Homeschool Curriculum Shopping!
This morning we hit up our second homeschool curriculum sale. We went to this same one last year at Clearview Baptist Church in Franklin and were able to find most of our resources we needed for kindergarten. This year we have a larger book list and I am hoping that if we get there early enough we will be able to find most of our curriculum. We have not settled in on a literature guide yet so I’m hoping I may find one at the sale I like. The list of supplements we have are books that are recommended for further reading that we can live without. If I find them on a good deal, I will snatch them up!
I created several wish lists on Amazon to help organize what I am looking for. I have printed these off and am bringing them to the sale as my shopping list. This will not only help me to refrain from buying things I do not need but each list also contains Amazon’s price so I can compare!
I thought I would post links to the lists here. I know homeschool families are always interested in what others are using. I basically created the lists from the suggestions of two books that are forming the curriculum strategy of our homeschool. The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise-Bauer and The Core by Leigh Bortins. We are using a classical education model and the resources chosen for next year tie in with the content we will be learning with our Classical Conversations co-op.
So here are the lists! Wish us luck!
First Grade Core Curriculum Texts
First Grade History Supplements
Get a Job Buddy!
This week I have been at the Orange Conference. A three-day event for ministry leaders who have as their primary interest a partnership between the church and the home. To be honest, I felt a little out-of-place. This past August my job as a full-time children’s minister ended and since then I have been taking up the responsibilities of a stay-at-home parent, homeschooling my kindergartener and chasing our 2 year old around the house! Attending the Orange Conference last year, I was focused on attending classes that would help me to equip the volunteers working under my leadership and networking with other ministry leaders from whom I had much to learn. I happened to bump into a few people I have met over the years who, through Facebook and twitter, know vague details about where me and my family are at. A brief exchange between me and another children’s ministry leader who I look up to a lot, left me feeling insulted for the first time about my “at-home” status.
He asked me what I was up to and if I was ministering anywhere. I replied, “Yeah, I am staying at home and homeschooling our daughter.” His first response was, “You need to get a job, buddy!” I don’t recall exactly what I said to him in response. I fumbled through a kind response, hoping to end the conversation quickly, hoping to communicate that I consider it a privilege to minister to my children at home. I always found it shocking when I would hear a report of people diminishing the importance of the role that stay-at-home moms have with phrases like, “So, you don’t work?” or “Don’t you miss having areal job?”
Stay-at-home moms, today I can honestly say, “I know how you feel.”
Still praying through this one. I know God is using my current situation to draw me closer to my daughters. In a world where the positive relationship between a father and his girls has such an invaluable impact, I cannot afford to let such comments deter me from giving my daughters my very best. They need to know that right now, raising them full-time isn’t something I am settling for. Every dad has a calling to disciple his children. Father’s of girls have the additional responsibility of showing them what it means to be loved like Christ loves the church. It’s impossible to estimate just how valuable the time I spend with my girls is during this season of life. Only God knows what it is worth and how much my life will be blessed by it.
~JK
Learning the Old Testament books with my daughter!
My daughter and I made a video of her singing the books of the Old Testament. When she was little we would have about 25 minutes everyday as I drove her to her mother’s day out program. I started singing the books of the Old Testament to the tune of “10 Little Indians.” I would sing it a couple times and then do the New Testament song. Over time I noticed she would start singing along with me. Once she was able to sing along with me to the whole song, I would ask her if she wanted to do “every other.” This means I would sing one book then she would sing the next and we would alternate until the song was done. We would switch who would start and do it again. By the time she was just 4 years old, she could sing both the old and new testaments. We made this video to help the Bible class I teach at church to learn the books of the Old Testament.
Choosing a Bible With Your Kids!
I’ve been teaching the 2nd & 3rd graders at Wellspring for almost two months. I am always encouraged and delighted when I see how excited they get about hearing new Bible stories told in exciting ways. This morning we had a dance party to honor God for what he has done. We did it just like King David in 2 Samuel 6 (except we were wearing more than linen ephods, of course!) to help us to not be ashamed to honor God in front of others. Equally encouraging was seeing how interested many of these kids are in learning the books of the Bible and being able to find the scriptures for each lesson in their Bibles. Part of every Bible class I teach is actually getting the kids to open their Bibles up and guiding them to find the verses using the Table of Contents in the front. I have noticed that when kids get in the practice of actually finding where the story is found, they take more interest in bringing their own Bibles. Kids are so proud to walk into Bible class with their brand new Bible and show it off to their teachers.
On occasion I have parents ask me if I have any suggstions for what Bible to get their kids! Did you know that Bible translations are written at certain reading levels? Many children find reading the Bible too hard. This may be due to them having a Bible at a reading level too advanced. Some kids find Bible reading boring. They may need a Bible that is for children a bit older than what they have. Below are my top picks for children’s Bibles. Click the picture to go to Amazon.com listing and look into the different versions available and then go to Lifeway or some other Christian bookstore and help your kids pick out one that you think would be age appropriate for them. Below are some of my thoughts for you to consider when choosing a Bible with your kids!
For Preschool Aged Kids
The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes, by Kenneth Taylor.
This is the Bible we use with our little girls. It contains Bible Stories that are in the same order as regular Bibles. They are re-written for preschool aged kids. The author Kenneth N. Taylor interprets the Bible story and writes it in a way that makes the application point clear. Every story is followed by questions for parents to ask the children and a prayer that gets at the heart of what the Bible story is about! Each story also has an excellent picture on the same page!
The Jesus Story Book Bible, by Sally Lloyd-Jones
This is a new favorite of mine. Every story not only retells what happened in the Bible but it connects that story to the big picture God has in mind for his people. The subtitle “Every story wispers His name” is true in that Sally Lloyd-Jones (author) has woven the purpose of Jesus coming to earth into every retelling. This Bible would also be great for adults that are trying to understand what the rest of the Bible has to do with Jesus.
For Early Readers (Kindergarten – 3rd Grade)
The Adventure Bible for Early Readers, by Zondervan. Once kids get into Kindergarten, I recommend they get a full-text Bible with Chapters and Verses. The timing is perfect since they are learning to read to begin with a Bible designed for early readers. This Bible does just that. It takes the New International Version and simplifies some of the more difficult words and also breaks up the longer sentences making it easier for kids to understand. The Adventure Bible also has lots of helps on every page that makes Bible reading more fun. In addition the publisher’s website www.zonderkidz.com has many other useful tools and games for parents and kids that ties right in what the Adventure Bible.
For Older Readers (4th & 5th Grade)
The Adventure Bible, by Zondervan. Once kids reach 4th & 5th grade they should be reading and memorizing from a Bible translation that they can use the rest of their life. The New International Version is very readible and written at a 5th grade reading level. The Adventure Bible by Zondervan contains many age-appropriate insights that make reading the Bible more enjoyable. I believe they have boy and girl versions but the one pictured above is good for both. Be sure to check out Zondervan’s kidz website www.zonderkidz.com for other useful tools.
~JK
Christlikeness is the Reward
Our preacher at Wellspring, Andy Hudelson, encouraged us to participate in a Bible reading plan this year. He shared a strategy from Wayne Coreiro’s book Divine Mentor in which you basically allow the writers of the Bible to become your mentor for 30 minutes a day. Andy encouraged those at Wellspring to journal about their thoughts on our Church’s community website. Below is what I shared there on today’s passage, Matthew 6-10.
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Today’s reading had me dwelling on Matthew 6:33. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” I used to think that this was some sort of system that would get me anything I wanted. Chapter 7:7-9 would serve as further confirmation to me that if I wanted something, I just had to ask. As I have grown in my walk with Christ, I have learned not to gloss over the important parts like, “Seek FIRST his kingdom.” It’s amazing how when we are putting kingdom needs first how unimportant the things we typically ask for really are.
The chapters for todays reading reflect this kingdom perspective in ways that are really difficult for me sometimes. I can often be a judgemental worrier who would rather walk the broad road to build my house on the sand. Seeking first his kingdom centers me. It forces me to ask if my will is aligned with God’s will and if it is not, I probably need to stop the asking and get centered on Jesus.
The cost of this is not going to put me in comfortable places. In chapter 10, verse 17 Jesus tells his disciples, “Be on your guard; you WILL be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.” Jesus does not paint a pretty picture of the cost of discipleship but in the end He offers this encouragement, “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. (Mt. 10:40)” Jesus wants his disciples to have a kingdom perspective and to seek first His kingdom. I believe the reward that Jesus has to offer here is contentment in believing that following him is the best way to live. Christlikeness is the reward of seeking first his kingdom.
~JK
