Cindy Rushton

Category: Homeschooling

  • Super Mom Syndrome: Be a MOM!

    The image “http://www.cindyrushton.com/images/Cindy2.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors. Remember The Donna Reed Show? If not, turn on the oldies for the afternoon. 🙂

    The Donna Reed Show epitomized the super-mom.  Yes, she did it all, and was the perfect role model for women of that era.

    What most people do not know is that Donna Reed was executive producer of the show, and was heavily involved in the show’s immense popularity.  This was at a time when women were subjugated to one particular role. Subsequently, the emancipation of women brought them within equal status of the “dominant” male. With a nine to five job; children to care for; and either a single parent or not; moms today are expected to do it all. Thus, the “Super-mom Syndrome” was born; but at what price? (more…)

  • Choosing The Best Mp3 Player for your Homeschool by Amy Blevins

    The image “http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/uploads/avatars/16198_9603.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.Let’s talk about the three basic considerations for choosing the best mp3 player for your family. These are cost, storage and functionality. It is difficult to separate cost from your storage needs and the functionality that will fit your family. Prices range from $30 to $400. What can your family afford? How much money could you save towards this purchase if increased functionality is important to you?

    Storage can be divided into two considerations: storage amount, and storage type. Storage amounts range from 512 Megabytes to 160 Gigabytes. The more storage space you have, the more audio files you can keep on your mp3 player at any given moment. Some families like to keep most of their audio files stored on the hard drive of the computer, and then load small amounts of new material to the mp3 player each week. Other families prefer to load everything they own onto the mp3 player and carry maximum amounts of flexibility. This is probably based on personality. The free podcasts available can take up huge amounts of storage space if you do not cull out the ones you have already enjoyed. Storage type is important for durability. Some mp3 players are designed to take the added jarring caused by heavy exercise such as running. Many mp3 players are not designed to hold up to this type of usage. Do you anticipate members of your family using the mp3 player for personal listening during exercise? (more…)

  • The Importance of Routine by Cindy Rushton

    Homeschools come packaged in all sorts and types.  We find that homes all have their own atmosphere…their own discipline…and their own life.  What will make for happy homeschool days?  My vote goes to routine!

    As we look at different homes, we find that many people use many instruments to establish discipline in our studies.  In our home, we have used primarily two tools…instruction and routine. You can probably see the need and benefits for instruction when you are homeschooling but why routine?

    Routine is the means by which we lay down the tracks of discipline. (more…)

  • Easy Record-Keeping for the Reluctant Homeschool Mom! by Cindy Rushton

    Record-keeping!  Does your hair stand up when you think of record-keeping? Do you begin to grind your teeth?  Did you feel like skipping this article just because it seems impossible for “EASY” and “Record-keeping” to ever go together??

    Relax.  I know that there is not a “one size fits all.” I know that in spite of how hard we may search, there is not a perfect system for every mom!  That is OK! My prayer is that if you are in need of some ideas to make a couple areas a little easier or if you have no idea of where to begin, that you will find a few ideas as you come home with us to see how simple record-keeping CAN be.  Ready for some quick tips??? Here we go… (more…)

  • Quick Ideas for Making History Fun! by Cindy Rushton

    Want to make the new school year better than ever? Want studies that are interesting for the whole family? I think I can help you! How about some quick tips for making your history studies fun? I think you will find these to make lessons fun and easy. Let’s dig in…

    * Get Out to See History as Much as Possible…    Hunt up any Living History Days scheduled in your area.  Get out to all historical sites and museums…even hands-on children’s museums.  Don’t miss any historical reenactments and plays within driving distance! These all give wonderful opportunities to get your children in touch with those that love History and know it best. (more…)

  • Restoring Balance To Completely Overloaded Lives! by Cindy Rushton

    Ever had an “unbalanced tire?”  Recently, I had a tire that was driving me crazy! It made the ride horribly rough.  I was wore-out just from trying to drive to town because it kept pulling me off the road—obviously in the wrong direction! Just a simple trip to town was completely stressful. My hands were blistered from trying to hold on to the steering wheel the whole way to town and back! I was certain that my car was about to blow up…that something was permanently wrong!  Imagine my relief to find that my problem was from one tire that was out of balance! Easy to fix.  The smooth ride only took a few moments to restore.

    Ever had an “unbalanced life?”  Well, the similarities are unbelievable! Talk about a rough ride! Talk about a pull in the wrong direction! Talk about stress! Sure it is easy to fix—but, oh so hard to do!

    We are overloaded! (more…)

  • Restoring Balance To Completely Overloaded Lives! by Cindy Rushton

    Ever had an “unbalanced tire?”  Recently, I had a tire that was driving me crazy! It made the ride horribly rough.  I was wore-out just from trying to drive to town because it kept pulling me off the road—obviously in the wrong direction! Just a simple trip to town was completely stressful. My hands were blistered from trying to hold on to the steering wheel the whole way to town and back! I was certain that my car was about to blow up…that something was permanently wrong!  Imagine my relief to find that my problem was from one tire that was out of balance! Easy to fix.  The smooth ride only took a few moments to restore.

    Ever had an “unbalanced life?”  Well, the similarities are unbelievable! Talk about a rough ride! Talk about a pull in the wrong direction! Talk about stress! Sure it is easy to fix—but, oh so hard to do!

    We are overloaded! (more…)

  • Setting Up Your Home to Learn by Cindy Rushton

    Homeschooling? Thinking about Homeschooling? BUT…do you have to turn your home into a school? No, my dear friend, you do not need to turn your home into a school. Your home can still be a HOME. A home ready to learn! Ready?

    Ready? This is EASY as ABC…

    –>  Find a good nook! It does not have to be huge. Certainly does not need to be expensive.  All that is needed is a place that invites your children (and YOU!) to think, work through the studies (writing, reading, studying, proofreading, projects, experiments…). Ask yourself, “Where do they gravitate toward to read…to research…to write…to print?” (more…)

  • Let’s Try Notebooking

    Notebooking … ahhh, just the thought makes me hyper! If I could ask every homeschooling family to do just one thing, it would be to just give notebooking a try. This is the one technique that pulls everything together—studies, research, real life, personal interests—everything! It reaches even the most reluctant writer! It makes homeschooling fun and easy! Who wouldn’t want to try that?

    Not just that! Everything that normally clutters up the busy homeschool home can be tucked away into a notebook! All of those precious narrations can be safely protected in notebooks. All of those daily copywork lessons can find their home in notebooks on each of the topics that your children love so much. Even those awesome handouts that you have piled up from field trips can find the perfect home in your notebooks! Homeschooling is recorded. An heirloom is built! (more…)

  • ‘s Word FOR THEM!

    The Bible is one of the most popular selling books in all of history. It has been translated into more languages than any other book. Even today it is being translated into many different languages for people all over the world to read. The most incredible thing is that the Bible is not being translated into many different translations and versions just for children. Using different translations and versions can assist in teaching kids about the Bible and introducing them to God so they can pursue their own personal relationship with Him.

    Please don’t think I am “downing” my Bible growing up. I loved it. It was very, very precious to me. I just remember how tough it was for me to read and study it. I was very bright, but the translation that was used most often during my childhood was the King James Version. As a kid, reading the King James Version was quite hard and frustrating. All of the formal language (thee and thou…shouldst and didst) got in the way and distracted me from the message. (more…)