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This Spring we’ve studied through some Bible books together, but I had no specific plan of where to go next. I spent some time in prayer and began to think through our direction. I wanted something that could be worked on independently by all, but still discussed daily together when we had time. I had already decided I wanted to do a “90 day” reading plan over the summer, so decided that this would be good for our older children too. I also wanted to encourage them to keep studying, not just reading (as much as they are able). Last week I made my plan, and we’ve started, our summer Bible study.
I chose a three month chronological reading of the New Testament. (This would work out to 1 semester of “school days”, if you choose to do it that way.) We are following the Biblical Principles method of study detailed in R Road to Biblical Wisdom. This is simplified for Bible Study in our Spiritual Journey journal pages.
Perhaps you’d like to join us (do this same study on your own.)
You can find the reading plan we are using at Bible Study Tools. You can also get a free iphone/ipad app for it.
You can get the Spiritual Journey pages to customize your your notebooks for this study, or use a Composition Notebook. The Spiritual Journey pages are colorful pages with nature photos as backgrounds that you copy and put in a half-sized (8.5″ x 5.5″) 3 ring binder. A composition notebook is a sewn, handy sized notebook with 100 sheets, perfect size for a 3 month study. See our simple instructions below. If you’d like more in-depth information on how to study anything by Biblical principles get R Road to Biblical Wisdom.
Study instructions:
We read and study that we might know our God better and love Him even more as we see more clearly through His Word, Who He truly is. Pray that your heart will open open to receive God’s Word, to know Him better, and that the Holy Spirit will teach you, and give you grace to apply what you learn.
Read the day’s passages and check them off on the reading plan.
Journal your study under the following headings (1 page – front and back – per day.)
Pray to close out your time of study. Ask God to lead you to greater understanding and answers to your questions, and grace to walk out what you’ve learned; that you would not only love Him more but also show forth His love to others.
There are some factors in the education of a child that transcend all others. Because they are so basic and powerful, they eliminate the need for experts, expensive government programs, and extensive regulations. Sadly, they are factors largely ignored by our education systems in place today.
God has much to say about education, and as Kevin Swanson says in the article quoted above and below, it has mostly to do with “factors largely ignored by our education systems in place today”. Those key factors are faith and character. Although I say it just a tiny bit differently in Freedom & Simplicity™ of Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ ~ The Seminar (and even use the house analogy), we’re both saying the same thing Scripture says, “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge.”
If education were a house, character would be the concrete foundation, the structure, the studs, and the drywall. Geography, geometry, and geology would be nothing but wallpaper. Of course it is the wallpaper that makes the house beautiful, attractive, and liveable. But if it were not for the structure, there would be nothing on which the wallpaper could hang! Geography, geometry, and geology cannot be the substance of education. If character, the substance of education, is missing then there is nothing upon which the rest of it can hang. The content of Proverbs deals primarily with the issues of faith and character.
Read the rest of Kevin’s article here.
Learn more about the House the Wisdom Built in the L.E.D. Seminar
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I’ve been corresponding with a mom about high school, and decided to share here with you some of the things I’m sharing with her. In particular, how we map-out what we cover in high school, since we don’t use textbooks and laid out (by others) courses. We aren’t so much focused on “college prep” for its own sake, but rather on preparing our children for adulthood and making an impact for Christ on culture. But that doesn’t mean our children that choose to go to college aren’t prepared. They have done very well. We adjust each area below as needed for each child depending on their strengths and gifts and interests, but this is pretty much what we do for all, just changing emphasis a bit.
Bible: Survey, key doctrines, how to study, and life principles/wisdom application.
Apologetics/ Worldview: very important preparation for young Christian adults. We use several resources that I scope out on: Knowing What you Believe, Coming to Beliefs, Reaching Others, Exposing False Beliefs.
Governments: manhood/womanhood, family, church gov types, local, state and national gov – Constitution, helping in politics, becoming informed and involved, etc.
History: We don’t do a year of world and a year of American, but 4 (+) years of Ancient, Early Church-Middle Ages, Reformation – Founding of America, -> America and World now, including geography.
Economics: Household (budgeting, personal/family finances), Business finances, World economics.
Science: Creation Foundations, Earth: Surface (Geology, Oceanography), Sky (Weather/Climate), Space (Astronomy); Physical: Physics, Chemistry, Technology; Life/Biology: Plant, Animal, Man.
Health: Nutrition & Exercise, Disease & Health Care, Human Development, Physical Exercise program.
Language: Reading (research and study skills, literature), Writing (Grammar, Vocabulary, Composition), Public Speaking and Debate, Logic, Foreign Language.
Math: typical Algebra, Geometry, etc. Applied Math (Family Finances above).
Practical Arts: includes Home Management, Life Skills, Business Skills (General), (specific) Occupational Skills.
Fine Arts: Music, Visual Arts, Performance Arts, Home Arts.
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This article is part of a series for new home educators. In this, and several other articles, we cover What style of education is right for our family? And where do I get our curriculum?
Classical education is a return to the educational theories of Classical Greece and Rome. It’s methods utilize the Trivium or three tools of learning based upon stage of development. The Grammar stage focuses on the science of language usage, concrete thinking and memorization. The Dialectic stage on logic, proper analytical thinking and understanding. And the Rhetoric stage on the science of verbal and written expression, abstract thinking and debate. The Great Books of Western Civilization play a large role in this philosophy, as well as the classical languages of Latin and Greek. Christian Classical also develops a biblical worldview with a focus on theology study. This is a rigorous academic approach.
A few resources explaining the philosophies and methods of the Classical approach:
A few Classical education programs:
Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ emphasizes “right reasoning” and the ability to communicate effectively, and also divides learning into 3 seasons of development (but not completely the same way classical educators do.)
Interested in getting Freedom & Simplicity™ in HisStory, one of our Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ guides, for FREE?
A while back I reviewed the book A Cry from Egypt (we loved it). The publishers (our friends Hal and Melanie Young from Great Water Press) are celebrating its release this week. Head on over to the Cry from Egypt website and sign up for some giveaways (including ours) and get some freebies. And be sure to get the book.
This article is part of a series for new home educators. In this, and several other articles, we cover What style of education is right for our family? And where do I get our curriculum?
The Living Books approach has possibly become the largest new/old method and philosophy, or at least the fastest growing in our time. There is a lot of variation within this category, but the primary unifying factor is that the curriculum is not based on a textbook, nor a Unit integrating all subjects into a certain topic, but rather on reading great, real literature. Within this category are Ruth Beechick’s approach and the Charlotte Mason method, as well as others. The Great Books or Classical method has many similarities too, but enough differences that I will cover it separately.
This method, and Classical and Discipleship/ Christian Worldview, are probably the most picky in the actual resources they utilize. There are many similarities in these 3 styles, but some differences also. Although both the Living Books and Classical styles utilize only very well written, excellent books, not dumbed down insignificant “twaddle”, their choices are not always to present or teach an accurate Christian worldview. (Ruth Beechick’s approach does.)
The Living Books approach, like Unit Studies, can be parent directed or a written curriculum by others. It is more literature based (as opposed to activity based) and generally is not as concerned with integrating the subjects as Unit Studies. It may or may not be more grade level oriented.
Charlotte Mason methods utilize an environment of excellence, in literature, music, art, languages, nature; and gentle, natural methods such as narration, copywork, dictation, and notebooking to instill a love for learning. It provides a liberal (broad) education. Miss Mason was a British educator who sought to improve education in the late 1800’s-early 1900’s. She saw education as an Atmosphere (rich environment), a Discipline (character habits), and a Life (living thoughts and ideas) in a time when many were treating children as a bucket to fill with facts.
Dr. Beechick may not classify her approach as “Living Books”, but rather as a biblical, common sense approach. But because many of her recommendations are similar to Charlotte Mason, I’m putting it here. Her approach is first and foremost biblical though, that the Bible should be the foundation of education and that subjects should be taught in the context of Scripture. She also is a proponent of gentle, natural methods, such as those mentioned above. Mrs. Beechick has over 60 years of educational experience as a teacher, college dean, and editor of curriculum. She has devoted the last 25+ years to promoting home education and supporting home educators.
These resources explain the philosophies and methods of the Living Books approach, as presented by Ruth Beechick and Charlotte Mason:
A few popular Living Books programs are:
Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ utilizes Living Books, an environment of excellence and gentle, natural learning methods (narration, copywork, dictation, and notebooking, etc.) to instill delight and excellence in learning. We heartily agree with Mason’s description of education as an Atmosphere, Discipline and Life; but disagree with some smaller points of application. We also provide a strong biblical foundation and context for all learning, like Beechick, and line up with her in most (but not all) areas.
Our newest Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™ Guide has been released! This guide will be a great help and introduction to those new to home education or veteran home educators looking for a change from typical school-at-home to a more family lifestyle approach to biblical home education.
Finding Freedom & Simplicity™: Home Educating with Real Books, Natural Methods, & Biblical Principles is available to download now at the Introductory price of only $3. But the first 7 people to order it today can get it for FREE with this Coupon Code: FINDINGFREE. All I ask in exchange is that if you find the guide helpful, you post a review/comment on its order page and recommend it to your friends. Enjoy!
If the Coupon Code doesn’t work, the limit of free copies has been reached. It’ll be worth your 3 bucks though.
