Do some easy things first! When I was home schooling, I found that doing some short, easy things first at the beginning of the day provided a warm-up of sorts. If the subject was math, we had a “question or story problem of the day.” We often followed this with “mental math” drills. If we began with English, we…
I was thinking back to when I bought my first IPhone. As I left the Verizon store, I thought, internet, iTunes, email, weather, news, and way more, even a flashlight, all at my fingertips except…I didn’t know how to access all of them. I needed help to get up and running. There’s an ancient saying,…
When you think of the word, “authority,” what comes to mind? Whether you click on this word in a Word document to see the synonyms or look up the definition on-line, at the top of the list is “power.” At the bottom of the list is “influence.” When you think about “power,” the idea of…
Some states require home schoolers do end-of-the-year testing to prove they are making adequate academic progress. Years ago in Oregon, the phrase, “Doing well enough to be left alone,” was used to rally opposition to government involvement in home schooling. The results of the data collected by the state were undeniable. Home schoolers, compared to students…
I see three doctors on a regular basis- a nephrologist (kidney doctor), a cardiologist, and an oncologist. I see a gastro doctor and naturopath on an “as needed” basis. I met with my nephrologist recently. He reviewed my latest lab work. The numbers were going in the wrong direction. He commented, “Well, I won’t be raising…
Did you make a New Year’s resolution? If you did, and you’re like me, you may have had a variety of motives for doing so. But, the main reason was to gain control of something. We all, to some degree, make resolutions, set goals with deadlines, or create task lists. We all have a basic desire to be in control….
This is the first day of school for many as we enter 2021. The first third of the school year is over. Christmas, in spite of Covid, provided a nice break. But, the break is over and it’s time to get back to work. Did you make the progress you hoped for? If you’re like most of…
“. . . The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization,…
Are you rethinking how you will be celebrating Thanksgiving this year? As we approach this holiday, I’ve been thinking back to where I was two years ago. In August of 2018, I was getting ready for a two-day-a-week class I would be teaching to junior high students. I had purchased gratitude journals for each of…
I was thinking about writing this near the end of August. In Oregon, we were looking forward to a pleasant fall season: warm and dry. I wanted to encourage you to add a healthy practice, a practice you could start now and continue through most of October. Take some of your education outdoors! Make it…