Educators At Home

*hanging around until you’ve caught on. – Jonathan Kozol

*a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army.-Edward Everett

*simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.
G.K. Chesterton

*an atmosphere, a discipline, a life – Sonya Shafer

*a discipline-that is the discipline of the good habits in which the child is trained. Charlotte Mason
*Freedom

*hands on

*NOT institutionalized schooling

*mentorship

*discipleship

*what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

*to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. ~Robert Maynard Hutchins

*an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. ~Aristotle

* the movement from darkness to light. ~Allan Bloom

* learning stuff ~my son 🙂

Education can easily become a god in our lives.  The Bible cautions us against pride reminding us that “knowledge puffs up.” True wisdom and understanding come from God…and this is why we continually pray for wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us that  the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.  Our education begins  as we fear the Lord and seek his will for our lives.
Job 28:28 states “Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil, that is understanding.”
James 1:5 explains,”If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  Read more...

This is so shocking and important to be aware of………………………turn off music>>>

Gain wisdom and learn more as you read this piece by Rev. Michael Bresciani.  Read it once…and then again. Read it slowly and begin praying for our America… for  repentant hearts…for revival in our homes and churches….for mercy. 

 

In this day of the history challenged it may not be safe to assume that everyone knows that it was Captain John Paul Jones who in the fall of 1779 said the famous words, “I have not yet begun to fight.” Even fewer may know that his ship the Bonhomme Richard had its upper decks nearly blown off and with what may have looked like a tattered raft the fight continued. Two hands assuming that both captain and first officer had been slain went about to lower the ship’s pendant from the mainmast, but were interrupted by Jones who flew toward them with pistols in hand.

The captain threw his unloaded pistols at the mates missing one and striking the other on the head leaving him unconscious. The master of the powerful British warship Serapis called out to Jones and asked if he was about to quarter. (Give up and surrender) Jones’ famous reply has been the example of every great naval officer since, but it doesn’t stop there. The best fighting men, statesmen and ordinary Americans, ever since, have been heard to say the same.

Only moments after Jones replied to the master of the Serapis a grenadier threw a hand bomb across the deck of the Serapis that tumbled into a lower magazine and ignited the powder and shells. The rest is history. But is it?  Read more...

Looking forward to viewing this….and sharing with others.

 

This Book is the Mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation,

the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.

It’s doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding;

its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the

soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s character.

Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell

disclosed.

Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its

end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet.

Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty

tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity.

~Anonymous

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Although my husband and I often read historical fiction and biographies with our boys,  I certainly appreciate the A Beka history program and have found their textbooks to be interesting, informative and easy to read.  It is an unfortunate fact of life these days that  revisionist history is everywhere…. history programs, newspaper articles, textbooks, teachers and  college professors are zealous to indoctrinate, teach and re-write American history. Sadly,  revisionist history prevails in our culture.

An almost effortless counterbalance to this assault on history would be to pick up some used Abeka history books….any grade level  and read through them with your family.  So much of the information makes for good discussion around the dinner table as well.  We have read through the A Beka history books since kindergarten and find them to be quite interesting even for a  textbook.  Refreshingly, God’s providential hand is never overlooked.  Here is a sample of  America, Land that I Love; 8th grade 

John Adams was one of the first leaders to call attention to the dangers of the French Revolution.  He is called the Father of American Conservatism because (1) his belief in freedom with responsibility and (2) his defense of the Constitution as a document which checked the selfish nature of man.  Conservatives are those who believe that there are eternal values that need to be conserved.  They insist that if Americans leave God, decency, morality, and self restraint out of their thinking and living,  American liberty will not last.  John Adams wrote regarding the violence, bloodshed , and atheism of the French Revolution: Is there a possibility that the government of nations may fall into the hands of men who teach … that men are but fireflies, and that this all [ referring to God’s creation] is without a Father?  Read more...

I am blessed to be able to attend a church where the word of God is not watered down. When I leave, I do not feel as though I’ve attended a self-improvement course or motivational meeting. In other words our preacher does not waste his time on “twaddle” but digs deeply into the word of God.  I enjoy a good old fashioned sermon that convicts,  but even if our pastor simply stood and read God’s word to us that would be enough. It would be more than enough because God’s word is powerful and has every thing we need for instruction in righteousness. God’s word is LIVING…it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. I hope these verses will encourage, embolden and comfort you as you train and disciple your children.  ~Anne

Deuteronomy 6:5-9
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.  Read more...

The years have flown.  It seems like only yesterday we set up our homeschool classroom complete with the Pledge of Allegiance adorned on our wall,  desks full of new school supplies, and   brand- new shiny workbooks and readers.  I was so excited to begin teaching my children  but had no idea what this homeschool journey would actually look like….I didn’t know how marvelous and fulfilling it would be or how much it would change our family.  As an idealistic and very eager homeschool mom,  I did not envision or understand that in addition to my children learning,  I would also experience growth and  change.   The focus was on my children, but now I understand that biblical homeschooling requires the whole family to transform and learn together.  In those early days , I heard someone describe homeschooling as a “lifestyle”.  I was somewhat puzzled by this description, but now I understand completely.

Undoubtedly,  I would be teaching my children reading, writing and arithmetic, but I also would spend a great deal of time praying for patience…. for wisdom and working on character issues…with my children…. and myself.  In order to homeschool independently and biblically,   the emphasis would have to be on training and discipleship because the Bible is clear on this  calling for parents.   If our dear children did not obey, how could we ever hope to teach them?   We had to choose  curriculum carefully making sure it reflected a biblical worldview,  and my husband soon became a prayer partner and homeschool advocate as well.  Even our dear Grandma joined in to help with some subjects.  Read more...

“We are going to raise our own children….teach our children values while the rest of the world effectively  is going to hell in a hand basket.”                                 Turn Music Off>>

When I was a little girl, I was careful never to grumble out the words “Mom, I’m bored…there’s nothing to dooooo!” If I did happen to express these thoughts my dear mom would remark in her Bostonian accent, “Oh, I’ll give you something to do.” My mom would then usually point to the cleaning that must be done in the kitchen, bathroom or parlor. I can still hear her words, “You kids need to start helping out around here!”

I guess the old saying is true, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, I am my Mother after all!” I find that I do not tolerate these words very well either, and it is fortunate for my children that they are rarely bored. They have quickly learned that only boring people are bored and chores will miraculously clear up their dull and disinterested dispositions. Curiously, homeschoolers seem to rarely suffer from this ailment. Perhaps it is  because they are accustomed to spending more time at home, filling up their days with useful tasks.

None of our family members are bored because there are always irons in the fire….books to read, projects to complete, cleaning  etc. Our struggles though, are in making the right choice  or best choice about how we will spend our time. Choosing a video game or watching a video often is our choice instead of something more commendable.
Because my boys sometimes seem to need more direction and instruction, I’ve prepared a list for them to use when they are having a difficult time choosing worthy tasks to fill up their day. I hope you will enjoy our list and perhaps come up with some ideas for your family. Enjoy your children….they grow up so fast. Life is too short to be bored!  ~Anne  Read more...

Celebrating Presidents Day…Remembering our 40th President.

youtu.be/tiNVqYwVfWE

Turn the music off before beginning video………………………………………………………….>>>>

Sadly, these type of stories are “a dime a dozen”  nowadays.  I’m so accustomed to hearing  them that I’m becoming less and less appalled. This one made me really grouchy though.  Perhaps because the prayer is so worthy, or maybe because I’m beginning a study on the Constitution, but this particular story really  aroused my anger enough and prompted me to post.

Sixteen-year- old atheist Jessica Ahlquist who attends Cranston High School in Rhode Island found this mural which has been displayed for decades to be offensive. In January, U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Lagueux agreed with the young woman and found this expression of faith to be unconstitutional. I’m afraid this activist judge would have to find the Constitution to be unconstitutional because God is not left out of it.

Jessica is thrilled with the ruling and the schools have decided not to appeal because of the costs.  Once again the minority atheist has prevailed and our religious freedoms have been chipped away even further. Perhaps this young lady and activist judge believes that we are to have “freedom from religion” instead of “freedom of religion.” Perhaps  a copy of the 1st amendment should be displayed in this very spot.  Maybe the students should gather and pray this wonderful prayer  each morning…….oh silly me…. …this is a government school…at government schools…. ..prayer is also unconstitutional nowadays.

                             Our Heavenly Father  Read more...