This summer our family had the opportunity to review GrammarPlanet. The words fast, fun and free piqued my interest. Students of varying levels can use this online grammar curriculum. My tenth-grade daughter, who struggles with grammar, can move at her own pace. My eighth-grade twins can progress as slowly or as quickly as necessary.
A few weeks ago, most of our family spent a week at my parents’ house. We enjoyed connecting with extended family, researching our ancestry, and exploring the C & O Canal. Since my nineteen-year-old daughter has a full-time job, she stayed home to exercise her independence.
While shopping for groceries one day, she spotted a can of coconut milk. Her mouth watered as she imagined how delicious it would be. After bringing it home, though, she could not decide how to use it. When we returned from our trip, it was still sitting unused on the kitchen counter.
For two full weeks, I contemplated an appropriate use for the coconut milk. My fourteen-year-old daughter was considering it as well. One day, she decided to take action.
“Can I make something with that coconut milk?”
“Sure!” Her older sister quickly responded before heading off to work. My budding chef had completed her schoolwork early that day, so I allowed her to use the kitchen. What would she make?
She searched online for recipes. Finally, she decided to make a coconut cream pie. Since baking a homemade cream pie is pretty complicated, I was skeptical that she would succeed on her own. I allowed her to try anyway.
Did you study health and nutrition in school? My high school health unit covered little more than basic first aid. As an adult, I am always learning about good health and nutrition. Why were these essential topics never addressed when I was a teenager?
I am determined to help my kids understand how best to take care of themselves. Since I was unhappy with the health course my oldest kids used, I jumped at the opportunity to try a different curriculum. This summer Apologia Educational Ministries published a new course—Exploring Creation with Health and Nutrition by Dr. Laura Chase. For our review, we received the Health and Nutrition Basic Set, which includes a Textbook and Student Notebook.
“When you were in Israel, did you go to Beth She’an?” My oldest daughter was curious after reading 1 Samuel 31, which mentioned the city.
“Yes, we did!” I replied. It was a great opportunity to show the kids some of the pictures from the trip my husband and I took to Israel.
While growing up in Maryland, the C & O Canal was a significant part of my life. Whenever I visited Great Grandaddy’s house in Williamsport, MD, I saw it. Looking out his front window, I observed the manmade waterway across the street. Just beyond it lay a wide gravel trail—the towpath. Our family took walks along that level path, and school field trips helped me understand how a lock works. During our most recent trip to Maryland, I shared this piece of my childhood with my own kids.
Lock 44 in Williamsport, MD, is a piece of our family history, after all. Before he moved across the street from the canal, my great-grandfather, Harvey Brant, lived in the lockhouse. He tended the lock in the early 1900s. At all hours, rain or shine, he went out to let the boats through the lock.
As I savored the cool mountain air during Saturday morning’s hike, my daughter announced, “Mom, you should write a blog about this!” Who am I to argue with her awesome idea?
Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to learn about topics you are passionate about? Kids are that way too. But is catering to our children’s interests and passions biblical? God Schooling: How God Intended Children to Learn, a new book by Julie Polanco, examines what the Bible says about this idea.
Our trip to Israel provided opportunities to experience four significant bodies of water—the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea. On Sunday evening in Tel Aviv, we experienced the chilly Mediterranean. Two days later, we dipped our fingers in the Sea of Galilee then took a memorable boat ride there. As Wednesday dawned, my husband and I anticipated wading in the Jordan River.
Public school in Georgia started this morning. We planned to start our homeschool year today as well.
My twin daughters love playing with some of the younger kids in our neighborhood. They have an incredible opportunity to influence and bless these younger girls. This year I plan to follow the Georgia school schedule to foster these friendships.
Starting so soon had challenges though. We spent the last full week of our summer break visiting my folks in Maryland. I had anticipated using Monday and Tuesday to plan the first month or two of lessons. Some medical issues delayed our return until Tuesday night. Would we still be able to start Wednesday morning as planned?
By mid-afternoon on Tuesday, the anticipation was building. We had seen the ancient Galilee Boat that once sailed on the lake. It would be our turn to sail next.
