My experience with a miracle of bone reconstruction was awesome.  I’ll admit, I always thought you had to be an adult to do miracles through God.  But with this experience, I know no matter how small you are, you can perform miracles. I learned a lot today. I would not change a thing. I am posting this day and miracle on Facebook.

Veronica

The vision for CSA was birthed in the heart of the school’s founder, Apostle Schlyce Jimenez, while she studied the life of inventor, George Washington Carver. The discoveries Carver made about the peanut, through direct revelation from the Holy Spirit, are quite remarkable. Not only did his inventions transform the economy and lives of farmers in the South, they had a tremendous effect on countries around the world. Carver’s life is a dramatic example of what is possible when believers learn how to hear the voice of God and incorporate that into their vocation, lifestyle, and calling in life. We strive to teach the students to look at God’s creation, study it and receive revelation for its purpose from the Creator; using this information to grow and expand their destinies.

I believe the foundations of CSA are developing and morphing. As Director, I am beginning to see what I want to happen in our school, how I want to grow the program and the kids; teaching them to rely on God for wisdom and answers, to be independent thinkers, and to question without fear. They will be leaders who influence others to walk in this revelation and to spread the power of the gospel.

Our desire is to impart to our students a healthy respect for God and others, personal responsibility for their education and learning, and an intimate relationship with God and others. Preparing them for life and godliness by tapping into what God has already instilled in their hearts is our goal.

At CSA, we firmly embrace the Biblical truth that every student, like Mr. Carver, has a God-given, pre-ordained mission in life with gifts and callings that uniquely empower them to fulfill it. Our goal is to help students discover their purpose at a young age, encourage them to pursue their uniqueness, and prepare them to fulfill their destiny by providing them with a solid, academic education. We aim to teach them to live supernaturally, incorporating the Holy Spirit into all aspects of their lives.

Are you looking for a private Christian education in Woodland Park for your children? Do you want your children to learn to think for themselves rather than being spoon-fed? To hear God’s voice, receive from him and follow his directions?

I absolutely despise tattling! At home as well as school. When a child comes to tattle, I have learned to ask if he liked what was done to him. Then I encourage him to go back to that other child and tell him he didn’t like what he did, said or whatever the offense was that bothered him. He is to use “I” statements such as “I felt frustrated when you yelled at me.” or “I didn’t like it when you called me ‘stupid’”. They are not to correct the other child or accuse them of anything. They are just to share their feelings.

This seemed to work well with my own children, I would overhear their conversations when they had had a conflict and they worked it out on their own. I didn’t need to intervene. At times, it wouldn’t be resolved with that, so I would go with the one who was offended and have him restate his feelings. That was generally all that was needed.

I was challenged on this very aspect yesterday when a grown son of mine did something I didn’t like. When no one was around, I corrected his behavior and told him what he did wrong. Just like a mom! What I realized later was that that was not helpful. It is no longer my job to correct him. If he had been a peer, I would have gone to him and used my “I” statements and shared how it made me feel. So, I apologized to him for correcting him and shared how I felt. He, then apologized and all was well.

What I want to get across to my students at Creation Sciences Academy in Woodland Park, Colorado is the difference between accusing and correcting other people and only sharing their feelings. That’s a hard concept for them to grasp. It seems everyone wants to correct everyone else. They want to accuse and blame…maybe that’s human nature…but I have higher expectations for my kids.

I plan to spend a couple hours later this week teaching on this subject. If you happen to have any insight into resolving conflicts, by all means share them. Thanks.

When my older son reached the “terrible twos” I knew I needed help. I sought wisdom from God and learned very important principle. The first behavior I had to deal with was temper tantrums. I asked other moms what they did and they said they spanked the kids when they had a fit. I asked the older ladies in my church what they suggested, they said to ignore the tantrums. When I asked God and thought about how he handled the nation of Israel, he did both. I decided that complaining was okay, but that there needed to be a limit and/or consequence. So, what I did was let my son have his tantrum and ignored it for 5 minutes. Then I told him he needed to stop or I would need to spank him. Amazingly, he could turn off the tears like a kitchen faucet. I didn’t need to spank, and he went off and played. Win-Win!!!

I grew up with a mother who answered with “No”. The first word out of her mouth was “No”. Then it happened. I caught myself saying “No”. At that time,  I determined that I would say “Yes” to whatever the kids asked for and perhaps there would need to be a condition. “Yes, you can go play at Ben’s; after your chores are done.” That sounded so much better than “No, you haven’t finished your chores.” “Yes, you can have that NES, but you need to use your own money to buy it.”

The principle carries over into teaching and educating my students at Creation Sciences Academy in Woodland Park, CO. I do my best to say “Yes” to anything they want to do. I strive to make a win-win situation out of every opportunity. Sometimes I just have to say “No!”, but for the most part, I let them do what they ask. There is not always a condition, but most times there is.

If a student starts misbehaving, I need to say “No”. That’s when I give them choices. Do you want to stay in the classroom, or would you like to go sit in the hall? To stay in the class, you need to settle down and get to work. If you can’t do that, you can go sit in the hall. Do you want to discuss this issue further? Once you have calmed down, I will be glad to talk with you. Do you want to finish your school work now, or do you want to have it assigned as homework? You get the picture.

There have been times when students were so emotional that they started making demands on me. Then they said things in an effort to control or manipulate me or the situation. I know it’s impossible to reason with someone who is unreasonable. They will vent and sometimes it’s just best to let them, but still on my terms.

What does this educational principle do for kids? It empowers them. It causes them to think for themselves and allows them to choose to do what is asked of them or the consequences. Teaching children to think and make decisions for themselves is extremely important. I love it that my own sons are such critical thinkers. They question status quo, they don’t go along with the crowd, they use their brains.

World changers are critical thinkers. They think outside the box. They look for ways for all involved to win. Yes, it can be scary, especially for those of us who like to be in control. But the benefits far outweigh the downfalls.

What are your thoughts?

You betcha!! I got 8 inches at my house, but it only looked like 3 inches here in Woodland Park, CO.

So, because it was a cold, cloudy morning, the kids had hot chocolate to drink while they studied. Just something I allow when we have cold, cloudy mornings.

I had to reinstate my “daily grade” discipline today. When the kids get out of hand and really aren’t into studying, I tell them I am giving them grades for their attitude, productiveness and behavior. The average of their daily grades in each subject is averaged into their final grade for that subject. They like getting these grades and really settle down and study. They have to tell me what they earned based on a scale of 1-10 (1: I did nothing, goofed off and disrupted the class all period; 10: I got all my work done, graded, had the best behavior and attitude).

One of the kids was pretty wound up this morning and actually wasted about 15 minutes by goofing off. Once she settled down, she got all her work done and gave herself a 7 for her daily grade. The others gave themselves 8s and 9s. Another student was totally frustrated with his math and because he let it affect his attitude, he will get a lower daily grade.

This afternoon was totally different! After praying and spending time with me tutoring him, he understood the problem, overcame his frustration and began working on his own. All have been quietly studying now for 30 minutes and have earned a marble (a reward for 30 minutes of everyone being totally on task). They like that, too. Once we fill up the container with marbles, we will take a trip to the Dinosaur Museum in Woodland Park, CO.

Education is so much fun! Creation Sciences Academy is getting some things figured out about schooling children. What motivates kids, where their passions lie, how they learn, etc. Incentives are always great as is preventive discipline. By that I mean spending time with the students, listening to them, encouraging them and accepting them for who they are.

So, education starts with an understanding of kids, how they think and how you can motivate them. The teachers at Creation Sciences Academy are well aware of this and have done an awesome job imparting to the students. As with most children, the Creation Sciences Academy kids don’t really like school; however, they love the teachers, love learning about God and their faith and enjoy the day-to-day challenges of their studies.

We have openings for the fall if you are interested or know someone who have school age kids who would like our school. Pass it on!!

http://www.csaowls.com

Today I would like to discuss how many hours kids spend in school. It’s really ridiculous when you consider how much time is wasted in large classes. The teacher spends time going over a lesson and then the students are assigned homework, which can be worked on in class.

When I taught in the inner city I had 42 minutes for each class. That was hardly enough considering what I had to cover. So, in an effort to maximize my time, I insisted the kids be in their seats by the time the bell rang or they were late. The bell did not dismiss them at the end of class, so if I was in the middle of explaining something, I would be able to finish and then I would release them.

Substitute teaching  in traditional schools gave me much insight into how much time is really wasted in the classroom. There was the “settling down” time, the “getting your supplies” time, the “taking attendance” time, the “I need to go to the restroom” time, the “collecting homework” and “announcement” times…the list goes on.

I am not saying we at Creation Sciences Academy don’t waste time, but I believe we get more work done by having the kids on a block schedule. The students have one and a half hours to work on one subject. Then lunch, then another 90 minutes to work on another core subject. They get more accomplished in two 90 minute segments a week than they would if they had three 42 minute classes per week.

The state requires that children be in school for 172 days each year. They also stipulate that their education should be 20 hours of core subject matter each week. There is no suggested number of hours per day, week or year. And what if we want to have a four-day week?

Next year the plan is for a four-day week with Fridays either off or used for enrichments. The students will have a rigorous schedule to follow, but they still want the extended time for their courses so they can concentrate more fully and get more accomplished. I will be rotating their schedule so they have different subjects at different times during the week. They like the variety.

I love that we can allow the kids to accelerate at their own pace and that I can cater to their special needs. Why, if a student understands an assignment quicker than others, should she have to wait on everyone else to catch up?  Why can’t she go on? Why does she HAVE to spend the designated number of hours per course when it’s not necessary?

Yes, I question the status quo and I am a critical thinker. Do you and are you?

For more information on Creation Sciences Academy in Woodland Park, Colorado, please visit our website at http://www.csaowls.com.

No doubt, you have heard this question before. Math seems to be a huge stumbling block for kids of all ages, but understanding why we study math is crucial for helping them keep good attitudes while struggling.

My students at Creation Sciences Academy in Woodland Park, CO have made up a song about how much they hate math. It’s really cute, but what they don’t realize is how they even used mathematic principles in their songwriting.

I tell my students that learning math is training their brains to think in different channels. It’s actually causing them to think in ways they may never have thought before. Down the road, they will be much better at problem solving because they studied algebra and geometry.

I have noticed how teaching math has changed over the years. The text-book writers are introducing algebra and geometry at very young ages. Why? I believe to prevent students from “freaking out” when they get to those tough subjects.

Personally, I love math! I love the challenge, the problem solving, the concreteness of “equals” and formulas. There really isn’t much creativity in math; however, learning and understanding how to solve problems opens up your mind to thinking differently.

Our home-school atmosphere is really conducive for one on one tutoring in math as well as other difficult courses. We believe that allowing the students to go at their own pace is crucial for a positive and healthy experience in learning. For those who really want to succeed in their education, they will if they like learning and if they see the benefits and rewards of their efforts.

Just today one of my struggling math students took two quizzes, got As on both and was so excited about his success. He has worked hard, has kept at it and has seen the payoff. How cool is THAT????

So, I say, let’s definitely keep math in our education programs in Woodland Park, CO and let’s encourage our youngsters by explaining the many reasons and benefits we see in overcoming this difficult subject.

Do you love math?

They have studied hard all year, have finished taking their standardized tests, and are looking forward to summer activities and travels.

Even though one girl has a broken arm, and is struggling with her writing using her left hand, she is anticipating getting her cast off and getting back into gymnastics. But that may have to wait until late fall.

One young lady would prefer to stay at home, but comes, gets her work done and gets super hyper-active and loves being happy. She is a dancer and gymnast and musician and loves animals.

These two ladies are best friends and like the same activities. They love to cause mischief for a good laugh.

Another girl loves school, studies independently and is always pleasant and in a good mood. She compliments me daily and is very generous with her hugs.

One of my guys has been working feverishly to finish his algebra and has enjoyed the one on one tutoring he has been receiving from my assistant.

Creation Sciences Academy operates as a private Christian home-school in a one room school-house atmosphere. We are located in Woodland Park, Colorado. We are committed to teaching the students to listen for and obey God in all areas of their lives including their academic education.

Today we discussed dream interpretation and I shared my dream about having a baby. Their ideas were so creative and impressive and I believe accurate.

So, if you are looking for a quality education in Woodland Park, Colorado, we invite you to come for a visit and check out Creation Sciences Academy.

Happy Spring!!

Last night I had a dream. I believe it related to what I had been working on yesterday regarding Creation Sciences Academy in Woodland Park, CO.

I was working on this website and thinking of ways to increase enrollment in our awesome home-school one room school-house environment. Education is very important to me and I believe we have tapped into the best system for Christian education.

Our students at Creation Sciences Academy are trained to listen for the voice of God and obeying what he says. We incorporate and invite him into every area of our studies. So, this dream I had will be introduced to the kids when we meet Monday. They will be learning to interpret dreams as part of their training and education.

Now, I am not saying I have all the answers, but it seems obvious to me that God spoke to me through this dream.

Tell me what you think.

In my dream I was pregnant. I was hanging out with some of my old college buddies at Andy’s place (not his real name). We were in the kitchen and I was sharing my fear about having this baby alone and raising him by myself. Andy said he would take care of me if no one else stepped up.

Next scene I am in Andy’s bedroom. The baby boy is now 6 weeks old. Andy asked me if another friend could hold the baby and I passed him off to this very tall man whom I did not know. The man began to cry and slid to the floor. He dropped my baby close to the floor and I picked him up to comfort him. I asked Andy if I could nurse the baby on the bed and he and the other man left the room. I laid the baby down on the bed and expressed gratitude for someone giving him to me. Then I started nursing him and we both fell asleep.

So, what do you think? Was God speaking to me through this dream? What was he saying?

Woodland Park, Colorado is home to Creation Sciences Academy. We believe that everyone is able to discern God’s voice and are training up the students to listen and obey what he is telling them. Sometimes it entails sharing an encouraging word with a classmate or friend. We also invite the kids to participate in Prayer Mountain, CO’s Encounter Weekend conferences. There they can practice their listening skills and reach out to others who need to hear from God.

A good solid Christian education is what we offer at Creation Sciences Academy. We believe in inviting God into every aspect of our lives including learning. We are set up as a home-school atmosphere in a one room school-house setting. We believe that kids can not only hear God, but can ask questions that will lead them to innovative ideas and inventions.

After studying George Washington Carver’s life, we are convinced that if we just ask God about things that interest us, he will answer. Dr. Carver approached “Mr. Creator” with his bible and journal in his laboratory. He asked Mr. Creator what was the purpose of the peanut. From that dialog came many, many inventions that actually changed the course of the South and improved their economy.

So, what do you think? Can we hear God? Can we change the course of the world?