August Newsletter

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Back To School For Homeschoolers
August 2011 Issue

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For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33

August Has Arrived!

August is here and many children will soon be returning to school for the new year. Homeschoolers may or may not begin their calendar year in August as the school systems do. Either way, August is a good time of year for homeschooled kids to begin to plan for the "calendar year."

Decide what outside activities you plan on participating in this fall season. Do you play sports? Most city sports programs sign up in August for the fall season. Maybe you belong to a local homeschool support group which features outside activities. If so, be sure and get a list from them and with your parents decide which activities you want to join

We know that our Lord prefers order and not chaos. August is a perfect time for you to sit down with your parents and set goals for the new year. What do you hope to accomplish this year? What are your educational goals, your athletic or sporting event goals, your family goals, and your financial goals? Yes I said financial goals! Homeschoolers have a unique opportunity to earn extra income. Maybe you are interested in becoming a babysitter or a petsitter. Maybe you would like to earn extra cash being a pet-walker! Be creative! Decide how you will earn extra cash and create a flyer. Distribute around your neighborhood and wait for the job offers! There are so many ways for homeschoolers to earn extra money!

When setting goals for this year, be realistic. Do not spread yourself too thin. Too many extra activities and you may find that you are not able to complete any of them well. Strive to bring excellence to whatever you do. This means setting priorities. Do you know what a priority is? A priority simply means that you decide what is MOST IMPORTANT. Write down all your goals and activities. Put in order from top to bottom, starting with the most important. Your relationship with God should be at the very top. Never allow any activity or goal to come before Him.

God wants you to be successful at all that you do. Make Him your number one priority and you are making sure that you will have His daily strength for all you do.

After you have all your priorities in order, then make a committment to yourself that you will do very best to stay organized. Start each day with prayer and then one by one cross off your daily list. If you start each day by doing your most difficult task first, you will find the day will pass by easily. If you decide to put your least favorite chore or task last, you will find yourself dreading this task all day.

Being orderly and organized has so many benefits for you! You will be much happier and you will get so much more accomplished. Organizational skills will be important for you to have the rest of your life.

God created our universe out of order, NOT chaos! Be a planner. Seek God's will for your day, week and year. Get busy!

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Goal Setting Can Be Fun!

Did you know that by setting goals that you can achieve much more than you ever imagined! By setting goals and breaking them down into small sections, you can little by little reach the top!

1. What is your goal?
2. How important is this goal to you?
3. Commit to your goal - Write it down and keep it in front of you.
4. Using a calendar, set a time when you hope to have your goal accomplished. Mark the date in bright red!
5. How can you break your goal into smaller goals? If you think it should take you 6 months to achieve your goal, then break down your goal into 6 mini monthly goals. Decide how much you need to accomplish each month in order to complete your goal at 6 months.

Not really as complicated as it sounds. If you goal is financial and you hope to earn $100.00 by Christmas for shopping. Then divide $100.00 by 6 and you will see the figure that you need to earn each month to accomplish your total goal. This process works for any goal - it doesn't have to be financial. It is just easier for you to think about the small steps which will eventually lead you to your BIG goal!

6. Stay focused on your goal and try not to be distracted. It's easy to find reasons not to stay committed. It is much more difficult to concentrate on your goal. Only by committing to your goal and seeking the Lord daily will you truly find success.

Crafty Kids Corner

Stormy weather keeping you inside! Then get crafting!

Idea!!! Get a plastic box to keep all your art supplies in and then you will be ready in a moment to start crafting!

Wild & Wacky Wind Sock

What do you need?

Markers
Crayons
Glitter
Paint and Brushes

Glue
Construction Paper
Crepe Paper Streamers
String

What do you do?

Decorate a 10 by 20 inch piece of construction paper. Get creative. Draw or paint clouds, stars, smiley faces, etc. Add glitter for sparkle or try gluing on paper cutouts of stars, eyes, hair etc.
Cut 30 inch long crepe paper streamers. You will probably need around 10 of them. Glue these streamers to the back of the bottom side of the construction paper. Glue or staple the ends together to form a long tube.
Use your string to create a handle for your sock. Make knots at the end of a pice of string about 30 inches long. Staple your knots to the sides.
Hang on your porch and watch your windsock ride the August winds!

Hurricane Hot Dogs

6 Hotdog Weiners
12 crescent rolls
6 pieces of sandwich cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut weiners in half. Place weiner half inside crescent roll with 1/2 slice cheese rolled around weiner. Roll crescent roll and secure with toothpick. Place rolls on baking pan inside 350 degree oven. Cook until rolls are golden brown!

Stormy Fruit Salad

5 Bananas
1 (6 ounce) can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed slightly
1 can crushed pineapple - drained
1 package frozen strawberries, partially thawed
1 cup white sugar
1 cup boiling water

Start by mashing bananas with a fork. Next, stir in orange juice, strawberries and pineapple. Mix together. In another bowl, stir sugar into boiling water until dissolved. After cooling, pour mixture over fruit mixture. Stir together. Freeze until cold and then store in refrigerator.

Blustery Banana-Chocolate
Milk Shake

Add 1 banana, 2 scoops of chocolate ice-cream, 1 cup of milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to blender. Blend until yummy smooth!

Bible Memory Verses for AUGUST

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.1 Corinthians 14:33

Spotlight On Homeschoolers!

This month's focus is on homeschooler Caroline K. from Kansas. Caroline participated on a girl's softball team in Kansas. Caroline is 9 years old and her team won the city division. Caroline was also selected as an all-star and her all-star team finished in 2nd place! Congratulations Caroline!!!

If you know someone who should be spotlighted here, please send us the information to:

webmaster@homeschooled-kids.com

Reader's Submissions

Poem from Josh - Age 10 (Florida)

Summer

Summer is here with lots to do
swimming in the sea that is a beautiful blue
Summer is great and my bike is new
riding to the park and the beaches too.

Summer is here and the weather is hot
the cold days of winter I have not forgot
Summer sun is high and shines a lot
in the shade is me lying on a cot!

"Homeschooled Kids" welcomes contributions from subscribers. Readers are encouraged to send: Jokes, essays, poems, artwork or any original work that you want published on the WWW. Please send e-mail to: contributions@homeschooled-kids.com Include in the e-mail your name, age and home state. Only first names will be published. Thanks!!!