What NOT To Bring To A Real Refreshment Retreat

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Apologia

We're getting ready for two uplifting Real Refreshment Retreats in March! We wanted to share a little advice on what NOT to bring to the retreats.

Purchase your ticket, read our list of recommended items NOT to bring, and pack your bag!

We'll see you March 8-9 in Baltimore and March 22-23 in Atlanta!

Check out all of the session information here.

What Not To Bring To A Real Refreshment Retreat

10. Uncomfortable shoes or clothes – the dress code is comfy!

9. A Pinterest or blog project

8. A box of old recipes that need to be typed into Word

7. Your personal stash of glitter for the craft time we have planned at the Retreat

6. A laundry basket of socks that need mending and a sewing kit

5. A stack of bills you need to pay

4. Your cute new puppy who “just needs a few more days and he’ll be housebroken”.

3. The 32 books on Ancient Egypt you checked out of the library so you can plan a history unit study

2. A pile of cotton shirts that could be ironed with the like-new (no-scorch-marks-on-the-bottom) iron and ironing board in the hotel room

1. 2012 tax documents and a CD of tax software so you can do your taxes on Friday night

Join us in Baltimore or Atlanta. Meet and fellowship with Rachael Carman, Zan Tyler, Debra Bell, Heidi St. John, Elizabeth Smith, and Sherri Seligson. Enjoy praise and worship time with Anne MacCollum!

Read the details and purchase your ticket at RealRefreshment.com!

HEART Book Club: Chapter 3

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Apologia

HEART blog-post for book club by Rachael Carman

Chapter 3

A-Accept Your Kids

It cannot be anything but providence that in just the last two days I have had conversations (and subsequently prayer) with parents who are having a difficult time accepting their children. Both wrestling with God’s plan and purpose for their kids. Both sure that God must be punishing them. Both questioning God’s ability to show them how to proceed. Both doubting they are going to survive the teenage years.

These conversations reminded me again of my own struggle to accept my own first born. I remember being shocked and ashamed when I realized that even through I loved Charles given that he was my son, I didn’t like him. He was difficult and defiant, disobedient and discouraging. I wanted to enjoy our days together, but I felt like I spent most of them disciplining him and at night I would cry myself to sleep feeling like a complete failure.

Now all these years later, I can still remember the anxiety of those days. I am grateful for those years, those battles, those trials, God’s strength, patience and mercy. I have since seen God’s faithfulness in a myriad of ways. On this side, I am overwhelmed by grace.

God taught me so many things through those trials, things about Charles, about me and about Himself. I learned that Charles is like me and not like me; he is his own person and that person is passionate and strong. I learned that I didn’t have it all together even though I thought I did. But God loved me anyway and He wanted me to want His will in my life and not my own. And I learned that God is God and I am not, that He alone is worthy, He is able and He is my answer. At the end of the day accepting my children meant accepting God as God.

Planuary: A Homeschooling Mom of Three Young Children Shares How She Plans

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Apologia

This is our last Planuary post for January. Liz Corson, homeschooling mom to three young children, shares how she uses Debra Bell's Ultimate Homeschool Planner. Liz is also the Director of Events and Conference Manager for Apologia. Thank you, Liz, for sharing with us!

I am an organizational tool nut, note that I didn't say I am an organizational nut. I love the tool, but I am not always organized. The Ultimate Homeschool Planner has helped me follow through with my homeschooling. It keeps me focused and helps prevent me from forgetting projects or subjects. *blush*

This has been perfect timing for me! My oldest started Kindergarten this past fall so I am very fortunate to start my process with this amazing tool. The planner can serve as attendance records in addition to tracking educational progress in each subject.

I also use it to make sure that I'm getting mommy time in with my younger kids. This sounds silly, but if I have an activity written in for my 2 year old, I will sit down and do it with him.

My favorite 2-page spread is the One-Year Planning Grid. These pages help me plan my schooling around normal holidays as well as my travel schedule. I love being able to see my whole year at a glance. As you can see, we school year round to maintain consistency for the younger kids. As they get older I may change that. I am also hoping to add more vacation style field trips. =)

What is your favorite feature in the Ultimate Homeschool Planner? Are you looking to add some new activities to your homeschool this "semester"?

Read more about The Ultimate Homeschool Planner and view a sample PDF by clicking here.

Blog Link-Up and Graphic Design Giveaway!

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Apologia

Starting at 2:00 p.m. eastern on Thursday, January 26, we are hosting a Blogwarming event on the Apologia Facebook wall.

Part of the celebration will be a blogger link-up. If you blog, come add your blog to the link-up so other homeschooling parents can visit and enjoy the ideas, encouragment, and inspiration you share via your blog.

If you don't blog, you can still enjoy visitng the folks who have listed their blogs. We'll leave the link active so you can visit the blogs over the next few weeks. Each blogger has their unique content–sharing everything from art projects to recipes, and more!

One participating blogger will win a free blog header from Art Designs by Christi.Check out her portfolio here! You'll get just the header you want to adorn your blog–so link up, and you be automatically entered to win! Must be 18 years or older to enter.

New Apologia Company Blog and Blogwarming Party

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Apologia

Apologia is moving . . . into our new company blog.

You have visited with us right here on the Apologia Live blog—the home of the Apologia Live Retreats for Homeschool Moms. But now, we have built a new blog for other company information and news—the Apologia Blog.

We’ll unveil it Thursday.

To celebreate we’re having a party—a Blogwarming Facebook Party!

Join us Thursday, January 26, from 2:00 p.m. eastern until 10:00 p.m. eastern on the Apologia Facebook Wall. We will have discussions and visits from Apologia authors and speakers, such as Davis and Rachael Carman, Jeannie Fulbright, and Larry Blythe. Apologia Academy teachers will also join us to talk middle school and high school science.

We’ll discuss everything from helping a struggling reader to teaching worldview to teenagers—and everything in between! Our schedule is below—join us for an hour, join us for two hours, or join us for the entire event—whatever fits into your schedule.

2:00 – 4:00 p.m. eastern – Discussions and giveaways

4:00-8:00 p.m. eastern – Break

8:00-10:00 p.m. eastern – Discussion and giveaways

The discussions will take place on our Facebook Wall and the contests will be held on the NEW Apologia blog. (We'll give out that link during the party.)

Blogwarming Events and Giveaways!

We also have some exciting events and giveaways in addition to the lively discussion on our Facebook wall. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming up this Thursday:

What’s Your Blogwarming Gift? Contest

We’re moving into the new Apologia company blog and things are a little empty in our new home. So, we were hoping for a few Blogwarming gifts. Won’t you help us?

Look around your house for the perfect blogwarming gift you can share with us via email. Get your cameras ready to send us a photo of that perfect gift you think would look great in our new home. If you don’t have a camera—a phone camera will work or you can describe your gift in an email.

Perhaps a fresh-made treat from your kitchen, a stuffed animal, a coffee mug with a funny saying, a beautiful painting, an old lawn mower, a favorite afghan, a worn carpet remnant—the gift ideas are endless and can be funny!

We’ll have five entry categories (There's an Apologia goodie for each of the five winners!):

The funniest blogwarming gift
The most inspirational blogwarming gift
The mostly to be regifted by Apologia (possibly to the Apologia Live blog!)
The cutest blogwarming gift (the gift that made us say, "Awww, that's cute.")
The best pet for the Apologia Live blog – snap a photo of your pet–we just might select it to be the pet we''d most likely would have in our new blog home! (We'll accept the wiinning photo only–your pet will stay in his current home!)

Feel free to regift the gift you have stored up on the closet shelf! Find something in your house, garage, attic, basement, carport, storage shed, cupboard, closet, etc., that you would LOVE to gift us for our new home on the Apologia blog. Get ready, and we’ll give you all the instructions on Thursday at the Blogwarming Party!

Blogwarming Link Up Calling all bloggers!

If you have a blog, we’re linking up the day of the Blogwarming Party! We’ll have a Mr. Linky posted on the Apologia blog—simply link up with us that day. Then, after the party, visit the other blogs in the Link-up and meet new homeschooling friends. If you aren’t a blogger, that’s fine too. Visit the blogs and enjoy fellowship, gather homeschooling ideas, collect recipes or money-saving tips, and more. The Link Up begins at 2:00 p.m. eastern on Thursday, January 26, 2012, during our Blogwarming Facebook Party.

Planuary: Non-Core Subjects

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Apologia

As part of our Planuary celebration, Debra Bell is sharing her homeschooling advice and inspiration with us throughout the month. Presented in a Q & A format, you'll enjoy short snippets of helpful ideas and information. Read other posts and articles in our Planuary focus by clicking here.

In this Q&A we talk about the subjects outside of the core courses:

Q: How important do you think the "extras" are in daily homeschooling? I am thinking about subjects like art and music. My kids are exposed to both, but I find when crunched for time, these are often the first to go. Neither my kids nor I are particularly gifted in either.

A: What I did was is put some extras I thought were important in my 5 year plan. Then I would focus a chunk of time on that (say cooking) or maybe, in your case, the history of music for a year. Rather than trying to fit 7 subjects into the schedule of every day, I would do something very different. I often did history one semester and science in the other. You might try something like that with the extras you sometimes find trouble getting to.

"Though not considered core subjects, it's important that we not neglect study in these areas. Music and art as expressed through human history are the best ways for our children to understand the impact of philosophical ideas. These are concrete expressions of the abstract forces that shape a culture.

"Further, it is important that our children learn to express themselves creatively. Our ability to create is a part of "being made in the image of God" and reflects the divine image within us. God intends us to create for His glory and our own enjoyment in life. Integrate art and music appreciation into your study of history and cultures, and cultivate your child's creative expression through art and music opportunities."

- from Deb's The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling

How do you integrate the arts into your homeschooling? Have you changed your approach as your children have gotten older?

Twitter Party – January 19, 9:00 p.m. ET

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Apologia

The Planuary celebration continues this week with a Twitter Party on Thursday, january 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET. We'll be using the hashtag #planuary.

We'll talk homeschooling, share ideas, and enjoy exciting giveaways of some favorite Apologia products!

You won't want to miss the grand finale giveaway! Join us to get the details.

it's so easy to join in the fun–simply follow Apologiaworld on Twitter, set a reminder for this Thursday at 9 p.m. ET, and follow and use the hashtag #planuary.

Bonus! Did you know that all through the month of Planuary (January), if you Tweet about our Planuary posts and Twitter Party, each Tweet will enter you to win a DVD set from the Apologia Live Retreats or Homeschool Moms. This is over 10 hours of encouragement from Rachael Carman, Zan Tyler, Jeannie Fulbright, and all of the Apologia Live speakers. They are veteran homeschooling moms who have been in the homeschool trenches–through the triumphs and trials of homeschooling!

Get the details of this fun giveaway here.

See you at the party this Thursday!

Double the Discipleship & Refreshment

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Apologia

The Teach Them Diligently Convention and Apologia Live have teamed up to bring homeschooling parents double the discipleship and refreshment!

This March, you can attend two homeschooling events designed just for homeschooling parents.

On March 15-17, attend the Teach Them Diligently conference and enjoy the encouragement from Apologia speakers Zan Tyler, Joe Tyler, and Jeannie Fulbright. .Be inspired by attending sessions led by Ken Ham, Voddie Baucham, Stephen Kendrick, and many other popular speakers.

Apologia Academy Director, Larry Blythe, anchors the Teen Track entitled four 12: Stand Strong in Your Faith. Enjoy over 200 helpful workshop! Plus, browse the exhibit hall and discover all of your curriculum choices

The following weekend, March 23-24, join us in Atlanta for Apologia Live–a refreshing retreat designed just for homeschooling moms. Rachael Carman, Jeannie Fulbright, Zan Tyler, Elizabeth Smith, Sherri Seligson, and Debra Bell will help us refresh in God's Word and celebrate the journey of homeschooling He has placed in our lives! This is truly a retreat design with the needs of you–the homeschooling mom–in mind.

Special guest speaker at Apologia Live – Atlanta, Pam Tebow

Pam Tebow, homeschooling mother of five children (including NFL quarterback, Tim Tebow), will be our special guest in Atlanta. She'll encourage us to trust the Lord with all our hearts for all our lives.

Save almost 20% on a joint ticket to both events!

Register for Teach them Diligently and Apologia Live to get a great rate! Regular prices are $40 for a family registration at Teach Them Diligently and $115 for a one-mom registration to Live, for a total of $155; register for the joint ticket and receive a discounted rate of $125!

Register for both events today and save almost 20%!

Planuary: How One Family Keeps God as the Center of Their Homeschool Planning

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Apologia

Sally Faulkner, blogging at With Eager Hands, joins us for our Planuary celebration! Below she shares how she records God's plan for homeschooling their four children. The Faulkner's enjoy a Charlotte Mason-based approach. You can read more about their homeschool adventures and the the full blog entry about The Ultimate Homeschool Planner here. Sally shares her how-to's and photos below. Thank you, Sally, for sharing with us!

I struggle with the day-to-day planning of our homeschool–in a mighty way.

When I stumbled on The Ultimate Homeschool Planner, at some blog 5 miles south of somewhere (you know how it is with reading blogs!), I blew it off. Then some things happened that required I rethink the HOW of our homeschool. I have full confidence God planted that seed in my mind.

In the midst of who knows what, that random blog came back to my mind, and I had to find it. I searched, and when I found it, I read through the entire sample of The Ultimate Homeschool Planner..

And friends, I wept. This is no lie.

Here is what I knew I needed in a planner:

Plenty of room for each of my children and myself (at this time, I need 4 spaces)
Weekly spaces as well as month-views
Space for longer-term planning
No frills or fillers at all. I will be carrying this with me everywhere!

Inside the Ultimate Homeschool Planner I found:

Detailed explanations of how to plan with a year-long (or longer) view, down to the day-to-day lessons
Pictures of what this all looks like! Pictures, friend, pictures! I am so visual, that simply reading it doesn’t work for me.
All the charts needed to plan your year, down to your day
Incorporating check-in and review sessions with each child – brilliant!
Pages for listing materials, resources needed for all your children
Goal setting pages for each child, for academics and character

(You will notice that my planner is in a 3-ring binder. It comes spiral-bound, but I am the odd one in the bunch and need a binder!)

At the core of this entire Planner is . . . God. Not curriculum. Not plans. Not projects or grades.

My favorite part of the whole planner – what literally brought me to tears – is what this Planner has each and every week!

Before you look to the 6 x 6 grid for the week’s learning, you see a two-page spread entitled The Lord's Day, which includes ample space for:

Your Bible Plan for the week
What you feel you are struggling with
A space to record a Bible verse (or more) to help you overcome
Prayers
And here’s the best, a place to record Hospitality & Outreach!

Debra Bell makes a point to equip us with His word in different ways, but gives us the space to actually make service a part of our week!

I could just hug Mrs. Bell!

On the right page is a space for recording memorable moments and achievements throughout the week, as well as evidence of God’s provision, mercy, love, grace, and faithfulness! This alone sets The Ultimate Homeschool Planner apart and has made all the difference in our homeschool!

As I begin to train myself to see God’s hand in our days and to live in the moment with my children, my pages are slowly beginning to fill!

God is so good! I am so thankful that I have this Planner, because it has helped me to keep God at the center of our homeschool, which in turn has helped me be a more productive homeschooling mother!

—————————-

Record God's plan for your homeschool and journal His faithfulness in your homeschool path with The Ultimate Homeschool Planner. Read more about Debra's Ultimate Homeschool Planner and take a sneak peek inside by clicking here.

Planuary: Tweet #Planuary and You Could Win

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Apologia

All through the month of January, we're celebrating Planuary!

If you are on Twitter, follow the #Planuary, tweet about the event or retweet our links and at the end of January, we'll pick a winning TWEET. Yes, not at Tweeter, but a Tweet.

So, the more you Tweet about #Planuary, the more times you are entered to win a DVD set from the Apologia Live Retreats for Homeschool Moms. This is like having 7 veteran homeschool moms visit you right in your home. You'll enjoy hearing encouragement and inspiration from Debra Bell, Rachael Carman, Zan Tyler, Jeannie Fulbright, Sherri Seligson, and Elizabeth Smith from HSLDA. We are also going to include a surprise–a book by one of these speakers!

We will pick two winners! What a great way to brighten up winter!

Simply Tweet or Retweet about #Planuary. Each Tweet/Retweet serves as an entry. We'll select two winners on February 1, 2012 and notify you via Twitter. You can view all of our Planuary blog posts by clicking here.