Middle School Mountain

Two weeks ago, we started lessons ready or not. The important things were ready. Curriculum had been chosen and ordered. My children were begging to get started. My heart was prayerful.

There are still piles of work from last year that have yet to be put away and some of the bookshelves are a mess, but this year I just couldn’t wait until everything was organized.

Other moms were counting on me.

7th grade history was the most difficult subject for me to choose this year. The mountains of high school cast a creeping shadow over my plans. It felt like I was taking those first faltering steps into homeschooling all over again.

I poked around looking for curriculum to help guide me. I leaned towards TruthQuest, but ended up coming back to TRISMS HistoryMakers due to it’s focus on research.

Here I found a couple friends ready to climb the foothills of middle school with me. We’re helping each other up by splitting up lesson planning.

I’m planning art. Dana is working on science. And Barb is putting together history.

I haven’t met these amazing ladies in person. We are scattered across three time zones, but we are joined by a love for our children, a common educational philosophy, and a devotion to our Savior.

The internet is simply our tool. My email is filling up with wonderful lessons and interesting websites to explore. We chat about our day and our children’s response to the lessons, and I find myself enjoying the accountability.

Projects are so easy for me to drop when we get busy, but now I know other families are taking the time to create hieroglyphics. The pressure to give my children the same opportunity compels me to purchase clay and slip it in my children’s workboxes (more on that later).

We’re already running a bit behind, but the point is, we are actually running. The climb is only made better with friends.

The Mighty Works of God: Self Government

History textbooks have a tendency to be boring, but I discovered a series of about American history to treasure. These books do not contain dry lists of dates or a simple retelling of events. Instead, they focus on the causes behind events: people and Providence.

The Mighty Works of God consists of three volumes for the early elementary years. They are not listed by grade-level, but gradually increase in difficulty. This review will focus on the 1st level, which is roughly 1st or 2nd grade.

The first lesson from The Mighty Works of God: Self Government introduces history as the story of God working in the lives of men and nations. For his title page, my son wrote,

You are the God who works wonders…Psalms 77:14

He was so inspired considering the works of God in his own life that he composed a song:

God, You are so good to me. God you set me free…

That moment I knew it was a good curriculum choice…

To continue reading my review and view samples from the text, please click over to Curriculum Choice.

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…

How I Choose Curriculum

Curriculum collects on shelves in our living room and peaks from boxes in the shed. A glance in either place reveals more stuff than we can realistically use. I’m so thankful for the options, but options can paralyze.

So how do I choose what to help me teach my children? How did these books end up in our possession instead of others?

Please continue reading at Curriculum Choice…

Principle Approach is a Curriculum

This is the third of a three part series to answer why, how, and what in regards to Principle Approach education.

We often start our search for education looking for curriculum. What will we teach? What do our children need to know? The mounds of resources quickly become overwhelming. That is why I started this series discussing philosophy. Examining the reason I homeschool gives me a filter to sift the piles of books.

This universe is an amazing place. There is no way we can teach our children everything they need to know or even want to know. So how do we decide what is most important?

I invite you to visit The Curriculum Choice to read my answer...