Joy to the Heart

Spelling through Scripture

March 22, 2016 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) Leave a Comment

Are you searching for an opportunity for your children to…

practice and use correct spelling within the context of God’s Word?
focus on correct capitalization, spacing, punctuation, grammar, and handwriting?
study, memorize, copy, and type passages of Scripture in manageable sections?

Try Joyful Heart Spelling through Scripture!

All you need to get started is…
1) a binder with tabbed dividers…

2) a few materials for word practice set aside…

(You can use items like letter tiles, window markers, gel pens, letter stencils, etc.
We currently store all of our spelling materials in zippered pouches within a drawer.)

3) a computer in which students can perform basic typing…

4) sheets printed from Spelling through Scripture…

Scripture Passages ( 27 passages broken down into manageable sections)

Copywork Sheets (available in print and cursive)

With 27 Scripture selections, ranging from a few verses in length to entire chapters, Joyful Heart Spelling through Scripture could easily span several grade levels. It is ideal for students in the 4th through 7th grades who already have a firm understanding of essential spelling and phonics rules (Our family personally uses and recommends Joyful Heart Spelling Skills .)

Once the foundational skills have been established, students still need practice within the context of writing. We have chosen to review and practice skills by incorporating copywork, typing, and studied dictation of God’s Word using Joyful Heart Spelling through Scripture.

During copywork (either handwritten or typed), children are constantly referring to a correctly written model and visualizing the correct spelling of words as they write or type their own copy of the selected Scripture passage.

Dictation comes after copywork and a thorough review of the Bible selection. Children study the verses before having the section dictated to them. This is modeled after the Charlotte Mason method of prepared dictation. The dictation aspect of Spelling through Scripture is similar to that in Joyful Heart Spelling Skills. Dictation helps to solidify previously learned spelling rules in context. Children check their own copywork and dictation against the original, using careful observation. Students have a correct model to compare to as they work toward accuracy.

The concept of Spelling through Scripture is easy to implement and is packed full of literacy skill review! Spelling through Scripture gives children the opportunity to focus on correct capitalization, spacing, punctuation, grammar, and handwriting. It gives children the opportunity to practice and use correct spelling within the context of God’s Word.

When you purchase Spelling through Scripture, you will receive 3 PDF files in a zip format…
1) Spelling through Scripture
(instructions and 27 printable passages broken down into manageable sections)
2) Spelling through Scripture Print Copywork
3) Spelling through Scripture Cursive Copywork

** If you are interested in both Joyful Heart Spelling Skills and Joyful Heart Spelling through Scripture, just purchase Joyful Heart Spelling Skills and receive both bundled together! **

Filed Under: Curriculum We Use, Spelling, The Joy of Homeschool

‘Hot on the Trail’ of Learning

January 16, 2016 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) Leave a Comment

Have you heard of the 100th Day of School? Typically, it is an elementary school celebration and is a HUGE day jam packed with fun learning activities – especially in kindergarten and first grade classrooms across the country.

As a former K teacher and now a homeschool mama to 5 kiddos ranging from Kindergarten to 8th grade, I’ve helped our children celebrate their fair share of 100th days around here. With each year, it has become more and more challenging to figure out how to include both the younger and older kids in the day’s festivities, making it engaging and relevant to what they are learning. I tried to break it to the older kids that this year the 100th day activities would be just be for the elementary aged kids, but that didn’t go over so well. LOL!

Take a closer look at a few of our ‘hot on the trail’ activities (across grade levels)…

detective hats for our younger kids as they begin their learning investigations

Tiny Clues

100th Day 1-100 Sticker Hunt

the younger kids’ 100th Day 100 Item Collections

Don’t all good detectives deserve some donuts (and coffee, aka hot cocoa)?!

Fingerprint Suspects

The Cupcake Mystery Game (A ‘Clue’ Math Game)

Our 100th Day ‘Hot on the Trail’ Mix
(The kids discovered that ten groups of ten small snack items add up to be a pretty large snack!)

Revealing Secret Words

Scripture Search for the older kids

Secret Case Files (The numbers correspond to each detective’s grade level. =) )

A special dessert fitting for our super sleuths!

That was just a quick glimpse, but there was so much more to our day! I’ve added our resource packet (with both elementary and middle grade ideas), to our Joyful Heart Learning shop. Come check it out!

More 100th Day Resources:
100th Day (free ideas and printables at Hubbard’s Cupboard)

The 100th Day Marshmallow Incident (for purchase)

Touchdown: Celebrating 100 Days (for purchase)

Filed Under: 100th Day, Curriculum We Use, The Joy of Children, The Joy of Holidays, The Joy of Homeschool

The Favorite Part of Our Homeschool Day

January 3, 2016 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) 1 Comment

Hands down, my favorite part of our family’s homeschool day is the time when we gather all together and sing hymns, review Scripture passages, use a short devotional to focus on the truths in God’s Word, and pray.

We call this time Morning Worship, but it can (and does) take place anytime throughout the day.

We use three binders for our family of seven. In each binder, I placed several hymns that I desired for all of us to learn to sing as well as Scripture passages that many of us have learned previously. I organized the binders so that there are two sheets (back to back) inside of page protectors. Since we use them each day, I am hopeful that the added thickness will enable the sheets to last longer.

After singing praises to Jesus and reviewing Scripture, we then answer the catechism questions as found in the book Training Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade. Next, we read two days worth from the devotional. For the ages and attentiveness of our kids, this seems to be a good amount for us. To get our older kids more involved, I will often ask them to look up the Bible verse references beforehand and then they read those at the point in the devotional when the Scriptures are needed.

We follow the devotional reading with a prayer time. In addition to praying for others, we are attempting to pray back Scripture read that day and making an effort to pray integrating what was just learned through the devotional reading.

I look forward to this short, enjoyable, focused, and intentional time with my family each school day!

Here is a free PDF containing our Morning Worship Binder materials – hymns and Scripture passages. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Curriculum We Use, The Joy of Children, The Joy of God's Word, The Joy of Homeschool

Names of Jesus Ornaments

December 30, 2015 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) Leave a Comment

Last year, after coming across this wonderful tutorial, our family decided to make ornaments with the names of Jesus on them to share at Christmas time. It was definitely a whole family project – but so rewarding in the end! After assembling many to give away, we then agreed to work together to create one more complete set to display on our own Christmas tree.

Want to take a peek at the process? We pretty much followed the instructions in the tutorial at Today’s Fabulous Finds, but I created our own name set with a different font.

1) Gathering the supplies:

(large paint sticks, scrapbook paper, printed names, brown ink pad, Q-tips, chocolate colored spray paint, sandpaper, Modge Podge, foam brush, wire, ruler, small hand saw, drill, pliers)

2) Preparing the Printable Names:

Copying, Cutting, and Inking the edges

3) Preparing the Paint Sticks

Measuring, Marking, and Cutting

Sanding

Drilling the Holes

Painting

Distressing the Edges

4) Assembling the Ornaments:

Attaching the Printable Names with Modge Podge

Drying

Cutting the Wire and Threading it Through the Holes

5) Enjoying the Ornaments!

Creating the Names of Jesus Ornaments was a memorable time of working cooperatively as a family – AND we now have a great visual reminder of who Jesus is to display each Christmas season.

Filed Under: Christmas, The Joy of God's Word, The Joy of Holidays

Christmas Scripture Booklets

December 14, 2015 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) Leave a Comment

Are you looking for a way for your younger children to interact more with Scripture as you read the Biblical accounts of Jesus’ coming to earth as a baby? Try Christmas Scripture Booklets for coloring and Christmas Story Sequencing for retelling!

Last year, we used The Christmas Story Booklet based on Luke 2 to assist our 4 year old in memorizing a portion of Luke 2:1-20. This year, he is continuing to make progress with this passage.

Now, there are 3 additional Christmas Scripture Booklets! We are not planning on memorizing these passages at this time, but desire to read them during this Christmas season. Here is a suggested reading order so that the events are read chronologically. (I used the exact Scripture for each booklet.)

Jesus’ Birth Foretold (Portions of Luke 1 and Matthew 1)
The Christmas Story (Luke 2)
The Naming of Jesus (Luke 2, continued)
In God’s Hand (Matthew 2)

Make sure to print out the Christmas Story Sequencing Sheets as well!

The Christmas Story Sequencing Sheets correspond with the Scripture passages from the Christmas Story Booklets. These are great for reviewing and retelling the Biblical accounts! Color versions of the pictures would work well in a pocket chart. In addition, black and white student sheets are included for individual work.

These printables are available over at the Hubbard’s Cupboard Christmas page.

May these FREE resources from Hubbard’s Cupboard bless you and your children this Christmas as you read from His Word and learn more about Jesus and His coming as the Savior.

Filed Under: Christmas, The Joy of God's Word, The Joy of Holidays

discovering joy in the journey
Joy to the Heart

Spelling through Scripture

‘Hot on the Trail’ of Learning

The Favorite Part of Our Homeschool Day