Planning with Purpose - {Printable}

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,

but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.  Proverbs 19:21

1.  Less is More Time ~ When planning your days, lean towards less activities rather than towards more.  Unplanned moments and expectations will inevitably invade your day.  Leaving a bit of breathing space for these moments allows the unplanned to become an invitation rather than an invasion.  

2.  In the Word Time ~ Be diligent in taking time to nourish your spirit with quiet moments with Him.  Fill up on soul food and feast on the Bread of Life.  Schedule this time into your day ~ before the babes awake, during breakfast, after lunch, while they play.  As the mom leading your children to Him, be certain to have something to give.  Don’t run on empty.

3.  Plan Order, Not Time ~ Seeking a peaceful rhythm throughout the day is a prominent goal in my home.  Everyday.  Organizing the order of activities for the day keeps the rhythm flowing naturally.  The children know what to expect and so do I. For me, the order of activities is important, not the actual time when they begin or end.  I’ve found that adding a time schedule to each activity in the day can easily add extra pressure unnecessarily.  

4.  Short Lesson Times  ~ Keeping lessons short and varied leads to a happier child resulting in a happier mom. {smile}  An interesting article written by Catherine Levison shares some insight on the importance of short and varied lessons.  Some words to ponder: The Benefits of Short Lessons in the Charlotte Mason Method

5. Outdoor Time ~  Even in the dead of winter, throw on the snowpants and wooly toques and join the children in the midst of the Creator’s wonderland.  Explore, discover, laugh, talk, and play – together.  Be creative and intentional with a nature study or simply get the heart beating fast and the lungs breathing deep.

6. Spare the Extras Time ~ Be protective of your time.  Time is a gift – every. single. moment.  So fill those moments well.  If extras are crowding your days, consider slowing down.  I have often heard seasoned homeschooling moms share that two extra activities per week is plenty for a child.  With multiple children, even two activities can quickly become  overwhelming.

7. Quiet Time ~ After lunch we all need a bit of quiet.  Teach your children how to do this by taking some quiet time too.  A perfect time to light a candle, play instrumental music, and think upon beautiful words. 

A printable to help plan a purposeful term beyond curriculum chapters and unit studies?  Yes, please! Planning with Purpose ~ A Term Plan


Related Links:

A Typical Homeschool Day?  ~ Robin @ Heart of Wisdom ~ A collection of homeschool day schedules provided by other homeschooling moms just like us!

Pace Scheduling Options and Optional Paces - This document outlines some options for scheduling your days using Accelerated Christian Education curriculum for grades 1-3.  As well, it highlights the Science and Social Studies paces that can be considered optional since they do not meet the learning outcomes prescribed by the BC Ministry of Education.

Loving on Alphine and Dorcas in Kenya

Can I share a little story? ...

{Photos provided by Brad Brietkreutz taken during a trip to Kenya last spring.}

A few months ago I contacted Maxine from Relief and Support Services Canada.  It was time to set up the two younger girls with what we like to call a 'sister-friend', and I knew that Maxine was just the one to take care of the orchestration. I tapped out an email requesting two younger girls around the ages of five or six, and Maxine responded with kind words informing me that there were four girls within the area that RSSC works that matched closely to my age choice.

There sat in my inbox a photo of each girl accompanied with a short excerpt about her young life.  And there I sat thinking, how do I choose just two?

I told the husband my dilemma, and he knowingly raised his eyebrows, and on a happy day a few months ago four new 'sister-friends' joined our family.

My younger daughters chose Christine and Yvonne to share pictures and notes with over the next decade or so.

And for the other two 'sister-friends'?  I thought of you.  What a wonder it would be for two little girls in Kenya to receive pictures, and drawings, and carefully penned notes from forty boys and girls spread over a province called British Columbia, in a country called Canada. Can you just imagine the crazy smiles when a bundle of treasures of notes and artwork is placed into these little girls' hands?  I'm hoping that you and your family would join me in this most lovely of love-gifts?  Here's how:

{Draw a picture or write a note and place it into an envelope mailed directly to my address.  Please include only flat items such as stickers, photos, etc.  along with your letter, if so inclined.  Letters from Alphine and Dorcas will be shared with families so that you can be updated on these precious girls.}

********************************************

May I now introduce to you two of the dearest little girls in Kenya! ...

Our first is Alphine Awino who turned seven this past spring.  Here is a snapshot into her young life:

Hello, my name is Alphine Awino and I was born in April 2006. I am in Nursery at Burlum Primary School. My favorite subject is Writing. I am in position 6 out of 50 in my class. I live with my mother Hellen, my father has died. I have 5 siblings. My duty is learning to sweep the house. I like to play with toys. We live in the Pap-Onditi district of Western Kenya.

And then there is Dorcas Nekesa Wabwoba who turned 8 this summer.  Each time I read the last line of her write-up the tears start spilling.

Hello, my name is Dorcas Nekesa Wabwoba and I was born on August 25, 2005. I am in K3 in School and my favorite subject is Counting. I live with my sickly mother Christine who earns a living digging for hire. My father has died. I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters. My duty is to run small errands. When I am with my friends I like to play group games. We live in the village Buema in the Bungoma South district of Western Kenya.  Thank you for reading about me. Dorcas' prayer request is for a sponsor.

{Both of these girls were waiting for a sponsor since 2010, and just a few months ago my family brought them into our home through Relief and Support Services Canada.   Dorcas' prayer has been answered, yes, but three years later ...}

Sometimes it feels a bit like a box when portfolio time descends upon us.  With six sides cubing all around, and that claustrophobic sensation gasping the good intentions right out of us.  

Sometimes it is all one can do to not burst straight through the walls and flail wildly, shouting "Get me out of here!" in all seemingly justifiable mama lunacy.  

And it's not so much the portfolio gathering that weighs heavy and suffocating, but the expectations that we mamas tend to heap upon ourselves.  Because at the end of a learning year, when it's all been said and done, sometimes all we long to hear is a "Good job, Mama".

A little something I penned about a year ago ...

*************************************

With spare moments and needles I've been stitching wool to make something simple for you.

Sometimes wool gets twisted, and sometimes stitches get lost, and sometimes I unravel everything just to start again.

And isn't that how it is sometimes?  Getting life twisted and sometimes losing the way, and all that has been set in place being pulled and unravelled by the same hands that stitched it together?

I hold the stitches up for you to see,  and you smile, and nod, and say, "Good job, Mama".

Words of encouragement, they say it's a love language, a way to show love and a way to feel loved.  You've been speaking these love words loud to this mama's heart, building her up, cheering her on.  How can I say thanks?

I show you the backside where there's this unintended knot, and I can't explain how it got there, but it's there and it can't be fixed without the wrecking of it all.   You shrug and display that seven year smile and say, "It's okay, Mama."

And yes it is, and yes it has been.  All those unintended knots that can't be untied, but stay with us reminding us that imperfection is the humbleness of life, a way to go down lower while looking up higher.  

I keep on stitching, needle through wool, and row upon seemingly endless row.  Spare moments turn into weeks and at last a fanciful gift is worn.

All the missed stitches and backsided knots somehow disappear in the glow of your smile.

Gifts for May

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,

Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,

Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,

But only one mother the wide world over.

Taken from Only One Mother ~ George Cooper

Scenes from my mama journal ...

Exploring His Creation in May ~ Did you get up early enough to see the meteor showers on April 22nd?  If not, check out these snapshots of God's wonder light show!  And why not keep eyeing the skies this month using these Sky Maps to guide you? 

Poetry in May ~ Surrounding you mamas with beautiful words this month:  A Prayer for This House by Louis Untermeyer to maybe print off and hang on the wall?  And for those who spotted this post on Facebook, The Power of a Parent's Words, and it made the heart twinge and the head nod in affirmation, then Her Words by Anna Hempstead Branch may be a sweet read for you this month.  

Inspiration for Moms in May ~ Inspired to Action is consistent in bringing practical tips and useful resources to this mama's inbox.  Mom Heart Online also provides daily reads to encourage and spur us on in this motherhood journey that we all are walking through.  And yes, these free printables to encourage on the hard days!?

Making a Memory in May ~ This video on how to make framed silhouettes is perfect for helping to make a keepsake this month. And this mommy and me journal is a sweet idea to start sharing with your child once he is ready to read and write!

May your month be filled with much momminess and sweet memories! ~ Jessica

Learning Showcase ~ Term 2

Customize your own free picture slideshow

Gifts for April

The roofs are shining from the rain,

The sparrows twitter as they fly,

And with a windy April grace

The little clouds go by.

~Taken from Sara Teasdale's poem "April"

Scenes from a spring nature walk and the workings 

of a paper mache globe.

{Psst ... Have you heard?  April 22nd is Earth Day?}  

Exploring His Creation in April ~ Take a tour of our home called "Earth" through these amazing snapshots taken from space ~ a fantastic perspective!  And these quotations from astronauts as they look back at the earth as they travel into space are rather fascinating.  Perhaps preview and choose one or two to share with your child?

Poetry for April ~ "Geography" by Eleanor Farjeon and "The Spinning Earth" by Aileen Fisher are the first two poems found at the top of this poetry website.  We've been enjoying "Geography" quite a bit around here lately.

Reading for the Book Baskets in April ~ To prepare for Earth Day, how about some readings to help share a 'green' message?:  Little Critter: It's Earth Day,  Saving Water and Energy, Recycle, The Three R's: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle,  E is for Environment, It's Easy to be Green, The Adventures of an Aluminum Can, Reduce and Reuse, Our Earth: How Kids are Saving the Planet, Living Green: A Turtle's Quest for a Cleaner Planet, Where Does the Garbage Go?  {Please take time to preview these books as I feel that they would be beneficial for learning, but have not had the opportunity to read all from the list.}

Making a Difference in April ~  Thinking about joining in on a community Earth Day event?  Registered events are listed here: Earth Day Canada, or check your local newspaper for events near you.

And these activities just for kids?: Act for the Planet - a campaign designed just for kids!  Or for further  environmental awareness, these online games at EcoKids  and Green Planet for Kids are chock-full of eco-friendly ideas.

Making a Memory in April ~ Get your hands dirty by digging into these kid-friendly recipes of dirt cups, ants on a log, butterfly cookies and bug brownies!  Too fun!

Something for the Fridge Door in April ~  A sweet something to print off here, or here too, to help remember the beauty gifts that this month holds.  

Something to Hum Along to in April ~ Barlow Girl has a version of this traditional hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth, David Crowder's version of All Creatures of Our God and King, and this pitch perfect rendition of All Things Bright and Beautiful.  A bit of sound wonder to fill our living spaces.

May your month be filled with much discovery and appreciation of the creation all around you ~ Jessica

Gifts for March

Sea Shell, Sea Shell, 

Sing me a song, O please!

A song of ships, and sailormen,

And parrots, and tropical trees, ...

Of fishes and corals under the waves,

And sea horses stabled in great green caves.

Sea Shell, Sea Shell,

Sing of the things you know so well.

~ Taken from Sea Shell by Amy Lowell

Scenes from afternoons at the seaside.

Exploring His Creation in March ~ March 20th marks the first day of spring this year.  Why not plan a spring nature hunt using this list , or find your own spring treasures and record them on this nature journal page.  

While at home, gather the family around to marvel at His creation through these springtime photos. And this artful rendition of This is My Father's World  is sure to add more beauty to your day.

Poetry for March ~ Some poems to savour over snack time or to share while pausing during an afternoon stroll:  Caterpillar, The Little Turtle, Forgiven, or Pippa's Song.  We also enjoy Douglas Florian's seasonal poem books.  His poetry book for spring is called Handsprings.  

Readings for the Book Basket in March ~ A book basket full of Lent and Easter readings has already been prepared for us here.  {Thank you Holly!}  

{One other story that we like to read near Passover is Mrs. Katz and Tush.  If you are interested in having a Passover meal this year, Ann Voskamp guides us gently in one way of doing it well, here.}

Making Memories in March ~ An Easter garden that is this easy?  These delicious yet gospel filled croissants? These plastic eggs for the kids to tell the story of the cross over and over again?  And  something sweet to make the day special like these chocolate nests or homemade Cadbury creme eggs?  For the ambitious, perhaps some egg decorating inspiration from a pysanka making expert?

Something to Hang on the Fridge Door in March ~ Or print these words onto card stock and they would look lovely, in a frame, on a wall, in your home...

Worship during March ~ A couple of Lent/Easter playlist songs that have been being played daily around here: God of Justice and Kindness.  What's on your playlist this month?

May this month be filled with much pondering and grace! ~ Jessica

Teaching Tip Tuesday ~ Embracing Culture Outside Our Comfort Zone

There's a mother fear that can suffocate the very breath from our being.  A fear that grips tight and makes young ones wince from the hold.  I've seen it in myself and I've seen it in the ones around me who grab hold of their child before she falls.

There's a mom on the phone who strikes fear straight through the wire when she tells me of how she just can't teach her children about those people, about that history.  And she's not the only one.  I've heard it before and I get it.  I too have battled every moment of this motherhood journey fighting for truth to take hold.  I've gutted cries for wisdom to know how to teach these children right, how to make them see well, how to fill their hearts with words that bring life.  I've shooked in silence with questions and worries, not knowing if this is the right way to go.

It was mid-January when Jen Hatmaker tapped out the words headlined Brave Moms Raise Brave Kids and her post seemed to resonate with many, spurring others on.  And although I didn't long to be quite as brave as Jen, I did find myself pondering how to bring bravery to the minds of my children, especially in the areas that seem scary.  My ponderings broke down into something like this:

One goal of education is to fill my children's minds with ideas.  

One of the ways to explore ideas is to explore the lives of people. 

One of the ways to explore the lives of people is to explore their culture. 

Sometimes exploring outside of one's own culture can be very, very brave.

So perhaps I am as brave as Jen, just in a different way ...

Each year, the children and I turn pages of hundreds of stories. Stories that take us all over the world ~ China, Poland, Italy, France, North Korea, Japan, America, and beyond ...   And each time we visit a new place, we explore the culture of that land: the language, the society, the customs, the beliefs.  And always we are awestruck by the uniqueness of the people.  And often we are heart-struck for their need of a Saviour, and  it's the heart-struck moments that lead us to pray.

And this past year we've been brave, stepping into the world of the beautiful First Nations, reading about their languages, their society, their customs, and yes, their beliefs.  And often in a story we read about a spirit, perhaps a sea spirit or the night spirits, and we discuss what these beliefs mean because we know they are not our own.  But just as we discussed  how North Koreans bow down to their leaders and  how Indian Muslims worship a different god, we discuss how our own neighbours hold different beliefs and how the call of the Great Commission intersects it all.

We bow brave for those around the world, and we intercede brave for those within our own country, and we grow brave love, deeper and more rooted, through each turning of a story.

And although sometimes my heart pounds fast and I question again and again,  we're going to keep learning, loving, and living, and keep practicing being brave.


Resources to help embrace people and their culture:

Kids of Courage ~ Excellent downloads can be found here to gain a heart for countries that face persecution.

Global Prayer Digest ~ A magazine of daily readings, usually in a story format,  about a certain area of the world.  A short scripture and prayer request are provided for each day.

Aboriginal Story List ~ A book list to give some direction when choosing Aboriginal stories to read to your child.

Gifts for February

I will make you brooches and toys for your delight

Of bird song at morning and starshine at night.

I will make a palace fit for you and me,

Of green days in forest

And blue days at sea. 

My Valentine ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Enjoying His Creation in February ~ Are you planning to join in for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count?  Whether formally tallying bird sightings or simply enjoying fluttering creatures from our window, this event has made it onto our calendar.   To attract more birds lovely to your own backyard,  these birdfeeders look fun to make and seem pretty easy too!

Poetry for February ~  Could you invite your child to pen a bit of original poetry this month?  Perhaps the topic could have something to do with love?  

{Wouldn't it would be fun for students to email me their poems and then have their names put into a draw for A Child's Garden of Poetry DVD!?  Some  guidelines for writing words poetic are highlighted here: Poetry for Kids. Perhaps I'll put my pen to paper too, and share a poem or maybe two ... {smile}}

Readings for the Book Basket in February ~ If you are interested in learning about the origins of Valentine's Day, then these two books, which have made their way into our book baskets, may be of interest to you:  The Story of Valentine's Day by Clyde Robert Bulla and Saint Valentine by Robert Sabuda.

Being a Good Friend during February ~ This stitched card idea is currently a work in progress.  Taking homemade cards and little gifts to our neighbourhood friends is a bit of a tradition on Valentine's.  Just to share: one of our favourite friendship books for little girls is this one from Emilie Barnes.  {There's a little boy version too!}  And this printable study on friendship looks to be quite insightful too!

Making a Memory in February ~ A beautiful way to share love verses with the family! And I find that I keep going back to Sally Clarkson's words on her Valentine traditions.  She continues to inspire me.

Something for the Fridge Door in February ~ Love verses to remind me that the first step to love is patience.  

Words during February ~ Something to watch and listen to often this month.   Living grateful for His Love.  

May this month be filled with much love and friendship! ~ Jessica

Learning Showcase ~ Term 1

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Gifts for January

In the winter time we go

Walking in the fields of snow;

Where there is no grass at all;

Where the top of every wall,

Every fence and every tree,

Is as white as white can be.

Taken from "White Fields" by James Stephens

{First Snow Scenes ~ Dec. 19th}

Getting Out into Creation in January ~ Finding time and motivation to bundle up and step out into the biting outdoors can be a challenge.  Your nose may get nipped and your toes may numb, but a cup of warm cocoa after the adventure will make the chilly air a joy.

While out and about, keep your eyes open for animal tracks in the snow and mud.  Identify any spotted tracks using one of these reference guides available here or here.  A great book to order from your local library to introduce animal tracks to your children is: Big Tracks, Little Tracks.  In addition,  this animal clue activity looks like fun too.

Filling the Book Baskets in January ~ This month, {out of all of the months}, is the one to cozy up under couch blankets with wonderful stories to warm the heart and the afternoons.  This month we've added stories about dog sledding and the Inuit to our book baskets:  Very Last, First Time, My Arctic 1, 2, 3, Out on the Ice in the Middle of the Bay, The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto, The Littlest Sled Dog, A Sled Dog for Moshi, and A Team Like No Other.  And this list of wintery picture books has a collection of quality reads that look perfect for this chilly month.

Making Time for Art in January ~ The girls and I will be watching this video together and decorating the windows with these fanciful snowflakes - apparently it's all in the fold!  You may also find these wintery art ideas from the archives helpful in planning your January artistic pursuits.

Speaking Words of Poetry in January ~ Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost found us a couple of years back, and we keep coming back to it every January.  This poem is available in a picture book format and this recitation I came across this year. Beautiful always.

Making a Memory in January ~ Sweet tortilla snowflakes are super easy to make and delicious.  A perfect snack for a sweet memory.

Filling the Home with Music in January ~ Vivaldi's "Winter" is a must listen sometime this season.  Listen to the music.  Can you identify the instruments heard?  Can you interpret the music through movement?  How about drawing in a music journal the colours, feelings, and images portrayed through the music?  Simply enjoy the music.  For further study of Vivaldi Making Music Praying Twice has a lovely biography.  

Worshiping in January ~ Added this song to my playlist last month.  Perhaps an anthem for this new year.  Sing along with me this month?

May this month be filled with much warmth and growing aspirations ~ Jessica