Tag: homeschoolers

Martial Arts in Elgin

Last week was birthday week in our house. And, as much as I love planning parties, I don’t mind a break now and then. So, I was thrilled that one of my daughters requested to have her party hosted at a martial arts facility to which she had earned a free party.

Before I share about our wonderful experience let me give you a peak into the behind the scenes activity. I called and set up a time for the party  and a couple days later received a phone call from the gentleman that would lead the class during the party. He asked, “Do you homeschool?” Of course, I told him we did. To which he responded that he had been homeschooled through high school. That got me excited right off the bat. But, that was only the beginning.

Kim’s Black Belt Academy hosted a well organized party. They took care of the RSVPs, followed up with people we had not heard back from and kept me in the loop every step of the way.

They made the cupcakes and lemonade, and filled the pinata. They kept the kids happy and moving for an hour and a half and even gave me the list of gifts and givers.

So, from the party stand point this was a great place to go. All the girls had a great time and they learned some new skills. Most of them had little or no martial arts experience, so this was a first for them. They all did a great job giving it a good effort and the instructors really helped them do their best and feel comfortable.

Oh, and they even video taped the party and sent out the video via email. How great is that?

I wanted to share about this not just so you would know about a great party place, but because they would like to start a martial arts class geared toward homeschoolers. After the quality experience we had with everyone there I was happy to share about this opportunity.

If you are wondering if this could be for you they even have a free trial option. You can set up a time to have a private lesson and get comfortable before you actually join a class.

They make an intentional effort to teach more than physical fitness. Kyuki-do focuses on character development as well. On their website they say this:

At our academy, we use the martial arts as a vehicle to develop the following traits in a child:
– Self-Esteem
– Self Discipline
– Focus and Concentration
– Confidence
– Physical Fitness
– Leadership
– Courtesy and Respect
– Positive Attitude
– Enthusiasm
– Teamwork
– Goal Setting
– Self-Control
– Better Listening

Many of these came up in just the short time that we enjoyed our party there. A series of classes would just deepen the growth in these areas. If you are looking for something fresh to add to your physical education for the upcoming school year I would encourage you to check out Kim’s Black Belt Academy. They have two locations, one in downtown Elgin and the other on the west side of the city, both with the same focus of building confident kids.

Dual Credit E-book

The Official Homeschooler’s
Guide to Dual Credit		 Get your free copy hereDownload the eBook and share it for a chance to win an iPad 2
Dual credit—earning college credit in high school—is
the hottest trend going in homeschooling.

Some estimates show that 42,000 homeschoolers will earn dual credit during the 2011-2012 school year.

So to help you plan the best options for your homeschooler, which may include dual credit, you’re invited to get a free copy of this new dual credit eBook:

The Official Homeschooler’s Guide to Dual Credit: How Combining High School and College Can Set Your Student on the Path to Success

Go here now to get your free copy of the eBook.

The dual credit eBook is written by Kelly Negvesky, a homeschool mom and one of the nation’s foremost authorities on homeschool curriculum and dual credit.

As a reader of The Home Educating Family Magazine, you can get a free copy of the eBook here.

Download eBook
In this eBook you will learn:

  • How Dual Credit Works
  • How Homeschool Students Benefit From Earning Dual Credit
  • 3 Ways Your Homeschooler Can Earn Dual Credit
  • How Dual Credit Impacts Your Student’s High School Transcript
  • Beyond Dual Credit: The 4 Skills Demanded By Colleges & Employers

    • Click here to get your free dual credit eBook now

    Review — Fitness 4 Homeschool

    Mom, what are we doing for PE today?

    Ummm, oh yeah, that.

    It’s on the schedule, but sometimes turns into unplanned active time rather than a formal teaching time. We do calisthenics, practice basketball skills, or run around the walking trails at the park by our house. So, while we don’t generally miss PE (it is required), we don’t always have a good plan for it either.

    Until now. I got a new follower on Twitter one day and had to check out this Family Time Fitness company. They offer a PE curriculum geared toward homeschoolers. It comes complete with warm ups, cool downs, and fun activities to go in the middle. Each class took us about a half hour to complete, but your family might take slightly longer or shorter than that depending on the age and focus of your kids. It was just right for our school day.

    Product: Fitness 4 Homeschool

    Details: A complete PE curriculum especially for kids in K-8. This one year program will give you activities for 5 days a week for 52 weeks.

    Price: $77 (not much more than you would pay for one child’s PE class for the year at many co-ops!)

    What I loved . . .

    • Beyond a PE class. More than just filling a class requirement, this program is about being healthy and active. That’s why it doesn’t fit in a neat 180 day school year. Fitness is for life and this program helps you toward that end.
    • Builds on basics. Arm circles, leg lifts, calf raises. Fitness isn’t really complicated, but coming up with a plan can be time consuming. They have done that for you. Took lots of familiar activities and exercises and added in some fresh ideas to make it sparkle, and packaged it up in an easy to use format for everyone to follow along with. PE planning with this product takes a few seconds of clicking each day rather than a half hour or more to plan the week.
    • Made for in house. While you could definitely enjoy these activities with another family they are designed to be done in house. We have our own little one room school house, but even if you homeschool one child, most of these activities could be done together without a larger group.
    • Video demos. We all hear those instructors saying to make sure you do it the right way so you don’t strain anything. With short and to the point videos that you access online, you can all see what it should look like. The demonstrations have an adult and children performing the various actions.
    • Great for an age mix. We used this with a kindergartener, an 8th grader and a few sprinkled in between. They all were able to participate at their levels and really enjoyed the activities. In watching it I was thinking it was geared a little young for my 8th grader, but he did not complain one bit and especially appreciated that we actually had a more planned PE everyday rather than getting pushed off or made more informal because it was unplanned.
    • Can be reused, or stretched over a couple years. In the summer we tend to be more active, so our formal PE tapers off a bit. If that is the case in your house you could easily stretch this over two years. And, many of the lessons could be repeated without boredom for even longer. You have permanent access to the videos so this is a great one time purchase that can establish your PE plans until high school!
    • Excellent exercise. I love these classes. I work up a light sweat while doing the activities along with my kids.  Again, nothing complicated, but just some simple activities that require me to get up out of the “teacher’s chair” and get moving with them. It is definitely helping me get and stay in shape in this season where homeschooling consumes my days.

    Some considerations . . .

    • Do need some room. We run out of room in our school room for these, so it is really better to head outside if the weather is tolerable. Allow yourself plenty of room to swing those arms without smacking file cabinets or children. You can watch the videos inside and then head outside to actually perform them.
    • Might want to supplement with team sports or other group activities. What this program does not do is teach your kids basketball skills or soccer drills. I think this is also an important part of the PE program, so we try to balance our time and make room for team sports here and there throughout the year.  And, they say they have something in the works to do that type of thing at home as well. Definitely keep your eye out for more products from this homeschool friendly company.

    We definitely needed this product right here, right now. My PE was getting a bit dull and needed more direction. I was so thankful for the videos and planning that were packed in there to keep all of us moving. I definitely believe that a good PE class helps the rest of the day go  better as well. In our house anyway, they’ve got to move before they sit.

    Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Family Time Fitness For the purpose of reviewing it. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.



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    Book sale at the HRC

    Homeschool Resource Center OPEN HOUSE & FLEA MARKET (the following taken from the library’s calendar):

    When: July 30, 2011 – 10:00 am until 4:00 pm

    This free event is the perfect opportunity for current homeschoolers to get re-energized, and for those thinking about homeschooling to ask questions and get real answers.

    10:00 am to Noon: Used Curriculum Flea Market

    A limited number of tables and half-tables are available by advance reservation only. Those who do not register in advance may bring a blanket and use the lawn to sell.

    1:00 to 4:00 pm: Open Forum Panel Discussion and Q&A

    Learn about the different homeschooling styles, curriculum choices, legal information, where to find resources, and much more. (Guest speakers to be announced.)

    To reserve a free space to sell at the flea market or for further information, please call our Homeschool Parent Advisor at 847-497-4407.

    Sign Language classes

    Information on some upcoming sign camps and classes starting at the end of June!

    Website: http://www.alwaysfeelconnected.com/

    Hurry to sign up as spaces are filling fast!

    Please feel free to pass this on!

    Summer Classes:

    Early Bird Registration is $25.00

    **If you sign up for 2 weeks you will receive $5 off your total price,  or for all 4

    weeks then you will receive $10 off your total price!**

    A)  June 20th – June 24th   6:00pm – 7:00pm

    B)   June 20th – June 24th   7:10pm – 8:10pm

    C)   June 27th – July 1st       6:00pm – 7:00pm

    D)   June 27th – July 1st        7:10pm – 8:10pm

    Summer Camps!!!

    Join us this summer for some exciting and fun summer camps at Always Feel Connected!  At these camps you will be enriched in deaf culture and history while learning vocabulary, games and at least one song in sign language!  At the end of the week the kids will perform the song for their parents.  There are many to chose from so chose one or as many as you want!  I hope to see you there!

    Time:  9:00am – 12:00pm

    Early Bird Registration is $75.00

    **If you sign up for all 4 weeks you will receive $20 off your total price**

    A)  June 20th – June 24th

    B)   June 27th – July 1st

    C)   July 11th – July 15th

    D)   July 18th – July 22nd

    E)   To Be Announced – Deaf Theater

    **This will be a week where the kids will learn a play/musical and perform it ALL IN

    SIGN LANGUAGE at the end of the week**

    Contact:

    Stacey Borrego

    Always Feel Connected

    630-479-9094

    www.alwaysfeelconnected.com

    alwaysfeelconnected11@comcast.net

    Reading assistance

    Received information about this helpful resource from Steve and Robin Blaha:

    We are former homeschoolers who for the last six
    years have been providing one-on-one reading instruction in our
    reading clinic.  Children of all ages, abilities or disabilities have
    received all the tools they need to become proficient readers.
    Parents are encouraged to participate in classes, therefore being
    equipped to help their students with reading activities at home.  We
    provide a warm relaxed environment and students are never blamed for
    difficulties they may have.  They very soon blossom into confident,
    capable readers.  We still have a few openings for our Summer Reading
    Boost.

    The details . . .

    Organization Name: Academic Associates Reading Clinic

    Contact: Steve or Robin Blaha

    Location: 570 Forum Drive, Roselle, IL

    Email: academicassociates1@yahoo.com

    Website: www.everychildcanread.com

    Phone: 630-307-0777

    College planning workshop

    I received this from a host of a radio show geared toward those headed to college, and their parents:

    Over the past year I have had dozens of Home Educators throughout the Midwest contact me requesting information on “How Home Educators Can Send Their Kid’s to College Without Draining Their Life Savings, Raiding Their Retirement or Just Plain Going Broke.”

    Until now, I simply have not had the available time to conduct such a specialized workshop.

    On Tuesday June 14th, I will be conducting an Online College Planning Workshop for Parents of Home Schooled Junior HS & HS Students.

    If you would like to attend this event, click to link below to register.

    College Planning Event for Parents of Home Schooled Students

    We have reserved 100 spots for this event and we expect them to be taken very quickly so please register now before you are locked out.

    College Planning Event for Parents of Home Schooled Students

    -All the Best

    Ken Schreiber
    Host of ‘College Bound’ AM 560 WIND
    Premier College Planning Associates
    608 S. Washington St. Suite 207
    Naperville, IL 60540
    Phone: 630-717-4998
    Fax: 630-364-5869

    P.S. If you have other friends, family members, co-workers or neighbors who Home Educate their children, feel free to forward this invitation to them. They’ll be happy you did!

    College Planning Event for Parents of Home Schooled Students


    Crossroads offers sports just for homeschoolers

    If you are looking for homeschool sports this is the place to begin your search. Excellent program and a variety of sports available. Check out all the details on their website Crossroads Christian Youth Center.

    TOS Crew Review — Eagle’s Wings

    Eagle's Wings

    Science often strikes fear into the hearts of homeschool moms. It is the topic that many feel unable to teach when they first begin, but with the right tools we can all succeed and enjoy our science experience. Many homeschool moms actually say that science is their favorite subject to teach after a few years under their belts. Eagle’s Wings’ Considering God’s Creation can be a great tool for the new mom that needs some help figuring out how to bring science easily in their home, or for the veteran mom that loves teaching science and is looking for a quality, affordable product.

    The book has 36 lessons which covers topics such as: Creation, The Universe, Weather, Kingdoms, Anatomy, and more. The authors present the lessons from a solid Biblical worldview in this easy to use and easily adaptable science book.

    Product: Considering God’s Creation

    Details: A science curriculum covering natural science and adaptable for second to seventh Grade.  272-pages plus Teacher’s Manual with audio CD. The authors, Sue Mortimer and Betty Smith, are sisters that grew up as homeschooled missionary kids in Mexico. They initially wrote this curriculum to use in homeschooling their own kids.

    Price: $29.95

    What we loved . . .

    • Science for almost the whole family. Made to easily work with 2-7 graders, but my K and 1 are easily following along with it all. They suggest even having an older child teach this to the younger ones as their own science. We didn’t try that, but I am considering seeing how it goes. You always learn so much more when you dig in to material to actually teach it. This might be perfect for my 7th grader to actually teach to the younger ones and all their science would be taken care of for me. I really like the sound of that.
    • Created by homeschoolers for homeschoolers. There is a lot to be said for curriculum written by someone who has been there and knows what homeschoolers need in a curriculum. We want easy to use, all in one, multi-age, accurate info, hands on supplements, and I especially want Biblical grounding. These homeschool veterans had all that in mind when creating this science course. It’s not the flashiest, most beautiful book on your shelf, but it has everything you need to teach your kids science well.
    • Lots of learning styles. They use music, experiments, discussion, crafts, projects, observations, listening, and reading to get their lessons across. My kids enjoyed the simple activities, the catchy tunes, and the suggested studies. This program was definitely a good fit for us. I look forward to finishing it in the year ahead.
    • Can be reused. We didn’t tap into these, but at the end of each lesson they offer “Digging Deeper” resources for use on your second run through the material a couple years later.
    • Biblically grounded. If you have read me for any length of time you know this is of utmost importance to me. Each lesson is tied in to Scripture. You could easily use that portion as your Bible lesson for the day as well.
    • Student book may be copied for your kids. You only need to purchase the one set that comes with the student book which you are free to copy for your own children. This is wonderful for kids that love to redo favorite crafts and it is helpful on the budget since you don’t need a workbook for everyone.
    • Focus on Creationism — This kind of goes with the Biblical grounding, but it bears repeating because they repeat it so often. They often present “evolution stumpers” that focus on truths that validate Creationism and weaknesses in the evolutionary theory. This is a huge part of why I want my kids to learn science at home, so I really appreciate their intentional emphasis on this area of teaching and learning.

    Some considerations . . .

    • Lessons aren’t broken down by days. Although the lessons are scripted, it is up to you how much you do in a given day. Each of the 36 lessons are meant to fill a week of science classes so the curriculum takes a full school year to complete. But you have the flexibility to determine how much you do in a day, how many days each week you cover science, and how deeply involved to get with each lesson.
    • Black and white. The student book has lots of graphics that it uses for the different notebook activities, but they are all black and white. If you have a kid that loves color they can of course color their own, but be aware that the cover is the only page in color in these books.

    Eagle’s Wings has created exactly what I like to find in a curriculum. It offers you a quality product at a reasonable price and creates an easy to use curriculum at the same time. This might not be a good fit for every family, but it has really clicked with us. The activities are easy to pull together and I’m not tempted to skip them because I know they won’t take a lot of time or clean up and the kids will enjoy them. This is exactly what I needed in a science curriculum.

    For more TOS Crew reviews on this product, check out the TOS Crew blog.

    Disclaimer: This product was provided to me free of charge through Eagle’s Wings as part of my participation in The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I received no additional compensation and the opinions expressed here come from my personal experiences and sincere thoughts.



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