Star Valley Home Educators - Recently Updated Pages

About us

SVHE News

SVHE event calendar

Homeschooling Teens

Classifieds

Star Valley Home Educators

SVHE Constitution and By-Laws

SVHE Discussion Board

Homeschooling Authors

Diane Flynn Keith

games

History

Miscellaneous (some awesome stuff)

Language Arts

Science

curriculums

Homeschool Articles

Health e-News

Bible

Art Gallery

"Heart of Christmas" Concert

Need Some History Resources?

Experiments at the bottom....from HomeScienceTools...

Test out these great links

How Do you Join?:

Contact information

svhe — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:30:58 CST

Our Purpose:

The purpose of Star Valley Home Educators is to encourage, enable, and
empower member families to grow and thrive in their
respective home school environments and to facilitate their success by
providing information and support services.
We are a non-denominational, faith-based homeschool support group.

Constitution & By-Laws

Membership fee is $10 per family, per year. We are a non-profit organization.

The fee goes toward the printing and postage of our monthly newsletter.
Access to this website and all its resources, is free.

What Does A Membership Include?:

Member families of S.V.H.E. are notified of any and all issues pertaining to homeschooling that are brought up for vote or amendment in the local, county, or state government. Member families are welcome to join our workshops, co-op classes, and activities, as well as come along on fieldtrips and outings. There is a monthly parent meeting in which we discuss curriculum, plan activities and fieldtrips, set up workshops, and just hang out and socialize. Members have the right to vote in all general and special meetings. Members may run for board positions after one year of membership.

Notices	Local Resources
SVHE Parent Meeting Thursday, December 10th at 12:30pm at Sky View Lanes Bowling Alley in Afton	Star Valley Branch Library has a Summer reading program for 3 age groups. Alpine Branch Library has programs available at north end of valley
SVHE Classifieds Used curriculum for sale Items for Free or Trade	Latin Lessons Class is offered by Beth Peipenberg at "Food for Thought" (health food store in Afton). Email Beth at Food for Thought, ccs@svwy.net if you are interested.

New Officers have been elected for the
2009-2010 school year
Chairperson ... Amber Titensor
Co-Chair ... Sara Malone
Treasurer ... Joyce Cox
Secretary ... Terri Lariviere
Activities Director ... Micki Roberts
_____________________________________

Other Resources
_____________________________________
Homeschool Dad Offering
Web-Cam Piano Lessons
Thought I'd let folks know about a resource that might be helpful for those a little more remote.
A friend of mine in Wheatland got me started in doing webcam piano instruction
(been doing lessons in home for 15 years).
I've had a lot of interest in this from Wyoming homeschoolers (just added more families in Cheyenne) and wanted to let others know that I'm available.
I teach both reading and Composition of music via webcam. You can visit my site to find out more about this at....
http://calvinjones.com/lessons.html
______________________________________

"Shine"
Youth Group...
for young adults (high-school thru college)

studying through the Book of Acts

Group meets in sanctuary at
New Hope Fellowship in Etna

For info contact...
adamangelovich@hotmail.com
or
307-883-6050

ladtlariv@yahoo.com

Follow these page links and find some great stuff!

Calendar

Wyoming Homeschool Laws

Album

svhe — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:59:36 CST

November Mom Meeting

Those present: Amber T. Sara M. Micki R. Terri L. Holly G. Tiana G.	Snowshoe Hollow will be opening soon. A lot of remodeling was done on and in the building by volunteers from Silverstar Communications. They did an awesome job!! New tables and chairs were purchased by SVHE and will be used in the eating area. A load of firewood was delivered. We are in need of donations of snowboards and sleds, used but in good condition. As well as crockpots.	The next Mom Meeting will be on Dec. 10th at the Bowling Alley in Afton at 12:30pm Bowl a string after the meeting at a reduced rate ____________________________________ Christmas Party is being planned for Dec 16 or 17 call Micki R. if you want to volunteer or help plan
It was brought up that the National Gardening Association takes applications every year for Garden Grants. Grants for School and Youth Gardens are awarded to kids' groups, clubs, schools, etc. to build a group garden. There needs to be a minimum of 15 kids involved; the grants are anywhere from $50 to $500. The money is awarded so that the group can plot, build, plant, and grow gardens. It is a super opportunity. The deadline is February so we missed for this year but it was asked if we would want to try for this next year. It was a unanimous yes.	Archery Classes once a week for 6 weeks $5 per student bows provided age 8 and up need headcount ASAP contact Terri L. or Holly G.	Upcoming Events... Chocolate Factory tour at Huckleberry Mountain Candies in December _____________________________________ also Spanish class (for younger students) --------------------------------- Co-op Classes (possibly in Feb or March) Moms... what class would you like to host? watercolor, cake decorating, Wyoming history?
	Jackson Rec. Center swimming & lunch in January	Jewelry Making Classes by Sima at Western Star Jewelry coming in January

	PE Class is a huge success. Everyone is enjoying it....From the big to the little. Those winter muscles are getting stretched and the kinks are getting worked out.
Maybe some are a little more limber than others...		But there are a lot of happy faces.

Frog Dissection


We learned about owls and then dissected owl pellets. Inside the pellets were the bones of its prey. Then, in the next unit we learned about frogs and how they metamorphose.	Then each student got to dissect a frog. We took out all the organs and identified them. Simeon cut open the head and found the brain. Kendle took out an eyeball.	It was really interesting. Some kids really got into it and didnt want to quit. Others just thought it was g-r-o-s-s!

1st Science Workshop


Our first Science Workshop was held at the Lechner's home in Etna. We had Brenda Ashworth, from the S.V. Water Conservation District, visit. She explained to us what SVWCD was and what they did. She brought with her a model of a watershed.	The children took turns applying pollutants, in the form of thick liquids colored with koolaid. pollutants such as fertilizers, gasoline and oil from spills, manure, pesticides...	Then, after all the pollutants were applied, they took turns spraying water on the model. This showed them exactly how the pollutants flow into water sources. It was a fun, hands-on demonstration. The hardest part was getting the spray bottles away from them, when we were done.

SVHE Christmas Party

The Christmas Party was a HUGE success.
A tremendous thank you to Ira for planning and arranging everything. You did a fantastic job. Everyone enjoyed themselves and not a single complaint was heard from ANYONE!! not even a mouse......

The food arrangement went without a hitch and that is the way we will plan from now on...amazingly smooth.
The games were so much FUN. Thank you again Ira.

And, thankyou to everyone who brought marvelous dishes and helped with the games. A big thankyou for helping to clean up after. We have not had a single complaint from the officers at the armory nor their cleaning lady, Cory. :)

Santa's Beard Contest ......................................Decorating Gingerbread Men ..............Playing Jingo ............................Who is that hitting the pinata?

Too much excitement.......

We had several of our members in the "Heart of Christmas" Benefit Concert that took place on Dec. 4 and 5 at
Sv High School. They were absolutely amazing. Teri and Tyler Hoop with their amazing voices, wowed the audience.
We are so proud of Samuel Lechner, who recited from memory, Luke 2:6-18 about the "Birth of Jesus".
Adam Cook was in the finale as part of the Swing Club at the highschool, and he was great; so debonair.
Thank you to our members and all the others involved in the production, for all your hard work that you put in to make
the benefit concert for Kenner Johnson, such a success.

svhe — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:37:15 CST

NOVEMBER 09

DECEMBER 09

svhe — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:24:23 CDT

What are our options? What about College?

A must read if you want to, plan to, or ARE schooling teenagers.

Homeschooling-The Teen Years by Cafi Cohen
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Homeschooling/Cafi-Cohen

"Contains three of the most helpful sentences I've ever read on the question of homeschooling: 'Just start.' 'You will make mistakes.' and 'No big deal.' What excellent advice! One of the most thoroughly helpful books I've read in years. If you're homeschooling a teenager you'll want (and need) this outstanding book!" ‹ Helen Hegener, managing editor of Home Education Magazine

This book can help you:
·Create unlimited learning on a limited budget
·Discover teaching methods for teens with different learning styles
·Utilize the best resources and technology
·Prepare your teen for college, career, and adult life
·Work with your teen to create a unique, individual learning experience
·Make coursework interesting, challenging, and fun
·Allow your teen to discover the best vocational path, including selecting a college
·Know when your teen has "completed" high school
·And much more!
(I read it before I made the decision to continue to homeschool through highschool. It was pivotal in my decison and I am so glad I did. I refer back often.
She also wrote one about College as well. Essential!!....Terri L.)

Transcripts
At the bottom of this page from DonnaYoung.org click on the very bottom download link (Word Doc.) A very good transcript template that can be filled in with your own school info.

ACT TEST PREP
An excellent source to prepare for necessary pre-college testing

Colleges that accept Homeschooled Students
This is a great site...lots of other information as well including Financial Aid

Scholarships

SAT's, Finding a College, Applying...

NHEN - Homeschooling Teens

Fusefly - Homeschoolers' Social Network

Christian Teen Forums & Chat

ChristUnion.com, Christian Myspace Alternative

The Gear-Up Program through Western Wyoming Community College is being made available to Homeschool students in Lincoln County.
Workshops, Campus Visits, College readiness, ACT-SAT Testing, Financial Aid.

contact for Lincoln Co. is
Delores Willis

email Delores at dwillis@wwcc.wy.edu
___________________________

"SHINE" Matt 5:16

A Youth Service for young adults;
- (high-school teens thru college age),

Studying through the Book of Acts
open-forum discussion.

Sunday evenings 7pm
at New Hope Fellowship in Etna

For info contact...
adamangelovich@hotmail.com
or
ladtlariv@yahoo.com
or
New Hope Fellowship 307.883.6050

___________________

TEEN-PACT
....Turning Students into Statesmen.
The focus of every TeenPact experience is Leadership, Citizenship, and Spiritual Growth.

Alternatives for Homeschooling Teens: by Wes Beach
"Self-Direction, Engagement, and Success"

A Thomas Jefferson Education

"Exploring the Ultimate Urban Legend: Homeschooled Teens"
By Diane Flynn Keith

____________________________________

svhe — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:18:53 CDT

All members of Star Valley Home Educators may post Classified Ads. For sale, trade, free, or wanted to buy.

Items	Seller
For Sale: Alpha Omega Switched on Schoolhouse 2002 CD's for 10th + 11th gr ( History, Science, Language Arts ) SOLD	Terri L
Snake for Sale: 7 ft. Red Tail Boa. Her name is Medusa. Very mild temperament. Good Pet $75 w/ tank	Terri L
For Sale: Alpha Omega LifePac Teacher's Manuals (sci, hist, lang.arts) $5ea. Math U See T. Manual for Algebra 1 and Geometry	Terri L
For Sale: PowerGlide - German-Complete(w/ all 8 CD's) $25	Terri L
For Sale: Alpha Omega SOS 2008 CDs Brand New!! Still in box!! 12th grade History, Science, Language $40 each or $100 for whole package SOLD	Terri L
FRESH EGGS $2 per doz.	Terri L

Directions to post item(s)...
1. Sign in (Join first if not a member)
2. Click on Members (in bar above), then click your user name, Highlight and copy the address from navigation
toolbar
3. Come back to Classified page and click easy edit.
4. Put description of items for sale in left column of list.
5. Click in right column, go up above and clink link.
6. in link window put your user name in the text line;
right click on the link line and paste address in.
7. Click save.
8. Return often to check for replies.

Directions to reply to ad...
1. Click on seller's user name (in blue)
2. Click on send message.

svhe — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:19:22 CDT

Welcome!

We are a Wyoming homeschool support group.

Star Valley is a beautiful valley in Lincoln County, on the western border of Wyoming.
S.V.H.E. supports homeschool families from the towns of Alpine, Etna, Freedom, Thayne,

Star Valley Ranch, Bedford, Turnerville, Grover, Auburn, Afton, Fairview, Osmond, and Smoot.

Enter Here

Please, take a moment to look around. We have lots of information about homeschooling in Star Valley, about SVHE, as

well as great links for curriculum, teaching resources, and fun stuff too.

We are under construction... ...So please bear with us.

SVHE Constitution & By-Laws

________________________________

________________________________

If it's in Star Valley, it's in here!

svhe — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:52:11 CDT

Star Valley Home Educators
Constitution

Article I

The name of the organization is Star Valley Home Educators (SVHE).

Article II

The purpose of SVHE is to encourage, enable, and empower member families to grow and thrive in their respective home school environments and to facilitate their success by providing information and support services.

Article III

SVHE is a non-denominational, faith-based support group, open to all families home educating their children, regardless of race, creed, color, religious or political beliefs.

Article IV

Members of SVHE will not teach any religious or political doctrine while acting as a representative of SVHE. All activities having faith-based material/subject matter must provide disclosure of content by prior notification.

Article V

Membership dues will be determined each year by the SVHE board and approved by the members. Special provision shall be made for those who cannot pay for valid reasons. SVHE is a non-profit organization. The dues collected will be used to cover printing and postage costs of the monthly newsletter.

Article VI

Officers of the SVHE board will meet the following qualifications:
Board members shall be active homeschoolers .
Nominations for new board members may be presented to the board for approval by April 15th of each year. The board will make nomination recommendations at the May election meeting; nominations will also be accepted from the floor at this time.
The May election meeting will be open to all members of SVHE. A simple majority vote of those present will determine election outcome.
The SVHE board shall consist of the following officers: One Chairperson, one Assistant Chairperson, one Secretary, one Treasurer, one News Editor.
Term length for board members shall be one year per election.That year shall run from May-May.

Article VII

This constitution shall become effective upon approval by a 2/3 vote of the members present at a general meeting. This constitution may be amended by submitting an amendment proposal to the board for approval. If approved, ( the proposed amendment must comply with our purpose statement), the amendment would pass upon a 2/3 vote of the members present. The proposed amendment would be mailed to the general membership at least 1 week before a vote would take place.

Article VIII

If SVHE should be dissolved, by a 2/3 member vote, it’s assets shall go to a charity elected by 2/3 vote of members present.

Star Valley Home Educators
By-Laws

Section One

General Meetings
General meetings shall be held on the second Thursday/Friday of each month, September through May, excluding December. All meetings will follow “Robert’s Rules”.
* Procedures of general meetings shall follow this outline:
Opening prayer
Approval of last month’s minutes and treasurer’s report
Old business/unfinished business
New business
Program content
Closing prayer

Section Two

Special Meetings
There will be two planned special meetings each year. August will be SVHE’s planning meeting. May will be SVHE’s election meeting. Any three members can contact the board if they desire a special meeting be called. The board will determine if a special meeting is justified and complies with the purpose statement and constitution. The board may also call a special meeting.

Section Three

Board Meetings
The board will meet separately twice per school year. The presence of all officers is mandatory to constitute a quorum. Each board member has one vote. A simple majority can carry or defeat a motion.

Section Four

Officer’s Duties
(a)Chairperson: The Chairperson shall be responsible for providing leadership and direction within the organization. She/He will set the agenda and preside over all meetings. She/He will oversee that all of SVHE’s group activities comply with the purpose statement.
(b)Assistant Chairperson: The Assistant Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson in her duties. She/He shall preside over any meetings where the Chairperson is absent. She/He shall provide leadership in helping to administrate committees or events as directed. She/He will be responsible for the Resource Library and to make it accessible to members..
(c)Treasurer; The Treasurer will keep membership and dues records, and will maintain a record of income and expenditures. She/He can dispense funds up to $25.00 in consultation with the Chairperson. She/He may dispense larger amounts of funds only with board approval. She/He will ensure that requests for reimbursement are accompanied by appropriate documentation.
(d)Secretary: The Secretary will send out information packets to new members and any official SVHE correspondence. She/He will keep attendance at all meetings and will maintain minutes of all meetings. The Secretary will maintain the SVHE Directory. She/He will print and disperse any flyers or posters needed by SVHE, for public events. The Secretary will compile all articles, announcements, and information for SVHE’s monthly newsletter and will create, print, and mail out the newsletter to all members. The newsletter will have 8 issues per school year. Any article can be refused that does not comply with the purpose statement, constitution, or by-laws. She/He will be responsible for maintaining the SVHE website and will submit occasional articles about SVHE events to the local newspaper.
(e)Activity Director: The Activity Director will schedule, plan, organize, and oversee all parties, outings, and fieldtrips. She/He will select committees when needed and delegate responsibilities when appropriate. She/He will have use of SVHE funds in accordance with section 4(c).

Section Five

Special Committees and Activities
Special committees can be formed by the board and general membership. All of SVHE’s activities, fieldtrips, and co-op classes must comply with the organization’s purpose statement and constitution.

Section Six

Membership Benefits
To become a member of SVHE, a family must pay the yearly dues. Members of SVHE will receive a member directory, monthly newsletter, and will be notified of all activities, workshops, and fieldtrips. Members will have voting rights in all general meetings and special meetings. Members will be eligible to be nominated to a board position after one full year of membership. No one shall sell or hand out SVHE’s member list.

SVHE is not a legal entity and it cannot sue or be sued.

svhe — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:29:00 CDT

Specifically, this page is for discussing homeschooling; nothing more, nothing less.
The posts will be monitored. If any threads are found to be inappropriate and/or not in keeping with the principles and purpose of SVHE, they will be deleted.
If you wish to opine, go to thread section below.
Have at it!!

Active Topics:
1. Considering Unschooling

A Thomas Jefferson Education
The American founding fathers, as well as many other great men and women throughout history, were able to truly impact the world around them because they learned using this educational model.

Diane Flynn Keith
talks about unschooling

svhe — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:24:21 CDT

Diane Flynn Keith

printed with permission

This is a selection of authors who write about homeschooling issues; from unschooling to K-12 programs, from how to get started to homeschooling teenagers.
This is a brand new page so help us get it going.
You MUST receive permission from the author to print their articles.

svhe — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:11:55 CDT

"Trusting Your Children To Determine Curriculum"
By Diane Flynn Keith

I want to invite you into the dark, suffocating recesses of my school mind. I want you to see that in spite of the fact that I have homeschooled my children for 6 or 7 years now, I still suffer the consequences of having been schooled -- and that my indoctrination to school thought is so complete, my mind still plays school tapes even as I try to embrace the unschool mantra of "Trust the Children."

The holidays were over. I asked my kids to make up a list of the things they would like to study, learn about, and do over the next few months. I said I would make a list too -- and then we would compare our lists to develop a schedule that would include all of our interests.

What I Wanted To Do
I planned a course of study to take us through the end of the school year. I decided that we would try to finish the math texts my kids were using, read some American history everyday, write everyday, and read biographies of famous scientists. We would supplement these studies with a hands-on science class once a week, music lessons twice a week, a physical education program twice a week, and an occasional field trip. Oh yes, and I intended to teach them some key phrases in Spanish for a short trip we will take to Mexico in the spring.

Don't laugh at me. This plan was not too ambitious. I've been homeschooling for a long time now and I'm telling you -- this is possible. The math, history, writing and reading can be accomplished in a couple of hours each day. Then it's just a matter of scheduling the classes and field trips to sandwich our studies.

You can imagine my consternation when my children presented me with their lists...

What My 11-Year-Old Wants To Do

* Snowboard
* Aggressive Inline Skating (become "sponsored")
* Arrange Parties with Homeschool Friends
* Fly Airplanes
* Jam With Other Musicians
* Play Starcraft On-line And Off-line
* Take Science Classes
* Talk On-line To Friends

What My 13-Year-Old Wants To Do

* Fly Airplanes
* Aggressive Inline Skating (master a series of flips of varying degrees)
* Ski & Snowboard
* Play the Guitar
* Take Science Classes
* Go to Parties with Homeschool Friends
* Talk On-line to Friends
* Play with the Dog

I don't see reading, writing, arithmetic or history on my kids' lists -- do you? That's too bad, because if those subjects were their primary interest -- making my plan work would be a whole lot easier. As I look at each list, I realize that nothing on it remotely resembles schoolwork - with the single exception of science classes. What's worse is that my sons think they've come up with a legitimate learning plan.

Back to my list -- it sounds like school. I even use a time frame created by conventional schooling -- "semester-speak". I am trying to neatly package their days in two-hour time frames of imposed learning. I'm trying to cover all the subjects they would get in school. I'm trying to finish the current textbook so we can move on to the next. I want to indoctrinate them with dumbed down answers to pre-fabricated questions. I want my children to engage in endless routines of drill work so that they can take standardized tests (like CHSPEs and SATs), so they can be ranked, classified, and set on a course for academic titles that have no real meaning (because they have nothing to do with the character of the person who holds the title).

If I can coerce my kids to follow this path then maybe someday, with their little diploma in hand, they can get a "good" job (with a prestigious title) working for someone else, with "decent" pay, benefits, and stock options so they can afford a "good lifestyle" that includes a "nice" home, car, clothes, a big-screen TV, and an occasional trip to Club Med.

Ultimately, I guess I want them to be happy little consumers who run in endless cycles turning the wheel of the global economy. Isn't that what we all hope for our children? (Okay, I'm starting to sound a bit facetious.) But the management of my children through a school-engineered curriculum will produce exactly that -- that is what it was designed to do. And doesn't it make my life easier? It's so simple. So sanitary. So mindless. A routine, an order, a way to predict outcome -- that's what makes me feel comfortable, reassured, and on schedule as I raise my children. These are the "school tapes" that play in my head after all of these years.

The dichotomy of my own thinking is evident when I remember why I rescued my kids from the school system in the first place. It was because school taught subjects that had little or no relevance to what my kids were interested in. It was because my kids complained of being bored by the curricula carefully selected by expert teachers. It was because my kids thought that school was a big waste of their time and objected to time-management techniques -- including the fact that they didn't have enough time to explore a subject when they were interested in it.

It was because my kids objected to the way the teacher treated the students -- speaking to them in clipped tones and directives: "Take out your pencils," "Don't read ahead," and "Time for lunch," -- never taking the time to really have a conversation with a child or bothering to really listen to what a kid had to say. It was because teachers imposed their will under threat of punishment. It was because, in essence, they were simply managing all of those kids -- not educating them. It was because my children didn't like the way the kids treated each other (tattling, vying for position by shoving and pushing in line, teasing, and bullying) -- makes you wonder what disturbed those kids so much that they had to act out like that.

So why would I want to impose the same insane parameters of school in my homeschool? Because it's familiar, it's what I know, it's what almost everyone else does. But if the results produce lock-step adults, passive and compliant, who never question why, who mindlessly accept the titles, rank, and class bestowed upon them by society, and whose happiness will ultimately be defined by what they can buy -- then that is not the result I want. School and its method of mind-control produces that result. To expect that method to produce a different result just because its done in my home is naïve at best.

I once read that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Reproducing school in my home will get the same results as sending my kids to school. I do not want my kids to become devoid of critical thinking skills, to be easily manipulated and maneuvered, to have their every thought measured and monitored, to be subject to constant surveillance with fleeting (if any) moments of solitude in which they might contemplate their naval, the universe, or just be bored. I do not want them to be intimidated into learning anything. I do not want them to become angry because like so many school children they are unheard, unappreciated, unacknowledged, undervalued, and uneducated.

Back to my kids' lists. Are the things they want to learn about really so devoid of education - in the academic sense of the word? Let's take a look. Right off the bat I can tell you that flying airplanes covers science, math, geography, history and reading. Aggressive inline skating, skiing and snowboarding covers P.E. and health (as in go to the emergency room frequently and make observations of health care while being x-rayed, stitched and bandaged). Playing musical instruments is Fine Arts. Arranging and going to parties with homeschooled friends covers socialization. Taking science classes is obvious. Talking on-line to friends is an exercise in writing everyday. They aren't actually talking -- they are typing on a keyboard -- reading emails and instant messages -- and sending them. This covers reading, writing, spelling, grammar and probably computer science. My overall impression is that they will learn all of the subjects that schools insist are so important -- simply by virtue of doing the things that interest them.

Not only that, but based on their interests they will learn valuable skills that will serve them through-out their lives. They might even be able to make a living without getting a diploma.

What?! Indulge my fantasy for a moment... Let's say they get their pilot's license. What if they became "sponsored" skaters -- that means a skate company would pay them to skate in demonstrations and competitions. Suppose they save and invest that money and buy a plane. Suppose they start an air taxi service -- carting people with diplomas to business meetings. Suppose they advertise their service at their web site on the Internet. Suppose they take customer orders by email. Suppose at the end of a long, satisfying day -- working at a career they created and love -- they relax by playing music at a party with their old homeschool buddies. It's not a far stretch. It's entirely possible. And in that case, their lists do provide learning experiences much more relevant and useful than mine. We are only limited by our schoolish thought. And I am reminded to trust my children to know what really matters.

© Copyright, Diane Flynn Keith, All Rights Reserved

Diane Flynn Keith publishes the rave-reviewed Homefires Ezine. If you're ready to save time and money, ease your anxiety, and learn how to have fun homeschooling, get your FREE subscription now at
http://www.homefires.com/

Diane also publishes the popular ClickSchooling e-newsletter with free daily, web-based curriculum ideas.
Subscribe by visiting
http://www.ClickSchooling.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Recovery Program for
Homeschooling Split Personality Disorder

By Diane Flynn Keith

Do you vacillate between child-led, developmentally appropriate, interest-initiated unschooling on one hand, and traditional, structured, academic-based education on the other? These mood-altering swings in methodology creep up unexpectedly on homeschooling parents and are often exacerbated by events beyond their control. I know. I am recovering from homeschooling split-personality disorder.

When I began homeschooling I really liked the idea of unschooling. It made sense -- as John Holt (guru of the Growing Without Schooling movement) said in his book, Teach Your Own -- that true learning only takes place when it is desired by the learner. I knew that most of the knowledge I had acquired and used in my life was in place because I pursued it. I remembered that when I was in school, and required to learn certain subjects, I studied the materials sufficiently to pass a test and then promptly forgot most of it. So because I could see the truth in Holt’s words manifested in my own life, accepting this unique approach to education was enticing.

When I embraced this ideology all was right with the world. My kids were happily absorbed in projects and experiments of their own creation. I was the happy facilitator of their dreams. I helped them find the resources they needed to satiate their interests in the subjects they wanted to explore. Sometimes, though, a homeschool panic attack would disrupt this rapturous scene. Usually it was incited by the kid-next-door who came over and said he got an A+ on his long division test, or that he just finished writing a five-page report on the Industrial Revolution. Sometimes it occurred because a grandparent (after taking the kids to a movie) questioned why the children were having trouble reading the credits that were in cursive font on the movie screen. It had even happened when another homeschooling friend proudly shared that her 14-year-old daughter successfully passed the high school proficiency exam.

During these episodes something deep inside me would well up and transform me into a ruler-swinging school marm ready to “drill and kill” my kids all the way to college. I’d announce that, “Things are going to change around here.” I’d get on the phone and order catalog curriculum products. I’d create a schedule of subjects, neatly align the materials we’d need, and begin a rigid program of structured learning. My kids looked at me like I was nuts but cooperatively went along with my antics -- for a while. Usually about three weeks into the packaged-curriculum-product-paces my kids revolted. They would object, whine, complain, and beg for a reprieve.

When I was finally exhausted from the demands of lesson preparations and had been thoroughly worn down by the kids’ pitiful whining and misery -- my alter-ego emerged. You know, the “let’s-take-the-day-off-and-go-to-the-beach” unschooler who squelched the tenured-teacher ego and encouraged the kids to play hooky. After a day discovering sea creatures in tide pools, watching the tide line rise and fall, discussing tidal action and the moon’s gravitational pull, examining different varieties of seaweed, constructing sand castles, and sorting sea shells into categories -- I began to wonder why I ever questioned my children’s desire to learn and their ability to learn from the environment around them. We would immediately begin unschooling again in earnest. I “channeled” John Holt, Pat Farenga, Grace Llewellyn, and Sandra Dodd to my children’s utter amazement and delight.

What was going on? Well, I believe this Jeckyl and Hyde flip-flopping was indicative of several things:

I had lost sight of my personal educational philosophy and engaged in a tug-of-war with what society expects and what I believed in my heart was right for my children.

I was experiencing fear of failure in homeschooling, that is, fear of traditional academic failure. I worried that if my kids wanted to go to college someday, they wouldn’t have the tools and skills necessary to jump through the hoops to get there.

I was impatient. Trusting a child to learn means waiting for them to be ready to learn. Sometimes it can be a long wait for parents filled with doubt and anxiety.

I love my kids and wanted to help them become the best that they could be. And to be completely candid, I wanted to have some validation that I made the right choices and that my sacrifices, abilities, and dedication as a homeschooling parent paid off. (I’m not particularly proud of that admission.)

The good news is that there is hope for those of us who experience this split-personality homeschooling disorder. I’ve given the matter a lot of thought and have come up with (Tah-Dah!) a 4-step plan for recovery from homeschooling split-personality disorder. (For those of you familiar with 12-step programs - it takes fewer steps when you homeschool.)

1.) Remain mindful of your personal educational philosophy. Without a map, how will you know where you are going? You must take the time to develop your own educational philosophy based on academic and developmental learning principles that are symbiotic with your own sense of what is important and appropriate in education. You must also take the time to get to know your children’s unique abilities, learning styles, and personalities so that you can adapt your educational philosophy to accommodate their needs. If you are constantly debating in your mind other people’s ideas of what your child should learn, and how they should learn, and in what time-frame they should learn it, then of course you are going to develop homeschooling split-personality disorder. You’ll constantly question and test your own ideology and methodology based on somebody else’s expertise. You are the ultimate expert on what is appropriate for your children - so act like an expert.

If you have a solid belief of how education should best unfold for you and your family based on personal research, insight, and life experience you are much better suited for staying the course you’ve chosen in pursuing your family’s educational objectives. Developing a course of study and choosing educational curricula and resource materials will also be easier if you have basic criteria for judging study plans and utilizing educational products whether for use in traditional or unschooled learning environments. Additionally, making a choice to be well informed about the educational style you have selected will provide you with the confidence you need to defend your choice to whoever may challenge it - including your alter ego.

2.) Confront your fear of homeschooling failure. Many home educators are haunted by questions like, “What if my son wants to go to college and can’t write a grammatically correct essay to save his life?” or “What if my daughter wants a job in retailing but can’t count change back to a customer?” Facing your fears means admitting that there are certain skills we need to get along in life. Giving your child the tools they need to hone those skills will alleviate some of your fears. Determine what it is you think they should know. Is it reading, writing, and arithmetic? It’s okay to exercise your parental authority and responsibility and decide that there are some things your child must learn, but there is a way to gently lead your child in the process without making a bunch of authoritarian dictums. You can make it clear that you require your child to do some work on a subject, but allow him or her room to negotiate how much, when, and what materials will be used. Respectful consideration of your child’s learning style and temperament coupled with consistent, cooperative effort will elicit the best results.

Remember that the most significant learning tends to take place when the desire comes from inside the learner; when the student feels he has some control over what he or she is learning. Helping your child manage their weaknesses while encouraging and emphasizing their strengths will provide them with the tools they need to develop the skills necessary to accomplish all of their goals in life.

3.) Develop patience. We want to trust that our children will learn to read, memorize the multiplication tables, understand the rules for grammar, and spell well. We want to believe that they will develop an interest in history, be able to name a few U.S. presidents, know where countries, states and cities are located around the world, and use a beaker and a Bunsen burner. It’d be nice if they would learn to speak a foreign language and play a musical instrument too. But couldn’t they please hurry up and do it all by the age of 10, demonstrate their acquired knowledge to everyone we know, and relieve us of the pressure of worrying that somehow they won’t measure up to public school (society’s) curriculum standards? While we may believe that they will accomplish these things (if they want to), it’s not likely that they will accommodate the time frame that would make it less stressful on us. So we have to learn to be patient. Patience is a virtue especially in homeschooling. As one homeschooling mom put it, “It really doesn’t matter if my daughter can solve differential equations at 12 or 21. She is taking responsibility for her own education. And homeschooling has provided us with the opportunity to be together in meaningful measures of time.”

4. Define your view of success in homeschooling. Everyone has their own definition. Since we haven't chosen the lock-step path of traditional schooling most of us have no basis of comparison -- no barometer for success. Without all of the traditional forms of measurement (test, grades, teacher’s comments, etc.) a gauge for our success is elusive. The quest for success can sometimes make us forget what’s really important and why we started homeschooling in the first place.

Most parents love their kids and want to help them exercise their full potential. In our society we view achievements in academics, careers, finances, sports, and the arts as visibly measurable ways of determining that someone has lived up to their potential. It’s tangible “proof” that our children are successful, productive, contributing members of society. Admit it or not, our children are extensions of our own egos and therefore their “successes” are acknowledgments that our parenting and homeschooling have also been successful. We have been conditioned to believe that these material successes are indicative of happiness. That said, it would seem that what we really want is for our children to be happy. We can love, guide and support our children but true happiness, like learning, comes from within. Letting go of our expectations and fantasies for our children’s success, and allowing them to become whom they want to be is one prescription for their happiness and ultimately our own contentment.

A lack of confidence will bring on a case of homeschooling split-personality disorder in a heartbeat. While the four steps recommended above will strengthen your confidence and make you less susceptible to the onset of teacher-facilitator personality transference there is no absolute cure. I suffered from the pangs of H.S.P.D. on-and-off throughout my entire homeschooling career – a total of 14 years! I can only tell you that it helps to encourage your children to become autodidacts -- those who are in control of their own learning. Take joy in their acceptance of personal responsibility and let them know that you will always be there to provide comfort and support. Quit worrying about what everybody else is doing and remind yourself of the really splendid and unique learning opportunities your children have had, and trust that your pattern of learning together is just right for you and your family.

© Copyright, Diane Flynn Keith, All Rights Reserved

Diane Flynn Keith publishes the rave-reviewed Homefires Ezine. If you're ready to save time and money, ease your anxiety, and learn how to have fun homeschooling, get your FREE subscription now at
http://www.homefires.com/

Diane also publishes the popular ClickSchooling e-newsletter with free daily, web-based curriculum ideas.
Subscribe by visiting
http://www.ClickSchooling.com

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Exploring the Ultimate Urban Legend: Homeschooled Teens"

By Diane Flynn Keith

I knew most of the kids in my local homeschool support group from the time they were second-graders. So, when the pliable little-boy-bodies gave way to broad backs and biceps of rock-solid muscle, and the previously waist-less, little girl bodies took on the form of Botticelli's Venus, it took some getting used to.

The changing bodies brought new and different energy, attitudes, thought, and behavior -- and along with it, parental anxiety. This was a surprise to me and many of my homeschool friends who believed the ultimate urban legend — that homeschooled teens are immune to the pressures, social expectations, and behavior dictated by pop culture in America.
soccer player
The Colfax Boys

How did this myth evolve? I think it began many years ago with the teens that were targeted by the media (including the homeschool media) as fine examples of what homeschooling produces. The quintessential examples are the Colfax boys who were raised on a homestead in rural northern California and went on to graduate from Harvard.

Fresh-faced and right off the farm, they exemplified the success that hard work and clean living in a homeschool environment can produce. Because they were in their teens when they achieved national notoriety due to their parents' book, Homeschooling For Excellence, the image emblazoned in the public psyche was that all homeschoolers would somehow turn out like them. These poster boys for homeschooling promised an easy transition from childhood to adulthood bypassing the rebellious, culture-driven angst commonly associated with the teen years. The fact that the Colfaxes were isolated, TV-free, and never steeped in popular teen culture was, for the most part, overlooked and unexamined.

The Colfax mystique was bolstered by similar stories of homeschooled teens who displayed none of the mainstream teen preoccupation with fashion, rebellion, music, and dating. The stories were told countless times in Growing Without Schooling magazine, Home Education Magazine, and in homeschool newsletters nationwide. Homeschooled teens were often depicted as college-bound, advanced academic achievers.
Model Children

They were not only content with their solitude, but preferred adult company to that of their peers, listened only to classical music, wore fashions straight from Ward & June Cleaver's closet, and even sneered with ultimate contempt at the idea of football games and cheerleaders, partying, and The Prom. Some of these kids acted as if the whole popular teen culture experience was beneath them. As a result, many of us came to believe that homeschooled kids would sail smoothly through their teen years never challenging parental strictures and never dabbling in common cultural teen pastimes.

While this news may have been a relief to some parents, it was a naïve leap of faith to assume that all homeschooled teens would be the same! The growth of homeschooling among the mainstream population means homeschooled teens are now more proportionately representative of the teen society at large.
Urban Homeschooling
Young student relaxing

Homeschoolers are human beings and as our numbers grow we reflect more accurately the same assets and liabilities common to all of humanity. For those of us homeschooling in urban America, it means we have the same attributes and quirks seen in the popular culture. Homeschooling will not liberate parents from discussions or arguments with their teens about appropriate attire, activities, friends, music, movies, social behavior, dating, sex, drugs, and the rest of the items on the agenda.

In various locations and situations with homeschooled teens I have seen all of the calling cards exhibited by mainstream tweens and teens (ages 11-18) who go to school: crop tops and low-riding jeans; body piercing and punky-colored hair; public displays of affection (deemed natural and healthy or risky and promiscuous, depending on your point of view); loud music in all of its variations with and without parental warnings; group outings to popular movies (with a demand for PG-13, and a penchant for R-rated films); and sometimes bad attitudes accompanied by bouts of rudeness and profanity even when addressing their parents.

I have also witnessed behavior among homeschooled teens that demonstrates integrity, character, respect, and concern for others -- including their parents. And you know what? It doesn't necessarily come dressed in polo shirts and khakis, or demure dresses.

I have seen academic excellence, but more importantly, I have seen kids who love and direct their own learning, and as a result will author and edit their own lives.
Segregated or Open-minded

I've seen homeschooled teens unselfconsciously and respectfully interact with people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and abilities. I was truly struck by this at a recent homeschool conference. In a typical high school cafeteria teens generally sit with kids of the same age and social "type." (For example, all of the senior jocks hang together, all of the sophomore stoners bunch together, and all of the freshman nerd-geeks sit at another table.)

At the conference, homeschooled teens of all ages who might be described as preppies, jocks, nerds, and other assorted labels sat together. There was an incredible tolerance among this group of teens for differences — and, in my opinion, they demonstrate hope for the future with their impartiality and open-mindedness.

The energy homeschooled teens exude could jump-start a doorknob. When it is channeled in a positive direction it becomes a chain reaction of benevolence in the form of good deeds, good work, and good will. When it is misguided or neglected it swallows their opportunities for growth and detours them from their natural course of development to adulthood. The same is true for all teens.

Because homeschooled teens are not in school they are subjected to less peer pressure and coercion for risky behavior on a daily basis, but they are not immune to it -- particularly if they live in an urban area, watch TV, go to movies, read newspapers and magazines, and interact with non-homeschooled kids in the neighborhood and community.
Positive Influence

That said, I still believe that parents have more opportunities and a better chance to share discussion of teen-centered issues (and therefore positively influence their teens) when they are homeschooled.

We spend more quantity time with our teens and so have a better probability of quality time that can lead to conversations about everything from awakening sexuality to tattoos and mosh pits. Homeschool parents tend to be involved in their teens' lives, a factor underrated by mainstream society. They are willing to dialog with other homeschool parents about areas of concern too. In my support group the parents tackled every subject from clothing to sex to drugs with regard to our burgeoning teen group. We were not always in agreement on these topics, but we did talk and listen. Respectful discourse can go a long way to form opinions, strategies, and guidelines for how to help teens safely make that miraculous passage from childhood to adulthood.

Our conversations confirmed that teens want what we all want -- to be appreciated, acknowledged, accepted, needed, understood, and ultimately loved. Homeschooling presents the opportunity to create an environment that supports those needs.

My hope for all of you homeschooling teens is that once your children safely transition into healthy and well-adjusted young adults, you will look back on this stage of their development with some amusement, and also with deep appreciation that through homeschooling you became your teens' allies in the process of growing up.

© Copyright, Diane Flynn Keith, All Rights Reserved

Diane Flynn Keith publishes the rave-reviewed Homefires Ezine. If you're ready to save time and money, ease your anxiety, and learn how to have fun homeschooling, get your FREE subscription now at
http://www.homefires.com/

Diane also publishes the popular ClickSchooling e-newsletter with free daily, web-based curriculum ideas.
Subscribe by visiting
http://www.ClickSchooling.com

svhe — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:47:29 CDT

Club Penguin by Disney a safe, kid friendly game world populated by penguins (other players)	Welcome to the World of Bella Sara a wonderful interactive game featured in Young Rider Magazine
Alice in Wonderland An Interactive Adventure! a wonderful site withexcerpts from the story, with games and activities at every stop.	Capalls http://www.capalls.com Awesome horse game that my daughter plays constantly. Breeding, Buying, Selling, Training virtual horses.

PUZZLES!!!!

svhe — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:33:55 CDT

Biography Base Over 5500 biographies MacroHistory: World History Roman Emperor Index	HyperHistory This is a wonderful resource. A timeline set up that you can click on and pull up any and ALL kinds of info. From sung dynasty to politics of Jefferson, from artists of 16th century Europe to Martin Luther.
Petra - Lost City of Stone The Ancient Web	Women in the Ancient World Biographical Plays
Art History Time Line	Ancient Civilizations
Anthropology Resources on the Net	Biographical Dictionary
History of Food Very cool timeline	Shakespeare Timeline
The Middle Ages: emuseum this is awesome. You take a tour with a medieval guide and learn all about that aspect of the times. Great links. Lots of wonderful information.	Lesson Plans History/American Government (High School)
	EyeWitness To History (HOME)
Medieval Castles; History, Architecture and Design	EyeWitness To The Middle Ages and Renaissance EyeWitness To The Old West

Inventors' Hall of Fame: Biographical info on Famous Inventors	Women's Biographies: Distinguished Women of Past and Present

Revolutionary War at HistoryCentral

History of Star Valley:

Timeline, Histories, Exhibits, Collections...

svhe — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:28:37 CDT

Typing Web Tutor
Free On-line typing program

Eduweb - web adventures
At eduweb®, we love to learn—and we love to work with organizations devoted to learning. All of our clients share an educational mission, whether they are museums offering educational outreach, distance learning programs embracing the Web as another medium for their work, or corporations serving the K-12 learning community. Browse the profiles of our latest and greatest projects, or explore our portfolio by client or by subject.

Flashcards
The world's largest flashcard library

edHelper.com
Math, Reading Comprehension, Themes, Lesson Plans, ad Worksheets

Virtual Library
The WWW Virtual Library (VL) is the oldest catalogue of the Web, started by Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of HTML and of the Web itself, in 1991 at CERN in Geneva. Unlike commercial catalogues, it is run by a loose confederation of volunteers, who compile pages of key links for particular areas in which they are expert; even though it isn't the biggest index of the Web, the VL pages are widely recognised as being amongst the highest-quality guides to particular sections of the Web.

MindMapping,
This is similar to Sky Charts when doing Unit Studies, but with a twist. Very interesting and worth a look.

Wilderness Survival
Learn to survive. Survival is simple, using our skills taught about the wilderness, anyone can do it! Survive the simple way.
Survival Skills, Wilderness shelters, Campfires, Emergency kits, Bush craft

Home

Educational
Link
page

Quotes by Mark Twain

Young Film Makers Club

Unit Studies

HomeschoolShare

Ultimate Ungulates!!!

svhe — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:13:53 CDT

Let's Make Literature FUN!!!

SpellCity	ICT Literacy Games
Speed Reading Test Assess your students' reading skills (or your own)	edHelper (themes, lesson plans, worksheets) Dictionary.hm
Planet Ebook	The Victorian Web: An Overview
Audiobooks
The Literature Page - Read classic books by famous authors online Shakespeare, Twain, Bronte, Melville... A wealth of classics at your fingertips.	Fridge MagWords (this is great fun for anyone!!)
Games:	Poetry:
Word Builder (phonemic processing) Word Safari	Poets.org: From the Academy of American Poets: a database of poets, poems, and lesson plans
Hangman -- Spelling Builder Alphabet Soup	Edgar Allen Poe his life, his work, his eccentricities
Kidtastic City
Be A Reporter Game Middle School and Up	Neurotic Poets - The Link Between Creativity And Madness This is high-school level

Black Cat Poetry This is a fantastic site for poetry with links to trivia and other stuff embedded in the body of the poems. Look up by author of category.

READ great books/classics

Open Source Shakespeare:
search Shakespeare's works, read the texts

17th C. English Literature: Metaphysical Poets

English Scholar

svhe — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:23:50 CDT

Geology.com Earth Science News, Maps, Dictionary, Articles	Microdocs -Short Attention Span Science Theatre
Science Fair Central	Paul Lemur's Page Kids learn about polymers Polymer Science Learning Center
OLogy Super site for any ology - science for elementary levels	cell biology animation
Rader's-Cosmos4Kids	Home of CELLS alive! This is the BEST cell biology site by far!!!
Chemistry drills	Plant and Flower Dictionary
Rader's-Chemistry4Kids	Rader's-Biology4Kids
Rader's-Physics4Kids	Virtual Body
ISS - NASA	How Stuff Works?
Hunkin's Experiments	Leonardo's Sciences
Interactive Periodic Table	Bill Nye the Science Guy
Exploratorium: the online museum of science, art and human perception	In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood
Anatomy of a Black Hole	Science of Cooking
IRIS Seismic Monitor	The Anatomy Wiki
Inventors...National Museum of Education Are you into inventing? Visit this site!! Invention competitions, online science experiments, online activities, and Kid Inventors' Hall of Fame.	Monterey Bay Aquarium Family and Educational Games & Activities Bark Identification
Interactive Concepts in Biochemistry	Instant Anatomy

Science Experiments from Home Science Tools
( “Science Explorations”)

Science Project: Make a Butterfly Feeder

What You Will Need:

a plastic lid (from an empty sour cream container or other container)

a hole punch

string or yarn

scissors

construction paper or artificial flowers

several slices of fruit that are too ripe to eat

orange juice

What To Do:

Get an adult to help you use the hole punch to punch four holes in the lid just inside the rim. Punch one hole at the top of the lid, one at the bottom and another one halfway in-between those holes on each edge.

Cut four pieces of string that are each about 12" long. Tie one end of each string through each of the holes and around the rim of the lid. Pull the loose ends of all four strings together at the top (the rim of the lid should be facing up) and tie them together in a knot.

Cut colorful flowers out of construction paper and tape them to the strings to help you feeder attract butterflies. (You could use artificial flowers instead.)

Arrange a few slices of the ripe fruit on the lid. Fruits that are very juicy will attract butterflies the best. Some good ones to use are oranges, watermelon, grapes, or pears. Bananas also work well if you freeze them and then thaw and slice them. If some of the fruit does not seem very juicy, pour a few drops of orange juice on it to keep it from drying out as quickly.

Take your feeder outside and hang it from a tree branch. Since the sweet fruit will probably attract other insects like bees and flies, you should not hang it near your house or sidewalk.

Watch to see what kind of butterflies come to eat at your feeder. Do you think different kinds of butterflies like different kinds of fruit? How many butterflies eat from your feeder at once? How does a butterfly eat?

What's Happening?

Butterflies love to drink nectar. The sweet juice from fruit is like nectar. Butterflies don't have noses, but they can sense smells through their antennae and their feet! When a butterfly lands on liquid, it knows it is something it could eat and its proboscis uncurls to drink up the liquid! A proboscis works sort of like a drinking straw and the liquids that it sucks up through its proboscis go directly into the butterfly's body. Colors also help butterflies find food. Their favorite colors are purple, red, orange, yellow, and pink, because those are the colors of most flowers that have sweet nectar that butterflies can easily drink.

Science Project: Watch Photosynthesis

All these busy plants around us, producing what we need to live, and they don't look like they're doing anything. How can we tell if they are performing photosynthesis? One way is to see if they are giving off oxygen, the most important byproduct of photosynthesis. Of course, we can't usually see leaves producing oxygen, but watch what happens when you use an underwater plant!

Materials

* Elodea (also called pondweed, available at pet stores)
{available at Hi Mtn Greenhouse
in Thayne}
* Glass jar or beaker
* Funnel that fits inside the jar
* Test tube
* Matches and a wooden splint

What To Do:

1. Setup for photosynthesis project: Fill a sink with water and set the beaker in it. Put some elodea in the beaker and cover it with the funnel.
2. Now submerge the test tube in the water so that there is no air inside it. While holding it under the water, carefully place it over the neck of the funnel. Don't let its mouth break the surface of the water.
3. Lift the whole apparatus out of the water. You can tip a little water out of the jar so it won't spill. Set the jar on a sunny windowsill. As soon as the elodea begins to photosynthesize, you will see tiny bubbles appearing on its leaves and then floating upwards into the test tube. These bubbles are oxygen produced by photosynthesis!
4. Leave the jar on the windowsill for several hours. The rate of photosynthesis will vary depending on the intensity of the sunlight and other factors, but slowly the oxygen will collect in the test tube.
5. When the test tube is about half full of gas, use a match to light the wooden splint. Gently blow it out again and then immediately lift the test tube straight up and insert the splint up into it, without touching it to the sides of the test tube. The splint should glow brightly, or even burst back into flame! This is proof that the gas you collected is oxygen, which is flammable.

Normally we can't see the oxygen produced by photosynthesis, but when it is produced underwater it appears as bubbles in the water. These float up through the funnel and displace the water in the test tube. Fire needs oxygen to burn, so when you insert the splint, the pure oxygen in the test tube causes it to glow brighter or produce a flame.

The rate of photosynthesis varies with several factors, including the intensity of sunlight and the temperature of the plant. (Other factors include the amount of water and the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air.) You can design an experiment to test some of these variables: for example, will photosynthesis happen faster or slower if you put the elodea in warm water? Collect data by measuring how much oxygen is produced in a given amount of time when the elodea is submerged in warm water vs. cold water. You can either mark the level of oxygen on the glass with a wax pencil, or you can use a graduated cylinder instead of a test tube and measure more precisely in milliliters. Try to keep the other variables constant. It's best if you can run two jars simultaneously so you know they are getting the same intensity of sunlight. If you only have one jar, how else could you make sure the light intensity is constant? Could you use a light source other than the sun?

Science Project: Phototropism Obstacle Course
(from Home Science Tools;
“Science Explorations”)

Without light, a plant can't make its food by photosynthesis. Sunlight is so important to a plant that it will change the way it grows so that it points toward the light. This is called phototropism, from the Greek words for "light" and "turn." You can see this with a houseplant: the leaves grow to point toward the window. If you turn it around it will eventually move to orient itself toward the window again. How strong is this attraction to sunlight? Can a plant grow around obstacles to find the light? Time to find out!

Materials

* Shoe box with a lid
* A couple pieces of cardboard
* Matte black paint (spray paint is easiest)
* Tape
* Small flowerpot or styrofoam cup
* Potting soil
* Bean seed

What To Do:

1. Cut two pieces of cardboard that are as deep as the box and about 2/3 as wide.
2. Paint the inside of the box, the inside of the lid, and the two pieces of cardboard with black paint. This will help cut down on light reflection.
3. Setup for phototropism project. When the paint is dry, tape one of the cardboard pieces to the inside of the box so that it extends out into the middle of the box. (During the experiment the box will stand on its end. (Leave enough room for your flower pot or cup to stand below the piece of cardboard.) Tape the other piece of cardboard to the opposite side of the box a few inches above the first one.
4. Stand the box on its end and cut a small hole (about the size of a dime) in the top end.
5. Plant one or two bean seeds 3/4-inch deep in some damp potting soil in the flower pot or styrofoam cup. Place it in the bottom of the the box and put the lid on. (Make sure the lid fits tightly enough that no light can get in except through the hole in the top of the box.)
6. Keep your bean plant watered and check on it once a day to see how it is growing. Draw or take pictures of how it grows.

What's Happening?

The bean plant grows towards the only source of light, the hole in the top of the box, even if it means growing around the cardboard obstacles you placed inside the box! The energy it needs to sprout and start growing was stored in the seed, but eventually that food will be all used up and the plant will need to make more through photosynthesis. The plant spends the energy from the seed trying to find light so it can survive.

Science Site Spotlight

All About Owls

WebElements this is a fantastic interactive periodic table

Surfing Scientist

Free Online Science Seminars

Sunflower Project
Join the Hunt for Bees

Explore the Abyss

svhe — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:40:16 CDT

Used Curriculum and
Discount Houses

SVHE Classifieds

Veg Swap

ChristianBook.com (discount house)

Curriculum Reviews

Penny Wise Learning

Edify (homeschool auction)

svhe — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:40:02 CDT

If you are a member writer you may add articles here. If you did not write it, you must receive reprint permission first before adding it.
Older articles will be moved to Archives
Homeschool World: Practical Homeschooling Articles

Homeschool? by Teri Hoop Oct. 2008 This question comes often, mostly from others (but sometimes from me in a moment of frustration). Why? Why do it? It's so much more work! Why would you willfully choose this extra burden? I use to try and defend myself, pointing out all the wonderful benefits. But then I realized that most people don't agree with me and they definitely don't want to be convinced. So now when they ask me why I homeschool, I simply reply, "Because we love it!" Who can argue with that? I love to be with my children. I am close to them and they turn to me. We have time for family and what's important. We can teach them about Jesus more than once a week, everyday, personally helping them build their character, so that one day my husband and I will get the pay-off for all our extra time and hard work: wonderful, kind, loving, talented adult-children who seek knowledge because they love learning and who know Christ for themselves, powerful instruments in God's hands for the accomplishment of good and the ability to defend principles offreedom because we taught them! This is why I homeschool. This is the goal, this is the reward. And when I ask myself, "why do you homeschool?" The thought of this end-result keeps me going. When I concentrate on the short-term I get frustrated and I wonder if they're ever going to get it, but when I remember the end-product, it puts it all into perspective and I am happy. God loves us and he will help us as we try to fulfill our righteous roles as parents and teach our children, who are also His. God bless you all in your efforts tohomeschool, whatever your reasons!	"Little House" Lessons from Ma by Sara Malone Jan 2009 My all-time favorite series of books as a child was Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series. I thought that Laura was the most wonderful character I'd ever read about. I also enjoyed Mary, Carrie, Grace, and of course Pa. I recently read the series again. This time however, a different character stood out to me. Ma (Caroline Ingalls) always seemed to be in the background of these pioneer stories. I think that being a mother now helped me to see how important she was to her family in many aspects. Ma was definitely the glue that help the family together no matter the circumstances. Ma's life was not easy. She married a man who was by nature a wanderer. Pa (Charles Ingalls) always wanted to move west away from civilization. Ma steadfastly followed him from Wisconsin to Kansas, to Minnesota, to Iowa, and finally South Dakota. She traveled in a covered wagon and lived mostly in small cabins. Through each circumstance she did her best to raise her children in a civilized manner. Ma's life was full of work. She was determined to do whatever needed to be done to keep things going. She cooked, cleaned, sewed clothes, churned butter, made cheese, and many other chores often with very little to work with. She wasted nothing and learned to make do with what she had. She taught her daughters to do the same and to do so without a complaint. In almost every house that Ma lived in she hung a special shelf. On that shelf she placed a china shepherdess figurine. I think this represented some consistency in her life. No matter where she lived, she could provide a civilized home for her family. She taught her daughters manners, educated them when necessary, and gave them the skills and wisdom needed to prepare them for their own lives. Pa and the girls always had a welcoming home because Ma consistently worked to make it so. The life of Caroline Ingalls was filled with hardships. She endured the death of a child, illness resulting in the blindness of a daughter, crop failures due to drought, grasshoppers, prairie fire, the threat of Indian uprisings, and blizzards just to mention a few. Her faith in God and love for her family helped her to move on as life moved on. She moved on with steadfastness, determination, and consistency. I can now see the importance of Ma to the Ingalls family even though she is somewhat of a background character. She is truly someone that I can look to as an example of character for my life.
“The Process of Learning” (Part I) By Sam Roper Apr. 2008 The process of education requires two very important things. First, a clear understanding of the mindset, mental faculties, emotional state, and emotional process of the person you are trying to teach. Second, you have to have a clear, realistic goal for both the end of the present lesson as well as the end of the education process. The goals in education can be as varied as the people trying to attain them. As home educators, we all want our children to have a basic education. We also want our children to excel in areas of special interest and expertise, especially in subjects that will help them in their careers. When we set goals, we need to understand and accept that two things will inevitably happen. The goals won’t always be met and the goals will change. This is true with us as adults as well as our children, and should be accepted because it’s just plain part of being human. With that said, I’d like to concentrate more on the understanding of the mental and emotional processes. Understanding these is the key to setting, as well as obtaining, goals for us and our children. Probably the most important aspects of understanding, are observation and correlation. I believe that by observing ourselves, our children, and all of the world around us, we will come to understand that we are all similar, and that certain concepts hold true for people as well as animals. We were all created by the same God. Realizing this we can come to a greater understanding and create more effective ideas and concepts. These, in turn, will make it easier and more pleasant for us to teach our children. Observing Our Children We as parents, know our children better than anyone else in the world. We’ve observed them from the time they were born, we know their wants and needs better than anyone else, and we care about them more than anyone else. This makes us more qualified and compassionate than anyone else when it comes to setting goals for our children. As home educators, this gives us a powerful tool for teaching them during the education process. If we take the time, before a lesson, to observe where the child is at mentally and emotionally and make sure the child is ready for the lesson, it will maximize the child’s learning potential. One emotion that is essential to learning is confidence. One important tool for learning is change. If you find that at the end of a lesson, day, or week, that both you and your child are frustrated and exhausted with the education process, then perhaps you could benefit by observing the emotional state of your child during each lesson. As soon as the frustration begins in your child, he or she is beginning to lose confidence, this is when change is needed. Try something new, maybe a burst of enthusiasm, or take a couple steps back and do some confidence building exercises, or even just a break, but try something new to get the child’s confidence back. All progress is the product of trying something new. Observing Ourselves There are two particular aspects of this concept that I would like to point out. The first is our present emotional state. Just like with our children, we need to observe ourselves before and during a lesson. Are we frustrated or unconfident? It’s just as important for us to be in a proper emotional state as it is for our children. If not, make a change, try something new. It’s okay to vary or change your goals. The second aspect of self observation, that I would like to point out, is observation of your own childhood. This can be a very powerful tool for us because we may not always know exactly how our children are feeling or how they will react to certain situations. By remembering our own childhoods we can see how situations affected us. Doing this will increase our level of compassion toward our children and will also give us insights that will help us influence our children’s emotional state. (part II will be coming soon)	“The Process of Learning” (Part II) By Sam Roper January, 2009 Utilizing the thoughts that follow will increase our compassion towards our children and will also give us insights that will help us to influence our children's emotional state in a positive manner. OBSERVING THE WORLD AROUND US God created us, the world around and all plant and animal life using logical, effective and similar methods. I believe the Savior taught in parables not just to hide the teachings from disbelievers but also to stimulate our minds and open them to learning through correlations. Correlations between our lives and the world around us can be found abundantly and can offer us valuable insights and broaden our horizons. Parables, correlations, and similarities between us and the world around us could go in a million different directions, but I would like to concentrate on one particular aspect because of the great similarities and insights that exist Anyone who has studied horse training knows that in the past few decades there has been great strides in the advancement of a movement which has been termed as the revolution in natural horsemanship. To explain it shortly, the general idea is that by using safe, nonviolent, low stress training practices without anger or frustration on the part of the trainer or the horse, the horses learn more quickly and more thoroughly than with abusive, angry, and ignorant training practices. What a concept! As home educators we have an amazing opportunity that we need to utilize, to have a revolution in natural child education right in our own home. In future articles I will try to bring out many situations where tried and true concepts in horse training can apply to child education and make the process easier and more effective, but for the moment I would like to concentrate on some of the differences between us and horses. THE PREDATOR-PREY RELATIONSHIP There is absolutely no doubt that humans are predators, but not just any predator, we are the ultimate predator. Domestication of prey animals is without a doubt the most effective predator tactic that the world has ever seen, and so it can be said that we have the most finely tuned predator tactics in the world. So, you might ask, what in the world does this have to do with education? There are two predator traits that can greatly inhibit education if WHINING Have you ever sat down in front of your family dog and enjoyed a delicious meal? Without fail he will start by looking up at you with big sad eyes that let you know that the sole secret to his eternal happiness would be just a little bite of your food. When you don't give in his poor eyes begin to water and he lets out a little whining that just assures you that his misery is absolutely complete. What is actually happening? This poor puppy is really exercising predator tactics that are just as effective as the tactic of wolves surrounding their prey to ensure the kill. How does this equate to education? Whining is a very effective tool for a predator to get what they want from another predator which has dominance over them, our children use it exclusively as a tool to get us to do something that we don't want to do. It is very important to train this tactic out of them. Perhaps the best way to do this is to show them that it is not effective. I don't have all of the answers for how to do this but I don't think that it would be unreasonable to suggest that when your child starts whining, imagine yourself surrounded by a pack of wolves and realize that the situation requires immediate action if you are going to survive, or at least maintain your dominance over your children. GOALS If you have ever paid attention to the differences between prey and predator animals, you have probably noticed the most prominent one is the way that the eyes are set in the head. Prey animals have eyes that are set on the sides of their heads. this allows them to see nearly 360 degrees around them but they don't focus well on any particular object. their only goals in life are to eat grass, drink water, and not get eaten. In contrast, predators have eyes set in the front of their face, allowing for them to focus well on a particular object, thus facilitating goal orientation, and the fact that they survive by hunting and killing another animal requires them to be goal oriented. But goals are a good thing right? Consider this allegory. A cheetah once it has chosen an animal to chase will concentrate solely on that particular animal until it either kills it or is too exhausted to chase it anymore. It will even run right past other animals who are standing still or who might be a more suitable prey because it has its eyes fixed on one particular goal which it has chosen. While educating our children, goals are definitely important, they are an act of faith and a motivating force, but keep in mind that when we set the goals for our children, we are exercising a predatory tactic on them, also remember that if we concentrate solely on our goals that we set such as our chosen curriculum, we take the chance on missing opportunities that might further our child's education more easily than the goals that we have set for them. One more thought that I'd like to suggest before moving on is that we might do well to constantly examine ourselves for the use of predator tactics on our children, for perhaps a predatory tactic will induce a predatory response. I.E. setting an unwanted or unrealistic goal for our children and especially enforcing it with aggression might induce the response of whining. In future articles I will attempt to make useful correlations between the extremely effective attitudinal changes and training practices that have now become the industry standard in the horse training world and how we relate to our children as we seek to open their minds and give them the best educational experience possible. I hope that these theories and suggestions are useful to some of you and I will try to offer valuable insights.

svhe — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:00:32 CDT

This page is dedicated to sharing ideas, thoughts, and personal experience in the subject area of health,
exercise plans, natural remedies, and diets.
It is not intended for use to diagnose or cure. These are not necessarily the views of SVHE.

Disclaimer: The information provided on SVHE website is for educational purposes only and IS NOT intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, or treatment.

_________________________________________________________________________________
Detox Cleansing
Cleansing is necessary to keep our bodies functioning at their best. Pollution from the environment, oxidative stress, and additives (pesticides, chemical colors and flavorings) in our water and food are stored in organs and fatty tissue and build up in our bodies over time. Cleansing this toxic load can help to boost the immune system, improve vitality, get rid of headaches, allergies, fatigue, pain, arthritis and other symptoms, and can result in substantial weight loss. One of the most powerful dietary cleanses is the Lemon Cleanse or Master Cleanse.
Also the Internal Salt Bath for the entire digestive tract.

Master Cleanser and Internal Salt Bath
________________________________________________________________________________

Staying Healthy This Winter
by Laura Lechner

With winter around the corner, we are again looking at cold and flu season coming near.
For those with good immune systems, this is not much of a concern, except the need to keep our defenses in place. The following are suggestions to consider to avoid illnesses
of all types:

(1) We have natural immunity to “bugs” that exist in our own home, built over time.
We have the advantage of spending more time in that “safe space” of home and have
less exposure to those who are ill than public school children and teachers. Avoid being
near those you know are ill and remain home if ill yourself.

(2) Washing hands frequently when out in public (church, shopping, etc) can help reduce exposure to illness.

(3) Eating a healthy diet with lots of fresh fruit and veggies, sprouted seeds and
whole grains (sprouted grains best), avoiding allergens or foods you are sensitive to,
and getting all the needed vitamins, minerals, protein, other nutrients, and plenty of water and 100% fruit juices can assist your body in protecting your health. Limit mucous-forming foods such as white flour, dairy, etc.

(4) Avoid refined sugars like the plague they are! They will cause excess mucous while putting most of your white blood cells (infection fighters) to sleep, creating an ideal environment for disease. Honey and other natural sweeteners are fine.

(5) Taking an effective multivitamin/mineral supplement, extra vitamin C (rosehip tincture, EmergenC, or other good sources), cod liver oil, wheatgrass juice or green drink supplement can give the body the boost it may need.

(6) There are herbal formulas which boost the immune system such as ImmuneEase with echinacea, garlic, and cayenne, or the children’s formula that has no cayenne. Dr. Christopher’s AntiPlague or VirusEase, and others.

(7) Always consult with a doctor when needed. Many times natural remedies can be effective if a person becomes ill. See the list of TOP Herbs and Herbal Formulas we use for some that may help. Regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and dealing well with or reducing stress are necessary for good health and immunity.

(8) Have a flu shot if, after studying their ingredients and effects, and prayer, you feel good about getting it or are prompted to do so. Dr. J. Anthony Morris (former Chief Vaccine Control Officer at the FDA) stated, “There is no evidence that any influenza vaccine thus far developed is effective in preventing or mitigating any attack of influenza. The producers of these vaccines know that they are worthless, but they go on selling them anyway.” Flu shots are based on last year’s flu and influenza viruses are constantly mutating. Throughout history no flu virus epidemic has ever repeated itself. Ingredients in flu shots are ethylene glycol (yes, same ingredient in antifreeze), carbolic acid, formaldehyde, aluminum, and mercury (now definitely linked to autism and other brain and nerve diseases.) Don’t take my word for it alone but do research yourself, please, and then do what you feel is best for you and your family.

(9) Finally, be happy and replace fear with faith and trust in God. Fear short-circuits our immune system, making us less likely to avoid illness if we are exposed to it. Gratitude for our many blessings brings peace and fortifies us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for whatever we may need to face. Laughter and joy boost our defenses. Keep smiling, prepare, pray, have faith, and use wisdom in following those we trust to give us good information and guidance, and we and our families will be fine whatever comes our way with the blessings of our Heavenly Father.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

TOP COMBINATIONS USED AT OUR HOUSE
HVC (Honey, Vinegar, and Cayenne- Made with 4 TBL honey, 4 TBL apple cider vinegar, 1 ½ tsp cayenne powder OR 80 drops cayenne tincture and enough water to make 1 quart. Used for colds, flu, sore throats, digestive problems, bleeding, shock, and many other things.
ImmuneEase-Used to boost the immune system so a person won’t “catch” what is going around. Different formulas for adults (with cayenne) and for children (no cayenne.)
Infection Fighter with Goldenseal (or Myrrh)- Used to fight bacterial infections, internally and topically.
Infection Fighter with Lomatium- Strongest formula I know for colds, flu, and viral infections but not for small children.
VirusEase- Similar to Dr. Christopher’s AntiPlague, good for viruses-colds, flu, chicken pox, etc.
Herbal Composition-Very old formula for viral sore throats and head colds. Good for strep throat when combined with Infection Fighter with GS or Myrrh.
SinusEase- cleanses the sinuses.
LiverEase- stimulates and cleanses the liver.
KBEase-stimulates and cleanses the kidneys. Use with Infection Fighter with GS or Myrrh for kidney infections.
EmergenC-by Alacer, good Vit C plus other nutrients, well-assimilated.
Daniel’s Ointment- excellent for lung/bronchial congestion, rubbed on chest

-Laura Lechner

TOP SINGLE HERBS AND OILS USED AT OUR HOUSE
(and some of the things we use them for…)

Cayenne- increase circulation, stop bleeding heart problems,varicose veins…
Garlic- Fights almost all infections, boosts immunity, heart and BP issues…
Rosehips- Vitamin C with the co-factors to make it even more bioavailable.
Red Raspberry- good for infections, pregnancy and female problems, minerals
Red Clover Blossoms- Blood cleanser and body purifier
Peppermint- soothing to stomach, digestive problems
Pau D’Arco- helps with excessive yeast in the body
Rooibos Tea- good for heart problems
Arnica Oil- bumps, bruises, sprains-used externally only
Mullein Oil- for earaches, sunburn, and burns.
Lavender Oil- pain, healing, so many uses
TeaTree Oil- topical infections, fungus, yeast
Oregano Oil- good for viral infections
Eucalyptus Oil- relieves congestion
Peppermint and Basil Oils- digestive problems, food poisoning

-Laura Lechner

back to
Just for Mom page

Website Spotlight

Herbs - The Basics Super Site!!!
There is an alphabetical list of herbs at bottom, where you will find the properties and uses of all listed herbs.

Medicinal Plants Botanicals,
phytotherapy, natural remedies

Eat More Herbs this is an excellent site for learning about herbs and their uses. There are teas and remedies for sale but alot of information as well.

Herb News Headlines
from Herb Research Foundation

EarthClinic.com interesting reading

Page Link Index

Homeschooling Articles

svhe — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:26:24 CDT

Links to Bible Studies, Bible courses, online Bibles

Parallel Bible.com

BibleGateway.com

enduringword.com

Bible Maps

e-sword is a fast and effective way to study the Bible. e-Sword is feature rich and user friendly with more capabilities than you would expect in a free software package. The fact that e-Sword is free is just one of the blessings and does not speak of the quality of the software.

19
Mom Meeting
New Hope Fellowship
12:30

26

Thanksgiving

svhe — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:45:49 CDT

Art Work by our Blooming Artists...

	"Horse" by Kim L. (drawn in scribbler)
PicassoHead1.	"Arabian" by Kim Lariviere (drawn in Paint)
"Aquarius horse #2" by Kim Lariviere. (drawn in paint)	"Aquarius Horse #1"'" by Kim Lairiviere. (drawn in paint)
"Palomino Shetland" by Kim Lariviere. (drawn in paint)	"Shadow" by Kim Lariviere. (drawn in paint using gradation tool)