Teacher’s Desk

The Birthday Question

October 14, 2010 By stacey 12 Comments

The only question I get in regards to school and celebrating birthdays around our house is this:

Do we have to do school on my birthday?

It makes me laugh every time they ask! I guess, this is one of the many gifts of home schooling. You can and should set the books aside from time to time! A couple of weeks ago, my oldest turned 11. Here is how we celebrated her big day! {there are some benefits to living in the tourist capital of the world!}

Dolphin Show At Sea World

Splash Zone :: Please note Mom and Dad sat just outside the zone.

They love the stingrays the best!

Our students :: 5th grade, 2nd grade, preschool, and cutest baby.

I am linking up today to the Home School Village to share how we celebrate birthdays during the school year. What about you? How do you make birthdays special for your kids when it falls on a school day? Do you take treats for his or her class? Do you meet them for lunch? Or, if you homeschool, do you plan a field trip? Leave a comment and let me know!

Looking Forward,

Filed Under: Parenting, Teacher's Desk

12 Comments

Books That Pass The Test

August 19, 2010 By stacey 16 Comments

Flickr Photo (Lin Pernille)

We love books at our house. I was thinking the other day, that we could use about 20 more book shelves! We are overflowing with more books than we have space to fit. But the books that pass the test, are the ones we want to read over and over again. They become part of our family dialogue and take up residence not just on our shelves, but in our hearts.

For any mom who want to know the value of reading to your children (at every age) I would suggest this awesome resource:

Honey For A Child's Heart

Do not be tempted to skip to the amazing list of books for your children. Read the chapters leading up to this list. I cried as I read it! It will forever change the way you look at reading aloud with your kids.

I asked my almost 11 year old what her favorite book of all was and she mentioned this book to me:

10 Girls Who...

There are several books in the series about girls of faith who grew up to be women who made a difference for God. Inspiring even for moms! (they also make one for boys!)

Last year, we read a precious book that I must recommend to you as you consider what books you will share with your kids this year. It is by E. Nesbit:

The Railway Children

I think I enjoyed it as much as my girls did. It is a story that will move you {once again} to tears. I love a book that uses language that makes you stop and WANT to re-read a sentence. Just because it sounds nice coming out of your mouth. This book is like that! I shared one of my favorite quotes in a post about stories. You can read it by clicking here.

So what about you? What books do you love to share with your kids? What is their favorite book? I am always looking for good read aloud books to add to my list!

Today I am linking up to the Homeschool Village. For more posts on books and reading with your children, click the button below:

Looking Forward,

Filed Under: Parenting, Teacher's Desk

16 Comments

Back To School

August 17, 2010 By stacey 21 Comments

#2 pencils.

Fresh box of crayons.

Pages yet to be read.

New stories to be written.

Lessons to learn.

Tomorrow we go back to school. Back to reality. Our schedule shifts into overdrive and begins to fill up with activities. I really needed this summer break, more than ever. But I am ready for a new beginning, too. What will this year hold for us? Who will we meet? How will God teach them about who He is? What will they remember about this year that will forever be imprinted on their hearts?

We will begin the day with d0nuts – the really good kind with icing and sprinkles. We will make posters and snap some pictures. We’ll peak in our new books and we will dream. And I will wonder where the past 5 years have gone.

P.S. I am linking up to Chatting At The Sky,The MODsquad, and Simple Pleasures.

Looking Forward,

Filed Under: Teacher's Desk, Uncategorized

21 Comments

Question For You

July 23, 2010 By stacey 8 Comments

What are you doing and who are you doing it for,

when you are at your best and enjoying it the most?

This question came from our teaching pastor, Jimmy Knott, during a great message on discovering your personal ministry.

I’d love to hear your answer in the comments!

Today I am writing about my heart for homeschooling my girls at the Homeschool Village. If you would like to join me, please click on the button below!

And the winners of the Tommy Nelson Devotionals are Shelli and Krystal! You can choose a devotion for girls or boys! Congratulations!

Looking Forward,

Filed Under: Giveaway, Guest Post, Teacher's Desk, Uncategorized

8 Comments

Only By His Grace

July 15, 2010 By stacey 19 Comments

Looking back over this past year, I can honestly say the way I made it through was only by His grace. So many times, I felt inadequate to the calling God has placed on my life. Each day, I realized that I needed Him every hour. I found myself truly depending on Him for every thing. And that is right where He wanted me.

Let me back track a bit. This past October, we were blessed with our fourth child.

Alison Sophia

And pretty much, she has been great! She loves her sisters and most of the time she is happy. The only problem has been, she has not been the best sleeper. Which has resulted in me being 9 months tired. Add to that a hard working husband and 3 other girls and you find me not thriving. But factor in being a home school mom as well and you pretty much can guess why I wrote this.

So, if you ask me to look back and evaluate how my year went – academically or otherwise I have to tell you that it was not a year where we made great strides. We did not finish most of our books. My girls left a few things undone. And I did not wrap our year up with a nice big bow like I usually do. Instead, we dialed way back, we did only what was absolutely necessary, and we tried not to fret about all that we could be doing.

Instead we focused on new beginnings, how a family really does stretch and grow when a new baby arrives and to give mommy lots of space until she has had her 3rd cup of coffee. We learned some real life lessons. And the truth is, that is what they will remember. Not 4th grade math or which language program they did. My prayer is, that they will know that even when life is challenging, His grace will get you through.

What about you? How was your year? What got you through? Today I am linking up with the Homeschool Village. Click the button below to find out more!

Looking Forward,

Filed Under: Parenting, Teacher's Desk, Uncategorized

19 Comments

The Cry of My Heart

March 26, 2010 By stacey 3 Comments

Lord,

You see them, but do they see you? Help me to teach them how to develop an inward gaze of the soul upon you. That they may look forward and be satisfied with great expectation to your will for their lives. You speak to them, but are they listening? Do they understand that your Word is written to lead and to guide them through this crazy mixed up noisy world? And that your Word leads them straight to your heart and into your embrace?

How can I, as their mother begin to teach them to behold you in every moment and to listen for your speaking voice? Show me, for if I teach them anything today, let it be these truths. The cry of my heart is that they would:

love you,
obey your voice,
and hold fast to you
all of their days….
Dueteronomy 30:20

Looking Forward,