Not Consumed

Valentine’s Day Bible Verse Countdown

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 15:45:45 GMT

Looking for a fun and meaningful way to celebrate love this Valentine’s Day with your family? Check out these Valentine’s Day Bible Verse Countdown for kids.

Valentine’s Day is all about love, of course. But before we can pour out love on others, we must first fill up with the only source of TRUE love…God. Most of us struggle daily to really grasp how deep and how wide the love of God really is. Why not do a Valentine’s Day Countdown by filling up on God’s love?

This is what I wanted for my kids, to focus first and foremost on God’s love. So, I created a little countdown. It’s simple. It HAS to be. As a single mom (who happens to work full-time and homeschool), SIMPLE is an absolute must when it comes to getting anything done. Of course, each day the countdown presents the opportunity to talk or read about various things about God and even extend this kind of love to others. But the core of the countdown can be done in as little as 5 minutes a day with as little as 10 minutes total preparation for the entire countdown. Yes, that’s perfectly simple!

Valentine’s Day Bible Verse Countdown for Kids

Simply, print the pages on cardstock paper if you have it. This will make them durable enough to use next year too. I even laminated mine. If you don’t have a laminator yet, what are you waiting for? It’s my favorite household appliance. Ha!

Next choose how you will display your Valentine’s Day countdown. Look for a great place in your home that gets frequent traffic. A few of my favorites are:

On the fridge door (tape or magnet)
On the mirror in the family room
On the bathroom door (you know everyone goes in there every day!)
On a bookcase in the school room
On a column or wall opening in your living room

How we use the Valentine’s Bible Verse countdown each day

1. Each morning when the kids wake up, they know to search for that day’s heart. I hide it somewhere in the house and it’s such fun to find it. I tell them that we are going on a treasure hunt for God’s love.

2. Once we find it, we add it to our display and then look up the verse in the Bible. The kids take turns reading the verse.

3. I have them write the verse in their journals and write or draw something that they think of when they read that verse. REAL LIFE—> Yes, sometimes we skip stuff like this. It happens and I’m totally ok with that. In fact, there is much benefit in just reading the verse and no reason to feel obligated to this step at all!

4. Together we talk about what they wrote or drew in the journals and then brainstorm some of the ways we should respond to God’s amazing love as we’ve seen in this verse. This can be as simple as saying kind words to your siblings. But it also is a great time to think of a way that your family could serve someone else today.

GET YOUR FREE PRINTABLES:

Get your FREE Valentine’s Day Bible Verse countdown plus our Christian Valentine card printables by filling out the form below!

New Beginnings Bible Study

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 15:28:08 GMT

Do you desire to begin afresh with a vision and goals for a new season, new year, or new situation?

Whether it’s a new year or simply time for a change, New Beginnings is the tool your family needs.

It’s no secret that successful people evaluate their struggles and goals on a regular basis. This study will help your family navigate changes and live victoriously together!

This Bible study is written for the whole family. It spans 5 full days at about 20-30 minutes per day. You will dig deep in the Scriptures as you prayerfully evaluate your own life.

If a family Bible study is something you’ve always wanted to do or something you absolutely want to do more, click below and sign up for this FREE 5-day Bible study.

The Purpose of Family Bible Study

When we do family Bible study, it’s important to know and keep our purpose in focus. Are we doing this to impress others? Look holy? Fulfill an obligation? Of course not. But sometimes we can slip into that gray area when we don’t stay focused on why we are really doing this.

When we get down to it, the purpose for Bible study is:

To know God better by knowing His Word.
To learn, discern, and share truth.
To enjoy a deeper relationship with God.

Will our kids remember the purpose? Probably not. So when your kids give lousy answers, pick their noses, fight, or even complain during your family time, keep your purpose in perspective. As parents, we’re planting seeds, trusting that God will one day bring the growth. Don’t imagine that other families are doing a better job. Trust God to take our offering of family Bible study – even if it’s a little messy – and work in the hearts of our kids in His time and ways. He’s faithful!

Our New Beginnings Bible Study Format

Our greatest goal with our bible studies is to teach kids how to spend time in the Word on their own. This is a skill that will follow them into adulthood to help them navigate the waters of life according to God’s Word. But of course, kids need direction. That’s where the bible study comes in.

This 5-day study is written for the whole family! And it will serve two main purposes. One, it will give your family purposeful time in the Word, complete with a hands-on activity to solidify the day’s teaching. And two, it will give your kids an introductory taste of what it means to spend time in God’s Word on their own. Win-win.

The study includes four different levels:

Parent Guide (including personal study, discussion ideas, and a daily family activity)
Primary (ages 4-7)
Junior (ages 8-12)
Youth (ages 12+)

Each day you and your kids will find short but meaningful Bible passages to read and later discuss.

Day 1: Journey through the Bible as you look at God’s call for you to evaluate your life and look for things that you need to change.

Day 2: Gird yourselves up with the Scripture that you will need to make a change in your life.

Day 3: Take a deep look at yourself while flipping through pertinent Scripture, making a list of things that you can do better.

Day 4: Consider the season that God has placed you in right now and learn the power of waiting on Him for direction.

Day 5: Write out your plan for change, remembering that God is the one who orders your steps!

How to Study The Bible as a Family

Often families think the best way to study the Bible together is to sit in a circle and have each person read/answer questions. In truth, this is a good way to feel frustrated. Little kids can get lost and older kids can feel like it’s boring.

In order to meet each person where they are, the actual “study” part should be done on an age-appropriate level. To put it simply, any child over the age of 8 who can read on their own, should be spending some time studying the Bible on their own. Once everyone has had the opportunity to study and process, come together to discuss what you’ve learned. Your conversations will be much richer!

Here’s a breakdown of what that might look like for each age level.

Parent Guide:

The parent guide has two aspects. First, there is a personal study for you. You’ll be studying the same thing as the kids, but it’s tailored to help you think through it as a parent. At the conclusion of each lesson, you’ll also find the central Scripture, key truth, and discussion questions. This section is designed to help you lead the discussion with your kids.

I recommend that you study on your own before beginning your day. Once everyone has completed the day’s study, it’s time to come together and discuss! Below you’ll find a strategy for working with each age level.

For Kids Ages 4-7:

We recommend that each family member has a book, so go ahead and print one out for your little ones! This helps kids feel like they aren’t too young to be a part. Our Primary level studies are written for this purpose. Mom/Dad reads the lesson out loud to the child and the child responds by answering questions verbally, as well as drawing in the space provided.

In our home, I gather all of the kids in this age level and work together with them while the older kids are studying independently.

For Kids Ages 8-12:

This is the premium age for spiritual growth! These kids are sponges soaking up everything possible about God. Be sure they have their own book so they can move at their own pace and take ownership of what they are learning. Encourage them not to get hung up on things they don’t know. They can ask questions during your family time.

The goal of their independent study is to get them in the Bible for themselves and to think deeply about what they are learning BEFORE anyone else puts ideas into their head. This is truly the key to helping kids have authentic life-changing faith.

For Teens Ages 12 and Up:

If you try to think for your teens, you’ll quickly find yourself frustrated. God has uniquely designed this age group to challenge ideas, discern truth, and fight for what they believe. Now is the time to make sure they have many great tools at their fingertips.

Studying independently will provide the opportunity for them to read God’s Word themselves and think through what they believe before discussing it. If you’ve ever felt like your teens weren’t engaged this is why. They need to study and grasp on their own before they can contribute to a discussion, much like you and I!

Get a Copy of the Free Bible Study Today!

To get your copy of The New Beginnings bible study, fill out the form below. The study will be sent straight to your email inbox. We’re so excited to hear how the Lord uses it in your family’s life!

Other Family Resources:

If you’d like some other faith-inspiring tips and ideas, check out some of our most popular posts.

Family Bible Studies that Reach the Hearts of Kids

How to Have a Family Prayer Time

Easy Family Devotions: What You Need to Know

Our Top Picks for 5th Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 19:30:27 GMT

Looking for 5th grade homeschool curriculum? You’ve come to the right place! This comprehensive list gives you everything you need for a successful year!

Before I give you my opinion on the best 5th grade curriculum, please note that not everyone agrees with me! There are many differing views on what should be taught and when it should be taught. I’m not seeking to refute anyone or call names. I’m sharing only what has worked well for our homeschool after combining my experience in the classroom with teaching at home. Remember, that’s your job, too. Seek out what works best for your family and don’t worry about what everyone else says!

How Many Hours Do You Homeschool a Day?

I know you are wondering about this because everyone does. It typically takes 2-3 hours to complete a 5th-grade homeschool curriculum. Isn’t that wonderful? In the classroom setting, kids are expected to focus and pay attention for much of the day, but at home, you don’t have to do that. There’s no need to stand in line, sharpen 28 pencils, or participate in that fire drill one more time.

At home, your fifth grader gets undivided attention on his/her level, so it really only takes 2-3 hours to get everything done. If it’s taking longer than that, chances are, you are frustrating your child.

Of course, this doesn’t mean your child is finished learning in 2-3 hours a day and will waste the rest of the day vegging into the land of no knowledge. If you encourage enriching activities (and limit screen time), your child will literally NEVER stop learning. Kids at this age are like sponges. They can’t help but learn!

What Should My Child Be Learning in 5th Grade?

Fifth graders are so much fun to work with. This is the year where your child will continue taking on responsibility to ready themselves for middle school. It’s a BIG DEAL! If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend that you make responsibility your focus in fifth grade.

Fifth graders are eager to take an assignment and then complete it on their own. Most of the time, they’ve gained all the reading skills to do so. If you don’t know where to start, this post will give you 5 simple steps to teaching responsibility.

You’ll still want to focus on reading and math, especially if those aren’t strong. If your child is doing well with those things, feel free to dig deeper with social studies and/or science.

Typical 5th Grade Homeschool Subjects

Language Arts
Math
Bible
Social Studies
Science
Art
Physical Education
Music
Life Skills

The most important subjects in fifth grade remain the same as they were in all the grades up to this point: reading and math. Until you’ve conquered these, keep making them your focus. Don’t worry. Your child isn’t behind. If you press ahead, they won’t get the necessary foundation to build upon.

In the next section, we will take a look at each subject’s recommended curriculum, as well as when and why you should teach it.

But first, we need to make sure you are legal. It’s very important that you consult with your state requirements. The most reputable place to find these laws are the HSLDA website. Note that I didn’t say to ask your friend who has been homeschooling for many years (that’s a big mistake- look them up yourself).

Most states are pretty light on requirements for elementary school. Some have general guidelines for core subjects. Occasionally, you’ll find a strict state that requires specific hours to be completed. Again, the only way to know what rules you have to follow is to check the site yourself.

One thing to note is that even if you are required to teach science, for example, it doesn’t typically say that you must use a textbook that covers 180 days’ worth. As homeschoolers, we have the freedom to teach the way our kids need us to teach them!

5th Grade Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum

Reading

By 5th grade, your student will be getting much of their reading from science and history. So they don’t really need a specific reading curriculum. Instead, I have my kids keep a journal.

Reading Journal

The reason I love this Reading Journal is because it gives kids the freedom to choose books on whatever topic they find interesting. This journal will help track comprehension and hone their thinking skills.

There are 30 different, half-page writing prompts to get kids thinking about what they read that day. The purpose of reading is to understand. Find out more about creating your own DIY Reading Curriculum Journal here.

Reading Eggs

You also might consider adding Reading Eggs. It’s a systematic method for teaching reading using a computer program, particularly if your child isn’t reading as well as you’d like. It’s not free, but it’s great fun. The kids don’t always realize they are learning and mom can focus on the others during this time, too. That’s always an added blessing for little ones who aren’t independent learners just yet.

If you’re looking for book ideas, here are some other great reading resources for kids:

Spelling

Once they reach the 5th grade we are using IEW’s Phonetic Zoo. We use this program through middle school. There are 3 leveled CDs that are self-paced for independent learning. They teach rules and jingles. Kids write the words and keep practicing them until they are mastered. This program was a game-changer for my 5th grader who really struggled. I won’t say she’s now perfect, but it helped tremendously.

Once these CDs are mastered, spelling is no longer a subject in our homeschool. Occasionally it comes up naturally in writing and we learn from there, but no additional curriculum is needed.

Grammar and Writing

We have enjoyed using IEW or Institute for Excellence in Writing as our writing foundation. The method they use to teach seems a little weird at first, but when you compare it to the way we learn to speak, it makes the most sense.

At this time, we also add in a grammar curriculum. Between 5th grade and high school this is a skill you want to focus a bit more time on. This will enable you to focus on writing killer essays when it’s crucial instead of needing to figure out an adverbial clause in the thick of it.

If using IEW, stick with Fix It! Grammar from IEW. It keeps things simple with a warm-up for each day. If not, try Easy Grammar. It’s, well, easy!

5th Grade Homeschool Math Curriculum

There are probably 100 great 5th grade homeschool math curriculum options out there. But if you skip to that, you’ll miss the point. Math is a subject systematically built on tiny blocks of information. If you miss the foundation, the top will crumble. Period. Sadly, this is why so many kids struggle in math.

Math Mastery is About Basics.

Hopefully, you took the time to lay a solid foundation in the early years! By now, you want your 5th grader to know addition/subtraction facts without thinking about it at all. You also want him/her to be on the way to mastering multiplication and division. Yes, there are LOTS of other skills in the math book, but if you don’t get these down perfectly, the rest of the book will just be frustrating.

For multiplication/division math facts, daily practice is required. Be careful, because most math curriculums do not cover this in-depth enough. They move on to other topics and kids are lost. Don’t let that happen. Focus here EVEN if nothing else gets done. Remember, math is a cycle and the same concepts are taught year after year. They just go a bit more in-depth as kids get older. If you focus on getting the basic facts very strong, the other stuff will be simple to pick up on.

We use Xtramath for daily fact practice. I’ve used so many different things, but this one wins every time because each child has a log-in and is able to practice the exact facts he/she is struggling with. The website is smart and that makes mastery much easier. Oh, and it’s totally FREE!

I’ve used many fun programs and apps in the past (like Math Bingo), but this program far surpasses its rivals in that it’s tailored to the specific facts that your child needs to work on. It’s like personal flash cards with a built in accountability system to go along with it.

Favorite Curriculum for Math

Teaching Textbooks

Teaching Textbooks is literally the best math curriculum out there. We love that the computer teaches the lesson and that there aren’t 500 problems to answer when the lesson is finished.

As a mom, I love the instant grading feature. This makes my homeschool day so much easier. I also love that my kids are getting immediate feedback when a problem is incorrect. So often students do the whole page wrong, only to learn they have to start over again. Teaching Textbooks doesn’t allow that to happen.

One final thought: If math really is more than you can handle as a homeschool parent, rest assured you can always outsource it to a co-op or online class. Sometimes taking the subject outside of your realm is good for your student and your relationship!

If your child struggles with math, I would encourage you to check out this post for ideas.

5th Grade Homeschool Science Curriculum

In the early years, our science and history curriculum is literature-based. In fact, we typically don’t buy a curriculum at all. We just load up on awesome books at the library. By 5th grade, we typically go ahead and pick a more traditional curriculum. But again, only if math and reading are going well. If not, stay light on science and focus the bulk of your efforts on getting the basics down.

Master Books

We also love Master Books science. It’s Charlotte Mason-inspired, featuring living books in many cases. I love that it’s lighter in content, but gives kids plenty of opportunities to dig deeper. You can choose from a variety of topics, but this is the one we have often done in 5th grade.

5th Grade Homeschool History Curriculum

Fifth grade homeschool curriculum is a great time to lay a foundation that cultivates interest and excitement for the history of God’s world. Be careful about buying too much curriculum. It’s easy to weave these topics into your day using great read-alouds or short simple studies. I would also recommend the use of audiobooks. They are engaging and teach so much! (See our list of books below to help get you started.)

Our favorites:

To Every Nation

To Every Nation is a study of missionaries, countries, and biblical truth. I wrote this to help us focus on these crucial elements of faith, as well as develop a compassion for the world. The study covers the lives of 12 different missionaries using a Charlotte Mason approach. It can be done in 12 weeks or you can go deeper with the novels of each missionary and enjoy it for the whole year!

America’s Story

America’s Story is a fabulous option for parents who want a little MORE history without going overboard. Written by Master Books, it’s a trusted resource with a strong biblical worldview that provides simple assignments for elementary kids and engaging activities to supplement. This history curriculum is inspired by the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling.

Bible Curriculum for 5th Grade

Our Bible studies teach on a wide variety of topics including sibling relationships, the power of our words, contentment, guarding our hearts, and more!

Our goal is to get kids into God’s Word in an effective yet fun way. We hope to equip kids with the tools they need for a lifetime of engagement with the Bible.

We’ve designed our Bible studies for all age levels! Your 5th grader can dive into God’s Word in a simple yet powerful way.

It’s never too early to start teaching kids the life-giving truths about God and how He instructs His children in His Word.

5th Grade Homeschool Curriculum for Electives

Elementary electives are generally disguised as “extra-curricular activities.” Families often do music lessons, sports, or similar opportunities. This is GREAT! Just be sure you keep your purpose in focus. At this age, it’s less about perfecting a skill and more about dabbling in things your children might want to pursue when they get older.

Try to expose them to all of the fine arts (music, art, drama) through homeschool classes, museums, and shows. You never know how God has gifted them! Exposing elementary kids to sports tends to be easier, as there are so many teams to choose from.

Just remember to keep your purpose in focus. I always remind myself that Michael Jordan didn’t even start playing basketball until he was in junior high. Forcing a four-year-old to play soccer against his desires won’t create a prodigy.

Use the elementary years to dabble and explore. Take field trips. Participate in one-day classes. Work hard on life skills. You’ll be thankful you took this approach.

Here are some courses I recommend:

Fine Arts Electives

Still Singing: Hymn Stories for Every Season

Still Singing Hymn Study is a music appreciation curriculum that includes language arts and history too!

Voice Lessons (here’s a place that does online lessons)
Piano Lessons (we take local lessons, but this online option is interesting)
Art Appreciation curriculum is for grades 4-8!
Artistic Pursuits
Academy of Arts Ministries (drama)
Bits Box (computer coding)
Latin for Children
4-H gardening, animal care, etc.
Sewing, crocheting, knitting, etc.
Care of their space (make their bed, tidy their room, empty the dishwasher, etc.)

More Christian Homeschool Curriculum

Click the image below to find more homeschool elementary curriculum and to learn how to choose the best Christian homeschool curriculum.

Our Top Picks for the Best 4th Grade Curriculum

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 15:15:14 GMT

Looking for 4th grade homeschool curriculum? This comprehensive list will give you everything you need for a successful school year!

Before I give you my opinion on the best 4th grade curriculum, please note that not everyone agrees with me! There are many differing views on what should be taught and when it should be taught. I’m not seeking to refute anyone or call names. I’m sharing only what has worked well for our homeschool after combining my experience in the classroom with teaching at home. Remember, that’s your job, too. Seek out what works best for your family and don’t worry about what everyone else says!

How Many Hours Do You Homeschool a Day?

I know you are wondering about this because everyone does. It typically takes 2-3 hours to complete a 4th-grade homeschool curriculum. Isn’t that wonderful? In the classroom setting, kids are expected to focus and pay attention for much of the day, but at home, you don’t have to do that. There’s no need to stand in line, sharpen 28 pencils, or participate in that fire drill one more time.

At home, your fourth grader gets undivided attention on his/her level, so it really just doesn’t take all day to get it done. In fact, if it’s taking longer than that, chances are, you are frustrating your child with busy work or unnecessary subjects.

What Should My Child Be Learning in 4th Grade?

Fourth graders is when things start getting “big”. This is the year where your child will continue taking on responsibility. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend that you make responsibility your focus in third grade because later the focus needs to be the academic content. You won’t want to have the hurdle of responsibility, too. They are old enough to handle it and still young enough to not have too many bad habits. If you wait any longer, it WILL be harder.

Fourth graders should be able to take an assignment and then complete it on their own. Most of the time, they’ve gained enough reading skills to do so. They can often “teach” themselves several subjects, such as math and science. If you don’t know where to start, this post will give you 5 simple steps to teaching responsibility.

Typical 4th Grade Homeschool Subjects

Language Arts (specifically reading)
Math
Bible
Social Studies
Science
Art
Physical Education
Music
Life Skills

The most important subjects in fourth grade remain the same as they were in all the grades up to this point: reading and math. Until you’ve conquered these, keep making them your focus. Don’t worry. Your child isn’t behind. If you press ahead, they won’t get the necessary foundation to build upon.

In the next section, we will take a look at each subject’s recommended curriculum, as well as when and why you should teach it.

4th Grade Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum

Reading

By 4th grade, your student will be getting much of their reading from science and history. So they don’t really need a specific reading curriculum. Instead, I have my kids keep a journal.

Reading Journal

The reason I love this Reading Journal is because it gives kids the freedom to choose books on whatever topic they find interesting.

This journal will help track comprehension and hone their thinking skills.

Reading Eggs

For all children under 5th grade, we use also use Reading Eggs. It’s a systematic method for teaching reading using a computer program. It’s not free, but it’s great fun. The kids don’t always realize they are learning and mom can focus on the others during this time, too.

If you’re looking for book ideas, here are some other great reading resources for kids:

Spelling

Once my kids reach the 3rd grade we start IEW’s Phonetic Zoo. We use this program through middle school or even high school, depending on how long it takes each child to complete. There are 3 leveled CDs that are self-paced for independent learning. They teach rules and jingles. Kids write the words and keep practicing them until they are mastered. This program was a game-changer for my 4th grader who really struggled. I won’t say she’s now a perfect speller, but it helped tremendously.

Once these CDs are mastered, spelling is no longer a subject in our homeschool. Occasionally it comes up naturally in writing and we learn from there, but no additional curriculum is needed.

Grammar and Writing

For 4th-grade language arts, we pick up formal writing. We have enjoyed using IEW or Institute for Excellence in Writing as our writing foundation. The method they use to teach seems a little weird at first, but when you compare it to the way we learn to speak, it makes the most sense.

At this time, we also add in a grammar curriculum. Between 4th grade and high school this is a skill we want to focus a bit more time on. This will enable you to focus on writing killer essays when it’s crucial instead of needing to figure out an adverbial clause in the thick of it.

If using IEW, stick with Fix It! Grammar from IEW. It keeps things simple with a warm-up for each day. If not, try Easy Grammar. It’s, well, easy!

4th Grade Homeschool Math Curriculum

There are probably 100 great 4th grade homeschool math curriculum options out there. But if you skip to that, you’ll miss the point. Math is a subject systematically built on tiny blocks of information. If you miss the foundation, the top will crumble. Period. Sadly, this is why so many kids struggle in math.

Math Mastery is About Basics.

Hopefully, you took the time to lay a solid foundation in the early years! By now, you want your 4th grader to know addition/subtraction facts without thinking about it at all. You also want him/her to be on the way to mastering multiplication and division. Yes, there are LOTS of other skills in the math book, but if you don’t get these down perfectly, the rest of the book will just be frustrating.

For multiplication/division math facts, daily practice is required. Be careful because most math curriculums do not cover this in-depth enough. They move on to other topics and kids are lost. Don’t let that happen. Focus here EVEN if nothing else gets done. Remember, math is a cycle and the same concepts are taught year after year. They just go a bit more in-depth as kids get older. If you focus on getting the basic facts very strong, the other stuff will be simple to pick up on.

We use Xtramath for daily fact practice. I’ve used so many different things, but this one wins every time because each child has a login and is able to practice the exact facts he/she is struggling with. The website is smart and that makes mastery much easier. Oh, and it’s totally FREE!

Favorite Curriculum for Math

Teaching Textbooks

Once they’re in 4th grade, my kids are doing Teaching Textbooks. They love that the computer teaches the lesson for them and that there aren’t 500 problems to answer when the lesson is finished.

As mom, I love the instant grading feature. This makes my homeschool day so much easier. I also love that my kids are getting immediate feedback when a problem is incorrect. So often students do the whole page wrong only to learn they have to start over again. Teaching Textbooks doesn’t allow that to happen.

If your child struggles with math, I would encourage you to check out this post for ideas too.

4th Grade Homeschool Science Curriculum

In the early years, our science and history curriculum is literature-based. In fact, we typically don’t buy a curriculum at all. We just load up on awesome books at the library. By 4th grade, we typically go ahead and pick a more traditional curriculum. But again, only if math and reading are going well. If not, back off on science and focus there.

Master Books

We also love Masterbooks science. It’s Charlotte Mason inspired, featuring living books in many cases. I love that it’s lighter in content, but gives kids plenty of opportunities to dig deeper. You can choose from a variety of topics, but this is the one we have often done in 4th grade.

4th Grade Homeschool History Curriculum

4th-grade homeschool curriculum is a great time to lay a foundation that cultivates interest and excitement for the history of God’s world. Be careful about buying too much curriculum. It’s easy to weave these topics into your day using great read-alouds or short simple studies. I would also recommend the use of audiobooks. They are engaging and teach so much! (See our list of books below to help get you started.)

Our favorites:

To Every Nation

Mystery of History

Mystery of History is a comprehensive journey through all of time focusing on a biblical worldview, done with a classical flair. The awesome thing about this curriculum is its flexibility. You can use it for all ages and make it a family affair. During elementary school, we simply use the audio CDs and listen to the lesson. Then we draw or write about what we learned in a notebook.

America’s Story

America’s Story is a fabulous option for parents who want a little MORE history without going overboard. Written by Masterbooks, it’s a trusted resource with a strong Biblical Worldview that provides simple assignments for elementary kids and engaging activities to supplement. This history curriculum is inspired by the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling.

Bible Curriculum for 4th Grade

Our Bible studies teach on a wide variety of topics including sibling relationships, the power of our words, contentment, guarding our hearts, and more!

Our goal is to get kids into God’s Word in an effective yet fun way. We hope to equip kids with the tools they need for a lifetime of engagement with the Bible.

We’ve designed our Bible studies for all age levels! Your 4th grader can dive into God’s Word in a simple yet powerful way.

It’s never too early to start teaching kids the life-giving truths about God and how He instructs His children in His Word.

4th Grade Homeschool Curriculum for Electives

Use the elementary years to dabble and explore. Take field trips. Participate in one-day classes. Work hard on life skills. You’ll be thankful you took this approach.

Here are some courses I recommend:

Fine Arts Electives

Still Singing: Hymn Stories for Every Season

Still Singing Hymn Study is a music appreciation curriculum that includes language arts and history too!

Voice Lessons (here’s a place that does online lessons)
Piano Lessons (we take local lessons, but this online option is interesting)
Art Appreciation curriculum is for grades 4-8!
Artistic Pursuits
Academy of Arts Ministries (drama)

Health and Life Skill Electives

Bits Box (computer coding)
Latin for Children
4-H gardening, animal care, etc
Sewing, Crocheting, Knitting, etc
Care of their space (Make your bed, tidy your room, empty the dishwasher, etc)

More Christian Homeschool Curriculum

Click the image below to find more homeschool elementary curriculum and to learn how to choose the best Christian homeschool curriculum.

Our Top Picks for the Best 3rd Grade Curriculum

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 15:25:07 GMT

Looking for the best 3rd grade homeschool curriculum? Look no further! After twenty years of homeschool experience, these are my absolute favorite resources!

I absolutely love 3rd graders! Though no two kids are the same, often they’ve grown stronger in their reading and they’re ready to learn and discover new things. In fact this might be the year their individual strengths and passions may start to blossom. These elementary years fly by, so enjoy it!

Before I give you my opinion on the best 3rd grade curriculum, please note that not everyone agrees with me! There are many differing views on what should be taught and when it should be taught. I’m not seeking to refute anyone or call names. I’m sharing only what has worked well for our homeschool after combining my experience in the classroom with teaching at home. Remember, that’s your job, too. Seek out what works best for your family and don’t worry about what everyone else says!

How Many Hours Do You Homeschool a Day?

I know you are wondering about this because everyone does. It typically takes 1-2 hours to complete a 3rd-grade homeschool curriculum. Isn’t that wonderful? In the classroom setting, kids are expected to focus and pay attention for much of the day, but at home, you don’t have to do that. There’s no need to stand in line, sharpen 28 pencils, or participate in that fire drill one more time.

At home, your third grader gets undivided attention on his/her level, so it really only takes 1-2 hours to get everything done. If it’s taking longer than that, chances are, you are frustrating your child.

Of course, this doesn’t mean your child is finished learning in 1-3 hours a day and will waste the rest of the day vegging into the land of no knowledge. If you encourage enriching activities (and limit screen time), your child will literally NEVER stop learning. Kids at this age are like sponges. They can’t help but learn!

What Should My Child Be Learning in 3rd Grade?

Third graders are so much fun to work with. This is the year where your child will continue taking on responsibility. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend that you make responsibility your focus in third grade because kids this age are ripe. They are old enough to handle it and still young enough to not have too many bad habits. If you wait any longer, it WILL be harder.

Third graders are eager to take an assignment and then complete it on their own. Most of the time, they’ve gained enough reading skills to do so. (If your child hasn’t, don’t fret. It will come!) If you don’t know where to start, this post will give you 5 simple steps to teaching responsibility.

You’ll still want to focus on reading and math, especially if those aren’t strong. If your child is doing well with those things, feel free to dig deeper with social studies and/or science. But again, it’s not mandatory to dig too deep with those!

Typical 3rd Grade Homeschool Subjects

Language Arts (specifically reading)
Math
Bible
Social Studies
Science
Art
Physical Education
Music
Life Skills

The most important subjects in third grade remain the same as they were in all the grades up to this point: reading and math. Until you’ve conquered these, keep making them your focus. Don’t worry. Your child isn’t behind. If you press ahead, they won’t get the necessary foundation to build upon.

In the next section, we will take a look at each subject’s recommended curriculum, as well as when and why you should teach it.

3rd Grade Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum

How to Teach 3rd Grade Reading

All About Spelling

In 1st and 2nd grade, I move my kids through All About Spelling levels 1-3. If they reach 3rd grade and haven’t completed level 3, then we will continue from that point before moving forward. I know the title of this curriculum says “spelling,” but this is the strategy that works best for actually teaching reading (not the coloring and cutting out of worksheets.) Plus it’s a hands-on program that takes 10-15 minutes a day- perfect for the early elementary attention span.

Along with the All About Spelling program, I encourage them to read, read, read books of their choosing. That’s where the reading journal comes in.

Reading Journal

Once children begin to have a general understanding of phonics and comprehension, I let them choose their own books and utilize a reading journal to track comprehension and thinking skills. Read more about creating your own DIY Reading Curriculum Journal here.

This is the only reading curriculum we use once my kids reach 3rd grade. It gives them basic structure to their reading and comprehension.

Reading Eggs

For all children under 5th grade, we use Reading Eggs. It’s a systematic method for teaching reading using a computer program. It’s not free, but it’s great fun. The kids don’t always realize they are learning and mom can focus on the others during this time, too. That’s always an added blessing for little ones who aren’t independent learners just yet.

Here are some other great reading resources for kids:

Spelling

Once they reach the 3rd grade we move on to IEW’s Phonetic Zoo. We use this program through middle school. There are 3 leveled CDs that are self-paced for independent learning. They teach rules and jingles. Kids write the words and keep practicing them until they are mastered. This program was a game-changer for my 4th grader who really struggled. I won’t say she’s now perfect, but it helped tremendously.

Once these CDs are mastered, spelling is no longer a subject in our homeschool. Occasionally it comes up naturally in writing and we learn from there, but no additional curriculum is needed.

Grammar

This is the one subject that often tips parents over the edge, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Grammar is simply learning to understand how sentences are put together to convey a clear thought. When your kids are first learning to read, grammar is relatively irrelevant to them. That’s understandable. However, it quickly can become a natural part of the conversation.

For little ones, focus on subject-verb agreement. At this stage, learning to say “The dogs ARE in the backyard” is important. It also helps them learn to recognize the linking verbs which are largely sight words (don’t follow traditional phonics rules). You don’t need a curriculum for this. Just do it naturally as it comes up.

Next is the discussion of nouns and verbs. Teach these two simply and help your child see that every sentence has to have both parts. This way they can answer questions in a complete sentence and learn to write (more about that below).

Writing

Before 4th grade, writing should be informal and fun. Let your kids keep a journal to record fun events and information they learn, or to respond to a great book they read. Don’t fret about spelling and grammar. This isn’t the time. Of course, you can help them if they ask though.

When my children first learn to read, I give them a spelling dictionary. A few times a week, they have writing time. I give them a journal with blank pages and they draw. After they draw something, I ask them to write a sentence about what they drew. If they ask me how to spell a word, I look it up in their spelling dictionary and circle it for them. Otherwise, I never correct for spelling…I simply let them write. Sometimes I suggest a topic, but most of the time I do not.

I don’t like to do any type of curriculum before 4th grade. This is a great time to focus on handwriting, which is just the formation of letters. You might also take a little time to teach the make up of a complete sentence as described above.

In handwriting, practice makes perfect. Generally at this age, parents have their children practice- a lot. We call this copywork. Copywork is simply when a child copies written text onto paper.

Copywork is an essential skill that has pretty much been phased out of the public school experience. However, it provides crucial tracking skills, and spelling and language practice that aid in the development of WRITERS. Not handwriters, but actual writers….those people who can successfully craft a 5 paragraph essay without a tirade.

How? Copying excellent quality language cements the patterns into your brain. So, when you select copywork, select something excellent. In our home, we often use the Bible or lines from excellent pieces of literature. (Idea: have your kids copy one verse from Proverbs each day.) I also absolutely love the Write Through the Bible Curriculum for this!

When Do You Teach Cursive?

Some teachers advocate teaching cursive before you teach your kids to print. Personally, I stick with the traditional way and teach my kids to print first. That’s up to you.

You might wonder when cursive should be added. There is no right answer, of course, but most children have a natural desire to learn it around 3rd grade. Why not take advantage of that?

My 3rd grader learned it toward the end of 2nd grade per her request, but prefers manuscript (print). So, I let her use print one day and cursive the next. Why? I am keenly aware that handwriting is not going to be nearly as crucial in her life as other things and I don’t want to die on this hill. Which reminds me… don’t forget to teach keyboarding skills!

3rd Grade Homeschool Math Curriculum

There are probably 100 great math curriculum options out there. But if you skip to that, you’ll miss the point. Math is a subject systematically built on tiny blocks of information. If you miss the foundation, the top will crumble. Period. Sadly, this is why so many kids struggle in math.

Math Mastery is About Basics.

If your kids haven’t spent the time learning math basics in 1st or 2nd grade, take the time to lay the foundation this year. I promise you won’t regret it! The two skills we focus on when it comes to basics are skip counting and basic addition/subtraction facts. I cannot stress this enough.

We start skip counting as early as possible with fun jingles and songs. My personal favorite is the skip counting songs written by Classical Conversations. You can get them in this app. It’s not free, but it’s no more expensive than a CD and you can still play it in the car. You can get a physical CD from them directly here or on Amazon. I found many skip counting CDs on Apple Music with a quick search. Just make sure you stick with one and go all the way to skip counting by 15’s. Don’t stop at 2’s and 5’s.

My older kids were vigilant with learning skip counting and as a result, learning multiplication was easy. My son wasn’t as vigilant (ok, mom wasn’t on the ball) and we quickly realized multiplication was a much bigger struggle until we went back and did it right. Laying the foundation here is key!

For addition/subtraction math facts, daily practice is required. Be careful because most math curriculums do not cover this in-depth enough. They move on to other topics and kids are lost. Don’t let that happen. Focus here EVEN if nothing else gets done. Remember, math is a cycle and the same concepts are taught year after year. They just go a bit more in-depth as kids get older. If you focus on getting the basic facts very strong, the other stuff will be simple to pick up on.

Once your child has the basics down, it’s time to move to a math curriculum.

3rd Grade Homeschool Curriculum for Teaching Math

Teaching Textbooks

Once they reach 3rd grade, my kids transition into Teaching Textbooks. They love that the computer teaches the lesson for them and that there aren’t 500 problems to answer when the lesson is finished.

We also love the Math Reference Chart from CLE. It’s kind of like a “cheat sheet” and gives kids a point of reference.

3rd Grade Homeschool Science Curriculum

When the kids are little, reading should be your focus and science curriculum should be super laid back. In fact, for years our “science” class was digging into a pile of amazing books while cuddled on the couch. Each week I’d carefully select nonfiction books sharing all about fish, elephants, or really, anything interesting. And the kids loved it!

This helps you focus on what is most important at this stage: growing strong readers. When mom holds her little ones in her lap and reads aloud, kids hear beautiful language, learn the organization and structure of language, and eventually begin to desire to read those words on their own.

Some of our favorite homeschool science books have been…

We’ve also really enjoyed homeschool science videos. Kids gravitate toward the screen, why not use it for good stuff, like learning? We have so many great ones like these…

We also have a subscription to Pureflix where we can watch hundreds of educational titles.

3rd Grade Homeschool Science Notebook

For our 3rd grade homeschool science curriculum, we keep a notebook where we will note some of the things we have learned from our reading and exploring in a science journal (think composition notebook with blank pages). Don’t get too overzealous about this. It can be a killjoy. Just allow your kids to draw or write something that interests them.

Sometimes I have them narrate facts to me and other times we don’t. Let it be natural and fun!

I know this method is a little non-traditional, but remember, there is a reason we didn’t go with the traditional school option anyway, right?

If your kiddos master reading and math and you’d like to add in a little more, here are a few favorites. (Note that I really don’t think you have to. In fact, you could spend all of elementary school cuddled on the couch and be totally fine in upper-level science classes.)

We typically add in a more formal homeschool science curriculum in the 4th or 5th grade, but if you want something for your 3rd grader check out Masterbooks science.

We also love it’s Charlotte Mason inspired, featuring living books in many cases. I love that it’s lighter in content, but gives kids plenty of opportunities to dig deeper.

We also LOVE Apologia science curriculum. It’s hands-on, provides tons of notebooking experiences, and is just plain fun. Our favorites have been Flying Creatures and Swimming Creatures, but they are all great.

3rd Grade Homeschool History Curriculum

Remember, math and reading need to remain the primary focus. But once those foundations are firmly laid, this is a great time to start teaching the history of God’s world. But again, be careful about buying too much curriculum. It’s easy to weave these topics into your day using great read-alouds or short simple studies. I would also recommend the use of audiobooks.

This is a great time to talk about missions, different cultures, and in people our community (like the role of firefighters and other jobs in the community).

Have each child keep a notebook and draw or write about what you read or where your family visits. Make sure you take lots of field trips! Visiting the local library, police station, or a local ethnic grocery store definitely count.

Another favorite is the timeline song from Classical Conversations. We love to sing this song! I don’t make my kids memorize it, but the names and dates in the song are helpful for them to remember as they get older.

Missionary Books

Introducing kids to these missionary books kids love is truly my favorite way to foster a love for social studies. Learning about the lives of these heroes of the faith teaches us about geography, culture, events, and faith. There is so much good stuff in there it’s hard not to love them!

Great Living Books for Teaching Homeschool History

We love reading real stories about history. This can be a great way to learn and can actually be all the curriculum you need, if you’d like to do it that way. Here are some of our favorites.

Bible Curriculum for 3rd Grade

Our Bible studies teach on a wide variety of topics including sibling relationships, the power of our words, contentment, guarding our hearts, and more!

Our goal is to get kids into God’s Word in an effective yet fun way. We hope to equip kids with the tools they need for a lifetime of engagement with the Bible.

We’ve designed our Bible studies for all age levels! Your 3rd grader can dive into God’s Word in a simple yet powerful way.

It’s never too early to start teaching kids the life-giving truths about God and how He instructs His children in His Word.

3rd Grade Homeschool Curriculum for Electives

Use the elementary years to dabble and explore. Take field trips. Participate in one-day classes. Work hard on life skills. You’ll be thankful you took this approach.

Here are some courses I recommend:

Fine Arts Electives

The Story of the Orchestra

When my kids were very young, we used The Story of the Orchestra as our music appreciation curriculum for one whole school year. Lots of good discussions!

Maestro Classics

One of my favorite resources for classical music with young children is Maestro Classics. These award-winning CDs are full of child-friendly classics. Plus, each CD shares a wealth of instruction. The best part is, your kids don’t even realize they are learning because they are so fun to listen to.

Piano Lessons (we take local lessons, but this online option is interesting)
Artistic Pursuits is a really great hands-on art curriculum.
The YMCA offers homeschool PE classes for the whole family, but don’t forget about things like Karate and organized sports.

More Christian Homeschool Curriculum

Click the image below to find more homeschool elementary curriculum and to learn how to choose the best Christian homeschool curriculum.

FREE Bible Study | Creating a Life-Giving Family Culture

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 22:48:19 GMT

Family bible study might be something we desire. In this broken world full of so many opinions, we know how desperately we need God’s Word on our minds and in our hearts on a daily basis. We know we want our kids in the Word each day.

But with all the things in life we juggle – schedules and activities and attitudes and school and chores – bible study often gets pushed to the side. Plus it can be a bit overwhelming to try to even figure out what to read.

I get it. I have four busy kids that all seem to be running in different directions on any given day. If I’m not purposeful, family bible study would rarely happen. Yet I know that time spend in God’s Word is an investment that brings eternal reward. And I want that for my family!

That’s why I wrote this short, free 5-day guide. It’s a simple but meaningful way to get your family in the Word.

The Purpose of Family Bible Study

When we get down to it, the purpose for Bible study is:

To know God better by knowing His Word.
To learn, discern, and share truth.
To enjoy a deeper relationship with God.

Our Family Bible Study Format

The study includes four different levels:

Parent Guide (including personal study, discussion ideas, and a daily family activity)
Primary (ages 4-7)
Junior (ages 8-12)
Youth (ages 12+)

Each day you and your kids will find short but meaningful Bible passages to read and later discuss. There is also a daily family activity that’s both fun and purposeful.

Day 1: Remember God
Day 2: Your Treasure
Day 3: Choose this Day
Day 4: Who We Are
Day 5: Family on a Mission

How to Study The Bible as a Family

Here’s a breakdown of what that might look like for each age level.

Parent Guide:

In this free study, there is also a family activity to help you develop your own family mission statement step-by-step!

For Kids Ages 4-7:

In our home, I gather all of the kids in this age level and work together with them while the older kids are studying independently.

For Kids Ages 8-12:

For Teens Ages 12 and Up:

How to Get Started with Your Free Bible Study

If a family Bible study is something you’ve always wanted to do or something you absolutely want to do more, click below and sign up for this FREE 5-day Bible study.

Our goal is to help you get your feet wet while coming alongside you step-by-step, so your journey is a success. The Best Family Ever is written to help your family develop the habit of Bible study together while also laying a strong foundation for independent study.

If that’s not enough, you’ll also develop a family mission statement as you work together to define YOUR unique family culture, beliefs, and non-negotiables!

No family is perfect. No family gathering is perfect – even if it’s called “Bible study.” But every family can be in the process of becoming a family that loves the Lord and loves one another. This simple Bible study is another step in that process of becoming a family who truly honors the Lord.

Get a Copy of the Free Bible Study Today!

To get your copy of The Best Family Ever bible study, fill out the form below. The study will be sent straight to your email inbox. We’re so excited to hear how the Lord uses it in your family’s life!

Other Family Resources:

If you’d like some other faith-inspiring tips and ideas, check out some of our most popular posts.

Family Bible Studies that Reach the Hearts of Kids

How to Have a Family Prayer Time

Easy Family Devotions: What You Need to Know

Bible Study With Kids: 8 Tips to Make it Amazing

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 19:56:29 GMT

Bible study with kids is our top priority as parents. In this post, we will answer all of the questions, plus share 8 tips for making it an amazing experience.

We teach our kids how to brush their teeth and tie their shoes. We cheer them on as they take those first steps and coach them as they learn to ride a bike. Teaching is at the very core of parenting and that’s exactly how God designed it.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Teaching kids the basics of life is certainly important, but teaching them about God should be at the top of our list, because it’s the one thing God specifically calls us to teach!

If we are being honest though, we have a lot of questions about this process. How do we teach kids about Jesus? Where do we even begin? How do we keep them engaged?

How do I teach my kids about Jesus?

Let’s start at the beginning. Is there a method or secret for teaching your kids about Jesus? Nope. Absolutely not. In fact, any book or method will fall hopelessly flat.

Kids learn about Jesus most naturally when He is woven into everyday life, just as Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says! Here are some examples:

Sing songs about Jesus.
Tell your kids about His goodness in your life.
Point out the things He has created.
Pray with your kids.
Take them to church.
Read the Bible to your kids.
Do a Bible study with your kids.

Naturally, it will be hard for you to talk about Jesus, if you don’t know HIm yourself. So be sure that YOU are keeping up with your own personal Bible study time.

One thing that transformed how I read the Bible was realizing that all of Scripture ultimately points to Jesus. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, Jesus shows up. The Old Testament continually points to His coming. And the New Testament clearly teaches about His life and mission on Earth.

Time spent in Bible study with kids should equip them to read the Word with a desire to see Jesus throughout its pages.

Which naturally leads us to the next question. If the best way to learn about Jesus is to read the Bible, then how do we teach kids to study the Bible? Let’s dig into some practical tips for doing just that!

How do I teach my kids to study the Bible?

If you keep Jesus at the focus on your Bible study time, you’ll be far less likely to feel overwhelmed by the idea of doing a Bible study with your kids. remember, it’s never about getting all the right answers, checking off the right boxes, or even feeling like your kids are 100% engaged. It’s about seeing Jesus and knowing Him better!

Whether Bible study with kids is new to you, or you’ve been doing family Bible studies for years, these tips will help keep you on track and can encourage you to keep going!

1. Lead by Example

If you haven’t noticed it yet, our kids want to be like us. They mimic the things we do and say (whether we want them to or not!) This is a blessing, but it can also be a curse. If Bible study is going to be important to our kids, they need to see that it’s important to us. If they don’t see mom/dad doing their own Bible study, there’s less chance they will want to do it.

Allow your kids to see you doing your own Bible study. Show them where you sit to spend time in the Word. Give them a glimpse into your prayer journal. Talk about what God has been teaching you!

2. Know Your Purpose in Studying the Bible

Do you think it’s possible to read the Bible for the wrong reasons? 100% yes! In fact, sometimes good leaders encourage us in a way that leads to exactly that. We are taught to go to the Bible because we are “supposed to.” Or we are taught to go there to get our lives straight.

Of course, the Bible is the perfect place to help you get your life straight, but if that’s all you get out of it, you’ve missed the one BIG thing. The Bible is God’s story. It’s about Him, not us. Is it a great rule book for life, as some may say? Yes, but don’t minimize it to just that.

It’s the very source of life. It’s the ONLY way to truly know God. So instead of going to the Bible to look for what it can do for you, go to learn WHO God is and WHAT He has already done for you!

I teach my kids to ask this question:

What does this passage teach me about God?

3. Pray and Ask God to Help You Study

Only God can make His Word come alive to us as we read it. That’s why we want to pray and ask God to open our eyes and our hearts to what He wants to teach us through our Bible study. Teach your kids to start their time with God by first praying.

Ask God to open your eyes to the truth.
Ask God to open your heart and help you to listen and obey Him.
Ask Him to show you more of Himself.
Ask Him to help you understand what you are reading.

Need more help with prayer? Check out this post on how to have a family prayer time.

4. Teach Kids to Think About What They Are Studying in the Bible

Bible study involves reading but doesn’t stop there. Help your kids understand and think about what they read.

Reading the Bible always leads to a choice, “Am I going to allow God’s Word to change how I live my life, or am I going to ignore it?”

This is one of our top goals when writing a Bible study, making them a favorite for many families. You can check them out here.

5. Start Early and Be Consistent.

They may not understand everything or be able to sit for long periods of time, but beginning this practice early will help your kids understand the importance of setting aside time daily to learn more about God.

Read these 3 things every kid needs to be taught about devotions. You’ll also find tips for how to work with your kids at every age level!

By the way, if your kids aren’t young anymore or you don’t feel you’ve been consistent, today is a new day! There’s grace for new beginnings.

6. Make Bible Study FUN for Kids

Don’t imagine that studying the Bible has to be something done in a suit and tie while sitting at a formal table! Engage your kids with the study by having them do more than just sit and listen. If they are old enough to read, GET THEM THEIR OWN BOOK! (More on this in the next tip.)

Look for resources that have your kids read the Bible themselves, write, draw, and answer questions. Also look for fun ways to engage with the teaching, like memory verse cards, booksmarks, and stickers.

7. Manage Your Expectations

Set down the picture perfect idea you may be tempted to have about Bible study with kids and remember that life is messy. People are messy. Kids are really messy. They don’t always listen. They talk when they’re not supposed to. They pester their siblings. And they’re prone to rebel…just like us. Expecting interruptions and imperfection will set your own heart up for greater success and less frustration.

Remember, it’s up to you to teach and guide.

It’s God’s job to win their hearts.

8. Don’t settle for Second-Hand Christianity

My pastor used to say, “Your mama’s faith isn’t enough to get you into Heaven.” We ALL know this truth. But sometimes we still fall into the trap of doing things that hinder our kids’ ability to take ownership of their faith. In fact, it’s easy to let a few of these things slip in even if you are trying really hard not to.

Second-hand Christianity Traps to Avoid:

Giving your child the answer, instead of taking them to the Word to find it themselves.
Having Dad/Mom pray each day and never involving the kids in SAYING the prayer.
Using resources that tell you what the Bible says or how you should think about it.
Settling for corporate learning (reading a study out loud or doing it “together”), instead of letting each child engage at his her level in their own book and Bible.

If we want our kids to cultivate a lasting relationship with Christ for themselves, we have to avoid these traps. And yes, that means we have to be hands-off a little more than we typically like! Sometimes I’m guilted into thinking that I’m a bad mom because I don’t read the Bible FOR my kids or do the dishes FOR my kids.

But in the end, when you empower your kids to do these things for themselves, you give them the keys to a successful life.

Here are some ways you can make sure that your kids are studying the Bible for themselves and avoid the trap of doing it with them.

ALWAYS take them straight to Scripture to answer a question. Let it be God’s Words and not yours.
Get them a Bible of their own. (Suggestions for Kid’s Bibles here if you need them.)
As soon as they are old enough to read, teach them HOW to have a quiet time and encourage personal study.
Instead of going through a Bible study line by line and doing it together, let them complete a day on their own, then come together and talk about it.

What Should I Teach My Kids About the Bible?

How we treat the Bible, the amount of time we spend with the Bible, and what we teach our kids about the Bible will forever shape the lives of our kids. It’s a topic we want to take very seriously. But please don’t let it overwhelm you. God is faithful to help and guide us as parents. He equips us to teach our kids and fills in the gaps we leave behind.

Here are some things you want to be sure your children know about the Bible:

The Bible is 100% true, as written.
It is relevant today.
It doesn’t have any mistakes.
The Word was breathed-out by our perfect Holy God, who again, doesn’t make mistakes.
God’s Word has all of the answers you need for life.
It’s God’s incredible story of creation, corruption, and redemption.

How Do I Find the Best Bible Studies to Do With Kids?

Keeping in mind what we’ve learned so far, when you do a Bible study with your kids you want to look for these things:

Age-appropriate reading and writing level
Focused on getting kids in the Bible for themselves and not in retelling the Bible in other words.
Inviting and engaging graphics (because let’s face it- we all like cute things!)
Text that kids can do on their own, but that also leads to family discussion
Theology that focuses on God’s character and our need for the gift of salvation, as well as sanctification through Christ.

I’ll be honest, I had a hard time finding Bible studies for kids that fit my ideal description. Most were too babyish, too shallow, or too storybook-like. Others were too broad or not independent enough to motivate my kids to study on their own.

So I did what any mother would do. I wrote some myself. Just for my kids, of course. But then my friends found out and their friends found out and well, you know, the rest is history. I’d love to introduce you to our collection of family bible studies here.

2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 16:40:21 GMT

Are you looking for 2nd grade homeschool curriculum? Look no further! After twenty years of homeschool experience, these are the resources I’ve grown to love for every subject.

Second graders are amazing! They are beginning to really understand the academic world and it’s like the door is being swung open to a world of incredible opportunities. They are a little more mature now, but still pretty laid back enough not to be worried about much.

If you’ve got a second grader, seize the day! It won’t be long before lots of other opportunities begin to beg for their attention. Capitalize on this age and set a foundation that will help them grow to do whatever God has in store for them!

Before I give you my opinion on the rest of this, please note that not everyone agrees with me! There are many differing views on what should be taught and when it should be taught. I’m not seeking to refute anyone or call names. I’m sharing only what has worked well for our homeschool after combining my experience in the classroom with teaching at home. Remember, that’s your job, too. Seek out what works best for your family and don’t worry about what everyone else says!

What Should My Child Be Learning in Second Grade?

Second graders are so much fun to work with. I like to call this the golden year because if you are willing, this is the year where your child will begin to take on responsibility. I highly recommend that you make responsibility your focus in second grade because kids this age are ripe. They are old enough to handle it and still young enough to not have too many bad habits. If you wait, it WILL be harder.

Second graders are eager to take an assignment and go off by themselves to complete it. Most of the time, they’ve gained enough reading skills to do so. (If your child hasn’t, don’t fret. It will come!) If you don’t know where to start, this post will give you 5 simple steps to teaching responsibility.

How many hours do you homeschool a day?

I know you are wondering about this because everyone does. It typically takes 1-2 hours to complete a 2nd-grade homeschool curriculum. Isn’t that wonderful? In the classroom setting, kids are expected to focus and pay attention for much of the day, but at home, you don’t have to do that. There’s no need to stand in line, sharpen 28 pencils, or participate in that fire drill one more time.

At home, your second grader gets undivided attention on his/her level, so it really only takes 1-2 hours to get everything done. If it’s taking longer than that, chances are, you are frustrating your child.

Of course, this doesn’t mean your child is finished learning in 1-2 hours a day and will waste the rest of the day vegging into the land of no knowledge. If you encourage enriching activities (and limit screen time), your child will literally NEVER stop learning. Kids at this age are like sponges. They can’t help but learn!

Typical Second Grade Homeschool Subjects

Language Arts (specifically reading)
Math
Bible
Social Studies
Science
Art
Physical Education
Music
Life Skills

The most important subjects in second grade remain the same as they were in all the grades up to this point: reading and math. Until you’ve conquered these, keep making them your focus. Don’t worry. Your child isn’t behind. If you press ahead, they won’t get the necessary foundation to build upon.

In the next section, we will take a look at each subject’s recommended curriculum, as well as when and why you should teach it.

2nd Grade Language Arts Curriculum

How to Teach 2nd Grade Reading

All About Spelling

I start all of my kids in All About Spelling. This is how I teach them to read! Yes, I know it says “spelling,” but this is the strategy that works best for actually teaching reading (not the coloring and cutting out of worksheets.) Plus it’s a hands-on program that takes 10-15 minutes a day- perfect for the 2nd grade attention span.

We typically do level 3 in first grade, but if you haven’t done levels 1-2, just start there. You’re not behind. The levels don’t even have to take one year anyway. You’ll catch up just fine!

Keep your “instruction” time focused and purposeful so you can focus on fostering a love of reading with exciting read alouds that you share together and a own personal book box. We spend 15-20 minutes in our book boxes at first and then gradually work up to at least 30-45 minutes by the end of first grade. A second grader can do up to an hour. If you are just starting though, stick with 15 minutes and work your way up.

You’d be amazed how much they will read if they can have some control over what they get to read! Of course, the more you practice reading, the better. You can even have a morning book box time and an afternoon book box time.

If your child is still learning to read, check out this post on 1st-grade homeschool curriculum. Don’t feel guilty or think you are behind. Every child blossoms at their own pace. Just don’t rush them ahead because you are worried. I promise it will be fine.

In 2nd grade, our reading goal is practice… LOTS of practice! This is crucial for building fluency and comprehension, so don’t put those “easy” books aside. Many parents want to rush ahead to chapter books. Resist the urge. There’s plenty of time for that!

Reading Journal

Once children begin to have a general understanding of phonics and comprehension, I like to let them choose their own books and utilize a reading journal to track comprehension and thinking skills.

This is a great way to foster a love for reading because your kids get to CHOOSE what they read. We use this instead of a traditional reading curriculum that might box kids in or frustrate them. Read more about creating your own DIY Reading Curriculum Journal here.

Here are some of our favorite books for kids:

SPELLING

Under 3rd grade, we don’t use a spelling curriculum per se. As mentioned above, I use All About Spelling to teach reading, which essentially teaches reading through systematic spelling. Once they reach the 3rd grade we move on to IEW’s Phonetic Zoo.

GRAMMAR

This is the one subject that often tips parents over the edge, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Grammar is simply learning to understand how sentences are put together to convey a clear thought. When your kids are first learning to read, grammar is somewhat irrelevant to them. That’s understandable. However, it quickly can become a natural part of the conversation.

Next is the discussion of nouns and verbs. Teach these two simply and help your child see that every sentence must have both parts. This way they can answer questions in a complete sentence and learn to write (more about that below).

WRITING

In handwriting, practice makes perfect. Generally at this age, parents have their children practice- a lot. We call this copywork. Copywork is simply when a child copies written text onto paper.

WHEN DO YOU TEACH CURSIVE?

Some teachers advocate teaching cursive before you teach your kids to print. Personally, I stick with the traditional way and teach my kids to print first. That’s up to you.

You might wonder when cursive should be added. There is no right answer, of course, but most children have a natural desire to learn it around 3rd grade. Why not take advantage of that?

2nd Grade Homeschool Math Curriculum

MATH MASTERY IS ABOUT BASICS.

Take the time to lay the foundation and be sure you get a 2nd grade homeschool math curriculum that makes this the focus of elementary school. The two skills we focus on are skip counting and basic addition/subtraction facts.

We use Xtramath for daily fact practice. I’ve used so many different things, but this one wins every time because each child has a login and is able to practice the exact facts he/she is struggling with. The website is smart, remember what you’ve learned and challenging you on what you haven’t, making mastery much easier. Oh, and it’s totally FREE!

We have loved using CLE for math in the early years (pictured above). It’s great at building a strong foundation and helping kids with math facts. It’s also inexpensive, which is a plus. The lessons are laid out to teach in an independent format, which is also high on my list of priorities.

It’s not colorful and “fun” according to some, but I’ll be honest, my kids have never once noticed or complained about that. Color in math doesn’t seem to make it any better or worse. (Haha)

CLE comes in little booklets for the child to use throughout the year. The entire goal is to help kids gain independence! And it’s strong in math facts which is very important. They are the foundation to math success (adding, subtract, etc.).

We also love the Math Reference Chart from CLE. It’s kind of like a “cheat sheet” and gives kids a point of reference. If you’d like to try something more colorful, check Masterbooks, but bear in mind it’s not as independent.

2nd Grade Homeschool Science Curriculum

When the kids are little, reading should be your focus, which means your science curriculum should be super laid back. In fact, I recommend a Charlotte Mason approach where “science” classic literally digging into a pile of amazing books while cuddled on the couch. Each week select nonfiction books sharing all about fish, elephants, or really, anything interesting. You can pick some, but let the kids choose, too.

Some of our favorite homeschool science books have been from Answers in Genesis and Masterbooks. Both are trustworthy source for science information with the correct Biblical worldview.

We’ve also really enjoyed homeschool science videos. Kids gravitate toward the screen, why not use it for good stuff, like learning? We have so many great ones like these…

We also have a subscription to Pureflix where we can watch hundreds of educational titles.

2nd Grade Science Notebook

We keep a notebook where we will note some of the things we have learned from our reading and exploring in a science journal (think composition notebook with blank pages). Don’t get too overzealous about this. It can be a killjoy. Just allow your kids to draw or write something that interests them.

Sometimes I have them narrate facts to me and other times we don’t. Let it be natural and fun!

I know this method is a little non-traditional, but remember, there is a reason we didn’t go with the traditional school option anyway, right?

Don’t forget to take advantage of the science all around you. We take lots of walks and spend time outside exploring nature. And we go on a million field trips. (Not really. Haha! but you get the point.) We’ve even done family trips–complete with notebooks on visiting the Grand Canyon or The Florida Aquarium. The kids explored, colored, drew pictures and I narrated for them some, too.

2nd Grade Homeschool History Curriculum

This is the age to lay a great foundation that cultivates interest and excitement for the history of God’s world. But again, be careful about buying too much curriculum. It’s easy to weave these topics into your day using great read-alouds or short simple studies. I would also recommend the use of audiobooks.

This is a great time to talk about missions, different cultures, and in people our community (like the role of firefighters and other jobs in the community).

Missionary Books

GREAT LIVING BOOKS FOR TEACHING HOMESCHOOL HISTORY

We love reading real stories about history. This can be a great way to learn and can actually be all the curriculum you need, if you’d like to do it that way. Here are some of our favorites.

2nd Grade Homeschool Curriculum for Electives

Use the elementary years to dabble and explore. Take field trips. Participate in one-day classes. Work hard on life skills. You’ll be thankful you took this approach.

Here are some courses I recommend:

Fine Arts Electives

The Story of the Orchestra

When my kids were very young, we used The Story of the Orchestra as our music appreciation curriculum for one whole school year. Lots of good discussions!

Maestro Classics

Piano Lessons (we take local lessons, but this online option is interesting)
Artistic Pursuits is a really great hands-on art curriculum.
The YMCA offers homeschool PE classes for the whole family, but don’t forget about things like Karate and organized sports.

More Christian Homeschool Curriculum

Click the image below to find more homeschool elementary curriculum and to learn how to choose the best Christian homeschool curriculum.

Everything You Need to Know About 1st Grade Homeschool Curriculum

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 00:21:30 GMT

Looking for 1st grade homeschool curriculum? You’ve come to the right place.

I spent 10 years as a first-grade teacher and I can confidently tell you that first grade is the best grade! I absolutely love how these little people come into the year with raw knowledge and awkwardness that blossoms into such a beautiful love of learning.

Many kids officially learn how to read during first grade, making the potential of it daunting for parents, but just wait until you get to be a part of that moment when the light bulb clicks on and they suddenly take off. There’s nothing on earth like it!

How do I homeschool my first grader?

Before we dig into my suggested 1st grade homeschool curriculum, let’s talk a little bit about the best strategy when it comes to teaching a first grader. The important thing to remember is that a first grader is typically 6 or 7 years old.

Every parents KNOWS that a typical 6 or 7 year old doesn’t sit still much, and yet we seem to think this is a problem. It’s not! The problem is teachers, the system, and unfair expectations. God made 6 year olds to wiggle, giggle, and explore. Let them do that. Don’t tie them down to a desk all day!

In the rest of this post, I’ll give you practical tips for all the things you need to know to homeschool your first grader, but promise me you won’t forget that one of their top needs is to be able to run and play. Deal?

What are the subjects for 1st grade?

Let’s start with the typical subjects that you’d see in a 1st grade homeschool curriculum. If you went to five different homeschools and peeked in the window to see what they taught for first grade you’d see everything from kids who never sat at a table to do any kind of formal learning to kids who had 7 subjects with formal textbooks each day.

Here are some typical 1st grade homeschool curriculum subjects:

Reading
Math
Science
Social Studies
Bible
Home Economics
Fine Arts

But don’t let that list scare you. The main focus in first grade should ALWAYS be reading and math. These are the two building blocks for the other subjects. When you focus here first, you build a foundation that will set your kids up for success for years to come! I’ll show you practically how to do that below when we talk about each subject.

How many hours do you homeschool a day?

I know you are wondering about this because everyone does. It typically takes 1-2 hours to complete a 1st grade homeschool curriculum. Isn’t that wonderful? In the classroom setting, kids are expected to focus and pay attention for much of the day, but at home, you don’t have to do that. There’s no need to stand in line, sharpen 28 pencils, or participate in that fire drill one more time.

At home, your first grader gets undivided attention on his/her level, so it really only takes 1-2 hours to get everything done. If it’s taking longer than that, chances are, you are frustrating your child.

1st Grade Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum

How to Teach Reading

All About Spelling

We typically do level 2 in first grade, but if you didn’t do level 1 in kindergarten, just start there. You’re not behind. The levels don’t even have to take one year anyway. You’ll catch up just fine!

To complete the reading part of 1st grade homeschool curriculum, focus on fostering a love of reading with exciting read alouds that you share together and their own personal book box. We spend 15-20 minutes in our book boxes at first and then gradually work up to at least 30-45 minutes by the end of first grade.

We tackle a new book or story together (until mastery). I have the child read the book out loud to themselves FIRST and then they read with me. This is a HUGE time saver for you as they get to practice sounding things out without you feeling impatient. It’s also good for their confidence level.

Next, they spend the rest of the time practicing books we’ve already mastered. This is crucial for building fluency and comprehension, so don’t put those “easy” books aside.

Here are some of our favorite beginning readers:

Pathway Readers
BJU Press Kindergarten (K-5) Readers
God is Good Series (Rod and Staff)
Say it Again Series (Rod and Staff)
Rookie Readers: Level A, Level B, Level C
Lakeshore Readers: Sight Word Set 1 and the Beginning Readers Set

Personally, I believe this simple method outlined above teaches everything I want my kids to know when they are little. But sometimes you have a child that really WANTS to do more. In that case, go ahead and dive into All About Reading. It’s a great compliment to what I’ve suggested above.

One more thing you might consider. We love to use Reading Eggs as a fun supplement. It’s a systematic method for teaching reading using a computer program. It’s not free, but it’s great fun. The kids don’t always realize they are learning and mom can focus on the others during this time, too. That’s always an added blessing for little ones who aren’t independent learners just yet.

Here are some other great reading resources for first graders:

Grammar

Writing

1st grade homeschool writing curriculum should be informal and fun. Let your kids keep a journal to record fun events and information they learn, or to respond to a great book they read. Don’t fret about spelling and grammar. This isn’t the time. Of course, you can help them if they ask though.

First Grade Handwriting

In handwriting, practice makes perfect. Generally at this age, parents have their children practice- a lot or do copywork. Copywork is simply when a child copies written text onto paper.

How? Copying excellent quality language cements the patterns into your brain. So, when you select copywork, select something excellent. In our home, we often use the Bible or lines from excellent pieces of literature. (Idea: have your kids copy one verse from Proverbs each day.) We’ve used the curriculum above from Simply Charlotte Mason and loved it! I also absolutely love the Write Through the Bible Curriculum for this!

1st Grade Homeschool Math Curruculum

There are probably 100 great 1st grade homeschool math curriculum options out there. But if you skip to that, you’ll miss the point. Math is a subject systematically built on tiny blocks of information. If you miss the foundation, the top will crumble. Period. Sadly, this is why so many kids struggle in math.

MATH MASTERY IS ABOUT BASICS.

Take the time to lay the foundation and be sure you get a 1st grade homeschool math curriculum that makes this the focus of elementary school. The two skills we focus on are skip counting and basic addition/subtraction facts.

We start skip counting as early as possible with fun jingles and songs. My personal favorite is the skip counting songs written by Classical Conversations. You can get them in this app. It’s not free, but it’s no more expensive than a CD and you can still play it in the car. I also found many skip counting CDs on Apple Music with a quick search. Just make sure you stick with one and go all the way to skip counting by 15’s. Don’t stop at 2’s and 5’s.

I’ve used many fun programs and apps in the past (like Math Bingo), but this program far surpasses its rivals in that it’s tailored to the specific facts that your child needs to work on. It’s like personal flashcards with a built-in accountability system to go along with it.

Christian Light Education

We have loved using CLE for math in the early years. It’s great at building a strong foundation and helping kids with math facts. It’s also inexpensive, which is a plus. The lessons are laid out to teach in an independent format, which is also high on my list of priorities.

1st Grade Homeschool Science Curriculum

Some of our favorite homeschool science books have been…

We’ve also really enjoyed homeschool science videos. Kids gravitate toward the screen, why not use it for good stuff, like learning? We have so many great ones like these…

We also have a subscription to Pureflix where we can watch hundreds of educational titles.

Homeschool Science Notebook

Sometimes I have them narrate facts to me and other times we don’t. Let it be natural and fun!

I know this method is a little non-traditional, but remember, there is a reason we didn’t go with the traditional school option anyway, right?

1st Grade Homeschool History Curriculum

This is the age to lay a great foundation that cultivates interest and excitement for the history of God’s world. I recommend staying away from curriculum. Instead, read living books, go on field trips, and explore things. This is a great time to talk about missions, different cultures, and in our community (like the role of firefighters and other jobs in the community).

It’s easy to weave these topics into your day using great read-alouds or short simple studies. I would also recommend the use of audiobooks. They are engaging and teach so much! (See our list of audiobooks to help get you started.)

How many sight words should a first grader know (and all the other things you wonder)

Perhaps the biggest struggle with piecing together a homeschool curriculum is that fear that we aren’t teaching enough or that our kids aren’t learning the right things. We literally stress ourselves out over questions like, “how many sight words should a first grader know.”

If all of this sounds overwhelming, let me give you a simple tool to help. The Primary Assessment Pack is a printable tool to help you keep track of all of the skills your first grader accomplishes, including sight words.

Primary Assessment Pack

The goal of this tool is to help you create your own curriculum confidently by providing a checklist of needed skills!

It comes with a simple video for each level to help you evaluate where your student is and how you can help them grow. It’s easy to use and will give you the ability to see how your child is doing without relying on a standardized test.

More Christian Homeschool Curriculum

Click the image below to find more homeschool elementary curriculum and to learn how to choose the best Christian homeschool curriculum.

How to Choose the Best Preschool Homeschool Curriculum

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 11:40:23 GMT

As a 17-year veteran homeschool mom and educator with a master’s degree in early childhood, these are my top picks for preschool homeschool curriculum. They might surprise you!

Your preschooler is amazing and these years are a treasure! But if we are being honest, figuring out how to educate your preschooler isn’t always easy. With almost 20 years of homeschool experience and a master’s degree in early childhood, I’d love to share with you the resources I recommend when it comes to homeschooling preschoolers. And don’t worry, it isn’t as overwhelming as you might think.

What is a good age to start homeschooling?

It’s NEVER too early to start homeschooling, but it’s possibly too early to use a traditional curriculum. What do I mean? Well, homeschooling is truly about educating the whole child. It’s not just about making sure your child can read and pass the ACT one day. It’s about preparing them for all facets of their life once they leave your home.

To truly educate a child is to educate them spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and academically. It’s about teaching them necessary skills for life (like brushing your teeth) just as much as it’s about teaching them to read. So naturally, it’s starts at birth. Just don’t sit your 6 month old down with a pencil and some flash cards. It’s not necessary!

In this post, we will explore all of the perfect preschool homeschool curriculum for your 2-5 year old. You might be surprised by my answer!

How do you homeschool a preschooler?

Before we dig into the curriculum, there are a few things we need to determine. First, how eager is your preschooler to learn? And second, how available are you to teach him/her.

If you don’t answer these questions and choose curriculum accordingly, you’ll find yourself frustrated and overwhelmed. For example, the mom with one eager-to-learn child is going to have a VERY different preschool homeschool curriculum than the mom with 5 other kids and an easily distracted learner.

Here’s the cool thing- both of those kids will turn out just fine! No matter what, your child will thrive if you choose the preschool homeschool curriculum that best suits their needs (and not the one your friends are using).

For the purposes of this post, we are going to talk about three kinds of preschoolers.

Preschooler A is eager to learn and her mom has lots of available time to invest.
Preschooler B is the oldest of 3 children under 4. Mom is a bit overwhelmed with diapers right now, but knows this too will pass.
Preschooler C fits somewhere in the mix of a gaggle of other homeschooled kids. He wants to be like his older siblings and “do school,” but mom isn’t sure how she will fit in one more thing.

What is the best preschool curriculum for homeschool?

Well, that depends on the type of preschooler you have. Saying that there is one BEST preschool homeschool curriculum out there is like saying that there is one BEST car. Every homeschool mom in the world knows that a Ferrari isn’t the one best car for her family. I mean, it’s illegal to drive with kids on the roof. Ha!

There isn’t one BEST preschool homeschool curriculum. But there are some awesome choices and you’ll surely find something that works for your child. (Hint: it’s likely to change from child to child!)

Top Picks for Preschool Homeschool Curriculum

As a 17-year veteran homeschool mom and educator with a master’s degree in early childhood, these are my top picks for preschool homeschool curriculum. They might surprise you!

How do you know which one is best for YOUR child? Let’s explore them individually. Remember, a lot more than quality goes into selecting a curriculum for your kids. We’ve got to consider their needs, the family’s needs, and our unique circumstances.

For moms with oldest or only children

When my oldest child was in preschool, we did Before Five in a Row. It’s a literature based curriculum full of activities and explorations to go with classic children’s literature. We LOVED it!

Pros: it’s chocked full of ideas to use and read REAL living literature, which creates a beautiful experience for preschoolers.

Cons: it takes some time to plan, gather materials, and complete.

If you have a few other little people, they can listen along as you read the stories. It’s truly something your whole family will treasure. I still have some of the precious things we made, as well as the paper doll clothes we made for Jesse in Ask Mr. Bear (one of my favorite books).

Because of the time needed to prep and teach, this curriculum is typically a great fit for an oldest or only child, or at least a mom with some time on her hands. If you are teaching older kids along with your preschooler, often people opt for something more like the option below.

For moms teaching multiple children or with limited time

But yes, realistically, I only did Before Five in a Row once. When child #2 was in preschool, she listened along to her sister’s Kindergarten stuff (also Five in a Row).

By the time I got to my boys, I was too busy teaching the girls to be able to invest as much into preschool. So I opted for more of an “open and go” curriculum. My boys were less interested in sitting at the table and coloring anyway, so Rod and Staff’s ABC series was a great fit.

Pros: Rod and Staff is easy to use and won’t overwhelm your already busy life, it’s VERY reasonable and can be used any day that your child is interested in learning. Both of my boys took two years to do these 7 books, as I let them choose to “do school” with us or not.

Cons: Most people see a con of this curriculum in it’s traditional textbook style. It’s not hands-on, nor is it colorful or entertaining. Personally, I prefer that. My boys had PLENTY of hands on opportunities to do things each day. This curriculum gave me a few minutes to be intentional about teaching them the foundations for academic learning in between all of that mud making and tower building.

Best Preschool Homeschool Curriculum For all Preschoolers

Even if you choose one of the two listed above, you’ll still want to add Busy Bags with your kiddos.

I start my kids with Busy Bags around age 2. First, it keeps them engaged (and out of trouble) while I’m working with other kids, changing diapers, or even taking a phone call. The best part is, they think they are playing while developing crucial skills!

Busy Bags 101 is a great resource for learning the basics or my friend Sara has a great book and website to give you busy bag ideas covering literacy, math, fine motor skills, and pretty much all of the things young children should master.

A Typical Preschool Homeschool Schedule

I’m a big fan of block scheduling and routines. When you break your day into 15 minute increments and label each one with a task, you’ll find yourself constantly frustrated with interruptions and unexpected messes.

Instead, we chunk our day into manageable pieces: morning, school, lunch, afternoon, and dinner. You can read more detailed info about our overall homeschool schedule here. For this post, I’ll stick with a few specifics for preschoolers.

Morning Schedule Chunk

In our home, the morning chunk has three specific goals:

To teach good habits
To teach basic life skills
To get the day off to a good start

In preschool, I start the kids with a morning checklist. We do this together! The checklist walks us through those basic good habits and life skills so we can build on them as the kiddos grow. Check out the FREE morning checklist and read more about this strategy.

School Schedule Chunk

Our focus during this time is high quality educational activities. If you have older kids, you’ll probably need to spend some time teaching them to read or working with them, too. Instead of a moment by moment schedule, try a routine.

TABLE TIME with the little people. If I’m doing a read-aloud or a curriculum with my preschoolers, I typically start with them. Older kids can get started on basics without you, but the little guys will just get into trouble! But be mindful of the time. 10-15 minutes is ideal, 20 minutes if they are super engaged. Try not to go beyond that. If you are doing a curriculum like Five in a Row, this could last an hour since the activities are varied- just be careful not to make your little guy sit too long if they need to get up.
BUSY BAG time: Next I bring out the busy bags. Typically I rotate these through only giving 2-3 choices if that. (No choices for a 2-year-old. Perhaps more for a 4-year-old.) This will keep them engaged while you work with the older kids. Most of the time my preschoolers will go for about an hour on these.
Preschool BOOK BOX Time: Next up is the book book. My kids have their own personal book box from age 3 to high school. These are books I’ve selected that are high quality, wholesome, and engaging. Giving them a box full allows them to choose and not feel BOXED in. I set the timer and require 15-30 minutes for this box, depending on age. At first, they won’t sit with the books long, so be patient and work your way up from 5 minutes.
CENTER time: Taken from the old preschool classroom, our educational time ends with centers. Basically, these are little stations I set up with activities for my preschoolers to do. This might be busy bags or it could be something like a sand table or puzzle. I print and laminate the numbers 1-3 and put them in the area with the activity. Then the preschooler cycles through the activities while I’m working with other kiddos on school or folding laundry, etc. Independent learning time is REALLY important, so don’t skip this.

Afternoon Schedule Chunk

After lunch is our favorite part of the day. Typically my kids have about 1 hour of free play (which is sometimes turned into errands).

Family Read-Aloud is something we do every day during the lunch hour. I choose all kinds of things to read together while the kids are eating lunch or coloring/doodling at the table.
Free play with toys or outside (Be sure your child has lots of open-ended toys that build intelligence like blocks or building cubes.)
Quiet time is non-negotiable in our house. Even my high schoolers have it. Everyone needs downtime. Naps are always a preschooler’s friend, but this time also might be filled with audiobooks, their book box, or quiet toys in their room.
Free play again. Typically my kids have more free play before dinner time, too. Outside if the weather will permit, or inside with toys and fun things.

How to Teach a Preschooler to Read

There are three things you can do every single day to teach your preschooler how to read:

Read books aloud to them
Talk about the books as you read them (rhyme words, point out letters)
Explore the world around you.

Perhaps that seems oversimplified to you, but if you read any sentence in this post, may it be this one:

Learning to read is more about the experience with books than it is about the letters or words in that book.

Learning to read starts the moment your child touches his/her first book and typically spans many years. Just ignore all of those people who said their child learned to read in 12 lessons or whatever silly marketing ploy the company taught them. That’s NOT the kind of reading you want.

Reading is a lifelong relationship with literature that develops slowly and involves many moving pieces. There are dozens of things we do as parents that lay the right foundation for learning to read. DON’T trade these natural things for a forced curriculum or an empty promise!

Don’t buy a reading curriculum for your preschooler!

I beg you NOT to buy a reading program for your preschooler. Wait until your child is ready before you begin formally teaching them to read. Spend the years between ages 2 and 5 laying an incredible foundation for the LOVE of reading, instead of a rote calling of words on a page. You won’t regret it.

How to Teach a Preschooler to Write

This is a great time to encourage free coloring and doodling. Allow them to explore colors, strokes, and paper. The more often kids are allowed to do this, the more opportunity they will have to get comfortable with the crayons and other writing tools.

PLEASE DO NOT buy those silly fat crayons. They are not better for little hands. Think about it….if a 6-month-old can pick up a Cheerio, your 3-year-old is able to handle a thin crayon or pencil. In fact, the fatter crayons can be difficult to maneuver.

FLIP CRAYONS

I would not teach a formal homeschool handwriting curriculum at this age unless your child is asking for it. By asking I literally mean, “Mommy will you show me how to write this letter?” Otherwise, let them doodle! These crayons are my favorite for little hands, plus you can use them later to help teach skills.

How to Teach a Preschooler Math

I’m not fan of using curriculum at this stage. You’ll want to focus on counting, subtracting, adding, multiplying real things in your house. This happens naturally if you are engaged with your kids. (Ask your child to divide the cookies evenly among her siblings.) Use the real math terms—divide, multiply, etc. to introduce them to the terms they’ll need in the future.

The main goals at this state are to learn: shapes, number recognition, and how to talk about things in mathematical terms. The curriculum we mentioned above will cover some of this, too.

What does a preschooler need to learn?

I’ve given you quite a bit in this post, but I want to leave you with one final thought. It’s easy to get so caught up in curriculum and requirements that we forget to keep our vision in mind. Ultimately, who do you want your sweet baby to be when he or she is 18 and leaves home?

Those are the things you need to teach them. This includes reading and math, but in our home, the focus is on spiritual growth and developing the life skills they will need when they leave home!

Primary Assessment Tool!

If all of this sounds overwhelming, let me give you a simple tool to help. The Primary Assessment Pack is a printable tool to help you keep track of all of the skills your preschooler accomplishes. You can create your own preschool curriculum confidently with this checklist!

It comes with a simple video for each level to help you evaluate where your student is and how you can help them grow.

More Christian Homeschool Curriculum

Click the image below to find more homeschool elementary curriculum and to learn how to choose the best Christian homeschool curriculum.

Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 01:00:45 GMT

Thoughts of kindergarten homeschool curriculum doesn’t have to overwhelm. This is an exciting time as your child embarks on their school journey! Remember, you can’t do it all! This is a comprehensive list of what we’ve used over the years for kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

Take a deep breath, grab a pen and paper, and read through the list while jotting down a few key resources you’d like to incorporate into your child’s school year. I’ve linked them in the post for easy access.

How do you homeschool a kindergartener?

Homeschooling in kindergarten is MUCH easier than we make it out to be in our minds. There are a few key concepts that kindergarteners need to know and much of the year is spent developing those essential skills.

Below you’ll find a list of the best kindergarten homeschool curriculum out there and some tips on how to teach each subject. But before we get there, I’d like to offer some advice from a former first grade teacher, early childhood specialist, and veteran homeschool mom.

NOT ALL KIDS ARE READY TO SIT AT A TABLE FOR KINDERGARTEN!

If we were sitting together having coffee, you would have heard the desperate plea in my voice and felt the frustration in my heart. In many ways, we’ve got “education” completely mixed up with “institutionalism” and our precious babies are suffering.

A 5-year-old child, especially a boy, is literally learning every moment of the day. They are learning when they fold something, make something, put something away, hold something, look at something, test something. I think you get the idea. In fact, at this age, kids learn SO MUCH MORE by doing and exploring things than you could EVER teach them with a piece of paper and a pencil.

So, relax and enjoy the ride. Your kindergartner is full of adventure and it’s time to embrace it! (Don’t worry, I’m here to help!)

What subjects are required for kindergarten homeschool?

To legally answer this question, you’ll have to consult with your state requirements. The most reputable place to find these laws are the HSLDA website, note that I didn’t say to ask your friend who has been homeschooling for many years (that’s a big mistake- look them up yourself).

Many states have NO requirements at all for kindergarten and don’t even require parents to submit notification that they are homeschooling until age 6 or 7. Other states have general guidelines for core subjects. Occasionally, you’ll find a strict state that requires specific hours to be completed. Again, the only way to know what rules you have to follow is to check the site yourself.

Here are some typical kindergarten homeschool curriculum subjects:

Reading
Math
Science
Social Studies
Bible
Home Economics
Fine Arts

But don’t let that list scare you. Regardless of your requirements, the main focus in kindergarten should ALWAYS be reading and math. These are the two building blocks for the other subjects. When you focus here first, you build a foundation that will set your kids up for success for years to come! Let’s get to the practical ways to do just that.

What is the best homeschool curriculum for kindergarteners?

The best curriculum for kindergarteners is a mud puddle and a stick. Hehe. I’m joking, but only partly. There is some truth to this. Remember, kindergarteners are full of adventure. They learn by doing. Carving out their name in mud is far more valuable learning than having them copy it on paper because THEY own it. You and I both know that when you own something, you do a much better job with in.

We’ve already said that kindergarteners should have lots of adventure, hands-on, full body learning, but what does that look like practically and is there ever a place for pencils and paper? Let’s dig into those questions now.

Reading Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

For reading, our main goal would be to experience words in print (like looking at signs or reading the cereal box), to begin to recognize that letters and sounds fit together to create words, and to understand basic concepts of literacy.

Now that probably sounds really sophisticated, but it really means that we want our kindergartners to:

Learn how to hold a book and turn the pages
Point to the title of the book
Tell you what is happening in the pictures of the story
Predict what might happen next in the story
Show you some of the individual letters that make up a word
Finish a sentence with a word that rhymes with the sentence before it

See what I mean? You can teach your child all of that without a fancy curriculum or a piece of paper! Reading together is the single most important factor in the academic success of kids. So start by making sure that you plan plenty of that in your day.

We read in the mornings before our day gets started. We read together as a family every day at lunch. And we read after dinner. You should have two kinds of books: those that you read aloud to your child and those that he/she can read. (Yes, I know they can’t actually read yet- just trust me.)

Fostering a love of reading should be your priority in the early learning years because kids will read to learn for the rest of their lives! There is NO SUBSTITUTE for lots of high-quality reading time together, so be sure you make this a priority. Some children can learn to read simply from this practice, but most of us need something a little systematic.

All About Spelling

I love All About Spelling for this task. Yes, I said spelling. This is all you need to teach your child how to read. If you want to get the reading version, it’s fine, but not necessary. We spend 10-15 minutes in this daily. It’s hands on, systematic, and great at teaching kids the best way to decode words so they can become successful readers.

Kindergarten Book Box

After that, we then grab whatever beginning readers we can find and practice reading. I create a “book box” for kids this age so they have simple things to read that will help them feel successful, but still have the ability to choose what they will read.

The more you read, the better. We tackle a new book or story for 15 minutes a day and then spend 20-30 minutes practicing books we’ve already mastered. (Hint: this is crucial for building fluency and comprehension.)

Here are some of our favorite beginning readers:

Pathway Readers
BJU Press Kindergarten (K-5) Readers
God is Good Series
Say it Again Series
Rookie Readers: Level A, Level B, Level C
Lakeshore Readers: Sight Word Set 1 and the Beginning Readers Set
Homeschool booklist by grade-level focused on Christian books

Leveled readers are perfect for the kindergartener’s book box, but don’t forget to include simple picture books that they enjoy reading, too. Even if they are just repeating what is memorized or “reading” the pictures and making up stories, this is a great way for kindergarteners to gain literacy skills.

Personally, I believe this simple method teaches everything I want my kids to know when they are little. I don’t want them to be tied to the desk for long. But if you feel the need for more, again All About Reading would be a good fit. It has the same foundation but provides a little more meat into your study.

Reading Computer Fun

Writing Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

There comes a point around kindergarten when your child will want to write letters. If you have encouraged them to doodle their way through the preschool years, it is likely they can already write their name and many other letters. Now is the time to teach them formally.

You can read my entire scope and sequence for Teaching Children to Write here, but here are the basics for kindergarteners:

Handwriting Without Tears

I have used Handwriting without Tears. It was developed by occupational therapists who were striving to help children struggling with handwriting. For my girls, I bought the entire starter set and accompanying books. We used all the manipulatives and loved them.

I still highly recommend this, but let’s face it. If you are homeschooling 2 older kids, when number three learns to write, manipulatives are slightly laughable. So, my boys have used the books alone and shockingly- both are writing just as well! I will note that if you find that your child is struggling, the manipulatives are especially useful.

I love it because it helps children truly understand the individual lines that make up each letter. We start with this magnetic board and wooden piece set. The kids learn to put together the wooden pieces that form each letter and then they use the magnetic pen to write the letters. Not only is it a great foundation, it’s super fun.

I generally follow up this practice with the accompanying book for kindergarten or even Pre-K. After kids have used the magnetic board, the books come easy. We use the suggested crayons until about 1st grade.

Write Through the Bible Junior

Another great resource for this age is Write Through the Bible Junior. The advantage to this product is it’s designed to teach the letters of the alphabet right along with the handwriting part. And of course, it’s based on Scripture. Can’t go wrong there!

WHAT ABOUT CURSIVE?

Most people teach their children to print first. However, many have advocated that cursive is easier to teach first as children are naturals at circle strokes. Whatever you choose is fine! Do what you think is best.

How to Teach Writing

So far weve been talking about HANDwriting. When people say “writing” they usually mean composing sentences, paragraphs, or papers. Is there a place for this type of writing in kindergarten? Yes and no.

Kindergarten writing should be informal and fun. Let your kids keep a journal to record fun events and information they learn, or to respond to a great book they read. Don’t fret about spelling and grammar. This isn’t the time. Of course, you can help them if they ask though.

I don’t like to do any type of curriculum before 4th grade. This is a great time to focus on teaching handwriting, which is just the formation of letters.

Math Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

We are rather simple with our math curriculum. It’s easy to fret and over-think things. Don’t give in to that. Stay simple and use what works for your family.

You’ll want to focus on counting, subtracting, adding, multiplying real things in your house. This FAR more valuable to your little guy than a curriculum and it happens naturally if you are engaged with your kids. For example, you might ask your child to DIVIDE the cookies evenly among her siblings. Be sure you use the real math term (divide, multiply, add, subtract) to introduce them to the terms they’ll need in the future.

MATH MASTERY IS ABOUT BASICS.

Main goals at this age are to learn: shapes, number recognition, and how to talk about things in mathematical terms. I’d also start to work on skip counting. This is a crucial skill for multiplication and number sense.

I also found many skip counting CDs on Apple Music with a quick search. Just make sure you stick with one and go all the way to skip counting by 15’s. Don’t stop at 2’s and 5’s.

If you’re interested in a curriculum, here are a few that focus on the skills I mentioned. The second two include literacy skills as well!

Science Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

When the kids are little, reading should be your focus and science curriculum should be super laid back. In fact, for our kindergarten homeschool curriculum, “science” class was digging into a pile of amazing books while cuddled on the couch. Each week I’d carefully select nonfiction books sharing all about fish, elephants, or really, anything interesting. And the kids loved it!

Some of our favorite homeschool science books have been…

We’ve also really enjoyed homeschool science videos. Kids gravitate toward the screen, why not use it for good stuff, like learning? We have so many great ones like these…

We also have a subscription to Pureflix where we can watch hundreds of educational titles.

Even for my kindergarten homeschool curriculum, we keep a notebook where we will note some of the things we have learned from our reading and exploring in a science journal (think composition notebook with blank pages). Don’t get too overzealous about this. It can be a killjoy. Just allow your kids to draw or write something that interests them.

Sometimes I have them narrate facts to me and other times we don’t. Let it be natural and fun!

I know this method is a little non-traditional, but remember, there is a reason we didn’t go with the traditional school option anyway, right?

Social Studies Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Kindergarten homeschool curriculum should lay a great foundation that cultivates interest and excitement for the history of God’s world. Be careful about buying too much curriculum. It’s easy to weave these topics into your day using great read-alouds or short simple studies. I would also recommend the use of audio books. They are engaging and teach so much! (See our list of books below to help get you started.)

This is my favorite age for social studies. I recommend staying away from curriculum. Instead, read living books, go on field trips, and explore things. This is a great time to talk about missions, different cultures, and in our community (like the role of firefighters and other jobs in the community).

What does a kindergartener need to learn?

Those are the things you need to teach them. This includes reading and math, but in our home, the focus is on spiritual growth and developing the life skills they will need when they leave home!

Primary Assessment Tool!

If all of this sounds overwhelming, let me give you a simple tool to help. The Primary Assessment Pack is a printable tool to help you keep track of all of the skills your kindergartener accomplishes. You can create your own kindergarten curriculum confidently with this checklist!

It comes with a simple video for each level to help you evaluate where your student is and how you can help them grow.

More Christian Homeschool Curriculum

Click the image below to find more homeschool elementary curriculum and to learn how to choose the best Christian homeschool curriculum.

55 Fun Summer Activities For Kids (that you can still do in 2020)

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 20:32:25 GMT

Looking for some fun summer activities for kids that you can still do in 2020? Me too! Check out this list!

Maybe you’re like me and you keep thinking… “What are my kids going to do all summer?!”

Every time another summer camp, activity or event gets canceled, I’m taunted by this question. We had some pretty grand plans for the summer, but almost all of those things are completely canceled.

The past few months there has been an overwhelming stamp of “it’s canceled” on literally everything that makes up our rather “normal lives.” We’d be lying if we said we weren’t discouraged by that. I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that my kids shed a few tears over the news that summer camp was canceled.

But I’d also be lying if I threw up my hands and proclaimed that there was absolutely NOTHING to do this summer. That’s just NOT true. It might not look like it usually does, but summer is officially ON and it can’t be canceled.

So let’s find some worthwhile things to do because even if you were letting your kids play video games and eat chips all day, that’s getting pretty old about now.

We’ve compiled a list of 55 fun summer activities your kids can STILL do this summer (2020), even in the midst of all the shutdowns.

Take a deep breath. We got this, fellow mamas!

We’ve compiled our list of 55 fun summer activities for kids in categories to help you stay focused on what’s most important. Not to mention, we all want “well-rounded” kids, right? That just really means that we are constantly working on all of the areas of our lives and not just certain ones.

I would encourage you to select items from each category. You might choose more in one than other, but at least try a few in each category.

Our fun summer activities for kids has these categories: spiritual, intellectual, physical, relational, and vocational. Of course, some of these can just be ideas that you take and run with, but the all have links to help you find some of our favorite resources.

One suggestion from a mom who has actually enjoyed 16 summers with my kids… name your weeks with “themes,” especially if you have kids younger than 5th grade. There is just something amazing about a theme. It makes even the mundane things seem really fun. All you have to do is name is something different to match your theme!

You can also do themes by the day, such as Water Wednesday or Make Something Monday. Click below and download the free printable to try this method.

I can’t wait to see what fun summer activities this list will inspire for your family!

Fun Summer Activities for Kids

Spiritual

Learning about God and growing in faith is the MOST important thing you can do this summer. We’ve selected these fun summer activities for kids specifically to help grow their spiritual lives!

Do a family Bible study together.
Do this Scripture memory challenge and see how much you can learn.
Study the Names of God as a family with these free devotional printables.
Learn how to have a quiet time or work on having consistent devotions with this Bible study for kids.
Grow your prayer life as a family. (<— Lots of tools in that post.)
“Attend” a FREE VBS at home from Answers in Genesis. This would be a great theme for one of your weeks.
Learn to be content with your circumstances from this contentment challenge.
Study the armor of God or learn verses about self-control.
Learn to tame your tongue with this mouth challenge for kids.
Create principles and priorities God’s way by studying Proverbs 4:23.
Become more engaged with your pastor’s sermons by learning to take better sermon notes.

Intellectual

Whoever said learning wasn’t fun clearly was doing the WRONG kind of learning. Growing your mind is exciting. So let’s find some of those fun summer activities for kids will inspire our kids intellectually!

Take the summer Reading Challenge with this reading bingo game.
Get ahead on school for the next year. (I mean why not?) It might seem surprising, but this was my kids’ choice. They figured they might as well get something productive done and maybe they could do some of the other things in the fall instead.
Learn better time management in the Time Planagement Challenge for kids. Summer is a PERFECT time to brush up on these skills.
Put on your lab coat (or housecoat) and do some explosive Summer science experiments. Ok, they don’t have to be explosive to be fun!
Take a summer stargazing course. This one is free and your kiddos will love it!
Discover Backyard Bugs is another free online course for families by the same company. (One of our favorite trusted resources for Biblically sound content!)
Make a Smore in a DIY Solar Oven. It’s easy and tasty!
Do a STEM science project with CampKiwi. They have lots of free things listed and lots of online weeks you can join, too.
Start a summer journal and sharpen those writing skills. These free tips are perfect!
Read a missionary biography (or watch a documentary). The lives of missionaries are usually very exciting, plus they will inspire your faith!
Take a scenic drive and enjoy audio books. This is one of our favorite things to do and that list we put together is over 16 years of epic favorites that you won’t want to miss.

Physical

I know it’s hot, but summer is always a fun time to be outside, so let’s get physical! These fun summer activities for kids will inspire kids to move their physical bodies!

Make an obstacle course for your siblings.
Go backyard camping. Yes, it’s totally a thing and if it rains, you can just do it another day. Instead of being miserable all night. ????
Play some of these epic water gun games with your family or friends.
Get creative with these sidewalk chalk activities.
Make a lemonade stand and donate the money to your favorite charity.
Do a neighborhood car wash and bless your neighbors. If they try to pay you, tell them to send it to their favorite charity!
Play flashlight hide and seek/tag one night.
Find a pond and go fishing. (<— How to teach your kids included here.)
Take Karate online with Totally Christian Karate and learn Scripture as you go!
Go on a hike and play these fun hiking games.
Have a backyard challenge and see who wins! (<—free printable below).

Relational

Spiritual, intellectual, and physical activities are all important, but we can’t forget the relationships in our lives. These fun summer activities for kids will help grow their relationships with their parents and siblings!

Do the Sibling Challenge for kids. It’s a week-long video class the whole family will love. (Link coming soon!)
See what the Bible says about obeying your parents.
Make family meals together while having family conversations.
Have a family karaoke night with your favorite songs.
Volunteer together or complete some Random Acts of Kindness.
Create a family storybook (traditions, memories, pictures).
Write a family newsletter together to send to friends and family.
Write Fruit of the Spirit love notes to your family members.
Schedule in some of these crazy wild Family Fun Nights.
Pick one of these family bonding activities and do a new one each week.
Do a family round of the Sibling Challenge Game together.

Vocational

Vocational is a bit of a weird word, but it’s actually a really important one. Think of it as life skills, the things you need for life! These fun summer activities for kids will inspire their passions toward a possible future vocation and prepare them for adult life.

Learn to cook with Erin Chase and her 4 boys.
Learn to sew or sharpen your skills by creating a fun project.
Be challenged to do hard things in this must-read book for teens.
Take an Entrepreneurship class and learn how to create your first business.
Learn to build a website.
Learn to manage money (<— this one is SUPER important)
Attend an online art class
Teach kids how to do chores and set up a better system.
Learn how to grocery shop with this DIY course.
Learn about public speaking and acting with Nicole’s Attic, a super fun video series for kids that’s full of adventure, lessons about the theater, and God’s truth!
Learn acting skills or puppetry with these online classes from The Academy of Arts. This is our local theater. It’s top-notch for teaching and can’t be beat for its Christian worldview.

These are strange times we’re living, but God is still faithful. He has purposes for us even while we find ourselves a bit stranded at home. Praying you choose joy as you find things to do that build your relationships with God and each other!

What other ideas do you have for summer fun? Drop your links in the comments so we can all share!

36 Bible Verses About Self Control

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 14:35:06 GMT

These 36 bible verses about self-control will help you and your family refocus on the promises of God regarding self-control in all areas of our lives!

I think it was a Tuesday. Maybe it was a Wednesday. That doesn’t really matter except that it was a normal day. The kids were sitting around the table doing their schoolwork. I was sitting in my office with the door open trying to get a little work done. And to be honest, I was under a bit of internal pressure with some upcoming deadlines. That’s when I heard it – the incessant sound of bickering.

Without a whole lot of thought, I jumped out of my desk roller chair and entered the kitchen, voice first. “WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?!” Voices started defending and accusing and then more defending and more accusing. It was a pure momentary disaster. Until God so graciously halted me with a whisper, “Kim, Kim. Remember what’s true.”

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and paused. And I remembered. Lord, I know. The fruit of Your Spirit in me and in my kids is self-control. Forgive me. Help me. My kids stopped and stared at my silence. I opened my eyes and, by His grace, I spoke quiet words reminding them that we weren’t at the mercy of our emotions. I reminded them at we can each depend on God to empower us to have self-control.

With only minimal mumbling, the four of them sat around the table and we talked it out. We all confessed. We all took responsibility of our own actions. And quiet returned.

Bible Verses about Self-Control

There are so many Bible verses about self-control. Like, a lot. Throughout the pages of God’s Word, He addresses self-control with regard to our mouths, our daily living, our character, and our trials. Thinking on, and even memorizing, verses that teach us about self-control is one of the best ways to combat those roaring feelings of no self-control that can come.

Self-Control in our Speech (Controlling Your Mouth)

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! Psalm 141:3-4
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. James 1:19
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7
A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. Proverbs 18:6-7
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3
And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Matthew 26:62-63
But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?”But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Matthew 27:12-14
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7

Bible Verses about Self-Control in Christian Living

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Titus 2:2
Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Titus 2:6-8
Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 1 Timothy 2:9-10
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13

Self-Control with Character

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. Proverbs 25:28
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Proverbs 12:16
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. Matthew 5:29-30
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:5-7

Bible Verses about Self-Control in Trials (in Difficulties)

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:8-10
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” Luke 6:27-31
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:20-23
To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. 1 Corinthians 4:11-13
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Thus says the Lord concerning this people: “They have loved to wander thus; they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.” Jeremiah 14:10

Resource that Teaches Self-Control

Teaching our kids to submit to and obey the Lord in their daily lives is one of the greatest lessons we can teach our kids. If they learn the basics of why and how to wisely follow God’s lead, then they will be set up for a life of faith as they head into adulthood.

Along with reading bible verses about self-control, kids can go deeper into the topic with a Bible study I wrote called Do Right. Using the armor of God, this Bible study will help equip your kids for the battle by giving them the tools they need to fight the good fight both today and for the rest of their lives. Click below to find out more!

14 Must-Read Christian Books for Teens

Sat, 30 May 2020 18:08:28 GMT

This list of 14 Christian books for teens contains our favorite must-reads!

So many books. So little time. Whether your teen devours books or would rather surf social media, there is no shortage of books out there for teens to read. Which brings us to the important questions:

Which ones are the best?
Which ones are truly must-reads?
Which ones are worth the time?

To some degree, these questions can only be answered by you and your teen. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all list; but, I’d love to give you a list of our favorites. These are the specific books that every teen in my home must read.

You’ll probably find some you love. Might find some you haven’t heard of. And if nothing else, you’ll get a few good ideas of what types of books you probably want your Christian teens to be reading.

14 Must-Read Christian Books for Teens

1. God at Work

What am I supposed to do for my life’s work and how does being a Christian impact my occupation? This book by Gene Veith answers questions teens have by exploring the idea that the work we do day-to-day can be an act of worship to God. It pulls principles from Scripture and rich quotes from church leaders like Martin Luther who recognized that all areas of life can be a “ministry” unto the Lord. This book provides a foundation upon which teens can prepare for their future as workers, leaders, and citizens.

2. Mere Christianity

If your teen were asked to describe the Christian faith in its simplest form, could she do it? Does she know what the basic elements of that faith are as shown throughout time? C.S. Lewis outlines these thoughts and others in his classic book on the defense of the Christian faith. This book will help your teen understand what unites Christians around the world no matter when or where they live.

3. The Hiding Place

Corrie Ten Boom tells her family’s story with all the joys, struggles, tests, and triumphs. It’s an inspiring Christian book for teens that shows a faithful God in the lives of ordinary people who trust Him no matter what. Living in the Netherlands during WWII, the Ten Boom family chose to obey God and shelter His chosen people. Their trust in God that enabled them to do what was right continued to be tested and strengthened especially after they were reported and punished for hiding Jews. This book stands as a real-life example of what it means to love your enemies and pray for those who wrong you.

4. Hiding in the Light

Does your teen understand why someone would leave behind everything they knew to know and follow Jesus? In this book, Rifqa Bary tells her testimony of how as a Muslim teen girl, she found true peace in Christ but rejection from her family. What makes the book even more relatable to teens is that the events in Rifqa’s story took place in America only 10 years ago.

5. Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations

Written by brothers Alex and Brett Harris when they were teens, this Christian book challenges your teen to rise above low expectations and make a change. The challenge to do hard things isn’t about doing the impossible or seeking to earn someone’s favor, especially God’s. Instead, your teen is encouraged to use their years 13-19 as an opportunity to make a difference. A good, lasting difference. Why not start today?

6. Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity

Culture tells our kids that religion is a private matter, not something to bring into every area of life. And definitely not something we publicly mention in political or social settings. Living a segmented life is not what God has called us to do, and we’ll only find ourselves frustrated and ineffective if we try. In this book, Nancy Pearcey helps your teen understand that Christianity is more than religious truth. Apart from God there is no reality—or truth. And we need to let that impact EVERYTHING.

7. The Screwtape Letters

Your teen will find this book an interesting read. Not only is each “chapter” set up as a letter between two characters, but C. S. Lewis imagines what advice an experienced demon would give his student to keep his “patient” (a human) from the “Enemy” (God). Talk about a reversed perspective! This fictional story brings to light good questions for your teen to think through as he considers living on his own, such as what motivates our actions and who do we listen to—God, others, or ourselves?

8. Foundations in Personal Finance

Does your teen understand how to create a budget or save money? These skills related to personal finances are important for your teen to know as she begins earning money and paying for things like gas, clothes, etc. Dave Ramsey’s practical workbook includes activities, graphs, and journal prompts to help your teen know and apply financial principles that will help them use money wisely. (It’s also a GREAT high school elective credit!)

9. Trusting God

Trust. It’s a word your teen might find hard to define, especially in connection with God. But it’s a concept they need to understand at an early age. As author Jerry Bridges found in his own life, trusting God is what will see us through both the easy and difficult circumstances of life. This book will teach your teen about God’s sovereignty and why we can (and should) trust Him.

10. Don’t Waste Your Life

John Piper challenges your teen to live for God and make Him look big in the eyes of those around them. This practical book on Christian living shares what it looks like to live all-out for Christ’s sake both in experiencing ultimate joy and the suffering in this world from being identified with Him. If your teen is looking for their life’s passion, this book shares biblical principles and motivation to give their life to God no matter what they find themselves doing in the future.

11. The Case for Christ

We know that without faith it is impossible to please God. But has your teen ever asked you whether there’s historical or scientific evidence that Jesus is who He claimed to be or that He rose from the dead? Former atheist and Chicago Tribune journalist Lee Strobel had these same questions. This book is the result of his search for the truth. He interviews experts and scholars, includes archeological findings, and responds to criticisms by skeptics. Your teen will be able to see the facts that further support his Christian faith.

12. Answers Book For Teens Vol.1

There’s no denying that teens have questions about life. Authors Bodie Hodge, Tommy Mitchell, and Ken Ham have set out to provide biblical answers to things teens want to know. This book answers the following questions: If God is good, why is there pain and suffering? What difference does it make how old the world is? How did the world populate from just two people? How do we know there’s only one way to God? Why do Christians seem to hate gay people?

13. Answers Book For Teens Vol.2

This second book continues in the same format, providing biblical answers to questions teens have about the Bible and its relevance to society. It includes answers to these questions: Did a world-wide flood really happen? Don’t fossils prove evolution? Who really wrote the Bible? How do we know the Bible doesn’t contradict itself? What does the Bible teach about slavery? What about abortion, cloning, and stem cells? It’s important that we help them answer these questions before they leave home.

14. The Sacred Search

Watching teens navigate guy/girl relationships is one task every parent struggles with. Even if your teen doesn’t seem interested in dating, relationships, or your advice on this topic, secretly, they really want to know how not to mess things up. Not your average dating book, it challenges your teen to shape her perspective around why God designed romantic relationships—to find someone who will live out God’s purpose with you. Gary Thomas lists practical day-to-day things that influence relationships and ultimately impact the kind of marriage your teen will one day have. Lay this foundation NOW before they become influenced by other ideas for choosing a spouse!

How to Fit More Christian Books Into Your Teen’s Day

Make it an Assignment

If you homeschool, all 14 of the Christian books for teens listed above will fit into your curriculum. For example, you can read The Hiding Place for History and The Screwtape Letters for British Literature.

If you are using a curriculum that doesn’t already have these classics, simply add to it or replace a book you are not as fond of. We also use books like this for special projects or papers.

Several of these books can be used to form high school electives, as well. We use Foundations in Personal Finance as part of a personal finance course for elective credit. You could use God at Work and Do Hard Things as part of an elective course called Career Exploration, which I highly recommend!

Teens need to be processing their personality, passions, and talents as they explore possible careers. It’s VERY costly to do this DURING college like most teens today.

Make it Practical

Reading a book is great, but we really need to make sure our teens are applying the knowledge they get out of the books we’ve given them to read. We typically do this by assigning it as a course. That way there are practical ways teens have to process the book, such as papers, projects, and discussions.

But another favorite is through devotional type discussion.

Discuss it

Often, I will read (or at least listen to) a book as my teen goes through it, especially if it’s something like The Sacred Search. I want them to have someone to discuss the content with and share ideas they have.

To make it fun, we meet weekly to discuss it. I will take them out for “coffee” or even lunch. They love the one-on-one time and it gives them my undivided attention for discussion. We don’t do this for all of the books, just typically the ones that aren’t included in our homeschool coursework.

More Christian Books for Teens Resources

Looking for great Christian books for every age level? You’ll love this homeschool booklist!
Check out this language arts homeschool curriculum plan for K-12!
Is reading a constant battle in your homeschool? Try the Reading Journal, a reading curriculum that fits ANY book.

The Ultimate List of High School Electives For Homeschoolers

Fri, 29 May 2020 16:20:05 GMT

So you’ve got a high schooler and you find yourself searching the internet for great advice about which high school electives he/she should take. Perfect. There are so many awesome elective courses your student will love!

You’re in the right place. But first, I want to ask you a question. Do you remember the elective classes you took in high school?

Electives are definitely the source of some of my most favorite memories. When I was in high school, I played the flute/piccolo in the band. Of course, over my 4-year high school career, I learned a lot about music theory, playing an instrument, blending musical sounds with a group, and all of that important stuff.

While those skills were crucial as the backbone of my musical ability, the memories were in the OTHER stuff I learned. Like how to know when to cheer for the football team (ya know, by actually understand how the game is played) or how to appreciate classical music.

Most people think that the point of high school electives is knowledge and of course, you’ll get some of that. But I contend that the REAL point is exposure to various disciplines, passions, ideas, and skills that the core subjects simply don’t cover.

The beauty of high school electives is in giving your kids the chance to explore career options, prepare themselves for life, and strengthen their God-given passions/talents.

3 Criteria For Choosing Your High School Electives

As I mentioned above, homeschool electives for your high schooler are about far more than just getting that credit for your transcript. These classes are the golden nuggets of a well-rounded education. They are your opportunity to really shine!

Here are three crucial things you should look for when you choose your electives classes.

Explore Career Options

Oh how I wish someone had encouraged me to seriously think about career options BEFORE I went to college! So many young people end up on the 5 year college plan or with a degree they can’t use/don’t want simply because no one took the time to help them consider a career path.

Use your high school electives to do that! Take an education class or an engineering class. Pursue Marine Biology or a culinary class. Whatever your child is leaning towards, take courses that will help expose them to the idea further.

Prepare Yourself for Life

For the same reasons, high school electives should help prepare you for life. Colleges and Business are becoming increasingly frustrated that students are prepared for academic life, but not for the real world. They can’t handle jobs, responsibility, and most importantly finances.

The beauty of homeschooling is that we get to fill in this gap! Make sure your students get a good solid course in personal finance (I’ve listed my favorite below). Make sure they can cook, clean, and care for themselves. Just because you don’t find these things in a typical high school, doesn’t mean they are invaluable courses. In fact, I’d argue they are even MORE important!

Strengthen Your God-given Passions/Talents

The final category for high school electives is to find things that help you strengthen the talents and passions that God gave you. Yes, that includes things like band, orchestra, piano, drama, pretty much anything your child has a particular interest in. God uses our giftings to further His kingdom, We can honor Him by strengthening the gifts He has given us to serve with.

5 MUST-TAKE High School Electives for Homeschoolers

Depending on your state requirements, most high-schoolers take between 1 and 3 electives each year. Some of those are mandatory credits, so you’ll want to check with your state to see how many credits your student needs in order to graduate.

Above we discussed criteria for selecting the perfect high school electives for your homeschooler, but you might be wondering if there are particular electives that are better than others or perhaps highly recommended.

Most of the time, I want electives to be guided by the interests and passions of my kids, but there are 5 must-take high school electives on our list.

1. Foreign Language Elective Courses

In our home, college is not the holy grail. If my kids want to start their own business or go to trade school, that’s great. But, my rule is, we don’t close the door unless we can’t keep it open.

Most colleges require two years of a foreign language, so with that in mind, unless my kids literally can’t handle it, they take foreign language so the door is open should they decide to go to college. No one wants to decide in their senior year to go to college after all and realize they didn’t get the credits they needed.

Pro tip: Sign language is a really great option for a student who struggles with language arts and is worried about conjugating verbs.

My kids have personally chosen Latin, Greek, and Sign Language so far. Here are our favorite resources:

SignIt! (ASL)
Masterbooks (Biblical Greek)
Classical Academic Press (Latin, Greek, Spanish, French)

These are some our friends have tried and loved:

BJU Press online (offers Spanish and French)
Schoolhouse Teachers online (Spanish, French, Latin, ASL)
AOP online and LifePacs (Spanish, French)
Rosetta Stone (works for multiple ages and languages)
Abeka (Spanish and French)
Compass Classroom (Latin)
Memoria Press (Greek, Latin, French, Spanish)

2. Personal Finance Elective Courses

More than 80% of Americans are have debt they can’t afford to pay back. That’s a staggering number, but worse is the number of people who live paycheck to paycheck, have no money for a rainy day, and can’t afford even a “little” emergency.

This is a serious problem and it’s largely caused by the fact that schools (and parents) are no longer teaching any kind of personal finance classes. Don’t let that happen to your kids.

One of the most important classes they can take in high school is learning to manage their money! Not just because of the debt problem, but because people who don’t understand money are easily scammed and never get ahead.

Our personal favorite personal finance curricula for high schoolers is Foundations in Personal Finance by Dave Ramsey. My teens have really enjoyed the online course here, too. It’s perfect for self-study.

In addition to this curriculum, my kids read a few crucial books.

Smart Money, Smart Kids (targeted at parents, but good for teens, too)
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
The Millionaire Next Door
Debt Free Degree and 5 College Mistakes

Here are a few other ideas to look at in case you want a different approach:

Financial Literacy by Sara Hayes
Money Matters for Teens by Larry Burkett
Personal Finance in Bite-Size Chunks (Schoolhouse Teachers)
Consumer Math Abeka has several finance/consumer math options

3. Fine Arts Elective Courses

Most states require some sort of fine arts credit for high schoolers. I love this idea because even if art doesn’t seem to be “your thing” there is so much to be learned from the study of music, theater, and art. Here are some of my favorites by category.

Music Electives

Still Singing Hymn Study (music appreciation)
Music Theory I and II
Instrument Lessons
Orchestra/Band (call local schools or youth orchestras to join)
Voice Lessons (here’s a place that does online lessons)
Piano Lessons (we take local lessons, but this online option is interesting)

If your student hasn’t really shown much interest in fine arts, opt for a course that is labeled “appreciation” like our hymn study curriculum below.

Art Electives

Art Appreciation (or this Art Appreciation curriculum is for grades 4-8!)
Easy Peasy has a free art appreciation course
Drawing with Realism (video course)
Lamppost Homeschool has drawing textbooks (if you prefer a book)
Creating a Masterpiece (video course for budding artists- great for parents who aren’t. Haha. My kids love this one.)
Painting
Studio Art
Photography

Other Fine Arts Elective Classes

The sky is the limit on fine arts electives. You don’t have to stick with art and music. For example, my kids are actively involved at The Academy of Arts. Their mission is to make the Bible come alive for young people and I can personally testify that they do it so very well!

The Academy of Arts provides online classes in drama and filmmaking. Plus and in-person seminars for groups. They will bring a team to your area or you can come to Greenville, SC. My kids are actively involved here and have been so blessed by this ministry.

Performing Literature by BJU Press
Jewelry Making
Film School 4 Teens
Schoolhouse Teachers (filmmaking course)
Animation
Fashion Design
Interior Design
Graphic Design
Architecture
Web Game Design

4. Health and Life Skill Courses

This is one of those electives that most of us skip over. Most schools are skipping over it, too. But this is super important. If we send our kids out into the world with math and science knowledge, but they can’t take care of themselves, what good have we really done them?

Here are just a few ideas for Health and Life Skills Electives:

Many states require a physical education elective credit as a part of this category. This could include a general class, one you joined at the YMCA (check with your local branch for homeschool classes), or a favorite sport such as:

Soccer
Basketball
Volleyball
Football
Rugby
Weightlifting
Archery
Golf
Tennis
Running
Horseback Riding
Self-defense
Martial Arts

5. Christian Worldview Elective Courses

You know what they say, last, but not least. In fact, this category might be the most important. Our kids need a STRONG worldview and we aren’t going to get there with one or two high school electives, BUT I think this is still a crucial addition to your high school transcript.

Here are some of the things we’ve done:

Comparative Religions by Masterbooks
Apologetics in Action by Ken Ham and Masterbooks
Impact 360 (Leadership academy for Christian teens)
Biblical Archeology by Masterbooks
National Bible Bee (Bible quizzing memorization)

4 Ways to Get Your High School Electives In

So now that we’ve listed so many great options, you might be wondering how you can possibly fit all of these things in! Good question. Ya know, sometimes we just make things harder than they really are.

Rest assured, there are so many ways to fit in electives for high schoolers!

Take a class at a homeschool co-op. I find that this is a great use of co-ops. They don’t control your core curriculum this way, give your kids the chance to get out, and provide classes you might not have the equipment/skill to teach.
Take a Dual Enrollment class at a local college. This is a great option for intro classes in your student’s desired field of study with the added bonus of helping them see if it’s really the direction they want to pursue.
Find a locale theater, art studio, or gym that offers classes. It doesn’t have to be a homeschool class or one that will give a complete credit. You can always combine things to get your hours in. More on that below.
Create your own course. You are NOT boxed in to a preset curriculum or course. You can create one that fits into the passions or talents of your student. This is especially valuable when pursuing possible careers.

How to Create Your Own High School Electives Courses

It’s EASY to create your own elective course! Plus, when you do, you get the most bang for your buck. Instead of taking electives your student is mildly interested in, take things they LOVE. Let them pursue potential career fields or interests.

The first thing you should know is that your elective can be half of a credit (0.5) or 1 credit. You determine the credit based on the amount of time spent doing the assignments required for the course.

60 hours would earn 0.5 or half of a credit.

120 hours would earn 1 credit.

If you divide that up by 36 weeks (a typical school year), you would need about 3.5 hours per week to earn a full credit. That’s not so intimidating now is it?

Let’s say your student loves cars and wants to learn how to work on them. If they spend 3.5 hours a week watching Youtube videos and practicing their skills, you’ve got yourself a high school credit! It really is that simple.

I typically create a semester project or test for my students to make sure they have the chance to showcase what they have learned. This could be traditional like a research paper, but it doesn’t have to be.

This year my 12th grader is taking apologetics. Her first semester project is to create a video with 6-8 alleged “contradictions” in the Bible and show why they aren’t contradictions along with what they really mean.

I strongly encourage you to let your student guide the project assignments. They will enjoy doing them and learn so much more that way!

How to Document Your Homeschool Electives

Documenting is something that most people feel overwhelmed by. Don’t let that be you. You’ve got this! Documenting is just a fancy word for keeping track. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or complicated. You can literally just write down your hours in an hour log.

We do that sometimes, but we also do “field study” reports to note the different things we do that count for credit. For example, whenever my kids are in a play, they document rehearsal and performance hours on the page, but they also note what they did and what they learned from it.

We have this form and an hour tracker in our FREE Back to School pack here.

Of course, you’ll also want to document your electives courses on your transcript. There are several free transcript makers online. Get a free homeschool high school transcript template here.

Electives Courses or Extra-Curricular Activities?

Wondering about the difference between high school electives and extra-curricular activities? Often the lines get blurred for homeschoolers, because school is life and life is school. We are always learning!

But let’s think about this in terms of your transcript. You want both of these activities listed, but in a different way. An elective is a course with academic content (at least on some level) that you take once or twice. An extra-curricular activity is generally something you participate in over the scope of your high-school years.

This distinction is important to colleges. Extra-curricular activities should be documented on your Extra-curricular sheet or listing (learn more here), while high school electives go on your transcript.

Here are some tips from the college board regarding how to choose and document extra-curricular activities.

Typically these are activities such as volunteering, employment or internships, community service, or competitive sports. Often, they reflect a student’s passions, hobbies, or interests like:

sports
robotics
music festivals
debate
chess
working in children’s church
teaching Vacation Bible School
club involvement

Other High School Electives for Homeschoolers

I’ve listed our top 5 must-take electives for high schoolers above, but once you’ve dabbled in those, you’re likely to still have some room for more. Remember, the sky is the limit. Find some that help you pursue your passion, talents, and possible career.

Here are a few more you might not have thought of:

Computers/Technology Elective Classes

Typing
Fundamentals of Computer Systems
Computer Applications/Software
App development
Audio production
Computer programming
Computer repair
Film production
Graphic design
Media technology
Music production
Typing
Video game development
Web design
Web programming
Word processing

Study Skills Elective Classes

Business/Apprenticeship Elective Classes

Business Plan Creation
Digital Art & Product Design
Internet Entrepreneurship
Accounting
Business law
Business management
Consumer education
Entrepreneurial skills
Introduction to business
Public Speaking School House Teachers or BJU Press
The National Christian Forensics and Communications Association
Argumentation and Debate (textbook)

Vocation Elective Classes

Construction
Carpentry
Mechanics
Auto body repair
Computer-aided drafting
Cosmetology
Criminal justice
FFA (Future Farmers of America)
Fire science
Hospitality and tourism
JROTC (Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps)
Metalworking
Plumbing
Production technology
Robotics
Woodworking

More Homeschool Resources for High Schoolers

If you need more help, Homeschool Electives Basics is your how-to guide for all ages.
If you’re looking for tools nad resources for teaching, check out Choosing homeschool curriculum.
Looking for great books? This homeschool booklist for every grade level is the perfect solution!

Fruit of the Spirit Love Notes For Kids

Fri, 29 May 2020 02:22:06 GMT

These love notes for kids will guide your kids in speaking kind, life-giving words to their siblings and friends.

Sibling relationships naturally come with some friction. Kids are human just like us (but with less experience and fewer relational coping skills). They have their own ideas and agendas, which naturally causes friction.

That’s where we as parents come in. We get the “opportunity” – sometimes a trillion times per day – to help equip our kids to love their siblings well.

Many months ago a reader emailed me and suggested that we make printable love notes that siblings could share with one another. I LOVED the idea because it would encourage kids to say nice things while at the same time, encourage the receiver.

But, I thought we’d go a little deeper than just kind words. What would happen if we equipped kids to encourage one another with God’s Word?

You’re about to find out, because I created a set of sibling love notes based straight out of Galatians 5. Think of them as Fruit of the Spirit sibling love notes!

This free printable set of love notes for kids will help equip your kids with a simple yet effective tool for building one another up (rather than tearing each other down). Can I get an amen?

Love Notes for Kids

The best part of the printable love notes for kids is the “prompt notes.” Each of the 12 cards has a prompt to help the child get started in encouraging their sibling by focusing on the fruit of the spirit.

For example, one card says, “I love watching you give love to…”

Another says, “You show kindness by…”

I find that kids often get stuck with what to say, so we’ve given them prompts to get the creative “juices” flowing. (Fruit juices of course- haha.) You will love how beautiful and genuine your kids can be when they have a prompt to help them.

I recommend having your kids cut out the love notes for kids and keep them in a box or bin of some kind. Then periodically they would fill one out and give it to an unsuspecting sibling. My kids love to hide them or tuck them somewhere so they will be a surprise. But face-to-face is special, too.

You will also get verse cards that highlight the fruit of the Spirit as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Each “fruit” on the love notes for kids has a corresponding verse that further explains that characteristic including:

1 John 4:7, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
James 1:2-3, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
Isaiah 26:3, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Lamentations 3:22-23, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Philippians 4:5, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;”
2 Timothy 1:7, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Finally, there are blank cards with each “fruit” written on them: love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, etc. If your child is feeling creative or has his/her own ideas, these are the perfect fit. If they can think it up, they can write it down! As long as it encourages their siblings, of course.

4 Fun Ways to Use the Notes

The verse cards could be used as memory verses. Siblings could memorize one per week and then focus on writing love notes that focus on that particular “fruit”.
Your kids could make it into a game. One sibling could write a note and hide it for their brother or sister to find. Then another sibling could write a note and hide it, etc. Taking turns searching for the notes will increase their anticipation!
The love notes for kids could be used in the forgiveness process when there’s been conflict in the sibling relationship. Teaching kids to say more than “I’m sorry” is a vital relational skill to learn.
Each child could make a “mailbox” or “mail envelope” and put it by their bedroom door. You could then encourage the siblings to write at least one love note for kids a day (or week) and deliver it to their sibling’s mailbox.

Download your Love Notes for Kids Today

Ready to equip your kids to practically love one another? Click below to download your free set of love notes for kids today.

Both ESV and KJV are available in the same download.

Other Helpful Resources for Siblings

Sibling relationships can be challenging. We all have stories that put our parenting frustration on display. But God placed those particular siblings together with purpose. He’s able to teach them how to love each other well.

If you’d like to read more to encourage your parenting journey, check out these helpful posts. Remember, you are not alone!

How to Help Your Kids Build Strong Sibling Relationships – This post gives practical tips on helping your kids build strong sibling relationships. And yes, it’s still possible!
Sibling Love: 6 Special Reasons God Gave You Siblings – God gave your kids one another with purpose. Often kids need reminding, especially when they regularly conflict with one particular sibling. These 6 reasons can encourage your kids.
5 Easy Ways to Stop Sibling Fighting & End Frustration – These 5 ideas are things you can start implementing today to help end the fighting between siblings. No family is perfect. Everyone has struggles. But we there are techniques we can implement to help with the harmony in the home.

Family Bible Studies that Reach the Hearts of Kids

Wed, 06 May 2020 16:13:20 GMT

Looking for family Bible studies
that will get to the
hearts of your kids?

Doing a family bible study together will never be time wasted! One day, your kids will thank you for making the investment!

Tips for Successful Family Bible Studies

Start small and
Stay simple.

Family Bible studies aren’t about trying to create “high” church, but rather cultivate a personal relationship with our very relational God. Start with small chunks of time and a simple goal of just learning more together. You can add on both time and content from there!

Toss out perfection
and go for progress.

Man looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. Our effort shows a heart sensitive to God, willing to grow and learn. Strive for 1% better in your family Bible study efforts each day instead of putting things off until it feels perfect because we all know, that will never happen!

Focus on corporate
discussion.

It can be frustrating to try and meet the needs of a variety of ages in a family Bible study. This mostly happens when we try to force corporate learning. Someone is either bored or left behind. Instead of focusing on corporate learning, focus on discussion. You’ll love this simple shift.

Our Family Bible Studies

My Brother’s Keeper Sibling Bible Study

Are you about at your wits’ end over the fighting, constant bickering, and all-around mean behavior your kids show toward each other?

Trust me. I’ve been there. All the best tricks and parenting books cannot solve the age-old problem of sibling rivalry. The only way to truly change it is to change the hearts of our kids through a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

This sibling love Bible study will help you equip your children to truly love their siblings and grow their faith in the process. It’s about time for some peace around your house, isn’t it?

Help With
Sibling Relationships:

How to Help your Kids Build Strong Sibling Relationships

Sibling Love: 6 Special Reasons God Gave you Siblings

5 Easy Ways to Stop Sibling Fighting & End Frustration

Fruit of the Tongue Bible Study

Have you ever said something really awful or hurtful?

When we feel frustrated, annoyed, or treated unfairly, it’s easy to lash out with ugly words without thinking about the consequences those words might have on ourselves or those around us. But just because it’s easy and most people are guilty of doing it doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. The things we say matter in a HUGE way to God and they have tremendous power over our lives and the lives of those around us.

Whether you already know you want to work harder at controlling your tongue or you haven’t quite decided on that yet, there’s a lot in this family Bible study on taming the tongue for you to learn.

Help with Taming the Tongue:

Control Your Tongue: 5 Strategies to Teach your Kids

Taming the Tongue: 5 Things Kids Should Never Say

A Content Heart Bible Study

Struggling to fight off the me-first “gimmie” attitude that consumes kids today?

In a world of instant gratification, upside-down priorities, and exaggerated selfies, we need something to help our kids as they strive for true contentment in their lives. What we need is a better understanding of what God’s Word says regarding this matter. This contentment Bible study can help.

A Content Heart is a 21-lesson Bible study helping kids and teens find godly contentment in a me-first world. Students will go on a journey through Scripture, learning how to practically and realistically find contentment with themselves, their circumstances, and their worldly possessions.

Help With Contentment:

How Did I Get Such Ungrateful Kids?

6 Ways to Help Kids See God’s Provisions

6 Ways to Teach Kids an Attitude of Gratitude

Developing a Quiet Time

Is it THEIR faith or yours?

With 66% of young people walking away from today’s churches, we know we’ve got to be incredibly intentional about helping our children build a solid foundation of faith. Developing a daily quiet time is one giant step on this journey.

But few people ever learn HOW to have a quiet time, much less why God wants us to. (Truth: I didn’t learn until I was in my 30s!) Don’t let this happen to your child. We’ve made it super easy to help your child develop this crucial habit.

Developing a Quiet Time is a family bible study that walks kids through the process of learning to have a daily devotional time with God. During 4 weeks of study, they will learn what the Bible has to say about this topic, how a daily quiet time will affect their lives, and a simple way to spend their time with God. At the end of the study, kids have guided practice as they learn to take the reins on their own. Written for ages 8 and up.

Help with quiet time:

How to Make Kids Devotions Fun With Only Your Bible

Easy Family Devotions: What You Need to Know

Devotions for Kids: How to Get Kids in the Bible

Do Right Bible Study

Why is it so hard to do the right thing?

From interacting with siblings to resisting peer pressure, kids today are faced with all kinds of choices, and the question seems fair. It is hard to do the right thing. As parents, it’s our job to equip our kids with a foundation of biblical reasons to make the right choice and the motivation to stand strong against temptation.

This study will equip your kids for the battle by giving them the tools they need to fight the good fight both today and for the rest of their lives. Start making wise choices today!

Do Right is a 4 week Bible study on the subject of making wise choices in the face of temptation. We will explore people in the Bible who taught us a lot through their mistakes and dig deep into those who were excellent examples. We will put on the whole armor of God, learn who the real enemies are, and equip ourselves to make the right choices no matter what!

Help with Self-Control:

3 Christian Discipline Questions to Ask Your Kids

21 Consequences for Kids that Really Work

How to Help your Kids Make Wise Choices

Keep Thy Heart

Did you know that your heart-attitude determines the path of your life?

In Proverbs 4:23, we are told to keep or guard our heart above ALL things. That’s because everything in life flows out of our heart: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our heart truly defines who we are and where we will go in life.

This Bible study is all about protecting, keeping, and guarding your heart so you can grow in Christ instead of overflowing with those “ugly” things.

The study spans 5 weeks with 5 lessons a week, digging deep into the reason the heart is so important. We will learn 9 crucial enemies to protect your heart from and finally ponder the path of purity, priorities, and principles in our heart.

As a Christian, Jesus has given us a new heart. This is the most wonderful blessing we can have since our heart is wicked on its own. But we have a job to do to protect this precious treasure. Let’s get busy!

Help with Heart Struggles:

How to Improve Your Kid’s Attitude: Biblical Solutions that Work

Teaching Kids to Guard their Heart

Obey

Are you tired of “because I said so” being your only line of defense for getting your children to obey? Do you wish they would understand the importance of obedience?

What if I told you that you can teach your kids to actually WANT to obey? YOU CAN. It’s not some far-fetched parenting dream. Building a foundation of biblical truth is the way to help your children want to obey for the right reasons.

AND this study will help you do that. Let’s start today!

Journey through scripture and learn about people who struggled with obedience in this family Bible study that includes HOW, WHY, and WHEN we should obey. Children of all ages will be challenged to seek answers in the Bible for the number one issue in their lives: obedience.

Each day is filled with a look at someone in the Bible who had real struggles just like they do. Children will be challenged to think about the scripture and apply it to their lives.

Help with obedience issues:

Teaching Your Child the Importance of Obedience

Is Kids Time Out Effective?

Pointing a Rebellious Child to God

The Ultimate Guide to Memorizing Scripture for Families

Sat, 02 May 2020 00:24:50 GMT

You’ll love this ultimate guide to memorizing Scripture covering top tips, how-tos, and our favorites lists of Bible verses to memorize.

Two years ago my oldest child came home from youth group and declared that she wanted to stop showing horses so she could join our church’s Bible quiz team.

I’ll admit that I thought it was a little drastic. But we went to the banquet to learn about the program. For my daughter, it was love at first sight. But I had some reservations.

Have you ever known someone who could rattle off verse and quote for nearly every occasion, and yet at the same time was unpleasant to be around?

My concern wasn’t that she would learn Scripture, it was that she would focus on the mere practice of doing so.

Growing up in the church, I’ve hidden a lot of Scripture in my heart. Some I remember, some not so much. Some memory verses were learned for nothing other than a prize or to impress teachers or leaders.

I didn’t want that for her. I wanted her to have a personal relationship with Christ, to grow up walking with the Lord, and never to depart from the things she’s learned.

I was afraid a list of Bible verses to memorize for a competition would work against that goal. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Benefits of Memorizing Scripture

I’m not advocating for memorization just for the sake of it. But let me tell you, memorizing Scripture is an INCREDIBLE way to know God. As with pretty much all Spiritual matters, it’s all about the heart attitude behind it.

Every Wednesday night I teach a group of 6th graders at my church and this is the number one topic we tackle. You see, if they learn all of the Bible memory verses simply because their parents tell them to, their efforts will not reap the maximum benefits.

They need to memorize Bible verses because they want to know God more. Memorizing God’s Word…

Pleases the Lord
Helps us to know God’s commands
Keeps us from sinning
Gives us good things to meditate on.
Helps us trust God in all things

How to Memorize Bible Verses

Often the biggest stumbling block to memorizing Scripture is simply our own lack of confidence. Many years ago a friend challenged me to memorize Psalm 91 with my kids. Under my breath, I laughed at the thought. It would take all year to do that!

But I decided to give it a try. Guess how long it took us? Less than a month! Isn’t that funny? When you are motivated to do something, you’d be surprised what you can accomplish!

Last year my daughter memorized all of Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, and 1 Thessalonians. She also memorized much of Ephesians and Galatians. This year her goal is to memorize the whole book of John! That’s 879 verses!

We’ve put together an epic list of 14 easy memory verse games you can use at home. They don’t require large groups and most work well for longer verses and passages (not just short phrases).

14 Easy Memory Verse Games You Can use at Home

Make scripture memorization fun with these memory verse games you can use at home! Your family will grow in Christ together. They are practical and will actually HELP you memorize the verses!

You’ll also find our step-by-step strategy for memorizing longer passages in this collection of Bible verses to memorize for families.

Which Bible Verses to Memorize

Before you begin memorizing Scripture with kids, be sure you take a moment and determine your purpose, your plan, and your process. I suggest writing this down because a written plan is very powerful!

PURPOSE is simply the WHY behind making the effort to memorize Scripture with your kids.
PLAN exactly what you will do by identifying how many Bible memory verses you’d like to memorize and how long you’d like to work on it. For example, if you are working with an older child, perhaps you’d do a few verses a week. With a preschooler, you’d possibly be working on one verse a month!
PROCESS is the method you’ll use to learn. We’ve given you lots of ideas below, so pick a few you think might work for your kids and start there.

Once you’ve defined your 3 P’s of Scriptures for kids, the only thing left is to choose what you’ll memorize. I recommend starting with Bible memory verses that will be most meaningful to your child in this season of life.

For example, if she has recently been asking questions about salvation, it’s a great time for those verses. If he is struggling with saying kind words, perhaps focus on verses to help with that.

If you’ve never memorized Scripture before, I would recommend starting with Psalm 119:9-16, as it’s a simple passage that discusses the importance of knowing God’s Word!

For primary-aged kids (ages 4-7) memorize Psalm 119:11
For junior-aged kids (ages 8-12) memorize Psalm 119:9-11
For youth-aged kids (ages 12+) memorize Psalm 119:9-16

We’ve even created a fun Scripture memory printable for our that passage. Click below to get yours!

Resources For Memorizing Scripture

Once you’ve memorized your first verse, you’ll surely be looking for more. Here are several of our favorite Bible memorization lists and helps.

35 Power-Packed memory verses for Kids

Want your children to memorize Scripture? Check out these strategies for memorizing, along with 35 power-packed memory verses for kids!

We put together our list of all-time favorites by category so you can work on the ones you need most.

27 Bible Verses to Memorize as a Family

In this post, you’ll find longer Bible verses to memorize as a family. Learning single verses is good, but the real power comes when you memorize it in context. You’ll love this list we put together, plus the free printable.

Free Printable Bible Verses For When You Need Encouragement

Life can be challenging. That’s why we need the truth of God’s Word guarding our hearts. Get this free set of printable Bible verses perfect for adults or teens. You’ll find inspiring verses for all of life’s struggles.

Tips for Memorizing Scripture With Kids

Focus on QUALITY over quantity. It doesn’t matter if your child can say 1000 verses, if they don’t know what they mean and won’t remember them in a few weeks, we’ve missed the whole point.
Be sure you DEFINE words and help your kids understand the meaning behind every single verse they memorize. Again, if we memorize without meaning and understanding, our kids won’t be able to apply Bible verses to their lives. Read more: 5 Ways to Help Your Kids Apply Scripture
Review the verses you learn regularly. This will help make sure your kids really use the verses to impact their lives. We use the Charlotte Mason memory review system and a simple 3×5 card box.
ALWAYS always always look up the verses you are learning in the BIBLE before you start learning them. This is critical in helping your kids understand that the Bible has the information they need. If we don’t do this, there is often a disconnect between what we THINK the Bible says and what it actually says.
Know the reference. Many people will tell you that the reference is extra stress on kids and not necessary. I disagree! If it’s too much to remember the reference, then memorize fewer verses. Again, quality over quantity. In the end, if you don’t know where you live, it’s pretty hard to tell someone else where to find you. The same is true for the Bible.

14 Easy Memory Verse Games You Can Use At Home

Fri, 01 May 2020 16:26:25 GMT

Make scripture memorization fun with these memory verse games you can use at home! Your family will grow in Christ together.

One of the tools God gives us to help us walk with Him is Scripture. Memorizing Scripture helps us to KNOW God more and it helps us to follow His commands as we resist temptation.

But if we are being honest, this is one we tend to skip over because memorizing Scripture doesn’t always come easily. Or we just leave that up to the Sunday School teachers.

Don’t let Scripture memory become a chore for your family. There are lots of memory verse games you can play at home! Not only will you learn the Bible verses, you’ll have a blast and bond as a family in the process!

14 Memory Verse Games

1. Hand Motions

When it comes to young kids, movement is gold. Try breaking down your verse into small phrases. For each phrase, add a hand motion. It’s great if it can be specific such as pointing to your face for the word face, but even for phrases with no motions, you can do things like stomp, jump, or clap. It will help kids remember those memory verses easily!

Or if you know American Sign Language go ahead and add in those motions instead. This is a beautiful and fun way to practice Scripture.

2. Sing it

Music is such a powerful tool, I find myself breaking out in song all the time! I remember verses I learned 40 years ago because I remember the song that goes with it. You’ve probably got a few tucked away, too.

You can make up your own songs or find some already done for you. Here are two resources for finding verses set to music:

Seeds of Worship offers contemporary songs in ESV.
Answers in Genesis offers contemporary songs in ESV and traditional songs in KJV.

3. Say it Silly

This one is a family favorite. It’s so much fun to memorize Scripture using silly voices. This gives kids the practice of saying it over and over again without the monotony of doing it the same way.

Some of our favorite voices are: squeaky mouse, big giant, cowboy, robot, and southern style. Have fun with all of the options.

4. Puzzler

You’ll need paper and something to write with for this one. And it might be best to have two people play this Scripture verse game. Each person writes out a verse but leaves empty blanks to be filled in. Then they both swap papers and write in the missing words of the puzzle!

5. Scrambler

There are multiple ways to scramble up a verse! You can mix up the individual words and put them back in order or group different phrases of the verse together and place them in the correct order.

Download this printable below

6. Draw it

You can really get creative with this memory verse game! Draw the nouns in the verse and show what the verse means. But don’t just think paper and pencils, use sidewalk chalk, computer design, or paint. Drawing and expressing creativity is a fabulous way to memorize a verse.

7. Erase the Verse

Your kids can compete against themselves with this game. First, they’ll need to write the verse, then erase part and see if they can remember the words. We like to do this on a whiteboard with dry-erase markers. You can get individual whiteboards here.

8. Snap it

Songs are powerful because of their rhythm. Even if you don’t know a song, you can create a rhythm by snapping. Simply snap on each word. The verse will naturally fall into a rhythm that your kids will remember.

9. Write it out

A simple memory verse activity is to write your verse in a journal or notebook. The act of writing something out helps our mind better remember and think through words. Get out the colored pencils or markers and do some lettering while you’re at it!

This is the main strategy my 6th graders use to memorize verses for our church’s Wednesday night program. I provide them with a notebook at the beginning of the year and they write the verses each day of the week.

EVERY week they memorize 8-12 verses in a single passage, so it works well!

10. Use an app

If you’re always on the go, reviewing verses on an app is a great way to use your free moments. The company BibleMemory.com offers a couple of Scripture memory apps including one specifically for kids with icons and pictures! Or create digital flashcards with an app like Quizlet.

11. Catch it

Grab a few family members for this Scripture memory activity. To play, simply toss a ball or similar object as each person in your family says the next word of the verse. If your kids are older, take it to the next level by removing people from the circle when they can’t remember a word. The last one left knows the whole verse!

12. Highlight keywords

This is a trick my oldest has picked up from Bible quiz and it’s helped her memorize hundreds of verses, including entire books of the Bible! I recommend you write the passage out first, but you can type it if preferred. Then find a keyword in each phrase or verse. Highlight the keyword. We do this in blue.

You can also highlight other words such as words that repeat often. We underline or put prepositions in parentheses. This really helps with those longer passages, too.

13. Bible Verse Jenga

You’ll need to find stackable blocks for this game like Jenga. Then put each word or phrase of the verse on a different block. As you remove a block, try to remember the missing word in the verse. You can play alone, but this is even more fun with your family!

14. Accordion verses

This Bible memory verse craft helps you review as you make it and serves as a tool you can come back to again and again! What you’ll need to do is put a phrase from the verse on a thin strip of cardstock, tape each one together, and fold like an accordion. Then read and review.

Free Memory Verse Games Printable

We’ve made it easy for you to remember these Bible memory verse games you can play at home! Download this free printable by clicking below.

You’ll want to print it on cardstock then put it someplace where you’ll remember to use it like on your fridge or in your Bible.

More Bible Memory Verse Resources

Ready to add scripture memory to your family time? You’ll love these 27 Bible Verses to Memorize as a family.
Are you looking for meaningful Scripture verses for your child’s season of life? Pick from this list of 35 Power-Packed Memory Verses for Kids.
You’ll also love these Free Printable Bible verses for when you need encouragement.

35 Power-Packed Memory Verses For Kids

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 18:25:59 GMT

Want your children to memorize Scripture? Check out these strategies for memorizing, along with 35 power-packed memory verses for kids!

As a mom, I’ve treasured many precious words my little ones have uttered, each having a special place in my heart. But I’ve got to tell you, hearing your child confidently belt out a memory verse tops them all.

There’s just something about hearing that sweet little voice declare God’s truths so boldly, isn’t there?

It’s no surprise that many Christian parents jump to teach their kids Bible memory verses from a very young age. I certainly did. I wanted my kids to know as much of the Bible as possible.

Um, until I realized that googling “easy Bible verses for kids” was probably going to leave us feeling empty. I mean we all know the kid who memorized “Jesus wept” because it was the shortest verse in the Bible, right?

When it comes to Scripture for kids, let’s be a little more intentional. Easy Bible verses are great, but what we really want is Bible memory verses that will help our kids GROW in faith as they walk in God’s truth.

How to Pick the Perfect Memory Verses for Kids

PURPOSE is simply the WHY behind making the effort to memorize Scripture with your kids.
PLAN exactly what you will do by identifying how many Bible memory verses you’d like to memorize and how long you’d like to work on it. For example, if you are working with an older child, perhaps you’d do a few verses a week. With a preschooler, you’d possibly be working on one verse a month!
PROCESS is the method you’ll use to learn. We’ve given you lots of ideas below, so pick a few you think might work for your kids and start there.

35 Power-Packed Memory Verses for Kids

For example, if she has recently been asking questions about salvation, it’s a great time for those verses. If he is struggling with saying kind words, perhaps focus on verses to help with that.

If you don’t know where to start, begin with God! Scripture is first meant to point us to God and His character, so learning about His character is a perfect place to begin your Bible memory verse journey.

Here are some of our favorite Scriptures for kids listed by category.

God’s Character

Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Psalm 30:5
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

God’s Word

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

Salvation

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, John 11:25
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Christian Life

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight. Proverbs 12:22
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Loving Others

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:31
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Free Printable Memory Verses for Kids

We’ve made it easy for you to keep up with these power-packed memory verses for kids! Download this free checklist of verses by clicking below.

You’ll want to print it on cardstock and then keep it somewhere you’ll see often. You can hang it on the fridge, slip it in your Bible, or keep it in your morning basket. Or you can use it to check off as you make memory verse cards.

Fun Strategies to Learn Memory Verses (For Kids)

We’ve got a huge list of fun and easy ways to memorize Scripture with kids that you will definitely want to check out here. In the meantime, Here are a few of our favorites for young kids.

Hand Motions

Memory Verses Put To Song

We can’t fail to mention this classic because it’s such a powerful way to help kids learn their Bible memory verses. You can make up your own song or use one that’s already been created.

Seeds of Worship offers contemporary songs in ESV.

Answers in Genesis offers contemporary songs in ESV and traditional songs in KJV.

Say it Silly

Some of our favorite voices are: squeaky mouse, big giant, cowboy, robot, and southern style. Have fun with all of the options.

Scrambler

Write the verse on notecards, then SCRAMBLE them up. Unscramble to see if you can remember the verse. If your child can write, this has the added benefit of writing it out, but you can write it for your child, too.

Build it up

This one is easy to do with kids who don’t read or write. Simply start adding on one word at a time. So John 3:16 would sound like this: For. For God. For God so loved. For God so loved the.

You get the idea. Just keep adding one word at a time until you finish the verse. While this can work for longer verses, it’s super powerful for shorter ones and will very young children.

Snap it

Songs are powerful because of their rhythm. Even if you don’t know a song, you can create a rhythm by snapping. Simply snap on each word. The verse will naturally fall into a rhythm.

Tips for Memory Verses With Kids

Focus on QUALITY over quantity. It doesn’t matter if your child can say 1000 verses, if they don’t know what they mean and won’t remember them in a few weeks, we’ve missed the whole point.
Be sure you DEFINE words and help your kids understand the meaning behind every single verse they memorize. Again, if we memorize without meaning and understanding, we are missing the point.
Review the verses you learn regularly. This will help make sure your kids really use the verses to impact their lives. We use the Charlotte Mason memory review system and a simple 3×5 card box.
ALWAYS always always look up the verses you are learning in the BIBLE before you start learning them. This is critical in helping your kids understand that the Bible has the information they need. If we don’t do this, there is often a disconnect between what we THINK the Bible says and what it actually says.
Know the reference. Many people will tell you that the reference is extra stress on kids and not necessary. I disagree! If it’s too much to remember the reference, then memorize fewer verses. Again, quality over quantity. In the end, if you don’t know where you live, it’s pretty hard to tell someone else where to find you. The same is true for the Bible.

More Memory Verses For Kids

Looking for more in-depth verses to memorize? You’ll love these 27 Bible Verses to Memorize as a family
Find fun and engaging games memory verse games here.
You’ll also love these Free Printable Bible verses for when you need encouragement.