If you’re looking to find a new recommendation…there’s one in particular that we suggest…Concordia’s Amazing Desert Journey!

Join the Journey and teach about Jesus from the very beginning!

This packet includes special Director Tools, Leader Tools and Student Tools along with a day by day schedule categorized by Bible Story, Key Point, Memory Verse, and Connector.

Check out this link and learn more about this exciting VBS Starter Kit that you can’t go wrong with!

Click here for more information!

Are you stressed yet?  Well, if you are, let me reassure you that you’re NOT alone! Here at Nest we’ve planned ahead and found tools that will make your planning process go smoothly. It’s all about the “baby steps” of planning to properly put together an organized time line leading up to that exciting week of fun for kids of all ages!

To begin your planning process check out one of these helpful starter kits and themes for this year’s VBS.  We offer the top four brands in starter kits including: Pandamania, SonSurf, Hometown Nazareth, and Gold Rush.  Here’s the link for these four items: http://www.nestentertainment.com/vacation-bible-school_c360.aspx.

Each of these kits includes director resources and help, a director sample pack, large group/assembly resources. This is a complete set of everything you need including interactive elements to successfully plan your VBS.

If you ask us, we could recommend any of these brands for a fun and successful VBS although one that seems to be quite popular is Standard VBS Adventures on Promise Land Power Pak 2012. This pack includes the following:

• Director’s Guide
• Preschool Director’s Guide
• Planning DVD
• Get Started Instructions
• Sample Pack
• All five site leader’s guide
• Seaside Celebration Dual CD Set (Music & More)
• Teacher guides and student books for four age levels, and exclusive Director’s Bible Pin Pal

*Plus the Power Pak also gives you the Ultimate Decorating Pack & Guide, Publicity & Recruiting CD, God’s Promises Poster Pack, Lifeguard Lagoon Bible Story Poster Pack, Super Fun Activity Tablecloth, Activity Pad, Coconut Café Apron, Art & Decorating CD, and the Kid Views DVD.

Keep a look out for our monthly blog as VBS inches closer.  Our plan is to completely prepare you for a successful VBS this year. Happy planning!!

We love our loyal customers. And this year we want to give you a Christmas Bonus!

Every dollar you spend between October 1 and November 30 goes toward your total bonus. (Don’t worry! We have been keeping track. But if you are curious, you can log into your account and view your order history to calculate for yourself what you have earned.)

You don’t have to remember anything or sign up for anything, just use the coupon we send you on December 5 before the end of the year.

Coupons valid from December 5, 2011 to December 31, 2011. Some products and exclusions may apply. Some manufactures do not accept coupons. Totals based on registered customer number. Total qualifying amount does not include taxes and shipping fees.   ]]> http://www.nestlearning.com/home-school/earn-a-christmas-bonus-shop-early-and-often/feed/ 0 http://www.nestlearning.com/home-school/who-is-nest-honoring/ http://www.nestlearning.com/home-school/who-is-nest-honoring/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:40:05 +0000 Admin http://www.nestlearning.com/home-school/?p=680 These are some photos from all of us here at NEST – people close to us who have served our great nation. God Bless!

Because classroom decorations are a reflection of a teacher’s disposition, the way a teacher decorates his/her classroom will depend on the age group of the students. Preschool students like to see cartoon characters, nursery rhymes, illustrated stories in their classrooms. Charts and streamers of animals, cars, alphabets, fruits and vegetables, etc. can be added around the class. Basically, the preschool classroom should be a fun center, and convey a feeling of security, comfort, and acceptance.

Middle school students are just learning about the world around them and starting to show definite interests and ideas of their own. The classroom decorations for middle schools should be informative and entertaining.  For example, you can hang posters of presidents and famous personalities, but it is also important that you involve the students in decorating the classrooms.

High school students start thinking about college life and think of themselves as adults, so classroom decorations for them should be more subtle and more mature in nature. Posters can quote motivational sayings, provide career news, re-iterate formulas, and other interesting news from around their relevant sphere of influence (media, technology, and politics).

Turn your classroom into a jungle, or show your patriotic side; create a map of the world or the solar system on your ceiling; cover your walls in blank paper and have the children write a story or create drawings of their own. Whatever you do, remember: Each new school year is a fresh start – so make this year great and decorate with all your favorite classroom decorations.

We have compiled a small list of methods to get you started on your research and thought process, while you still have time to decide and choose the best method for you.

The Classical Home Schooling Method:

Based on the philosophy of education used in ancient Greece and in Europe during the Middle Ages, this is a rigorous style of education that views education in three phases. These stages correspond to the development of a child’s ability to reason.  One example of this method is the Memoria Press curriculum, which is designed to be accessible to homeschool families who have no familiarity with the subject being taught. This method works well if you are looking for structure and want to be fairly involved as a teacher.

Computer-Based Home Schooling Method:

As this type of home schooling method is becoming more popular, there are increasing varieties of how students use the computer for their home schooling. Some computer-based curriculums have the curriculum on CDs or DVDs, such as Switched-On Schoolhouse.  This method works  best if you need to find a way to not be involved so much in the day-to-day process of your child’s education, though you would be available to give help and general guidance, and if you have a child who likes being able to work at his own pace and use the computer.

Literature-Based Home Schooling Method:

Rather than use textbooks, this can be rather dry and uninteresting to many children, literature-based curriculums use “living books”. Students read historical fiction, first-person accounts and books written by people with a passion for their subject. This is a good method to choose if you value having your child love to read and if you want to be involved in the day-to-day process of your child’s education. By reading these living books, he or she will love to read!

The Unschooling/ Relaxed Method:

In the unschooling approach, the parent offers support, resources and encouragement, and the child leads the way in learning. In this home school method, the belief is that the child will learn best if he is interested and self-motivated.  This is a good method if you want your child to have the freedom to follow their own interests, and if you have enough confidence in the process of learning that you don’t mind if not all of your child’s learning can be documented by a written test.

Textbook-based/Traditional Home School Method:

This homeschooling method bases its model on the traditional idea of a classroom school, with workbooks and textbooks.  Some of the most popular textbook-based curricula come from AOP and Bob Jones University.  If your desire is to have your child studying material in a similar scope and sequence as other public or private schools, then you may want to purchase curriculum that comes from a well-known publisher, such as these.  This method works well if you desire the style of a classroom school and want your child to experience that at home, and if your child is able to do well and learn through fill-in-the-blanks and quizzes.

Although this can feel like an exhausting process to think about in July, this list by no means is exhaustive in its potential methods to think about implementing for the school year.  When you have decided which method is best for you, we hope that you will visit NEST Learning. NEST Learning understands Homeschool Curriculum as part of your child’s education, and we provide Homeschool curriculum books, textbooks, workbooks, software, and complete Homeschool curriculum packages from many of the most respected Homeschool publishers including, Wordly Wise, Alpha Omega Publications, BJU Homeschool, Apologia Educational Ministries, Saxon Homeschool.

1. Joey Jump

Place a beanbag on one end of the 27.67″ inclined plane and stomp on the other end, your beanbag sails in the air for you to catch. A wonderful activity your child will practice again and again! Includes 2 bean bags and a 28″ plastic launching board. Bean bag colors may vary. Ages 2 and up.

2.  5-Peg Ring Toss

The fast-action tossing game! Toss rings onto wooden pegs. Assign points to each ring and calculate who gets the most points after 7 tosses!  Includes two sturdy plastic 10″ bases, 2 posts, 4 plastic rings and instructions. Play indoors or out! 2 to 4 players.

3.  Bean Bag Toss

These bean bag sets are perfect for your playground, carnival, or physical education programs. The backboards feature colorful animations with different sized holes for an added challenge to any game! The regular Bean Bag Toss features 3 holes with a dragon on one side and an octopus on the other and includes three bags. The large Bean Bag Toss features 6 holes with an octopus on one side only and includes six bags. Ages 4 and up.

Adding these to your homeschool curriculum is sure to enhance your child’s hand-eye coordination and bring some fun back to the classroom this summer.

There are a few things that you’ll want to have in order before classes actually get started for the new school year. This may be a good time to clean out any clutter that has been left behind from previous years of homeschooling, or the general clutter that busy families tend to create and leave behind. Perhaps you still need to find a support group that will be a good fit for you and your homeschooling family, or some extra-curricular groups. This is even an ideal time to start streamlining some meal planning in advance while you have the time to teach older kids how to cook.

One of the biggest obstacles for you to overcome is the research and purchase of the homeschool curriculum that best suits your family’s needs. This is one of the things on your list that is best done now, while you are fresh off of the semester, than later, when your judgment is hazed by the glow of summer. Make a list of what has been successful in the past, or ask other homeschooling moms what curriculum they like best and why. Make sure that you have exhausted all of your questions and that you have asked about any additional details before making a decision on the best homeschool curriculum for you.

Some of the most widely used curriculums are heavily promoted during the month of July. Alpha Omega Publishing (or AOP), is a Christian publishing company that proudly provides quality, Bible-based curricula for students in preschool through 12th grade. Their Christian curriculum choices include Switched-On Schoolhouse, LIFEPAC, Horizons, and The Weaver Curriculum. Saxon Math and Phonics is the nation’s best-selling and most thoroughly researched skills-based mathematics program for grades K-12, and Saxon curriculum has consistently been one of homeschoolers’ top choices when it comes to math curriculum. Rosetta Stone Homeschool features predefined curriculum paths for learning, so parents can be sure their students are moving forward… even if parents don’t speak the language themselves. The choices are endless, but only you can know what will be the most suitable choice for your family.

Once you are ready to purchase your homeschool curriculum materials, don’t wait! Give yourself time to order it, receive it and review it carefully before your school season begins. Not only will this allow you to check off one very major important decision on your list, it will give you more time to enjoy your friends and family, and enjoy the fun that comes with the season of summer.

Organized sports teaches your child teamwork and good sportmanship - a value that will help them succeed in life!

It’s that time of year again – time to break out the calendar and begin planning next year’s schedule. While you are planning and budgeting your homeschool curriculum materials, are you leaving something out? Everyone covers the basics when purchasing homeschool materials: science, math, social studies, English, etc., but many forget a very important part of any child’s homeschool schedule: Sports.

Study after study has shown the importance of sports in a child’s life. Organized sports in particular can offer many more benefits than simple exercise at home.

1. Exercise

In this age of electronics and video games, obesity and diabetes along with other health disorders are on the rise. Organized sports get kids off the couch and get them moving again. Not only will they be burning calories, but building strong muscles and working out that ever so important muscle: the heart.

2. Life Lessons

Organized sports and being a part of a team teaches children many valuable life lessons and skills. Being a part of a team requires making a commitment: a commitment to show up on time, work hard in practice, and contribute something to the team. Practicing teaches patience and discipline along with the value of hard work. Games build a healthy sense of competition and teach good sportsmanship: you can’t win them all.

3. Encourage Self-Confidence

Self-confidence can be difficult thing to build up in a child, especially in their teen years. As children get older, they begin to compare themselves with others and may feel inadequate in comparison. Sports are a great way to ensure that encouraging self-confidence is embedded into your homeschool curriculum. Sports encourage self-confidence by allowing for self-exploration and a sense of achievement: “I want to throw a curve ball.” And that day at practice, they learn and use it to strike several out in the next game.

4. Social Skills

It is extremely important in the homeschool environment to ensure that your child has a chance to develop social skills and be around others their own age. Organized sports is a great way to teach skills such as: being kind to others, encouraging one another and healthy conversation. They will also get the chance to show graciousness and kindness to the opposing team.

5. Family Time

Last, but definitely not least, organized sports encourages family time! Whether helping out at practices, practicing at home, going to games, getting involved in fund raisers, or all of the above, your family will spend hours together doing something that your child is passionate about.

Whether planning, scheduling, budgeting, or buying your homeschool curriculum materials, don’t forget to fit sports into your schedule. Don’t know where to look? Try finding a Homeschool Athletics Association in your town, join a gym, or talk to the public schools in your area – some have openings on the team for homeschoolers.

Noah’s Ark

There are many ways you can incorporate clay into this story depending on age and time allotted for the lesson. Children can start by simply creating sculptures of their favorite animals on the ark or get as detailed as creating an entire diorama of the ship. A great way to make this fun for older students – have them construct a sculpture that shows the inside of the ship instead of just the outside – as if you were viewing it cut in half.

Ten Commandments

This is a great activity for young children beginning to learn the Bible. In the story, God gives Moses Ten Commandments and he appears at the top of Mount Sinai with a tablet in which he had carved them. As you teach this lesson and read this story with your children, have them create a tablet from clay and “carve” each commandment into it just as Moses had.

Clay Bowls

Clay bowls or vases are a great way for children to share their understanding of stories from the Bible. Take a ball of clay and slowly press out the center to create a bowl. Then paint images or a scene to tell the story they have just learned. You can also paint their favorite Bible verses on them as well. This idea is great around holidays and makes great gifts!

Jewelry

Use the clay to make beads and pendants shaped into Christian symbols or paint Christian symbols on them. Make a Ten Commandments necklace or a Garden of Eden necklace. Use the beads to tell a complete story for the holidays such as the Christmas Story: paint one bead with Mary and Joseph, then an image of the manger, then one of the 3 Wise Men, and one with the Northern Star and so on and so forth to make a bracelet or necklace.

Bible Story Telling

This idea can be an amazing way to see how each child interprets the story differently. Have each child create a scene from a chosen Bible story. Some examples might be: Nativity Scene, Tower of Babel, The Garden of Eden, or the Resurrection Story. You’ll see that they each have their own vision of the story. To make this a long term project, have them create one for many different stories and save them to create a visual Bible to share with others later.

Clay is just one way to get children involved in Bible stories – what kind of projects are you doing?