Tim Tebow is The Man

If you're not a Gator fan, you may not know the full scoop on quarterback Tim Tebow. He's definitely a great example of an athlete using his position to glorify God. Here's an overview:

• Timothy "Tim" Tebow (born August 14, 1987) is a college football quarterback for the Florida Gators.
• Tebow was born in the Philippines to Bob and Pam Tebow, who were serving as Christian missionaries at the time.
• While pregnant, Pam suffered infection with a pathogenic amoeba, and an abortion was recommended by her doctors. She refused, instead relying on her faith.
• All of the 5 Tebow children were homeschooled by their mother, who worked to instill the family's deep Christian beliefs along the way.
• In 1996, legislation was passed in Florida allowing homeschooled students to compete in local high school sporting events. With the rest of his family living on a farm in Duval County, Tim and his mother moved into an apartment in nearby St. Johns County, making him eligible to play for the football team at Nease High School.
• Tebow was considered one of the nation's top recruits and received a scholarship to Florida.
• He was the first college football player to both rush and pass for 20 touchdowns in a season and was the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy.
• Tebow spent the last three summers before enrolling at the University of Florida in the Philippines, assisting with his father's orphanage and missionary work and now spends his Spring Breaks continuing the work there (including performing circumcisions!)
• His contribution in the 2006 college football season was as a key reserve that helped the Gators win college football's national championship game for the first time since 1996.
• Tebow was featured prominently in an ESPN "Outside The Lines" feature on homeschooled athletes seeking equal access to high school athletics in other states. He argued in favor of extending the right to play for local teams to more states.
• Tebow's example inspired equal access supporters in Alabama to name their bill in the Alabama Legislature "The Tim Tebow Bill". http://www.timtebowbill.com/
• He is very vocal about his faith and has stated he wants to use football as a platform to reach others with the Gospel message. He always bears a testimony to Jesus Christ and gratitude and praise to God when interviewed on national television. He started a recent trend of putting Bible verses on the black strips under his eyes.
• He says his list of priorities, in descending order of importance, is faith, family, academics and football.
• He's playing in the College Football National Championship this Thursday 1/8/09. (I'll be at the game!!!)

Respect

I'm teaching a class at our homeschool co-op again this year...my 4th grader insisted I teach one of his classes! (since I have taught for his older brother and sister in the past)

I needed to come up with some class rules to share the first day and the typical "raise your hand before talking" and "don't touch your neighbors belongings" just weren't cutting it, so I dug a little deeper.

Basically it seems like those rules all come down to respect:

re·spect

tr.v. re·spect·ed, re·spect·ing, re·spects

1. To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.

2. To avoid violation of or interference with.

3. Willingness to show consideration or appreciation.

So, I formulated our class rules using the KISS principle:

1. Respect God
2. Respect the Teacher
3. Respect Each Other

That pretty much covers anything that could happen in a classroom. For that matter, with a small tweak that covers everything in a home as well.

Now, the sticky point comes in the enforcement of the rules....

Homeschool Freedom

The big news right now in homeschooling circles is the California Appeals Court ruling that almost all forms of homeschooling in California are in violation of state law.

Find out more about it, then head over to HSLDA.org if you homeschool and become a member if you're not already.

Spotlight: Tim Tebow

This is rather indulgent of me, but as a University of Florida grad, I can't pass up the chance to give a nod to the winner of college football's most coveted award.

More important than his football prowess though is his potential to be a role model to young boys. In a day where most college players are sporting tattoos and mohawks to go with their prideful attitudes, it's good to see one that still says "yes mam" & "yes sir".

Tebow is the fifth and youngest child of parents Bob and Pam Tebow, both University of Florida alumni. Home-schooled, he was born in the Philippines, where his parents were missionaries, and grew up in Jacksonville. He spent three summers doing missionary work himself before attending Florida.

He says his list of priorities, in descending order of importance, is faith, family, academics and football.

Congrats, Tim!

University of Florida Spotlight: Tim Tebow

Forging Ahead: Apprenticeship

Here is a good article from the Home School Court Report on the HSLDA website. It touches on an issue I have been thinking about a lot with my oldest son being a high school sophomore: apprenticeship. Even though I have a "high tech" job and hope that they will attend college, I think it would be beneficial for my boys to be exposed to labor trades and gain some practical vocational experience as well.

This article gives some history about apprenticeships in our country, explains what a modern apprenticeship looks like, and gives some practical tips on how to assess if it is the right thing for your child and how to find one if so. It has a homeschool slant, but really could apply to any high schooler.

Forging Ahead: Apprenticeship

Familyman Ministries

We recently were given an RV by my folks and I am getting excited about the possibilities....especially as it relates to homeschooling. I made few Google searches and I stumbled on Todd Wilson's website. I was familiar with Todd's Family Man articles, but didn't know about the RV connection.

Anyway, his website is full of good stuff (not just RV related) "to remind dads of what's most important."

Check it out at:

Family Man Ministries

Graduation Ideas for Homeschooling Families

It's that time of year again. We are very fortunate to be involved in a homeschool group that offers graduation ceremonies for our seniors, but not all homeschoolers have such a ready option.

The HomeschoolDiploma.com website has collected several links to different articles to help you decide how your family will celebrate this important event:

HomeschoolDiploma.com Graduation Ideas

The Cultural Commission

The Cultural Commission is a non-profit, tax-deductible North Carolina based, Christian education resource for youth and adults. The Commission exists to serve homeschool families, Christian schools, teachers, "those in authority," churches and their youth groups.

Offerings include tutorials, family seminars, and lectures focused on Christian and opposing worldview studies, apologetics, speech, debate, logic, philosophy, great books of western history tutorials, journalism, Constitutional studies and America's Christian Heritage.

My oldest son attended a week long theater camp last summer and enjoyed it immensely.

Check out the website at: http://theculturalcommission.org/

Homeschool Graduation

One rite-of-passage that our culture does honor is high school graduation. But a homeschool graduation holds a place of special significance. Here are some impressions from such a ceremony as discovered on the web. It is sure to inspire and encourage.

http://www.chfweb.net/articles/week14.htm

"Halfway to Manhood" Ceremony

Here's an article describing one family's discovery of Raising a Modern Day Knight principles and a detailed description of the ceremony they held for their son's 9th birthday.

This article was found on homeschoolingBOYS.com.

http://familyclassroom.net/hsboys/articles/3.html

Grace and Truth Books

Grace and Truth Books looks to be one of the best online Christian book stores for books about character building for the whole family.

From their website:

"At Grace & Truth Books, our focus is: To bring the rich heritage of character-building books of past centuries to this generation of Christian families! And as you train your children, remember to nourish your own soul o­n the Word of God! For the great need of our children is godly parents whose own souls are well-fed and strong in the Lord. "

http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/