Enjoy August

Topics for August 1, 2006 Newsletter

Top Three Tips

Book Watch

Enrichment

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Moms' Section

Three Top Tips:

1) Buy school supplies in bulk. When they are on sale in August, purchase all the notebooks, paper, pens, glue, even paper clips that you will need throughout the year.

It eliminates hassles (maintains serenity!) and saves money and time. But the most important reason to do this is the continuity and "smoothness" it lends to the school year.

It was almost painful when one the children discovered he didn't have any notebook pages left. This invariably occurred just after the math lesson when he was actually ready to do the problems. (Math is always a trial at our house anyway.) Without a fresh notebook, math momentum slowed.The child had to hunt down paper on which to do the problems, then put it in a safe place, and, finally, remember to tape the work into the new notebook after I had gotten to the store to buy one. Of course, this wasn't terribly difficult, but it was a distraction and disruption.

With supplies on hand, you can enjoy more peace, and when necessary, you can breezily say, "Honey, just check the supply shelf."

2) Purchase an answering machine or other device that you don't have to answer. This is just one more way to stay focused and impress upon the youngsters that school is a top priority and everything else can wait.

3) Trick your backyard squirrels. This is so simple and ingenious that I have to pass it along.

Like many these days, we have tried to make our backyard a retreat. Thus we have about four birdfeeders strategically placed. Our feathered friends love it and all of us get so much pleasure from watching them. However, those pesky squirrels love the free meals, too. They devour the bird food and frighten the birds. We tried those supposedly squirrel-proof feeders. Hah!

My husband threatened the B-B gun solution. But instead, he hung the feeders on long, thin ropes. They dangle high off the ground, and far, far away from any tree trunk or branch.

Those rascally little invaders can't jump or leap that far, so now all of us (birds and humans) relax in tranquility.

Book Corner: The Silver Chalice
Author: Thomas B. Costain

We get to travel back to the days shortly after Jesus died and meet these wonderful, intriguing characters. We can join them on a journey of discovery and transformation. (This book was also made into a movie.)

• Type: Historical fiction

• Setting: Greece, Jerusalem, various Mediterranean countries
  2,000 years ago

• Main Characters: Basil, the silversmith, Luke the Physician

  Others: Joseph of Arimathea, Simon the magician

• Style: natural dialogue and accurate, colorful description

• Theme: Although the Christian must battle evil, he will have peace and final victory through Jesus Christ.

• Why I like the The Silver Chalice: We see the famous people of The New Testament and ancient history in a new light, as living, breathing people. That world of Rome and Israel springs alive as we read the accounts of their daily lives and extraordinary events.

• Homeschool Note: Great supplement to Bible and secular history (high school)

• Available: libraries, wherever you can find old volumes

The following passage illustrates the above points: "Basil saw now that the newcomer was of venerable appearance. A multitude of fine lines had collected at the corners of his eyes, giving him a look of benevolence. There was something familiar about the face of the old man, and for a moment he believed this was because the miracle he had been hoping for had come to pass."

Children's Section

Enrichment Activity: Summer Poster

To: Celebrate those lazy, hazy days of leisure and fun...and also to remind and reassure children that they are loved by family and friends.

• Take lots of pictures of special and everyday activities.

• Buy a sheet(s) of poster board. Available at drug stores, craft stores, etc.

• Later this month, after the pictures are printed, go through them with your youngsters. Cull out the best.

• Arrange and glue them on the board. If you are so inclined, write headlines and/or captions.

• Hang the "Summer Poster" in a prominent place.

Please send us 1)your suggestions for book reviews, 2)any special tips or shortcuts that you would like to share with fellow homeschoolers, 3) any and all other comments/suggestions.

We'd love to hear from you! Contact us.

Have a safe and happy August!

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