Real Life Learning - Family-style

Greetings from Me and My House,

This article is from August 2002, but I don't see where I posted it, so here it is...(again?)...


Sometimes you may be tempted to think that homeschool and family life just don't mix, especially if you have several little ones in your home. Let me encourage you, God knew all about your little ones and their needs before He even called you to educate your older ones at home. He wanted you to learn that home education is a Lifestyle for all of you, newborns to adults. And for you to all learn together.

Real Life Education - family-style - doesn't happen in a pristine, secluded environment. Nursing newborns, 2 year old tornadoes, and inquisitive 4's and 5's are all a part of Real Life Home Education. The last thing we want to do in a godly home is give any of our kids - the older OR younger - the idea that children are an inconvenient pain and a hindrance to accomplishing anything worthwhile in life. We must convey to all of our children that children are a Blessing from the Lord and they should be received as such. This isn't always easy when they are ACTING like an inconvenient interruption to what we are trying to do. But whether we're working on educational activities or other projects of life, our children will be there needing loving attention, AND acting like the foolish children they are, until we train them otherwise and let them know what is expected of them. Giving them boundaries that they are capable of keeping within, while also giving them of ourselves.

There are many ideas for you to explore, to see which works best in your home. My guess is that you will use all of them at various times. But all should be in keeping Real Life Living the focus, not education as an isolated fragment of life. In other words, it is unrealistic to expect to set up 45-60 minute class periods at several individual levels, and teach each of these subjects everyday to every child. You will burn-out VERY quickly, especially when you have other little ones that just don't - SHOULDN'T - fit into a classroom model. Although we want our children to grow into being independent learners, there is something far more valuable for them to learn, and that is Relationship, the interdependence of Real Life. Education happens through the Real Life interdependence of Relationships, not independent isolationism.

We believe education IS a Life. It is growing through exercising all areas of our Life. We exercise our bodies to grow in strength and capabilities. We exercise our minds to grow in intellectual capabilities. We exercise our spirits to grow spiritually. This is not something that can be put into a box of certain hours, or certain rooms or environments, but is something that is of Life, all the time, everywhere, and amongst those we live with. This means we are all learning all the time and together, not just the 6-18 year olds, from 8:30 - 3:30, Monday through Friday.

This will translate into: "short lessons", as Charlotte Mason proposed; working together, each contributing and learning at their own capabilities; and allowing for flexibility of Real Life. Charlotte Mason utilized short lessons of 10-15 minutes to both hold and pique children's interest. In the Real Life home this adds the benefit of Mom not being tied up to one thing for long periods of time. When children need individual instruction, she breaks the teaching down into short understandable sections. As we all study the "things of Life" together, we will each learn at the level we are capable of as well as contribute according to our capabilities. We will not all learn the same details and to the same level of understanding, but we - including grown-ups, as well as toddlers, and all those in-between - will learn SOMETHING of the topic as well as learning of Relationships. All will also learn "on their own", the younger through their work and play, the older through their work and study (as well as play). The older youth need to have independent study time when they can study for longer periods of time while mom cares for the needs of the little ones and the household.

Come Along Side of Us - This is the method we use most, and the most conducive to true "family-style" education as a Lifestyle. When we write, our little ones have paper and pencil and "write" along with us. When we work, they "work" along side of us. When we do hands-on projects or explore nature, they are by our sides. When we read, they sit and listen (or at least keep quiet).

Are there interruptions? Yes. We use these as opportunities to train them. Does it try our patience? Sometimes, but we can't allow our underdeveloped patience to interfere with these opportunities to train them in attentiveness and obedience (as well as cause us to grow in patience). Can our older ones actually LEARN anything when their lessons are interrupted? Certainly!!, most importantly they should learn that children are valued, need love and training, and that Relationships matter more than anything else. I truly believe that God will honor our keeping first things first and cause all other things to be added to us. In other words, when we keep relationships first yet not neglect the "studies", He will cause our studies to be fruitful.

Sometimes we just plain aren't able to read aloud as long as we'd like, due to the little ones needs. Other times we utilize naptime (or for us, before they get up in the morning) to have a longer time period for read-alouds. But we don't leave the little ones completely out of it, otherwise how will they ever learn to sit quietly and enjoy these times with us?

The Education Toy (TOOL) Box - Many families utilize the "education toy box", special toys ONLY brought out during "school time". The problem with this theory in general is that there is a supposed time for "school", a TIME for education, and other times that are NOT for education. Now, in practical application this CAN work as a part of "Come Along Side of Us", by giving the little ones their OWN tools of learning. Long before "homeschool" days my mother gave me and my siblings, then later I gave my own little ones, their own measuring cups, bowls, and spoons to play with while she/ I cooked. We had brooms, spray bottles and rags for cleaning alongside. And of course, there was always the ever-present paper and writing utensils of all sorts, coloring books and colors, and puzzles for quiet times. As we brought ALL of education home we added rubber crepe alphabet-letters, "counting" bears and rods, as well as play money and tangrams and attribute shapes. The little ones can "learn independently" and we teach the older "lessons". they can do this quietly in the same room with you, or in a near by room for a little more quiet.

The Sibling Mentor - Undeniably, there are times when we need to spend concentrated, uninterrupted time with one or several children, and this isn't always for "school" things. During these times it is helpful to have one of the older children play with the younger ones. How this works out is different for every family, for every family has a different age mix. For those of you with many little ones and no very big ones yet, I remind you that your older doesn't need much individual "teaching time" yet. He doesn't need formal academics, and his lessons in Life should be kept short. You may need to utilize naptime. But, even a 4 year old can play with a 2 year old while your newborn is napping or nursing and you are instructing your 8 year old. Your older children don't just need to WATCH the little ones. They can play with and even TEACH them. This is one of the most overlooked helpful methods for moms of many, multiplying your teaching efforts by utilizing your older ones to help teach the younger. The lesson can be anything from your 5 year old teaching your 2 year old colors and shapes, to your teen teaching his younger siblings to read or math facts. This is of great benefit not only to you and the younger child, but also, very much so, to your older child. He who can teach a thing, knows it well. This method may be needed while you're teaching a math lesson, - or a disciplinary lesson, or you may utilize it even when you don't NEED your older one to do it, just plain for his benefit. If you have several older children that need some individual instruction at various levels in math or other skills areas, they can take turns mentoring and playing with the younger ones while you teach the other older ones.

The Electronic Babysitter - This is the least favorable, yet by many, most utilized method. I highly caution you against using it much, if at all. Your little ones will realize that if Mom keeps busy enough, they can watch more TV/videos or play more electronic/ computer games. You will be dulling their minds and training them in habits of "vegetating". Later, when you want them to focus on learning, you will regret having trained them in unproductive laziness. Your older children will also resent it. "How come they get to watch TV all the time?" And they will wish they could watch TV instead of working at learning. Better to train your little ones to play constructively and quietly, or utilize their nap times, than to foster an addiction to electronic media.

Utilizing primarily Come Along Side of Us, along with The Education Tool Box, and The Sibling Mentor will yield benefits to your family's education at home. It will foster unity in the family and a great start in learning for your little ones. They will catch on to so much of what you are doing. They will also grow-up knowing that learning is for all and something that all ages do together. The older will learn responsibility for the younger and the younger respect for the older. You all will learn that education is Real Life for all.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa
Me and My House ministries
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Foundational Studies Progress

Greetings from Me and My House,

It has been my goal to get our Foundational Studies written up in book form this summer. Some of these have been in just my loose teaching notes format. Some of these needed majorly revamped and updated, and others had never been really solidified.

Although I've not done much else project-wise this summer, it's been slow going. A VERY active and curious one-year old and 5 other children have kept me jumping up more than sitting to write. And sometimes the brain just can't focus when it only gets 2-minute snippets at a time.

But I am so excited to announce that the Communication Foundations is put together! I'm sure I could add to it, and continue to revise until Eternity, but I will instead just made necessary editorial changes, as I believe it meets my goals. The rest of the Pillars are in various stages. I don't work on one thing at a time. Bible is also complete but in need of final organization.

It was my original intent to publish a Freedom & Simplicity guide for each Pillar, and still is, but I believe I will put all the Foundations Studies in one book for now, to help you see the big picture of each Pillar, until the other work is completed.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa
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Freedom & Simplicity vs. Complicated Confusion

Greetings form Me and My House,

As I sat down to work on our plans for our next learning term, the Holy Spirit nudged and said, "It's time to put all the planning guides away." Although I love reading and learning more about the ways we've chosen to incorporate in teaching our children, it was time to stop relying on the plans of men, and to trust God to lead me in HIS plan for our children.

It was not by coincidence that a friend and I visited back and forth throughout the day about some questions she had that were causing frustration from a lack of understanding complex methodologies. It was further confirmation that I would only bring myself under bondage to try to continue to push further in this direction at this time. I didn't need more "ideas" and a purer, "higher" path. I needed to continue to walk in the Freedom & Simplicity He has time and again shown me, and I try to convey to others.
Read the end for the third confirmation....

Are you feeling burdened in planning your studies? Do you feel inadequate? Is it just not coming together? You can't understand it? Here's what I wrote my friend:
I don't think God's way should be hard, nor impossible to understand. He tells us to come to Him when we are heavy laden; and to take His yoke, for it is easy and His burden is light. I do believe teaching our children requires work and sacrifice, but it should not produce confusion and a a lack of understanding. Our generation has to pay a higher price since we are laying the foundation. This sacrifice is primarily Rom. 12:1-2, that of renewing OUR minds to a Biblical Worldview, that requires more study from us. Hopefully this will be MUCH easier for our kids - growing up with a Biblical worldview to pass on to theirs. I believe we need to build great libraries of learning for our families/communities once again. But let's get on to LEARNING, not just ALWAYS learning ABOUT learning!

It IS a renewing the mind thing. But does God really want us to work and strive and stress for YEARS trying to figure it out BEFORE we can help our children, I think not. He wants us to impart ourselves and His Word into them. AND to grow year by year as we do it, but not to be UNABLE to do it at all for YEARS. Not all moms have been given great academic capabilities. Would they EVER catch on to how this should ll fit together? Does that mean God doesn't want those moms to teach by Biblical principles? That he wants them to send their kids to institutional schools? I think not. That is setting up the same mindset as government schools, that only the "experts" are qualified to teach.

Does God want us to only teach History or Literature or whatever one "subject" by His principles, until we can get the hang of moving ALL of them over to His way - maybe when they're in high school we'll be ready to add Math or whatever? I think not. As I've said, I will never be a Master Teacher in every subject. I am a MOM with a LOT of other responsibilities too, but that does not negate that I am the BEST, God-appointed teacher for my children.

It is not His will for you to be under such burden over this. God does not say that whom He equips He calls, but rather, whom He calls He equips. The things He has planted in me, that I have internalized , that I need to do this year, will be brought to remembrance by Holy Spirit. Anything not - I don't need, not for now anyhow. He who called me has prepared me. I have not been negligent in listening to Him, nor in studying. Anything I can read or learn now WITH UNDERSTANDING (and throughout this and every year), will be applied as God directs (His way is not burdensome!)

What makes sense and fits, I will incorporate. If not I won't. I just add things as I see helpful. Otherwise I continue on the path God has set me on. I can't teach what I don't know/understand. I grow each year, but it is in what God is doing in me - not in a complex, hard to understand program. I think there are many valuable things to be gleaned from Biblical based programs. But I think the complicatedness and confusion is not from God.

I am not saying to throw out what you have learned from others. I'm saying what doesn't make sense and fit together, don't worry about now. Perhaps someday it will. But if it doesn't now, without burden, then it isn't for now.

And now for my third confirmation, that this is a timely message some of you need to hear now. The new Homeschooling Today magazine just came. Jennie Chancey had an article, From the Pen of an "Unqualified" Parent, that was very relative to this topic. She talked about some, even within Christian Education, who deem parents unqualified to train their own children if they haven't had the proper rigorous training in "their" method.

She said, "Where is the scriptural exegesis to demonstrate that parents are unqualified if they do not measure up to a human educational standard? ... Lest anyone misunderstand me, I am not advocating ignorance or a deliberate dumbing down of educational goals. ... but goals [of high objectives] must be subordinate to God's revealed will in the Scriptures. ....God's Word can "thoroughly equip" each of us for "every good work" (which would include the training of our children). .... Surely it is a better goal for the church to equip all of the saints (no matter what their educational attainments) to train their own children biblically and with humility."

There, it is said, what we are dealing with is nothing but educational pride, religious eduational pride - high and lofty, "I'm qualified and if you don't understand you aren't." You thought perhaps Paul wasn't God-inspired to write, "Knowledge puffs up"? As we continue to learn, it is a danger we must all watch out for. "God does not share His glory with men, no matter how sound they belive their instructive methods may be."

I'll close with one more quote from that article: "But let us not promote human standards and methodologies and declare all who cannot reach them "disqualified". Dear parent, take heart. It is God who qualifies you to teach your children, not the understanding of some method - good as that method may be.

And thanks L. for our great dialog on keeping Freedom & Simplicity from turning into bondage through complicated confusion.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa
Me and My House ministries
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Living Books for Little Ones

Greetings from Me and My House,

Just because you have young children (Toddlers and "Pre-schoolers") doesn't mean you need to succumb to reading 'twaddle'** to them. Even young children benefit from Living Books, and there are great Living Books that are shorter and have less complex 'storylines' for your younger children.

What is a Living Book? A short, off the cuff (not ultimate) answer is: A book that has literary value (excellence) and engages the reader, regardless the age. For our Christian family, that literary value is not judged by just "well written" style and such, but also God-honoring content - as per Phil. 4:8, that doesn't go against Biblical values.

Here's a few (besides the Bible of course) that my little ones have greatly enjoyed - and have been read over and over and over.
1) Books by Margaret Wise Brown - Big Red Barn, Good Night Moon, Runaway Bunny, etc.
2) Mother Goose nursery rhymes (judge which ones) - I'm looking for a copy of the Annotated Mother Goose (oop) that tells the story behind each - most were not written as "cute" children's stories, but rather political comments.
3) Hush Little Baby (we have a board book, "nature" version with great illustrations)
4) Tale of Three Trees - by Angela Hunt - we have the board book
5) SOME of the CLASSIC Golden Books - Over in the Meadow, The Color Kittens, etc.
6) Some of the classic folk-tales - Henny Penny, Little Red Hen, Chicken Little (are they all chicken stories?) (we don't do the "magic" type stories)

Just a little more complex:
7) by Beatrix Potter - Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Flopsy Bunnies, etc. This series was my older boys' absolute fave when they were younger. Now they like - Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, Robinson Crusoe, etc.
8) some Aesop's Fables
9) by Else Minarik - the Little Bear stories
10) The Little Engine the Could - by Watty Piper
11) Corduroy
12) by Robert McCloskey - Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings
13) by Ezra Jack Keats - The Snowy Day, Whistle for Willy
14) by Virginia Burton - Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, the Little House,
15) by Russell Hoban - the Frances stories
16) by Arnold Lobel - the Frog and Toad stories
17) OxCart Man - by Donald Hall
18) Child's Garden of Verses - by Robert Louis Stevensen
19) by AA Milne - the Winnie the Pooh stories
20) James Herriot's Treasury for Children

I could go on and on, but here's 20 of our favorite great books/series that will get you started reading Living Books to your Little Ones.

Let's add another, just for fun. Not an old classic, but great for little ones: Sandra Boynton's toddler's books: Barnyard Dance, Moo Baa, LaLaLa, The Going to Bed Book, Blue Hat Green Hat, But Not the Hippopotamus, etc.

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa
Me and My House ministries
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**twaddle = worthless, poorly written, dumbed-down, fluff

Using Noah Plan Curriculum Guides

Greetings from Me and My House,


The Noah Plan Curriculum Guides (NPCG) can be a great blessing to anyone wanting to teach by Biblical Principles. Even if you don't plan to strictly follow the "Principle Approach" (PA), you will learn much that will be of great value to you.

The Noah Plan History & Geography Curriculum Guide is my favorite. I have spent much more time with it than the others. Also, history is the foundation for all studies (all "subjects" have a "history") so it is a great place to start.

SOME PRACTICAL IDEAS for using NPCG - History --
I'd recommend reading the book through first. Not even worrying about taking notes - yet. Just read through, getting an idea of the "big picture" - the main gist of PA-style History. This will familiarize you (better) with the terms and components. [ My hesitantly given, not recommended, possibility: I suppose if someone is a really slow reader and has almost no time and is already somewhat familiar with NP and PA they could just very CAREFULLY, spending some time at it, go over the Table of Contents. BUT it will not produce the same effect.]

THEN go back to the beginning of the book, with paper and pen in hand and begin reading again - taking good notes, that make it make sense to you.

Chapter 1 - Skip the grade level curriculum charts for now!

Chapter 2 - Foundations for Teaching History will give you a good philosophy of History. Read it - 2-3 times before moving on, if you need to. Take good notes - or better yet, write a narration for each article, for which you'd probably have to go paragraph by paragraph - many times I just do this narration orally, in whatever I'm reading, to be sure I've understood. Then at the end of the chapter (several articles) try to write a summary of a Biblical philosophy of History in your own words, from your notes. This will prove very valuable to you when you go to teach your children the Biblical - Foundations of History. (This would be a great study for your Jr/Sr High student.)

Chapter 3 - Enlivening the History Curriculum will help you understand the components of PA history. Read it over until you have a good idea of what makes up a history course PA-style. They are: the Principles, the Leading Ideas (short explanations of both referenced to T&L*, and CHOC* for further understanding), the Chain of Christianity, and teaching History through Individuals - then, using primary sources, geography (as the "stage" for history), and enrichment methods (literature, arts, field trips, etc.). Get a good understanding of each component and why it is used (otherwise you won't use it). Of course you can always CHOOSE not to use them, for your own purposes! It would be of great benefit to you if you would take each component and write an "informal essay" of it and its importance in the curriculum (for the ones you choose to include).

Chapter 4 - Teaching History will help you understand how to actually plan the lessons. (See how we've progressed from philosophy, to methodology, to now application?) This, I think for most people, is probably the hardest part to "catch" - the pulling it all together. This is where we need to be careful to not get caught up into bondage of "the letter of the law". WHEN the first two parts are well internalized, this part should almost "flow". The SPIRIT will come forth. This, of course, is where I do not believe a home needs to follow the pattern of a school. The HOME way is the "better" way, the institution has constraints that require it to not have the freedom that we do. Therefore, the school is in bondage to the "letter" much more so than the home. The lessons should flow in the lifestyle of the home. There still is much info in this chapter to help us learn - notebooking, 4 R-ing, distinctives of a PA lesson, the "art of learning". Good things to internalize, so they can flow naturally, and not be "applied legalistically".

This part does not make sense if the first 2 parts aren't well understood and internalized. This frustrates parents, who feel the time-clock ticking away. They just want to teach history, and they can't even understand how to plan a lesson. But most likely the frustration is there because they haven't internalized, don't have a good understanding of the philosophy and components. I'm not saying that every lesson idea will just spontaneously flow onto the paper - there's more prep for that. I'm saying that HOW to plan a lesson will make sense.

OK ---
NOW you can look at the grade level curriculum charts! They will make so much more sense now. Skim through the grade levels. You'll notice many of the aspects are the same, grade to grade. Note the Principle Emphasized/area of history studied for each and look through the "set up" - scope and sequence. Note the progression through the grades.

Choose a "grade level" to study more closely.** Read through it carefully. Do you see how all the pieces come together? BUT you certainly don't have to follow these curriculum charts. You now have all the tools to make your own! Well, to get a GREAT start on it anyhow. You can start teaching your children history the "PA way" now. Even if you don't use these charts, they help you understand what a PA history course looks like.


WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE BOOK ---
Chapters 5 and up take you into the Geography aspect. I wouldn't even go there yet. Get the History internalized first. THEN, go for it - in the same way. It will "come together" much quicker once the history is internalized. The Geography will dovetail into your history, and there is much actual "teaching content" in the guide.

*NOTE: T&L = Teaching And Learning: America's Christian History
CHOC = Christian History of the the Constitution: Volume 1

** NOTE: K really is a pretty good place to start, if you want to use these charts. It's a good "foundation". You can take it a little faster and move on, or integrate a couple of years together. Do you have young ones and older, teen aged ones? How about integrating K and 8?

At Jesus' feet,
Lisa
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