Mean Mothers

(found on the Internet long ago. Author unknown)Was your mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world!While other kids had candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, juice and toast.When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches.And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.Mother insisted on

Memory Work Suggestions

Most children have great memories, so it isn't as difficult as it seems with DAILY practice. Add a new verse for study each week.Chanting several times once a day. Keep chanting previous ones at least once a day until there are ten being chanted at a time, including the new verse.  Then remove from the list the verse most memorized (usually the first of the list of weekly chanted accumulated

Memorizing Help

BHAGAVAD GITA SLOKAS1. Choose key slokas for memory work2. Type and print in large print a chosen verse with its translation. Write in small letters the word-for-word translations underneath the printed Sanskrit words. 3.Post the verse on the fridge or somewhere for easy review, such as before meals. Work on one verse each week. Review all verses learned once a week.4. Punch holes in each

Sloka Suggestions

Here's 48 key Bhagavad gita slokas recommended by experienced Vaisnava teachers, plus other favorites:

CHAPTER ONE
MORE: 1.39-43

CHAPTER TWO
2.13, 2.14, 2.20
MORE: 2.12, 2.16,  2.40, 2.41, 2.59, 2.62, 2.63

CHAPTER THREE
3.9, 3.13
MORE: 3.4-8, 3.16-30, 3.31-32, 3.36-41, 3.42-43

CHAPTER FOUR
4.2, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.13, 4.34
MORE: 4.1, 4.3, 4.11, 4.15, 4.17-23, 4.36, 4.42

CHAPTER FIVE
5.18, 5.29

About This Blog

Mostly I am posting some 15 years collection of homeschooling notes. It was my original hope to gradually edit them for better readability, since they were posted quickly, but most likely that won't be happening, because currently- I'm too busy home schooling!

Yet, I'll try to continue to add new posts whenever I can, Krishna willing.

A dream of mine, and many devotees I'm sure, is to have

Bhagavad Gita Analogies

Here's a list of analogies from Prabhupada's Gita:
(this post is still under construction.)

BHAGAVAD GITA INTRODUCTION
1. physician :: directions for taking medicine; Krishna or guru :: Gita as it is
2. wife::husband; prakrti :: Lord
3. child :: automobile; ignorant person :: universe
4. gold :: goldmine; jiva :: Lord
5. drop :: ocean; jiva :: Lord
6. cloud :: rainy season or dry season;

Lessons From Nature

Srila Prabhupada said, “Simply by chanting, one can have self-realization, God realization, and when there is God realization, then nature realization is included also.“

It's recommended to pay attention to the many analogies and teachings from nature given by Srila Prabhupada and sastra. (More are appearing online since this writing: Click here) Some of these are listed below. Becoming familiar

Phonics List

After choosing a phonics course, it's a good idea to collect the most important or helpful rules and phonic spellings into a list for quick and easy reference. A sample list is given below. This may also provide an overview of what is being taught or what can be reinforced during reading practice or when correcting spelling errors. Many related printable worksheets may be found on the Internet

Devotional Service

Notes from "The Nectar of Devotion", Chapter 1 and other sources

PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE:
BRINGS IMMEDIATE RELIEF FROM ALL KINDS OF MATERIAL DISTRESS

Gives freedom from both good and bad karma
Repentance and atonement are not enough; Sinful desires can be removed from the root and their seeds fried, only by devotional service. Otherwise, one is forced to repeat sinful activities again and

Number Nectar

The following is good for memory work, illustrating or writing topics:

2 energies of Lord Krsna - material and spiritual
2 kinds of living entities- the divine and the demoniac
2 kinds of transcendentalists- the personalist and impersonalist
2 kinds of consciousness- conditioned and liberated
2 functions of the mind- accepting, rejecting (also hankering, lamenting)
2 powers of maya- to cover (

Loving Listening

This article applies to all loving relationships. (Taken from a page calledActive Listening)I. Why Important Listening is a vital part of effective communication and relationship. Without listening, for example, one cannot really love. Without listening, parents often find their children difficult to handle or discipline, and they feel surprised that the children turn out to be wayward. Listening

High School and Beyond

So a student has finished 8th grade, now what? That depends on the student, but until they have a clear idea what path they wish to follow, the following suggestions can give them continued structure and guidance:

SUGGESTIONS FOR A HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM adapted from the Elijah Company:
Reading (a book a week from an approved list and give an oral or written report);
Handwriting (copying from

Motivating Students

CREATE A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Collect books on various subjects, educational toys, art supplies, odds and ends for crafting, sewing supplies, tools, simple science equipment, etc,. Try to keep it neat and organized and accessible (except for items such as tools that need parental guidance).

INVITE PEERS
Whether they are on vacation or freetime, young visitors are great for doing art projects