On Tuesday I was up at OHSU for two scheduled tests: an eco-cardio gram and an EKG. The bone marrow biopsy was denied by my insurance carrier. I was required to have it done “in network.” After checking in at the cardiology office, I sat in a very small waiting room along with two or…
Jenny and I started Basic Skills in 1987. We had two children, Ryan (newborn) and Natalie (age four). Four years later Katelyn, our youngest, was born. Around this time we started doing group testing around the state. Jenny and I packed the kids in a mini-van with a car-top carrier and off we went….
I remember hearing a “good news, bad news” joke years ago. It made me laugh, but in an uncomfortable sort of way. It went something like this” The good news is, you’re going to heaven. The bad news is, you’re going tonight! Sure, as Christians, we look forward to enjoying the “sweet by and by,”…
Maria Menounos is a remarkable person. Maybe you’ve seen her on TV, on shows like E! News, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, Dateline, Today, and Extra. And then, while taking care of her mother who had brain cancer, she was forced to slow down. Then, Maria herself was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Maybe you could…
High School Newsletter | September 2018 ⊕ This email is being sent to our general Basic Skills e-zine list. After this we will return to our regular content. If you’d like to receive this high school newsletter monthly, opt-in to our high school list today! Accredited and Non-Accredited Diplomas By Curt Bumcrot One question homeschool parents…
Six years ago I almost made a decision that had I followed through with, I would have regretted for the rest of my life. Not that I haven’t made decisions I’ve regretted; I have, and I’m sure many of you have too. In this case, my father, then 85 years old and living on…
Today’s Video: How Autism and Intelligence Connect by Jordan Peterson (11 minutes) Autistic children perceive the world differently. Listen to Dr. Peterson as he discusses how autism and intelligence connect.
Need a full-proof way of motivating yourself or your student to move forward and succeed? Follow Cortez’s example. In 1519, Cortés landed in Veracruz. His objective: prevail in battle against the Aztecs and grab their treasure. His problem: The Aztec empire had been around for hundreds of years. The odds of upstaging it with only…
If you’re like me, you find yourself chasing a promise held out continuously by best selling authors, Christian and non-Christian alike. The promise is almost within my grasp. But to really have it dialed in, I need this book, or I need to go to this seminar, or I need this app. Balancing work, life,…
Some home schooling ideas I had based on Albert Einstein’s Ten tips for creativity: Follow Your Curiosity: Resist rigidity. Use, but don’t limit yourself to workbooks. Find ways to go deeper into subjects of interest to your children. Perseverance is Priceless: Perseverance is also not optional when it comes to learning or mastering a subject…