Yes Latin!

Latin is a great language to study and I am surprised by the backlash as to why study Latin. Latin is the base of all Romance languages and therefore makes learning those languages easier. Studying Latin also makes learning English grammar at a young age much easier because English grammar is much more complex.

In fact this year I think my boys learned as much English grammar in our Latin curriculum as they did in their English grammar studies.

Now does any one actually speak Latin in the world- no, not officially. It is an unspoken language at this point in history but half of all English words come from Latin and knowing Latin words actually expands English vocabulary because of all the derivatives that we use.

 For example- my sons learned the Latin word patria- which means fatherland, or country. From that word you find our word patriarch, and patriot! After the boys memorize what patria in Latin they will be able to recognize more complicated vocabulary as they are reading.

Another wonderful benefit is that our Latin curriculum teaches us prayers in Latin and they are beautiful to hear at the table or anywhere!

For example-

The Sanctus
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
Dominus Deus Sabaoath
Pleni sunt caeli et terra, gloria tua
Hosanna in excelsis
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini
Hosana in excelsis

Translation:
Holy, holy, holy
Lord, God of hosts
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest
Blessed in he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest

As you read through the Latin I am sure you will recognize many words and can figure out other derivatives. Sanctus means holy- sanctified, sanctuary. Terra- terracotta pots, terra means earth. Gloria means glory. Benedictus- blessed- blessing, benediction.  Learning Latin is truly beneficial and I am finding that learning it as an adult is even more fun because naturally my vocabulary is much larger than my boys vocabulary so I immediately recognize and can name derivatives.

The Latin curriculum I chose to start with is from Memoria Press. Memoria Press is a classical christian education curriculum company (should I have a comma in there somewhere? punctuation is not my strength,;.-.). Their beginning Latin program is called Prima Latina and it is for grades 1-4 and is designed for students and teachers with NO Latin background! We ordered the student guide (x2), teacher guide, the DVD set, the flash cards (which are also for Latina Christiana the next level), and the pronunciation CD. I don't know if I'm allowed to use this picture- new to blogging- but if I'm not then it will disappear at some point.



The DVDs are great and essential to the success of the program! They are expensive but worth it! I imagine you can resell them for at least half the value when you are done. I will be hanging on to mine for the girls to use when they are ready.  Leigh Lowe who is the creator of the series along with her mother Cheryl Lowe teaches each lesson on the DVDs. She goes beyond the lesson that is printed with more explanation of the material and help with pronunciation. She also reviews material previously learned. The lessons are short- 15/20 minutes max. 

There are 25 lessons total and after 5 lessons there is a review lesson so you can make sure your student has mastered all the material to that point. I will tell you that the flash cards are really for the next level and so there are more than you need and there are some missing that you do need. We did not use the pronunciation CD but I think we will listen to it over the summer as we eat lunch.

After we watch the lesson on DVD we turn the page and do a few of the review questions that are provided. Typically we would watch and do some review on Tuesday and then review for mastery and finish the workbook review on Thursday. I kept the flashcards (I ended up making my own for Prima Latina) on a ring in the kitchen and would quiz the boys at meals. We only did one lesson a week and sometimes would take longer to review so the boys had the lessons down. The first two prayers the boys memorized but then we got to the Our Father in the spring and between the slightly complex nature of it and spring fever, we do not have that down. So we will likely take longer to finish the curriculum than we should but that's okay and we can be flexible with our schedule because we homeschool!

If you do not homeschool but want your child to have the benefit of learning Latin you could easily do this program in the afternoon or evening.

I would be lying if I said that Latin was the boys favorite subject. It's not but we do it because I know it's beneficial for them. I have made it more "palatable" for them by using treats. We had Latin Lollies at one time which were lollipops that were to be consumed only during Latin. We made Latin time snack time and recently finished up Easter candy while watching our Latin video. I think they have manipulated me into providing food and sweets at off times :) but that's okay, whatever works!

Another layer to our Latin is that we are returning to Classical Conversations next year and in that program we memorize Latin each year. So I think they will be glad that we spent the year studying when we get back to CC next year and they breeze through the Latin memorization.

If you are interested in purchasing Prima Latina you can do so at the Memoria Press website. You can also find the curriculum on Amazon and Christianbooks.com among others. If you order from Memoria Press though they send you a nice Christmas card with a discount towards a purchase and you get a free subscription to their magazine The Classical Teacher- it's fabulous! I love the articles and feel smarter after I've read it :)

Overall, I am so glad we added Latin to our curriculum and we will keep up with it for as long as we are led to!

"What curriculum are you using?"

A common question for us homeschoolers by other homeschoolers or by those who do not homeschool but just want to dialogue is, "What curriculum are you using?"

Now other homeschoolers will be familiar with a given list of curricula most of the time but those who just want to dialogue glass over and nod politely. Hey, you asked!

This is what we are doing this year- it's different from last year - and will likely be different next year.

That's what I love about homeschooling- variety, adaptation, make a change when necessary or just for fun!

Drum roll please....those not interested....glazed over, polite nod please....

Bible-  We are reading through Mark. It's an action gospel so the boys are attentive! They are also studying Genesis in Sunday School each week. Another great resource is Leading Little Ones to God and Arch books. We do Advent  devotionals and Easter devotionals during those holidays.

Math- We use Christian Light Publication Math. My friend Tina over at Chasin' Raisins introduced this math to me and for us it works.

Science- Sonlight Grade 2, Nature Walks, Lots of books and outside time- because we can!

History- Veritas Press Time Line Cards, Story of the World Volume 1 with the activity guide. My boys love this. It has it's issues- to put it lightly- but the author does integrate ALL of history (including the history found in the B.I.B.L.E). Plus I had the curriculum from a past purchase and it saved us some money. My friend Tina at Chasin' Raisins has developed her own curriculum- and it's promising. Check it out!

Geography- My own creation. We are studying the continents this year. We are studying one a month. I have a binder for each boy with dividers- one per continent (genius!). We have checked out books and DVDs from the library for the current continent we are working on and I keep a list of those books. I printed a ton of great activity work from Enchanted Learning. We are also using maps, a globe, puzzles and having a great time.

Reading- The Bible, Sonlight Grade 2 Readers, Other books that go along with our history studies and lots of picture books and other read-alouds as we fancy.

Spelling- All about Spelling- I started in Level 1- it's a little easy but I have one natural speller and one not so natural speller and so far both are excelling so that's good.

Latin!- Prima Latina- love it! Nuff said.

Handwriting- Handwriting Without Tears- Jay is doing cursive and Ben just started cursive and surprisingly for a first grader and a lefty- he is doing fantastic. I was planning on him finishing the year with print but he really wanted to begin cursive so since he was enthusiastic I let him move on and it was a good decision.

Other-
Dictation from Spelling, read -alouds, and other sources.
Explode the Code 3, 4, 5- phonics, language
Daily Math Books- drills
Word Ladders- great for vocabulary building and critical thinking
Ancient Egypt Pocket - boys are not as into this as I thought they would be but we will persevere.

Right now as I type this the boys are coloring quietly behind me. They have also picked different locations. We all need a time of quiet. My "quiet time" these days seldom happens in solitude but I don't care at this moment. I like being with my kids- wouldn't be and couldn't effectively homeschool if I didn't!

I find it perplexing, sad, and telling at the plethora of comments I receive about having four children and having four children and homeschooling. Children are joy.

They are not bothersome, tiring, angst creating, patience stealing, annoying small humans. However, my response when I am full of irritation and lacking grace may be any and all of those. So the key to doing this thing called life at home with a quiver full is to choose grace and thankfulness and humor and cling to G.O.D.

That is not always easy and is not always my first response. But when and if I fall into the "pit" emotionally it does me good to remember the real blessing that is today.

And I would be so remiss to not mention too the wonderful man who makes the homeschooling possible. He was my first blessing-

Blueprints for Character Training

 

 

"There is no doubt that parenting is a blessing from God. Children themselves, no matter how they arrive in our arms, are gifts from the Lord.  Psalm 127 is an encouragement, “Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.’

 

Since our children are a reward, character training is an area where we can decide how we will use our precious time parenting. The bible gives a solid biblical principle imploring parents to train up their children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22) and this should involve a deliberate blueprint or plan for training in the area of character....." please continue reading my first published article here found in Becoming Magazine! You can also check out the Becoming Magazine website here for more information on this new online magazine! The founder and editor, Shannon Basso, is a mother of three arrows and has been fired by God with a mission to pull fellow Christians out of mediocrity and into an alive relationship with Christ! I know you will enjoy her site as much as I do!

Homeschooling with Toddlers

Homeschooling with little ones is not exactly easy. We still have a lot of fun but I will admit we got a lot done a lot faster when it was just the boys and I- but that's not rocket science to imagine. As hard as I try to keep Lily busy and included and all that good stuff, she is still not yet even 2 and distractible and well almost 2... 'nuff said.

For instance just today:

Me: "Let's read this book on Archeology-"

Lily: (Grabs book and takes off yelling, "Mine!")

Me: (Having retrieved book and offered Lily the option of joining us) "Oookay, Archeologists...blah blah... (voice rising over Lily-protests)

Lily: (crying and wrestling me for book as I stubbornly keep trying to read it... I know...)

Boys: (laughing)

This goes on and eventually Lily chills out and we commence... but hence the things done a lot faster in the past claim.

I remember reading several posts and blogs and articles addressing this issue of homeschooling with toddlers and I never paid much attention....til now.... (insert jaws theme track, or psycho theme track...you pick...)

Seriously though- lots of humor and laughs as well.

Lily likes to be right with us whether we are all on the floor or at the table.

As toddlers seem to do, she always has to be standing on the chairs or .... 

  sitting on the table...

She looks so proud of Ben. (If you click on the picture it will open up bigger).

I imagine her saying, "Great job big brother!" Girls show that maternal side soon!

The above happened after I walked out of the room. The boys get a kick out of it and seem to function well amidst the distraction!

Our school time does have an impact on her- here she is playing teacher to Chloe. Chloe looks thrilled :)

And if there is picture action of the boys work...

Lily of course needs her picture taken as well! It's a must!

Stay tuned for more amusing toddler pics of homeschooling hijinks'- soon we will have two toddlers making it all the more fun :)



Layering + Application = Transformation!

I really believe in and have taught (in my BSF teaching days) the concept of "layering" defined by me as those tools and skills that help you over time increase your understanding and thus personal application of what you learn in the Bible. It's really part of sanctification (the process of being made more and more to be Christ-like).

Learning the Bible is critical for your growth as a Christian. How can you obey God when you don't know what his commands are?  How can you grow closer to and learn to love God if you don't know who He is and what His plans are for you?!  And let me be clear that my definition of learning does not include just filling file folders in your brain but making what you learn a part of who you are- application!) As James says in the Bible- Don't just read the Word but do what it says!

In your growth as a Christian, and when studying the Bible, it helps to use many different tools to help you learn and add layers to your understanding.  Your first and foremost "tool" should be of course your Bible!  Another layer of understanding and applying what you read in your Bible can come as you join Bible studies, read commentaries, attend church or Sunday school, utilize Bible dictionaries etc.

With Children this concept is really critical because they do not (nor do adults) typically learn something to the point of application the first time around. Different approaches to the same material are helpful! Some of the things I use in my learning and layering are:

1. Bible Study Fellowship Classes- for me and my kids!
2. 950 AM- WTLN- lots of  good teaching throughout the day! You can see the line up at www.wtln.com. There is a program line up link on the left side- such pastors as Allistair Begg, RC Sproul, David Jeremiah, Dr. J. Vernon McGee and others have daily broadcasts!
3. Various books and devotionals. I will do a post on those another time.
4. Of course my church on Sunday Mornings.
5. Websites such as Bible Gateway and Got Questions?

But this post has a funny picture up top for a reason! Something I have found to be INCREDIBLE for my own learning and for my kids is a new series of DVDs out by Phil Viscer (the creator of Veggie Tales) called, "Whats in the Bible with Buck Denver". Phil Viscer has been truly, in my opinion, gifted by God to put together this series of meaty material that is fun to watch! Phil Viscer himself hosts much of the video and then there are puppets and some cartoons to explain topics. He does not shy away from tough areas and addresses them in segments called "Tricky Bits with Phil"- such areas as creation, the law (why we obey some OT rules today (Love your Neighbor) and disregard others (No Beard Trimming!), why did God allow the Israelites to take land away from the pagans around them, etc.) 

These videos enthrall me and my kids and I'm thrilled because beginning in DVD 1 hard theological concepts are being explained in a way that ANYONE could understand. I was nearly sputtering as I asked my boys if they realized how awesome it was to have access to such material at their age! Of course they look at me strange and have no idea how blessed they are- but that's okay.

There are 9 DVDs out so far plus a Christmas DVD. We are on DVD 4 and have gone thru Genesis to Joshua. DVD 9 just released this month and finishes out the Old Testament and other DVDs for the New Testament are in production.

If you have shied away from cartoonish videos relating to Christianity before (like Veggie Tales) I would implore you to rethink your position. These videos, in my opinion, are powerful tools that will help your child get a good grasp of the Bible and as Phil puts it, "Gods Rescue Plan"!

I can't recommend this series enough. I am encouraging everyone I know to get them all- make the investment! Again, this is not the only means to use to teach your children (and maybe yourself) about the bible- but it's a great "layer" in the process! We will be using them over and over again to help us learn and apply all that the Bible has to teach us!

My kids this year are going to be studying Genesis thru BSF, we will use the What's in the Bible series, and memorizing a new Bible verse each week. We also read various books we have on our shelves like the ABCs of Church History, Trial and Triumph, Arch Series, and many others.

Fill your family's Biblical arsenal and add a crucial layer to help grow and nourish your and your children's walk with God!