Friday, February 27, 2009

A Fun Vocabulary Idea

I had an idea in regards to enriching the boys' vocabulary. I have been reading books that are a little "older" than their level to them.

In some of our reading, I have to stop and explain the meanings of the words we read.

Some of the books we are reading:

Genesis - King James version
Robinson Crusoe
Making Brothers & Sisters Best Friends

I started writing the words on a piece of paper that I had to explain to them, and post it on the refrigerator. My goal is to use the words in conversation all day long. It can be quite fun!

Here is today's list:

  1. multitude
  2. inherit
  3. tarry
  4. vow
  5. reluctance
  6. consulted
  7. ravenous
  8. diverse

The following is my favorite dictionary:

Webster's 1828 version (includes Bible verses to go with the words!). The original meanings of words have been changed over time (as society has moved further away from God!).

Here is the link:

http://1828.mshaffer.com/

A few ways I have been using the sentences:

  • Please do not be reluctant to complete your math paper."
  • "You do not have a multitude, but only a few."
  • "I know you are ravenous, but please just do that last little problem and we will eat lunch."
  • "Please tarry at the table. Do not go into the other room."
  • "If you vow to finish, you will inherit many blessings from your mother!"
  • "If you need help, please consult me."
  • "Those are diverse, but that makes life interesting."

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

A Reason to Read Well




There is just something about reading to little brothers that helps with expression and enunciation. If there is a "reason" to read well, it only helps!




Thursday, February 19, 2009

Update: Hobbies, Scripture memory, & copywork


We have been in-doors on the colder days, and on the warmer days the boys have been able to spend some time outside playing.



Something fun for Justin to do on cold days is to take old, broken appliances apart and look inside. Here he is taking apart an old radio alarm clock.


He loves to use his daddy's tools




For Christmas last year, our family was given some money. I used the opportunity to purchase a nice book to use for morning & family devotions. It is a very nice hardback book of Proverbs arranged topically. It is formatted in the King James version, so it is perfect for Scripture memory. Currently, we are in the section entitled "Reverence". We are learning Proverbs 2:1-5 right now, and the boys are just about ready to recite it without looking.I also purchased a paperback copy of the original 1911 Boyscout manual for the boys. There are all kinds of fun things to learn in this manual, and I imagine it will take a very long time to finish it. We do not read it every day...just some days. Basically it is just for fun. The boys will learn anything from chivalry to animal tracking. Of course Daddy will have a lot more to do with that type of thing than me. He is the "master" of anything outdoors!





Last but not least, both of the boys have finished their Italic writing books. They are ready for the next level; how exciting! Here is a scanned copy of Justin's "copywork". I think he did a great job!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Discussing age appropriate truths

There is a difference between being exposed to sin, and being taught about sin through a Biblical perspective.

Let me give you an example:

I think I have mentioned this before, but before the children begin their 3 R's, we cuddle together on my big bed and have prayer and Bible reading, memory verses, learn about character traits, and then I usually read to them from our book pick. Yes this is very time-consuming, but I feel it is very necessary.

I have found some classics at the library that are very interesting. The series is called "Eyewitness Classics". Anything coming from Eyewitness isn't usually from a Biblical worldview; they are just condensed versions of the classic book you are reading.
Right now we are reading Black Beauty, which has been very mild and yet enjoyable.

We read the Eyewitness version of Oliver Twist last week. Now anything by Charles Dickens is pretty depressing in my opinion, but they are true to life in his day and age. And I seriously doubt I will delve into Dickens very much with them any more until they are older, but in reading I think we were able to discuss a lot.

In his books,extreme poverty and sin brought on by lack and poverty (we all know this is a heart issue, but in his books the poverty appears to cause people to do horrible things). For an extremely sheltered child, this might be a little much. But I believe that a parent can take the mess a book makes and use it for good. My children learned that greed & selfishness and sin in general leads people down horrible paths. (and yes, I used my bookmark a couple of times to cover up some pictures that were a little "much")

I really do not know how to say what I am thinking except that I think it is important for PARENTS to be the ones to educate their children about sin issues. If I shelter my children to the degree that I avoid these things, then I am shirking my duty. Period. If I let their peers educate them, then I think that it's even worse.

My children will find out and possibly discern things in a distorted view if I decide to just avoid educating them about life.

II Peter 3:15 says "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear".

So... yes, I do read books from the library and yes, some of them are from an evolutionary or non-Biblical perspective. But I do not leave it at that.... we discuss what is wrong and where the writers are coming from. And if needed, we look up what the Bible says about it.

Of course if there is something that I feel is not appropriate to discuss, then I leave it out or cover it up.

Deuteronomy 11:19 (King James Version)
19And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."

I want my children to have discernment. Yes, we live our lives "because the Bible says so", but in addition to that,I want them to be able to answer "why".

We live in wicked times and the world needs intelligent, bold men who are not afraid to "give an answer." I pray that the Lord will give wisdom!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Abraham Lincoln 200th Birthday

Because it is the week of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday(February 12, 1809), we are studying his life. As we all know, he was a very fascinating man.

I had read/heard stories about him when I was a child, but there are so many more stories about him and his life that I had never heard.


The internet study resources are almost limitless!

As I type, we are listening to "OUT OF THE WILDERNESS" from Homeschool Radio Shows.



"We meet Lincoln's parents, Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, hear the story of their courtship and marriage, and their trials and tribulations as they carve their first homestead out of the then-wilderness known as Kentucky. "



This link has a lot of information about Lincoln, videos to watch, and nice printables for the kids to complete. The boys are working on papers as they listen.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Computer practice

Here are the boys practicing their spelling words on the computer. I really appreciate Mom giving them her old computer. It has been great typing practice for them. Ryan loves to play with the paint program. Here he is creating little men. I had to save his creation.
Aren't they cute with their little faces, arms, and legs?