Getting Ready!

I am sure that all of you are getting ready for the new school year. I love this time of year with all of its hope and excitement...planning for our children's new educational adventures. We'll have a few of our own adventures, I am sure! :)

Previously, I utilized this blog to communicate with parents who enrolled children in my online classes. Honestly, it turned into a special announcements blog and I find it easier to send out an email for those purposes. So, I am returning it to a general information resource including ideas about writing, literature and more, much of which will be related to the courses I teach, although you won't need to be enrolled in my courses to benefit.

Watch for upcoming blogs that I hope will inspire, encourage and lead you as you homeschool your children. God's blessings on your upcoming school year!

In Him whom I place all trust,

Parent Notes - Week 30

A couple of notes for this week:

1.The 2011-12 calendar is up on the CBB website, should you need it for future planning.
2. High school students will finish up on May 18th, but High School Prep students will finish by May 13.

Have a wonderful week!

Parent Notes - Week 29

Hi there!

A few notes to consider for the upcoming weeks:

1. Students who began their courses last fall should be finished up by May 18th or 20th (depending on class date). Online students who started mid-year will be obviously continue working until their courses are complete.

2. My World Literature class has a couple of options related to year end books, so please speak to your students about those options. They were supposed to speak with you and have you email me last week. :)

3. In honor of Easter, no classes next week (April 20th or 22nd).

4. Some of my courses are filling up quickly for next year which means if you want to take a local course, the first eight to be full have priority. So, if you know you want your students in any of my courses and haven't registered yet, don't procrastinate on registration. You don't have to pay  in full until the first day of classes. I've never had this many students registered this early in the year. I'm anticipating a full schedule next school year.

Hope you have a very blessed Easter! We are putting on an Easter drama at my church, Stono Baptist (where we have local classes) on Good Friday at 7 pm. We would love to have you join us! I am personally one of the directors, in an interpretive movement portion and acting in a scene.

God bless your family as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior!

In His Name,

Parent Notes - Week 27

Hi there!

Not a lot to share this week. Everyone's doing great...the kids seemed to pick back up the pace and everyone is on target. I think they're encouraged about hitting the last quarter of class. :)

The new CBB website is now up if you need info for next year. The deadline for registering and receiving a half priced class is Wednesday, March 30th...tomorrow! You don't have to pay for the class by that date, but you do need to have your deposit check  post marked by that date or delivered to me via a student with your registration information emailed. Deposits are per student, not per class, so be sure to include any other classes on that registration as well as the half priced one.

One question came up: if you have more than one student currently in my classes, each student qualifies for a half priced class. However, you can't apply the discount to other students, if that makes sense. Just let me know if you have any other questions. 

I think that's all for this week. Hope your school year is moving along nicely!

In Christ,

Beth

Parent Notes - Week 26

Time continues to fly! I hope that you're all doing well this week. Not much to share, except don't forget that March 30th (next Wednesday) is your deadline for using that half price special only for current students! If you're mailing payment rather than sending it with your student, you'll need to make sure that your envelope is postmarked by the 30th. If you have any questions about this offer, just email me. Have a blessed week!

In Christ,

Beth

Parent Notes - Week 25

Hi there!
I can't believe that we're on week 25 for my full year students! It seems like school just flies the second half of the year. Please read the following carefully and let me know if you have any questions:

1. The deadline is drawing near for the half price course special - March 30th! If you missed the email or information about this offer, shoot me an email.
2. Some students are struggling at this point with getting work in on time. Please check with your student and make sure that he/she isn't lagging. It's the most challenging time of year for most students, so support from home is essential!
3. A couple of my students have requested an author focused literature course. They'd like to study Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. I'm considering adding this course, but treating it similar to a book club with a few writing assignments so we can really enjoy the the literature deeply. If you think your student would be interested, please let me know. Online students could participate through Skype.
4. Speaking of Skype, our trial program seems to be working well! So, I am feeling confident that next year, we'll be combining local and online students in courses when possible. It's so much nicer for the students to get to interact with one another and it makes my job much more enjoyable!
5. I am streamlining the online program and may make some changes to local programs, having learned so much from this year. I'll be sending out emails with the details, so please read those emails!
6. Please be praying as my son, John Paul, has been teaching me HTML and CSS language as well as Dreamweaver. I am completely designing the new CBB website and while it's great fun, it's a lot to learn! John Paul is an excellent teacher, but I am getting older. lol I'll let you know as soon as the new website is up. I am hoping that you'll find it easier to navigate and well organized!

If you are not currently on the CBB email list, simply send me an email with the words "Sign me up" in the subject line.

Have a blessed week!

Parent Notes - Week 22

Hi All!

First of all, I need to apologize. I didn't realize that my parent post never loaded last week! I just noticed it, so either no one is reading this or you're just too nice to say anything. :)

I appreciate everyone hanging in there. We're in that part of the year where two things usually happen: 1. Kids (and the teacher) get a little burned out and want to stop for the year. This is always the hardest quarter it seems. Please encourage your students to hang in there and keep working. I am having more assignments turned in late than ever. Grades were mostly excellent mid-year. I'd hate to see those change due to late work.

2. Moms want to plan for next year. I completely understand planning ahead, and I appreciate it, but if you email me about next year's classes and it takes me a day or two to get back to you, I'd appreciate some grace. I promise to get the information out there as soon as I can and to be as helpful as possible. However, I do have to keep my head in this year so your children continue to get the education they deserve.

Thoughts for the upcoming year:

1. My location most likely will not change.

2. The video interaction trial seems to be working with American Lit so I am definitely going to work out a way to offer this option next year for more courses. While it's still not quite the same, I feel students will benefit more from it than just online chat. I am also considering other possible online teaching options beyond the forum, but I will be keeping the forum as the main structure for online courses.

3. The website will be changing considerably, so if you have any problems with it, just let me know. New information will not be posted on it before March. I will send out a notice and post on this blog when updates begin to be added.

If you are not on my email list (I recently sent out an email listing course offerings for next year) and want to be, email me. It's the easiest way to keep up with my classes and options.

World History, World Lit and American Lit students are all starting new books soon, so please make sure that your student has what he or she needs.

As always, email me if you have any questions or concerns.

God bless!