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HEAV's Virginia Homeschool Update

December 16, 2008

Above the Fold
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Prefer a text-only page? Click Here!

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Last Update Till 2009
There will be no Virginia Homeschool Update on December 23 or December 30. The next Update is scheduled for January 6, 2009. We pray you and your family will have a most blessed Christmas or Hanukkah--may the season be one of rejoicing!

The office will also be closed for Christmas and New Year's on December 24, 25, and 26, as well as on January 1 and 2. We will be back, rested and eager to serve Virginia homeschoolers on Monday, January 5!

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Homeschooling the Challenging Child December's Top Pick - Free Shipping!
Homeschooling the Challenging Child
- By Christine M. Field
Reviewed by Linda Trumbo, homeschool mother of five and past publisher of the "How to Homeschool Newsletter."
Many homeschooling moms will admit they have a least one challenging child in the family. The frustration level can get high trying to meet the demands of discipleship, character training, and academic instruction with a child who seems to need 24-hour attention. Read the rest of the review here.

Get free shipping on Homeschooling the Challenging Child for the month of December! Order your copy here for $13.49(members)/$14.99(non-members).

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Traveling? Traveling?
Need a hotel? Plain ticket? Car rental? Take a look at EduTravel! You'll find prices very comparable to Travelocity and other discount sites, plus 40% of your purchase will go towards HEAV!

"After booking flights through Travelocity for more than five years, last month I decided to try EduTravel. I compared the two sites and was pleasantly surprised to find I could get the exact same flight and price! It is so nice to know EduTravel will offer my family the best deals while benefiting HEAV!" - Linda Linder of Manassas

"I booked my first flight on EduTravel and found a lower fare than was shown on the other search engines. It turns out EduTravel will automatically let you know if a lower fare is available for another travel time or day--a great money-saving feature that avoids having to spend huge amounts of time searching for the lowest fare!" - Anne Miller, president of HEAV

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Christmas shopping? Here are a few possibilities! Christmas Shopping? Need Ideas?
Here are a few possibilities from the HEAV website!

  • For Moms - Check out HEAV's special 25th-anniversary edition homeschool tote bags. These sturdy bags are great for carrying library books, papers, and all those little things you need to transport! Also take a look at the Virginia Homeschool Superstore for some great books to put inside the bag! Some of HEAV's best-selling products have included the Virginia Homeschool Manual, Educating the WholeHearted Child, 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum, Everyday Family Chore System, Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends, and My Homeschool Planner. View these and other resources moms might enjoy by visiting HEAV's Virginia Homeschool Superstore--you may also want to take a look at the product review page.

  • For Kids - Take a look at the creation science resources currently listed on the Great Deals for Virginia Homeschoolers page. You'll find a "Kidz" pack featuring five DVDs for children, a "Dino Sculpting Pack," Expelled, and more--all on terrific sales! If your child likes history, take a look at some of the Virginia history resources in the Virginia Homeschool Superstore--you'll find biographies, a coloring book, sticker book, and more.

When shopping online at major retailers, please use the links on the HEAV website! A portion of purchases made through these links benefit HEAV, while your cost remains the same. Consider bookmarking the links so you can easily find them the next time you shop!

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Yvonne Bunn REGISTER NOW - AND TELL A FRIEND!
How to Begin Homeschooling: What You Really Need To Know!
Richmond, Tuesday, January 6, 2009

"I attended the 'How to Get Started' workshop yesterday, and although I filled out the questionnaire afterward, I don't think I fully expressed how much I enjoyed the seminar and how thankful I am that I went. Both Yvonne and Vicki were wonderful presenters. Not only are they knowledgeable, but they're interesting and helpful, and quite easy to learn from. They presented all the information in such a lively and productive manner (even the dry stuff!) that I left feeling well-informed and more confident. What an incredibly well-spent afternoon! Thank you for offering these services. I came from Northern Virginia (like a few others) and it was such a valuable and worthwhile trip. I'm very much looking forward to the next one. I'm still in the process of making the decision of whether homeschooling is right for us, but I feel a lot more prepared to make that decision, and certain that if I do, the support is available. Thank you!" - K. Stewart

Are you ready to begin homeschooling? Get your questions answered and use the information from this seminar to get off to the right start! What are the first things you should do to get started? What does the law say? Where can you get curriculum? What kinds of records should you keep? Where can you get help? Maximize your success with practical ideas from Yvonne Bunn, a veteran homeschool mom who has helped thousands of families begin homeschooling.

Know someone thinking about homeschooling? Please let them know about this workshop!

Cost is $20/HEAV members; $25/non-members; spouses are free. See more details about the How to Begin Homeschooling Seminar online, and be sure to mark your calendar and call the office to register (804-278-9200)!

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Your Message Is Important to Us!
If you ever try to contact us and don't get a response, please try again! We've had trouble with our web forms and may not have received your inquiry. We work very hard to respond quickly to your phone and e-mail messages, so please call us (804-278-9200) if you ever don't hear back within a few days--your questions or comments are VERY important to us.

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Help Wanted! HELP NEEDED!
HEAV Convention Graduation Coordinator
Is graduation your favorite part of convention? Do you want to share in the excitement of making this a special day for up to 200 graduates and their families? HEAV is seeking an enthusiastic coordinator for our annual homeschool graduation. We are looking for someone who has attended the HEAV graduation ceremony, who is organized and responsible, and who has excellent people skills as well as good computer and administrative capabilities.

While this job involves predominantly working from home, the Convention Graduation Coordinator will also manage graduation on site during the convention. This is a large task, but rewarding for anyone who has a heart for the graduating seniors and their parents. A small stipend is provided. Call Florence Feldman at 757-498-4480, if interested.

Other Positions
Do you have a passion for homeschooling? Would you like to help encourage other homeschoolers in Virginia while getting an opportunity to serve and grow yourself? HEAV currently has several openings and could use your help! We need convention coordinators, as well as help in a variety of other departments. Most of the work can be done from home, and hours are extremely flexible. Please call Florence Feldman at 757-498-4480, if interested in learning more.

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Nauticus Homeschool Day
Nauticus Homeschool Day
Wednesday, January 21, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ahoy all homeschoolers! Join HEAV at the downtown Norfolk waterfront for an HEAV co-sponsored day at Nauticus. Learn together at workshops, get up close to sea creatures at touch-tanks, walk the decks of the Battleship Wisconsin, and much more! Take a peek here at pictures of a few of the 1,200 homeschoolers who participated in last year's event. If you were one of the participants, you'll see many new additions this year.

Adult admission is $10.95 and includes up to two free children's admissions; additional children are $7 each; children 3 and under are free. Please register on the website by Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 4 p.m. Workshop space is limited and also requires preregistration.

See the website for more details, or call 757-664-1021.

www. nauticus.org/homeschool.html

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New Article on the HEAV Blog - Each Child Is Unique
Here's a note a homeschool mom in Virginia (who requested to remain anonymous) wrote recently to a mom homeschooling a dyslexic child. Whether your child struggles with dyslexia or something completely different, we hope you'll be encouraged that every child is unique--and that's okay!

http://heav.org/blog

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Germany and Switzerland - A Praise and a Prayer Request
Germany - "Mr. and Mrs. Brause are Christians and homeschool their children for reasons of parental responsibility before God and the law. They chose to home educate their children for their best interest." Yet for the past several years, they've been living under the shadow of criminal charges--charges that were recently dropped. Read more details about the victory for German homeschool families, and join us in praising God for once again protecting His people.

Switzerland - Reports say the Canton of Zurich will be restricting homeschooling to parents with a teacher's certificate beginning next summer. Read more details on lifesitenews.com, and please pray for wisdom and strength for the families affected.

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1) Homeschool Items
View All Homeschool Items
1.1 Family Foundation Seeks Volunteer Pages - Richmond - Begins January 14
1.2 Living Books Retreat - Florida - January 14-16
1.3 Free Audio Download - A Christmas Carol

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2) General Interest Items
View All General Interest Items
2.1 Family Fun: Big Bulbs to Grow - Alexandria - December 20
2.2 Model Train Display - Great Falls - December 20-21
2.3 Thank President Bush - Washington, DC - January 3
2.4 Junior Duck Stamp Contest - Deadline Is March 15, 2009
2.5 SwimAmerica - Various Locations Nationwide (10 in Virginia) - Many Begin Soon
2.6 Remarkable Trees Environmental Arts Contest - Hampton - February 2-March 20, 2009

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3) Cool Sites for Homeschoolers
View All Cool Sites
3.1 A Pictorial History of English Reading Instruction
3.2 Whale of a Lesson

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4) Parting Thought - Fitness Tips
In the coming year, remember to keep fit with these tips: walk with Christ daily, regularly bend your knees in prayer, and stretch your faith! We all know keeping physically fit is important, but spiritual fitness is even more so!

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5) Worth Repeating
"Why faint when you may be strong? Why suffer defeat when you may conquer? Oh! take your wavering faith and drooping graces to him who can revive and replenish them, and earnestly pray, "Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us."
- C.H. Spurgeon, (1834-1892). Charles Haddon Spurgeon was to nineteenth-century England what D. L. Moody was to America. His honest approach addressed error wherever he found it and regularly drew crowds of 10,000. Read more about him on The Spurgeon Archive.

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6) Verse of the Week
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
- Luke 2:30-32 (KJV)

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7) Homeschool Laugh of the Week - 20 Great Reasons You Homeschool

Homeschool Laugh of the Week
REASON #10
"Vacations Can Be Called 'Extended Field Trips'..."

Written and illustrated by Jim Erskine. Reprinted with permission. Jim Erskine also manages www.HomeschoolFreebieOfTheDay.com, where you can find a new free homeschool resource every weekday.

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Submit an Item
Know of an event, contest, or resource that would be of interest to homeschoolers? Please submit it using our online form at www.heav.org/update_submit.html.

Note: We compile information for publication at least two weeks prior to the send-out date, so please submit items as early as possible (preferably one month in advance). HEAV reserves the right to accept or reject any material submitted. Note: The next Update is scheduled for January 6, 2009.

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Disclaimer
The Virginia Homeschool Update is produced by Kathleen Dillie (copy editor), Chris (editor), Anna Dykhoff (graphic designer), Katherine Loop (manager), and Anne Miller (director of publications & marketing).

HEAV does not necessarily endorse the above-mentioned resources, nor guarantee the accuracy of information found on any external resource we may mention. If you find anything wrong on our website, please let us know so we can correct it.

HEAV diligently researches each link prior to publication. However, we recommend you, the parent, fully examine websites before allowing your children to surf them without supervision.

Copyright © 2008 by the Home Educators Association of Virginia. All rights reserved. You are free to pass along all or part of this Update, but please include the following credit line when you do: "Taken from HEAV's Virginia Homeschool Update, a free newsletter for Virginia homeschoolers. You can sign up at www.heav.org."

Home Educators Association of Virginia

Home Educators Association of Virginia - Supporting Homeschooling in Virginia Through Information, Legislation, and Resources


Home Educators Association of Virginia

e-mail: update@heav.org

phone: 804-278-9200

web: http://www.heav.org

Note: Your membership and donations to HEAV enable us to continue monitoring legislation and help us to guard and promote homeschooling freedoms.

Not a member? Join today!

Donate to HEAV now.