Encouraging the Love of Literature
February 28, 2010 by Yvonne
When I hear the term “Literature Analysis,” I develop cold sweats. My mind is yanked back into the 11th grade and flashes back on eight page literary analysis essays, along with difficult and cryptic names for what should have been very simple. My compositions were forced and unnatural and my enthusiasm for reading all but dried up. Blech…no wonder I didn’t pick up a quality piece of literature for years afterward!
It wasn’t until I began homeschooling my children about eleven years ago, that I began to learn to enjoy literature again. Following Charlotte Mason’s wisdom to use living literature in our studies helped us to delight in the literature for the sake of the story. Reading each selection aloud, the children and I learned how to discover something fun from whatever we read. After that, we dove into a couple of years of Sonlight where we learned all about both World and American History and had fascinating rabbit trails of exploration.
Photo Credit: Heidi, Mt Hope Academy
With all of that reading, we never formally analyzed anything, yet our love and appreciation of literature grew by leaps and bounds.
During those years, we discovered that each book has a buried treasure, a hidden message to uncover. Most books are written by an individual and contain a distinct perspective. In each piece of literature the writer has a message to share or a lesson to teach. In a well written book it becomes the reader’s pleasure to experience that lesson through the pages of a story, discerning the message and evaluating it for possible application. Sadly, many teachers insist on turning this experience into a dreadful exercise!
In our home, we keep literature studies simple…and apparently it’s a successful endeavor. My children love literature and even more than that, we enjoy discussing it together.
Now before I tell you what we have done in our homeschooling, let me encourage you with a precious nugget of wisdom that I picked up from Ruth Beechick. If a child is curled up with a book, quietly reading to their heart’s content, they are comprehending. If they look up at you to share something that is exciting, they are comprehending. If they giggle, or if a tear rolls down their cheek, they are comprehending. It is unnecessary to have them answer twenty questions on a book’s content or to produce a book report for every book they read. We homeschool moms tend to worry too much! Early on, I chose to keep book reports and pre-fabricated comprehension questions at a bare minimum.
So how do I cover reading and literature in my home? Push the Easy Button here!
We have a daily quiet hour. This is a time in which the children go off to read a book of their choice. This is not assigned reading…but a quiet period, where they can enjoy whatever they have chosen to read for entertainment, edification…or whatever. Right now, my children are reading a variety of literature that run the gamut from “Encyclopedia Brown,” by Donald Sobol to “The Giver,” by Lois Lowry and for my oldest, “The Way of the Wild Heart,” by John Eldredge. The importance of having the quiet hour is simply to foster a love of reading and self directed learning.
We read aloud every day. There is something special that happens when a parent puts on a character’s voice. Children strain to hear every word, they sit forward in their seats and are often eager to discuss the material. There are so many great books that edify children with life lessons about a myriad of topics. From picture books to novels, there are wonderful examples of literature at every level of learning.
Unfortunately, some families give up on reading aloud because they have wiggly children. Please let me encourage you to work through the wiggles. The trick is in training younger children to listen and be still.
I’ve done three things that have helped my children grow to love reading aloud.
1. When training young children for read alouds choose books that support their interests. If your child is all about surviving in the wilderness, then choose a book like “My Side of the Mountain,” by Jean Craighead George or an adapted version of Swiss Family Robinson. Don’t bore them with a book that will only make their minds wander. Remember, this is training…try to make it pleasant.
2. Allow young children to build with Legos or Lincoln Logs, draw pictures, or color while you read aloud to them.
3. Alternatively, read aloud to them at bedtime. They’ll enjoy the snuggles and have something to dream about when the light goes out. As a plus, when they’re in bed, they can’t wiggle too far.
If the wiggles persist, consider reading another season of picture books to allow a child a bit more time to develop listening skills. Don’t give up, but be willing to find what works.
Photo Credit: Heidi, Mt Hope Academy
We learn vocabulary as we come across it. If we run into a word that we don’t understand, we try to figure out the definition by it’s context. If not, we look it up and say the sentence again, using the definition instead of the word being defined. I then read the sentence once more, this time using the word in question. I might write it down on an index card, but it’s not often necessary. I’ve discovered that the word is usually assimilated and will pop up in my children’s spoken and written vocabulary about six months later. (I don’t know why this is true, but this has been our experience.)
We discuss literature on the fly. As we read a book we discuss it informally. We talk about whatever pops into our minds as we read. From imagery to characters, to the problems they face, or the obstacles they overcome, we talk about it all. I remember one conversation back when my oldest child was in the fifth grade. We came to a scene in the Lord of the Rings series where Mr. Frodo tells Smeagol that he should not call himself names. We talked about the wisdom of relying on God’s truth about ourselves, that we are sinners…and yet precious to God. It was an opportunity to remember Jesus and how His estimation of us is that we are worth His life. Amazing. We made a memory and each of us remembers that conversation as a gift.
I use our read aloud time as a means to encourage my children to think. If a child can think, they can discuss…and eventually they will be able to defend their ideas and write about them in detail. (Usually in high school.) I use Bloom’s Taxonomy as a very rough guide, a basis in which I lead my children in our discussions of literature. Bloom’s assists me in evaluating where my children are regarding their thinking on any particular topic, literature or otherwise. It gives me a quick visual on where they each may be and assists me in stretching them to the next step in their thinking abilities.
I strive to give my children lots of experiences, talking about everything, asking many questions about opinions and thoughts. I really like to dig in, always looking for the heart. “How does that make you feel?” ”What would you do differently?” ”How does this information alter your opinion?” I guide my children through these discussions, keeping my feelers out for where they’re at on the Bloom’s chart with the goal of stretching them just a bit further.
By the time my oldest two children reached high school, they had developed adequate thinking skills to enable them to write. They needed a bit of encouragement in getting organized, but I discovered that if the thoughts were in their noggins, then the words eventually came spilling out onto paper.
Use movie versions of classics! I don’t want to make this a blanket statement, because sometimes the movie versions of literature are awful. But there are quality motion pictures which might spark an interest in reading a great work of literature. “Emma,” comes to mind, along with “Hamlet,” or the BBC versions of Jane Austin classics. I’m also reminded of “Heidi,” my favorite being the Shirley Temple classic. Use your discernment, of course, but I’ve found this an equally valid way to develop my children’s thinking skills as well as create interest in a title that otherwise might be overlooked.
Furthermore, if you have a teen who just cannot make himself pick up a Jane Austin novel, then consider having him watch the movie, and discuss it along with him.
Cliff Notes or Spark Notes – Lastly, and used sparingly, I allow my children to use Cliff or Spark Notes. I do this only in the case of assigned reading as a substitute for a book that I feel won’t work for us. This fall, in our chosen curriculum, one of the books assigned was Uncle Tom’s Cabin. I pre-read it and I decided that one of my students would find it too heavy to dwell on. So, at the encouragement of my personal mentor, I will have them read the Cliff Notes and we will discuss the social points important to understanding the historical significance of the book. This will help them appreciate this work of literature without having to experience something that is too heavy for them to bear at this time in their life.
So, as you see, we keep literature analysis very simple. We may discuss literature elements like foreshadowing or denouement from time to time, but mainly our discussions center around the heart in the form of building thinking skills, learning life lessons, and enjoying the love of finely crafted words…literature.
Yvonne Ferlita, married for nearly nineteen years, is a homeschooling mom to four children from kindergarten to high school. Her family has been blessed with eleven years of grace filled homeschooling. She does her best to follow Christ in educating her children, and she believes that when it all boils down, that means, “No Nonsense!” Visit her blog, The No Nonsense Homeschool.
Heigh-HO! Mining Treasures in 2010
January 3, 2010 by LeslieW
The trees and ornaments are all securely packed away. Wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, returned to their bins and closets, are slumbering until next winter when they’ll reemerge for the next all-night wrapping party. The festive china is stacked neatly in the cabinet and will go unused until the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Our Christmas break has come to a glorious close and it’s time again to transition our lives and homes to the familiar every day kind of living.
The table will begin to transform from the dining table/baking surface/holiday treat-making area to the learning area/science lab/arts and crafts center. The Advent calendar is replaced with the daily calendar and weather chart and world map. Christmas cards and family photos are exchanged for artwork and handwriting practice and math drill sheets. Stacks of boxes and bags become piles of books and athletic equipment. Instead of glitter, the floors are littered with eraser remnants and pencil shavings.
We mothers expend so much energy making the Christmas season a magical and memorable time for our children. We carry on our favorite traditions, we visit with our neighbors, we go carolling, we spend extra time with family, we take time to say the things we need to say, we read special stories. And every Christmas the children declare that this Christmas was the best ever. What I need to remind myself is that the routines of daily life need not be less magical, less filled with tradition.
Learning is fun and a wonder-inducing activity for children: there is so much to see ad experience and understand. As Bill Waterson notes in one of my favorite Calvin & Hobbes strips, “There is treasure everywhere!” I don’t want us to miss it. Indeed, each year of learning can be better than the one before it.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Jim Elliot, missionary who died carrying the gospel to the Auca Indians of Ecuador. He said, “Wherever you are — be all there.”
Being present is one of the most difficult things for me to do because my mind tends to move ahead to the next thing and I miss the moments.
I am guilty of rushing the children through Bible so we can do math. Then I rush through math so we can do history. I rush through history so we can go to co-op. I rush from co-op to the grocery store to home so that I can get dinner on the table. We have to rush through dinner so I can get the kids in bed on time so that we can get up early and do it all again.
My regular response to, “How was your day?” tends to be, “I can’t even remember the day.” As I’ve heard southerners often quip, “That ain’t no way to live.” Well, I don’t want to live that way in 2010.
Here are 10 things (in no particular order) that I hope will help me create a few magical moments and find a little more daily treasure.
1. Plan
I’ve heard that failure to plan is planning to fail. I have a simple plan for us to finish our school year. I only need to execute the plan.
2. Practice living in the moment.
The only time I’m guaranteed is happening right now. I need to stop thinking about what I could be doing or what I’m hoping to do next, or what I regret from yesterday.
3. Preserve our days in a journal.
I do enjoy maintaining a personal journal, but this year I’m going to add a line or two that documents something positive from our home school day. I have four children and I want to remember something special about each one of them from each day.
4. Photograph
I want to take my camera with me more this year. I missed so many memorable moments because I didn’t have my camera. I also need to remember to pack extra batteries. A photograph each day will be a great way to document what we did this year. My challenge will be to take pictures of the frustrating moments. By the time 2010 ends, whatever it was that seemed bad one day may be what makes me laugh in 2011.
5. Participate
So many times I just stand back and watch or make an excuse for not getting involved. I’m going to go to the next Mom’s Night Out. I’ll join the next co-op picnic and play date. This is going to require me to step out of my comfort zone — always a challenge — and grow new relationships. The people in my life are a treasure and I’ll be a happier woman for opening my heart up to them. Why continue to sit back and watch everyone else have all the fun?
6. Pray
I need to pray more that God will bless all my planning. For far too many days, I have put my faith in my plan rather than in the Lord. I probably don’t need to explain to you how far my plans carried us last semester — think lead balloon.
7. Pick it up
To help me enjoy the next day, I’m going to have to get in the habit of filing away all of our work from the current day and cleaning up the messes before they turn into mountains. Many a morning last year I walked into our school room only to be overwhelmed with all I needed to put away before we could get started. This teacher needs to take better care of her classroom so that she can enjoy home schooling.
8. Praise
I want to praise my children more this year. I worry that I’m too negative during our school day, and I want that to change in 2010. I want to give them more than, “Good job!” I want to be specific with my praise and tell them what I think is good. Sometimes it’s okay to give praise that isn’t attached to a certain achievement. I want them to know that I think they’re wonderful just because they are who they are.
9. Play
I say, “No,” too much when the kids want me to play with them. I have their attention during school time, and they want my attention during play time. I need to remember that my children need me to be “Mom” after I remove my “Teacher” hat.
10. Pamper myself
I’m not the kind of woman who goes to the salon for a massage and a mani-pedi. I have many friends who do, but that is not my kind of pampering. I like to take a hot bath in my favorite bath salts or bubbles at the end of the day, read a novel, have a cup of coffee or tea, bake and eat my favorite cookies for dessert, or go for a walk with a friend. I also like to read through my encouragement folder. My encouragement folder is for those days when I feel like throwing in the towel. You know, those days when I will have to steal a moment to cry in my bathroom? In my folder I have placed my favorite home schooling magazine articles (to remind me why I’m home schooling), encouraging Bible verses and quotes, and a home school mom devotional. It’s important to take care of my heart and mind when the days are tough.
What would you like to do this year to mine your daily treasures and make 2010 your best year of school yet?
Leslie Wiggins has been home schooling her four children for five years. She is currently teaching fifth, fourth, second and first grades. She enjoys writing and blogs at Alabamenagerie (http://lesliewiggins.com).
The Place Where Everything Just “Fits”
Every now and then, we are placed, I believe divinely, in a warm and comforting space in our homeschooling experience where everything just seems to fit together. I relish those moments when there are unplanned and unexpected opportunities to really seal knowledge into their hearts and minds through the power of repetition. For example, at one period in history, we were reading about King James commanding the Bible to be rewritten, a conversation which adds a “real life” feel to our Bible study. Our son brought up how our study of astronomy is a constant reminder of what God is doing in the scientific world (my words, not his). We read the book of Matthew and talked about how the people knew God’s law, but didn’t know God’s love. Meanwhile, apart from school, we’ve had to deal with some flesh-like bickering between the older two, which led to the memorization of 1 Corinthians 13. Finally, as a just-before-bed read aloud, we enjoyed Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls, great fodder for talks about the “wild” west and so many turn-of-the-century events (the transcontinental railroad, mountain men, the growth of America).
What I described above is an academic product; the other component of this time of “fitting together”, and perhaps more important for our goals, is our enjoyment of each other as family while we read. I was blessed to hear Sally Clarkson lecture about the value of reading, and one of her touch points was the power of reading to build strong bonds of relationship. A few days ago, I read to our toddler while the older kids enjoyed breakfast at the table. I got so tickled as I read One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and my older two “intellectuals” had quite the dialogue about why a Wink’s fur is pink just because it likes to drink pink ink. How funny, and how fun!
As much as I strive to follow a Charlotte Mason approach in our school, I fully realize that, for reading this to one of the children, I must seek forgiveness for my sin. Indeed, Miss Mason would refer to One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish as twaddle, and would probably shake her head in dismay at the thought that I exposed the children to such emptiness. However, I am not discussing a specific book as much as a connection to one another that occurred while learning.
I obviously have my biases based upon my own family’s journey while educating at home. Yet, regardless of your teaching methodology/ approach to learning, I believe you can create an environment that enhances the relationships your children might already enjoy with one another. Creating and building relationships is very different than reciting a short-term memorization of facts that will later be lost and gone forever. How do we build upon that foundation of familial relationship to make learning together even more meaningful? Consider the following:
Game time and tea time (even for a boy!) can be as educational, though informal, as any text you might find. This one-liner from a fellow homeschooler opened my eyes to all new possibilities…
When dd was young and we were asked what curriculum did we used, I used to say Milton Bradley; we used a lot of games for early learning.
Sharing books, and sharing conversations over books, brings a family together in the same way that a family movie favorite will, only it occurs during the “school” day. I personally like to stop that read-aloud right at the point where it creates a good cliffhanger. The kids are delightfully annoyed. “MOM!” My son will exclaim.
Making books together has been a more recent, but very effective way for our kids of all ages to learn and to show off their handiwork and talents to one another. The books are personal keepsakes, and I don’t miss an opportunity to have one child teach another based upon what he/she has already learned and documented.
For the families that like to get out (not our pajama-clad clan), school on the road, as in a local library or Barnes and Noble, can stimulate any bored and stale homeschool.
You may have your own methods for building friendships among your children as you build collegians. Learning isn’t always fun, and not every day will be one that calls for a Kodak moment. For this reason and more, we should pay special attention to the signs of accomplishments in their hearts as well as in their minds; the former are not gradable.
A while back, the oldest prepared for science—learning about density via adding salt to water and observing an egg that sank initially gradually float. She had to fight with her sister and brother to drop teaspoons of salt and the egg into the glass of water. As we read about Sebastian Bach walking 200 miles for the opportunity to attend music school, the same kid broke into a mini math lesson to see how long this walk would take for a child. You could feel the hush of shock and sadness over the kids as they looked at pictures while I told the story of the Holocaust. Our younger two then had some great quality time together as we all sipped on peppermint tea. Later, over a morning snack of Fuji apples, the oldest exclaimed, “Thanks, Mom. These are my favorite kind.” I thought she said these are my favorite times, and so I smiled inside and out as I replied, “Yea, mine, too.”
Belinda Bullard is a wife and homeschooling mother of three, Belinda is an author and the owner of A Blessed Heritage Educational Resources, a literature-based history curriculum featuring African-American presence in history, as well as the contributions of other races to American history. A chemical engineer by formal education, she also serves as adjunct faculty for college distance learning programs.
Habits and Hypocrisy
October 25, 2009 by Renae
Throughout childhood, I read a chapter of the Bible every night. My good habit was challenged in high school. Routine became hypocritical, so I stopped. I only read the Word of God when I felt like it.
I cannot recall a specific teacher who introduced this twisted idea of hypocrisy. But somewhere along the way, I concluded feelings revealed how to be true to myself. This decision didn’t affect my school work. For some odd reason, algebra assignments and history essays were completed in spite of grumbling.
The disconnect remained for years. Sometimes I wonder if emotions and reality were shoved together and are still mismatched.
Washing 895 loads of laundry a month, preparing 302 meals a week, and cleaning floors 101 times a day had no place in my youthful dreams. My prince would build a cottage beneath the mountains where we would enjoy sunsets and thunderstorms. I didn’t realize how many floods would come.
Emotions are a gift from the Lord, but we are not designed to live according to the mood of the moment. Right now, I don’t feel like homeschooling. The honeymoon has worn off. The excitement of our first steps into learning brings a smile of remembrance. Our library overflows the space allotted to it. The first books return to the top of the pile.
I’m not excited to teach phonograms again, but joy is set before me.
The joy of hearing words leap off the page.
The joy of reading my little girl’s love notes.
The joy of seeing my child read the Word of God.
It is not hypocrisy to choose love no matter what feelings say. My emotions kick and prod, but they are not Lord.
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him…, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Photo credit: amulligan
Renae teaches her eleven-year-old son and two little girls at home. She has prepared lesson plans, enjoyed children’s literature, and delighted in discovery with her children for five years. By studying Principle Approach philosophy, she realized what she always suspected: the Bible lies at the heart of all subjects. Find her reflections at Life Nurturing Education.
Learning to say “No”
October 18, 2009 by Nikowa
Growing up as an only child, the pressure was always on me to answer “yes” to everything. After all, there was no one else to split the responsibilities or chores with. It was all me – all of the time. After years of saying “yes”, I’m now finding it hard to say “no”.
Women by nature are great multi-tasker’s. I think God made us this way for a reason. That’s smart design! We can fold laundry, talk on the phone, & nurse a baby all at the same time. I’m sure you know what I mean. Our to-do lists are a mile long and we’re always adding more to it quicker than we cross stuff off.
Do you stay stressed out even over the “small stuff”? This probably means that you have too much on your plate. Assess everything that you’re doing at home and away from home. That’s right. Just for a moment, take the time, write it down. Everything.
Then assess what’s necessary for you to complete and what you can delegate. Surely your children can help clean the house. They can also pick up after themselves. Teach them to be proactive. Delegate as much as you can. After all, you do so much more behind-the-scenes work. Once you’ve delegated all that you can, mark those things off your list.
Next we should evaluate those things that we want to keep in our life versus those things that really aren’t fulfilling us. You can determine if something is no longer fulfilling you by asking a few simple questions.
- Do I get joy from this task?
- Is this task helping me?
- Is this task helping others?
- Am I being a blessing by completing this task?
- Does this task cause me or my family grief?
- Is it more of a chore than something that you like to do?
- Did I just agree to do this to make someone else happy?
Basically you should get your priorities in check. You priorities can change all the time. What was important to you 6 months ago might not be so important to you now.
You should also reevaluate your tasks if you, like me, have problems saying “No”. Practice this, not just at home. “No I cannot do that right now.” “No thank you. It’s a great opportunity, but it’s not the right time.” It’s better to turn down opportunities than become overwhelmed with all of your duties. After all, how effective can you be at your tasks if you’re only able to give 10% to each of them? I don’t know about you but I want to give my best in everything I do.
Nikowa has been homeschooling her two boys since 2007. With her “learning never ends” philosophy, they have an eclectic year-round approach to learning. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys photography, organizing, cooking, and reading. She is a #1 LOST fan and watches UGA football too! (Go Dawgs!) You can visit Nikowa at Knowledge House Academy.
Nurturing Your Child’s Heart One on One
August 13, 2009 by AngelaP
What I love about homeschooling is that you can take your time to really learn something in detail.
While we were at the local aquarium taking a Charlotte Mason approach to field trips, we were able to just focus in on the things that the children were very interested in at that moment. It was a time where we could just slow down and learn everything we could about those things of interest.
A sweet thing I would have never learned so easily as a mother was how tender my youngest’s five year old heart was toward injustice.
We were looking for the large sea turtle in its usual aquarium but could not find it. My sweet child inquired about it with the volunteer. He told us that the angel fish in the aquarium were interested in the parasites that clung to him. Because of that they kept picking at him creating sores. The turtle had to be moved into a different aquarium until he properly healed.
Her sweet heart was ready to get those angel fish and have them make it right with the turtle! This is so precious to a mother’s heart. She is understanding restoration. Yet in the midst of all of this we got to learn about the angel fish and what it eats and why this happened. The angel fish was at first helping the turtle by cleaning it of parasites but after a while the helping turned into damaging. There were so many lessons in this about life.
After we studied our subjects of angel fish and turtles we learned much more than we went for.
When it was time to draw or journal what we saw she drew a great picture of the turtle. Her interest in learning is so precious to me. I praise God that I am able to see it all first hand and help guide her. If she was in a large group she would have gone away mad not understanding why the sweet turtle was injured. Sometimes one on one time is best. I am thankful that I can be her teacher. I bet you are too.
Angela Parsley, of the international ministry Refresh My Soul Ministries, is a wife and homeschooling mother to her 2 young daughters. Angela is also a contributing author to a devotional book entitled, “Standing on the Promises of God” and Radical Revolution, a devotional site for teen girls through Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Never Judge a Book by Its Cover
July 12, 2009 by Lori
“If you judge people you have no time to love them.” Mother Teresa
“It’s nice to meet you ma’am.” He extended his hand and had a fabulous handshake for a 15 year old. I was impressed.
BUT…
I had seen him earlier when I arrived to teach my Friday classes. He just did not “look” the part of a homeschooler. He had long hair, well past his shoulders, and ripped jeans and a skullish thing on his t-shirt. Unaware at the time, this boy would find his way into my art history class that I teach on Friday afternoons.
I knew at the time I’d done it, you know the voice, that subtle voice of God that let’s you know in your heart you have just done something, something that you aren’t proud of. I had done something that I TRY not to do.
I HAD JUDGED A BOOK BY IT’S COVER and his name was Dylan. I saw him that morning, and I judged him in my heart, and it wasn’t until he arrived in my class that I was convicted in my judgment. He was the most polite and interested student I had in my class, a really neat kid! He even came to my defense when another student began to be a bit disrespectful; “come on man, Ms. Lori is trying to teach here.” He asked questions, and was involved in the discussions, and after class ended, as we were getting ready to leave, he made a point to tell me, “Ms. Lori, I really liked your class today, I’ll be back.” WOW….talk about convicted.
As homeschoolers, we often find ourselves ‘judged,’ and it is NEVER a pleasant feeling. Sometimes it’s by the outside world, and other times it’s within our own homeschool community or extended families. Have you ever found yourself judged on the curriculum you’ve chosen or even on your decision to homeschool? A lesson was learned that day, one that I T~R~Y daily to teach my children.
I know the verse well, “Do not judge, lest you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1
Funny thing is that if you come to my house, I remove all the covers of my books, they just bother me, so if I arrive home with a book with a cover, it’s removed and immediately thrown into the trash. They all look the SAME sitting on my shelf! Perhaps the reminder was just what was needed that day, you can’t know what is inside the books on my shelf, unless you OPEN them.
There is a difference between “judging” and “discerning.” Judging is what we do when we don’t have all of the facts to be discerning. There was no discerning that day, I simply had judged.
Jesus was clear, never a “judge some, embrace others” from Him. He lived the perfect life of not judging others. He gave them all a chance. He LOVED the unlovely, He spoke to the LOWLY and He himself likely had long hair.
Oh yeah, a lesson was learned that day, and I shared it with my children. I wanted them to understand how easily we can slip into those ‘judgmental attitudes,” even their mom.
I made a friend that day, and I learned a lesson, one that I did not realize that I needed to learn, but HE did…and He graciously taught me to see that my heart needed an adjustment. I’m thankful that HE did! I look forward to seeing Dylan on Friday’s….he’s a great kid, a great heart, and a deep thinker…I’d have missed that if I had continued to only look at what was on the outside. Judging a book by its cover, it’s NEVER wise.
Father,
Thank you for the little lessons that you place on my path to gently show me how I can become more like you in all I do and say. Help me as I walk daily to see others from the inside out. Help me to remove the covers that often interfere with how I see others. Help me to always be discerning without ever being judgmental. Please continue to remind me when I fall short with the words of Matthew, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” You never judge, you are always there with an open and loving heart, how I desire that. With your help Father, I can remove all ugly judgmental attitudes from my spirit, where I can see each of your creations as YOU see them. Thank you Father for the lesson and for your constant patience with me.In Jesus’ name I pray, amen
Lori is a 5th year homeschool mom to 3. Currently she homeschools an 9th grader, a 7th grader and a 5th grader. Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. It’s in the daily details of life that she is continually inspired! Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give and at Internet Cafe Devotions.
Why Homeschoolers Don’t Fail
July 10, 2009 by Lee
There are a lot of factors that contribute to success in any school setting. Statistically speaking, students in homeschool score better than public school counterparts. That doesn’t mean that every homeschooler scores better than every public school kid. It can mean that they score better while homeschooling than they would score if they were in public school, though. They score better regardless of parental income, gender, or ethnicity. Homeschooling has a proven success rate.
Part of the reason for success is the mastery approach adopted by many homeschooling parents. Parents really want their kids to learn – and are motivated to get them to learn. After all, if we don’t succeed, we could be supporting our children forever! We want our kids to grow up, live on their own, and support themselves – so we are very motivated for their success. Part of homeschooling success means teaching a concept until they understand it before moving on. That may have something to do with why many kids don’t do well in a regular classroom setting but do well at home.
Parents can also ensure success by keeping the curriculum challenging, but not overwhelming. While it may be tempting to put their kids into the “next” level of science, math, or social studies, that may not actually help the situation. Instead, put your children at their ability level where they can learn, not into a situation where they will fail because they can’t do the work.
For some reason, when homeschool parents reach the high school years many feel that they must completely change the way they homeschool. I have seen remarkably successful homeschoolers who have unschooled through the first 15 years of life, suddenly decide that for high school, they must begin a classical curriculum. The results are what you might expect. Their children, who were wonderfully delight directed in their learning, resisted the movement into a more structured curriculum. This is SO unnecessary! Whatever has worked in your homeschool can continue to work in high school. You don’t have to change just because some “authority” told you there was a “right way” to do high school. You are the parent and you know how your student learns best. My midwife’s advice when my eldest was born was “know your baby and trust yourself.” Never was this advice more important than when we began homeschooling high school.
Homeschooling can succeed if you keep these three principles in mind: Focus on mastery, keep school challenging, but not overwhelming and do what works. If you keep moving forward in these three areas, you CAN homeschool your child successfully.
Lee Binz is a veteran homeschooling mom of two and the owner of The HomeScholar, “Helping parents homeschool through high school.” She has a new free minicourse called “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Homeschooling High School”. You can sign up for her free email homeschool newsletter, The HomeScholar Record and get your daily dose of wisdom via e-mail from her homeschool blog, The HomeScholar Helper.
Featured Homeschooler – Sprittibee
April 12, 2009 by Nikowa
Please welcome this week’s Featured Homeschooler, Sprittibee
Where did the name Sprittibee come from?
Sprittibee is actually a nickname and a last initial put together (and here you thought it was all about honey bee obsession!). When me and my hubby were dating back in the early 90’s, he called me Spritti and I called him Spooker. Sickening, I know. The “SP” was a language addition based on that REM song, “Losing My Religion,” where he said “It’s bigger than you… and you are not me.” He slurred his words and said “Spigger”, which was somehow REAL funny to us barely 20 year old, lovesick kids who were stuck in the car part of every day together as we both ran errands for the companies we worked for. That song was on the radio a LOT back then.
Spritti is really “pretty” (glad he thought I was – cuz I was head over heels and still am). I bet you can’t guess what Spooker was. It came from a the shell necklace that Kev bought in Galveston when he went down there to buy a Yaga t-shirt. The necklace was made of puka shells. Add your S and you’ve got the original version of his pathetically dorky nickname. Lucky for him, it didn’t stick quite as well as mine. I’m sure I haven’t called him that in over ten years.
Kids are retarded. Sadly, dumb nicknames STICK. I figure it doesn’t matter if you all know this sordid secret, though. You would be amazed at how many people ask. If I had given my “brand name” a little more thought when I started blogging (on accident through commenting on someone else’s blog), I probably would NEVER have used “Sprittibee” as a blog title. Believe me, I have regretted it many times–but after four years of blogging, I’m stuck with it. I do like bees, so it’s not all bad. I have quite a collection of bee knick knacks.
Can you share a little about your family with us?
We’re complete nerds. My husband is a computer geek and very handy with electrical and mechanical stuff. We’ve been married for over 16 years. It was love at first sight. We only dated 8 months and I was barely 20 when we landed in the JP. Amazingly, we still get butterflies for each other, so I’m pretty sure that God was behind the whole ordeal – even before we were on his bandwagon. We have 2 kids and one on the way. Our son is 12 and our daughter is 10. They are super kids and I suspect they will be more than helpful when the little Viking arrives in a few weeks. When we aren’t all working, we like to spend time together. I think homeschooling has created the most awesome bonds of love and friendship in our family. I’d rather be with my husband and kids than anyone on the planet.
Have I mentioned that my man is exquisitely handsome? That helps.
You blog at http://sbees.blogspot.com How has blogging been therapeutic for you?
Blogging is just part of who I am now. I wanted to be a writer when I was a kid, and yet I was too lazy or overwhelmed by large projects to ever spend the time necessary to get something done and turned in to a publisher. Being a party-chasing heathen didn’t help. I had binders full of poetry, short stories, beginnings of novels–and life tended to get in the way. After I met Kevin and we had our first child, I pretty much gave up passionate reading and writing. Being a wife and mother was much more pressing and rewarding.
I’ve always journaled and began scrapbooking after I had my kids, so blogging was a natural transition for me. Once I figured out what blogging really was and discovered its potential (and realized it would take too much of my precious time up), I became addicted.
- It serves as a platform for sharing thoughts and ideas with other like-minded folk.
- It provides a place to share and help to encourage other homeschool moms.
- It gives me a place to create a digital scrapbook or portfolio for my homeschooling and our lives.
- It offers a way to share updates with family who want to keep in touch.
- It is a platform for whining, swollen, pregnant moms on bedrest.
What’s not to love about blogging?!
What’s your favorite self indulgence?
Blogging and chocolate are my favorite self indulgences. I consider the time I blog an indulgence since it doesn’t offer equal compensation. The friends I’ve made through blogging make it worth my while, the fun reviews and free products are a nice perk, but I’d love for someone to pay me a salary for all the work I put in to it! What blogger wouldn’t?
As for the chocolate (which is almost as important), I like Choxie dark chocolate truffles, Raspberry Dark Chocolate bars from Godiva, York Peppermint Patties, and Andes Mints. In that order.
Have you ever experienced “homeschooling” negativity?
Sure. We have plenty of naysayers in our family. I’ve always been somewhat of a rebel, though, so I’m used to the “black sheep” syndrome. I was an awful and sneaky child that stayed in trouble most of my younger years. Even to the point of tricking my mom to give me $75 for church camp and taking a bus to another town and go out all weekend – all night. My kids won’t ever get anything past me. My theory on naysayers is just to let it roll off my back like beads of water on a duck. As long as you have the support of your husband and you believe God has called you to the task, YOU GO MAMA! God will give you what you need to succeed and your children will be the proof that YOU were right in the long run.
Many of the people who didn’t agree with us homeschooling as the kids were younger are coming around, or at least acknowledging that the kids are different than public schooled kids (in a GOOD or BETTER) way. Even my husband (who was my biggest critic when I first wanted to homeschool) said just the other night to the kids, “I’m so glad you guys aren’t in public school.” Now that they are older, the proof is really there in the pudding! And since I’m a firm believer that character is more important than academics (who likes an intelligent JERK?), I’d say that that proof is more than worth dealing with any “negativity” that I’ve ever dealt with.
If you could have any curriculum on the market, what would it be?
Well, I drooled over Rosetta Stone for years and haven’t ever been able to afford it. I guess I’d take a few boxes if they offered a give-away or review! We are about to start Italian with another program soon, so I’m not as whiney about it any more. I’d also love Photoshop Design Premium CS3 or 4, but not just for school (although I would love to teach the kids digital art and photography skills, as both of them are interested in it–like mom). Those two programs are way out of my price range. I pretty much have what I need and borrow what I don’t from friends in local co-ops or the library as we go along. If I had my druthers, I’d have much more mad money for buying books that we fall in love with, though. Books are my homeschool desire when it comes to spending sprees.
You have a large blog following. Does this effect what you share at all?
I don’t spend as much time worrying over numbers of readers like I did when I first started blogging. I often forget about the site meter for long periods and I removed my blog from the ‘ecosphere’ because I’d rather worry about the content than my “status.” I realized over the years that you shouldn’t try to figure out what people want to read, you should just be yourself. If the traffic comes, then so be it. That doesn’t mean I don’t try to be part of the community and reach out to other bloggers, it just means I don’t obsess over my readership–or lack of it–but rather focus on being real, just like you would in real life!
I post pretty much whatever is on my mind – but I do consider how family members or friends might react to it before I blurt it out. I think I worry more about my family and friends who read my blog (the ones I know in person) than I do the general public. I’m sure there are other weirdos like me out there. I love reading other people’s blogs when they are candid and real… so I figure it will only run off the people who probably shouldn’t be reading, if I’m that way in my posts. Even when talking about fry-snatching, getting catheters at the hospital, and swapping snot on accident.
Could you share with us your homeschooling motto/theme/verse?
I believe what Clay and Sally Clarkson said in “Educating the Whole Hearted Child,” that homeschooling is “the right thing to do!” In their book they share so many amazing quotes and inspiring scriptures. It is hard to narrow it down to just one verse, motto, or theme.
I call our homeschool “Magnum Opus Academy” based on the book Charlotte’s Web. Magnum Opus, loosely translated from Latin in to our modern tongue is “life’s masterpiece.” Charlotte’s was her egg sack, containing the children she would share with the world after she was gone. You could also call that a legacy. Your children are your legacy. There’s nothing more important than educating them and passing on the faith in Christ that sustains you. One of my favorite verses (listed on my About Page at my blog) has the line “when Christ – who IS YOUR LIFE appears” in it. I firmly agree that He IS my life. Based on that, nothing else but a God-centered education would do for my children. Homeschooling is really the only way to achieve the type of family bonds that God desires, the worldview that God desires, and the purity of heart that God desires.
I absolutely adore my kids. I see how homeschooling (even though I am flawed and broken) has blessed their character every day. Therefore, I rejoice that in my weaknesses, God has done miracles. I am honored to be His tool.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” – 3 John 4
One day I hope to be able to say that long after I have finished my portion of the educational life experiences that my kids are to receive, that they will continue in the Truth. After all, any parent that loves their children would not sacrifice herself to make sure that they stayed alive. And eternal life is much more important than this temporal one.
How has homeschooling changed your life for the better?
Homeschooling is freedom. Freedom to think for yourself, to follow your bliss, to take advantage of quality time together as a family, to dig as deep as you want in to what ever interests you. Every day we spend with daddy when he is off work, every vacation we take, every field trip we go on, we are so very thankful for the fact that we are not strapped in to the rigid schedule (or watered-down curriculum) of the public school system. As much as we have moved, I can’t see how any other lifestyle would have worked for us. While we lived in Arkansas for two years my husband worked nights and weekends and got odd days off (sometimes not even consecutive days). If it weren’t for us homeschooling, they would hardly ever have seen their dad for two solid years.
Another blessing has been the PEOPLE we have met. Oh, I can’t even go in to this right now or this might become a novel. Suffice it to say that there are a ton of wonderful kid-loving, God-fearing, selfless and amazingly interesting and fun homeschool parents and kids out there. Friendships that will last far beyond graduation–that’s another blessing homeschooling has to offer.
Congratulations on your “future new addition.” Has pregnancy changed any of your homeschool routines?
Pregnancy has forced me to reconsider my perfectionism. It has really relaxed our style and given me the freedom to feel like God is in control (instead of me). What a blessing! The kids are thrilled with our more flexible and relaxed schedule. School and family life has been more enjoyable. Will our school schedule always stay like this? No. I’ve learned that change is still the only constant – even with homeschool curricula and schedules. However, it is a joy to go through the different seasons of your life, and we are trying to make the most of this one despite any difficulties it presents. Hopefully the infancy and toddler years will be the same–more growing, learning, adapting and bonding together.
Interview by:
Nikowa is a 2nd year homeschooling mom to two boys. With her “learning never ends” philosophy, they have an eclectic year-round approach to learning. When she’s not teaching, she enjoys photography, organizing, cooking, and reading. She is a #1 LOST fan and watches UGA football too! (Go Dawgs!) You can visit Nikowa at Knowledge House Academy.
Starting Down the Path with Your Preschooler: Dispelling the Myths you Believe
April 7, 2009 by Debra
I have had the opportunity to meet many parents who are considering teaching their preschooler at home. While this seems like a precious and exciting decision, many struggle with it not because they aren’t capable of taking on this task, but because of all the voices around them that say, “Children can only learn in a classroom” or “Only professionals know how to teach reading readiness,” and “If you don’t begin teaching correctly from the beginning you’ll mess them up in the long run.”
There are all kinds of myths perpetrated by voices outside our own heads and hearts. I’m here to tell you to go with what you know to be true. At the young age of three, four, or five years old children don’t require a classroom or a professional teacher in order to learn and grow – if ever. What they do need are parents who are loving and confident in their choice to keep little ones close and introduce them to all of the marvelous things about life.
It’s amazing how we can manage family budgets and investments or wade through the verbiage on a home loan and “get it” but we cower in fear when it comes to teaching our preschool-aged children some basic fundamentals at home. Take heart! You can do this! Famous words from Deuteronomy confirm it:
These are the words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
If God believes that teachers and parents are the same thing then surely you can get started in homeschooling without knowing the ins and outs of lesson planning or how to define phonemic awareness. In fact, the easiest time to apply this hands-on method of learning just might be in the preschool years when children are eager to learn and love being with you. So, let’s shake off some of the predominant myths about teaching your preschooler and help you move forward in your decision.
Myth 1: Schooling should look very different from home life.
Don’t think of it as schooling. Think of it as intentional parenting. Look at all the things that you have already taught them “as you are going:” sharing toys, smart food choices, and social skills. Academically you have already tackled early math (1,2,3,4,5…), identification skills (this is a puppy), and the very essence of language itself. The truth is you are already homeschooling your young child every day. You don’t need to create a highly regimented schedule, transform your basement into a classroom, or make yourself over into a teacher-esque persona. Make learning part of life, invite your child close and just remain loving, devoted and intentional Mom.
Myth 2: Teaching a preschool aged child takes hours every day.
This is only true in a classroom setting where there are 11 other children with needs equivalent to or greater than your child’s. We can’t compare our one-on-one attention with that of a teacher-to-class ratio. Classroom schedules incorporate small chunks of time on teacher-directed learning and big chunks of time on toileting, playing, and eating. It’s kind of like what you already do at home. Your child will not likely thrive under a huge block of concentrated learning time during which you direct their every step. Leave formal seatwork behind and teach as you are going about your day. If you choose to spend intentional time on a concept then be sure to keep it short and engaging. Five to ten minutes is all you need. A few sessions like this several times a week will keep them moving forward in their skills and help them love learning.
Myth 3: Preschoolers should learn to read and write.
When moms tell me about how their four or five-year old child is resisting writing I cringe. Put the pencil down. Preschoolers do not need to learn to read and write. If yours wants to, then move at their pace and enjoy your exceptional child. However, for most, their fine motor skills are likely not ready for it. Resistance in these areas is more likely an issue of human development – not rebellion. Just like potty training, it is better to wait until the child is ready to progress. You can, however, continue to do preparatory work like drawing circles, lines, and X shapes, writing numbers with a finger in pudding, or saying cookie starts with “c.” Keep it fun!
Here are some things to consider about the developmental needs of children from ages 3-5:
- They need a lot of time to play. This is the number one way they learn. If you want to be a part of their learning process, play with them and teach as you are going. For example, what lessons can you teach while running trains around on the track? How about taking turns, helping others, and maybe a little physics!
- They love to copy what you are doing. Let them sort the socks and put the silverware away – sorting is a basic fundamental for future math skills. Let them practice self-help skills by buttoning up shirts or put the zip-off pants back together. Helping you with your chores not only nurtures their development, but it gives them a sense of being an important part of the household.
- Their language skills are growing at lightning speed. By the time they are ready for Kindergarten they could have a vocabulary of up to 5,000 words. Read books, sing songs, describe things they see, and engage in art and science projects. Most importantly, tell them about everything you are doing. You can grow their vocabulary by leaps and bounds even if you only “work on it” naturally.
- They will develop in fine and gross motor skills at different rates. My toddler was hopping with two feet when he was turning two. Other children take longer to obtain this skill. Riding a bicycle, hammering a nail, bouncing a ball, and coloring inside the lines are things that come easy to them at different times. If my boys ever stop developing or regress in their skill development then I get them checked out by a doctor. Otherwise, I don’t sweat it.
Myth 4: It takes a lot of patience to school my 3-5 year old at home.
It takes a lot of patience to be a parent. Teaching them at home doesn’t change that. You may actually find that your child will be better behaved, more cooperative, and completely excited to be doing activities with you. Though you’ll need patience for the rest of your day to be sure, the intentional times spent with preschoolers are happy times because they love the moments spent with you.
Embrace these days of curiosity and go with it. You really can’t go wrong teaching your preschooler from your heart. Former U.S. Education Secretary Lamar Alexander once said, “The first teachers are the parents, both by example and conversation. But don’t think of it as teaching. Think of it as fun.”
Check out my article on page 26 of the funky flipbook edition of Heart of the Matter Magazine.
Debra Anderson has been married to her true companion for 14 years and has three sons under age10. Debra’s passions are education, art, her husband, church ministry and missional living — not in that order. She has served as her co-op’s coordinator in Portland, Oregon and loves connecting homeschoolers in relationship to one another. Debra has her seminary Masters degree in Christian Education and has always home educated their boys — even on the hard days. She maintains a blog at www.emergent-homeschool.blogspot.com.
