This is Part 2 in a series.
PART 2- of the Freedom & Simplicity framework:
Are you thinking, Its easier to just give them books to read. Lisa, you recommend good ones on your website; so why should I go to the work of making this framework?
Without a framework of Principles, the content just stands alone as factual trivia; they have not learned the most important thing Wisdom. The purpose of the framework is to disciple our children in Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge – teaching our children to reason and apply, not just to know facts, but also know God’s thoughts in all matters pertaining to life, not just spiritual matters. To train them to look for application to their own lives, to the world around them, and to God’s Kingdom – from everything they learn. To show them that there is a purpose to every study; that it’s not just a waste of time, or doesn’t matter if they remember it or not. To teach them to look for these principles in everything they do and come across – not just in their lessons. To develop a Biblical Worldview that is consistent in everything they do.
So our goal is to create a framework that will do that, that is consistent with our philosophy, and methodology; but is not burdensome. A framework that has an easy to follow pattern; that will produce the results we want without resulting in striving and weariness of the flesh.
Many may read the same books, but God does not want the same education for each. Many may believe the same philosophy, and follow the same methodology, but God has different life purpose for each. He desires a unique education for each family, and even within that, because of differing personalities and interests and giftings, each will receive that education slightly differently.
We can share with you a Biblical philosophy of education. We can give you Discipleship and Excellence methodologies. We can recommend excellent resources for a Biblical Worldview. We can even present a Framework pattern to fit it all in. But we cannot write your curriculum for you. We cannot plan your lessons for you. Only God can do that. And He will, through the unique circumstances He has you in. But you must be connected to Him and His Word and committed to discipling your children in the way they should go, as they rise up and lie down, as they sit in your home and walk along the way.
In Part 1 I gave you the structure of planning the framework. In this part I’ll expand on pulling it together, and in Part 3 I’ll give you some ideas and examples.
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Perhaps youre saying, OK, I can find Bible passages about my topic (if there are any). And I can use a Dictionary to define my topic further and see that there really IS something related to my topic in the Bible. And SOMEHOW maybe I can pray and meditate on these Scriptures and come up with underlying Biblical Principles related, or at least find something in Haycock’s Encyclopedia. But how will I EVER know what examples to use from the Pillars. I’m not very creative!
Don’t stress out! Remember this is the Freedom & Simplicity way! You do not have to have all knowledge of all subjects and a super creative mind. Remember this is about taking on HIS yoke, not wearying our flesh.
Pray. Know Him and His Word. This is the primary thing, and will take you very far.
Become familiar with the Pillars and their composition.
Become familiar with your Resources.
Utilize, especially at first, whatever tools you need to help you become familiar with knowledge that can serve as examples: Haycock’s “Encyclopedia of Bible Truths” can be a great help here, Scope & Sequences, even Curriculum Guides, if you have some good ones.
Allow the Holy Spirit to lead. Don’t feel like you HAVE to find a tie-in, the perfect example, beforehand. God will lead and direct. Choose a resource and as you are reading it together, look for examples of the Principle – or the antithesis of it. Don’t feel you have to tie EVERY Pillar into each Principle. This is what has burnt out so many moms in writing unit studies – and what has created some far stretches in connections. You can cover every important thing, even if you have to create its own Focus to do it. Utilize natural connections, but don’t push for unnatural ones. Using underlying Biblical Principles really helps in integrating studies across the Pillars. All you are doing is looking for God’s hand and plan in everything you study. His Word and His Spirit will guide you.
Each Focus will probably be studied 2-3 times within the child’s education. You have time to add to it, to expand it. Even when you aren’t studying that Focus/Principle, you will undoubtedly come across things that fit into it. Start a folder or Notebook and continually add to it, and you will have more depth to the topic when you restudy it, when your children are older (and need more depth). When you come across things you know you want (them) to study, even if you don’t know what Focus or Principle you will teach it through, put it in a folder of its appropriate Pillar. This is your study. Leaders are Learners, and Leaders are Readers. For you to lead/ disciple your children you must be a learner and a reader, otherwise your children will not become learners or leaders.
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Lets take a look at the structure of the Pillars. This will help you see what fits in where. When looking for material to be covered, think, Where does that fit into the Pillars? Again, don’t stress about it. It may fit more than one place. Just pick a logical place and plug it in – in more than one place if need be. Remember, it isn’t God that tries to force life into neat little fragmented, unrelated boxes. Thats the education of the humanists.
GOVERNMENT
God is the Sovereign Ruler of all. There is also God-ordained Government under God’s rule. We are first to have internal rule over ourself, then external, home/family, church, and civil governments. There is also the corruption of these – every man doing what is right in his own eyes (anarchy), tyrannical/dictatorial home or church rule, or complete State rule.
HisSTORY
HisStory is truly His Story. The Story of the earth and its inhabitants is Providential. You can see God’s hand and His Plan throughout it. Because it is linear we can follow Key Links on this chain of HisStory. You can utilize the Principle Approach’s Chain of Christianity (as it moves westward) Creation, Moses & the Law, Jesus, Paul & the Early Church, the Bible in English, Columbus, the Pilgrims, the Patriots, the Pioneers, & Me or you can adapt it or design your own. We look at these links through the P.I.P.E. of 4 Key Aspects: People (Individuals & Institutions), Ideas (Primary Documents, Literature, Art & Music), Places (Geography), and Events.
CREATION
God’s Creation is orderly. It also is given to teach us – of Him and of ourselves. The 6 Days of Creation cover all areas of Science and Mathematics. You can divide them into their Days – Time, Space & Matter; Energy; Sky; Water, Land & Plants; Outer Space; Birds & Aquatic Animals; Land Animals & Man – or into: Life: human, animal, plant; Earth: surface, sky, space; Physical: physics, chemistry, technology; and Mathematics.
ECONOMIES
In Economies, we look at Stewardship, the governing and exchange of the things He has entrusted to us. This covers: stewardship, personal finances, business economics, and world economics.
DOMINION
Dominion covers the skills needed to possess the land. This includes any husbandry and life skills physical exercise, home and land skills, artesan skills, vocational skills, etc.
The Dominion Pillar is where our cycle of Wisdom, Understanding & Knowledge circles back to Wisdom – the application of God’s Principles in our own lives.
In Part 3 we will take a look at some ideas and examples to turn the theory of this framework into an application.
