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Gifts for December

Villagers all, this frosty tide, 

Let your doors swing open wide, 

Though wind may follow and snow betide, 

Yet draw us in by your fire to bide:

 Joy shall be yours in the morning. 

 ~ taken from Christmas Carol by Kenneth Grahame

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, 
but will have the light of life.

Enjoying His Creation in December ~ Nature Detectives always has a bundle of easy printables and activities to help make outdoor time even more wonder-full.   Elisabeth Foss shares some evergreen resources and ideas that can follow up a visit to a Christmas tree farm.  And possibly the lyrics of this song could be used for copy work this month?  

Poetry for December ~  Is a Christmas poem recitation one of your family traditions?  If not, perhaps a few ideas to get you started?  I'm looking at this poem for this year: Long, Long Ago, but in the past we've done the chorus of this song: C is for the Christ Child   and What Can I Give Him.

Readings for the Book Baskets in December ~ A couple of personal favourites are The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and The Legend of the Candy Cane.  Looking for more ideas for good reads this month?  Find amazing book lists here and here.

Art for December ~ A perfect gift for dad? This idea is too fun for everyone involved! And these ideas for homemade nativity scenes?  We'll have to tackle at least one of these this year!

Music for December ~ Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and Handel's Messiah are both worthy to listen to sometime this month.   And a version of Messiah including narration? Something to listen to while stringing popcorn?

Drama for December ~  Christmas Charades or a family nativity on Christmas Eve make for inevitable laughter and some lasting memories.  Oh, and this printable nativity for the kids to reenact the Christmas story again and again.  Perfect!

Making a Memory in December ~ Something for both mom and the kids to get their hands into - holiday scented playdough ~ easy to make and a great gift for the neighbour kids.  

Worship for December ~ One of my favourites for this season.  Oh, and this one too! 

May this month be filled with much worship and memorable moments. ~ Jessica

Come and worship, Come and worship, Worship Christ the newborn King!

How to Wait Well for Christmas

Advent … is a season for prayer and reformation of our hearts… If Christ is to come more fully into our lives this Christmas, if God is to become really incarnate for us, then fire will have to be present in our prayer.  Our worship and devotion will have to stoke the kind of fire in our souls that can truly change our hearts.  Ours is a great responsibility not to waste this Advent time.  ~ Edward Hays

May I share a collection of gifts that have gathered in our home over the years to help focus our minds and quiet our hearts during the weeks leading up to Christmas? ...  

Do you do a Jesse Tree?  ~ Adding a Jesse Tree to our home traditions is the single most important part of our waiting for Christmas.  It focuses our minds daily on the Babe in the wooden slates and why He is the Gift.  {A beautiful printable Jesse Tree family devotional is available here.}

Preparing our Giving? ~ I've had to ask myself ... How do we prepare well in our waiting to give a gift to the Babe who we are celebrating?

During the days leading up to Christmas, coins can be earned by loving others.  These coins are then used to "do for one of the least of these"{Matthew 25: 34-40} by buying a gift of clothing, or food, or water for someone who needs these basic needs.

Giving Gifts with a Mission ~ Purchasing beautiful gifts that give a livelihood to those who create them makes the giving and the getting a huge blessing!  Some purposeful shops that are just lovely can be found here:  3 Cords, Haitian Creations, Mercy House, Amazima. {If possible, take some moments to read the stories behind these shops and the women who create with their hands and their hearts.}

Advent Reading for Mama ~ Seeking time to sit quiet and read good words is a gift to myself.  Don't  frazzled days tend to become a bit less tangled as we turn our focus to Him? : Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas

Hands to Work and Heart to God? ~ Last year around this time, this picture found itself attached to my fridge because of these spirit quieting words from Karen Andreola .  A must read for every mama in December.



Related Links:

Treasuring God in Our Traditions ~ Noel Piper

Deepening the Roots of Christmas

The Advent Book {sitting near the top of my wish list}

{Please feel free to share your gifts in the comment area or at the classroom Facebook page.}

Teaching Tip Tuesday ~ When the End of the Term Lingers Near ...

Bless you for all the days of gathering children around and wrapping hearts with wisdom and guidance and minds with knowledge and opportunity.  

Bless you for the daily giving up and the relentless laying down.   

Bless you for the courage to wake up each morning and actually raise yourself out from beneath the covers and put one foot in front of the other and walk with grace throughout the day. 

 Bless you for seeking more of Him, in spite of failures and pains and mistakes, because this is how He is glorified and you are carried through. 

Bless you for enduring and for growing through the perseverance.  

Bless you for learning hard, and living hard, and loving even harder.

As preparations for your child's term portfolio are being made, can you take time to exhale and count the blessings from this first term?  Expectantly yes,  there were up days and down days, but isn't it through the blessings and the "curses" that we learn to give thanks in all things?

As you piece together your child's term portfolio, allow it to simply reflect your child's learning experiences, be it becoming a hula hooping genius, or a math counting whiz,  or a story writer for the very first time.  Allow your child to choose prize pieces of work that he's delighted to show, and then take time for yourself to choose samples that you feel are wise to share.  

There is no set formula in fitting a portfolio together - your portfolio is what your family makes it and never are two exactly the same.

General portfolio guidelines are provided here under the Portfolio Submission links,  but you are free to extend those guidelines to represent best what has been being learned within your home during this past term.  Specific forms that may need to be included in your child's portfolio, depending on grade and activity choices, are available to be printed here: Portfolio Forms

How do I share my child's portfolio?
In the past, families have mailed their child's portfolio to my home address.  However, within the last year or so, many families are choosing to send learning samples online.  Some families email learning photos on a weekly basis, while others choose to email an entire portfolio at one time at the end of the term.  Also, some families have chosen to share learning photos through Picasa web albums or through Skydrive.

Home visits are available for families who live in the Lower Mainland area.  If interested, please contact me to arrange a date and a time.

Blessings as you near the end of this first term, and Congratulations!

Gifts for November

No shade, no shine, no butterflies,

no bees, no fruit, no flowers,

no leaves, no birds, No-vember. 

~ Thomas Hood

Scenes from Lighthouse Park

Enjoying His Creation in November ~  November can be an interesting time to observe and record weather.  For the younger student, this printable weather station may bring a bit of wonder to his weather watching endeavours.   For the older student, filling in this weather chart will help hone in his observation skills.  

And these wonderful nature reads here and here can be downloaded for free!  Lovely to read to the children or to have them practice their reading with.  

Poetry for November ~ A few poems to share with the children this month as the cool winds set in and the animals set up their winter homes: The Mist and All,  The Squirrel, and Autumn Fires.

Readings for the Book Baskets in November ~ During this month a few books about Remembrance Day and war are finding their way into our book baskets:  A Poppy is to Remember, Remembering John McCrae, and There Come a Soldier.  A teacher's guide pieced together by the Canadian Legion may help further learning, especially the poems and stories near the end.

Being a Blessing in November ~  Some practical ways for mom and children to love on those around them ~ giving a bit of encouragement to those who may need it this month.  

Making a Memory in November ~ This handmade gift list may be the perfect list to check off as we approach December.  And here are some great visuals.

Praise for November ~ Listening to this song when needing to seek a bit of peace in the home.  I hear the girls singing along in the other room ...

May this month be filled with much seeking and many love gifts. ~ Jessica

What to do When the Educating To Do List Becomes a Bit Too Long ...

"Reading one of the articles about education in one of the magazines my sister-in-law gave me has provided me with a new goal.  Presently I aim to give the children three opportunities in our little homeschool every day as I am able: 1) something or someone to love, 2) something to do, and 3) something to think about.  The article simply stated that this is what education is all about. ... I've tried to lead them to respect the elderly in their neighbourhood and give gifts to those who are struggling with hard times.  The reading of good books as well as their nature study provides them with something to think about.  As far as something to do, last ironing day I showed them how to make window decorations by ironing colorful leaves between wax paper.  Another day I showed them how to save the seeds from the marigold flowers that had finished blooming.  The children folded paper to make their own seed packets, and before these homemade envelopes were filled with the little black marigold seeds, they were decorated on the front with a drawing of the flower.  Certain elderly neighbors on the block were happy to receive these packets  when we came to call." 

~ Taken from Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study with the Gentle Art of Learning, authored by Karen Andreola

Lately, the goal presented in the words above, I've found myself thinking about over and over again, pondering how to make it more of a central part of our homeschool day.  I decided to turn to a fresh page of my home journal and pen a list.

Three Opportunities Each Day 

1) Something or Someone to Love

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ~ Matthew 7:37-39

Love Family
~ helping
~ sharing
~ encouraging
~ giving
~ spending time with

Love Community
~ volunteering ...
~ practical giving to neighbours
~ encouraging notes, cards, gifts
~ being prepared to give to the poor ... always
~ visiting animal shelters

Love the World
~ Compassion, World Vision, Relief and Support Services Canada
~ Global Prayer Digest
~ Voice of the Martyrs
~ jar for "Love Money"

2) Something to Do

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ~ Colossians 3:17

~ art
~ food preparation
~ chores
~ self chosen project
~ gardening
~ handiworks
~ gift making
~ physical activity practice
~ drawing nature

3) Something to Think About

[W]hatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. ~ Phillipians 4:8

~ good books
~ table talk discussion questions
~ missionary stories
~ current events
~ news articles
~ science
~ nature study
~ artist study
~ composer study

What goals do you have for your homeschool day?

Gifts for October

The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.
~ Emily Dickinson

~ something red ~

~ lichen ~

~  a wild flower ~ 

~ an old growth tree ~

~ something yellow ~ 

Scenes from last week's Forest Scavenger Hunt.  To print a list of forest wonders for you and the kids to find, click here:  Forest Scavenger Hunt Printable

Enjoying God's Creation in October ~ Enjoy scrolling through these photographs of harvests around the world and give a thankful prayer for the food on your table today.  

I must share ... in spare moments, lately, I have been indulging in Karen Andreola's book, Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study with the Gentle Art of Learning.  I am adoring this book ~ the simplicity and ingenuity is heart warming and inspiring for any mom seeking to share the out of doors with her child. 

Poetry for October ~ A couple of colourful printables to hang on the fridge this month? "Autumn" by Emily Dickinson  and "Leaves" by Elsie N. Brady.  Perhaps have the children memorize a piece to recite at a poetry tea later in the month garnished with pumpkin tarts or loaf.

Readings for your Book Baskets in October ~ Books about leaves, Thanksgiving, and pumpkins tend to fill our book baskets during this month:  Autumn Leaves, Fall, An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving, Autumnblings, Fall Leaves Fall!, Pumpkin Pumpkin. 

Making a Memory in October ~ October seems to call out to us to make our way to a pumpkin patch, or a corn maze, or a hayride ...! How about making a day of it at a pumpkin patch near you!  A listing of places in BC that hold such festivities can be found here: British Columbia's Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Patches, Hayrides and More... .  Don't forget your camera!

Music for October ~ Another classical song to enjoy during these autumn weeks: Autumn Song by Tchaikovsky.   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. 

Art for October ~ Some inspiration for a Thanksgiving table centerpiece.  Gather leaves, pine cones and acorns.  Maybe some pretty red berries and a couple of scattered branches?  Perhaps an apple and a couple of pears and even a bunch of grapes?  Place them all in your child's hands to create a unique centerpiece filled with natural beauty this year.  

A fellow homeschooling mom shared about her thankful tree that her kids are growing this season and I thought how lovely a thankful tree would be in our home too, and perhaps yours?

Words for October ~ Something that I will be going back to read again and again this month.  Thanking Him for all things.  

May this month be filled with much thankfulness and many warm gifts. ~ Jessica

Teaching Tip Tuesday ~ When the Learning Day Seems More Chaos Than Calm : Seven Steps to Scheduling a {more} Peaceful Learning Year.

Perhaps we could learn some lessons from the snail on how to slow our days? ...

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.  

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.

Lessons Learned When You are the Teacher

Some words penned a year ago, but seem to be fitting into my thoughts again ...

It’s been four summers since I first approached a learning year with much trembling. I remember feeling very much alone, uncertain of choosing a different way. Friends and dear family members nodded heads and smiled as I shared thoughts of keeping my oldest one at home, instead of placing her in the local kindergarten class.

Within my sweet circle of relationships, I was the single one, who rarely felt confident that the educational choice that I was making was the best choice, comparatively. I usually kept silent and rarely shared the celebrations of our learning successes.

As four summers have passed, my insecurities have faded along the way, and in their absence my confidence has grown. This growth is not due to my children’s talent, intelligence, or athletic ability. It is not credited to their excellent character or amazing obedience {we still have a long way to go}. And it is certainly not a result of me having figured it all out.

No, my confidence exists simply because Someone much greater than I has carried me and has instructed me through lessons and laundry.

He has taught me that my ways, and the ways of those around me, are not necessarily His ways.

He has shown me that all is like withering grass, but that which is built on His Word.

He has taught me that the heart of the child is entrusted to me to cherish and to train.

He has revealed to me that the grandest lessons are often learned through the deepest failures.

He is my strength ~ daily. And He is my joy song.

Sally Clarkson writes in her book Seasons of a Mother’s Heart, “God's will is not something hidden that needs to be found but, rather, something revealed that needs to be done."

And so again, I gather the children for one more year.

We’ll sit together and laugh together. We’ll share our frustrations and failures, and then we’ll encourage and pray each other through. We’ll learn more about Him and live more beside Him. We’ll make one more year of memories and learn to grow from each one of them. And above all, we’ll remember, with humble gratitude, that we are blessed.

Gifts for September

By all these lovely tokens September days are here,

With summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer.

 ~ Helen Hunt Jackson ~ September

Sights from a Labour Day Nature Walk

Enjoying God's Creation in September ~ A trip to a local apple orchard always makes for a wonderful September fieldtrip.  Perhaps take time to browse this listing of BC orchards to find an orchard near to your home.  These apple tree sequencing cards look like an enjoyable activity to complete before your visit.  Make sure to taste test as many apples as possible and bring some home to make something from a delicious apple recipe! 

Poetry for September ~ Something to print off and have the children memorize to help remember the number of days in each month: Thirty Days Hath September.

Readings for your Bookshelf in September ~ Books about apples and country fairs often find their place on our bookshelf during this month:  How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, How Do Apples Grow, Apple Picking Time, The Life and Times of the Apple, Come to the Fair, Daniel's Duck, County Fair.  

Making a Memory in September ~ I love the idea of a creative "first day of school" photo.  If the "first day" has already passed, any day in September will do, really!

Music for September ~ As the first day of autumn approaches, listening to Vivaldi's Autumn will add a pleasant addition to your daily rhythms.  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. 

Art for September ~ Perhaps taking a closing look at Van Gogh's Sunflowers will inspire your child to design some sunflower art too like these colourful pastel sunflowers or these tempura paint bouquets.

Worship for September ~ I've been listening to and singing along with this this past summer.  Listen to and sing with me as we move into this new learning year?

May this month be filled with new beginnings and many warm gifts. ~ Jessica




When strong winds buffet a tree, it develops strong fiber and relies on its deep root system to withstand storms.  This is how we develop fortitude, persistence, and the strength of heart that enables us to meet adversity, pain, and persecution ... There is no greater challenge, no higher calling than to persist in the things of God. ~ William and Nancy Carmichael

A simple slideshow of beautiful learning taking place outside of the workbooks.

Have you celebrated your learning year in some way yet?  Blessings as you do ... 

Make a picture slideshow

Related Post: School Year Memories

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thank to the Father ~ Colossians 1: 10~12

A few word thoughts to encourage us as we go through these final weeks of this learning year together ...

How to End Your Homeschool Year ~ "So, how to end this homeschooling year? Ask questions that lead you to celebrate, and not just evaluate the year."


Beautiful Things ~ "But today, could I suggest another way of evaluation?  Instead of relying on externals of achievement test scores or the affirmation of family & friends ... Pause, and review how you did beautiful things this year."

Teaching Tip Tuesday ~ Bringing the Rhythm of the Arts into the Home

I've read it before that every child is an artist.  Being intentional about art has become a priority.  Beauty in the mundane; a splash of colour in the routine.  It helps us to see beyond ourselves while offering glimpses into our deepest deep.  It fills our minds with excellence, and isn't that a part of the goal?

Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. ~ Philippians 4:8

Language and numbers tend to top the ladder, but is it possible for the Arts to become a part of the daily meditations of the home?   A daily ebb and flow of the family's rhythm?

Discovering Art Within Your Home

Perhaps your home already abounds with the Arts?  Maybe on the walls, on the book shelf, in the closet, or in the basement?  Here are some ideas for finding the Arts right within the comforts of your own home:

Music:

~ Listen to song on CD, YouTube or Live 365 ~ play music during meal time, draw a song while listening, move to the beat or interpret through dance, use body percussion or homemade rhythmic instruments to play along.

~ Listen to and read about the Great Composers ~ great inspiration.

~ Use your library to gather songbooks, CDs, DVD, and books related to music.

~ Sing along.

~ Be intentional about joining the church choir or participating in Christmas and Easter concerts.

~ Be intentional about finding out about and attending concerts in your church and community.

Visual Art:

~ Hang art on the walls of your home.  Art from the great artists of the past can be sought out, framed, studied, and discussed as they decorate your home.

~ Choose art books from the library to lay out on your coffee table.  Choose books from the junior nonfiction section of your library and do a preview before bringing them into your home.

~ Gather art supplies and have them available to be used often.  Perhaps use a shower caddy to organize supplies and include an assortment of interesting materials.  The basics include: scissors, glue, felt pens, crayons, pencil crayons, watercolour paint, watercolour pencils, pastels, acrylic paint, construction paper, white paper, watercolour painting paper, etc....

~ Take note and photograph community art.  Stop and admire wall murals, mosaic tilings, sculptures, etc. that are often proudly presented within even small communities.

~ Visit your community art gallery.  

~ Introduce a handicraft to your child that can be worked on during quiet time or family read alouds.

Dance:

~ Move to a variety of music.

~ Watch the Nutcracker movie at Christmas.

~ Be intentional about attending a dance performance.

~ Tell a story through movement. 

~ Learn a folk dance to go along with a country that you are learning about.

Drama:

~ Bring out the dress up box and try to add new materials on a regular basis.

~ Practice playing ~ turn your living room into a Pet Shop, a Grocery Store, an Explorer's Ship, a Doctor's Office, a tent, etc.

~ Act out Bible stories.

~ Act out favourite picture book stories.

~ Be intentional about attending a dramatic performance.

~ Be intentional about participating in a church Christmas or Easter drama.

~ Make homemade puppets and retell stories or make up some new ones.

Integrating Art into the Rhythms of Learning

Perhaps blending the Arts with the learning that is already taking place is what creates peaceful rhythms in your home.  Here are some resource suggestions that take the Arts and weave them together with other learning:

Canada is for Kids Music CDs {Canada, Music}

Seasonal E-Books ~ Handbook of Nature Study {Science, Music, Art}

Nature Study ~ Five in a Row {Science, Language Arts, Music}

A Few More Resources to Help Add Art to Your Home

Music Ace Maestro

Classical for Kids

Worship Steps Dance Videos

How Great Thou Art ~ Art Curriculum

A Year in Art: The Activity Book

A Related Link:

Visual Art Helpers

A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul. ~ Johann Wolfgang con Goethe