I know Yesterday was a lot so I am going to keep it simple today. I promise. Well, my definition of simple.
For Bible, in addition to Awana and our church lessons, we will continue with resources from Color and kindness, devotional and prayer books, the bible, worship and serving.
Foreign Language was a bit tricky! We had a wonderful experience with our hybrid program this year but unfortunately, the instructor will be at our other location full-time. While I am trying to convince her to start a language immersion playgroup, I am going to do what I can with podcasts, vocabulary units, verbs and activity books.
Morning Starters went ahhhhhhmazing this year and we are all thrilled to continue. As you read when I shared our language arts picks, we are working with Jude, God and a host of specialists to identify and then meet his unique learning needs. With that, his morning starters will be an emotions coloring and activity book, sight word activities and hand writing practice.
James will loop geography, daily grams, test practice, writing and critical thinking workbooks.
Both will also have a journal. You can watch me explain it all here.
Boom! Told you I would keep it simple. You can find all the links here.
We are sliding into home of this curriculum picks series and with my two favorite subjects.
Honestly, in our home, they aren’t subjects, they are foundations and pillars. Legit the first two reasons why we started homeschool and keep at it. The Word of God and the illustrious and rich history of our people are the very thread and fibers of our home, our lifestyle, our choices, actions… This list could go on forever but what I am trying to convey is that these items aren’t check marks or tasks, we involve ourselves in them in various ways all throughout the day in different ways. Below I will share some focuses and resources for this year.
For Bible, we are slowly switching gears. In the past we’ve learned about those wonderful bible stories and the great miracles of God. We have also learned some bible verses and scripture passages. We will also review them via podcasts, stories and recitation. We will also continue to learn verses and scripture as I truly believe it is armor.
Here’s the things, 2020 taught me different ways to “do it all” well. One of the ways was continuing the lovely and missional lessons from our church’s Kids curriculum. Y’all, I am so thankful I can say that my church is AWESOME and frankly, if it is ok for them to spend 1.5 hours once a week learning during church, why can’t we continue that during the week? Am I right?
We will also learn about bible subjects such as, what God’s word says about fear, the beatitudes, the Names of God and The Armor God. We will explore mini units from awesome creators like Color and Kindness and BabyDevotions. Will will review daily devotions together. I am so excited for how we are growing as a family in Christ and can’t wait for more! You can find the bible resources we love here.
Black History, for us, is 365. Yes, sometimes we will have a focus. For example James really wants to learn more about Serena Williams and Barack Obama. I also want James to practice presentations from Books and writing short stories so I definitely see some biography presentations in our future.
My kids also love reading about Black History Figures and Events as bedtime stories or choose those books for individual reading time. They will choose books about certain figures to check out at the library. Our quest to absorb all we can about our history to improve our future is just innate. It is the culture of our home and learning and applying is not dependent on me teaching. For some great books to start with, click here.
We are wrapping up this curriculum update series with the subject we typically start our day with. In fact, I feel kinda weird calling it a subject. For us, it isn’t a task we check off or a learning module to master. It is the very pillar of our being, one of the principle reasons why we homeschool and the only reason I continue to. This love, this faith it can’t be contained to just “quoting.”
You can get all the deets on our plans and materials here or watch it here.
Like every other subject, I planned this out, and did it pretty well I might add. Initially, I was balancing keeping up with providing and supplementing church lessons in our home with lessons during the week, sometimes even doing a good job of riding the two, pivoting and finding activities and resources quickly. Then, 2020 took its toll. I got burnt all the way out. I was beyond exhausted and it took all I had to play a bible story podcast for them.
That’s when the miracle happened.
You see, in my feeble iniquity, God showed up and took over. Because I was so exhausted, I surrendered. Instead of tending to every other person on Sunday, I did the least (as opposed to the most), and I focused on me getting nourished with the word and filling up on Worship. It is true that eyes are always watching and so, mainly because I was too tired to get up really early and do my bible study, I would do it in front of them. This sparked something in them.
Virtual church became easier and they were more invested. We were back to try to live the word instead of repeat the word-I realized that busyness got us there and in my efforts to make sure they were retaining, I was training parrots.
I took a long break from the scripture memory and focused hard on prayer and worship in our teachings and lessons. I learned more from them than they did from me.
While we have gotten “back on track” so-to-speak with plans, using resources purchased and learning things like parables and scriptures, I am letting the spirit lead on them. I am not focused on recitation but on living and, more importantly, modeling.
2020 dealt us some huge blows, some way more than others. My empath heart went through it and honestly hasn’t recovered. Everything this year had to shift and I do believe we are all the better for it.
We will not forget what we learned nor how to adapt and pivot, skills I must admit were far from finessed before this year and all of the events. My standards of truth, beauty and goodness have been the guiding force and will continue to be.
Yes, I have already started “research” for next year and thankfully it is way less than it was last year. Per usual, you’ll be the first to know.
Let’s kick this curriculum picks series started off right! While I call this subject, “Bible”, we learn how to cultivate relationship with our creator and apply what we learn to grow our faith.
How do we do that? With the tools below! Now, just so I’m clear, we do not use all of these every day. Somedays we may not even use any! Now that that is out of the way, my last disclaimer, I haven’t been paid nor am I an affiliate marketer or brand ambassador for the following companies or products, although I should because I tell anyone who will listen about them. One more thing- want to see how I use these? Check out my YouTube videos here.
Jesus Storybook Bible
Baby Devotions Scripture Cards
Holy Moly Videos
Podcast (Kids Bible Stories, Truth Seekers)
Indescribable devotions
Scripture Memory Journal
Lessons from church
Pinterest finds
Here is how it works, I use these planning wheels to plot and plan our bible lessons for the school year. (I’m sharing the deets on this via IG stories.) Then, I use whatever from the list above to aid in the teaching and application of the story/lesson. Make sense? (hit me up if it doesn’t.) I may combine a bible lesson with learning about an attribute of God or we may learn a bible verse to grow a character trait.
So, whatever we have planned OR if the Spirit moves, we lean into that lesson with none, one, or more of the items listed above.
Here’s the thing. I am not teaching my kids religion. I am teaching them relationship. I am not teaching them stories, I’m showing the history of grace and unending love. I’m not making sure they spit scripture verbatim, I am teaching them to live it. I don’t and won’t skip over the pain of the cross and only rejoice about heaven. I teach them that in the fire, God is there too. So, it starts with me. The things above just help.
Whew. Ok, peeps. I am really am doing my best to wrap this up. More coming ASAP.
