"...‘How will they learn to read?’ you ask, and my answer is ‘Remember the lessons of Massachusetts.’ When children are given whole lives instead of age-graded ones in cellblocks, they learn to read, write, and do arithmetic with ease, if those things make sense in the kind of li
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"It should come as no huge surprise that the secular world is confused and off-base about the identity and calling of women. But what I find distressing is the extent to which (this) has taken hold even within the evangelical world. We see the fruit of that revolution as prominent Christian spea
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"...it is called a lively hope because it puts the soul upon lively endeavors. Hope will make a man pray as for life, hear as for life, mourn as for life, obey as for life and work and walk as for life. Hope will not say this work is too hard and that work is too hot; this work is too high and
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“A true Christian must not be a slave to what’s currently ‘in-fashion,’ if he wants to train his child for heaven. He must not be content to teach them and instruct them in certain ways, merely because it is customary, or to allow them to read books of a questionable sort, merely because eve
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Being productive is one of the drums I beat all the time, but there is a huge difference between being productive and being busy. We cannot be busy for the sake of activity, our busyness must have a purpose. Busyness: 1. the quality or condition of being busy. 2. lively but meaningl
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“Although it is very easy to marry a wife, it is very difficult to support her along with the children and the household. Accordingly, no one notices this faith of Jacob. Indeed, many hate fertility in a wife for the sole reason that the offspring must be supported and brought up. For this is what
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Bigger schools, more books (think about who is writing the books) and more teachers are not going to solve the education crisis in America. Public education is about control and money. How about parents keep their money and their children? What if your tax dollars were spent on an education that
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More proof that the institutionalized education system is so messed up: "...on the school board of one of the largest school systems in America did something that few public servants are willing to do. He took versions of his state’s high-stakes standardized math and reading tests for 10th grader
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"Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." --Oliver Wendell Holmes
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Here are some excellent resources to help you instill good character and a strong work ethic in your children. Created for Work: Practical Insights for Young Men This is an excellent book that will encourage a good work ethic. It is geared for boys but also applies to girls. Boyhood and Beyon
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Above all, be confident. “Be ready always to give an answer for the hope that is within you.” 1 Pet. 5:13 So, I admit, we have a lot of sarcasm in this house, the kids got it form me, not bragging, just sayin. I have toned my sarcasm down a lot over the last few years, but not soon enough I
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I caught a few minutes of one of those entertainment shows the other day. They were talking about how Justin Bieber was not going to go to college...GASP! One of the host commented how there must be a lot of upset parents that were disappointed in his choice and the "poor example" that he was settin
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Homeschool curriculum can be very expensive, not to mention very overwhelming; the choices are endless! When I started homeschooling 20 years ago I had no idea that there were different learning styles. It's hard to choose a curriculum if you don't understand learning styles. You can read more
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This is a great article from Doug Phillips: Education is inescapably a religious discipline. The content, methodology, and the very culture in which education takes place are the product of the theologies which drive them. There is no neutrality. When parents choose between a Biblical vs. non-Chris
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Although this is an article about Canada, the United States is in the same boat, and they are both sinking! It’s hard not to laugh when Barry Smith starts telling stories about the hapless young workers he has to deal with. Smith, who runs Toronto-area roofing company RoofSmith Canada, tells
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(All bold print is my emphasis.) “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” “If you can read this, thank a teacher.” Such is the wisdom one can expect to find on a car’s bumper. Wisdom, however, is found in God’s Word, which, surprisingly, says not a peep about “ed
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Growth and mastery come only to those who vigorously self-direct. Initiating, creating, doing, reflecting, freely associating, enjoying privacy —these are precisely what the structures of schooling are set up to prevent, on one pretext or another. ~John Taylor Gatto We have got
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Most people talk a good game, but few *play* a good game! *** "There should be less talk; a preaching point is not a meeting point. What do you do then? Take a broom and clean someone's house. That says enough." — Mother Teresa
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This (Higher Education in America) is a state-created monopoly at work — the largest, most influential monopoly on earth. It is better to get on-the-job training in a mid-sized business noted for its entrepreneurship than it is to earn an MBA.
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Oh, my goodness! John Taylor Gatto is an American Hero!
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Before we had kids I was an expert on children! Yep...it's true! THEN God gave me some and I repent and confess I know very little! I think part of my ignorance was because I had two siblings growing up and I was at a baby sitter or at school for the majority of my childhood. Both my parents worked
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This is for you local moms who might need a little homeschool encouragement. April 30, 2011, Christy Hill, will be hosting a Homeschool Mom Renewal Saturday at the Anchor, at Highland Lake! If you homeschool, or if you are thinking about it, this would be a great time to connect with local m
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Teaching Good Things will be presenting 4 workshops at the Christian Home Education Fellowship State Convention in June. Be sure to come by our booth and introduce yourself! Jeff will be at our booth doing knot tying with any young people that would like to stop by. Our workshops will be:
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Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it. ~Larson How many times have we gotten ourselves into a mess that was really foolish? The mess could have been avoided if we would have just obeyed God's principals, or gotten wise advice? Know this, my belo
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Rarely do we hear of a parent that is happy with the curriculum they have chosen, and if they have found the perfect curriculum for child A, most likely child B will struggle with it. Although we have been homeschooling for 18 years, I am still amazed at how many curriculum and teaching tools the
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Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk. ~Larson There was an elderly lady in our quilter's guild who was usually very quiet. Whenever someone would ask her her opinion her answers were always very insightful and wise. She was such a sharp th
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I feel like I'm in this in-between-stage of life. The bulk of my parenting/child training is over, my youngest is almost 17, while my other children are 20 and over. I mostly listen now and give advice when it is asked for...or if I can't bite my tongue any longer. ;o) God's providence for us
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Encourage enterprise, don't give the children everything they want! Let them find ways to make some money so they will appreciate the value of a dollar, the value of labor, and the value of good character. Children, just as adults, will not do things until they have to. :)
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We are still snowed in here in Alabama. There is a reason why I live in the deep south and it's not because of the ice and snow!!! But this is what the Good Lord has chosen to give us this week, along with closed roads, at least the power is still on and we have running water! :) You have to reme
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Skill comes only by practice. You may have a natural talent towards a skill, but only practice makes you good at it!
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What an outstanding speech from a young lady that truly understands what a real education is!!! Erica Goldson presented this speech at her graduation ceremony; she was valedictorian of her class! Erica articulates well one of the biggest reasons that we educate our children at home! The section
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God has a cure for laziness... HUNGER! "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." 2 Thess. 3:10b
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"Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn... do you learn." C. S. Lewis
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“The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.” Proverbs 21:25 “The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.” Proverbs 12:24
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I've been a mother for 25 years. Before I had kids I knew the answers to all of the problems, everything was black and white. Then I had kids and found out that I knew very little! Then we started to live the Christian life, learning to obey God's commands rather than the world's logic, by this poin
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I feel like I have finally caught up from our crazy weekend. I was thrilled to meet so many people at CHEF (Christian Home Education Fellowship), our state convention. Emma worked our Teaching Good Things booth by herself on Saturday, what a great blessing it is to have (almost) adult children.
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It is a beautiful day here at the CHEF Convention, a lot of friendly faces! I've met several of our blog readers...now THAT is exciting!!! I met two VERY sweet girls from the Hobbs family! What a joy they were to chat with!!! I wish everyone could experience the homeschool environment.
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Emma and I will have a booth at the Christian Home Educators Fellowship State Convention this Friday and Saturday. If you are in attendance, please stop by and say hello!
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Time for the Ultimate Homeschool Expo 2010! Online Seminars with With 35+ Speakers! Virtual Vendor Hall! Free Gifts--ebooks, audios, downloads! Special offers from your favorite Online Vendors! Mp3 Downloads for all audios (over $1000 in workshops!) Grab Your Set TODAY! Get More D
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Whether you homeschool or not, nature studies are a great way to spend time with your kids enjoying the great outdoors and learning at the same time! Here are some great tips from my friend Cindy Rushton: Spring is here! Anybody else having Spring Fever? Ready to get outside to soak up t
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Humility is recognizing that God and others are actually responsible for the achievements in your life. ~Character Journal Ask yourself or your children of what you are most proud of in your life. Whether it be possessions or achievements, you could not have obtained them without the aid of
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"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." ~Thomas Edison~
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We awoke this morning to MORE SNOW! As I peeked out through the blind I couldn't believe it was snowing again!!! Alabama winters are usually pretty mild. The majority of Jeff's work is outside work, so when it is bad weather he is at home, which usually is not a problem because he always has
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Check out our interview with Kevin Swanson, of Generations with Vision Radio, Preparing Your Children for 98% of Life. The interview was also aired on The Homeschool Channel. Listen to the interview HERE.
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Today our 4-H group had a formal luncheon to practice proper table manners. Joining the group of young people were adults from the Extension office. The mothers did the serving. We also did our share of laughing as we tried to remember which side to serve on and which side to clear from
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“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” Saint Augustine
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“Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.” ~Vince Lombardi quotes
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My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." ~Harmon Killebrew
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Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value. ~Albert Einstein Character is higher than intellect. ~ Emerson Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence. ~Author Unknown . Quotes of Genera
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Our family's choice:
Character is higher than intellect.
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