One of the definitions of the word art is "the creation of beautiful or significant things". Just like a master artist, the Lord Jesus creates beautiful and significant things in our lives when we give Him the time and space to work. I feel blessed to share what He is creating in my life with you.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Homeschool Convention
This weekend we went to the MACHE(Maryland Association of Christian Home Educators) Convention in Frederick Maryland. It was our first time attending this convention and we had a great time. We made our last homeschool purchase for Britni :( who will be graduating in June and lots of purchases for Abigail :) who is starting her education journey. There were no speakers there like the conference we have gone to in Pennsylvania but all of the vendors we buy from were there. We took our wire shopping cart to carry all of our purchases.(something that I learned about years ago- it is taller than a wagon and so much easier to pull or push along.) Britni also came up with a great idea I thought I would pass on. One of the most frustrating things I face is keeping all of the purchases organized in the car for the trip home. The bags usually just slide all over the place and things, like paper supplies, have gotten a bit roughed up. Well my brilliant graduating daughter suggested we bring some plastic laundry baskets to put the bags in. It worked great. We had a full truck bed to put the baskets in but if you don't have that much room you could use something like plastic crates or small Rubbermaid tubs. The baskets also made the job of carrying all the stuff into the house easier and it was able to stay contained until I had time to put it all away. Anyone else have good convention tips to share?
52 weeks book challenge
This week I read two books. One was the Twilight of Courage by Brock and Bodie Thoene. It is a great historical fiction that takes place during the early days of WWII. There are too many characters to list them all here, but one that stand out is Horst von Bockman, an Officer in the German Army who takes part in smuggling a Jewish baby out of The Reich. It is filled with intrigue and suspense and precedes two other series by the Thoene's called The Zion Chronicles and The Zion Covenant series.
The second book I read this week was called Meet Charlotte Mason by Sandi Queen. It was a quick read introducing homeschool mom's to the 19th century educator, Charlotte Mason and briefly describing her methods of educating. Sandi is a homeschool mom and she and her family run a publishing company of Charlotte Mason based homeschool materials. It was well written and enjoyable. I recommend it to any homeschool mom who wants to learn more about this way of teaching.
The second book I read this week was called Meet Charlotte Mason by Sandi Queen. It was a quick read introducing homeschool mom's to the 19th century educator, Charlotte Mason and briefly describing her methods of educating. Sandi is a homeschool mom and she and her family run a publishing company of Charlotte Mason based homeschool materials. It was well written and enjoyable. I recommend it to any homeschool mom who wants to learn more about this way of teaching.
Philosophy of Education Vol. 6 Ch. 5
The Sacredness of Personality
This Chapter centers on valuing each child’s unique personality. The point is made that too often children are used as pawns in a game to basically do what adults wish them to do. This can stem from wrong perceptions that adults are superior to children. We are encouraged to consider the words of the Lord that we are to “become like little children”. We are warned in scripture to not despise, hinder, or offend them by our actions or thoughts but rather are told to “feed My lambs”
One way that teachers obtained discipline and motivation in schools was through fear. While this may not be the case in most schools today, there are several other methods that are just as devaluing of children to make them learn.
The first is love. When we motivate a child by getting them to behave and learn solely to please the teacher or parent, with statements such as “Do this for me” or “I will be so sad if you do…..” we take advantage of the love they have for us. They may learn to behave properly but their character is being undermined.
Suggestion is another method by which some try to motivate. This is a subtle prompting of the child to perform a given task. However, the “suggestions” merely train the child to look for prompting from the teacher instead of learning to find the internal strength to learn the material.
Finally, there is influence. Charlotte describes influence as not the words or actions of the teacher but more of “an atmosphere” that proceeds from the teacher and envelops the student. Influence of good morals from on to another is a very wholesome thing but when the teacher uses their influence with students, who in turn begin to idolize or worship the teacher, they become like a “parasitic plant” and they don’t grow strong in themselves but are always looking for someone else to “cling to”.
Children also have a few natural desires that, if not carefully developed for the good, will also be a hindrance to their personality.
One is approval. Children desire approval. Under the right guidance, this can help them be obedient or excel in school work. However, with the lack of guidance the child will seek out any approval whether it is worthless or virtuous.
Emulation, the desire to excel, and Avarice, the desire to gain or achieve, can also hinder the child by making the focus of their education turn from delighting in what they learn to only receiving the highest marks or scholarships.
Ambition is detrimental when the student is not given a wholesome desire to master knowledge but instead turns the ambition into the desire to master people. Ambition can be a great character trait when it is used in serving others.
It is a shame that the educational systems believe that children see the desire for knowledge like a bad tasting medicine and try to do anything to disguise learning by making students dependent on grades, or sports, or entertainment. This is producing children who are pleasant and good natured but have no ability to think “great thoughts”. No part of our soul should be without education through the delight of knowledge.
This Chapter centers on valuing each child’s unique personality. The point is made that too often children are used as pawns in a game to basically do what adults wish them to do. This can stem from wrong perceptions that adults are superior to children. We are encouraged to consider the words of the Lord that we are to “become like little children”. We are warned in scripture to not despise, hinder, or offend them by our actions or thoughts but rather are told to “feed My lambs”
One way that teachers obtained discipline and motivation in schools was through fear. While this may not be the case in most schools today, there are several other methods that are just as devaluing of children to make them learn.
The first is love. When we motivate a child by getting them to behave and learn solely to please the teacher or parent, with statements such as “Do this for me” or “I will be so sad if you do…..” we take advantage of the love they have for us. They may learn to behave properly but their character is being undermined.
Suggestion is another method by which some try to motivate. This is a subtle prompting of the child to perform a given task. However, the “suggestions” merely train the child to look for prompting from the teacher instead of learning to find the internal strength to learn the material.
Finally, there is influence. Charlotte describes influence as not the words or actions of the teacher but more of “an atmosphere” that proceeds from the teacher and envelops the student. Influence of good morals from on to another is a very wholesome thing but when the teacher uses their influence with students, who in turn begin to idolize or worship the teacher, they become like a “parasitic plant” and they don’t grow strong in themselves but are always looking for someone else to “cling to”.
Children also have a few natural desires that, if not carefully developed for the good, will also be a hindrance to their personality.
One is approval. Children desire approval. Under the right guidance, this can help them be obedient or excel in school work. However, with the lack of guidance the child will seek out any approval whether it is worthless or virtuous.
Emulation, the desire to excel, and Avarice, the desire to gain or achieve, can also hinder the child by making the focus of their education turn from delighting in what they learn to only receiving the highest marks or scholarships.
Ambition is detrimental when the student is not given a wholesome desire to master knowledge but instead turns the ambition into the desire to master people. Ambition can be a great character trait when it is used in serving others.
It is a shame that the educational systems believe that children see the desire for knowledge like a bad tasting medicine and try to do anything to disguise learning by making students dependent on grades, or sports, or entertainment. This is producing children who are pleasant and good natured but have no ability to think “great thoughts”. No part of our soul should be without education through the delight of knowledge.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Book Contest to enter
I wanted to let you all know of a contest a friend of mine is having. You can enter to win the book “This Little Prayer of Mine” by Anthony DeStefano. There is a review of the book on the blog: http://from-my-life.blogspot.com/2010/03/prayers-heavenward-and-giveaway.html and this is where you can enter to win the book. The contest deadline is April 10th 2010.
52 weeks book challenge
Well, I am WAY behind in my reading but I am planning on catching up over the summer when the schedule becomes lighter. This week I did read “The Man from Shadow Ridge”. It is the first in a four book series by Brock and Bodie Thoene called the Saga of the Sierras. It takes place in California during the Civil War and centers on the Dawson Family. Brothers Jessie and Tom have a ranch at the foot of Shadow Mountain where they round up and train wild mustangs to sell to the Union Army. The area is plagued by stagecoach robberies which eventually lead to several murders. Then, the fate of two young kidnapped boys lies in Tom Dawson’s hands and he is forced to trust God for their safe return. The book has that old west feel that brings us back to our roots as American’s. It is a wonderful historical fiction. I just started book two in the series so I will let you know next week how that one was.
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