|
How
to Make the Most
of
Your
Visit to Our Website
Welcome to our
website! While you're visiting here, I want you to get the most out of what we
have to offer. There's a LOT here, and I don't want you missing the
best stuff for you, or getting overwhelmed, confused or discouraged. So the first
thing I want you to do is to get a right perspective of how to view this
website.
Since there are
"different strokes for different folks" I'll let you take your
pick from the following "word pictures" depending on what you enjoy
most: reading, eating, or shopping!
The important
thing to remember for whichever of the above three "word pictures"
you prefer is
that with none of them are you expected to "do it
all"! You'll never read all the books in a library, eat
all the food at a smorgasbord, or shop at all the shops at a mall!
But it's here for the taking!
Confused
by this website?
This was written by
Teresa Ward,
one of my wonderful online
secretaries.
If you
will take a look at the
Site Map page,
you'll see better how the site is laid out and perhaps find your way to
navigate it a bit easier. Barb has several different ministries that are
going from this one site. Perhaps if you can see it that way, it will help
also.
(1) There is the Article Chart of a great many articles written by either
Barb or someone else (that she obtained permission to use) that are
helpful to homeschoolers as we develop our understanding in the area of
education (discipleship) of our children.
(2) There is information for homeschoolers that live in her neck of the
woods. Not only is Barb a homeschool leader internationally, she still is
involved in her own neighborhood.
(3) Her "Masterpiece" is the book Senior High: A Home-Designed
Form+U+La and there are many support materials on her site for it.
(4) She has also written many other really good books for homeschoolers,
so information & support for all of them are on the website.
(5) You are already aware of the "Season of ReEducation & Renewing the
Mind" (SORR) course. All of that information is online at her site.
(6) There are Email Lists for folks using Barb's materials, that are a
great source of encouragement for all of us who participate. You are also
welcome to join:
http://www.homeschooloasis.com/email_list_options.htm
(7) Barb has several other interests as well, (just like most of us), and
she has some pages dedicated to those things (her family, recipes, &
humor) ... which you can easily see as you look over the Site Map.
http://www.homeschooloasis.com/site_map.htm
(8) Oh, yeah. I nearly forgot her Catalog! While she doesn't print a paper
copy of what she sells, it's all online there. She has found things that
aren't necessarily available elsewhere, but are very terrific materials
for us to use. Additionally, she sells most of what is recommended for the
SORR course and all of her own materials, too.
The more time you actually spend at her site, the more familiar it will
all become to you, and you'll see there is really no other way to organize
this vast storehouse of information!
Feel free to contact me if you have more questions. I'm here and always
glad to help.
Blessings,
Teresa in WV
Where
I'm at
With Updating My Site
Another
thing I want to mention has to do with "new stuff" at my
website. I'm not an Internet Pro, but one thing I have
gathered is that the "up and coming" thing to do at websites seems to be to
frequently add new things to it. I understand why.
It's fun to return to favorite websites and see what new
goodies they have. However, I need to explain the purpose of this site...
I'm
sure there is much new stuff I'd be able to add, and I will be
adding things here and there as I am constantly finding new links and
articles, and
coming up with new ideas to write about. But my main reason for
having a website is to free up my time. (My main PURPOSE is to minister!
But my REASON for doing so this way is to let me be more truly at home!)
In the
creation phase of this website, I spent far too many hours at the
computer. Having this website available had greatly freed up my time as I
am now able to refer most of the many inquiries I receive directly to this
site rather than having to take so much time to send this information out
individually! It has been wonderful!!!!!!
Keeping a website "updated" takes... you
guessed it, time.
I'm just not wanting to spend the time I'm saving in setting up this
website on keeping the site updated frequently. So if you are a web surfer
looking for sites worthy of web awards, please don't feel bad skipping me. I'll pass on the awards if it means I'm freer to spend more
time being a wife and mom, sister and daughter. I will be adding new things as I'm
able, but there will be times when maybe even months
will pass before anything new is added.
To
make the process of finding out when something new is here, I have a
"What's New" page you can
check. In fact, in the Main Lobby on the link to that page I will
always have the date it was last updated so you'll know if you've seen it
yet or not!
So
How Do I Know Where
to
Go Around Here?
The best place to start is with an
idea of why you're here. The following "leads" will
hopefully help you figure this out if you're not quite sure:
Are you just out graphic shopping? Then go straight to my Graphics
Credits page which has links to all the great graphic websites from
which I got all my awesome graphics!
Are you hunting for some tasty new recipes? Then start out at my Recipe
Main Page where there's a directory for getting to all the months!
Are you thinking about homeschooling, not at all sure you want to do it,
but curious and wanting to get a feel for it and more info on it?
Check out the "Homeschooling Basics" area of the Article
Chart. After reading all those articles, you'll want to either
read those in most of the rest of the sections or give up on the idea of
homeschooling altogether. ;-D I have also written
an article called "Help! I Need to
(Re)Start Homeschool and I Have NO Idea Where to Start!"
Are you already homeschooling, maybe even for several (many) years, but
unhappy with how it's going or the fruit you're seeing in your children
and home life? The "Homeschooling Basics" section of the Article
Chart is just as much for you as it is for those just considering
homeschooling because there are some foundational areas you will need to
look into before doing anything else. But the above-mentioned
"Help!" article is for you too!
Are you already familiar with my writing and just wanting to know how to get
the stuff? Browse through our Homeschool
Catalog. We are delighted to say that you can order online at
our SECURE online shopping cart!
Are you not yet familiar with my writing and wanting to hear what other
readers have to say about it? Go to my "Reader
Comments" page.
Have you heard of the Lifestyle of Learning message but want to know
more? Or want to find out how to order? Or want to read a few
samples of Marilyn Howshall's writings? Or want to know about her
retreats? Or want to know how to subscribe to the Wisdom's Way of
Learning email list? Start at my Lifestyle
of Learning main page.
Are you the parent of a little one and wanting a means of sweetening your
relationship and teaching some fun things in a musical way? Skip on
over to my Love Lullabyes and Jesus
Songs pages. Song clips will eventually be there too!
Are you wanting to find out more about the "heart 'n' soul" of
our ministry and whether you "connect" with my
message? Go to my About
Our Ministry page.
Are you facing a problem with "the authorities" and/or wondering
about the legalities of homeschooling? Before you make another move
or decision I highly suggest you read the articles in the "Legal
Issues" section of the Article Chart.
What I have to say is not legal advice, but is very important foundational
information and food for thought for anyone dealing with this
arena!
Wondering what in the world "Edtl" means? Or why you see
different names for me? Go to "About
My Name and Penname" for a quick explanation!
Are you looking for practical HELP for homeschooling through high
school? It's not as hard as you might think! And so much
richer of an experience! Of course, I'm more than just a little biased; we have
now graduated our oldest two, whom we homeschooled from
kindergarten! And I'm thrilled with the fruit in both their
lives! ... Check out my various high school helps, insights, and
resources starting at my High School
Homeschooling main page, and also see several articles in the "High School
Concerns" section of the Article Chart.
The very different stories of our two high schoolers' homeschool
graduations are at both areas.
Are
you in a take-it-easy mood and not wanting to get into anything heavy
right now? Have your heart warmed, your mind inspired, and/or your
funny bone tickled over at my Storehouse
of Favorite Inspirational, Humorous & Educational Stories &
Anecdotes pages!
Are you looking for a fantastic speaker for a homeschool convention or wanting to
hear "the bigger picture" of my message in person? Well, I
wouldn't call myself a "fantastic" speaker,
but I have been speaking on several areas of vital interest to homeschoolers
for about 15 years now. Start
by looking at my About Barb
Speaking page. My "resume" is at Barb's
Past Speaking Engagements.
Are you curious about our family and wanting to know a little more about us?
Stop by our Shelton Family Scrapbook for a little glimpse into our
lives, our hearts,
and our home.
Are you wanting a little "shower of the
Word"? Take a dip in some of My
Favorite Bible Verses. A different one will pop up each time you
access this page! 
Are you new to the world of Email and a little confused or overwhelmed by
it? I remember the feeling quite well! That's why I wrote Email
101 just for you!
Have you heard of "real life learning" but can't quite figure
out how it fits in with "true education"? Go to my Real
Life Learning main page for lots on this. Ideas and inspiration
too!
Are you wanting to get yourself, your home, and your family better
prepared for an emergency or natural disaster better than you are now? Go
to either my page on Our Family's
Emergency Preparedness Plan or my page of Links
to Emergency Preparedness Websites.
Would you like an everything-on-one-page quick overall view of ALL the
pages here at my site ~ and direct links to them? Go to my Site
Map.
Are you sensing a need to see education, your children, your whole
homeschooling experience (life, actually) from a different
perspective? You are most likely in need of a Season
of Re-education & Renewing of the Mind. You'll never be ~ or see
~ the same!
Are you wanting to know of some websites offering help and resources that
enhance or complement aspects of my message? (Some are for
homeschool, some for science, and some for e-postcard sites.) Check out My
Favorite Links page.
Are you intimidated by the thought of doing lab science with your high
schooler? Read and relax at my Lab Science Helps and Resources
pages.
Wanting to get in touch with us? To prevent any frustration or
confusion, please read my About
Getting in Touch With Us page first.
|
