Home School Foundation - Financial Support for Homeschoolers by Jennifer Smeltser

 For many homeschool families, the school bell signaling the beginning of a new school semester has already sounded. Children are flipping the pages through textbooks and eagerly soaking up the knowledge promised by the continuation of the school year. There are also many families who have prayed to continue homeschooling their children and for various reasons - expense, death of a parent or other reason see that dream slowly fading away. Despite that, they remain committed in prayer to continue educating their children as they believe they have been called by God.
 
The Home School Foundation, created in 1994 by the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) as a non-profit 501(c)(3), has stepped up to fulfill the need of "giving...the heart of homeschooling". It carries a vision to

Top 7 Favorite Projects and Easy Labs for Teaching Chemistry Concepts by Julie Gilbert

I’ve been teaching high school chemistry for the past 7+ years. I don’t get to run every project each year because different schools have slightly different curriculums and the timing isn’t always right to allow for doing a project in every unit. Still, they’re designed to be done with household supplies, so they may be fun/useful to homeschool groups. If anybody’s interested in the full sheets, please email devyaschildren at gmail dot com and I can get you a PDF for the full project. Each has a grading rubric, though depending on which year it was run the point values may differ. In my experience, the value’s in creating and building along with the learning.

Sweet Treats – Balancing Chemical Equations 
Starbursts, gummy worms, and M&M’s seem to be favorites here. The most common mistake I’ve seen students make is to demonstrate the general form of a double replacement
reaction wrong. AB + CD --> AD + CB … it’s strange for them to put the C before the B but it has to be this way because

2 More Local Homeschool P.E. Options

Brentwood Jiu-Jitsu Homeschool Program:
The family friendly program teaches children the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to emphasize on exercise, discipline, confidence, respect, and problem solving to children from age 4-14. Led by Brazlian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt and Kid’s Program Head Coach Eron Johnsey, the program focuses on positive reinforcement, physical fitness the self-defense aspects of the art, while also teaching the children how to compete in the sport. 
Class Times: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 3:30pm to 4:30pm*
Contact: Coach Eron Johnsey at (731) 499-1364 or ejohnsey15 at gmail dot com

A-Game Homeschool Fitness Class

Pricing:

One Fitness Class Session: $7 (Additional siblings $5)

Unlimited Sessions for the Semester: $120 (Additional siblings $100)

All Tuesday Sessions: $70 (Additional siblings $50)

All Thursday Sessions: $70 (Additional siblings $50)

Contact: Chelsey Smith at csmith at goagame dot com

(615) 771-2444

 

Thanks to Kelly for the info.

Drama Classes with an Eco-Twist at Bowie Nature Park

Drama Classes with an Eco-Twist Offered in February at Bowie Nature Park

Bowie Nature Park is pleased to announce a special 4-week drama program for ages 5-7 and ages 8-12 every Friday starting February 5 and will be taught at the Nature Center by professional actor and teacher, Nichole Hamilton.
Ages 5-7 will stretch their bodies, voices, and imagination with fun acting warm ups and games. Children will be encouraged to bring their favorite animal or nature themed storybooks. Through call and response, children will act out the stories. Parents are welcomed to observe as well as participate in the action!

• Class times are Fridays in February, 12:30-1:30pm
• Prices are $15/class. Total $60.00
• A final performance will be open to children and

2016 MTHEA Local Spelling Bee

The 2016 MTHEA Local Homeschool Spelling Bee will be Friday, January 15, 2016 at 10am at MPact Sports, 121 Seaboard Lane, Suite 1, Franklin, Tennessee.

Participation is open to 1st-8th grade homeschoolers who live in Middle Tennessee (see county list on registration page if you are uncertain.) Cost: $3 per person.

Register online here.

Event updates and links to word lists are posted on this Facebook page. 

Contact the coodinator by emailing 2015mtheabee@gmail.com for more information.

Barnes & Noble Educator Appreciation Days

A few upcoming dates from Robbie at Barnes & Noble Cool Springs that home educators might want to note:

Date: Saturday, January 9 - 17, 2016
Name: Educator Appreciation Days
Description: Calling all pre-K through grade 12 educators! Join us during Educator Appreciation Days for special discounts, giveaways and events. Kick off the second half of the school year with Barnes & Noble and come see what products to add to your classroom that promote tech literacy and spark creativity.

Date: Saturday, January 15, 3:30PM-5:00PM
Name: Educator Appreciation Open House
Description: Calling all pre-K through grade 12 educators! Join us during Educator Appreciation Days for special discounts, giveaways and events. Drop by our Open House to enter drawings, pick up free items for the classroom and see demos of our newest tech products for the classroom!

Franklin Guitar Teacher Marty Keith Offers Lessons to New Students

Screenshot of Marty Keith playing on ABC's Nashville

Start something new in the new year: guitar lessons!

Franklin full-time guitar teacher (and homeschool dad!), Marty Keith is accepting new students.

Besides guitar, Marty also offers lessons on bass guitar, ukulele, stage performance, songwriting, and artist development. Adult students are welcome, too! Rental guitars are available for a small fee.

Marty offers first lesson free for homeschoolers. Lessons are 30-minutes, once a week and cost $130 per month (no extra charge on 5-week months.) Hour lessons are available for advanced students.

Marty is conveniently located just half a mile off I-65 (Exit 65, Hwy. 96) in Franklin. Email: johnmartinkeith@hotmail [dot] com or call: 615-415-1942

If you would like more information about Marty's teaching, references from fellow homeschooling families, or more information about his faith and ministry, please check out Marty’s blog or his website.

Free and Educational Music Experiences For Students by Jennifer Smeltser

Homeschooling allows you to introduce your children to a number of experiences. One of the things I enjoy about homeschooling is the opportunity to include fine arts, which is a subject that has been largely eliminated in many of the public schools. We have seen a number of plays; visited museums and listened to music performed by some of the finest orchestras in Tennessee.

Each year, more than 20,000 students attend Young People's Concerts at the Nashville Symphony. The concerts are free and open to public, private and homeschool students. The concerts are just one of the many ways the organization strives to introduce; include and educate students in the area of music.

There are a number of programs for children that continue into the 2016. Some of them fill up quickly, so it is best to make your reservations or register as soon as possible.

Young People’s Concerts
These concerts are geared toward students in specific grade levels, which ensure the performances are ones that will be enjoyed by those attending. There is curriculum that complements each performance and includes the video “Let’s Go to the Symphony”, lessons plans and music selections. These concerts fill quickly and

Family Fun During the Christmas Season

The Nashville Symphony. Photo credit: Mickey Dobo, courtesy of The Nashville Symphony.

With no disrespect to Thanksgiving, if you want to enjoy Christmas events in December, you have to make your plans now. There are a number of events that will be happening in and around Williamson County. Some require reservations, because events sell out quickly. Others just need to be considered as we plan our calendar, because you will not be able to do everything. The Christmas season is a time to spend with family. Fortunately, there are many events that can be enjoyed by all ages.

 

Have you got a train lover?

The NorthPole Express with Santa returns leaving out of Nashville and round trips through Lebanon. The two and one half hour, 64 mile train ride will satisfy your train lover with a scenic ride through Tennessee. Other passengers include Santa and his elves, along with carolers singing many Christmas songs that have become favorites over the years.  Regular, first-class and dome seating, an ultimate panoramic view, are available. December 5 and 12.

It’s music to my ears.

Any opportunity I have to take my children to the symphony, I do so. Yes, children can enjoy classical music. The Nashville Symphony has three productions you and your children will enjoy. Using familiar stories like Home Alone and A Charlie Brown Christmas, they will be able to make a connection through classical

Family Field Trips You Must Take in Tennessee by Christa Brown

As I was looking for a fall family field trip, I discovered a wealth of resources in our very own state.

Fifteen years.

I decided fifteen years was too long to pass between trips to the Natchez Trace. Honestly, I didn’t think we really had the time to take off for a trip. We’d already taken a few days to go to the beach, and it’s hard to get 80 days in before December if you’re taking trips every month.

However, I sometimes forget as a homeschooling family you’re always learning wherever you go. Some trips you can count as homeschooling days.

When planning a family field trip, I always look for specific criteria.

• A trip that takes no more than 4 hours to get there.

• Cities with decent and affordable accommodations .

• Fun, educationally appropriate activities for the kids.

• Grocery stores to buy necessities such as sandwich fixings and snacks.

• A few perks: After all it is a getaway. Hotels that provide breakfast or hot tubs to relax in after a day of hiking can make it more of a family vacation and not just another day of homeschooling.

The more I see of Tennessee,