(Deborah Brown was a speaker at the 2009 Christian Heritage of WA Homeschool Convention)

(My personal insight and input is in italics)

-Know your child's heart:

• gifts
• comfort zone
• judgements

Know what skills you need to teach your son to help him become a husband, father, positive contributing member of society.

Sacrifice v. Regrets
Age 12 - treat your son like a man and with respect.  Ask his counsel.  Help him to become a man.  Relate to him on a more mature level.

Demand v. Inspire
Give them a vision for why they are doing what they are doing.

Let them make mistakes and tell them about yours.

Choosing activities.  Ask:

• Is this life skill helpful?
• Will the skill continue to be helpful?
• Do they enjoy it and have a natural bent for it?
• What do you want your children to leave home loving?

Many things are lawful, but not all are worthy of your children's time.

The later years will be full of fruit, if youprepare yourselves now.

(Deborah Brown was one of the speakers at the 2009 Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington Convention.)

Insert personal note by Leigh:  I am sure I have discussed this with some of you in the past.  When I was early in my Christian walk, I used to become offended and disturbed when people would use the phrase, "training my children".  I always envisioned them teaching the kids to "sit", "beg", and "roll over", and all that is involved in dog obedience classes. But, as I learned and grew more, I came to realize this term is appropriate and desirable for our children.

The dictionary defines the verb, 'to train', as:
-to develop or form the habits, thoughts, or behavior of (a child or other person) by discipline and instruction,
and,
-to make proficient by instruction and practice, as in some art, profession, or work.

After reading this definition, don't we all "train" our children?  Wouldn't we be remiss if we didn't?

Lecture notes.  My insight and input is in italics.

-It is your job (as a mother) to train your children how to do chores with a grateful attitude.  They need to understand their contribution to the family and the benefits.  Once established through home management, this skill will carry into school, then work.

-Folly (state of being foolish, lack of guidance or direction) is bound up in the heart of a child.  It is our job to handle it and to guide it. 

-Training is harder than teaching.

The definition of teaching is:
-to impart knowledge of or skill in; give instruction in
and,
-to impart knowledge or skill to; give instruction to

-Don't rob your child of the character building experiences they need.  Make sure you follow up to see that chores were done correctly.  "If you don't inspect, don't expect."  If you accept jobs half-done in chores, it will be expected to accept a half job in everything else.

-Teach them to love and trust the scriptures.  Teach them the 'Fruits of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Self Control'.  Teach them not just in word, but in deed.

I used to get stressed out when I was told to teach something to my children that I did not have in my own heart, or at least I did not have to the degree that I wanted to.  But that is what we are called to do, and God is so good to groom our hearts right along with our children's.

-Help them to see the wisdom of the Lord.  Personal and family Bible study, scripture memorization, sharing with your kids how the Lord has impacted your life.

-Help them to help the needy.  Read from the book of James and teach them how to care for community.  Develop a heart for others. Be proactive as a family in serving the local and global community.  Teach that the world does not revolve around them, but that their contribution is integral.

-Ask your husbands what they would want their child to learn.  The husband determines the pathway of the family.

Scripture to consider:

Jeremiah 10: 2:  This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them." (Ask what is important to God versus what is important to the world (she even added 'mainstream evangelism') 

Ephesians 6:1-4 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." OBEY THE SCRIPTURES AND TEACH YOUR KIDS TO OBEY YOU

Deuteronomy 6:4- 7: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Proverbs 13 , 24,, 51,  1 John, Titus: She did not have particular verses, but referenced these in whole.  I encourage you to read them when you have the chance.

-Suggestion: As a family, read a "Bible in a Year" program

-Invest in your husband first!  This is another "thing" that used to bother me as a new Christian.  How can anyone place someone over their own children??  But, I will tell you this, as I began to place my husband first, my children benefited, and we have a stronger family as a result.  This is  a case where I really had to trust the Lord to give me understanding and now I see the wisdom in His design for us.

-Family Boot Camp: Attitude Adjustment.  This is what the Brown family has when someone has a bad attitude or is struggling with an emotional issue.  The whole family stops what they are doing, and invests in prayer, scripture, role playing, etc. to help the person get back on track or have greater understanding.

-Brown family daily routine

(final lecture notes from the Homeschool conference 2008-Christian Heritage)

Step in faith one step at a time

Our biggest battle is our own fears

2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

LEARN TOGETHER -this is your second chance to learn

Patience comes through overcoming trials.

You'll never develop patience if you avoid opportunities that cause you to grow in it.

Season of discipleship- Pull your children into your quiet time.  This is your time to show your children what a relationship with the Lord is.

"Without a vision, the people perish"

1 Corinthians 1:27-31 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

When God commands something, He will also equip us to carry through that commandment.

2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His."

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

John 15:4-5 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.   "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.

Homeschool, like parenting, requires faith and trust.

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

-Know that there are seasons of life.  Kids need home, routine, time.

-Your family is your mission field.

-Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were big things.

-Keep you heart soft and happy!  Watch tone of voice, be positive, create a warm and healthy atmosphere.

-Discipline calmy and firmly, repent, and move on

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

Guard your hearts from bitterness.  It grows, festers, and does not go away by itself.  Ask God to cleanse you.

Have a soft an teachable heart.  We can destroy our homes if we are dark and bitter.

-Share your doubts, fears, and ssk your husband to pray for you.  God works trhough authorities.  Expect God is working through your husband.

DON'T COMPARE!

Keep your curriculum simple, but rich (reference the Ruth Beechick books)

If you love learning, they'll love learning.

Homeschool creates the time to develop interests.

-Practice hospitality.

• Inspires your children
• Invite missionaries and church leaders
  • ask them questions
  • have kids ask questions
  • teach kids how to serve guests

-Limit the amount of time you spend with people or actions that undermine your efforts

-Do first things first, even if timing is off.  Get ready for the day: keep a routine.

-Bible time, scripture reading, hymns.  Make these a priority.

Pray "what is the next right thing to do?"

-Expect to be tired!

• nap during the early years
• naps are an investment in the future of your family
• healthy meals
• healthy exercise

-Be home, really.  You can be home in body, but not in mind.  Watch your time on the internet and with blogs and hobbies.

-Know yourself.  Be a mommy first and always, even when teaching.

-Things are good, better, or best!

• Focus on what is best for your family
• Family read aloud
• Don't just do an activity because everyone else is.

-Talk to the Lord and your husband and come to a conclusion about what is best for your fmaily.

-Know your strengths and weaknesses.  Work with who you are (scheduled v. fluid)

-Often remind yourself why you are doing this.

-TRUST GOD; pray throughout the day and read scripture to your kids.

-Have fun.  Take a break for refreshment and refocus

-Encourage your children.  different people develop at different rates.

Gifted individuals vs. cookie cutters

Children need mothers to teach them right from wrong.  Point to God's lovingkindness.

-JUST DO IT!

(Speaker at the Homeschool Conference)

Writing is not like other academic subjects

• There are no right or wrong answers
• It is not based on the memorization of facts
• It is a creative art

God's creativity is different from ours.  We need necessary ingredients:

example: Baking a cake

• Purpose and recipe
• form, design and style
• flavor, liquid, leavener, sweetener

1. Content-Signifigant topic and purpose for writing.
   1. Determine your audience
      1. Have a real audience to whom you are writing
      2. Writing for the sake of writing and not for communicating is fruitless
      3. Why would you write something if no one is going to read it!
   2. State your purpose in one concise sentence  (inform, cheer, persuade, instruct, appeal, prepare)
   3. Choose a general topic
      1. choose a broad subject area, then limit in that area
      2. Conform to God's righteouse standards
      3. part of your own experience or eprsonal story
      4. intended audience of interest
      5. God honoring; real ideas to real people
      6. Have kids write letters to relatives.  Reports and research can come later.

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

1. Limit your general topic
   1. to fit purpose and desired elngth
   2. can be analyzed closely and carefully
   3. look through the eye of an artist to see what others do not see
   4. Narrow the topic to where you can describe it in depth
2. Check attitudes about writing
   1. Please the Lord
   2. Examine attitudes and motives for writing and make sure they are conformed to God's Word.
   3. Simple letters are a great start for younger kids

Psalm 121:3  He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;

2. Style-choosing words and assembling

Writing needs to be coached up to high school.

1.  Before writing: choose type that suits content (learn/teach these in order)

1. Descriptive
2. Narrative
3. Informative
4. Persuasive/Argumentative (high school)
5. Combination of these

Writing fiction is not great for kids.  let them write about real things that od puts in your life.

In Middle and High School, have kids write Letters to the Editor.

Reference: Author John Piper, "A Godward Life"

2.  Before writing: Choose the form

1. Letters, social notes, business letters
2. book reports, research reports

3.  During writing: Skillful and appropriate word choice

1. Concrete- choose words that are vivid and specific

ex. 'The animal went away'  vs. 'The raging, snorting Brahma bull charged down the narrow cobblestone street.'

2.  Concise- saying as much as possible in the least amount possible

ex: 'the man in the western shirt, levis, chaps, and large-brimmed hat skilfully threw the long rope with a loop in the end of it over the head of the brown and white shaggy-headed steer'.  vs. 'The cowboy skilfully lassoed the Heifer steer.'

3. Graciousness-only say what's necessary: be gracious indescription.  Non offensive.

1. Ask: Will my writing bring glory to Christ?

4. Mechanics

1. penmanship
2. spelling
3. punctuation
4. grammar

Your writing:

1. will effectively accomplish a purpose
2. will bless others
3. will glorify God

Get started: Dictate with early writers and write for them

 

(Keynote speaker at the Homeschool Conference)

Ezekiel 3:17 Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.

This is a reminder to you that your family is BEAUTIFUL.

There is a glory which the Lord has placed around you every day.

We don't prioritize the things God prioritizes.

Stop to appreciate the moments of victory or we will miss them.  We love the opportunity to enrichen our lives and build a multi-generational legacy.

Drink deeply in the flowers, the rainbows, the stars and your children will too.
1 Chronicles 16:29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the LORD in holy array.

Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD,  this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD 
all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Victories

1. Nobility in the commonplace (Proverbs 31-High premium on doing our duty.)
2. The Hope of the Newborn
3. The Preciousness of Childlike Faith (He told the story of his son waiting in the rain for him, even though he had forgotten about his son.)
4. The Humor of Family Idiosyncracy
5. The Blessing of the Family Table
6. The Enthusiasm of the 'Cowboy Years'
7. The Holiness of the Epiphany (when your kids mature and they understand.)
8. The Gravitas of the Family Investiture (transition from youth to adulthood-chronicle and mark this time as significant)
9. The Blessed Mother
10. The Triumph of the Patriarchal Blessing

Individualistic (self centered) vs. Familistic (family centered) cultures

-The family table is where we get to know our family.  Recover the glory of sitting and feasting together.  Time to tell stories, quizzes, singing, catechism, and Bible.  The table is a place of discipleship. 

-The typical family meal lasts less than 20 minutes now.

(Lecture notes from the Homeschool Conference-Speaker, Ryan Yamane.  He spoke of his life when he was a high school graduate and  honored his parents in the choices they made for him, evne though he wanted to head in a different direction.  He looks back and sees how God richly blessed his life as a result.)

Proverbs 29:18-Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.

College cannot be the end goal.  It is a means to a greater end.

Who's plan is this? God's or yours?

Are you seeking God's best?

Choices in academics should never be at the expense of your relationship with the Lord.

Genesis 22:1-18 The story of Abraham and Isaac

Between the ages of 16-25, it is crucially important to listen to the will of God through your parents.

A prerequisite to true success

1. Death to self
   Preferring God's will over my own, even if I don't fully understand.
   Noah built the ark before he had even seen rain.
   Joshua marching around Jericho
   Jesus- "Not my will, but thine be done."
   Abraham's pattern of obedience
   Luke 16:10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." (God gives us little things first.)
   Genesis12:1-4 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.  "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, 
   and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.
   Genesis 17:10,23 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 23On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him.

How does God direct?  Abraham had an ongoing, daily relationship versus going to God only when there is a big decision to make or there is a prayer request.
Through His WORD: Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Through parents: Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Through service to others.

2.  Death to future
Believing God wants my best.
Requirement: FAITH can you take the next step in faith?

Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Abraham's Promise Future
-Great nation
-Great name, etc.
-coming through Isaac

Do we want God's best for us even when we don't understand?
Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Obedience and Blessing
Genesis 22:16-18 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring  all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Be tuned to God's voice.

George Mueller on discernment: 1) Is it Biblically sound?  2)Counsel with other Godly men 3)Your will in in neutral

Family devotion is a priority!!

(These are notes from the homeschool conference.  The speaker was Susan Bradrick.)

Handling the Pressures of Your Homeschool Day

Homeschool is hard, but life is Hard!
No matter what your job is, each day is a juggling act.  This is part if living in this world, not just a part of homeschooling.

How can we have a peaceful homeschool?

2 Peter 1:2-3: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.   His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 timothy 3:17: So that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Ephesians 5:15-17: Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Emergency Procedures
Practice Preferring Pinciple Priorities
i
No is absolutely necessary!
Head for the Heart
i
Trust the Lord

Priorities
List ALL possible activities...put in order of importance.
Put first things first.  Identify by listing ALL possible activities : obvious-eat, sleep, work, church
not so obvious: perosnal hygiene, correspondence, etc.
Arrange in order of importance and highlight the ones that dominated your schedule...not how you want it to be.

Principle
Who's to choose what the principle priorities are?

Joshua 22:5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Luke 10:42 But only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.

What should dominate:
Study God's Word
time in Prayer
Quiet Time with Spouse
Quiet Time with Children
Lords' Day Meeting

2nd Priority
Eat
Sleep
Personal Hygiene

3rd
All else

Priority Levels

1. Must Do's- Essential for spiritual and physical health
2. Should Do's-Very Important
3. Would Like to Do's-Nice additions to life
4. Could Do's-options if and when there is time.

Assign each activity one of these levels.  Divide each day into half hour increments.

Make the most of our time.

Preferring
Following what the heart wants.
Our choices prove what we really prefer.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?

Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love your law!  I meditate on it all day long.

Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

Practice
Training your heart to prefer what God wants over what our flesh wants.

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

• Training via repetition
• Study God's Word
• Prayer for grace to obey
• Purposeful obedience
• confession, repentence
• REPEAT

Practice takes time.  Make a family schedule that reflects God's preference.

NO is absoutely necessary!

Be firm in your commitment to God's preference over your life.

Be polite and respectful when saying 'no'.

Be prepared for many objections and even hurt feelings.

Be prepared to have a hard time saying 'no'.

Make family policies regarding: sleepovers, playdates, babysitters, etc.   Have statements ready when opportunities come.

Head for the Heart!  It's essential!

• your relationship with God
• your relationship with your husband and children
• your children's relationship with God

The Bradrick Family Verse:
Philippians 2:3-4: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

All sin= Selfishness -> Recognize -> take Responsibility -> Repent

It's too easy to talk to your children's heads; talk to their hearts.

It's too easy to concentrate on what they are learning and miss what they are thinking...or should be thinking.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

24 Hour Disciple Chart

• Bible Study and Spiritual Growth
• Biblical Honor and Obedience
• Attentiveness and Listening Skills
• Essential Domestic Skills
• Essential Academic Skills
• Time Management and Organization
• Trianing in the Arts and Art Appreciation
• Practical Skills
• Financial Skills
• Health and Hygiene
• Marriage Prep

Love is the focus; building Godly relationships with in the home.

Prepare the child's head for God's work in their hearts.

Trust the Lord

AS YOU PLAN...
AS YOU BEGIN ...           ...THE DAY                         
AS YOU LIVE OUT...
AS YOU END...

Plan

Believe that His word is true and best.
Believe that He loves your kids more than you do.

Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Don't start relying on your own strength.  Pray privately as a family.

Have quiet time in bed, first thing in the morning.

Commit each activity to God.

At the end of the day:

• ask for forgiveness for mistakes
• ask to obey more faithfully tomorrow
• forgive others for tehir mistakes

Psalm 37:5-6 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

(Notes from keynote speaker at the 2008 Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington)

The greatest strength in the church today is through home education.

The 200 year plan: 4 generations down the line.  look generations ahead.  Pass on convictions.  Design a "family catechism". Write down the most impotant maxims amd family mission statements.  Pass on the mantle of the missiont o the members of the family.

Honor Biblical womanhood.

Think about children saving toys for their grandchildren.

Revisit, revive, and reform the mission of manhood.

Two visions of the human action and the future.  Prepare your family to do whatever God send their way, including to govern or even martyred.

Family can define what culture looks like-standards, ethics, lifestyle before the Lord.  We stand for Christ and His kingdom.

the family crisis of our generation is unprecedented in the history of Western Christendom, and its implications.  The Bible links the principles which undergirds the home education mode with the Greatest Commandment.

Homeschoolers are building arks for saving their households.  The world offers death.  take the path Abraham tool.

Be aware of great intentions, but no follow through.  Winning the world, but losing your children.  Be an evangelist for your family FIRST, then the world

Gen 18:18 "the prayer for homeschool families":

18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."

Sit at the dinner table and read from the Bible.  Hebraic discipleship.

The epistemiology of Christian Home Education:

-go back to the principles of the reformers.  You cannot divorce faith from education. God is absolutely sovereign.

-Have you begun to examine every pary of your life under God's authority?  or are there neutral zones?  If all we had was the Bible, would that be normal?

In the Bible-the family works together vs. segregation

We must understand the signs of the times in the meanin of our generation/

The Homeschool movement is at a crossroads: Will we be the victims of our own success?
The homeschool movement suffers from the lack of a unified vision of the family.  Do it for principled reasons.  Expleain to them that homeschool in on principle, not just pragmatices.  Vision for Christian culture.  Revive the doctrine of motherhood, ethics, laws in society.  Unift church and family.  Train in entrepreneurship.

American Manhood and Womanhood: Chivalry to modernity
Industrialization-men moved out of tehir homes and farms
The modern american male does not want to lead nor sacrifice.

Do we move forward un the family as one unified unit or as many diferent beings?

1970 40.3% married couples with children
1980 30.9%
2000 24.1%
2005 22.1%

Duty of the Lord over the duty of the state

Luke 1:17
"It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Malachi 4:6
"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."

Home Education and the Greatest Commandment

Deuteronomy 6:4-7
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deuteronomy 32:46-47
46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Less talk, more action!  Feed the sheep!  This is the most important way to show love to God.

Malachi 4:6

(Workshop at the 2008 Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington conference)

-read mission biographies together or buy them for your teens to read

-break out of the bubble-read about the current events of the world

-focus on learning about different countries and cultures

-Missions can be a fun adventure.  It does not have to be overseas.  You can support the administrative efforts of a local mission. (Serve in homeless shelters, soup kitchens, etc.)

-Parents can raise the awareness in their children, but the child needs to have it in tehir heart to serve others.

-be an example and live the way you want them to live.

-Go on a family mission instead of a vacation.

-Let your children see poverty; do not shelter them from it. 

-10 degrees to 40 degrees north of the equator are most of those who have never even heard of Jesus.

(Roger Erber spoke at the Christian Home Educators of Washington Conference 2008.  He is a pastor in Illinois.)

Know that God has made each of your children with very specific, unique attributes, gifts, talents, and weaknesses.  Trust that He has given you these particular children for a reason.

Onve a year, carve out a day or two with your spouse to purposefully talk about your family.  Go on a retreat, or send the kids to Grandma's.

Make a list of each child:

1. Spiritual Life
   • What is your child's general sense of his/her relationship with the Lord.
   • What do you as the parent need to do to guide them on this.  when they are older, you can ask your children this before you go on your retreat.
   • get perspectives from both parents.  Look at their knowledge of:
     • history of the Bible
     • doctrines
     • catechisms
     • character
     • hymns
2. Character qualities-Building good habits
   1. make a list of all their positive and negative qualities
      • ex. prompt v. tardy (set a time they must be at the table.  If they are late, kitchen's closed until the next meal.)
      • ex. shy v. bold (offer table topics at the dinner table.  Spotlight a child to share or make sure all children share.)
      • ex. clean v. sloppy ("give" your child a jar of nickels they can have at the end of the retreat.  But, a nickel will be removed every time someone else has to pick up each item the child did not take care of.)
3. Academics
   • do bible, history, science, read alouds together, regardless of age difference
   • Separate for math and reading
4. Skills-building life skills for a successful future household
   • Make home projects, family projects
   • Teach your kids to run their own homes.
5. Physical Bodies
   • Address vision, hearing, activity levels, etc.

After making a plan for the year with your spouse, have an individual conference with each child.  This is a great opportunity to address difficult issues without conflict.

Have a mid-year review.

Proverbs 1:8, Proverbs 6:20 Proverbs 10, Proverbs 15, Proverbs 29 The relationship and roles of father and mother.  (Father may be the head, but mother is the neck.  Father makes the law, mother implements it.)

Have a daily visual schedule for the children to look at and follow.

Have a 30 minute quiet time, even with little ones.  Kids need to learn to be quiet to hear God's voice.  Have a scheduled light's out time for the whole family.

Get the TV out of the home; videos OK on occasion.

Weekly schedule-Have kids checkmakr their chores and school activities, etc.  Give the list to Dad at the end of the week (or the day) to review.  File away for record keeping.

God has the plan, and we may not know what it is.

Be flexible and willing to sort out what he is saying. (Illnesses, other things that take you away from academics.)

8AM-Morning family Bible reading/Devotionals 30 minutes

Add outdoor chores when applicable.

(I attended the Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington conference this past weekend.  It was a great time to recharge, refresh, and hear from wonderful speakers.  I will be posting my notes from the keynote speaker and the workshops.  Please note that these are my notes and not from a worksheet, and are the highlights of what I  want to remember, and not necessarily exactly how the speaker shared. This is from Doug Phillips of Vision Forum.)

Communicate and record the noble, commonplace things.

Psalm 1:28

The 5 Dreams of the man who fears the Lord:

• Work well before the Lord, then reap the fruits
• Be fruitful physically and spiritually
• Make the home a revolving door where all are welcome
• Revive the doctrine of the family table
• Christian families can demonstrate discipline, law, and order

Decisions which will define the next 200 years of the life of your family:

• To achieve victory, first you must seek it
• Make wise choices to lay the foundation
• Pray over who your children will marry
• Sovereignty of Christ over your womb
• Strategic relationships you enter
• Seek wise and Godly friends in christ
• Approach to entrepreneurship, debt and inheritance
• View of theology, culture, ethics

7 Multi-generational visions:

1. Parents driven by a holy PURPOSE.  Christ honoring vision of victory.  Set standards high before the Lord.
   Isaiah 58:12, 1 Samuel 7:18-22
   This is MY HOUSEHOLD- use our household, Lord, for great things.
   1Chronicles 29:16-19- The Holy purpose of King David "May my son finish the work I started"
   Set priorities in prayer.  Pray daily.
   Pray faithfully for your children and children yet to be born.
   Pray your children marry wisely.  Have your children pray for their future spouse.
   Pray that the Lord saves the souls of all your children early in life and none are lost.
   Pray that the kids are faithful convenat keeper with the God of their Fathers.
   Pray that God sends blessed, well suited spouses and no divorce for the future generations in your family.
   Pray that your children homeschool their children according to Hebraic model.
   Pray that God blesses the wombs of the daughters and son's wives
   Pray that God makes fruitful the labors.
   Pray the the children honor the parents and apply the vistion the fathers give to them.
   
   Give your children commissions, visions, and missions.
   
2. You gotta love children!
   3 John 1:4
   Passion for your children any hobbies
   My children are eternal beings
   
3. Presuppose Biblical Patriarchy
   Be a man and raise men to lead in vision
   Look to the principles of God's law to create economic and structural incentives
   
4. Holy preparation of the next generation
   Structure lives to prepare sons to walk beside you.
   Seek wise men to mentor your sons
   Wise community
   
5. Consumes with holy principled action
   Make wise choices with a clear conscience
   You must be about something bigger than yourself
   Dream big dreams for God
   Be aware of what the battles of the day are
   
   1 Chronicles 28:9-18

(OK, so there are supposed to be 7, but somehow I missed the last two.  Maybe someone else has them and will let me know?)

(From the 2007 Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington conference)

There is a difference between siring a child and fathering a child

3 kinds of parents
-The Blundering Parent
-The Baby Boomer Parent- "I am spending my child's inheritance"
-The Biblical Parent-Doing something beyond him

80% of children leave the church by their sophomore year of college
90% homeschooled children retain their faith

Psalm 127
Our kids are our legacy, our gift, not burdens.
Train up your children as building blocks of the Cathedral of Christ.

Believe-to trust God's word over what we see in the world.
Understanding-Recognize tour child's unique talents and gifts
Insulation-Have the courage to protect and prepare
Love-Develop in them a Godly bond that will withstand pressure.
Discipline-Shape and mild these little building blocks for the Cathedral of God.

Believe-The word of God is full of promises for our children.  If/then scenarios.
My children are not a biological accident.  They were given to me by God with a purpose.
Matthew 21-Children bring glory to God.

Understanding- God knows us inside and out.  Psalm 139
God made us all unique with different gifts and talents.
Can you embrace how God made your child?
Know your children's friends and heroes.

Insulate-Protect them from the wicked influences: media
90% of advertising is targeted to sell to children and young teens; conforming their minds to the world (music, magazines, TV)
11th Commandment-Thou shalt not have television in your house :)
By the time a child graduates from high school, on average: 16,000 hours in school, 30,000 hours of TV, witnessed 100,000 acts of violence through media
Watch access to the internet. 
It used to be that a child's first access to po*nography was age 13; now it's age 6.
Limit chat rooms: you don't really know who they are.

Age segregation-destroyed by institutions that should bring us together.

Love- Not just an emotion, it's a commandment.  Providing for your children (physical love) is not the same; they need to know emotional love as well.  Focus on your spouse and kids; take focus off yourself.  Be transparent with your children.  Be accountable when angry, broken promises, failings.  Ask them for forgiveness.

Respect the authority of the land (be a law keeper, not a law breaker, ex. speed limit). Set an example.

Discipline-Shaping and molding to fulfill God's plan. Proverbs 13:24, 22:15, 29:15, 29:17.
Mindset: When something challenging happens: broken rules, rebellion, you must discipline.  What is your mindset?-God is in control of all things.  If all things work together for good, at this time, God had given you this time/opportunity to disciple your child.  Anger goes away, purpose comes.  Calm, peace, you know this is a gift.  Open up the Bible and point to the 10 commandments.  Show where they broke God's law and according to this you must discipline.  In this discipline, you bring comfort to their souls.

If there are constant issues, take a look at how/why you are disciplining your child.  Are you discipling them?

I know the word of God is true and his promises will be passed to us.  However, the sins of the father will be passed 3 to 4 generations as well. (ripple effect: see below)

McDonald Family History

James McDonald I: Christian.  Purchased a mausoleum for his whole family to be buried.  Only he and his wife are actually buried there.  Why?

James McDonald II: As was typical of the time, he was not raised at home, but was shipped to a boarding school.  Fell away from Christ.  Befriended Ernest Hemingway.  Also commited suicide.

James McDonald III: Raised by others that were not Christian.  Married 8 times.  Became wealthy.  Lived for himself.  Died of a heart attack at 54.

James McDonald IV: Not raised in a Christian home.  Raised at a military school.

James McDonald V:  Raised by a "bumbling parent".  Dropped out of school at the age of 19 and moved to Texas to party.  Met a Christian neighbor who shared music with him.

James McDonald VI (speaker): Currently raising 9 children and building a cathedral for Christ.

There is the gift of hope that even if you were not raised in a Christian hoome, be inspired to build a Christian heritage from the foundation.

The family that worships and serves together, stays together.

(From the Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington)

Speakers bio: Scott and DiAnna Brannan have been married twenty-two years and are the parents of two teenage children, both of whom have been homeschooled from the beginning of their schooling venture.  The Brannans have served on the board of a state homeschool organization and currently are on the board and teach classes for a homeschool cooperative, which they founded.  They are also the founders of Christian Homeschool Network of Washington, with a mission of communicating with legislators and home educators regarding legislative and local issues that affect homeschooling in the state of Washington.

Recommended book: Homeschool Heroes

Washington is the 12th most restricted state
The current homeschool law went into effect in 1985.  51% of your child's education must be done by you or your child's legal guardian.

The school system has no authority over homeschool once you file the declaration of intent.  The courst system does, though.

To qualify
1.  45 college credits, or,
2. Work with a certified teacher, or,
3. get approval from the district superintendent, or,
4. take a homeschool qualification course

Declaration of Intent
You only need to sign your child's name, and age, and to notify if you are working with a certified teacher.  You DO NOT need to supply a birthdate or anything else.  File the year they turn eight (before the September deadline).
File with the local school superintendent.
We need to hold our government accountable with upholding the law.  Do not provide more information that what is required by law. The Christian Homeschool Network site has a legal declaration of intent for Washington.  Do not use the one the school distric supplies.  It will ask for more information than in required. (Not a single school form they have seen is in compliance to the law).
The Declaration of Intent is not asking permission.  It is a declaration to the school that they are "off the hook".

Record Keeping
You do not need to show records to anyone, unless you enroll your child in the school system.  Keep records for accountability and stewardship.

Assess yearly
The WASL is not a standardized test-It's only based on the Washington State public school curriculum.  Do not have your kids take the WASL.
They encourage professional assessment on younger children , ans standardized test (ex. Iowa Basic Skills Test) for older.  Assessments are done by a certified teacher. 

Even though you are not required to enroll your child in school before the age of eight, if your child is enrolled in school before age eight, you must still officially withdraw your child.

Discipleship first
Academics second

Part-time Education:  Children can take classes at a public school.  The school can claim funding for your child's time on campus.

A public school at home program is under the same mandate as the public school.  It is subject to scrutiny and visits.

Treat those with authority over you with respect.

Protect your children.  Satan will not play fair, but he has to go through the parents to get to the children.

The greatest threat to our children is their peers.

Make their father their hero.

(From the 2007 Christian heritage Home Educators of Washington conference)

Speaker bio: Wade Myers has founded and been the CEO of several companies, served on the board of fifteen others, and assisted many entrepreneurs with founding their own companies.  His degrees include an MBA with High Distinction from Harvard Universoty.  He frequently speaks at entrepreneurial conferences and top business schools.  He shares his business experiences and failures with the hope that he can offer Godly guidance to Christian men in their quest to becoming independent entrepreneurs.  He and his wife Andreanna live near Dallas, Texas where they homeschooled their four children.

New Venture Lab

Start your Business

Consider:
Resources
experience
spiritual gifts
passion to serve others
fits personal context

Define Business Evaluation Criteria
Industry characteristics
financial characteristics
operational characteristics
product/service
customer

Generate Business Ideas
Identify various unmet needs
Identify various products and service platforms that deliver the necessary products or services to serve those unmet needs.

Idea -->Spriritual Evaluation-->Personal Evaluation-->Business Evaluation-->Go

Launch the Operations
Product and service platform
Select partners/suppliers
Create product or service prototype
Build v. buy-evaluate whether to start up, acquire or spin out (A division of a company that has fallen out of favor.)

Raise children who are not afraid of failure!  You will fail.  Get through it.

Of every 10 ventures you vest in: 2 will fail, 2 will succees, 6 are a wash

Business Model
A detailed business plan.  Make up at least three scenarios (best case, woerst case, most probable)

Market
Define a go-to-market strategy
Establish initial customers as "partners"
Tap subject matter experts
Determine method of launch

Franchises
Positives: Packaged business, leverage lesons learned and best practices, leverage sales and marketing investment, clearly definted path to success
Negatives: You are married to your business, You are typically in the retail business moderl, you have to play by their rules, you give up a significant portion of the value.

Start up v. buying an existing business
concept, product, customer base, operation, revenue, employees, processes in place, culture.
Start up "playing offense" v. existing "Playing defense" (hang on to what you paid for)

Grow
Develop detailed specs and procedures
Business model-detailed financial plans and controls
Market-detailed sales and marketing plan

Harvest the Venture
Develop pipeline of potential acquirers
Develope a relationship with acquirers

Deut. 8:18"But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

(From the 2007 Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington)

Becky Develle is a homeschool mom and representative for Institute for Excellence in Writing

Choosing Curricula

Daniel 1:1 "In the third yearof the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it."

Have our minds been held captive?  Are we a nation of non-thinkers?  Who are we electing into government?

The founders of our nation had brilliand and organized thoughts, grounded in Biblical training.

Public school-not designed to teach us how to think.  Created in the ancient Spartan model to make soldiers (currently a predictable work force).  Reasoning skills were lost along the way.  You only need to know what's on the test.  Multiple choice testing is indicative of this.  The sysyem determines where everyone is compared to others.  A form of mind control.  You only know what you are supposed to know.  Standardized tests reflect this.

"I know 100 valuable facts, but they weren't on the test." ~Winston Churchill (Leigh note: I could not verify this quote online.)

We have lost God's providence along the way.  History is God's story.

Bring God's hand into your stories.  Work on what it is God wants your children to know, not what the state deems necessary. (Leigh note: Washington state requires either standarized testing yearly, or non-test assessments.  Becky encourages the non-test assessment for a more accurate portayal of your child's level of comprehension  for his/her age.  In Washington state, she suggests Family Learning Organization for testing or assessment.)

Deut.6
Tell your children of God's mighy deeds. 
Deut. 17 and 18: Write your own scripture and discuss.  Be intimately aware of God's word.

You can think without writing, but you can't write without thinking.

Read, write, discuss: model for learning

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. 
God wants us to have reasoning skills.

Teach diligently-we hace to be the best teachers we can be.

The majority of the Bible is a story.  Capture our children's heart and heads.  The stories you remember 
most are the ones by great tellers.

Livingmath.net

God is the author of all things to be learned (art, math, etc.)

Recommended Materials
Excellence in Writing-Teaches the parent how to reach writing.

If you really want someone t learn something:
-read a great story that engages the student
-have them write about it
-discuss it together

Encyclopedia of Biblical Truths-Ruth Haycock (education from a Biblical viewpoint)
The Heart of Wisdom approach      
Teaching the Classics-Begin with simple bedtime stories.  Use the socratic question list.
Poetry memorization-Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization by Andre Pudewa (I bought this)
memorization increases the brains capacity; work it like a muscle.  Increases and creates a sophisticated language pattern.
Enough About Grammar by Joe Floren- Honest and simple
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation-self correction
The Word Write Now-like a thesaurus based on character traits
Spell to Write and Read-There are 28 rules of spelling to make english a phonetic language.
44 sounds spelled 70 basic ways-phonograms

(From the Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington Convention)

Bio on website:  Tom Hoyle has a PhD in Christian Apologetics from California Graduate School of Theology, and is a full colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves.  Dr. Hoyle is the founder of the Bible and Science Ministries which is headquartered in Tacoma, WA, and has been actively involved in creation science missions for over 20 years.

He has spoken over 3400 times in almost 500 churches, schools, home schools, and conferences in 47 states and countries, and also broadcasts often via Christian radio and television.

Dr. Hoyle is committed to the absolute authority of God's Word, and to the crucial truth of Biblical creation. Consequently, his ministry is endorsed by numerous pastors, teachers, scientists, and laymen.

Miracles of Creation description: Dr. Hoyle’s best family program is also the MOST logical! Many intriguing examples of logical design and purpose in creation are given. Subjects include the earth, moon, plants (photosynthesis, symbiosis, and carnivorous), and insects (camouflaged varieties; e.g., mantises). Also included is Creation evangelism.

Dr. Hoyle presented a slide show on creation.

Design requires a designer; things don't just happen.  If someone built the model, someone must have built the original.
There are 22 different theories of creation.

Jeremiah 31:35 "Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name"

It the moon were 10% different in size and/or density, earth would either be swamped (no tides), or prone to massive earthquakes.  The relationship betwwen the earth and the moon is just right (size, gravity pull)

If the earth were just 10% different, life as we know it could not be sustained.  No other planets are the same in size, weight, or desnisty.  Earth is just the right distance to maintian life (rotation in orbit, angle)   We are at 23.5 degrees.  If we were a half degree different, we could not maintain life.

A day on Venus is slower that a year on earth.

The ozone layer is a type of oxygen molecule that protects us from radiation in space.   Too much ozone would not allow for photosythesis, which allows things to grow.  Too little, and things burn.

Psalm 33:6 "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host."

There are 100 trillion cells in the body. (The possibility of  this happening randomly is like a tornado in a junkyard building a 747.)  Each cell in your boydy has enough DNA information to fill 400 library books.

"The likelihood of the formation of life from inanimate matter is one to a number with 40,000 noughts after it ... It is big enough to bury Darwin and the whole theory of evolution ... if the beginnings of life were not random, they must therefore have been the product of purposeful intelligence."
(Sir Fred Hoyle, astronomer, cosmologist and mathematician, Cambridge University)

3 miracles of plant life:
-photosynthesis: life could not exist without it.

• carniverous plants (pitcher plants-some are large enough to eat birds and rats.  Sun dew plant-strangles and crushes its prey.  Venus fly traps- if someone designed a mouse trap, who designed the Venus fly trap?)

-symbiosis-the relationshop between flowers and bees, bats, birds,  (How did all these come together to benefit each other?)

"As yet we have not been able to track the phylogenetic history of a single group of modern plants from its beginning to the present."
(Chester A Arnold, Professor of Botany and Curator of Fossil Plants, University of Michigan, An Introduction to Paleobotany (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1947, p.7)

Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever."

A dragonfly can fly 40mph.  They have two wings to elevate and two wings to propel.  They have 50,000 facets on each eye.  L.E.V.- Leading Edge Vortex  The helicopter design was inspired from the dragonfly.
As advanced as the "Apache" is, the dragonfly is even more so.
There is documentation in fossils that, before the flood, dragonflies had a wingspan of 2.5 feet.

The chemical complexity of the bombadier beetle-expels acid in defense.  It is its own little chemical lab.


Ants can lift 50 times its own weight.  They can build incredible colonies.  they know how to do it upon birth.

Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise!"

Termites- produce rock hard castles 40 fet tall.  Imagine how high that is for a bug!  Their castls has water reservoirs and air conditioning.  Ants and termites can metabolize cellulose, which is recycling.
They are born knowing how to do all of this.

Honeybee-  wings made of keratin (nature's plastic).  Wings beat 250 times per second.  The honeycomb is ideal in terms of wight and stress distribution with thimited space.

Nature by Design

Spider silk is a complex triple protein polymer.  Little labs in their bodies.  Spider silk ounce by ounce is stronger and more flexible than titanium.  Spiders are born knowing how to spin a web.  Spiders are expert in camoflauge.

Other experts in camoflauged-they were designed this way...
Stick bug

Thorn bug

Walking leaf

Dead Leaf Katydid

Praying Mantis-Stick, Twig, Leaf, Dead leaf, Orchid


Do any of these evolve by accident? 

Some insects have fake pupils to deceive prey.

"Faith gives the courage to live and do. Scientists, with their disciplined thinking, like others, need a basis for the good life, for aspiration, for courage to do great deeds. They need a faith to live by. The hope of the world lies in those who have such faith and who use the methods of science to make their visions become real. Visions and hope and faith are not part of science. They are beyond the nature that science knows. Of such is the religion that gives meaning to life."  Arthur H. Compton

2 Timothy 1
Ephesians 6:1-4

Phase 1:Discipline and Training
Parents, grab hold of your reins.  "Give me your attention"

Phase 2: Catechism Phase "Give me your mind"
-teach them what to believe and why and how to communicate that to others
apologetics- 1 Peter 3: always be ready with an answer
Will you young child understand the catechism they are preacing? No.  But, that is not your job.  It's the Holy Spirit's job to get them to understand.  Rote memorization is a building block to deeper understanding.

Phase 3: Discipleship Phase "Give me your hand and let's walk together"

Relationship between Paul and Timothy: 2 Timothy

Do not buy into the delusion that the you have to be your child's "friend"

You cannot disciple someone who does not respect you.
Parents, keep conflict between you away from children-show a united front
Pray for your children constantly.
Spiritual battle needs spiritual weapons.  Intercede on behalf of your children.
Intimacy is crucial in discipling our children.  Take honest spiritual inventory of your child.

2 Timothy-preserving and perpetuating the gospel, but be ready to endure the pin.

Discipleship is about making an investment so that one day we can call them 'Godly'.  Even then, there is a price to be paid.

I recently added a new category to my blog, titled "Lecture Notes".  I am now attending conferences and seminars regarding homeschool and need a place to store my notes.  This blog seems as good a place as any and you can read what might be of interest as well! 

I attended the Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington conference.  Not only is it an excellent resource for homeschool, but there is also the incredible message of creating a Christian heritage within your family for generations.

They had two keynote speakers.  The first speaker was Dr. Voddie Baucham, Jr.  I am forever changed by the message this pastor shared during this conference.  If you ever get a chance to hear him speak, RUN, don't walk.

Here are the notes from the General Session #1, titled "Get Your House in Order-Transforming the Family":

(Deuteronomy 6
Love the LORD Your God

 1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

    4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ^[a] 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

    10 When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

    13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the LORD's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.

    20 In the future, when your children ask you, "What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?" 21 tell them: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness." )

Statistics

A local homeschool organization hosted SALT magazine publishers, Jim and Cindy McDermott.  They are a married homeschooling couple with 12 children.  Here is a recap of the talk...

They have 12 children, ages ranging from 10 months to 20 years. They currently live in Missouri, but I don't think they were always there.

Benefits of homeschool:
-Guide your own child's education
-Taylor it to their needs
-Slow down/Speed up as needed
-Time to be a family

The standards we impose on our children must be the same standards we impose on ourselves.

Daily individual Bible reading is a priority.  The family keeps a chart on the regrigerator and each person documents reading 1 to 4 chapters a day.  By the time the child graduates from high school s/he will have read the Bible many times; thus a solid foundation.  Daily Bible reading is to be used as a standard for decision making.

Discipline
No means no; be consistent
Use a balance when you say 'no' (don't be overbearing)
Make it age appropriate
Do not micro manage your children
When you discipline, be cautious when determining their motives.  Your assumption may be incorrect.

They advocate corporal punishment when they want them to understand the severity of the sin. (violence, lying, etc.)  Needs to hurt enough to change their behavior.  Balance with love versus kindness (You can be kind, but not love.  Love means you care for that child so much that you are willing to teach them right from wrong.)

Establish consistent rules and consequences.

They do not believe in the "I will give you a lollipop if..." approach, because:
-God gave you authority as a parent.  This undermines that authority.  (No negotiations, begging, or pleading.)  They need to learn to respect your  authority.
-Don't do this for their own safety. (ex. What if they are about to run in front of a car.  You yell, "stop!"  If they are used to bargaining with you, their brain will not automatically tell the body to stop and may lose that precious second needed.  They need to respond immediately.)
-Can have a negative effect on older children/adults (ex. sense of entitlement)

Discipleship
Discipling our children is most important.  Make it an important part of your day; everyday.  Our faith is who we are and it should permeate through everything we do and say.

Instill good spiritual habits in our children.  Spiritual habits- practical and done routinely will bring them closer to God.
How: Set an example for them.  Let them see you raeding the Bible daily, even when you are tired or in a bad mood.
-talk to them about it becasue we value our relationship with God.
-Help them get into their own habit.

We are responsible before God to train up our children in His ways.

Socialization
Any participation in a social setting.
Desensitization=susceptible to evil.  It is our goal to raise responsible, Christian adults.
Train up your child.  The trainer needs to be the one who spends the most time and the one who is more spiritually mature. 
Go to the scriptures to make all you decisions. 

How they homeschool with little time or money:
-Both parents work
-Both parents homeschool
-They eliminated preK and Kindergarden
-They graduate their children at the age of 16 (The oldest graduated
with a degree in Computer Science at 19.5, the second oldest is
finishing his last semester in college with an accounting degree, the
third child just graduated high school and is looking at options).
-Sometimes they push things back when needed (it is easier to teach a
6 year old than a 4 year old. It is easier to teach grammar to a 10
year old versus a six year old who is learning to read.)
-Focus on reading.
-Book reports on everything. (Targets grammar, composition, penmanship).  Don't stress too much until high school.
-Be aware of each child's "bent" and target their academics based on
where they are headed.
-Very little lecturing; if your child is a fluent reader, they can
read more in 50 minutes than you can lecture, and you save the prep
time of you reading the same book, and preparing the lecture.
-No textbooks until algebra (they use Saxon)
Math:
1st grade: only addition
2nd grade: Only subtraction
3rd grade: only multiplication
4th grade: Only division
5th and 6th grade: fractions, decimals, negatives
7th-10th: Algebra
-teaching one new concept a day is confusing. Wait until a skill is
mastered before moving on. Wait until they are intellectually ready
to take on a new skill.

The McDermotts advocate support groups. They believe that there is
no challenge that can't be solved if the parent wants to homeschool
and has the support of other homeschool parents.

Choosing a user friendly curriculum:
-Are there too many problems? Figure out if the problems are
applicable and serving a purpose, or busywork.
-Are they age appropriate (why introduce fractions to a first grader
if they have not mastered addition and subtraction?)
-Curriculum is just a tool. Do not feel obligated to use it in its
entirety.
-Other resources-activities, internet, videos
-Choose carefully for crafts and labs. You don't want to lose sight
of what you want to accomplish.

-Be careful of a curriculum that steps up every year.  Slow down if needed.  Don;t advance just to keep up with the curriculum.  Make sure the concept is mastered before moving on.

For elementary and middle school-all curriculum comes from the library
For high school-Some textbooks are introduced

Do not try to conform to someone elses homeschool routine.

Group teaching- create the one room school room with multiple ages.
You can teach science, social studies, art, and P.E. in this format.

Enlist older children to help younger ones with reading and answering
questions.

Toddlers:
-Older kids can help keep younger ones occupied when you have to work
one one one with another.
-Structure your day around their schedule-class during napt time, etc.
-Teach toddler to respect school and wait their turn.
-Instead of decreasing the needs of the toddler, decrease the needs
of the older children. Toddlers are not a hindrance nor an
interrruption. Work to create a balance.

High School:
-Negative socialization in the public school system. Most of what is
learned in high school is not what will help in the real world. (The
traits that make a person 'most popular' are not necessarily the
traits that will help in the work world. Build character, not
popularity)
-They purchase used curriculum and keep it pretty traditional
-You as the teacher will re-learn with your student.
-If your kids can learn it, you can teach it.
-Hire a tutor, or get help if there is an interest that your child
has that you don't (advanced courses, computers, etc.)


Transcripts
-They wrote what the course was and worked as a couple to decide on
the grade at the end.
-Both college kids were accepted the all the colleges they applied
for (about four each, private Christian and public state schools).
-Their second child was told he needed to take a GED test to be
accepted to his school of choice. Instead, he enrolled in a
community college for one semester and transferred.
-Take practice ACT and SAT tests at the library.

The family chose to keep their kids living at home during the college
years.

If the child is not clear about college or what direction to go after
high school, the McDermotts encourage to keep them productive through
an internship, mission trip, another year of high school, etc.)

Dating
They are against dating, saying that in the Bible, Paul commanded Timothy to treat the younger sisters with absolute purity.  This is underminded in the dating process.
People who date increase the opportunity for immoral action.
There is no Bible passage that says "no dating", but the results are "yucky" (per Jim :).  He feels the same about the public school system.

When it is time to look for a spouse:
-young women should look for the man she wants as the head of her household.
-young men should look for a companion, partner, and someone who is instrumental in how his children turn out.

The world views in order of preference: looks, charm, competence, character
God views in order of preference: character, competence, charm, looks

Homeschooling can be hard, challenging, tiring, and totally worth it.  God can take our meager efforts and fill in the gaps.  Support each other and don't fall through the cracks.