Nourishing the Mind and Body

Reflection is necessary for growth. Shall we remain doing the same things over and over and expect change. 

As our household begins the new homeschool year, I prepare as Mom/Teacher/Wife. I want to honor the Lord with my mind and body. This includes the food I nourish my body with and the knowledge I nourish my mind with. I am in charge of what goes into my children's mind and body. Thus, I have been reading "Educating the Wholehearted Child," by Clay and Sally Clarkson. I am recommending this book to all parents. 

It provides a Godly perspective on the home and the education of your children. It encourages and provides tools for parents. Those seeking to homeschool, it is an excellent book to start with. 

Parents remember, whether you homeschool or public school, You are in charge of what goes in your children. Let us take pride and responsibility in their mind and bodies. Feed them healthy organic fruits, vegetables, and grains, it is the avenue to their bodies health. 

--Dina 

Joy of Learning

The Joy of learning !! Just out of having fun..... I am on a second year journey of homeschooling... It  was very difficult for me to allow for the free flow of learning. I am a product of the public school system... The traditional learning of the institution. It worked for me, I adjusted and adapted to this particular environment. I flourished! 

However, I noticed that my desire for learning was ignited in college. I never really enjoyed school in the elementary and secondary years. I was an A student, but never was super excited for school. 

So when I was a freshman in college, It was like a new door opened to me. The joy of majoring in what interested me!! It caused a roller coaster of love for knowledge. Soon, I was taking my general education requirements but I did not perceive them as boring or not applicable. My perspective changed. I viewed it as stepping stones for what I loved studying.

Therefore, as I homeschool my children.. I am learning to embrace the desire of my children’s interest in a particular subject. Then tailoring all subjects around it and including all five subjects in a particular theme. 

I love the passion I see when my children light up... So to keep that fire going, I have decided that this is our direction. If my children are interested in lizards (as they are right now and my youngest loves rocks), I will find a way to incorporate all five subjects in some form or fashion.. Maybe we will do multiplication and division facts with lizards, and counting with rocks lol. 

The methods of teaching my children has changed since the first year of homeschooling.  My children have taught me that learning is not just done in a classroom. It is something that happens everyday. Furthermore, the desire for learning will continue to burn if fanned.  

Learning is a lifelong process and it should not stop in the classroom.


"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deut 6:6-9


I read this scripture every morning when I awake....God's word is clear on teaching (whether you homeschool or not). He is commanding and encouraging us with the importance of always teaching our children the goodness of God, regardless of location. His word is so powerful and full of love for humanity, it is not just to be taught one or two days a week. It is to be taught through out the day, every day. This is how adeqaute learning takes place. I apply this scripture in our daily spiritual life as well as homeschool. 


Learning is all the time and when filled with the love of God's word it penetrates down to the very core of your child to one day produce fruit in their life.




Organic Girly

Hands on Teaching of Gravity

The Perfect Way to teach Gravity


So, Today for our family time... We chose the Fair.... Yay, we are all excited. Of course my brain begins to  go into,  "How can I take this opportunity to teach them something related to homeschool?" So I thought really really hard... Yeah , did not come up with anything. Until, my sons went on the Gravitron. It was like a light bulb, (You know like from Despicable Me, hehe) I was trying to make a visualization for them of the importance of gravity on our planet and why God created gravity in the first place. Both of my boys are visual hands on learners; they retain the information better with some sort of media or direct interaction. I tried to so hard to explain the concept of gravity and I thought that they grabbed a hold of it, but it did not click in their brains till tonight when they rode the Gravitron..... God is so good! He used this opportunity to reinforce the teaching on gravity. 
As the boys were riding, they were unable to have full mobility of their limbs (arms and legs).. They were stuck to the wall... hahahaha.. ( I can think of times where I could use this machine, but I won't go there...lol). Then, they continued to try to move their heads as well, no success. I explained to them the concept once again, and they understood it so well.  Of course, after that we had so much fun.... the teaching part of my brain shut off, well sort of.

Even though I may think my children are not able to grasp a concept as soon as I explain it......it does not mean that God will not step in and do it for you! God is so good.. Let us not worry for our children are in good hands and as long as we allow God to be involved in our lives , He will make things happen. Here are a few photos of our adventure today..




Family time is the best tool in teaching your children the way of life. This teaching surpasses all homeschooling.. Learning the values of family togetherness and the reason God created a family is the key to relationships. Remember, you are always being watched by your children.. show them the best choices and they will reflect it. 

Operation Christmas Child.... Participate!

                            

Operation Christmas Child has begun..... Woo Hoo... For those of you who are unaware of Operation Christmas Child, it is an organization under Samaritan's Purse. Operation Christmas Child send shoe boxes filled with items like small toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and a personal note from yourself or your child to other countries in need. Check out the website for more information www.samaritanspurse.org 

Calvary Chapel of Melbourne is a drop of location for the shoe boxes. You can use your own shoes boxes wrapped in christmas paper or a tupperware box the same size. Check out the website for more FAQ's . This is a great cause.... Get your Kids involved and help them learn to make an impact in the world. Participation in this, not only allows your children to feel empathy for others like Jesus does, but helps them to be proactive in the activities that do matter. Make a change and participate. 

I showed my children this video clip about Operation Christmas Child and they immediately said, "Let's Do it."  Do it as a family activity..and show your children through action that showing God's love is a priority.

The Thankful Tree

             So I have been looking for traditions to do with  my family that teach biblical principles especially around the various holidays. I want my children to appreciate their lives and the things they have. Gratefulness as the Bible states. I searched various places for ideas and I came across one that is quite popular but still brings thankfulness and meaning to the heart. It is called a Thankful Tree ( No not a christmas tree).

The Thankful Tree is created by either construction paper and place on a bulletin board. Another way to do it is by collecting old branches from outside that could fit into a vase. (We used an old mason jar and some marbles I had lying around)Decorate the vase with crafty ideas and make paper cutouts of leaves from different color construction paper. Fill your vase or container with either marbles or Styrofoam  to hold branches. Done... very quick activity.

The Thankful Tree teaches your child to count their blessings. Everyday or every other day, each child can write on a leaf of what they are thankful for. Then take sometime to ask them, "Why are they thankful for that particular thing?" This allows the child to verbally express his/her feelings, and it opens the lines of communication. Thus, teaching communication within the parental-child relationship..

God calls us to teach the children His ways.By using this activity, it causes interaction and teaching to happen. A parent can incorporate a memory verse too.

This is our Thankful Tree.

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving," Psalm 69:30

Thanks,
Dina

Creationism Video

INDESCRIBABLE, another one/music by Chris Tomlin

I okay so this video is good..... It shows the great things God has created. I used this video to teach my kids Creationism... Which of course is part of Organic living.  Just some definition for ya:  Organic means in its original state and I like my definition better, "The way God made it." 

By the way Great song too...