Keeping Christmas Alive in January

In December, I shared a few ideas for how to make the Christmas season a purposeful one, one focusing on the meaning of the holiday.

But I get it. Sometimes December is too full to add anything extra.  That's why a few years ago, the kids and I waited until January to read and learn our way through the Names of Jesus {Advent} Cards.  The original set is from my friend Allyson's blog, but I created my own second set with different names, plus a 6-card expansion pack. 

This past fall, Brian began a new book for our family devotions. We are reading  God's Namesby Sally Michael.  Brian reads one chapter/section aloud each Monday night at dinner.  A few other nights per week, we review what we've read.  We've only studied 6-7 names of the 26 in the book, but for each one, Brian wrote name of God on the front of an index card and included the meaning on the back.  I'll be the first to admit that the kids are far better at remembering the names and meanings than I am! 

Both of these resources are an excellent way of continuing to dwell on what we've learned through the Christmas season ...and preparing our hearts for next Christmas, too!

A Meaningful Countdown to Christmas

This post is full of links.  Feel free to click on any of the light blue words.  Your internet browser will open each one in a new window while you continue to browse this article.

The internet is saturated with ideas for things to do from now until Christmas.  It is so tempting to feel like we have to do all the things.  Maybe we even want to do them all!  But a meaningful Christmas season is often a simple one.  Choosing one or two activities to do with your children will cement more happy memories than pages full of plans and a stressed mom. And, yes, it's okay if they only thing you are able...or want...to do is sing a Christmas carol in the car on the way to the grocery store or read a library book before bed.  The little things matter.

{If you have time, go read this:  Don't Have to Do Holiday List}

This holiday season I am 7 months pregnant and craving quiet and simplicity.  With children ranging from 5 to 13, I want to impart the meaning of the season so we are focusing on scripture. 

• We are reading through these (free) Christmas ADVENTures in Prophecy Scripture Cards.  We are not following a timeline but simply reading 1-2 a day during our Bible time on school mornings.  Each card has an Old Testament scripture and its corresponding New Testament fulfillment.
  
  
  
• During my personal devotions, I am reading Love Comes Near: An Advent Bible Study.  I purchased the PDF for $5 and transferred it to my Kindle for easier access.  It comes with ideas for including the whole family in each day's reading, but I've decided not to do that this year.
  
  
  
• I loved the Thanksgiving copywork that my kids did throughout the month of November so I printed out the Christmas 31 Day Scripture Writing Plan for December.  Again, we don't follow the prescribed timeline.  On days when they do writing, they chose a verse to look up and copy.  I expect each child to complete only a handful of the listed scriptures before we stop for winter break. 

 :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

I wanted to quickly share 2 things that have been meaningful to us in past years.  (Remember.  You don't need to do all the things.  Pick and choose what works for your family!)

• Several years ago, we started studying the many names of Jesus.  My friend, Allyson, has the original set of Names of Jesus {Advent} Card on her blog and you can get the second set with different names, plus a 6-card expansion pack on my blog.  My kids have memorized all the names from the cards so we review them throughout the year.  They love to challenge themselves to remember them all. We also supplement with  7 scripture flashcards from What's in the Bible?  All of the above resources and printable are free!
  
  
• Last year, I bought the Truth in the Tinsel  {affiliate link} eBook and found it worth every penny of the $7.99 I paid!  I used it primarily with my then 4-year-old and 6-year-old. They are still talking about it this year.  I knew doing a craft a day would be beyond stressful so I also purchased the printable ornaments to color (also worth $3.99).  I printed my friend, Allyson's, FREE tracing cards  to collect all our ornaments in one place since I didn't have a place to hang 2 sets of ornaments.  (Allyson recommended using a 1" book ring.  I simply stapled the pages together into a booklet.)  With the pressure off, we did end up doing a few of the crafts, too, 

Alaine and Ben; December 2014

This Year's Bible Memory Work

We began using the memory box system over three years ago to help us memorize Scripture, and to aid us in continuing to remember and meditate on it.  This year, we are adding a few new passages to our box.  We started with Matthew 5: 3-12. While Ben and Owen took to it right away and can fire off the whole thing in their sleep, the rest of us are having a bit of difficulty keeping all the verses straight!  Thankfully, we'll be coming back to it frequently as we review it every odd day of the week.  

Our current daily scripture is Romans 12:12 and later this year, we will begin I Thessalonians 5:12-24.

These new passages join the many other passages we have learned over the years: 

§  Psalm 23 
§  Psalm 100 
§  Isaiah 30:21  
§  Daniel 7:9 
§  Matthew 5:44 
§  The Lord’s Prayer 
§  Luke 2: 1-20 
§  Luke 6:31 
§  John 3:16-17 
§  John 6:35 
§  John 10:10 
§  John 15:1 
§  Ephesians 4:32 
§  Philippians 2:14-15 
§  James 1:12 
§  James 3:17-18 
§  Revelation 1:8 
§  Revelation 22:16 
§  The Books of the Old and New Testament 

In October 2013, during my 31 Days, 31 Printables series, I shared a set of Scripture memory flash cards which included some of the above verses.  Use the free printable 3x5 cards to begin your own memory box!

Bonus: Check my Facebook page tomorrow to watch Alaine, age 5, recite Revelation 22:16.  Update: To view the video, click here.

Does your family memorize scripture together? 
Have you found any ways to make it fun or methods to aid in memorization?
Are you like me in that you struggle to remember while your kids grasp it right away?
   

What We're Learning This Year

I considered skipping my annual back-to-school books and curriculum post.  In fact, I didn't give it much thought at all this year, but when I put out the question on my Facebook page, the overwhelming response was, "Yes, please write it!"

So here goes.


{This post contains multiple Amazon affiliate links.}

As much as possible, I've tried to establish a group learning environment where we all learn alongside each other.  The kids range in age from Gavin who is almost 12 and in 7th grade to Alaine who is 4 and not formally in school so it can be a challenge, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

These are the subjects we learn together and the books or resources we use:

Bible (daily): Egermeier's Bible Story Book, Our 24 Family Ways: A Family Devotional Guide, scripture memory box

History (daily, starting in November): The World of Columbus and Sons, The World of Captain John Smith

Science (bi-weekly): The Burgess Bird Book for Children, National Wildlife Federation's World of Birds: A Beginner's Guide, notebooking

Art (daily through October):  unit on architecture using Frank Lloyd Wright for Kids: His Life and Ideas (with 21 Activities) as our main text and supplementing with books like this oneand this one

Music (weekly): Alfred's Basic Piano Course Theory, Level 1A

The three oldest are also working independently through Typing Instructor for Kids Platinum 5.

Either before or after our together work, each child has a list of  subjects to accomplish alone. For the first time this year, I gave each child a copy of their schedule so instead of me telling them what to do next, they can look at it and manage their own time.  I did not expect them to like that approach so much and I'm more than pleased at how they are showing initiative to finish their work ahead of schedule!

Gavin (7th grade, almost 12 years old)

Math (daily): Saxon Math 8/7 with Pre-algebra

English (daily): writing prompts, Daily Grams 5 Student Workbook

Health (weekly): Christian Liberty Nature Reader, Book 5

Art supplement (weekly, starting after winter break): Let's Make Some Great Art

Maddie (5th grade, 10 years old)

Math (daily): Saxon Math 54

English (daily): writing prompts, Daily Grams 4 Student Workbook

Health (weekly): Period.: A Girl's Guide

Art supplement (weekly, starting after winter break): Draw Me A House: A Book of Colouring In, Ideas and Architectural Inspiration

Owen (3rd grade, 8 years old)

Math (daily): Saxon Math 54

English (daily): writing prompts, Daily Language Review 2

Health with Ben (summer): unit on the human body using various library books such as this oneand this one

Art supplement (weekly, starting after winter break): Let's Make Some Great Art

Ben (1st grade, almost 6 years old)

Math (daily): First Grade Big Workbook!, Usborne's Dot-to-Dot Animals

English (daily): Explode the Code series

Health with Owen (summer): unit on the human body using various library books such as this oneand this one

Art (weekly): Usborne's I Can Draw Animals

Music (summer): unit on Mozart using various library books such as this one

{This post contains multiple Amazon affiliate links.}

(I did not include a section for Alaine who is 4 years old and will not start kindergarten until next year. She comes to the table every day, though, with her pencils and crayons and asks to do several pages in her workbook. If anyone is interested in a list of workbooks, busy bags, books, and ideas of how I keep her engaged during school hours, I will be happy to write a post about that, too.)

Names of Jesus Expansion Pack

During the month of December, we are taking time each morning to study our Names of Jesus Learning and Memory Cards.  We choose 2-3 cards at random each morning and read the corresponding scriptures.  

This year, I am pleased to announce an expansion pack which features 6 new cards with 6 more names of Jesus.  

To download the Names of Jesus Learning and Memory Cards Expansion Pack, click here! 

These cards have been a blessing to us throughout the entire year.  After reading through all 25 Names of Jesus Learning and Memory Cards and all 25 of my friend Allyson's Names of Jesus Advent Cards, we added them to our scripture memory box and review them every Friday.  The kids-- from Gavin (11) on down to Alaine (3)-- take turns recalling a name of Jesus.  They challenge themselves to remember all 50... and usually they do! 

I'm excited to see how well they incorporate an additional six cards!

Still need to print my original  25-card set?

Click here for your FREE download!

→

31 Days, 31 Printables {Day 13}: What's in the Bible? Resources

During the month of October, Sundays will be devoted to pointing you to a printable that our family has used and enjoyed  from another blog or website.  

{Also, don't forget: if you don't want to miss a post,  join my  new Facebook community!}

Our family is a big fan of the What's in the Bible? DVD series.  We watch the episodes as part of our family devotions.  We love the depth and the mission of What's in the Bible.

Today I'm sharing 2 different resources that can accompany your use of What's in the Bible? with your children.

We've included many What's in the Bible's own Verse of the Day cards in our scripture memory box.  Click the graphic to download.

                                                                   →

image source

My friend, Allyson, has created a set of  Review Flashcards to accompany each DVD.  Click the graphic to download. 
           →

 
{This post contains affiliate links.}

31 Days, 31 Printables {Day 12}: Names of Jesus Learning and Memory Cards

During the month of October, Saturdays will be devoted to directing you to a printable I've shared in the past. 

Today I'm directing your to the Names of Jesus Learning and Memory Cards, one of my most visited posts of all time on my blog.  We've added these cards to our scripture memory box.  My kids challenge themselves to remember as many as they can. Each card has a different name of Jesus with a picture to aid in memory, plus scripture references printed at the bottom of the card.

Print them now and begin studying the names of Jesus... or save them for the upcoming Advent season. 

Click here to download your free set of memory cards. 

Don't miss a post!  Join my Facebook community!

31 Days, 31 Printables {Day 9}: Scripture Memory Flash Cards

For over a year we have been using the memory box system to memorize scripture.  Today I'm offering a set of 10 Scripture flash cards, all standard 3x5 size.  The set includes some of the favorite verses my kids and I have memorized, plus a few more well-known verses.

To download your set of 10 flash cards, click on the graphic below. 

10 Scripture Memory 3x5 Flash Cards

Don't miss a post!  Join my Facebook community!

More on Memorizing Scripture

On Wednesday, I shared the list of scriptures we review with our memory box system.  Allyson had a few more questions that I thought were worth discussing here. 

With your current setup, you review 3 different tabs each day, right? For the weeks of the month, you review those every day?
 

Yes, with our current arrangement, we review 3 tabs each day.  For example, when we begin our school year on August 6, we will review the Daily scripture, the Tuesday scripture, and the Week 1 of the Month scripture. The following day, we will review the Daily scripture, the Wednesday scripture, and the Week 1 of the Month scripture.  We will work on the Week 1 of the Month scripture every day until the next Monday when we move on to Week 2 of the Month scripture.  I've found that even if we skip a school day or take off a larger block of time for sickness or vacation, it's not usually necessary to play catch up.  We simply skip the scriptures we missed and review them again the next time they roll around in the rotation. 

Do you keep those the same every month or will you move them back into a once a month rotation as you learn more verses? 

  

I try to stay consistent and not move the verses around too much, but I each time we begin a new daily scripture, the former daily scripture has to move out and fill a new spot in the tabs.  Daily verses move into a day of the week tab, sometimes sharing space with another short scripture if necessary.  (I tend to keep the longer scriptures in the week of the month tabs.)  We are soon going to need to employ more tab categories to make room for the scriptures we plan to learn this year.  

*****

It is worth noting that this scripture memory system can be done less formally, too. Maybe you learn scripture verses together as a family.  After you move on to a new verse, you could review all old verses one night a week. 

My friend, Flo, shared how she has taught scripture to her son: 

We memorized Psalm 23 as part of a nightly prayer. Then, when he had that down, we did the Lord's Prayer, and we review one or the other most nights. It took a week or two of me saying them alone, but then he began to jump in on the phrases he knew, and before long he knew them in their entirety.

I've often brought our memory box in the car with us as we run errands.  One of the older kids will give us a prompt and then we can review our scriptures as we drive down the road.  No excuses for not fitting Bible memory into our day! 

Part 1: A Peek Into Our Memory Box

A Peek Into Our Memory Box

When I shared on Monday our plans for learning together this year, I mentioned briefly that adopting scripture memory box system last year was a rousing success and that we planned to continue with it this year.  I love that the system makes it possible for us to continue to review all the scriptures we are hiding in our hearts without having to recite every one every day. 

Allyson asked to hear about the scriptures we had chosen to memorize. Before I begin listing verses, you should know that we began learning and accumulating verses years ago.  They were not all learned last year!  Even my littlest children who were not  born when we first memorized some of the verses now can recite them because we continue to review them. 

Here is a peek into our box currently:

Daily: Psalm 100:2-- "Serve the Lord with gladness!  Come into his presence with singing!"

Monday: Phillipians 2:14, 15-- "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe."

Tuesday: Ephesians 4:32-- "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Wednesday: Luke 6:31-- "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Thursday: Matthew 5:44-- "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

Friday: names of Jesus  (found here and here)

Week 1 of the month: Luke 2:1-14 (the Christmas story)

Week 2 of the month: Psalm 23

Week 3 of the month: the books of the Old and New Testaments

Week 4 of the month: The Lord's Prayer

 
As we continue to add verses, we can add new dividers like odd days, even days, and the numbered days of the month.  

Do you memorize scripture as part of your day?  Do you have a favorite scripture to suggest?

Part 2: More on Memorizing Scripture

Thy Word Have I Hid In My Heart

One of the joys of homeschooling is the privilege of spending part of the morning with my children learning about the Lord together.  Whether we are reading from the Bible, reading a Bible story book, memorizing scripture, coloring a picture, or praying together, this is a precious time. 

This is our fourth year of homeschooling and we've discovered a few gems in those years.  I tend to stay away from devotional-type books or watered-down Bible stories so the resources I've included are rich and meaningful and yet perfect for little ones.  But as always, use your own discernment and choose what is best for your family.

:*:*:*:

We begin each morning (often while we are still at the breakfast table with a Bible story.  Depending on the length, we read one or two stories a day until the book is complete.  Our two favorites books both had short simple stories, making it easy for the children to do their required narration (telling back the story) at the end of each passage. 

Last year we read through The Step-By-Step Bible.  I loved that the stories were included in chronological order, not necessarily the order they appear in the Bible. 

We moved on to 365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories at the end of last year and are continuing this year.  This book also moves in chronological order and has only simple black and white illustrations that do not detract from the stories.  With both books, I rarely finished reading that someone did not beg for more! 

In our first and second year of homeschooling, we read directly from the Bible and then colored the corresponding page from Bible Pictures to Color (published by Rod and Staff and part of their Preschool ABC series). 

:*:*:*:

We also spend a chunk of time on Mondays and little bits of time on the remaining days of the week memorizing scripture.  Our favorite book was the precious Sammy and His Shepherd which we read through last year.  It told the story of a sheep (Sammy) and of his personal relationship with his shepherd.   At the top of each page the author included a line from the 23rd Psalm so each Monday when we returned to Sammy's story, we also memorized part of the passage.  This is a can't-miss book!  (I also found it very interesting to read through A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 on my own during this same time.)

Another fun resource for Bible memory was My ABC Bible Verses.  On each double-page spread was a Bible verse for one letter of the alphabet and a simple story to illustrate the point.    Each week we learned a new scripture and then tried to see how many of the previous weeks' scriptures we could remember. 

We have also used our trusty Rod and Staff for Bible memory, too.  They have excellent and cheap coloring books for several passages of the Bible.  We plan to use them again this spring when we memorize Psalm 1.  (Though the are places to order Rod and Staff materials online, because they are a conservative Mennonite publisher, they do not have their own website.  To order their catalog directly and see a complete list of what they offer, call 1-606-522-4348) 

:*:*:*:

Another element we added to our homeschool last year was the study of missionaries.  I wanted to find simple, easy tellings of the lives of various missionaries and we found the perfect resource:  the Heroes For Young Readers series, published by YWAM (Youth With a Mission).  Each 32-page biography tells a different missionary's story through poem.   Last year, we read about five or six missionaries and we plan to do the same this year.  Using a small cross sticker, we mark the missionary's location on our map to illustrate how God's word is reaching all parts of the world. 

:*:*:*:

Over the years, Brian has faithfully led a short devotional time for the kids one night a week.  He has begun a few books and later abandoned them (for being too difficult or too shallow or too boring), but they've found a few great ones, too. 

My Bible Coloring Book

Leading Little Ones to God

Lest this long list seem daunting, remember that we have discovered these books over many years, not all at once.  Some were given to us, some were purchased, some were borrowed.  Don't forget to check your library and Ebay, too!

I'd love to hear about your Bible time treasures, too!