There is a relatively simple reason why the left gets away with the lies and so many of the masses believe them at the expense of our country and at the expense of the campaigns of the good, truthful men like those that lost these recent elections.
Step one: It begins with early public education. Children from elementary up are no longer taught HOW to think but WHAT to think. They are trained to listen and parrot what their textbooks and teachers tell them, regardless of its accuracy. They are not taught to discern and distill information, but to regurgitate information, the basis for textbooks and fill-in-the-blank workbooks. The information that they will regurgitate is that which is handed to the educators from the powers that be, whether it be lobbyists, political organizations or politically correct and malleable administrators.
Step two: It continues with higher education indoctrination. Again, students are not true "free-thinkers" but simply regurgitate the spoon-fed ideologies of their professors for the right grade. Ask any student what happens if they answer something based on truthfulness when they are supposed to give a canned, politically correct answer. They are not allowed to take an opposing view if it is not in agreement with the party line. Truth and reality do not matter. Historical accuracy doesn't matter. (Ask my college age son who clarified his humanity professor's incorrect history of Muslims that she spouted during a recent lecture. In correcting her, using actual information from the Koran, she sarcastically asked him if he wanted to teach the class since he was clearly more knowledgeable than she. He agreed and she silenced him as he stood in front of his class.)
Step three: It ends with these students growing to become a technology and entertainment-addicted culture, the majority of which get their "news" and information from the Pravda media and Hollywood. If the same lies are said over and over, they, out of habit, do what they were taught to do in school. They parrot it. If anything is said long and loud enough, they must repeat it, whether or not it is true. This is catechism-like indoctrination.
Our society, for the most part, (the polly-parrot voting constituency) no longer reads to learn after they graduate, they no longer discern the truth from what they read, nor do they form their own opinion based on primary source material, They form their "opinion" based on what they are told to think and simply parrot the information. They are supposed to use the same language also, just like they learned in grade school when they were introduced to political correctness.
The conservative movement humbly asks these polly-parrot masses to actually think and form educated opinions. They ask that they actually read and get informed. Difficult topics are commonly broached, studied, discussed and disseminated among conservatives who still enjoy learning and tackling tedious subjects like fiscal responsibility, foreign policy, and economic issues. This is far more difficult than watching Letterman or Saturday Night Live, which is where many commonly get their information on current events. We can throw in an occasional segment on CNN and this discipling Pravda news becomes their reality.
Showing posts with label Homeschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homeschooling. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
On the Burning of Books
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is an intriguing apocalyptic story about censorship, and while it has some liberal thoughts, I found a portion of Bradbury's coda at the end of the book very interesting. He mentions:
"Two weeks ago my mountain of mail delivered forth a pipsqueak mouse of a letter from a well-known publishing house that wanted to reprint my story "The Fog Horn" in a high school reader. In my story, I had described a lighthouse as having, late at night, an illumination coming from it that was a 'God-light.' Looking up at it from the viewpoint of any sea-creature one would have felt that one was in 'the Presence.' The editors had deleted 'God-light' and 'in the Presence.'"
Wow, to censor Ray Bradbury, the author who foretold of censorship. And it's not that he comes across from a Christian point of view either. Fascinating.
He then writes more about the editing of yet another "literature anthology" for school readers. He asserts:
"How do you cram 400 (count 'em) short stories.....by Twain, Irving, Poe, Maupassant and Bierce into one book? Simplicity itself. Skin, debone, demarrow, scarify, melt, render down and destroy. Every adjective that counted, every verb that moved, every metaphor that weighed more than a mosquito--out! Every simile that would have made a sub-moron's mouth twitch--gone! Any aside that explained the two-bit philosophy of a first-rate writer--lost! Every story, slenderized, starved, bluepenciled, leeched and bled white, resembled every other story. Twain read like Poe read like Shakespeare read like Dostoevsky read like--Edgar Guest. Every word of more than three syllables had been razored. Every image that demanded so much as one instant's attention--shot dead.....the point is obvious. There is more than one way to burn a book."
So what does this mean for homeschoolers? Of course, I could ask, what does this mean for anyone, but the ones who really seem to care would be those who choose to home educate their children. Do your best to avoid those watered down literature anthologies or pre-filtered abridged versions of, some of the best literature that is chosen by you for your children to read. Allow them to be challenged by lengthy sentences, high-minded thoughts, tedious or challenging words. Encourage them to read broadly and express their opinions freely about what they read. I do not mean trashy stuff, I mean a wide variety with an eye to challenge and provoke them to grow into their own perspective on society, culture, worldview and ultimately to challenge them in their Christ-like walk in this age, above all not neglecting to absorb the Word of God with voracious appetite, knowing that possibly, someday, it could be abridged, filtered or burned as well.
"Two weeks ago my mountain of mail delivered forth a pipsqueak mouse of a letter from a well-known publishing house that wanted to reprint my story "The Fog Horn" in a high school reader. In my story, I had described a lighthouse as having, late at night, an illumination coming from it that was a 'God-light.' Looking up at it from the viewpoint of any sea-creature one would have felt that one was in 'the Presence.' The editors had deleted 'God-light' and 'in the Presence.'"
Wow, to censor Ray Bradbury, the author who foretold of censorship. And it's not that he comes across from a Christian point of view either. Fascinating.
He then writes more about the editing of yet another "literature anthology" for school readers. He asserts:
"How do you cram 400 (count 'em) short stories.....by Twain, Irving, Poe, Maupassant and Bierce into one book? Simplicity itself. Skin, debone, demarrow, scarify, melt, render down and destroy. Every adjective that counted, every verb that moved, every metaphor that weighed more than a mosquito--out! Every simile that would have made a sub-moron's mouth twitch--gone! Any aside that explained the two-bit philosophy of a first-rate writer--lost! Every story, slenderized, starved, bluepenciled, leeched and bled white, resembled every other story. Twain read like Poe read like Shakespeare read like Dostoevsky read like--Edgar Guest. Every word of more than three syllables had been razored. Every image that demanded so much as one instant's attention--shot dead.....the point is obvious. There is more than one way to burn a book."
So what does this mean for homeschoolers? Of course, I could ask, what does this mean for anyone, but the ones who really seem to care would be those who choose to home educate their children. Do your best to avoid those watered down literature anthologies or pre-filtered abridged versions of, some of the best literature that is chosen by you for your children to read. Allow them to be challenged by lengthy sentences, high-minded thoughts, tedious or challenging words. Encourage them to read broadly and express their opinions freely about what they read. I do not mean trashy stuff, I mean a wide variety with an eye to challenge and provoke them to grow into their own perspective on society, culture, worldview and ultimately to challenge them in their Christ-like walk in this age, above all not neglecting to absorb the Word of God with voracious appetite, knowing that possibly, someday, it could be abridged, filtered or burned as well.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Beyond the Book Report
In homeschooling, there seem to be sporadically-spaced quantum leaps our children take in their journey of learning. I remember one son going from "C-A-T" "kuh / a /tuh" "cat...CAT!" to reading words like euphemism. One day our young child is beginning to learn about silent e and the next he is reading multi-syllabic words containing all sorts of exceptions to phonetic rules. How do they learn all that? I'm trusting that God instructs them in the nightwatches like it says in one of the Psalms.
So it goes with creative writing assignments. I have struggled with my young writers over disjointed sentences, lack of subject-verb agreement, using informal language or colloquialisms.....all in a little writing assignment about "Our cat, Tux." Basically just getting them to jump from the simplistic, third-grade sounding reports to a thoughtful essay on any topic seems daunting.
It took some time, but I think we finally made the quantum leap from the simplistic book report....."This was about a girl who lives in the middle ages….” to writing a nicely organized, albeit simple, literary critique or book review. Out of desperation (dare I call it frustration?) I put together some pretty basic little guidelines to help my sons write a well-framed review of a book they recently read. Since they had previously read The Great Gatsby, I used ideas from another review about that book for examples to illustrate what I was driving at. Well, it worked. Since they successfully used this example, and finally made that "quantum leap" from the elementary-sounding book report to a passable literary critique, I thought posting this may offer help to other homeschool moms in trying to get beyond the dreaded, boring book report.
Here is a simple pattern to follow when writing a book review. The numbered statements and examples below are the ideas you should discuss in each paragraph of the Review. If the pattern is closely followed, a well-written 8 paragraph essay should be the result. It is possible to combine a couple of the ideas into one paragraph, but it is recommended for best results, and to create a generally well organized critique of any piece of literature to stick to the pattern.
Discussing the "Theme" is generally the most challenging for a young writer. Help them discover that it may be any over-arching idea in the book: courage, betrayal, loyalty, overcoming obstacles, etc.
Analysis or opinion is important and there is no “right” or “wrong.” This is not simply a book report which regurgitates the plot and action of the book, but is rather a Book Review, or critical analysis if you prefer.
Paragraphs
1) State a bold assertion in your thesis about the book.
“The Great Gatsby is probably F. Scott Fitzgerald’s greatest novel; a book that offers condemning and insightful views of the American Nouveau riche in the 1920s.”
2) State the Theme.
“Fitzgerald seems to have a brilliant understanding of lives that are corrupted by greed.”
3) Summarize the setting. This should be very brief introducing the protagonist, identifying the location and the mood.
4) Summarize the conflict. “Long ago, Gatsby fell in love with a young girl, Daisy. Although she has always loved Gatsby, she is currently married to Tom Buchanan.”
5) Summarize the plot.
6) Describe the protagonist: his circumstances, and driving values.
7) Offer your final analysis. “Fitzgerald attacks the shallow social climbing and emotional manipulation—which only causes pain. With a decadent cynicism, the party-goers in The Great Gatsby cannot see anything beyond their own enjoyment. Gatsby’s love is frustrated by the social situation and his death symbolizes the danger of his chosen path.”
8) Closing: restate your thesis. “In all its excitement—pulsating with life and tragedy—The Great Gatsby captures brilliantly the American dream in a time when it had descended into decadence.”
Organization:
Check mark each:
___ Thesis statement?
___Supporting statements?
___Purpose clear?
___"Theme" paragraph thesis statement?
___"Theme" supporting sentences?
___"Setting" paragraph thesis statement?
___"Setting supporting sentences?
___"Conflict" paragraph thesis statement?
___"Conflict supporting sentences?
___"Plot" paragraph neatly introduced?
___"Plot" organized supporting sentences?
___"Analysis" paragraph thesis statement?
___"Analysis" supporting sentences?
___Closing paragraph?
___Thesis restated?
___ Total
14-15 checks +3 points
12-13 checks +2 points
10-11 checks +1 point
9 or less 0 points
Mechanical errors: (spelling, punctuation, usage)
0-2 errors + 1 point
3-5 errors 0 points
6+ errors -1 point
Expression, content, readability
Very good +2 points
Average +1 point
poor/needs work 0 points
Grade:
5-6 points = A
4 points = B
3 points = C
1-2 points = D
This worked well for us and may help others who not only struggle with getting beyond the boring book report, but may also assist overwhelmed homeschool moms like me who either simply try to avoid grading writing assignments or desire something more objective than a smiley face or a "Well done" sticker. Happy homeschooling!
So it goes with creative writing assignments. I have struggled with my young writers over disjointed sentences, lack of subject-verb agreement, using informal language or colloquialisms.....all in a little writing assignment about "Our cat, Tux." Basically just getting them to jump from the simplistic, third-grade sounding reports to a thoughtful essay on any topic seems daunting.
It took some time, but I think we finally made the quantum leap from the simplistic book report....."This was about a girl who lives in the middle ages….” to writing a nicely organized, albeit simple, literary critique or book review. Out of desperation (dare I call it frustration?) I put together some pretty basic little guidelines to help my sons write a well-framed review of a book they recently read. Since they had previously read The Great Gatsby, I used ideas from another review about that book for examples to illustrate what I was driving at. Well, it worked. Since they successfully used this example, and finally made that "quantum leap" from the elementary-sounding book report to a passable literary critique, I thought posting this may offer help to other homeschool moms in trying to get beyond the dreaded, boring book report.
Book Review Guidelines
Here is a simple pattern to follow when writing a book review. The numbered statements and examples below are the ideas you should discuss in each paragraph of the Review. If the pattern is closely followed, a well-written 8 paragraph essay should be the result. It is possible to combine a couple of the ideas into one paragraph, but it is recommended for best results, and to create a generally well organized critique of any piece of literature to stick to the pattern.
Discussing the "Theme" is generally the most challenging for a young writer. Help them discover that it may be any over-arching idea in the book: courage, betrayal, loyalty, overcoming obstacles, etc.
Analysis or opinion is important and there is no “right” or “wrong.” This is not simply a book report which regurgitates the plot and action of the book, but is rather a Book Review, or critical analysis if you prefer.
Paragraphs
1) State a bold assertion in your thesis about the book.
“The Great Gatsby is probably F. Scott Fitzgerald’s greatest novel; a book that offers condemning and insightful views of the American Nouveau riche in the 1920s.”
2) State the Theme.
“Fitzgerald seems to have a brilliant understanding of lives that are corrupted by greed.”
3) Summarize the setting. This should be very brief introducing the protagonist, identifying the location and the mood.
4) Summarize the conflict. “Long ago, Gatsby fell in love with a young girl, Daisy. Although she has always loved Gatsby, she is currently married to Tom Buchanan.”
5) Summarize the plot.
6) Describe the protagonist: his circumstances, and driving values.
7) Offer your final analysis. “Fitzgerald attacks the shallow social climbing and emotional manipulation—which only causes pain. With a decadent cynicism, the party-goers in The Great Gatsby cannot see anything beyond their own enjoyment. Gatsby’s love is frustrated by the social situation and his death symbolizes the danger of his chosen path.”
8) Closing: restate your thesis. “In all its excitement—pulsating with life and tragedy—The Great Gatsby captures brilliantly the American dream in a time when it had descended into decadence.”
Suggestions for Grading the Book Review
This was adapted from Format Writing by Frode Jensen
This was adapted from Format Writing by Frode Jensen
Organization:
Check mark each:
___ Thesis statement?
___Supporting statements?
___Purpose clear?
___"Theme" paragraph thesis statement?
___"Theme" supporting sentences?
___"Setting" paragraph thesis statement?
___"Setting supporting sentences?
___"Conflict" paragraph thesis statement?
___"Conflict supporting sentences?
___"Plot" paragraph neatly introduced?
___"Plot" organized supporting sentences?
___"Analysis" paragraph thesis statement?
___"Analysis" supporting sentences?
___Closing paragraph?
___Thesis restated?
___ Total
14-15 checks +3 points
12-13 checks +2 points
10-11 checks +1 point
9 or less 0 points
Mechanical errors: (spelling, punctuation, usage)
0-2 errors + 1 point
3-5 errors 0 points
6+ errors -1 point
Expression, content, readability
Very good +2 points
Average +1 point
poor/needs work 0 points
Grade:
5-6 points = A
4 points = B
3 points = C
1-2 points = D
This worked well for us and may help others who not only struggle with getting beyond the boring book report, but may also assist overwhelmed homeschool moms like me who either simply try to avoid grading writing assignments or desire something more objective than a smiley face or a "Well done" sticker. Happy homeschooling!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Inspire, Not Require
"Most often attention is confused with a kind of muscular effort.If one says to one's pupils: 'Now you must pay attention,' one sees them contracting their brows, holding their breath, stiffening their muscles.If after two minutes they are asked what they have been paying attention to, they cannot reply. They have been concentrating on nothing.They have not been paying attention. They have been contracting their muscles.We often expend this kind of muscular effort on our studies.As it ends by making us tired, we have the impression that we have been working. That it an illusion....The intelligence can only be led by desire.For there to be desire, there must be pleasure and joy in the work.The intelligence only grows and bears fruit in joy.The joy of learning is as indispensible in study as breathing is in running."
-Simone Weil
Friday, March 18, 2011
So You Want to Homeschool?
Times, they are a’changing. Way back, in the latter half of the last century, when many of us parents were children, homeschooling was a strange word. “You home-WHAT? Is that legal?” “So, what do you do about socialization?” Nowadays, we mention that we homeschool and we frequently hear, “Oh, I did that for a while” or “My (cousin, sister, neighbor, fill-in-the-blank) does that” or “I could never homeschool my children….I’m too (fill-in-the-blank).”
Well, on the last comment, I beg to differ. If I can homeschool, anyone can homeschool. And I’m here to help. (“Help me, don’t help me!” I can hear some of my close friends saying. You know who you are.) Tell you what….I’ll dish out some suggestions and the taking of them is completely up to you.
First things first.: Why do you want to homeschool?
Figure out why homeschooling seems like an option you want to tackle. I mean, wouldn’t it be simpler to put your baby on the yellow school bus and send them on through the gates of….oh, that title is already taken. Take some time as a couple and jot down YOUR reasons for wanting to do this.
Some common reasons could be:
1. To avoid the dangers now common in a public school. (Bullying, drugs, shootings, etc.)
2. To offer your child a biblical foundation for everything they learn.
3. To save money over putting children in a private school.
4. To offer your child a better education than they would get in a classroom.
5. To teach your children based on their strengths.
6. To avoid lock-step, age segregated, educational procedures.
7. To spend time with your child and build up your family.
8. To have the freedom to educate outside of an institutionalized calendar.
Well, the list can go on and on, but our reasons for wanting to homeschool become our guiding values. This is an important step because establishing these values early on will keep you going when the going gets tough.
Secondly: To Teach, be Teachable. And be the example.
We know that things are better caught than taught. If we can only get that through our thick heads sometimes. Like it or not, even we enlightened parents (unlike our poor parents who sometimes get a bad rap) still have the “do as I say, not as I do” mentality. Oh no? What about that awful canned baby food? “Here, honey, eat your strained peas,” when we wouldn’t let a strained pea pass through our gritted teeth. To take it one step further, education-wise, we need to do what we are planning on asking our children to do. If we want them to read, we need to read. If we want them to be diligent, we need to be diligent. Let’s begin by being an example and teaching ourselves. Your goal will be to teach your child to love learning, so begin by loving learning yourself. Surround yourself with books that will inspire you and encourage you in your homeschooling journey. We are so blessed to live in a time when great books like these abound by the hundreds.
Here are some very (very, very, very) important books that everyone who is interested in homeschooling ought to own. Basically, these answer "Why Should I do this? And What Will it Look Like?" Did I mention that you ought to seriously read all these books?
Dumbing us Down by John Taylor Gatto
The Christian Home School by Gregg Harris
The Harsh Truth about Public Schools by Bruce Shortt
The Socialization Trap by Rick Boyer
The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook by Raymond and Dorothy Moore
Don't forget to add in some intriguing titles of your own choosing. A websearch of books about homeschooling ought to do the trick. One of my favorites (alluded to above) is Onto the Yellow School Bus and Through the Gates of Hell by Mary Hood. I mean, who can resist a title like that?
Getting Your Child Ready:
Please don't wait until your child is kindergarten age to begin his education journey. In all truth, you begin readying your child from the moment, well, a few hours at least, after delivery. You will be bringing your child into your home, with the routines, atmosphere, habits, and family culture that you have already established. The amount of (or lack of) structure and discipline in your home will have a tremendous impact on your child's temperament, self-control, habits, obedience, personality, likes and dislikes, whether we want to admit it or not. If the first few years went by in a blur, and you aren't sure about the atmosphere of your home, now is the time to take inventory and begin to establish some healthy routines in order to have a pleasant environment in which to teach that young 'un.
If a home happens to be one where the M.O. is "fly by the seat of your pants", with undisciplined parents who never know what a day will bring, there will be a clash of wills when all of a sudden your beloved little tyke is told that he will be expected to sit down and be quiet during your school time. "What?!" he hollers. "I've been roaming the house from morn til dark, taking naps helter skelter, eating Cheez-its and hot dogs at will and now I'm told that I'm going to do school? I don't think so." Well, the words may not come out quite like that, but if mommy has been a little carefree and whimsical herself, which allowed this precious child to be a little free-wheeling, they both will face some challenges. But hey, they will face these challenges if public school is the option as well. All of a sudden the young family faces a serious cramping of one's style. At least homeschooling is a little more forgiving.
One place to start is to establish some sort of regular routine regarding mealtimes, hopefully opting for healthy choices so they will be better fed and ultimately healthier and better behaved. It really helps a child's sense of security to make sure meals are served at the same time each day. Can you imagine not knowing when you will eat next? A young child can't express that insecurity so they typically become whiny or irritable. Irregular meals are not the only thing that causes insecurity.
When they are young, try to put their naps on a set routine, along with a set time for play, a set time for reading aloud to them, as well as a consistent bedtime routine. These routines may seem insignificant, but contribute to a child's overall sense of discipline and order, making the transition to a successful "homeschool" so much easier for both parents and children.
Establish set times each day with your baby/toddler/preschooler for some creative play. This is where you get "dirty" with them. Don't send them out to play in the sandbox while you clean house. Build sculptures with them. Let them discover such wonders as finger painting, stacking blocks, playing with magnetic alphabet letters, using play-doh, pretending to cook, stringing beads, or playing at the park. It is our duty as parents to help them discover things that we have long taken for granted like how to roll play-doh into a snake, or how to pack damp sand into a bucket to dump out as a sandcastle tower. Left on their own, the play-doh will probably end up being a "snack" and the sand bucket used to bean another child on the noggin. Hey, I've lived it. The best thing is that this "play time' sets the stage for "school-time" later on. Establish the routine early and you will be ahead of the game.
Dare to Discpline:
Since wonderful, insightful, life-changing books have been written on the subject of either child or parent training, I will attempt to list some of our favorites below. But, suffice it to say, a child without consistent, effective discipline will be tremendously difficult to teach at home. The most basic need for a homeschool is to have obedient children. Nothing can take the place of control in the home: all the brains, homeschool supplies, state-of-the-art equipment or simply tons of money, won't achieve squat if your child balks at what you tell him to do. And you can take that to the bank.
Here's my list of awesome, great, inspiring must-reads for effective parenting:
To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl
Child Training Tips: What I Wish I Knew When my Children Were Young by Reb Bradley
What the Bible Says About Child Training by J. Richard Fugate
How to Behave So Your Children Will Too! by Sal Severe
Boundaries with Kids by Cloud & Townsend
Well, on the last comment, I beg to differ. If I can homeschool, anyone can homeschool. And I’m here to help. (“Help me, don’t help me!” I can hear some of my close friends saying. You know who you are.) Tell you what….I’ll dish out some suggestions and the taking of them is completely up to you.
First things first.: Why do you want to homeschool?
Figure out why homeschooling seems like an option you want to tackle. I mean, wouldn’t it be simpler to put your baby on the yellow school bus and send them on through the gates of….oh, that title is already taken. Take some time as a couple and jot down YOUR reasons for wanting to do this.
Some common reasons could be:
1. To avoid the dangers now common in a public school. (Bullying, drugs, shootings, etc.)
2. To offer your child a biblical foundation for everything they learn.
3. To save money over putting children in a private school.
4. To offer your child a better education than they would get in a classroom.
5. To teach your children based on their strengths.
6. To avoid lock-step, age segregated, educational procedures.
7. To spend time with your child and build up your family.
8. To have the freedom to educate outside of an institutionalized calendar.
Well, the list can go on and on, but our reasons for wanting to homeschool become our guiding values. This is an important step because establishing these values early on will keep you going when the going gets tough.
Secondly: To Teach, be Teachable. And be the example.
We know that things are better caught than taught. If we can only get that through our thick heads sometimes. Like it or not, even we enlightened parents (unlike our poor parents who sometimes get a bad rap) still have the “do as I say, not as I do” mentality. Oh no? What about that awful canned baby food? “Here, honey, eat your strained peas,” when we wouldn’t let a strained pea pass through our gritted teeth. To take it one step further, education-wise, we need to do what we are planning on asking our children to do. If we want them to read, we need to read. If we want them to be diligent, we need to be diligent. Let’s begin by being an example and teaching ourselves. Your goal will be to teach your child to love learning, so begin by loving learning yourself. Surround yourself with books that will inspire you and encourage you in your homeschooling journey. We are so blessed to live in a time when great books like these abound by the hundreds.
Here are some very (very, very, very) important books that everyone who is interested in homeschooling ought to own. Basically, these answer "Why Should I do this? And What Will it Look Like?" Did I mention that you ought to seriously read all these books?
Dumbing us Down by John Taylor Gatto
The Christian Home School by Gregg Harris
The Harsh Truth about Public Schools by Bruce Shortt
The Socialization Trap by Rick Boyer
The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook by Raymond and Dorothy Moore
Don't forget to add in some intriguing titles of your own choosing. A websearch of books about homeschooling ought to do the trick. One of my favorites (alluded to above) is Onto the Yellow School Bus and Through the Gates of Hell by Mary Hood. I mean, who can resist a title like that?
Getting Your Child Ready:
Please don't wait until your child is kindergarten age to begin his education journey. In all truth, you begin readying your child from the moment, well, a few hours at least, after delivery. You will be bringing your child into your home, with the routines, atmosphere, habits, and family culture that you have already established. The amount of (or lack of) structure and discipline in your home will have a tremendous impact on your child's temperament, self-control, habits, obedience, personality, likes and dislikes, whether we want to admit it or not. If the first few years went by in a blur, and you aren't sure about the atmosphere of your home, now is the time to take inventory and begin to establish some healthy routines in order to have a pleasant environment in which to teach that young 'un.
If a home happens to be one where the M.O. is "fly by the seat of your pants", with undisciplined parents who never know what a day will bring, there will be a clash of wills when all of a sudden your beloved little tyke is told that he will be expected to sit down and be quiet during your school time. "What?!" he hollers. "I've been roaming the house from morn til dark, taking naps helter skelter, eating Cheez-its and hot dogs at will and now I'm told that I'm going to do school? I don't think so." Well, the words may not come out quite like that, but if mommy has been a little carefree and whimsical herself, which allowed this precious child to be a little free-wheeling, they both will face some challenges. But hey, they will face these challenges if public school is the option as well. All of a sudden the young family faces a serious cramping of one's style. At least homeschooling is a little more forgiving.
One place to start is to establish some sort of regular routine regarding mealtimes, hopefully opting for healthy choices so they will be better fed and ultimately healthier and better behaved. It really helps a child's sense of security to make sure meals are served at the same time each day. Can you imagine not knowing when you will eat next? A young child can't express that insecurity so they typically become whiny or irritable. Irregular meals are not the only thing that causes insecurity.
When they are young, try to put their naps on a set routine, along with a set time for play, a set time for reading aloud to them, as well as a consistent bedtime routine. These routines may seem insignificant, but contribute to a child's overall sense of discipline and order, making the transition to a successful "homeschool" so much easier for both parents and children.
Establish set times each day with your baby/toddler/preschooler for some creative play. This is where you get "dirty" with them. Don't send them out to play in the sandbox while you clean house. Build sculptures with them. Let them discover such wonders as finger painting, stacking blocks, playing with magnetic alphabet letters, using play-doh, pretending to cook, stringing beads, or playing at the park. It is our duty as parents to help them discover things that we have long taken for granted like how to roll play-doh into a snake, or how to pack damp sand into a bucket to dump out as a sandcastle tower. Left on their own, the play-doh will probably end up being a "snack" and the sand bucket used to bean another child on the noggin. Hey, I've lived it. The best thing is that this "play time' sets the stage for "school-time" later on. Establish the routine early and you will be ahead of the game.
Dare to Discpline:
Since wonderful, insightful, life-changing books have been written on the subject of either child or parent training, I will attempt to list some of our favorites below. But, suffice it to say, a child without consistent, effective discipline will be tremendously difficult to teach at home. The most basic need for a homeschool is to have obedient children. Nothing can take the place of control in the home: all the brains, homeschool supplies, state-of-the-art equipment or simply tons of money, won't achieve squat if your child balks at what you tell him to do. And you can take that to the bank.
Here's my list of awesome, great, inspiring must-reads for effective parenting:
To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl
Child Training Tips: What I Wish I Knew When my Children Were Young by Reb Bradley
What the Bible Says About Child Training by J. Richard Fugate
How to Behave So Your Children Will Too! by Sal Severe
Boundaries with Kids by Cloud & Townsend
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Top 50 Novels for Homeschooling Families
As a homeschooling family, we are always looking for really great books to read. Not titles that are just so-so, but books that intrigue, interest, fascinate, teach or cause us to recognize the weaknesses and strengths we have as God's creation.
Through fifteen years of homeschooling my boys, I have perused list after list, catalog after catalog, and chosen much literature based on the recommendations of those "in the know." How I wish there had been a rating system in place for literature that would tell me how many cuss words the book would contain, how much disrespect the characters would have for parents, and what sort of adult themes my sons would encounter within the pages. One such list of "must-reads" is the Modern Library list of 100 Best Novels which includes such awful titles as Stephen King's The Stand and the "classic" Catcher in the Rye. There is also the adult-themed Orwellian 1984 or Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. If I wasn't a "parent-in-the-know" I could think, "Hey, here's a great list of top books....go read these, Son." I cannot just plug my nose and hand over "well-recommended" titles like that.
Assuming you found a list of sanctified literature and the titles passed the "rating system" for offensive content, how about the "boring" rating system? Has anyone struggled through some of those G.A. Henty titles? How about Hans Brinker's tour of Holland? Reading My Side of the Mountain can make anyone drowsy, although we endured by getting it in audio. Just because a book lacks offensive material doesn't mean it's really good. Some "highly recommended" books were simply boring and were a struggle to finish, even for those who love books.
So, many of those sanctified uber-recommended titles also failed to meet our high expectations. How can we, as cautious parents, just hand our children literature that others claim is timely, intriguing or worthwhile that bores our children to tears and keeps then from joining the Great Conversation? But more than that, how can we subject them to an author without reading the book ourselves?
If I ever had any advice to give a homeschooling parent in choosing books for your children to read, or before buying novels to accompany a curriculum, it would be to read the book. I know, I know....we don't have the time. I beg to differ. If you don't have the time to read the book first, then you ought not use the book. How can you ask your child to do what you are unwilling to do? As a suggestion, you can always read it aloud so you may use the opportunity to gather as a family and, using the book, clarify, console, enlighten and disciple your children. The very best benefit we have gained while sharing books is establishing a common frame of reference that we can continue to enjoy for years to come. And when you share books, you can build your own family's list of Really Great Books.
So, here's our list. The top 50 Fiction Novels we have enjoyed that we found interesting, with great moral lessons for all grades. These are not separated by age level nor did I point out the Superstars from the "barely-made-its". They all just wound up as family favorites and are listed alphabetically. Two titles were included hesitatingly--To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies-- because of thematic elements but were overwhelmingly voted to be included on the must-read list by my teenage sons. They made for some tremendous discussion.
Through fifteen years of homeschooling my boys, I have perused list after list, catalog after catalog, and chosen much literature based on the recommendations of those "in the know." How I wish there had been a rating system in place for literature that would tell me how many cuss words the book would contain, how much disrespect the characters would have for parents, and what sort of adult themes my sons would encounter within the pages. One such list of "must-reads" is the Modern Library list of 100 Best Novels which includes such awful titles as Stephen King's The Stand and the "classic" Catcher in the Rye. There is also the adult-themed Orwellian 1984 or Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. If I wasn't a "parent-in-the-know" I could think, "Hey, here's a great list of top books....go read these, Son." I cannot just plug my nose and hand over "well-recommended" titles like that.
Assuming you found a list of sanctified literature and the titles passed the "rating system" for offensive content, how about the "boring" rating system? Has anyone struggled through some of those G.A. Henty titles? How about Hans Brinker's tour of Holland? Reading My Side of the Mountain can make anyone drowsy, although we endured by getting it in audio. Just because a book lacks offensive material doesn't mean it's really good. Some "highly recommended" books were simply boring and were a struggle to finish, even for those who love books.
So, many of those sanctified uber-recommended titles also failed to meet our high expectations. How can we, as cautious parents, just hand our children literature that others claim is timely, intriguing or worthwhile that bores our children to tears and keeps then from joining the Great Conversation? But more than that, how can we subject them to an author without reading the book ourselves?
If I ever had any advice to give a homeschooling parent in choosing books for your children to read, or before buying novels to accompany a curriculum, it would be to read the book. I know, I know....we don't have the time. I beg to differ. If you don't have the time to read the book first, then you ought not use the book. How can you ask your child to do what you are unwilling to do? As a suggestion, you can always read it aloud so you may use the opportunity to gather as a family and, using the book, clarify, console, enlighten and disciple your children. The very best benefit we have gained while sharing books is establishing a common frame of reference that we can continue to enjoy for years to come. And when you share books, you can build your own family's list of Really Great Books.
So, here's our list. The top 50 Fiction Novels we have enjoyed that we found interesting, with great moral lessons for all grades. These are not separated by age level nor did I point out the Superstars from the "barely-made-its". They all just wound up as family favorites and are listed alphabetically. Two titles were included hesitatingly--To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies-- because of thematic elements but were overwhelmingly voted to be included on the must-read list by my teenage sons. They made for some tremendous discussion.
- A Door in the Wall
- A Lion to Guard Us
- A Single Shard
- A Tale of Two Cities
- Adam of the Road
- Animal Farm
- Around the World in 80 Days
- Billy Budd
- Caddie Woodlawn
- Call it Courage
- Call of the Wild
- Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
- Crispin: A Cross of Lead
- Eagle of the Ninth
- Freckles
- Hatchet
- I, Juan de Pareja
- Island of the Blue Dolphins
- Jane Eyre
- Johnny Tremain
- King of the Wind
- Little Lord Fauntleroy
- Lord of the Flies
- Matchlock Gun
- Matilda Bone
- Mr. Revere and I
- Number the Stars
- Pollyanna
- Pride and Prejudice
- Robinson Crusoe
- Shipwrecked But Not Lost
- Sign of the Beaver
- Snow Treasure
- Stepping Heavenward
- Teddy’s Button
- The Bronze Bow
- The Cay
- The Courage of Sarah Noble
- The Hundred Dresses
- The Midwife’s Apprentice
- The Rats of Nimh
- The Secret Garden
- The Shining Company
- The Whipping Boy
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- Tom Sawyer
- Twenty-One Balloons
- Where the Red Fern Grows
- Wuthering Heights
Sunday, November 7, 2010
What is There Not to Love About Homeschooling?
Why adopt someone else's list of "Top Ten Reasons to Homeschool" when it would be much more personal to list our own favorites? I strugged to keep mine to only twenty....and it was hard.
I am my child’s “go to” person when they want to know something.
If an exciting opportunity arises, we can call off school for the day and take advantage of it without having to ask the school’s permission to be absent.
I get to grade my children’s work based on their understanding of the material, and not how many answers were wrong or right.
Cuddling up on the couch reading a book in front of a cozy fire is so much more inviting than sitting at hard cold desks doing worksheets.
No need to ask permission to go to the potty. And my boys don’t have to ask either.
My boys are not preoccupied during school time by the female sitting next to them, unless it’s our doggy Chloe, and truth be told, she can be pretty appealing. I guess I have to take that one back.
The boys get to choose their own books and get credit for reading them.
I don’t have to hear “My teacher says to do it this way…” I am the teacher.
Errands to the right places can be counted as field trips, and have turned out to be extremely educational.
Visiting the chiropractor can count as a health lesson. You think I'm kidding.
Birthdays are counted as school holidays. The more children, the more school holidays.
We have the opportunity to teach history based on what actually happened and why, and not according to ideas that have been baptized in political correctness or sanitized of any reference to God.
Math is learned at the pace of the student, and not the pace of the Scope and Sequence or according to the slowest learner in class.
We can give credit for attending church and taking notes.
We never have to stand in line for lunch. And lunch can be either ultra-healthy or not so much depending on the whim of the kitchen staff (Mom) and what’s readily available in the pantry.
No need to buy school clothes in order to keep up with latest fads and fashions.
If we want to study science or history all day, that’s our prerogative. No need to let the other teachers know.
As mom-Teacher, I can share my humble but correct opinion in all matters of religion and politics and have no fear of losing my job.
If unseemly behavior calls for chastisement, no worries.
It is not uncommon for my homeschooled children to use words that I have to look up in the dictionary. I remind them that I was publicly schooled and to please use smaller words.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Grudges
In doing devotions, the boys and I have been reading a great little book titled Created for Work by Bob Schultz. All the chapters are great but we were quite tickled as we read the chapter about grudges. I think everyone at one time or another gets tempted to nurse a grudge, and maybe the more stubborn we are, the more successful we are at keeping that grudge alive. Schultz adds some great insight using the example of a husbands that holds a grudge against his wife:
It's hard to maintain a consistent grudge. When his old friend calls on the phone, this husband merrily chats with him for fifteen minutes. As he hangs up,the husband almost turns to tell his wife about what was said, but remembers that he is holding a grudge. He puts on the solemn face and continues his silence.
My sons and I laughed at this picture but recognized its truthfulness in light of resentments we've held and seen held for short times among family and friends. Schultz brings his thoughts on grudges to a head when he writes:
When you hold a grudge you think you are punishing the other person by withholding your wonderful self. “I won’t smile at them; they’ll feel the pain; that’ll serve them right.” But the opposite is true. Holding a grudge is punishment on you. You lose the privilege of delivering God’s water of life. You stagnate and stink. You’re the one emotionally drained. You miss God’s joy and fellowship.
What a challenging thought as we enter our day, mindful of harboring resentments and nursing grudges against those around us.
“Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” James 5:9
Monday, September 13, 2010
Homeschool Hurrah!
Here's a note of encouragement for those of you who wonder if it's worth it to homeschool through high school. Below is an excerpt from a note I just sent to a dear friend and thought that maybe it would encourage those of you who are wondering if you should continue homeschooling through high school.
...As for MSU, Lowell is loving every minute of it. If I had any encouragement for HS'ing moms who wonder if they should homeschool through high school, this in itself has made it worth it. Since he didn't get jaded [toward learning] after a high school experience, whether it be 1 or 4 years, he loves the whole college experience. I'm not saying homeschooling him his high school years was a piece of cake, but getting him accepted to MSU was enough of a "feather in my cap" considering I'm a college drop-out...
I'm coming to the realization that college is a sort of "postscript" for the high school years for several of my son's friends. Especially here, since our university boasts small class size (which is great, don't get me wrong) but these students have shared that not much has changed for them. On the contrary, my son is thrilled with everything about it: So much of it is new to him that had become commonplace, maybe a little old-hat for others. Studying on his own or with friends, making plans for lunch, joining the debate club and Young Republicans...it's all been a thrill a minute.
So, despite all my concerns over lackluster assignments, projects that weren't completed, areas of study that we never got around to, the best thing was simply waiting to allow our "arrow" to fly.
...As for MSU, Lowell is loving every minute of it. If I had any encouragement for HS'ing moms who wonder if they should homeschool through high school, this in itself has made it worth it. Since he didn't get jaded [toward learning] after a high school experience, whether it be 1 or 4 years, he loves the whole college experience. I'm not saying homeschooling him his high school years was a piece of cake, but getting him accepted to MSU was enough of a "feather in my cap" considering I'm a college drop-out...
I'm coming to the realization that college is a sort of "postscript" for the high school years for several of my son's friends. Especially here, since our university boasts small class size (which is great, don't get me wrong) but these students have shared that not much has changed for them. On the contrary, my son is thrilled with everything about it: So much of it is new to him that had become commonplace, maybe a little old-hat for others. Studying on his own or with friends, making plans for lunch, joining the debate club and Young Republicans...it's all been a thrill a minute.
So, despite all my concerns over lackluster assignments, projects that weren't completed, areas of study that we never got around to, the best thing was simply waiting to allow our "arrow" to fly.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Dear Abby - Homeschool Style
I frequently receive e-mail questions as a support group leader and homeschool website creator from new homeschool moms who simply need affirmation of their desire to homeschool or concerns they have regarding the choice they made. Here's one such letter from a mom of an infant.
"My child is only 10 months old, so there is no pressure yet w/ schooling, but I was hoping I could obtain your perspectives on a few things. I want to homeschool my son at least through elementary school. My mom says putting them into regular school will put them at a disadvantage if I don't start them in a regular school. My husband wants them to be involved in school sports (hence going to regular school) I do not want them to receive a GED, but an actual high school degree, as some places will not hire w/ just a GED. Do any of you even bother with football and basketball (winter/school sports) or is this even a concern? I want to look into every aspect of this before I jump on board, only to find my ship sinking. I live in XXXX County, have a teaching degree and have taught at several elementaries, hence KNOWING that I do not really want my child to attend public school. I guess I just need the "down lo" on anything you can provide. Thanks a lot for any help."
I'd be glad to answer your questions.
We've been homeschooling (all boys) for 14-15 years now and have graduated one son (soon to attend the local university majoring in journalism) and have two more in high school. My opinions are based on homeschooling from a Christian perspective.
You are doing the absolute right thing in thinking this through now. It's never, never too early to start planning. It doesn't mean you will start educating formally obviously.
I began homeschooling thinking that I would homeschool through elementary and then play it by ear from there. By attending homeschool conferences (beginning before my children were school age) it helped to solidify so many things in my thinking. If there is any advice I could give you, it would be to do whatever you can to attend a large homeschool conference. We attended, for our own benefit, the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati this year (and several others as we are vendors also) which was well worth the 5 hour drive. There will be one in Memphis next year, equally good. The Indianapolis conference is always a top-notch Christian convention and worth every dime spent.....no qualms. I am a tightwad homeschooler and if it comes between buying a fancy new curriculum or attending a homeschool conference, the conference wins hands down.
Now why am I so gung-ho on conferences? If you want the nitty gritty, there is no comparison to the vast, vast wealth obtained....not only from attending sessions, but speaking to vendors, looking at the material, being introduced to TONS of new material, meeting and chatting with lots of other homeschoolers etc. Even watching other homeschoolers as they make decisions, handle their children, interact with vendors as they make purchases....you will learn from all this. You will leave inspired and full of thoughts, perspectives, ideas, and more than you ever could gain by surfing the web or even reading homeschooling books.
Now about your questions regarding the GED. My son was homeschooled through graduation, and like almost all of our friends, we issued a standard diploma, not a GED. That's old school or for rural folks. Keeping track of credits is not a big deal, and the best part is that you can give them credits on the classes that you want them to take. My son earned high school credit for his after-school job, his creative writing (he is a budding novelist so he earned writing credit for his hours spent sweating over his novel) and even his church attendance (Religious Studies). He was also involved in a homeschool debate club, which was invited to participate with the university debate team and earned credit for it as well as accolades for his work there.
Lest you think I am an over-the-top organized homeschooling fiend, I am not. I love homeschooling but am pretty laid back when it comes to testing, record-keeping, grading etc.
Sports: the stupidest (bar none) reason to attend public school. If sports is a must, do intra-mural or join a gym for physical activity. No need to subject your baby to the attitudes, drugs, tempers, language, peer-pressure, drinking, etc., associated with most school sports programs. My boys all chose to participate in fencing (with swords, not to keep horses in) which looks GREAT on a transcript. (Yup, that's why we did it.) They totally enjoyed it, and took lessons from a Christian fencing instructor who became a homeschool dad because of the great homeschooled boys and girls he taught. He also was the University fencing instructor so that opened doors for them to participate in larger tournaments. As for football, basketball and baseball: my boys play with other homeschooled students without all the hoopla. A football travels with us in our minivan everywhere we go for an easy pick-up game at the park, in a parking lot at church or backyard BBQs.
Lastly, and speaking from experience, forget how you taught in school and simply enjoy learning alongside your children. When I put on my "teacher's" hat, the kids turn into public school automatons, complete with glazed eyes. When I keep on my "mom's" hat, and stay humble, they love to learn. It's not easy, but worth the sacrifice.
I hope these answered some of your questions. Blessings to you and your little one! Enjoy these years......they are FLEETING. Cuddle, hold and love your baby while he/she still fits on your lap. You'll not regret a minute you "waste" cuddling, but will regret the missed opportunities or the times that they spent with other people influencing them.
Best of God's grace to you, dear little homeschool mom.
"My child is only 10 months old, so there is no pressure yet w/ schooling, but I was hoping I could obtain your perspectives on a few things. I want to homeschool my son at least through elementary school. My mom says putting them into regular school will put them at a disadvantage if I don't start them in a regular school. My husband wants them to be involved in school sports (hence going to regular school) I do not want them to receive a GED, but an actual high school degree, as some places will not hire w/ just a GED. Do any of you even bother with football and basketball (winter/school sports) or is this even a concern? I want to look into every aspect of this before I jump on board, only to find my ship sinking. I live in XXXX County, have a teaching degree and have taught at several elementaries, hence KNOWING that I do not really want my child to attend public school. I guess I just need the "down lo" on anything you can provide. Thanks a lot for any help."
I'd be glad to answer your questions.
We've been homeschooling (all boys) for 14-15 years now and have graduated one son (soon to attend the local university majoring in journalism) and have two more in high school. My opinions are based on homeschooling from a Christian perspective.
You are doing the absolute right thing in thinking this through now. It's never, never too early to start planning. It doesn't mean you will start educating formally obviously.
I began homeschooling thinking that I would homeschool through elementary and then play it by ear from there. By attending homeschool conferences (beginning before my children were school age) it helped to solidify so many things in my thinking. If there is any advice I could give you, it would be to do whatever you can to attend a large homeschool conference. We attended, for our own benefit, the Midwest Homeschool Convention in Cincinnati this year (and several others as we are vendors also) which was well worth the 5 hour drive. There will be one in Memphis next year, equally good. The Indianapolis conference is always a top-notch Christian convention and worth every dime spent.....no qualms. I am a tightwad homeschooler and if it comes between buying a fancy new curriculum or attending a homeschool conference, the conference wins hands down.
Now why am I so gung-ho on conferences? If you want the nitty gritty, there is no comparison to the vast, vast wealth obtained....not only from attending sessions, but speaking to vendors, looking at the material, being introduced to TONS of new material, meeting and chatting with lots of other homeschoolers etc. Even watching other homeschoolers as they make decisions, handle their children, interact with vendors as they make purchases....you will learn from all this. You will leave inspired and full of thoughts, perspectives, ideas, and more than you ever could gain by surfing the web or even reading homeschooling books.
Now about your questions regarding the GED. My son was homeschooled through graduation, and like almost all of our friends, we issued a standard diploma, not a GED. That's old school or for rural folks. Keeping track of credits is not a big deal, and the best part is that you can give them credits on the classes that you want them to take. My son earned high school credit for his after-school job, his creative writing (he is a budding novelist so he earned writing credit for his hours spent sweating over his novel) and even his church attendance (Religious Studies). He was also involved in a homeschool debate club, which was invited to participate with the university debate team and earned credit for it as well as accolades for his work there.
Lest you think I am an over-the-top organized homeschooling fiend, I am not. I love homeschooling but am pretty laid back when it comes to testing, record-keeping, grading etc.
Sports: the stupidest (bar none) reason to attend public school. If sports is a must, do intra-mural or join a gym for physical activity. No need to subject your baby to the attitudes, drugs, tempers, language, peer-pressure, drinking, etc., associated with most school sports programs. My boys all chose to participate in fencing (with swords, not to keep horses in) which looks GREAT on a transcript. (Yup, that's why we did it.) They totally enjoyed it, and took lessons from a Christian fencing instructor who became a homeschool dad because of the great homeschooled boys and girls he taught. He also was the University fencing instructor so that opened doors for them to participate in larger tournaments. As for football, basketball and baseball: my boys play with other homeschooled students without all the hoopla. A football travels with us in our minivan everywhere we go for an easy pick-up game at the park, in a parking lot at church or backyard BBQs.
Lastly, and speaking from experience, forget how you taught in school and simply enjoy learning alongside your children. When I put on my "teacher's" hat, the kids turn into public school automatons, complete with glazed eyes. When I keep on my "mom's" hat, and stay humble, they love to learn. It's not easy, but worth the sacrifice.
I hope these answered some of your questions. Blessings to you and your little one! Enjoy these years......they are FLEETING. Cuddle, hold and love your baby while he/she still fits on your lap. You'll not regret a minute you "waste" cuddling, but will regret the missed opportunities or the times that they spent with other people influencing them.
Best of God's grace to you, dear little homeschool mom.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
1 Down, 2 To Go
This weekend marked a turning point in our family with the graduation of our firstborn from our homeschool. He looked handsome in his black suit and red tie; every bit the gentleman he is becoming. After a touching video presentation created by our second-born computer guru son and yours truly, my husband gave a beautiful "Charge to the Graduate". It bears repeating here.
Charge to the Graduate:
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter of your life. Your homeschool days are now behind you and your college and career days are ahead of you. In some ways the path you take is one that is unique to you and in other ways you are going to be going down paths familiar to many of us sitting in this room. As for me I never went to college and opted for 6 years military service instead. So while I can’t speak much to what you'll face in college, I can give you some wisdom to keep in your heart as you navigate the terrain of life.
Number 1: Follow Jesus Christ.
This almost goes without saying but so many believers are falling away because their faith is weak. As you mark the end of your homeschool adventure keep in mind that the primary purpose for being homeschooled was our desire to raise a man of God who will use his gifts and talents for the Kingdom. Jesus' only prayer request was that laborers would be sent into the white fields to harvest souls for God's Kingdom. You have lived a blessed life and God has gifted you with many great talents for communicating and influencing others. Don't squander them on attaining a life of temporal success and material goods while you ignore the heavenly calling of Christ Jesus. Our Savior said Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the other things in life would take care of themselves. How's that for a success principle?
Number 2: Marry the right person.
As the saying goes, behind every successful man there is a good woman. Apart from your decision to follow Christ, deciding who you will marry has the greatest potential to make your life a living heaven or living hell. Don’t enter into it casually like you would if you were buying a car or deciding what movie to see. Involve your parents in the process, and involve her parents but most of all involve God and seek his guidance. And when you decide to marry, keep your vows. Remember that marriage is for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. The measure of a man’s character is his ability to follow through on his commitments after the emotion of making them has passed. The Scriptures say that those who swear to their own hurt and do not change will abide on God’s holy mountain. Finally, attempt to love her parents and her family as much s you love her. This will bring many blessings into your life.
Number 3: Learn the truth for yourself.
Notice I didn't say decide your own truth. But rather learn the truth. In the world that you are about enter there is no shortage of people willing to offer analysis and opinion. Like carnival barkers calling out to the zombies on the midway, the so called experts of this world are all too eager to impart to you their godless views and hollow wisdom. Make your college professors prove everything they say or else reject it as nonsense. Use the Bible as your guide and shine its light down every darkened hallway of man's limited understanding. The Bible says buy the truth and sell it not. You will no doubt face the temptation to agree with the worldview or logical fallacies of certain professors in the hope of taking the easy way out “just for the grade.” I admonish you not to do it. Do not sell the truth for a grade, but stand and fight for truth even if you must stand alone. I would rather see you flunk out of college with your self-respect and courage than see you conferred with a thousand degrees from a council of fools who have rejected God’s truth. If you spend thousands of dollars to attend college and don't learn the truth about the world, your education is wasted. Only God's word is truth, don't sell it out at academia's flea market of cheap ideas.
Number 4: Don't be afraid to take big risks.
Like the saying goes, if you don't leave the safety of the harbor, you'll never know the terror of being lost at sea forever :-) or something like that. Yes, there is the potential for big losses when you take risks, but there are also the potential for big successes as well. As the great coach Vince Lombardi said "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." I would add that it is far better to fail at risking something big than to succeed at being mediocre.
Number 5: Take care of your knees
You'll miss them when they’re gone. Trust me
Number 6: Never forget I'm your Dad.
Today we are marking the beginning of a new chapter in your life but not one in mine. I am and will always be your Dad, not matter how old you get. And while the day will probably come when you will achieve far greater things than I ever have, don't forget that no one, except Jesus, will ever be more proud of you or love you more than I do. No one else will be as willing to lay down their life for you or stand next to you and fight if needed and when you lay me in my casket I hope you will always remember that I was honored to have a son like you.
Charge to the Graduate:
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter of your life. Your homeschool days are now behind you and your college and career days are ahead of you. In some ways the path you take is one that is unique to you and in other ways you are going to be going down paths familiar to many of us sitting in this room. As for me I never went to college and opted for 6 years military service instead. So while I can’t speak much to what you'll face in college, I can give you some wisdom to keep in your heart as you navigate the terrain of life.
Number 1: Follow Jesus Christ.
This almost goes without saying but so many believers are falling away because their faith is weak. As you mark the end of your homeschool adventure keep in mind that the primary purpose for being homeschooled was our desire to raise a man of God who will use his gifts and talents for the Kingdom. Jesus' only prayer request was that laborers would be sent into the white fields to harvest souls for God's Kingdom. You have lived a blessed life and God has gifted you with many great talents for communicating and influencing others. Don't squander them on attaining a life of temporal success and material goods while you ignore the heavenly calling of Christ Jesus. Our Savior said Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the other things in life would take care of themselves. How's that for a success principle?
Number 2: Marry the right person.
As the saying goes, behind every successful man there is a good woman. Apart from your decision to follow Christ, deciding who you will marry has the greatest potential to make your life a living heaven or living hell. Don’t enter into it casually like you would if you were buying a car or deciding what movie to see. Involve your parents in the process, and involve her parents but most of all involve God and seek his guidance. And when you decide to marry, keep your vows. Remember that marriage is for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. The measure of a man’s character is his ability to follow through on his commitments after the emotion of making them has passed. The Scriptures say that those who swear to their own hurt and do not change will abide on God’s holy mountain. Finally, attempt to love her parents and her family as much s you love her. This will bring many blessings into your life.
Number 3: Learn the truth for yourself.
Notice I didn't say decide your own truth. But rather learn the truth. In the world that you are about enter there is no shortage of people willing to offer analysis and opinion. Like carnival barkers calling out to the zombies on the midway, the so called experts of this world are all too eager to impart to you their godless views and hollow wisdom. Make your college professors prove everything they say or else reject it as nonsense. Use the Bible as your guide and shine its light down every darkened hallway of man's limited understanding. The Bible says buy the truth and sell it not. You will no doubt face the temptation to agree with the worldview or logical fallacies of certain professors in the hope of taking the easy way out “just for the grade.” I admonish you not to do it. Do not sell the truth for a grade, but stand and fight for truth even if you must stand alone. I would rather see you flunk out of college with your self-respect and courage than see you conferred with a thousand degrees from a council of fools who have rejected God’s truth. If you spend thousands of dollars to attend college and don't learn the truth about the world, your education is wasted. Only God's word is truth, don't sell it out at academia's flea market of cheap ideas.
Number 4: Don't be afraid to take big risks.
Like the saying goes, if you don't leave the safety of the harbor, you'll never know the terror of being lost at sea forever :-) or something like that. Yes, there is the potential for big losses when you take risks, but there are also the potential for big successes as well. As the great coach Vince Lombardi said "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." I would add that it is far better to fail at risking something big than to succeed at being mediocre.
Number 5: Take care of your knees
You'll miss them when they’re gone. Trust me
Number 6: Never forget I'm your Dad.
Today we are marking the beginning of a new chapter in your life but not one in mine. I am and will always be your Dad, not matter how old you get. And while the day will probably come when you will achieve far greater things than I ever have, don't forget that no one, except Jesus, will ever be more proud of you or love you more than I do. No one else will be as willing to lay down their life for you or stand next to you and fight if needed and when you lay me in my casket I hope you will always remember that I was honored to have a son like you.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The "S" Word
I just finished reading yet another article on evidence we can use to to prove to homeschooling naysayers that our homeschooled children are socialized. The classic evidence for proving that our children receive adequate socialization were given: they attend youth groups, scouting, and team sports. I think I’ve even used those specific examples myself when proving that homeschoolers at large are given many activities in which they may be properly taught to interact with their age-mates. The funniest thing about using those examples is that my children have not been partakers of those oh-so-important socialization opportunities.
Our church, by choice, does not offer Sunday School or (heaven forbid) youth groups. When my children were young, we succumbed to the pressure of having them attend Sunday School, and then came to the conclusion that almost every negative thing they exhibited came directly from their interaction with one or more of these “Christian” children…or worse, the “bus kids.”
As a by-product of not doing the whole Sunday School thing, our children were not part of a youth group either. What sort of crazy idea is it to stick a bunch of hormonal young people together and then expect them to embrace purity and chastity?
The whole scouting thing never came to pass either. We did try one semester of Cub Scouts, and while only one of my sons was old enough to participate, the other two thought they were part of his pack as well. As brothers, they had spent every waking minute together so why was only the oldest a part of this fun? When it became evident that there would be events that we weren’t keen on taking part in, we dropped that as well. We didn’t desire to send our little guy to camp out with a bunch of other young boys away from the security of home. If he needed a tent experience, he got it when we camped as a family.
Sports, besides being one of the gods of this world, has probably duped more homeschooled parents than any other lie they bought into. It’s not the athletics that are to blame, but the unwanted socialization that takes place at the expense of our children’s character training. How do we teach our children to speak wholesome words when other “Christian” parents use horribly foul language to express their displeasure at an eight year old who just struck out? Not to mention the whole over-the-top peer competitiveness that can hinder their individual strengths causing them to feel inadequate? Dare I mention the ostracizing experience of a friend of mine when she was traveling with her son’s pre-teen baseball team? All the families, excepting this friend and her son, made a big production of eating at Hooter’s and many of these young boys took home Hooter paraphernalia to parade around the field before the games.
No, my sons were not socialized in these ways, and yet they have very outgoing and healthy personalities. Over the last couple of years, I began to notice something in my teen sons for which I hadn’t expressly trained them: they sincerely like people. The less time they spend around a lot of people, they more they genuinely like the people that they are around. They haven’t learned to pick and choose their friends based on their outward characteristics, or shun others for the same reason. Frequently I hear each of them say very complimentary things of new acquaintances, not knowing that others, who spend volumes of time with teen friends, have learned to be snotty toward some people of whom they don’t approve for one shallow reason or another, and uncharacteristically kind toward others who meet their immature approval.
So, in defining what creates a healthy respect toward others, I guess I would have to submit that it would come as a result of spending less time with large groups of people, and spend more one on one time with a variety of individuals from whom they can learn something.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Highly Distractable Mom Syndrome
I learned at the past homeschool convention that the malady I deal with has a name. It is known to those of us who suffer from it as HDMS or the Highly Distractable Mom Syndrome. I can now label the reason for my erratic and unregimented behavior. Glory!
Upstairs-itis. That's when I decide that I really, really need something and venture upstairs for it, only to become distracted by an unmade bed, so after making the bed, and placing the dirty clothes in the laundry chute, inspecting boys' rooms for cleanliness, I forgot what I needed from upstairs. So, I go back down and the cycle starts all over again. What fun!
I'm sure there are more but I am being distracted right now by the sound of my boys playing guitar in the background and singing very loudly, somewhat off-key. Maybe I'll go join them.
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