Subject: Friend, phone rules for homeschools, book news, education under fire, self-reliance expo and more
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The Everyday Educator7 February 2012 In This Issue
Dear Friend, It's hard to believe we're already a week into February. We've hardly gotten used to writing 2012! I hope your school year is progressing well. I hope you enjoy this issue of the newsletter, and find it helpful. Remember, you're always welcome to forward it to friends (with a little note, so they know why they're getting it!). Enjoy your week! Blessings, Janice Campbell Fresh from the Blog The Wintery Mix Carnival of Homeschooling hosted a number of thought-provoking posts from homeschool moms and dads. Enjoy! Homeschooling Homesteaders: Teaching Self-Reliance Skills shares how teaching old-fashioned homesteading skills can help to supplement a single income and prepare students for life. Reminder: Click each article title to read the post on the blog. Education Under Fire We enjoy many educational freedoms in the United States, but others aren't as fortunate. A fellow writer has shared the following disturbing news with me and asked that I pass it on. "Education Under Fire" is a 30 minute documentary about the actions of the government in Iran to dismantle the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education in Iran. Amnesty International has picked this up as one of their issues to follow. Two Nobel peace laureates, Desmond Tutu and Jose Ramos-Horta have written an open letter to the international academic community, requesting that they take some specific steps to mitigate the problems in Iran. You can find the open letter and other information at the website www.educationunderfire.com. First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I was Protestant. Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me. Attributed to pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. New Living Translation (©2007) Telephone Rules for Homeschoolsby Janice Campbell
One of the best things I ever did for our homeschool and learning lifestyle was to create a telephone policy. By setting a few simple boundaries, I eliminated an enormous source of potential distraction and frustration, and noticeably increased our number of great school days. Now that the boys are grown, I still follow these guidelines during my writing and business time. My rules were tailored for our life and preferences– yours may be different. Whatever boundaries you choose, I recommend setting at least a few. You’ll be amazed at how much more you can get done, and how much more fun it will be! My Telephone Policy
In what may seem the most curmudgeonly rule of all, I advocate turning off your cell phone ringer when you’re on a field trip or special outing with your family. Few things are more rude than ignoring the people you’re with in order to talk on the phone, and I always wanted my boys to know they mattered to me. I also wanted to help us all to be present in the moment and learn from where we were and who we were with. Family time is family time; school time is school time; and social time is social time. It’s rarely beneficial to mix them, as something or someone will get shortchanged. If you are a caregiver, you’ll have to be somewhat accessible, but other than that, try not to let yourself to be controlled by the phone. It’s a major time-waster, and can ruin a perfectly good school day in no time. If you’re firm, friends and family will grow accustomed to your eccentricity (and if they don’t, you’ll develop a remarkable tolerance for ringing;-)). Calls can be returned or answered after school or in the evening, which is usually soon enough. Very few calls are urgent or time-sensitive, so an occasional phone check should be all you need. Homeschooling means not only teaching the 3R’s, but also modeling good habits for your children. Learning to set boundaries and to create time and space for priorities is something that every adult needs to know. The phone is often the last life-disrupter to be banished, but when it is, I believe you’ll find yourself and your children much more creative and productive. I hope you’ll try it! Book News: Crisis Homeschooling booklet and "Kindle-ization" of Excellence in Literature & Transcripts Made Easy I hope you've enjoyed this issue of the newsletter. If you have questions you'd like to have answered, please feel free to leave a comment on the blog or e-mail me, and I'll do my best to get you an answer. Please feel free to forward it in its entirety to anyone who may enjoy it, and invite them to subscribe. Thank you! With gratitude, Janice Visit the website! www.Everyday-Education.com Be sure to check the Taking Time for Things that Matter blog for weekly (usually) updates. www.Janice-Campbell.com If you work with words, or want to, you need to get "The Edge: Success Strategies for People Who Work With Words," a free newsletter from the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors at www.NAIWE.com . |
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What’s worse than a day when no one feels like doing school, but you have to do it anyway? I always felt it was much worse to be in the middle of a great school school day, with everyone engaged in lessons, then having the whole thing interrupted by a phone call that pulls you away and creates distraction for your children. When that happens, it’s likely that you never get back into the flow for that day. This doesn’t have to happen, though.