When I was a little girl, I was careful never to grumble out the words “Mom, I’m bored…there’s nothing to dooooo!” If I did happen to express these thoughts my dear mom would remark in her Bostonian accent, “Oh, I’ll give you something to do.” My mom would then usually point to the cleaning that must be done in the kitchen, bathroom or parlor. I can still hear her words, “You kids need to start helping out around here!”

I guess the old saying is true, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, I am my Mother after all!” I find that I do not tolerate these words very well either, and it is fortunate for my children that they are rarely bored. They have quickly learned that only boring people are bored and chores will miraculously clear up their dull and disinterested dispositions. Curiously, homeschoolers seem to rarely suffer from this ailment. Perhaps it is  because they are accustomed to spending more time at home, filling up their days with useful tasks.

None of our family members are bored because there are always irons in the fire….books to read, projects to complete, cleaning  etc. Our struggles though, are in making the right choice  or best choice about how we will spend our time. Choosing a video game or watching a video often is our choice instead of something more commendable.
Because my boys sometimes seem to need more direction and instruction, I’ve prepared a list for them to use when they are having a difficult time choosing worthy tasks to fill up their day. I hope you will enjoy our list and perhaps come up with some ideas for your family. Enjoy your children….they grow up so fast. Life is too short to be bored!  ~Anne  Read more...

Celebrating Presidents Day…Remembering our 40th President.

youtu.be/tiNVqYwVfWE

Turn the music off before beginning video………………………………………………………….>>>>

Sadly, these type of stories are “a dime a dozen”  nowadays.  I’m so accustomed to hearing  them that I’m becoming less and less appalled. This one made me really grouchy though.  Perhaps because the prayer is so worthy, or maybe because I’m beginning a study on the Constitution, but this particular story really  aroused my anger enough and prompted me to post.

Sixteen-year- old atheist Jessica Ahlquist who attends Cranston High School in Rhode Island found this mural which has been displayed for decades to be offensive. In January, U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Lagueux agreed with the young woman and found this expression of faith to be unconstitutional. I’m afraid this activist judge would have to find the Constitution to be unconstitutional because God is not left out of it.

Jessica is thrilled with the ruling and the schools have decided not to appeal because of the costs.  Once again the minority atheist has prevailed and our religious freedoms have been chipped away even further. Perhaps this young lady and activist judge believes that we are to have “freedom from religion” instead of “freedom of religion.” Perhaps  a copy of the 1st amendment should be displayed in this very spot.  Maybe the students should gather and pray this wonderful prayer  each morning…….oh silly me…. …this is a government school…at government schools…. ..prayer is also unconstitutional nowadays.

                             Our Heavenly Father  Read more...

I found this inspiring poem at Sofine’s Joyful Moments website.  This character building poem is one that  could be read, discussed and used as a copywork lesson.

A man doesn’t whine at his losses,
A man doesn’t whimper and fret,
Or rail at the weight of his crosses
And ask life to rear him a pet.
A man doesn’t grudgingly labor
Or look upon toil as a blight;
A man doesn’t sneer at his neighbor
Or sneak from a cause that is right.
A man doesn’t sulk when another
Succeeds where his efforts have failed;
Doesn’t keep all his praise for the brother
Whose glory is publicly hailed;
And pass by the weak and the humble
As though they were not of his clay;
A man doesn’t ceaselessly grumble
When things are not going his way.
A man looks on woman as tender
And gentle, and stands at her side
At all times to guard and defend her,
And never to scorn or deride.
A man looks on life as a mission.
To serve, just so far as he can;
A man holds his noblest ambition
On earth is to live as a man.

I love the line ” Homeschoolers seem to understand the Constitution….I wonder why that is?”  Enjoy! (Please turn off website music before beginning clip)

Please take a few minutes to watch this short clip about the government schools. Be sure to turn the website music off.

I found this little poem at  “one room school houses”  and thought it would be useful in a grammar or copywork lesson.   Perhaps it could be memorized or even put to music.

Three little words you often see
Are Articles-a, an, and the;
A noun is the name of anything,
As school or garden, hoop or swing.

Adjectives tell the kind of noun,.
As great, small, pretty, white or brown.
Instead of Nouns, the Pronouns stand
-Her head, his face, your arm, my hand.

Verbs tell of something to be done;
To bear, count, sing, laugh, study, run.
How things are done, the Adverbs tell,
As slowly, quickly, ill, or well.
Conjunctions join the words together,
As man and woman, wind or weather.

The Prepositions stand before
A noun, as of or through a door.
‘The Interjection shows surprise,
As, ah! how pretty! oh! how wise!
The whole are called nine Parts of Speech
Which reading, writing, speaking teach.

~Author Unknown

It has been nearly 30 years since I attended my first homeschool meeting and initially considered the idea of homeschooling my children. While listening to Christian radio, I heard popular radio host and father of 10,  Rich Buhler,  discuss his own family’s homeschooling journey.  Rich Buhler  described this educational option with enthusiasm and joy.   I was quite interested in exploring this further and found the whole idea of teaching children at home quite intriguing.

Although folks have been homeschooling since the beginning of time,  the modern homeschool movement began in the late 1970’s.  Parents discovered that they could indeed educate their own children, and soon realized that those who were taught at home generally excelled far beyond their public school counterparts. Those precious mothers teaching around their kitchen tables could almost always do a better job and produce more excellence than the “professionals.” I am grateful to these pioneering homeschoolers who paved the way for us today.  Although homeschooling was not technically illegal in most states the public schools treated many parents as criminals. Homeschooling was risky and not for the faint of heart. These Homeschooling parents faced threats of jail time and having their children removed from their home. Some were arrested; many were taken to court.

Nevertheless, these early years of homeschooling were exciting and extraordinary. Parents had to figure every out themselves. These pioneers were so brave and tough and even though they faced much persecution from society, they did not give up. They crafted their own curriculum, formed their own support groups, did their own research,  and prepared a course of study tailored to the needs of their individual children.  Read more...

I received this poem in an email from A Thomas Jefferson Education. I thought it was a good one for our little girls to read or even use for a copywork lesson. ~Anne

My Mother Says

My mother says she doesn’t care
About the color of my hair,
Or if my eyes are blue or brown,
Or if my nose turns up or down.
My mother says these things don’t matter.

My mother says she doesn’t care
If I’m dark or if I’m fair,
If I’m thin or if I’m fat.
She doesn’t fret o’er things like that.
My mother says these things don’t matter.

But if I cheat or tell a lie,
Or do mean things to make folks cry,
Or if I’m rude or impolite,

And do not try to do what’s right…
My mother says that these things matter.

It isn’t looks that makes us great;
It’s character that seals our fate.
It’s what’s within our hearts, you see,
That makes or mars our destiny.

And that’s what really matters.

Author Unknown

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light;
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that here we see no more,
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkenss of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson
A Thomas Jefferson Education

picture credit

I received this poem from Glenn Beck in my email today; as I read it,  I recalled the following quote from Helen Keller. “I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.” Our world is so upside down, my friend often reminds me that it is “a mad max world.”  Even knowing that our God is ruler, King…and still on the throne,  I often feel overwhelmed and helpless.  I feel as though I must do something…something to stop this downward slide.  Homeschooling is my contribution…but still I must do more. With the power of the Holy Spirit,  I can change the world simply by changing myself. May the Lord give us courage this year.  Courage to buck the culture and stand for  those things that are good and lovely and pure.  May we have the courage to continue homeschooling even though our friends have joined hands with the government  in order to raise and train their children.  May the Lord have mercy upon our America, and our families.  May He forgive our sins and heal our land.  God Bless you and many blessings this  New Year  ~Anne  Read more...

I received this list from Townhall Magazine and thought I’d share it here on Educators At Home. No doubt some of these titles are quite challenging for many of us….especially me…but if we read them the way that Mortimer Adler instructs us to in   How to Read a Book, perhaps we will have a measure of success with some of these titles.  As the main teacher in our family,  keeping myself reading and informed is a huge part of staying inspired and motivated.  My children benefit when I’m reading good books because my enthusiasm spills over to them.  When I read my Bible, my family benefits.  When I’m eating healthier, they also benefit and do the same.  If I read, I’m not quite as dull because I’m inspired to pass on whatever I’ve learned.  Perhaps if you’ve experienced the same in your family, you will find this list helpful.  Some of these titles, I’ve read in the past and others are on my bookshelves right now.  Please comment on this list if you would like,  and tell me what you have enjoyed reading in the past.  Blessings to you as you train and disciple your children and Happy New Year!  ~Anne

1.   The Road to Serfdom by F.A. Hayek – Conservatives believe that individuals are best able to take care of themselves, and liberals believe that people need a government to take care of everyone.  Read more...

(Be sure to turn off the website music before beginning this video)

Hello  Everyone!  If you have been trying to visit our site over the last week or so and received a message saying that it was not found here is why:  It’s a long story but I’ll try to make it brief.  About 9 months ago I moved Educators At Home to a new more robust server.  The person I was leasing the server from sold me a years worth of hosting which I paid for in advance.

Well,  last week the server went down and I thought  it had crashed and needed a reboot.  Well turns out that the person did not pay for the server and they shut us down.  I tried desperately to get the service reinstated, but this is where the story gets very convoluted. The person I purchased our hosting from was sub leasing from a company called “Wild West Hosting” who sub leases from a company in Chicago.  After hours and hours of tracing IP’s and hosting companies I was told that “because I wasn’t the original person who set up the account,  I could not get my data back because technically it did not belong to us.”  Unfortunately, all of our system backups were on the server and not local; big mistake.  I’ve been rebuilding the site from an old backup I had locally that was about 9 months old.  This has been a learning experience for me as  I’ve had to custom build MySQL database files to make the old backup compatible with the newest version of Word Press.  Read more...