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• Columbus
Day - October 12
• October Is
Clergy Appreciation Month
• TTH Back
Issues
• Sunnyside Up
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Columbus Day - October 12
Observed - October 8
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Columbus Day is celebrated on the second
Monday in October to
commemorate Christopher Columbus' arrival in
America on Oct. 12, 1492.
You might encounter extremes in the
presentation of Columbus. Some exaggerate the
spiritual nature of his mission, while others
vilify him for conquering native peoples.
However, Columbus' trip to the New World
is one of the most important
dates in history, and your children should
know the historical facts of
his journey.
Read an interesting article online, "Who
invented the flat Earth?" a
rebuttal to the claims that the idea of a
flat earth came from
Christianity.
Find
learning activities and links to many
other websites on Annie's
Columbus
Day Page.
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October Is Clergy Appreciation Month
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Clergy
Appreciation Month is a reminder to
thank your pastor and his family for the
work, sacrificial dedication, and blessings
they provide your family.
"Respect
those who work hard among you,
who are over you in the Lord and who admonish
you." 1 Thessalonians 5:12
• Although you
can do this often throughout the year, this
can be a special occasion for your entire
church to do it together.
• For your
family, this can be as simple as a card,
gift, meal, or other method of showing your
appreciation.
• Home-school
families, who often observe different
standards and practices within the church,
should be especially careful to let their
minister know of their support and
gratefulness.
See
suggestions
for celebrating Clergy Appreciation Month.
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archives and read more than
180 previous issues filled with:
• In-depth
information on all aspects of home
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use with your children.
• Dozens of Internet
links for more information!
Some
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The Teaching Home
Back Issues
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We
Want To Help You!
For
27 years, we at The Teaching Home have
been providing
information, inspiration, and encouragement
to home educators
from a distinctly Christian perspective.
This
kind of support is more personal and
warm than you
might expect from just words on a page. It
is actually real
communication from the hearts of like-minded
home schoolers who
have been where you are, know what you need,
and care enough
about you to share with you in writing.
This Free E-Mail Newsletter
We
trust that you find this newsletter
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• Some of our
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• You will find
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• Please
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Teaching Home Back Issues
Fifty-one
back issues are offered online
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The
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Order
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reader in Indiana wrote, "I have
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In
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schoolers contribute
practical how-to articles, encouraging
letters, and ready-to-use
teaching tips.
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Teaching Home has been a part of my
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schooling, and I have kept every issue.
"I
often go back to old issues to find
creative, helpful hints or inspiration."
Meredith C., Florida
Finding What You Need
To
find articles on a specific topic, go
to our online
store:
• See a complete
listing of articles for each issue.
• Use the search
box at the top of our online
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If
you already have a library of Teaching
Home issues, you
might want to use the topical
index of our last 39 issues
(1994-present) available online so you can
quickly put your
finger on the articles you need.
Punctuation-ality!
I
had promised to make a snack for the
children after I had rested a few minutes.
All
too soon our 7-year-old son came in
and announced, "Fifteen minutes, Mom; we
insist on punctuation!"
Submitted
by K. Smith, Missouri
Send
your humorous
anecdote to
publisher@teachinghome.com.
Because
we have been separated from God by
sin, Jesus Christ died in our place, then
rose to life again. If we trust Him as our
Savior and Lord, He will forgive our sin and
give us eternal life.
"For
God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
(John 3:16)
Read, Listen to, or Watch
"Hell's Best Kept Secret"
It Will Change Your Christian Life!
Also
available in French, Russian, German,
Vietnamese, Hebrew, and Tagalog.
www.LivingWaters.com
We
want to help as many families as
possible
to teach and train their children for the
Lord's glory.
Please
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• Forward to
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Copyright 2007 The Teaching Home
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Where To Find the Support
You Need To Home School This Year
1. Look to the Lord as Your First
and Best
Support
2. How To Avail Yourself of the Lord's
Support
3. Look for Support at Home
4. Look for Support from Other
People
Recommended Resources
• Birch Creek Books / The World's
Greatest Stories
• AudioForum: 142 languages; 285
courses
• Beyond Phonics: Revolutionary
Language Learning
Greetings,
As
you start this school year, you might
feel like you can't
do it alone – and you're probably
right. But the good news is
that you don't have to go it alone.
In
this issue we remind you that there is
more than enough
support available to you to successfully see
you through the year.
Don't
try to tough it out all alone. Line
up your support
team now for smoother sailing; don't wait
until it's too late.
"The
joy of the Lord will be your
strength." Relax and have
a good time learning with your children this
year!
May
the Lord bless you and your family for
His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The
Teaching
Home is a home-school, family-run
business operated in our home since 1980.
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Look to the Lord
as Your First and Best Support
Others may let you down or fail to fulfill
your needs, but
not God. Go to Him first for the
support you need.
"My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation:
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory:
the rock of my strength,
and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people,
pour out your heart before him:
God is a refuge for us."
(Psalms 62:5-8)
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his
trust."
(Psalms 40:1, 4a)
1. The Lord Is Always There 24/7.
You don't have to wait for next month's
support group
meeting or until someone else is available to
help you. You can
call on the Lord at any time, day or
night. His invitations and
promises to you assure that you will never
become a burden to
Him.
"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are
heavy laden,
and I will give you rest." (Matthew
11:28)
"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
(Hebrews 13:5)
2. The Lord Is All-Knowing and
All-Wise.
The Lord knows exactly what you are going
through and how
you feel. He knows precisely what your
family needs, both now
and in the future. He is willing to
share this wisdom with you;
all you have to do is ask.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of
God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing
wavering." (James 1:5-6a)
"For we have not an high priest which cannot
be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne
of grace,
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need."
(Hebrews 4:15-16)
3. The Lord Is Loving and Kind.
The Lord loves you and your family with
unfathomable, pure,
and unfailing love.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father
hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of
God." (I John 3:1)
"Casting all your care upon him;
for he careth for you." (I Peter 5:7)
He will give you what is best in His time
and in His way.
This is where our trust in Him must be
implicit.
"But without faith it is impossible to please
Him (God)."
(Hebrews 11:6)
"And we know that all things work together
for good
to them that love God." (Romans
8:28)
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Common Sense Press, Beautiful Feet Books,
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catalog: 800-655-1811. www.BirchCourtBooks.com.
|
How To Avail Yourself
of the Lord's Wonderful Support
Sadly enough, we all too often fail to
receive the gracious
gifts of our Lord for various reasons.
•
We get into the habit of trying to meet our
own needs, forgetting to turn to the Lord.
•
The physical world can seem more real to us
than the unseen spiritual world.
We can correct this habit and
misperception and find our
Lord's aid and fellowship in the following
ways:
1. Spend time daily in reading,
studying, memorizing, and meditating on God's
Word.
Morning,
noon, and night is not too much.
•
Morning - Have your private time with the
Lord.
•
Noon - Read, study, or memorize Scripture in
your school time or at the lunch table.
•
Evening - Have family Bible reading at the
table or before bed with Dad.
It
is in His written revelation to us that
we meet the Lord and He speaks to us.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
Restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure,
Making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
Rejoicing the heart
Psalms 19:7-8a
Resource
The
Teaching Home's online Bible
Reading Schedule can be
started at any time and is divided into three
readings each day
for six days per week.
2. Fill your life with good Christian
music.
Music is a powerful influence in our
lives. Both the words
and the style of the old hymns of the faith
carry a message that
honors the Lord and reminds you of Him and
His attributes.
Although constant background music can be
distracting and
lose its impact, there are many times during
the day that
listening to, or singing, Christian songs can
turn your thoughts
to the Lord.
You might want to lead your children in a
chorus or hymn
each time you read from God's Word.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord."
(Colossians 3:16)
Resource
Old
Fashioned Christian Music Radio is a free
online station with conservative (not "old
fashioned") music played 24 hours a
day. You can also purchase the music
you hear in their online store.
3. Talk to the Lord frequently
throughout the day.
It
might be hard to visualize the Lord
beside you all day
long, but if you engage in conversational
prayer with Him
throughout the day, you will be reminded of,
and comforted by,
His presence.
Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6
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now, or call 800-243-1234.
|
Look
for Support at Home
Your family comprises a support group for
you, your husband,
and your children. Here is how you can
give and receive support
right at home.
1. Start with Yourself
Set Realistic Expectations
God does not ask us to do more than we are
able. It is up
to us to make sure we don't load ourselves
down with extra
projects of our own devising that he did not
intend.
•
Don't get carried away with extra-curricular
activities; you need to be home to
home school!
•
If you are overwhelmed already, consider some
of our suggestions for efficient school
schedules in our Back-to-Home-School
Checklist.
•
Cut back and slow down until you can manage
your goals. It is better to do a few
subjects well (such as Bible and the academic
basics of reading, writing, and math) and
then add more subjects back into your
schedule as you can. It might also help
you simplify your school schedule to study
history one semester and science the
next.
Maintain Your Health
We must also be good stewards of the
resources He has given
us, including our own health. We are
not free to indulge in
excesses, but must eat, work, and rest in
ways that preserve our
ability to accomplish His purposes.
•
Eat healthily and maintain your ideal weight.
•
Drink enough water.
•
Exercise regularly, but reasonably. A
daily walk with your family promotes family
unity as well as physical health.
•
Deal with stress and problems God's way,
don't let them build up.
•
Take time to relax and enjoy your family.
•
Get your full amount of sleep every night.
You cannot get enough support from others
to make up for a
disregard of the laws of cause and effect
that God has ordained.
2. Don't Overlook Your Spouse
Maintaining a loving relationship with
your spouse will
naturally be a great support to you.
And remember, you are his
support system as well.
While your spouse is your closest human
support and should
be kept aware of your thoughts and feelings,
problems and
struggles, he should not feel that he is
solely responsible to
"fix" everything. Let him know that
you have other resources,
and discuss options together with the
confidence you gain from
trusting the Lord.
Your spouse may need some practical
suggestions for ways to support you.
•
Perhaps you only need 15 or 20 minutes at the
end of each day to debrief each other and
pray about any situations that have arisen.
•
Agree on standards for your children's
behavior and a system for their consistent
discipline.
•
Plan times to relax together.
3. Look to Your Family
Home
schoolers recognize the value of the
family unit. Let
it support you. Enlist the help and
support of your children.
Grandparents or other relatives may offer
support as well.
Your
family will need help in knowing how
to support you.
You
may need to tell your children, "I
really love you and love teaching you, but I
need a little extra help in keeping up with
the chores. A word of encouragement or
a hug would sure come in handy too!"
Be
sure you model support and
encouragement in the way you interact with
your family at all times.
Family
members can, and should, be each
others' best friends and supporters.
Talk to your children about helping each
other in this way. A focus on the
positive can replace problems.
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the hall."
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/ 1-800-518-3224
|
Look for Support from Other People
1. Look to Good Friends
Just one faithful, sympathetic, and
praying friend can offer
a tremendous amount of support. This
informal "support group"
can meet on the phone whenever the need or
opportunity arises or
once a week at a specified time.
Caution: Don't let this good friend
take the place of the
Lord or your spouse.
When like-minded home-school families
spend time together,
they provide needed support and encouragement
for the whole
family.
2. Consider Mentoring
Veteran home educators should consider
what they have to
offer beginners. New home schoolers
can look for veteran home
educators to mentor them. A regular
time together or an
occasional phone call can make a big
difference!
A local support group may be able to help
you find a mentor.
3. Look to a Support Group
Support Groups may consist of only two
families, or they may
be large and offer many functions and
activities.
Involvement with your local Christian
home-school group
can provide encouragement, fellowship,
educational opportunities,
field trips, academic training and
information, solutions to your
problems, and answers for your questions.
Cautions
•
Don't become overwhelmed by trying to
participate in all the activities offered by
your support group.
•
Look for a group that will support your
family's standards.
Resource
To find a local support group in your
area, go to our
website and link to the website of an
organization in your
state.
4. Look to Your Local Church
The fellowship and teaching of your local
church provides
important support for your spiritual life.
An ideal home-school support group might
also be formed
within your church if fellow members are home
schooling. It is
an added blessing to have a pastor who
encourages you in your
home-school efforts.
"And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together,
as the manner of some is;
but exhorting one another:
and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching."
(Hebrews 10:24-25)
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