Happy Home Schooling to all of you – especially to the families new to WISDOM. This eLetter (Terry’s Terrific Learning Connections or Terry’s Tender Loving Care) is meant to encourage and inspire families homeschooling their children.
We are living in uncertain times. Some of us have homeschooled for years, while others leaped into homeschooling this September. No matter what lies ahead of us, homeschooling our children is a great choice! There were times when I got distracted by academics or parenting issues and those were what I focused on.
Today I encourage you to focus on your relationship with your child / children. Why not add relationship building activities to your daily / weekly plant?
Make a list of what each child loves and try to include that in your homeschool week / life as much as possible. Talk often. Eat good food together slowly. Play games. Go for walks. Read great books aloud. Read the Bible and pray together to relieve stress and anxiety. Hug often.
Do whatever builds your relationship with your child as much as possible. Our days together might seem long, but the years are so short.
When people seek more information about the science and technology event, one of the first questions that I hear – with a tone of apprehension in their voice – is: “Is this a science fair?” The answer I give is “no” – to which I hear a sigh of relief.
There exists constant pressure in our society to adapt to a way of thinking. Webster’s dictionary defines ‘adapt’ as “to modify (oneself) to conform to a circumstance or environment” or alternatively “to become adjusted to a circumstance or environment.” When studying and researching in the sciences, the student will eventually (if not immediately) encounter the evolution perspective. Whether it is biology, geology or astronomy, the processes of evolution will be applied to living and non-living objects. When something evolves, it is believed to have changed from a less complex form to a higher order of complexity. Ignoring this perspective will not make it disappear. But remember… it is only a perspective.Webster’s dictionary describes evolution as a doctrine. Yes, a doctrine!
It seems to me that home schooling is a lot like swimming across a lake.
When you are out in the middle, the lake sometimes seems to be a lot bigger than it looked when you jumped in, and unlike a swimming pool, it has no lines painted on the bottom to keep you swimming in a straight line. When you are fighting to make it through the waves without inhaling too much water, pushing yourself to keep going stroke after stroke when you are exhausted, and blinking to see in spite of the water stinging your eyes, it is possible to lose perspective.
Happy Home Schooling Christmas Style! This eLetter (Terry’s Terrific Learning Connections or Terry’s Tender Loving Care) is meant to encourage and inspire families homeschooling their children.
Christmas is getting closer each day. Perhaps you are looking forward to it – perhaps you aren’t. Perhaps you are wondering how you will get everything done or perhaps you already know you won’t get everything done (like me!). Perhaps you are hurting over the loss of what could have been and are aching over what is. Wherever you and your family are, I’d like to remind you God is with you and nothing in the past year has been a surprise to Him. Sleep in peace.
In the next month or so, we have an opportunity to slow down, focus on the meaning of the season AND to continue bonding with the hearts of our children. I’d suggest making every effort to do so – because while the days are long, the years are, oh, so short. We really don’t have much time with each of our children. What you do today – each day – counts!
AND how lovely it is, that you have made the decision to home school your children. No, it isn’t easy, but it is worthwhile. It sometimes takes all our energy, time and money, but what else would we rather spend our energy, time and money on? (Smile)
When I look back on my years of home schooling through high school, I am sure that I will have many fond memories of WISDOM’s Online Courses. Since the autumn of 2003, I have taken seven online courses, all of which were profitable. I take one every season – In fact, one season I took three at the same time! My plans are to continue into my eighth course in the upcoming school year. I do not wish to stop!
I was not sure that I would feel this way when I first signed up for a course three years ago. This was the “Introductory Great Books” course. When I looked at the reading list initially, I was uncertain as to whether I could manage the weekly reading assignments, or discuss them adequately. After all, books such as the “Iliad”, the “Aeniad”, and, at that time, “War and Peace”, can seem rather intimidating to a nearly-thirteen-year-old! I thought that the conversation might be over my head, especially as there were students in the class several years older than me. However, encouraged by my parents, and made hopeful by seeing that such favourite authors of mine as Shakespeare, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien were on the list, I took a deep breath and signed up for the course.
May 2026
Theme: Plan
Deadline: March 20
July 2026
Theme: Beauty
Deadline: May 22
September 2026
Theme: Influence
Deadline: July 17
November 2026
Theme: Return
Deadline: September 18
January 2027
Theme: Patience
Deadline: November 13
March 2027
Theme: Change
Deadline: January 13
May 2027
Theme: Growth
Deadline: March 12
July 2027
Theme: Prepare
Deadline: May 21
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.
So often, we lose ourselves in parenthood. Our own desires are often set aside as the demands of parenthood are so constant. I hope that you can just take a deep breath as you make it through another day - and so did your children.
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson
How many containers do you need to fill a science program? Peculiar question, huh? Perhaps I should ask: How many weekends does it take to fill your science program containers?