Support CHEK in 2013 with a Year-End Contribution #homeschool

CHEK 2012

• Increased contacts from new homeschoolers in 2012
• Increased contacts from DPPs in 2012
• Increased co-op support and information distribution in 2012
• The UN CRPD Treaty in 2012
• Common Core in 2012
• Increase in parental rights issues in 2012
• Leadership Summit
• Annual Conference
• Membership Drive

 Thank you to CHEK Members for making 2012 a success!

What will our CHEK 2013 look like?  Only YOU can say!

Please consider support CHEK with a year-end contribution today.  

 Make a DONATION.

And if you're not already a member, it's a great time to join!

Become a MEMBER.

Learn more about CHEK here.

Merry Christmas from CHEK

Merry Christmas from Christian Home Educators of Kentucky

The Christmas Story Narrative 

*compiled from Matthew and Luke

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

The Visitation of Mary
Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming in, he said to Mary, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you."
But Mary was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.”
And Mary said, "Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

The Visitation of Joseph
Joseph, her betrothed, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace Mary, planned to send her away secretly.
But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US."
And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth.


The Trek to Bethlehem
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was married to him, and was with child.
While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And Joseph called His name, Jesus.

The Visitation of the Shepherds
In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement that had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things that were told them by the shepherds.
The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

The Magi from the East
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'"
Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."
After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

God Bless Your Christmas Season,

Christian Home Educators of Kentucky

(*source:  http://wrytre.hubpages.com/hub/The-Christmas-Story-in-Narrative)

10 Steps to Getting Started in Homeschooling in Kentucky

If you are considering homeschooling, there are some steps to take that will help ensure a successful start to your schooling!  (These "steps" are in no particular order.)

Step One: Join CHEK.  For the low cost of $25, you become a member of Kentucky's state-wide homeschooling advocacy group.  Since 1990, CHEK has been on the front-line defending homeschooling freedoms in Kentucky.  There is also a yearly homeschooling conference and a Leadership Summit.  CHEK works directly with your local support groups, too!

Step Two: Find a local support group.  You do not have to "go it alone" in homeschooling.  Find a support group and join with like-minded educators for field trips, co-ops, and more.

Step Three: Join HSLDA.  CHEK Members get a special discount so be sure and email CHEK for the information you need!  HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Through annual memberships, HSLDA is tens of thousands of families united in service together, providing a strong voice when and where needed.

Step Four: Know the law in Kentucky.  Read all about that HERE.

Step Five:   What is involved in homeschooling your particular level? Early Years, through High School!

Step Six :  Research and choose your curriculum. Make plans to attend the annual conference to hear the speakers and see the curriculum, too!

Step Seven:  Set up schedules and structure.  Everyone is different, and by plugging in to your available support group, you will receive lots of advice and lots of suggestions on what might work.  Find what works for your family and is compatible with the law of Kentucky, and get organized! 

Step Eight: Record Keeping.  Following are links with resources you might find helpful!
http://www.donnayoung.org/forms/planners/hs-transcript.htm
http://www.hslda.org/highschool/academics.asp
http://www.hsncommunity.com/pg/blog/hsnation/read/6877/free-transcript-downloads

Step Nine:  Keep your focus!  When you are tired, unsure of yourself, or being haggled by uninformed family and friends, remember to keep the reasons for homeschooling before you. Learn to let go of unrealistic expectations.  Homeschooling is a wonderful opportunity to build relationship with your children, help them fully develop their talents and gifts, and be a positive influence in our culture. 

Step Ten:  Keep your marriage healthy while you you homeschool!

Remember, You Can Do It! and CHEK is here to help!  

Additional helpful resources:
Leaving Public School?  
How to Homeschool  
Homeschooling Special Needs  
Homeschooling Gifted Children
 

Review: Restoring America's Biblical Foundations #Pilgrim_Inst

Restoring America's Biblical Foundations from Bobbie Young on Vimeo.

If you are concerned about the direction our Nation has been taking and you are interested in a way to do your part to stem the tide of growing secularism, you will want to obtain the DVD curriculum, Restoring America's Biblical Foundations from Pilgrim Institute.

Included in the multi-DVD series are 11 video seminars from Master Teachers in the Principle Approach and America's Christian History.

• Mrs. Jeanette Whittaker provides an opening session and the supplement, Teaching a Literary Classic
• Mrs. Ruth Smith teaches A Biblical View of Government in two parts and The Providential View of History in two parts.
• Mr. James Rose teaches Principles of America's Christian History and Government in two parts and Hope for Our Nation in two parts.
• Mrs. Lynn Meier provides the educational supplement Teaching the Mighty Works of God. (This is the children's history series written by Mrs. Ruth Smith of Pilgrim Institute. I have previously reviewed this series HERE and Marcy has reviewed it HERE.)

The quality of the content in these DVD Seminars is powerful. The Master Teachers (Mrs. Smith and Mr. Rose) make history interesting and applicable as they relate it from a Providential perspective, demonstrating God's care and superintendence in the westward movement of the Gospel to our American Christian founding.

Throughout the study, we pondered questions such as,

• "Is there a connection between the Word of God and the Nation in which we live?"
• "Why is conscience the most sacred of all property?"
• "On what basis do nations rise and fall?"

These and many, many other questions were Researched, Reasoned, Related and Recorded (4R) by way of a scripted Leader's Guide and Student Guide.

Even a Principle Approach "novice" could use this well-formated material. Both Leader's Guide and Student Guide are beautifully laid out with full-color cover. The real treasure is on the inside! Each lesson includes:

• A Leading Idea
• Leader Preparation
• Group Meeting questions
• Snap-shot graphics of slides shown in the DVD seminar
• DVD notes
• Reflection & Reasoning Questions
• Leader's Guide contains possible answers (very helpful)

Each complete kit contains the 11-part DVD series on 3 DVD's, a Leader's Guide and a Student Guide in a clamshell keep-sake case. Price is $95 from Pilgrim Insitute.



(This review is also posted at A Cherished Keeper by Lucy Pope.)

Studying Pearl Harbor Day in Your #Homeschool

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor

If you would like to study Pearl Harbor in your homeschool, here are some great resources to get you started!

Brief Overview with a List of Library Books to Look For

The Homeschool Mom has put together a great collection of links HERE.

Crosswalk.com has this excellent article with movie recommendations and more.

Currclick has this fantastic mini-study for just 25 cents! HERE.

An entire World War 2 Study can be found from The Eclectic Homeschooler HERE.

And the Wiki page is HERE.

We'd love to hear what you do to recognize Pearl Harbor Day in your homeschool. What resources do you love?  Leave a comment below!

Senate to Revote on UN Treaty after January 1, 2013

This recent victory was only a warm-up for preparing us to defeat the UNCRC. After the new Senators are sworn-in during January, the battle will be even more difficult. CHEK will be standing for parental rights in Kentucky. Will you stand strong with us?  Help CHEK spread the word!

~And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ~ Galatians 6:9

******************************************************************************

From the Desk of Michael P. Farris
>
>
> Senate to Revote on UN Treaty after January 1
>
>
> Mike Farris is founder and chairman of HSLDA and an expert in international law. Read more >>
> Dear HSLDA Members:
>
> I am so grateful for your efforts over the past few weeks as you stood up for parental rights and against the United Nations dictating care for disabled people. Your calls, emails, and personal visits made the difference in defeating the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
>
> As we and many others said, this UN treaty was never about protecting the disabled: our nation’s laws already provide the greatest protection for these precious people, and our nation’s great example should be held up as a model for the rest of the world. Rather, this UN treaty was all about who should make crucial decisions for people with disabilities: their parents and caregivers, or UN bureaucrats? This UN treaty was all about who should make laws and policy for American citizens: our elected leaders, or unaccountable UN bureaucrats?
>
> You answered the call, and provided the crucial support which made the Senate listen to our message as we lobbied on Capitol Hill: Parents, not UN bureaucrats, should decide how to care for their disabled children. America should make the laws for Americans.
>
> Defeating the CRPD yesterday was a great victory. We won the battle, but not the war. Senate leadership has already announced they will bring the CRPD back up for a vote in the next Congress. We know that the Obama administration is pushing for more UN treaties, chief of which is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
>
> Will you stand with us as we stand against the UN taking away parental rights? The internationalists are promising to come back with a vengeance. They are determined to ratify this treaty and others.
>
>
> We can and must fight back. We need to educate the American public that these UN treaties will place American policy and our families under the control of the United Nations. We will have to conduct a massive public relations educational campaign about American sovereignty and the severe negative impact these UN treaties will have on our liberty.
>
> While we were able to persuade 38 senators to stand with us in opposition to the CRPD yesterday, those 38 Senators are going to face an incredible amount of heat because of their stand. We must commit to even greater measures and efforts in order to gain victory in upcoming battles in the next few months.
>
> We only have a few short weeks to prepare for the treaty being re-introduced and we need your help! Please give sacrificially today to our Homeschool Freedom Fund to halt this pro-UN surge.
>
> I need your help right now. Your non-tax-deductible donation will allow us to get the message out about the dangers of the CRPD and other UN treaties. More importantly, it will help preserve your God-given freedom to direct the education and upbringing of your children.
>
> For Liberty,
>
> Michael P. Farris, Esq., LL.M.
> Chairman, HSLDA

Are UN Treaties Really Binding in the US? What's the Big Deal?

Concerned CHEK Member asks, "I'm catching a lot of flack from friends for saying I'm against the UNCRPD and one said that it is non-binding and does not affect US law. Can anyone  clarify this a bit?

Obedience to God As Our Primary Reason for Homeschooling

Picture Source: Parentalrights.org

Has your decision to homeschool your children ever left you feeling tired, overwhelmed or stressed out? As a student who was homeschooled (my family began homeschooling in 1978), I have learned a few things and over the years about how to avoid burnout in your homeschool.

One of the most common reasons for weariness and frustration among homeschooling parents is the weight of self-inflicted deadlines and standards. It is good, of course, to have goals in mind, but we must always ask ourselves: "Am I seeking to do the Lord's will, or am I merely pursuing my own agenda?"

As Christian families, we need to view homeschooling not as a glorious end, in and of itself, but rather as a means to an end. The main goal is to raise children who love the Lord, and are committed to following Christ. It is not to produce robots that can recite random facts and data at the drop of a hat.

What a child knows is really insignificant compared to what he or she believes. We must move beyond facts to convictions. It is vital that our children know: 
1. What they believe. 
2. Why their beliefs are true. 
3. How to articulate their beliefs.
4. How to live their beliefs consistently.

Getting the right answers on a test is meaningless unless a child knows how to apply those truths to everyday life. Non-applicable knowledge is worthless. As parents, we want our children to excel academically, and homeschoolers usually do. Our main motivation for homeschooling, however, should not be academic prowess. Instead, we should "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these (including academic) things will be added to us." (Matt. 6:33)

UN CRPD Treaty DEFEATED! Now Is The Time To Get Involved!

Thank you to all who called, emailed, and prayed! We can celebrate today that the CRPD has failed. But, the fight has just begun!

These types of attacks on our liberties have just gotten started. In Kentucky, it is easy to believe we are secure in our freedom to homeschool. We cannot afford to be that complacent.

Mark your calendars now for the Leadership Summit, February 2, 2013. 

Get involved. Join CHEK today!

UNCRPD Vote set for Tuesday, December 4 Call Today!

The U.S. Senate has scheduled a vote for Tuesday, December 4 on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). If two-thirds of the senators present vote yes, the United States will ratify this treaty, giving the UN unprecedented power over our parents and our nation.

Contact your two U.S. senators and urge them to vote "no" on this UN treaty.   You can reach your senators through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121, or click here for more details and contact information.

 For further information on this Treaty, please visit HSLDA's dedicated page, HERE.

Please share this information with your family and friends, and continue to call and most importantly, continue to pray for our Nation!

Thank you,
Christian Home Educators of Kentucky (CHEK)

Homeschooling in Kentucky, November Wrap-up

Around the Nation:
This week has been all about the United Nations Disability Treaty.  If you've not been a part of this conversation and aren't sure what all the "fuss" is about, be sure and read the article from Homeschool Legal Defense HERE.  Also, you can print out this Fact Sheet to educate your family HERE.


Around the Commonwealth:
Kentucky is a great place to homeschool, no doubt about it.  But much of the ease at which we homeschool in the Commonwealth is due to the behind-the-scenes work done at the local level by the many support group leaders throughout the state.  Working with CHEK, these support group leaders are the first line of defense against unwarranted intrusion into the home and homeschool.  Find a support group leader where you live HERE.   If you're not already a member of CHEK, please consider joining CHEK today and partner with us in keeping homeschooling free in Kentucky!  Join HERE. Your membership with CHEK qualifies you for the HSLDA discount, too!

To view the state of  homeschooling in the Commonwealth, visit the HSLDA Kentucky page HERE.

Additional Helpful Resources:

Best Practice Document
Driver's License No Pass No Drive Document
Recommended Reading

CHEK isn't just the annual homeschool conference.  The purpose of CHEK is:

1. To provide Kentucky Christian home educators and Christian home education support groups with a central source of information, Christian fellowship and cooperation.
2. To promote the Biblical mandate as expressed in Deut. 6: 4 -10, Prov. 22:6, Eph. 6:4 and other scripture that parents are to train their children in the nurture and admonition of our Lord.
3. To preserve parental freedom of choice in education and right of conscience as recognized and  guaranteed by the Ky. Constitution, Section 5 of the Bill of Rights.
4. To provide home educators and the general public with information about the Biblical, academic, and legal aspects of home education and training.
5. To provide a common ground for families educating their children at home as a matter of Christian conviction, and the ability to communicate effectively with officials from the Dept. of Education and others.

Help keep homeschooling free in Kentucky, partner with CHEK today!