Quote from Forum Archives on January 27, 2003, 9:45 am

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE HOPE CHEST:
Ideas and Inspiration for Home Education
January / February 2003 
Issue #54: Keep Going!
Part 2: Educational Resources You Can Use
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Part 2: Educational Resources You Can Use

• "I Have a Dream": Thoughts on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Interview with Valerie Bendt and Review of Making the Most of
  the Preschool Years
• Review of Secret Keeper: The Delicate Power of Modesty by
  Dannah Gresh
• More on Modesty from Sovereign Grace Ministries
• "Overcoming Your Child's Lack of Confidence" and
  "Characteristics of Solids": Excerpts from Common Sense
  Excellence by Virginia Knowles
• Poet's Pen: "A Prayer, Under the Pressure of Violent Anguish"
  by Robert Burns

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"I Have a Dream"

Thoughts on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

This past Monday, Americans celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a national holiday.  In honor of this, our home school co-op director asked me to incorporate this theme into my music appreciation class on Friday.  I have often read and heard little pieces of his "I Have a Dream" speech, but as I encountered larger portions of it, I was struck afresh with what he was communicating. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the speech.  (My mom must have watched it just ten days before I was born!)

 

Since we have been studying patriotic music in the co-op class this month, it was fitting to note that Dr. King quoted from the song My Country 'Tis of Thee.   Of course, we made sure to sing this during our time together!  A learned man, he also quoted from the Declaration of Independence, the Bible, and Negro spirituals.

 

As I was teaching about who Dr. King was, and what he stood for, I was pleased that my daughter Joanna, who is 10, had plenty to say about him that I didn't know.  Unbeknownst to me, she had read one of our biographies about him the day before.  She told how one of Dr. King's elementary school teachers encouraged the students to read biographies.  This is such a key to quality education, and I commend it to you!

 

I would pray that those I influence would see the importance of treating one another with dignity and respect!  In that light, I would like to share a few portions of Dr. King's speech with you.  I have read that he started this speech in a very formal way, but that part way through, he abandoned his notes and spoke passionately from the heart.  The passages here come from this second section. To see the full text of the speech, click here:

http://web66.coled.umn.edu/new/MLK/MLK.html

 

"I Have a Dream"
Excerpts from a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

on August 28, 1963 
delivered on the steps of the

Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

during the Freedom March

 

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' …

 

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character...

 

I have a dream today.

 

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight,  and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

 

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South.
With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.
With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

 

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

 

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true.
So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!
But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi.
From every  mountainside, let freedom ring.

 

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INTERVIEW WITH VALERIE BENDT &
REVIEW OF HER NEWEST BOOK
MAKING THE MOST OF THE PRESCHOOL YEARS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

My first exposure to Valerie Bendt was when I bought her first book,
How to Create a Unit Study.  I can't tell you exactly how many
years ago that was, but it must have been a long time ago -- like
when my oldest was in kindergarten or first grade!  (Now she is a
sophomore in high school...)  As my first substantial exposure to unit
studies, it laid the foundation for our style of home schooling for
many many years.  Valerie has written several more books since
then, but I'll let her tell you more in this little interview.  After that, I'll
review her newest book, Making the Most of the Preschool Years:
100 Activities to Encourage Independent Play.

 

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your family.

 

"My husband, Bruce, and I have homeschooled our six children all of
their school lives. Our three oldest children have graduated from
homeschooling, and we continue to homeschool our other children.
Our oldest daughter, Michelle, is married and has two young
children. She is a cake decorator, and she plans to homeschool her
children. Our next daughter, Melissa, is an English major at the
University of Tampa. She also works for a medical transcription
company in their technical department. Our oldest son, Robert, is in
the United States Marine Corps and is studying to be a
linguistic-cryptologist. He previously earned his AA degree from
Hillsborough Community College. Our next son, Raymond, is
attending Hillsborough Community College, where he is earning an
AA degree in Computer Engineering. This is his second year
participating in the dual enrollment program.  Our youngest
daughter, Mandy, is active in our homeschool drama group. She
loves writing, and she especially enjoys writing plays. Our youngest
son, Randall, also enjoys participating in our homeschool drama
group. My husband is a residential remodeling contractor.
 
2. Describe the books you have written.  Where we can buy
them?

 

Information regarding my books can be viewed at
www.ValerieBendt.com.

 

I have written the following books of interest to homeschoolers: How
to Create Your Own Unit Study, The Unit Study Idea Book, Success with Unit Studies, For the Love of Reading, Creating Books with Children, The Frances Study Guide, Successful Puppet Making, Reading Made Easy, and Making the Most of the Preschool Years. I have a printable order form on my website, whereby orders can be mailed to me. My books are also available through many homeschool vendors.
 
3. How did you get started in writing home school books, and in
self-publishing some of them?  How has this process changed your life?

 

Years ago I began doing unit studies with my children. Little by little
word got around that I was creating my own unit studies. People I
didn't even know would call and ask me how I did it. I ended up
spending lots of time on the phone or one-on-one with people trying
to help them understand my methods. I decided to write a pamphlet
in 1990 describing how I created unit studies so that I didn't have to
spend so much time explaining my ideas to people. This pamphlet
grew into my first book, How to Create Your Own Unit Study. This
then grew into 8 more books over the course of the past 13 years! I
have traveled throughout the U.S. and even to Canada speaking at
homeschool conventions. Common Sense Press publishes 7 of my
books and I publish 2. I enjoy self-publishing, but it requires a lot of
money to print even a small number of books. Although writing the
books hasn't really saved me any time as I had hoped, it has
allowed me to share my homeschooling experiences with more
people than I could on a one-on-one basis. I have been able to put
the money earned back into educational materials for my own family.
It has also allowed us to travel as a family as I go around the country
speaking. In the fall of 2001 we spent two weeks touring Alaska
while I spoke in seven cities. What a field trip! Over the years I have
been able to coordinate my speaking engagements with other
"family field trips." It has been both educational and memorable.
 
4. Are you speaking or exhibiting at any upcoming home school
conventions or other large gatherings?

 

I will be speaking on "Unit Studies" and "Making Memorable Books
with Children" at the Florida Parent Educator's Association
convention in Orlando, May 22nd-24th. You can view information
regarding this event at www.FPEA.com.

 

I will also be speaking at a convention in Michigan in early May.

 

I can be contacted to schedule speaking engagements for
conventions and support group meetings, or to answer questions at
[email protected].

 

5. What was the burning message in your heart that you wanted to communicate when you were writing your books?

 

I want to encourage parents to be brave enough to do something
different with their children. Each child is unique and deserves a
curriculum tailored to meet his or her individual needs.  Educators in
today's society are trying to force children into the same educational
mold. Standardized curriculum only produces mediocre individuals. I
urge parents to break the mold and allow a masterpiece to emerge.

 

6.  Do you have any words of encouragement to share with home
educators?

 

Your children won't be little forever! I know it seems that way at
times, especially when you have four children under the age of six!
I've been there, and I know what you are going through. I encourage
you to hold fast to the high calling that the Lord has given you. It is
truly an honor, a privilege, and a blessing to teach our children. May
our Heavenly Father bless you as you seek His best for your family!
Pray that the Lord will place people and events in your children's
lives to help them become the individuals He wants them to be.

 

~~~

 

And now, here is my review of Valerie's book, which is available
from her for $20.

 

Making the Most of the Preschool Years is a collection of 100
educational activities that will keep preschoolers busy and happy.
Most of the ideas are not "academic" in nature, but more subtle in
their teaching value.  For example, you won't find stuff on how to
teach your toddler to read, but you will find activities that help him
discriminate between shapes and colors.  If you've read Valerie's
other books, you know that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to
understand her clearly written instructions. She even includes
patterns for such items as puppets, puzzles and felt shapes.   You
will appreciate a table of contents which lists each activity, and an
introductory chapter on her philosophy of education for young
children (don't push academics, but don't neglect your preschooler
either).  Physically, the book consists of about 175 comb-bound,
double spaced pages attractively illustrated with simple line
drawings.

 

The activities have names such as: Lace the Shapes, Sort the Mail,
Make a Teddy Bear Pupper, Flashlight Friend,
Let's-Set-the-Table-Placemat and much more.

 

I have seen many of these ideas in other resources, but she puts a
twist on them.    For example, many of us have asked our children to
guess, by touch, the identities of objects in a bag.  Here is Valerie's
easier version, which she further adapts for those younger ones who
need a little extra help:

 

~~~

 

Match the Objects

 

Find ten or more household objects -- two of each kind.  For
example: spools of thread (preferably the same size), small plastic
container lids, measuring spoons, cotton balls, small balls (not small
enough to swallow), small packages of candy, pocket combs, napkin
rings, small plastic toys, blocks, erasers, a drinking straw cut in half,
and cotton-tipped swabs.

 

Place one of each kind of item on a tray or cookie sheet.  Place the
other identical items in a paper bag.  Have the chld select one item
from the tray.  Encourage him to feel it carefully and set it aside from
all the other objects.  Then tell him to reach inside the paper bag
without looking and feel around for the same object.

 

Have him remove the ojbect from the bag and see if it matches the
object he set aside.  If the objects match, he can put the two objects
together on the table.  If the objects do no match, have him put the
object back in the paper bag.

 

Then he can try again by feeling for the correct object in the paper
bag.  He can try until he finds the matching object.  Once this is
accomplished, he can choose another object from the tray and try to
find its mate in the paper bag.

 

Variation: A young child who finds this activity too difficult can have
fun matching the objects by sight.  For example, set up the activity
as directed above, but have the child select an object from the paper
bag first.  He can then hunt for that same object on the tray.  Once
he finds it, he can place the two objects together on the tabletop.

 

~~~

 

There you go!  Check it out some more at www.ValerieBendt.com

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
REVIEW OF
SECRET KEEPER: THE DELICATE POWER OF MODESTY
Book by Dannah Gresh, Review by Virginia Knowles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

If you've got teens, I'm sure the topic of appropriate clothing is a
frequent one in your family!  As parents of two teenage girls, Thad
and I have often wrestled with the issue of "What should we let them
wear?"  I must admit that I am a whole lot more conservative in my
wardrobe than I enforce with my girls.  Yet we do want to have some
reasonable standards.

 

Dannah Gresh's little book can help with this, offering guidance
about WHY women (young and old!) should dress modestly, and
what it does to the guys when they don't.   The book's layout and
graphics will appeal to teens who are already struggling with "the
culture."  There are frequent quotes from Susie Shellenberger
(editor of Brio Magazine) and Christian singers such as Rebecca St.
James, Jennifer Knapp and Nicole C. Mullen.

 

I do have some caveats (warnings) about this book:  It is written for
teenage girls, but due to some of the content, I would read it before
you hand it off to them, especially younger ones who have been
carefully sheltered from sexual purity issues.  Also, if you are very
conservative (i.e. you prefer that your girls only wear calf length
dresses and you don't listen to contemporary Christian music), you
will probably not appreciate this book.

 

I thought at first that it included a lot of practical tips on HOW to
dress modestly without being frumpy, but on a second read I didn't
find many.  The most notable of these came in a 1-2-3 list for taking
a wardrobe inventory:

 

~~~

 

1. Make three piles.  One is the "Cheap Thrills Pile."  Into this pile,
you'll toss all the clothes you've been wearing that invite a guy to
complete the picture of your body in his mind.  This includes
anything that shows too much skin... short skirts or shorts or skirts,
and low shirts or pants... as well as anything that shows too much
shape... tight sweaters, jeans, or T-shirts.  Ceremonially trash these
with your friend!

 

2. The second pile is your "Power Pile," into which you'll throw
anything that actually hides the secrets of your alluring body in a
fashionable and comfortable manner.  These go back in your closet
and drawers.  These items make up a part of your very high price
tag that will require one man to pay a very high price to earn your
heart.

 

3. The final pile?  That's your "Fuzzy Friend Pile."  You're a big
"fuzzy" on these items.  They could go either way, so you're going to
ask your friend to make the decision for you.  Whatever she says
goes.  Don't compromise.

 

~~~

 

Secret Keeper is published by Moody Press
(www.moodypress.com).  The list price is $8.99. 

 

Check out www.purefreedom.org for more information on this and
other books by Dannah and Bob Gresh, their speaking schedules,
on-line articles, retreats for teen boys or teen girls, web links, and
more.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MORE ON MODESTY FROM SOVEREIGN GRACE MINISTRIES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Our family has attended Metro Life, a Sovereign Grace church,
since July.  We have appreciated their thoughtfulness on the issue
of modesty.  The national leadership team even requested that
pastors of local churches address this topic in their Sunday
sermons.  Here are some links!

 

An article by C.J. Mahaney, head of Sovereign Grace Ministries
(formerly known as PDI):
www.sovereigngraceministries.org/sgo/v20no4/prt_modesty.html

(Note: the entire Winter issue of Sovereign Grace Magazine is
on-line!)

 

A checklist for evaluating clothes for modesty, prepared by C.J.
Mahaney's wife, Carolyn:
www.sovereigngraceministries.org/pdf/teaching/modesty_check.pdf

 

At my request, Thad gave me a set of Carolyn Mahaney's eight
tapes, To Teach What is Good: Wisdom for Women from  Titus
2 for my Christmas present.  I haven't listened to them all yet, but
will try to do a complete review in the next Hope Chest.  For those
who can't wait, click here for a description and PDF or ZIP format
tape outlines:
www.sovereigngraceministries.org/teaching/messages/titus_ii.html

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OVERCOMING YOUR CHILD'S LACK OF CONFIDENCE
and
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOLIDS
Excerpts from
Common Sense Excellence:
Faith-Filled Home Education for Preschool to 5th Grade
by Virginia Knowles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

In the chapter titled Problem Solving, I wrote about seven challenges
that home school families often face.  In this excerpt, I am
presenting Challenge #5: Lack of Confidence.  The complete list
includes:

• CHALLENGE #1: Academic Struggles
• CHALLENGE #2: Distracted Child
• CHALLENGE #3: Poor Relationship with Parent
• CHALLENGE #4: Resistant or Lazy Attitudes
• CHALLENGE #5: Lack of Confidence
• CHALLENGE #6: Bickering Children
• CHALLENGE #7: Overwhelmed Mom

CHALLENGE #5: LACK OF CONFIDENCE

 

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:13

 

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed,

for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

 

Some children may seem lazy when they are actually afraid. If they
try, they might mess up, so they don't try at all. They need
confidence! For your hesitant or fearful child you may want to:

 

• Be your child's personal cheerleader and coach.  Find at least
  one of his strong areas to praise.  When you see even a small
  amount of progress in a tough area, play it up!
• Promise your child that you will do whatever it takes for him to
  succeed.
• Assure your child that you will accept him even when he makes
  mistakes.  (Note the plural word there!) A "failure" is actually just
  an opportunity to learn a new thing for the next time you face the
  same situation.
• Avoid comparing your child with others.  Even if you don't
  mention his name in relation to other people's successes, if you
  are constantly praising their siblings but staying silent about his
  own progress, he will notice it!
• Do not allow siblings or other relatives or friends to tease your
  child about his weaknesses.
• Break down each task into such small, easily attainable bites so
  that little successes build up their can-do quotient. 
• Give your child ample time for private, independent study,
  especially about topics which personally interest her.
• Set the example and let your child see you try something that
  you have been afraid to do!

~~~

 

Here is a teeny tiny paragraph from the Physics section of the
Science chapter.  Throughout the book, I attempt to give the parents
some background information and vocabulary for each school topic,
as well as some possible activities to do with their children.

 

Characteristics of solids:  A solid item can have many uses, and
this will determine how it is designed.  It can be tough, brittle, flexible
or even stretchable.  It can be porous (allows fluids to enter) or
impermeable. It can be smooth or rough, shiny or dull. It can be
transparent (clear), translucent (light can come through it, but
images are fuzzy) or opaque (you can't even see light through it). It
can conduct heat or insulate it.  It can be flat, round, angular or any
variety of shapes.  It can be chemically affected by other
substances. Look around your house for different kinds of solids.
With these characteristics in mind, compare such items as a towel,
a rubber band, a plastic toy, a frying pan, a glass vase, a foam
coffee cup, a pencil, and a graham cracker.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A POET'S PEN:
A Prayer, Under the Pressure of Violent Anguish
by Robert Burns
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

O Thou Great Being!  what Thou art,
Surpasses me to know;
Yet sure I am, that known to Thee
Are all Thy works below.

 

Thy creature here before Thee stands,
All wretched and distrest;
Yet sure those ills that wring my soul
Obey Thy high behest.

 

Sure, Thou, Almighty, canst not act
From cruelty or wrath!
O, free my weary eyes from tears,
Or close them fast in death!

 

But, if I must afflicted be,
To suit some wise design,
Then man my soul with firm resolves,
To bear and not repine!

 

Robert Burns, national poet of Scotland, was born on January 25,
1759 (Happy Birthday, Rabbie!) and died in his late thirties.  I have
enjoyed his poem "Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon" since I was
in high school, and had the privilege of visiting his home when I was on a Teen Missions team to Scotland in 1979.  Due to his rather sordid lifestyle and his conflict with the Kirk (Church) of Scotland, I never really thought of him as a particularly religious man.  I was surprised to find some fine Biblical poetry in my old Harvard Classics volume of his works.

 

For more information: www.robertburns.org/