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The Old Schoolhouse
Magazine
Home Where They
Belong
|
September 12, 2007
|
 A wise
woman once said, "While we're focused on building character in
our children, God is focused on building character in
us."
Maybe it's perseverance - we can't give up on
them. Maybe it's patience - no one guarantees immediate
results. Maybe it's humility - lest any man should boast!
Maybe it's contentment - learning not to envy that mom down
the street whose kids seem to have it all together. Maybe it's
dependability - truly showing our children that we'll stick
with them even when their behavior breaks our hearts. Maybe
it's dying to self - doing what needs to be done, even when we
don't want to. Like oh say. . . playing a board game with your
kids when you'd rather read a book by yourself. (Ouch stepping
on my OWN toes now.)
And maybe it's for God to continue
to grow our faith in Him, to truly remind us to walk by faith
and not by sight. When we see what God can do in our
children's lives in spite of all of our mistakes and
shortcomings (both parents and children), we are reminded that
truly it IS all about Him. It's not always easy, but it is
about Him.
I had the pleasure of hearing Mark Hamby of
Lamplighter Publishing
speak recently. I was truly touched as he spoke about the
importance of our relationships with our children. Here's a great article that he
wrote for TOS a few years ago and here's where you can order
his presentations on
building a stronger family and character in your
children.
THM Editor
| |
 Mercy Every Minute
Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor
I
overheard an upsetting conversation in my kitchen one night.
One lady was commenting on the newspaper clippings and awards
our children had received that were hanging on our kitchen
wall. The lady next to her said, "Well, these are all great,
but it would have been better if she had taught her children
character."
What do you do about a statement like that?
Well, I was a bit saddened, but then began to think about what
she said. My kids had all the academic success they could
handle that year. I was proud of their academic
achievements.
However, what was their character like? I
was not proud of that. They were well-behaved and polite in
public. But behind closed doors, they argued with each other,
were slow to obey, and tattled constantly. Something had to
change. My friend was right - their character did need
improvement.
Just how do we go about improving
character? The best way is to make disciples of our children
like Jesus did. They lived together and He taught them. How do
we do that?
Be the example of the character trait you
want to work on. For example, if there is anger in your home:
Don't show anger yourself. Be kind and have a soft answer to
all wrath. Put yourself under the spotlight and change your
own behavior.
Pour the Word of God into them. Have a
daily time of gathering as disciples and learning from the
Master. Memorize scriptures together pertaining to the
character trait that needs developing. Keep a recipe file of
all scriptures memorized. When you get to a certain number
memorized, reward yourselves somehow.
Use curriculum or
supplements that encourage character development. Doorposts
offers many of my personal favorites. Make sure your
curriculum reflects the character you want to develop most in
your children.
Academic excellence is important, but
let's not make it the primary goal. Character excellence
should always come first. Here's a good first verse to
memorize together:
"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the
wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory
in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But
let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and
knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things
I delight, saith the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23,
24
~Deborah
CONTEST: Want to work on character
with your girls? Here is a wonderful resource from the book of
Proverbs on the true meaning of beauty. Doorposts has put
together an extensive workbook called Beauty and the Pig. See
the review right here. This contest will
run until the end of September.
Email SeniorEditor@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com
with your name and mailing address for a chance to
win.
|
Schoolhouse Spotlight
Dena Wood, Schoolhouse Store Manager
If you've read the Summer issue of The Old
Schoolhouse Magazine you may have noticed the article on
Character Quality Language Arts. If not, let me share a bit
about this unique program.
Character Quality Language
Arts integrates copywork, vocabulary, comprehension,
spelling, grammar, composition, creative writing, poetry and
dictation in one program. Not only that, but the program is
multi-level so you can teach the same material to several ages
at once by using the same volume, but at different levels.
When I mention volumes, I'm bringing up one of the most
unique aspects of this curriculum. Each volume of the
curriculum focuses on different character traits.
For
instance, if you had a third and fifth grader you would use
Volume I, in levels Pre-A and A. Both would learn the
character qualities of peacemaking, boldness, endurance,
joyfulness, initiative, thoroughness, truthfulness and
compassion while doing age appropriate work. Or you could use
Volume II in the same levels to cover an entirely different
set of character qualities. This is definitely a curriculum
worth considering if you're looking for a good language arts
program.
~Dena |
 It's Just Common Sense
Ruth Beechick, Curriculum
Specialist
Character--that's what you homeschoolers are
already good at. You do not need academicians to tell you how
to teach it. In your strong Christian convictions and your
commitment to family, your own character is evident. Your
children in this environment receive what is called immersion
teaching. Every day they see, hear, and experience the
character traits you want them to grow into.
You like the children
to read about heroes and achievers of many kinds. That's more
immersion. It probably is counter-productive to add on
academic style questions about how to "apply" the learning to
a child's own life. Thinking up answers is somewhat
artificial. But attitudes experienced by living with the story
for a while are real. Ordinary conversation helps. That's part
of the family immersion.
When you see attitudes
or actions in a child that you disapprove of, don't think "I'm
a failure" or "I need a curriculum for this." Instead, think
"That's why I'm the teacher; I see what the child cannot see
yet." Talk with him about problems at times. Keep plugging
away with the discipline and the Christian family living.
There's no better education around.
~Ruth |
The
Familyman
Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries
Now
we've come to the meat of the homeschooling matter -
character. That's what we all want in our children - godly
character. Unfortunately, we tie ourselves up in knots trying
to assure that our kids will have plenty of godly character to
get them through the adult years.
Of course we want
that for our children, but in reality, it's not the sit down
kind of 'character lessons' from which they'll learn. It's the
very fabric of who we are that is the real influence and mold
for what they'll become.
I was
reminded of that myself as I came tooling up I-75 just north
of Orlando last week. It was about 7 o'clock at night when my
phone rang. It was my son Ben (14).
"Hey Dad," he began without any other greeting, "what time
is it?"
After a slight hesitation, we both blurted out,
"My FAVORITE time to drive."
He
knows me. He knows that's what I always say when I'm behind
the wheel of our RV as the sun hangs low in the sky and the
air is cooler. A thousand miles separated us, but he knew
that's what I was feeling right then.
In thirty years, when he's a dad and I'm old, he'll be
driving down the road as the sun sinks and think, "This is
Dad's favorite time to drive." He'll think about me, our RVing
days, and our life on the road as a
family.
You know that thought may
not seem like much, but it's huge. My influence on my children
is huge. Your influence is huge. Don't worry so much about
whether you're doing enough teaching or character training. Be
more concerned that you're there for your kids, modeling what
you want them to live.
Be
Real,
Todd
|
 Homeschool Freebies
Julie Nott, TOS Freebie Finder
Training kids to have character?
Ha! With their sinful natures and free wills? Ha! I don't know
about you, but I have four kids with four very distinct and
different personalities. Without divulging their identities, I
would say they range anywhere from being highly convicted to
having no conscience at all on any given day. I have to rest
each day in the fact that they have given their lives to
Christ and His Holy Spirit will speak to their heart...they
only have to listen to His still small voice and choose
wisely. Sometimes they will, and sometimes they
won't.
We can
teach them about "character" and "fruits of the spirit" and
"good choices" all day long, but some days it just boils down
to whether they want to do the right thing or not. Or maybe
they are tired and cranky. Or maybe they had red food coloring
or too much sugar that day. Oh goodness, sometimes they are
just plain sinners saved by grace. Just like me and
you.
I firmly
believe that besides teaching them to listen to the Holy
Spirit's nudging, having God's Word hidden in their heart is
the best defense against sin.
ValuesDrivenFamily.com has some freebies on their
website that can help teach your kids scripture around a
certain character trait.
Visit www.valuesdrivenfamily.com/free_downloads.htm and click the yellow "DOWNLOAD NOW" button at the bottom of
the page. You will then be prompted to enter your name and
email. Then you'll
get information on how to download your
freebies.
Gotta go, I hear a fight erupting
in the next room...
~
Julie
|
Meet Some of Our
Friends
CONTEST: Want to work on
character with your girls? Here is a wonderful resource from
the book of Proverbs on the true meaning of beauty. Doorposts
has put together an extensive workbook called Beauty and the
Pig. See the review right here. This contest will
run until the end of September.
Email senioreditor@thehomeschoolmagazine.com
with your name and mailing address for a chance to
win.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Homeschool Buy,the online auction alternative for homeschoolers,
invites all homeschoolers with cluttered garages, crowded
curriculum closets and an excess of book to join us for the
Homeschool Buy Garage
Sale!! Beginning September 17th and ending September 28th,
you can set up a free "Garage Sale" to be featured on the
Homeschool Buy Neighborhood Garage Sale Page. Sell off the
stuff you don't need anymore and find the stuff you do need at
bargain prices. Basic Homeschool item listings are free. Just
pay for any optional features. No end of auction
fees! | |
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