5 Good Things: Give them Beauty

I received a text this week that transformed my thinking.

It was so simple: “Anna and Grant give me hope for the future”.

We went on to talk about the insanity in our country right now, and how homeschooled children seem to be more able to discern truth from lies - how our children are being brought up to question who their authority is and learning how to sift through the barrage of information thrown at them each day.

As I further contemplated this exchange, it was impressed upon me that the ONLY way to combat the forces at work in our world right now is to relentlessly pursue BEAUTY for our children.

Before you read this post - please read Repairing the Collapse of Virtue. Professor Carol has so eloquently stated what was on my heart this week.

Someone must teach a child to create, rather than destroy. Someone must teach patience, discipline, and compassion. Someone must plant the magical words of poetry, proverbs, and hymns to teach the values and virtues of our heritage. And if no one is there to do it, what will replace it?

This week’s 5 things are practical ideas you can implement with your children, and also inspirational pieces for you, the home educating parent.

Our job is IMPORTANT. Our children are the hope for the future, and we have a large (but not impossible) task set before us.

It is a privilege to reclaim our own education and invest in repairing the ruins of a country that is now feeling the effects of a public education devoid of truth, beauty, and goodness.

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• How to Include Beauty in the Upper Grades of Homeschool

  We have to dig a bit deeper, invest more in relationships, and actively strive to include things of beauty in our teens’ lives. We have to keep talking about the beauty in our own lives, even if they think it’s “dumb”. We have to model the quest for truth, beauty, and goodness in our own lives. This post from last year might help you.

• Politics, Media, and Engaging Our Culture

  There is so much wisdom in this post from Veritas Press. We have DAILY conversations about discernment when it comes to news, social media, and all of the other sources of information presented to us.

• Strawberry Girl

  This is a wonderful book that I remember from my childhood. My daughter works at a strawberry farm, so we have a lot of yummy berries this time of year. As three buckets of berries were staring at me this week, my mind went Lois Lenski’s Strawberry Girl and the wonderful memories I had of my mother reading aloud to me.

  If I had a little one right now I would read the book and make jam! There is no easier way to incorporate beauty than through nature and literature.

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A post shared by Homegrown Learners (@homegrown_learners) on Jun 12, 2020 at 12:38pm PDT

• Virtual Music Hour

  This free resource from the Colorado Symphony is a great way to expose your children to beauty. This week, in particular, is of interest to me. The symphony is sharing a performance of Duke Ellington’s Three Black Kings and Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait - along with a discussion about the pieces.

• How to Spot Fake News (and teach kids to be media savvy)

  I love this article - it gives us basic questions to ask when we are presented with a piece of media. It’s great for EVERYONE in the family as we navigate these strange media times.

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Here’s to our pursuit of beauty and home education!

5 Good Things: Tried and True Homeschool Favorites

Unrest.

This week there has been unrest everywhere we turn. Racial unrest. Political unrest. Religious unrest.

Through homeschooling, however, we have a great opportunity to give our families something extremely important: REST.

Through rest, we give our families the gift of not having to respond when the world says we should. We give our families the gift of not having to be sheep. We give our children the gift of knowing they can be secure in themselves and their path without the approval of the world.

So, rather than devote a lot of time to the unrest this week, I would like to share 5 tried and true ideas/resources that have brought our homeschool rest. These are GOOD things that allow to learn, grow, love, and share.

When we dedicate ourselves to having the best homeschool possible, we are creating the best young people possible, who in turn have an amazing impact on a hurting world.

Parents, don’t ever forget that through homeschooling you are CHANGING THE WORLD - one learner at a time - one day at time.

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• The Power of Story in the Elementary Years

  This is a post from a little over a year ago and it still rings true today. Story is important in ever single area of the curriculum. You should never let a time go by that you are without a good story!

  My son and I finished reading My Side of the Mountain aloud this week - what a simple, beautiful story it is. As we read I was so appreciative of the chance to spend time together, laugh together, and admire the simplicity and beauty of language.

• Do You Have One Fun, Simple Game?

  We’ve been playing Shut the Box since my kids were little. The other night after dinner my son set the game down in my lap and challenged me to a 15 game Shut the Box tournament. This game brought us together - sometimes it’s hard to connect with a teen, but the game was calling his name and I was happy to play with him.

  When the kids were younger I thought it was great because we practice simple addition facts up to 10 with this game. It was quick, easy, and fun.

  I encourage you to have a favorite family game like this.

• Positive, Wise Voices

  The older I have gotten the more important I realize it is to have wise voices in my life. The world lost one of those wise voices a few weeks ago. Ravi Zacharias was an inspiration not only to me, but also to my children as they make their way through the teen years.

  We listen to many of Ravi’s talks in the car. We watched many of his videos - especially during quarantine.

  One of the big advantages of homeschooling is exposing your children to these wise voices. I encourage you to watch True Love in a Time of Crisis with your big kids. It’s very good.

Ravi Zacharias, True Love in a Time of Crisis

• Nature Study

  I wish I could have a do-over in my homeschool. I wish we had done MORE nature study.

  But you, dear reader, can have my do-over, ok? Take my word for it: on the days when we incorporated nature study all of us were happier, more productive, and I truly believe more in touch with our Creator. In my post - The 3 Rs of Nature Study, I point you to a few easy resources.

• Improve Vocabulary - and it’s SO Simple!

  My children use this simple way to improve their vocabulary and I do, too. Most recently I used it while reading Jane Eyre. Wow - I expanded my vocabulary a lot through reading that book! I highlight and look up all the words that are unfamiliar to me. I also write in the margins and truly make the book my own with colored pens, highlighting, etc…. As I look back on my copy of Jane Eyre it means so much more to me because it is personalized!

I hope these 5 tried and true things will bring you rest - and some fun ideas for the coming weeks in your homeschool.

I’m cheering for you!

And, I’d love to know if you have something tried and true to share.

Let me know in the comments below!