Know What You Believe

This glimpse differs from the ones thus far.  

1) It is not a visual, pictorial glimpse.  

2) It is a little wordier than my usual glimpses.

This time I'm giving a peek into a subject I added mid-year out of a need and a passion: Biblical worldview.   Two young guys came up to our door, handing out their religious literature one evening.  Usually, I smile, take their booklets, and promptly throw them away... but that day I was compelled to talk to them.  I was amazed at how persuasive they were and, though I held my own in the conversation, I realized I needed to be more prepared for the next time.

Then over the course of the fall and winter, we were involved in a very sticky situation, where we found the need to defend our faith and define our belief system.  A line was drawn in the sand.  Feelings were hurt.  Misunderstandings were many.  Through this, I felt a burden to teach my children the foundations of our Christian faith and why we believe what we believe.  

I want them to be able to know truth, to stand up for truth, and to recognize un-truth when they see it. 

In my late-night searching for worldview curriculum appropriate for young children, I stumbled across this special Adventures in Odyssey series by Focus on the Family. 

The Truth Chronicles: 11 Stories on The Power of God's Truth

Already fans of Adventures in Odyssey, this was perfect for my kids and right on their level.  We listened to one episode each Friday morning before lunch, but spontaneous family conversation continued all week.  

We discussed how we decide what is true and on what we base all truth.  

We considered whether we can decide our own truth or whether it is the same for everyone.  

We talked about the difference in judging a person and judging a person's actions...and loving a person even when we don't love what they do.

We talked about loving the world versus loving Christ.
We marveled at God being three in one.
We considered if there was ever a justification for disobeying the laws of the land.  

We discussed whether our walk with the Lord is based on knowledge or on feelings.  

We pointed out that loving someone can sometimes mean telling them something they don't want to hear.
We talked about having compassion for the lost.

"And this is my prayer:  

that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,   

so that you may be able to discern what is best 

and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God."   

Philipians 1: 9-11

As I finished typing this out, I realized it may be mistaken for a product review and I guess in a way it is, but there was certainly nothing in it for me.  I purchased this with my own money and wrote about it because I felt passionate about the subject!

Let's get together, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Let's get together, yeah yeah yeah. 

Think of all that we could share. 

Let's get together, everyday 

Every way and everywhere.

 And though we haven't got a lot,
We could be sharing all we've got. 

Together.

 

A glimpse at learning in a group:

This year we were able to meet with some friends once a month  in a Charlotte Mason-style co-op.  We rotated homes and rotated snack-baking duty. 

It is much more fun to paint with friends...

October 2010

... and take a  nature walk (or run) in a bunch...

November 2010

    ...or have tea (or juice) time when you are together.

February 2011

And sharing a story is always better with someone else. 

April 2011

A follow-up

Kathi asked about  Gavin's copywork folder and specifically what scriptures I chose to include.  When I sat down to compile the papers, I did a Google search for "copywork for boys," looking specifically for "boy" scriptures. I wasn't overly enthused by what I found.  I eventually concluded that scripture is neither masculine nor feminine and that "all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."  That being said, I chose verses that Gavin has already hidden in his heart or that I thought would speak to him.  

I included Psalm 1 which we are memorizing in school this term.  The chapter has six verses, but he is only required to copy one per day.  The purpose is to work diligently, not become overwhelmed.  He does his better work when he feels the goal is attainable.

I included Phillipians 2:14 ("Do everything without complaining or arguing.") because it is a verse we discuss all. the. time.  in many contexts.  

I included John 3:16 because it is such a key verse to our faith. 

And I included I Corinthians 13:4-5 because, though he is at the age where love and mushy stuff seems a bit gross, everyone (girl and boy) needs to know true love. 

Dotting His I's and Crossing His T's

 A glimpse at copywork:

Gavin recently finished his copybook and rather than order a new one mid-year, we created our own.  I bought a simple 77-cent three-pronged folder and added loose-leaf paper.  Then we brainstormed (Brian, Gavin and I) and typed out pages with his address, the names of all of our family members, the days of the week, and familiar scriptures and tucked them into the folder.  Each morning, he chooses a passage or a few lines to copy (...he doesn't have to go in order...) and in ten minutes, his copywork is complete!

"You Knit Me Together"

A glimpse at today's art class:

As a first grader, Maddie is required to take art as part of our homeschool requirements.

I'm not an art type of person.

Today, art wasn't limited to paper and paint or pencils... 

but it was art and it was fun!

 

  

Another Peek

A glimpse at our dryer:

The dryer door is precisely at child's eye level so it has become our school bulletin board.  

I taped a clear binder folder to the door (and another on one side).  Papers easily slip in and out when we change topics.  Each kid loves to be the first one to spot something new:  a painting for our picture study...the food pyramid...a number chart...our Christmas advent calendar...

It is the perfect spot for spontaneous learning.

Grooves and Ridges

I gravitate toward what I know.  It's like riding a bicycle down a dirt lane. I avoid the bumps because the well-worn grooves of our school days are comfortable.  Sometimes I need to go off of the smooth path, though, and to venture into new territory.  Sometimes the path I know isn't the easiest anymore or doesn't get us where I want us to go. 

I have been inspired numerous times by ideas mapped out by other blogging and Facebooking mamas.  When I need a new direction, they act as my trip guide, offering tips and inspiration and  new track to follow.  Yet somehow I forget that I may have something to offer, too...and so I'd like to spatter this new year with pictures and phrases from our learning times-- not how-tos, but simple glimpses to inspire and spark your own ideas.  

 

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A peek at our dining room wall:  

 

Our missionary map takes no more than a few stickers and a biography a month.  

 

(Local mamas, we are slowly collecting the YWAM's entire missionary series for young readers and are eager to loan out the ones we are finished reading.)

The missionary map.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."