American Heritage School–Home and Distance Elementary Courses - Review

American Heritage School is an LDS based private school that was established in 1970.  They aim to strengthen the faith of it’s students by helping them see the hand of God in all subjects.  It includes grades K-12.  Recently, they have started to branch out into the homeschool and distance learning communities in the Elementary Years (they already have play higher grade curriculums for distance learning), and I was fortunate enough to be able to preview their Kindergarten Science and Art classes.  I wanted to share with you my thoughts about them, as it may be something that you are looking for.

These courses are not ‘online’ per say, they are taught primarily by the parent.  A teacher is available for assistance, should the need arises.  The coursework is online in a slideshow format (similar to powerpoint) but uses Java, make sure whichever device you plan to use with this software is Java compatible (my ereader Android device, was not).   But you can also order a written text for an extra fee (of about $15), this text comes spiral bound, in black and white, and is basically just the print off of the slides online.   It is worth the money if you prefer to have a hard copy (though I do wish it was in color or that they had a pdf option).

The SCIENCE curriculum covers a wide range of science material, very appropriate for kindergarten.  You cover the basics of biology/life science, chemistry, earth science, astronomy and physics.  No other supplies are included in the course fee, but a list of necessary supplies is included, many of which are common household items, other suggested items have links provided of where to purchase (ie. a Butterfly Kit from InsectLore).  Each lesson includes a scripture from one of the four standard works for memorization, a lab activity, and some lessons include other suggested reading material.  It’s a very comprehensive Kindergarten program, in my professional and home schooling opinion.  It would be especially great for someone who is not very confident in science, and wants a program that is laid out for them, or for someone who wants a bit more accountability.  It’s also great for someone who is looking for a Christian based science program, but would prefer the program to be based on LDS beliefs/scripture. 

The science program also includes use of a science notebook, to store the labs and other work they do for the course.  There is a great blog post HERE about the notebooks and how to use them. 

The ART curriculum is seasonally based (so the monthly projects correspond with the seasons/holidays of that month), this could prove difficult if you do not run on a normal school year, but could easily be adapted to fit your schedule.  This program too uses a notebook system.  It also incorporates math, with a monthly calendar project.  Like the science program, no other materials are provided, but a list of suggested supplies is included.  Art lessons include scripture and cover basic art techniques like mixing colors, and various forms of art, such as paint, cut and glue paper projects, clay and art appreciation/history.

You can see an example of one of the art history lessons HERE

I think the art program is well rounded, including a wide variety of projects, I love that it includes art history/appreciation.  This would be a great program for someone not sure what do with Art, someone who may not be very artistic themselves, or someone who just wants a little more guidance or LDS influence in their art program.

If you’d like more information on the Homeschool and Distance Learning Program from American Heritage visit their website.  They do not have a large selection of courses at the Elementary Level at this point, but there are some, and hopefully more to come! 

Originally posted at Latter-day Homeschooling Blog on 4/13/12

Brag Time Thursday -Our Family Christmas Traditions: Keeping CHRIST in Christmas

Keeping Christ in Christmas in this highly commercialized world can sometimes be a challenge.  The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season can bring about feelings of stress, dread, financial woes, etc..  Making it at times quite difficult to feel the TRUE meaning of Christmas and it’s spirit.

 

I wanted to share with you some things that we do as a family to turn down the stress associated with the wonderful holiday season, and to increase it’s TRUE meaning and PURPOSE.  Here are a few of our traditions that we look forward to every year!

 

SIMPLE DECORATIONS

Now for many, decorating for Christmas is an enjoyable thing, but for me, it’s stressful!   So we keep decorating simple.  We have a few strands of lights hung outside, a simple tree with kid safe ornaments, several kid safe nativity sets, a not-kid safe one HIGH on a shelf, a basket of Christmas books and some Christmas Beanie Babies, and 2 wreaths on the our front doors.  The kids are involved in our decorating, and the nativity sets that are kid safe are a great reminder to them of what we are celebrating!

 

SIMPLE GIFT GIVING
My husband and I both come from large families, and they just keep growing.  So gift giving to family members can be a financial strain.   When we were first married, we started giving each family a Christmas Ornament of some significance, typically something related to our year, or a family event.  Theses are small, inexpensive ornaments that I typically purchase in packs of 12 for about $15.  We love decorating our tree each year and remembering the meaning of the ornaments, who gave them, etc… and we hope that our family has found the same joy in the simple gifts we have given them each year.

Another way to limit spending (therefore relieving financial burdens often associated with Christmas) is to limit the gifts you give.  In our home our children receive 3 gifts each, and a stocking.  Jesus Christ received 3 gifts (one from each wise man), therefore that is what my children receive (from us).  It’s also a great way to bring Christmas back to the TRUE meaning. 

MINIMIZE SANTA
We do not do ‘Santa’ in our home.  This was a choice that my husband felt strongly about before we had children, and I’ll admit this is the first year that it’s actually been hard to follow through with (now that my oldest son is 5).  There is nothing wrong with doing Santa, if you choose to practice this tradition in your home.  BUT try to maintain an emphasis on the TRUE meaning, it is far to easy for kids to get wrapped up in Christmas being about SANTA.  Trying to explain to our children about Santa has proved slightly difficult, but I did find a great book that we read each year, which outlines the tradition of Santa, where it came from, why people do it and what the REAL meaning of Christmas is.

ADVENT
We do advent in a variety of ways.  You may have seen my post on the Wooden Advent Tree I made, we fill it with some candy and a scripture to read each night. 

For school we are doing DISCOVER CHIRSTMAS, we aren’t doing everything in the book, but we are at least doing the daily readings.

THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS BOOKS
This is a new countdown we are just starting this year, this idea was branched off of a lesson given by our Bishop’s wonderful wife, her family does it for 25days.  We will be doing a 12 days of Christmas BOOK countdown.  Twelve Christmas books will be wrapped, and attached on the outside of each one will be a scripture verse and activity from the New Era Article “Advent Calendar:  Prophecies of Christ’s Coming” from the Dec 2008 issue.  (I had previously stocked up with Christmas themed books last year from Deseret Books after Christmas sales).  Not all the books are spiritual themed, but most are.



SERVICE
We have always baked cookies to deliver to our neighbors, pulled an angel from a Christmas tree, donated to Toys for Tots and/or pulled a gift from the ward tree.  In years past we have given anonymous donations to families we felt had a need.  This year, some friends have asked us to go in on a 12 days of Christmas gifts program with them…and we are really excited!  No matter how big or small; nothing says CHRISTmas like giving Christ-like service to others!  I loved this idea that I found on Pinterest, and hope to maybe incorporate something similar next year (Advent and Service in ONE)!

CHRISTMAS EVE
We always watch Mr. Kruger’s Christmas and The Nativity on Christmas Eve, this year we are blessed for PBS Hawaii to broadcast The Mormon Tabernacle Choir with David Archuleta on Christmas Eve! 

OTHER TRADITIONS (not necessarily spiritual, but still meaningful!)
A few other traditions we have is sending a yearly Christmas Letter, I won’t lie, this is mostly for us, we keep them each year with our Christmas Card picture; it makes a great little family history!  The Christmas Card is another tradition, we have sent one every year, with a picture since we got married!  These traditions go back to my Grandpa Hilsinger, after he passed I received copies of all his Christmas Letters past, it was such an amazing thing to read!

Personalized ornaments for the kids each year in their stockings!  I have a handful of ornaments from my growing up that I brought with me, and I want my kids to be able to do the same!   Their first Christmas they get 2, a brass one and another one, and they always have their name and the year. 

(Originally posted at Latter-Day Homeschooling Blog)

Sticky Note Memo Board

I recently found a cute memo board idea on pinterest using an chalk board and sticky notes.  I thought it was a great idea, but I didn’t have an old chalk board (not to mention chalk is messy) and I wanted something a little more stylish.  So I went digging through a pile of frames I have in my craft room, and pulled out an old beat up poster frame….

I dug through my scrapbooking supplies, and found 2 12x12 colored paper and 1 12x12 printed paper, some brown ribbon, and some more coordinating paper to cut out lettering (or you can write by hand).  

Cover the cardboard back with the 12x12 paper (cutting the last piece in 1/2)

Use a few sticky notes to measure your columns and then lay ribbon to define them, I used my tape runner to stick the ribbon.

Cut out or write the titles of your columns, then define with a horizontal strip of ribbon.  Place in frame.  Sticky notes are placed on the plastic/glass of the frame OR be more green and write and wipe with a dry eraser marker!
(I cut the words out with my cricut using the Cuttin’ Up Font Cartridge)

Now all your little ‘to do’ notes can be in one place, easy to keep track of and can be moved around easily!

Originally featured at Latter Day Homeschooling
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