BJU Press Blog

Meredith

Remember These Dates in January

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As we think toward a new year and all that it has to offer, take time to set some goals. Personally, I love the truth of Lamentations 3:22–23, which provides hope for all 366 days of 2016! May you rejoice in new beginnings and take time to share your faith with others. And when you need something to recognize, remember these dates in January in your homeschooling.

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January 1

The Ellis Island federal immigration station opened in 1892. This small speck of land in New York Harbor holds such an important place in our nation’s history because Ellis Island is the place where many immigrants first began to experience what it truly means to be an American—the freedoms, joys, hopes, and sacrifices. My own family’s history has connections to Ellis Island since my great-grandfather was one of the millions of people who started their journey here. Link this island to your kids’ understanding of history by completing a passenger search for your own ancestors or view a timeline of Ellis Island.

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January 7

On this date in 1610, Galileo Galilei saw Jupiter’s largest moons. These four moons—Io, Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede—are called the Galilean moons. His discovery of these celestial bodies orbiting another planet convinced Galileo that Earth was not at the center of our universe. Make a telescope as a family and enjoy viewing the night sky. You’ll want to bundle up!

workers on an assembly line

January 14

Henry Ford introduced the assembly line on this day  in 1914, and processes have never been the same since! The principles of supply and demand probably played a major role in Mr. Ford’s implementation of the assembly line. He recognized that having someone become an expert at one task instead of trying to do many tasks would speed up the process of building a car. It would also make the cars more secure as workers focused on one part at a time. Henry Ford’s influence on the American auto industry was largely due to his success at increasing car production. Introduce your kids to the idea of an assembly line by setting one up as you make sandwiches or set the table for lunch!

photograph of Martin Luther King Jr.

January 15

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was born this day in 1929.  Dr. King used his gifts as a speaker to gather support for civil rights legislation. He advocated nonviolent resistance to bring political pressure on cities and on the nation to change unjust laws and practices. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is probably best known for organizing the march on Washington where he delivered his now-famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Sadly, despite Dr. King’s support of nonviolence, it was a violent time in our nation’s history. He himself was murdered on April 4, 1968. Talk to your kids about the dreams Dr. King mentioned in his speech. Have his dreams been achieved?

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January 19

Edgar Allan Poe entered the scene on this date in 1809. Poe stands as the first American writer to influence others in poetry, fiction, and literary criticism. The short story genre in particular took a clearer shape as he contributed the principles of brevity (short enough to read in one sitting) and unity (producing a single emotional effect). Poe wasn’t a Christian and believed that beauty and truth are mutually exclusive, so he failed to appreciate a literary work’s ability to teach. His stories may be entertaining, but to me they communicate the hopelessness we all experience apart from Christ. Still, Poe’s works offer a good example for aspiring writers in terms of stylistic elements worth imitating. Have your older kids read aloud his most famous poem, “The Raven,” and discuss the philosophy he suggests in the questions posed by the narrator. How would our beliefs as Christians be different from his?

Check back next month when we highlight other dates to remember!

How to Teach Early Writers Through Storytelling

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painting of Little Red Riding Hood in the forest with the wolf

One day when I was a young child, my mom asked me to tell her the story of Little Red Riding Hood. She wrote down my version of this classic children’s story, and I still have the paper today. As I read it, I laugh at my simple expressions to describe the characters and candid explanations of what happened. Here’s one of my favorite lines from my version of “Little Red Riding Hood:” “Her and the boy got some rocks and then they put them all in the wolf and then they took him outside and they swinged him and falled him to the ground.”

It’s silly, I know.

Can you think of an imaginative tale that your child recently told you? These simple (and often silly) stories preschoolers share can not only make us laugh but also impact their writing skills. Developing good writing skills begins with the thought process.

Thinking It Through

Having meaningful conversations with your child is an important first step. Does your child communicate verbally with unfinished phrases or with complete thoughts? Increase her critical thinking and speaking skills by asking questions that require her not only to give you a literal answer but also to interpret situations or actions, to draw a conclusion, or to express her enjoyment.

Getting these kinds of responses from your child can help her learn to compose complete sentences in her head. As your child starts expressing herself in a logical way, it’s time to explain the connection between speaking and writing.

Putting It on Paper

Writing is just talk written down. This insight is best illustrated for a young child when you write down her stories on paper. Just as when Mom recorded my version of “Little Red Riding Hood” word for word, you aren’t so much concerned about your child’s grammar (that will come later) as you are with making sure her thoughts are whole and logical. Reading the story back to her is important for two reasons.

First, it allows your child to hear exactly what she has told you and to make any corrections. We can’t always trust ourselves “when something doesn’t sound right,” but revising by reading aloud is a good practice to develop. Most importantly, however, reading back the written story allows you to introduce another element of language arts—reading—to your child as you show how written stories can be shared with other people.

Practicing the Skills

As your child grows in her ability to form letters and write words, create stories together by starting sentences for her to finish. It’s a great way for her to finish complete thoughts with her own hand. This practice allows your child to see you model writing a sentence or phrase. When her handwriting skills are more advanced, ask your child to write a complete thought herself. If there’s enough space have her include a picture too! Encouraging creativity but providing the support your child needs to write out her own story is the key to her enjoyment of writing.

After your child begins first grade, introduce her to the five-step writing process. The two of you can take a few days to focus on these steps and complete a project together. Your modeling the progression of steps will help clarify them and give your child an example to follow. Even a simple activity like journaling to each other can give your child regular practice in writing (as well as reading) and allows her to see good writing modeled. Through your involvement, she will learn proper verb tenses, punctuation, spelling, and so much more! By the end of the year, your child will probably complete a writing project all on her own.

What tools are you using to intentionally guide your young child’s writing (and thinking) skills? You can find similar learning ideas like these in BJU Press’s Focus on Fives program as well as Phonics & English 1. Preparing your child to be a strong writer begins right now.

How One Homeschool Mom Managed Her Roles

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WP-tablet-for-DL-12-2015Do you feel overwhelmed with the myriad of things that you have to do? That feeling comes over all of us now and then; but if you’re a busy homeschool parent, you’re probably more familiar with it than most.

Eujeana, a homeschool mom who shared her story on the Hip Homeschool Moms blog, explains how overwhelmed she felt and how a complete homeschool curriculum helped her educate her four kids effectively. She describes the sheer quantity of work that she faced.

There are about eight subjects in the elementary grades, so that was thirty-two subjects I was supposed to teach each day! Really? No way could I do that successfully and still have dinner on the table and other household management tasks accomplished. Using a complete curriculum with a distance learning program not only helped me to teach the subjects my children needed, but it also allowed me to give my children a rigorous education and still give them time to be children!

In her search for a solution, Eujeana discovered the concept of a complete homeschooling currirculum, specifically our BJU Press Distance Learning. With this program, she found that she could get involved with her kids’ education while also enjoying some flexibility. Lesson plans were already taken care of, so Eujeana could clean the house, create her shopping list, cook her family’s meals, and do all the other things a mom has to accomplish each day.

Homeschool moms like you have multiple full-time jobs. You wear the hats of mother, wife, household manager, and teacher for multiple grades. If you’re feeling too busy and overwhelmed, it’s possible to find relief through a comprehensive homeschool curriculum that does some of the paperwork, planning, and instruction for you. Look for a program that doesn’t take over your homeschool, but supports you with lesson plans, activity ideas, suggestions, and video lessons. Check out Eujeana’s full article, “Traditional, Boxed, Complete Homeschooling Curriculum and How It Worked for Us!”

Remember These Dates in December

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December may be the last month of our calendar year, but it’s definitely not the least important one. Whenever I think of this month, I see visions of steamy hot cocoa (with extra marshmallows), car rides at night to see Christmas lights, and conversations with loved ones around the dining room table.

Growing up, I spent most of my Decembers in California with my immediate family, enjoying palm trees, balmy breezes, and sunshine. Whatever your Christmas and the new year may bring you, I hope this season is one filled with the hope and joy that come through accepting God’s special gift—our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord!

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December 3

Gilbert Charles Stuart entered the world on this day in 1755. You might be more familiar with his paintings than with his name. This American-born artist established his legacy by painting portraits of famous and influential leaders, including six United States presidents. Among the many notable people who sat for him were Thomas Jefferson, King Louis XVI, John Adams, Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams, Martha Washington, John Monroe, George Washington, King George III, John Jay, and Benjamin West. View some portraits by Stuart and have your kids answer these questions.

• What physical features does Stuart emphasize in each painting either by its placement, size, or color?
• Why might the people have particular expressions on their faces?
• How are the paintings similar/different?

Your kids might even want to try sitting for their own portraits, so don’t forget to brush up on your art skills!

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December 6

The 13th Amendment was ratified by the necessary number of states in 1865. This addition to the United States Constitution officially ended the slavery of all people throughout our country and any other place under its rule. Its adoption came about two years after Abraham Lincoln presented his Emancipation Proclamation. Take time to share the 13th Amendment and related documents with your kids.

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December 7

The infamous attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on this date in 1941, leaving more than three thousand Americans wounded, dead, or missing. As a preteen, I met a Pearl Harbor survivor. I still remember listening to him recount “the day which will live in infamy.” When the attack began he rushed out of the mess hall and witnessed destruction all around. This event and others prompted America’s entry into World War II. It’s important that we remember our past so that we can learn from it and most importantly so that we learn to recognize God’s sovereign hand. Read survivor stories, view pictures, and learn about the impact of this event on our nation at the Visit Pearl Harbor website.

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December 16

The Boston Tea Party flavored the waters of that city’s harbor in 1773. The British Parliament had placed a tax on this hot beverage for those living in the American colonies, but the colonists resisted taxation and regulation of trade. Their sentiments about the tea tax were clearly displayed when at midnight a group of men barely disguised as Mohawks boarded the Dartmouth and dumped all the cargo overboard. Their actions were peaceful considering that no one was injured and no property damage occurred, but were their actions right? That question might spark a good discussion with your teens about respecting authority and obeying established rules. For a younger group of kids, make this event relatable by brewing some of your favorite hot tea (mine’s Midnight in Paris) and settling down for a read-aloud session of Regina Silsby’s Secret War. Quiet time with tea and a historical adventure to read—that’s a win-win in my book!

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December 25

Christmas Day celebrates the incarnation of Jesus Christ. God the Creator took on the flesh of His created beings to save us from our sins (1 John 4). We don’t know the exact day that Jesus was born, but this event is central to the gospel. One of my favorite family Christmas traditions is to read the account of Jesus’s birth from Luke 2. Assign everyone to read a portion of the Scripture passage or have small children create illustrations for the story as they listen. Focusing on the true meaning behind Christmas brings an inner peace and joy during a busy time of year.

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December 27

Mathematician Johannes Kepler was born on this day in 1571. He formulated the three laws of planetary motion to explain the movements of the planets in our solar system. Kepler used detailed data to define the true shape (an ellipse and not a circle), size, and speed of planetary orbits. Have a Spirograph® session and make different geometric shapes to celebrate today. I think the images you come up with could make awesome Christmas thank-you cards!

Wishing you all the best for a joyful Christmas and a peaceful new year!

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Introducing the New BJU Press Homeschool Website!

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WP-HS-Mobile-New-11-2015If you haven’t been there recently, let me invite you to visit our homeschool website! It’s been redesigned from the ground up by our amazing web team to make your shopping experience even easier. Here are three specific changes our team has made with you in mind.

(1) We realize that many of you are browsing our homeschool website from your mobile devices, so everything on our homeschool website is mobile friendly, right down to the ordering process. You can now choose to shop from your phone, tablet, or computer. And don’t worry if you’re unable to complete the ordering process on one device, the same simple navigation and easy-to-read details are available on any device you choose to use on your next visit to the site.

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(2) Find the products you’re looking for with a single click. Simply select the Shop button located at the top of any page, and you’ll find a drop-down menu that divides our materials by category, grade, and subject. There’s even a Tools section for quick order entry, your wish list, and more!

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(3) The new ordering process is also smarter. It remembers specific details so that you don’t have to. Once you’ve entered your shipping information, those details are retained for easy selection the next time you order. There’s no need to fill in the forms again unless you want to change something. But don’t worry, we use that information only to fill your order. (We’ve posted a BJU Press Privacy Statement online.)

We hope these changes to our homeschool website make your shopping experience more enjoyable and less time-consuming because we know you’d rather be spending quality family (and learning!) time with those who matter most. Experience the changes for yourself at bjupresshomeschool.com.