Where would I be without the glorious Post-It?
What words could adequately pay honor to such a humble, yet worthy hero?
A fresh pad represents an infinite stack of possibilties.
Clever scribbles, informative notations, don't-forgets, gee-there's-that-page and other endless multitasking.
Quick in a pinch.
My cup overfloweth.
Where would you, the SuperHomeschoolMom, be without the Post-It?
Lost.
Just lost.
Bible reading is very important.
Okay, yes you knew that already.
But did you stop to figure out how much homeschoolers depend on their curriculum of choice to "get the Bible into" their children? Do you? I did.
I'd venture that 95% of curricula out there does -not- have enough of either Bible reading or Bible study to really impact a child for life.
A few years ago, I began a new routine for us. Summed up as "No bible reading- no breakfast". Each child must read for 15 minutes by timer. If they do not read, they don't eat. They always read- and I only had a couple balking issues at the beginning.
They read wherever they want in the bible but are not allowed to skip around during their 15 minutes. They can change places tomorrow but not during a current session.
When we began, my son was 4 at the time and learning phonics. He obviously could not read a regular bible. I had a comic book type bible, "Picture Bible" I think it was called, laying around the house. He "read" that for his time. As he became more proficient at phonics and blending, he would try reading the words that were there. So we moved him up to an NIRV (3rd grade level translation). My daughter was older and read her regular bible.
Because they have read for over three years at 15 minutes a day...they have a LOT of bible in them. Recently I read statistics that only 18% of Christians read their Bible every day and worse- a mere 35% read it once a week (probably during church).
I did the math earlier and reading 15 minutes a day and even skipping two weeks a year... means they each have read at least 260 hours!
Wow! Imagine what that total will be by the time they leave home!
Consider starting a rigorous plan in your home.
If you hate, loathe, and despise mice and all their diseased germy vermin-ocity... then you should enjoy this!
I doubt this is an actual event, never the less, I can dream- can't I?
Photo from all4humor.com
I think it is -not- of great importance to have a school name, although it has helped in different small ways.
BUT-- having a mission statement has been foundational. We are committed to homeschool all of our children, without government help, to the end. A mission statement reminds us of our goal.
We chose a mission statement AND a bible verse. From there we decided on a name. We also took into consideration our strong beliefs and any family or area characteristics. We live in Oregon, so it is very green, rainy, flowery, mountainous and has a lot of creeks and rivers. We are also "spirit-filled".
Here is what we have posted on our door:
Our mission in homeschooling is...
to raise our children to desire a deep relationship with the Lord, to be spiritually wise, knowledgeable and well skilled in areas that will contribute to their personal life mission, and develop vision, godly character and compassion for the lost- in the comfort and protection of their own home.
"...like a tree that is planted near water.
It sends out it's roots beside a river.
It is not afraid when heat comes. It's leaves are always green
It does not worry when there is no rain.
It always bears fruit."
Jer 17:8
Our homeschool name is Riverside Bible Academy.
I love to camp and really want my children to have memories of camping. My goal is to go at least three times a year. However, the hassle of packing all the padding and sleeping bags to stay in a tent and all the other gear takes forever.
(Can you hear me whining?)
Last year we had an infant, but that would not deter me from camping, but all the gear-packing-time kept us from not camping at all. I hated that.
How fantastic it would be if all the pans, mosquito repellant (necessary in Oregon), tablecloths, batteries, salt and herbs, soap and such- was already packed?
What if all you needed was fresh clothes and some food?
Well, I would be able to camp on a whim! How cool would that be! Because of this dream, we have wanted to get a camper trailer, but knew we would have to buy or borrow a truck every time we wanted to go. A minivan just won't pull one. So, this is not a reality.
After some investigating, we have been on a quest for a popup camper trailer. Did you know that a decent sized popup camper weighs 2400 lbs? Our van can take that on! Easy!
We are borrowing a Fleetwood 1998 one that sleeps six for this next week. He offered to sell it to us for a fair price. A private sale means we gotta have the money up front. Hmmmm.
Well, here is what it looks like. Two king beds, one full, fridge, stove, sink, heater, lights, storage and more!
Actually, homeschooling comes alive as students make interactive projects -- exploring the fascinating subjects they are learning!
With lapbooking and notebooking, students are engaged in discovery, while creating beautiful mementos for assessment and display.
It is certainly an effective and FUN way to learn and remember material! All subjects can easily be integrated into a hands-on portfolio type of product. Can be very effective in unit studies, delight-directed and classical methods of home education.
Here are some links to get you started! Have fun! :)
www.geocities.com/gibsevengang/lapbooks.html
www.thenewhomemaker.com/makingbooks
www.tobinslab.com/downloads/Lap%20Book%20Info%20Sheet.pdf
www.canby.com/hockmanchupp/student_folder_websites.html
groups.msn.com/RestRefreshmentHomeschoolingwaSpirit-FilledLife/notebooking.msnw
www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/7380/schoollinks.html#lapbook
You can use a manilla folder (cheap alternative to posterboard!) and refold it with the ends meeting in the middle, as shown here. Or make two of these and glue together to make a huge lapbook with lots of possibilities!
Will your children believe in Jesus when they graduate from high school?
94% of homeschoolers keep the faith and 93% continue to attend church after the high school years. But a shocking 75% to 85% of Christian children sent to public school drop out of church, and do not hold a Christian worldview after high school graduation.*
*Brian D. Ray, Ph D., Homeschoolers Grown Up, 2004
Makes you think. The blind are leading our future leaders to no where good.
Are you tempted to join government homeschooling (a charter school or public school independent study program) or do you know someone who is?
Reasons to Avoid Government Homeschooling Like the Plague and Why Believers Need to Create Christ-Centered, Private Homeschools.
I have a High Efficiency front loader for my laundry washer. It is sooooo wonderful- I love it! I feel quite spoiled to have such a fancy-schmancy washer after always having the most terrible awful washers that must have come from the Infamous Lemon Company or something. And of course, I had the bad dryers to match... not in color mind you, but in thorn-in-my-flesh-ness.
Because my washer spins out water at 75 miles an hour (no joke) and sounds like a jet taking off in my garage, the doors must electronically lock before it will operate. Safety safety.
My machine started having "issues" on Saturday, but when I cancelled and restarted everything resumed in good fashion. I thought it was a clog because an error code was flashing at me. In the past I had an error code an looked it up online to find I must have a sock stuck in the clog strainer thingy. My husband has pulled many a baby sock, or booby-pad, out of there since.
Back to the door again. My husband left the state on business Monday morning. Laundry machine decides now would be a good time to really get error-codey. Fine. I have seen my husband do this. I opened it up to pull out any offending item and all I found was water and a lot of it- everywhere. Great. Now what. I try starting up the cycle again. Nope. I decided that maybe the code was different than a clog. I went online and <great fanfare> thank you Google! Door locking problem.
Now, do I wait for husband to come home in three more days (and drown in dirty cloth diapers and nasty socks) or do I attempt this on my own? I say- attempt.
After saying a prayer, I find I must traverse 20 or so screws and several very soaked towels due to a plethora of water water everywhere. Ahha! Door lock entrails located! I pulled the electrical/computery plugs from out of the back of the lock and blew them out as I had seen my husband do to our computers in the past. Put it all back together... and it worked. I got a load going now! Thanks, Lord!
(of course, I did not buy that outfit)
Excellent Worksheets and Teacher Helps
Hundreds of free pages (to download or read from the Internet) to help you bring up your child in the ways of the Lord.
"From our examples, our children must understand that the character traits of endurance, perseverance, and determination leading to great accomplishments cannot bring true fulfillment apart from humility. There is something very appealing about a diligent, skillful worker who is smiling, appreciative, and thankful. Without humility, determination will lead to accomplishments void of relationships. Humility is the recognition that all of my abilities and opportunities are gifts from God. Humility is portrayed in an attitude of thankfulness even for difficulties, with the realization that this, too, is a gift of God.
May the qualities of inner character, skillfulness, and humility unlock the door to a prepared, purposeful, and powerful future."
Mark Hamby
President of Lamplighter Publishing.
Early last week our outdoor water spigot wore out and my DH set about repairing it. In Oregon, your pipes will freeze in the winter and thus appropriate spigots that self drain all the way back about a foot into the wall. Trying to fix/replace this, as you can imagine, is a little tricky. Never the less, he did it.
About five days later, the carpet in our livingroom was soaked! There was a large area that reached from the corner and out about five or six feet in a large triangle. We could only assume it was the new spigot on the other side of the wall. Did the pipe crack when it was reassembled? What was going on? After we surveyed the situation, it was obvious that we had to rip the wall open- from the outside. What a nightmare.
My husband carefully removed a 6x8 section of the siding. Lo and behold, a rapidly dripping pipe! It took some trips to the hardware store and different methods, but he got it fixed. Now we had to take on the inside of the house. The carpet shampooer was unable to extract the water because it was soaked through the foam underlayment, too. We had to borrow a large shopvac and it was good, but we decided to rip out the foam stuff and put a new section of it in there to avoid a lot of drying time.
What a hassle. But things happen, you know. Glad it's over. Wait a minute- is that smoke I smell?
"It is really just a mindset. It’s the idea that you are a family, not a school. You’re a mom, not a teacher. You don’t have a classroom. You have individual relationships with your children. Your husband isn’t a principal, because there isn’t really a school. He is the head of your household, a dad, and your number one supporter. God didn’t create schools. He created families, because that was his plan for the training and nurture of children."
Dr. Mary Hood
"As I have come home--all the way home--to teach my children, I have found that God has riches in store for the family teaching their children as a lifestyle. Those riches can be missed if we do not take the time to be a family. Oh, there are the sweetest memories that directly result from learning together as a lifestyle. It is so much more than just the lessons."
Cindy Rushton
"Each year as circumstances change, situations arise, and new opportunities present themselves, we need to reevaluate our goals and purpose for homeschooling. As we seek to implement and direct the studies for each of our children, we need to pray specifically for wisdom from The Lord for ourselves, to be able to guide each child into the path that the Lord has for him or her. As parents, charged by God, Himself, with the responsibility of “training our children in the way that they should go”, this is a monumental task that cannot be fully achieved without Godly wisdom."
Maribeth Spangenbert
The Patriarch
More noble than the valiant deeds of shining knights of yore,
More powerful than earthly plights that make the rich man poor,
More kingly than a royal throne or a lion with his pride,
Is he whose babes sleep well at night sure Daddy will provide.
There is a spirit in this land and Jezebel’s her name.
She’s calling you to leave your home for power, fun, and fame.
She wants your wife, your children too — she’ll never compromise,
Until your house is torn in two by listening to her lies.
But though a hundred thousand million men may fall prey to her lures,
And wives en masse leave home in search of “more fulfilling” chores,
Though preachers praise, and friends embrace, her pagan plan of death,
Stand strong and quit you like a man with every blessed breath.
Stand strong and rise, O man of God, to meet this noble call,
The battle is not new you see, it’s been here since the Fall.
Your wife is your helpmeet, my friend, and not another man’s,
So care for her and keep her far from Mistress Jezi’s plans.
Protect, provide, and give to her your undivided life,
This is the dear one of your youth, your precious bride, your wife.
And rally to those tiny ones who trust you for their care —
A lifetime spent discipling them’s a lifetime pure and rare.
For when they put their hand in yours and know a Daddy’s love,
You’re showing them a picture of the Father from above.
Look not toward worldly goal or gain, or for your liberty,
Look only into their sweet eyes to find your ministry.
Devote your heart and sacrifice and make your manly mark —
There is none so great as he who finds his call as patriarch.
—Douglas W. Phillips
The above poem was selected from:
Poems for Patriarchs: The Verse and Prose of Christian Manhood,
compiled and edited by Doug Phillips.
Hark!
It's homeschool faire season again.
I love it. Being encouraged, getting equipped, renewing vision, seeing new curricula products, fellowshipping, helping new homeschoolers, and getting deals!
Last week we had our local homeschool faire. We had a used sale on one side of the building and new vendors on the other. Nineteen vendors. Okay, some of you may laugh. You may say "Hey, I need a compass just to find the bathroom at our fair". So, in comparison you may not see the significance of some small homeschool group holding this event.
To start- we live in the most unchurched state. On top of that, we are the most liberal and unchurched area of our state. (Remind me again, why I live here??) Making a stand here for Christ and homeschooling is a bright light met with squinty eyes and accusatory fingers. Homeschooling Christians in the Willamette Valley are homeschooling through the fire.
Our homeschool group is conservative. Our mission is to encourage homeschoolers, reach the lost, turn the hearts of the fathers to their children & the hearts of the children to their fathers. Kind of a melting pot of Vision Forum, Mantle Ministries and Keeprs Of Faith... for lack of a better adjective right now.
I am on the group's board and these women are very dedicated to serving the Lord, their husbands and children, and finally their community. They live their lives on their knees. It is a high honor to serve along side them. A few years ago we had to make some hard decisions to be inclusive or not because of which direction we may decide to take to reach the area. We decided to not be inclusive and start getting very specific about direction. No compromises of our faith. Standing firm. Well, God has really blessed that move and opened some fantastic doors! (He is goooooood and His mercy endures.)
Been fishin twice now since we got the new stuff. They need lots of practice casting, folks, but we have had a good time.
It was so beautiful. Days like today make me love Oregon. Perfect 75 degrees, easy breeze and smiles all around.
I grew up fishing- excuse me... Fishin'.
My grandfather took my sister and I regularly. He was the man's man. An avid bird hunter, fisherman, fireworks pyromaniac, veteran, drinks at 4pm (cocktail hour), guns in a display case, truck and camper. He told many many stories that were based on his life and our deceased relatives. Living history with a serious deviation from accuracy. Artist's prerogitive?
He never got the grandsons he probably had wanted. Two tiny blondy girls were it. I am told that when we came along, his hard exterior melted. He loved toting us around in the old truck when we came to visit. My grandmother still worked back then and so he was the primary caregiver during the day.
He introduced us to chocolate... and to him I am forever grateful for that. ;) He made us a man's breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast every day. Later we would watch Hogan's Heroes or some John Wayne movie on TV with him. So, we thought he was pretty cool. Weren't all granddads like this?
Summer is rolling in quick around here. Makes me think of my late grandfather. Makes me miss him. My children never met him. They only have heard MY stories. He has become some legend and their eyes get wide when I tell of the good old days fishin' and campin' with him. I got the notion to get real serious about teaching my children to Fish this winter. Now the weather is nice and I'm itching to get out there and spend many days teaching my young padwans. My poles and gear are old and patheticly rusty. My husband took pity on my plight and we went out yesterday to get some newer stuff. Now I can galavant out into the great land of Fishatude and fish to my hearts content with all my homeschool-fem-mama fishousness and a baby strapped to my back. A new generation- without the beer.
This morning was spent packing for a trip we are taking to a small family reunion for several days. This is the first time I have let my children pack their own clothing. I always try to make sure everything taken can be washed together if the need arises. I also take into consideration any surprises that may come up like dinner out. There is always an outfit in there that can "pass" for nicer.
So, after they had done their packing, I looked over what they had come up with. I was greatly impressed. I had to switch out two pairs of jeans for two pairs of shorts for my son- and that was it. Even toys, books, toothbrushes and such. They had it down! I suppose they have been listening all those times I helped them pack before. Yay!
What a relief. I just need to finish up the baby's and my own things and load the van. The plan is to have it raring to go when we wake up at some horrific hour tomorrow.
As a gift from our mother, my sister and I went to get pedicures yesterday. Isn't your mom supposed to get a Mother's Day treat - not the other way around? We do give her cards and a small gift, but she always gives us one, too. "To honor the good moms that you are", she says. I am glad she thinks I am a good mother. Aside from serving the Lord and being the best wife I can be, it is my highest endeavor.
Back to the pedicure... it sure was nice. I had never had one before. I have given myself pedicures every once in a while. I have had massages, a facial, and sevral manicures, but alas, no pedicure. The chair we each sat in had back massage-y rollers in it and the spa footie tub had cool stuff in the water. We sat and chatted as we soaked and teased. Soon we each had an attendant (pedicurist?) scrubbing and primping our feet. It was fun to spend 30-40 minutes just with my sister getting a little pampering. By the way, my toes sure look cute. It will be sandals for me for the next few weeks!
There just aren't words...
Yes, it is a toy lizard. She found it and it was promptly removed. LOL!
Annual CubScout Pinewood Derby
Planning and making the cars is a lot of work and fun. We let the girls who want to participate make a car and compete "unofficially" against each other. It a great time for all. General running around and chaos breaks out after it is over when the cookies are served.
DH is cubscout leader, here with DD and DS.
DS with his green car- competed in the official cubscout "Pinewood Derby"
DD with her purple car- competed in the "Powder Puff Derby" for girls
Today I was looking at my littlest just sleeping away sweetly in my arms, when I came to the sad conclusion – yet again- that this was not going to last long.
Even though I remind myself over and over she is not gonna be tiny and so dependent on me for long. These thoughts become more and more frequent as she has finally started to take steps this last week. My other two children walked around 10 months old. This one waited until she was a year. Getting up the courage, I guess.
I always loved watching my little ones sleep.
Their soft skin and peaceful face. It is hard not to relax a bit just watching the gentle breathing and soft sighs. Their tiny chubby hands cling to you as you rock and sing.
These days will ebb away. A new season will begin.
I never understood why people had such a beef with Monday. Cartoon-like images swirl my memory of some old wrinkly lady in curlers and robe, cigarette hanging from her lip, scraggly slippers and a cup of coffee in hand. What was their problem? Pull yourself together, why don't ya'? Well, that was my opinion until I had been homeschooling for a few years... when my son got to be about 6yrs old. Mondays are tough and long this last year and a half.
By now, I would call myself a seasoned Monday Hater. A closet curler infested, robe wearing, foot draggin' mama.
We have more chores on Monday to follow up after "no chore on Sunday" and it seems my son goes sloooooowwwwweerrrrrrr.
Yep. It aggravates me. Makes me cranky. Gotta work on that. A lot.
Clearly my son is going to me to teach me patience on a whole 'nother level before he becomes a man. Love that guy. A typical first day back to school means we don't get to the school part of our day until 9:30am. Or even 10am. Today was a 10-er. Yeesh.
Feelin' grouchy this morning? I'll listen! Join the club! :)
Last Sunday on the way back from church, all five of us sort of drifted off into silence and inward thoughts. After a few minutes my son asked my husband, and I, a question...
7yro son: "What's a Virginian?"
Me: "A Virginian? Where from? From our history?"
7yro son: "No, from the Bible."
Me: "There are no Virginians in the Bible!" (after a moment, light goes on in mama's head. Ohhhhh, virginian!)
Me: "You mean virgin. That is someone who has not had lovin' like from their husband or wife, yet. A Virginian is someone from Virginia, like George Washington and I think Thomas Jefferson."
Husband: "Or something from Virginia."
7yro son: (unconvinced that there are no Virginians in scripture, he stares out van window)
Yesterday we went out to my parents' farm. It was a beautiful sunshiney day. The swallows and hummingbirds had just arrived from the south and butterflies were already flying. I love when the trees begin to bud and the flowering plum trees are blooming. We dug up some strawberry plants that needed to be thinned and set them in buckets to replant at my home. After we dug up about 25-30, which was way too many (imho!) we walked to my mother's very large pond and watched the koi swim around.
The kids tried catching some of the toad polliwogs. We ended up with only one. They are huge... this one was about 3.5 inches long. The babies! So gross. My mom found a few toad egg clumps and we pulled them out and into a bucket. The toads eat the baby koi- when there are some- and that is terrible. They also eat the gambuzi fish. Gambuzis are about 1 to 2 1/2 inches and eat mosquito larvae and therfore beneficial. They are so cute! Toads actually will take over the pond if left to eat all these gambuzis and baby koi! Dilligence is the only thing to keep those nasty things at bay. Caught toad eggs and polliwogs are dumped in the bushes far away or buried. As the spring comes along more, toads get bigger or down right huge, more disgusting and more plentiful. I am sure we will have better toad hunting then.
What I have been hearing, regarding our homeschool direction, is a radical shift from what I have been doing. A few years ago I had read about a method of homeschooling that was really different. It was intriguing to me, but I was intimidated with the whole thing and I moved on to something else. Last year the Lord showed it to me again. I felt a strong leading to it. My friend had been using this method herself and graciously let me borrow from her so I could get a better idea. It was Heart Of Wisdom. Hands down it was the classiest unit study I had ever seen. The classiest homeschool anything I had ever seen, barring Apologia and Master Books. During this season, I know God was putting a bug in my ear. Ultimately He led me to use My Father’s World. After using MFW for a couple months, I was being called back to Heart Of Wisdom style- or Hebrew model. Not to use this method right away, but getting me ready for what was coming because He knew how it intimidated me.
Frankly, teaching in this method, Hebraic, is a serious departure from all homeschool curricula out there. No other company produces this type of material or promotes this kind of learning. I felt so convicted that I had not been teaching my children in the biblical method. The way Jesus taught. I had been teaching in a classical bent without knowing what damage I was really doing. I had no idea of the implications.
What further cemented this was taking this ‘test’ at http://www.restorationministries.org/pdf/hebraicArticles/HebGreekComparison.pdf
and reading Knowledge vs. Wisdom at
http://heartofwisdom.com/artman/publish/article_270.shtml
Every year come February I start to get antsy. The weather is still very rainy, the ground is still very mushy and muddy, and the trees have no leaves yet. I begin to pine away for spring time flowers and green leaves. I want to see the sunshine and at the same time I know how much we need (and love) the rain.
For me, the spring brings a new year of plans and hope for the future. I dream of better things to happen. Like my spiritual life to get even deeper with the Lord. My husband to be better rewarded in his career and to be blessed with great favor with God. My children to be really motivated to go all out for God. And for our homeschooling to finally meet my ‘unknown picture of ideal’. This unknown picture is an undefined shape I can barely make out from a place deep in my mind and heart. It is the map toward the goal of training up my children in the way they should go from Point A to Point B. The Lord, in His wisdom, has not revealed the step by step path, for my husband and I, to accomplish this monumental task.
By March I am revving up. My hopes and dreams for the new year are seeming more like a reality. The feeling that I am just around the corner from a break through in my personal walk begins to seep in. Signs start showing that my husband will finally be catapulted, via the Lord, into a new arena of blessing in his career and his spirit.
For school I am already scouring my catalogs and the internet for reviews, good deals, and hoping for a blessed new era of learning and growing in God. Most importantly, I begin fine tuning the voice of God who guides me to make the choices.
Every year we homeschool all year long. Winter and lots of rain bring days where we get "more done" in school. Summer is our rabbit trail time. During the summer we do math and language arts, but everything else is optional at my discretion. We will do more art and that sort of thing. Less structure for sure! Summer is clearly not now and I wish school could be like that all year, but that does not work for *us* to do on a regular basis.
Now this fall and winter have been so different than others!
Why?
Because we have a baby.
That is a new way to homeschool for our family and I have not found it to be "so difficult" as all I have heard. I love the article I read in a magazine recently and found it is also on lovetolearn.com, "The Baby IS The Lesson". It is so true. There is no better present to my children than another sibling. You can read the article here: http://www.lovetolearn.net/policies/baby.lasso
Babies mess up any routine you have! Gotta go more with the flow.
Routines are important, but so is not being a slave to the routine. The key is the balance!
Last year I really learned that one. It was good one to learn while I was pregnant and before the baby! (Thank you, Lord, for preparing me!)
I have also been happy to see my children cruising along with their studies. Not fast, just smooth. We certainly have character training and life skill training that gets bumpy sometimes, but it is working for us.
As the baby is crawling faster and then on to walking, I know what is in store for us as she is not my first baby. I still do not see it being this big issue as I have read and heard about. Marilyn Boyer, at the OCEANetwork conference last August, said to enjoy the season. "Enjoy the season you're in, they don't stay small" she said. She also gave hints on keeping the little ones occupied and even learning along with older siblings. Good stuff. If you did not hear her speak on this you can get the CD on OCEAN's website now. www.OCEANetwork.org
Having a baby around has been the frosting on our family. What a joy!
Each morning you wake up and through a series of events you have completed another day. Life, as they say, happens. Well, things may indeed happen, but it is how we respond that dictates success. We can choose to be proactive, passive or negative. If we value the Lord’s direction for our lives, then we will ideally react to ‘life’ with a godly attitude.
Here are the little ones. They don't look like warriors, yet!
Maybe they are under-cover! LOL!
7yro boy, 8mo baby girl, 12yro girl
FROM: http://heartofwisdom.com/delight_directed_homeschool.html
PLEASE READ HIGHLIGHTED PINK SECTION...
Delight-Directed Study |
All children love to learn—at least all children love to learn before they go to school. Forced learning can destroy the natural love for learning that our children are born with. Children locked into studying something they find boring are no different from adults locked into boring, irrelevant meetings. If adults cannot see the relevance of the material covered in a meeting, they will tune out or drop out. If children do not understand how the subject will help to address the concerns of their lives, they will tune out. Would you, for example, read this page if it were titled "Basic Plumbing Concepts"? You might if you had a leak in your kitchen sink or a basement full of water. In the same way, students need to have an interest in the topic they are learning.
If we allow students a free choice, they can concentrate on learning what they might need in their lives. Freedom to choose what not to study implies freedom to learn more about what one cares about and freedom to explore new interests.
A teacher's or parent's first job is to cause children to want to read something, to motivate them to care so that the natural order of learning can kick into action. The educator's job is to provide the one item which today's education system leaves out: motivation. (Schank, 1994)
When students are given good instructional materials, they can teach themselves and they will eventually learn to locate their own resources (books, Internet sites, people, materials, classes, etc.)
For more on this subject read The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach.
The Bible instructs parents to recognize that each child is a unique individual with a way already established that needs to be recognized, acknowledged, and reckoned with by means of the truth of Scripture.
Proverbs 22:6 says Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
This verse shows us a parent’s training must be based on knowing his or her child. The Hebrew text has the personal pronoun attached to the noun "way." It reads, "his way" and not simply "in the way he should go." "Way" is the Hebrew word derek, which means "way, road, journey, manner." Parents need to recognize the way each of their children is bent by the way God has designed each of them. If parents fail to recognize this, they may also fail to help launch their children into God’s plan for their lives.
Roger Schank from The Institute for the Learning Sciences explains, in Engines for Education, the importance of individualized education.
Education should have a pragmatic purpose. Education ought to be about building learners' abilities to do useful things. What is important to learn is whatever helps learners do things that they want to do or that they can be induced to want to do. Therefore, if we want to detail the knowledge students need to have, we should first detail the things students should know how to do. Then we can determine what knowledge will be useful in each case.
Depending on an individual's situation and goals, there are many things that might be worth learning. In order to give a very detailed prescription for what knowledge a student should acquire, we must take into account that not every child will need or want to do the same things. A curriculum must therefore be individualized. It must be built around an understanding of what situations a particular learner might want to be in, or might have to be in later in life, and what abilities he will require in those situations.
Nevertheless, for many people, the notion of mandating the same knowledge for every student is appealing. Building lists of facts that one claims everyone should know is relatively simple to do. Furthermore, there is the attraction of providing standards that can be easily measured. But from the perspective of the teacher and the student, this approach spells trouble. Each mandated bit of knowledge removes more local control and drives the system towards fixed curricula and standardized tests, which not only diminishes teacher flexibility but also student choice and, therefore, student interest and initiative.
In public schools from first through twelfth grade, much of the classroom routine is shaped by an emphasis on rote learning, a strict adherence to standardized textbooks and workbooks, and a curriculum that is often enforced with drill and practice. The methods and the curriculum are molded by the questions that appear on the standardized achievement tests administered to every child from the fourth grade on. Success no longer means being able to do. Success comes to mean "academic success," a matter of learning to function within the system, of learning the "correct" answer, and of doing well at multiple-choice exams. Success also means, sadly, learning not to ask difficult questions. When we ask how our children are doing in school, we usually mean, "are they measuring up to the prevailing standards?" rather than, "are they having a good time and feeling excited about learning?”
We should purpose to be flexible in the way we try to tap into our children's innate interests. When we are interacting with the student we can evaluate whether learning has taken place. If one approach doesn't work, we can drop it and try another.
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