Happy New Year homeschool families! To start the year we will focus on the importance of perseverance. This can be a great time for students to review their academic progress and reflect on what they would like to improve in the next semester. Goals can include reading, writing, or math but should also include a fun personal goal. Students are often motivated to please parents but as educators, our goal should be to move out of the line of focus so that students begin to see Jesus and follow his direction toward their future. Then along their journey, we encourage, support, and follow God’s direction to teach His students. As you pray, review, and discuss next semester's goals as a family here are a few engaging activities. -AMW
As a student, I struggled in all academic areas. I was often frustrated knowing something was wrong but unsure what to do. It wasn’t until I met my high school teacher that I learned the importance of identifying the areas that need improvement, creating a plan, and working hard to meet the goal. When setting goals I had to remember that it took discipline (focus), determination (never giving up), and perseverance (continued effort toward a goal, despite challenges, difficulties, and failures). In 1 Corinthians 9:24, it says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” So let's learn how to keep running even when you feel like giving up. Galatians 6:9 says, " And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Take time to discuss and pray about what goals you would like to work toward, set a plan, and get ready to work hard.
As a student, I struggled in all academic areas. I was often frustrated knowing something was wrong but unsure what to do. It wasn’t until I met my high school teacher that I learned the importance of identifying the areas that need improvement, creating a plan, and working hard to meet the goal. When setting goals I had to remember that it took discipline (focus), determination (never giving up), and perseverance (continued effort toward a goal, despite challenges, difficulties, and failures). In 1 Corinthians 9:24, it says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” So let's learn how to keep running even when you feel like giving up. Galatians 6:9 says, " And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Take time to discuss and pray about what goals you would like to work toward, set a plan, and get ready to work hard.
Once you know what you would like to work toward create a vision board. You can either print off the vision board template or grab a sheet of poster paper to make your board. Goals can be either written, or drawn, or create a collage of printed pictures to show your goals. Pictures can be gathered from old magazines, internet pictures, pamphlets, etc. Libraries often sell their old magazines for a small fee.
Here are a couple of great movies that have characters that demonstrate perseverance. As a family pick a movie and discuss what difficulties the character faced and how they overcame those difficulties.
Here are a couple of great movies that have characters that demonstrate perseverance. As a family pick a movie and discuss what difficulties the character faced and how they overcame those difficulties.
Here are a few challenging experiments to try and test your perseverance skills.
Perseverance Ice Cream in a bag:
MATERIALS
Gallon Ziploc Bag Sandwich Ziploc Bag TO MAKE
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National Puzzle Day is January 29th. To practice perseverance give middle and high school students a puzzle on jigsawexplorer to see who can complete the given puzzle.
For the fastest car competition each student can pick the type of car they would like to design and make. Then race to see whose car is the fastest, in distance, and style. Here are two videos to show step-by-step how to make a rubber band or mousetrap car.
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Once you have chosen your academic goal pick a program to start practicing.
Lalilo is a free online reading program for K, 1st, and 2nd-grade students to build decoding skills. Students will work on phonics, word recognition, and comprehension. As they practice they will journey through different worlds, collecting badges and unlocking stories. Teachers can track progress and assign specific lessons. Lalilo is an online tool for K, 1st, and 2nd-grade teachers and students.
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Epic is a free online reading resource that allows students from preschool through 8th grade to access an online library. Students can listen to Read-To-Me books, audiobooks, graphic novels educational videos, animated books, and more. Parents can assign libraries based on area of focus, reading level, and student interest. While students read they can use tools like dictionary lookup, fun word games, and comprehension quizzes to check their understanding of the text.
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ReadWorks is a K-12 reading resource that allows students to read a wide range of articles while building their reading comprehension skills. Parents can pick from 5000 articles to assign to each student based on reading level and track reading and answers to comprehension questions. The program focuses on the following three pillars of reading comprehension (building background knowledge, growing vocabularies, and strengthening strategic reading to improve student reading comprehension and overall reading outcomes.
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NaNoWriMo is a fun and free writing program students 17 and under can create stories with an account at ywp.nanowrimo.org. Students are able to work on a novel, set word count goals, and work toward creating the best story by the end of each month. Enjoy each month creating a world of adventure as you develop into the next C.S. Lewis.
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ABCya provides over 300 fun and educational free games for grades PreK through 6. Games are categorized by grade and subject, ranging from reading, writing, and math. This resource was developed by two teachers who were looking for a quality educational resource free of violence, difficult navigation, and inappropriate ads. With their team, they have created a domain that provides engaging games that are aligned with common core standards.
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Multiplication.com provides online math games for elementary through high school students who need a little more practice in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They not only provide hundreds of games but also provide free worksheets, teaching videos, and quizzes in order to prevent frustration and the correct areas to practice.
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PBS LearningMedia offers FREE educational resources for PreK–12th grade educators and students. Teachers can utilize videos, audio recordings, images, and interactive lessons for any subject area. You can find read-aloud from the popular show Reading Rainbow to NewsQuiz featuring information on world news for high school studies.
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International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27th is international Holocaust remembrance day. It is sad to see that many college students either deny this event took place or even understand what took place. The word holocaust comes from the Greek word “holokauston” which means “sacrifice by fire”. In 1933 the Nazis began the mass persecution and planned slaughter of the Jewish people. Adolf Hitler, Germany’s assumed ruler, began a systematic campaign to take Jew's property and all civil citizens' jobs. As they destroyed homes, businesses, and synagogues many Jews were sent to concentration camps and ghettos. Many were denied food, medical services, or heat. Consequently, many died due to starvation and disease. Then in 1942 Nazi officials began the onslaught by transporting hundreds of thousands of Jews to extermination camps. There the old, very young, and physically weak were killed first. Then when the strong became weak and unable to work, they too were exterminated. During that span of time over six million Jews were killed. For more information for upper middle and high school-age students visit the History Channel, Kidsconnect Worksheets, United States Memorial Holocaust Museum Virtual Field Trip, and Historical Interviews.
Testimony of survivor Corrie Ten Boom in The Hiding Place - This tells the true story of Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch lady who helped to hide Jewish people from the Nazis. Corrie gets caught by a spy, however, and is sent to a concentration camp. Corrie survives the camp and is set free at the end of the war.
Testimony of survivor Corrie Ten Boom in The Hiding Place - This tells the true story of Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch lady who helped to hide Jewish people from the Nazis. Corrie gets caught by a spy, however, and is sent to a concentration camp. Corrie survives the camp and is set free at the end of the war.
Calling all builders! Visit your local Home Depot store to participate in a FREE hands-on workshop designed for children ages 5-12. They will be held on Saturday, January 6th from 9am to 12pm. Register and order your child’s workshop kit Click Here.
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Bennett Anything Library will be hosting AFTERSCHOOL ART NIGHTS WEDNESDAYS 4:15PM - 5:15PM Students will get to paint, draw, craft, and make things every Wednesday after school! They can make a different art project we provide or use the supplies to make something of their own design. Appropriate for ages 7 to 14. |
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper
time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NIV