Yearly Archives: 2006

I’ve been asked how/through whom we were introduced to the Principle Approach. The answer is several people, each adding a piece and drawing us deeper. I don’t know that I can even remember the exact order, but here it is somewhat.

Dr. Paul Jehle – spoke at our state hs convention in 1990 or so. I was intrigued. It was probably through him that we learned of F.A.C.E. and ordered some Journals and tapes of a conference. I don’t remember if we got the Red Books (T&L and CHOC) from FACE at that time or not. My favorite resources by Jehle are his tape sets on 7 Pillars of Wisdom, and Universal History. I am eagerly awaiting his book, “Go Ye Therefore and Teach“.

I somehow found out about Marilyn Howshall’s Lifestyle of Learning and ordered her magazines, and learned more of PA through her, especially that it could be done in a relaxed environment. If I didn’t have the foundational Red Books from FACE yet, it was at this time I got them, and Webster’s 1828 Dictionary and possibly their “Rudiments Student Handbook“, that I highly recommend.

Also around this time I got James Rose‘s “Guide to American Christian Education“. This book really helped open up PA to me, and has probably been my most used PA resource. Another highly recommended resource.

Also, shortly after that, I think, I met Kris Bayer, a home educator in NE who had written a short book on PA, called “Come Let Us Reason”, that really simplified it, bringing more understanding.

Probably my favorite person to meet, who really influenced us most was Marshall Foster. Our vendor’s booth was across from his at a hs convention, and we enjoyed listening to him and talking to him, and bought his book and tapes, and caught the vision. He brought PA teaching for the family/in the home down to the “king-size” bed approach (rather than the desks and classroom approach), making it more appealing, more realistic, more family oriented, and more in line with our family’s style. His book “The American Covenant“, and tapes from conferences (that are no longer available that I know of) are our favorites. Of the 2 tape sets that I love and recommend of his, one is still available, The Battle for the 21st Century. Our favorite, on World Changers, is not. And I’m hoping it hasn’t gotten away; I don’t see it on the shelf, so don’t have the exact title.

Stephen McDowell was another PA teacher that we’ve met only in his books and tapes. “America’s Providential History” was given to our oldest daughter at a church dinner honoring graduates. That would’ve been in 1994. In the years following we purchased some of his other books and tapes. I’m tempted by his 24 tape teaching series on PA, but havent’ succombed yet. “Liberating the Nations”, and “America’s Providential History“, are recommended.

K Alan Snyder is a more recent introduction, 2 or 3 years ago. When I bought his book, “If the Foundations Are Destroyed” I didn’t know it was based on PA, but recognized the Principles as I read. I recommend it too.

My first introduction to Katherine Dang was through Rose’s GACE, in which she wrote some of the sections. But it has only been in the last couple of years that I have received other teachings from her. She quickly became a favorite though. In a previous post I gave a link to online free mp3 downloads by Miss Dang. They are highly recommended. In addition I have seminar CD’s by Miss Dang that are excellent. (These can now be downloaded for free also. See info for both here.) Her “Universal History” books are on my books-to-order list.

To summarize, the most influential and instrumental PA teachers in our journey have been: Marshall Foster, Paul Jehle, Katherine Dang, James Rose, and Stephen McDowell. Others have also each added their individuality to our understanding. We recommend several of their resources to help you get a clearer understanding of Biblical Principles education.

Or – What does PA have to do with L.E.D.?

As I’ve shared in the first three parts of this series – below or here -> Our Journey TO Home Ed, and Our Journey THROUGH Home Ed, Our Journey through Alphabet Soup – Part 1 CM we have gleaned from other approaches to home education in developing L.E.D. One philosophy that is close to our own in many ways is the Principle Approach to American Christian Education, developed by Rosalie Slater, based on the research by Verna Hall, and taught now by many that Ms. Slater taught, and those that they taught.

My initial response to PA was probably the same as most people’s – somewhat like, “Wow, this sounds great. Whoa, it looks complicated.” I don’t think I really knew what to do with the Red Books at first, and there weren’t really many other resources except the various PA trained teachers we heard. Several times we heard a great speaker, or bought a great book that we didn’t realize was PA influenced until we got into it. It seemed it was coming up all around us. And gradually resources were springing up too.

Since I’d already developed a pretty strong Biblical worldview, and had read and listened to much on our Christian heritage, our philosophy was already pretty much in line with PA. There were still questions about the methodology. Part of it just didn’t seem to convert into practical application very easily – in my mind anyhow, and part of it seemed too rigid and structured for young children.

We began applying aspects of PA about 15 years ago with our older (teen) children, and applying the philosophy but not much of the methods with our younger children, and I just kept studying more, in particular in understanding why they utilized the methodology and structure they did, so I could determine how much of it I wanted to incorporate with my younger children, and how much I wanted to leave as we had.

Over the years I’ve realized that much of my thought process was very similar to PA, much had become internalized even without as much formal study and application as I would have thought. It’s application just didn’t always look like the same format.

For instance, I would’ve said, “I don’t really do 4 R-ing.” I would look at their structure and say that isn’t what I do. But yet, it is exactly what I do. Perhaps not always looking everything up in the 1828 Dictionary, and calling it by the names they did, but always with a concordance researching what the Word had to say on the topic, and discovering the principles, foundations, and rudiments, recording them, and developing courses and lessons based on this.

Although I would say I wasn’t doing PA, because I didn’t think it looked like what PA was “suppose to”, everytime I’d call FACE and ask about my understanding of certain aspects they would assure me that my thoughts were exactly in line with PA, I had proper understanding of it.

My goal has been to help others see that PA not only can, but is to be applied individually. It is not meant to be a hard “letter of the law” structure that brings bondage, but rather a vision of truth that brings a spirit of liberty.

When you pick up the resources and say, “Ugh, I don’t know what to do with these,” stop and take a breath and remember, yes, this is going to take work because it is renewing the mind. It is changing the way you think. We are working to change our internal thinking, not just external actions. But, the external changes will not be hard, once the internal has come. The internal has to come first. It is not an instant process. It will take time and study, but it is laying a strong foundation from which everything else can flow.

A foundational Scripture we use in our teaching, that I think PA would agree with, is 2 Corithians 10:24: “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy; for by faith ye stand.” Both L.E.D. and PA were developed to help you see Truth that would bring Freedom to your education, not put you in bondage. We pray that we may be a “helper of your joy” through L.E.D. and its application of A principles approach to education.

That is: What do PA and CM have to do with L.E.D.?

As I’ve shared in the first two parts of this series –  Our Journey TO Home Ed, and Our Journey THROUGH Home Ed –  we have gleaned from other approaches to home education. Yesterday I mentioned that both PA and CM played a part in my study of approaches to education. Since these are probably two approaches we’ve gleaned the most from, besides general discipleship approaches, I’ll share how we have incorporated these ideas, and to what extent. Today I will focus mostly on CM, and tomorrow or Mon. will perhaps conclude this series with our application of PA.

To reiterate, LED is and has always been first and foremost completely Scripture-centered. It is ALL about training our children in the Scriptures. It is a Discipleship methodology, a lifestyle saturated with God and His Word.

Charlotte Mason is an approach that considers education to be emersion in excellence and beauty. We agree with that, and further, believing that our home should be an environment permeated with the the excellence and beauty of the Word and worship, honoring God in awe of His Creation and His Providence, in all that surrounds us and in all we study . CM utilizes gentle, natural methods of learning, rather than artifical assignments. We agree with that, believing that learning should be a gentle experience, especially for children. Learning should be a natual flow from our lifestyle.

CM endorses excellent, living literature, including Poetry, rather than what she termed “twaddle”. We agree with that, believing that excellent living books not only have much more to offer than twaddly fluff, but that they are more enjoyable by all ages. And further that Scripture is the most excellent literature and poetry. However, our book lists don’t come from CM lists. I’m sure we’d agree with some choices, and disagree with others.

CM utilizes Copywork, Dictation, and Narration as key natural methods for learning, and utilizes Nature and Picture and Classical Music Studies. We agree with that, and utilize these methods also (and probably others I’m not specifically thinking of right now). However, there are other aspects of the philosophy and methodology of CM that we don’t agree with.

There are many methodologies of the Charlotte Mason approach that we glean from in L.E.D. However, it is not a philosophy that we completely line up with. In Part 2 I will share with you an approach that we line up more closely with in philosophy.

Yesterday I told you about our journey to home ed. Today I will share our journey through home ed.

As I said, we began that first little over a year with workbooks. Things were beginning to open up to home educators a bit, and previous school teachers turned home educators began writing curriculum and selling it to other home educators.

A friend I had known years ago began home educating, and I found a small support group beginning in our town. I also found a Unit Study curriculum which would have all my girls studying the same topics, and all the subjects would be integrated – and it was all planned out for you, and it was completely based on the Bible. We switched during that second year to packaged unit studies. That year went great. I was much happier with this “family-friendly” approach, but over time became less than thrilled with the “packaged” part.

One thing I didn’t tell you yesterday is my mom cried when I told her we were going to educate our girls at home. She cried saying, “You’ll never do it. They’ll grow up knowing nothing. I know you’re smart enough, but you won’t carry through.” I probably didn’t help matters when I said, “Oh, we’ll cook and call it math. Go to the store and call it social studies and a field trip.” Etc. That wasn’t my mother’s idea of “school” – and I was being somewhat facicious at the time. But, mothers know us best, huh? She knew that I am too free spirited to stick to the same tedious thing for long. But she under-estimated my full commitment to my convictions. Anyhow, back to our story.

Within the next year or two, the home education market was exploding. I began learning about different methods and approaches, and since tired of the packaged program that I was constantly changing, I set out to write our own -incorporating all the aspects of the different approaches I was learning about. But the fully integrated subjects, 12 year ideal family unit study program never came together for me.

I believe it was at a State Homeschool Convention that I first heard of the Principle Approach, in the early 90’s. I loved what it stood for. I studied it out. But its school application just seemed too stiff for me. I loved aspects of delight-directed – that I learned mostly from Gregg Harris. I loved aspects of Charlotte Mason – though I stuck mostly to the similar teachings of Ruth Beechick. I knew the only way for us was Discipleship, and centered on Scripture for a Bibical Worldview -that I learned mostly from Jonathan Lindvall and the Institute for Basic Life Principles/ATI. I dreamed of being able to join ATIA. But it wasn’t to be.

I began putting together our own Biblical philosophy and methodologies. gleaning from mainly those listed above. We left the textbook/workbook route early on, and weren’t going back. Another “not going back” was in our decision to home educate itself. As I heard other hs moms threaten their children to “send them back to school”, I knew it would never come out of my mouth. It was not an option, so it was not a threat. We would make this work. He who called us to it, would be faithful to equip us and complete it.

We began adding “non-traditional” educational resources to our home business, and changed its focus. Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ began not only taking shape in our home, but I began teaching it to others. Around this time I met Marilyn Howshall, through her works and then in phone discussions. We had many similarities in our approaches, though she was further along than I, and not exactly the same. One thing she had done, (that I didn’t think I had,) was apply the Principle Approach in a relaxed setting. I liked that.

Over the years we have tried “non-traditional” resources that lined up with our gleanings. Some were fairly good fits for the time. Most of the time I wrote our own curriculum, pulling in resources that fit. L.E.D. has grown up, as our children have. We are educating a whole different group now. Sometimes I feel like I pretty much know what I’m doing – going on our 20th year.

Part 3 – Our Journey through Alphabet Soup! : What do PA and CM have to do with LED? – tomorrow, Lord willing.

A while back a co-moderator with me on the bibleprinciples elist asked me if I’d ever blogged my hs journey. I’ve discussed it in seminars and other places, but not in a blog – I don’t think. I’ve taught on all the varying philosophies/approaches and what we have gleaned from them, even in blogs, but not specifically blogged what our journey was. Perhaps because although I can tell you what happened, I’m not sure I can get all the sequence and dates in correctly. It’s been a long time ya’ know.

Anyhow, today’s the day – here’s our own journey (in a very condensed version) – today our journey to home educating, tomorrow our journey through home educating.

The first thoughts of home educating our children came when I was nursing our first child nearly 28 years ago. Someone asked how long I was going to nurse her, and I replied that if she hadn’t weaned by age 5 I’d have to homeschool her. I knew no one who hs-ed, nor anything about it, but had heard of a lady up in the sandhills that was doing it.

Just a few years later our state became famous nationwide for some court cases related to home and “unaccredited” private/Christian education. We weren’t saved at the time, nor did we understand much about government, and I remember dh and I talking about it saying, “Why won’t they just hire accredited teachers instead of all this big stink?”

Very shortly after that we were converted and our lives transformed. We had sent our oldest to school at 5, like everyone else does, without a thought of any other alternatives. She changed schools in the middle of first and second grades, and missed the beginning and end of third. Her younger sister did the same for K and first grade. By that second year, just after we were saved, we were looking into homeschooling.

I read and heard and experienced enough about the government schools to know there were problems there, but we we doing our best, getting them into rural schools with all Christian teachers, getting them into the number one school district in the state, pulling them out when “bad” stuff was going to be taught – that had been announced anyhow. I read the less-than-a-handfull of books on home education available at the time, and really felt that was where we were headed, that it was the Biblical thing to do – still not knowing one living soul who had ever done this.

The year our children missed both the beginning and end of the school year was due to moves. We couldn’t get into our new home until 2 weeks after the school year started, so the teachers just gave us their books and said, “This is what we have planned. They can do it at home.” The girls worked about 1/2 hour a day completing these lessons. When we got to school 2 weeks later the teachers apologized. They hadn’t got as far as they thought they would. Our girls were ahead. I knew at that moment, I could do this! And I learned “real” schools don’t keep on track. At the end of the year we moved again, one month before school got out – the dangers of renting from military people. The teachers said, “They are both doing great. We won’t get much more done anyhow, so here’s their report cards.” I knew then, “real” schools don’t finish books either.

I now knew we not only should do this, but could, and now would. We moved one more time just before the school year started, and we began home educating, K, 2, and 4 graders – still not knowing anyone who did it, anywhere. Knowing only what the few books had told us. By the hand of Providence, they were no longer throwing home educators in jail in our state. We had a new law, within those couple of short years just before we began.

We knew we wanted Christian books, and ordered the types of books we thought were right – there wasn’t much choice anyhow. Home educators pretty much bought from the same 3 biggies that sold textbooks/workbooks to the Christian schools. Not many places would sell to home educators at all. Since we didn’t have money to order a whole year’s worth of textbooks for now 3 children in every subject, we did what we could afford, workbooks, that we could order each month as we needed them.

I remember thinking, “This is great. My kids get up, generally whiz through their workbooks, I can still be in Bible Studies and whatever, while they work quietly in a corner or in another room.” We had ordered the first month of the next year’s workbooks (I think) when God stopped me in my tracks. I clearly heard Him say, “This isn’t what I called you to do.” And thus began the process of renewing my mind on education.

Part 2 – Our Journey THROUGH Home Education – tomorrow, Lord willing.