Wisdom in faith classes

Here is an idea to help build faith in your pre-teen.  Starting at about the age of 11, hold one hour WEEKLY sessions that expose your pre-teen to principles of the faith.  The total number of weeks covered should be 104 weeks.  Keep track of different things for the "faith class."  Perhaps the "faith class" could last for about 1 hour to 2 hours in the middle of the week.

• Psalm 119 practice (Daily Activity)

        *2 verses a week focus (look at 5 x's a day, write out as spelling, record self, fill-in, word scramble)
        *Say 8 verses 3 x's, 3 x's a day

• Daily Success/Leading L.O. to God readings (Session)

        *Based upon a program and a book.  Read selections during the "faith class"

• Reg. Bible reading, Parashah method etc., memorize one verse per section (Daily Activity)

        *write out the memory verses in the session

• Teen Based Magazine (Session and Assign)

        *select a positive and encouraging teen based FAITH magazine.  For example: GUIDE by the Seventh Day Adventist's (you do not need to be adventist to appreciate the content)

• Prayer practice (Daily Activity)
• Hymn Sing (Session)

        *sing one hymn during the session.  For example: You Tube Sesamonte

• Service Project (Assign)

        *Do something for others, find various ideas from biblical laws (food pantry, shelters, nursing homes etc)

• Sermon Watch (Assign)

        *Watch or listen to sermon's online.  Write an outline of notes from the sermon.

• Faith Education (Session)

       *Select "topics" to discuss in regards to the faith.  Perhaps spend up to 20-40 minutes on the video.  For example: Ya-Tube, Living Waters, selected sermon series etc.

??Should you use an on-line private tuition school??

The options are endless.  There are MANY schools like this online. 

A person does NOT need to spend a lot of money for these schools, if they are WISE about saving up enough money for the following year.

Furthermore, the "online" school can help your student stay on task and stay motivated.

Is it possible to use an online public school, even if you hold Christian values?  YES.  So long as the values they present are not extremely damaging to the "Christian worldview."  If the online public school presents basic information, like how to read a book, write a few stories and basic math, then the online public school is doing what it is supposed to do.  However, if the online public school teaches specific things that are SPECIFICALLY against Christian values (lie, cheat, steal, mock someone, berate someone, practice sexual impurity etc etc.) then the online public school is not valuable for the child in need of an education. 

Be sure if a person uses a public online school to PURPOSEFULLY schedule in bible-study, hymn study or other faith based time.

This is NOT the fault of the bible-believers, if the public schools are not functioning as they should.  The Christian only needs about a "5th grade" or 10 year old's level of education to fully grasp the meaning and purpose of the bible.  Some can even comprehend it, at a 2nd grade level of education.

Other wise there are plenty of online PRIVATE SCHOOLS available, to help motivate children to learn.

Here is an example:
http://fpeusa.org

It WOULD be wonderful to know that the children automatically WANT to pick up ACTUAL books and write an ENTIRE PUBLISHABLE book on their own strength and skill, but in reality it isn't possible WITHOUT good teachers, lessons and practice.

After about the 8th grade level (McGuffey Reader  and Ray's arithmetic level), the student can EASILY learn to fix, build, construct projects that will TRULY be useful in his or her lifetime.  Don't forget to ensure that a student has the opportunity to know and practice scripture.

A great resource for biography introductions.....

I personally prefer to use "raw books" to get TRUTH based information about the various people from history, but to encourage a greater understanding of the people in history, a person can start with a good resource that introduces the famous people at a "child's reading" level.

Here is the website: https://gardenofpraise.com/leaders.htm

This particular website also contains various bible quizes and introductions for free!

Using the bible helps prevent "burn out"

If you are having a "bad day" in education and you can't seem to find all the paperwork and "power" within or the energy to look up or teach certain facts and figures that are "of this world," do not worry.

The BIBLE alone (KJV works great in English) will help restore such energy when it comes to education.  It contains many truths that will apply to many different subjects in many different ways.

Some families have enough energy and equipment in their own home to read through the bible in a year.  That is wonderful if you are able to do just that.  Others simply have enough time to read through a chapter a week.  That is ok too!

If you are having a bad time dealing with something simply read and ask your child about the passage that you have read.  The child will learn many things by this read and reflect method.

Later, when the children can read and write independently, they may use textbooks to enhance their learning and study independently.

Provision when times seem difficult....

If you have food and clothing for your children for the next couple of weeks, you already have a lot on hand.

If you have a shelter to live within, you have a protection from the elements of wind, sun, rain, snow, you are living in wealth.  Some families share a home.  Others live in a camper and children have the ability to spend hours outdoors among birds, animals and fishes.

Do you know that there are wild-foods available in many corners of the world?  Look up the wild-edible foods in your area.  Milk-weed, cattail, bark of trees......

Do you know how to bake your own bread?  Many people dream of getting flour to make a meal for their children.

Do you have a bible in your hand?  The bible will give you advice on how to manage your character so that you can manage a job.  Any job will do.  Janitor.  Waitress.  Cook.  Repair Man. Plumber.  Electrician.  No job is too small.  Think about weaving baskets.  Think about reselling bulk foods.  Think about sewing some clothes.  Think about reselling some recycled material into useful material.  You do not need a "degree" to work.

Can you grow garden?  Perhaps growing some sunflowers could benefit your family.  Nearly the entire sunflower plant is edible.

Is there injustice in your area?  Weep for those who sin in your area.  The false accusers.  The mockers.  The proud......

No money for the laundry?  Try learning how to hand-wash clothes.  It only takes one early morning a week to do laundry for a family of five.  Save money for a wringer.  Hand wring the clothes between rolling pins until affordable.  A simple tote or Tupperware trashcan can wash many clothes with a plunger as well.

Yes, you can educate your own children without a lot in your pocket.  Yes, you can educate your own children

Have you no books to buy to educate your children?  A simple slate and a little reading and reciting can go much further than the finest program on the internet or finest tutor in the world.  A notebook filled with the child's copywork and recitation shows much more effective learning than owning the finest textbooks.

Family Character Improvement Goals

Each family may approach "character" differently based on tradition, based on culture, based on experience and based on knowledge acquired.  One of the BEST things you can do for your family is WRITE DOWN ultimate goals your family should have in order to create listening ears, attentive eyes and happy hearts.

Some Character topics are discussed in NON-CHRISTIAN homes and are effectively applied.  It does not mean that Christianity and Christ's eternal presence is not needed in those homes, it just means that the general principles are taught.  Some NON-CHRISTIAN homes apply character principles for children better than Christian homes due to experience of suffering or other matters.

Here is an example of general Character rules that can be applied to any home, Christian and Non-Christian.

1. Use soft and kind words even if you can't solve a problem.  Kindly ask for help.
2. Find many opportunities to smile and be thankful for others.
3. Find ways to praise other's godly character, achievements and accomplishments.
4. Always use manners and be respectful of others and their belongings.
5. Always do right, even when others may not and when no one is looking.
6. Practice using listening/ empathy skills and understand how others feel.  Allow Holy Spirit to correct those in error along with # 24.
7. Be thankful for how you were created by God.  Find ways to honor him by obeying his word in that reguard.
8. Never mock, tease or put others down.
9. Never argue, complain or blame others for their behaviour.  Pray for them in secret.
10. Speak to an accountability prayer/partner (spouse or brother/sister).
11. Do not boss or try to take control of others or try to meddle into their business and privacy for selfish gain.
12. Clearly communicate how you have been hurt using the word "I" never "you" and stating the problem with kind words and actions.  Along with #9.  Approach anger in a kind manner.
13. Forgive immediately.
14. Look for ways to serve others with no though of self gain.
15. Think pure thoughts about self and others.  Put no stumbling block before those who are weak.
16. Put no wicked thing before your eyes.  Psa 101:3
17. Never, gossip, tale-bear or listen agreeably to those who speak reproachfully of others.  Only report truthful dangers.
18. Never raise a hand to hit.
19. Never raise a foot to kick.
20. Never raise an object to throw.
21. Never raise a voice to yell.
22. Never raise an eye to scowl.
23. Never use body or objects to harm or injure others in any way (pushing, spitting, bonking etc)
24. Never lift up nose to think pridefully of self as better than others in any area or subject.
25. Share toys/objects/activities.  Use or do one activity at a time.
26. Do your best to keep surroundings neat, clean and organized.  Clean up after your own mess.
27. Always approach daily tasks in a quiet peaceable manner without grumbling or complaining.  Organize and do things orderly.
28. Never let the sun go down on your wrath.  Don't go to bed angry or guilty.
29. Jesus first, other's second, yourself last.

Review regularly from books that teach character.  For example: https://www.amazon.com/Family-Virtues-Guide-Publisher-Plume/dp/B004UJM4Q0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1501879152&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Family+Virtues+Guide

Review regularly Character stories and traits from the bible.  For example: Psalms and Proverbs and http://www.iblp.org/programs/biblical-character or illustrations from www.sonlighteducation.com

Study cultures and how they applied Character to their culture: http://ojibweresources.weebly.com/ojibwe-teachings--the-7-grandfathers.html

Experiments and Resources

http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/wop.htm - Physics Experiments

Creative Learning Days, Project Learning Ideas

Take a "break" from heavy learning and try these ideas instead towards learning.

1. Write a paragraph or two from a classic writing on a long strip of paper.

2. Interview an elderly person for a day.  Prepare a meal and eat with the elderly person.

3. Recipe day.  Pick an old recipe and try it.  Read all the details in the recipe book about how to prepare this recipe.

4. Draw pictures all day.  Read all day and draw pictures that go with what is being read.

5. Memorization day.  Try to memorize various poems all day.

6. Hymn copywork day.  Copy the notes from a hymn on staff paper.  Play and sing the hymn.

7. Bible verse memorization day.  Select 5-10 verses and repeat and focus on those verses through out the day.  Say each verse at least 10 times in a day.

8. Health Studies Day.  Select a health book and study the ideas in the book all day.  Plan a little menu and meal to make yourself healthier.

9. Nature tracing and drawing day.  Draw things you see in nature all day. Identify the plants and animals.

10. Read all day.  Select books that are not "candy" books, but educational books.  Read all day.

12.  Dress up like characters day.  Make face masks and have fun. (optional if you don't want to do extreme dress up, just simple dress up)

13. Taste foods day.  Try new foods all day.  Sample vegetables, fruits and other fun things.  Look up information about the foods.

14. Fishing day.  Go fishing.  Read a book about fishing.

15. Arts and Crafts day.  Make something crafty from an old milkjug today.

16. Recycle and clean-up day.  Put your cleaning skills to the test.  How fast can the child go?  Check character all day.

17. Tree Studies day.  Study everything about trees.  What types of medicine comes from the different types of trees (willow for example).

18. Calculate what happens in a day.  Do a lot of math problems in a day.  Shopping lists, measuring windows, cooking projects etc.

19. Coordination day.  Become more skilled in something.  Perhaps shooting a ball, arrow or writing practice.  Focus on one skill.

20. Science experiment day.  Plan a day to just do science experiments.

Garden of Praise

http://www.gardenofpraise.com/

Click on the link given for great resources.

1. Do not feel obligated to follow ALL of the curriculum from a website.

2. Feel free to create your own curriculum and tests as you feel would work for your home.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Home-Education

Advantages:

1. Parents and Children can work together to decide on an appropriate curriculum
2.  Parents can freely read, discuss and study issues that have happened in "public schools" that were not good on culture/heritages/faith communities in human history. (effects on minority groups and tribes)
3. Children can advance "quickly" through material that they grasp quite well.  Rather than spending a full week or month on a subject, it may be condensed to discussion lasting only one day.
4. Children can digest information "slowly" through material that is deemed important.  Rather than glancing at an idea or concept once in a paragraph or text book material, full month or semester can be used to encourage understanding of the information.
5. Subjects may be "combined."  example: A child may study hymns/music, reading, writing and history simply by writing/copying out a hymn by hand, copying it, singing it, doing research on the hymn and then performing the hymn.
6. Culture can be loved, rather than just discussed in a textbook.  Visit a restaurant, visit a museum or culture center, visit an elder that can discuss the history of a subject.
7. Religious values are allowed rather than disallowed.  Values that enhance the parents life can be viewed by the child and its effects are understood, rather than just assumed or misunderstood.
8. Focus on character can be accomplished rather than constant focus on academics.  Academics are important for safety, mind-you, but the focus on character will help the child understand the reason for academics in the long run is not for selfish gain, but for giving to others.
9. No "cookie cutter" styles of understanding the world.  The child is given the opportunity to create a world that is unique.
10. No force-feeding before the child is ready to approach a subject.  A child may choose reading advanced book at age 4 or the child may choose advanced books at the age of 10.
11. Children in homeschools are less likely to have "Violent" approach to life.  Terrorist threats are 100+ times higher in children educated away from home/family environments.
12. Relax.  Life is Life.  Deal with it as a child, not as anxiety and pressure from this world.

Disadvantages:
1. Some parents are weak in academics or experience overall so they will need outside assistance.
2. Some children do not know how to sit-still and follow academic instructions so that can be difficult to overcome the hurdle.
3. Social issues can arise if the child is not given a variety of social situations to handle.
4. Some homeschool parents carry the prejudice into the home and teach the children to act according to prejudice rather than general respect and understanding.
5. Some family situations are at a disadvantage so that children's rights and privacy are not respected.
6. Bad character or choices can creep into the child's daily habit.  No outside person can stop the bad habit if the child is "on his/her own" terms.
7. Other homeschool families or social community functions that are similar to parent value may not be within local area.
8. Focus on "play" rather than "Service" could cause the child to believe in serving self rather than others.
9. Some children are not given "opportunities" due to financial strains, work strains from the parents, parental issues and problems and so forth.
10. Approach to "sin" issues vary from home to home.  Some offer excessive grace....other homes are too strict.  Without community approach it is hard to balance what is appropriate and inappropriate and can affect the child for the rest of their life.
11. Home-education students may not pick up on local community "culture practices."  Issues like saying the pledge of allegiance, recitations for political or religious events, tieing a shoe or weaving a basket may be skills that are not practiced in the home-school.
12. Some times home-education can get messy.  Floors need to be moped every week, where as when the home was always free....floors only needed to be moped once every two months.