Or rather, I love backyard schooling.
Notice God's unutterable waste of saints, according to the judgment of the world. God plants His saints in the most useless places. We say - God intends me to be here because I am so useful. Jesus never estimated His life along the line of the greatest use. God puts His saints where they will glorify Him, and we are no judges at all of where that is. ~Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, August 10
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
I Love Homeschooling!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Yes, as a matter of fact we are on a field trip.....
.....but when you are homeschooled you just call it life.
Ever pondered the whole "field trip" thing? Kids who spend their best hours of the day and the majority of their time at a desk in a classroom with a chalkboard have special outings to get in touch with the outside world. They call these outings "field trips."
But, when you are blessed to be a homeschooling family life is full of museums, farms, and firehouses. Take your kid to work day is actually just called Monday around here. We don't necessarily (at this point) have any subject called "Lab." We just call it the backyard.
For the homeschooled child, life is their classroom.
Ever pondered the whole "field trip" thing? Kids who spend their best hours of the day and the majority of their time at a desk in a classroom with a chalkboard have special outings to get in touch with the outside world. They call these outings "field trips."
But, when you are blessed to be a homeschooling family life is full of museums, farms, and firehouses. Take your kid to work day is actually just called Monday around here. We don't necessarily (at this point) have any subject called "Lab." We just call it the backyard.
For the homeschooled child, life is their classroom.
Last week while visiting my family we made a day of The Avila Valley Barn. I love this place. Everything is fun, beautiful, yummy, and the staff is very friendly. There are animals to feed, apples to pick, a hay maze, homemade ice cream, etc. And surprisingly, for this time of year, they have no Halloween decorations!
We got in line for the tractor hay ride, which takes the riders to a pumpkin patch to pick their own pumpkins. The driver said, "We aren't open to the public until 1pm. Are you on a field trip, because we are only doing school tours?"
Well......what to say. I looked at my sister-in-love with her five children, my mom who had one of my sister's children, and my six. "Yes. We are on a field trip."
So, we rode the tractor and ate crisp, cold, freshly picked apples. We picked small pumpkins and breathed the lovely country air. (I love a few days away from the big city.)
The best part of feeding the animals was watching my two year old nephew Levi. When a goat or sheep would take the lettuce or apple slice from his hand he would SQUEAL with delight, stamp his feet and giggle. It was so precious!
After all the fun in Avila we went to San Luis Obispo for Mexican food. Marching our troops into Chili Pepper we found a long table. The proprietor said, "Are those all your children?" After the short explanation that yes all these children are cousins, he said, "Oh, man. I only have two! They drive me crazy! You have too many kids!" He was joking, of course.
My reply? "Too many?! Nah! You just have too few."
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Unschooling Anyone?
On Sunday Israel caught a Praying Mantis while we were getting in the car to go to church. He stuck it in a plastic container (with air holes) with some leaves, sticks and a sprinkling of water. Noticing that the thing had not eaten any of his leaf offerings, yesterday we researched online what a Praying Mantis eats. Turns out they are carnivores!
So, all the kids (and Daddy) spent about an hour outside yesterday catching spiders to feed to the Mantis. They got pretty good at it, too!
So, all the kids (and Daddy) spent about an hour outside yesterday catching spiders to feed to the Mantis. They got pretty good at it, too!
They are ooo-ing and aaaaa-ing while watching the Mantis attack and devour its prey. Lovely.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Lessons From a Rubberband
Today I did a devotion for my home school moms' group. I began with passing around some rubber bands, asking each lady to take one to help them to remember the following lessons:
1. You will be stretched. You cannot be a woman of God unless you let God stretch you.
Proverbs 31:19-20 “She STRETCHES out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She EXTENDS her hand to the poor, Yes, she REACHES her hands to the needy.”
Why does she have to stretch, extend, and reach? Not all work and ministry of a woman of God will come easy for her. Sometimes she may have to go beyond her comfort zone. Sometimes she has to go a little further than she’s used to. God is good at putting our ministry just slightly out of our reach. Then we have to strive for it and ask Him for help in reaching it!
Like a rubber band, it is certain that you will be stretched.
2. The only way to fulfill your purpose is to be stretched.
A rubber band does absolutely no good if it is never stretched. If it only loosely hangs around the object you are trying to hold together, it really is useless.
The same goes for us. If we do only what we are used to, what we are comfortable with, or what comes easily, then we are not fulfilling our purpose! And, we are not relying on God’s strength!
God wants us to learn to rely on Him. Things done only from our own power are lacking in the power of the Holy Spirit. God wants to love others through us, serve others through us, and work change in the world through us. We cannot do these things unless we are stretched!
3. Over-stretching results in snapping.
A rubber band can hold together quite a bit. When it’s holding things together, it’s quite useful and a real blessing. But, have you ever tried to stretch a rubber band over too many things? You think, “I’ll just pull a little bit harder or a little further and it will be fine.” Inevitably, the rubber band snaps back, hurting your fingers, maybe breaking or sometimes flying across the room. I know I’m not the only one to have done this!
Yes, as homeschooling moms we have to hold a lot of stuff together. We manage our complicated lives quite well. We get the kids to their soccer practice, dinner on the table, our husbands' suits to the cleaners, the spring garden planted, teach Sunday School, attend the women’s luncheon, join the committee for the next luncheon, coordinate the home school field trip to the museum, maintain our weight, keep the house tidy, remain sexy for our husbands, get up before dawn to be with the Lord, nurse our sick children through the night, are members of the gym, head up the phone tree for church, keep up on our email, and then…
They ask for volunteers at church to head up the bake sale and we think, “Sure, I can do that!”
The night before the bake sale, we are snapping at our children for banging around the kitchen while the dough is rising. We are snapping at our husband for not containing the children. We are nearly snapping at everyone who calls to ask for the millionth time about what they should bring. And if one more person calls and says, “I know I signed up to help, but we are going to the beach tomorrow,” you’re going to totally come unglued!
We need to learn an important key to our mental sanity and harmony at home. That key is to say “no.” We cannot do everything. Something has got to give. Don’t let it be your snapping and flying across the room! Gently let off on the pressure to perform and say no to things that are not essential. One of the greatest deceptions of the enemy in the church and world today is that in order to be fulfilled we must be busy! We often mistake business for happiness, for wholeness, and for genuine religion. Real religion doesn’t have you running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Real religion has you going about your duties unhurried with a sense of resolve and calm, knowing you are in the will of God. (I Thessalonians 4:11-12, James 1:27)
4. A rubber band can do many things, but it can never be a paper clip or a staple.
A paperclip holds things together by getting all bent out of shape.
Staples hold things together by poking and stabbing, then by gripping very tightly.
But, rubber bands hold things together by wrapping itself around the objects and embracing them.
Wrap yourself around your home, your children, your husband, your church, your Lord. Embrace them.
1. You will be stretched. You cannot be a woman of God unless you let God stretch you.
Proverbs 31:19-20 “She STRETCHES out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She EXTENDS her hand to the poor, Yes, she REACHES her hands to the needy.”
Why does she have to stretch, extend, and reach? Not all work and ministry of a woman of God will come easy for her. Sometimes she may have to go beyond her comfort zone. Sometimes she has to go a little further than she’s used to. God is good at putting our ministry just slightly out of our reach. Then we have to strive for it and ask Him for help in reaching it!
Like a rubber band, it is certain that you will be stretched.
2. The only way to fulfill your purpose is to be stretched.
A rubber band does absolutely no good if it is never stretched. If it only loosely hangs around the object you are trying to hold together, it really is useless.
The same goes for us. If we do only what we are used to, what we are comfortable with, or what comes easily, then we are not fulfilling our purpose! And, we are not relying on God’s strength!
God wants us to learn to rely on Him. Things done only from our own power are lacking in the power of the Holy Spirit. God wants to love others through us, serve others through us, and work change in the world through us. We cannot do these things unless we are stretched!
3. Over-stretching results in snapping.
A rubber band can hold together quite a bit. When it’s holding things together, it’s quite useful and a real blessing. But, have you ever tried to stretch a rubber band over too many things? You think, “I’ll just pull a little bit harder or a little further and it will be fine.” Inevitably, the rubber band snaps back, hurting your fingers, maybe breaking or sometimes flying across the room. I know I’m not the only one to have done this!
Yes, as homeschooling moms we have to hold a lot of stuff together. We manage our complicated lives quite well. We get the kids to their soccer practice, dinner on the table, our husbands' suits to the cleaners, the spring garden planted, teach Sunday School, attend the women’s luncheon, join the committee for the next luncheon, coordinate the home school field trip to the museum, maintain our weight, keep the house tidy, remain sexy for our husbands, get up before dawn to be with the Lord, nurse our sick children through the night, are members of the gym, head up the phone tree for church, keep up on our email, and then…
They ask for volunteers at church to head up the bake sale and we think, “Sure, I can do that!”
The night before the bake sale, we are snapping at our children for banging around the kitchen while the dough is rising. We are snapping at our husband for not containing the children. We are nearly snapping at everyone who calls to ask for the millionth time about what they should bring. And if one more person calls and says, “I know I signed up to help, but we are going to the beach tomorrow,” you’re going to totally come unglued!
We need to learn an important key to our mental sanity and harmony at home. That key is to say “no.” We cannot do everything. Something has got to give. Don’t let it be your snapping and flying across the room! Gently let off on the pressure to perform and say no to things that are not essential. One of the greatest deceptions of the enemy in the church and world today is that in order to be fulfilled we must be busy! We often mistake business for happiness, for wholeness, and for genuine religion. Real religion doesn’t have you running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Real religion has you going about your duties unhurried with a sense of resolve and calm, knowing you are in the will of God. (I Thessalonians 4:11-12, James 1:27)
4. A rubber band can do many things, but it can never be a paper clip or a staple.
A paperclip holds things together by getting all bent out of shape.
Staples hold things together by poking and stabbing, then by gripping very tightly.
But, rubber bands hold things together by wrapping itself around the objects and embracing them.
Wrap yourself around your home, your children, your husband, your church, your Lord. Embrace them.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Taking Our Five Little Monkeys To The Zoo
Last Thursday our homeschool co-op took a field trip to the L.A. Zoo. Gana had to work, so my beautiful friend Karen went with me. We had a blast! There's nothing like navigating five children seven years old and younger through an enormous zoo all the while listening to their commentary on everything!
Being that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I was thinking to blog today about the things I was thankful for. But, you know, blogging about being on a field trip with my kids is almost the same thing!
Playing in the mist. Belgee was not so sure about it.
Touching a millipede.
Look how round my pregnant face is!
Petting zoo.
Walking out of one exhibit, Captain turned to Karen, pointed to an enormous lizard and said, "That's a Komodo Dragon. And it's a carnivore."
Seriously, Captain! Do you even know that you are THREE!
Being that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I was thinking to blog today about the things I was thankful for. But, you know, blogging about being on a field trip with my kids is almost the same thing!
Israel, Hadassah (a friend), Lucas, Destiny (a friend) and Meg.
Playing in the mist. Belgee was not so sure about it.
Touching a millipede.
Look how round my pregnant face is!
Petting zoo.Sunday, November 16, 2008
Reformation Day
Because of political blogging, I never got around to telling about what we do for Halloween Reformation Day. We don't observe Halloween for a number of reasons. I can't say it better than Mama Says or And By The Way, so I'll let their posts speak for me.
What do we do? We do remember the Reformation. On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Church. So on October 31 we read a little about his life, sing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and do some fall crafts. It's important because what he sweated and labored to come to grips with (salvation by grace, through faith alone) we receive in an instant. We are still benefiting from his sacrifice.
This year the kids made books.
Who's this kid's teacher?
What do we do? We do remember the Reformation. On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Church. So on October 31 we read a little about his life, sing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and do some fall crafts. It's important because what he sweated and labored to come to grips with (salvation by grace, through faith alone) we receive in an instant. We are still benefiting from his sacrifice.
This year the kids made books.
Who's this kid's teacher?
Someone needs to tell her that's not how to use quotation marks.
Having a Churro from a vendor in Olvera square.
I had forgotten that they would be doing lots of preparation for
The Day of The Dead, DÃas De Los Muertos.
So we had to explain that to the children. Thankfully, they are not easily scared.
Having a Churro from a vendor in Olvera square.
Whether I agree with one or not, I enjoy people-watching.
Here's a little pre-election political action:
Friday, October 24, 2008
My Husband Rocks Friday--He's Brilliant!
What kind of man does it take to obey the Lord's leading and go back to school in his 30's, tackle a Master's Degree at Fuller of all places--in spite of not having obtained a bachelor's degree, work full-time supporting his large and growing family, letting his wife remain a stay-at-home wife and mom, and still bring home mostly A's?
And did I mention that he does this in English, which is not his first, nor his second language! Yep, he's brilliant.
Sorry ladies, he's taken! He's all mine!
Daddy and kids: Homeschooling and Homework.
For more My Husband Rocks visit The Great Adventure.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Unless you become as little children...
...you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 18:3
This week the children's Bible lessons have been all about heaven. So, today being Friday, we decided to end with a bang and paint a mural of heaven. Our homeschooling buddies Caleb and Chris came over to paint with us.
Here are some close-ups, along with the children's interpretations of their own art.
Lucas, age 4
Captain, almost 3
Meg, age 7
Israel, age 6
Chris, age 2
Caleb, age 5
Meg again, age 7
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Homeschooling Meme
Here's a homeschool meme from Raising Explorers, who is thinking about homeschooling. If you're a homeschooler go ahead and fill it out and help her make a good decision!
Q1: Have you home studied (whether unschool or home school) from the beginning or after removing your child from public or private school? If the latter, go to Q2. If always home study, go to Q3.
My kids have been homeschooled from the beginning. But, I went to public school until the second month of the fourth grade. Then I was homeschooled all the way through high school.
Q2: Did you remove your child from public or private school during the school term, or during the summer break? Please describe the transition period. Did you and your child(ren) require a long transition before becoming comfortable in your decision and new lifestyle?
It was GREAT when my parents took us out of school. It's not that we were doing poorly in public school--in fact, the opposite was true. Yet, we enjoyed being home with our parents so much! Who'd want to trade that for being away all day no matter how nice the teacher was?
Q3: Which method of home study has your family chosen to follow? Home school, unschool, or something completely different?
We are pretty much unschoolers. We do have a few pieces of official curriculum, but we spend most of our time in real life learning--at the library, at the park, cooking up messes in the kitchen, making messy art projects, etc. At this point it works for us. Our children are still young. When they get older we'll adjust as needed.
Gana was perhaps a little bit nervous about my unschooling--just wanting to make sure the kids were actually learning something. By the end of the year he was convinced! The kindergartener could sit down and read "Dick and Jane" to him from beginning to end. And they were doing math--addition, subtraction and a little multiplication.
Q4: I can see many benefits to making the change, though I am sure I am unaware of all of them. It’s more difficult for me to see possible negative effects this may have. Can you list any negative effects that removing the child(ren) from school has had on your family, in any way?Has home study had any unexpected positive effects? If yes, please list a couple.
I honestly cannot think of any negatives. Here is something I wrote recently about positives, though. Click here.
Q5: What is the most difficult aspect, in your opinion, of your home study method (home school or unschool).
Answering the question, "What grade is your child in?"
Q6. Did you make the decision to home study with your child(ren)’s input about their schooling preference or did you decide to do this without your child(ren)’s opinion about public/private schooling? Why did you decide to include or exclude your child(ren)’s opinion in this matter?
We've been homeschooling from the beginning, so we saw no point in getting the children's input. And being that we are mostly unschoolers, learning has been just a part of life since they were born. Preschool just flowed into kindergarten and kindergarten into first grade without any sharp distinctions.
Q7. Do you ever have the feeling that maybe you’re not living up to the standard, in education, you wish for your child? Why or why not?
Nope. I'm quite pleased with where they are. Compared to their peers in some ways they are "behind" and some ways "ahead." But that's just life. I don't have cookie-cutter children and I'm fine with that.
Q8. How does your family supplement social interaction (with other children) in your home study method?
We belong to a co-op that comes together for field trips, park days, and a few classes. Also, they interact with other children at church, cell group, and neighborhood children. We certainly don't lack for social interaction. I find myself having to say no to opportunities because homeschool is about being at home! And if we wanted we could be busy or away from home every day!
Q9. Are there any subjects or topics, common in public school curriculum, that you either refuse to teach your child or believe and teach very differently from public school curriculum - or believe to be inappropriate for the age which it is introduced in public school? For example, first grade public school introduces slavery, which I believe to be inappropriate for the age of my son.
I don't really know what the public school introduces when. But, I think information needs to be taught IN CONTEXT. So, we do not do things like Black History Month or Women's History Month, etc. You can read a great essay on it here.
Q10. Has your child ever shown interest in something that you just don’t know anything about - and would take a long time for you to learn? What was it and what was your solution for aiding them in learning about it? For example, if your child wanted to play an instrument that you do not know - it’s very expensive to get lessons (I would not be able to afford this), where as it is free, outside of instrument cost, in public school.
First of all, the resources of the public school are generally available to homeschoolers. You can enroll your child in band or sports with the public school if you want. Also, there are community centers, YMCA and homeschool co-ops that sometimes offer things like sports, music lessons, etc. for free or very inexpensively. I know of homeschool moms that barter with one another--e.g. you teach my son violin, I'll teach your daughter sewing. There are a lot of creative options if you just look for them.
Q1: Have you home studied (whether unschool or home school) from the beginning or after removing your child from public or private school? If the latter, go to Q2. If always home study, go to Q3.
My kids have been homeschooled from the beginning. But, I went to public school until the second month of the fourth grade. Then I was homeschooled all the way through high school.
Q2: Did you remove your child from public or private school during the school term, or during the summer break? Please describe the transition period. Did you and your child(ren) require a long transition before becoming comfortable in your decision and new lifestyle?
It was GREAT when my parents took us out of school. It's not that we were doing poorly in public school--in fact, the opposite was true. Yet, we enjoyed being home with our parents so much! Who'd want to trade that for being away all day no matter how nice the teacher was?
Q3: Which method of home study has your family chosen to follow? Home school, unschool, or something completely different?
We are pretty much unschoolers. We do have a few pieces of official curriculum, but we spend most of our time in real life learning--at the library, at the park, cooking up messes in the kitchen, making messy art projects, etc. At this point it works for us. Our children are still young. When they get older we'll adjust as needed.
Gana was perhaps a little bit nervous about my unschooling--just wanting to make sure the kids were actually learning something. By the end of the year he was convinced! The kindergartener could sit down and read "Dick and Jane" to him from beginning to end. And they were doing math--addition, subtraction and a little multiplication.
Q4: I can see many benefits to making the change, though I am sure I am unaware of all of them. It’s more difficult for me to see possible negative effects this may have. Can you list any negative effects that removing the child(ren) from school has had on your family, in any way?Has home study had any unexpected positive effects? If yes, please list a couple.
I honestly cannot think of any negatives. Here is something I wrote recently about positives, though. Click here.
Q5: What is the most difficult aspect, in your opinion, of your home study method (home school or unschool).
Answering the question, "What grade is your child in?"
Q6. Did you make the decision to home study with your child(ren)’s input about their schooling preference or did you decide to do this without your child(ren)’s opinion about public/private schooling? Why did you decide to include or exclude your child(ren)’s opinion in this matter?
We've been homeschooling from the beginning, so we saw no point in getting the children's input. And being that we are mostly unschoolers, learning has been just a part of life since they were born. Preschool just flowed into kindergarten and kindergarten into first grade without any sharp distinctions.
Q7. Do you ever have the feeling that maybe you’re not living up to the standard, in education, you wish for your child? Why or why not?
Nope. I'm quite pleased with where they are. Compared to their peers in some ways they are "behind" and some ways "ahead." But that's just life. I don't have cookie-cutter children and I'm fine with that.
Q8. How does your family supplement social interaction (with other children) in your home study method?
We belong to a co-op that comes together for field trips, park days, and a few classes. Also, they interact with other children at church, cell group, and neighborhood children. We certainly don't lack for social interaction. I find myself having to say no to opportunities because homeschool is about being at home! And if we wanted we could be busy or away from home every day!
Q9. Are there any subjects or topics, common in public school curriculum, that you either refuse to teach your child or believe and teach very differently from public school curriculum - or believe to be inappropriate for the age which it is introduced in public school? For example, first grade public school introduces slavery, which I believe to be inappropriate for the age of my son.
I don't really know what the public school introduces when. But, I think information needs to be taught IN CONTEXT. So, we do not do things like Black History Month or Women's History Month, etc. You can read a great essay on it here.
Q10. Has your child ever shown interest in something that you just don’t know anything about - and would take a long time for you to learn? What was it and what was your solution for aiding them in learning about it? For example, if your child wanted to play an instrument that you do not know - it’s very expensive to get lessons (I would not be able to afford this), where as it is free, outside of instrument cost, in public school.
First of all, the resources of the public school are generally available to homeschoolers. You can enroll your child in band or sports with the public school if you want. Also, there are community centers, YMCA and homeschool co-ops that sometimes offer things like sports, music lessons, etc. for free or very inexpensively. I know of homeschool moms that barter with one another--e.g. you teach my son violin, I'll teach your daughter sewing. There are a lot of creative options if you just look for them.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Blog Warming Party and Giveaway!
Click here to visit amada's blog-warming party and enter to win a year's subscription to the Old Schoolhouse digital magazine! or copy and paste: http://fisheracademy.blogspot.com
And I get another entry in Amy's contest by doing the following little meme:
On your blog write about your 3 favorite things about homeschooling, and one thing you'd like to change about your homeschool.
Favorite things:
1. I love spending time with my children. I would weep if they were away most of the day, every day. They are such great people that I want to spend time with them.
2. We get to tailor our school calendar to suit our family. I think I'm taking at least a whole month off when the baby arrives.
3. I love seeing their eyes light up when they become enlightened about something amazing.
One thing I'd change:
If I had the space I would love to have a school/craft room. As it is I have craft supplies under the bed, the chore chart in the dining room, the desks are in Meg's room, etc. Unsightly and not very convenient.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
A Philosophical Reason To Homeschool
We are almost done with our first "official" year of homeschooling. Although, it's been just a part of life. To me homeschooling is rather natural. I taught these children to eat with a spoon and poop in the potty and say their ABC's, so it's only natural that now I teach them to add, subtract and read longer words.
Parents homeschool for a variety of reasons. While some people may homeschool to keep things like homosexuality and evolution from being taught to their kids, my reasons run a little more philosophical than that.
That our children should learn is a given. (We all should learn!) The next question in my mind is HOW are they to learn. There are different philosophies of HOW to educate a child. As a generality, there are two basic methods of education. The first is HEBREW and the other is GREEK.
In a Hebrew Education a student is to BECOME what the teacher IS.
Luke 6:40, "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher."
Proverbs 23:19, "Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way."
Education that is HEBREW in nature is relationship centered and truths are taught in context. (Remember this "in context" point, 'cause it's an important one!) This is why Hebrew boys attend Hebrew schools--they study under men of character so as to become men of character. Apprenticeship is Hebrew in nature. One learns under a carpenter to become a carpenter. One learns under a physician to become a physician. One is apprenticed to a pastor to become a minister.
An education that is HEBREW in nature has an order and a priority to things learned. 2 Peter says "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Where does knowledge come in this list? Not first. First is FAITH. Then comes GOODNESS and then KNOWLEDGE.
In a Biblical model knowledge cannot be the primary focus. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, "We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." We cannot be focused on our children passing tests and memorizing prime numbers and INFORMATION. Not unless we are trying to raise arrogant children. Knowledge PUFFS UP. LOVE builds up. Again, education must be faith and relationship centered.
The relationship between teacher and student needs to exceed a school year so that the teacher can have maximum influence on the student, to mold his character, teach him life skills and to impart a love for true learning and truth.
This cannot be found in a government school. And I daresay should not be found in a public school. I'd be a tad concerned if a hireling was so interested in my child to get overly involved in his private life. And the government better stay out of teaching faith!
I don't think the Bible commands homeschooling. A good Hebrew education can be achieved other ways--apprenticeship, charter schools, parents co-op schooling, to name a few.
However, public government schools are GREEK in nature. In a Greek education a student LEARNS what the teacher TEACHES.
The Greeks were the first to develop "disciplines." They dissected education into subjects for the sake of efficiency. Which is why classrooms are age-segregated and peer-based. It's more efficient that way to isolate the lowest common denominator of knowledge in the subject presented. (Also the lowest common denominator as far as moral standards and behavior, too!) It is about CONTENT rather than CONTEXT. It's about getting a student the information. Thus, information is taken out of context and completely out of the realm of real life. To learn about soil composition but never to plant anything is a Greek method. The Greeks thought they could teach a child's mind and body and leave out his heart and soul.
How these two differ in a practical example:
In a Hebrew Method education history is taught in context. If learning about the history of Europe, history is taught linearly as a child has a context in which to evaluate each story and character. You would not jump from the potato famine in Ireland to Johnny Appleseed just because they are both agricultural stories.
In a Greek Method education you have "Black History Month" or "Woman's History Month" or what did I see the other day at the market...Oh yes, "Asian/Pacific Islander Appreciation Month." Why in the world students learn about the contributions Tyra Banks and George Washington Carver made to society in the same lesson is beyond me! There is no context to this, no background, no sense! We've appreciated people based on skin color and not what they've actually accomplished. But the INFORMATION is being given so it doesn't matter if there is no historical context to place it or moral context by which to evaluate it.
For our family, education is not as academic as it is about a lifestyle of learning and serving the Lord together. That's our focus and we couldn't do that if we sent the kids off every day to hirelings for their education.
For further enlightenment:
A blog about education being taught in context. VERY WORTH THE READ! Click here.
Hebrew vs. Greek Education, click here.
Parents homeschool for a variety of reasons. While some people may homeschool to keep things like homosexuality and evolution from being taught to their kids, my reasons run a little more philosophical than that.
That our children should learn is a given. (We all should learn!) The next question in my mind is HOW are they to learn. There are different philosophies of HOW to educate a child. As a generality, there are two basic methods of education. The first is HEBREW and the other is GREEK.
In a Hebrew Education a student is to BECOME what the teacher IS.
Luke 6:40, "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher."
Proverbs 23:19, "Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way."
Education that is HEBREW in nature is relationship centered and truths are taught in context. (Remember this "in context" point, 'cause it's an important one!) This is why Hebrew boys attend Hebrew schools--they study under men of character so as to become men of character. Apprenticeship is Hebrew in nature. One learns under a carpenter to become a carpenter. One learns under a physician to become a physician. One is apprenticed to a pastor to become a minister.
An education that is HEBREW in nature has an order and a priority to things learned. 2 Peter says "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Where does knowledge come in this list? Not first. First is FAITH. Then comes GOODNESS and then KNOWLEDGE.
In a Biblical model knowledge cannot be the primary focus. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, "We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." We cannot be focused on our children passing tests and memorizing prime numbers and INFORMATION. Not unless we are trying to raise arrogant children. Knowledge PUFFS UP. LOVE builds up. Again, education must be faith and relationship centered.
The relationship between teacher and student needs to exceed a school year so that the teacher can have maximum influence on the student, to mold his character, teach him life skills and to impart a love for true learning and truth.
This cannot be found in a government school. And I daresay should not be found in a public school. I'd be a tad concerned if a hireling was so interested in my child to get overly involved in his private life. And the government better stay out of teaching faith!
I don't think the Bible commands homeschooling. A good Hebrew education can be achieved other ways--apprenticeship, charter schools, parents co-op schooling, to name a few.
However, public government schools are GREEK in nature. In a Greek education a student LEARNS what the teacher TEACHES.
The Greeks were the first to develop "disciplines." They dissected education into subjects for the sake of efficiency. Which is why classrooms are age-segregated and peer-based. It's more efficient that way to isolate the lowest common denominator of knowledge in the subject presented. (Also the lowest common denominator as far as moral standards and behavior, too!) It is about CONTENT rather than CONTEXT. It's about getting a student the information. Thus, information is taken out of context and completely out of the realm of real life. To learn about soil composition but never to plant anything is a Greek method. The Greeks thought they could teach a child's mind and body and leave out his heart and soul.
How these two differ in a practical example:
In a Hebrew Method education history is taught in context. If learning about the history of Europe, history is taught linearly as a child has a context in which to evaluate each story and character. You would not jump from the potato famine in Ireland to Johnny Appleseed just because they are both agricultural stories.
In a Greek Method education you have "Black History Month" or "Woman's History Month" or what did I see the other day at the market...Oh yes, "Asian/Pacific Islander Appreciation Month." Why in the world students learn about the contributions Tyra Banks and George Washington Carver made to society in the same lesson is beyond me! There is no context to this, no background, no sense! We've appreciated people based on skin color and not what they've actually accomplished. But the INFORMATION is being given so it doesn't matter if there is no historical context to place it or moral context by which to evaluate it.
For our family, education is not as academic as it is about a lifestyle of learning and serving the Lord together. That's our focus and we couldn't do that if we sent the kids off every day to hirelings for their education.
For further enlightenment:
A blog about education being taught in context. VERY WORTH THE READ! Click here.
Hebrew vs. Greek Education, click here.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thinking Inside and Outside the Box
To the untrained eye it's just a box. To one with vision it is an art project, a fort, a club house, a secret hideaway, a church, a castle, and a hospital.
Captain, Destiny, Hadassah, Meg, Israel and Luc
What is there not to like about home schooling?!
Hadassah and Destiny
Captain, Destiny, Hadassah, Meg, Israel and LucWhat is there not to like about home schooling?!
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