AGAPE Homeschoolers

Fine Arts in the Homeschool

otweather — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:18:37 +0000

My kids love art…The messier the better. While we spend quite a bit of time with glue, clay and paint, I’m also trying to instil within them a love for the fine arts. Before I began homeschooling, I couldn’t tell the difference between a classical and romantic era composer. Lucky for me, there are great resources available on the internet. Even better, many are free!

In our family, we pick a composer of the month and place their picture on our school wall along with a brief summary of his life and works.I found a great resource that I laminate to keep the composer looking good and to allow me to re-use the info at a later date. famous musicians Once we’ve read the basic facts about the musician, we listen to a story CD about the composer which I find at our local library as well as a music CD from the library with some of the composer’s works. One of my favorite story CDs is by a company called VOX. The titles of their CDs all are titled “The Story of (Composer) in Words and Music”. There is enough music interspersed among the story that even my preschoolers will listen to the CDs.

Story of Bach

Another story CD my kids have enjoyed is by Classical Kids. The theme of these CDs is fictional which entertains my kids, but the basic biography of the composer is accurate along with a good music selection.

Classical Kids

Another great website that has programs as well games and some great activities is Classics for Kids

Lastly, my kids and I love singing the lyrics that a group called Beethoven’s Wig has made for many great songs. We love singing Tchaikovsky’s Cannonball (1812 Overture, Tchaikovsky), Kings and Queens of England (Trumpet Tune, Purcell) and Haydn’s Great Surprise (Surprise Symphony, Haydn). Not only is it great on road trips when the kids are getting ancy but it’s great for long waits in traffic. Beethoven’s Wig

Beethoven's Wig

Some picture books have also been written about the composers. Don’t forget to look for them at the local library as well.

Homeschooling in North Carolina

otweather — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:29:40 +0000

North Carolina is a great state in which to homeschool. In the western mountains where I live, homeschools thrive. According to the NC Department of Non-Public Education, Buncombe County is ranked third for total number of homeschools operating in the state even though by population Buncombe is the seventh largest county. Similarly, Henderson County ranks 14th for number of homeschools but 25th in population. Perhaps this is due to the great number of resources and support groups such as AGAPE available to help families in their educational journeys.

For those thinking about homeschooling or new to the state, here are some great links to help you.
School attendance is mandatory for children aged 7-16. In NC, homeschool fall under the Department of Non-Public Education. To fill out a notice of intent to homeschool, download an attendance card or find out about current homeschooling requirements, please visit their

North Carolina Department of Non-Public Education.

While there are several state-wide support groups, one of the oldest (established in 1984 when homeschooling was still a young movement) and largest with a yearly conference in the Winston-Salem area in May is the North Carolinians for Home Education. The conference is a great place to reconnect with old friends, watch homeschooled high schoolers graduate and buy every homeschool resource under the sun.

North Carolinians for Home Education

Congratulations! Homeschooling is not just an educational choice, it is a family adventure.

1 Corinthians 13 for Homeschoolers

jmccumbers — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:59:21 +0000

Image by Tony Trần via Flickr

I Corinthians 13 for Homeschool Moms

Though I teach my children how to multiply, divide, and diagram a sentence, but fail to show them LOVE, I have taught them nothing!

And though I take them on numerous field trips, to swim practice and flute lessons; and though I involve them in every church activity,

but fail to give them LOVE, I profit nothing!

And though I scrub my house relentlessly, run countless errands, and serve three nutritious meals every day but fail to be an example of LOVE, I have done nothing!

LOVE is patient with misspelled words and is kind to young interrupters.

LOVE does not envy the high SAT scores of other Homeschool families. LOVE does not claim to have better teaching methods than anyone else,

is not rude to the fourth telephone caller during a science lesson, does not seek perfectly behaved geniuses, does not turn into a drill sergeant, thinks no evil about friends’ educational choices!

Image via Wikipedia

LOVE bears all my children’s challenges, believes all my children are God’s precious gifts, hopes all my children establish permanent relationships with Christ, and endures all things to demonstrate God’s love!

LOVE never fails!

Where there are college degrees, they will fail;

where there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we teach in part. But when the trials of life come to our children, the history, math, and science will be done away and faith, hope, and love will remain;

BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE!

– Author unknown