Hank Osborne — Page 5 — Home School Support Network

Hank Osborne December 5, 2011

Christmas Theme Homeschool Resources

These are show notes for the Home School Support Network podcast episode number 7. In this episode Sherry shares some great ideas to help you teach your children the real reason for the season. Below are the resources mentioned in this episode.

Advent

Waiting for Christmas – A great book to begin explaining what advent is all about.

Jotham’s Journey – We love this book as a read-aloud to the entire family right after dinner during the days of advent. The story has plenty of excitement and draws in the kids to help build their excitement about Christmas.

The Jesse Tree – Many churches once displayed the lineage of Jesus in their church during Christmas time. These churches used a Jesse Tree to accomplish this. This book helps you teach the history of people that were included in Jesus’ earthly family.

Jesse Tree Advent Activity Kit – An activity book to help you build your Jesse Tree. We found several links when searching for “printable jesse tree ornaments“.
Activities and Stories

ADVENTure of Christmas – A great resource book. You can read a story filled with history about one or more Christmas traditions or you can choose one of the many activities to do with your children.

The Legend of the Candy Cane – The is a great book that can be used to build a Lapbook. Stay tuned for next week’s episode to get more details on what a lapbook is and how Sherry uses this book as the subject for a lapbook during the Christmas season.

Mommy, Was Santa Claus Born on Christmas Too? – One of many books by this author. This book helps put the emphasis where it should be during CHRISTmas without spoiling the fun families have with Santa Claus. This book helps explain how we went from Saint Nicholas to the man in the red suit.

Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend – A historical account of saint Nicholas.

Ordinary Baby, Extraordinary Gift – Amazing music and book authored by Gloria Gather. The music is absolutely beautiful.

From Answers In Genesis

Uncovering the Real Nativity – This small booklet is filled with facts about the Christmas story that are rarely heard. Most narratives describing the birth of Jesus are filled with details that have no scriptural basis. This pocket sized booklet will help you stick to the facts when telling the story of Jesus’ birth.

First Christmas (The), (by historian Diana Waring) – Most Christians hear the Luke 2 account of the birth of the Christ-child each year. But few of us have heard the full chronological retelling of the multi-Gospel account. In this very special audio presentation, the high-energy historian Diana Waring shares from detailed research and reveals the rich background of Mary, Joseph, the Roman occupation, the culture of the day, and much more.

Subscribe:

You can subscribe to this podcast via iTunes and RSS below:

Hank Osborne November 18, 2011

Teaching Textbooks Math Curriculum Review

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

This is our first review of curriculum on the Home School Support Network podcast. In the episode we provided a review of the popular homeschool math curriculum Teaching Textbooks. We provide an audio clip example from a lesson and explain how the curriculum works for the parent and the child. This math program allows your child to work independently so you have an opportunity to give your attention to other children or tasks in the home for a few minutes each day while providing your child math lessons taught the way your grandparents learned math. There are no fancy new age math teaching methods used. This program teaches math to your child in a common sense approach and with easy to follow methods.

We have no relationship with Teaching Textbooks other than by simply being a satisfied customer. We have not been asked to produce this review and are not being compensated for the review in any way. We do highly recommend Teaching Textbooks as your home school math curriculum.

In this episode we also mention Time4Learning.

Subscribe to our podcast:

You can subscribe to this podcast via iTunes and/or RSS below:

Hank Osborne November 14, 2011

Podcast Episode 5 – Home School Structure and Routine

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

These are show notes for the Home School Support Network podcast episode number 5.

Structure and Routine

Does every minute have to be scheduled?
How to recognize which one is best for you. “free spirit & people person?” vs. a “task oriented getter don type person?”
WARNING FLAG – don’t be a slave to your schedule

From Mom’s Notes “Structuring Your Children’s Day” part 1
“Many parents do not see how a routine can help bring peace to a home. Nor do they understand how an effective routine often eliminates need for discipline/correction. Think you don’t need a routine?
“Do you see your children getting into trouble more often each day?”
“Do you feel like a truck has run over you by the time your husband gets home each day?”
“Do you feel trapped being at home with your children?”

Why have a schedule or routine?

Brings order to my day by helping me manage the priorities I set.

Keeps me from starting many things only to go from one unfinished task to another without focus or direction-“wandering” then wondering where my time went.
Set your priorities and plan a time for each priority daily/weekly. Where’s your time with God?
Keep in mind that unless you yourself have structure in your day, it will not matter how structured your child’s day is because you won’t be able to adhere to their routine either.

Creates contentment

Children learn submission, humility, self control with a parent directed day. In contrast, without a routine children have too much authority, choice, and control.
It is amazing to me how many discipline issues are resolved through the consistent use of routine!
The child does have choices during the day within boundaries (free time). In short, if you don’t direct the day then THEY WILL and this will rarely lead to peace and an adequate learning enviro. Children don’t run the “classroom” and in homeschooling you are now the parent AND the teacher!

It helps mom be proactive and fosters peacefulness-a necessity with multiple children.

Set the senario: 4 boys free playing (loosely monitored) in the early evening hours, mom trying to cook….not good! Plan what to do with each child and expect some trial and error.
Carla Link states in “Structuring Your Child’s Day” Part 2 “Kids who live without structure can develop behavior problems. Frequent tantrums, whining, a disregard for rules, inappropriate or aggressive behavior, constant demands, and an inability to share are some of the signs that your child needs more structure.”

HOW DO I START?

Prayer Phil 4:6
Evaluate for a few days/week and write down your existing routine OR write down things as you do them on the appropriate day. *write down realistically how long each thing takes! Ie “Activity List”

INCLUDE:

self control training- sitting us a skill that must be trained, it does not come natural!
Chores training
Devotion/Bible story time with the kids
Sibling indiv playtime
Pack and play time/Room-time
Outside play/nature walk
Errands including driving time
Quiet time with books/Storytime
Structured playtime (coloring/art, puzzles, toys, etc)
Free play time at a toy box
Individual time with each child daily/every other day…15 min, 30 min, or more?

3. Do the same thing for your children’s activities

Get your spouse’s input
1. choose which route you want to go-schedule or routine. Either way, make meals, naps, & bedtimes as fixed as you can. If need be, create a M,W,F and T,Th routine.
2. Check show notes for samples of schedules & for a blank one to get yourself started. Start with the fixed activities and fill in from your Activities List. If your kids are not used to a routine, start with establishing consistent bed and wake times.

WARNING – *Do NOT try to copy someone else’s schedule! Instead use it for ideas and as a GUIDE.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Remember to leave “catch up time”. If you freq feel like you are rushing from one thing to another then you prob haven’t given yourself enough time for each activity.

Look for the most stressful time of the day- that is where you need more structure!

Have a stop time throughout the day at ___:00 and go to next activity no matter where they are at.

When you homeschool there will be days you don’t get anything done but heart training and that’s ok!

Implement “pieces” of your schedule at a time, either AM or PM

*DON’T CHUCK THE WHOLE SCHEDULE IF YOU GET OFF SOMEWHERE!!* Having a sch/routine helps you jump back in where ever you are at that time. Give example

Parting challenge- Have we engaged our children or overseen them all day? Take encouragement that a schedule will help with this.

HELPS FOR MOM’S DAY

Plan meals in advance!

Create a two week meal plan

Eliminates stress if figuring out what’s for dinner (or freezer meals not being thawed!)
Saves money and time with less grocery store stops (or fast food purchases)

Learn how to use a crockpot…find recipes.

Create a rotating chore plan.

Subscribe:

You can subscribe to this podcast via iTunes and RSS below: