TOS Devotional e-Newsletter, September 2006
In This Issue
- Family Time ~ Homeschooling: Did you make the right choice?
- Family Journal ~ A random page from my journal over the years. This month: Growing in Wisdom.
- From Our Readers ~ Cup of Cold Water for our Children from Lisa Smith.
- Tribute to Dad ~ A Homeschool Mom's Poetic Tribute to Her Husband in the Military in Australia.
- Contests! ~ Apples of Gold and The Phonetic Zoo - enter now to win!
- Product Review ~ The Phonetic Zoo, A Self-Taught Spelling Program from Institute for Excellence in Writing!
- Blog of the Month ~ from HomeschoolBlogger. Get a glimpse of this fascinating resource for homeschoolers.
- Haptoon ~ R & B Dance Before the Lord!
- Bulletin Board ~ All of our newest offerings from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine.
- Testimonials ~ Read what others are saying and put in your two cents.
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Family Time
Are you wondering right about now if you made the right choice to homeschool your children this year? Let's see if I can help you answer that question. Our role as Christian parents as outlined in the Bible must ultimately dictate the answer, but let's look at the choices again: there's public schooling, private Christian schooling, and home education. Which is best for your child? We'll start with public school:
Public Schools
I am not merely talking about the school at the corner that seems so nice. I am talking about the entire institution of public education. This is an institution where every child has to flow with the program no matter what that program or what their learning style or what sexual preferences the teacher possesses. Every child must be subjected to tolerance education no matter what their religious beliefs. Deviant sex education is the norm. No child may pray. God may not be mentioned but may be and is mocked. The public school is, therefore, anti-God. Is this where a Christian parent is to place his child? If the Christian parent is to raise Christian children who have Christian worldviews, it would be foolish to place that child in an anti-Christian establishment. Okay, so we know public school is out. Whew, you made the right choice there. Now down to two more choices.
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Christian Schools
While these schools are far superior to the public school institutions, are they the best choice for your child? Will they be taught true biblical doctrine? Will it match your doctrinal views or will you have to re-teach them at home anyway? Will they be taught "scientific" evolutionary thinking or a literal, Biblical, six-day creation? Having attended a Christian school myself while in high school, I know they will most definitely be taught all kinds of "social" structures including self-focused beauty pageants, dating foolishness, and sundry other not-to-be-mentioned things from all of those good "Christian" kids - those same kids you see at church that look and act just like the world so much that there is little or no difference. Should you allow your child to become a companion of fools and end up suffering harm? What if that homeroom teacher takes your child under his wing, only to have your child give her heart and attention to her instruction and despise yours if it doesn't match up? A better question would be, who exactly are the ones called in Scripture to be the teachers of children? None other than the children's own parents, plain and simple.
Again, you made the right choice to keep them or bring them home. Feel better? Just in case you're still not convinced, let's take a quick look at some benefits of home education:
- You are obeying God's principles laid out in Scripture.
- You have the opportunity to provide your child with Biblical instruction.
- You are preparing warriors for the Kingdom rather than peer-attached social flunkies.
- Your children will be walking with the wise (you) and growing wise.
- Your relationship with your child will be strengthened and not torn apart or away with other influences.
- Your child will be protected from mandated tolerance and sexual education as well as peer pressure relating to dating, dress, etc.
- Bullies, scoffers, deviants, and most things causing psychological harm will not be present.
- Your child will be socially adept above their peers and academically proven to score above all other school choices.
- Your child will be taught a Christian worldview under your watchful eye.
- Your child will be home with you where he or she belongs!
In an effort to keep this short, I will stop there, but the reasons are nearly endless for choosing home education.
Be relieved, be proud, be blessed - you made the right choice!
Family Journal (a random page from my journal over the years)
What I Have Learned From My Teacher
We have finished one school year and begun another. Time flies when you are having babies - by the way, he's eight months old now! (Editor's Note: He's actually six YEARS old in 2006 - time really does fly!) I have learned and relearned some things over these eight months. It's been a time of drawing closer to the Lord and becoming one with Him as He is with His Father (John 17). It's also been a time of renewing priorities that have been overlooked or bypassed in the rush of things, priorities like teaching my children first and foremost to love God and, second, to love others. I am relearning to be gentle and to have the law of kindness on my tongue; to stay on schedule but not let the schedule rule me; to pray more and think less, and to have the mind of Christ instead of leaning on my own understanding. (My Mom says it sounds like I'm relearning Genesis to Revelation!) Most importantly what I have learned over these past months is to hunger and thirst after righteousness and to draw near to God - for this is the way of peace and rest.
What I Have Learned From My Children
My children keep growing in stature, maturity, knowledge, and wisdom, sometimes without much help from me, and sometimes with a great amount of help. Some things I only need to explain one time, others I have to teach and re-teach. Repetition is the name of the homeschooling game. I seem to need repetition as much as they. I now know why I am called a "child" of God!
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. My highest priority in prayer, in mothering, and in teaching is toward this same end for my children.
Homeschooling Thoughts
I have found that contests with monetary rewards are great motivators for my children. They have entered contests for poetry, science exhibits, book reports, artwork, and essays to different organizations over the years. They also enjoy prizes such as ice cream cones, candy, new pencils, or pizza for writing book reports, music recitals, and meeting reading goals.
Deborah Wuehler is the Devotional e-Newsletter editor and Devotional editor for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. She lives in Roseville, California, with her husband, Richard, and their seven gifts from heaven, whom they have homeschooled from birth. E-mail Deborah at Devotions@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com.
From Our Readers
A new devotion sent in by you, our readers, will be highlighted here each month.
A Cup of Cold Water
By Lisa Smith, Ben Lomond, California
My 2-year-old son jabbed at the carpet with a triangular block.
"What are you doing, honey?" I asked.
"Digging for worms!"
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Didn't realize my housecleaning was that bad! I was frazzled that day. My infant, Caleb, was tucked in his car seat on the kitchen floor. I was unloading groceries, and, as I mentioned, Elliot was digging for worms. The carpet was spotty, it's true, and the rest of the house was a mess. I was tired and had too much to do.
Caleb began crying. I wasn't sure what he wanted. Bored? Nurse? Diaper change? (Sniff - no, not this time.) Two more bags of groceries waited smugly on the kitchen table. I looked at Caleb. I looked at the groceries. No, forget the groceries. It was time to minister to my little son. I picked him up and gave him his bottle of water. That was all he wanted. When he was done and smiling again, I burped him and set him on his tummy on a blanket. On the wormy carpet. OK, back to work!
That's when it happened. The still, small voice whispered something amazing to my heart: "And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward" (Matthew 10:42). I about fell down on the wormy carpet! I had assumed a person would have to travel halfway around the world, battling snakes and civil wars, to fulfill that Scripture! But God spoke to my heart that day, showing me how real and simple it is to bless His heart.
Whatever our days bring, we can make simple choices throughout the day to put aside our agenda and love our children. These little, unseen choices yield eternal fruit beyond our ability to comprehend. Dear homeschooling mom, please don't ever believe the lie that what you're doing doesn't count. You are changing the world, one day, one child, one loving choice at a time.
My sons are 9 and 11 now. They have a little sister, Emily. We have faced some tragic times, but my children are learning to overcome, making their own choices to love and serve God. I wouldn't trade that for the cleanest carpet in the neighborhood!
Lisa Smith has homeschooled her three children since they were born. She is now a single mom who can testify to the faithfulness of God! Lisa's desire is to encourage other homeschooling moms on their journey.
Tribute to Dad
This month I wanted to highlight a special poem by homeschool mom Elissa Collier from Australia about her military husband soon to be deployed:
My husband an Australian Soldier is,
A bearer of the armor, leader among his men.
To protect our country from all that ails it,
A life no longer his, for others he now defends.
For upon that day he claimed I will,
Honor and protect all with courage and with valor,
Sacrificing, gave his years to God and Country
My husband, the mighty Warrior.
With a tear and a lying smile from my aching arms he bid
That day in Spring, no longer did shine the sun
Farwell, my lover, my best friend
The journey has now begun.
To make the soldier one must break the man,
To leave a life of innocence the quietness and the calm
Clothed with rifle, paint and uniform he now stands
For dedication to duty and honor and his mate in arms.
At night in bed I lie feeling his warmth beside,
Knowing one day soon I will walk this life alone
To carry on each daily task, of wiping noses and schooling
Living a life of a deathless widow who just has to keep going.
From time to time please stop and think of us
Five arrows I hold from his quiver
For across the sea his heart beckons for me
As I mummy and daddy with the Father.
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I know many will be praying for your husband and your entire family, Elissa.
Thank you for that beautiful reminder of the sacrifices made by the families of our men serving in the military.
Do you know a homeschooling family serving in the military?
Make sure they sign up for our free Military e-Newsletter at: www.TheHomeschoolMagazine.com
Do you subscribe to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine?
Here's what our readers are saying:
"I love this magazine! I've read a lot of different homeschool magazines to get ideas, hear about curriculum, stay on top of what's happening, etc., but this is the first one that I've read cover to cover, I mean every page, and I keep finding myself going back and reading it again.... I will be telling everyone about this magazine and why they absolutely must subscribe to it."
--Sonya Tebo
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This Month's Contests!
Bethany House Publishers - Apples of Gold for Teachers - An encouraging daily devotional by Vicki Caruana, "America's Teacher" - enter today!
The Phonetic Zoo, A Self-Teaching Spelling Program Level A - This incredible resource is from Andrew Pudewa of Institute for Excellence in Writing. Read our Product Review below if you are interested. Then, enter the contest! Again, absolutely free!
TO ENTER: Send an email to Devotions@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com with your name and mailing address for a chance to win one of these gifts. Note: We never use your personal information for anything other than sending out prizes to the winners.
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Product Review
The Phonetic Zoo: A Self-Teaching Spelling Program Level A
By Andrew Pudewa and James B. Webster
Institute for Excellence in Writing
PO Box 6065
Atascadero, CA 93423
Phone: 1-800-856-5815
Fax: 603-925-5123
www.writing-edu.com
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Auralog is the global leader in language learning software and publisher of the award-winning reference TeLL me More. The new TeLL me More Homeschool version is a breakthrough for homeschoolers with up to 950 hours of language learning.
Available to learn Spanish, French, German, Italian, English, Dutch, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese.
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The Phonetic Zoo has a unique concept for teaching spelling--let the children do it themselves! Each level of Phonetic Zoo comes with 5 audio CDs and 47 flashcards, which teach 47 lessons or lists of spelling words. Each lesson teaches a different rule. There are a total of 540 words per level. A video comes with the complete level package to help the teacher get started on the program.
I examined Level A, which is for students at a fourth grade level. Phonetic Zoo's premise is that hearing the words helps the children to remember how to spell the words ... Your child starts with the first lesson. He sits down at a table with a blank piece of paper and a CD player with headphones. (The headphones help the child tune out distractions so he can focus completely on his spelling.) The CD dictates words for the child to spell, then goes back over them so the student can correct his work. During the dictation process, the lesson's rule repeats several times. After the test, your child can study the words any way he likes. He can move on to the next lesson when he gets 100% of the words correct two times.
I believe the concept behind this program is admirable. What mom wouldn't want to skip giving those spelling tests? The child's achievement is based on what he does, not on how fast mom can cajole him to learn the words. This program would be perfect for those who are primarily auditory learners. The idea of having the child hear the words pronounced, then spelled, as well as hearing the rule several times, could be the key for those who are not having success in another program.
The complete package for one level includes a teacher video, 5 audio CDs, a teacher's manual, spelling rule cards, and flashcards.
If you have tried everything and your child is still struggling, you may want to give Phonetic Zoo a shot. Many people out there swear by the program. The CDs with headphones just may do the trick if your child is primarily an auditory learner.
-- Product review by Dawn King, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC
Visit the following link to view the Full Review...
http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/reviews.php?rid=678
Haptoon: R&B - Dance Before the Lord!
The Bible states that we are to dance before the Lord. In this fallen world, we have R&B (Rhythm and Blues) and in the Lord, we have R&B (Repent and Believe).
We repent and believe the Good News that Jesus died for our sins and rose again for our justification. (Ro 4:25) We repent and believe that in Him we have eternal life. (Jn 11:25-26) We repent and believe that we are secure in Him (Jn 10:27-30) and He who has begun a good work in you shall complete it. (Php 1:6) We repent and believe that His Holy Spirit now dwells within us (Jn 14:15-17) and seals us unto the day of redemption. (Eph 1:13-14) We repent and believe that His Spirit is working mightily within us, (Eph 3:20-21) transforming us from glory to glory into His very image (2Cor 3:18) and using us as His instruments for His good will and pleasure. (Eph 2:10) We repent and believe the Blessed Hope of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (1Jn 3:1-3) and the new heaven and new earth. (Rev 21:1)
Now that's enough to get even me to start dancing! But why isn't my life a joyful dance before the Lord. Is it because I am trying to live a life before God in my own strength instead of relying on the power of His Spirit? (Gal 3:3) Is it because I am yielding the members of my body to the craving of the flesh instead of to the will of God? (Ro 6:13) Is it because I am bogged down by my circumstances instead of simply trusting God to meet my every need in His good time and pleasure? (Lk 21:34) It is because I have set my heart and mind on earthly things instead of seeking those things that are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God? (Col 3:1-3) Is it because I am being conformed to the world instead of being transformed by the renewing of my mind that I might know God's perfect will? (Ro 12:1-2) It's no wonder I'm not a happy camper!
Tell you what: Let's you and I return to our first love. (Rev 2:4-5) Let us R&B before the Lord. Repent and believe the Good News for He has truly turned our wailing into dancing. Oh, one more thing, when you dance before the Lord, make sure you let the Holy Spirit lead. (Ro 8:13-14)
-- Hap
Interested in more Haptoons? Email to purchase your own mini book of cartoons here: haptoon@juno.com or visit the website here: http://www21.brinkster.com/haptoon/
Bulletin Board . . .
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Testimonials
What do I think about the e-newsletter? I look forward to seeing your address in my inbox, just when I need encouragement or ideas. I look forward to getting my magazine in the mail, and while waiting for the next issue to arrive, the e-newsletters are like getting little extras--like a goodie bag until the present arrives! Anne
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Thank you for spending time with us here at The Old Schoolhouse® Devotional e-Newsletter! We pack into every issue as much practical homeschooling help and godly encouragement as we possibly can and send it out once a month via email. As your e-Newsletter Editor, I have listened to your recommendations, and I think we have come up with a pretty good end product here! If there is anything you'd like to see added or changed, or if you have a question about homeschooling-just email us and let us know what we can do for you! Here's the address: devotions@TheHomeschoolMagazine.com. Don't forget to check out our website and magazine. Until next month, happy homeschooling from Deborah Wuehler and all the TOS Staff!
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