September 15, 2017

How was your first day of homeschooling?

My BusyGirl is a senior. We began our first day of her last homeschool year with ease and familiar comfort. What a contrast to our very first day of homeschooling twenty years ago with our five elementary school kiddos. BusyGirl wasn’t even born yet. I remember trying to stay cool, calm, and collective on the outside, but inside, I was frantically praying a desperate water-walking/sinking-Peter prayer.

“Help me, Lord! ” I repeated as we braved the beginning of our homeschool journey. My creator was of so faithful in those moments of great need. As our homeschool years rolled by, God’s faithfulness proved over and over. His steadfast trustworthiness is the reason calm and peace reined the first day of Homeschool Year 2017. We know that He will carry us to the homeschool finish line.

But there are always new challenges that threaten my comfort. I often teeter when faced with anything new. When I hear the word begin, a predictable chain reaction happens. Begin slowly seeps through my body with anxiety-laden adrenalin that leaves me emotionally tired. I am ashamed of my response. I present myself no different than an unborn-again soul who knows not the Creator of my DNA.

Sisters, we can’t give way to our fears. We must meet the challenges of day-in-day-out homeschool happenings with calm composure and strengthened nerves, sustained by moment-by-moment desperate prayers that reveal our need for God’s strength instead of our own.

“Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 42:11

What is new for you this year?

When we hear the word begin…

Let us sing praises to God alone in the fire of our trials.

Let us take courage in God’s strength when we can’t lift the burden.

Let us rely on His faithfulness in the pressures of the present.

Let us trust Him without personal alarm.

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” Psalm 14:1

BusyGirl’s First day of School -Senior Year

Welcome New HTHL families….

It’s has been said, knowledge is power. So I want to encourage you to power-up for an enjoyable experience by taking time to get familiar with HTHL.

I will assure you that once you travel through your first project, HTHL’s Writing Program will become your favorite subject because it’s so easy to implement.

If you are an online member, click the GREEN “Getting Started” Button. Then read through each one of the five quick-start steps.

If you purchased HTHL’s Teacher’s Kit with DVDs, read the quick-start and the overviews of a lesson and unit.

For more Frequently Asked Questions-Click HERE

Weekly Writing Tips

Habits of Great Writers for Kids

Habit# 7 Make Writing a Priority 

Fact: Those who frequently travel through the writing process become great writers.

No one would dare argue that fact. So it goes without saying, if you want your child to become a great writer, you must make the subject of writing a priority. Great writers are not magically made. The craft must be practiced.

How do you know if you are making the subject of writing a priority?

The first place to scrutinize is your school schedule. While looking at your daily/weekly schedule, ask yourself these five questions:

1. Is the subject of writing incorporated into your educational plan? I often hear parents bemoan that their children don’t know how to write and can’t understand why. After asking them a few questions about their schedule, they frequently tell me they don’t have the subject of writing as a core subject.

2. Did I provide my child time for writing instruction? A writing prompt is not writing instruction. Your child must learn every step of the writing process and understand how to apply it to different writing genres.

3. Did I provide my child time to write? Writing requires time so that the author can muse over thoughts and ideas and get them down on paper. Students who practice a musical instrument practice at least thirty minutes a day. If she doesn’t practice, the parents waste the money they are shelling out for lessons. Give your child time to practice writing composition.

4. Did I provide unrushed time for my child to write? Scheduling the subject of writing one hour before you need to go somewhere is not making writing a priority.

5. Did I schedule the subject of writing in a part of my child’s day that is optimal for learning? Let’s face it. Some children learn better in the morning versus the afternoon. We as home educators choose which subject gets top billing. Is writing in prime time?

How important is the subject writing?

Answer: VERY

Your child will do more writing in their life than advanced algebra. Make writing a habit in your homeschool and rearrange your schedule to reflect its importance.

Write Early*Write Often*Write Well Writing Contest

Can’t win if you don’t enter!

 Check it out: Click HERE

“My son danced all over the house, but is now seated in front of the laptop excitedly writing another story. Thank you for encouraging him!!!” Corban’s Mom

(Corban is a 2017 monthly winner)

Here’s the best part! When you enter the writing contest, you also get published!

AND … ALL PROFITS GO TO SUPPORT Compassion International.

When you write, kids around the world benefit! Compassion International

Write Early Write Often Write Well

Did you enter a story in 2016?

If the answer is yes, then congratulations, you are a published author! Click HERE to check out and order the first volume of Write Early, Write Often Write Well Anthology.

Have questions about Here to Help Learning?

 Don’t miss our FAQ/Knowledge Base Board! Click: HERE

“Here to Help Learning’s Writing Program is perfect for the family or group class in need of an enthusiastic instructor. The courses are very easy-to-use and enjoyable for both students and adults. They also make it possible to teach children together if they are within a few grade levels of one another. The Christian aspects of the course—memory verses, mentions of faith and God throughout the courses, and activities that stress Christianity in action—are more thoroughly and effectively integrated than in most other Christian writing courses.”–Cathy Duffy (Curriculum Review)

We’ll help your first grader get from

here to there so he can go everywhere!

Do you have a plan for writing instruction?

Here to Help Learning specializes in grades 1-6 writing instruction.

If you are already signed up for Here to Help Learning‘s Writing Program, you have an awesome plan in place spanning six years of instruction that includes solid writing instruction AND a beautiful collection of your child’s memories and stories written (or dictated) by your child that won’t fade away.

If you don’t have a plan, sign-up today! (PSA: You get 14 days FREE!)

Home to Home Blog

At the beginning of the school year, I always had to do a lot of review with my kiddos to wake-up sleepy summer brain cells. I call it “dusting -off the brain”. But I had to face my own sleepy neurons. As a homeschool educator, I needed to remind myself of practices and principles that have served our family well. 

For the month of August-September, I’m going share with you my top blog posts on writing. The info provides insight into the foundations of why Here to Help Learning works.  

Have you had THE talk? No, not about the birds and the bees. Have you implemented the talk before you write strategy? Read more….

Visit Here to Help Learning’s store! Check out our NEW product, Island of the Blue Dolphins Filmed Study Guide

Blessings! We hope you have a wonderful week homeschooling!  If you need help with our writing program, send us a support ticket. If you just want to ask me a question, click ASK BETH.

 Beth Mora & The Here to Help Learning Team! Don’t forget to stop by our Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and now, Instagram pages. We are always posting! We like you!