An Approved Worker: Mom Edition

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

I'm no Bible scholar, but "rightly handling the word of truth" strikes me as an important part of this verse. As mothers we can get so busy with to-do lists a mile long. Allowing household chores, laundry, or grocery shopping to get behind can be pretty stressful for the whole family. We tend to allow the tyranny of the present to rule us, because it's no fun having someone beg us for clean socks or underwear, or for more milk.

But what is more shameful, really? Getting behind on these temporal things, or getting behind on our time with the Lord?

Let us aim to be workers "who have no need to be ashamed". Let us plan for a devotional time, not just hope that it happens.

An "approved worker" is intentional about the eternal things, like Bible reading, prayer time, and discipling children.

An "approved worker" stores up treasure in heaven, and doesn't chase after earthly praise.

All other spiritual fruit will spring forth from these spiritual disciplines: Bible reading, prayer, discipling our children. 

After we have our hearts in order, God will certainly help us efficiently get our homes in order. He knows what we need, and he is faithful to provide it in due time, in due measure, after we sit at his feet.

Mary at Jesus' feet

Organizing Your Sonlight School Day

Our Sonlight Homeschool curriculum comes with a complete schedule/calendar of assignments in Bible, history, literature/readers, read-alouds, and science, so that every single day of our school year is already planned out, which is great if you never get sick and never have appointments. Sonlight doesn't use specific dates, but instead numbers the school weeks and days (week 1...day 2, etc.) on their calendars.

It doesn't take long before you're all over the place on their calendars--i.e. week 13 of history, week 15 of literature, week 11 of science, week 16 of Bible--which makes it hard for kids to find where they are each day. Not to mention, kids can be hard on those heavy, bulky Sonlight binders. If you let them loose with the binders, you really need page protectors on each page, which is time consuming and expensive.

It becomes essential for Mom to come up with a system to streamline the Sonlight school day.

Here is what works for us:

1. Make copies of your Sonlight schedule so you can write on it (essential if you plan to resell your curriculum at some point). I copy 6 weeks at a time and staple the pages together. As an assignment gets completed, I check mark that box.

2. Get a manila file folder or a school folder and label it accordingly--such as Sonlight Core G. Open it up and on the left side staple or place the Book List page so you know what books you'll start in which weeks. Place your stapled schedule pages into this manila folder, along with any review questions that come with your curriculum, which in our case is just science questions.

We keep the science questions in the science manila folder, along with the science schedule pages. I copy and staple all the science questions for each week. When they're completed, I take them out of the manila folder and file them for our end-of-year portfolio review. I then copy the science questions for the next week, staple them, and place them in the manila folder.

The manila folders get placed in this wire shelf, along with the books needed. I'm looking for a better shelf, as this isn't sturdy or big enough. We are out of book shelf space, and don't really have space for another book shelf, so it can't be much bigger than this.

3. I have two boys in Core G right now, and two girls in Core B. Rather than the kids going through the manila folders themselves, risking that they'd get lost around the house, I go through them and write out their assignments for two days ahead. If I go any further ahead than that, we get messed up due to appointments and unforeseen interruptions. Two days ahead works well.

I write the assignments on a weekly calendar sheet for the boys, which gets tacked to a wall. They also have a quick check-off sheet that includes chores and each subject, but not specific assignments. It only takes about 10 or 15 minutes to write the two days' assignments on the weekly calendar, if I keep up with checking off the completed assignments on the Sonlight schedule. We've had nasty colds this week and only done spotty school, so I started this calendar schedule for tomorrow, 11/14, continuing it on Monday, 11/17.

We've also tried writing the assignments on a daily chart that had a space for each boy to check off (including chores). I placed that chart on a clipboard that was supposed to be kept on the dining-room table, but it just didn't work. Someone was always misplacing the clipboard ( we have ADHD here), so I realized all assignment sheets or check-off sheets had to be kept on walls.

The simple check-off sheet (not pictured) just has a blank check-off line next to each chore and subject so I know where each child is in his or her day (for the girls it just includes chores, as I still run their school days).

How do you organize Sonlight for your family?

Beth's Red Riding Hood (a story)

Little Red Riding Hood 

By Beth

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Red Riding Hood. She lived in a cottage in the woods with her mom and dad.

One day, because grandmother was sick, her mother told Red to walk through the woods to Grandmother's house with a basket of dumplings and crumpets.

She went through the woods and it was kind of spooky, but she wasn't scared.

Soon she met up with a wolf and he asked her, "Can I have one of those dumplings or crumpets?"

Red Riding Hood said, "No!" and kept on walking.

At Grandmother's house, she saw that Grandma was lying in bed. Red Riding Hood didn't know that the wolf had come ahead and had hidden Grandma under the bed.

Red Riding Hood said, "Grandma, I brought you something from Momma."

In a rough voice, the wolf said, "Hello, my Sweet Pie."

Red Riding Hood said, " Grandma, what a big nose you have!"

"Better to smell you with, my dear."

"And Grandma, what big ears you have!"

"Better to hear you with, my dear."

"And Grandma, what big teeth you have!"

The wolf jumped up, growling, "Better to eat you with, my dear!"

Next, the wolf gobbled up Grandma, and was going to gobble Red Riding Hood too, but just then the woodcutter came because he heard screaming.

The woodcutter scared the wolf and the wolf sneezed, blowing Grandma out.

Red Riding Hood said to the wolf, "If you promise to never eat Grandma again, I will let you go."

"Fine!' said the wolf in a huff. He ran off to the woods.

Grandma and Red Riding Hood were very happy. Grandma said, "Thank you, my Sweet Red."

They both said, "Thank you, kindly," to the woodcutter, and off he went to cut trees.

Red Riding Hood and Grandma enjoyed their feast!

The End

(Dictated by Beth, who is almost 6, and who is now working on The Three Bears. Sorry no drawings, but the camera is out of batteries. :(

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Christian Series: The Millers (a recommendation)

The Sonlight Christian homeschool curriculum company has exposed us to many wonderful authors and book series. I couldn't be more grateful for their work in perusing children's book markets, both secular and Christian, and bringing many gems to the forefront that parents may have missed on their own. 

This year my daughters' Sonlight Core B curriculum features Missionary Stories With the Millers by Mildred Martin. I couldn't love this book more. With each story I read aloud to the whole family, I'm more enamored with this author's work and her dedication to the discipleship of children--a topic near and dear to my heart. The missionary stories book is definitely for the whole family, perhaps starting at 3 years old. Each missionary story is about 4 to 5 pages long--perfect for nightly readings before bed, or for breakfast readings, accompanied by prayer for missionaries and persecuted Christian families the world over. 

Even adults learn much about the faithfulness and power of God, as we read how the Lord rescues and provides for his beloved children of God on the mission field.

I plan to buy all the other Miller books for a family Christmas present. No toy or outfit is as valuable as discipleship material. As Christian parents, we need to give gifts that matter for the heart and for eternity. Some Legos are great, but along with them we must give Life. 

When your children are grown and gone, you can use these discipleship materials for Christian classes you may someday be blessed to teach...and remember your grandchildren too!

I found the following list of materials here, along with buying prices ($7 each). There are a couple companion workbooks offered, which I've not featured here. 

Enjoy!

Note: The only computer I have is a desktop PC, so I'm not aware of how this blog appears on tablets and phones. Please let me know if there are any problems with format or color design of my blog, as it relates to your device interface. Thank you! I changed my blog background back to white, which I hope made things easier.

Thrilling adventure stories based on actual happenings. In these pages missionaries meet witch doctors, disease, drought, hate-filled guerrillas, a Bible thief, and dangerous wild animals.

Gather around the table with Sharon, Peter, Timmy, Laura and Beth Miller, and read about how Timmy saves an elderly neighbor's life, Sharon teaches summer Bible school, Peter shoots the wrong deer, Sioux Indians return good for evil, and much more! As always, each "Miller" story is based on true incidents and illustrates verses from Scripture.

Excellent devotional stories for primary and junior children. Each story is based on a proverb. The Miller children learn many lessons and ideals from God's Word during everyday life, family worship, and their parents' stories.

Ten character-building stories for preschool children. Each story teaches a positive moral lesson and begins with a Scripture verse for memorizing or discussion when the story is read. Attractive artwork.

Whether your children attend a church school or a homeschool, they will enjoy and learn from these true-to-life, character-building chapters. Read about "Peter and the In-Thing" (peer pressure), "The Five-Dollar Glove" (keeping agreements), "My Heart Says Amen" (death of a classmate), "The Wrath of Man" (God's power over an angry witch doctor), and many more!

Join the Miller children as they learn about health, safety, and courtesy . . . from the Bible. Each story includes a Scripture passage and illustrates various aspects of prudent living.

Weekly Homeschool Wrap-Up: The One With the Thanksgiving Books 11/7

Good Friday to you, my friends. I made it through days and days of migraine in what I hope was my hormones' last hurrah. I'm forty-eight and a half...more than ready for my hormones to take their expected life rest. To finally be rid of the migraines I've had since age 26 would be a miracle. The medicines out there just don't seem to alter the course of hormonally-induced migraine.

But on to our homeschool, which must go on, no matter how mom is feeling...

If you're only interested in the Thanksgiving books featured in this post, scroll down to that, the last section. Enjoy!

The boys, ages 11 and 12, are reading Archimedes and the Door of Science, Theras and His Town, Story of the World Vol. 1 (Ancient Times), and Usborne's Encyclopedia of World History.

Synopsis: (Student review, which was the best available on this book) This book is set in ancient Greece, in two towns, Athens and Sparta. Athens is a beautiful city, with fine art, architecture, and music. Sparta is a small town with unadorned buildings, little art, and no music. In the beginning of the book, Theras, a young Athenian boy, lives a happy childhood with his family in Athens. He goes to school, where he learns to write and sing, and does athletics every day. One day Theras' father, Pheidon, is called to war far away from Athens, and he departs, leaving his family behind. Everything is fine for a few weeks, until they receive a distressing message from cousin Metion that Pheidon is lost at war. Theras' mother is forced to sell the house, and Theras is sent to Sparta to live with a distant relative.

In Sparta, Theras is made to live as a Spartan boy, separated from his parents, and trained as a soldier. After a year of this life, Theras wishes urgently to go home and live his old Athenian life. Eventually, Theras flees from Sparta with another boy, Abas, who also wishes to go. Theras and Abas must then endure many perils in the wilderness road to Athens, just to be free.

Theras and His Town is excellent. This book has suspense and excitement aplenty, with difficulties for Theras, who is brave and loyal. The book also has plenty of historic information about Greece, Athens, and Sparta. (This book review was written by a 6th grade, 11 year old Calvert School student, and published by his Mom.)

My Notes: This book was so engrossing that both my boys were sorry to see it end! Excellent adventure and suspense with a clean, wholesome feel.

Synopsis: (Homeschool mom's review on Amazon): I just got done reading this aloud to my homeschooled 6th grade twins. What a treasure! The author weaves together mathematical and scientific principles into a delightful story format. My kids had no trouble understanding the well-illustrated concepts.

We used this book in our unit study on Ancient Greece. It just so happened, that during the reading, our Science lesson was on the six simple machines, a few of which Archimedes was the founder! As if all this isn't enough, my children took away with them an interesting outlook. We take the principles such as the center of gravity, buoyancy, pi, exponents, all that we know about geometry, etc. for granted. It's so much a part of our lives. This book helped us to imagine a time when these concepts were yet to be uncovered, an exciting time in the development of applied science and technology. It also helped us see Archimedes as a real man, and not just another boring scientist to learn about.
Even though my kids are homeschooled, they moan and groan about their work just like any other kids. This book was still able to capture them. It was a great selection that complemented our studies very well, and was a good investment of time and money.

My notes: My boys find this far better than they imagined, given the non-fiction genre. Sonlight knows how to choose them, thank the Lord. They make my job so much easier and pleasant. There's never a fight about any of the reading they're assigned.

Publisher Synopsis: This first book in the four-volume narrative history series for elementary students will transform your study of history. The Story of the World has won awards from numerous homeschooling magazines and readers' polls—over 150,000 copies of the series in print!

What terrible secret was buried in Shi Huangdi's tomb? Did nomads like lizard stew? What happened to Anansi the Spider in the Village of the Plantains? And how did a six-year-old become the last emperor of Rome?

Told in a straightforward, engaging style that has become Susan Wise Bauer's trademark, The Story of the World series covers the sweep of human history from ancient times until the present. Africa, China, Europe, the Americas—find out what happened all around the world in long-ago times. This first revised volume begins with the earliest nomads and ends with the last Roman emperor. Newly revised and updated, The Story of the World, Volume 1 includes maps, a new timeline, more illustrations, and additional parental aids. This read-aloud series is designed for parents to share with elementary-school children. Enjoy it together and introduce your child to the marvelous story of the world's civilizations.

Each Story of the World volume provides a full year of history study when combined with the Activity Book, Audiobook, and Tests—each available separately to accompany each volume of TheStory of the World Text Book. Volume 1 Grade Recommendation: Grades 1-5. Illustrated throughout with black-and-white drawings and maps

My Notes: The boys still love Story of the World and tell me "it's a great book and a great author." They read it on their own. I have yet to buy the tests, but I'm thinking about it. The read-alone age range is higher than the age-range given in the publisher's review, in my opinion. We do not use this as a stand-alone history book. Sonlight supplements it with more non-fiction, and with historical fiction.

In science the boys are reading Evolution: The Grand Experiment, and Cool Stuff 2.0 and How It Works.

In the interest of time, I'll feature the rest of the boys' books another week.

Girls' School News: Things are going smoothly with the girls' schooling. They both enjoy All About Reading, and Beth, age 5, loves to read her stories over and over, just to feel that phenomenal "I can read!" feeling.

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They're looking forward to their science experiment today, and also enjoying the read alouds and non-fiction history and science books from Sonlight Core B. We use their history/geography and read-aloud selections, but not the reading books, except the Dr. Seuss books as supplements. Right now they are learning from Usborne Peoples of the World, and Missionary Stories with the Millers. In Sonlight science B (ages 6-8), they are learning from The Usborne World of Animals, The Usborne Book of Science Activities Vol. 1, and See How It's Made.

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Thanksgiving Picture Books to Share

See the page on my blog "Thanksgiving Picture Books" to view the 9 titles I shared last year.

This year I found more wonderful books, most of which you can get at your public library. Some are older titles, but if your children's section has a holiday or Thanksgiving section, you will probably find them there:

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott (first published 1881)

Publisher Synopsis: Thanksgiving morning is here, and the Bassett family's cozy kitchen is filled with the hustle and bustle of the holiday. But this year something is different: Tilly, Prue, and their brothers and sisters have been left in charge of everything from the roasted turkey to the apple slump. They tie on their aprons and step into the kitchen, but are they really up for the challenge of cooking a Thanksgiving feast?

In this stunning new edition of Louisa May Alcott's classic holiday tale, James Bernardin's joyous illustrations bring the spirit of a truly old-fashioned Thanksgiving to vibrant life.

My Notes: Don't miss this one! Heartwarming, fun, delicious, and beautifully written.

Thanksgiving With Me by Margaret Willey (published 1998)

Publisher Synopsis:

Sit down, Mother, and tell me again. When are my uncles coming? When?

Pressed against the windowsill in breathless anticipation, a little girl cannot wait for her beloved uncles to arrive for Thanksgiving dinner. She begs her mother to tell her about each and every one of them. What follows is a lyrical duet culminating in the whole house rollicking with music, dance, song, and a joyous feast. And just as they finish their reverie, who should that be coming around the bend? A holiday tale perfectly suited to any child who has waited impatiently for the arrival of favorite relatives to turn a special day info one of true thanksgiving.

My Notes: Cute, heartwarming, nostalgic, and I love the rhythmic verse.

Food and Recipes of the Pilgrims (Cooking Throughout American History) by George Erdosh
published 1997

Synopsis: Chock full of recipes with step-by-step directions for kids to follow, this series is a unique way for kids to eat their way through American history. Many modern historians think the history of mankind is not to be found solely in the decisions of rulers and battles won or lost, but in the lives of everyday people. Looking closely at the environment, economics, eating habits, and favorite foods of our American forebears teaches us volumes about their world and ours.When the seeds that the Pilgrims brought with them from England refused to grow in American soil, the settlers turned to the Native Americans for guidance. Students will learn the true spirit of Thanksgiving as they make the baked butternut squash and Pilgrim's honey apples that fed our hungry forefathers and mothers.

My Notes: This is also an engaging primary history book, which I'm not sure is evident in the above synopsis. We will be trying several of the recipes! Author George Erdosh wrote several in this series, including Revolutionary War cooking, Civil War cooking, Native American Cooking, and Thirteen Colonies Cooking.

A Thanksgiving Turkey by Julian Scheer  published 2001               

School Library Journal Synopsis: K-Gr 6 In this picture book, a 13-year-old and his mother move to his grandfather's farm in rural Virginia. Reluctant at first, the boy adapts to country life, finding there is much to learn from his granddad. Determined to track and shoot an old tom turkey that had been a worthy adversary for years, the grandfather takes the boy hunting. The seasons pass and they are never able to spot the bird, just hear him. One fateful day at Thanksgiving time, they corner the old turkey with his long beard, only to discover the joy in letting him fly free. After all, he had been in the woods as long as the old man and deserved their respect. Soft, watercolor illustrations and a story gently and respectfully told in the first person evoke memories of a time past (when a hard-earned dollar and eighty cents bought a fat turkey). It is a tale well told, reminiscent of sitting and listening to the old folks swap stories at a family gathering.

Publisher's Weekly Synopsis: A 13-year-old boy and his grandfather spend months hunting down a wild turkey in the early-morning darkness in this nostalgic and affecting story. But when they finally come face-to-face with their prey, the grandfather cannot bring himself to shoot it. Scheer and Himler (previously paired for By the Light of the Captured Moon) simultaneously develop the boy's relationship with his grandfather and with the woods. The story smoothly incorporates facts about turkeys' roosting habits, while the sketchy but realistic watercolors evoke the enchantment of the predawn hours. Ages 4-8.

Giving Thanks: Poems, Prayers, and Praise Songs of Thanksgiving Edited with reflections by Katherine Paterson (published 2013)

Publisher Synopsis: Newbery Medal winner Katherine Paterson and cut-paper artist Pamela Dalton give fans of all ages even more to be thankful for with Giving Thanks, a special book about gratitude. Katherine Paterson's meditations on what it means to be truly grateful and Pamela Dalton's exquisite cut-paper illustrations are paired with a collection of over 50 graces, poems, and praise songs from a wide range of cultures, religions, and voices. The unique collaboration between these two extraordinary artists flowers in this important and stunningly beautiful reflection on the act of giving thanks.

Synopsis: (Booklist Review): As they did in the beautiful Brother Sun, Sister Moon (2011), Newbery medalist Paterson and cut-paper artist extraordinaire Dalton combine their considerable talents to bring to young people the concept of giving thanks. Paterson offers several meditations on ways she experienced thanksgiving, gratitude, and love throughout her life. Following each are several pages of poems, hymns, and snippets of praise songs from various cultures and religions, allowing readers to experience emotions and practices through many voices. Dalton, who is a practitioner of the early-nineteenth-century American paper-cutting technique called scherenschnitte (“scissor cuts”), has used paper “antiqued in a coffee solution, ironed, and illuminated with watercolor.” She fashions wondrous garlands, lattices hiding birds and rabbits, individual flowers and butterflies, and frames housing families reading books. The considerable thought to design—from substantial buff-colored pages to the placement of the art—is balanced by an equal appreciation for the works selected. Wonderful to have on hand for Thanksgiving, this is a book to be picked up throughout the year and savored and discussed. Grades 4-7

My Notes: I'm still not sure what I think of Katherine Paterson's work. Bridge to Terabithia is awfully heavy and sad. Jacob Have I Loved is also somewhat controversial with its grown-up topics. Her work is extensive (100 books) and good, but the selections for older students often require a lot of parental guidance. This selection is good for giving children a sense that gratitude has been important for all time, for all cultures. It's an essential human mindset that enriches life, despite our trials. God also commands it!

More Thanksgiving books coming next week!

Have a wonderful week, friends. Thank you for reading here.