From our first meeting of the year...
September 20, 2012
Knowing that I didn’t do an exemplary job at sharing notes
after meetings last year, Jacki Young, who is graciously co-leading our study
group has also heroically offered to share her notes on the meetings. I have cut and pasted her notes below and
added a few thoughts of my own. (The
good stuff is Jacki’s writing; the muttering is mine. Thank you for your grace in wading through my
mutterings.) Jacki has not only provided
a summary of the ideas presented in the book but has also added in some of the
thoughts, suggestions, ideas, and musings that we enjoyed during the evening.
General comments about the book:
-
Does not have as many practical
suggestions as expected. Perhaps other
Ruth Beechick books would fill in the gaps?
See for example The Three R’s (practical suggestions for
kindergarten through grade 2) or You Can Teach Your Child Successfully
(Grades 3 and up). Ruth Beechick also
has several other writings that would be worth looking at. I (Cori) liked this article: http://creation.com/images/pdfs/home-school-corner/teaching-writing/6627how-not-teach-writing.pdf
-
There are a number of
assumptions that Dr. Beechick has made from the start of this study such as
that we already feel confident in the choice to home educate and that the Bible
is wholely true. She doesn’t leave room
for discussion of these ideas in this volume assumedly because she feels that
the title A Biblical Home Education ensures that her readers have
already grappled with these issues
-
Would like more details on how
to teach Bible as literature ie. Hebrew poetry
-
Dr. Beechick distinguishes
between language learning and content learning and encourages students to
improve their language skills by using them in the content subjects
-
Recent blog articles on
simplycharlottemason.com might help with teaching individual subjects (17 part
series). Refer to:
o
http://simplycharlottemason.com/series/subject-by-subject/
Chapter 1 – Bible
-
The Bible is essential for
literacy because it is the most widely referenced book
-
The Bible and Bible storybooks
are important for teaching doctrine and for teaching Bible as literature; can
be used as main textbook for home school.
An interesting difference from the stance that Charlotte Mason had as
she wasn’t very much in favour of using Bible Storybooks. Charlotte Mason felt that the Bible was story
book enough and that any other story books pre-digested the truths for the
children, and dumbed down the language.
Hmm, food for thought.
-
Reading the whole Bible (not
just passages) ensures that parents cannot take verses out of context eg. to
manipulate children to doing right
-
Old Testament stories point to
Jesus (this is a “type”); this is evident in Jesus Storybook Bible and
Mystery of History resources
-
Put Bible readings in history. Biblical history and the rest of history
mustn’t be separated!
-
Beechick says, “Chronological
order does not help in the early years”.
As we teach the Bible and History over and over again, children of
different ages will hear the cycle a number of times and understand the
chronology. Again, a departure from
Charlotte Mason’s style and worth pondering.
-
Beechick’s process of a child
learning to understanding analogy:
o
Analogies of actions
o
Analogies of actors
o
The objects in the analogies
-
There are parallels with the
three stages of classical education:
o
Grammar (facts & stories)
o
Dialectic (why?)
o
Rhetorical (what do I think?)
-
Do we censor the Bible when
reading to young children? WE use
discretion as parents to ensure readings are “age appropriate”
-
Other helpful Bible resources:
o
Children’s Story Bible by
Catherine Vos
o
“What’s in the Bible?” DVD series
by Phil Vischer
o
Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible on
librivox.org
-
Some considerations when
choosing a version of the Bible to use:
o
Beechick’s history of modern
day Bible translations is “limited” eg. King James Version was not “thrown out”
when other versions written
o
Different versions had
different goals in translation; some Bibles are paraphrases, not translations
eg. The Message
o
Some modern day translations
have truncated verses eg. In 1 Tim 2:5, studying refers to studying God’s word,
not just studying in general
o
King James version is better
written (quality, cadence, flow, etc.); familiarity with KJV enables students
to read other difficult classic literature sooner
_____Wow! Thank you Jacki for giving such thorough feedback on the book and the meeting.
I’m also looking forward to hearing some feedback. To those of you who were there, is there
anything we missed? If you weren’t
there, what are your thoughts? What were
the take away lessons that have challenged you or have helped in your home
school recently? Please try to post your
comments directly on the blog (rather than replying if you are receiving this
as an email) so that we can all participate in the conversation.
Looking forward to the next meeting on November 1st
when we will look at Chapter 2: “World History to Match the Bible”!
Blessings, Friends!
Cori
Maple Tree Publications
www.mapletreepublications.ca
Book Suggestions From This Meeting:
(Many of these are regularly in stock at Maple Tree. Most of the rest can be ordered through Maple
Tree. Call or email for details as not
all of our regular stock is listed on the website.)
The Three R’s
You Can Teach Your Child SuccessfullyA Biblical Home Education
Jesus Storybook Bible
Mystery of History
Children’s Story Bible
What’s in the Bible?
Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible
The Bible: many favourite versions and paraphrases include: King James Version, New International Version, New American Standard Version, the Message, and others…
For us, the most useful part has been realizing that most language skills can be taught as part of other content studies. Also, realizing that chronological order is not as important as some make it to be. These are both very freeing!! Looking forward to thursday night!
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