Choosing a College (Part 2), Art History Timeline, Avoiding Excessive Activities
By Lynn Hogan
Added Friday, October 28, 2005
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 6 No 43 October 28, 2005
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Lynn Hogan. All Rights Reserved.
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Welcome to the Homeschooler's Notebook!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Lynn:
-- Guest Article Angela Ellis College Recruiter
Helpful Hints
-- Museum of Art Timeline
Question of the Week:
-- Teaching Spelling
Reader's Response
-- Drawing the Line on Too Many Activities
Lynn's Picks
-- Christmas Gift Idea
Announcements
--Subscriber Information Including Archive Retrieval
--Sponsorship Information
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NOTES FROM LYNN
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This week I am using our "guest slot" (the last
Friday of each month) to publish a wonderful list of ideas that
were submitted to the Homeschooler's Notebook by Angela Ellis.
Angela is a really nice gal and a recruiter for Union University.
Check out the college she represents at http://www.uu.edu. If
you are considering a private college, this one has been great
for my daughter. You can't beat the housing (individual bedrooms
in apartment-type "dorms").
Here is Miss Ellis' terrific input:
I have a sheet that I sometimes give students on what to ask
during the college search. Here they are if you would like to
pass them along.
1. Keep files of every college you visit. Most colleges will
send you mail on a regular basis to keep you informed of
deadlines as well as current information.
2. What are your interests? What does that school have to offer
that coincide with your interests? See what majors/minors are
offered.
3. How much does the school cost? Check on tuition, room and
board, student fees, etc...
4. What is the mission statement and goals of the college or
university? Where has it been? Where is it now? Where is it
going?
5. What is the student/faculty ratio? How friendly is the
staff?
6. What do the dorms look like? Can you see yourself in
that environment?
7. How is campus life?
8. What is the size and enrollment of the college or
university?
9. Has the school gained national recognition?
10. What opportunities does the school provide as a student for
further study outside of the classroom? How does the school help
to provide insight for life after college?
Most importantly ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
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HELPFUL TIPS:
Here's Your Chance! Send YOUR Ideas Along to
HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
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Metropolitan Museum of Art Timeline
For anyone looking to incorporate more Art History in your
studies, I came across the Metropolitan Museum of Art website,
Timeline of History. It chronologically shows art from
prehistory to present. It is really a neat website !
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/splash.htm
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ASK YOUR QUESTION
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Have you a burning question that you can't ask just anyone? Send
it to question@unitstudyhelps.com and we'll see if a smart
subscriber can't help you out. (Editor's Note: You can also
post your QUESTIONS at the message board to see what others
might have to say. The address is: http://www.voy.com/89720/
PLEASE SEND YOUR RESPONSE TO Answer@unitstudyhelps.com
--
I was wondering how you go about helping a child 6 & 8 years of
age learn how to spell words. I found myself saying go to the
dictionary -- but if you don't know how to spell it the
dictionary is useless. I don't remember how I did it growing
up -- but I also just try to have them sound things out but I
usually end up telling them how to spell it. - Renee
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YOUR RESPONSE
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NOTE: my publication of these responses does not necessarily
mean that I endorse a product or an activity. You make your own
decisions about how these responses might work in YOUR school!
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There are tons of activities in our area, many educational, and
I find myself wanting to 'take advantage' of everything for my
kids. Where do I draw the line?
---
My check up from the neck up for activity choices involves first-
my family. Getting my husband's input is critical to feeling
supported and encouraged. Perspective is everything and we are
encouraged in scripture to get advice when going to war.
Remembering the enemy of our souls will try to encourage
busyness and weariness is an important relational strategy.
Other friends' experiences with those activities are often eye
openers, as well. Support meetings can be great for getting
feedback of all kinds for those who have had good and not so
good results from participation, and important tweaking advice
for how to make it run smoother. Seek out experienced mothers
with a similar family to yours. From getting a YMCA memebership
for our family to going to a library sponsored event, doing
your homework is important to minimize the grief of
expectations run amuck.
Next and just as important if not more, is "Does this activity
contribute to what I am trying to instill in this child or my
family? Likely, the event or one like it will happen over and
over again, like so many interesting field trips often do. I
suggest you keep a log or journal of interesting ideas or
clippings near or in your planner and take notes on the advice
you receive. If you haven't had sufficient time to feel peace
about the whole picture and how it will benefit you long term,
then it's probably wise to just let them go and trust God for
new opportunities that will come along soon. Pray, pray pray.
Then, expect to receive. Scrapbooking pictures from experiences
in a "year book"and reviewing them periodically is one way I
have rehearsed thankfulness for what we have participated in. -
Tanis
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Remember that many activities are offered every year. Pick the ones
most pertinent to what you are studying this year, and write the rest on
a calendar that you can review for future years. (Be like the schools,
most have set field trips that they do for each grade - zoo for K,
hospital for 1st, museum for 5th, etc.) You will have to make the
choice of one time opportunities (a Jazz concert or things of that
sort.) But this should help you to narrow down the choices without
feeling as though you have to do everything in one year. - Cheryl
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I would encourage you to first review with yourself why you are
homeschooling, and only select activities that contribute to
your family's needs and goals. One of the greatest advantages
to homeschooling is the private tutoring that your children
receive, and group activities automatically eliminate that
advantage. Another privilege you have as a homeschooler is to
control the influences in your children's lives -- you give up
some control and risk harmful influences when you participate
in outside activities. When you are considering a certain
activity, ask yourself what benefits your family would gain,
and then ask yourself whether you can provide those same
benefits, or something very similar, at home, or perhaps with
just one other family. You need to also weigh the benefits
against the "cost" of participating -- not only financial, but
also in terms of time commitment and stress. Be sure to check
out the qualifications and character of the adults who are
leading or teaching the activities. (I know of a "Christian"
public speaking class which is taught by a person who has a
brutal gossiping tongue -- not someone I would want teaching my
children the principles of Christian speech!) Also ask yourself
if the activity will fragment your family. It's better to
choose activities that your whole family can participate in, so
you can guard relationships within your family. Another
advantage I've experienced while homeschooling is the amount of
learning I am gaining myself. As an example, if I would have
had access to an art class for my children early on, I probably
would have enrolled them, as art is one of my weakest subjects.
But I'm so glad that I was forced to teach my children art, as
I have grown so much as an artist myself. Many homeschool
resources are designed with the homeschool parent in mind, and
are very easy to teach as you learn along with your children.
When children are caught up in a whirlwind of activities, they
often get the idea that the rest of the world revolves around
them, and everyone else is responsible for their entertainment.
A better choice, in my opinion, is to have your children do
volunteer work and learn to serve others.
Our family lives in a remote area, and opportunities that are
abundantly available to you are very limited here. We consider
that a blessing, in that we are not tempted to "do it all".
Our children volunteer at the local nursing home twice a month.
My daughter gives manicures to the ladies, and my son plays
dominoes or checkers with the men. We read mail to them, and
sometimes write letters for them. Since we don't have access
to a drama club, and our children love drama, we prepare little
skits and puppet shows to present at churches, nursing homes,
retirement centers, etc. I share these things with you merely
to give you a small example of how you can provide worthwhile
experiences for you children without dragging yourself into
excessive time commitments. --Mary Beth
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LYNN'S PICKS
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Since Christmas is getting close and many of you, like me, are
trying to come up with creative ideas for family gifts, I
thought I would give you a suggestion. I have a friend that
roasts OUTSTANDING coffee. She has just relocated to my area
and has gotten me HOOKED on her coffees! For this reason, I
thought I would suggest you may want to include some of these
sample packs in your gift baskets this year. You can check out
all her great flavors at http://www.blueridgecoffeeroasters.com.
She offers 1-9 sample bags for only $1.50, 10-29 samples are $1,
and 25 and 30 or more are only $1.00. What a nice, reasonably
priced way to mix and match great coffee flavors. Each bag
makes one 8-10 cup pot of coffee. To order, just send an e-mail
to bkoepfler@triad.rr.com. Tell her you heard about her through
the Homeschooler's Notebook. (By the way, my personal favorite
is the coffee lovers lite!)
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EDITOR'S NOTES:
All contributed articles are printed with the author's prior
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