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.
Does your family love games? Or would you like to incorporate more family games but are not sure where to start? Games have been proven to rapidly develop cognitive functions in all ages.
Games the Build the Brain is a favourite resource of home schooling families everywhere! Find a fabulous game in this booklet, and learn which cognitive skills it builds and supports. Then, play it with your family to reap the cognitive and relationship benefits!
Ken Noster Classical Education (click here to download - 53mb)
Ken Noster High School - A Basis for Advanced Education (click here to download - 65mb)
Ken Noster High School and Beyond - Chart your Course (click here to download - 37mb)
I would venture to say that most people have enough interest in robots that they would give a few moments of their time to allow themselves the amusement of watching robots in action. Beyond this, I have observed that fewer people actually have enough interest in robots to wrestle with how they work and to learn what their abilities and their limitations are. I think that there also exists a middle-ground camp of those who imagine that they might have an interest in robots but they are just not sure of ‘where to start’.
Here is a summary of information that should be helpful to those who want to participate in the WISDOM Homeschooling Science and Technology events:
The event is NOT a competition. There will be no ‘judges’ and there are no prizes. Rather, this is an opportunity for a student or family to summarize their course of study in an area of science and/or technology. No one should feel as though someone else has a ‘better’ topic. Rather, this is an opportunity to share YOUR learning with others. Thereby, everyone can benefit by being exposed to a greater variety of topics that might not be achievable on one’s own.
Observations of a Large Adoptive Family
In May 2005, having an approved international home assessment in hand and seeking God about international adoption, we connected with a relief organization (WACSN: West African Children Support Network) working in Liberia, West Africa. Their work involves, among other things, finding homes and processing adoptions for abandoned/orphaned children living at the WACSN orphanage in Monrovia.
Recently updated for the 2026 back-to-school shopping season!
What follows is advice for shopping for your family’s next computer, from our IT SysAdmin, Levi.
Before we talk about dollar amounts
You get what you pay for
The number-one thing to remember when buying technology is that you generally get what you pay for. That doesn’t necessarily mean a cheap computer is worse—one of my favourite and most-used computers was US$5 brand new—but different brands and product lines prioritise different things.
Sales and promotions
The industry changes quickly. If a product is on sale, there is a good chance the retailer is clearing inventory because newer products are replacing it. Because of that, and because computers are often designed to last only two to four years, it is unwise to purchase something on sale without remembering the strong caveat that there is usually a reason the store is trying to clear it from its shelves.
In my experience, money saved at purchase often ends up being spent later when the computer must be replaced sooner. In many cases it makes more sense, both financially and logistically, to buy the model that is not on sale. This principle also applies to refurbished products.
It's not to say that you shouldn't buy something that's sold for less than MSRP, but that you should inspect the potential reasoning for the discount and take that into account when making the final decision.
Education discounts and back-to-school sales
Apple considers home-schooling parents to be teachers for the purpose of education discounts that apply to primary and secondary education staff. They place limits on purchases, but many products are discounted by roughly 10%. Apple’s education store is here, and other manufacturers run similar promotions, so if you have a specific product in mind it is worth checking whether the manufacturer offers an education discount.
In the months leading up to the school year, these discounts often become stronger and may include promotions such as “buy a laptop, get free headphones”. Although these promotions are aimed at students heading to post-secondary education, they often include school “staff”, just like the year-round education discounts.
A keen observer might point out that the earlier warning about sale prices applies here as well, and that is not entirely wrong. The difference is intent. A sale on an older product may exist simply to clear shelf space, whereas education discounts exist because manufacturers know that if they get a student using their brand early, that student may become a repeat customer later.
Laptop versus desktop
Beyond practical considerations, such as whether the computer needs to be portable or remain in one place for supervised use, remember that $1,000 worth of laptop buys something with different priorities than $1,000 worth of desktop. Comparing the specs between the two categories is somewhat like comparing two different fruits.
What about a tablet?
Tablets are excellent devices. They handle certain tasks in ways that make more sense than a traditional computer. Like the comparison between laptops and desktops, however, a tablet is a fundamentally different device with different priorities, primarily a large touchscreen and battery inside a slim case.
We should also remember that using tablets and laptops teach different skills. Children develop different kinds of hand–eye coordination and different expectations about computer interfaces depending on which device they use.
Now, what’s your budget?
Less than $500
At this price point, the best value is usually a Chromebook. Because ChromeOS is a lightweight operating system that requires fewer resources, it can deliver good performance for the kinds of tasks students typically perform without requiring expensive hardware.
Acer, Dell, and Samsung all make solid Chromebooks, though there are a myriad of brands. If possible, it is useful to see the computer in a brick-and-mortar store to evaluate build quality and durability. If you are looking for the cheapest possible computer, Costco’s lowest-priced model is often surprisingly good value.
Windows computers do exist at this price, but part of the cost is the Windows licence and the hardware capable of running Windows. Unless you specifically need Windows to run certain software, a Chromebook will often provide better value.
$500+
At this level, many more options become available, including traditional Windows computers. HP, Acer, Dell, and MSI are brands that frequently offer solid models.
Apple’s two cheapest computers, the Mac mini (yes, the lowercase is correct) and the recently-released MacBook Neo, both start at under $700 with education pricing.
Chromebooks also exist in this price range, often with more storage. Many are hybrid devices with touchscreens that fold around to function as tablets. I'm not personally a fan of these designs, but they can be useful for users who would benefit from the dual use.
$1,000+
At this point, more powerful Apple computers become affordable, along with higher-end Windows devices from companies such as Dell and Microsoft (particularly the Surface line), which are often positioned as Apple-like alternatives. There is generally little downside to a computer at this price, or even several hundred dollars more, so long as the buyer understands they are paying a premium price for a premium product.
Terry’s Terrific Learning Connections (OR Terry’s Tender Loving Care)
As this home school year draws to a close, I hope you have had a great year home educating your children and that you have some fun (and / or) relaxing plans for your family this summer.
Top 10 Tips for Home Schooling Families On Simplifying Their Lives
1. Plan to do the most shopping and errands you can do on each shopping trip. Avoid shopping more than once a week, if possible. This will add time to your days.
2. Plan meals for 10 days to 2 weeks at a time, depending on your shopping schedule. Know at breakfast (or even the night before!) what you are having for supper, so you can do the preparations needed during the day and not be wondering at 4 o’clock, “What’s for supper?” This will also aid in nutrition and save you money!
3. Each family member should have a treasure box to keep their treasures inside. Teach your children to de-clutter, too! It will be a blessing to them throughout their lives. Remember, “People are more important than things!”
Happy Home Schooling! This eLetter (Terry’s Terrific Learning Connections or Terry’s Tender Loving Care) is meant to encourage and inspire families homeschooling their children. (*If you would like to opt out of receiving this email, simply click the button at the bottom of this eLetter to unsubscribe.)
Christmas is just about here. No matter what year it is, time marches along. Christmas is a relatively short season – as is Summer. I try to appreciate each and every day.