The Lesson
Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and
gathering them around him, he taught them saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek,
Blessed are they who mourn.
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are they who thirst for justice.
Blessed are you when persecuted.
Blessed are you when you suffer.
Be glad and rejoice, for your reward in heaven is great.
Then Simon Peter said,
“Do we have to write this down?”
and Andrew said,
“Do we have to turn it in?”
and James said,
“Does spelling count?”
Philip said,
“Will this be on the test?”
and Bartholomew said,
“What if we don’t know it?”
and John said,
“The other disciples didn’t have to learn this!”
and Matthew said,
“When do we get out of here?”
and Judas said,
“What does this have to do with real life?”
and the other disciples likewise.
Then one of the Pharisees who was present
asked to see Jesus’ lesson plan
and inquired of Jesus
His terminal objectives in the cognitive domain.
And Jesus wept.
Author unknown
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Keeping Track of God Speak
In his daily Bible study email, my pastor told me to write down what I believe God is telling me so I can see how to adjust my life to him. This is wonderful advice on so many levels. If I keep track of what I believe God is telling me, I can look back and see if there is a discernible pattern. I can look back at my journal and see how LONG God has been telling me something. If I write it down, I won't have to worry if I am remembering things the right way.
A few years ago we were praying about the possibility of moving. By writing down my questions, my fears, my thoughts, and then writing down things God was showing me, I was able to go back and read to see that God wanted us to stay right here.
Most of the time God speaks to me in small bites - the scripture during a sermon, something a Christian friend says to me, personal bible study material, a song played on K LOVE. By writing down all the "small" things - I can see clearly what God is directing me to do.
Do you keep of journal of your prayers and God's answers? Can you share some of them with me?
A few years ago we were praying about the possibility of moving. By writing down my questions, my fears, my thoughts, and then writing down things God was showing me, I was able to go back and read to see that God wanted us to stay right here.
Most of the time God speaks to me in small bites - the scripture during a sermon, something a Christian friend says to me, personal bible study material, a song played on K LOVE. By writing down all the "small" things - I can see clearly what God is directing me to do.
Do you keep of journal of your prayers and God's answers? Can you share some of them with me?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Is homeschool easier than public school?
Not long ago my 11 year old daughter came to me upset because a public schooled friend claimed home school was easier than public school. The first thing that popped out of my mouth was "Well of course it is! Why would we choose to do things the hard way?"
But this was NOT what my 11 year old wanted to hear. I guess she felt insulted by the insinuation. I'm not sure that the public school friend was trying to insult her, or just letting my daughter know that her life was easier because she didn't have to "go to school."
Well - it is. I don't know what else to say. I would love to be able to help my daughter respond to this - because I know it is upsetting her. I just can't tell her that her friend is wrong. But I can certainly list all the reasons her friend is right - and then maybe console her by telling her more than likely the friend is simply jealous of her "easy" lifestyle!
so here we go - a list of reasons why home school is easier than public school;
1. You can sleep when you are tired. Seems simply enough - but if my kids were in PS they would have to catch the bus at 7:10 AM - as it is now - they sleep until much later than that.
2. You can eat when you are hungry. Seems simply enough - but in PS you only get to eat at scheduled times. Personally - I'm enjoying my chips and dip as I type this.
3. You can go to the bathroom when you need to - but kids in PS don't get to do that. I remember how much stress this caused me.
4. You can learn about things that interest you, instead of what some committee of so-called professionals has decided that every single child with a birthday within the same time period must learn. A good example - my daughter is studying digital photography, learning how to sew aprons out of pillow cases, and researching different breeds of dogs because she is trying to convince her parents we need a canine companion. These are all things she would have to do in her "spare time" if she were a PS student. And since they spend 2 hours a day on the bus, 7 hours a day at the school building, and then 2-3 hours a day doing homework - I'm not real certain when that "free" time might happen. Lucky for her the principal at her school counts those topics as educational.
5. If you don't understand something - you have one-on-one tutoring available free of charge. And you can spend as much or as little time on a topic as you need. If you get the math problem the first time - you get to move on to bigger and better things even if the person next to you doesn't understand it. And if you don't understand it - you can spend the next 3 weeks figuring it out without anyone one belittling you or rushing you.
6. If you decide you have no interest in something - you can put it away to come back to later - or never. Why waste precious time memorizing boring stuff?
So - these are just the things I came up with off the top of my head. I would love to hear what others believe are reason home school is easier than public school.
But this was NOT what my 11 year old wanted to hear. I guess she felt insulted by the insinuation. I'm not sure that the public school friend was trying to insult her, or just letting my daughter know that her life was easier because she didn't have to "go to school."
Well - it is. I don't know what else to say. I would love to be able to help my daughter respond to this - because I know it is upsetting her. I just can't tell her that her friend is wrong. But I can certainly list all the reasons her friend is right - and then maybe console her by telling her more than likely the friend is simply jealous of her "easy" lifestyle!
so here we go - a list of reasons why home school is easier than public school;
1. You can sleep when you are tired. Seems simply enough - but if my kids were in PS they would have to catch the bus at 7:10 AM - as it is now - they sleep until much later than that.
2. You can eat when you are hungry. Seems simply enough - but in PS you only get to eat at scheduled times. Personally - I'm enjoying my chips and dip as I type this.
3. You can go to the bathroom when you need to - but kids in PS don't get to do that. I remember how much stress this caused me.
4. You can learn about things that interest you, instead of what some committee of so-called professionals has decided that every single child with a birthday within the same time period must learn. A good example - my daughter is studying digital photography, learning how to sew aprons out of pillow cases, and researching different breeds of dogs because she is trying to convince her parents we need a canine companion. These are all things she would have to do in her "spare time" if she were a PS student. And since they spend 2 hours a day on the bus, 7 hours a day at the school building, and then 2-3 hours a day doing homework - I'm not real certain when that "free" time might happen. Lucky for her the principal at her school counts those topics as educational.
5. If you don't understand something - you have one-on-one tutoring available free of charge. And you can spend as much or as little time on a topic as you need. If you get the math problem the first time - you get to move on to bigger and better things even if the person next to you doesn't understand it. And if you don't understand it - you can spend the next 3 weeks figuring it out without anyone one belittling you or rushing you.
6. If you decide you have no interest in something - you can put it away to come back to later - or never. Why waste precious time memorizing boring stuff?
So - these are just the things I came up with off the top of my head. I would love to hear what others believe are reason home school is easier than public school.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Overheard at my house
Having boys is so much fun - and never EVER boring. Today I hear Ash and Rayman yelling from the other room as they run towards me - as if- the first one to me automatically wins the fight.
Ash: "MOM!!! He won't stop kicking me just because I won't stop touching him!"
Rayman: "That wasn't kicking! that was just a foot touch - they don't count!"
Now really - what can you say to that kind of logic?
Ash: "MOM!!! He won't stop kicking me just because I won't stop touching him!"
Rayman: "That wasn't kicking! that was just a foot touch - they don't count!"
Now really - what can you say to that kind of logic?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Bible Study Time
During our morning Bible study, the children and I have been doing a great little book titled Write Upon My Heart: Obedience, published by Keepers of the Faith. I am enjoying this character study. We also have the Cheerfulness book.
But - I read from Jeanie's Journal about reading through the Bible. She hit home when she talked about children knowing all the Bible stories, and reading lots of PARTS of the Bible, but never actually reading all the way THROUGH the Bible. In her newsletter she sent a great little check list to print off to be able to mark off as you read through the New Testament.
Now I just love checklists!!! So I thought this would be great! I gathered all my children to me, and explained what we were doing and why we were changing. Then I turned to Mathew and started reading the introduction, and cheerfully explaining that these were man's words about God's words.
And my 11 yr old slowly raises her hand and gets that "I have something to say" look on her face. I sigh and wonder what is going to interrupt our Bible study time today. And my little scholar says
"Don't you think we should start in Genesis? That is the beginning. Starting in Mathew is like starting half way through the story."
I love my little angel. She makes an excellent point.
So I backed up - and we started at Genesis. We are only on day three. And I don't have a checklist for the Old Testament. But we are enjoying it. And we have had some really good conversations in the short time we have been doing this.
Pray for us that we can follow through and complete this "Assignment"
But - I read from Jeanie's Journal about reading through the Bible. She hit home when she talked about children knowing all the Bible stories, and reading lots of PARTS of the Bible, but never actually reading all the way THROUGH the Bible. In her newsletter she sent a great little check list to print off to be able to mark off as you read through the New Testament.
Now I just love checklists!!! So I thought this would be great! I gathered all my children to me, and explained what we were doing and why we were changing. Then I turned to Mathew and started reading the introduction, and cheerfully explaining that these were man's words about God's words.
And my 11 yr old slowly raises her hand and gets that "I have something to say" look on her face. I sigh and wonder what is going to interrupt our Bible study time today. And my little scholar says
"Don't you think we should start in Genesis? That is the beginning. Starting in Mathew is like starting half way through the story."
I love my little angel. She makes an excellent point.
So I backed up - and we started at Genesis. We are only on day three. And I don't have a checklist for the Old Testament. But we are enjoying it. And we have had some really good conversations in the short time we have been doing this.
Pray for us that we can follow through and complete this "Assignment"
Monday, September 14, 2009
Resource Review: Exploring Creation with Astronomy
Resource: Exploring Creation through Astronomy by Jeanie Fulbright
We first explored Astronomy with this resource when my children were 3rd grade, 1st grade and preschool. The 3rd grader devoured the material and thoroughly enjoyed all the activities. The younger two listened to the read aloud lessons - then drew pictures or acted out the things they had learned.
My oldest child loved this so much she ask if we could do the whole book again. So we are! This year my students are 6th grade, 4th grade, 1st grade and newborn.
We have planned out two days a week to do this. We may take longer than one semester to complete it. And that's fine with me - because I don't count semesters anyway.
Each lesson is laid out with a section to read, then a "What do you remember?" part with suggestions for discussion questions. It also includes activities and projects and notebooking ideas. There are lots of suggestions, and no way we could do all of them. So I let my children pick the ones that sound exciting to them. We are creating an Astronomy notebook as a family. Each child contributes to it, with the older children having more detailed and elaborate contributions than the younger.
It is set up so that each lesson can be easily done in about two weeks - depending on the age of the students. We tend to spend a little more time on things - and sometimes skip around. So in my house the 6th grader may be reading about and talking to the younger siblings about lesson 10 (Saturn) while I am reading lesson 3 (Mercury) to them. The 1st grader may be making a model of the solar system, while the 4th grader is building a model space ship out of K'nex that will take them all to Pluto.
It is Christian material - teaching in the very first lesson that God created the universe in 6 days. It is very economical, with each book being about $35 at the time of this writing. You need only one book for all of your students, and most of the activities can be done with items you probably have in your home. (There is a list broken down by lesson in the front of the book.)
We completely love this material, and will move on to the Flying Creatures, Swimming Creatures, and Land Animals soon. It gets four thumbs up from us! (that's one from each child using the material plus Mom.)
We first explored Astronomy with this resource when my children were 3rd grade, 1st grade and preschool. The 3rd grader devoured the material and thoroughly enjoyed all the activities. The younger two listened to the read aloud lessons - then drew pictures or acted out the things they had learned.
My oldest child loved this so much she ask if we could do the whole book again. So we are! This year my students are 6th grade, 4th grade, 1st grade and newborn.
We have planned out two days a week to do this. We may take longer than one semester to complete it. And that's fine with me - because I don't count semesters anyway.
Each lesson is laid out with a section to read, then a "What do you remember?" part with suggestions for discussion questions. It also includes activities and projects and notebooking ideas. There are lots of suggestions, and no way we could do all of them. So I let my children pick the ones that sound exciting to them. We are creating an Astronomy notebook as a family. Each child contributes to it, with the older children having more detailed and elaborate contributions than the younger.
It is set up so that each lesson can be easily done in about two weeks - depending on the age of the students. We tend to spend a little more time on things - and sometimes skip around. So in my house the 6th grader may be reading about and talking to the younger siblings about lesson 10 (Saturn) while I am reading lesson 3 (Mercury) to them. The 1st grader may be making a model of the solar system, while the 4th grader is building a model space ship out of K'nex that will take them all to Pluto.
It is Christian material - teaching in the very first lesson that God created the universe in 6 days. It is very economical, with each book being about $35 at the time of this writing. You need only one book for all of your students, and most of the activities can be done with items you probably have in your home. (There is a list broken down by lesson in the front of the book.)
We completely love this material, and will move on to the Flying Creatures, Swimming Creatures, and Land Animals soon. It gets four thumbs up from us! (that's one from each child using the material plus Mom.)
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