Sunday, September 23, 2012
Strength
I don't know about you, but sometimes I draw way to much strength from the praises of man. It is great to encourage, and it is great to be an encourager. But what do we do when there is no encouragement to be found? The easiest thing to do would be just to withdraw. But sometimes we are called to keep on serving even when we feel invisible to those around us. When we feel unappreciated. This song encourages me in times like these. I hope it will bless you too.
We still wrestle with our own flesh now and with feelings of inadequacy, but there is the hope that there will be a day when our Father in heaven will look at us and say: "Well done My child."
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A Great Resource for Christian Kids in Public Schools
While at an Answers in Genesis conference last week, I stumbled across a set of books that looked fascinating. They were titled: Evolution Exposed and one covered the topic of earth science and the other covered biology. I didn't give the books a super close look, but simply purchased them based on their titles. When I got home and started to look through them I noticed that, while they have some great information, they are really geared more toward the Christian child in the public or private school setting. The author of this series has taken the three most-used textbooks from the schools, and systematically charted evolutionary ideas and matched them with articles from the Answers in Genesis website that discuss each idea from a Biblical worldview. Each chapter includes a detailed chart of the ideas, the pages numbers that they are found in their respective texts, and links to a corresponding web article from AiG. What a great idea!
The book begins by discussing why it is important to recognize bad reasoning. This is particularly important as our Christian culture has assimilated many of these teachings into our thought processes and accepted them as fact without taking the time to get all of the facts, or really think through the matter logically. It then goes on to explain how the Christian can lovingly confront those ideas by asking pointed questions with respect and humility, both important virtues for evangelism.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Evolution-Exposed-POWER-PACK-The,5714,263.aspx
Above is a link to the "power pack" that contains both of the books. I highly recommend these resources!
The book begins by discussing why it is important to recognize bad reasoning. This is particularly important as our Christian culture has assimilated many of these teachings into our thought processes and accepted them as fact without taking the time to get all of the facts, or really think through the matter logically. It then goes on to explain how the Christian can lovingly confront those ideas by asking pointed questions with respect and humility, both important virtues for evangelism.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Evolution-Exposed-POWER-PACK-The,5714,263.aspx
Above is a link to the "power pack" that contains both of the books. I highly recommend these resources!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Convention Time!
If you are new to home schooling, or you have never attended a home school convention, I encourage you to give it a try. They are loaded with great speakers, and the exhibit halls are loaded with hands-on chances to evaluate curriculum! There are a few conventions coming up in our area:
Indiana State Home School Convention
Indiana's convention has shrunk through the years. I am not sure why. So far, the list of speakers this year is short, but if you are looking for an unintimidating experience you might opt for this.
Cincinnati Home School Convention
Here is a bigger convention with over 300 exhibitors! The list of speakers is impressive too, including Mike Huckabee, Chuck Colson, Jay Wile, and more.
Illinois Home School Convention
I understand that this is a pretty good one too.
Indiana State Home School Convention
Indiana's convention has shrunk through the years. I am not sure why. So far, the list of speakers this year is short, but if you are looking for an unintimidating experience you might opt for this.
Cincinnati Home School Convention
Here is a bigger convention with over 300 exhibitors! The list of speakers is impressive too, including Mike Huckabee, Chuck Colson, Jay Wile, and more.
Illinois Home School Convention
I understand that this is a pretty good one too.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Styles of Home Education: Unschooling Method
The information in these posts are taken for my sister-in-law Rhonda's notes. Rhonda is a veteran home educator of over 20 years. You can visit her blog here.
Unschooling Method
John Holt and the Moores made this style of learning famous. Here, the child is given the resources and environment for learning and then allowed to choose what he or she wants to learn based upon their interests. A child is not forced to learn certain subjects in certain grades and later schooling is emphasized. John Holt argued that a child will teach himself as ha becomes interested in various subjects with a minimal amount of help from the teacher. Many great men down through the ages were self-taught.
Advantages:
Lori's 2 cents: Evidently, I am have failed to set my home up as a learning environment such as this because if I let my kids choose that would watch TV and play video games all day long. Despite the fact that I LOVE to read, it has failed to rub off on my children. I suspect that the great men who self-educated were those with strong personalities and natural God-given motivation. I pray to have a child like this one day! :)
Unschooling Method
John Holt and the Moores made this style of learning famous. Here, the child is given the resources and environment for learning and then allowed to choose what he or she wants to learn based upon their interests. A child is not forced to learn certain subjects in certain grades and later schooling is emphasized. John Holt argued that a child will teach himself as ha becomes interested in various subjects with a minimal amount of help from the teacher. Many great men down through the ages were self-taught.
Advantages:
- A very relaxing style of learning, takes pressure off of performance.
- A child will think it to be heaven, of course!
- The student is basically unaware that schooling is taking place.
- Gaps in learning might frustrate child and teacher.
- Undesirable subject matter may be chosen.
- Child may lack self-discipline and motivation.
Lori's 2 cents: Evidently, I am have failed to set my home up as a learning environment such as this because if I let my kids choose that would watch TV and play video games all day long. Despite the fact that I LOVE to read, it has failed to rub off on my children. I suspect that the great men who self-educated were those with strong personalities and natural God-given motivation. I pray to have a child like this one day! :)
Styles of Home Education: Unit Studies Method
The posts in this series are taken from the notes of my sister-in-law Rhonda's notes. Rhonda is a veteran home educator of over 20 years. You can visit her blog here.
Unit Studies Method
Konos was one of the first curriculum to offer this style of learning. Using a theme as a springboard, the teacher pulls lessons from that main theme to teach many subjects such as geography, history, art, vocabulary, etc. There are many hands-on types of activities and creativity seeps from the seams of this method of learning. Lessons are retained by seeing, hearing, and acting out, rather than just reading it from a book. One lesson on telephones can lead to a biography of Alexander Graham Bell, the inner workings of the ear, and the history of the telegraph.
Advantages:
Lori's 2 cents: While we think until studies are a great idea, they do not lend well to a busy lifestyle. If you are like me and you have a part-time job outside of the home, you might not even consider the amount of prep time that this method takes. However, I have a few friends who have children with Autism and it seems to be a favored method among those parents. This is probably because the child is able to focus on the things that he or she already loves and incorporates it into every subject.
Unit Studies Method
Konos was one of the first curriculum to offer this style of learning. Using a theme as a springboard, the teacher pulls lessons from that main theme to teach many subjects such as geography, history, art, vocabulary, etc. There are many hands-on types of activities and creativity seeps from the seams of this method of learning. Lessons are retained by seeing, hearing, and acting out, rather than just reading it from a book. One lesson on telephones can lead to a biography of Alexander Graham Bell, the inner workings of the ear, and the history of the telegraph.
Advantages:
- Creative learning is, by far, the most fun type of learning for the student.
- Lends itself well to field trips.
- The whole family becomes involved in the learning process.
- Requires more preparation time on the part of the teacher.
- Additional textbooks are needed for math and phonics instruction.
- Can seem overwhelming to complete so many activities.
Lori's 2 cents: While we think until studies are a great idea, they do not lend well to a busy lifestyle. If you are like me and you have a part-time job outside of the home, you might not even consider the amount of prep time that this method takes. However, I have a few friends who have children with Autism and it seems to be a favored method among those parents. This is probably because the child is able to focus on the things that he or she already loves and incorporates it into every subject.
Styles of Home Education: Whole Child Method
The information in this series of posts are taken from my sister-in-law Rhonda's notes. Rhonda is a veteran home school mom with over 20 years of experience. You can visit her blog here.
Whole Child Method
This style of learning is synonymous with the name Charlotte Mason. There are three main goals to this approach to schooling:
Advantages:
Lori's 2 cents: I know a few families who use this method of learning and their kids are very bright and eager to learn. To some extent, I think most home educators have a hand in this style as we walk along side of our children and use life to teach lessons.
Whole Child Method
This style of learning is synonymous with the name Charlotte Mason. There are three main goals to this approach to schooling:
- Give the child something or someone to love.
- Give the child something to do.
- Give the child something to think about.
Advantages:
- A very enjoyable style of learning for the student.
- Creative learning at it's best.
- Works great with multi-grade levels.
- Requires the teacher to watch for teaching moments throughout the day.
- Doesn't adapt well to a more structured type of school day.
- Academic progress may be harder to chart.
Lori's 2 cents: I know a few families who use this method of learning and their kids are very bright and eager to learn. To some extent, I think most home educators have a hand in this style as we walk along side of our children and use life to teach lessons.
Styles of Home Education: Classical Method
The notes in these posts are taken from my sister-in-law Rhonda who is a veteran home school mom with over 20 years of experience. You can check our her blog here.
The Classical Method
While also being more structured, this method is not as rigid as the traditional method. The classical style of teaching basically involves 3 stages. In the elementary years, the focus is on learning facts, thus the traditional method can be used in this stage. In the middle school years, the student will learn critical thinking skills, logic, higher math, along with a strong emphasis on history. The high school years are used to develop writing methods as well as speaking skills. Art, travel, and apprenticeship are all a valued part of this style of teaching. Classical literature is used heavily throughout to form character and worldview.
Advantages:
Lori's 2 cents: I love this method! While we don't rigidly stick to it (we have yet to study Latin:) we love the heavy use of history as we believe that it is critical for shaping a world-view. It seems that this method, more than any other, encourages world history as heavy as American History. We also have enjoyed reading children's versions of classics like the Odyssey, and Beowulf. I believe that the best resource to get you started on this route is Susan Wise Bauer's The Well-Trained mind, available through Peace Hill Press.
The Classical Method
While also being more structured, this method is not as rigid as the traditional method. The classical style of teaching basically involves 3 stages. In the elementary years, the focus is on learning facts, thus the traditional method can be used in this stage. In the middle school years, the student will learn critical thinking skills, logic, higher math, along with a strong emphasis on history. The high school years are used to develop writing methods as well as speaking skills. Art, travel, and apprenticeship are all a valued part of this style of teaching. Classical literature is used heavily throughout to form character and worldview.
Advantages:
- Child has exposure to wonderful pieces of art and literature.
- Gives a well-rounded education.
- Enables the student to develop and world view and think critically.
- Struggling readers and non-readers might not like the heavy use of literature.
- Involved more extra-curricular activities such as travel, art exposure, etc.
Lori's 2 cents: I love this method! While we don't rigidly stick to it (we have yet to study Latin:) we love the heavy use of history as we believe that it is critical for shaping a world-view. It seems that this method, more than any other, encourages world history as heavy as American History. We also have enjoyed reading children's versions of classics like the Odyssey, and Beowulf. I believe that the best resource to get you started on this route is Susan Wise Bauer's The Well-Trained mind, available through Peace Hill Press.
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