December 21, 2005 - Star of Bethlehem Family Bible Study

Have you ever wished you could study about Christ's star,

especially during this time of year? I sure have.  Every time

I hear the Star of Bethlehem presentation, I am amazed at the

details God has worked out to announce His Son in the story of

the stars.  The gospel message is so clear, if we spend some time

studying what He has written in the skies.

 For several years, I wanted my kids to read verses about the star

and God’s view of stars for themselves.  I finally took some time last

year and wrote a Bible information, I have included some of my own

Bible research about the stars.  The study is heavy on questions for

your family to answer as they search the truths about the skies and

Christ's star.  I hope the questions will encourage discussion within

your family.  What a great way to learn together!

 We now have this study available for others to use.  What I like about

this study is that you can make as many copies from your computer,

as long as it is for your own family's use.  It's called an e-book!  When

you purchase this book, you will be sent a file that you can download

on to your computer.  When you are ready to use it, print out the

copies and you are ready to study. 

The Study is Called Star of Bethlehem Bible Study Ebook. Not only

is there a fresh focus on God's AWESOME communication with us

throughout time, but you will learn more astronomy than YEARS of

study in a text! Kerry takes you deeply into the Word of God to

dig out what God has to say about stars, astronomy, astrology, and

neatest of all, how God used STARS to tell about His plan for salvation

through Jesus Christ!

I am hoping to use this great info that we are uncovering to make a cute

lapbook (unless it grows into a whole BOOK!) as our final project at the

end of our study. If you are like me and find yourself a bit intimidated

when thinking of Astronomy Studies, this is the book for you! AND...

if you are looking for a great Bible Study, don't wait!

Cindy Rushton, Rushton Family Ministries

Buy Star of Bethlehem Bible Study HERE for $9.97. Be sure to

have your credit card or paypal account ready!

After you make your payment, our shopping cart will direct you

to the PDF file and you can print all the copies you need for your

own family.

I hope this will be an inspiring addition to your Christmas

celebration this year.

Kerry

Star of Bethlehem

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October 12, 2005 - Teaching the Classics - Product Review

   Do you get tired of buying a new study guide for each and

every piece of fiction?  I know, I sure do.  Do you avoid certain

classics because you can’t find a study guide for that book? 

I’ve been there, too! 

   I have just the answer for you – Teaching the Classics, by

Adam & Missy Andrews!  You can now buy one set of helps

for all the fiction your children will read in their homeschool. 

What a great deal!  Let me tell you about this fantastic source.

   Teaching the Classics begins with an explanation of why

your children should read literature.  Literature offers your

children an opportunity to broaden their perspective, beyond

their own experiences.  A broad perspective is necessary and

crucial to a strong education for your children.  Literature also

portrays pathos, tragedy and wonder in the human condition. 

Thus, literature is an end in itself, presenting the Great

Conversation about the good life.  The Good Conversation,

according to Mortimer Adler, is a discussion about the relationship

between human and divine.  We live in a God-filled world where

we see God’s truth, goodness and beauty.  As we understand

authors, poets and playwrights, we see God’s goodness in our

own world.

   This literature manual models the common elements of literature

(context, structure, style), uses children’s literature as the best

tool to recognize & evaluate elements (plot, context, settings,

character, theme) and shows how the Socratic method is the

best way to guide your students through literature. 

   Each of the story elements is explained in the manual, but I’m

sure the DVD goes into more detail.  For each element, a

children’s literature selection is given to analyze that element. 

At this point a chart and Socratic questions are provided for the

teacher.  After the children’s literature activity, further explanation

in analyzing adult literature is given.  Now, you should be able to

analyze any piece of literature for this element.  A visual chart

for each element and its relationship to the other elements is

provided.

   The Socratic method of questioning is explained & reviewed.

Why use the Socratic method? 

1,  It is the most immediately effective way to involve the student in

the learning process, as it avoids the lecture format.  If you are

like most of us, you do not remember much from the lectures

you had in high school and college lit classes.  The Socratic

method of teaching involves the student in a way that will help

him remember what he learned for years to come. 

2,  It allows parents & teachers to put instruction in literature

in the service of instruction in character.  Since the curriculum

does not tell you what to think, it allows you (the parent & teacher)

to guide and encourage conclusions – as it should be!  You can

carry on a discussion from YOUR worldview!  WOW!

3,   It allows you to focus on the essential element of education –

HOW TO THINK.  The Socratic method does not begin with answers,

but with questions.  Students are not told what to think (like the

conveyor belt method of government education), but develop powers

of observation, deduction and evaluation as they learn how to think.

4,  It encourages good reading!

The end of the manual includes sample curriculum for studying

literature, literature helps, sample daily lesson plans, and a list of

good books to read.  (Hey, I even found some new books to

read on this list.) 

A few thoughts and quotes about teaching literature and

encouraging reading with your kids. 

It is not necessary that a formal literature lesson happen every day. 

Should I say that again?  It is not necessary to have a formal

literature lesson every day.  Homeschool moms get so bogged

down in doing everything everyday.  That is an entirely different

article, but you should not stress out when you don’t have a

formal literature discussion everyday with your kids.  Formal

literature discussions should be mixed into the curriculum with

informal reading for pleasure!!! 

The teacher (usually mom) must READ the book she is discussing! 

What a concept!  Too often, teachers and parents want to use a

study guide to see them through the discussions.  I’ve been there,

done that.  I tried to discuss Pride & Prejudice with my oldest

daughter a few years ago without reading the book again.  I

spent as much time looking for study helps as I could have spent

actually reading the book.  Give your child a better education by

mentoring the importance of reading/literature by leading a

discussion based on YOUR observations, not the expert’s study guide. 

I know you can do it.  It really isn’t that hard and it just got a lot

easier with Teaching the Classics to help you through your literature. 

Besides, how can your kids learn from someone who hasn’t taken

the time to read the book.  I can say this because I read the books

my kids are reading.  The best way to learn is by mentoring, as

stated above.  You need to read the book, ask & answer pertinent

questions, and locate examples in the text to answer your questions. 

Thus, you will guide by example.  Your kids will become literary

interpreters on their own.  If I can do this, you can do it too!  Last

year I read the Iliad with my older kids and we talked about it twice

a week.  I found things that were important to me, but not found in

the study guides.  I would never have talked about those issues

had I not read the novel myself.

If you want to buy this manual/dvd set or read more about

Teaching the Classics, click here.  

STAY TUNED for a continuation of this review after I finish

watching the DVDs that model the Socratic method with literature.

Kerry

Want to share this review on Teaching the Classics?

Feel free to forward it as long as you do not alter the article

in any way and you include the signature below:

 ******************************************************

Kerry Beck, owner of Curriculum Connection, has published books

on approaches to homeschooling and other homeschooling topics.

If you want to jump-start your homeschool, go to

www.CurriculumConnection.net to receive your fre.e report on the

top dangers of sending your child to the public school

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July 26, 2005 - Created To Be His Help Meet - more reviews

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July 23, 2005 - Christian Literature Guides

For several years I have used literature study guides by Peter Leithart.  I highly recommend these books, especially for mentoring moms.  Dr. Leithart guides you through a variety of books and novels as he offers a Biblical perspective on each specific book.  What I like about these guides are the helpful insights Leithart gives in bite-size chunks.  He usually comments on a few chapters at a time, allowing you time to sift through the content you have read.  At the end of each commentary, Leithart provides questions.  Most of the questions have been discussed in his commentary.  His digging deeper questions allow you opportunities to think about the readings on a deeper level. 

One drawback to Leithart's study guides is the fact that there are no specific answers to his questions.  Of course, if you are reading the book with your child like you should, this should not be a problem.  It has not been a problem to me, but might be to other moms.

Personally, I have used the Shakespeare guide, Brightest Heaven of Invention, for the past 4-5 years.  We usually read one Shakespeare play each year...aloud.  I go to the library and get enough copies for everyone and then we take turns reading it aloud.  We will be reading Midsummer Night's Dream next week since it will be performed at our local Trinity Fest in a few weeks. 

This past year I would not have made it through Ancient Literature if it weren't for Heroes of the City of Man.  Dr. Leithart helped me through the Iliad and Sophocles Trilogy.

This year we will be using Ascent to Love which comments on Dante's Divine Comedy.  I know it will be helpful to our study and I'm sure any of the study guides will help other homeschool moms.

To see a listing of all the literature guides available, click here.

Kerry

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June 30, 2005 - Review of TruthQuest History

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