Free Funnix Reading Program!

I know I know, I may be posting this a bit too late already, since January is almost over! But I've been quite the busy bee lately (will blog about that later on). Anyway, for those of you who want to avail of this great free Funnix Reading Program, feel free to go to http://funnix.com/ and follow the instructions there!

I am still trying to download it now, hopefully it will work soon! But I'll be using the troubleshooting/help page in case it doesn't. So what are YOU waiting for? Go to Funnix's page now and get your own copy of the program!

Below is a little bit of information about the Program, taken from the website:

During the month of January, the Funnix Reading Program will be FREE--no strings, no hidden costs. The Funnix sequence teaches 2 years worth of reading skills and is regularly priced at $249. 

The program is designed by the world's most successful creator of instructional materials, Siegfried (Zig) Engelmann, a maverick professor of Education who has authored many books, including Give Your Child a Superior Mind, and highly successful reading programs like Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. 

Engelmann says of Funnix,"Teaching the lessons requires a lot less effort, and the lessons are more entertaining. Also, the program consists of 220 daily lessons, so it takes kids farther than most beginning-reading programs-- from being non readers to reading on the third-grade level." 

The free version of Funnix is electronic. You download the entire package of 220 lessons and other material onto your computer, and you have everything you need to teach the program. The steps of what you do and how you do it are spelled out in Teacher’s Guide, which you review before presenting the program. Workbook and textbook activities accompany the lessons. You print these. 

When you teach Funnix, you and you child sit next to each other and watch the computer screen. A narrator presents a series fast-paced exercises in each 30-minute lesson. The narrator asks questions, and your child responds--out loud. Your job is to reinforce correct responses and correct any mistakes by following simple rules for "navigating" through the material. 

Lessons from 2010 and Resolutions for 2011

It is 2011 already! 7 days into the New Year (it's our anniversary today! Woohoo!), I want to share the lessons we learned from 2010, and our homeschooling resolutions for 2011. I want to be more "accountable" and have positive pressure from you, my dear readers. :) So feel free to comment below, and share your own lessons learned and resolutions too! :)

Lessons Learned From 2010

1. Homeschooling is NOT easy. But we believe that it is God's calling for our family. And when God calls, He also supplies. His grace is sufficient for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2. There is nothing wrong with unschooling. Especially when your child is only turning 4 years old. Kids will have to deal with so much when they get older, and they deserve all the time to play, laugh, sing, dance, be read aloud to, discover, explore, etc, etc while they are still young.

3. Support of family, friends and other homeschoolers is essential for every homeschooling family. I am grateful to many who have been sources of encouragement, information and guidance especially since we arrived in the Philippines. Special mention goes to Teacher Mamas Josette, Michelle, Blessie, Monica, Jennie, Martine and Chame. I thank God for you! And my parents who are totally supportive of our homeschooling/unschooling!

4. It is okay to shift from one homeschool provider to another, or to have different resources from different providers, or to have no provider at all and just get your resources from the internet. What is important is what works for your child, and that everything is wrapped up in prayer and planned for well. (Must remind myself about this once we decide on which homeschool program/curriculum to use!)

5. Do not underestimate your children. Hubby and I have not been formally homeschooling our preschooler, but he learned to write his name (TIM) without our directly teaching him to do so, amongst many other things. A lot of times, people ask what school he goes to, and he proudly answers "homeschool!" 

6. The 4Rs of homepreschooling, as described by Susan Lemons, is a great way to assess one's "progress." Focusing on relationships, routine, readiness and reading aloud to (our kids) are one of the best ways to homeschool your preschooler.

And now for our Resolutions for 2011, which boil down mostly to three:

1. We will be more active in discerning for what homeschool program/curriculum to use for Timothy (and Therese). We will do more research, ask more homeschooling parents for inputs, attend more orientations and be MORE OPEN to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

2. We will offer all our homeschooling plans to the Lord through Mama Mary's (and our patron saints') intercession. We will continue to enforce the 4Rs and remove all the negative attitudes and bad habits to make way for God's will to be more clear and homeschooling to be more efficient! (Away from me, procrastination and poor planning skills, in Jesus' name be gone! ;-)

3. We will be Catholic in all we do - not just in our homeschooling, but in EVERY thing. We will strive to be the best Catholics that we can be, and champion the cause of homeschooling among more Catholics and Christians, especially those in our circle of influence. Of course, we will be open to the inputs of our Christian brothers and sisters, especially those who are homeschoolers themselves.

Pray for us please as we continue in our homeschooling journey. We offer up prayers as well for all families out there who wish and hope for a better 2011! May God bless us to live our lives with purpose and passion! :) Happy New Year everyone!