BJU Press Blog

Why Do You Homeschool? Spending Time with Family

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why HS_part4

Over the last few weeks, we have introduced you to Deborah, a homeschool mom of four, and have explored with you some of her reasons for homeschooling her children.

What’s another important reason Deborah chose to homeschool? Spending time with family.

This reason became especially apparent to her through one subject in particular. She says, “Our favorite subject was (and still is) reading. All of us are avid readers to this day over twenty years later.” Being able to read together as a family brought them together and encouraged a passion for the written word in each of them.

When you have that extra time to spend with your family, you also gain the opportunity to be there for all of those special little moments in the lives of your children. You can be there as they read their first book all by themselves. When they have questions or concerns, they can come to you, your spouse, and their siblings. You’ll probably notice your children working together as a team. I’m sure you’ve witnessed already that the younger ones are always watching and learning from the older ones.

Extended family time benefited Deborah’s family, but their homeschool journey took another turn. As Deborah puts it, “The need [for me] to work reared its head, but the Lord showed Himself faithful. I had not worked outside the home in twenty-two years, and He gave me a temp job to assist the homeschool consultant at BJU Press. That later turned into a full-time job in customer service helping other homeschool moms—icing on the cake as far as I was concerned.”

She went on, “There was no Distance Learning back then. If there had been, I might have considered ‘part-time homeschooling’ as the kids got older. [But instead] all the kids went to a Christian school that used BJU Press curriculum—no adjustments needed.”

If you’re considering homeschooling, Deborah hopes these reasons will help you in the decision-making process. And remember, you’re not alone. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or stories of your own. Experienced homeschool moms like Deborah are just a phone call away.

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A Creative Writing graduate of Bob Jones University, Hannah worked for BJU Press for almost nine years as a writer and proofreader. Currently a coffee barista and freelance writer, she also tutors one student in French. While Hannah herself was not homeschooled, her experience in tutoring and teaching violin have shown her how beneficial one-on-one education can be. She hopes to homeschool her own kids someday.

How Timelines Build Historical Understanding

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When I was young, my parents had a history book called the Adams Synchronological Chart or Map of History. It was actually a gigantic foldout timeline. I enjoyed the wonder of unfolding the leaves of the timeline as it stretched all the way down our hallway and into the living room. The book began history at creation and tracked events up to the time it was published (late nineteenth century). Strands that represented various nations would grow, be absorbed, and then suddenly be dissolved.

Recently my wife and I agreed that I will teach our daughter Heritage Studies 2 next fall. I’m so excited about sharing my passion for the past with my daughter. Since I enjoyed timelines when I was learning history, I’m particularly excited that BJU Press uses timelines to develop children’s historical thinking.

BJU Press illustration of Heritage Studies 2 timeline

Building Understanding

Often, children struggle with history because it’s taught as an assortment of dates, names, and places. A nationwide report card on eighth graders’ knowledge of US history shows that only 18 percent demonstrate proficiency in that subject. When children encounter the past in little bits and pieces, they cannot get a sense of the time period they’re studying. As a result, they have difficulty remembering the facts, but they also have no basis for developing the critical thinking skills that studying history encourages.

Timelines provide a visual representation of people, events, and places. Most learners, but especially visual learners, can more easily see the connections between the three elements.

Take, for example, this simple timeline of the Revolutionary War from Heritage Studies 2. Here the broad outline of the war is overviewed in a simple, easy-to-grasp way. Children can see the order of events, and the inclusion of the French and Indian War suggests a possible cause-effect relationship.

BJU Press illustration of Heritage Studies 2 timeline

Building Thinking

When students see connections to other events, they understand the past. That understanding creates a platform for them to begin developing critical thinking. Once events are arranged chronologically on a timeline, children can begin to visualize potential cause-and-effect relationships. They can ask questions about the influence historical figures may have had on each other.

But the most important benefit of the timeline is that it helps children think through the order of events and their relationships to the other events.

Building Teaching

Timelines also help the teacher. When I’m teaching my daughter, I can use timelines to test her understanding of the time period we’re studying. Instead of testing my daughter with a lot of multiple-choice questions, I plan to give her a timeline to fill out. I can relieve any stress she might have by calling it a “timeline activity” instead of a quiz, but ultimately the result will be the same. I will be able see how much she understands of the history that I’ve taught. In the end it will be a far richer test than if I had just asked, “When did the Revolutionary War begin?” I will find out whether she can think sequentially as well as remember events from the past.

Consider using timelines to help your children build their understanding of history. If you need some help with resources, check out our elementary Heritage Studies program.

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HEAVEN

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Heaven is the place of reward. It is the winner-takes-all spoil of a single Warrior. My sin made me the enemy of that willing Warrior, but His victory over sin and death secured my future as a citizen of heaven.

cover image of Wonderful Words

“The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven” (Psalm 11:4). Asaph asks, “Whom have I in heaven but thee . . . God is the strength of my heart” (Psalm 73:25–26). “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you . . . Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:11–12). Paul wrote to the Colossians about “the hope which is laid up for you in heaven” (Colossians 1:5). “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout . . . and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. . . . And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven” (Revelation 21:1–2).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: Great is your reward in heaven.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (April 13 reading).]

 

Why Do You Homeschool? Making Time for Journaling

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We’re now on the fourth post in our series titled “Why Do You Homeschool?” We’ve been talking with Deborah, a mom who homeschooled four children, about some of the advantages of homeschooling.

Deborah mentioned what a blessing it was that homeschooling allowed her family time to journal regularly, so I asked her to tell us more about that. Here’s what she said:

Why do you homeschool? Part 3

“Journaling is such a wonderful tool if used properly. It teaches a number of skills that are needed in any child’s education—from handwriting, spelling, and punctuation to thoughtful creative skills.

“Because we were fairly structured in our homeschooling, journaling was simply part of our ‘school day’ once a week.

“This all got started because of the journal entry section in the BJU Press spelling curriculum. The purpose was to have the child use some of the spelling words in the suggested topic. These entries were never graded, but I would always answer their journals briefly, using any words that they might have misspelled. It was never meant to critique their writing or thought processes.

“The journal entry does not have to be more than a couple of sentences sometimes. I required at least five sentences from my kids while in school. If the suggested topic (in the spelling text) did not seem to fit, I chose the question/topic. On occasion the kids would suggest something to write about. Some topics were simply fun ones; others were more serious in nature. Because it was accepted simply as part of the lesson and was not a long assignment, there was never an argument from any of them when it came time to write.

“The kids loved reading journals from years past. Often it generated laughter and discussion of family trips, events, and situations. It gave great opportunity to talk about God’s active presence in our lives individually and as a family. Many truths were fleshed out over time as the family bonded.

“Of course, the most vivid memory for them is sharing favorite times with their dad—our hikes and camping trips, his jokes and all the fun times he brought to our home. Often we talked about the topic, and the older kids would share something their youngest sibling did not remember about her dad. It brought healing to our broken hearts and cemented precious memories.

“Today my kids are better than I am when it comes to journaling because they were taught from the get-go how important it is to put your thoughts into writing and to do so clearly. They learned that discipline early on. I can’t emphasize enough how life-changing this practice can be if nurtured. The memories chronicled, the joys and heartaches revealed, and the lessons from the Lord written down to revisit years later are all invaluable.”

Has homeschooling made a blessing like this possible for your family? Let us know in the comments below!

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A Father’s Faith in Pulling Together

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I thought at first glance that Pulling Together by beloved children’s author Dawn L. Watkins might be just another and-the-ranch-was-saved story. But I was delighted to find rare elements that raise it to a much higher plane. Although told from the perspective of Matthew, the younger of John and Addie Briggs’s two sons, the real hero of Pulling Together is a strong, God-fearing father figure. John Briggs’s faith comes to light in his family’s severe trial and radiates in some way from every page.

book cover of Pulling Together by Dawn L. Watkins

When the family barn─one of the most essential elements to their early-twentieth-century sustenance─is struck by lightning and engulfed in flames, this father immediately takes the reigns. With the brave command of a modern superhero, Mr. Briggs saves what he can and resigns to God, without complaint, what he can’t. But young Matthew despairs when he finds out that to offset their losses they may have to sell one of the family’s two beloved workhorses.

Reflecting his father’s resourcefulness and strength of character, Matthew hatches a plan that, if successful, will enable them to keep the horses. He works hard and hopes big. With an eye to entering his well-matched team in the horse pull at the Cherry Springs fair, he sets the stage for the story’s dramatic conclusion.

Competition day finally arrives, and nerves are put to the test. In contrast to the humble integrity of Matthew’s horses is a flamboyant team of large, muscular show horses. The “Baily Grays” don’t appear to be workhorses as specified in the entry guidelines, and reflecting the temperamental nature of their owner, they present a formidable foe. But Matthew sees his father’s calm trust remain steadfast in spite of all that is at stake.

The story’s exciting ending raises yet another interesting question about the impact of one man’s faith. Are John Briggs’s strength and patience so powerful that even his horses reflect their influence? In an age starved for positive role models, this novel published by JourneyForth decidedly delivers. It’s a rare treat for young boys everywhere.

Click on “Look Inside the Book” to read Chapter 1 from Pulling Together.