Thrift Schooling

When the city mouse visited his cousin in the country, he thought for certain that his cousin would adore the luxurious life of the city, so much more. I can just picture the city mouse walking through his cousin’s property, spending the day foraging for food with his mind daydreaming about the hot turkey, gravy and stuffing he could be feasting on back in the comfort of his own home. When you are used to one way of life, it is hard to appreciate another... Read More at Our Homeschool Forum

Set a Budget I already have a specific amount of money set aside. A certain amount for hotel and parking. Another set aside for food and gas and finally the big one, curriculum! If I don't plan ahead on this one I most likely will get sidetracked and spend way more than I need to. Plan to Eat In We certainly plan to eat out one of the nights there, but honestly, the rest of the meals are  going to involve us crashing in the hotel room. The hotel that we are staying in has a microwave and fridge in the room so I am planning on stocking up and planning ahead. Simple snacks, easy salad fixings and some precooked foods that can easily be heated up- maybe hamburgers or homemade chicken fingers should work just fine.   Comfortable Walking Shoes I've already been eyeing my children's shoe collection and have been trying to figure out which shoes will be the most comfortable for them to walk around the convention center in. I'm pretty sure I've never heard them ...

HEAV HOMESCHOOL CONVENTION JUNE 9-11, 2016 RICHMOND CONVENTION CENTER RICHMOND, VA This will be my third year attending the Home Educators of Virginia Association's annual homeschool convention held in Richmond, VA. What makes this year stand out from the rest is that this year, I am going as a convention blogger! How awesome is that? And, the icing on the cake? My whole family is coming along for the ride. I am beyond delighted about this considering the last two times I went it was nice to get away but I missed my family to pieces. Every time I would pass by a vendor that I knew my kids would love, all I could think was, "I wish they were here to see this!" Sciexperience was directly across the booth I was working in last year and all the kids that went over seemed to love it! It was hands-on, entertaining and fun. Dr. Callentine simplifies the most difficult topics and breaks it down for little minds to understand. Not only is she a pediatrician ...

Bunnies. Baby chicks. Fresh green grass and budding trees. Spring is a refreshing time. It certainly an exciting season around here for many reasons. This is when we reevaluate our livestock and consider any new purchases. Goats? Chickens? Rabbits? We have to see if this coming year is a practical time for milking goats, or if we want to pass this year. It’s also the time that we figure out our gardening situation... Read More at Our Homeschool Forum

Ballet class. Karate. Soccer practice. For some parents, it seems like all they ever do is drive their child from one place to the other. It’s no wonder that America is struggling to keep the tradition of family dinners alive. The family structure is falling apart on so many levels and we have to ask ourselves, why? Even in the homeschooling world... Read More at Our Homeschool Forum

I am pleased to share with you, an interview with Joel Salatin , one of the HEAV convention speakers this year! Be sure to visit Joel Salatin's Sessions while at the convention, you will certainly be challenged and encouraged.   I remember hearing that your son starting breeding rabbits for profit as a child. What other farm based businesses would you suggest for a pre-teen or teenager? The list is virtually endless, but of course it is age dependent.  A very young child can make pot holders with those colored elastic cloth bands stretched across those little square holders with pegs all around the sides.  I’ve met children who offered pet sitting services, lawn care, grew vegetables and sold them.  Goodness, teens can do virtually anything an adult can do, both mentally and physically.  It all depends on interest and skill.  Some children and teens adept at mechanical ability can fix appliances, small engines, or become a ...

Pen pals were a big deal when I was ten. Literal pen pals. Envelopes, stamps, the whole nine yards. Our fifth grade class was connected with another school clear across the country and each student would have a fellow student to write letters back and forth with, via snail mail. Fast forward six years, in high school, we had the technology to video chat with exchange students from Ireland. This was a big deal. There were no smart phones, no Facetime, no Skype. A special room was dedicated in our library for video calling and the call was watched by dozens of students at once on a large projection screen. Communicating with people from all over the world, in mere seconds still blows my mind. To think there was a time in history when even the most educated people didn't know that the land we now call America even existed. Now, we can message, text or talk to people all around the world with a simple click of a button. The technology is there. But is it being used? Are we allowin...

The Mustard Seed by Peter Szondy is based on an original story by G. M. Mercier.  Though the story is a work of fiction, the creator, Mercier wrote this story in response to a difficult circumstance that he faced in his life. His eight year old granddaughter was diagnosed with a life threatening disease. The events that followed, inspired the creation of this story.  In The Mustard Seed, we are introduced to a friendly, well-liked, church-going eight year old girl named Sara. She lives with her parents and ten year old brother, Danny. Her family is your average small town family, who knows everyone and is known just the same. Every so often, to relax, they visit Sara's grandfather at his ranch in White Dove. It's a peaceful place, enjoyed by the children especially because of it's lake.  During one visit, Sara finds a dead bird. It breaks her heart to see what has happened to it. She remembers hearing in church that God can heal, so she prays. And prays. And pr...