Corpus Christi School Matters Blog Page

School Matters

Calling All Teachers and Homeschoolers to the Big, Big, Bugs! 11/16/2012 01:53 AM
Calling all teachers to the Big, Big, Bugs! Exhibit at the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. Now is your chance to bring your class and take advantage of educational discounts. Your students, whether public, private, or homeschooled, will be able to get a closer look at the insect world and there's no doubt that with their monstrous size of these creatures, they'll be full of delight!

Using dolls like Barbie for education 09/26/2012 05:33 PM
Some people say dolls like Barbies and most popular girls dolls are not good influences for children. They say these dolls offer no moral or educational value for girls and you shouldn’t let your girls play with them. Well, what do you say about them being used in education? I did, and I beg to differ from those who complain.

There's a Bear in her Chair! 09/20/2012 11:35 AM
This morning as I sat at my computer chair to start working on curriculum for the kids, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that there was a bear in her chair!

Sales Tax Holiday/Tax-Free Weekend Going on Now 08/17/2012 02:18 AM
The Sales Tax Holiday is going on now in Texas! For those of you willing to meet the crowds and get in your back to school shopping, this might be the time to head out there. After all, who wouldn't want a tax break? Even those of us who homeschool could benefit from this weekend.

Homeschool Bowling League in Corpus Christi 08/07/2012 05:44 PM
Homeschoolers out during the day having fun sometimes make people do a double take and they may even ask, "Why aren't these children in school?" An argument can be made that regular public and even traditional private schools are fun in many ways. Afterall, why have recess, jungle gyms, physical education, music and art and what's the difference with the fun they have in school and the fun that homeschoolers have out and about? By that token, many people also say that the programs that regular school kids participate in at their school are dual purpose programs. They argue that these programs are not only fun, but they are also stimulating for kids. They also help shape well-rounded children. Well, just as there are dual purpose programs in a regular school setting, homeschoolers too have dual purpose programs and here is one of them available to all Corpus Christi homeschoolers.

When Learning Turns Humorous 02/17/2012 03:33 PM
School doesn't have to be so serious. Does it? School doesn't have to be so concrete. Does it? There's no time for fun in school. Is there? I mean it is just not that appropriate for us not to take schooling serious. I mean it only helps to shape our kids minds for the rest of their lives, right? So, I wonder what it says about my kids when I see these photos because I have to say, they're not so serious and they definitely are a little humorous, and they kind of made me laugh! What do you think?

Using Facebook for Elmer's Science Fair 01/31/2012 03:22 PM
Growing, studying, testing, measuring, hypothesizing, thinking, writing, presenting, concluding, and researching are all things that were happening all over right now as the Science Fair season has just concluded here in Corpus Christi! Already children participated in the annual Coastal Bend Science Competition which was put on in Mid-January and regardless of whether or not your children placed, why not enter the Elmer's Science Fair Contest 2012? It's going on right now...

Math Mammoth Sale 01/22/2012 10:59 PM
For my homeschooling friends, Math Mammoth is having a sale the January 23rd-January 25th. They are offering 23% off on downloads and CD's at their Kagi store. Enter Coupon Code:

Columbus Replica Ships are Coming to Corpus Christi 01/22/2012 04:50 PM
Having just had a lesson on Columbus this past friday, imagine my surprise when I saw that the Columbus Replica Ships are coming to Corpus Christi in March! Beginning March 9th, the ships, replicas of the "Nina" and "Pinta," will be docked at the Corpus Christi Municipal Maria until their departure on March 19th. Now's a great time to schedule a group educational tour with them.

Homeschool Humor - The School Board 09/07/2011 03:28 PM
As the new school year is already underway for most everyone, including our homeschooling family, I thought I'd share with you the following homeschool humor courtesy of our youngest. She wasn't really trying to make us laugh, but she had a point to prove against her dad and it was great! It gave us quite a chuckle and gave my sister, a public school Guidance Counselor, quite a laugh! So without delaying too much, here it is... The School Board.

Giotto inspired paint equals fun for kids 02/02/2011 10:12 AM
Scraping chalk with rocks and adding an egg yolk wash to create paint? Never heard of it! That is, until yesterday afternoon when the kids and I decided to study Art. It was messy, it was fun, and the paints came out great. Oh Giotto, thank you for the inspiration!

Our Field Trips in the last two months 10/13/2010 12:45 PM
Both here in Corpus Christi and also in Houston, we've been sandy, sunburned, bitten by mosquitos, almost hit by hawk wings, wandered into space, and taken in bricks as art. That's the description of the field trips we've been doing this year with school. They have been educational, some have been more fun than others, but most importantly they've been great family fun.

Spring cleaning because of IKEA 07/14/2010 10:32 PM
Spring cleaning in summer? When you say those words, you can hardly believe it. After all, the season of summer doesn't necessarily bring thoughts of moving out your furniture, going through your stuff, dusting, throwing out or donating the old, possibly painting, and simplifying your cluttered life does it? Well, surprisingly enough, for us, it kind of does. Why would we forgo the swimming, the basking in the sun (or as we say in Texas, 'baking in the sun', beach visits, or just enjoying our nice air conditioned home to sweat, dust, and work so hard?

Leave the environment better than how you found it 04/13/2010 02:44 PM
My kids are naturally inquisitive, aren't yours? Kids will be kids afterall. They love the dirt, mud, puddles of water, insects and bugs of all kind. You can say that they are naturally attracted. I'm guessing my kids are not alone! Do any of these statements sound familiar. . .

Science Fair is in the air 02/03/2010 01:36 AM
Science Fair is in the air! It's that time of year again where kids are speculating, testing, and concluding anything and everything! Yes, the Science Fair. All around Corpus Christi the library branches are displaying their Science Fair book collections, teachers are sending home paperwork, and kids are busy thinking up or working on science experiments. Whether in private or public school, there is no denying that it is in the air and what a great way for students to really get a chance to be their naturally inquisitive selves! By the way, did you know the Science Fair is not just for public and private school kids? That's right, even homeschoolers can participate!

Reading on schedule 01/26/2010 06:25 PM
When we started homeschooling, I thought it would be easier for the kids to pick up a book and read or practice reading whenever they felt like it. I mean, after all, the kids weren't on a set schedule to read, unlike at school where reading is 'on demand' and for homework. As I quickly found out, I was wrong. That's when I knew something needed to change.

Substitute in Homeschooling? 11/02/2009 08:43 PM
When the teacher is sick? Who teaches? Regular schools have a list of substitutes or administrators if need be who can step in and try to take over a class. When you homeschool, that option is not always available. So what do you do when you, the parent and the teacher, are the same and are sick?

Dyslexia signs to look for when homeschooling 10/19/2009 09:40 AM
Homeschooling parents know their children’s abilities better than anyone. Thus, they can pretty much identify difficulties their children might be experiencing. This is especially true throughout the elementary years when children are exposed to more formal instruction in subjects such as reading, writing, math, and spelling.

Homeschooling through Halloween - Lesson Ideas 10/09/2009 11:24 PM
Every year around Halloween, pumpkin patches emerge around town, decorations go up at homes across the city, and parents everywhere start thinking about costume ideas. If you're a homeschooling family, it's also a great time to incorporate lessons related to the season into your homeschool plans.

Half Price Books 10/09/2009 09:39 PM
Unlike regular school teachers, homeschoolers don't always have the luxury of getting discounts at stores that offer teacher or school discounts. There are some places that make you prove you use an accredited program to be able to qualify for the discounts. Half priced books on the other hand doesn't.

The benefits of homeschooling the beginning reader 09/22/2009 04:18 PM
The process of becoming a good reader is one that is nurtured over several years, but most especially during the 'critical stages' of a child's development. A dedicated, loving, and supportive parent will begin that nurturing at birth.

Texas Maritime Museum Field Trip 09/13/2009 11:30 PM
The Texas Maritime Museum, located close to Corpus Christi in nearby Rockport, is a good place to get a glimpse of what life was like for explorers in 1684.

Homeschool Aquarium Days 09/13/2009 01:09 AM
Yeah for Homeschool Days! Nowadays, there are many museums and places that offer programs specifically geared for homeschoolers. History Museums, Science Museums, or Children's Museums are all examples of places that offer Homeschool Days. Here in Corpus Christi, one such place is the Texas State Aquarium.

An Intro to Nature Studies 09/02/2009 10:54 AM
If you've been homeschooling a while now or are new to homeschooling, you are probably familiar with the terms 'Nature Studies'. It is a topic that is clearly recommended for homeschoolers and is something that you can find in many homeschooling guides, methods, sites, and forums. Yet, what tends to be a little unclear is how to conduct a Nature Study.

Homeschool Groups: Social or Educational 08/27/2009 11:14 PM
Homeschooling Groups can be a wonderful asset to many homeschooling families. For a newbie homeschooler, a homeschooling group can be one of your best resources for a variety of reasons. If you're out there trying to determine whether a homeschool group is right for you, consider this: Do you want it for socialization purposes or for educational purposes?

Christi Family is a blog and local family resource for Corpus Christi and surrounding areas of the coastal bend.Created by a family of five, we blog about everything that matters to us. We invite you to read about our journey as we catalogue our thoughts about Family Matters, Fun Matters, Home Matters, Faith Matters, School Matters, and other things that Just Matter (at least to us). We’re exploring Corpus Christi and are providing you with what we find. Whether you’re looking for local resources, wanting to find local events geared just for families, or are wanting a quick reference guide on everything local, this might just be the place for you and yours. We’re filling our pages with resources for mom’s, kids, visitors, newbies, and families in general. As we continue our adventures in life, we’ll also continue our exploration of what we can do with this site and hopefully you'll benefit! Our focus is family, it’s that simple. You won’t find business meetings listed on our calendars, instead you’ll see calendars for families, toddlers, or just parents. It’s your choice! Join the fun! Let us know what you’d like to see or what you think we should explore! We’ll share our thoughts!