Joyful Heart

So many times, when I tell another mom that I homeschool our children, the first response I hear is…"Oh, I could never do that.  I just don’t have the patience!" 

Can I let you in on a little secret?  (Neither. do. I.)   Well, maybe it is not quite a secret since my children could easily attest to it and my husband knows it quite well, too.  More importantly, I know it and, of course, nothing can be hidden from my Lord.

While trying to instill a love for learning, encourage strong friendships among siblings that will last, discipline in love, and achieve academic training, we are building our childrens’ minds and character AND God is shaping ours.  Whether that means molding me to be more flexible, more patient, more gentle, more loving, less self absorbed……. whew!

Becoming a mother and choosing to be with our precious children 24/7/365 has a way of amplifying my sinfulness and creates daily opportunities for the necessary refining process to take place.  I am willing to let Christ grow me in this area through the trials, challenges, joys, frustrations, and uncertainties as we walk on this journey we call homeschooling.  It is by no means easy and I definitely do not have the needed patience, naturally, ingrained in me.   I am starting to realize that I am also being homeschooled as it is Christ who is gradually (v e r y  gradually) making the necessary character changes in me. 

(Above: a recent volcano experiment….
Yes, an inactive volcano may look calm and peaceful enough, but at any time, it may rumble and roar, spilling forth gases, ash, and hot lava that lie beneath the surface – affecting all those in the surrounding area)

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.       (Proverbs 14:29)

A man’s wisdom gives him patience.  It is to his glory to overlook an offense.        (Proverbs 19:11)

Be completely humble and gentle.  Be patient, bearing with one another in love.      (Ephesians 4:2)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.         (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

In the above verses, patience seems to be linked to understanding, wisdom, humbleness, forgiveness, gentleness, contentment, and love.  Oh Lord, may you continue to train and teach me so that  I may possess these qualities in increasing measure, demonstrating them graciously in our home.

Addition:  I recently came across the following blog entry and I think it states it so well…  My Curriculum is My Kids

From the time our oldest child was just two years old, we have been attempting to learn ways to help our children hide God’s Word in their hearts.  Over the years, as we have been graciously blessed with more children, we have found several resources that are helping us in this endeavor.  Here are some of the things we have used over the years, as well as some online discoveries from other blogging moms that look beneficial!

Books:

1.    The Bible (of course!)
During our morning Bible reading time, we try to have each child Kindergarten age and older sit with a Bible.  We encourage them to follow along and/or take turns reading aloud.  Younger children often want the ‘grown up’ Bibles to hold as well!  Of course, our toddler likes to wander around, pat the Bibles, maybe look at a picture Bible, and cause general mayhem as our attention is focused elsewhere. =)

2.   Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Children to Live for God by Susan and Richie Hunt

3.   Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland

4.   My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God’s Word in Little Hearts by Susan Hunt

5.   Family Night Tool Chest books by Weidmann and Bruner

Activities:

1.    Individual Bible reading and Bible Notebook

(top – our then somewhat sleepy Kindergartener working in her Bible Notebook and her first entry; left– a second grade entry in which she decided to copy the verses)

2.    Bible verse cut aparts and copywork (chosen through our curriculum or a family memory verse we want to focus on)

3.    AWANA

4.   Memory Verse File Box
(Idea and description from Simply Charlotte Mason)

5.    Singing Scripture

(above:  the oldest girls leading in song – I’m not certain why they are both holding up a verse card.  I’m fairly certain we were only singing one of those at a time =) )

Listening to Bible Song CDs and DVDs:

1. Seeds Family Worship (audio CDs) – Scripture Verses set to music
2. Hid’em In Your Heart Volume 1 (audio CD) and Volume 2 (audio CD and DVDs) – Scripture Songs for kids from Steve Green
3. Praise Baby Collection (DVDs) – Contemporary Christian songs 
       -Born to Worship is always our littlest one’s favorite.
4. Cedarmont Kids Action Bible Songs, Bible Songs, and Sunday School Songs (DVDs)- Kids singing traditional children’s Bible songs

Free Printables:

1. Joyful Heart Tune Charts
2. Mama Jen’s Bible Charts
3. Totally Tots In My Heart Feature – charts and copywork to correspond with songs from Seeds Family Worship cds

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,than much pure gold.
They are sweeter than honey,than honey from the comb.
(Psalm 19:7-10)

What are your favorite resources for instilling a love for the Word?

I’m hesitant to post this, especially after my last entry on The Joy Stealer.   If you are another homeschooling mom, please don’t let this post steal your joy!  Either skip it all together or read with a heart full of grace (towards me and yourself) and follow Christ’s leading for your own family.

During this school year, our class/school/family consists of a 4th grader, 2nd grader, kindergartener, 3 year old preschooler, and a toddler.  We have a wide range of needs to meet this year!  So, in God’s strength, we embark on another homeschooling year.  This post is about what we hope to accomplish.  Although, as we walk with Him, I am sure God will have us all learn so much more (including mommy)!

History / Geography
This year, we will be continuing the second half of Exploring Countries and Cultures from My Father’s World Curriculum.  Our main geography will be focused on learning about various countries around the world – learning about the cultures, and experiencing music, food, and art from each country.  We will also continue to pray for unreached people groups using Window on the World. We are ready to get on our travel gear and continue our journey around the world!

Science
As we learn about different countries and cultures, we will also be learning about the animals that live in those environments.   We plan to continue to use the resources suggested in the MFW ECC curriculum – The Living World Encyclopedia, Properties of Ecosystems, The Big Book of Animals, The Great Animal Search, and the Encyclopedia of Animals.  The older girls will also be drawing animals to coordinate with the different continents and regions/habitats of the world using Draw Write Now.

Bible and Devotions

• Daily Proverbs
• MFW study of the book of Matthew
  (including copywork for the oldest two girls  ~ You can find free printables to coordinate with the verses from Matthew here.)
• ‘Thankful Thursday’ gratitude notebook
• We plan to finish up Proverbs Family Night Tool Chest by Jim Weidmann and then move into 10 Commandments Family Night Tool Chest, also by Jim Weidmann– one night a week with Daddy!
• A Girl of Beauty: Building Character in Young Girls by Carol Fiddler (oldest 2 girls only)

Read Alouds

• MFW Exploring Countries and Cultures incorporates the reading aloud of YWAM missionary stories.  Our family LOVES these books.  Since we have already read the books mentioned in the curriculum, we chose three others to correspond with our study of particular countries – Ida Scudder (India), Hudson Taylor (China), and David Bussau (New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia).
• Read Aloud Passages & Strategies to Model Fluency by Rachel Mann

Art

• The Usborne Art Treasury by Rosie Dickins– learning about an artist and making a corresponding piece of artwork
• Art Appreciation: Child Sized Masterpieces Steps 1,2,3 Intermediate and Advanced by Ailne Wolf

Foreign Language
Last year, our oldest two children began using Rosetta Stone.  I noticed that they enjoyed doing the lessons, but the rest of the family had no idea what they were doing!  So, the additional resources reflect a desire for all of us (preschooler–adult) to be able to start learning some Spanish!

• Rosetta Stone Latin American Spanish (oldest two girls)
• De Colores and Other Latin American Folk Songs for Children (book and CD) by Jose-Luis Orozco
• Hop, Skip, and Sing Spanish for Kids by Ana Lomba
• Spanish Basic Words flashcards

Reading / Language Arts /Math
our 4th grader…

• Readers:  Sonlight readers, free choice reading on her own
• Spectrum Reading
• Spectrum Word Study and Phonics
• Copywork – Bible verses from MFW Matthew study
• Writing and Grammar:  Writing Tales Level 1
• Partner Poems for Building Fluency by Bobbi Katz
  (These look pretty easy, but it is to be used with her 2nd grade sister as well.)
• Writing With Ease (finishing level 2 and moving into level 3)
• Horizons Math (completing Level 3 and heading into 4)
• Mental Math and Math Drills
• Heroes of Faith: The Hidden Treasures in Hebrews by Evelyn Wheeler (an inductive Bible study)

our 2nd Grader…

• Readers: Sonlight readers, free choice reading on her own
• Explode the Code books 7 and 8 for phonics
• Joyful Heart Spelling Skills
• Copywork – Bible verses from MFW Matthew study
• Paragraph Writing from Evan-Moor
• A Reason for Handwriting Transition Book (1st half only)
• Partner Poems for Building Fluency by Bobbi Katz
  (to be used with her 4th grade sister as well)
• Writing With Ease (finishing level 1 and moving into level 2)
• Horizons Math 2
• Mental Math and Math Drills

our kindergartener…

• Readers: ABeka 1st grade readers, MFW Bible Reader
• The Bible and Reading portions from MFW 1st Grade, including the Proverbs verses
• Explode the Code (Complete book 1 and then do 2, maybe 3)
• Portions of Word Family Stories and Activities D from Evan-Moor
• A Reason for Handwriting A
• Horizons Math K (continuation from last year)
• Read and Understand Science 1-2 (comprehension, vocabulary, and simple experiments)

our preschooler…

• Catechism questions and answers
• My ABC Bible Verses
• Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme for 3’s (Bible story, letter song, letter art, sorts, and name binder portions only)
• Letter formation activities from 1+1+1 = 1
• Kumon My First Book of Cutting

our toddler…

• playing and exploring!
• learning to sit still for a book with mommy or a big sibling

Lifeskills and Extracurricular Activities

• Sewing –I think we will try to make the switch from hand to beginner machine sewing!
• Gymnastics (oldest four kids)
• Ballet 101 & 201, Combinations 1 DVD course (4th grader)
• AWANA – We have a 2nd year T&T, a 3rd year Spark, a first year Spark, and a Cubbie!
• Family Chore Time
• Some homeschool outings/ field trips

Some of the above will change during the course of the school year as we finish our study of MFW Exploring Countries and Cultures.  We are still praying about what will replace the Bible, geography/history, and science once MFW is completed in order to round out our school year.

Are you curious what our planning looked like in previous year’s?
2010-2011 (3rd, 1st, PreK, 2 year old, 4 mo old baby)
2009-2010 (2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived end of year)
2008-2009 (1st, PreK, 2 year old, 6 mo old baby)
2007-2008 (K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)
2006-2007 (PreK, 2 year old, 7 mo old baby) 
                  Joyful Heart Character
2005-2006 (3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)
                  Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme
2004-2005 (2 year old, 6 mo old baby)  
                 Joyful Heart Learning

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It is the 3rd annual ’Not’ Back to School Blog Hop hosted by Heart of the Matter Online!  This week’s focus is on curriculum.  In the following weeks, they will also share ‘school’ rooms, student photos, and a day in the life.  If you choose to hop, guard your heart and mind, give yourself grace, and encourage others as you take a peek at what fellow homeschoolers are preparing for in this coming school year!  (Yes, I am reminding myself as well =) )

It is great to learn from other homeschoolers!  I love to read blogs written by other homeschool moms.  I like being able to get a glimpse into their day, see how they have organized their home and learning environment, see the types of curriculum they are using, and read their reviews of curriculum that they have used in the past.  I will often see an idea, ponder it, determine whether it might be something beneficial for our family, and then possibly try to implement it in our own homeschool.

While gleaning ideas from the generous sharing though, whether in real life or online, I have to be very careful to not let comparison creep in.  Oh, my friend so and so’s child can do this and this already, homeschool blog mom is doing X,Y,Z with her kids and I can barely do A!  It can start an emotional roller coaster in my mind and add an unnecessary burden- a load that I am not meant to carry.

Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,  for each one should carry his own load.
Galatians 6:4-5   

I start thinking… Am I doing enough, doing the correct types of things, using the right curriculum?  How can we fit this and this into our days, too?  Why can’t I seem to do it all like so and so?  Learning from, being encouraged, and growing from the sharing of other homeschoolers is wonderful.  Coveting and being overly critical of my choices for our family because of it is not.

I have read somewhere that comparing our homeschool with other families is a joy stealer and that Christ is the true standard.  Wow. That is a statement that I truly need to let sink into my heart and mind.

My friend and I may both be homeschooling moms, but each family is different.  We are created with varying weaknesses and strengths.  We have different backgrounds and experiences and have formed different expectations.  Thus, we stress different priorities.  Our family makeup is different.  It does make a difference whether you have been blessed with two children or seven, whether you have lots of young children and no older ones, or mostly older children and only one younger child, or two children just a year apart, etc.  Fathers’ work schedules are also different and the amount of time and support they provide varies.  God made each of our families unique.  And thus, each mom’s allotted work from God will be varied as well.  So, there should be NO comparison!  If I want to evaluate how and what we are doing as a family, then I should be comparing it against the Word of God.  What are His expectations of me and of our children?

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:24   

I want to rid myself of this major joy stealer.   I want to keep a proper perspective, knowing that I am homeschooling for His glory.  How are our children’s hearts?  Are they growing in Christ?   I want to delight in my children- their strengths, quirks, and varied learning styles – the way God designed each of them to be.  I want to stop doubting the curriculum choices that I have already prayed over, look straight ahead, and proceed into a new school year with joy.   I want to create and maintain an attitude of gratitude.  I want to be faithful in the sphere God has placed me in and trust Christ for the outcome.  They are His children anyway.  I just get the privilege to be with them each day and point them to Him!

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, 
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, 
giving light to the eyes.
Psalm 19:7-8

Lord, help me to keep my eyes focused on You.

For those of us who speak and read the English language fluently, there are thousands of Bibles available to us.  In our home alone, we have at least one children’s Bible for each child, a handful of smaller sized Bibles for quick reference, and many full size Bibles – in various versions such as NIV, NKJ, and ESV.  But what about other cultures and languages?

A blank page.  That is what John 3:16 looks like in many languages.

I’ve recently blogged about our experiences with the My Father’s World Exploring Countries and Cultures curriculum.  I mentioned that we have been enjoying reading the YWAM biographies on missionaries (from the Christian Heroes Then and Now series) that MFW has chosen to use within ECC.  The very first YWAM biography used in the curriculum was on Cameron Townsend.  The kids were intrigued by his life and how God had placed it upon his heart to translate the Bible into every language.

A few weeks ago, in our Hero Tale readings, the focus was on William Tyndale.  I was also able to find a Torchlighter video on Tyndale at the library.  After viewing the video,  we completed a related worksheet on translating for kids.  The kids began making connections to Cameron Townsend and his start of Wycliffe Bible Translators.  All of the kids were interested in learning more, especially our five year old son.  I then remembered that, earlier in the school year, I had come across free online lessons from Wycliffe on Bible translation.  So, in an attempt to encourage our son in his new interest and to expose all of our children to the important work of Bible translation, we took a two week hiatus from MFW ECC to devote to learning about the Steps to Bible Translation.

The online downloadable lessons are free and easy to follow.  The only thing that I was missing was their recommended resource called ‘My Volcano Adventure Resource CD‘.  Fortunately, we were able to borrow it from a friend of ours.  The CD had audio of John 3:16 in other languages, audio samples of a language that uses both speaking and whistling, short video clips with true stories of the impact of Bible translation, etc.  Our friend also let us borrow the accompanying leader’s guide.  It had a LOT more ideas.  I incorporated a few ideas from the guide for Bible memory and additional activities, but I ended up mostly following the online lessons.  In my opinion, the online lessons seemed more focused and centered on the translation aspect.

(Above: ‘Alphabeti Spaghetti’ from lesson 5
in Wycliffe’s Steps to Bible Translation)

So, what did we do?  We planted seeds and learned how Bible translation is a long process.  It takes much time and prayer.  We were reminded of the 10/40 window and how there are over 2,000 language groups that do not have John 3:16 or any other portion of Scripture in their own language.  We prayed for Bible translators and for those still waiting for the Bible in their own heart language.  We learned about the International Phonetic Alphabet and caught a glimpse of how difficult creating an alphabet and translating languages might be.  We saw the importance of learning to read and of hiding God’s Word in our hearts.  We became more grateful for the access we have to God’s Word in our own language.  We memorized Hebrews 4:12 and had ‘sword drills’.  We caught a vision for the need for everyone to have the Bible in their own heart language.

Wycliffe Bible Translators have launched the Last Languages Campaign.  Their goal is to have a Bible translation project started for every language that needs it by the year 2025.

Please pray for Bible translation around the world.  

“Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will never pass away.”
(Matthew 24:35)