January 31, 2012

Lessen the Homeschool Convention Confusion

confused baby

As homeschool convention season approaches, you can almost feel the tension in the air. Homeschooling families everywhere are reevaluating everything they have taught the previous year and trying to decide if it was effective, good enough, or a total failure.

And many feel just plain confused.

Today, I want to offer you a few resources to lessen your confusion!

Start Here: Homeschooling with Purpose Series (this series gives you an eternal perspective!)

Before the Convention:
Curriculum Evaluation from an Eternal Perspective Worksheet

Create a Homeschool Convention Notebook

At the Convention:
Surviving the Vendor’s Hall

Surviving the Speaker Sessions

Other resources:
Peace Creek on the Prairie Convention Forms

Curriculum Fair Survival Tips from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

How to Make an Overall Plan for the Year from Curriculum Choice by Barb at Harmony Art Mom

Tips from My Very First Homeschool Convention from Angie at The Homeschool Classroom

Preparing for a Homeschool Convention from Betty at Peace Creek on the Prairie

January 26, 2012

Create a Homeschool Convention Notebook

convention notebook inside

Last year, I decided to create a Homeschool Convention Notebook at the prodding of Betty from Peace Creek on the Prairie. I’m so glad I did!

I found in my stash of notebooks (because every good homeschool mom has a stash of notebooks) a white notebook that had a clear cover where a cover page could be inserted. Since most homeschool conventions hand out session schedules, that’s where I put my session schedule for each day, so I had it at a glance. No need to open anything and search.

convention notebook cover

I also marked every session I was interested in. I starred it if I was interested, circled it if that was my definite choice, and wrote “Tape” next to any I intended to purchase the recording for (even though technically no one uses tapes anymore!)

Since I was speaking at our local convention, I put my speaking notes at the front of the notebook, followed by notebook paper to take notes on and a folder for loose papers from vendors and speakers sessions.

In the back cover, I put my list of items I was looking for. Again, it was quick to glance at in the always-crowded vendor hall. Last year, I didn’t have a lot of curriculum needs since we decided to create our own history/literature program.

The Teach Them Diligently Convention in March will be our first homeschool convention of the year (yes, sometimes we go to more than 1!) However, I anticipate this notebook being helpful for the 2:1 Blogging Conference in April too!

So, grab a notebook and make this convention season a little more organized!

January 19, 2012

Join Me At the Best Homeschool Convention of the Year!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to go to what I believe will prove to be the most amazing, most intellectually stimulating, most emotionally encouraging homeschool convention of the year – the Teach Them Diligently Convention!

I have been encouraged and challenged by all three of the keynote speakers, the vendor’s list looks incredible, my husband is looking forward to the men’s breakfasts with Stephen Kendrick & Voddie Baucham, and I’m looking forward to meeting some of my favorite bloggers at the blogger meetup!

I would love to see you there too! Registration is only $40! So, if you can at all make the trip, I’d encourage you to do so because every homeschooling family needs encouragement to get them through the year!

But, if you can’t make it, you can follow my blog, my facebook page, and my twitter feed and via the hashtag #HSTTD for convention updates and highlights and find out what I’m doing and be encouraged right along with me!

And a HUGE thank you to all those responsible for getting me to the convention:

Teach Them Diligently Convention

Homeschool Programming, Inc. – They will be at the convention with 15% off their products! Tell them hello from me!

Six Suitcase Travel – Travel site geared toward large families & how we booked our flight. See me at the convention to claim your FREE luggage tag! (while supplies last – I can only put so many in my suitcase!)

Six Munchkin Stitching – Etsy shop with handmade goodies from a mother of many. Get 10% everything when you use coupon code: raisingarrows

Can’t wait to see all of you there!

January 17, 2012

The Growing Pains of First Generation Homeschool Moms

I am a first-generation homeschool mother.

I came to this with nothing to offer except the commitment to raise my children in the ways of the Lord.

I started with a little homeschooling catalog and a school-at-home mentality. I took a leap of faith into something I didn’t really understand. It hasn’t been easy.

Michael Farris coined the term “transitional” to describe those of us who have transitioned from our own personal public school upbringing into this world of homeschooling.

Anything that is “transitional” typically has kinks that need to be worked out. I am forever grateful to the truly transitional generation of homeschoolers from the 80′s & 90′s who worked out the legal kinks for my generation (although, we must never stop fighting for these rights!) Because of this, the kinks that my generation of first generation homeschool moms must work out aren’t legal, but mental.

You see, I don’t have to hide my kids under beds or worry that what I am doing is illegal.

I have to worry that my public school upbringing will undermine my homeschooling.

That fact alone is why I started Raising Arrows.

I needed a daily pep talk and I was fairly certain I wasn’t alone. I needed to know that I wasn’t doing it wrong if I didn’t do it like the public school. I needed to know I was being faithful. I needed to be reminded that what God called me to He would equip me for.

I don’t have all the answers. I am a work in progress. I have moments where I don’t have a clue what the next step is. And sometimes it hurts. My heart aches for all the missed opportunities, the lessons I couldn’t fit in, the times I chose school-at-home over living a lifestyle of learning.

Growing pains indeed.

But, the beauty of growing pains is the fact that you are growing.

Becoming a homeschooling mother has brought me to a place where I am always growing. I am always learning. My God-given talents are constantly in use and my shortcomings are constantly being stretched.

So, keep going, mama! Keep learning! Keep growing! You are paving the way!

January 11, 2012

Fruit of the Spirit Devotional and Printables For Young Children

I am so very excited to be teaming up with Lauren from Mama’s Learning Corner today to bring you a FREE Fruit of the Spirit devotional and printables for your little ones!

Little children love memorizing Scripture and the Fruit of the Spirit is a great place to start!

Lauren has created some wonderful printables to go along with each lesson as well as a Fruit Chart where you can track each time your child displays a Fruit of the Spirit!

I also recommend you purchase this CD as a supplement to the devotional:

I have owned this CD for many years and we love it! The songs are beautiful, simple and catchy without adding to or taking away from Scripture. A perfect fit with this devotional! {Click here for more information on the CD.}

I hope you enjoy teaching your children the Fruit of the Spirit!