Book Notes-No Perfect People Allowed-Chapter Two by John Burke

Points of Impact:

"I have since discovred that the average person has a stron perception of what Christians are against, but little of what Christians are for."

"If the church is to have an impact on society, the first task for leaders is to understand the broader cultural context."

"...do not try to change the culture, but rather contextualize the the message of Christ for each unique culture."

"We must not only understand how to draw out the timeless truths of Scripture, we must understand the times."

"Americans went out for a three decade (60s-80s) binge on self, and now our coutnry is comiting up the consequences uncontrollably."

"A world in which God is dead leads to a casting off of moral restraints.  What evolved from these generational changes can be see in retrospect as the social self-absorption of this inner-directed era at the expense of future generations and the national collective life."

"...five main sociological struggles Christian leaders now face to reach emerging generations: trust, tolerance, truth, brokeness, and aloneness."

Trust
"Trust is the cornerstone of relationship and faith.  Without it we cannot angage others or God in intimate relationship.  Trust comed from a deep conviction that I matter, that I can trust the other person because he has a genuine concern for my well being."

Tolerance
"The attitude of the church culture will either convey the person of Christ and his attitude, which was outrageously accepting of and attractive to the "sinners" of his day, or our attitudes toward others will reinforce a stereotype that does a disservice to Jesus."

"We can demonstrate to people how incredibly tolerant God is to not immediately punish all our sins and wrongs.  In his love and mercy, he willingly overlooks how different we are from him because of the cross of Christ."

Truth
"A natural survey taken by Barna Research revealed that only one-third of Americans believe moral truth is absolute and unchanging."

"Fundamentally, truth is not primarily propositional, but personal.  Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth...' the best way to help emerging generations find truth is to introduce them to Him."

"Post modern thought presents a potential greater opportunity than threat for the church, because...

1. post modern thought has made spiritual pursuit culturally acceptable
2. we can return to the Lord's plan for presenting truth.

"Post modern people can best experience Christ (the Truth), through the church,(the body of Christ)."

"Christ really does convey his truth to spiritual seekers as they encounter and experience truth in us."

Brokenness
"Nothing poses a greater challenge and opportunity to the church than the overwhelming emotional pains that drive our generation into so many addictive behaviors.  If Christian leaders do not prepare and organize and pray so that healing can occur from the wounds caused by the Postmodern Experiment (the 60s-80s movement of self), we will lose a generation.  Trust issues may make them cynical, tolerance issues may make them unwilling to listen; truth issues may confuse them, but acting out in brokenness will destroy them."

"There is nothing "Free" about the Postmodern Experiment.  It came with a huge balloon payment of broken lives for coming generations."

"If you are going to minister to emerging generations, you must create a culture where broken people are welcome and healing happens."

"...They must see the church as a lighthouse; always there to lead them into the safe harbor of God's grace."

"Can we lovingly accept them 'as is' and offer love, hope, and healing as Jesus did to "go and sin no more?"  To do this, we must begin to see how we too are broken, and in needs of a Saviour.  We must show others how our brokenness leads us to daily dependence on a mercuful Savior who brings healing for our souls and hope for our futures."

Aloneness
"We live in a highly fragmented, relationally isolated society.  People move, change jobs, get divorced, commute hours each day, travel around the country weekly, then spend all their free time surfing through 1700 cable channels and millions of Internet sites, and all at the cost of relationships."

"According to Scripture, the church is to function like family.  We are to be that supportive community that extended family to one another.  We have a tremendous opportunity to teach people how to live in healing, life-giving relationships with one another.  No one else in society can better meet this need.  I find it awe-inspiring to watch the Lord re-parent and grow people spiritually in the safe environment of the church family."

"The challenge for leaders is first to learn how ro live in community with others, and then to provide ways to ensure that nobody stands alone."

No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come as You are Culture by John Burke

This is the book our whole church is reading. 

Book Description:
This book challenges Christian leaders to engage in the messy art of creating the right culture to reach our postmodern, post-Christian society. Through real stories of God’s perfect work in the lives of imperfect people, you will experience the power of an authentic church community and learn how to deconstruct barriers and bring hope and healing to America’s most unchurched generation.

These are the points of impact for me:

• "Are we raising up a generation of leaders ready to lay down their lives to dive into the muck of cultural America?  Or are we just playing church-developing spiritual dependents who consume the goods of whatever church shelf will "feed me" or "puff me up with more knowledge" or even "feel post-modern?"
• "The harvest is great but the workers are few."
• "All life requires the right soil for healthy growth."
• "It's not the visible, but the invisible that needs attention.  It's not the candles, but community, not art, but attitude, not liturgy, but love that makes the difference in our broken world."

Chapter One Small Group Questions: (My answers are in parenthesis)

1)How would we define the "feel" and "experience" of our group? (safe, close knit, supportive, accepting, unchallenging, unpressured)
2)What is the perfect environment? (open, honest, supportive, trustin, growing, organized, accountable)
3) Look at 1 Corinthians 9:20-23
"To the Jews, I became like a Jew.  To those under the law, I became like one under the law (although myself I am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  To thise not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as not to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak.  I have become all things to all men so that by all possbile means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

Notes from the Life Application Bible regarding this verse:
-Paul gives several important principles for ministry: 1)find common ground with those you contact
2) avoid a know it all attitude 3) male others feel accepted 4)be sensitive to their needs and concerns, and 5)look for opportunities to tell them about Christ.  These principles are just as valid for us as they were for Paul.

What do you think Paul meant by "becoming all things?" (I think it means that you focus on the similarities and not the differences.  Find common ground with everyone without compromising beliefs.)

How is the culture around us similar to or different than the culture of Corinth?
From the Life Application Bible:
Corinth was a major cosmopolitan city, a seaport and major trade center-the most inportant cit in Achaia.  It was also filled with idolatry and immorality.  The church was largely made up of Gentiles.  Paul had established this church on his second missionary journey.
(I think our current culture is very similar to Corinth.  We are a large city with a diverse population of lifestyles and beliefs.  There is idolatry inform of worshiping material wealth, social advancement, media influence.  Immorality with overt media depicting s$x and violence, etc.

What are some ways we can be "all things" to the surrounding culture without compromising following Christ?
(Do not force others to your beliefs.  Be the example, but don't judge.  That's not my job.)

Yay!  This is the last book from the homeschool course!

Now, all I have to do it submit my notes and I will be "certified" to homeschool in Washington state!

Description from the back of the book:

This book provides an introduciton to the Lifestyle of Learning message.  It outlinves three goals and prepares the reader for the message presetned in 'Wisom's way of Learning'.  It is a tool for the education of concerned parents who are in the beginning stages of seeking for a better way to educate their families.  It also gives the new homeschooler practical guidance and words of wisdom for the first year.

THE LIFESTYLE OF LEARNING-AN INTRODUCTION

Points of impact:

·          Let us for a moment consider the challenges and problems confronting us as Christian homeschoolers.  We come from a generation that was not taught how to learn.  Few Christians know how to access the Word of God themselves and fewer still know how to access the Lord themselves in an intimate way.  Many parents were, themselves, not given a love of learning as children and are now lacking in purpose and training their own children in the same way.  Complacency toward these unhealthy conditions is a disease of the soul that has its solution only in God as He is allowed to become Lord.

·          In our traditional education system, the activity of “learning” has been distorted from its true nature to look like something many of us would want to have as little to do with as possible.

·          Parents must become honest about their own educations and commit to acquiring a self-disciplined education, in order to model and lead their own children in the same way.

·          Parents must commit to a steady increase in the quality of their family’s lifestyle activities.  When you upgrade the quality of your lifestyle activities, you open the door for learning opportunities to come into your home.

·          What produces differing results between traditional education in the home and a lifestyle of learning?-biblical principles for living, learning and the training and discipling of children.

·          Developing a family business or parents apprenticing their own children, wherever possible, are new and exciting options to consider.  The added benefit of the family’s centralized purpose, from which all academic disciplines flow, makes possible a much more efficient use of the time allotted for the education of children.  In addition, it helps to maintain a high level of learning interest over the long term which keeps boredom and burnout out of the home.

·          Our desire is that a lifestyle of learning will disciple children to Jesus and prepare them for an individual definable life purpose, by God’s design for the,. While they are young and before graduation.  This ideal already departs from the norm where children grow up through adolescence without knowing what they are doing with their lives.

Description from homeschooloasis.com

Reb says: "Need we fear the loss of our teenagers to the world? Must they fall victim to the s_xual pressures they will face? Not at all! Regretfully, I believe that most Christian parents hurt instead of help their children's chances for chastity, usually unknowingly. This 7-CD series will expose for parents how they accidentally lead their children into s_xual impurity, and will equip them with a plan for shaping their children's values from the time they are toddlers." Anyone with children (even in utero!) needs to hear this timely message! Especially good for parents with young children who still have time to start implementing these values early on, but it was still very helpful for our "late start" when ours were in their early-mid teens.

My comment:

I listened to these in the car.  I am so grateful that I was able to hear these while my boys are young , instead of backtracking when teens.  I also listened to these after reading the book by the Ludy’s.  It was a great combination to see this process applied to a real couple.  This is the kind of pure, God-ordained love I pray for my children.  The level of self discipline and conviction is new to me; it’s hard to fully grasp.  But, what a concept!

description from homeschooloasis.com

Have you asked these questions: Can children obey when spoken to calmly and only one time? What is a child-run home? Can different children be held to the same standard? How can a parent know if a toddler understands simple directions? What are the characteristics of rebellion? What exactly is "sass" and how can it be stopped? Should children be required to eat and accept thankfully foods they don't enjoy? How can parents help children skip the "terrible two's," the "trying three's," and "rebellious teens"? Pastor Reb Bradley answers all these questions and more with God's heart and godly advice (not always synonymous!) in this excellent book!

My points of impact:

• Raising and training are not the same.  Scripture calls us to do both.
• Define a goal of what you want your child to be and make a plan.
• Goal one:  Bring them to salvation.
• Goal two: Bring them to maturity: self control, wisdom, responsibility
• A child who learns to deny his own desires and submits to his parent's controls gains his own inner control.
• Training is a consciuos effort of intstilling instruction, discipline, and modeling.
• To become an effective child trianer requires that a parent understand exactly what God expects and how they are to achieve those results.
• Out children must be prepared in their youth for the challenges they will find in life.  They must learn that they cannot have everyhting they want, and that they can endure quite well with less than they hoped for.
• To mature properly, children must learn when they are still toddlers-to obey their parents quickly and withough resistence and to endure hard situations.
• Humbly, with their parent's help, thay can learn as early as possible to die to themselves, preparing them to live for Christ.  Otherwise, as teenagers, they will remain self consumes, rebellious, and far from God.
• Asking "why" after a comment shows resistence to parental authority and delays immediate obedience.  It is disrespectful.  (I am not sure if I agree with this;  maybe age-dependent?)

Description from homeschooloasis.com

The authors show how to acquire and maintain fellowship with your child, spank less, and get total obedience.

Quotes: "Training is a technique that always works on every child. To neglect training is to create miserable circumstances for yourself and your child. Many have bypassed the training and expected the discipline alone to effect proper behavior... Disciplinary actions can become excessive and oppressive when the tool of training is set aside and one looks to discipline alone to do the training."

My points of impact:

• Watch your tone and sound level.
• Training is not discipline.  Training is the conditioning of the child's mind before the crisis arises.
• Establish a vocal pattern to be used the rest of his youth.
• All children are trained by the responses and actions- or lack of them-of their principal caretakers.
• Homeproof your child, not childproof your home.
• During the years before the child is capable of self-motivated restraint, parents thoughtlessly assist the child's self indulgence by providing an environment where little is expected.
• Be proactive; create a plan with spouse before event occurs
• Be consistent
• No more chances; they will always take that second chance if they know they will get away with it.

This book introduces spanking as a form of training.  Although, I don't necessarily disagree or agree with it, this was not how I was raised and the concept was foreign to me.  I know that there are strong advocates and strong detractors for the stance on spanking.  I am neutral on it and honor each parent's position on how they choose to discipline their child.  Please, no comments to spark a debate.  I am just posting what I have learned from this book.

From moorefoundation.com:

Booklet written by Dr. Moore on the research of educating young children. Topics include: Educational Faux Pas; Institutionalizing young children; Cognitive development; Neurophysiology; Social and emotional development; School entrance age; Parent attitudes and potential and The home as school. Fully documented.

My points of impact:

• A decreased work ethic-replaced with a narcissistic climate (sports, amusement, diversion)
• Bigness in schools does not equal goodness
• From conception to age four, child will develop 50% of his mature intelligence (this does not mean spped up learning)
• Children should be taught to read with understanding, not simply to repeat words.  This requires cognitive readiness-ability to reason from cause to effect-around age 7 and up.
• Children learn easily, but it is by rote and imitation rather than by rule and reason.  It is not the kind which formal learning should be based.
• decreased maternal care = decrease social and emotional development
• On average, a relatively bad home is generally better than a good institution.
• The child who feels needed, wanted, and depended on at home, sharing responsibilities and chores, is much more likely to develop a sense of self worth and a stable value system, which is a basic ingredient for positive sociability.
• In contrast, is the negative sociability that develops when a child surrenders to his peers
• Children who enter school later excel in achievement, adjustment, etc.
• 20 minutes play with mom=3 hours in lass
• Warm, consistent, responsive environment

Description from homeschooloasis.com

This 2-hour seminar is on tape and comes complete with a 52-page set of handouts, complete with reproducible masters and filled-in samples!
Covers 10 reasons for record keeping and a chart to help you determine your own needs so you don't do any more or less than is optimally beneficial to you. Forms for minimal planning, organizing of your children and their jobs and minimal "table time" work, reading with Mom, various ways to make it look official - which it is! - I just help you translate your "real life learning" into "academicese."

My points of impact:

• God has an individual plan for each of us, so don't compare.
• Scholarships look for service.  Document how your child is involved in service to others.
• Balance privilege with responsibility; gentle "accountability"
• Don't sacrifice your time with your kids to keep records
• Create a booklet-form on right side, explanation on left side
• 8 day lesson plan-2x4 days=2 weeks, but it could go up to one month, depending on field trips and other activities.  Just good to have a plan on what to do next.
• School district 'Instructional Objectives'-tells what objectives per grade. 
• Be careful about introducing things too early.
• Create lesson plans Sunday afternoon while still in spiritual afterglow of church
• Lesson plan take about 45 minutes to create.
• In High School-'War report'-look up all wars and document
• Daily Report, Job Chart and checkpoints/point allotment and accumulation (privilege w/ responsibility)
• Make a sign for the door for neighbor kids to know not to knock when kids are unavailable.
• 'The great American Bathroom Book'-terrific to whet the appetite for English Lit.
• Have family create a Family Newsletter/Newspaper
• Have school colors, name-create vision and unity
• Permanent Record-Immunization records, certificates of promotion, report cards, test scores, awards of merit and accomplishment

Description from homeschooloasis.com

This is an easy-to-use tool for creative, hands-on learning in many subjects! One homeschool mom said: "I've enjoyed working with your books and the kids. My son has written a few books now and finishing them up on the computer has helped him to enjoy writing even more. Thanks for the vehicle to making writing and homeschooling easier."
Ted Wade, (author of The Homeschooling Manual) says of the book: "Young hands need to be active, but they are often given only busywork. This idea combines activity with creativity for meaningful, delight-directed learning." It's geared for 'just- starting-to-read-n-write-ers' up through about age 12. It has over 35 different reproducible masters, each one being a hands-on project in itself!
This is what Teresa Ward, one of Barb's List Shepherdesses and Online Secretaries has to say about this book:
"This book is more than just masters for the pages of the booklets your kids will love making, it is full of ideas to embellish the booklets, to make them truly unique & personal. Making booklets is a fabulous, real-life way of collecting, organizing, & diplaying your child's learning. They are useful for developing language & communication skills without the dreary drudgery of worksheets! These pages matter!!!!!!!!! Barb also shares many ideas for binding your children's works of heart."
Mom just copies the ones she wants to use (children can go through and select the ones they are interested in!) It includes complete directions and ideas for forming them into a "make-my-own" booklets like "Buds-to-Blossoms Book"; "Grandparent Book"; "Around My Town Book"; "Days of Creation"; "Planets"; "A Week in My Life," and "Tree 'n' Leaf Book." This book is part of Barb's answer to "What did you do with your kids *before* they got to senior high?"

My points of impact:

• In terms of writing, as the ability increases, so will the quantity.
• Trade back and forth between projects to stimulate inspiration/life-relational
• Modify for PreK, with the intention to move into independent booklet building at the appropriate time.
  
  

Description from homeschooloasis.com

These books reflects the real-life, delight-directed interests of Marilyn’s children. It is not the actual notebooks that they created but is a report of the notebook projects. It consists of a detailed outline of contents and a thorough presentation of what the actual notebooks consists of, including: how it was laid out, length of season to complete it, the extent of mom’s involvement, and so forth...

My points of impact:

• Collecting, recording, projects and study.
• Student assumes the responsibility for their education
• Projects offer a tangible direction and focus on the student's delight directed learning pursuits
• Projects can take years to complete
• Initially establish 'minimum requirements' for time
• Do not try this with younger children, or you will be doing it on your own. (Best for adolescents)
• Create a season for writing.  Chronicle the projects.
• OK to initiate and partially guide, if necessary.

Description from Amazon.com

Role models for a generation of homeschoolers, David and Micki Colfax are teachers turned ranchers who taught their four sons at home in the 1970s and '80s and schooled three of them into Harvard. The Colfaxes don't purport to be experts; they don't prescribe a formula for their success. Rather, their experience is described as a trial-and-error effort, with some of their mistakes offered up as lessons for others.  The couple closes the book with an appendix of suggested references for building a family library and a delightful list of their children's favorite books. --Jodi Mailander Farrell

My points of impact:

• All parents, after all, are teachers, and it is only the formal education in out children that most of us entrust to "experts".
• Homeschooling, unlike other methods, allows parents and children to exercise control-over content, methods, timings, and personnel.
• What most educationists refuse to acknowledge is that real learning, in and out of the classroom, varies along community, cultural, and class lines, and from place to place and from era to era.
• The child who attends public school typically spends approximately 1,100 hours a year there, but only twenty percent of these-220-are spent, as the educators say, "on task".  Nearly 900 hours, or eighty percent are squandered on what are essentially organizational matters.  In contrast, the homeschooled child who spends only two hours a day, seven days a week, year-round, on basics alone, logs over three times as many hours "on task" in a given year than does his public school counterpart.
• Most children learn nearly half of all they will ever learn by the time they are four or five years old.
• "Real things"-tools, building materials, musical instruments, art supplies, and such-have a greater appeal to children than do the various kits and miniaturizations that are so frequently given to them simply because it is assumed that children are unable to appreciate or use the general article.
• Parents would do better, it appears, not to concern themselves with the acquisition of reading skills, but to endeavor to provide their children with an appreciation for reading.
• For children to become more anmore independent and educationally self-sufficient as they grow older, resources such as a good home library, art supplies, musical instruments, lab equipment, and hardware of various kinds facilitate exploration, creativity, and autonomy.
• More than "children's books" should be included in the library early on, so that the read-to-aloud child can begin to understand that books are tools as well as sources of entertainment.
• Enyclopedias-The real test of an encylopedia is not how nice it looks on a shelf, but how much it is used.
• As the home library is being assembled, parents will find that books that they feel are important are being rejected by their children.  Though disconcerting, at least initially,it should be viewed as evidence that the children are developing tastes and interests on their own-and something that should be encouraged.
• Expose children to as wide a range of books as possible.
• Special interest periodicals are another rich source of learning materials.
• Provide the child with examples, opportunities and incentive to write.  Have them keep a daily journal from the time they can hold a pencil.  Have the young ones draw a picture and title it.  Expand writing entries as they become more articulate: weather reports, goals for the day, visits from friends, fragments of conversations, etc.  This is objective and not intended for private thoughts (like a diary.)
• Letter and note-writing. 
• In the early years when the basics (3 R's) are being laid down, it is more important to provide the child with a sense of accomplishment and to build self-esteem than to overload him or her with exercises that very well may provide "the basics", but make it all but impossible for him or her to put them to good use later on.
• Children should be exposed to math very early and very gently.
• Too mush of what is imposed upon a child in schools in the name of teaching him or her basics is in fact a mechanism for sorting children into organizationally manageable categories-the "bright", "average", and "slow", "gifted", or "special education,"
• Once reading, writing, and computational skills are in place-around age 10 or 12, the child is ready for new challenges. (Grammar, composition, upper math, science, history and government, literature, foreign languages,.
• Goal-educate our children, to facilitate the development of intellect and character, and not merely to prepare them for college or a career.
• A homeschooled student who does reasonably well on a few standardized tests can make a case for himself or herself, will have little difficulty attracting the attention of admission directors of most good colleges.
• Children who are given to understand that standardized tests are not necessarily valid measures of worth or competence will not be much intimidated by them when they come up against them.

From homeschooloasis.com

19 years ago this book took me from being a total skeptic about homeschooling (I thought it was about the silliest idea I'd ever heard of!), to being totally sold on homeschooling, even though I didn't want to do it! Every doubt and question I had at the time ended up being addressed in this book! It presents sound advice and many practical how-to's for starting to homeschool in a non-stressful way!...

On the back of the book: "Do you want to really enjoy your child? Do you want him or her to have the best possible teacher and go to the best possible school? According to [the authors] that teacher is you, the parent, and that school can be your home." If you don't want to find out the truth about preschool and its supposed advantages, then do NOT read this book!

My points of impact:

• Integrated Maturity Level (IML)-the optimum time to begin school.  Academic, sensory, and motor coordination combined.
• Mixed age and culture socialization vs. peer dependency (student competes for teacher's attention and time)
• Sir James Jeans: "Evolutions theory of the 'accidental' development of the universe and its human beings is about as likely as the formation of an unabridged dictionary from a print shop explosion."
• Martin Engel"  "Even the best, most humane and personalized daycare environment cannot compensate for the feelings of rejection which the young child unconsciously senses."
• Rule of thumb for a birthday party- # of guests= age of child (4 guests for a four year old).
• It is futile to expect a child under the age of three to grasp the concept of sharing.
• If your child will be placed in a position where s/he will need to share, prepare him/her ahead of time.
• Create a regular schedule
• Always use correct speech around your children.
• Work together/build on skills
• Story time-tell true stories, repetition, tell stories about your life.  Tell stories while doing chores.
• Not toys-life tools
• Daily Schedule
  • Before school-chores: make bed, clean room, help with breakfast and clean up
  • Flag salute, patriotic song, prayer
  • Spiritual song, Bible story, repetition.  Sometimes, let child tell the story.
  • Active time-dancing, hopping, skipping
  • Nature Study
  • A five year old should know their full name, address, phone number, birth date, parent's names, left and right hand, days of the week, months of the year.  How to skip and swing.
  • First priority is outdoor activities
  • Indoor-chalk, crayons, paints, large paper, fingerpaint
  • Music-sing, create
  • Kitchen skills
  • Kitchen garden
• Moore Formula
  • Study 30-180mins a day
  • Work 30-minutes/chores or home industries
  • Service-variable-community or personal

Description from homeschooloasis.com

Quoting from the book:) "Do we use the preschool primarily as a convenience for our own freedom, or do we view it as vital to our children? Are we determined to solve the problems of our children on the basis of scientific evidence? Or do we prefer to operate by social pressure and shaky intuition? In short, are we willing to re-examine our traditional ideas and to make difficult changes involving long-range sacrifices if they mean the eventual enrichment of the lives or our children and our society? ...

From our research and studies, we have concluded that: the home is the primary (and best) institution for young children; we doubt the need for preschool for the larger segment of our population; we see the home as potentially more cost effective than the school for developing young children.

If you are more interested in your personal 'freedoms' than you are in your children, this book may make you uncomfortable. On the other hand, if you are (wanting to be) involved in the education of your children... then this book should be helpful."

My personal points of impact

• The Integrated Maturity Level:  Taking all developmental areas into account (vision, hearing, socio-emotional progress and the activities of the central nervous system) and making sure that the child is mature enough in all these areas before considering school.
• The IML is typically not prior to age eight.
• The first eight years are crucial to a child's development of self worth and security.
• Do not assume learning disabilities prior to 8-10 years of age.
• Even if a child starts later, place him/her in the same class as his/her peers (do not begin in kindergarten) and h/she will catch up.
• Younger children learn best though play.

Book Description from Homeschooloasis.com

This book will change your perspective on and perception of early childhood education. What you think school will do for and in your child may be exactly opposite from your heart's desires. Appearances are deceiving, and that includes the colorful trappings of early childhood education.

My points of impact:

This was on of the most important books I read for the course.  It embodies the Charlotte Mason method.  I had heard of Charlotte Mason many times in other materials, but did not know what it was about.  After reading this, I was able to develop what I believe to be a strong vision for our homeschool future, using CM as the foundation, with the Sonlight curriculum, (etc.) building on it.

For The Children’s Sake

• Some schools are stumbling blocks where the end product is neither an educated person, nor one who has had a chance as a moral and free human being.
• Parents need to determine their priorities.
• Kids need privacy and freedom.
• Galatians 6:9
• Matthew 7:7-11
• The truly educated person had only had many doors of interest opened.  He knows that life will not be long enough to follow all through fully.
• Your children are born persons.  Look at him with love and reverence.
• Do not plan their life for them; no matter how noble.
• Identify their individual needs and capacities.
• We must serve who the child is and not fit him into our agendas and schedules.
• Child’s needs: love, nourishment, unstructured play
• Children need to be outdoor to play
• Being around water is stimulating to a child.
• First half of the day, devote to lessons; second half is nature, art, play, craft, physical activity.
• Children have a voracious appetite and ability to learn in their first five years.  Having been treated as persons, they are secure.  This means they have been loved, respected, talked with, listened to, read to.
• They have shared experiences with the family, and have had freedom to play alone and with friends.
• Narration-the child tells back what he just heard.  Have him tell you the story you just read to him.
• See page 33 for a list of ‘Living Books”
• Begin with listening to carefully chosen books read out loud everyday.  The, tell back what he has just heard.  Draw a picture, or when older, write an essay.
• 6 year old-20 minutes a day on reading and writing.
• The first task of education is a moral one, with a Judeo-Christian framework giving direction.
• Establish “if/then” consequences for wrongdoing
• Make it scripture based
• Habit of obedience to positive acts
• Habit of treating others respectfully.
• Authority: A balance
• Consideration-understand your child’s needs
• Justice-Authority is based on true righteousness
• Faithfulness-Consistency.  Child needs to depend on you.
• Diversion-Divert your child from wrongdoing.
• It is wonderful for children to be trusted.  But, it should always be freedom within normal limits, both physically and morally.
• Synopsis of philosophy pages 61-64
• Teach the skills for their own sake
• Introduce a wide variety of living books
• Keep teaching time short so “real” life can be satisfied.
• The atmosphere of environment
• Habit of attention and concentration
• Begins with play (peek a book, this little piggy)
• Extend story lines, keep them engrossed.
• Habit of truthfulness
• Help children focus on the details
• Habit of self control
• Not, “What do I want”, but, “What do I think is right in this instance”.
• Habit of unselfishness
• Verbalize your desire to do something else, but it is your duty to work/chore/etc.
• Verbalize child’s little victories when child is unselfish.
• Structure and form
• Reading, writing, and math in the morning when mind is fresh
• Family meal-converse with family, talk about activities of the day
• Listen to a book in the evening, read the Bible, pray together
• Make it a priority to talk, record, relax, and work together
• Duty calls, and responsibility should be accepted habitually.  But it should be balanced with the liberty to enjoy life.
• Look at famous drawings.  Let the child point out details.
• Listen to the best music.  Brahms, Bach, Beethoven, Elgar, Mendelssohn
• Share good books with children
• Direct Bible reading
• Make nature a priority in his life.  God’s creations.
• Organized lessons in the morning, nature, play in the afternoon
• Education is a LIFE.
• Socialization-mixing with different kinds of people or experiencing different situations.
• Work
• Children should partake in real work situations
• Creativity
• Create a time and place for creativity
• Have access to paper, wood, costumes, etc.
• No coloring books.  Provide good art paper, paint, markers, etc.
• Let kids make music, stories, poetry
• Let them dictate to you if they can’t write.
• Let them work in the kitchen
• Worship
• Let your kids see you pray and worship[
• Let them hear your conversations about God
• Give straight, matter of fact answers
• Each child should have their own special Bible
• History
• In conflict, look at both sides
• Do not limit to your own country
• Do not condense it to facts and dates
• Begin with narrative history stories.  Later add literary biographies.
• Foster the connection of a world community and not in isolation from one another.
• Create a timeline with both B.C. and A.D.  As a historical narrative is read, write down events and name them in the appropriate century.
• Divide a single century into decades.
• For younger kids-make a scroll.  After reading and narration, have the child draw an illustration of what happened.
• Take the kids to places where events occurred.
• Literature
• Reading aloud as a group has a sense of communication as they share together ideas and human experiences.
• Fairy tales, fables, myths, heroics
• Balance of sharing with shielding
• Be prepared to make a mistake and learn from them.
• Morals and citizenship
• Balance of school and home life with home as the anchor.  School provides other viewpoints.
• Composition
• Various subjects are interrelated. 
• Composition hinders development.
• Narration instead-verbal first, then written
• Under age nine
• 3 years of narrating a wide variety of subjects
• Learn spelling and writing as a skill and combine when older
• Daily diet of books, well written with communication
• Start by listening.  Have kids listen!  Have teachers listen!
• Write down what the child narrates.  Child will make connection of the words and written page.
• Share books, lessons, etc. at dinner time. 
• Purchase good notebooks to write in.
• Time is unhurried and TV free
• Letter writing: Let children receive and write letters.  Once letters are written, make a copy and put in notebook.
• Languages
• Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education includes introducing the child to his possible relationships with other persons in the past, and with those who live in other places.
• Latin-sense of the flow of history and the development of language
• Fluency of a spoke language before the written is tackled.  Simple phrases need to be heard and repeated back.
• Act out fables in another language
• Nature walks where all speak the other language.
• Speak to read to formal grammar
• Art
• Children spontaneously express themselves through art.  Have good materials available at all times.
• Envelope with six reproductions by a single artist
• Look at picture-study it without words.  Turn over and let child describe what he saw.
• Next time he looks at it, he will be more observant.  He has a relationship with the picture.
• Blank piece of paper.  Have him sketch what he saw.  Do not criticize.
• Give the child his own art book to study on an artist after he is familiar with his work.  Try to take the child to see the work in person.
• Let child illustrate a story that interests them.
• Art notebook to draw nature
• Parents do art alongside the kids
• “Quiet bag” for vacation.  Art supplies to enjoy when on a trip
• Music
• The discipline of learning a musical instrument provides the foundation for enjoyments and creativity later on.
• “Suzuki Method” of learning to play.
• Play the same classical music while relaxing with the family.  Creates a fond memory tied with the music.
• Each 1/3 of the school year, each child would know the paintings of one artist and one composer.
• From 1-3^rd grade, a child would know music from 9 different composers!
• Tues: Look at art, sketch it/ Next Tues: listen to music.  Make it fun and similar
• Let kids perform for you-organize a musical evening with friends
• Science
• Time in nature
• Have kids memorize a view and talk about it later
• Adopt trees in a patch of woods
• Go to places new and familiar
• Have kids bring back specimens
• Each child has a nature notebook to paint and write descriptions
• Display the specimens on the table
• Incorporate geography.
• Study temperature throughout the day.
• Look to all four directions.  See how the sun and stars relate to these directions.
• Cloud formations, wind, water
• Geography
• Specific narrative books that keep it interesting to the reader.
• Videos as well

• Math
• Grasp in steps that are mastered before the child is moved on
• Real life skills: cooking, dressmaking, gardening, shopping
• Play math games
• Use computers to aid in repetition
• Physical Development/Handicrafts
• Spend as much time outdoors as possible
• Organized team sports are OK, but not central importance
• It is a duty, not a luxury, to be fit.
• Cook, sew, clay, wood, garden, care for animals
• CM Motto
• “I am, I can, I ought, I will”

from homeschooloasis.com

Don't have a clue as to where to start homeschooling? Or RE-start, having burned out on too much "school at home"? For either case, this 90-page book is brimming with practical help for getting your child (re-)started onto a plan of learning ~ lots of real-life learning and "ample" academics...

My points of impact:

• Before a parent ever launched unto setting up a curriculum for her child, she needs to go through a season of re-educating herself, allowing God time to "transform her ideas of education by the renewing of her mind."
• Drop the idea of "school at home."
• If you are feeling overwhelmed, consider a four day work week, with one day reserved for educational activities on the computer, reading, library, or something else.
• Approach curriculum with an 'a la carte' mentality, not 'buffet'.  Don't try to "cover" it all.
• Recognize "twaddle" early on and get rid of it.  Do not feed "empty calories."
• Create a Homeschool Planner Notebook
  • Lesson Plans
  • Daily Reports
  • Input for mom-pocket divider and notebook paper to jot down notes as you do your reading.  This can be a type of dated journal.
  • Homeschool ideas-pocketed divider and notebook paper.  Ideas for doing things with your kids.
• Homeschool Organizer File Box- A cardboard box to fit folders for kid's supplies and papers.  File folders:
  • Art (include 'color wheel')
  • Craft Ideas
  • Field Trip Reports (Store the blank ones here.  Once they are completed, they go into a notebook).
  • Finance Record and Envelopes
  • Math Papers
  • Music "Music terms" worksheet
  • Spelling Quizzes (blank quizzes)
  • "To be used later" files:
    • Booklet Building
    • Booklets in Process
• Homeschool Work File Box-20"w/ 14"high/14"deep
  • Make poster board tabbed dividers.
  • Make a sampler of the "best" of the year (pg. 31)
• Homeschool Bins-storing items that aren't flat
  • Craft Supplies
  • Math
  • Science
  • Language Arts
• 10 minutes a day, 3-4 times a week for a four year old for writing.

A part of my homeschool course required me to think about some common questions posed to homeschoolers, and to have prepared answers:

• "Grocery Store Version" (25-50, short and sweet)
• "Over a Cup of Coffee Version" (50+ words)

1. Are you qualified to do that?

GSV: "Yes.  Any parent who wished to pursue homeshooling can easily find the necessary resources, support, and direction needed to successfully educate their children.

OCCV: In Washington, there are four different ways to be considered qualified from a legal standpoint. One is to have 45 college credits, one is to get permission from the superintendent of the school district, one is to work with a certified teacher, and one is to attend a homeschool course.   I could have relied on my college credits to qualify, but that would have been an injustice to me and my children.  God called me to go beyond the surface and delve into why I choose to homeschool and that He is blessing our family as a result.  I have already committed countless hours to my children's education and the oldest is three!  With this commitment and God's blessing, I am confident that our homeschool experience will be strong and fruitful.

2.  What about socialization?

GSV:  We will work hard to make sure that our kids are involved in activities that give them the opportunity to socialize with their peers and others.

OCCV:  Depends on how you define "socialization."  Really think about the traditional school system.  How much constructive socialization is there?  And what kind of influence is it over our children (positive and negative)?  Can these influences be found in a different structure?  What about the opportunities that can be found with people outside their age range, culture, etc.?  Which child is getting a more well-rounded social education?  Who has the better chance to be a leader?

3.  Aren't you over-protecting your children?

GSV:  Our goal is to introduce and carefully expose our children to different peoplr, cultures, ages, races, etc.  This is not something we believe can be adequately accomlished in a classroom.

OCCV:  I think that one of the myths of homeschooling is that the children are sequestered in their home with no interaction of the world. Reality is that homeschooled children are not hindered by the classroom and are able to go places and see things, guided by someone who has their best and undivided interest in mind.  Their experiences go beyond the fours wall of the classroom.

4.  How will your children ever be able to deal with the real world?

GSV:  They will be provided with all the academic, spiritual, and life skills training and education needed to successfully navigate "The real world".

OCCV:  While the classroom can only provide like-minded, same-age children, we will have the luxury of being in the real world, interacting and learning from a variety of people, with real issues and experiences.

5)  Don't the public schools need Christian kids in it?

GSV:  Each parent needs to make that decision.  We feel that God is calling us to educate ours at home.

OCCV:  I used to think this way, but I have read some material that shifted my perspective.  Jesus was in his 30's when he began evangelizing.  Until then, he was being raised at home and stayed close to home.  His parents were his primary influence.  Why should we push our kids to evangelize before their intellectual and emotional levels have reached maturity?

6)  What about a diploma?

GSV:  If our kids feel like they need a diploma, we will create one.

OCCV:  Washington state has a large homeschool community.  They have a traditional graduation ceremony at the end of the year, we could participate in.  A diploma is simply a piece of paper acknowledging the completion of 12 years of school.

7)  How will they ever get into college?

GSV:  Homeschooled children have equal opportunity to get into college, and they consistently rank high, if not higher than many traditional schooled children.

OCCV:  Our children will be able to get into any college they desire, assuming that is the direction God is calling them.  We will work hard to make sure that our children are receptive to His calling.  There are many colleges that encourage homeschool applicants, as they are good representatives of the school.

8)   I don't now how you can do it!  I can't stand having my kids at home all the time!  I can hardly wait for school to start in the fall so I can get them out of the house!

GSV:  Well, I agree that it may not be for everyone, but it is what we have deemed best for our family.

OCCV: There is so much more to consider, though.  You need to really take a look at what you want the "end result" to be of your children, and your role in it.  You need to take a look at who is educating your children and who/what are their influences.  You need to prayerfully consider what God intends for your family.

9)  What will you teach and how will you get the resources?

GSV:  It is not a matter of too little information, but more often than not, there is too much!  There are plenty of resources and support in the homeschool community, and most importantly, in God's leading.

OCCV:  There are many different methods, curricula, and philosophies available.  I have come to realize that there is no 'one way' to educate, but that it is a process that combines God's leading, our children's interests, our community, and our home life, compiled with the legal academic requirements set forth by our state.

From homeschooloasis.com

Lovingly, simply, and prayerfully woven together and presented, this book will usher you into deeper intimacy with the Lord and greater victory in your spiritual walk with Him. So much awaits us if we will but walk with Him! If you can lay down the fear of never being the same after reading it, this book will be more than a cherished treasure to you—it will be joyously and permanently life-changing! It is for those longing only for Jesus.

Points of impact:

• Once you are secure in the Lord, the best of what life has to offer holds little, if any, allure.
• Many have a desire to live for God and minister in His name, but most of us are not willing to pay the price necessary to acquire the wisdom and knowledge for the high purpose and calling of God.
• The biblical pattern has been set of spending time alone with God, learning His will for you, before fulfilling His will.  We must have a clear vision and be adequately prepared before acting on it.
• God has a glorious plan to learn to embrace a secret place, along with all its fears and temptations; allowing Him to become the primary source of our identity.
• If we continue in the same pattern through life doing many good things under the guise of ministry, then we never come face to face with who we really are.
• Without a season of solitude, we remain victims of a shallow Christianity that continues to govern our lives.  Be alone with Him.  We need to be well established in His love first.
• A season of staying home, or simply staying at home with a purpose, begins a lifestyle of self-discipline.  A season of solitude for the purpose of discipleship is divinely designed by God himself to draw us unti His presence where He is able to re-make us into His image for His glory, and then to send us out with strength of character, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to minister life to others.
• True ministry is born out of the fullness of compassion that comes only from the Father.  It is in solitude that we become compassionate people, deeply aware of our own sinful nature and brokenness.  It is common to underestimate how difficult it is to be compassionate.
• Compassion requires us to go to the place where another one is weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken.  Our natural response is to run from it or find a quick cure.
• I solitude, we learn that nothing which is common to human nature is alien to us.  The roots of all forms of sin are embedded deep within our own hearts.  Once this is realized, we must lay aside all judgment of others.  This is when God's grace works in and through us.
• To a lesser extent-control the extra activity outside the home and learn to turn to Jesus in our loneliness, despair, and frustration, instead of picking up the phone or finding some form of diversion.
• For every destiny, there is a discipline that must be learned.

Description from homeschooloasis.com

This audio-taped workshop will help you hold a light up to the state of learning in your child by revealing what a healthy state of learning looks like.

My points of impact:

• Natural-God's structure is organized, governing biblical principles
• Help to see child's deficiencies in free time activities-the choices he is making reflects his education
• Teach on a "need to know basis"
• Dad should spend one hour a week instilling a love of something that is of interest to him (carpentry, cars, music, etc.)
• Curriculum does not create Godly children; discipleship does.
• Dialogue with kids on how they can spend their day.  Creates self motivation.
• Sign #1: Individual
  • Distinct; one of a kind.  (Canned curriculum will violate what God has planned for your individual children.)
  • Used child's gifts, delights, interests
  • Seek God to recognize each child's individual bent.
• Sign #2: Delight-Direction
  • Passion for something will last a lifetime.
  • Dimension, substance, quality, purpose
• Sign #3: Life-Related
  • Connected to the student's life.
  • Make the things they learn relevant to what is going on in their life.
  • Ask, "Are they ready to learn this at this point?"
  • Skills need to be applied in daily related experience
• Sign #4: Valuable active
  • Being constructive v. superficial busy-ness.
  • Moderate the mindless activities.
  • Provide opportunities to show the child that God wants them to spend their time with purpose.
  • Most discipline problems have to do with the parents.
• Sign #5: Productivity
  • Bringing something into existence any constructive play time.
  • No need to produce everyday.
  • Quality control along the way.
  • Take time to process knowledge.
  • Free access to TOOLS, not TOYS
• Sign #6: Creativity
  • Create a standard of clean up after each project.  Encourage multiple projects.
  • Creativity is the seed bed of genius.
  • Temper poor choices with rich ones.  Have a list of pre-done choices.
• Sign #7: Vision
  • Inner motivation creates vision.
  • Opposite is the generic purpose for another's plan.
  • See free time as potentially educational use.
  • "Where there is no vision, the people perish"

From homeschooloasis.com

Do you wonder why it seems you can’t hear God—that ‘still small voice’ so difficult to discern? Is confusion present in your homeschool decisions? Do you want to allow the Holy Spirit to lead in this area of your life, becoming your closest friend? Do you long to be free from feelings of guilt, condemnation, inadequacy, feelings that you are not doing enough and not being good enough? Many Christians have a difficult time knowing how to hear God or follow the Spirit’s leading for their lives. Marilyn believes that if we understand God’s ways we will more easily be able to discern His voice. His ways are in opposition to the world’s ways. His way provides the only true security for our homeschool venture. He said...

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8, 9

This message addresses from various angles the opposing ways of the flesh and the Spirit. A parallel is drawn between educational choices and the Christian’s spiritual condition. It will help prepare your heart for your family’s unique lifestyle of learning. It will lead you to recognize the need to know God more intimately as Father, Jesus as Lord, and the Holy Spirit as Teacher and Guide. Many practical applications and personal homeschool examples are given to illustrate the principles throughout this message, which can be life-changing for those who are serious about allowing God full access to their decision-making process in the area of education. A Spirit-led path that will produce wonderful fruit of the Spirit awaits all those who seek the Lord.

Points of impact:

• No longer make decisions based upon our understanding.  We must allow our self to die, so that our spirit of God can accomplish the transforming work necessary for His image to be seen in us.
• Becoming built up in a lifestyle apart from becoming built up in the Lord will never bring glory to Him.
• The face of the homeschool mom should have peace and rest of the quality that comes only from Him, and true security.
• We need to recognize that everything we do in our homeschool will be a direct reflection of our relationship with God and our spiritual condition.
• Religion-when the Christian life begins an outward walk of works.
• Relationship-when the Christian life begins and inward walk of the heart.
• Security in the Spirit-led life means to ignore pressures to conform, and decisions will not stem from fear of others opinions, but rather from the conviction and leading of the Holy Spirit.
• How God gets our attention: negative judgment->crisis->fear of God->walk with God->restoration (Romans 8:1)
• THE HOME SHOULD BECOME EVERY MARRIED COUPLE'S PRIMARY MISSION FIELD
• The Holy Spirit abiding in us is the anointing for our purpose.  The anointing is the ability given by God to perform in a specific function of purpose according to God's will.  The anointing of the Spirit will teach us all we need to know.
• We have no need for anyone to teach us.  God wants us to be listening to Him and learning from Him.
• The Holy Spirit will help us and teach us all things.  Humility is a prerequisite to hearing from God.
• The Holy Spirit is always right and we can believe Him!
• When we are abiding in His teaching, we are abiding in Him.

Description from homeschooloasis.com
Marilyn’s journey began with a groping wandering in many directions until she found the path or ‘roadway in the wilderness’ on which the Lord wanted her to continue her journey. The landscape changed many times throughout her wilderness search and the adventures along the way were many and varied. However, each played a part in God’s plan to bring her into her ‘promised land.’ In the midst, He was faithful to show her a ‘door of hope’ through which she would enter more fully into His plan for her and her family.

One of the lessons she learned was that He did not want her to be ‘planted’ in the wilderness, but rather each step of obedience would lead her closer to her promised land of righteousness, peace, and joy in her homeschool and family life.

As the message unfolds, you will learn how the Lifestyle of Learning approach developed and the specifics of Marilyn’s own self-education that resulted in her ultimately surrendering all to follow the Lord in her homeschooling endeavors. Many moms will relate with this story.

My points of impact:

• Discover the biblical principles pertaining to every subject.
• 5R's-research, reason, relate, record, rhetoric(learning how to communicate)
• Stay with it until they get it.  Don't advance grade if they are not ready.
• The discipline of habit shapes character
• The passive role v. active in learning
• The keeper of little will be keeper of much-stewardship over animals, garden, home
• Jeremiah 24:7/ "However, in spite of my weak emotional condition, God placed within me a hunger for truth which grew into a live for Him".
• You do not need to pre-digest your children's education before presenting it to them.
• "The secret lay in my growth in the Lord, my education and whatever condition every area of my life was in.  This is what I would model and lead my children into.
• "Ask Him to set you firmly on His path for you..."
  

Description from homeschooloasis.com

With practical charts and suggestions, Marilyn helps you to develop a flexible daily schedule that is compatible with real life using distinctive blocks of time for all the important activities and responsibilities of life and still have time for the training of children and the development of their academic skills. She presents wise guiding principles for each of the six time-blocks that are uniquely suited for specific child training needs. The six blocks of time she discusses are:

• Household chore-time and other duties
• Table-time
• Family reading-time
• Productive free-time
• Paid jobs-time
• Family work, play, and together-time

This message will also help you to recognize real-life opportunities for learning and emphasizes the importance of bringing your children along-side you in everything you do, modeling wisdom and love all along the way.

Points of impact:

• Create a more flexible daily schedule (routine)
• First acquire a love of learning
• it is unreasonable to expect a child to be interested in everything.
• Include your children in as many of your duties as possible.  Encourage extended family members as well.
• Creating the daily routine
• Create a list of valuable activities to help eliminate boredom and develop self motivation.
• Real life is God's provision.  It is not lacking any good thing.
• Slow down.  Bring quality interaction into every mundane duty and quality attention to things your normally would pass by.

Description from homeschooloasis.com

The first half of the message addresses the importance of the family’s lifestyle as a prime contributor to the parents’ ability to successfully impart biblical values to their children both by modeling and teaching. The second part addresses more specifically many lifestyle issues regarding the activities in which we choose to engage outside the home that rob us of the opportunity to develop life-purpose. It challenges the homeschool mom to wisely proceed with her homeschool and lifestyle activity choices with the understanding that there is a tomorrow, and what we sow today will reap its fruit in due time. A chart is provided to help you evaluate how time is being spent, and in turn come up with a plan to de-junk superfluous activity to prepare your home environment for quality learning.

My points of impact:

• Create a home-centered lifestyle
• When we build our own houses based upon our fleshly desires instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to direct, we will attempt to push our children into false maturity ans we ourselves will feel like "wanting out", because our efforts will have produced selfish, spoiled, and undisciplined children.
• Our activities reflect our value system.
• If learning for a lifetime is a goal you want for your children, then learning as a lifestyle is not just a nice idea to incorporate into your existing lifestyle.  Rather, it is truly a change of lifestyle issue.
• Impart values by modeling.
• Christian values include the spiritual and character growth of the family and quality of family relationships.
• Model by example and teach by word.
• Develop and protect the family unit, so we can develop and nurture intimate family relationships, (which matures our children into unselfish marriage partners and parents), and so the family can develop and nurture God-given individual and family purpose.
• There is a subtle, yet very strong deception in thinking that in order to provide for our children we must continually be looking outward to what society offers.
• The fuller your lifestyle becomes with real life and worthwhile activity, the easier homeschooling becomes.
• Lifestyle learning=child training and lifestyle activities
• Create a distraction free, unbroken routine.
• Prematurely forcing a thing will prolong the mastery of it and produce a burden that will affect the entire family.
• Limit group learning activities
  • to develop family centered values
  • to develop sibling closeness
  • to nurture individual creativity
• A family who learns to live, learn, and share their very lives together during the children's growing up years will have children that exceed in maturity, direction and purpose even at a young age.

Book description by homeschooloasis.com

Get to Know Your Children—Develop Interests through Three Seasons of Your Child’s Development

The Scripture says to “Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keep with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6 (The Amplified Bible). To do this, we must know the child. The message of this book carries with it a challenge for the homeschool mom to thoughtfully proceed on an adventure of becoming intimately acquainted with the peculiar bents and traits unique to each of her children. It is about enjoying the way God created each one, and allowing the nurturing of all the wonderful gifts He put inside of them.

It will clearly show how you can develop God-designed purpose in your children while they are still young that can extend into vocational expression as they mature. Marilyn uses examples from her son, John’s, life (up through the ages of 13 to 14) to show how many of his interests were sparked and allowed to develop because of the opportunity he was given to ‘focus.’ Focus is vision’s counterpart and a principle that must be present in the child’s daily training in order for his personal life purpose and vision to unfold. She is attentive to the peculiar traits and underlying motivations as they manifested through his interests. Knowing the child’s motivations will significantly contribute to the parents’ ability to direct his learning process and his future vocation. You will ‘see’ her son’s informal learning process unfold.

Next, she shows how her daughter, Kathryn’s, primary interest in horses was encouraged and developed throughout the seasons of her development, even though their family was never around horses. She then shows how this interest is being developed toward an entrepreneurial purpose and shares the answers to prayer and provision that came along the way.

Various types of notebooks, entrepreneurial, and apprenticeship structures are discussed using actual examples. Included are two completed charts that show at a glance how she developed many of her children’s interests through three seasons of their development. Also included is a blank chart to help you visualize a path of learning seasons for your own children. As you read, you may find yourself seeing your children with tender ‘eyes of love’ in deeper ways than ever before.

Points of impact for me:

• Focus-spend time pursuing an interest.
• Seasonal mindset-focus on a few areas of need at a time.
• We need to recognize our children's interests and particular traits and allow both to become developed
• Let child develop many interests and provide resources
• Three tries=perseverance
• Develop interests through three seasons of a child's development (nurture the interest beyond a hobby and toward purpose)
• Encourage collections.  They stimulate growth and skills.
• Create a personal library of interests
• Unit of Life Learning Model
  • Reading
  • Collecting
  • Notebook Recording
  • Construct Projects

Description by homeschooloasis.com

Develop Vision for Your Family—Begin with a Healthy Foundation

Lack of vision when proceeding with a homeschool lifestyle is probably one of the strongest contributing factors toward failure among the homeschool ranks. Too many approaches, standards, and values are thought of as ‘givens’ in our secular, as well as church culture, causing the new homeschooler to proceed in harmony with those values like there is no tomorrow.

The message of this book carries with it a challenge for parents to thoughtfully consider their reasons for homeschooling, to define their dreams and goals for their family and to proceed in harmony with them.

This book is for those who are serious about allowing God full access to their life for the purpose of accomplishing a restorative and/or a foundational work in their family. It will challenge you to look at the quality of your own education, family relationships, and current purpose. It is a detailed guide that will lead you to develop biblical family, homeschool, and lifestyle values and unfolding family vision.

Using personal examples from her own process, Marilyn helps you to determine if you are following the Holy Spirit or an ‘approach’ in your homeschool decisions. Then she specifically defines six related terms (destiny, vision, calling, purpose, goals, and planning) and takes you on a journey with her as she shows you how she acquired vision for her own family.

With sets of questions to guide you, she helps you to look at the fruit of your own life and determine what your hopes and dreams are for your family so you can begin to document a tangible plan for your homeschool that is in agreement with the hopes you hold in your heart. She then leads you to construct your own Family and Homeschool Mission Statement using her own as a model. She then takes it all a step further and shows how she set realistic goals that remained in harmony with her vision and describes the fruit that resulted from meeting those goals.

Points of impact for me:

• Any single approach only comprises a small portion of the elements that need to be present in a healthy learning process over the long term.
• Sometimes boredom is a result of too much of the wrong kinds of activities being forced upon a person; he is constrained to man's plan for his life.
• Parenthood and family are not ends in themselves, but a life foundation from which should extend God's continuing purpose in the form of ministry towards others.
• Believe that Jesus care more about the education of your children than you do.
• Slow down and ponder what you really want for your family.
• Once our long term purpose and goals are set in place, we will be able to determine out academic approach, child training methods, and even our lifestyle values: destiny, vision, calling, purpose.
• Create a Family Mission statement
• The development of spiritual gifts is only possible when we make a habit of being before the Lord.
• Nothing can substitute for quality relationship and quantity time with your own children.

Description by homeschooloasis.com

The reader is given a thorough introduction to the Lifestyle of Learning message which restores to (home) education the goal of developing the tools of learning and a love of learning within the student. An invaluable educational tool, Wisdom’s Way of Learning will renew your mind to God’s idea and purpose for education. You will never view your children’s activities, whether academic or non-academic, the same again! It is eye-opening, life-changing, and heart-inspiring. It will point you to the One who is the Way—Jesus Christ. Following Jesus—this is Wisdom’s Way of Learning.

This series of books is numbered in sequential order and should be read in order for the best possible understanding, as different aspects of the Lifestyle of Learning Approach are developed in each book, building one upon another.


Set of 4 books:
1) Understand the Biblical S.A.T.s
2) The Unit-of-Life Learning Model
3) The Life-Message Learning Model
4) Seasons: God's Time-Design

Points of impact for me:

• Rearing Godly children who hunger and thirst for a living God will require a living educational process.
• Drop fiction books from your household
• The significance of focusing on the process versus the product
• The product we desire will not happen without a God-ordained process
• The use of the 'notebook method' (in depth process in the book), is a lifelong process and not a limited curricula.
• Embrace the "seasonal" mindset for our benefit and our children.

Description from homeschooloasis.com

Called "the best first book to read"---and for good reason! Father to six homeschooled children and the founder of Christian Life Workshops, Harris helps you find your way around the fast-growing homeschool movement.

His classic introduction will answer all your "who, when, where, what, how, and why" questions.

My Notes:

Of the many books I read for this course, I think, (I repeat, THINK, there are still a ton of notes to review), this was the most helpful book for me in terms of all the basic questions.  This was the book I think I took the most notes from.  Another absolute "must read", especially for the beginning homeschooler.

Points of impact:

• I am my children’s keeper, protector, and provider.  God has entrusted the care, nurture, and education primarily to me.
• Never underestimate the potential of every child.
• The Bible makes it clear that the primary responsibility for the education and training of children rests with the parents.  Regardless of how it is pursued, education is always more effective when parents actively participate in the process.
• The concept of sending our children to evangelize an overtly anti-Christian public school system …we need to be shaping our kids into arrows that will fly straight to the target God has set for them.
• With 20-25 student in a class, a teacher is must aim each lesson at the average child, thus failing to suit the lesson to a number of students at both ends of the spectrum.  Consider the division of the teachers time and attention between many different needs and students.
• Tackle hardest subjects first while they have the energy.  Do the bulk of the studies before lunch.  Afternoon is “delight directed”.
• The American family has been convinced over the years that others outside the family can do a better job of providing things that the family had always provided for in the past.
• The Educational Advantages of Home Schooling:
  • The significance of parents.  Subjectively, you are the most important person in the world to your child.  You have greater credibility with him.  Public/private schooling risks teacher emulation.  There is no say over who your child spends their days with or what their teacher is teaching them.
  • Moral purity.  Public/private schools-no control over the values instilled in your children.  Homeschool allows you to choose a curriculum that reinforces your faith and presents it attractively.
  • Individual instruction.  Homeschooling provides a higher level of individual attention, which provides a better foundation for teaching and learning.
  • Feeling of security.  Children feel most secure at home.  It is in this security, he will venture to take risks and try new skills.
  • Healthy socialization.  When children spend ample time with their parents and siblings in a warm and loving atmosphere, they usually learn to enjoy being with all age groups, including their own.  By watching and imitating others, they learn politeness, and they learn to express themselves confidently with good conversational skills. 
    When children spend more time with their age-mates than they do with their parents, they become oriented towards their peers.  They will feel pressured to please their peers.  Peer groups form and create their own identity-(dress, vocabulary, habits, gesture).
    What happens when values of the peer group conflict with those of the family?  The child will have to choose between the two.
    Some parents fear that a child who isn’t exposed to the “real world” while he is young, won’t be able to cope with it later.  But don’t worry; the real world has a way of getting into everyone’s life.
    Nobody is better off being exposed to evil, in whatever form, and that’s especially true for children who are struggling through their formative years.  What they need in order to cope with the “real world” in not a detailed knowledge of evil, but an experience of the value of a strong and Godly character.  The home is much better suited to providing that experience than any school.
  • Flexibility.  In school, teaching is confined to the classroom setting and the prescribed hours of attendance.  In the home, there are constant learning opportunities.  The homeschool program can be tailored to the student’s needs and interests.
    
    
• There is a clear call from God to be responsible for the full development of our children.
• Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will no depart from it.”
  • The words “train up” are a command, not a suggestion.
  • “In the way he should go”= training in righteousness.
• Scholarship=academic and a faithful walk
• A complete Christian education will equip each student to fill his station in God’s design for society.
• Paul said that a man who would be a leader in the church has to have first trained his own children properly.
• Do not view education in terms of formal training, but as a lifestyle.
• Each of us has opportunities to teach our children.  We simply have to learn to see them for what they are and take advantage of them when they come along.  Now, I admit, this is not easy.  It takes alertness, often when we’re tired and would rather just administer discipline or ignore the question.  But, if we’re going to take seriously our responsibility for the training of our children, then, with God’s help, we mustn’t let those golden opportunities slip away.  They comprise a very important side of homeschooling.
• Why is there so much emphasis on teaching young people to endure hour after hour of boring, disjointed and generally uninteresting activity?
• Biblical mandate for education
  • Directed at parents
  • Our education should benefit the church and society.
  • Phil 4:13:  “I can do all thinks through Christ who strengthens me.”
• The modern homeschool movement
  • Different motivations
  • Different time frames
    • From start to finish (PreK to college)
    • Transitional (formal school later)
    • Supplemental (enrolled in formal school, augmented at home)
  • Different methods
    • Traditionalist-prepared curriculum.  Similar to formal school.
    • Unschooling-children learn by themselves
    • Unit Study-multiple subjects if study under one unit.
      • Delight directed study
        • based on an interest of the student
        • Child responsive, but parent supervised
        • Studies can be “delightful”; a feast for the student’s mind
        • Teach by example how to have good taste and maintain a strong Biblical conscience.
• Three stages
  • “Lift off”-elementary-you are the coach for your child in the game of life
  • “Pivotal”-middle school-you are the patron for your child in the arts of life
  • “Final Thrust”-high school-you are the mentor for your child in the business of life
• “Yeah, but…” Qualifications
  • Homeschooling is not a new idea!
  • God never gives us a responsibility without also providing the means and the strength to fulfill it.  Lean on Him!  He wants us to succeed.
  • Recognize the weak academic record of the majority of our country’s schools
  • There is no one more motivated than you to see your child trained well, not only in academics, but in all areas of life, as the Bible mandates.
• Time
  • The best way to teach a child is one-on-one, giving the child undivided attention, carefully monitoring the level of difficulty and the child’s progress.  The typical school teacher, with over 20 students, just can’t give any one student much individual attention.
  • It’s a matter of quality, not quantity.
  • Declare and be clear of your priorities.
• Organization
  • Lesson planning and documentation tools
  • Support groups-local and nationwide
  • Education is a journey for student and teacher.  Don’t expect perfection of yourself.
• The daily grind
  • Flexibility
  • Consider a two week break every 10-12 weeks, instead of a summer break (similar to the community college schedule)
  • Travel and have family trips whenever you want
  • Don’t let homeschooling (or parenting) dominate your life
• Socialization
  • Two kinds
    • Age integrated
    • Age segregated
      • Child is pressured to adopt habits and attitudes of peers, while his identity in reference to home and church is frequently attacked.
  • Practice hospitality
    • Have friends over
    • Sleepovers
    • Exchange students/missionaries
  • Homeschooled children have more, not less, contact with others if their parents practice hospitality.
    • Extracurricular activities
    • Church activities
    • Events with support groups
• Isolation
  • We don’t want to raise children to be naïve.  But, it does not mean we when and where and how they learn about this world.  Goal is insulation, not isolation.
  • Homeschool is not an attempt to run from the world, but a simple, realistic strategy of how best to train a child to deal with that world at the appropriate time. 
    • And that appropriate time is after the child has proved his maturity and Christian character at home
• Legal complications
  • NEA opposes homeschool
  • Know the law in your state
• Cost to homeschool
  • Huge variant, but average $100-$200/year per student
• Making the commitment
  • Don’t rush the decision making process.  Pray with your spouse and be in agreement.
  • Be resolute.  Don’t doubt what God has shown you.
  • Set a realistic timeframe.  Take 30 days to prepare before beginning your homeschool.
  • Choose your tools-research curriculum, educational methods, etc.
• Enlisting support
  • Join Christian homeschool associations
  • Subscribe to homeschool magazines
• Legal compliance
  • Keep accurate, up to date records
  • Attendance, grades, lesson plans by subject, health records (The Homeschool organizer)
• Laboratory of Life
  • Evangelism is the work of the whole Church, not just pastors and evangelists.  It is especially the work of families.  It is a function of life’s grand laboratory: the home.
    • Hospitality
    • Foreign exchange hosting
    • Entrepreneurial stewardship
    • Home business
    • History and Storytelling-our own experiences, Bible stories, national heritage

Book description by homeschooloasis.com

(On back of book:) "This is one of the most important parenting books you will ever read. There is a recent trend in the area of premarital romance to move away from modern dating and return to the tradition of parent-involved 'courtship.'

This rejection of a popular cultural custom seems too radical for some, but because our 20th century dating phenomenon is linked to promiscuity and a growing divorce rate among Christians, conscientious parents will want to carefully consider the message in this booklet.

As a parent and pastor, Reb is not only grieved to see the moral decline within the church, but is concerned for the effects of that decline on the Kingdom of God. He observes that our present generation of young people is distracted from the call to warriors in God's Kingdom. Reb offers this booklet as a wake-up call to the Church to rescue this generation before it is too late.

My notes:

OK, so at first I was a little perplexed as to why a homeschool course would have me read about courtship and dating.  My kids are only 3 and 2, I don't need to be thinking about this stuff now!

However, after listening to a set of tapes that were also a part of this course, (Preparing your Kids for Courtship and Marriage, from Toddlers to Teens, also by Reb Bradley), I learned that we need to instill these values early on and raise our children  according to God's agenda and not society's.

Points of impact:

• The rate of divorce for professing Christians is almost 50%, nearly the same as secular marriages.
• The more self centered one becomes, the less self discipline one has.

The author made broad, blanket statements like, "The church today encourages its most vulnerable members to pursue relationships which greatly foster lust..."  Is this true?  I don't know, but I think that's a pretty broad assumption/accusation. 

This book was the first time I was introduced to the biblical concept of courtship and dating.  I now feel grateful that I became aware of this beforehand, instead of backpedaling once they are at the age to "date".  After reading this book, listening to the tapes, then reading the love story by the Ludy's, I look forward to the concept of my boys finding a pure and powerful love; one that only God can create.

Desription from homeschooloasis.com

This book is actually the first chapter of the "Field Trips & Extra-Curricular Activities" book - by popular request! A refreshing gift for weary homeschool moms suffering from "too-activitis" or even burn-out. (So if you have/get the Field Trips book, you don't need this... unless you want to give just this book as a gift ~ which is a very good idea for a burning-out-on-too-much-going friend.)

Points of impact for me:

• Balance does not mean equal time for every possible activity (i.e. one hour for every subject).
• Too much activity can dull or neutralize their natural hunger for learning and for thing of God.
• Prayer: "Lord, what are my child's real needs?  Which of these needs are you calling me to fill?  How do you want me to go about filling these needs in the best way for our children?"
• John 4:34
• Ask God to show you His heart about your heart.

Book description by homeschooloasis.com

This book was very instrumental many years ago in helping me get to the root cause of some tensions, wrong attitudes, and unhealthy relating that was taking place between myself and my children.

Dealing with these is not something to put off until the academics are done, but to consider very much an integral part of our children's education! (I can't stress this enough!)

This book helps you recognize a closed heart in your children and gives practical steps to opening the heart of a child who has shut you out -- and keep you from unknowingly causing that to happen. I know it sounds radical, but if you do not have your child's heart, you may as well not attempt homeschooling! And if you don't, start with this and other books in this section.

Points of impact for me:

I have come to realize that of the many books through this study, about five stood out as the most significant in my homeschool journey.  This was one of them.

• 5 steps to reopen a child's heart
  • You, the parent, become tenderhearted
  • Increase our understanding of emotional world pictures (try to feel what another being (human or animal) would feel)
  • Admit when you are wrong to your child
  • Attempt to touch
  • Seek forgiveness
  • Repeat as needed
• How to open your own heart
  • Recognize that the person who has offended you has problems of his own.
  • Make a commitment to pray for someone who has offended us.
• Two most important factors in raising children
  • Establish clearly defined and understood rules in the home.  Limits that the children know they cannot violate without some consequence.
  • A commitment to love each child in a warm, affectionate and supportive eay.
• Expressing love
  • Make an unconditional commitment to them for life.
  • Schedule special times with the family; meaningful for all persons involved.
  • Communicate that we are available to our children.
  • Frequent eye contact with your child effectively communicates love.
• Listen
  • Eye contact
  • Never assume you know what they are saying
  • Repeat in different words what you think they mean
  • Do not over react or take immediate action
  • Do not ridicule what our children say-lowers self worth.
• Meaningful touch-sit in lap while reading stories, hold hands
• Recognize each child as an individual, yet and equally inportant memer of the family.
• As a couple, strive to be in agreement over all family issues.
• Parents should be careful not to withold acceptance if a child does not perform to their expectations.  Help children choose theor own goals. 
  0-10:  How good do you want to be?!
• Help kids visualize the positives of reaching goals and negatives of not.
• Remember the power of praise.
• Focus on what they did right today.
• Expose them to a variety of activities.  Wait for their interest, then support as best you can.
• Expect your kids to do things right.  Believe your kids can acheive great things.  Help children develop a positive self image.
• Expose your children to people you admire.
• 6 characteristics to a close knit family
  • high degree of appreciation for each other
  • spend alot of time together
  • good communication patterns
  • strong sense of commitment
  • religious orientation
  • deal with crisis positively
• It is possible, right, and ssential that parents establish what is clearly defined and acceptable and unacceptable behavior in their children.
• "If you aim for nothing, you will hit it every time."
• Relationship with God is most important element in our lives
• We should love and value people as we value ourselves
• Create a family contract.  This promotes harmony.  (Set goals and expectations to reach those goals to create a close knit family)
• We need to continually learn, review, practice, and relearn the basics of parenting.
• Family night-one night a week-Games, conversation or debate, go out, special dinner
• When we are in God's will, following His way, then and only then does He empower us.
• Make sure your kids can tell the whole truth.  Instill a Godly pattern in your kids when they are young.  Take a stand on movies, friends, right from wrong.
• Motivating children-The child sets the goal.  True motivation comes from
  a)desire for gain, and b) fear of loss
  • Use the child's natural bent (personality).  5 personality types:
    • Strong willed: they believe they are right; critical; perfectionist; right v. wrong; "foot in mouth"; negative thinker; persistent; loyal; good memory; touched by sad stories
      • Do's and dont's in motivation:  Fully explain things; even if they are blunt, don't be back to them; avoid prolonged arguments
    • Peacemaker:  conforms; pliable; dependent; supportive; tender; avoids arguments; introverted
      • Do's and don'ts:  Need to know we like them for them; do not stereotype; be a friend to them; help discover their goals and help meet them; encourage discussion of feelings, not facts; avoid harshness
    • Cheerleader:  manipulative; excitable; under-disciplined; reactive; promotional; creative; communicative; impulsive; competitive
      • Do's and don'ts: help set realistic goals; help them come up with their own solutions; avoid prolonged arguments-they have the need to win.
    • Pusher:  Objective; cool; independent; competitive; pushy; harsh
      • Do's and don'ts:  help him to see the results of his behavior; more interested in knowing what will happened versus why; give facts, not feelings
    • Helper:  assist versus empathy; exacting-their way only; undependable; impulsive; no long range planning; conform to avoid conflict; overcommitted
      • Do's and don'ts:  Praise is important;  help them organize, but don't demand
• Realize that all children can adjust and change no matter what
  • Use the SALT Principle (salt makes you thirsty...wanting more):  Gets their attention.  Use a child's interest to teach specific things that a parent believes are important.
    • Clearly identify what you wish to communicate
    • Identify your listeners most important interests
    • Share just enough of your idea to stimulate curiosity
    • Use questions to increase curiosity
    • Communicate your idea only after you have your child's full interest.
  • Use emotional word pictures-  Associate your feelins with either a real or imaginary experience.  Identify how you are feeling, then make a story about that feeling.

Book description from homeschooloasis.com

This excellent book will help you recognize unbiblical thinking and learn how to communicate effectively and healthily with your children. It is all about dealing with the heart!

It also outlines training objectives for each stage of childhood. It teaches how your objectives shift as infants grow into children and as children grow into teenagers. It will inspire you to become a different kind of parent ~ one who will raise different kids in a world that needs more of both!

Points that made an impact on me:

• Parenting is shepherding the hearts of your children in the ways of God's wisdom.
• Your children need to understand not only the "what" they did wrong, but also the internal "why" they did it.
• What your children say and do is a reflection of what is in their heart.
• The person your child becomes is a product of two things:
  • His life experience
  • How he interacts with that experience
• Shaping influences: structure of family lie, family values, family roles, family response to failure, family history, family conflict resolution
• Your children are responsible for the way they respond to your parenting.
• Romans 2:14-15
• Parenting must address both the shaping influences and their Godward orientation.  Pray that God will work in and around your efforts and the responses of your children to make them people who honor God.
• You need to address the heart Biblically.
• You must be a person of long term vision.
• God has called you to act on His behalf.  You and your children are both under God's authority.  Different roles, same master.
• As a school administrator, I (the author), observe that most parents do not understand the appropriateness and necessity of being in charge of their child's life.  Rather, parents take the role of advisor.  The children are the decision maker; the parent only suggests options.
• Children will be good decision makers as they observe faithful parenting, modeling and instruction, and using discretion and decision making on their behalf.
• Preliminary to decision making is the importance for children to be under authority.
• Deuteronomy 6:6-7- You must be involved in helping your child understand life, himself, and his needs from a biblical perspective.
• Clear objectives
  • List child's strengths and weaknesses
  • figure out what you are going to do to strengthen the weak areas and encourage the strengths
  • with spouse, discuss short term and long term goals for your kids.
  • develop strategies for parenting
  • find our what God says about children and His requirements for them
  • focus correction upon attitudes of heart rather than behavior
• Proper Biblical discipline is...
  • corrective, not punitive
  • and expression of love. Proverbs 3:12
• There is a difference between discipline and punishment.  We often confuse that. 

Book description by homeschooloasis.com

Everything you need to know about the advantages of homeschooling---revised and updated for the 21st century! Senior Counsel of the Home School Legal Defense Association Klicka clearly explains the academic and practical superiority of teaching your kids at home.

You'll find the sections covering government interference and your legal rights especially valuable.

My points of impact:

This is one of those books where there is so much "good stuff" in it that I just can't possibly narrow it down to a few bullet points.  This is one of the best reference guides for reasons to homeschool.  This book also makes me mindful of the struggles the homeschool veterans have been through and to never take their labor for granted.

This is a necessary book for every homeschool library.

Book description from homeschooloasis.com

This book, written by the 1992 New York State "Teacher of the Year," and a public school teacher for over 25 years, reveals what is really being taught in the public schools, not so much in the curriculum, but via the whole system itself, and how it affects kids, their creativity, their mindsets, their desire to learn. It is eye-opening and enlightening.

It is not written from a Christian perspective nor by a Christian, but this actually adds to its credibility and ability to convince a non-Christian spouse of some things that will make homeschooling look all the more logical and wise a choice.

Points that imacted me most:

This is one of the most impressive books I have ever read.  This is a book that I think every parent , homeschooling or not, should read.  My points are just a glimpse of this this powerful read.  There is no way I can adequately express the important concepts he so convincingly states.

• I dropped the idea that I was an expert whose job it was to fill the little heads with my expertise, and began to explore how I could remove those obstacles that prevented the inherent genius of children from gathering itself.
• Schools take our children away from active participation in community.
• Senator Ted Kennedy released a paper that stated that prior to compulsory education, the state literacy rate was 98% and after that, it has never exceeded 91%.
• It is absurd and anti-life to be a part of a system that compels you to sit in confinement with people the exact age and social class.
• 7 Lesson Schoolteacher
  • Confusion-subjects are taught out of context or  connection.
  • Indifference-Teachers aren't in a position to care too much.
  • Emotional dependency
  • Intellectual dependency-wait for the teacher to tell you what to do
  • Provisional self esteem-need to be told what you are worth
  • One can't hide-There is no private space.  Always under surveillance.
• These lessons are prime training for permanent under-classes.  People deprived forever of finding the center of their own special genius.
• Television and schooling reduce the real world of wisdom, fortitude, temperance, and justice to a never-ending, nonstop distraction.
• In centuries past, the time of childhood and adolescence would have been occupied in real work, real charity, real adventures, and the realistic search for mentors who might teach what you really wanted to learn.  A great deal of time was spent in community pursuits, practicing affection, meeting and studying every level of the community, learning how to make a home, and dozens other tasks necessary to becoming a whole man or woman.
• Self knowledge is the only basis of true knowledge.  Place the child in an unguided setting with a problem to solve.
• Community service needs to be a part of schooling.  Teaches unselfishness and real responsibility.

Description from homeschooloasis.com

 This book seems a bit radical at first glance, but a quick glance at what is happening (and not happening) in our schools balances it out.

Points that impacted me most:

• Parents who are willing to talk about their most private anguish will admit that their children undewent a dramatic change of attitude when they went off to school, and have ever since been "clone-like", duplicates of their peers.
• Do not blame the public school teacher of the school's issues.  You need to look on the federal level.
• The average homeschooled child is not spoon-fed information, but often works alone, building effective study skills, unique thinking abilities, and academic confidence.
• Home educated children never learn the false idea (reinforced by institutional schooling) that they "belong" with their peers and must be dependent on them.  Rather, they become closest to those who share common interests with them, no matter the age.   They are equally comfortable with all age groups, because interaction with all age groups has not been stigmatized or artificially segregated.
• Homeschooled kids learn how to learn.
• Homeschooling is freedom from a failing institution.
• Homeschool is one-on-one tutoring.  This is always superior to an institutional arrangement.

Description from homeschooloasis.com
True education is so much more than mere academics! And until we understand what it really is, we will operate out of fear rather than wisdom.

In this workshop Barb will help you discern ~ and follow ~ the voice of the Lord for your own family over the many loud voices of the world. With vulnerability and humor, she offers much spiritual and practical encouragement, research, examples, and scripture verses that will release you from fear and intimidation of homeschooling through high school and help keep you from missing out on God's richest blessings for you and your student!

My points of impact:

• If you want your husband to read something, bless him by highlighting the parts you want him to read.  This way, he does not have to go through the whole book (unless he loves to read.)
• Listen to the voice of the Lord over the voices of the world.
• What the public school system values is far different than what the Lord values.
• The foundation of education is faith, then virtue, then knowledge.
  2Peter 1:5-7
• Wisdom's 7 pillars of education
  • Revelation and the knowledge of God and His will
  • Personal relationship with God
  • Preparation for a specific calling
  • Developing Godly family relationships
  • Character development
  • Basic foundation of knowledge to function in society
  • Equip with tools to learn for life
• What does God want us preparing our children for?
• Prep for college=tools of learning: self discipline, a desire to learn,  know how to express self verbally and in writing.
• "There is no pit so deep that Jesus is not deeper still."-Betsy, The Hiding Place

Description from hoemschooloasis.com

This booklet will reveal many of the myths you are believing about education without even realizing it ~ which is the first step to dispelling those myths and changing the way you think about education!

My points of impact:

Although this is "just" a booklet, it has alot of valuable information.  My comments are parenthesized.

• Myth- Only trained educators can teach.
  Lack of self confidence is a byproduct of secular schooling which leads to a lack of confidence in God who created us and demands we teach our children.
• Myth-More of everything is better.
  Too much contributes to burnout.  Create a family surrounding in a simple atmosphere.
• Myth-The family cannot provide opportunities necessary for a child's education.
  Every resource in a school is available to a family.  Even more is available to a family (apprenticeship, mentor, following a child's interest versus a class of 30)
• Myth-Some parent's just can't teach.
  This contradicts God's action of giving the child to you!  It is His command that you "train him up".
• Myth-Home education is not for everybody.
  God commands us to.  Do not cop out.  (I also read once that 'Homeschooling is for anybody, but not for everybody.'  You need courage of conviction and a desire to homeschool.)
• Myth-Homeschool creates hardships on the parents.
  Only if you try to copy the public school.  The home needs to be structured by a Godly pattern.
• Myth-Children need socialization.
  Children do not develop good character from each other.  Good character is developed in a child by learning God's way and by learning to obey Him.  There is a high risk of negative socialization (self-esteem, conforming to peers/group think) in a school setting.
• Myth-Homeschool kids will not fit into tomorrow's world.
  Who's world?  "The State" or God's?
• To have a spouse is an asset and to have a child is a blessing.
• Grandparents need to take an active role in giving knowledge and wisdom to their grandkids.
• "I guess it is a very strange thing that the educational systems that taught most of today's parents would so question the results of their own products."

Description for homeschooloasis.com

Learn to practice the presence of God.

Our Father understands the pressure we're under--how busy we are, and how many demands are placed upon us. That's why He's given us the gift of prayer, to help us learn to practice His presence. True prayer involves turning your soul toward God with a thirst to know Him. Its fruits are a better relationship with Him, and a clearer grasp of your place in His plan.

In this unique little booklet, you'll discover what it means to place yourself in God's presence, and to praise Him for His goodness, glory, and grace.

My points of impact:

• Prayer is the turning of the soul to God.  It gives God the opportunity to do what He will in us and with us.
• Jewish mystic: "Prayer is the moment when Heaven and earth kiss each other."
• Be conscious that we are always in the presence of God.
• "Pray" is an invitation to be accepted, rather than a command to be obeyed.
• The more we have of God's glory, the less we will seek His gifts.
• Prayer is not measured by time, but by intensity.
• You don't need to be on your knees to pray.

Description from Homeschooloasis.com

On back of book: "Are you struggling? Do you often struggle through family problems, battle with the tensions of raising children, or find yourself overwhelmed with pressures on the job? Are personal failures and disappointments on the increase as you face each day?

What a fountain of life it would be to discover how to let go of those distresses and learn to embrace the joy and peace that God has promised!

Fenelon - with amazing insight - speaks firmly, but lovingly, to those whose lives have been an uphill climb and reveals just how to 'Let Go'!"

My points of impact:

• Keep a humble and obedient spirit.  Humility produces a teachable spirit.
• Bear all suffering with composure.
• If you die, you will go to the Lord.  If you live, then live for Him.
• Every cross He gives us is for our profit.
• Peace and comfort can only be found in obedience.
• Is your will in harmony with God's?

Description from homeschooloasis.com

This book "stresses one basic lesson every servant of God must learn (yet that many miss): that any measure of fruitfulness requires the breaking of the outward man to allow the release of the Spirit."

The analogy Mr. Nee gives for this is that of a sealed vial of expensive perfume being broken in order for the precious contents to be able to pour out.

This book spoke to my heart loudly and illuminated many things that had been unclear, confusing, and frustrating to me in my Christian walk prior to reading it. It is excellent! In fact, it is one of those books that can and should be re-read because every time you read it, you are in a different place in your walk.

Points that impacted me:

• Anyone who serves God will discover the great hindrance he has in the Lord's work is not others, but himself.
• When reading the Bible- we must think as the writer
• Allow your spirit to touch and minister to others.

Book description from homeschooloasis.com

"When Adam first sinned, he tried to hide his guilt behind figleaves and blamed God for giving him the woman who led him into sin. As Adam's descendants, we have inherited from him that same tendency - we avoid personal responsibility for misbehavior, hiding our guild behind defense mechanisms or "figleaves."

Because these figleaves cover so well, we are blind to the sin they hide and often to their very existence. We therefore will not find victory in our pursuit of holiness, nor will we walk in the power that comes with a clear conscience before God.

Until we see how we deny our responsibility in personal problems and our contributions to troubled relationships, we will continue to deceive ourselves about ourselves and will remain unchanged." This little booklet is powerful and will "nail you to the wall - or, better yet, your flesh to the cross.

Points of impact:

• Proverbs 28:13  "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
• We need to become aware of our defense mechanisms and work through them to become clear of sin:

1. Denial-refusal to consider contribution of problem
2. Rationalization-avoiding full responsibility
3. advocation-justifying by rationalizing it into a philosophy
4. discreditation-find fault with person's qualifications who is doing the confronting
5. guilt projection-blame someone or something else
6. guilt sharing-accept blame, but implicate others
7. avoidance-avoid those who may confront
8. minimizing-downplay the seriousness
9. emotional manipulation-play on vulnerable emotions (withdrawal, silent treatment, charm, whining, outbursts)
10. redirection-change the subject (accusation, flattery, embarrassment, diversion, false confession)
11. rejection-fuels self pity, shyness, labels
12. selective hearing
13. blocking-refuse to consider anything contrary to beliefs
14. self pity

Description from Homeschooloasis.com

Like the apostle Paul, do you wonder why your heart wants to serve the Lord with gladness, yet you continually find yourself doing that which you do not wish to do, and not doing that which you should?! The answer lies in Jesus, and is at the very heart of the Gospel. So simple! Yet so frequently missed!

This book answers the commission to “Make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel” (Ephesians 6:19). It does not bring merely a nice suggestion for your life, but a necessary challenge to the heart of one who is desperate to answer the call of God. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

Points that impacted me most:

• Jesus wants more than a people who are merely saved from destruction.  He wants a chosen people who will be conformed into His very image.
• Faith is dead unless accompanied by true obedience through the fellowship of the cross.
• If Jesus is not the Lord of every part of my life, He is not the Lord of any of it.
• I am not called to partake of all that is available to me, but only what the Lord has chosen for me.

I have almost completed the homeschool course I began in February.  I have begun to compile all my notes on the many books I have read for this course.  As I organize my notes, I will post the points in each book that impacted me the most.

The books range from the logistics of homeschool, to training/raising children, to spiritual matters.  The first book I would like to share is called 'A Time to Seek God' by Francis Frangipane.

Descriptions From Amazon:

• Maturity starts when we break the cycle of seeking God only during hardship: holiness begins the moment we seek God for himself.
• God does not want us to be “normal”; He wants us Christ-like.
• I need to leave the familiar to seek Him.
• It is only in finding Him that we discover ourselves.
• We need not pretend to be righteous.  We need only to become truthful.
• Our pursuit of God is not an act, but an attitude.
• The areas of sin in our life are there simply because we have lived too far from Him.
• If we are to truly know Him as He is, we need an Old Testament fear of the Lord combined with the New Testament experience of His grace.
• Be committed to the process of surrender!

If I had tried to read this book just two years ago, I would have repeatedly thrown it in anger.  I was not ready to receive this message.  I kept hearing about the book this past year, but kept passing it by.  God kept knocking on my heart and when two very good friends were reading it, I decided to join the "book club" and read along with them so we could discuss together.

It is not easy reading.  Mrs. Pearl definitely challenges our  (admittedly yes, my...) cultures norms and expecations of what a modern woman should believe and act.  I constantly prayed throughout the reading for God to provide a peace of heart and understanding.  He did not disappoint.

I walk away from this book with a solid understanding of who I am in my relationship with my husband.  I am full of purpose and conviction that I was created for him and for this relationship.  What a blessing and an honor!

The actual application of these Biblical principles addressed in the book are often easier said than done.  I know that it will be a long time before I can wrap my head, heart, and whole being around it all.  But, God has done wonders on me to date, and I know He's not done yet.

I picked up this book on a Saturday morning, and finished it by Saturday night.  This book took me back to the days before kids, when I could immerse myself in a book and not come up for hours!  (I did feel kind of bad that the kids had to entertain themselves that day!)

This is a precious love story, written by the couple in alternating chapters.  It chronicles their lives before meeting each other, their friendship, then falling in love.  I found myself getting all misty-eyed more than once.  It's not that anything tragic happened, but it is a love that is so pure and powerful; a love I never would have imagined for myself when younger, or even thought was possible.  But, through God, all things are possible, right?!

Over and over, I kept thinking, "our youth pastor needs to read this, my husband needs to read this, my friend's pre-teen daughter needs to read this, my pre-teen niece needs to read this, all the kids in our youth group needs to read this."

The day after I finished this book, I passed it on to my friend to give to her daughter.  I encourage all parents to read this and to encourage their pre-teens and teens that they are worthy of a love such as this one.  That this is the kind of love God wants for us.