Jul. 24, 2008 - My Dilemma

I have been inspired to actually do my own lesson planning this year instead of purchasing a curriculum. Curriculum shopping has been a favorite pastime of mine since I began the journey of homeschooling. O how much has changed in 4 years. This year I have been praying about using the resources I have on hand instead of buying something new. SO, I am working out lesson plans and a new schedule to have it all work together.

I am usually very good about completing the basics. Math, spelling, language arts, history, and science with experiments every so often. Have you noticed that the most important thing is missing? Yes, BIBLE. Now don’t get me wrong, we have done Bible in our homeschool. I have read through significant portions of scripture with my oldest as we have studied ancient history. My middle son used a Bible reader (we used My Father’s World) for phonics lessons and he has narrated most of the major Bible stories that are included. My preschooler has learned cute little finger plays about Bible characters that correspond to letters in the alphabet. Some may ask, “What do you mean, you don’t do Bible…it’s all right there.”

That’s not the Bible lessons I am talking about. I am talking about the time you start your day with. The quiet moments reserved for reading God’s Word and praying together. Yes, we do this as a family, but I am having trouble implementing this in our homeschool. And when I list my priorities it is #1 every time. I feel that it is important to start our day this way. Not just with Mom having a quiet time, but a time with the children being trained to seek God first in their day.

So many others state that this is how their day starts, but I have great difficulty pulling it off. My children only have food on the brain the moment their little toes hit the floor in the morning. So breakfast is always first…if mom doesn’t have it ready, then the kids work on chores until it is on the table. Not to mention that I am often scrambling around to feed my husband who just got home from work at 7:30am and needs to be in class by 8am. Then after breakfast we have clean up time and school starts for the oldest and younger children are directed by my middle son. This is ideally where “Bible time” would fall. After clean up, but before school or play time. My trouble is that they rush through breakfast and are off before I get the time to sit at the table with them. (since I am usually trying to help my husband get out the door again.) Everyone finishes their chores at different times and moves on to the next thing. By the time I am ready for Bible time, they are often playing…then Bible time becomes Battle time. They don’t want to stop playing to have Bible time. This cycle continues. I feel like I have a great plan in place, it just needs a little structure and support to hold it up. This is THE area in which I have greatest difficulty.

Please, leave any suggestions or ideas about how you have accomplished this morning Bible time with your children. I want to instill in them habits that they will carry for life and this is the most important.

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Jul. 25, 2008 - I totally understand...

Posted by Anonymous

Honestly, our school Bible time consists of me reading through Hurlbut's Bible stories. The reason I do this particular book is b/c it has many of the obscure stories and a lot of insight and good questions.

At one point in time I did Leading Littles, but it is somewhat beneath my school-age children now (except Lia of course).

IDEALLY,this is what I would like to see happen. Daddy does not eat breakfast w/ us except on the weekends and breakfast truly is the bane of my exsitance. What I would love to see happen is that breakfast would ALWAYS be in place the night before. See this link: http://awomansjourneyhome.blogspot.com/2006/12/beating-breakfast-blues.html

Now, this is asking a lot since my oldest child despises muffins and baked oatmeal. He would much prefer I make eggs every day.

But, IF breakfast were already in existance, I would not need to make it and I could spend that time doing a more in depth Bible study w/ the children. HOWEVER, it has yet to happen.

You might consider at this point in time, encouraging your older son to find time to seek the Lord on HIS own. Blake is reading Victor Journey Through The Bible and does his own Bible reading, which ultimately is what you are after...them studying the Word on their own.
Amy
http://homeschoolblogger.com/Raisingarrows

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Aug. 8, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by SarahLynne

That's where I want to focus our energy this year, too. First and foremost Bible study and then everything else. I've not been great at doing that!

Thanks for the congrats. I hadn't told many people about the 2nd miscarriage in January. I was pg before my cycle began after the 1st m/c so it was probably related to being so close together. I'm thankful all is looking well this time though. I'm 13 weeks today (gasp).

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