Home schooling with WISDOM

Supporting traditional home schooling, where parents have control over what is taught to their children, how it is taught, and when it is taught.

Grad Panel - Where I am and how I got here (click here to download - 86mb)

Preparing for and getting the most out of Trade Schools (click here to download - 45mb)

Preparing for and getting the most out of Classical colleges (click here to download - 64mb)

Preparing for and getting the most out of Traditional Colleges and Universities (click here to download - 83mb)

Tiger WoodsA serious golfer, when his game starts going out of control, immediately reflects on the basics of the game and then focuses on himself and disciplines his mind, body and will in order to correct any bad habits that may be causing the downfall of his game. He may even ask help from a friend and make himself accountable to this person help him carry out a set plan for improving.

We live in hectic times, and Christians are not immune. When we realize our life is starting to get out of control, we should do no less than a serious golfer. We also should immediately go back to the basics of Christian living. Then we must take charge of our thinking, and exercise our will to change or break any bad habits, form good habits and limit our wants.

When a nun complained to Mother Teresa about not having enough time to care for all her patients, Mother Teresa responded by saying that means you must spend more time praying....

It should be noted that some solutions for signing a PDF are about putting your actual, visual signature (or something that is good enough to be one) on the file, while others are about adding a digital "signature" in a different sense to the file to show that it was you who signed it. Sometimes one or the other is what's needed and you'll want to make sure you've picked the right one.

On computers

While Adobe Reader might be treated as an industry standard, there are other options.

  • Foxit has a free reader with signing capability.
  • On macOS, the built-in Preview app, which is the default app for opening a PDF file, has an option add visual signatures and few handy ways to create them that are easier than clicking and dragging with your mouse.
    1. Open the file
    2. In the menu bar, go Tools > Annotate > Signature.
    3. From there you can pick an existing signture, or add a new one with a simple webcam scanning process to digitise one written on paper, or finger-draw one on the laptop trackpad or a connected phone. (This is also where you'd remove existing saved signatures.)

On mobile phones & tablets

Here are a few suggested apps for filling out and signing PDF documents while on the go! 

iOS

Android:

2014 High School and Beyond Conference

"Forward Confidently"

Was held November 15, 2014

Want your own copy?

If you would like to purchase your own copy of the talks, please let our office know. For $5, we will send you the full collection of talks on your choice of USB key or on CD.

Email orders@wisdomhomeschooling.com

Are you Here to Give or Get?

Kenneth Noster

Matching career to calling is far more rewarding than making decisions based upon income, prestige, or other incentives pushed by our society. Considering your experiences, abilities, and interests, what is being asked of you? What is God designing you for?

Home School Grad Panel

Evan & Natalie Muller, Katheryn Ahlf, Blair Bishop, Nathaniel King

A panel of home schooled graduates discuss a variety of methods by which they effectively, and not so effectively, applied their high school years. Ask them questions that pertain to your own life and aspirations. The variety of approaches and outcomes demonstrate that every home school path is somewhat unique.

A Look Back at High School Through College

Brianne Adrian, B.Ed

Looking back at decisions made during home schooling and since, Brianne is able to offer solid advice to home school youth. Find out how home schooling has provided the keys to her success in study, work, and life.

Its Time to Get Serious

Paul & Mark

A father and youth argue over the benefits of self-discipline and daily purpose, compared to living in the moment and enjoying life. How do you make the most of life and the daily gifts you are being given?

A Variety of Approaches to High School at Home

Patty Marler, Kelvin & Dorothea Presakerchuk, Jeff & Lisa Bekolay

Continually reminding themselves that curriculum is much more than the resources being used, parents reflect on how they needed to adjust their approach and learning materials in order to achieve their goals and those of their children.

Be Confident, Thou Shall Prosper

Tim Hoven

A dynamic speaker, a home schooling father and owner and operator of Hoven Farms, a certified organic, multi-generational farm, Tim demonstrates how it is not only socially responsible to plan for success in our lives, but how the Bible strongly affirms the value of this striving. Tim’s presentation will stimulate discussion on the merits of good business sense, the joy of serving others, and the importance of friendship in our lives.

 

 

Ken Noster Classical High School Education (click here to download - 37mb)

John Miller Be Patient and Build on Your Strengths (click here to download - 13mb)

Paul van den Bosch Conduct: Real-life Skills (click here to download - 14mb)

Randy Kopp Redefining High School Completion (click here to download - 26mb)

Joe Pollock Science and Math (click here to download - 22mb)

Mike & Michele Barter Panic Button Syndrome (click here to download - 28mb)

Bill Gurney Post Secondary Education Without an Alberta Diploma (click here to download - 27mb)

Louis Sehn Trades-Tips, Tricks, and Tools (click here to download - 19mb)

Mark Meakes Choosing to Work (click here to download - 12mb)

The desire of my heart is to encourage families with grace and love. I do pray and hope that the attached article will bring encouragement to you and other home schooling families.

Building strong families together in Christ,
Karen Dargatz

(780) 962-3727

May/June 2025 - 30th Anniversary Special Edition

March/April 2025

May/June 2023

The power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways. (Webster’s Dictionary)

My first thoughts seem to be on the negative forms of influence. For example, when I am a stumbling block to my children because of my bad habits and failings I have a negative effect on them or when a moodiness creeps in on one child’s attitude it can influence the attitudes of the others.

So how do I nurture the capacity of causing a positive effect on my family and they for each other? Doesn’t it simply boil down to ‘right living’? When I fall isn’t the best witness to pick myself up, to acknowledge my failing to myself and others, to ask forgiveness and carry on? Isn’t it to teach my family, using words only when necessary, generosity, a warm heart and a spirit of service; and doesn’t this course of action produce peace and joy? Don’t peace and joy profoundly influence the world around us?

I know these things, yet I need to read an action plan to myself at the beginning of the day, the middle of the day and at the end of the day that each moment must be deeply lived for the glory of God and that I am responsible for leading (not pushing or cajoling) my family into that understanding.

In the final analysis doesn’t this translate into the fact that, it’s NOT all about me?

I’ll need to thank Ken for continually reminding us of the JOY theory: Jesus first, Others second, Yourself third. Marlane, are you putting yourself second, or worse yet first? So, if we do first things first all will fall into to place and I won’t need to worry about whether I am being a good influence on my family and the world around me.

Building a science display takes time.  The process of building the display also takes up a lot of room and can disrupt the pattern of daily schedules for a number of weeks.  What is the value of a science display, considering that you might only display it once?  I suppose that if you view a science display as an ‘extra’ – a thing that you have to go out of your way to do – then its value may equal that of an increased burden.  Alternately, if you view a science display as an assembly of summarized learning, together with supporting devices, then its value becomes… invaluable! 

 
 
 
 
Part of The Gilbertine Institute