Works for Me Wednesday: Washable Markers

Small white boards are nice for practicing letters and drawing pictures. They are a sort of modern slate saving me quite a bit of paper.

The only problem was letting my little ones use dry erase markers, because no matter how hard I tried to supervise they would draw elsewhere.

I looked for alternatives and saw something called wet erase markers. Because that sounded very similar to the washable markers we already own, I pulled out the Crayola.

Washable markers work great! I just keep a wet rag close. The rag gets very colorful, but it washes right out.

I’ve also used washable markers on the outside of my refrigerator. It creates a large white board in a very convenient spot. I am a bit nervous about turning my new refrigerator rainbow colors, but so far I haven’t had any issues. I just clean it off immediately after lessons.

Washable markers work for me!

For more tips visit Works for Me Wednesday.

Introduction to Biblical Poetry

It’s midnight, and I just finished my homework. Yes, real homework. College homework! I’m taking an elementary literature class at Aletheia Christian College. My assignment this week was to start creating a notebook on the classic, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. I plan to share it when it is done, but for now, I’d like to introduce you to Biblical poetry.

Poetry isn’t my favorite form of literature, but my research created such an engaging word picture inspiration erupted. I was able to take this one lesson and relate it to all my children, ages 4 to 12. Please pay special attention to the definition of composition in my outline to see if you get any ideas.

photo credit: whiteafrican

To pique student interest:

Imagine stumbling across a treasure box full of gold and diamonds. Would you simply sigh and walk away? What kinds of words would you use to describe your excitement?

Sometimes a narrative just isn’t enough. Sometimes our souls beg to express to the wonder of our experiences. We sing. We dance. We cry. We pray. We use words to try to expose what is going on inside our hearts. One way we do this is through the gift of poetry.

I. Introduction to Biblical Poetry

A. Poem “…A composition in which the verses consist of certain measures, whether in blank verse [has meter, but not rhyme] or in rhyme.”

B. Verse “In poetry, a line, consisting of a certain number of long and short syllables…”

C. Composition “In literature, the act of inventing or combining ideas, clothing them with words, arranging them in order…writing them.”

The Bible has some of the most beautiful poetry of all, but the poetry in the Bible is much different from our English poetry.

II. Characteristics of Hebrew Poetry

A. Hebrew poetry relies on rhythms and sounds. Hence, the use of alliteration, repeating of sounds.

B. Parallelism, logical rhythm

1. Synonymous parallelism, the second line reinforces the first (Psalms 19:1)
2. Antithetic parallelism, the second line shows a contract (Proverbs 13:16)
3. Synthetic parallelism, the second line continues the thought (Proverbs 26:20)

C. Acrostic “A composition in verse, in which the first letter of the lines, taken in order, form the name of a person, kingdom, city, etc. which is the subject of the composition.” (Psalms 9, 199, and 37)

Did you see it? Clothing ideas with words. Who knew the dictionary could bring life to a lesson? Well, Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary can!

I took that one idea and talked to my children about our internal thoughts. Words clothe our ideas, but can they truly reveal our innermost parts? How can mere letters comprehend the personality and soul of a unique individual?

And think of all the ways we use words. Some work in warm boots and overalls, some lounge in jeans and a t-shirt, some dance in sparkling ballroom gowns, some sing in pajamas at dawn.

I’ll embrace that last gift, but it might not be before coffee…

A Simple Way to Store and Preserve Children’s Art

Anne-Marie agreed with me about getting rid of stuff, but wonders what to do with her children’s artwork. I’ve wondered the same thing for awhile. And in typical perfectionist fashion, I’ve done more pondering than doing.

My children’s artwork is stashed in the desk drawer, file box, or craft closet.

The Young Artist

I planned to store current items in my desk, add a few photographs from the year, and put them all together in scrapbooks for posterity. It’s a good idea and a good plan, but it has yet to be implemented.

For me scrapbooking becomes all about the paper and color and layout. My craft time vanishes. I look at my accomplishment, one vibrant page with three photos displayed. Hundreds of images are left in the box.

The following tutorial inspired me with its simplicity at last year’s Heart of the Matter’s Online Conference. Kelli Crowe shows how a binder, page protectors, and stickers can be used to quickly store and preserve the memories of a school year.

I can do that! Anne-Marie, you can too.

How do you store your children’s artwork?

Storing Notebooks

My son’s school work is stored in binders. At the end of each year, his revelations are bound with thick rubber bands and placed in the garage closet. Five years worth of notes, pictures, and maps hidden away. Not anymore.

I planned to start school on Monday. And we did, sort of. After eating the Deckard’s famous (now animal-shaped) waffles, we sang, read a Scripture, and prayed. Craft time followed, because bookmarks save time, and our stash vanished. While coloring, Sweet Pea informed me making bookmarks is not school. “You have to go to school,” she insisted. She’s only three, so there is time to persuade her. Her own pink binder helped a bit.

Then I needed to decide what to do with Bug’s notebooks. Relinquishing them to the garage, yet again, seemed to obscure the purpose. I want my children to have a record of their learning, to delight in reviewing their discoveries. That doesn’t happen if their work is stuffed out of sight.

I mulled over the idea of combining five years worth of notebooks and building on the foundation already laid. The stacks intimidated, but the reward waited.

I separated each subject for various grades and removed math and spelling worksheets. Bug’s first year drawings brought smiles of remembrance. His growing understanding demonstrated as the pages progress. Every year we discuss the what and why of each subject, so I threw away duplicates. A few subjects like geography, math, and literature were easy to weave together; others are in portfolios separated by grade. My son has his own reference library, a reminder of what he accomplished.

However, the rewards of my labor aren’t shelves full of handwritten books. They are only tools. The true prize is in the heart of my child. When he applies what he learns to life. When he knows how to find wisdom. When he experiences the calm peace of industriousness. When he remembers the reasons for integrity.

More than records on paper, may truth be written on his heart, where it can never be erased or tossed aside.