Valentine's Day Activities For Christian Homeschoolers

Valentine's Day is a great time to teach your children Bible lessons on all the ways God loves us and how we are to return that love both to Him and to others. Consider some of these great verses and hands-on activities that you can use to teach your children some awesome Biblical truths that will change their lives and the lives of others that come into contact with them. 1. The proof that we love God comes when we keep His commandments and they are not at all troublesome. (1 John 5:3) Have your children make a list of all the commandments that they think are easy to follow. (You can have your younger children say these out loud and then write their list for them.) When they are done, have everyone share their lists and discuss them as a family. To end the discussion, have everyone give one or two commandments they think are difficult to obey and have everyone in the family pray for each other that the commandments each person finds hard to follow will become easier. 2. The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both. (1 John 4:21) Give each child a wire hanger, five pieces of yarn, a pen, and five hearts cut out of paper. On each heart, have them write somebody's name that they love. Let them attach the hearts to the string and then tie the string on the hanger to make a mobile. Talk with them about why they love each person listed on their mobiles. When everyone is done, have each person say one person that they think is hard to love. (Try to keep this from turning negative and gossipy. Do not let them dwell on why they do not like other people.) Let the children take turns praying for the people that are hard to love and that God would allow them to start seeing that person the way God does.

TOPS Homeschool Lesson: Resolutions for 2012

At the beginning of the New Year, many people make resolutions for improving something about themselves and their surroundings. These resolutions usually focus on changing a specific habit that will make their life, health, home, or even attitude better.  

We would like to recommend that this year you choose one meaningful, key word to focus on during 2012.  Choose a word to meditate on in good times and bad; a word to use with your child in schooling activities as well as around the house.  For instance, you might choose:

DETERMINATION

     Look up the meaning with your child; learn to spell it; then tell your child about times when you have shown determination. Help you child identify a time when she has been determined.  Focus on the word for the whole year or a term or a month or whatever is right for your family.  You might want to read biographies of people who have exhibited determination in their lives. 

For example:

• Thomas Edison – he would not quit.  He made 1000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb before finding the right solution.
• Winston Churchill – he failed 6^th grade.  He was defeated in every election for public office until England asked him to become the Prime Minister. Listen with your child to his “Never, Never, Never, Never Give Up” speech.
•  Louisa May Alcott – her family thought she should forget writing and find work as a servant.
•  Gladys Aylward – she changed Chinese history by standing on her “flat feet”.
•  Mother Theresa – her life was dedicated to helping the poorest of the poor in India and she wouldn’t stop when people advised her to retire and rest.

 A few word options to get you thinking:  serene, committed, eager, listening, hope, contentment, beauty, change, dream, memory, alive, steady, creative, wonder, delight, calm, and so many, many more. 

We pray that all of you will have a very prosperous and peaceful New Year.

The Oaks Private School: Regionally Accredited

The Oaks Private School received its Regional Accreditation through the Northwest Accreditation Commission, one of only six regional accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA):

• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• Northwest Accreditation Commission
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools 

As The Oaks Private School's high standards and quality is being sought by a growing number of national and international students, it was determined that NWAC's trans-regional and international accreditation would best serve the needs of our students.
The Oaks continues in its commitment to provide families with the highest level of Christian education and the best quality of academic service. As we move forward, we are extremely pleased to be able to provide our students with a recognized level of accreditation that is both regional and international in scope.

Regional Accreditation

Regional accreditation is a term used in the United States to refer to educational accreditation conducted by any of several accreditation bodies established to serve six defined geographic areas of the country for accreditation of schools, colleges, and universities. Each regional accreditor encompasses the vast majority of public and nonprofit private educational institutions in the region it serves. They accredit (and therefore include among their membership) elementary schools, junior high schools, middle schools, and nearly all high schools, and public and private institutions of higher education that are academic in nature.

History of Accreditation

The regional accrediting agencies were established in the late 19th and early 20th century in response to a perceived need for better articulation between secondary schools and higher education institutions, particularly to help colleges and universities evaluate prospective students. The New England Association was formed in 1885 by a group of schoolmasters of secondary schools. The Middle States Association formed in 1887. The faculty of Vanderbilt University led the establishment of the Southern Association in 1895, and the North Central Association was organized the same year at a meeting of 36 administrators of mid-western schools, colleges, and universities. The Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools (predecessor of the two organizations that now serve that region) was formed in 1917 and the Western Association was founded in 1923. Initially the main focus of the organizations was on accreditation of secondary schools and establishment of uniform college entrance requirements.

Value of Accreditation

Accreditation is an activity long accepted in the United States but unknown in many other countries that rely on governmental supervision and control of educational institutions.
The record of accomplishment and outstanding success in the education of Americans can be traced in large part to the reluctance of the United States to impose governmental restrictions on institutions of postsecondary education, and to the success of the voluntary American system of accreditation in promoting quality without inhibiting innovation.
The high proportion of Americans benefiting from higher education, the reputation of universities in the United States for both fundamental and applied research, and the wide-spread availability of professional services in the United States all testify to postsecondary education of high quality, and to the success of the accreditation system which the institutions and professions of the United States have devised to promote that quality.

TOPS Educational Holiday Gift Idea

Being a child in a family full of education professionals means that your stocking is sure to be filled with an educational toy or two.  Our daughter-in-law comes from a family of teachers as well, so when Christmas rolls around, she's always looking for fun and educational gifts for our grandkids.  One of her picks for this year is the game, Apples to Apples.  Every once in a while, they love to sit around the table after dinner with the kids for Family Game Night.  Along with the parents, the family is comprised of a 12 year old girl and a 17 year old boy, so finding something that everyone can enjoy becomes quite a challenge!

This game is perfect for homeschool parents who want to sneak a few extra learning moments into the day.  It is a fantastic group activity of word association and matching that also builds vocabulary and parts of speech knowledge.  It also comes in Junior and Family versions.

Do you have some fun educational games on your Christmas List this year?  Feel free to share so we can pass it along so our grandchildren can continue to be secretly educated through fun family time!

TOPS Basic Table Manners for the Holidays

During the holidays, you want your youngsters to be extra polite and well-mannered.  TOPS thought it might be helpful to provide a list of basic table manners to remind your students about before the guests arrive.

Whether in a restaurant or in a home, here are some basic table manners to teach kids:

1. Eat with a fork unless the food is meant to be eaten with fingers. Only babies eat with fingers.

2. Sit up and do not hunch over your plate; wrists or forearms can rest on the table, or hands on lap. You don't want to look like a Neanderthal.

3. Don't stuff your mouth full of food, it looks gross, and you could choke.

4. Chew with your mouth closed. No one wants to be grossed out seeing food being chewed up or hearing it being chomped on. This includes no talking with your mouth full.

5. Don't make any rude comments about any food being served. It will hurt someone's feelings.

6. Always say thank you when served something. Shows appreciation.

7. If the meal is not buffet style, then wait until everyone is served before eating. It shows consideration.

8. Eat slowly and don't gobble up the food. Someone took a long time to prepare the food, enjoy it slowly. Slowly means to wait about 5 seconds after swallowing before getting another forkful.

9. When eating rolls, tear off a piece of bread before buttering. Eating a whole piece of bread looks tacky.

10. Don't reach over someone's plate for something. Politely ask that the item to be passed to you. Shows consideration.

11. Do not pick anything out of your teeth, it's gross. If it bothers you that bad, excuse yourself and go to the restroom to pick.

12. Always use a napkin to dab your mouth, which should be on your lap when not in use. Remember, dab your mouth only. Do not wipe your face or blow your nose with a napkin, both are gross. Excuse yourself from the table and go the restroom to do those things.

13. When eating at someone's home or a guest of someone at a restaurant, always thank the host and tell them how much you enjoyed it. At least say that you liked the dinner or mention a specific item that was particularly tasty, i.e. the dessert was great. Again, someone took time, energy, and expense to prepare the food, so show your appreciation.

SOURCE: www.teacherplanet.com

October: A Month of Change

I’ve always thought of October as a transitional month.  It’s not a “new beginning” month, not an “ending of anything” month, but a changing month.  The weather changes from stifling hot, to somewhat cooler days and the colors of nature change from green to the red, yellow, brown and gold of fall.

I remember teaching a 2nd grade science class in Florida many years ago.  The subject was seasons and weather.  I asked the class in a sing-song voice, “And what colors do the leaves and grass change to in the fall?”  They stared at me with a questioning look and then one little boy raised his hand, answering, “Green?”  I suddenly realized I was using an old lesson plan prepared while living in North Carolina.  Teaching Florida seasons and weather with NC lesson plans would not work and I had to “tap dance” quickly to get the class back on track!

You will, most likely, never run into this kind of situation.  You have the great advantage of teaching in the moment to your individual child, even if you have two or three students at home.  You may use lesson plans to help you move comfortably towards the mastery of concepts, but on a daily basis you are free to adjust your plans to what is happening in your child’s life, your home, and your community.  Whether the circumstances are good or bad, happy or sad, you are in control of your time, your daily plans, and your adjustments to schooling.  Happy Homeschooling!

More TOPS Reasons To Homeschool

Why would anyone take on the responsibility of homeschooling their children?  After all, there is a public school system outside your front door, just down the street, where you can send your children for several hours a day … and you can have some time to yourself while they are gone!  Are you crazy?!  Not hardly … you are a great parent!  And … you have an ever-increasing home education movement backing your decision.  Here are a few of the reasons our parents have expressed:

• We are concerned about the quality of education being offered.  We believe we can do a better job.

It has been estimated that only 2 - 3 hours out of each school day is actually spent learning. Of course there are exceptions, but add hours of homework into that mix, as well as getting to and from school, and it's easy to see why many parents have decided it is simply not in their child's best interests to be sent away to school. 

• We choose to teach at home to supervise and develop socialization.

Home educated children have a rich and varied social life.  They have opportunities for midweek sleepovers, camping trips, and movie nights. Younger kids usually meet weekly in a park or playground with support groups, and share play dates during the week.

• We don’t want our children to have to go through metal detectors or endure searches by security guards before they can begin their learning day.

Because school violence has increased at an alarming rate to include school shootings and violent physical attacks, the number of families choosing to educate at home has increased dramatically.  Parents and kids who no longer feel safe in school often decide to bring learning into their homes.


Almost every week I hear from families whose kids who simply dislike school. They hate being there, are often bullied or frightened, can no longer bear the peer pressure and meaningless busywork, or are "bored out of their minds.”

So, whether this is your first homeschool adventure or you’re a pro at educating at home, remember to make it all the more enjoyable by being flexible with time, keeping your “school” simple, spending the required amount of time for your child…but not being bound to a rigid timetable.  If you spend enough time with your kids and employ good home education principles, learning will be fun.