Welcome to Issue Nine of Keep on Track

Our Focus in this e-zine is Take Time out: Play and Pray.

Each Keep on Track Issue endeavours to provide the reader with practical advice and food for thought.

• Greetings from Marianne
• News
• Considering our Goals
• Curriculum Application
• Organizational Tips
• Coming soon

Greetings from Marianne

What's your passion? How well do your children know you? They know you love to be with them, but do they know your interests or are your hobbies buried too deep right now?

It's a good thing to dig them up and enjoy them. Read why...

News

Congratulations to Jaynessa from Arizona. Her page on her Phonics Game has been viewed over 100 times last month, and she has received a free copy of "Modeling the Classics - Language Arts Lessons from The Hobbit."

Would you like a free copy of my E-Book? Add to the Homeschool Gallery and be chosen to be the next Monthly Top Pick!!

The Homeschool Planner Specialis still on.... one more week to go! I know it says October, but my mind is not yet in November. What about yours? Well, if you'd like to help your homeschooling days - I'll happily join with you and make a fantastic completely customized planner! Looking forward to it!

Well, I have just added a page on Free Homeschool Printables .. this is just the beginning and will give you a taste of what is to come. This page can be accessed easily along the side navigational bar.

Also check out my latest page on Descriptive Writing. This includes a variety of graphic organizers for you to download and use. There's a new Modeling the Classics E-book on the way all about descriptive writing too! Coming soon...

I've also written about my favourite Math Software.

Take time to enjoy the learning process and Time to Play

What I am talking about is - time for you to stop, play and pray.

What is your week like? I'm sure that many of you would say that you are flat out. Making homeschool plans, researching, buying books, finding specials, working through schedules, teaching, reading aloud, doing projects, changing nappies, washing, ironing, preparing menus, shopping, making meals, finding missing socks, setting up a computer program, reading out spelling lists and lists, and lists, making your own "To Do" list, inviting friends over, cleaning toilets, making a phonecall, ringing mum, going to the doctors, breastfeeding, washing, cleaning up a spill, being involved in church activities, visiting someone, making an extra meal, dressing kids for an outing, for church, planning a homeschool event, going on an excursion, swimming, going to music lessons, did I say washing? ... and on....

And on the whole - you are most likely enjoying it all (at least most days) Well, I hope so.

This is part and parcel of what homeschooling is - the whole mish-mash of life - learning, cleaning, making it all happen as a family.

I'd like to encourage you to make time for "Play".

Why? Firstly, It is not because I am a big proponent of "Me-time". I've always hated the question, "But what about you? What do you do for YOU?" It's not about that! I've enjoyed spending my life with my children and I haven't begrudged that time at all.

No, the first reason is that God gives us time off and says it is a good thing. Remember He created a rest day! So, it is good to rest!

Do you rest? Is your mind ever switched off from your homeschooling concerns? Do you ever take time to explore an interest or hobby for your own personal enjoyment?

It's a good thing if you do. It's good for you and it is good for your children to see you explore an interest and enjoy your own gifts and talents. It is refreshing! Whatever it might be, your children love to see what you've done, or created and will be your best admirers regardless of the product. Recently, I have been able to enjoy a pottery course. No matter what I take home, my children think I'm amazing! Aren't they just wonderful encouragers! I'm also learning the cello - it sounds wonderful when I play along with a backing track.... but when you turn the stereo down (?!!)... my children still say I'm great!

Secondly, it reminds you of your personal interests which may have been dormant for a while. It reminds you that there is life beyond and outside of homeschooling and gives your mind a rest from planning, curriculum, thinking etc..

Thirdly, it is a wonderful example of how to follow an interest. If you squeeze a few minutes here and there to follow what you love to do, it shows your excitement. It shows your children, that regardless of age, if you have a passion, you can follow it, learn more about it, pursue it in whatever time you have. It's a lesson about life-long learning. Perhaps you're interested in building a website like I have? Check out these work at home mums and how they followed their passion.

Find your interest and passion and build a website around it and share it with the world! I've written about building a website around my passion here.

If I can, you can too - My website is a labour of love working with the my passion and wonderful tools that Site Build It gives me.

Sign up to my free 4 week E-course on How to Build a Profitable Web Business delivered to your mailbox.

I'd also encourage you to have time to "PRAY".

Look at the example of Jesus.

Many times in His life, Jesus withdrew from His disciples and the crowds to be alone to pray. We read of Him going on a mountainside or into solitary places to pray, often very early in the morning. Read Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, 6:46, Luke 5:16.

What does this teach us about prayer? Meeting together with other Christians provides a great opportunity for us to pray, but there is also a great need for us to get alone to pray. For this, we need to find a place within our home or elsewhere, where we will be free from distractions.

We need to spend some quiet time where we can read His Word to us and listen to God for He is the one who guides and nourishes our souls. The time which Jesus spent with His father enabled Him to do the work He was called to do on earth.

Shouldn't this be our priority too! If we want to complete the task He has given us as His child, as a wife and mother, shouldn't our days begin and continue in prayer.

We can bring all things to God in prayer. Concerns about our children - their future; concerns about our approach in homeschooling; about our attitudes; about our patience, our husbands, our church, and so on. From Isaiah 58:11, We know that God will guide us always, but we need to seek His face and ask what His will is in our lives.

More verses on Prayer:

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

"…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26).

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures" (James 4:3).

Play across the Curriculum

Knowing your hobbies and things you love to do is a part of who you are as a mum. What about your children? Where do they shine and how can you encourage them to explore and enjoy their God given gifts and talents.

Where do your children shine?

Bible

History

Reading

Writing

Science

Maths

Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi, A Math Adventure By Cindy Neuschwander / Charlesbridge Publishing Sir Cumference, Lady Di of Ameter and Radius are back in their second Math Adventure! This time, a potion has changed Sir Cumference into a fire-breathing dragon. Can Radius change him back? Join Radius on his quest through the castle to solve a riddle that will reveal the cure. It lies in discovering the magic number that is the same for all circles. Recommended for grades 2 to 4.

Art/ Music

Practical Living

As our children enjoy certain activities again and again, we can see how God has created them and enjoy their gifts. We can also guide them and encourage them to use their talents for him.

We can also see that each child is made uniquely. Here are some good books about learning styles and learning activities that suit each style:

Talkers, Watchers, and Doers: Unlocking Your Child's Unique Learning Style By Cheri Fuller / NAV Press Give your child an "A" for advantage when it comes to her education! By understanding your child's learning style---auditory, visual, or kinesthetic---and its unique perspectives and abilities, you're able to work with teachers to craft an environment that'll help her succeed in school and life. Brimming with practical suggestions and creative tips. 144 pages, softcover from NavPress.

Discover Your Child's Learning Style By Mariaemma Willis, M.S. & Victoria Kindle Hodson, M.A. / Random House, Inc There are scores of educational approaches---but which is right for your child? Forcing every learner into the same mold leads to underachieving students and frustrated parents. Through tests and assessment exercises, this resource helps you measure their unique strengths, interests, and inner pace. Using informed, learner-appropriate techniques, you'll nurture your child's yearning for excellence in classwork and life. 272 pages, softcover from Prima.

Every Child Can Succeed By Cynthia Tobias / Tyndale House Cynthia Tobias, author of the best seller The Way They Learn, shows how to use a learning styles approach to help your kids live up to their potential and find success in life. By identifying your child's unique learning style, you'll understand what makes your son or daughter respond or resist. This book will encourage you to realize that, no matter how different the style or personality, success is possible for every child.

"Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." Psalm 25:4-5 KJV

Organizational Tips

I've included the same list as my last ezine on a love of learning.

Organizing a home for playing and to encourage a love of learning:

• Have your hobbies visible. Show your children what you have been learning - what new skill you have acquired. Put it on display
• Build a great home library and visit your library often with a list of books you'd like to read.
• Teach your children where books are kept - so they feel free to resource their interest.
• Organize your books into sections for accessibility: The Art Books, Science Books....
• Learning Areas:
  • Art Corner
  • Music Area - have instruments (percussion/drums/recorders etc) available and ready to play. Purchase a music stand.
  • Do your children know what kitchen utensils they can use? Do they know how to use scales, measuring cups etc? What can they use for science experiments?
  • Do you have a microscope? - have it visible and use it yourself.
  • Have a place where children can listen to books on tape or CD? Teach them how to get themselves organized - where the tapes and CDs live - how to pack them away again.
  • Games - have them visible or in a particular games cupboard or box.

Coming soon...

Also, keep a look out for my new e-book on Descripive Writing using models of literature. I hope to finish that in about 2 weeks!

This uses the same modeling techniques from literature as Modeling the Classics: Languae Arts Books from the Hobbit.