Day-by-day Musings on Intentional Parenting
Stripped of your pride, nothing else will remain but awe of God’s faithfulness and humility. You will realize that everything is from and by the grace of God. I am just truly thankful that God is faithful and that I have witnessed His marvelous love time and time again.
Great is Thy Faithfulness Lord.
When we are distracted by everyday busy-ness, we often forget what we should be pursuing. Instead of pursuing what really matters, we get side tracked of material possessions, other people’s lives via social media and fame. It is when we are most busy, that we should take a moment to reflect and check our lives – are we living it according to God’s prescription?
Here are some reminders:
DO NOT WASTE YOUR LIFE.
DO NOT LET SIN REIGN IN YOUR LIFE.
DO PRESENT YOUR LIFE AS INSTRUMENTS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
We should live day to day with the end in mind. And these statements should help us to choose how we are going to spend every waking day that the Lord has blessed us with. Because at the end of the day, these are what really matters.
I’ve never learned how to play the piano and I don’t want my kids to experience the same. Thankfully, we were given an opportunity through the Schoolhouse Review Crew to review HomeschoolPiano. We received a lifetime subscription for up to five students for HomeschoolPiano – Complete Set of Books. This would give my children an opportunity to learn playing the piano even while at home!
The program is a well rounded music curriculum as it follows a 6-steps cycle which lays a foundation based on the National Standards for Music Education.
Core Piano is a collection of 30 lessons teaching piano essentials. It is a must for those who have no previous piano experience. Book 1 is for the absolute beginner, Book 2 is for those who have some previous piano training and Book 3 is for the advanced student where he will learn to create piano rich arrangements.
To use HomeschoolPiano, you need to have reliable internet connection and a piano or a keyboard with at least 49 keys. You may use your computer or your tablets since you don’t need any special software to view the videos as you access them online.
How We Used the Program
I created 2 logins for my 2 children. My 10 year old daughter started with Core Piano for 3 times a week. She has previous piano experience so she breezed through most of the lessons in Core Piano, then she worked on Book 1.
She also took the lesson quiz to assess her knowledge.
After watching the video, she follows the instructor’s lessons on the keyboard so she remembers what she has learned. It usually takes her a total of 30 minutes per day to complete about 2 lessons.
My 7 year old son has no previous music or piano lessons so he took the lessons slower. He also started with Core Piano and is still watching Core Piano. He did the lessons twice a week.
After watching the videos, we usually do the activities. Like when the lesson was about skip or steps, I asked my son to create his own steps scale and skip scale.
What We Thought of the Program
As the homeschool parent, I liked several aspects of the program:
- It requires no assistance from me. I just made sure that they were properly logged in and doing their piano lessons.
- The continuinity of the lessons were important so that the student were learning efficiently. I am confident that they are not missing any foundational lessons.
- My children can repeat the video lessons when needed. My daughter breezed through Core Piano and was excited to work on Book 1, but there were times when I asked her to check some topics in Core Piano again to remind her of the basics.
- I liked it that my children were learning music without us having to leave the house or hiring a piano teacher, since our budget can not accomodate it at the moment.
- One program for both kids. Since this product is for all ages, we can use it for both of our kids.
- The creative side of my children is also being trained as they are continuing on with their lessons. They are encouraged to vocalize and improvise.
- There are online quizzess to check whether they are learning their lessons.
- We have unlimited lifetime access to a program that can be used for a couple of years.
The most challenging aspect of this program for us is our internet connection. There were days that we had a hard time accessing the video online because of our slow or intermittent internet connection.
Another factor is that we have to be consistent in watching and practising the new learnings. As with most programs, it is up to the diligence of the student if she wants to learn and make the most out of an amazing product.
If you are looking to learn piano at home and unleash your musical side, this is a good product to try out. For more information, you can check HomeschoolPiano Facebook or at HomeschoolPiano Twitter or at HomeschoolPiano Pinterest.
The last mom to be featured on our series Heart and Mind of a Homeschooling Mom is someone I’ve met personally when I was just beginning my homeschooling journey, Ms. Lynden Tablante.
Hi Lynden! Thank you for agreeing to be featured on my blog. Please share something about yourself for our readers.
I am a home schooler mom, home keeper, mission partner and helpmeet to my husband Dennis who is an engineer by education, an academician/school administrator (Malayan Colleges Laguna) by profession, and a Sunday School Teacher/Home Cell leader /church deacon by vocation. Prior to homeschooling, l used to hold a managerial position in the Treasury and Investments Department of a local universal bank. We are blessed with three kids – Paolo Miguel (13 years old), Aliya Magaret (10 years old) and Sean Andrew (6 years old). We started homeschooling in June 2009 and we are well on our 5th year now.
Why did you choose to homeschool your children?
In a planning seminar I attended during my working years in a bank, we were asked by the facilitator to complete the sentence “I want to be the best ________”. I remember jotting down the word “mother” in the blank, passionately so, as I was pregnant with my first baby then. Surprisingly, all working moms in the group gave the same answer! It was the facilitator’s comments afterwards that struck me and stayed with me through the years. He said, “If you want to be the best mother, then you ought to be in your homes!” I did not yield immediately to God’s prodding then. I waited for the string of promotions to come – and so they did, one after another. Lulled by the allurement of financial stability and empowerment, it took me more years before I realized I already had three kids growing and spending more time without me ( and vice versa). In my personal quiet time, God’s words in Matthew 8:13 “Go back home” were as darts piercing my heart and soul. The still, small voice reverberated more loudly and clearly as days went by. Hence, my decision to resign from work and be a fulltime mom after 17 years in the corporate world.
But ,why homeschool? That was another feat to battle with. My initial idea was simply to resign from work, manage the household, set up a small business, and let my two older children continue their studies in a Christian school. When my husband broached the idea of homeschooling, I was not very enthusiastic about it. After months of praying, researching, attending seminars and conferences, and digging into God’s Word – I was more and more convinced that the homeschooling path, albeit less trodden and unconventional, is what God wants my family to take. We took His commandment in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 as our mandate, not an option. It requires that parentsteach their children to apply all of the Lord’s commandments in every circumstance of life. Clearly, this is what homeschooling is all about! I cannot just relegate this God-ordained responsibility to anyone or to any institution, no matter how well-meaning they can be. After all, it will be us, parents, who will be held answerable to God for who raised our children, and how they were raised.
What are you using with your children?
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”— Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (ESV)
“Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life.” – Charlotte Mason
The principles stated above are the guiding principles my husband and I follow in teaching and training our kids. As God’s stewards, we agreed to seek His will so we can raise them up in the admonition of God’s Word especially in this time and age that even the approach in education has become so utilitarian.
With the earnest desire to educate our kids at home, we use the following programs and curricula which we know would prepare them in acquiring virtue and would prepare them for life ahead:
Sing, Spell, Read and Write Phonics Program
Sing, Spell, Read & Write uses phonics songs, interactive charts, and games to teach the alphabetic principle, phonemic awareness, sound/letter correspondence, short vowel sounds, and blending – in a fun and meaningful way. By the end of Kindergarten students will be reading fully-decodable story books with single-, short- vowel words.
…Using this program, my son learned to read and write with comprehension at age 4.
School of Tomorrow ‘s Accelerated Christian Education (ACE)
For over 40 years, the A.C.E. program has been the trendsetter in Biblical educational reform. Its philosophy is built on basic principles of the Word of God. Students are taught to see life from God’s point of view, to take responsibility for their own learning, and to walk in Godly wisdom and character. Its learning principles are as follows:
Lving Heritage Academy, the homeschool arm of the Philippine Christian School of Tomorrow, Paranaque City
Accelerated Christian Education® has taken the conventionally styled textbook and divided it into bite-sized, achievable, worktexts called PACEs. Each PACE is similar to a unit in a textbook. Each level consists of 12 PACEs in each subject. PACEs integrate Godly character-building lessons into the academic content, and self-instructional activities are carefully designed to develop thinking skills and create mastery learning. Since 1970, A.C.E. PACEs have proven to be effective tools for goal setting and for achieving academic excellence.
The Student Programs of Accelerated Christian Education® (A.C.E.) give students opportunities to build character and learn leadership skills outside the classroom.
Student Conventions challenge students ages 8 and older to develop their ministry skills by competing in more than 140 events in categories such as music, speech/drama, athletics, arts, and academics.
Suzuki Method
The Suzuki method, also known as the “mother-tongue approach,” is a method of teaching that stresses the importance of parental influence and involvement. Parents and teachers work together to achieve a common goal. Parents are expected to know each lesson and serve as nurturing teachers at home.
As in most cases, speaking comes earlier than writing. Children can be taught to play musical instruments earlier even before they read notes from music pieces. Reading may be learned later.
Aside from playing the piano, they play the violin too. We grab every opportunity for our kids to minister through their God-given talents
Classical Christian Education
Following classical approach, it is important to consider the three important pathways:
This is called the “trivium.” The central point at which the three roads of the trivium intersect represents mastery of the skills (language, thought, and speech), and it is at this intersection that the apprentice has the necessary tools to move on to deeper study of knowledge within specific disciplines.
Love for reading is one characteristic of those trained the classical way…
Our kids are always excited to meet the authors of the books they read.
Reading aloud, as in any classical education, is a must. We enjoy every read aloud sessions.
We see to it that learning is not just confined at home, we use the opportunities in the environment to educate them.
We ensure that they are provided the mentors for specialized trainings for arts and music.
How will their life matter? We teach from the Scripture that life is short and that they should use it to glorify God. To stress the point, we find it fitting to bring them to the cemetery from time to time to show the brevity of life.
Our homeschool journey allows us to have a disciplined mind to stay on track while honing and perfecting the talents God endowed each one—be it in arts music, sports, writing composition or what have they.
Are you enrolled in a DepEd accredited homeschool provider or others? Which one?
We are enrolled in Philippine Christian School of Tomorrow’s Home Education Program (Living Heritage Academy) which uses the Accelerated Christian Education Program, a comprehensive Bible-based program that serves both the campus-based schools and the homeschools
Until when do you plan to homeschool your child?
From the beginning, we envisioned our children to be homeschooled until 12th grade. Our 13-year old is currently working on Grade 11 PACES and by 2016; he will have finished his Senior High School. However, we are yet to see the ramifications DepEd’s Proposed Senior High School curriculum will have on our existing curriculum. For now, we are prayerfully keeping our options open
Share one lesson you’ve learned over the years about homeschooling.
It is during this phase of my life where I saw the seriousness of modelling Christ to our children consistently – both in words and actions. It is so easy to lecture, quote verses, and mimic nobility to our children ; but to exemplify these with authenticity in familiar surroundings, under ordinary circumstances, day in and day out - require supernatural grace and power. And, oh how many times I failed! Yet, God is merciful, faithful and true to His promises. There was never a day where I dared not seek God’s forgiveness for flaws committed, and not also experience the all-sufficient grace He has lovingly provided. More than homeschooling my kids, I must humbly and honestly confess that this journey has been about me being “homeschooled” by God. Looking back, I must say “I am what I am by the grace of God. He is changing me, my husband, and each of my three children – from glory to glory!”
Strive:
a) Not to impress, but to impact
b) Not to be the center of attention, but to pay attention
c) Not to be a supermom, but a mom with a super-God
d) Not to be presumptuous, but to be prayerful
Thank you Lynden for sharing your homeschooling journey with us! If you have any questions about homeschooling, please leave a comment and we will try our best to answer your inquiry.
To read the rest of this series, check Heart and Mind of a Homeschooling Mom.
I was looking around for a writing curriculum for my 5th grade daughter and I stumbled upon WriteShop. It seemed like a good choice so when I was given the opportunity to review the product through SchoolHouse Review Crew, it was an answered prayer for us! We reviewed the WriteShop Junior: Book D Set.
WriteShop is an incremental writing curriculum for kindergarden to high school. They offer WriteShop Primary for grades K-3, WriteShop Junior for grades 3-5, WriteShop for grades 6-10, Write Shop II for grades 8-12. They also offer Fold-N-GoGrammar lessons.
I chose the WriteShop Junior D to review with my 10 year old daughter. WriteShop Junior D is recommended for students in 3rd grade-4th grade but can also be used by struggling students in 5th grade and 6th grade or those who have never taken any formal elementary writing lessons. The lessons are taught in a step by step approach using the stages of pre-writing, brainstorming, writing and self-editing . Using the correct punctuation marks, brainstorming before writing, structuring a sentence, narrowing a broad topic and self-editing and revising your own work are just some of the skills introduced in this book. The student will also have the opportunity to write the following:
> Letter of Invitation
> Humor
> Adventure
> Science Fiction
> Mystery
> Poetry/Haiku
> Folktales
> Historical Fiction
> Personal Narrative
> Expository Writing: Factual Article
We were given digital copies of the following items:
Book D Teacher’s Guide digital copy costs $35.50. It contains 278 pages of comprehensive instructions on how to use the writing program. Daily lesson plans, writing samples, guided scripts and list of required supplies for each activity set can be found here. It is also available in a spiral bound physical book which costs $45.95. This is a required component for the effective use of the writing curriculum.
The digital copy enables you to print as many copies as you need for your entire family. If you want to buy the hard copy, it costs $45.95 but do note that it can only be used by 1 child. This is a required component for the writing curriculum.
All files can be simply opened using Adobe Acrobat.
How We Used The Product
We were given 8 weeks to use this product. As soon as I got the files, I immediately opened the Teacher’s Guide. As I scanned the document, I was a bit overwhelemed with the wealth of information found in this file. I decided to read the document in sections. I liked it that WriteShop has laid out a 2 week and 3 week cycle schedule of the lessons. We chose to use the 3 week schedule and printed it out so we have a visual guide. To save on paper, we only printed the Activity Worksheets.
My daughter worked on Fold-N-Go Grammar on Mondays while I prepared the activities for pre-writing. 
We worked on the pre-writing activity and this is where we have the most fun! There is a different fun activity in every lesson.
Then we follow the Model and Teach script. For the following days, I asked my daughter to work on the journal writing practice, brainstorming activities and the writing project.
Usually, my daughter types the finished project into the computer. Then she edits and revises the document using the self-editing checklist provided by WriteShop. After the 3 week cycle, we evaluate her work and the skills she learned during the entire cycle.
What We Thought Of the Product
My daughter Kyla thinks that the product is wonderful. It’s a fun and creative curriculum that allowed her to grow as a writer. She mentioned that she liked how the lessons started with games and made the lessons easier to remember. Every start of a new lesson, she looks forward to the unique games and it sets the tone for her writing assignment. She also appreciates the self-editing checklist since it made editing and revision work easier for her. Her favorite lesson so far is the humor writing project. It was her first time to write a humor piece and it turned out quite good!
As the parent teacher, I liked the different activities that WriteShop provides. Instead of the usual drills, it adds creativity and widens my daughter’s choice of words and story lines in the different writing projects. The step by step approach was able to guide my daughter in forming the different skills needed to write more creatively. I especially liked the exercise on narrowing a broad topic, as it helped her to think more specifically on her writing assignments.
After 8 weeks of use, this product has not failed my expectations. If you have a reluctant writer in your home or if you are looking for a fun way to unleash your child’s creativity, I suggest you give WriteShop a try!
Hello! I'm Chris! I am a Christian, a wife and a mom to 2 homeschooled kids. Join me in my journey to intentional parenting! [Read More...]
