Planning the Coming Year

It's always exciting to start planning the new school year, but this year I felt like I was behind because of the very busy summer, then I remember My Way. My Way is different than anyone elses way and works best for me and my family. I encourage everyone to find their own way that is unique and fits them. My Way consists of identifying what unit studies I will cover each month, and then going to the library and finding wonderful books about the people and places and things that I want my kids to learn about. I use textbooks for science and math (which I chose last year) and so I am done planning for the "year." I only have to worry about planning for the current month. An hour and a half searching in the library and I am done. Now I just set the books out on the livingroom table, and my wonderful bookworm kids will do the rest. I will have them make some index cards on the people they read about, and will help my youngest  read through the simpler books, and then have a group discussion. Some bee will  settle in my bonnet while we are reading and talking and it will turn into a project, a collage, a trip to the river, an on-line search, or a boat  ride. Something will occur to us that will seem just right for this unit. Til then, I have some good books to read.....

Hart Park-Northeast Bakersfield

From times past:
a favorite autumn activity-leaf jumping
very favorite, rock skipping on the Kern

Can you see the rock?

From this week:

Geese crossing There are a variety of water fowl. OK we use it as a great excuse not to eat our bread crusts: "I am saving them for the ducks!" gets the kids (ok and me) out of the driest bites.

Plenty of room to roam.

My little guy thinks these ants are too huge!

Hart park is one of our favorite picnic destinations. It is the largest park that I know of in Bakersfield and has everything my kids love: animals, water, many playstructures, trees, plenty of room to run, and did I mention water? Whether at the lake or exploring the marsh, or skipping rocks on the river, somehow my kids love the opportunity to get wet. No, I don't let them swim in the water, there have been too many reports of drowning in the Kern river to risk that, but there is this cool little backwater area formed by sandbars that is perfect for kids

and parents. We love it. Unless it is a major holiday, it is usually pretty empty.

Buena Vista Museum in Bakersfield

The Buena Vista Museum of Natural History is just a little museum in downtown Bakersfield, but it is the perfect size for taking small children to. Actually, it is the perfect size for taking myself to, too. It has a wide variety of science exhibits, but not so big as to overwhelm or to totally exhaust you. It is unfortunate that they have lost their major exhibit of the fossils from Shark Tooth hill when the owners asked for them back so they could sell them. Hopefully they will be able to raise enough money to bid on them when they come up for auction in Dec. Downstairs is my favorite part, a basement full of hands-on activities for the kids. I think that is the best way for kids to learn about science.

One room is filled with examples from the different kingdoms in the scientific classification.

The explore-it zone has several microscopes and slides.

Very cool for homeschoolers is the "Human Body and How It Works" section with the diagrams and hands on life size models.

Bakersfield has a very active rock club and rock hounds and they have donated a variety of beautiful and interesting samples for the earth science section.

Ever want to see a life-size model of a hut used by Native Americans in Kern County? It is right here.

I use letter of the week with my younger children, so this being "D" week, we just had to come to the museum to see the dinasour exhibits and murals.

The museum has a well selected African mammmal section, including a lifesize elephant head.

We will have to visit again when we come to the letter "L".

Not pictured is the section with North American Mammals, and a section on sharks.

Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

Some Things to do in Kern County

Murrays Family Farm
www.murryfamilyfarms.com
Indian Point Ostrich Ranch in Tehachapi
www.Indianpointranch.com



Hiking and camping on Nuooah Nature trail.
Tehachapi Mountain Park. (661)868-7000
Located eight miles southwest of Tehachapi on Water Canyon Road. Elevation ranges form 5,500 to 7,000 feet. Some campsites with horse corrals, cabin facilities for large groups.

Brite Valley Aquatic Recreation Area (661)822-3228 Brite Lake -day use only fee is $5 per vehicle per day, boat launching $3 per boat per day, day use and boat launching $8 per day. Over nignt cxamping is also available.

Setting up my school room

I have been very blessed and very excited to turn my mother-in-law suite into a "SCHOOL" room! I know I will still spend a lot of time at the kitchen table and in the computer room and on the couch, but it is so nice to have all my books in one room, all organized with all my school stuff.
oops sideways picture. Love this organizer! I use labeled, clear shoeboxes to keep all my school stuff from pencils to art supplies to manipulatives.


Our newest addition: Work boxes or as I call them, Super boxes. For a full explanation, follow the link http://heartofwisdom.com/blog/workbox-directory/ I use one set of boxes for Ty and Chaz, and the other for Ben and DJ.

This system is amazing! Really, I can't say enough good things about it. Superboxes are easy, and sooo helpful to keep me organized and prepared and most importantly, to keep me following through!

Close up of a super box with number and velcro:

These shelves came from Ikea. Each child has a square to keep their own binders and grade specific workbooks. I use the file to keep files, workbooks, lapbooks and unit specific stuff.

The older kid's bulletin board on European History and British Literature includes our timeline. We will add to it as the year progresses, but I am so visual, I need this to keep on task as to what I have taught and where I am heading.

I use Letter of the Week to stay on track with the younger kids. Here is a closeup of how I use pages of the Friend to teach while using Letter of the Week.

The younger kids bulletin board. I used ideas from this month's Ensign to put up pictures of Adam, Noah and the Animals, and Angels while teaching Letter A. I will be teaching a unit on animals for science and Adam for scripture study.

Our Parental Duty to God and to the Rising Generation

SUMMARY

Elder Robert D. Hales, "Our Parental Duty to God and to the Rising Generation," Ensign, Aug 2010, 30–34

The Lord has given us the charge to "bring up [our] children in light and truth." May we respond to this charge with faith and determination to fulfill our duty to the

rising generation.

One of a parent's most important responsibilities is to teach. As declared in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," "parents have a sacred duty … to teach [their children—sons and daughters] to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live."1

Set in Order Your Own House

The purpose of the Lord's work is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39). Parents can help accomplish this great work by teaching their children "the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands" (D&C 68:25).

In a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord rebuked Frederick G. Williams (1787–1842), a member of the First Presidency, for not teaching his children as he should:

"You have not taught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction.

"And now a commandment I give unto you—if you will be delivered you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house" (D&C 93:42–43).

Do we have the courage to teach light and truth in our homes? Or are we experiencing affliction within our families because we are neglecting these duties? As we ponder and pray, we will be given spiritual strength and guidance to help us set our homes in order.

A House of Learning

The scriptures direct us to "establish … a house of learning" (D&C 88:119). Let me suggest several ways we as parents can fulfill this duty to God and to our children...

Focus the minds and hearts of children on the Savior. Faith and testimony must be centered in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. We should express to our children our own feelings about the Savior and share scriptures or experiences that have strengthened our testimony of Him. We should help them understand the significance of the Atonement and how it can be a daily blessing in their lives.

Lead and teach by example

Establish righteous patterns in the home

Encourage meaningful personal prayer and scripture study.

Use tools the Church provides to parents.