Homeschool Resources

****Updated list June 1, 2009:

Free Music Theory Worksheets

Music Room for Kids- a place where kids can learn about the orhestra

Ignite the Fire - free McGuffey readers, Webster's Blueback Speller, New England Primer, 19th century schoolbooks etc.

Project Gutenberg - LOTS of great literature for FREE; read a book online in English or pretty much any other language you can think of :-)

Freebie of the Day - I have mentioned this resource several times but thought I would mention it again in case there is someone out there who doesn't know about it.  Sign up to receive a weekly email with a freebie a day!  Lots of great resources including e-books, curriculum and audio books

Even though the school year is winding down, I am starting to plan for next school year.  I thought I would share with you tons of online resources I have found over the years.  So grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy these wonderful treasures!

Oakes Homeschooling Consulting - tons of links to homeschool videos, freebies, curriculum etc.

The Homeschool Lounge - great place to meet homeschoolers, support, encourgement etc.

Electic Homeschool Online - articles, lesson plans & lots of other great ideas

ClickSchooling - Yahoo group, daily educational website recommendation

Homeschool Enrichment - magazine, encouragement, resources, sign up for a free newsletter and free goodies

Homeschooling on a Budget - Google group, lots of homeschool curriculum ideas

SoftSchool - worksheets, games for all subjects

Super Teacher Worksheets - phonics, spelling and other language arts worksheets 

Homeschool Buyer's Co-op - sign up for free and get discount prices on various curriculum; lots of free stuff too like links to lessons, online field trips etc.; make a free homeschool I.D. card; you could spend ALL day at this site - BEWARE!  :-)

CurrClick - curriculum in a click; responsibly priced curriculum; new online classes and sign up for a free newsletter and they usually have a free weekly product

First School - I used this when my boys were younger.  Preschool lessons; lots of fun hands stuff

Preschool Folder Games - need to keep the little ones busy print off these folder games for quiet learning activities; great for taking in the car etc.

Donna Young Printables and Resources - maps; graph paper; handwriting paper; homeschool planners and calendars; history and science printables & tons more; one of my favorite sites

Homeschooling High Schoolers - wealth of information about homeschooling through high school

Homeschool Legal Defense Association- not only are they a homeschool advocate but they also have a ton of free information for struggling learners, high school etc.; look under about homeschooling for this information; great resource

Games:

AGameADay - brain teasers, trivia, anagrams, crossword & more!

FreeTypingGame - lessons, tests and games

Curiosoft - online games, coloring books, audio books, puzzles etc.

Spelling City - online spelling games; you can enter your own word lists or use existing word lists

Arts and crafts:

Kinderart - lots of cross cultural crafts and lessons; drama; sculpting; painting; early childhood themed activities - tons more!  Not just for kindergarten but all ages...

Math:

Math.com - online math for basic math through algebra

Homeschool Math - online resource help for math, worksheets and curriculum ideas

Purplemath - lessons, quizzes, worksheets etc. for algrebra

Math Drills - Drill worksheets for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division & more

Language Arts:

Star Fall - online phonics and also curriculum you can print

History/Geography:

Shephard Software - geography games; we used this a lot this past year; many other activities for science too

Owl and Mouse Software - printable maps, online map puzzles, other products to download for free like a castle you can print and put together

Bible: 

Calvary Chapel Bible Worksheets - these are really for Sunday School but you can use them in your Bible lessons; coloring pages, mazes, fill in the blanks, crossword etc.; Old and New Testament

MSSS Crafts - Bible resources and crafts for over 100 Bible stories

Garden of Praise - loaded with tons of Bible lessons etc.; elementary students

Well I could probably go on and on...but I think there is enough here to keep you busy for a very long time.  Enjoy and I hope you find some useful items you can use in the coming months and years.

Religious Freedom

I think many believers feel we live in a safe little bubble here in the good ole USA but I have had the feeling for sometime that things would gradually change for those who want to practice their faith.  Prayer has been removed from school, 10 commandments removed from court houses, people being labeled narrow minded for believing in the One Way...the list could go on and I am sure there is a LOT more going on out there than we realize.  It isn't news worthy and probably wouldn't sell very many papers...but I am probably being a little too negative or hard on the media...

But this story did in the news today - Couple Ordered to Stop Holding Bible Study at Home Without Permit

Follow the link and read the story...then get on your knees and pray for this nation...it may be a few years down the road but I think we may see a lot more of this happening...it should draw us closer to the Lord - He is our source of strength!

Revelation 6

The Lamb is worthy to take the scroll and open the seals because He was slain and purchased men from every nation, through His blood, to become priests and be part of God's kingdom.  He and the One who sits on the throne are worthy and blessing, honor, glory and power belong to them.  With that in mind let us step into chapter 6 as the Lamb opens the seals and reveals the things to come...

As the Lamb opens the first 4 seals the living creatures cry out "Come!" and a horse and rider come forth:

First seal - 

*White horse, 

*the rider carries a bow and he is given a crown, 

*he is going out to conquer.

Who is this rider?  No one knows for sure but there are 2 viewpoints that I found (I am sure there are more) .  The first viewpoint is that the rider is Christ.  The second is that the rider is the anti-christ.  I am more apt to believe the second because the rest of the seals deal with the destruction of the earth and the sixth seal specifically talks about the martyrs.  If the seals usher in the great tribulation then it makes sense to me that it would be the anti-christ going out to conquer God's kingdom and His servants.

Second seal -

*Red horse,

*He is given a large sword.*the rider is given authority to take peace from the earth and the result men will slay one another...all we have to do is read the newspaper or watch the news to know that this occurs today but there is also peace between people because not everyone is out murdering their neighbor...we can only imagine what kind of chaos this will be when peace no longer reigns.  God is going to allow the peace to be removed.;

Third seal -

*A black horse,

*the rider has a pair of scales in his hand,

*A voice says, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine."

Most believe this horse indicates famine.  The scales represent the need to carefully measure the food and the prices of the food, which is about 12 times the normal price and seems to indicate the lack.  Many are not sure what it means by "do not damage the oil and wine" but most scholars believe it means that the famine will not be too severe.  From what I read the olive tree and grape vines go deep and it would require a severe drought to harm them. 

Fourth seal - 

*An ashen or pale horse,

*Rider named Death and Hades (Hell or the grave) is following him,

*He is given authority to destroy 1/4 of the population with sword, famine, pestilence and wild beasts

It is no wonder Jesus said that this time of tribulation would be like no other time on earth (Matt. 24:21).  I think the key thing to remember is God is in control.  It may be difficult for us to understand or even comprehend the destruction BUT we can rest assure that He is on the throne.  In the end (or beginning depending on how you view it) the new Heaven and Earth will be our dwelling place!  The Lamb is holding the scroll and opening the seals...

We now leave the images of the horses with the fifth seal.  As the fifth seal is opened John sees an altar and underneath the altar the souls of those who were slain because of the Word of God.  They remained faithful during the time of testing - it may have resulted in their physical death but what an awesome privilege to be able die for the One you believe in. (Phil. 1:29, I Peter 4:16 & 19, Rev. 1:9)  

They cry out with a loud voice - "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"  They are given a white robe and told to rest a little longer until the number of their brethren were to be killed.  They may have had to suffer for the name of Christ BUT God would take care of those who had harmed them.  I think we can believe the same thing for ourselves - we may have been mistreated or harmed but God will deal with those who harm us.  I think we need to remember to pray and love our enemies and those who misuse us (Matt. 5:44).

The sixth seal -

When the Lamb broke this seal there was a great earthquake, the sun became black, the whole moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth.  The sky was split open like a scroll; every mountain and island were moved out of their places.  Everyone on earth (kings  and commanders, slaves and free, rich, strong and great hid themselves and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"  It is interesting to note they want to be hidden from the Lord and His wrath.  God is love but He is also Judge.  We can either bow the knee and surrender our lives to His LOVE - putting ourselves in His mighty hand, allowing Him to protect us, guide us, nurture us, change us etc.  Or one day bow the knee but be cast from Him forever (Phil. 2:10)...

If you have never given your life to Christ please consider it today.  We are not promised tomorrow.  God does not want anyone to perish BUT all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  He only asks that you acknowledge that you are a sinner and accept His lordship into your life.  I promise you - you won't regret it.  Will life be a bed of roses or a walk in the park?  No.  But He does promise to walk with us through life's trials and one day He will return for His children.  It is a promise & you can count on God to keep His promises (2 Cor. 1:20)! 

More websites about salvation and the Christian life:

Crosswalk

OnePlace

Of course, I am always here to answer questions and pray for you.  Be sure to stop by next week for chapter 7. 

Have a blessed day

P.S. When the fifth seal was opened we saw those who had given their lives for Christ, if you want to know more about the persecuted church today please visit Voice of the Martyrs or Open Doors.

Slowing Down...

The official school year is winding down in our home making room for fun in the sun and other summer enjoyments.  :-) 

I will be taking a break from all of the memes during summer vacation.  I will still be posting my thoughts on the book of Revelation and I have a few other ideas as well.  But my posting will be limited to just a few days a week.  If you are a regular viewer of Thankful Thursday, Word-filled Wednesday, My Husband Rocks, Then Sings My Soul or A Simple Woman's Daybook PLEASE join me again in the fall.  Of course you are welcome to stop in anytime.  :-)

Blessings,

Tammy