As I was reading my Sunday school lesson I stumbled across this passage and I had an aha moment.
"As parents, it is sometimes easy to fall into the trap of focusing only on our children's behavior. While behavior is important, we must also help our children learn to
be right with God, not simply act in right ways. After all, we want them to grow to love and trust and obey God, not simply be an impostor who relies on his or her own good behavior, only to be expelled from His presence" (Life Truths Learner Guide, Fall 2008).
This pertains to Matthew 22:11-13.
On another note, I have been asked about our curriculum and home schooling a lot lately. I have been reading "The Three R's" by Ruth Beechick. It explains the Natural Method. Which simply means kids learn to write by writing and read by reading. Sonlight curriculum is based on these ideas. We read a lot of books. We are doing World history, science, math, language arts and reading. Currently we are reading,
Usborne Book of Peoples of the World, Missionary Stories with The Millers, From Akebu to Zapotec (A book of Bibleless people), Charlotte's Web, poetry, I can read it books,
The Bible, The Magic School Bus, and Starting Point Science. That is just the first month or two
. In addition we practice hand writing, Singapore math, science experiments and spelling. The Natural Method believes that children grow up to be better readers when they are exposed to science from K to 3rd rather than focusing solely on reading. One school district did an experiment on this and discovered that by the 3rd grade the science children were far ahead of the reading children because their vocabularies and thinking skills were more advanced (pg. 6, The Three R's). We do have spelling words but our "test" include writing the words with sidewalk chalk or fingers in the sand, paint or grain not so much the memorization of words. It really worked, too. We won't hit "true" spelling until they have mastered reading and writing. Jacob has learned more this week than all of last year when I was drilling words and letter sounds down his throat! Abby is responding well too!
In a nut shell, I chose to home school, does that make other mom's bad for not or me weird for wanting to educate my children? No. I was born to teach and this is what God had in mind. I pray that I can always educate my children. Maybe this time I will retain everything and actually get it! As for the # 1 question, Socialization? I was socialized my whole life and where did it lead me? We leave our home and come into contact with many children and adults daily. Have you ever been around my kids? They will socialize you to death! They enjoy every minute of it!
If you have questions about home school just ask, I would rather be asked than labeled.
On Monday we went to Jaemor Farms with our co-op and went apple pickin' it was beautiful up there with apple trees and mountains.
Target practice! The kids through "bad" apples at a target! Jacob actually through an apple through the hole in the black target! What an arm!
