BJU Press Blog

Ready, Set, Read! (Part 3)

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Over the past few weeks, we’ve been sharing portions of an interview with Nancy Lohr, author and acquisitions editor for JourneyForth. In the first part of the interview, Nancy explained how the BJU Press Summer Reading Program works and gave a few tips on how to encourage reluctant readers. During the second part, she discussed how children with special needs can participate in the program. Nancy also shared some suggestions for choosing reading materials for children. Below is the final part of our interview.

image of the 2014 sumnmer reading logo

Do you have any suggestions for dealing with objectionable content in children’s literature?

It is no secret that there are plenty of books published for children and teens that do not have a biblical worldview in either the philosophical foundation of the story or in the language and actions of the characters. So what are parents to do? One approach is to pre-read all of the books children read with the goal of presenting material that has no “warts,” but that can consume so much time that children will be waiting for you.

Another approach is to choose books carefully but be prepared to discuss the content when your children encounter something in print that doesn’t square with Scripture and the direction of your home. Children in my library loved to recognize statements in books about dinosaurs that didn’t square with the creation account in Genesis 1. Depending on the age and skill of your reader, you might want to purposely read a book from a different perspective to open discussions. Armed with a trustworthy anthology, search for books from authors and publishers that are a good fit for your family. Read the annotations and discuss with your child what kinds of concerns he or she might find in a given book, and then ask your child to share a sentence or paragraph with you that matches your concern. Make these talking points, and . . . well, talk.

Help your child build discernment as he or she reads. This is a perfect time to develop the concept of our being in the world, but not of the world. Show how to go to Scripture to determine a biblical response. And give your child permission to stop reading if the content is not suitable, and then move on to another, better book.

How can parents provide incentives along the way during the BJU Press Summer Reading Program?

Additional encouragement through the eight-week program may be helpful if it is suited to the individual children. Perhaps your avid readers would like to shoot for a specific number during their reading time, like a large number of minutes or pages or books. These readers might like to read from a variety of categories that include their comfort zones, but stretch them into types of books they haven’t read yet.

Maybe the whole family can go to a favorite place outdoors and enjoy a “book-nic.” Take a blanket, pack a picnic basket meal, and carry along a book for everyone.

If your children like stickers or trinkets or snacks, consider awarding these at milestones during the program.

Incentives can help keep your children motivated during the program, but the best outcome any of us could hope for is that the children begin to be motivated by reading itself with no additional motivation needed. You are there when you hear, “Please, Mom, just one more chapter?”

How can parents model good reading habits for their children?

Join your children during their reading time to read material that interests you, and if what you are reading makes you laugh out loud, I can almost guarantee that you will hear, “What? What’s so funny?” Be in the habit of sharing with them from your own reading. “Hey, listen to this” ought to be a common phrase in your home. Model for them what you are asking of them.

Do you have a reading-related question that we haven’t covered? Let us know in a comment, and we’ll do our best to answer.

A Father’s Vision

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image of two girls looking through a fence outside

When I think about my dad, the word steadfast is top of mind. Though not perfect, he’s not a man who’s afraid to do the right thing even when it’s not popular or convenient.

For example, my mom was a reluctant homeschooler. She never planned to homeschool. My parents were convinced when my brothers and I were quite young that our education should be Christian, so they sacrificed to enroll us in a Christian school. But by the time I entered the sixth grade, the school I attended was having problems. With no other Christian school options in the area, my parents made the difficult decision to start homeschooling. I, in particular, rebelled against the idea and made my opinions on the matter known to my parents. My father never flinched. It made me mad at the time, but looking back, I’m so glad Dad was not afraid to displease me. He had a vision for his children, and he stuck to it.

My father-in-law was not passive about his children’s education either. Unlike my parents, my husband’s parents were convinced from the very beginning that homeschooling was the best educational choice for their children. They chose to homeschool when home education was still very rare and unpopular and were very active in the homeschooling movement in South Carolina. My father-in-law did his best to get involved—he helped teach his children and participated in their extracurricular activities as well as in the local homeschooling association.

The Bible has a lot to say about child rearing, and often its counsel is directed specifically to fathers. For example, Ephesians 6:4 exhorts fathers: “Provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” A similar command shows up in Colossians 3:21. The book of Proverbs makes many references to a father’s teaching or instruction. The Lord does not intend fathers to be passive observers in the home. They are to be the leaders. They should be the visionaries. And they need to be a part of executing that vision as much as possible.

My husband and I have three young daughters—two are already livening up our home, and we expect the third to join them in just a few weeks. My husband deeply loves “his girls.” He’s not only involved as much as possible in their lives but is also providing the leadership we desperately need. I am thankful—every day.

If you’re a dad, how are you getting involved with your child(ren)’s education?

Memorial Day: Remembering the Fallen Heroes

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Today, we honor those in the American Armed Forces who gave their lives while fighting for our nation’s freedom and principles. All sacrifices are worthy of remembrance.

an american flag on the grave of a sergeantMemorial Day, also called Decoration Day in some locations, began at the end of the Civil War. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers died during the War Between the States. Shortly after the war, women, freedmen, and veterans took time to visit the gravesites of those who had died in battle. Some even created monuments to honor their commanders. Brigadier General Strong Vincent created an early Civil War memorial. The Brigadier General’s brigade defended Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg.

memorial to General Strong Vincent at Gettysburg National Military Park

These observances were first followed by organizations and local communities. In 1971, Memorial Day became a national holiday by act of Congress. By this time, the remembrance had also grown to include those who died in all American wars.

image of three gravestones of three revolutionary war soliders

To honor the memory of these fallen soldiers, national cemeteries such as Gettysburg National Cemetery and Arlington National Cemetery have been created. The locations of some cemeteries are the actual places where soldiers died. For example, there are American cemeteries around the world to honor the heroes who never made it back to their homeland.

a picture overlooking Arlington National CemetaryAnother way we honor these heroes is through the erection of monuments—to individuals, events, and wars. Here are several famous monuments located in the Washington, D.C., area.

US Marine Corps War Memorial
Iwo Jima memorial
USS Maine Mast Memorial 
image of the memorial engraving for the USS Maine
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
soldier guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Vietnam Veterans Memorial

image of the vietnam memoria gathering-5-2014

Visitors can find the names of friends and family members on the wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and make pencil rubbings. I made a pencil rubbing of a family member’s name when I was there.

image of a little girl shading a name into a piece of paper at the Vietnam Memorial.Youth Activity Ideas for Memorial Day

How do you and your family observe Memorial Day?

Why Attend a Homeschool Convention?

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March family calendar

In March, I had the opportunity to attend the 2014 SOUTHEAST Homeschool Convention in Greenville, South Carolina, which was sponsored by Great Homeschool Conventions. I had a wonderful time attending workshops, talking to people, and exploring the exhibit hall. If you have never attended a homeschool convention, or haven’t been to one in several years, here is a list of five reasons you should go.

1) Make new friends.

It’s interesting to watch people connect at homeschool conferences. I attended a workshop about homeschooling preschoolers and had an instant connection with the women sitting near me because our kids were similar in age. When homeschooling gets tough, connections such as these can be a huge encouragement.

2) Get inspired.

Homeschool conferences have a lot of energy, and a great deal of that energy comes from the sharing of new ideas. I got really excited about little things (like learning how to make homemade silly putty) and big things (like a workshop speaker’s ideas for fostering creative writing skills in young children). I could barely wait to go home and get to work.

3) Be encouraged.

Homeschooling can be a lonely venture, and sometimes it doesn’t seem worth the effort. It’s encouraging to talk to or listen to people who have had similar struggles and found ways to overcome. It is also encouraging to be reminded of the blessings and benefits of homeschooling.

4) Explore options.

It’s a lot easier to make decisions about homeschooling curriculum when you can look at all your options at one time. Many publishers, such as BJU Press, have a display where you can interact with the materials and ask their representatives questions.

5) Enjoy a break.

Enjoy the break from the daily homeschooling routine. Even better—leave your kids with a relative or trusted friend, and enjoy a couple days away with your husband. You’ll be glad you did!

Have you attended a homeschool convention this year? What was your favorite part?

Ready, Set, Read! (Part 2)

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We hope you’ve signed up your child(ren) to be a part of the BJU Press Summer Reading Program. If you haven’t, there’s still time! Registration is open until June 17.
A few weeks ago we shared part one of our interview  with JourneyForth acquisitions editor Nancy Lohr. Nancy shared with us some great information about the BJU Press Summer Reading Program and gave us some tips for encouraging reluctant readers to read this summer. Below are some more great nuggets from our conversation.

image of the 2014 sumnmer reading logo

What would you say to parents of special needs children who want to participate?

I would shout, “Hurrah for you!” The fact that your child cannot lift words from the page without some help doesn’t mean his or her literary taste buds won’t enjoy the story just as much as other children. Customize this reading program to maximize its effectiveness for your child. You may need to break the reading sessions into smaller segments, or “read” audio books while following along in the print book. You can do the same kind of seeing/hearing with eBooks by using the text-to-speech function of eReaders along with the on-screen text. Some books are available in DVD format so you can watch with the closed captions turned on. The Mice of the Herring Bone DVD from ShowForth is an example of this type of book. If you have other ways that you make reading accessible to your special needs child, we’d love for you share your approach with us on the JourneyForth Facebook page.

What’s the most important thing for parents to remember when choosing reading materials for their children?

Summer reading qualifies as leisure reading, so engage your children in the selection process to find topics of interest. Let your children read the materials that they didn’t have time for during the school year. Children learn how to read in school; they learn to love reading when they are immersed in topics or stories that they enjoy.

Don’t be overly concerned about whether the material is “hard enough.” Certainly you don’t want to let a capable reader slide by and gain little, but experts agree that regular reading in materials of the child’s choice is one of the best ways to strengthen reading skills as well as to develop a love for the written word. And the children who learn to love reading are the ones who will be reading long after the last school assignment is complete.

As a librarian, I often saw children who used their summer reading time to read all of the Hardy Boys® series—in numerical order—or some challenge of that nature. Those children did a heap of reading during the summer and had fun in the process. That’s huge motivation regardless of their skills. Reading is an accrued skill that develops as children read regularly.

What are some reading challenges that your child faces? Let us know in a comment.

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