Studying all the various philosophies and methods of teaching children can be confusing, and their structures rigid and daunting; so many great things to do, so little time to plan it, let alone fit it all together, let alone accomplish it. I think this is just where God wants us. It forces us to seek God for His easy yoke, if we don’t want to burn out, and aren’t unfaithful by seeking the easy way out. His way comes together so much better than the striving of the flesh that we can easily get caught up in. Homeschool burnout is probably one of the greatest problems among moms that teach their own. And many fluctuate between these two, in an unending circle of burnout (trying to do what they think they should according to some book or list) and easy way out (giving up and doing little or nothing, or just going from one thing to the next with no unity or tying it together). Finding that place of excellence in spirit, that is neither the laziness of the flesh, nor the burden of the soul, requires something that does not come naturally to us.
Yet following the Spirit need not be blindly going from day to day not knowing what youre doing until you wake up and seek God for the day. Our God is a God of order and a God of direction, and many times He even gives direction in advance and set patterns to follow. Sometimes He will disciple us through others, sometimes on His own.
We have found that having a framework to help us plan our studies allows excellence, yet through Freedom and Simplicity. Perhaps these guidelines can help you to not get burnt out, nor take the easy way out. Perhaps they will spur you to seek God for your own way in Him.
Freedom and Simplicity™ framework for Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge
This framework takes us through the Three Seasons of Learning Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge. Through Wisdom a house is built, by Understanding it is established; by Knowledge the rooms are filled…. Proverbs 24:3-4
Wisdom: This is the Foundation. It gives us the Big Picture, based on the definition of Wisdom is seeing from God’s perspective. How does God view —? What does God think about —? What does God want us to learn about —? It gives our study the solid foundation of a Biblical viewpoint, and a reason for learning it. The framework we follow for this is determining our Focus of study, a Foundational Scripture for that Focus, and the Principle it teaches.
Focus: Determine the focus of your study. Seek God for this. It may be one or several for the year. He may show you the big picture of all the various topics first, or perhaps He will direct your plans for one, before being shown the next. These Focuses can be anything – a character trait, a time-period in HisStory, an aspect of Creation, a book or chapter or passage of the Bible, …..
Foundational Scripture: Find a Scripture passage that represents your Focus. Perhaps you’ll have one right from the start. If not, use **Naves Topical Bible, **Strongs Concordance, and/or **Websters 1828 Dictionary definitions to help you find related Scriptures, and choose the most appropriate, that conveys your Focus the best.
Foundational Principle: What is the principle, the main idea you want them to learn through this Focus? Again this may be plain from your Focus and/or Foundational Scripture. More than likely you will need to study the various Scriptures, look up definitions, and most of all PRAY. What is the key lesson God would have your family to learn from this study? Ruth Haycock’s **Encyclopedia of Bible Truths may also be of help in finding these Foundations.
Understanding: This is the Framework. It gives our study structure, and provides the walls to hang the information on.
Supporting Scriptures: Find other Scriptures on the topic, that reinforce and build on the Foundational Scripture. Here again, your Naves, Strongs, 1828 Dictionary, and Encyclopedia of Bible Truths will guide you.
Supporting Principles: Find leading aspects that reinforce and build on the Foundational Principle. The study of the Foundationals, and the Supporting Scriptures will lead you to these. (You may not determine any of the Principles until this stage, and then choose the one that is the overlying Foundational Principle.)
Knowledge: This is the precious and pleasant riches that fill the rooms. It is the details and facts that illustrate and serve as examples of the Principles. It is the crowning touch that makes the house a home; that gives substance to the theory of the Wisdom and Understanding.
Examples and Illustrations from the 7 Pillars of Learning: How is the Principle illustrated in Government? In HisStory? In Creation? In Economics? In Dominion? Biblical examples? (In addition, Bible has been covered in the Wisdom & Understanding steps, and will also be integrated into the rest, as will Communications.)
By dividing the different Pillars into various aspects, it will be easier to see what fits where. Don’t stress if you don’t have examples from all of the Pillars; just find what fits. Allow God to direct; Pray. He will bring things across your path at just the right time that will fit just what you need. Perhaps not always what you think you need, but what He knows you need. For example, in a study of the Fear of the Lord, I had thought it would be nice to include a biography but I didn’t really have any idea of whose life really exemplified this trait that I wanted to use. In some other reading, I just happen to come across the quote from Charles Finney, “What would it take to change the world? A handful of men that feared nothing but God and hated nothing but sin.” We decided to read a biography on Finney to see why he felt this way.
CONTINUED IN PART 2 – We will cover the various aspects of the different Pillars and how to plan this Knowledge aspect.
** = Resources available through Me and My House ministries.
