 Read: Isaiah 11:1-2
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. I invite you to join me on a 25 day journey to celebrate the birth of Christ! [If you are late to this "party" that's ok, you can still join in and watch the previous videos.] Each day, beginning December 1st, I will be sharing a video of a devotion only to my email subscribers, so if you want to participate and be blessed, please sign up for my email. You will need a little tree of some kind, either artificial or even a twig in a pot, as long as it has lots of branches. Next, you or your children will need to make an ornament for each day that represents the topic of that devotion. The list is below. You can be creative and crafty and make something yourself or you can download and color some ornaments. I do recommend purchasing the book, The Advent Jesse Tree by Dean Lambert, as it contains one page with devotions especially geared to kids and the other side (the one I will be sharing) geared to adults. It also has hymn suggestions to sing and the accompanying Scripture verses. What a great way to start the day! Day 1 – a globe or picture of the earth Day 2 – an apple and a snake wrapped around it Day 3 – an ark with a rainbow Day 4 – a camel and a tent Day 5 – a lamb Day 6 – a ladder Day 7 – a colorful coat Day 8 – a tablet with ten numbers Day 9 – a cluster of grapes Day 10 – a sheaf of wheat Day 11 – a slingshot Day 12 – a scroll or Bible Day 13 – a stump with fresh shoot or green leaf Day 14 – a lion and a lamb Day 15 – a dove and a crown Day 16 – a lamb and a shepherd’s staff Day 17 – a cross Day 18 – a heart with writing on it Day 19 – a Bethlehem town silhouette with star Day 20 – a fiery furnace Day 21 – a brick wall Day 22 – a star Day 23 – a candle or light Day 24 – an angel Day 25 – a baby in a manger or a nativity scene  Did you know that Psalm 119 contains 176 verses!
The author of this devotional does not mean for this to be a speed read. Instead, each verse is to be one daily devotion so that you have time to meditate upon it as God's Word tells us we are to do. Some of the best known and best loved verses are from this Psalm. Verse 11: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Verse 89: Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Verse 105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Verse 114: Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. I have lost count of the number of times the words "precepts," "judgments," and "testimonies" appear in these verses. David love the precepts and statues of the Lord because they bless him by giving light to the understanding and keeping him on the right path. It can do the same for us. This book would make a great part of your family's morning time ritual. We are giving away ONE copy in August but you have to sign up to be entered in the drawing.
Last night I had the privilege to drive down to Buchanan, VA for a presentation on the artist Edward Beyer by the Botetourt County Historical Society. It was quite well-attended. On the left is one of his pictures of the Natural Bridge in Virginia. Displayed were prints from his "Album of Virginia" (see picture on the right) and the Natural Bridge is one of many. Unfortunately, the colors here look washed out, but it is not really like that. The colors are much more vibrant. Edward Beyer was born in Germany in 1820 but spent a few years in Virginia depicting in his paintings the Antebellum South. He was a graduate of the Dusseldorf Academy of Art. Virginians would recognize many of the places he painted, but one of the things I found intriguing was his paintings are like a snapshot of Virginia life then (1856-1857) of places that are familiar to us today and yet not. It is so easy to give your kids an education in art. This event was free and I went home with a book about Beyer and his paintings (of course!) Have a conversation with the others present. Have a conversation with your children about what they learned or what stood out to them. By talking to someone who happened to be on the board of the historical society, I learned that the original painting they had on display had been restored (and rescued) because of a flood back in the '80s. I had commented on how well-preserved the painting was considering its age and that is when I learned that it was indeed well-preserved as it had been through water up to the ceiling! This little outing could be extended by having your children learn more about where the artist got his training and this particular style of very detailed art. Maybe your children could imitate his style? Why does it matter? Are your kids going to be an artist? Maybe not. But kids need knowledge of the world and this is one interesting way to do it. They need to make connections which only happens with lots of experiences, reading, and interactions with people and places. Foster their curiosity. In addition, we spent some time traipsing over the historical swinging bridge spanning the James River. There is history behind this bridge, but that's for another day!   In spite of the many disturbing trends in government schooling today, parents and grandparents can supply missing content in children’s education. No matter whether your children attend public, private, or Christian school, even the best of schools cannot teach everything. Rather than engage in useless complaining, why not get involved to rectify the situation? Where to start?
Let me introduce you to the Tuttle twins. They are fictitious characters in a series of books on economics and law for 5-11 year-old children written by Connor Boyack and illustrated by Elijah Stanfield. Each of the twelve books in the series clearly and cleverly teaches a lesson on history, money, law, or political philosophy in a way that youngsters can understand. Many are based on famous essays or novels. For example, in The Tuttle Twins and the Search for Atlas, which is based on Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, readers learn the results of socialism. What happens when the innovators abandon their enterprises? The Tuttle Twins and the Creature from Jekyll Island, explains what the Federal Reserve is, when it was created, and how it works. Do you know? You might want to read this along with your children. It was created the same year that the income tax was instituted in 1913. One of my favorites is The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil, which is based on an essay by Leonard Reed entitled, “I, Pencil.” How is it possible that no one knows how to make a pencil from start to finish and yet pencils are a common, everyday object? What about The Tuttle Twins and the Golden Rule? It is heartbreaking how many children have never heard of the Golden Rule, the principle of which is taken right from the Bible. If we would just follow it, many of our problems would be solved. Why not establish a once-a-month Saturday club where you invite your children’s friends to join you? Read the book aloud because even though they can read the book themselves, it facilitates greater discussion and provides an opportunity for children to ask questions. To aid in that, the book provides a short glossary and discussion questions in the back. The twelve books divide perfectly into presenting one book a month. Also provided is a downloadable workbook for each book. The books are also available on audio and in other languages. In addition to the twelve set of books for 5-11 year-olds, there is a set of four books for high schoolers and there is even a set of books for toddlers! No one is left out. The Tuttle Toddlers: The ABCs of Liberty anyone? E is for Entrepreneur; L is for Loyalists. We all know how much little ones can understand, especially when presented at their level. For those who want to dive deeper, they also have a ten-unit Free Market Rules Economic Curriculum that includes a parent teaching guide. You can also subscribe to their monthly magazine for kids to learn about current events. It comes with a swag welcome box with stickers, buttons, and magnets. The subscription is available in print and online along with weekly writing prompts. If you purchase the books through my affiliate link, I will receive a small portion and you will not pay anything additional. My main reason for writing this review is to help you discover stellar resources to teach your children what is not being taught. I chose to be an affiliate because I was so impressed with what they have to offer and I don’t want you to miss out! Sadly, parents and grandparents are left out of the conversation when it comes to government schooling, but that just means that they should take a more active part in the next generation. If you are concerned about your children being taught falsehoods about our nation’s history and that government is the solution to their problems, then you will want to get these books.  Parenting and homeschooling take lots of time and effort, no doubt. But what a joy! You get to be a parent of a beautiful young boy or girl or maybe several! However, this does not mean that your children will absorb all that you know just by being around you. It is true that they "catch" a lot of learning by your example, but not everything.
One of those areas is understanding the foundation that our country was established upon. America values liberty and rightly so. It is still the place that people want to come to because we have the most freedom and a high standard of living. That freedom did not just drop out of thin air. Where did it come from? That is what the Tuttle Twins series of books teaches. These are a set of engaging stories designed for 8-11 year olds that are unique in that they are based on classic adult works on economics and government. The adult versions are books such as Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand; The Law, by Frederic Bastiat; Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt, and others. If you order the set, you will be able to download a fun and thought-provoking set of pdfs for each book. Included are fun activities and thought-provoking questions. Isn't that what we really desire in our kids? The ability to question and think about things, so that your children will not grow up manipulated and deceived. Our JULY giveaway is this Tuttle Twins book "The Road to Surfdom." Be sure to enter our drawing here. Check out more of the Tuttle Twins books. Thank you for using my affiliate link: It helps me out but doesn't cost you anything extra. https://tuttletwins.com/?ref=Renee  I LOVE to travel! I don't know about you but when some says, "passport" all kinds of fun visions come to mind of places I would love to see. If you are looking for a fun set of books for your children to read this summer, they will really enjoy The Magic Treehouse Series, designed for 9 to 12 year olds. Titles include: Mummies in the Morning; Pirates Past Noon; Midnight on the Moon; Day of the Dragon King, and many others.
The other "magic" word is "treehouse." Who doesn't love a treehouse! The stories include a little time travel to exotic places such as... and they include a mystery to be solved. They also have companion non-fiction books for further learning. Merlin Missions is a series are for older and more experienced readers. Some titles: Christmas at Camelot; Summer of the Sea Serpent; Hurry Up Houdini, and More. Don't let your children fool away the summer; make sure they keep their reading skills sharp and this series will be sure to make reading fun. Even writing this, I want to read them myself!  A frequent lament of homeschooling parents is, "How will I find the time to teach everything that I need!"
The trick is to combine subjects. Government and private schools compartmentalize learning, but that isn't the way we learn best in real life and homeschoolers do not have to follow that pattern. (Please don't!) Learning about one topic intersects and overlaps so many other topics and this enables learners to make connections. Reading and writing is one area that can be combined and can reinforce each other. When children are young and just learning their sounds and letters, the emphasis will need to be on learning to read, but at the same time, encouraging them to write the words they are sounding out will reinforce the phonics they are learning. As their skills develop, continuing to write out new words will embed correct spelling in their minds. Learning to spell is multi-sensory; it is visual as the student sees and pays attention to the word and the letters that make it up. It is auditory, as the student spells it aloud. It is tactile, as the student writes it down. Copywork, a key element of a Charlotte Mason-styled education, combines reading and writing. A child copies a sentence or a paragraph, whatever is appropriate for their age, and reads it as they write it, and they read it after they write it. For younger children, I recommend the Draw, Write, Now series. Each set of books features a different theme and each book features a different topic. It contains copywork (writing and reading) as well as an art lesson! That's combining THREE "subjects." This article from Education Week addresses the need for reading and writing to be paired. This is one way a busy homeschool mom can work multiple subjects in to her day. I love an article that does more than present a problem and this one offers a few activities to help with building the reading-writing connection. You'll notice a couple of terms that you may not be familiar with in the article, so let me help you out. "Balanced Literacy" - a terrible and failing system of teaching children to read by looking at pictures and guessing. This system has been perpetrated on school children for decades with disastrous results! "The Science of Reading" - Although they try to make this sound like a new approach, it most certainly is not. It is based on phonics, a method proven to produce strong readers. It does take some time to learn phonics if you have never learned it yourself and have never taught it. It will take time to learn how to blend reading and writing instruction, but that's the nature of homeschooling. When you have taken on the responsibility (and delight) of teaching your own children it does require some input of your time, but it will pay off HUGE for you and your children.  Did you know that in the early days of the founding of our country, that children weren't sent to school until they learned to read? Where did they learn that? At home, of course! So you can see, that homeschooling is the natural way to educate. Reading wasn't taught by experts, but by parents, because learning to read isn't hard unless you make it so. The Founding generation was highly literate!
Children of at least average intelligence can learn to read if proper methods are used. It only makes sense to use phonics, since English is a phonetic language. Each letter or combination of letters corresponds to one of only forty-four sounds in English. For two or three decades now, schools have been passing kids along who cannot read, and since most are NOT homeschooled, who is at fault here? It is the most basic job of schools to teach children to read! The reason so many cannot read (and as a result, they hate to read, understandably) is because they use faulty methods, which go by a variety of names. They might ask kids to use strategies, such as looking at pictures or noticing the first letter or two of a word or the shape of the word or to learn a gazillion sight words. What a difficult way to read! Reading is NOT a guessing game. There are sounds and orderly rules. Even the exceptions are the exception. Throwing in a smattering of phonics into the mix is not helpful and only leads to confusion. Even worse, it hinders their ability to read. Only phonics must be used. A couple of good programs are Spalding and the Orton Gillingham systems. Orton Gillingham also claims to help dyslexic kids. There is abundant research backing up phonics as the most effective way to teach reading. If you would like to learn more about how the decline in reading has happened and what can be done, I suggest listening to every episode of the podcast, "Sold a Story." In the first three years (K-3rd grade) kids are taught to read, ostensibly, and after that they are expected to read to learn. If they didn't learn to read by then, they will have an incredibly difficult time learning in school. (Fortunately, you are a homeschooler and don't have to allow that to happen to your children.) Nine out of ten high school dropouts were struggling readers in third grade. Students who don’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. This will alter their career trajectory profoundly. High school dropouts are already not eligible for 90 percent of jobs and cost the economy an estimated $272,000 over their lifetime. (Read the full report from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) I find it very inappropriate that more school districts want to monitor homeschoolers when their own track record in this area is abominable. Furthermore, the fact that reading scores and reading ability in government schools is in the tank, is educational malpractice. Yet, they continue to graduate high schoolers who cannot read! Here is their own report showing that fewer than a third of the (4th and 8th grade) children are proficient readers. And it continues to decline! What they don't adress is why. So I am asking, "Why don't they explain the methods they are using? Why don't they use effective methods? They exist. These are questions that demand answers. All other learning hinges on reading, so make this your educational priority. Aren't you glad you homeschool?   I have used the quote below to introduce my topic. The bold print is my own to emphasize one of the benefits of nature journaling. https://www.freelancewriting.com/journal-writing/nature-journaling/ by Dr. Ruth Wilson "I’ve been keeping a nature journal on and off over the past twenty-five years and have found it helpful in deepening my connection with nature. By journaling, I’ve become more observant of the sights, sounds, scents, and feel of what’s around me in the natural world. I notice, for example, not just the fact that I’m walking through a forest or a grove of trees but that individual trees have unique characteristics—some have leaves shaped like stars, some have seeds that rattle in the wind, and some have bark as smooth as sanded wood. I like to record these observations along with unusual or surprising sightings, like a porcupine in the branches of a cottonwood tree or a family of quails in our backyard. One day, my surprise was finding a hummingbird’s nest with the tiniest eggs I’ve ever seen. I date my journal entries and find it interesting to compare my observations of particular places and things in nature from one season to another and from one year to another." A wealth has been written on journaling in general and nature notebooking in particular. It is a common activity in those following a Charlotte Mason-styled approach to education, but it did not start with her. Before photography, the natural world was recorded in pencil and paint. It was a way of documenting explorations and discoveries. Consider the incredibly detailed Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, who recorded plants, animals, rivers, maps, Indians, and experiences or John James Audubon whose classic work The Birds of America depicted the fowls of America. The “Father of the National Parks,” John Muir kept a nature journal of his many nature travels. With all that a busy homeschooling family must do, why should you consider spending time on this activity? One benefit of keeping a nature journal is that it will increase patience and skills of observation. Keeping a nature journal can be done when you feel inclined or on a more regular basis. That is up to you. I do find, though, that making a time for journaling will make it more likely to happen. Also, allow for those spontaneous opportunities to drop everything and grab the notebook. For example, a bird might fly into view for a brief few moments. That opportunity isn’t going to wait until your kids finish their math lesson.  What if you and your kids can’t draw? Whatever we practice tends to improve over time, so I wouldn’t be judgmental about yours or your children’s efforts. Do have some quality supplies, at least the basics: a couple of sharp pencils, erasers, colored pencils, a sketch pad. Later, you can add in some watercolors or acryllics. Your nature sketches can become the basis for more full-blown artworks. Did you know that you can BUY inspiration! Yes! Art journalists need inspiration and a beautiful classic journal to invest in is Edith Holden’s, The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady. Inside, she has drawn and painted what she sees each month in her English countryside and she has added notes of explanation. Why not pattern your nature notebooking after hers for one year? How does your landscape change from season to season and month to month? Another idea is to choose a theme. Perhaps your family will draw birds , insects, leaves, mushrooms, or animals? A trip to the zoo is a fun place to draw. We did this with our nature notebooks one time and I learned two things that made an impression on me: 1) Most people hardly look at the animals for 15 seconds! 2) When drawing a zebra, I had never realized that their mane isn’t all black or all white, but alternates, just like the stripes on their hide. To keep things fresh, change the media from time to time. Some kids really like pencils; others quickly tire of that. Try markers or pen and ink. Use colored construction paper with pastels or chalk. Some good resources for delving into this fun and educational activity: Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Leslie Walker Nature Drawing: A Tool for Learning by Clare Leslie Walker Wild Days: Creating Discovery Journals by Karen Skidmore Rackliffe Nature journaling combines art, science, and writing in one. It facilitates family togetherness. It’s a good use of your time!   Inspiring learners is what we do best at The Inspired Scholar. We know that inspired students learn. Children start out in life on fire for learning. They ask questions and absorb everything in their environment. It is our aim to keep that fire lit. What does it mean to be inspired? The 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language declares : informed or directed by the Holy Spirit The Merriam-Webster online explains: the action or power of moving the emotions. A Christian cannot do better than to begin by praying and asking for wisdom in regard to his child’s inner workings. After all, God made him or her. A little insight will go a long ways. But everyone experiences a lack of motivation at times, so we offer you five ways to keep your children inspired in the work of learning. 1. Use their interests Who doesn't like to spend more time on what they are interested in? In a tutoring situation, when I am faced with a student who really dislikes writing, I often start by having him or her make a list of 10 or 12 of their interests. I encourage choices and let them write on one of their interests. Instantly, writing becomes that much easier and less of a burden. This applies to other subjects, too. When studying science or history, for example, allow a choice of topics or eras as much as possible. Allow some choice in in how they will demonstrate their learning. Written tests are only one of many assessment tools. Choice is key in inspiring learners. 2. Field Trips Children needs lot of input for their brain and getting outdoors and taking trips to new places is an important vehicle for learning about the world, an impetus for conversation , and necessary for developing observations and opinions about the world. Field trips can be with a group or homeschool co-op, but I also consider family outings, field trips. A field trip need not be far away or expensive. Start with your own hometown. Most people do not really know their own area as much as they might think. While living in Arizona, it never ceased to amaze me the number of people who had never visited the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World! Seek out places to go as if you were a tourist. While visiting our family we learned of a couple of historic estates with art museums and gardens. Additionally, we visited some lighthouses for the very first time and they always have some fascinating history! 3. Take a break Yes, a break can be motivating, because we all need to "do nothing" sometimes to renew our minds and bodies. This is especially true if you are constantly busy. Kids and adults need down time, too. Take, as needed. Taking a break might not mean "doing nothing" but instead, doing things differently, in a different order or with different people or a new routine. 4. A different teacher Each teacher has something unique to offer. No matter how expert a homeschool parent may be at teaching a particular subject, a new perspective from an "outsider" can infuse a student with new enthusiasm in their learning journey. Other teachers have their own experiences to share with students and a different way to approach their subject. 5. Choices Choice gives a person a feeling of control over their lives. It is something everyone appreciates. It is also an important part of the adult world, so children need opportunities to make good choices. As much as possible (and age-appropriate) allow your child to make their schedule. They will learn through trial and error what is a realistic schedule and what is not achievable (at least for them at this time). Some are naturally early birds and others perk up later in the day. That should be taken into account when planning the day. Young people could also choose the days of the week and months of the year that they will study. Perhaps they can help choose the curriculum or subjects. We all like choices and children will be more cooperative when their input is included. |
Renee MetcalfWhere will you find me when I am not teaching? For your reading pleasure!
August 2025
Topics
All
|
RSS Feed
Photo from jofo2005
