in a room that you often are in alot of the day~ ours is in the dining/learning room.

If you do not have a white board, write down your goals for the day with just a plain ol peice of paper. Do try to get a board because it is such a great tool for your home! :}





What are your simple tips to providing a "pretty" home?? Would love to learn some other tips! I do hope you give this a try!

Blessings,
Sarah beth

Linked up with:

Studying the Word with your Children: Proverbs16:24

We start our homeschool day with a Bible lesson, we have been reading through a childrens bible and really enjoying it together. I also want my children meditating in the scriptures and understanding God's word.

I try to make it fun for my kids. Today we studyied "Kind words are like honey- enjoyable and healthful." Proverbs 16:24

We looked the scripture up in our bibles, said the verse outloud a few times. I want them to memorize scriptures, this is a goal of mine to do also.

I find when we make it fun, its easier to memorize!! We often color and snack while enjoying God's Word. Keeps my children intrested as well! ;~)

I passed around a bowl of honey and had the children take a dip with their finger and describe how the honey tasted. They all agreed its sweet.

We then discussed how are words are to be sweet. I asked them to tell me some sweet words..my daughter said "you are beautiful" Very sweet word :)

God wants us to be sweet to others not only for their benefit but for ours. The thought amazes me! Gods perfect plan for us..its always so good.

We looked up the word 'healthful' in our dictionary. The word means, beneficial, good health.

No only does our sweet words make someones day but it is healthy for our bodies, for our souls!!

My son wrote this verse twice to perfect his handwritting, bonus 2 lessons in 1!!

I hope you try this activity with your children and discuss God's word with them!! Happy home educating Mammas!

Blessings, 
Sarah beth

Linked up with Titus Tuesdays, link up here

Sweet Science Lesson

Last week we discussed the 5 senses in our science lesson..

It was a neat subject for sure. Reminded us to be thankful for having each one! We did a little experiment... i chose a few items and blind folded the kids to guess what they were... a bumpy gourd for the sense of touch.. a controller with buttons...cinnamon to taste.. strawberry jam for scent. They really had alot of fun and decided to blind fold me too! Which was kind of scary! ;~)

Now this week we will look into our favorite things about each sense..and study scriptures that relate to our senses!

Proverbs 20:12

Ears that hear and eyes that see - the LORD has made them both.

Psalm 34:8

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

Mark 8:25

Once more Jesus put His hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

1 Corinthians 3:19

The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

We live by faith, not by sight.

Happy Homeschooling!

In Christ, Sarah beth



Homeschooling is Lifeschooling, our bell never rings!

Cannot believe its already May and very close to June! What an amazing year it has been, my first full year of homeschooling draven and partially alyssa and ofcourse jayce too ;)Wahooo! I have already learned sooo much! When i first started to homeschool I thought I had to sit at the table for hours pouring over books, HOW WRONG I WAS! Everyone has different learning styles that they benefit from the most. Finding each of my childrens is a joy for me. I would have to say visual and hands-on are two very important ways we learn here. One of our daily lessons is a bible story, I read as they snack, my 2 youngest cannot just sit still so a snack is a great way to get them to atleast sit down ;) then we color or paint what we remember from the story..which I try to color too and when I am done, go over the story more colorfully! Anyways, then they tell me what they colored, then later that day or the next day we watch a cartoon on the bible story. Instead of them just listening they are coloring and really thinking, what was the story about? My children love to color so its a great way to study anything from the parts of a plant, the human eye lol to a wonderful bible story!!

We are beginning to wrap up for the summer..its hard to say that because our schooling is a LIFE not just a specific amount of time. We read constantly, my children help cook and clean and we find so many lessons in the way we live. Daddy teaching draven to change the oil to at the dinner table them two giving eachother math problems. Even at the grocery store, draven says this is cheaper by so many cents. Every moment is a learning moment..I try to bring excitement in everything we do, teaching or relating it to a bible story. Homeschooling is Lifeschooling! So as we prepare to stop for summer were not really stopping at all..we will still be doing science experiments such as an egg bouncing and tending to a garden, reading~lots of reading, sounding words out in books and any word we see, math and discovering this amazing world God has created for us. Our homeschooling summer is going to be awesome!! This year has proved everything I thought homeschooling can be, an exciting way to learn with my children.

I love every moment of homeschooling.... thank you Lord for convicting me!!!!!!!!!