“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
School days, school days
Dear old golden rule days
Readin’ and ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hickory stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful barefoot beau
And you wrote on my slate,
“I love you, Joe”
When we were a couple of kids
Those were the days. School was simple and children of all ages learned together in the same schoolhouse.
It’s that time of year again when all the children are heading back to school. Leaves are getting ready to change color and autumn is just around the corner.
I have only one child left to teach. She is in 5th grade this year. Having taught my first five children, I have made adjustments over the years and learned what needs to be taught and what they can pick up on their own. Interests with each child is as different as their personalities and I’ve slowly come to see that not one size school fits them all.
So, what am I doing with Melanie for 5th grade this year?
BIBLE
This year we are using some worksheets from here that give the simple stories from God’s Word. She looks up the chapter and finds the answers to the questions they ask. The site is a great resource for so many biblical subjects, too.
MATH
Math has always been a struggle for me, not to do but to teach. I personally am the nerd that loves long multiplication and long division and all that goes along with it. However, to teach an unmotivated child is a struggle.
This year I came across an online course that has saved our math lives! It is called CTCMath. Written by a father of ten children, he and his wife homeschooled them. He developed this math course (all the way through high school) for them. It is short videos combined with questions to see them master each concept. She and I did all of 4th grade math over the three months of summer and it wasn’t hard at all. Now that she is refreshed on 4th grade math we are moving on to 5th and she is enjoying it. No more struggles!
ENGLISH
The importance of knowing the English language and all the grammar found therein is not lost on me. I grew up not only with a World History teacher but an English major as well. My mom took English as her major in college and then proceeded to spend her adult years teaching children of all ages. She has taught so many children to read, write and know their grammar. In recent years, she has written her own course of English grammar (as well as phonics and art) and Melanie is using this for her English. You can read more on my mother’s courses here and I can help you get them if you comment below.
HISTORY
History will always be near and dear to my heart. My father taught me from an early age to love learning about the past and to take the stories of the past into our future. I was born in the USA but raised in Canada so much of my schooling was up there. I am sad to say, I am not as familiar with our US Presidents as I should be but that is already changing.
This year, we will study our US Presidents and their First Ladies. We started a couple of weeks ago with reading about the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the White House. I used children’s books to read with her and discuss. Then, I decided we needed a quick and fun fact book on our leaders so I wrote one over the summer. You can buy it here. Learning in a simple format means less stress and more knowledge.
NOTE: When we are finished with the Presidents we plan to move right into studying history via Notgrass History. Stephanie studied their World Geography last year and loved it so much she wrote them. Mr. Notgrass wrote her back and blessed her heart. Now I read Mrs. Notgrass’ blog each day and she blesses me. Their curriculum is amazing so you really should check it out.
SCIENCE
I will admit that science doesn’t thrill me like history does but Melanie does enjoy a good science lesson so here we go. I have come to know a science gal online (through friends) who had a desire to teach a godly view of our world and started writing a course. It is in the beginning stages but it is really really good. Melanie and I will get going on that this week (she even has her lab rat ready) and you can sign up for the courses here.
For the courses like Penmanship (yes, she must learn cursive), Spelling, Art and Literature, I have taken the approach of let’s keep practicing and while you practice I will read to you. The first book we are reading together is called, “Patricia’s Secret”. It was one of my favorites when I was her age and means infinitely more today since it is about a little girl growing up on an Air Force base. My oldest son was in the Air Force so they will always have my heart.
Raising our children, teaching them at home, training them in God’s Word doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. Life skills can be woven into their days like cooking, music practice, cleaning the home and outdoor yard work. There are so many life skills lacking in our society today as we attempt to raise our children in this technological world we live in. Keep them close to your heart and teach them from God’s Word to be full of godly wisdom and the knowledge will naturally follow.
“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6