Posted in Study
Want a fast-paced, high energy tour through history? Then you might like
Drive Thru History with with
Dave Stotts!
We have watched Drive Thru History:
Rome If You Want To.. and
Turkish Delight as well as
Greece and the Word. We're looking forward to the next DVD;
East Meets West.
Each DVD is a part of the Drive Thru History series in which the sometimes hilarious Dave Stotts explores the history of Western Civilisation. Some may feel that Dave Stotts is a little irreverant so be warned but we enjoyed his sense of humour- he's not rude, just tend to point out the obvious. Each DVD has 3 episodes of approximately 30 minutes each.
Personally, those in our family who have studied a full rotation of world history and have an idea of the places mentioned, seem to enjoy this a lot more than the younger children. Therefore, I would recommend these DVD's to those who are familiar with the places and events visited. It is not a curriculum (although the
American history series which is a full curriculum looks so good...I wish they'd one one Australia!) but a good, fun, visual tie-in once you've learned about those areas, people or places in your history studies.
These are available from
Koorong or
Word from $16 through to $21 each DVD.
Posted in Study
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”
1 Thessalonians 5:21
I’ve been called a skeptic. I’m prone to investigate some conspiracy theories. I like to think that I examine things (within my own limited knowledge and understanding). I think that we need to be good, responsible stewards of the earth. There!. Had to get that out of the way.
I want to teach my children how to think critically, how to read information and examine it, how to apply God’s word to everyday life. Therefore, I love learning at home with my children and am thankful for the responsibility and opportunity to do so.
Every person holds a worldview. A worldview is a way of looking at the world…it is what you believe, what you understand the world to be about.
Everyone has assumptions or presuppositions. This is simply having an idea or a belief and you filter new knowledge or information through that assumption. Each worldview has various presuppositions supporting it.
There is a naturalistic, Biblical and pantheistic way of looking at things. Various trains of thought (worldviews) have adaptations but they basically can fit into these categories. (Learning about worldviews is an important topic!) So now knowing that everyone holds a worldview, I'll start honing in on my subject.
Over the course of history there have been many beliefs. Beliefs that people held and defended to the hilt. Others who did not agree with these beliefs were mocked, persecuted and all manner of things. Remember when people thought the world was flat? Well, it’s all well and good for us to sit here now and laugh at that because we have the benefit of history and science behind us. Do we look and see ourselves in that picture? Do we believe everything that we are told without examining it? How about Y2K? Future generations may laugh till their insides hurt when they hear of the hysteria and confusion around Y2K…yet it was a real threat in our minds only seven years ago.
There is a lot of hype and hysteria surrounding the whole climate change issue. Ever heard the saying, ‘he who controls the media, controls the world’? Think about it. While we are busy, worrying and adapting our lifestyle, stressing over the current issue (climate change, Y2K, terrorism, etc) other things, important (world, national, state and local) issues, could be slipping under the radar. Fear is a powerful motivator. And with every ‘issue’, there is fear behind it. I haven’t watched the latest movie, 'An Inconvenient Truth’ but the snippets I have seen are designed to produce fear in the hearts of the viewers. But oh, that’s meant to be ‘information’, facts to make the people aware. Are the people who are doing the alarming changing their lifestyles? There is truly much to think about with the whole issue. Michelle Malkin has a clip here which is thoughtful and enlightening.
There are plenty of informed scientists and speakers who disagree with the whole alarmist view of global warming but they are not being heard or listened to. I wonder why?
Do you remember the animation, Captain Planet? Cool eh? It was indoctrination- pure and simple. It did not have a biblical basis or worldview. Pick up a newspaper, magazine or turn on the television today. What information are you being fed? Have you really examined the facts or are you being led into an emotional trap? Are you being indoctrinated?
A popular website that is being pushed in Australia is cooltheglobe. Here’s a snippet from the site:
"Climate change is the greatest threat facing our planet. Humans are causing climate change, and humans can stop it getting worse. We can keep our planet healthy for future generations by acting on climate change now and reducing our greenhouse pollution."
I think that sin is the greatest threat facing our planet and the humans that live on it.
I don’t believe in evolution, or a brand of Christian Evolution. I guess you’d call me a young earth creationist. However, if I believed in the process of evolution then I’d believe that the world is millions of years old. I guess I could then think it’s possible that the earth is in trouble. Also believing in evolution, I’d believe in the superiority of man (I mean underneath all the rubble, even racism stems from an evolutionary worldview). If man was capable of evolving into the intelligent species that we are, I’d have to believe that we can fix this problem. Apparently the ice caps on Mars are melting due to our actions here on earth. Wow, we’re pretty powerful uh! So the earth has been around for millions or billions of years (so apparently has man) yet it is only in the last few hundred years that we have managed to destroy the earth and universe as we know it. 
This view holds a very high opinion of man, doesn’t it?
There are a few issues within the whole crisis that I am concerned about. The experts compare today's weather to hundreds and thousands of years ago but I can’t see how this is accurate. How long have there been reliable weather stations throughout the world? Granted, the experts use measures of tree rings, they analyse ice-cores and so on but these don’t build an accurate picture, especially as one considers that scientists can’t even agree on the age of the earth! They say that this weather pattern and climate change is not normal…I don’t think man has been officially recording the weather for long enough to know what ‘normal’ is. (Apparently they started recording in the mid 1800’s…even in a time frame of 6,000 years that is not much to go on) It’s such a short term view.
A statement at National Geographic says:
Over the last million years the Earth has fluctuated between colder and warmer periods.
How does a Christian reconcile this with the Bible’s teaching? I’m no great scientist, but I believe that when we truly understand and believe in a catastrophic event such as the Great Flood we can see how it would have had a major impact on the geophysical and biological system of the earth…and that dating systems which do not reflect a biblical worldview nor take into account the devastating flood, are simply not correct.
We can see that over the course of history, the climate has indeed changed. Was this the result of man? Was man big enough to control the universe? Sure we need to be good stewards and live carefully but the fear mongering must not be allowed to control us. We must teach our children to think critically and examine issues. We need to prepare our hearts for the day when we meet our Maker.
Where is God in all of this global warming/climate change issue? Is He so small that He does not control everything? Some times we need to stop, take a step back and actually read our history and science books…and try to see things from a biblical worldview rather than our own small perspective.
Whether or not you do or don’t believe in all the hype, I hope you can see that we need to teach our children to think…we need to educate our children about the real issues: being that fear is a powerful motivator, combined with the media using every means available to appeal to our emotions, (propaganda) can be a strong driving force that can be used…and is often used, sadly, by politicians.
I don’t want or expect anyone to agree with my thoughts…but I hope you look closely at the facts and research for yourself, for the sake of your children. A few sites that I like are:
http://www.junkscience.com/Greenhouse/
http://www.icr.org/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16960409/site/newsweek/
http://www.michaelcrichton.net/speeches/index.html
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n2/global-warming
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n2/human-caused-global-warming
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Posted in Study
I have previously written a little of our English lessons on
my website and also v
arious thoughts on copy work on this blog.
Personally, we still use a spelling list. (You can download our forms here) I have found it easier for
me to teach the various spelling rules when we have followed a list. I can easily review what rules I have and haven't presented to the child...and set about continuing on with that. If I feel that a child does not grasp a particular spelling/grammar rule, then I will search for a passage or selection of work so that they can specifically write it out for copy work.
Copy work is preparation for dictation as well. The reason I have used a spelling list is also because I haven't been as diligent with the practice of dictation as I would have liked, but that's life eh! I do believe that the CM method of education is full and rich and thorough if adhered to...which is where I fall down.
So, in a nutshell: we would do a passage for copy work on Day One. I read the passage aloud to the children once or twice. I would review any of the spelling and grammar rules that are applicable and I would then teach new concepts from the passage. I tell the child that they can spend time and take care with this selection as they will be writing it for dictation soon. I ask them to notice any words that they may need to spend time on or look up in the dictionary. I ask them to notice any grammar or punctuation rules and we discuss it. If they haven't noticed anything, then I jump in with my comments but I like to give them opportunity first. At the end of the lesson, I ask the child to read the passage aloud to me. (I think this is an important step) They also have to read (or listen to) good living books and then narrate to me. After a few days (depending on the passage I've selected) I will have the child write the selection from dictation. This is where they need to apply the habit of attention, else they will get spelling and punctuation incorrect.
To start the
dictation lesson, which may be on day 2, 3 or 4 (on this day, dictation REPLACES copy work and is not in addition to), I read the passage aloud to them. I'll slowly read a phrase at a time as the child writes it on their paper. I
try not to re-read any phrase as I'm trying to develop the habit of attention, requiring them to concentrate and use their memory...but I don't let myself get hung up on it. My goal is to train them in the habit of attention, develop their ability to focus and recall, to have neat handwriting and develop their spelling, grammar and punctuation skills.
I think the basis of a CM English program is
Copywork and then also
Dictation, Narration, and good
Living Books. (I also think exposure to
Great Ideas is a big part of this.)
Another tip which I have found very useful is to have a double copy of a book that I'm reading aloud. As I'm reading it aloud, another child will have the second copy and be following me along. This helps them to SEE and HEAR the word so they hear the correct pronunciation and see the correct spelling in a very gentle way. I also buddy read: where I will read a passage and then the child will read a passage. I think that having the child read aloud is very important as I can *hear* exactly where they are having difficulty and then I can help them straight away without needing to wait until the rule or concept arises in the textbook.
We also have focused *
seasons* which probably isn't very CMish but it works well for us. By seasons I mean that we will have a period of time (could be weeks or months) where we will learn grammar. We'll do a course like
Winston Grammar and we focus on it during our copy work times. We might put another topic or area on the backburner for awhile as we do this. Then, when I feel that we've done enough there for the time being, I'll put grammar to the backburner and bring another area into focus. Some people can't handle this way of doing things but it is the only way that I can manage.
I hope some of this has been helpful, if only in sparking some ideas.
There are a few links that you might like to read over:
AmblesideOnline Scope and Sequence for LA
LA with Penny Gardner
Copywork with the Parker's
