Doorposts’ Giveaway!

Parenting Essentials Package 

laurenbell @ February 2, 2012   |   General  |   Comments (55)

Shepherding the Heart Ministries Giveaway

Shepherding a Child’s Heart tells you how to speak to the heart of your child. The things your child does and says flow from the heart. Luke 6:45 puts it this way: “…out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Written for parents with children of any age, this insightful book provides perspectives and procedures for shepherding your child’s heart into the paths of life.

In this revised edition ofShepherding a Child’s Heart, Dr. Tedd Tripp not only draws upon his thirty years experience as a pastor, counselor, school administrator, and father, but he also shares insights gained in many years of teaching this material in conferences worldwide, providing more valuable help for parents.

Leave your comment below for a chance to win Shepherding A Child’s Heart Ministries giveaway: One FREE copy of Shepherding A Child’s Heart.

(Be sure to leave a valid e-mail so the company can notify if you win! Winners will be chosen Friday, February 3, 2012.)

Don’t miss Tedd Tripp and Shepherding a Child’s Heart Ministries at this year’s convention!

(This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by—

or associated with—Facebook.)

laurenbell @ February 2, 2012   |   General  |   Comments (44)

Download N Go Giveaway!

Download N Go Teacher’s Guide!Custom-made for use with Amanda Bennett’s one-year Download N Go package, this 63-page guide includes everything you’ll need to have a stress-free year using Download N Go unit studies. Full of great information and powerful tools, it includes:• Answers to frequently asked questions about using unit studies• An extensive topical index (similar to a scope and sequence), to help you document what your children learn during the year• A one-year plan to guide you through the year using the 36 Download N Go studies included in the one-year Download N Go package• More than 40 pages of interactive forms to journal and document your learning adventures throughout the yearThis guide provides the tools you need to jump right in and begin using Download N Go unit studies with confidence. Enjoy the adventure!

Leave your comment below for a chance to win the Download N Go giveaway: One FREE copy of Download N Go™ Teacher’s Guide!
(Be sure to leave a valid e-mail so the company can notify you if you win! Winners will be chosen Friday, February 3, 2012.)

Don’t miss Amanda Bennett at this year’s convention!
(This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by—or associated with—Facebook.)  

laurenbell @ February 2, 2012   |   General  |   Comments (35)

Download N Go Giveaway

Win an ENTIRE Download N Go Spring Semester on CD! Includes 21 one-week studies for grades K–4! This colorful, fun-filled unit study and lapbook make learning an adventure with these exciting studies:
•Autumn Treasures
•Amelia Earhart
•Ben Franklin
•Birthday Bonanza
•Davy Crockett
•Dolphin Days
•Expedition Australia
•Expedition China
•Expedition Ireland
•Expedition Mexico
•George Washington
•Kite Capers
•Mother’s Day
•Pizza Party
•Sunny Seashells
•Simply Soccer
•Spring Surprises
•Twisting Tornadoes
•Valentine’s Day
•Winter Wonders
•Whale Tales

Leave your comment below for a chance to win Amanda Bennett’s giveaway: One FREE copy of Download N Go Spring Semester on CD 21 One-Week Studies for Grades K–4.
(Be sure to leave a valid e-mail so the company can notify you if you win! Winners will be chosen Friday, February 3, 2012.)
Don’t miss Amanda Bennett at this year’s convention!
(This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by—or associated with—Facebook.)

laurenbell @ February 2, 2012   |   General  |   Comments (29)

Crystal Creek Media Official Team T-Shirt Giveaway

Leave your comment below for a chance to win Crystal Creek Media’s giveaway: One FREE Crystal Creek Media Official Team T-Shirt!
(Be sure to leave a valid e-mail so the company can notify you if you win! Winners will be chosen Friday, February 3, 2012.)
Don’t miss Crystal Creek Media at this year’s convention!
(This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by—or associated with—Facebook.)

laurenbell @ February 2, 2012   |   General  |   Comments (20)

Home Educator’s Association of Virginia’s Giveaway!

Home Education: Touching the Heart. Win a chance to come to the 29th Annual HEAV Homeschool Convention—for FREE! More than 130 information-packed workshops, with great speakers—Tedd Tripp, Jason Lisle, Crystal Paine, Reb Bradley, Debra Bell, Hal and Melanie Young, to name a few—PLUS Crystal Creek Media’s two-day Film Camp, a Transcript Boot Camp, a HUGE Exhibit Hall, money-saving Used Curriculum Sale (60,000+ items last year), graduation, FREE how-to-begin sessions, and SO MUCH MORE. Practical, hands-on, and encouraging—don’t miss it!

Leave your comment below for a chance to win Home Educator’s Association of Virginia’s giveaway: One FREE ticket to the 29th Annual Virginia Homeschool Convention in June.
(Be sure to leave a valid e-mail so we can notify you if you win! Winners will be chosen Friday, February 3, 2012.)

(This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by—or associated with—Facebook.)

laurenbell @ February 2, 2012   |   General  |   Comments (107)

The Institute for Excellence in Writing GIVEAWAY!

Make writing easier! Get A Word Write Now: A Thematic Thesaurus for Stylized Writing, by The Institute for Excellence in Writing!
This resource is a brilliantly organized reference that
• contains word lists organized by character qualities and behavior traits
• is divided by parts of speech to assist younger students
• contains quotations from classic literature that give contextual meaning
• offers new appendices of teaching tips and games.

Leave your comment below for a chance to win the giveaway: One FREE copy of A Word Write Now!
(Be sure to leave a valid e-mail so the company can notify you if you win! Winners will be chosen Friday, February 3, 2012.)
Don’t miss The Institute for Excellence in Writing at this year’s convention!
Party Favor! Stop by the IEW booth at the convention and mention this Facebook Party, and you will receive a free Portable Wall! (No purchase necessary. Limit one per family)

(This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by—or associated with—Facebook.)

laurenbell @ February 2, 2012   |   General  |   Comments (65)

School District Offers Testing—What Are My Options?

Q. I received a letter from my school district offering testing in April for my homeschooler. Is this a good option? What are my other choices?

A. Homeschooling parents are required to submit the results of a standardized achievement test or independent evaluation by August 1 each year if they have complied with §22.1-254.1 of the Virginia Code by filing a Notice of Intent or sending a letter to the school division.

A few school districts may offer free testing for homeschool students, but this is not your only option. If you test with a local public school, all sections of the test (language arts, mathematics, history, science) will be given, and the test results will go directly to the school, not to you. If your child should happen to score lower than expected because he is in a strange environment, or he is intimidated by a new situation or teacher, you will not have an opportunity to retest.

Parents have several other testing options. First, parents may choose ANY nationally normed standardized achievement test from a variety of tests such as the Stanford Achievement Test, the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS), the California Achievement Tests (CAT), the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS-TAP), Science Research Associates (SRA), or the Woodcock-Johnson Educational Battery, to name a few. Costs range from $25 to $50.

If you use a standardized achievement test, only the composite score for language arts and mathematics (the basic battery) must be submitted. The composite score includes all sub-tests for language arts and mathematics. Science and history test sections are not required. The student’s composite score must be in the fourth stanine or higher (23rd percentile) in order to continue homeschooling.

For students who may not do well on an achievement test, parents may submit an independent evaluation or present a portfolio to the division superintendent instead. If an independent evaluation or assessment is chosen, the evaluation letter must be completed by a person licensed to teach in any state, or a person with a master’s degree or higher in an academic discipline who has knowledge of the child’s academic progress. It must state that the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress. With an evaluation, the division superintendent or his designee will determine if the child is achieving an adequate level of educational growth and progress.

An evaluation or assessment may also include a report card or transcript from a community college or university, distance-learning program, or home-education correspondence school.

If you’re wondering where to purchase tests, HEAV has put together a list of companies offering tests for homeschoolers. We’ve also compiled a page listing counselors, testers, and tutors who have expressed an interest in working with homeschoolers.

Watch for more information in the spring in our Testing Update!

Regards,

Yvonne Bunn @ January 19, 2012   |   General, Homeschool Q&A  |   Comments (0)

Steps to Begin

Q. Can I start to homeschool now? If so, what steps should I take to begin?

A. Yes, you may begin homeschooling after the school year has begun. The Virginia homeschool statute (§22.1-254.1 (B)) states:

“Any parent who moves into a school division or begins home instruction after the school year has begun shall notify the division superintendent of his intentions to provide home instruction as soon as practicable and shall thereafter comply with the requirements of this section within thirty days of such notice.”

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Know the law! This is a critical step when beginning to homeschool. If you know the law, you will have confidence and know your rights as a parent. For complete information, visit the law section of the HEAV website. You’ll find links to the actual statute and tips on what you need to know. For a comprehensive overview of the choices you have, be sure to view the Law Flowchart. 

2. Complete a “Notice of Intent” form or write a letter indicating how you have complied with the law.

You may download a “Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction” form here. On the form, choose one of the following options:

• show evidence of a high school diploma (attach a copy of your diploma or transcript, or higher degree), or
• submit your Virginia teacher certification, (attach documentation) or
• provide a program of study or a curriculum that may be delivered through a correspondence course or distance learning program or in any other manner (attach an acceptance letter or evidence of payment), or
• show evidence that you are able to provide an adequate education for your child. (Carefully write a grammatically correct letter stating why you are able to provide a good education for your child.)

3. Include a description of your curriculum.

The law requires limited documentation of curriculum—just a description. To comply, you could write a brief description of what you intend to study during the year, or you could attach a list of subjects to be taught and the textbook titles. Your curriculum is not evaluated or approved by the superintendent; your description merely shows that a curriculum is in place

If your initial “Notice of Intent” does not include complete curriculum information because you are making still making curriculum decisions, you have 30 days from the initial notice to complete the requirements and fully comply with the law. However, once notice has been given in compliance with the statute, your family should be considered legal homeschoolers.

4. Notify your division superintendent.

There are two ways to notify your superintendent:

• You may mail the “Notice of Intent” form and attachments to your division superintendent. If you mail it “certified, return-receipt,” you will have a record of the date the superintendent received your notice. After the date of receipt, you may withdraw your child from school without concern for truancy issues.
• You may also hand-deliver the “Notice of Intent” form to your superintendent’s office. In this case, ask for a hand-written receipt.

If you will be withdrawing your child from public school in order to begin homeschooling, it is important to file your “Notice of Intent” form with your local superintendent before withdrawing your child from public school. Once you have proof that the superintendent has received your homeschool notification, there should be no confusion about complying with school attendance laws. However, if you first take your child out of school, then notify the superintendent, it may raise truancy questions and could possibly result in a truancy investigation with fines up to $100 per day.

As a homeschooling parent, you are not applying for permission or seeking the superintendent’s approval to homeschool. You are simply notifying the superintendent’s office of your intent to provide for your child’s education in a manner already approved by the Virginia General Assembly. The law requires a parent to notify the superintendent of his intent to homeschool, but does not require a parent to wait for “approval” from the division superintendent before withdrawing a student from a traditional school and beginning to homeschool.

5. Contact a local support group in your area.

HEAV networks with more than 220 support groups throughout the state. Here is a list of groups and their contact information.  Local support groups provide opportunities for student involvement in variety of activities, as well as encouragement for new homeschooling parents.

Please contact the HEAV office at 804-278-9200 if you have homeschool questions. Our staff and counselors will be glad to help you! You’re also welcome to join us for one of our upcoming Homeschool Success Seminars. With this information, you’ll be sure to get off to a great start!

Regards,

Yvonne Bunn @ January 5, 2012   |   General, Homeschool Q&A  |   Comments (0)

Keeping the Flames Burning

This post is part of a series by Melissa Barnes titled, “Sitting at My Savior’s Feet…A Short Devotional for Homeschool Moms.” 

I had the privilege of attending a youth-led worship service at our church recently. The youth handled the entire morning: teaching Sunday school, greeting, leading worship, and preaching. Later that evening our Life Group discussed the obvious zeal that our youth have for Jesus. Some of us expressed a longing to reclaim that fervor in our own lives. I thought about the times in my life that I have been “on fire for Jesus” and felt a twinge of guilt for the times that I have barely flickered for Him. I pondered this the next day, wondering how a believer can sustain such a passion for Christ. God blessed me by saying I didn’t need to…at least not exactly.

God cares very much about our zeal for him, but we often mistake true zeal for an emotional substitute. Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (NIV’84). Zeal is defined as “eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something.” It is not an emotion but an action. True zeal isn’t a feeling but a strong desire to move toward Him. This paradigm shift resembles another one I once had to discover about love.

About ten years into my marriage, I read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. The third chapter alone was worth the price of the book to me. It spoke of the difference between the “in-love experience” and “real love.”  In it Chapman writes, “We can recognize the in-love experience for what it was—a temporary emotional high—and now pursue “real love” with our spouse…It is a love that unites reason and emotion. It involves an act of the will and requires discipline, and it recognizes the need for personal growth. Our most basic emotional need is not to fall in love but to be genuinely loved by another, to know a love that grows out of reason and choice, not instinct. I need to be loved by someone who chooses to love me, who sees in me something worth loving.”

That’s the kind of love God gives us. It is genuine. It is something He chooses to do. And that principle of “real love” applies to our love for God as well. The young man who preached at my church on youth Sunday compared our relationship with Christ to a lifelong date. He said it isn’t an event we get ready for but something we begin doing the moment we are born. Our walk with Christ will have highs and lows just like any earthly relationship. We may have a “honeymoon phase” of our relationship with God. In fact, I would venture to say we have several during our Christian lives. But just as the marriage does not end when the honeymoon does, our love for Christ is not defined by our emotions. It is a choice—sometimes a hard one. We love Him easily when we feel His love most deeply, but we must also choose to love Him when the debts climb high, when our homeschool days bear more burdens than fruit, when we miscarry, when a friend betrays us…

Likewise, true zeal is not an emotion but a choice to pursue God even when life gets difficult. It isn’t about how we feel about God but how we seek Him. In the book of Revelation, John writes to the Church at Laodicea, saying:

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:15-20, NIV’84).

The solution for the Laodiceans’ lukewarm nature is to actively move toward God, to be earnest, repent, open the door, and receive Him. It is no different for us. James 1:17, tells us that God “does not change like the shifting shadows” (NIV’84). He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and Praise God, His love does not depend on anything we do or feel for him. He does, however, expect us to be in constant pursuit of him. And when we do this, He will always show up.

What is your spiritual temperature right now?  Have you allowed your zeal for the Lord to fade?  How can you consciously choose to press into Him this week?

mbarnes @ January 5, 2012   |   General  |   Comments (0)