courageousbeings-homeschool-blog

October 20, 2011

 

A NOTE FROM KAREN

Copyright 2011 Karen Kindrick Cox

 

I've been in California the last couple of weeks and without the Internet half the time.  My newsletter is late, but I've prepared a treat for you - A Virtual Experience at the Medieval Feast for the EPIC Adventure, Swords of Honor: A Knight's Crusade for Right! 

Find the link HERE to the virtual experience.  Read today's article describing the making of the Feast HERE.  The new blog of the Swords of Honor EPIC Adventure will be updated throughout the year, you will find the regular link to it on the Courageous Beings Homeschool Blog.

 

I had a wonderful time visiting with 5 daughters, my son, my father, my sister and her family.  I have to travel to the four corners of Southern California to see everyone now! 

Here is a typical scene as several family members prepare dinner for the crowd and break into a spontaneous songfest!

 

Making dinner - a spontaneous songfest!

Will took us on the set of Yo Gabba Gabba, where he is the assistant to the director.  We toured the studio, watched them film and the children met cast members.  Thanks for a fascinating time, Will!

Will's desk and work area.  Decorated, of course!

We got a late start driving back to Utah, and happened to come upon Las Vegas at the perfect time to stop and see Phantom of the Opera!   It's something we've talked about doing for three years! 

Phantom is housed permanently at a $46,000,000. theater at the Venetian, custom-built for the show.  It was so beautiful!  It felt like we were inside the Paris Opera house.  I wish I could have taken pictures!  We loved the show!

 

 Steve at the entrance to Phantom 

 

I wish I could hear about the homeschool adventures you are experiencing!

Until next week, I wish you success in all of your courageous endeavors!

  

 

October 7, 2011

 

A NOTE FROM KAREN

I feel like I've spent the week in a video editing studio!  As it is with presenting information to our children, video gives me another way to present thoughts and information to you, in as many modalities as are possible on a computer screen!

Today's article is Homeschool How-To: What Ignites Interest?  You can see it by clicking the link below the photo. 

 

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

I was excited to hear that Will's Leroy movie project won last week's Indiewire contest.  Here's the announcement:

Here's the Project of the Week Winner: "The Dangerous Adventures of Leroy Thomas!"  

by Bryce J. Renninger (September 28, 2011) 

Thanks to your votes, the parents-are-away fantasy short film, "The Dangerous Adventures of Leroy Thomas!," won this weekend's Project of the Week contest for last week!

Congratulations to "The Dangerous Adventures of Leroy Thomas!" director Will Kindrick. The filmmaker will receive a digital distribution consultation from SnagFilms and is now officially a candidate for Project of the Month. That winner will be awarded with a consultation from the Sundance Institute.

 

Another big even this week was my birthday!  I decided to take the day off and sew a Medieval dress!  You'll hear why soon!  Steve flew in just in time for a special dinner date he had planned.  He is so wonderful and romantic!

 

That's been my week!  I hope yours has been great!

If you enjoy the video, please share your thoughts in the comments section!    

Until next week, I wish you success in all of your courageous endeavors!

  

October 4, 2011

 

"Homeschool How-To 2 -

What Ignites Interest?"

 

Copyright 2011 Karen Kindrick Cox

By Karen Kindrick Cox

 

 

What triggers your children's interest?

How did your children come to the enthusiasm about the things they are already very interested in and how can you tap into that to invite them to passionate learning?  Let's find out!

The subject of today's "Homeschool How-To" is the EPIC Pattern of a Scholar Principle 1 - Exposure, What Ignites Interest?

Every single interest that your children give their attention to, first began by exposure.

 

 

Somehow they were introduced to those interests in a way that captured their imagination, riveted their attention  and appealed to their desire to know and experience more.

In a world of mass media your children are exposed to many conflicting ideas, beliefs, information and entertainment, created with million-dollar budgets and designed to hook your children in the first few seconds.

How to you compete?  How do you Expose your children to the important knowledge, skills, ideals and character that they need in life in a way that stirs their souls and sets them firmly on the path to success.

I love and agree with Monte Swan's description - we need to "out-romance the competition!"  In these "Homeschool How-To's" I will share with you many ways that you CAN do that!  But it begins with an understanding of Exposure.

The first function of your children's brains are to gather information.  This function carries on effortlessly and voraciously within the realm of their exposure.

There are two kinds of exposure - Experiences and Examples.

Experiences expose your children to information and

Examples expose your children to behavior.

Remember, if your children have interests, they were at some point exposed to them.  And perhaps their "vein of gold," the very thing their potential calls for, is lying dormant in the realm of things to which they have not yet been exposed!

You are the key factor to expose your children to the world of learning and the most vital and impact-ful things they need in life.

It is so important not to leave this Exposure to chance.

Imagine this scenario:

You children come running into the house one afternoon and call, "Mom, what's for dinner?"

You call back, "Just go look around in the refrigerator and see what you can find!"

 

This approach to dinner and education may offer some novelty, but for long-term educational and character nourishment it is a starvation menu.

Now imagine, once again, your children run into the house calling, "Mom, what's for dinner?"

With excitement, you invite your child into the dining room, where there is a magnificent feast.  A beautifully set table, with a huge sampling, of a wide variety of possible choices.

 

They come over to the table wide-eyed and look over every luscious morsel.  They nibble, test and feast.

You are the most important factor to whether your children get a homeschool starvation menu or a feast.

Give them an education smorgasbord, packaged in the most inviting, and impact-ful setting - 

 

one that will stir their emotions, ignite their interest and romance their hearts.

For the fastest track to this kind of exposure, I invite you to CourageousBeings.com, where you can choose year-long, fully integrated EPIC Learning Adventures and give your children, young or old, an educational feast that will nourish them the rest of their lives!

 

September 27, 2011

 

A NOTE FROM KAREN

 

Another week gone by!  I've been so busy, during the past week, with Courageous Beings and Leaves of Time!  

I came up for air to look at fence possibilities with Steve, and go to the Dressing Your Truth Club Night with Veronica and Jeanne!

 

Unfortunately, I completely forgot to take pictures.

 

Brittany and I had a special date Saturday night.  We met for dinner and an inspiring Women's Broadcast.

 

 

I have something different for you today - a video!  Click the photo below to watch it here on the blog.

 

 

Share your thoughts, if you like, in the comments section.

 

Until next week, I wish you success in all of your courageous endeavors!

 

September 27, 2011

 

"Homeschool How-To 1:

Emotions and the Brain"

Copyright 2011 Karen Kindrick Cox

By Karen Kindrick Cox

 

 

Sometimes we want to get our children straight into the cerebral cortex, to open the books and turn on the deep thinking right away.  But it doesn’t start there.  

 

I’m Karen Kindrick Cox of Courageous Beings.  This is one in a series of videos dedicated to creating an extraordinary learning environment for your children – one that will foster an invitation to learning that your children cannot resist.

 

The subject of today’s “Homeschool How-To” is Emotions and the Brain.

 

The brain research has revealed there is a complex series of events that happen before the cerebral cortex can finally begin its work.  And this is where emotion comes in.

 

You may be wondering what emotion has to do with the brain and learning.  When we examine the conclusions of modern brain research, we discover that emotion is infused in  your child’s brain functions.

This picture shows the corpus callosum connecting the right and left brain.  On top of the corpus callosum is something called the cingulate gyrus. 

 

It’s job is to review all the incoming sensory information and decide whether it has emotional relevance, from your child’s point of view.

 

In a split second it searches for and analyzes memories and coordinates it with other similar situations and information.  Then and only then is it sent to the prefrontal cortex which decides what to do with it from there.

 

Emotions have played a massive part in the learning process of even the most scholarly, left-brain thinkers.

 

As the sensory input enters your child’s awareness, the first thing that happens is that the emotions filter that information and make a decision on what your child’s brain will pay attention to and what it will store in the long term memory.   This is a crucial key to igniting your child’s interest and helping them to get into their thinking brain with the passion to move them forward in powerful learning.

 

“Emotion drives attention, and attention drives learning, memory, problem solving, and just about everything else.”  Robert Sylwester

 

Emotions truly are "the gatekeeper" to learning and performance. (Susan Kovalik)

 

In our other “Homeschool How-To’s” we will discuss the many facets of how to utilize that powerful emotional filter in your children’s learning experiences.

 

I’ll see you in the next “Homeschool How -To!”

 

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

 

WANT TO PUBLISH THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR WEBSITE OR EZINE?

No problem!  You are welcome to publish this article as long as it is left in its entirety and here is what you MUST include:

Karen Kindrick Cox, creator of the EPIC Pattern of a Scholar TM, has presented Heart-Firing, Brain-Firing how-to's to homeschool mothers, since 1989.  She currently runs the online EPIC Adventure Academy and offers workshops and materials to help homeschool mothers ignite passionate learning and heroic living, visit www.courageousbeings.com.

 

September 23, 2011

 

A NOTE FROM KAREN

 

A lot has happened at home during this past week!

A while back, I shared with you that we had to have piers put under the front of our house and have it lifted.  This process completely disrupted our beautiful yard.

 

This week our front yard is beautiful again!  And beyond merely replacing the lawn, we actually planted the beautiful Climbing Cecile Brunner Roses by the front door, as they were in our "Snow White's Cottage" in Claremont.  (See photo below)

 

 

We planted Wisteria and lavender and two happy little catmint plants at the walk to the front door.  We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of four pink Duet rose bushes (a particular favorite rose that I've grown in previous homes since the early 1980's - see photo above).  The rest of the roses, and the annual jasmine, must wait until spring.  In addition, I was delighted to discover that I can grow something that I never could in California - a dogwood tree!  We now have a pink flowering dogwood in the front yard as well!

Today's article shares some food for thought about "What is Vital?  What is Not?" in your homeschools and in your life with your children.  Do the little exercise.  Share your thoughts, if you like, in the comments section of the article on the blog. 

I continue my work on some exciting new homeschool resources for you.  I'm always excited to hear about your experiences in your EPIC Adventures!

Until next week, I wish you success in all of your courageous endeavors!

September 20, 2011

 

"What is Vital? What is Not?"

Copyright 2011 Karen Kindrick Cox

By Karen Kindrick Cox

 

What if you had only one year left with your children?

 

One year -

To prepare them

To build relationships

To build skills and understanding

To build strength and confidence

To create deep-flowing and meaningful memories

To stir their hearts and inspire vision and high ideals

To give them all they need to be successful throughout their lives

 

Would you make any changes in how you conduct you life and your homeschool today?

What would you do the same?

What would you differently?

What would you do with that time?

 

I always looked at my time with my children with a deep reverence for the fleeting preciousness of my moments with them.  No day was ordinary.  No day was throwaway time.  Rather, each day was an essential stroke in the big picture.

 

One year.

 

How would looking at your time with your children from that perspective affect the choices you make today and each day?

Would you play more, laugh more, dream more, share the depths of your heart more?

Would you make absolutely sure that you inspire and instill lofty ideals and convictions?

Would you create unforgettable memories?

Would you take the time to look in their eyes and truly listen?

Would you hand them a text book or be engaged together in the magnificent Adventure of learning?

Would you look at anything in life the same way?

 

One year.

 

What would be vital?  What would not?

 

 

Do this simple exercise:

 

Take a fresh sheet of paper and fold it down the middle vertically.

Label the left column "ONE YEAR"

Look at your daily life with one-year eyes.

List the most important, uncompromising, must do pursuits.

List the vital things in your children's spritual, physical, mental and emotional/relational education.

What are your heart-pounding, vital things?

What are the fluff items that would not matter from this perspective?

 

 

Label the right column "TODAY"

Look at your daily life from your right-now, day-to-day perspective.

List the pursuits that are happening today.

List a common day's schedule - the activities that take up your day and time, even minute by minute.

 

 

Now, compare the two lists.

Do they mesh?

Are they the same?

Are they different?

 

The choice is yours.

 

Each family has urgent, unexpected things pop into daily life at times, but ultimately, for the vast majority of the time, you DO make the choices that write the story of your lives, moment by moment.

 

Do you create your life and home school by default or by purpose?

What matters to you most?

 

 

Does your conviction have the power to override the common and create the extraordinary?

Do you have a clear vision?

Is your conviction strong enough to move forward through trials, distractions, squabbles, and setnbacks -- undaunted?

 

What is vital?

What is not?

Do you have the courage to let go of the fluff and choose the vital, each day?

 

Today is the first day of another year with your children.

Live it like your last.

Live it well.

 

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

 

WANT TO PUBLISH THIS ARTICLE ON YOUR WEBSITE OR EZINE?

No problem!  You are welcome to publish this article as long as it is left in its entirety and here is what you MUST include:

Karen Kindrick Cox, creator of the EPIC Pattern of a Scholar TM, has presented Heart-Firing, Brain-Firing how-to's to homeschool mothers, since 1989.  She currently runs the online EPIC Adventure Academy and offers workshops and materials to help homeschool mothers ignite passionate learning and heroic living, visit www.courageousbeings.com.

 

September 16, 2011

 

A NOTE FROM KAREN

 

What a busy and eventful week it has been.  Aside from my work on Courageous Beings, Leaves of Time and Heart of a Heroine, we moved our daughter Veronica's family this week, helped at the cannery, went to a wedding and squeezed another couple of hours in on the boat.  I can feel a slight hint of cooler weather to come, so we are soaking in the last beauties of summer, before lovely fall arrives!

 

An inlet on Utah Lake.

 

 

Boating with daughter, Brittany's family.

 

Steve tok this picture of me adjusting my "Type 2" canning outfit! ;)  

We prepared peaches!  It was hard to resist!

 

I'm excited that our front yard is being restored, after lifting the front of our house.  As for the backyard, we discovered another snake!  Although I'm not all fond of snakes, I'm relieved that so far none of them have been rattlers.  We shared many an encounter with rattlesnakes at our Claremont home, when the kids were growing up.

I helped Brittany prepare her room for the first day of their EPIC Adventure -- very fun!  I heard from Sadie's children last week, excited to share about the first day of their Adventure.  I'm heading to California in a couple of weeks for the official opening evening of their EPIC Adventure, and will unveil what it is at that time!

This week's Homeschool Mother's Journal is one day's research notes, back in 1995.  In it I list some ideas to apply what your children are learning to real life.  As I explain at the end of the article, my heart has been pondering the blessing having Will's life spared, and reflecting back to our times together in homeschool.  The pictures that accompany today's journal entry serve both as memories and as illustrations of how to apply learning to real life. 

Until next week, I wish you success in all of your courageous endeavors!

 

September 13, 2011

 

"A Homeschool Mother's Journal 13 -

How to Apply Learning to Real Life"

Copyright 2011 Karen Kindrick Cox

By Karen Kindrick Cox

A JOURNAL ENTRY, my Research Notes, 1995

 

[Post note to journal entry - I was so surprised to discover this list created years before I had articulated the EPIC Pattern of a Scholar!  What a valuable commodity a written record becomes, when years later I can peek into my thoughts and musings and discover my own journey to understanding.]

"When I teach any lesson, whether it is with my children or with others, I can look at the topic and look for the connection that can be made to the student's lives."

"What is the reason why what they are learning is important to them?"

"What can they do with it and how?"

"Can I find examples that immerse them in the feeling of the subject, that help them identify with it?"

 

(The precursor to my EPIC Pattern - EPIC titles in parentheses, added today)

(EXPOSURE)

"Finding out - information and skills

Collect information.  

Have the children:

• Take notes during research of reference books of all sorts and formulate questions
• Send for information, write business letters
• Make a list of possible resources - people, books, etc."

 

Adventure Mindmap for our EPIC Adventure - "Magical Masters of the Silver Screen."  

Logo designed by Sadie Kindrick

 

 

Our "Set Design" for the EPIC Adventure - Kindrick School Room

 

 

(PATTERNS)

"Discovery

Create the setting for children to:

• Recognize patterns and connections
• Organize information
• Discover how to observe - research own personal learning habits - be part of own personal process
• Record information from own perspective - YOU are the Being-There experience!"

 

(INQUIRY)

"Inquiry Work

Provide the opportunities for children to work with the information:

• Measure
• Question
• Calculate
• Categorize
• Organize
• Experiment with information
• Work with information until understanding occurs
• Develop skills associated with the use of information
• Discover and develop what skills and talents they have"

 

 

Ashley, Sadie and Will listen and interview Ron Carter, late author of the Revolutionary War series, Prelude to Glory.

He explained his research and writing process.

 

(CONTRIBUTION)

"Sharing

Help children to see how they can use their knowledge in their life:

• Consider what you can do with what you know
• How can you make a difference?
• How can you lift others?
• How can you serve and make the world a better place with what you know and have discovered?
• Share who you are
• Expression - writing to express and articulate your understanding and your message
• Service"

 

 

Will is now the assistant to the director of the children's TV Show, Yo Gabba, Gabba, and now writes his own screen plays.  He has expanded the screen play of his second large film project, "The Dangerous Adventures of Leroy Thomas" to be a feature film.

Click on image to see video trailer.

 

AFTERWORD:

Will had a tremendous interest in creating his own movies. 

At the time of our Silver Screen EPIC Adventure he had already created his LAZER BOY series.  I built this EPIC Adventure to expand upon that interest.

You can create...

• A fully integrated EPIC Adventure on any subject
• APPLY what they learn to real life
• Provide the EPIC Pattern of a Scholar

...and pave the way to your children's dreams.

P.S.  The additional thoughts to this Homeschool Mother's Journal spring from my reflections and deep gratitude that Will's life was spared in a terrible accident last Friday.

In a split second sequence triggered by a quick stop of the car in front of him, as he headed to work on the busy California 605 freeway, his car spun across the lanes and was hit by a semi.  His car was totaled, but he walked away with a couple of bruises.  

We are sooooooo very grateful.  We love you, Will!!

Enjoy the precious moments with your children!

 

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

 

WANT TO PUBLISH THIS ARTICLE ON

YOUR WEBSITE OR EZINE?

 

No problem!  You are welcome to publish this article as long as it is left in its entirety and here is what you MUST include:

 

Karen Kindrick Cox, creator of the EPIC Pattern of a Scholar TM, has presented Heart-Firing, Brain-Firing how-to's to homeschool mothers, since 1989.  She currently runs the online EPIC Adventure Academy and offers workshops and materials to help homeschool mothers ignite passionate learning and heroic living, visit www.courageousbeings.com.

 

August 31, 2011

 

A NOTE FROM KAREN

I have two exciting things to share with you this week. 

1.  BIG CHANGES, BIG SALE!!

 

4-day Big Change Sale on EPIC Adventures - $97.  

 

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS 

 

You may have noticed changes in my logos, colors, and heard about changes coming.  The Academy has been revamped to meet the needs of previous members, and hold a new section where you may now download the Adventure only.   But for four days, through September 2, 2011 you may purchase an EPIC Adventure for $97.  

 

DON'T MISS this opportunity to try an EPIC Adventure homeschool curriculum, with your family, at a great savings!   

 

Discover the powerful impact of an EPIC Adventure homeschool curriculum, at an extremely low investment!   

 

Order HERE the EPIC Adventure of your choice for $97.

 

 

2.  DRESSING YOUR TRUTH

Many times in our growing up year's my sister heard the words, "Listen to this!"  In all my reading, I was always discovering new things, great quotes, new insights that, in my excitement, I wanted to share with her. 

This week I extend that excitement to you and hope you enjoy something that I discovered recently that has made a profound impact in my life.  Carol Tuttle's DRESSING YOUR TRUTH!

 

Carol Tuttle at the Celebrate Your Beauty Event

 

In this week's article I place myself vulnerable before you, as I share my personal story on this subject, and explain what made the difference -

...in my understanding of the energy in which I move through daily life

 

...in how I see, understand and have even greater appreciation for my children, husband and others

 

...in how I dress to reflect my nature and particular type of beauty

 

...and how all this affects the teaching of children! 

 

The heart of every woman longs for beauty, in fact, (in the words of John Elderedge) "longs to BE the beauty,"  YOU are beautiful!  If you do not feel that you're inner nature and outer appearance are congruent and lifting to yourself and others, if you are not feeling beautiful, then you are like millions of other women, including me. 

 

But four months ago I discovered a whole new way of looking at my own beauty and how to convey it in a way that is true to my nature.

 

Me with two of my new friends - at the Celebrate Your Beauty Event

 

If you want to be your own beauty expert, dress to match your nature and have a whole new perspective and understanding of how you and the others in your life tick, AND if you are wondering how this relates to teaching your children, then read the article, "What does Dressing Your Truth have to do with homeschooling?"  Click the link below to learn more!

 

DRESSING YOUR TRUTH   

I hope you enjoy my sharing something new with you!

Until next week, I wish you success in all of your courageous endeavors!